First time on Holland America... I did not expect this! Boarding Volendam in Montreal!

[@timtim36457]

Bravo for being passionate about solo cruising and brave to check out HA especially their older ship! It's a very low key, subdued line with good food and excellent service, free room service and reasonable prices. I've gone solo on Koningsdam twice! And I've sailed VV and Royal solo. Enjoy your trip. Look forward to hearing more about Volendam.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you! I very much enjoyed this cruise on HAL and can’t wait to check out their other ships! 😊

[@bz8047]

How does HAL compare to VV and Royal? I heard good things about VV from friends and that they liked VV even better than Royal

[@timtim36457]

@@bz8047 VV is great..go for it !

[@firesunearthmoon8999]

I’ve been on 2 smaller ships & tend to enjoy them more. Can’t wait to sail HAL for the first time.

[@TravelWithBen121]

That cabin is huge, only 2 outlets is crazy, old ship for sure! I love the Lido on deck 8, indoor pools on ships are so cool. Small but beautiful ship! I'm excited to watch this series 😁

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@TravelWithBen121 thanks, Ben 😊 it’s crazy how the smallest ships often have the biggest cabins!

[@jjackson8667]

There is a third outlet in the bathroom at the light fixture. Standard HAL room setup.

[@angelaharmon2543]

So glad you are on Holland! My first cruise (solo) was this year on Konningsdam . I fell in Love with cruising and Holland. A big plus for me was little to No kids there. It was more relaxing that way. Plus they had the best service all around.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@angelaharmon2543 totally agree! This was a holiday cruise (4th of July in the US) so there were more kids than there probably are on a typical HAL cruise, but it was still minimal compared to some of the other cruise lines. I very much enjoyed my cruise, and yes, the service was amazing! 😊

[@eileenloring6660]

My husband and I just got off the Volendam; 24 days NE, Canada, Greenland and Iceland. We loved the ship and it really becomes “home” in that length of time. I watched your video because I miss it! I also did research prior to going. It’s a good idea to bring a little fan in the cabin; I found it most helpful at night but our cabin was never too warm. ( deck 2- #2611) There was always a lot to do and wonderful entertainment every night plus bingo, trivia, movies, casino, tastings, music, etc… We really prefer this size ship; never too crowded or overwhelming to navigate. The service was wonderful, loved our captain and the rest of the staff; everyone was so engaging! It is definitely an older crowd - 60+ which being in that age bracket we appreciated the activities geared to that generation. It is definitely not a “party” ship. Your video and narrative was the best I’ve seen. Hope you enjoyed your cruise!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@eileenloring6660 thank you so much!! Wow, what an amazing itinerary, sounds like an incredible trip! I agree that having a fan made a big difference at night, I never leave home without mine! I really enjoyed my cruise and am looking forward to trying out the other ships in the HAL fleet! 😊

[@breadroomghost8764]

You can get a fan from your room steward so you don’t have to pack one

[@jlawrence0181]

Several comments: 1) I thought that your review on HAL was very fair and accurate. 2) ALL HAL ships have a FULL Promenade deck that runs the length of the ship Any of the larger ships do NOT have cabins on Deck 3 that open to the Promenade. 3) I really did not see much that was unfamiliar after three cruises and 35 HAL ships. All the ships are very comfortable, very relaxing and devoid of negative surprises. 4) We tried NCL once on the Epic and honestly, never again. We have five of our next sic cruises on Princess and HAL. 5) We wanted to try a TA on Virgin in April but the ship leaves San Juan before we return to Miami from another cruise. Looking forward to your next videos as we have been looking for an Eastern Canada cruise for 2026.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thanks, good info! I agree with you about NCL Epic, it’s the one ship I actively avoid booking for various reasons, but the rest of their ships and itineraries are fantastic. I’ve yet to try Princess but have been deal hunting, and very much looking forward to trying HAL again on one of their newer ships!

[@pamelajudson2302]

I have been on three HAL cruises…my sister has been on thirty. I love their ships and have loved the cruises I’ve been on. I can’t wait until I go on another HALF cruise. I hope you enjoyed the cruise.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Yes, I definitely did! Can’t wait to check out their other ships and itineraries! 😊

[@jamestg4]

It is a beautiful ship, better looking than most of the big ships.

[@Hawkeye2001]

We took the following cruise: 24 days, Boston, Canada, Greenland & Iceland. It was our second time on the Volendam. I love HAL's smaller ships, and their more intimate itineraries.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Wow that is an incredible itinerary!!

[@amyk3328]

Thank you for this video. I love that it's real and not super edited. I'm doing research for our first cruise we are planning to go on for our 20th wedding anniversary and we are leaning towards HAL New England destination and this is the ship we'd be on. It was nice to hear an honest review and see a stateroom in normal light during morning and evening time....oh and taking a shot of the menu, thank you!!! That was a brilliant!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

thank you so much!! 😄 researching the ships and ports is half the fun for me, hope you have a wonderful 20th anniversary, congratulations!

