u/867-53-oh-nein

No I’m not asking about the weather. Facilities, terrain, snow making capacity, return of open air parking lot trailers, etc…

Great content from SavageGeese on the new Grand Sport and LS6.

Our Alaska cruise on the Eurodam included some genuinely wonderful experiences, but Holland America ultimately was not a good fit for us.

The highlights were the ship, our neptune suite, and many of the crew members we interacted with. Our suite was spacious, and the large balcony was one of the best parts of the trip. It gave us a quiet place to sit, enjoy the scenery, and take in Alaska without fighting for space in the public areas during "rush-hour" times. The Eurodam is also surprisingly well maintained for a ship of its age. It rarely felt tired or run-down, and the ship itself has a comfortable, classic atmosphere.

Many staff members were warm and lovely, particularly our servers in the main dining room. However, service in the lounges, pool area, buffet, and bars was inconsistent and often surprisingly inattentive.

This was our first Holland America cruise, after previously sailing with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. On those cruise lines, staff regularly circulated through lounge and pool areas to ask whether guests needed drinks or anything else. On the Eurodam, we were mostly ignored unless we approached someone ourselves.

At breakfast and lunch in the Lido Market, we were offered water only about half the time and were never proactively offered other beverages such as coffee or juice. During the entire week, we were offered a coffee refill exactly once. While we understand that some buffet beverages may be self-service, the overall level of attentiveness was substantially below what we experienced on our previous cruises. The bartenders also tended to operate at a glacial pace and were often slow to acknowledge guests waiting at the bar. The drinks were generally decent once they arrived, although quality varied noticeably between venues.

Our biggest disappointment was the food.

We ate most dinners in the main dining room, where the servers were excellent, but the food itself was consistently underwhelming. Seasoning was extremely restrained, sometimes to the point that dishes seemed to have little or no salt or pepper. Meat was frequently overcooked.

More strangely, many dishes tasted as though someone had played a game of telephone with the original recipe. The food often looked roughly like what it was supposed to be, but the flavors were noticeably off. Indian and Asian dishes were generally edible, but rarely tasted authentic or well balanced. Tamarind was the best restaurant we tried, but even there, the panang curry included an assortment of random vegetables that felt disconnected from the dish. My wife ordered lasagna one evening that tasted genuinely unpleasant, as though the wrong herbs had been added.

The lack of food options outside the main meal periods was also frustrating. Between roughly 8:00 and 10:30 p.m., the choices were essentially pizza, dessert, or fruit. We are accustomed to ships offering more variety throughout the evening, even if it is only casual food, sandwiches, snacks, or a small buffet selection.

The passenger demographic is another important consideration. Holland America has a reputation for attracting an older crowd, and this Alaska sailing absolutely lived up to it. Approximately half of the passengers were part of a large church group, which pushed the average age even higher than usual (according to staff, not my opinion).

The bars and activities were generally quiet, and when there was organized entertainment, it usually was not our style. The ship often felt very subdued, even during the evenings. There was also a lot of slow movement through hallways, elevators, and buffet areas because many guests needed additional time or assistance. There is nothing wrong with that, but forty-something and younger aged travelers should understand the atmosphere before booking.

We met some genuinely lovely people, along with a few less pleasant ones, but it was clear that most passengers were simply in a very different stage of life than we are.

I can see why someone looking for a quiet, traditional cruise with minimal daytime activities or nightlife might enjoy Holland America. The Eurodam is attractive, the suites are comfortable, and parts of the service were excellent. However, travelers who enjoy lively ships, attentive service, varied food options, and a broader mix of ages may find the experience disappointing.

This was our second Alaska cruise and I will say we should not have skipped the Alaskan Lumberjack show in Ketchikan on our first trip. It is silly, but it is a lot of fun. and the all-you-can-eat crab feast afterward was a don't miss stop for crab lovers. The ports, including glacier bay were amazing, and getting on and off the boat was accomplished very speedily.

Based on this sailing, I would not recommend Holland America Eurodam to most travelers our age who want a more energetic cruise experience. We are glad for our experience in Alaska, but we probably will not cruise with Holland America again.