montythecat

It worked very well for us.  Off the ship in Fort Lauderdale. 
Tour of The Everglades and got off the bus in Miami for

our flight back to the UK. Not too expensive and it was

a good way of using up the day.

Exhibition ship. What nonsense. Sorry, Expedition.

If you decide on not visiting Antarctica on an exhibition 

ship I reckon the choice is pretty simple. As previously said 

X go for a couple of days and others for four days. We will

be on Holland America this winter for four days. It wasn’t 

a difficult decision which was aided by our preference for

HAL over Celebrity.

Our cruising life has changed completely since our first

HAL cruise a couple of years ago. We have now been with

them four times with two more booked for this year. Staff

are outstanding and food is so much better with more

imaginative menus than other medium range cruise lines.

The entertainment is another compelling reason for us

seeing the world with Holland America. It may not suit

everybody but on Nieuw Statendam you will get a rock

band, pianists and a blues/soul band. Each of them will

play three 45 minute sets every night six days a week.

They each have a night off once a week. We rarely go

to the theatre. I am not keen on the type of

productions which Celebrity provide. HAL are the only

company which provides a different approach with

its musical offerings and we are very grateful for 

these innovations.

We are also Elite Plus but no X cruises currently booked

because we have discovered the many advantages of 

Holland America. Four cruises in the last two years and

two booked for 2024. I agree with Edinburghgirl1 about

the quality of the food compared to Celebrity  The theatre 

entertainment doesn’t interest us because we are very

happy with The Rolling Stone Rock Room, the two 

pianos and BB Kings Blues Club which give us all the

variety we could possibly wish for. Of the two ships

under consideration on this thread Koningsdam is a 

much newer ship which is usually an advantage.

Cruisemom42 gives you a very helpful guide to the ports you

will visit. The local transport at Katakolon to get you to

Olympia is a very convenient train service. The station is a 

gentle 10/15 minute stroll from the ship. HAL’s Pinnacle

Class ships are our favourites. They are of a size, design
and quality which appeals to us. We also love the 

entertainment. We have enjoyed Nieuw Statendam twice

post COVID and will be looking forward to being on the

ship again in November.

Tricky one. So many  criteria and opinions. All I can contribute 

is a very definite preference for HAL based on three Celebrity 

and four Holland America cruises in the last two and a bit years.

I couldn’t agree more with Chisoxfan. Holland America are

most certainly unique in their approach to providing

music on their ships. Our experience is limited to Pinnacle 

and Vista Class ships and we love their loud rock bands.

No other cruise line even makes an attempt to provide any

competition which is why we travel with HAL as often as

possible.

You have got a very useful and comprehensive 

collection of comments. I tend to be with the perhaps

not worth it crowd but there are certainly pros and 

cons.

Agree with The Pools .  No more opinions !  As for talking 

during performances. I reckon that is just rather rude.

Yup !!!

Maybe. Each to his or her own but I prefer having

two pianists interacting with their audience.

Well, what a sad picture that was. The one with a 

single piano on Rotterdam. I genuinely do hope

HAL have a re-think. This isn’t just a musical issue

but an entertainment one deriving from the 

interaction between the two pianists. I really

can’t believe that HAL’s finances are such that 

this type of penny pinching is necessary.

Thank you very much to all of you for your contributions,

they are much appreciated. “She who must be obeyed”

at home got the casting vote so we have paid up. I was

tempted to go with the VMax1700 last minute approach

but at least we know exactly how much we are in for. It

does seem a lot which means we will certainly make the

most of the drinks component of the package.

Is it better (ie cheaper) to buy the “Have It All” package

when booking the cruise or on board on the first day ?
We have previously paid for it at the time of the initial 

booking but the recent significant increase in price is 

causing us to have second thoughts. Will the price

come down between now and our departure in

December ?   I know it is all guesswork but any advice

would be appreciated. Thanks.

With music, as always, some you win and some you

lose. We have, generally, thoroughly enjoyed the dual

piano concept with Meghan and Gabe being the 

standout performers. Gosh, we loved them. We have

only had one couple who were slightly below par. We

will be very very miffed if HAL introduce solo

performers. It won’t be the same, however good

they may be. Why, oh why, has HAL put together

a brilliant combination of music for us to enjoy every

night (including a classical quartet ) and now seem 

to be intent on dismantling it ? I despair.

I really do hope the two pianos format isn’t removed from the 

other ships where it currently exists. The rapport between the

two is usually part of the joy of the experience. Anybody who

has seen the wonderful Meghan and Gabe will know what I

mean. Surely HAL can afford to pay for two pianists ? Our

evenings will not be the same if this happens.

Usually the rock band and pianos do three 45 minute sets per

night six days per week. They are timed not to clash with each

other.

Two years ago we gave HAL a go because of the variety of 

music that was on offer, namely a rock band, LCS and the two

pianists. Our four experiences on NS and Oosterdam have

been perfect for us although the loss of classical music on

NS last November was disappointing. I gather just one 

pianist is now the order of the day on a couple of ships. I

hope that may not be correct and that HAL maintain their

unique approach to music which sets them apart from

every other cruise line.

When you look at the itineraries HAL put forward for comments

it seems to me that the absence of Japan is perhaps logical.

It is a bit out of the way. Kind of not on the way to anywhere else.

Pity, because it is a wonderful country. As for China I think it is a

destination which is, for various reasons, perhaps not particularly 

popular.

One piano player !  Not sure about that but we are, of course,

not on the ship. However, last year on our Chile to Argentina 

Oosterdam cruise (no Antarctic) we had Meghan and Gabe. We 

loved them (best on any HAL cruise).  We would normally spend

more time in The Rolling Stone Lounge but they were so

good they became our evening priority, even though the

rock band were very good indeed.

Do give Azamara a try. We have been with them five times and

Pursuit was our favourite.  Most of the contributors to this

thread have lots of good things to say about Azamara which I

would endorse although the bathroom is certainly on the small 

side.

Easy choice for us. Silly because of the views from the Sky

Lounge which are particularly important on this itinerary.

We do like having the four MDRs on the Edge Class ships but

there isn’t anything else which makes them a better option

for us than Solstice Class or the two revolutionised Millennium

vessels.

Thank you “ Miss G”  for your comment and for understanding

the comparison I was making. As for “3rdGenCunarder” I

would just like to point out that Eurodam is a Signature class

ship which did not form part of my comparison. The reason 

is that I have not have not been on this class of ship and

cannot, therefore, comment on the entertainment it

provides. As for rock bands, well they do tend to be loud

but on NS last November The Rolling Stone Lounge  was 

full every night. I do, however, enjoy a variety of music and 

am very disappointed that HAL now seem to be less 

committed to providing a classical quartet or quintet.