8 day eastern caribbean cruise
Written: Feb 26 '01 (Updated Mar 21 '01)
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Pros: Quiet and laid back cruise with beautiful ports of call and great food and service.
Cons: No internet service, no cash machines, and limited arcade games.
The Bottom Line: I will cruise again with these people. The service, food, and relaxing atmosphere is what I like in a cruise.
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| dbonds's Full Review: Holland America Westerdam |
My wife and I cruised out of Ft. Lauderdale on February 17, 2001 on the new eight day eastern caribbean cruise to Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas/St. John, St. Marten, San Juan, and Nassau. Our outside room was on the lower promenade deck and was very spacious. We had a couch, chair, dresser, bathroom with tub, and two single beds put together and made up with queen sheets, etc. There was no discounting or upgrading on this cruise as it sold out. We paid roughly $1,500 each, less air fare. The majority is 60s and 70s, but there were enough 40s and 50s to make us representative. This is a ship for relaxing and taking things slow and easy. If you want plastic neon and partying to 3am take a Carnival cruise. I guess I'm getting old, huh?
Let me first give you a few tips around the ship.
1) You get to choose whether you wish to dine at 6pm or 8:15pm. I personally like some time to relax after we come back on the ship from the islands. Returning to the ship at 5 or 6pm leaves you no time to rest, shower, and dress. Therefore I'm an 8:15pm diner. They serve pizza, hot dogs, and hamburgers until 5 or 6pm which hits the spot when you return. But just a snack now, dinner is too good to ruin it!
2) You get literature each day under your door. Read it! Use it to plan what you want to do. It tells you everything that is going on the next day, including when the ice cream bar is open!
3) Ladies, pack your jewelry and make-up in your carry-on bag if you fly. Guys carry your flask, drinks (water, chaser etc.) along with a pair of shorts, tee shirts, etc. Remember, the airlines do lose your baggage occasionally. Drinks are expensive on the boat. The flasks last me a couple of days until we hit the duty free ports with great prices on a bottle that you can bring aboard and place on your dresser. Think about bottled water and drinks also, they are half the price the ship charges. They keep fresh ice in the room just about all the time.
4) The shows are very good and we enjoy going to them after dinner (the handout tells you what the show is each night). In my opinion the balcony is the best place to be unless you like getting close and seeing the eyelashes. Wherever you sit, get there early where you can get a good seat. There are poles necessary to hold up the ceiling that just ruin some of the seating. Lou and I loved the two seater type couches, but they have some round tables for larger groups and the theater type seats. Go by the lounge when you first get there and figure out what's best for you.
5) You can dine at a table for four, six, or more. You request that preference when you book. We went with a table for four and were extremely lucky to sit with a couple named Sandy and George from Michigan who were great dinner companions. If you get unlucky, you can request to be re-seated. I hope you never have to do that. Luckily, we haven't (three cruises).
6) The TV has CNN, TNT, and a movie channel showing recent films. In addition, they have ship channels showing where to shop on the islands, the excursion packages, etc. We found that the "where to shop" had a lot to do with how much Holland America got paid by these people. They do have certain guarantees that you may want to look at if you are considering jewelry though.
7) Beach towels are offered as you get off the ship at no charge and are on the boat whenever you need them. No check-out is necessary. Therefore, you don't need to pack them.
8) Tipping on Holland America is not required. However, we always get the envelops that are available and leave a tip for our waiter, bus boy, wine steward(I enjoy a good bottle of wine), and our cabin steward. This is the only time I need cash on the boat, otherwise you use your ship card attached to your credit card.
When ashore, the natives like cash (cabs, shopping, tipping, drinks, food, etc.).
How much should you carry? Depends on your shopping tastes.
Credit cards are accepted for the big buys. I usually carry $300.00. The ship does not have an atm and will not give you cash on your card. You can get chips from the casino, gamble for a short time, and cash in, but I don't like that. Holland America should have an atm machine on board. Of course, you will see atm machines when you get to a port, but they are often crowded with those crazy cruise people.
Sorry, but no computer/internet access either.
9) If you use the throw away cameras, especially the under water ones, buy them before you leave at Walmart. They are half the price of the ones on the boat or in-shore.
