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Login Oosterdam, a Vista Class cruise ship, brings high style to the high seas with thoughtful upgrades and stunning artwork. Guests will have plenty to do on board when not taking in expansive views or stretching out in spacious staterooms. Begin with an exquisite breakfast in the Dining Room. Unwind with a massage at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, or challenge the family to an air hockey game at High Score!—an Oosterdam exclusive. Indulge in pre-dinner craft cocktails at Ocean Bar, followed by delectable Italian fare at Canaletto.
My husband and I (66 and 62) are just back from 14 nights on HAL's Oosterdam. We chose this cruise for its itinerary, so when we arrived onboard, we had to get over the tired, worn and drab look of this aging ship real fast (and look for the positives) because Oosterdam was going to be our home for 14 nights. I'm happy to report that we did. What the ship lacked on overall aesthetics, was made up for in a wonderful and helpful crew (we had a couple of issues in our cabin that were very promptly addressed), very good food, and excellent entertainment. Now for the breakdown: Cabin: We were in verandah cabin. It was a standard verandah cabin and though it was nothing to write home about in terms of looks, it was clean and comfortable. Plenty of closet space, a bathtub (which was good for keeping shower water off the floor), and all the normal amenities (hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion). It was fine. Our cabin attendants (Danny and Su) were lovely and did a great job. Food: The food in the Lido Market (aka the buffet) was, overall, good. I wouldn't say excellent, but definitely good. Plenty to choose from. My husband and I got in the habit of having egg white omelets for breakfast and make-your-own salads for a late afternoon (or post-excursion) snack. Twice we ate in Lido Market for dinner....first time was after a very long day (on our own) in Barcelona. We just didn't feel like getting gussied up any more than we had to for dinner. The second time was the night before we disembarked. Just wanted to pack up, again not wear anything special, and have a quick bite. We ate in the Main Dining Room (MDR) 10 nights and we had the Anytime Dining time. Only one night (I think it was the very first Dressy night) where we waited 15 minutes on a line to get a buzzer and then an additional 25 to be seated. Otherwise, we'd go between 6:00 and 6:30 and never waited. There were always plenty of options to choose from and the food ranged from very good to excellent. The service was very good as well. The other two nights we ate at the Morimoto pop-up (it's usually Pinnacle Grill). Loved it so much the first time, we immediately booked for the second week of the cruise...and ordered the same exact meals. Yes, we loved it that much. My husband had the pork gyoza dumpling for his appetizer and teriyaki chicken as his main dish; and I had the Tori Ramen Noodle Soup (delish) for my appetizer and beef tenderloin for my main dish. So, so good. My husband had the sorbet trio for dessert and I had the dark chocolate sphere (the second time I ordered it, I took a video of the caramel sauce being poured over the chocolate sphere to reveal the chocolate ice cream inside. Shore Excursions: We did quite a few of them. First stop on itinerary was Livorno/Pisa, but we chose an excursion to the Cinque Terre. It was pretty good (and pricey...$225 pp), though not what we expected. We took a motorcoach to catch a ferry to Porto Venere (town #1). Very cute and scenic. Not there more than an hour. Then another ferry to Monteroso. Well, little did we know that on that ferry ride (25-ish minutes) you're seeing two of the other towns of the Cinque Terre. But you're kind of far away, so they just look like towns on a hillside. Plus I caught a nap (oops). Monteroso, though, was very nice and we had a little tour and free time to grab a bite to eat, walk around and even go to the beach (only a couple people in our group went to the beach). Then a train ride (modern and comfortable) to where our motorcoach was waiting to take us back to the ship. Next day is Portofino. Again, had a pricey excursion ($250 pp) to see Portofino, Santa Margherita and Rapallo. You board a ferry to go to SM, then Rapallo, then see Portofino last. We did not like our guide on this excursion. Her English was too broken and she did not communicate well. Also told us things in the wrong order. Basically would just drop us in a town and tell us to meet back at such-and-such a time. The towns are cute, but really start to look the same. They are all quaint, seaside towns. What we should have done is taken the tender (this is a tender port, not dock) from the ship to Portofino and walked around on our own. It's a beautiful little town with pretty views. That would have been enough for us. In Marseilles, we took an excursion into the heart of Provence and visited the (also cute and picturesque) towns of Gordes and Rousillon. They were lovely, but probably should have just walked on our own into Marseilles. Gibraltar was something special. We did the Stroll on the Upper Rock tour. We got to be both on the rock and in it. Fun (and informative) tour with a husband/wife team that were a hoot. Also saw the famous Macaq monkees. Barcelona: We did it totally on our