[@norberteng9496]

Hi Meredith, thanks so much for taking us along on the Volendam. Me wife and I will be on her end of Aug for a 10 day cruise from Montreal through Newfoundland to Boston. This is our first time on a HAL ship. Will spend 2 days in Montreal before the cruise. We really enjoyed your Prima series. Will go on the Prima next fall. Can’t wait.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Oh wow, that is exciting! I had a wonderful time on this cruise and hope you will as well! More videos to come each week from these ports! 😊 Prima and Volendam couldn’t be more different, but as I always say, I’ve yet to meet a ship I didn’t like 🤩

[@amandaregis313]

If you enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, you'll love it. This was our first ocean-going cruise (Boston to Montreal June 22nd to 29th), and hubby and I were looking for laid-back rather than hyper. We spent plenty of time in the ports, the Ocean Bar, Crow's Nest, and Piano Bar. The Dance Troop, Breton Thunder, and the comic shows were very entertaining, too. Our first night, we celebrated our 39th anniversary with dinner at the Pinnacle Grill. Amazing meal! If you got the Have it All and are still deciding on which specialty dining, I fully recommend it. In the main dining room and specialty restaurants, they pull out and seat the ladies and lay your napkins on your lap. I haven't seen that type of etiquette since a Canadian Military Candle-Light Dinner in the 80's. Enjoy!

[@FraserAtSea]

I've actually not seen much content from this ship before - she looks gorgeous, and a lovely little size! I've only cruised once with HAL - on Rotterdam - and I was so impressed with my experience!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

I agree! Really liked the ship, she's older and small but cute and classic! Very much looking forward to trying out HAL's newer ships because I really enjoyed this line!

[@PaulPatricio]

Saw your vlog for the first time, Hope you enjoyed the Volendam as much as I enjoy all the Holland America ships.. Looking forward to watching more.. Enjoy cruising, I know I do..

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@PaulPatricio I really did! Can’t wait to check out their other ships; after sailing on Volendam and really liking the whole experience on HAL, I know I will definitely enjoy their other ships as well! 😊

[@JeffMelsonVlogs]

Can't wait to follow this itinerary! Congratulations on 2k subs!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@JeffMelsonVlogs thank you so much! ☺️

[@kellybrown8638]

I LOVE these smaller ships

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@kellybrown8638 me too!

[@gracexpeace]

So awesome to see you try a different cruise line! My mom and dad will not abandon Royal Caribbean because of all the points and equity they've accumulated. But I want them to try another cruise company so they can see diff parts of the world! I'll show my mom this video and will hopefully encourage her to go outside her comfort zone! Also, Covered pool deck is AMAZING! such an awesome feature!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@gracexpeace thanks Julian!! I know the feeling about having those loyalty perks, that’s what keeps me going back to NCL! But it is so cool to try a new cruise line and experience something different, and a totally new itinerary. Will be trying another new line in September as well! 😊

[@williamclark-s3o]

Holland America has wonderful European itineraries.

[@jjackson8667]

@@MerCruisesSolo We have sailed HAL long enough to have 'earned' (paid for over time) 5 Star status ie. free laundry, tender priority, etc, but anyone can enjoy the basic same perks if they were to pay for Club Orange. Pricey, but might be worth it for those who are used to earned perks from other cruise lines.

[@josephshakal9017]

Thanks for the (non-travel agent "salesy") tour. We went on a 15 day Zaandam cruise, similar to that ship. Met lots of really nice people from across the US and Canada. We realized that if you want something, anything, just ask your steward. They did a great job of managing the sliding roof. One nice thing on this cruise line is that the pools were always super clean.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@josephshakal9017 all great points! I really enjoyed my first time on HAL, looking forward to trying out their other ships and itineraries!

[@johnbuckley8324]

First of all...CONGRATULATIONS on passing 2K subscribers! 🙂 I'm glad to see your channel doing well. I'm looking forward to this series because Holland America is the last major cruise line I'm looking at booking. As a new cruiser (4 total), I've been booking various cruise lines to see which one fits my style. So far I've done NCL, Royal and Princess with Carnival and Celebrity upcoming. Although Volendam has a few years on her, I found that Sapphire and Sky Princess (20 years apart) had a similar vibe and venues. So, comparing Volendam with others in the line should be useful. Cheers!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@johnbuckley8324 thank you so much!! I also have a Celebrity cruise coming up and very interested to see how it stacks up against HAL, VV and NCL. I am very impressed with how well NCL and HAL have maintained their older ships, a refurb goes a long way in keeping them looking refreshed and updated! 😊 now to experience one of HAL’s newer ships, have heard great things!

