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| WJ's Top Travel Pick Viv & Jill's Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise ~ Overview 12-Night Mediterranean Romance Cruise June 3-15, 2011 Article & photos by Viv Chapleo & Jill Hoelting August 2011 |
A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life.
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WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website
is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses
or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online travel resource.
WAVE Journey is your one-stop online resource for women-oriented travel businesses & services
around the world.
WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website
is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses
or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online travel resource.
"Do you think the crew will notice if we don't get off the ship at disembarkation tomorrow?", I queried of Jill, only
half-joking. After all, our 12-day Holland America Line Mediterranean Romance cruise had been outstanding in every
way and we were not ready for it to end. From start to finish, in every department and at each turn, Holland America's
newest ship, Nieuw Amsterdam and her superb crew had delivered beyond our expectations and we truly wished we
could stay on board and do it all again. This was our first ocean cruise in over 3 years as we'd sworn off the big ships,
mainly because we love the intimacy and relaxed atmosphere of canal and river cruising so much. But, with so many
WAVEJourney.com readers asking for ocean cruise recommendations, we decided to bite the bullet and give Holland
America Line the chance to wow us back to ocean cruising... boy, did they ever!
half-joking. After all, our 12-day Holland America Line Mediterranean Romance cruise had been outstanding in every
way and we were not ready for it to end. From start to finish, in every department and at each turn, Holland America's
newest ship, Nieuw Amsterdam and her superb crew had delivered beyond our expectations and we truly wished we
could stay on board and do it all again. This was our first ocean cruise in over 3 years as we'd sworn off the big ships,
mainly because we love the intimacy and relaxed atmosphere of canal and river cruising so much. But, with so many
WAVEJourney.com readers asking for ocean cruise recommendations, we decided to bite the bullet and give Holland
America Line the chance to wow us back to ocean cruising... boy, did they ever!
| Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam in Dubrovnik, Croatia |
1 of 15 | Next
| Explore More of WJ's Holland America Line Mediterranean Romance Cruise Overview | Itinerary | Photos | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | |
Note: Nieuw Amsterdam cruises in the Mediterranean
from spring to fall and then the Caribbean in winter.
from spring to fall and then the Caribbean in winter.
Holland America Line had, in our opinion, chosen a diversified
and interesting itinerary for the June 3, 2011 Mediterranean
Romance cruise from Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain including
Dubrovnik, Corfu, Argostoli, Santorini, Catania, Naples, Rome
and Livorno. With overnight stops in the embarkation and
disembarkation ports (Venice and Barcelona) and a full day at
sea on the leg between Santorini and Catania, we felt this
12-night cruise would give us a good mix of history, culture,
excitement and relaxation. We were not to be disappointed!
Nieuw Amsterdam is considered a mid-sized ship in today's
world of behemoth floating villages that are upward of
220,000 tons, carry 6000+ passengers and 2100+ crew. We
found the glamorous and New York City-inspired Nieuw
Amsterdam a much more manageable ship to become
acquainted with and find our way around during our cruise.
With gross tonnage of 87,000 tons, length of 935 ft., width of
106 ft., maximum speed of 24 knots, maximum guest capacity
of 2106 and crew of 926 we were thrilled with our cruise
experience and pleased with the spaciousness and comfort of
our inside stateroom - cabin 4029. Throughout the ship we
observed beautiful floral arrangements, fabulous art work,
subtle, understated and relaxing colors and furnishings, which
all added to the feeling of staying in a deluxe boutique hotel.
and interesting itinerary for the June 3, 2011 Mediterranean
Romance cruise from Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain including
Dubrovnik, Corfu, Argostoli, Santorini, Catania, Naples, Rome
and Livorno. With overnight stops in the embarkation and
disembarkation ports (Venice and Barcelona) and a full day at
sea on the leg between Santorini and Catania, we felt this
12-night cruise would give us a good mix of history, culture,
excitement and relaxation. We were not to be disappointed!
Nieuw Amsterdam is considered a mid-sized ship in today's
world of behemoth floating villages that are upward of
220,000 tons, carry 6000+ passengers and 2100+ crew. We
found the glamorous and New York City-inspired Nieuw
Amsterdam a much more manageable ship to become
acquainted with and find our way around during our cruise.
With gross tonnage of 87,000 tons, length of 935 ft., width of
106 ft., maximum speed of 24 knots, maximum guest capacity
of 2106 and crew of 926 we were thrilled with our cruise
experience and pleased with the spaciousness and comfort of
our inside stateroom - cabin 4029. Throughout the ship we
observed beautiful floral arrangements, fabulous art work,
subtle, understated and relaxing colors and furnishings, which
all added to the feeling of staying in a deluxe boutique hotel.
| Nieuw Amsterdam Greenhouse Spa & Salon |
Dining aboard the ship was a delightful experience and offered plenty of cuisine options sure to please any palate.
