I tried HOLLAND AMERICA Cruise Line despite the BAD REVIEWS- Here are my thoughts!

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Have you sailed onboard Holland America? What was your experience? If not- what is holding you back from cruising Holland America?

[@raybrown8887]

HAL was our first cruise to Alaska, in general we loved it, good food, good thermal suite the music walk was great, the only thing we found a little lacking was the production shows and not many specialty dining options. The good they did offer was great and loved the pizza and the Dive In. Might try them again but we have kind of settled in on NCL, we are trying Princess summer of 26. Doing the Panama Canal in Feb 25 can't wait. As far as HAL being for older crown, I'm fine with that we are in late 60s and mid 70s really didn't care for the one Carnival Cruise to Mexican Riviera ship and food was fine but crowd was young and loud, not for us.

[@charleneclausen328]

We have been on 13 HAL cruises to many destinations, some as repeats. 3 of those have been on Koningsdam. We will be embarking on an 18-day cruise on Koningsdam next month. As senior citizens, we like that there are fewer children onboard (except over Christmas). There are multiple educational opportunities onboard as well as recreational games (pickleball and basketball). If all goes well, we will also be doing a cruise around the Iberian Peninsula in 2025. Sail on!! 😊 Note: I do not want to be on a ship with 6000 other people or a party cruise ship (like Carnival).

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

@@charleneclausen328 13 HAL cruises is amazing!! I plan to sail with them more in the future! Enjoy your upcoming cruise!

[@laurad4839]

I have cruised HAL to Alaska (amazing to see Glacier Bay) and the Eastern Caribbean. I am taking my daughter on the Pacific coast itinerary in April, on the Konigsdam, so was very interested in your review. I definitely appreciate the laid back vibe, the heavy emphasis on music, and the fact the food in the buffet is served to you, not a grabby free for all. Plus i think the crew were the nicest of the lines I've been on.

[@Momoftwins566]

I thought your review seemed very fair and well thought out, given your experience. I have a cruise booked on HAL and am very much looking forward to it. Just a couple of things that really attract me are the smaller ships, the library and the wide-ranging room service menu, which is included. Thank you for your thoughts.

[@kikky811]

We just came off a Christmas cruise on Holland’s Rotterdam, also our first HAL cruise and we loved it. We have cruised Royal, Disney & Carnival previously and decided to try Holland as they had an excellent price with their kids sail free offer. We are just about/early 40s and had a teenager with us too. The cruise was a 9 night S.Caribbean sailing and we had about 400 kids 0-17 onboard. The teen club had daily activities for the teens & they also loved using the sports court. I was worried and hesitant too for the same reasons you mentioned, but it was such a quality cruise in terms of service & food. Never felt crowded (not like Carnival anyway) and if we wanted to party, there was enough going on. I don’t think we’d take our teen on Holland during the off season, but for Christmas it was absolutely perfect. Plenty of families and kids, but not overrun with kids.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Oh wow!!! This is great to hear! 400 kids! I’d love that on Holland. I have fallen in love with Holland but was unsure about taking the kids at the moment. This might change my mind. I was curious how it would look during a caribbean cruise. Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing.

[@marshacallahan3348]

Thanks for this information. You have definitely opened my mind about this cruise line.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

You are very welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@Ednabug]

Here watching! Definitely interested in this as I just won a free cruise on this line and I’m thinking of checking it out

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Oh nice!!! Congrats on the big win!

[@iriswagstaff]

Great review! I would love to try a fjords or Iceland cruise on Holland

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

That is on our list to try!

[@daveduffy2823]

I’ve noticed long cruises have older crowds. They got the free time and the money, so it makes sense. I’ve noticed on my cruises, a lot of older people head back to their cabins after the shows are over. Then we 40 to 60 something’s take over! Smaller ships are nicer because you get to meet people more easily because you run into them a lot. My wife and I prefer them.

[@luciejackson2164]

Ive cruised HAL 2x both 4 day short ones like yours, but on the Zaandam. Agree the food was fantastic but I did find it boring. To explain, even the crew said, try a bigger ship. Our activities were limited and the ones we were interested in were cancelled with no replacements. Only one trivia a day. ( no prizes- not a big deal but still would like to win a pen or something) the orange party was the only nightclub like activity but only on the first night. After that, dancing ended at 10pm. Piano bar till 11 then zzzzzzz. I am booked on the Koningsdam in Aug for Alaska, with my old soul daughter. Your review has given me hope it will be an enjoyable cruise with just enough to do yet still be relaxing.

