Holland America was NOT what we Expected! (Our HONEST Full Review)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 183

  • @jamiewillhite6355
    @jamiewillhite6355 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I've always enjoyed Holland America. The staff in the main dining room are the best. My waiter saw me sitting on a bench in Port and he stop and asked if I was OK. How fabulous he remembered me and I in turn ask how his son was doing because he had been sick. He was so excited to tell me he just called home and he was so much better. He really appreciated my asking. On our last meal he hugged me and thanked me for being a great guest.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That’s above and beyond service! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful HAL experience! 🥳

  • @petermcclung9730
    @petermcclung9730 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Been sailing on HAL since my 20s. Now in my 50s it seems to be getting better and better. Love the food, music and dancing. Rooms are great and staff is superb. I’ve cruised on multiple river cruises, Disney, Princess and Cunard and keep coming back to HAL

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Peter for sharing your experiences with us all! ☺️

  • @stcrombie
    @stcrombie ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow! You didn't like the Dive In for burgers and hot dogs? That's always our first stop, even before finding our cabin, and eat there about every other day.

  • @craigo2142
    @craigo2142 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    First HAL cruise was about 10 yrs. ago. To me, they are top tier. When I want a vacation that is calm and laid back, they are the go to. Nothing like Lincoln Center in the afternoon. A good, good dinner and then great music. BB King's. Lack of big shows doesn't bother me. And, I even find the buffets to be good compared to other lines. Not a party ship for sure, but, just a great place to relax and feel very well cared for.

  • @Lovesapuzzle
    @Lovesapuzzle ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Holland America sounds more relax and renew rather than drunk and disorderly. That sounds very good to me.

  • @db9086
    @db9086 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I just got off of Holland America. This was my first time on this. Line. I will be going again on this cruise line. It’s was the best ship I been on an I been on all of them. But the service was excellent the food amazing an the music is the best an the staff was so helpful
    Thank you Holland America for a Beautiful Cruise.🚢. See you soon for another cruise 🚢 ❤️

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We are so happy you had such a wonderful cruise! 🥳

  • @beachblythe
    @beachblythe ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I went on an 18 day cruise that included Iceland and Greenland a few summers before covid. I was amazed that there were families onboard. The kids on HAL seem to be better behaved than on other cruise lines! I absolutely love Holland America. It’s a relaxing, educational, and has great bars!

    • @Lovesapuzzle
      @Lovesapuzzle ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I assume parents had cruised with their children before and knew they would behave themselves before taking them on such a long (and I assume expensive) cruise. Those were some very lucky kids, IMO.

    • @beachblythe
      @beachblythe ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Lovesapuzzle either cruises or had experienced nice vacations! I wish I had been introduced to cruise ships when I was a kid! I’m seriously a bit jealous!

    • @Lovesapuzzle
      @Lovesapuzzle ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@beachblythe That makes two of us.

  • @The_NancyDee
    @The_NancyDee ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thanks for a fair and balanced review! And we appreciate your letting us know you were sponsored by HAL and still give your honest opinions!

  • @mjfreespirit
    @mjfreespirit ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I had problems with calling room service too

  • @melodiedum5803
    @melodiedum5803 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Holland America is my fave! I’m so glad you went and enjoyed it. I feel like it’s possibly the most underrated cruise line amongst people under 40. The music walk is everything.

  • @gillianpeddie2410
    @gillianpeddie2410 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    HAL was my first civilian cruise line, so I felt ultra spoiled on my first sailing. I keep coming back to them because of the food, music and crew and they always seem to make me feel special.

  • @NYnative61
    @NYnative61 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Shhhh- don't tell everybody this! Those who know, know. And those who think they know can stick with other lines 🙂 PS our HAL cruise to HI this past January had around 8 kids on it, including a 4 year old. But kids are usually a rare find.

  • @andreas4268
    @andreas4268 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    We really enjoy the HAL brand of cruising! It’s a great venue for enjoying a wide variety of music, great food and service without the snooty vibe. The size of the ships are perfect without feeling too large and crazy! The Pinnacle class ships are beautiful! We also enjoy the smaller vessels and will be on Zaandam soon! I enjoy your channel! Keep up the great work! 😊😊😊❤

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Andrea! 🤗

  • @pcamp7724
    @pcamp7724 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    i have never hit the like button on any of these reviews. Thank you guys awesome review!!!!!!

  • @sergel02
    @sergel02 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I’m surprised you didn’t like the Dive Bar. I found it amazing, but I got the veggie burgers and dogs. Also the pizza and panna cotta was great.

    • @deekang6244
      @deekang6244 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I loved the Dive bar, and I’m not into burgers.
      Also loved the pizza.

