Our Panama Canal Cruise Wasn't What We Expected. Here's Why
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- We spent 12 days onboard Holland America's newest cruise ship, Rotterdam. Although we booked our Panama Canal cruise months ahead of time, due to several changes (both good & bad), we weren't sure what to expect onboard this cruise ship & in the ports of call. Would this be the best cruise ever or would we be dissapointed?
In this video I share a Holland America Rotterdam cruise ship review. We look at the ship's entertainment, dining, cabins, cruise ports of call & more! In this cruise vlog I also share what we did in the cruise ports of call during our Caribbean & Panama Canal cruise.
We were upgraded from a balcony cabin (veranda) to a Vista Suite. We also booked Holland America's Club Orange. In this cruise vlog, I share a Rotterdam cruise ship tour & review, along with HAL cruise tips you'll want to know.
These cruise travel tips will help as you plan a Panama Canal cruise or any HAL cruise vacation.
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Please note that I am unable to give personal cruise and travel advice. If you leave a comment I try my best to answer.
ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
Some of the B-Roll Footage courtesy of HAL
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Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusicMusic
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Yes, please do a complete episode on Club Orange. I'm particularly interested in purchasing it separately, not through a suite.
Perfect thanks
Me too!
You said that house hunters line just as I was taking a sip of coffee... i almost ruined my phone 😂😂😂
My husband and I did a 14 cruise on the Rotterdam through the Panama Canal. We loved it. It was bittersweet for me as it was a bucket list item for him. The crew was so caring and made it a pleasure to sail with them.
I sailed this exact cruise on the Rotterdam in October and loved it. I too feared that 12 days would be too long, but it wasn’t. I found it fun and relaxing. I’m 54 and felt the ship experience is what you make it. I enjoyed dancing in the BB King Blues club in the evening. The food was truly the highlight. I did not have a bad meal anywhere on the ship! Thanks for your review!
Thanks for sharing!
oooh that sounds perfect for my husband n i😊
The BB King Blues club, the Billboard music and the other, sound like the perfect mix of music and entertainment. Having exciting ports by day, and the music venues by night, are two important options I look for. It sounds like the Rotterdam has an increasingly bigger selection, to keep you entertained. I'll be booking that cruise, and heading to the Panana Canal, for the 1st time. Thank you for both confirming what a ideal cruise this is.
We have booked a veranda cabin on the New Amsterdam for October. It's 23 days with 13 ports including the full transit of the Panama Canal. We have watched just about every video you have done. I've purchased the Ultimate Cruise Planner and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I have used it so much already. I know it is early to be doing so much but this is going to be the best planned cruise we have ever done. Plannin is so much fun! It is for our 50th anniversary so it is quite special! Thank you Ilana for all these videos. I've learned so much that my head can hardly hold it all! Thank goodness for post it notes and notebook paper!!! By the way this is cruise #12 for us. Debbie
Happy anniversary Debbie! Thanks for your lovely comments & for your purchase. So glad the LWC Ultimate Cruise Planner has been helpful! :)
I love longer cruises, you just get settled before you have to disembark on shorter cruises.
I have my first cruise ever in Novemeber with Celebrity in retreat.
Your videos have been an absolute blessing. You deserve the CZcams gold plaquard! 🎉
I primarily cruise Princess but feel that Holland is right up my alley. The Panama Canal cruise is definitely on my radar so your video is perfect timing. Thank you!
We are sailing on Rotterdam's sister ship, the Koningsdam in February on a 35-day Hawaii/South Pacific/Marquesas Island cruise. This will be our longest cruise but love the itinerary so felt we had to do it. Having been dedicated Celebrity cruisers, we felt in our last 3 cruises, the food was lacking in quality and choice. HAL's food reviews and the Music Walk were determining factors for us. I'm assuming that this cruise will attract the older demographic, but although we're in our 70s, we love to dance, enjoy great food & see the world. We've purchased the Have It All package so will enjoy 3 specialty dining venues and added Rudi's Sel de Mer. Thank you so much for yet another great review!
