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Hi, Thanks for posting your review. I was on the same cruise and greatly enjoyed the ship. The Rotterdam has very attractive public areas (especially the main Dining Room) and is extremely well maintained. Overall, I was very pleased with the food and service. I was in a Vista Suite midships on Deck 6 (this is a nice balcony stateroom but not really a suite). I tried three of the specialty restaurants for dinner (Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, and Canaletto) and enjoyed all of them. I also was pleased with the main Dining Room. The food in the Lido Market was okay, but this area usually was very crowded. As an alternative, I liked breakfast (the bagel breakfast sandwich) and lunch (the delicious pizza) at NY Pizza and Deli. I also enjoyed some light meals at the Grand Dutch Cafe. The only disappointment was the entertainment in the World Stage (main theater) each evening. The shows were very modest and there was not a live band to support the dancers or guest singer. The main entertainment on the Celebrity Beyond (I cruised on this ship in February) was much better. However, I enjoyed the live entertainment in B.B. King's, Billboard Onboard, and the Rolling Stone Rock Room. This alternative entertainment helped make up for the modest shows in the World Stage. I enjoyed the Origin Story (a review of Holland America's 150 years) and the City on the Sea (a look behind the scenes) in the World Stage. This was a great cruise and I definitely recommend the Rotterdam. Chuck

Hi, I am booked on the Rotterdam's cruise departing on Nov. 24. I received my bar code a couple of days ago and my check-in time today.

Hi, I am looking forward to boarding the Ascent on February 18, 2024. I am a big fan of this ship class (cruised on Apex in April 2022 and Beyond in February 2023). It will be interesting to see how this ship differs from the Beyond.

Hi, Thanks for your post. I am looking forward to boarding the Rotterdam on November 24.

Hi, Thanks for posting these photos. I'm glad to see the QM2 is getting a fairly substantial refit. The QM2 is still my favorite ship that currently is in service.

Hi, I cruised aboard the Queen Elizabeth in August 2023 and thought the ship looked great. This was my first cruise on the Queen Elizabeth since 2012. I think the ship is holding up very nicely.

Hi, I am booked on the Queen Anne’s first World Cruise (98 days from New York to Southamptom). It departs in January 2025.

Hi, I am booked on the Rotterdam this November and the Queen Anne's Maiden World Voyage in 2025. It will be interesting to compare the two ships. I think that Cunard did an excellent job of distinguishing the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Victoria from the Holland America ships that are built on the same general platform. I have cruised aboard the Zuiderdam, Westerdam, and Eurodam as well as the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. I am hoping that the Queen Anne (especially the public areas) will be similarly distinctive from the Holland America Pinnacle Class ships.

Hi, I cruised aboard the Queen Elizabeth in August and never received a survey. I was surprised that Cunard did not ask for any feedback.

Hi, This seems to be a standard email. I am cruising aboard the Rotterdam to the Southern Caribbean in November. I received the same email, but none of the ports for my cruise (Aruba, Curacao and the Bahamas) requires a Visa. Chuck

Hi, My first sailing with Cunard was a transatlantic crossing on the QE2 in June 1984. This crossing was with my parents, brother, and grandmother. We booked a pre-cruise package with Cunard and spent several days in Paris and London prior to the crossing. We left Southampton late and sailed very quickly to Cherbourg. One of the sea days was very rough and they placed "deadlights" (covers) over the portholes. This was a five-day crossing and the ship plowed through the rough seas like a true ocean liner. Despite the weather, we arrived at New York on time. There were interesting lectures in the theater during the day. Many of the public rooms (Queens Room, Double Room, etc.) still had their original decor. The sliding dome recently had been installed over the pool on Quarter Deck. This area was used as disco at night. Two large tenders (Alpha and Beta) were added in new davits on either side of the dome. The ship still had its original engines and funnel. By this time, the funnel was painted in the traditional Cunard red/orange shade. We were assigned to the Tables of the World Restaurant (termed "Transatlantic Class" at the time). Separate afternoon teas and evening entertainment were held each day in the Queens Room for First Class passengers and the Double Room for Transatlantic Class passengers. However, we had full run of the ship. There weren't any physical barriers between the classes. This was a very enjoyable crossing! I eventually sailed aboard the QE2 seven times between 1984 and 2005 (three crossings and four cruises). The QE2 remains my all-time favorite ship. I am booked on the Queen Anne's Maiden World Voyage in 2025 and hope to visit the QE2 during our stop in Dubai. In September 1994, I took a cruise on the Vistafjord with my grandmother from Southampton to Barcelona. Edwin Newman was the guest lecturer during our cruise. We attended all of his lectures and I had my picture taken with him. Following the cruise, we booked a two-night post-cruise Cunard tour to Madrid. There were only about 25 people on this tour. Because Mr. Newman and was wife were on this tour, we had the opportunity to talk with them on several occasions. They were very pleasant. The Vistafjord was a wonderful and very elegant ship. Chuck

Hi, I booked a cruise two days ago as part of the $99 deposit sale. This is a cruise on the Volendam to Canada/New England in May 2024. My booking includes a lot of items (upgraded beverage package, upgraded internet, $100 shore excursion credit, one specialty restaurant meal, and gratuities). I think I received a good deal.