  • @careym3901
    @careym3901 ปีที่แล้ว

    You were on the Nieuw Statendam. I recognize the Rock Band. I got on for the Atlantic crossing in early April! I was on for 5 weeks!

  • @johnmatthews7703
    @johnmatthews7703 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We are surprised at your opinion of the Dive-In, etc food. It is always a treat for us. Thank you for the other comments as we do agree.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks John for adding your thoughts from your experiences!! ☺️

  • @zthatsme
    @zthatsme ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks so much for an honest review.! We are beginning to branch out to other lines, this series helped. I've been subscribed to you all for a while now. This is my first time leaving a comment. I normally just watch and like. I appreciate the time you take and the realness I feel from watching. You guys are great!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks for watching and commenting!! We appreciate it! 🤗

  • @JeffChildress-i8j
    @JeffChildress-i8j ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Woo-Hoo! We'll be on the Statendam in 6 days crossing the Atlantic for two weeks. Looking forward to your review. Love your channel!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Jeff!! Have a wonderful cruise! 🥳

  • @mariewilliams8835
    @mariewilliams8835 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We just got off the Rotterdam Holland America Ship for a Norwegian Fiords trip. I think the ships are very similar. However, the burger place and the pizza place by the pool were actually pretty good. I didn't see much dancing on our trip except for the BB Kings bar. We loved the nightly entertainment. Our ship did have music shows and a comedian. The food was excellent. It was our first cruise but it's definitely not our last. I'm already looking at booking it their Caribbean cruise.

    • @mariewilliams8835
      @mariewilliams8835 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Oh, and the cocktails were fabulous too. We also did the mixalogy class. All of our drinks were fancy throughout the ship.

  • @57jsanti
    @57jsanti 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I just came off a cruze with holland america it was fantastic.
    Very good food and drinks .
    On the down side is the wifi I think is to expensive for what you get .
    I think it should be included wifi is free were ever you go these days.

  • @raynaud1324
    @raynaud1324 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I agree with you on the pizza but we felt the burgers and fries were the best of any cruise line we’ve been on.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      We definitely hope that is the burgers are normally better. We tried them two different times just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke and they were unbearably dry. We were confused because they even looked dry to the naked eye yet still were served each time. (Fries and Dive In sauce were good!)

    • @raynaud1324
      @raynaud1324 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise That’s too bad, we were on the ship in October and they were amazing! Since been on Viking and Celebrity and they were not nearly as good. The pizza was disappointing on HAL but excellent on Celebrity.

  • @callingallports
    @callingallports ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We just took our first Holland America cruise (Nieuw Amsterdam) and were honestly surprised by how much we loved it - we were, honestly, a bit skeptical leading up to the cruise. And we're taking another cruise on the Koningsdam in May, so you can say we are now Holland America converts!

  • @Scotts-CruiseTravel
    @Scotts-CruiseTravel ปีที่แล้ว

    You are correct about the dancing for sure.

  • @Shjelmst
    @Shjelmst 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great review! Thank you!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for watching and commenting your kind feedback! ☺️

  • @debbief2882
    @debbief2882 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was probably on the Rotterdam at the same time you were here. I love HAL. I think the long hold for room service may have been kids calling since there is no charge. We had good food for burgers they did NOT look like what you showed. Pizza was good if you ordered one to be made. Bar service was always busy, but most places had servers that were very good. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

  • @ranchgal3006
    @ranchgal3006 ปีที่แล้ว

    Might be my first cruise at 67 years old! Thanks!

  • @deweyski
    @deweyski ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wonderful video! As a fan of Holland America I have often found myself defending their "old folks" reputation (I felt the crowd was OLDER and DULLER on my Princess cruises). I definitely will share a link to this video on my travel page. People underestimate what HAL is all about!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Dewey Ski! HAL is definitely a great cruise line 🥳

  • @joansarratt
    @joansarratt ปีที่แล้ว +3

    As a long time cruiser with HAL, I agree with all of your points. Now on the new Rotterdam, there’s a bar called the half Moon bar, which does have crafted drinks. I don’t believe this is available on any of the other ships, though.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for backing-up our experience with your long-term experience of HAL! We would love to try those crafty drinks! 😋

  • @arleenwallace3550
    @arleenwallace3550 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was quite excited to watch your video. I’m taking a cruise to Alaska in July on Holland America. I love music, dancing, and fine dining!! You have made me more excited than ever!!!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      You will have a wonderful cruise! 🥳