I was on this cruise, as well. It was my first time in Costa Rica so I have nothing to compare. I was impressed with their non-smoking environment. Our guide told us that public smoking yielded 7 days in jail. I viewed the Panama Canal from the Crow's Nest. It was wonderful. I was disappointed that we couldn't disembark the ship for the excursion at Gatun Lake, but safety was a priority with the demonstrations in Colon. I absolutely loved the downtime of all those sea days.
I can’t believe your 12 day cruise is over already!!! Yes, I would love to see additional footage you have on this sailing, including the specialty restaurant, was it Cafe Orange? Did they offer a speciality package for the restaurants you’ll selected? I’m excited just thinking of sailing for 12 days one year, plus being retired, and in that average age group, it’s a cruise for me!!!! 🛳️🛳️
I was on that cruise, too. The Have It All package was 1/2 off, so was then $50/day [now half off is $55] and included basic wifi, $200 shore excursion credit and two specialty dining experiences in addition to the beverage package. It was a cool deal!
Yes, interested in hearing more about Club Orange.
Yes, we'd love to see a video on Club Orange. Thanks.
We cruised the Rotterdam in Norway in 2023 and will be back on it in late Mar/early April 2023 for Southern Caribbean. Love this ship and HAL crew takes the best care of their passengers.....
Very cool video! HAL looks like a fun time. Thanks for sharing, I love your videos. And yes, please do a video of Club Orange!
You really went all in on this one 😉. Good for you and happy new year to you and your family!
I was looking forward for you to post this review. Thank you! Love your channel 🛳️
Thank you for your review of the cruise, it is very helpful for us first timers on Holland America.
Great information! I appreciate the useful suggestions you share with us. Thank you! 🌹🌹🌹
Great video Ilana!
Really appreciate your informative vlogs! Looking forward to one about the Orange Club!
Would love to see a video on Club Orange! Not a whole lot of information out there on it. Have heard that it’s the private dining venue for suite guests but also that you can buy in limited quantity through your cruise agent.
Great video Ilana! Always appreciate your commentary.
We are 5star mariners with Holland America and have sailed on 3 different Rotterdam shps. Rotterdam 5.6 and your reviewed newest 7. In 2022 we visited the Rotterdam 5 hotel/museum. Wow that really brought back memories of the cruises past.
I would recommend a visit when in Rotterdam.
We have not tried Club Orange and would like you to provide more information on the experience. Especially the venue because it seems to have a fishbowl atmosphere with the placement on the new ships. Thank you for your informative videos. I enjoy them all.
Great video - so glad for the details because it's a bucket list item for me, too! I also had a chuckle at your husband and son posing in a funny way in front of the lighthouse - glad to know I am not the only one doing that stuff!
Yes, please do a video on Club Orange.
My husband and I sailed on Rotterdam this past September to Norway and LOVED our cruise. We also did Club Orange and thought it really elevated our experience and have agreed that we will always do Club Orange. We also had an aft view cabin and truly felt it was something we would continue to do as well. It made sailing in the fjords absolutely amazing AND we saw the Northern Lights on that cruise as well. I honestly don't know how we will ever top that experience. We agree that the food in Club Orange was so good that we did not need to do any specialty restaurants and were even slightly disappointed by the two specialty restaurants compared to the food in Club Orange. We are booked for a Mediterranean cruise on Oosterdam Sept 2025 and I am hoping the experience will be just as good but I know it is a Vista Class ship so we will have to see.
Yes! Would love to hear more about Club Orange! We are Celebrity cruisers, but the Holland cruiseline looks like it might be more up our alley as we are foodies and would enjoy a less crowded ship like the Rotterdam. Thank you! 🥰
Same! Would love to learn more about Club Orange
I am scheduled for a Panama cruise with HA in April, would like to know info on your clothing choices. Also please talk about club orange and spa packages. Love your channel. Always great info
You've given a fair review of the Rotterdam. We've sailed on it as well as all of the other ships in the current HAL fleet as well as most of those in the retired fleet. As for us, 12 days is a short cruise and we just returned from a 22 day South America cruise which was preceded by a 73 day Grand South America cruise. Both were on smaller HAL ships and we loved both of them. For us, it really doesn't matter which ship we're on as its the itinerary that's #1. You hit the proverbial nail on the head when you said that cruising on the Rotterdam was for those who like a traditional feel and don't need the waterslides, etc.