Hi, I am booked on the Queen Anne's 2025 Maiden World Voyage (98 days from New York to Southampton followed by 8 days on QM2 from Southampton to New York) as a solo passenger. This will be my first very long cruise, but I have taken many cruises solo. In my experience, Cunard is an excellent choice for solo travelers. There are many opportunities to meet people (afternoon tea, dinner, shore excursions, etc.). I recently cruised solo aboard the Queen Elizabeth and had a wonderful time.

Hi, Thanks for the information. I am cruising aboard the Rotterdam in November. I will be sure to pack an orange shirt.

Hi, At this point, I am not able to book reservations in the Rotterdam's MDR using the Navigator app. However, I will keep checking. Maybe reservations will become available closer to the cruise. Thanks, Chuck

Hi, I booked Tamarind, Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto.

Hi, Thanks for the information. On the bright side, this will only be an issue for me for six nights (it is a nine-night cruise and I have booked specialty restaurants for three nights). Hopefully, I won't have a long wait if I agree to join others at a table. Chuck

Hi, Other lines (such as Celebrity and Cunard) with open seating allow people to make reservations so that they don't have to wait for a table. People are not required to make a reservation, but it prevents waiting for a table. On Cunard, there were separate lines at the open dining entrance for people with reservations and people without reservations. I asked if it is possible to make reservations on the Rotterdam so that I don't have to wait for a table. I am afraid that if I show up without a reservation, I will encounter a long line and need to wait a long time to be seated. In your experience, are there long waits on Holland America for tables? Should I try to dine before or after the peak dining time to avoid a wait? Thanks, Chuck

Hi, Thanks for the information. I recently cruised aboard the Queen Elizabeth and had open dining. I was able to make reservations for each evening during the cruise on Cunard's app. When I arrived at the dining room each evening, I was asked if I would rather dine alone or join another table. It was nice to have the choice. Chuck

Hi, I am booked on the Rotterdam's nine-day Southern Caribbean cruise that departs on Nov. 24, 2023. Because it has been many years since I have cruised with Holland America, I have some questions concerning open dining. I have already made dinner reservations in three of the specialty restaurants. Is it possible to make reservations in the main dining room when you are assigned to open dining? I cruised on the Celebrity Beyond earlier this year and was able to make advance dining reservations for each night. Also, I am booked on this cruise solo. If I am able to make a reservation in the main dining room, will I have choice of dining alone or joining another table? Thanks, Chuck

Hi, I recently cruised aboard the Queen Elizabeth (Aug. 15-22, 2023) and had open dining. This is on the lower level of the dining room (Deck 2). As noted above, you are not assigned to a specific time or table. However, you can use the Cunard app to make dinner reservations once you are on the ship. I did this for each evening and never had to wait for a table. I sailed solo on this cruise. When I arrived at the dining room, I was asked if would rather dine alone at a table for two or join a larger table. Chuck

Hi, I don't mind the collage of Cunard items in the new mural, but I could do without the graffiti. Yes, the art gallery was heavily promoting Mr. Brainwash items during my cruise. Chuck

Hi, Please note that my photos of the new mural were taken before it was officially unveiled. The artist was scheduled to board the ship after my departure and make some "finishing touches" to the mural. I am not sure if any changes were made. Chuck

Hi, I was aboard the Queen Elizabeth when they installed the new mural. I took the first photo at the beginning of my cruise so that you can see the prior artwork that was in this space. Chuck

Hi, I recently cruised aboard the Queen Elizabeth from Vancouver to Los Angeles (Aug. 17 - 22, 2023) and had a wonderful time. The ship looks great (I previously cruised aboard this ship in 2012) and I enjoyed the food (particularly, my dinner one night at the Verandah). This was my 20th sailing with Cunard (my first Cunard sailing was a crossing on the QE2 in 1984), but my first time on Cunard after the pandemic. The lectures during my cruise were excellent and the entertainment was fine. However, I realize that this varies by sailing. In particular, I enjoyed the afternoon tea and met many interesting people. My favorable experience on the Queen Elizabeth made me feel better about my decision to book the Queen Anne's 2025 Maiden World Voyage. I wore a tuxedo on the Gala Night and a sports coat on the other evenings. After the cruise, I spent one night on the original Queen Mary in Long Beach (which I also greatly enjoyed). Cruising certainly has changed over the years (my first cruise was in 1967), but I thoroughly enjoyed my recent time on the Queen Elizabeth. Chuck