  • @domino3939
    @domino3939 ปีที่แล้ว

    Jared I love your smile. Always so happy

  • @bradh3139
    @bradh3139 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    First of all, it’s B.B. King’s Blues Club. There’s a reason he’s called the King of the Blues. Accuracy, Gentlemen!
    We took our first HAL cruise last October, aboard Rotterdam, 15-day Trans Atlantic from Rotterdam to NYC to Fort Lauderdale.
    I’ve been cruising since 1985, and I can honestly say this was one of the best. Hoping to book another HAL cruise to Alaska soon.
    The food was incredible. Each night in MDR was perfection. I had the best prime rib ever there. Tamarind, an Asian venue, excelled in service and offerings. The shrimp tempura appetizer is not to die for, but certainly worth a non-lethal traumatic injury if necessary. Pinnacle Steak House offers an incredible ribeye, and the clothesline bacon (yup!) is with battling your companion for the last piece. Rudi’s seafood venue has excellent atmosphere and service, but I’m not much of a fish eater (stop thinking what you’re thinking!), but lovely fiancée was happy. Happy fiancée = less nagging.
    I must agree with you guys. The Dive In burger place was disappointing. A dried out hockey puck. As I’m a pizza snob (born and raised in Sweet Home Chicago) I just don’t usually bother with cruise ship pizza.
    Service? Simply impeccable. Every. Single. Person.
    Entertainment: Loved the Music Walk. Particularly Billboard Piano Lounge and B.B. King’s. Attended both nightly. I honestly don’t remember if we saw any stage shows.
    As we had a full week at sea, there was plenty to do, or not do. Weather mostly wasn’t ideal for sunning and swimming. Lots of enrichment lectures, many on HAL history as it was 150-year anniversary of their first Trans Atlantic cruise. I’m essentially a toddler trapped in a 59-year old body, so lovely fiancée was so concerned The Toddler would be bored she actually packed toys😅.
    Honestly, the vibe was somewhat stuffy, but not overly so. All fellow guests were friendly, but I initially felt somewhat out of place (and yes, considering future cruises on Regent and Oceania).
    The music -based artwork all over the ship was great to look at. Wish I took more pictures.
    Finally, we didn’t partake in any of the HAL excursions. We did our own things in France, England and NYC. Overall, excellent experience. Glad you enjoyed as much as we did.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience!

  • @erichoward5517
    @erichoward5517 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just wanted to note that I have been on several Holland America cruises that did have shows with dancers and production numbers. Just returned from a cruise on the Rotterdam. The Lincoln Center musicians were not performing.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Eric for the additional information! 🤗

  • @davidhurwitz2291
    @davidhurwitz2291 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sailing on Holland America Nieuw Statendam in January. It’s our first HAL cruise after 50+ cruises on other lines, including 27 sailings on Celebrity. We will sail on the Celebrity Apex for a week, disembark, and then go on the Nieuw Statendam. Thought we would try something new. Do men have to wear a suit or sports jacket on formal nights? Hope not - that’s one of the reasons that we sail on Celebrity.

  • @suiterd62
    @suiterd62 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well done, Thanks.

  • @lorenadugan6355
    @lorenadugan6355 ปีที่แล้ว

    Like your favorite restaurant, any ship and time of year makes EACH different.

  • @laureljaneg
    @laureljaneg ปีที่แล้ว +10

    BB King is BLUES not Jazz!!!! I love live music especially the blues ! 😮 I could take or leave some of the other shows I’ve seen on other ships. I’ve cruised four times on HAL all on the Blues Cruise, which is a different environment than a regular cruise and probably twice the cost.

    • @benjaminsmith2287
      @benjaminsmith2287 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's a blues club but they do jazz and R&B also.

    • @laureljaneg
      @laureljaneg ปีที่แล้ว

      True, but I have so far only been on Charted Music cruises on Holland

    • @benjaminsmith2287
      @benjaminsmith2287 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@laureljaneg Great ship to do it on.

  • @judegatt2288
    @judegatt2288 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent review!

  • @janewhitechamberlain6203
    @janewhitechamberlain6203 ปีที่แล้ว

    We were on this cruise for two weeks. We Loved it! All good and the food was amazing! We also liked the all adult beach house on Turks and Caicos. We just got back from our first Alaskan cruise on Holland; just amazing! Leaving on our first transatlantic in 30 days on Holland; very excited ❤

  • @nancydandro1436
    @nancydandro1436 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We were on the week after you. Our second time on HAL and we really loved it. Great staff and service. The food is exceptional. We had no problem with bar service. I like the burgers and the fries are great. Nice to have some options. And don't forget if you watch the outdoor movies they have free movie snacks. Oh and in the cabin, the movies are free. We saw Everything, Everywhere All at Once. I was shocked it was available.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We loved Everything Everywhere all at Once! We are so glad you had better burgers - ours were unbearably dry and even looked like it. (The fries with Dive In sauce were good!)
      We also got movie snacks, pretzels, but they were out of everything else (minus popcorn) 10 minutes after opening for snacks so we didn’t get to try a lot. The pretzels were bland but the half-bag of popcorn was pretty standard in flavor. Overall, we didn’t include it as it was not a worthwhile experience to us. (Though, we were hopeful as we LOVE the movie snacks on DCL)
      So glad you had a wonderful cruise! 🥳