With seven restaurants available throughout the day for passengers to choose from, serving everything from pizza
slices to lamb burgers to Pan Asian cuisine to Italian to Le Cirque fine dining (and more), we thoroughly enjoyed the
abundance of beautifully presented delicious fare. This was not a cruise that we would leave without gaining a few
pounds.
With seven restaurants available throughout the day for passengers to choose from, serving everything from pizza
slices to lamb burgers to Pan Asian cuisine to Italian to Le Cirque fine dining (and more), we thoroughly enjoyed the
abundance of beautifully presented delicious fare. This was not a cruise that we would leave without gaining a few
pounds.
| Nieuw Amsterdam Manhattan Dining Room |
Shipboard entertainment was varied and generally good to excellent with live music taking place in the bars and
lounges from early to late evening, nightly performances in the Showroom at Sea, and dancing in lounges and at the
Northern Lights Disco.
lounges from early to late evening, nightly performances in the Showroom at Sea, and dancing in lounges and at the
Northern Lights Disco.
A trip from which we come back excited and raving about is
always a good sign and this cruise is one we're still riding
high from. Holland America Line and Nieuw Amsterdam
delivered more than we had anticipated and we're thinking a
January 2012 14-day Eastern and Western Caribbean
Collectors' Voyage is looking like a mighty fine idea.
always a good sign and this cruise is one we're still riding
high from. Holland America Line and Nieuw Amsterdam
delivered more than we had anticipated and we're thinking a
January 2012 14-day Eastern and Western Caribbean
Collectors' Voyage is looking like a mighty fine idea.
| Jill in Nieuw Amsterdam's Explorations Cafe Library |
Our Holland America Line cruise aboard Nieuw
Amsterdam had renewed our love of ocean cruising
and spoiled us completely. We met many like-minded
folks of all ages (majority within the 40-60 years
range) and made many new friends. We also not only
expanded our waist line with all the delicious meals,
but had expanded our minds with new travel
adventures and fulfilled decades-long dreams by
visiting destinations we had only read about in books.
It had been a tremendous voyage, one we were sorry
to see end, but we now have the Holland America
Line itch – that's the one that makes you want to go
back soon and cruise with them to other amazing
destinations!
Amsterdam had renewed our love of ocean cruising
and spoiled us completely. We met many like-minded
folks of all ages (majority within the 40-60 years
range) and made many new friends. We also not only
expanded our waist line with all the delicious meals,
but had expanded our minds with new travel
adventures and fulfilled decades-long dreams by
visiting destinations we had only read about in books.
It had been a tremendous voyage, one we were sorry
to see end, but we now have the Holland America
Line itch – that's the one that makes you want to go
back soon and cruise with them to other amazing
destinations!
| WAVE Journey.com Women's Adventures, Vacations & Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
TM
| Explore More WJ Trip Recommendations |
Jill had last sailed with HAL back in the '80s, this was my very
first HAL cruise and we were seeking an active itinerary with
many new-to-us ports of call, premium service and all at a
reasonable price. Nieuw Amsterdam, at just under a year old
at the time of our cruise, with a capacity of 2106 passengers
(we decided that she was the maximum size we would
consider sailing on for this trip), and 10 ports of call scheduled
for a late-spring sailing fit the bill perfectly.
first HAL cruise and we were seeking an active itinerary with
many new-to-us ports of call, premium service and all at a
reasonable price. Nieuw Amsterdam, at just under a year old
at the time of our cruise, with a capacity of 2106 passengers
(we decided that she was the maximum size we would
consider sailing on for this trip), and 10 ports of call scheduled
for a late-spring sailing fit the bill perfectly.
| Nieuw Amsterdam in Santorini, Greece |
| Tamarind Restaurant Dim Sum Lunch |
For those that needed more stimulation, the daily schedule,
“Explorer”, offered an endless array of activities to keep even
the most restless busy. There was always something to do
between our time in port, lounging by the pool or catching up
with the latest news in the Explorations Cafe Library: talks
about upcoming shore excursions and port information from
Travel Guide, Tom; classes in food and entertaining - the art
of towel folding and entertaining made easy – with Party
Planner, Ashley; technology classes with information on
cameras and computers; well-being classes with Lifestylist,
Sebbastian - encompassing everything from a sunrise stretch
class to tai chi on deck to a golf chipping challenge and
learning to salsa; trivia challenges with Cruise Director Gene.
“Explorer”, offered an endless array of activities to keep even
the most restless busy. There was always something to do
between our time in port, lounging by the pool or catching up
with the latest news in the Explorations Cafe Library: talks
about upcoming shore excursions and port information from
Travel Guide, Tom; classes in food and entertaining - the art
of towel folding and entertaining made easy – with Party
Planner, Ashley; technology classes with information on
cameras and computers; well-being classes with Lifestylist,
Sebbastian - encompassing everything from a sunrise stretch
class to tai chi on deck to a golf chipping challenge and
learning to salsa; trivia challenges with Cruise Director Gene.
| Viv & Jill Dine at Nieuw Amsterdam's "An Evening at Le Cirque" |