Now let me tell you about the two paid excursions we went on as well as the "on our own" trips we made. Weather can make you or break you on most outings. Often, if you know the lay of the land, you can do the same thing without the expense. Here is what we did:
1) Half Moon Cay_ We bought the snorkel excursion at 10:30am. The reef was too far down to really enjoy the fish. This beach is so beautiful, I wished we had just stayed at the beach. The sand is like talcolm powder, no kidding! The water was crystal clear aqua blue! Most beautiful beach I have ever seen! If you walk almost to the far end of the beach(half mile I would guess) away from everybody and swim out a hundred yards, you are where we snorkeled for $80.00.
2) St. Thomas/St. John_ They drop off people who buy an excursion to St. John and drop anchor in St. Thomas. We took a cab(van) to Coki Beach in St. Thomas($8.50 each one way normally) and let this local guy who had a little trailer at the entrance take care of us. He rented us two chairs, brought us drinks, told us where to snorkel, etc. and charged us very reasonably. Let me make a point here. The locals are 99% good people who are trying to feed and cloth themselves. They are very poor. If you are trusting and outgoing with them, they will treat you fairly. If you are suspicious and untrusting, expect to pay the most their law will allow (cabs and certain other maximum charges are fixed by law). The couple we were with in the van going to Coki were untrusting and he charged $8.00 each to Red Hook (maximum allowable). We went on a considerable distance to Coki and he charged us $7.00 each. Have some compassion and tip these poor people. The only people who are taking advantage of you is the ship! Tell that to a local, they love to here it and it's true. The snorkeling is very good here. We worked the rocks on the left side of the beach. We saw lots of beautiful fish and as a bonus an eel slid out for just a second or two. Do not touch the coral, especially the fire orange coral that looks like a bush. They sting and it can be serious. The main reason not to touch the coral though is it can injure or kill it. There is so little coral left, let's not kill what's left. Ok?
3) St. Marten_ We loved this island! We stayed on the Dutch side(south) which is very clean as these islands go. They just finished a new dock, which has signs saying Dawn Beach, Orient Beach, etc. to sit and wait for the cabs(vans). We went to Dawn Beach because we like to snorkel(you never would have guessed, right?) The cab ride was $10.00 for both of us. This was less than the maximum allowed. I wonder why she charged us less? The beach is on the atlantic side, so if it is blowing hard, don't go there. It was calm (10 to 12) and we enjoyed the coral reefs that almost come out of the water and bring the fish close. You can rent two chairs with cushions, an umbrella, and two free drinks served around noon for $15.00.
If it was blowing, we were going to Little Bay Beach. There are rocks that go out to a point that they say is great to snorkel around. Chairs, etc. can be rented there.
4)San Juan_ We toured the old town. The cathedral and the fort at the entrance to the bay was the most impressive things we saw. San Juan is not duty free. They will tell you it is, but it isn't. St. Thomas and St. Marten are the places to buy your jewelry, liquor, etc. This was our least fun place, but remember, we like to snorkel.
5)Nassau_ Now if you want to snorkel and see some fish, the Athol Island snorkel excursion is the best! I'll let you in on a secret. Carry a few zip lock bags with you and get a couple of muffins from the kitchen and mash them up in one. When you get into the water, open it slightly and let the water in. Then, with it opened slightly, wave it back and forth and let a little of the stuff out. My wife took pictures of me with at least a hundred fish around me. She would dive down and take the picture back up to me. The reason for this is the largest and most colorful fish are lowest and the yellow and black guys are trying to take the bag out of my hand at the top. We saw one black and blue angel fish that must have weighed 10 pounds. I saw fish there I have not seen other places. It was wonderful! However, let me remind you of my earlier comment, weather can ruin it. For the fish and coral to show up you must have sun. The color goes away when it is cloudy. Wind is next, the harder it blows the more it deflects the sunlight. But the sun is what is really crucial. Wait to long to book the excursion and it is sold out. Sounds like catch 22 to me. We were lucky, it was windy but very sunny.
The end.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
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Epinions.com ID:
dbonds
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Member: Douglas Bonds
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 2 members
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