[@johnG-l3p]

Thanks for sharing your experience on Holland America !

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@johnG-l3p thank you for watching 😊

[@yzermaniac1]

Will be doing this very itinerary on the Volendam in September, so thank you for this series. Love the detail you put into each day's review. Some very good and useful info :)

[@Tom-pw2ni]

I love Holland America. I'm 57, so I now fit their demographic, but I have enjoyed cruising with them for the last 30 years. They do attract an older clientele, but that is due to the ambiance onboard, comfortable and relaxed with great service and good dinning. I'm so looking forward to your reaction to the Volendam.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

I really enjoyed this cruise and the Volendam! A perfect ship for this itinerary, lots of time in port and only one sea day!

[@Kay-ov3ld]

FIRST ❤ Can't wait to watch you on this journey! Your norwegian cruise inspired me to cruise there before it's no longer allowed, and I can't wait to see what the Canadian and new England cruise inspires in me as well. Thanks for allowing us to experience this with you ❤

[@MerCruisesSolo]

I’m so happy to hear that, thank you! Hope you have a wonderful cruise to Norway, it truly is incredible. Canada & New England are very different but beautiful in their own way! 💕

[@jayrow5029]

Glad you enjoyed HAL’s Origins story. I’ve gone to it 3-4 times over the past few years, and still enjoy it every time. Confident you discovered HAL opens their retractable roof as soon as it’s nice enough to do so. I love this feature!, as it ensures I can still enjoy the outdoors on rainy/chilly days and keeps the inside spaces less crowded. Yay! I solo-cruise HAL’s oceanview cabins often and enjoy being lower on the ship and closer to the water. Love having that little sofa, plus on newer ships HAL’s design team flipped the layout and the sofa sits by the window - brighter and more enjoyable. (And have a mini-fridge, proper TV screen, and USB ports 😉). Don’t get me wrong - I think their smallest ships are sweet, cozy - plus they can tuck into smaller ports. Glad KZbin’s algorithm offered you(r channel) up to me. Will be back.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@jayrow5029 thanks so much for watching! Yes, the retractable roof did open up a few times throughout the week, we had wonderful weather for most of the cruise! Looking forward to trying out one of their newer ships! 😊

[@bonitoclub]

We saw the 150 years of HAL presentation on Nieuw Statendam. I like the look of the smaller ships too, especially as Volendam can begin in Montreal instead of Quebec City as most ships do, and it looks like it's being well cared for.

[@northwestman1]

Another enjoyable cruise video. I’ve never sailed on Holland before so I’m interested on how your adventure goes. Thanks for sharing Mer

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@northwestman1 thank you!

[@PatrickWagz]

That was really great. I look forward to checking out the rest of your cruise.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you!

[@kerryharder2416]

Wow welcome to Canada 🇨🇦, this cruise looks amazing so far.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@kerryharder2416 it was such a great cruise and itinerary!

[@SIGCruiser]

Great vlog. I’m looking forward to my first solo Holland America cruise this year. Yes, I’m very curious about the solo meetups and if anyone will be there. But I’m like you. It’s great to meet other solos but I don’t look for cruise buddies.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you!! 😊 The one thing I forgot to mention in the video is that they only do the solo meetup on the very first evening - so don’t miss it on the first day, as it doesn’t seem like there is another opportunity to meet other solos!

[@amandaregis313]

Hubby and I did the June 22nd Boston to Montreal on board her. We were on the Lower Promenade. It looks like you're on Dolphin Deck. Yep, no fridge, but ice is delivered. It was our first ocean-going cruise, so boarding was pleasantly easy. Given its age, for us, it was quite comfortable. Certainly not the double bunk North Sea Ferry, 31 years ago with our 18 month old and 5 1/2 year old sons, or last summer's river cruise on board the Canadian Empress (a replica riverboat traveling the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers).

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@amandaregis313 yes I loved that the ice was refilled every day, didn’t end up needing the fridge because I could just keep my water cold with ice! I was on Dolphin deck and yes I agree that despite its age, the ship was well maintained and comfortable! Glad you enjoyed your cruise 😊

[@oldgadfly8398]

It can also be interesting to have them seat you with random open tables for dinner. You can meet all sorts of characters.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Oh I bet! 😄

[@noelreynolds4861]

This was a really well done video! This was my first time watching this channel, but I think I'll find other videos from this trip and watch.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

thank you! this is the first one of the series, the rest will be coming out over the next several weeks!

[@mikeandrews9551]

Montréal is such a beautiful and underrated city.

