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MS Rotterdam 12/28/2006 10:55:39 AM Link | | Add commentReviews RotterdamVI
Canada/New England 2002
The Rotterdam VI in New York harbor is a sight to behold. We transferred
across mid-Manhattan, and we were on board in no time. It was like coming
home again.
This is our fifth voyage on the RVI, a ship with which we have become very
comfortable. After a generous lunch on the Lido, we went to our cabin, where our luggage had already arrived. With the New York City skyline in the background, in short order we were sailing past the Statue of Liberty, which of course was a great photo opportunity. In minutes we were passing through the Verrazanno Narrows and under its awesome bridge. Then we were out in the Long Island Sound and into the Atlantic as the sun set.
We then went to dinner, where our maitre d', Kiki Busaki, a Holland America
veteran, has assigned a table for two near the Rosario Strings. This soothing music was a nice start to dinner in the beautiful LaFontaine dining room. This room has three two-story walls of windows and the classic brass double stairway. Our head steward, Dani Yana, would become our friend during this journey. He supervised our dining stewards, Robin and Deddy, who were superb. They knew us by name and had our preferences on the table. We were also taken care of by our wine steward, Mr. Bong.
The service on board has always been excellent, and our Canada/New England
experience was as good as ever, if not better. What we have come to know as
the most extensive menu at sea actually had some added entrees. There was as usual the wide range of choices plus a number of grilled items, including vegetarian. The service and food are absolutely excellent. Kiki Busaki runs a fabulous dining experience. Chef Mulvaney introduced himself and asked his dining guests about the presentation and quality of the food. This was indeed a generous use of his time; he oversees the preparation of more than 6,000 meals a day-and he does it in style.
After an early show, we slept comfortably in our queen-size bed. Our cabin
was in the moderate outside category and had a sofa/sitting area, good
lighting, a chair, a dressing table/desk, and a safe, which we never locked. There is an atmosphere of total security on board, an atmosphere we have felt on all our trips.
The cabin also had a TV, radio, telephone, plenty of closets and drawer space, a fully mirrored bathroom, tiled bath, medicine cabinet, and hair dryer. The area was immaculate and was kept that way by our steward, Rozy, who was as personable as he was hard working. He maintained the tradition of excellence as the "Spotless Fleet" as he made up our stateroom twice a day. It was also nice to be able to leave a breakfast room service card as our wake-up call-what a great way to start the day!
Our ports were Newport (home of elegant mansions and one of the largest
fleets of sailboats in the world); Boston (where we opted for a city tour and a visit to the new world-class aquarium); Bar Harbor (where we saw Mt. Desert and Cadillac Mountain, a highlight of the East Coast); Halifax (where we visited the Museum of the Maritimes with its exhibit of the Titanic and the Halifax Explosion of World War I); and Sydney (which had museums and homes with hosts dressed in period costumes). We then went to Prince Edward Island and charming Charlottetown, the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the famous author of the children's classic Anne of Green Gables. We also spent several lovely hours of scenic cruising through the Sagueney Fjord on the St. Lawrence River. There we watched whales play along side our ship. Then we were on to Quebec City, Quebec Province, for two days and one night. It was more than enough time to visit the fabulous Chateau de Frontenac, an architectural wonder atop a hill, and to taxi out to Mount Morency Falls on the way to the unique and stunning St. Anne de Beaupre Basilica. Our port of disembarkation was world-class Montreal City, home of the Cirque de Soliel. Montreal has numerous points of great interest that are not to be missed. We planned a postcruise stay at the famed Queen Elizabeth Hotel in the heart of central Montreal, which was complete with a train station. The sights to behold included Olympic Park and Biodome, the Notre Dame Basilica, the World's Fair Grounds of Expo '67, the Montreal Casino, the beautiful Botanic Gardens, and Old Montreal.
