Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The ultimate guide to Holland America cruise ships and itineraries

holland america caribbean cruise

For dinner, she went with the red curry coconut chicken and an order of dan dan noodles to share. Back in our cabin, we were able to cool off and pack up most of our belongings before dinner. With our ship at less than half capacity, there were plenty of loungers and empty space for all to enjoy. Done with lunch, we settled into some empty loungers near the E villa a little after 12 pm.

Caribbean Cruise Travel Tips & Advice

Among some of the line’s hallmark public areas is the Explorations CafĂ©. Located in the front of the ship, it offers panoramic views, along with enrichment, a full bar, and a board game room. The line's Pinnacle Class renaissance shows a marked effort by the brand to improve the onboard experience, particularly in the way of entertainment. Sailings offer passengers excellent music and shows and serve phenomenal food in an elegant atmosphere. Unless you prepay gratuities or purchase a cruise fare that has them included in the price, you will be charged $16 per person during each day of your cruise ($17.50 if you're booked in a suite).

Cayman Islands

All of the line's vessels also have USB ports in their rooms, including some near the beds for easy overnight charging. Smoking generally is not allowed in indoor areas on Holland America ships, including cabins and cabin balconies. Designated smoking areas are available outdoors and in specific areas of the casinos on select ships.

Fitting Everything in to the Night

Heading to the central area, there were a few tours gearing up to explore the island, but the rest of the port was empty. Dinner had us out of the restaurant a little past 7 pm. This was perfect timing to get some decent seats on the portside of the World Stage. Tonight’s main theater show was Billboard Off the Charts. Getting from the forward to aft of the ship takes a little maneuvering on some public decks. Still, we were able to check out the sports deck, the Sea View aft pool, and the sun deck before they were filled with fellow cruisers.

A Picture-Perfect Rest of the Day

An 18% service charge will be added to bar, drink package and spa purchases. Holland America offers the appropriately (albeit uninspiringly) named Kids Club on all of its ships. It accommodates children from ages 3-17 under the supervision of professionally trained youth staff. Additionally, each Holland America vessel has a buffet that serves a large number of cuisines from several stations for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacking. And, speaking of snacking, afternoon tea is offered on select afternoons on each voyage. Depending on each day's schedule, the main dining room might also be open for breakfast and lunch.

Mexican Cuisine Workshop, Lunch & Waterpark

By now, cruisers were taking advantage of their Holland America beverage packages. There are also special perks and priority benefits for passengers who pay for Club Orange access. After just one sailing, you're entitled to drink vouchers, a special welcome lunch, discounts on Holland America merchandise and half off third and fourth passengers in a cabin on select cruises. Plus, you'll be eligible for onboard credit when you book certain voyages. Because the brand's vessels lack flashy top-deck attractions like waterslides and roller coasters, the experience is best enjoyed by people who don't need constant entertainment. The ideal match for one of these sailings is someone who likes destination immersion and relaxation time, as well as superb dining and eclectic music.

Holland America Line Unveils 2025-26 Caribbean Itineraries - TravelPulse

Holland America Line Unveils 2025-26 Caribbean Itineraries.

Posted: Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

But that doesn't mean the ships are stuffy, boring or limited to an older demographic. It's common to see multigenerational family groups on Holland America voyages. Make the most out of your Western Caribbean cruise experience.

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holland america caribbean cruise

Cruisers have other ways to earn points, too, such as spending a certain amount of money on board when they sail. The five tiers are 1-Star Mariner (after your first cruise), 2-Star Mariner (30-74 cruise nights), 3-Star Mariner (75-199), 4-Star Mariner ( ) and 5-Star Mariner (500 nights or more). Additionally, depending on your sailing, you might have to apply for visas in order to enter certain countries. In many cases, the line will handle the application and procurement for you, but pay attention to special instructions in cases where you might be responsible for obtaining your own documentation.

holland america caribbean cruise

With a final drink of the night, we enjoyed songs from Foo Fighters, Radio Head, and other classics like Bruce Springsteen. Normally, by 10 am on a sea day, the pool decks would be packed. In fact, we were able to secure two deck chairs at the very aft of the ship with ease.

Though honestly, we did not enjoy the selections as much as we did the last time around. Overall, the main dining room continued to impress us during this trip. Again, this band kept the energy alive with impressive rock performances of classic rock songs from every era.

Named for the famed blues artist, it houses live performances of the same genre. On Vista Class, Signature Class and Pinnacle Class vessels, Billboard Onboard is where you can catch dueling pianos with musicians playing popular tunes that top the Billboard charts. Holland America consistently cooks up some of the best food at sea. You can even find their items in the main dining rooms, meaning you don't have to pay anything extra to try them.

For the most part, this was a pretty typical island tour. But, the added fun of driving our own stylish red hummer and the upbeat tour guides made this anything but an ordinary tour. Our call into Grand Turk this morning was now an hour earlier at 7 am. Our server was a tad on the slow side given that the restaurant was not very busy. One nice feature of the Holland America Navigator app is the ability to mobile order food from the two outdoor casual dining venues.

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