Excellent video. We really do need to consider HAL. The Panama Canal cruise looks great and the food also looks scrumptious. I love your dress.
Excellent video! Your presentation was excellent, and I really liked the content. I sailed on the Rotterdam in November 2022 (Southern Caribbean), and was very impressed. The ship was wonderful. The crew and officers were gracious, helpful and professional. The food was amazing, as was the entertainment. I would highly recommend all cruisers try HAL and one of the Pinnacle Class ships. Thanks again for your video.
Yes, would luv to see a video on Club Orange. We are sailing on our 1st Holland cruise to Alaska in 2025. 🚢🚢
Rotterdam was my very first cruise ship in Jan 2022. It is absolutely lovely.
My husband and I went on the Panama cruise last year. Seeing your video brought back great memories. We love to sail on Holland America because the ships are not too big, but provides all the cruising amenities we need. On our cruise they deleted Cartagena but gave some ship board credits in exchange for. Loved your video!!
Love your videos! And I’d very much like to see a full video on Club Orange!!
Looks like a great cruise!
Great review Ilana!!! I’m excited going next January 🥰
Hey Ilana! I think you've summarised this trip really well - I thought the sellers on Cartagena were, quite frankly, ridiculous! I've never seen that degree of up-selling before - unbelievable! Your Costa Rica canoe trip looks awesome - I couldn't believe how much wildlife I managed to see that day, and we were in a motorboat!
Awesome video, as always!
Hi Ilana, we are booked on the Rotterdam for a 14 day Norwegian Fjords cruise in late May. We can’t wait to experience HAL. We primarily sail with Princess, but couldn’t find a similar itinerary, so we’re trying HAL. My best friend is currently on the Rotterdam, doing a Southern Caribbean cruise. She’s reporting on how beautiful the ship is, how enjoyable the entertainment on the music walk has been, and that the food is excellent. We previously did a partial Panama Canal cruise thru the historic locks a year ago on the Island Princess. A wonderful cruise, very restful for 10 nights. The itinerary was very similar to your trip, and we also was disappointed in our Costa Rico port visit. Oh boy are you right about the vendors in Cartagena, you’ve gotta be awake visiting that city. Thanks for your videos, I never miss one.🥰
Just got off the Rotterdam on an excursion to the ABC islands. Had a wonderful, relaxed time and enjoyed most of the cruise. We were wowed by Curacao and very disappointed by Aruba. The food on the ship was excellent, the best dining room food I've had on a cruise ship. We did wish for more activities through the day that weren't directed toward the cruise line's pocket books, but we met so many new friends it provided us the opportunity to meet up for drinks and conversation. And the Crow's Nest is wonderful!
As a kid from 1 1/2 to 6 I grew up in Cartagena, Colombia. Enjoy watching your videos.
Yes please! A video on Club Orange would be great!
You just did my bucket list item. So jealous yet very happy you completed the mission😂🎉
Thanks for the great report. We are booked on Rotterdam in May. Alwats enjoy your videos.
I love cruising HAL and enjoyed an 11-day partial transit of the Panama Canal on the Zuiderdam in 2018. I would be interested in hearing more about Club Orange in an upcoming video. Thanks again, Ilana, for another wonderful video!
All those restaurants and food looks absolutely breathtaking and delicious! 🛳️🎉🩵🩵🩵🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🎉🛳️🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🩵🩵🛳️🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🩵🩵🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🩵🎉🛳️🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🎉🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🩵🩵🎉🛳️🛳️🎉🩵🩵🎉🛳️🩵
I always wondered about this cruise and cruise line. It’s a little older for me and I’m not sure it would be interesting enough but maybe some day! Thanks for the video!