[@Patrick-oe6rt]

Another great video....thanks Mer for posting. Hoping to book my first ever solo cruise soon ...so these videos really help.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@Patrick-oe6rt thank you! So glad to hear that! 😊

[@GeorgiaGirl100]

Loved your video. So helpful. I am doing this cruise in a few weeks. Will be my first cruise ever. So excited but praying it cools off some. I wanted sweater weather. Proud of you for cruising alone. Very courageous.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@GeorgiaGirl100 I would bet it will be sweater weather when you go! There were a few times it was chilly on my cruise even in July! Would love to do this itinerary during the fall when the leaves are changing, I’m sure it’ll be beautiful!

[@MathewLauren]

This is definitely a cruise line we want to try

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@MathewLauren I was pleasantly surprised! Will definitely sail with HAL again! 😊

[@robertpendzick9250]

HAL is our favorite line, rarely disappointed. One of the best bargains at sea is their unlimited laundry package. Buy before you go, and you can pack less and always have fresh clean clothes. And with loyalty it becomes free! "Welcome home" when they say this they mean it.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@robertpendzick9250 I love free laundry as a perk! That is one thing I really appreciate with my NCL loyalty status is unlimited free laundry, makes it so much easier to pack less!

[@ronparis6393]

I go on board this ship with my daughter over Christmas 2024 for a cruise of the Southern Caribbean. By watching your presentation, I have a much better understanding of what to expect. It provides some excellent information and also gives me some valuable tips on what to bring. Your comment about the limited electrical outlets is just one example. I have some questions for my travel agent as well based on what you tell us. I will watch the other videos in this series and certainly will subscribe to you as well. Thank you for doing such an excellent, informative and ‘clear-cut’ presentation. My wife and I used this line to do a cruise through the Panama Canal. That was NOT a great experience, I hope this upcoming cruise is better.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@ronparis6393 thank you so much, glad to hear you found the videos helpful! I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful Christmas cruise! 😊

[@phwlee]

I took the Rotterdam to Alaska from Seattle back in 2011. I thoroughly enjoyed the Holland America ship and the cruise. Your video brings me back to that time. I think most of their ships are/were similar.

[@joanevans3872]

thankyou meredith, ive not travelled on Holland America, and really want to, I am a solo passenger too, NOT wanting to 'meet' anybody, just find friends who enjoy travellining and cruises - I've cruised on Celebrity and QE2 .and Princess ..and think Holland America would be a good fit for me...hope to see more of your posts as they are very informative

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@joanevans3872 thanks so much, Joan! New episodes from this cruise will be out every week, next one is tomorrow (Saturday)! I really enjoyed Holland America as a solo cruiser. I am trying Celebrity for the first time in September and interested to see what a solo experience is like on that cruise line compared to NCL and HAL. Happy cruising! 😊

[@ceemichel]

I took a cruise on the Volendam from Vancouver to Alaska and back in 2014. Nice memories

[@rosebrenner8146]

I am happy that I discovered your video. I am a solo cruiser booked on the Volendam for my first ever Holland America cruise this fall and my first ever non balcony fridgeless cabin. This time, I am meeting up with two other solo fun cruisers I met at another cruise. I hope you'll keep us informed about your experience along the way on the Volendam 👍😀

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Oh wow so they didn't have mini-fridges in the balcony rooms either?! Interesting! Sounds like you will have a wonderful cruise with friends. Thanks so much for watching, hope you enjoy this series! :)

[@rosebrenner8146]

Sorry, misunderstanding, I am like you booked in a window cabin on the 3rd floor. Lanai was sold out, and with mostly port days on our 14-day cruise, I thought a suite would have been a waste of money. I could not see on your video if there is a hairdryer and a plug in the bathroom? Thanks for your great videos. You are a natural ❤

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@rosebrenner8146 yes, there is a hair dryer in the room but I did not see a plug in the bathroom, only the two plugs above the desk (one US one European)! Thank you so much 😊💕

[@barbb]

I have traveled solo on many trips, sometimes on the first night there isn't anyone, but if you see a solo meet up again do go, or I hope you go, there maybe people there Have met some very nice people at these gatherings. Hope you enjoyed your cruise.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Unfortunately they didn't have another solo meetup for the rest of this cruise, but I still met lots of people and had a great time!

[@jlawrence0181]

@@MerCruisesSolo On our last HAL cruise, we connected with a couple of the solo travelers on the cruise. They also noted that there were people attending the solo event. I would say that MOST of the solo travelers we met were widows and not people looking for "action."

[@hettytravels]

Nicely done! Just discovered your channel. I’m a long time, almost 5 star Mariner, on Holland America. Will be on the Volendam for the first time in October. Similar ship to the old Rotterdam 6. Charming. Yes, definitely always bring a non surge extension as outlets are limited.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@hettytravels thanks so much! Volendam was a great little ship and wouldn’t hesitate to cruise on her again! Sounds like you have a lot of past experience with HAL! I’m looking forward to trying their other ships and itineraries!