[@michelleellis6954]

I have sailed twice on HA while in my 20's and found it way more enjoyable and peaceful than any other line. It is a more mature crowd. The food was amazing! The staff was the friendliest! And when a group of us decided this past spring to go to Alaska next year, this was my cruise line of choice! 28 years after I sailed with them I chose them again!

[@wendyNJ13]

Thank you so much for keeping it 100% when it came to the diversity question. I definitely wanted to know and that was needed information. Love love love your channel and watching your Vlogs. Keep up the great work.

[@aecs422]

We're sailing on HAL Oosterdam, to South America/ Antarctica cruising, 22N (Jan-Feb 2025). So leaving in about 2 weeks. Husband and I are looking forward to this bucket list cruise. This cruise was recommended by Gary Bembridge (Tips for Travelers).

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Oh wow!!! That is going to be an amazing cruise! Definitely on our bucket list! I enjoy Gary’s content! Have a fantastic time!

[@dianawiggins3791]

I’ve currently got cruises booked on Royal, Carnival, NCL and MSC and this video certainly made me think a little harder about trying Holland America. Thanks for your thoughts. Merry Christmas.

[@pallavigarg938]

Love your videos! Did you vlog this whole cruise? I’d love to see all the videos!

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Thank you! Yes there are 3 videos available for this series.

[@Natalie2000]

My kids loved Holland. We had a much older cruise with Princess on the Crown, we were all dying even my mom 🤣 My kids and nieces and nephews loved Hollands kids club. Holland has some of the best food! ♥️

[@virnataijeronyager7741]

Thanks for this. We've never sailed HAL and we booked the Koningsdam for Alaska next summer. I'm nervously excited about it. We're not into the water parks and rock walls, so that won't be a thing. We do like live music and good food.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

You will have an amazing time in Alaska! The live music is top notch for sure! Thanks for watching!

[@jeanahrens8919]

Make sure you try the Tamarind. Amazing food!!

[@michellepj8809]

Great info RacQuelle.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!

[@MyCruisingFamily]

Thanks for providing your feedback. Great review!

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@theangelsgrandma6338]

I’m cruising on the Holland America Rotterdam in March 2025 as a solo cruiser. Looking forward to it.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Hope you have an amazing time!

[@ralphandritashow4904]

So far we’ve only sailed Carnival, but in 2026 we are trying HAL Rotterdam. Looking forward to it.

[@TeamReeseTravels]

Never tried HA but you have it on my radar now!

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Definitely give them a try!

[@MrCristian12332]

I will be sailing in Holland hope fully on 2027 to Norway, the ships does a lot of port stops in that area.

[@Ontos0353]

For us, HA is more than great. In Sept 2025 we will be 4 star Mariner. I can not comment on the others lines but HA fits us perfectly. The Crew are great, Food Great, comfort great. BTW first went to sea when I was 8 weeks old. I have done a lot of blue water sailing and now being older HA fills all of my needs to be at sea. Only down side...........flying........ Long ago I flew Aeroflot, sort of the transit bus of the sky and US airlines were great. Well......... US airlines today are just another bus with wing.

[@christineE9301]

HAL is my cruiseline if choice. It is not stuffy or pretentious but is laid-back and welcoming. It is a cruieline that is great for sailing to interesting places with interesting, well traveled people that care more about learning about the destinations they will be traveling to and relaxing, and less about being entertained by the ship. They do have excellent quality music. If you need to be entertained by the ship, it is probably not the cruieline for you.

[@angelaharmon2543]

😂 I'm the opposite. I've not got on any of the "Amusement parks" on water because I don't want to be around Unruly children or adults. Prefer the laid back vibe and relaxation of Holland.

[@thecoatesfamilynet]

One thing to remember on HA is as the crusies get longer the crowd tend to get older. I think there a couple reasons for that. Younger people that are still working may not have enough time off . Also the longer the more cost. We have only done two crusies on HA . We have a 35 day on the Koningsdam next February. I am guessing my wife, who is 55 will be one of the youngest on the ship.

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

I can totally see that. It makes sense. Holland offers many long cruises- which are perfect for those who are retired. Have a great time on your cruise! I loved Koningsdam.

[@jeanahrens8919]

@@thecoatesfamilynet you are very wrong.

[@thecoatesfamilynet]

Wrong about what? ​@@jeanahrens8919

[@daveduffy2823]

Nothing wrong with that. Older people go back to their cabins earlier, so you have no crowds.

[@PrinceDaniel-eq8je]

Hey fam

[@MHFamilyAdventures]

Hey there! Thanks for watching!

[@PrinceDaniel-eq8je]

@@MHFamilyAdventuresyw

[@aimeerogers4542]

Tamarind is my favorite restaurant on any Cruise line.