  • @jeannyjakobsen5608
    @jeannyjakobsen5608 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the review! My husband and I are going on the Volendam (even smaller and older) in July for our 25th anniversary and it was nice to hear your thoughts on how HAL feels to 30 somethings. I'm really excited for Alaska and our first cruise!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for watching Jeanny! We are certain you will have a wonderful cruise! 🥳

  • @cydneystephen2814
    @cydneystephen2814 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great premiere guys. Thanks so much. See you next video.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Cydney!! 🤗

  • @dwaynesenn992
    @dwaynesenn992 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It sounds like your experience was on par with ours on Rhapsody of the Seas out of Barbados and Grand Princess out of Melbourne. Thanks for the great review!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for watching Dwayne! 🤗

    • @MyTravellingShorts
      @MyTravellingShorts ปีที่แล้ว

      I’ve been on Rhapsody transatlantic & HAL in the Caribbean- and I firmly agree with you Dwayne. Very similar

  • @cathejo
    @cathejo ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the great review of Holland, it's on my bucket list. You guys always make me smile! 😁👍

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks for the kind words! Best compliment we can get! 🤗🥳

  • @shelleysymons9433
    @shelleysymons9433 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was on Nieuw Statendam in January and loved it !

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🥳

  • @markgoad-thegoodlifervacoa8774
    @markgoad-thegoodlifervacoa8774 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you! We have our first Holland America sailing this fall and had a lot of the same assumptions/expectations you did. This is very encouraging and exciting!

  • @javdestiny
    @javdestiny ปีที่แล้ว

    Your review was spot on. Holland America is our favorite. Ever since we discovered them we have been disappointed in all the others even the ones other people seem to think are comparable (princess and celebrity don't come close on our opinion). The bar thing was weird, I'm not sure what could possibly be going on there. Were you actively trying to get the bar tenders attention? i admit if I go to the bar to order i actively try to get the bartenders attention (lean in, raise my hand whatever maybe they are expecting that?) Weird. We sometimes have to wait a few minutes for room service to take the order, but never too long, did get cut off once on NS while trying to order. Love that their room service is still free. The only thing I disagree with you is the pizza at the ny deli, fresh made, personal, brick oven pizza, I get tomato & pepperoni, with extra cheese, yum. (your right about the burgers at dive in though.)

  • @amybrock2592
    @amybrock2592 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very balanced overview of Holland America! Given we seem to be moving toward more sit-down meals and small venue entertainment, it sounds like a good match to our current style of cruising. The food looks good and the Main Dining Room sounds like an excellent experience! So many cruise lines to experience. We've been almost exclusive to Royal until recently and I think it's time to branch out.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      We agree! Totally a great option to consider! 🥳

  • @dianealexander2301
    @dianealexander2301 ปีที่แล้ว

    We were on a HAL ship, I believe the Rotterdam out of Tampa a few years ago. The cigarette smoke from the casino permeated the enter deck. Do you know if HAL has changed their smoking policy and if the newer ship have better ventilation? Thank you for your review, this will make us rethink HAL since we love music and dance!

  • @constanceworden487
    @constanceworden487 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been on 16 cruises total. Took my first HAL to Alaska last October. I was very impressed with the main Diningroom, and our balcony cabin was great. I was rather surprised that at about 8:00pm the ship seemed to become a ghost town. I was traveling with a disabled lady in her 60’s, who went to bed at 7:00pm. She didn’t mind it at all. I spent many hours in the Nest area putting together puzzles, not my norm when cruising bother lines. I do wonder if part of my experience was the itinerary we sailed. I had just sailed on the Carnival Spirit a few weeks prior, and my experience was vastly different. I may need to try a different ship/itinerary on HAL before I decide wether to sail on the line in the future.
    Thank you for your honest review.