own. Bought tickets online for Park Guell and Sagrada Familia (tour with visit to one of the towers...very glad we did this). You have to do this, but especially for Sagrada Familia if you want to go inside. Otherwise, you cannot. We took a taxi (20 Euros cash) from the port area to Park Guell. But from there, we walked everywhere else, because now it's all (literally) downhill. Saw all the main (Gaudi) sights. Unfortunately, La Rambla was all broken up and under construction, so didn't have all the feels there. Also, La Boqueria market (which we were looking forward to on the advice of our daughter) was closed because it was Sunday. :-( Ibiza: Time to relax after a long, hot day walking all over Barcelona the previous day, so we walked to Talamanca beach. Less than 20 minutes from the ship. Very nice beach where you can rent lounges and umbrellas, and also many places to get food and drinks. The beach that the cruise line offers is further away and costs $40 pp for just the transportation. We thought that was ridiculous so we researched other options. Highly recommend Talamanca beach if you're looking for a chill day at the beach. Calm bay, soft sand. Alicante: We took an excursion (75-minute by motorcoach) to Guadalest. In the mountains and very beautiful scenery, though we probably would have been fine just exploring Alicante, itself, on our own. Walkable from ship. However, after returning from our Guadalest excursion, we decided to walk to the beach. Shouldn't have. Was a 25-minute walk and very hot out. Beach was very crowded (smiled in pics anyway). Oh well. Live and learn. Malaga: I think this one was our favorite overall. We got off the ship early so we could walk around Malaga a bit on our own. Really beautiful city very close to the cruise port. We went back to the ship in time to freshen up before our excursion to Caminito del Rey. It was about a 70-minute motorcoach to this hiker's paradise. We loved it. Our guide was hilarious, as well. It's a very scenic hike over a gorge. Beautiful, tiring and fun (for us, anyway). Tangier: It was okay. Had a tour of the market/kasbah. I mostly took pics of the cats (that seem to be taken care of) that roam the streets. Probably could have done this on our own as well, but this excursion was not expensive and we learned a few things. We were also taken (by motorcoach) to the area where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Lisbon: This was the end of the cruise for us. We disembarked here, and were able to walk to the hotel we booked on our own. We set up tours on our own as well. Did not (and I don't even think we could have) do anything HAL offered because only seemed to be offered if you were flying out that day and/or staying in the hotel they offered. Entertainment: Well, I'm just going to gush. The stage shows were excellent, fabulous...such talented singers and dancers. Our favorite show was called All Access. In this show, the World Stage singers and dancers combine with the rock band from the Rolling Stone Lounge. Loved it so much, made sure to see it again the second week. We also enjoyed the nights they had cellist Wendy Law (had never heard of her). So talented and so not boring (other musicians did accompany her). We also enjoyed the not-comedian comedian, Tom Crosbie. He bills himself as a nerd. He's a whiz with the Rubik's Cube, among other things. He's funny and will also amaze you. So overall, we enjoyed our trip. Saw a lot. Maybe didn't always choose the right excursion, but you live and learn. I only didn't give an Excellent rating because Oosterdam needs refurbishment...which it will be getting in October 2027. Otherwise, a pretty darn good time was had.
With refined amenities and Holland America Line signature Mariner’s Dream bed gracing each elegant stateroom, the ship offers six grades of staterooms. Most are ocean-facing, many featuring teak-lined verandas for dining alfresco or private sunbathing.
Holland America Line invites you to dine "As You Wish". To savour Italian cuisine one night and a perfectly grilled porterhouse steak the next. To take your place in the Dining Room at a specific seating time or be spontaneous, following your desires. Onboard, there are restaurants to suit every mood, along with the flexibility to choose the dining style you prefer.
The shake of a martini, the hum of conversation with new friends – Holland America Line offers a wide selection of onboard lounges and gathering places. Sip a cool saketini garnished with a fresh cucumber slice. Sample a 40-year-old Scotch whisky; celebrate with fine French Champagne. Taste the world as you raise your glass to it!
Whether you want to workout in the Fitness Centre, learn yoga, pamper yourself with a massage and spa treatment, or enjoy a game of basketball, there's a perfect onboard activity for everyone.
Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.
Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.
Safety Comes First
Safety is our primary concern and strict policies are in place for effective supervision. Adult guests are not permitted to remain in Kids Club unless attending to a special-needs child.
Please note: During voyages with a high number of families onboard, we will make all efforts to accommodate interested parties. However, participation in our program cannot be guaranteed. Hours of operation may change to better serve our guests.
