Great video. We were on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam and Celebrity Solstice last month. I would agree with you for the most part. The one advantage of the buffet setup is that you get your food and sit down and the staff serves you your beverages. I never had problems finding a seat and could take my plate into the pool area or the back of the ship. On the Solstice, it was hard to ever find a seat and then you had to get your plate, your beverages and your silverware. There was so much cutting in line and the lines were long
Yeah long lines are never fun. We did the Enchanted Princess a few weeks ago and there was never lines and tons of seating. I’m starting to think that was because there was tons of specialty restaurants on board and therefore less people in the buffet:) So we may be more strategic on picking ships in the future to make sure they have a lot of specialty restaurants ;) Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
This was great information, thank you. I am leaving for my Alaskan Cruise on the Eurodam in a week. I appreciate the info regarding buffet vs. dining. On the one hand I'm glad to hear that they are serving at the buffet which in my mind reduces the chance of norovirus and such, but know what to expect regarding the time spent in line is good to know. This video is very informative and lets me know what to expect in many very helpful ways. 🤗
Thank you this sounds perfect for us. We are going for our 15th anniversary but leaving our 5 kids at home. I want to see Alaska but also just have restful down time when not in port.
Thank you! I really appreciate your entire Alaska video series and your honest final review. I want to do a 7-day round trip from Seattle and definitely want Glacier Bay included. That narrows down the options and as of this moment, Holland/Eurodam is the choice. Is the service at the buffet due to Covid and for hygiene purposes or to make you feel more pampered? If due to Covid, I am curious how long that will continue or is it just how it will be on Holland ships from now on.
They were serving us back in 2017 & 2019 also so I believe it’s just to pamper you. It really isn’t to horrible or anything just takes a little more time than other cruises. Have you cruised other cruise lines? When do you plan on going? Sorry not trying to ask a million questions just trying to assist anyway I can.
Holland tends to have cruises that pamper you and you feel pretty spoiled after it’s all done. If you’ve never cruised in the past you will love it. If you’re someone who wants to get your food and then move onto the next thing there is usually ways to strategize. You could be there right when buffet opens and be at front of the line or show up maybe an hour after it’s been open and lines are pretty mellow as well. The pizza / salad place by the pool is usually pretty mellow also the hamburger walk up counter can be mellow at times also. But Holland has the free room service also if you’re not wanting to even go to the buffet lol so there is options.
We love traveling on Holland and on Princess and both offer Glacier Bay. So if you didn’t want someone serving you on a buffet you could go with Princess. We usually watch and see which one of them has the best deal before booking.
We plan on May or June 2025. Honestly, we won't mind being served and needing a little extra time to eat. The break from fast-paced society and fast food mentality will be most appreciated. 😉
Great video. We were on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam and Celebrity Solstice last month. I would agree with you for the most part.
The one advantage of the buffet setup is that you get your food and sit down and the staff serves you your beverages. I never had problems finding a seat and could take my plate into the pool area or the back of the ship.
On the Solstice, it was hard to ever find a seat and then you had to get your plate, your beverages and your silverware. There was so much cutting in line and the lines were long
Yeah long lines are never fun. We did the Enchanted Princess a few weeks ago and there was never lines and tons of seating. I’m starting to think that was because there was tons of specialty restaurants on board and therefore less people in the buffet:) So we may be more strategic on picking ships in the future to make sure they have a lot of specialty restaurants ;) Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!
This was great information, thank you. I am leaving for my Alaskan Cruise on the Eurodam in a week. I appreciate the info regarding buffet vs. dining. On the one hand I'm glad to hear that they are serving at the buffet which in my mind reduces the chance of norovirus and such, but know what to expect regarding the time spent in line is good to know. This video is very informative and lets me know what to expect in many very helpful ways. 🤗
Hope you have an amazing trip Melissa! You may get a bunch of sales at the shops because it’s the end of the season also, wohoo :) Thanks for watching
Thank you and for the entertainment on sea day do they have trivia? Love and marriage show? Bingo?
@@102810281028nl I created a post for you with the schedule for sea day th-cam.com/users/postUgkx01CDZeK21rIqWbnpbCgW3XGhD2yTd4S_?feature=shared
Yeah there is a lot to love about it that’s for sure! Enjoy your trip and congratulations on your 15th anniversary, we just had our 15th anniversary;)
Thank you this sounds perfect for us. We are going for our 15th anniversary but leaving our 5 kids at home. I want to see Alaska but also just have restful down time when not in port.
Thank you! I really appreciate your entire Alaska video series and your honest final review. I want to do a 7-day round trip from Seattle and definitely want Glacier Bay included. That narrows down the options and as of this moment, Holland/Eurodam is the choice.
Is the service at the buffet due to Covid and for hygiene purposes or to make you feel more pampered? If due to Covid, I am curious how long that will continue or is it just how it will be on Holland ships from now on.
They were serving us back in 2017 & 2019 also so I believe it’s just to pamper you. It really isn’t to horrible or anything just takes a little more time than other cruises. Have you cruised other cruise lines? When do you plan on going? Sorry not trying to ask a million questions just trying to assist anyway I can.
Holland tends to have cruises that pamper you and you feel pretty spoiled after it’s all done. If you’ve never cruised in the past you will love it. If you’re someone who wants to get your food and then move onto the next thing there is usually ways to strategize. You could be there right when buffet opens and be at front of the line or show up maybe an hour after it’s been open and lines are pretty mellow as well. The pizza / salad place by the pool is usually pretty mellow also the hamburger walk up counter can be mellow at times also. But Holland has the free room service also if you’re not wanting to even go to the buffet lol so there is options.
We love traveling on Holland and on Princess and both offer Glacier Bay. So if you didn’t want someone serving you on a buffet you could go with Princess. We usually watch and see which one of them has the best deal before booking.
We plan on May or June 2025. Honestly, we won't mind being served and needing a little extra time to eat. The break from fast-paced society and fast food mentality will be most appreciated. 😉
@@Serenityhounding Sounds like a great cruise then for you guys :) The dining room experience is great also if you don’t want to do the buffet.