  • @christinaw8660
    @christinaw8660 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Surprised you didn't mention anything about the buffet food/area, which I thought was some of the best on any cruise line!
    HAL is our go-to for Alaska cruises! The aromatherapy pool/spa area is always so relaxing!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Great question! We liked the buffet, but didn’t find the food better or worse than others in her class so we didn’t mention it.
      We toured the spa and thought it looked amazing - since we didn’t fully experience it, we didn’t include it in the review. ☺️

  • @HeatherTravels
    @HeatherTravels ปีที่แล้ว

    Really helpful! This video has me more excited about our first cruise on Holland America next month.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      So glad! Enjoy your first HAL Cruise! 🥳

  • @Mrzizzy69
    @Mrzizzy69 ปีที่แล้ว

    But what about the Buffet? That's a major focus for a lot of people but you guys omitted it all together. You specifically mentioned the dining room and the fast casual venues like pizza and burgers...What were your thoughts regarding the buffet?? Cheers!!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Good question! We omitted the buffet as it was neither great nor bad, right in line with other premium cruises. Selection was good and quality was hit or miss. We definitely believe the best food comes through the dining rooms (whether Specialty or Main). ☺️

    • @Mrzizzy69
      @Mrzizzy69 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise Thanks for taking the time to clarify that for me!!!

  • @hasmiktumasyan846
    @hasmiktumasyan846 ปีที่แล้ว

    How was the Wifi? Will I be able to work from the ship if needed ?

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Wi-Fi is not great. Unless you solely do email communication, the Wi-Fi is not strong enough for full work days. (In our honest opinion)

    • @hasmiktumasyan846
      @hasmiktumasyan846 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise thanks for reply! Did u buy additional wifi power? They say there are packages u can buy.

  • @fogtownrog
    @fogtownrog ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Jared and Jason, thank you for sharing your well balanced review. I chose the line because of its fine reputation for dancing and music and a great dining experience. Thank you for confirming this. While it is disappointing to hear the fast casual food (burgers and dogs and such) was not great, there is plenty more to enjoy! I agree that the smaller ships can be preferable and further that, I appreciate having a full wrap around promenade deck. I appreciate you comments about attire as I am starting to pack for our cruise next weekend. And thanks for the warning about bar service which seems to be a problem for some ships, from what I have seen. I will try to counter that problem through friendly conversation and tips!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Roger, we hope you have a wonderful Cruise! 🥳
      Cheers!
      Jared & Jordan

  • @christinemarino5732
    @christinemarino5732 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love Holland America line.

  • @debp5983
    @debp5983 ปีที่แล้ว

    You two are awesome, I must try HAL. Thank you

  • @packdog70
    @packdog70 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just curious what you thought of their buffet in relation to other lines?

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It was neither here, nor there. We did appreciate that they served you still instead of people serving themselves but other than that, the food was hit or miss.
      We would say it was inline with other Premium Lines. ☺️

  • @Leslie-zc5cw
    @Leslie-zc5cw ปีที่แล้ว

    I loved cruising with Holland America. Best vacation I ever had.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Leslie for sharing!

  • @billmiller1445
    @billmiller1445 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great job guys. Many folks have a preconceived idea about holland america. Your insightful review makes me want to give this line a try. the food and music walk sound great. Thanks!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Bill for watching and sharing your thoughts! ☺️🥳

  • @karenentricken3361
    @karenentricken3361 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi guys, loved this video! Was there karaoke on this ship and if yes, how often was it offered?

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We believe there was, but we didn’t attend so not sure how often it so. 😅

  • @6360carolyn
    @6360carolyn ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hi everyone from Canada .

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hello from the States! 👋🏽

  • @teresah5318
    @teresah5318 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for sharing. HAL is on our list to try. I was wondering if there was a buffet as I do not recall you mentioning it. I think that I personally will be looking forward to the music and food. Again, thanks for sharing :)

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There is a buffet and most food is served to you which is great! The food was on par with others in her class so we didn’t mention it in our review as it was pretty standard. ☺️

    • @teresah5318
      @teresah5318 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise TY for answering.

  • @grannyoffive1313
    @grannyoffive1313 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this review and series… We think about cruising on Holland, but have not made the choice to do so yet… Your videos definitely help… Thanks so much🛳️

  • @anneperron7050
    @anneperron7050 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I was on the Niew Stratedam the week before you. The reason why you did not have major productions in the theatre while you were on board might have to do with a dancer losing his life during our cruise while jumping off a cliff in Curaçao. Many shows were canceled after that unfortunate event and Holland America probably did not have the time to re-organize its schedule as a new dancer would have to learn the choreographies of the many shows.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for noting this! We do know that we missed one dance show, because of that tragic incident. That said, we watched clips from other HAL cruisers and found it was still purely a dance show - not a true, MainStage production show like that of the mainstream cruise lines or even other premium cruise lines.
      Hope this adds some color to why we reviewed the entertainment as we did. ☺️

    • @beachblythe
      @beachblythe ปีที่แล้ว

      That’s horrible!

