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Jilltoons

By Jilltoons,
in Holland America Line

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Jilltoons

Jilltoons

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I have been on two Carnival cruises and have had the very best experiences.    I wanted to do a Mexican cruise in 2019 so I started researching Carnival  - I saw it was on the Carnival Splendor - I looked up pictures and reviews.  I didn't feel excited at all.  When my friend said, let's do some more research, I didn't think I would be able to afford other cruise lines.  She found the Nieuw Amsterdam and at a rate we felt was very reasonable.  I then started looking at pictures....and reviews - I am now SOOOOO excited!  I can't wait for our cruise!  We did go with an oceanview guaranteed.  So who knows exactly where we will end up.  But I am on this ship and it is beautiful!  🙂

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*Miss G* "Live from...." Rare

*Miss G*

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The Nieuw Amsterdam is a beautiful ship and its crew is a happy one.  You will love it!  If you like Asian food you will love the Tamarind, one of the specialty restaurants onboard.  Definitely have a cocktail in the Tamarind Lounge prior to dinner.  Welcome to Holland America!

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Jilltoons

Jilltoons

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22 hours ago, just_cruising_along said:

You should have a great time.  Do you have specific questions about the ship itself or any of the ports?  

I am curious - have you been to the extra charge restaurants?  I am so excited about all the variety of the restaurants.  I am looking forward to Mazatlan.  We are doing a best friend's girl's trip for this one....neither one of us has been to Mazatlan.  Have you been there before?  Thank you for your help.  I can't wait until April!

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OlsSalt

OlsSalt

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15 minutes ago, Jilltoons said:

I am curious - have you been to the extra charge restaurants?  I am so excited about all the variety of the restaurants.  I am looking forward to Mazatlan.  We are doing a best friend's girl's trip for this one....neither one of us has been to Mazatlan.  Have you been there before?  Thank you for your help.  I can't wait until April!

 

There are really three very diffferent sides to Mazatlan -a more modern hotel area, a remote feeling beach area and/or the restored historic center.

 

You can get to the "Stone Island" beach and its little snack pavillions by a small little ferry close to where the ship docks. You can walk a ways to get to the very lovely, low-key historic center for, browsing, people watching, shopping and eating. Or you will need either a shore excursion or other form of transportation to get to the "Gold Coast" tourist area.

 

We personally love the old Centro Historico and this is where we will head again on our next trip. Plot out your route on a map from the ship or take one of the open-air  taxis. You have to take a shuttle inside the port to get to the street exit where you can reach either the ferry or historic district by foot.-There are also  tourist items for sale at the port itself.  https://mazatlantoday.net/mazatlan_centro_historico.html

 

It you like to try local beers - Pacifico is one of the best - very light.

Edited by OlsSalt
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just_cruising_along

just_cruising_along

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55 minutes ago, Jilltoons said:

I am curious - have you been to the extra charge restaurants?  I am so excited about all the variety of the restaurants.  I am looking forward to Mazatlan.  We are doing a best friend's girl's trip for this one....neither one of us has been to Mazatlan.  Have you been there before?  Thank you for your help.  I can't wait until April!

Hi.  Yes been to the extra charge restaurants. We think they can be a good value for the money.  If you like Asian food, you will want to go to the Tamarind.  The Pinnacle is also good.   We also like New York Pizza or Dive In (both free) for lunch.  If you are still hungry, don't forget about 24-hour room service. :)

We have not been to Mazatlan, but have been to Cabo and PV.  

I think a girl's trip sounds like fun and I am sure wherever you are, you are going to have a great time.

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a.madruga

a.madruga

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j, we too got the HAL bug this year and it happened to be on NA...we believe you made a good choice...do you have kids that are going also? The service and tranquility is awesome. The musicians are great too...BTW April came around and we were back on NA celebrating mt 65th...now in December we are going to celebrate new years again with HAL but on Oosterdam...wishing you well on your cruise...

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terrydtx Great Review Rare

terrydtx

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HAL is our favorite mass cruise line, not the big mega ships like CCL and Royal. Also not as many kids. I think HAL is just a little more sophisticated. We loved Tamarind on NA, they IMO have a better steak  than the Pinnacle Grill which I found disappointing. The MDR on average does a very good dining experience. 

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mexylopez

mexylopez

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1 hour ago, Jareds_mommytoo said:

Our last Holland America cruise had 89 teenagers, and 45 tweens I’m not sure how many younger kids

Wow! What was the destination/time of year? I might want to avoid that...

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RuthC

RuthC

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11 hours ago, Tinker's mom said:

We are on the Eurodam on November 4th.  We plan on staying on the ship in a couple of the ports. We have a cabana booked. Where does one eat on the ship on port days? Is the MDR closed? How about the Dive In?  Thanks.

