Westerdam E. Carib review Feb 6 - 13

[sunnysask]

:) Our Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Westerdam was everything I thought it would be after reading the great reviews on this board. Our room (outside obstructed) was great and the food was better than I expected. The friendly staff live up to their reputation and really do add to the cruise experience. I would love to get the recipe for the bread pudding! We started our cruise with a three day visit to Key West and fell in love with the place. We had way too much fun, it reminded me of a cleaner version of New Orleans and was a nice extension on a 7 day cruise holiday.

Notes:

- stayed at the Sleep Inn the night we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, it is a long ways out but was clean and had a good Italian restaurant nearby as well as an airport/cruise shuttle

- we had late dining 8:30 pm (would prefer 8:00 but made due), requested a table for 8, ended up with a table for 6, but only one gentleman ever showed up. He was great company and we later met people that joined us at out table a couple of evenings. I walked through the Lido one evening and was impressed at their evening setting and would probably opt for this in the future for a more casual dining option. Heard good reports on their evening meals.

- entertainment we saw was good, enjoyed the band in the Ocean bar each night before dinner

- we did two ship excursions: Golden Eagle catamaran and Virgin Gorda both were pricey but convenient and great! Half Moon Cay was beautiful.

- stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 post cruise, great hotel, loved the marina

- only down side ...... gale force winds that created rough seas the first two days

I’m not much for detailed reports and most has been covered on the board already but I will gladly answer any questions.

Thanks

[ColumbiaMDCanadian]

We've ben up late planning a March break cruise and were looking at the one you were just on. Same cabin category.

Stupid question: just how 'obstructed' are the cabins? We had a (supposedly) obstructed cabin on RCCL and the lifeboat was sufficiently below the window to give a view of the sky and some sea. Not a big deal at all.

How long did it take you to get on/off? (Some have reported 'issues'...)

Thanks for the input,
M.

[dexter]

You are correct about the gale force winds. We were on the Mariner the same week and we saw the Westerdam in Nassau. It is a beautiful ship.

[ruthiegirl]

We were on the Westerdam Feb. 6-13, I don't know about the obstructed because we had a balcony which was nice, but departation was great! We stayed in our cabin until our color was called then proceeded to where they told us to go, the easliest departation ever!!!!!

[sunnysask]

Stupid question: just how 'obstructed' are the cabins? We had a (supposedly) obstructed cabin on RCCL and the lifeboat was sufficiently below the window to give a view of the sky and some sea. Not a big deal at all.

Not a stupid question, we had a full floor to ceiling window (cabin 4114) and the boat was directly in front but we could see the promenade deck and ocean below and the blue skies above. Some days while in port they even lowered the boat and we had a full view. A full view (G category) would be really nice and may be our choice for the next cruise.

Embarkation was slow, long lines, but we spent at least 45 min waiting for the shuttle to pick us up at the airport car rental drop off (which was a nightmare - they had just moved to their new location at the airport so they have a few kinks to work out) but patience prevailed and we were on the ship soon enough.

[ColumbiaMDCanadian]

...at least 45 min waiting for the shuttle to pick us up at the airport car rental drop off (which was a nightmare - they had just moved to their new location at the airport so they have a few kinks to work out)...

Thanks for the input! Which rental company was that? (I'd like to try and avoid them...;)

I hear you about the 'G' category... we'd love to go up to a balcony but there was just too much difference in $. [We'd thought about doing one balcony and an inside for the kids but...] We're booked for 4105