  • @louiselanthier5135
    @louiselanthier5135 ปีที่แล้ว

    While on the Zaandam, we did go by your ship! I am not sure what it was doing there but it looked beautiful! I even took a photo!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      She was a beautiful ship! 🥳

    • @louiselanthier5135
      @louiselanthier5135 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise That happened near my 60th birthday last September (going by your ship). I absolutely loved the deep water pool on the Zaandam. It was so deep that most seniors could not float in that pool for very long! Also, I did order lots of drinks on the ship but mostly pop and juice. I am not one for fancy cocktails but I do enjoy a cold beer and nice wine! It was a fabulous way to enjoy my birthday. I thought I would never cruise again due to Covid. One day, I fell asleep watching you guys on the Mardi Gras (video). I started dreaming I was also on the ship and knew I really wanted to cruise again in the future! Thank God for Omicron!

  • @stephentreger4847
    @stephentreger4847 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice review. We just completed our 6th HAL the week after you on Nieuw Statendam. We are both mid 50's and have enjoyed the demographics of the Line's ships for years. This was the 2nd time we sailed without children (young or now adult), but still have to stick to school out times, hence the Mar 25 - Apr 1 sailing. These ships are perfect for the three generation (Granparent, parent, grandchildren) groups and Club HAL for young and Teens has consistently been excellent. The "big" shows on the World Stage are not traditional Musicals or other known shows, but instead medleys and compilations. We were a bit disappointed to discover the production by the One Stage Dancing troupe were exactly the same as on Nieuw Amsterdam last July (different World Stage layout) in Alaska, although the talent was a bit more energetic and outgoing. Same for the dueling Pianos, the male (Bryan) had an off night, but overall the other days they were a better pairing than what we experienced last July.
    For us the only real negative to our week were two things. One, flying from the west coast, we showed poor control on Day 1 (embarkation, sail away, and a Pinnacle grill Reservation) and overdid "all the fun" including eating and drinking. Thankfully, the next day was at Sea motoring to Half Moon Cay and we were able to recover from the time change and excessiveness.
    Sadly, leaving Half Moon Cay, there was an issue with starboard Azipod and the ship failed to achieve it's required cruise speed. The itinerary switched the Aruba and Curacao ports, resulting in an arrival to Aruba at 4:30pm and departure at 11:30pm. Barely two hours of daylight meant many passengers chose as we did to simply walk around locally as very few tours were running at 5pm. Overall this was our 12th, we have also sailed Disney, NCL, Celebrity, and Carnival. We do miss some of what HAL did activity wise 10-15 years ago, but still had a great time during the week onboard and will sail again when things align.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Stephen for sharing your recent experience and thoughts as well!! 🥳

  • @smb2a587
    @smb2a587 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been doing some digging and Holland America still seems to have the traditional dining, is this true? I like my waiter getting to know me my likes and my dislikes and developing that relationship and I like getting to know table mates as well

  • @NewYorksFinest1
    @NewYorksFinest1 ปีที่แล้ว

    Question: we have Cruised Holland on our 1st cruise and won't do it again cuz things shut down way too early and it was boring for us. We've cruises carnival for our last 5 cruises..
    Heres the question..
    We booked msc for this Sept with the family and the price including the wifi PKG, drinks and obc was the same price as a balcony on carnival. Why are msc prices cheaper than carnival and which cruise line is more hip and vibrant?

    • @kimberlyemerson2754
      @kimberlyemerson2754 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It depends on what’s important to you. I haven’t sailed in Carnival for close to twenty years but I have sailed on MSC. The food is really hit or miss. The buffet does not have a good variety. The shows and entertainment are not up to the standards of other cruise lines. When you go to the show to see how bad it is going to be that tells you something. Service isn’t the best - they don’t go out of their way to correct an issue or please their customers - things are just what they are. However - you are on a beautiful ship going to some wonderful places at an affordable price.

  • @melissablair3463
    @melissablair3463 ปีที่แล้ว

    love your honest review videos

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Melissa! 🤗♥️

  • @jannettevaldezwitten2314
    @jannettevaldezwitten2314 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cruised Eurodam to Alaska it was not great….

  • @brucerosner3547
    @brucerosner3547 ปีที่แล้ว

    A nice balanced review. Keep up the good work.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Bruce! ☺️

  • @timduggan1461
    @timduggan1461 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hey! My cruising experiences have so far been limited to All-Gay experiences. RSVP was my first, they are now owned by Atlantis Events. I am booked on an Atlantis cruise (Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas) embarking 23 October from Los Angeles. Junior Suite, deck nine starboard. I've been looking at Virgin Voyages also for 2024. Very interesting vibe there for a non-Gay only cruise.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey Tim! We have yet to do an All-Gay Cruise! We would love to do so in the near future as we hear great things 🥳

  • @groovypotato
    @groovypotato ปีที่แล้ว

    How was the casino!?