[@hettytravels]

@@MerCruisesSolo The Pinnacle class ships are super. Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and the newest Rotterdam 7. You would like the Music Walk.

[@lvgrl8221]

Thank you for this! I plan to solo for the first time and am interested in your perspective😎

[@dbs4545]

Really like her ..very informative and refined...keep up the good work

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@dbs4545 thank you!

[@denniscostabile4264]

Loved this video! Most of these are from travel agents, yet you managed to make this genuine and real. Was on the Volendam July 2024, Boston to Montreal and didn't really notice that it's HAL smallest and oldest. I have been on the Rotterdam twice and it's just a larger version of the Volendam with 3 times the passengers. The staff and service on the Volendam was far superior to the Rotterdam.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@denniscostabile4264 thanks so much! I really do love the smaller ships though I am very curious to try out the Pinnacle class ships on HAL and see what the differences are… someday soon I hope!

[@denniscostabile4264]

@@MerCruisesSolo Having been on the Rotterdam twice it just felt like a large version of the Volendam. Its like they used the Volendam as a template to build all of the other classes. I'm curious that there are no new builds planned for HAL in the future, so the Pinnacle Class might be the end of the Line. Owned by Carnival Corp. they might be looking to phase out this brand.

[@MrKn1214]

So glad to finally see you on a non-NCL ship again☺️. Talking about trying different cruise lines , I’ve been doing so since December last year, ( NCL, MSC, Princess,, Celebrity, HAL , Royal Caribbean , ….) at average one cruise per month, I just came back from an 11 day Alaska cruise on the Cunard Queen Elizabeth ( another must try ), and have booked Carnival Venezia to Bermuda and Halifax for September and Virgin Voyages for this coming October to see what’s an adult-only cruise about .😎 PS： forgot to mention that I tried HAL Rotterdam their newest ship to Southern Caribbean in March and had a wonderful experience , absolutely loved their food 😋

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@MrKn1214 wow you have done a lot of cruises recently! I’d love to try every line, but some of them are much less friendly on the wallet for us solo cruisers! I am still keeping my eyes peeled for good deals and unique itineraries, definitely want to try more of HAL’s ships and lots of other cruise lines. Thanks so much for the comment! 😊

[@MrKn1214]

@@MerCruisesSolo you know what Mer, I’ve done most of the cruises SOLO as well, and have been able to find really good deals. For example the Cunard Alaska cruise costed me $1680 including taxes for a single ocean view , really not that bad. MSC has great prices for single room also. By the way I’m going on a HAL again this October for a short 4 days Pacific Coast cruise, only because they offered me a good amount of OBC, ☺️😉

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@MrKn1214 I will keep my eyes peeled for those kinds of deals, that’s great!

[@scapevelocity]

I went on the same cruise a few years ago and loved it. That was on MS Veendam, which was about the same size as yours. Most of my sailings have been on HAL, in part because of a theme cruise I've done every year since 2012. (It moved to RCI for a few years but is back on HAL as a whole ship charter.) I like HAL a lot and have sailed two other non-theme trips with them to Alaska and Baja. I was just on NCL for the first time out of New Orleans, which I did not enjoy. But that's another story for another time.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

It looks well maintained from what I can see. I did this cruise on the Veendam back in the late 1990s. Same trip. Had better weather but rough seas at times. HAL ships have a certain look and charm that they haven't changed even in the newer ships. They have a few new areas but even the newest, biggest ships haven't taken on the NCL Prima/Celebrity Beyond/Dawn Princess type of beige look but continue with HALs style of spaces and ambiance. I like that. I also like the open deck spaces not full with a lot of stuff and wide, wrap-around promenade deck.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

yes, it was very well maintained! The decor was definitely updated recently and the ship was in good condition overall. Outdated in certain areas, but still lovely - I very much enjoyed my cruise on the Volandam!

[@SherriHuber-m4d]

Excited to see your experiences on Holland America. We have taken a couple of New England / Canadian cruises out of Boston and New York. Interesting to see the differences between them. Keep your umbrella close to you! LOL

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@SherriHuber-m4d good advice, definitely experienced plenty of variety in the weather on this trip! 😆

Enhorabuena!! Mer, que lo disfrutes🤩🤩, Nosotros hemos hecho por tierra, esa zona, y nos gustó mucho. Esperamos tus reseñas con ilusión, que seas muy feliz ❤❤

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you! 😊

[@tammypitarch]

Wish I would get notifications. I did subscribe to your Channel and as a Solo Traveler, Love your content 💕 🌊

[@pierrevalliereseafan]

I'm just like you, solo traveler, open to meet others for friendship. I took the Volendam many time, and next time i will be on her is for august 2025. I never go to that solo travelers meeting but i surely will on august. Thx for your video and i hope we meet one day onboard some cruise ship.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@pierrevalliereseafan thanks so much! Hope there are a few more solos that show up to your meeting 😊

[@kiddlesk]

Nice video, new to your channel. I can see the appeal of the Volendam. Built in 1999, a similar age and size to the 8 Renaissance class ships now operated by Azamara and Oceania (4 each). All very popular because of the small (aka boutique) size. I suspect this one will be sold on to a company such as Celestyal who now operate the Ryndam as HAL focus on their larger newer ships.

