frodo63
April 16th, 2008, 12:37 PM
Many people have expressed concerns about whether Holland American is suitable for children. I travelled with two girls, one 12 the other 15. I have to admit that in the first few hours my girls were thinking they may have been better off if they had skipped this cruise. When I asked why, they complained that there were no young people to hang out with. "Too late now" I told them. They would have to make the best of it and not make me miserable in the process. By the time we went to dinner, they had totally changed their minds. I thought they had found kids their age to be with. They had actually been to the teen club, but my girls did not find they had a lot in common with most of the kids there. There were a few though, and while not utilizing the club a lot, they had fun with their new companions.
They love the ship. they think it is beautiful. They enjoyed meeting the cruise critic members, the mocktails, and were quite satisfied with the meals. The music played in the public areas was new enough to have them singing along. They only attended a couple of shows, but did like the ones they saw. They spent time on our balcony and found they enjoyed the privacy from time to time.
By the end of the cruise, I was amazed by the things they told me. They could tell me what some of the passengers had done for a living, about another travelling alone whose wife had died of cancer, how many days others had sailed on Holland America. It floored me that on their own, they found out that "old" people are not so bad to talk to.
I was strongly encouraged by them to book a future cruise. They feel they could live on the Westerdam.
I did see the younger participants of the kids program out and about occasionally. Once at the illusionists show, once eating icecream. They all seemed happy enough.
They love the ship. they think it is beautiful. They enjoyed meeting the cruise critic members, the mocktails, and were quite satisfied with the meals. The music played in the public areas was new enough to have them singing along. They only attended a couple of shows, but did like the ones they saw. They spent time on our balcony and found they enjoyed the privacy from time to time.
By the end of the cruise, I was amazed by the things they told me. They could tell me what some of the passengers had done for a living, about another travelling alone whose wife had died of cancer, how many days others had sailed on Holland America. It floored me that on their own, they found out that "old" people are not so bad to talk to.
I was strongly encouraged by them to book a future cruise. They feel they could live on the Westerdam.
I did see the younger participants of the kids program out and about occasionally. Once at the illusionists show, once eating icecream. They all seemed happy enough.