Volendam - CHRISTMAS 2005 ???

[melissa76]

HI everyone!

I've never been on HAL, and I'd love to get feedback on a Christmas cruise on the Volendam. I'm looking at the Dec 19-26th cruise.

What do you think of the ship?

What is Christmas like on HAL?

Any other opinions?

Thanks a lot!!!!
Melissa :)

[josee]

Hi, we are just back from the Volendam, Dec 16-26.
It was a wonderful cruise - this was our first cruise and trip to the beach for everyone in our family. The ship is beautiful and well decorated. All cabin doors have a small wreath on them and there are Christmas trees in a few but strategic places. Well done IMO. We were booked on an inside cabin on the main deck (deck 2) and were very happy with it. Dark enough to sleep in, big enough to change and when we wanted to see the ocean, we would go up on other decks or the Lido thus allowing the others to sleep. We had two rooms, one for my DH and myself, and the other one for my daughters.

There were few children - 65 under the age of 18 out of 1400 passengers. They had a lot of attention and were pampered by the crew and club HAL who would look out for them. It felt like a big extnded family - everyone knew our names from day one.
Christmas eve was a sea day - wondeful and relaxing and our last formal. The kids did some carolling on deck 5 and the Lido and took part of the great pretenders show. The crew also performed some Christmas shows on various nights and at the main dining room. It certainly did not feel like the usual Christmas eve celebrations that we are accustomed too (being french canadian) but they did have a midnight mass. Christmas day was the best. Santa was identified on the radar and picked up by a tender. It was funny to see him sitting in front of the tender with his elves assisting him. The kids (and adults) were excited to see him and the were offered small gifts. The rest of the day was spent on Half Moon Key. It is a beautiful beach with sand soft like flour and when wet, it feels like you are walking on cookie dough. There was no Christmas celebration there. There was some Christmas music on a reggae beat from time to time and a BBQ. The ribs just melt in your mouth!! As it was our last travelling day, it was very relaxed and casual. Everyone had a smile on.
I will post pictures soon.
I would be pleased to answer other questions as well.
Josée

[CaptData]

Thank you for your review.

[melissa76]

Thanks so much! I'm really trying to make a decision here and I've never been on HAL!! So I'm pretty clueless.

Thanks again,
Melissa :)