Once again the Holland America Line proved itself in its continuing tradition of excellence. We look forward to our next trip, which will be this December. We will be on the inaugural sailing of the ms Zuiderdam, the first of the Vista Class of the Holland America Line cruise ships. Respectfully, Lynne Coyne, Ms Rotterdam, of Chicago, Illinois.. (CANADA/NEW ENGLAND CRUISE 2002) | MS Zaandam 12/28/2006 10:36:17 AM Link | | Add commentReviews Dear Mr. Coyne,
You were kind enough to help my dad, Tom Robertson, set up our Alaskan cruise with Holland America Line. I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed the cruise thus far.
First of all, the ship is *beautiful*. I've cruised before, but never have I seen a ship kept in such immaculate condition.
The dining experience was nothing short of spectacular, both in the taste of the food and the kindness of our servers. As a vegetarian, I often find it difficult to find no-meat entrees on menus. However, Holland America offers at least one vegetarian dish in every course of the menu. Our servers, Muhmuh and Hendrick, both Indonesian, were the nicest people I have ever encountered. They socialized with us at dinner at knew our preferences, such as bringing my sister and me iced tea with the main meal and hot tea with dessert every evening, without us even asking for it. The service throughout the entire ship was amazing. From the witty humor of Nas, the doorman, to Nestor, the musically talented "Aft Pool Guy", we encountered the finest crew the seven seas can offer. We didn't have a single unenjoyable experience on board the ship throughout the whole voyage. In fact, my mom and I befriended the Aft Pool crew, who made us a white Dutch women's hat (in honor of the ship's Dutch heritage) with our names in fabric paint, as a token of friendship and appreciation, and a souvenir to commemorate our memorable, incredible voyage.
I had a *great* time in Skagway. I love history, and the rich history of the Gold Rush that still lives in Skagway enthralled me. We took a train through the White Pass while in Skagway, where I was absolutely mesmerized by the unbelievable scenery.
In Glacier Bay, we witnessed 7 calvings by Marjorie Glacier. The spectacle was more than I could have dreamed nature to be. The power of the calvings, which sounded like bombs going off, were absolutely mind-boggling. It was gorgeous, and I can't imagine seeing a more beautiful thing for the rest of my life.
From the deck of the ship, we saw ten humpback whales breaching gracefully in the waves. I have never observed nature in such a wonderful way. The whales moved me to the point that I stood in silence, watching them jump without taking my eyes off of them, for fear I would miss a split second of nature's magic.
In Ketchikan, I found some of the finest jewelry shopping, with great deals on beautiful gold, tanzanite, and diamonds. Also, my dad bought a hand-made sculpture of humpback whales in Ketchikan, to remember the encounter from the ship. The on-board shopping was excellent, too; I received as a gift from my father a gorgeous black-pearl bracelet. After visiting ports of call, shopping, and enjoying dinner in the beautiful Rotterdam dining room or the Marco Polo restaurant, we moved on to the Mondriaan Lounge for some entertainment. The shows on the MS Zaandam are incredible, and in fact, tonight I am participating in the "Rock and Rolldies" show, in which I dance and lip-sync "Splish Splash". It promises to be hysterical fun.
>From the mountains of British Columbia and Alaska, to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, from the teak wood deckchairs on the promenade deck to the real working pipe organ, from the luxurious hot tubs to the Lido deck restaurant, our experience on the MS Zaandam has been nothing short of magical. I have never had so much fun on a vacation in my life. The sheer brilliance and majesty that the Holland America presents its guests is enough to make us come back year after year. In fact, next year we are planning on taking a European cruise from Lisbon to Amsterdam aboard the MS Prinsendam. We wouldn't dream of cruising with another line after sailing with Holland America. It's been truly incredible.
If you'd like to please pass on our compliments to the Holland America Line, I would be most pleased, so that they know just how happy my family was with the service, accommodations, and overall experience aboard the MS Zaandam. Thanks so much for helping set this vacation up. It has been so much fun.
Best regards,
~*~Kelsey Robertson~*~ | | |
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