  • @raynaud1324
    @raynaud1324 ปีที่แล้ว

    You guys didn’t mention the Grand Dutch Cafe, it’s the best!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      We did enjoy the Grand Dutch Cafe! 😋

  • @debmoser2739
    @debmoser2739 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your reviews! Would you say the vibe of the crew is high energy and friendly..like Carnival or more reserved..like Princess? Also, how was the casino vibe? The reason I ask is we had an experience on Princess that sent us running back to Carnival. We love the high energy and friendliness of the crew on Carnival.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Crew is more laidback but still very friendly!

    • @debmoser2739
      @debmoser2739 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise Thank you!

  • @BobMathews-t4n
    @BobMathews-t4n ปีที่แล้ว

    I found it interesting that the Nieu Statendam does not have a full stage show. All of the other Holland ships I have cruised on did have full stage shows. Based upon what was presented here-in I'll avoid the Nieu Statendam, The other ships I have sailed on do have stage shows. I am a 4 star mariner so I have sailed with them a lot.

    • @benjaminsmith2287
      @benjaminsmith2287 ปีที่แล้ว

      Probably was specific to that sailing or they did and the hosts of the channel didn't catch it.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      @benjaminsmith2287 All stage shows were canceled the week we were on due to a tragic accident onboard the week before.

    • @benjaminsmith2287
      @benjaminsmith2287 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JJCruise That explains it. And very sorry to hear this.

  • @dougkeirnes4540
    @dougkeirnes4540 ปีที่แล้ว

    My wife and I like HAL a lot and we are 4 star in the loyalty program. That said, you guys nailed all of the good and not-so-good about them, especially the hamburgers at The Dive-in. They are not good. The music onboard is, like you said, quite good.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Doug! We are so happy to hear as a loyal HAL Cruiser that you agree with our review! 🥳🙌🏽

  • @StillPooh62
    @StillPooh62 ปีที่แล้ว

    Does the 15 drinks/day limit apply to everyone, or just to those who purchase a drinks package?

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That’s a great question! We only know for sure that it applies to the drink package such as though the Have It All package that many cruisers get when booking.

  • @aneamarlivana172
    @aneamarlivana172 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You got one of the good Holland America ships. I didn't. I got the old, crummy Zaandam. The friend with me said that the food was pedestrian. I replied that it was more like it was crawling...maybe one small level above Denny's. The Pinnacle Grill, which is expensive and doesn't come with the cruise package, is excellent and the food there was superb. My stateroom had obviously been photoshopped in the photo I was shown while booking the cruise, because that soft, golden glow wasn't there in reality. The room was gray and almost dingy. There were cigarette burns in the carpet and the desk top. The couch appeared to have been there for decades. There was either grout or calk smeared on a couple of the tiles in the corner of the bathtub and the stopper in the sink in the bathroom had rust all over it. All of the bathroom fixtures were very outdated. The TV would not work while we were in port, and sometimes would freeze up when we were at sea. The staff, however, were excellent. The cabin steward and his assistant were especially wonderful. For several evenings running the steward would fashion various animals from towels and facecloths and would leave them on the bed. Among them were an elephant, a swan, a small bear, and a large bear.

  • @lorenadugan6355
    @lorenadugan6355 ปีที่แล้ว

    When you cruise upscale, the more up you go the more casual, nice casual, is true. You won’t find sloppy shirts graphic ts and flip flops at dinner. There is more respect and comfort in this type of dress.

  • @carolparker3977
    @carolparker3977 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi y’all! Loved all your videos about this cruise ship. I’ll be sailing on the Nieuw Statendam in December, for my first HAL cruise, so thanks for all the good info. Sounds perfect for me! Can’t believe I have to wait til next March to go on the Celebrity Silhouette cruise Jared booked for me. 😉 Anyway, thanks for another great video! Take care and safe travels! - Chanukah Carol

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey Chanukah Carol!! We know you will have a wonderful December Cruise on HAL! 🥳

  • @mjfreespirit
    @mjfreespirit ปีที่แล้ว

    You guys need to redo the ship. They just came out of dry dock

  • @benjaminsmith2287
    @benjaminsmith2287 ปีที่แล้ว

    No, no, no, HAL is not snooty. Celebrity can be kind of snooty at times by comparison.
    HAL is about the lounge life and dancing and that's what I love. They give you great food and venues. The pool, OTOH, is much less lively than most other cruise lines but that's their style. There's more enrichment and less rah rah activities but there's still fun stuff going on because the people just enjoy HAL. And the interaction with the crew is great. The wait staff is professional yet extremely friendly and engaging. On Celebrity, while they are accommodating, many of them keep a professional distance so it's a different feel onboard. HAL is a really wonderful cruise line and I think the Pinnacle class, at least for me because of the variety of lounges, is a more complete ship for a variety of premium cruisers than the Celebrity Edge ships. You just don't get the variety of dance venues on those Edge ships. The Royal Princess ships, OTOH, also have a fantastic variety of spaces for different types of premium cruisers.

