Rotterdam 3/24 - 3/31 Great week!!!!

[GRACECRUISE]

Finally home from 7 day Rotterdam 3/24 - 3/31.  Celebrated dad 87th birthday and all 3 of us hitting 500 days.  Aft cabin 6236.

 

Embarkation - Fast and easy.  We valet parked at port about 10:30, security and check in a breeze.  No lines.  In room by 11:30.

 

Cabin was smaller than we usually get but the balcony was big.  We easily had 3 chairs, small side table and the lead table from the cabin out there.  We spent alot of time out there.  Dad had all of this breakfasts out there.  We  ordered dinner first formal night to eat on balcony.  Worked out great.

 

Breakfast for mom and I in lido.  Omelettes and raisin buns.  Loved those raisin buns.  Lunch in Lido or off ship.  The pizza was some of the best.  Good selection of sandwiches and had a made to order sandwich station.  As always, the salads were wonderful, made to order.

 

DInner was in Lido and main dining room.  We normally only do main dining room.  With 4 port days we got pretty lazy once we got back on the ship.  We really enjoyed dinner in the Lido.  The carved beef tenderloin was as tender and flavorful as could be.  They had a 'kids' station which mom loved since she could get baked mac and cheese anytime!

 

Great 'guest flavors' of ice cream.  We got butter pecan, pistachio , rocky road, rum raisin, black walnut and cookies and cream.

 

Dinner in the Pinnacle one night.  Loved the new menu.  The cheesecake lollipops were fantastic.  Steak was perfect, charred outside and medium rare center.  Love the addition of the beets.

 

Laundry service was quick.  Got most of it folded.  In our basket was a very nice hand written note by the person who folded it.  It was nice because I could mention them on the comment card and on the survey.

 

Did not do any of the main shows.  A singing group (twice) and magician and comics.  We hit the casino.  It paid out during our week.  I came home ahead and got another casino offer last day.  The gentleman next to on the buffalos hit a $3,200 bonus payout on a 90 cent bet I think.  Machines hit lots of bonuses and the casino host gave out alot of free drinks.  

 

You could find us at 8:45 each evening at the Piano Bar.  Barry from Boston is the best.  We had such a good time.  Even the trivia was fun.  I am not much on trivia but dad and I came in second place.  Such a good crowd and we all had fun.  If you get the chance to sail with him, spend some time in the piano bar.  Nice and loud so you can sing your heart out!

 

Never saw the Captain, Hotel Mgr, or many of the kids on board.  Probably because they did not hang out on our balcony, casino or piano bar!!

 

Ports were fun.  Key West - parked at Mallory Square.  Mahogany Bay - Nice area to walk and take magic carpet ride to beach.  Guatamala - It rained.  We left ship and went to shopping building.  They had a nice bazaar set up.  We bought a couple things there and had a beer.  Bought some huge bottles of water there for $2.  Some  for us and some for cabin steward.

Costa Maya Mexico was a beautiful port and great weather.  Long pier but luckily the free trolley was running.  We wandered about, bought vanilla and had some of the best mexican food.

 

Our last fomal night was Costa Maya day.  So full from lunch, dad gave up his lobster and we ate in the lido.  (He loves his lobster).  No lobster in lido but they did have shrimp cocktails so he got his fill of seafood.

 

The last sea day we ate in the Pinnacle for lunch.  It was so so good.  Their hamburger is wonderful as was the brownie with caramel corn.

 

The chocolate surprise on the last formal night was very good.  They had a nice selection of goodies and came through the piano bar.

 

It was a quick 7 day cruise.  I prefer to be on longer.  Seems like we just unpack and it is time to pack back up.  Next cruise we get our 5 star benefits.  The crew were all great from the cabin steward to the dining room stewards to lido staff.  Housekeeping staff supervisors checking often to make sure all needs were met.  We had one room steward, not the team.  He was always around to open the door for me when my hands were full.  Once thing I almost forgot, I went down to the front desk to ask where I could pick up the morning NY Times paper. (On our last cruise, they were not at the front desk in a holder)   She asked if I would like it delivered each morning.  I asked for 2 copies and they were in our mailbox each morning with our name and room number on it.  It was a nice touch.

 

Disembarkation was quick and easy.  We were through customs so fast and in car before 9 am.

 

Missed the Tamarind on the larger ships but loved the Rotterdam.  It is one of my favorite ships.  Hate that she is leaving Tampa.

 

Bought our FCC's, so looking for a nice Oct/Nov cruise to book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[erewhon]

Thank you for reviewing your cruise on board the Rotterdam.

 

Good luck choosing your next cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for your review.

 

Glad you all enjoyed your cruise.

 

Congratulations on becoming 5 star Mariners.

[cat shepard]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. I, too, am sorry to see Tampa dropped. Now that I am in Florida, I was looking forward to sailing out of there. But at least I still have FLL.

[iflyrc5]

Thanks for the review - we will be on board for 46 days in Oct/Nov.

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review!

[Djptcp]

Thanks for your review. As we live 45 minutes from Tampa, we are very sorry to see Holland America leave Tampa and now we have to go to Ft. Lauderdale all the time. Hoping HAL returns to Tampa someday soon. Congrats on becoming 5* Mariners!

[canadianbear]

Great review-sounds like you all had a wonderful cruise.  Happy birthday to your dad and to all of you hitting 500 days.

 

I agree, 7 days seems too short.  Well done at the casino!  

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks for this delightful review!  Always good to hear all the positives.  Quite a first-class team on this ship!  You had very good service all around from the laundry (note in basket!) to the Front Desk (newspapers) to the Housekeeping (supervisor!).  Impressive.   Love the Rotterdam myself and am glad to hear you enjoyed it and the balcony.  Next up: 5 star!  You will love the two complimentary Pinnacle dinners. Hope you do the complimentary cooking class,  as we have found them to be pretty good!

 

Thanks again for this very readable review.