[@mereniecrosby7120]

I just got off the July 13th sailing! Our Montreal sail away was gorgeous and sunny. Too bad yours was so wet. We were two single/solo neighbors who cruise together sometimes and we had a Lanai 3359. Some thoughts. We found the entertainment good but not enough variety. Also, the house band was kind of dead beat. But Sam the Piano guy was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this ship. Met lots of other solos, and loved the ports. We really enjoyed our dinners and the games room. I loved the included coffee but Celebrity really has a lot more to offer there. The pool was lovely and heated. The vibe could be a bit more fun..seems a little stodgy at times, but having so many ports kept us busy...and yes, the AC is not as cool as it could be. Glad l found your vlog and perhaps we will cross paths in future!

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@mereniecrosby7120 fortunately I had a beautiful sunny day in Montreal the day before, but it was a bummer sail away was so dreary! Those are great observations about the entertainment. I agree that there wasn’t a lot of variety and after a few nights I had seen it all, but I suppose on a small ship that’s typical. I’ll be trying Celebrity in about a month, looking forward to the differences and the coffee! 😊

[@MrXR77]

Great video! Thanks for sharing :)👍👍👍

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@MrXR77 thanks for watching! 😊

[@joelroach416]

I travel solo also and just do my thing and always make some friends.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@joelroach416 yes, exactly, it’s so easy to meet people while cruising!

[@dorothyfreeman5797]

On Holland a balcony is called a verandah.

[@jeewilly321]

Cool looking ship

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@jeewilly321 timeless! 😄

[@bryantmoody1618]

Hay new to channel i enjoyed the videos. I did that cruise from new york twenty year's ago with carnival. Planning it again in 2026 with my fiance. This time Norwegian.

[@COLINJELY]

My last cruise was my first with Holland America. Did South America/Antarctica. My Stewards were great. Sang Happy Birthday to me for my 70th Birthday in Balinese. The Destination was great. The Shipboard experience, meh, underwhelming. No Lincoln Centre Stage or BB Kings Blues Club, what HAL are famous for. Apart from down in Antactica, no enrichment talks. Didn't see any live entertainment during the day, piped music in the Atrium. Where was your chocolate for the turn down service? In October I am doing the Transatlantic on QM2. Happy Cruising 🙂

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@COLINJELY no chocolate showed up until the very last day! Yes, I agree there was little entertainment during the day, fortunately we only had one sea day on this cruise so I was off the ship most of the time!

[@wfodavid]

You are too young! On HAL for the 1st time in Sept and I've been told it's an older crowd for sure. Great food and ports make up for the IMO. Stoked to see a video from someone that isn't a TA.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

It turned out I was far from the youngest on this cruise! There were several individuals in their early 20s and a good number of children. Overall the average age was much lower than I had been expecting - I think because it was a US holiday and only a 7-day cruise so there were lots of families!

[@1flames952]

Do you ever work? 😂. Never cruised with Holland America so looking forward to hearing about your experience. Another of your cruises that is on my list! Really enjoyed your Iceland series on Prima, thank you so much for that, great info next year when we do it. Need to watch your Antarctic cruise series…bucket list for us.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@1flames952 thank you so much! Yes, I do work 😂 but it may not seem like it with the way I space out my videos on here!

[@TheDennisTodd]

I felt so bad for you that you were the only attendee at the solo function. We are frequent Holland America cruisers and if our paths cross, you are welcome to hang with us.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@TheDennisTodd thank you! I don’t mind, I am used to doing my own thing! Just figured I’d give it a try on HAL and seems like this itinerary wasn’t popular with solos 😆

[@MrCristian12332]

Thats the cruise iam using to norway they do a 14 day only norway cruise, including the northern lights

[@chrishiggs7351]

Another nice video, thanks for sharing.

[@lkat5113]

Looks like fun. I’ve never cruised because few lines cater to solo passengers and whatever solo cabins are provided tend to sell out fast. Would love to try a cruise one day….

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@lkat5113 you can often find really good last minute deals as a solo traveler! Check out the website Cruiseplum.com, they have a filter that shows discounted solo pricing 🙂

[@oldgadfly8398]

Holland America does a decent job of keeping things classy. Nice little ship. Looks like fun! 🌎

[@rebeccalyons1327]

I think all of the other HA ships have mini fridges.