Your cabana stewards will fetch lunch for you, and you can eat it without leaving the cabana, if you choose.
The Lido is always open for lunch, and the Dive-In is open all afternoon. Sometimes the dining room is open at lunchtime; it depends on the ship, as far as I can determine. Also, the Pinnacle Grill may be open, especially of the dining room isn't.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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You've picked a lovely ship.  Please understand, though, that HA is laid-back---some would say almost dead---compared to the wild party scene on Carnival ships.  If you're expecting that type of atmosphere, or hoping for it, you may be sadly disappointed.  What you will experience on HA is a gracious and efficient crew with superb service, a larger cabin with good storage space, decent, sometimes delicious food, interesting choices for alternative dining, and one of the two best shows at sea, BB King Blues Club and BBC Planet Earth.  If you like classical, you'll enjoy Lincoln Center Stage.  Even if you don't like classical, give these wonderful musicians a chance when they play their program of more modern music from film/TV. 

 

I've been on Nieuw Amsterdam a number of times.  You will find many, I'd say most, passengers to be well-traveled and courteous.  HA does skew to a slightly older crowd, but on shorter cruises, like yours, you'll meet all age groups.  Some posters may warn you that HA is not a party ship.  Passengers are tucked in bed by 11.  On the longer cruises we've taken, yes, this is true, but on the shorter hops, we've witnessed the night life going into the early hours of the morning.  Our son, who started cruising with HA in his early 20s, found a group who partied until 2-3 in the morning with the DJ.  He's now 31 and is anticipating his sixth cruise, though he hasn't been aboard in the last 5 years due to work commitments.  

 

Be sure to enjoy the 1st lunch in the MDR which is usually open from noon until 1-1:30 p.m.  It eases you into the cruise without your having to run around a crowded Lido buffet.  You're also waited on, the perfect way to begin any cruise!  If anything on the cruise is not to your liking, please see the Front Desk immediately.  These young ladies and gents resolve problems quickly and efficiently.  They're the best in the industry, IMO.

 

If you have any more questions before your cruise, please let us know.  And don't forget to post your review afterwards.  Have a lovely cruise.

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Tinker's mom

Tinker's mom

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Thanks RuthC and sevenseasnomad.  It is very kind of you to respond.  We are very quiet non partying  types. lol  We both love to read and watch the world go by.  Hubby is a retired airline pilot for Air Canada so he has had his fill of rushing around in big cities seeing the sights compressed into half a day--so he is up for just laying back with his book, going to the hydrotherapy pool and perhaps occasional room service dinners on our balcony.  I am a retired nurse and I am more chatty than hubby. I look forward to putting in my 10,000 steps twice a day on the promenade deck and trying my best to follow the keto high protein diet with lots of fish and salads with the occasional bread pudding lol.  I am an early riser compared to my husband so I will likely be walking the promenade while he snoozes. We love good coffee, and I have read that might be the weakest link for us on HAL lol.  I packed a cup of insulated cups so I can go up to the Explorer Cafe to get some strong coffee to start the day.  Not that we love Starbucks coffee, but it will be strong enough to wake us up.  I have a million things noted on my cell phone such as your comments about things being fetched for us in the cabana and eating our first lunch in the MDR on embarkation day.  Very helpful to us. Once it again thank you.

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sevenseasnomad

sevenseasnomad

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4 minutes ago, Tinker's mom said:

Thanks RuthC and sevenseasnomad.  It is very kind of you to respond.  We are very quiet non partying  types. lol  We both love to read and watch the world go by.  Hubby is a retired airline pilot for Air Canada so he has had his fill of rushing around in big cities seeing the sights compressed into half a day--so he is up for just laying back with his book, going to the hydrotherapy pool and perhaps occasional room service dinners on our balcony.  I am a retired nurse and I am more chatty than hubby. I look forward to putting in my 10,000 steps twice a day on the promenade deck and trying my best to follow the keto high protein diet with lots of fish and salads with the occasional bread pudding lol.  I am an early riser compared to my husband so I will likely be walking the promenade while he snoozes. We love good coffee, and I have read that might be the weakest link for us on HAL lol.  I packed a cup of insulated cups so I can go up to the Explorer Cafe to get some strong coffee to start the day.  Not that we love Starbucks coffee, but it will be strong enough to wake us up.  I have a million things noted on my cell phone such as your comments about things being fetched for us in the cabana and eating our first lunch in the MDR on embarkation day.  Very helpful to us. Once it again thank you.

You're most welcome!  I know you'll have an awesome cruise.

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