  • @HollyPlake
    @HollyPlake 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Do females wear jeans to dinner or is that not allowed?

    • @mariewilliams8835
      @mariewilliams8835 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It's absolutely fine with a dressier blouse. Nobody is going to say a thing unless your jeans are ripped.

  • @louiselanthier5135
    @louiselanthier5135 ปีที่แล้ว

    I did enjoy the burgers on the Zaandam (smaller ship). Other than that, your review was spot on compared to my experience on HAL!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts!! 🤗

    • @seashelify362
      @seashelify362 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We enjoyed the burgers & the fries were amazing on our TransPacific cruise on the Noordam (last October). Our first HAL cruise… A week tomorrow we are doing a TransAtlantic on Holland America. We really loved it.

    • @MyTravellingShorts
      @MyTravellingShorts ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Love the Zaandam

  • @jaimemiranda4908
    @jaimemiranda4908 ปีที่แล้ว

    Let's hit those 40k's !!!

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks Jaime!! 🤗🥳

  • @billybob7088
    @billybob7088 ปีที่แล้ว

    15 drinks....dang

  • @danielberge3800
    @danielberge3800 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sorry your fast casual food was not that good. We have traveled HA 15+ times. We absolutely look forward to the Dive in and the Pizza. We have experienced many times on the Koningsdam and it never fails to impress. We usually end up at the pizza shop right at closing 11:30 PM. It it always great. 😊

  • @truetexangirlj6280
    @truetexangirlj6280 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Loved 11:57 moment ❤ showed a peek of genuine sweetness 😊

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Aww thanks! We love that moment too 🥰

  • @snufflesdawg1934
    @snufflesdawg1934 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I sailed on HAL in my 20s and 30s and we did feel that they catered to the older clientele over younger passengers. We hate long dinners, so would rush to the main dining room to be the first ones seated, but we were always the last ones to order and be served. It was annoying, and we considered complaining, but chose not to as our poor waiters were often saddled with demanding older passengers, who would complain about everything and were never satisfied. I've worked customer service jobs before, so I understand that the squeaky wheel often gets the goods.

  • @7horsemomma
    @7horsemomma ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow! If you do not tell folks or adorn yourself with your loyalty pin or gold card no one knows where you lay your head.
    Signed - repeat incognito Penthouse passenger!

  • @mjfreespirit
    @mjfreespirit ปีที่แล้ว

    I didn’t have to use my extension cord

  • @kimcarr7409
    @kimcarr7409 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love HAL, the first cruise line we sailed on and still cruising them 20 years later. A couple of notes: The sea view pool (aft) is adults only. I usually talk to the bartender at the beginning of the cruise to ensure that he is kicking out the kids. If that is done for the first day or two, it's usually devoid of kids for the rest of the cruise. However, the sea view area itself is not adults only, they just can't go into the pool or hot tub. I have also found it difficult to get noticed at a bar to get a drink. I've overcome this by just ordering from a server. I'd appreciate it if you mentioned at the beginning of the video that you were comped the cruise. It just seems like an ethical thing to do.

  • @alessiazaccaro
    @alessiazaccaro ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey my mom and I were on that same cruise with you both..ahah saw ourselves in your video..have to say good review but i can definetly say we seemed to be the youngest...only thing i have to say was the entertainment needs a step up if it wasnt for the bb kings we would have probably be in bed by 9 lol😅 ...as for the food no complaints ....if you want to just relax and go on a quiet vacay than this would be right for some people .
    Stay blessed..p.s you gained a new follower ;)

  • @erj1230
    @erj1230 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    BB King’s BLUES club. Not jazz. BB King was the preeminent blues master and this venue is named for him, and presents blues and R&B. There’s a big difference between blues and jazz.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey Cathy! Yes, just a slip of the tongue. B.B. King’s Blues Club. ☺️

  • @SDU1969
    @SDU1969 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Surely all reviews should be honest, otherwise....

  • @cruisecrazy7066
    @cruisecrazy7066 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    If you liked Holland America, you will LOVE Princess. Same stuff as Holland, but better, and with big stage shows.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing!

  • @superhussein
    @superhussein ปีที่แล้ว

    why did you start fights with other passengers?

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Not sure if you watched our video… no fights occurred on our sailing that we are aware of 😅

  • @butalina
    @butalina ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice BUT, I will stick with the cruise line I have been sailing with since 1990....Celebrity.

    • @JJCruise
      @JJCruise  ปีที่แล้ว

      Totally understandable! ☺️