[@TheDennisTodd]

You do a very nice job.

[@jdb316]

I’m looking forward to these videos. I went on Koningsdam to Alaska (one of HAL’s newest and largest ships) and I’ll be interested how your experience compares to mine. BTW, I suggest you do a Japan cruise on Diamond Princess. Zach the Travelling Man did it last year and I’m doing it now. Japan is great in its own right and Diamond Princess is really tailored to the market.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@jdb316 I’m looking forward to checking out the other newer Holland America ships, I think I would like them seeing how much I enjoyed Volendam! I would love to do a Japan cruise, have had my eye on a few amazing Asia itineraries, will definitely look into Princess and check out Zach’s vlogs on it as well, thanks for the suggestion! 😊

[@heiker.4549]

Good morning from Bergen/Norway 😊🙋🏻‍♀️ I‘m currently on the cruise ship AIDAluna on a 14 day cruise from Germany to Svalbard. It‘s the 7th cruise that I‘m travelling alone. It could have been my own words what you said about the solo traveller meeting. 😄 I almost never go there, because I don‘t want to be identified by solo travelling men that I‘m a solo travelling girl. 🙈 That might be the end of having my peace and relaxing on holiday, especially because it‘s not the biggest ship either. 😄 I‘m looking forward to your vlogs, love Canada very much. 😍

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@heiker.4549 you said it perfectly!! I avoid the solo traveler meetups for exactly that reason a lot of the time 😂 wow your 14 day cruise sounds amazing! Would love to do a route like that! Thanks so much for watching! 😊

[@dbs4545]

what an awesome host ..

[@harlanabraham7772]

You have my sympathy for only cruising with those two lines in the past. Like older ships and ships that hold less than the ships they are making today. I have sailed on NCL once. They offer a substandard cruise product. You also haven't done part of the video in the casino. You still haven't shown the casino. The Crow's Nest also has a bar inside. How do I know? I went on a different Holland America ship some years ago. I like the early dinning. Quebec is not one of my favorite parts of Canada. Holland America has very good food. You won't starve on Holland America. First time you even mentioned the casino. Am a new subscriber. Will try to catch up on your past videos.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@harlanabraham7772 I’m not a casino person so I don’t really go in there when I’m cruising! In an upcoming video I’ll be doing a full ship tour and will show all of the spaces including the crow’s nest, an area I really enjoyed on this cruise. It was closed on the first day for private events. I don’t find NCL’s product to be substandard, I’ve done 20 cruises with them and been on most of their ships. There’s something out there for everyone.

[@ericzohar1345]

Wow...! When was this ?? I think we were on the same cruise ! First week of may 2024

[@MerCruisesSolo]

This was the first week of July!

[@ericzohar1345]

@@MerCruisesSolo ah ok.. I did the exact same trip and Had the same temperature...

[@mykelmtl514]

We asked our cabin steward for an extension cord since we didn’t do our homework. 😂 They are probably used to this request.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@mykelmtl514 😂😂

[@dgaud2007]

Had the same kind of room for my Alaska cruise

[@TheViewfromBethlehem]

An excellent video, young lady; very informative and well done. This is the first video of yours that I have seen but I have subscribed and will go through many more. I believe MSC Cruise Line's single supplement is currently only 25% on promotion and may be worth your looking into.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Thank you so much! That is good to know, I'll look into MSC! Eventually want to try every cruise line :)

[@NarrativeEscapes]

Solo at the solo travel meetup that is a certain kind if impressive. When I was Prima to Iceland (after or before you I cant remember) I met a guy in the pool who very mucb did the single to mingle thing it was a... fascinating conversation 😊 I'd be interested in what the age range is on the cruise.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@NarrativeEscapes I bet that was an interesting convo 😂 for this cruise the age range was a bit lower than usual from what I heard! Lots of families, especially multi-generational, so the average was probably younger than on the typical HAL cruise. We had a great time as you’ll see in an upcoming video! 😊

[@lorrainehinchliffe5371]

What is the big deal about shower curtains anyway? They aren’t that big a deal. We were recently on a 14 day cruise in a mini suite with the dreaded shower curtain and didn’t have any issues at all. We do go on our first HAL cruise next year so hoping it’s great as we have given up on Princess.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

there's a lot of reasons why folks don't like the shower curtains; for one, they always look dirty, are harder to clean and tend to attract mildew and soap residue. Also, depending on how small the shower is it's very common for the curtain to stick to you while showering, I've heard this complaint from many other cruisers, but glad to hear it didn't bother you at all during your cruise. Hope you have a great time on your first HAL cruise next year!

[@LaszloBagi]

OMG.... only two plugs

[@travelingwithmikeandpam9074]

The bigger HAL ships have a lot more plugs.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@travelingwithmikeandpam9074 good to know! Glad I came prepared; with as many devices as I carry around I would have been in trouble! Looking forward to trying out one of their newer ships! 😊

[@jasonfreeman1963]

The newer Holland ships have USB

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@jasonfreeman1963 I would think so! Even some older ships I’ve been on with other cruise lines added USB plugs during refurbs.

[@dgaud2007]

The promenade deck cabins were Not private my wife and I could see inside inside sooooo no

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@dgaud2007 hopefully there are curtains to close 😆

[@marciaclark7619]

As a frequent Holland America cruiser, I think your comparisons are a little unfair. You have chosen to cruise on the oldest ship in the HA fleet. We have sailed in cabins with a window, inside cabins, and veranda cabins. Every one of those had a refrigerator. And yes, they retract the cover over the pool whenever possible. It was open a few feet on our Iceland and Greenland trip in August 2024. Last year, for comparison, we took a Royal Caribbean cruise, our room didn't have a refrigerator, it had a cooler. I was shocked. Now, you need to book a cruise on a HA Pinnacle class ship! Also, the newer ships have more electrical outlets and USB ports than other lines.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

Hi! I didn’t book this cruise based on the ship, I chose it for the itinerary, so I don’t feel like my comparisons are unfair, they are factual and accurate based on my experience. I would have no way of knowing that any other HAL ship in the fleet has a mini fridge or how often the roof opens, but since this video is a review of my personal experience, I shared the facts so others can be informed. Thanks for watching, I’ll definitely be booking more cruises with HAL on their other ships in the future!

[@Snarkle]

Do you have to eat with others when solo or can u eat alone. I want to take a cruise solo but I hear some cruises want solos to share tables with others. Not interested in that.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

no, you can definitely eat alone! In fact that's what I always do, as I don't like to share tables with anyone else and prefer to dine by myself. Every cruise line I've been on so far has sat me at a table by myself (sometimes they ask if I want to share and I just say no) 😊

[@amesavis]

nice, pretty

[@Retiredtraveler1961]

Was asked to take a cruise on that ship, took a look at their staterooms & said nope! Looks like a motel 6.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

😂 they’re not that bad!! Outdated yes, but clean and spacious!

[@alil7348]

Do you usually always tell people you're travelling solo? Or do you sometimes feel it's safer to make up stories of why you're alone at that moment and that the person you're travelling with is sick in the cabin or something? Do you frequently bump into the same people you've spoken to before?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@alil7348 while on the ship I usually don’t mind telling people I’m traveling solo - the thing I love about cruising is how safe it is! I’ve never felt concerned about being solo on a ship. While on land it is a bit different and depending on the situation I won’t always tell people I’m solo, it just depends on a lot of factors. And yes, I do often run into the same people on the ship!

[@Catavlogs_Site]

Hello :) , we're looking for more cruise vloggers to add to our site, would you mind if i added your channel please?

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@Catavlogs_Site sure!

[@dresadin]

Lite-weight. Can't drink 15 alcohol drinks during a day :)

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@dresadin 😂🤪

[@TheViewfromBethlehem]

​@@MerCruisesSolo I recently watched video about someone who tested the maximum number of drinks in his package - 27 on an MSC cruise - with amusing results. He consumed gallons that day but couldn't face another for the rest of his cruise. (Search YT: "Admiral Tim Cruise Travels, 27 Drinks One day".)

[@alaindupont4611]

Do you speak frensh young lady..😊

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@alaindupont4611 no I don’t, I wish I did!

[@robk236]

Ha ha...had to laugh seeing you on such a dinky ship. Outer promenade on deck 3...wow. Still, 1400 passengers...that must have been pretty nice.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@robk236 dinky but charming! ☺️ my cabin was on deck 1 which definitely threw me off at first because I thought I would be below the water line 😂

[@robk236]

@@MerCruisesSolo yeah, it's definitely a different experience being on a low deck...the water looks a lot rougher out the windows. I usually try for deck 9 on an 18 deck ship, mid ship. My next cruise tho, I'm on deck 15, and if I book one in between, it'll be on deck 17, all the way forward 😯 (both with floor to ceiling windows). Looking forward to your next vlogs.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@robk236 I like being around the mid part of the ship as well! Halfway between the pool deck and the dining/theater/atrium decks 😊

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Dinky? LOL. this ship was considered mid-sized when it came out. Not small. And there are luxury ships that are this dinky as well!

[@markolwick2223]

So much incorrect information in this video. I hope people watching this aren’t basing decisions on it.

[@MerCruisesSolo]

@@markolwick2223 care to share whats not accurate? As a first time HAL cruiser, everything I shared is exactly what I experienced firsthand, so not sure how it could be inaccurate 🤷🏻‍♀️