We're sailing on the same cruise next Sunday and your video made us look forward to it even more. Like you, we've never been on a 12-day cruise before and wonder what it will be like. Also had two port changes. Aruba and Key West were replaced with Falmouth, Jamaica and Georgetown in the Cayman Islands. Not happy about that, but no matter where it takes us, the food and the Music Walk always makes a HAL cruise worthwhile. That's why we've sailed the CA Coast on the Koningsdam for the last two years and we'll be doing it again in November.
I was on the inaugural Rotterdam cruise in October 2021. It was a transatlantic cruise from Amsterdam to Ft Lauderdale. I loved the ship and especially the music walk. HAL is my favorite cruise line. Your review was right on point. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, and a little older crowd.
Excellent video and narration!
I think I want to go on Holland America, it looks fabulous... thank you !!!
I’m on the Rotterdam in March for 21 days and looking forward to it. Late November i did a 9 day on the Rotterdam and I LOVE everything about it. I have cruised with many other cruise lines, but HA is my favourite.
Another great, informative video! We did a 16 day full crossing with Princess on 2019. FYI and that of your viewers, many ports must get away from to get a good experience. In Costa Rica, we booked a small group private tour through the rain forest, Tarcoles River, and more. It was fabulous. In Cartagena, Dora (private company ) gives phenomenal tours, and chases away the pesky vendors. Apparently they know no to mess with Dora! Small buses that can also get to where the large ship tour buses cannot go.
Yes, Club Orange video! Thank you.
Hi Ilana, personally I would LOVE to see more food videos! Being a foodie, this particularly interests me! Thanks!
Yes, I’d love to see a video on Club Orange. 😊😊
Thank you for this video. We haven't cruised on the Rotterdam yet but hope to in the near future. I am looking forward to your Club Orange video. We have booked with Club Orange for all of our cruises, and I look forward to hearing your perspective.
We were on this same trip. We had 21 days in total and enjoy every day of it. We even seen ourselfs in this film
Longest cruise I’ve done is 21 days with HAL when I was in my early twenties - it would be considered one of their older ships now. I loooved it. Some of the entertainment “restarted” after 14 days, but there was always something else to do and it was great just relaxing instead of rushing to watch show after show.
I have and love that dress from your previous recommendation!
We are on our first cruise going through Panama right now. Really enjoying it. It is rather hot however.
Good job! I love the Rotterdam and so glad you had a good time. I’ve sailed in many Rotterdam ships. I’m off on the Eurodam on Saturday.
Amazing video🎉
My wife and I went on a 13 day Panama Canal trip last year. While the 2 sea days going were fine, the return trip was a bit trying. We were both ready to leave. The sea days on the way back were long at times. You start to feel the confinement. We really did enjoy the trip though and we learned our endurance limit for cruising.
We have sailed on the Rotterdam for 21 days and loved it. We are going to the Panama canal in February and to Norway for two cruise to the Fjords in May/June. Both will be on the Rotterdam. We love it.
Good or bad Holland America is the only cruise line that we have used. We just completed our 20th cruise with them, and it just so happened to be on the Rotterdam.
We love the pinnacle class ships, especially with a separate Club Orange. At first I didn't think that I would enjoy being in the "fishbowl", but we absolutely love it. The services is impeccable, and the food is delicious. We like the fact that we don't have to wait in a line to get our meal, as we witnessed many times while going down the stairs by the MDR.
So, in my opinion, I really think that club orange is worth every penny.
Another little perk is not having to get a tender ticket. You just show up at the tender line and they let you in.
Anyway, we absolutely love Holland America. Maybe, just maybe someday we will try something else..
Thank you so much for the important information on holland America cruise and amazing 🎉🎉🩵🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🩵🩵🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🩵🎉🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🎉🎉🛳️
Glad you enjoyed the Canal. As I mentioned awhile back, we were on the Zaandam in Feb 23 for the cruise from Fl to San Diego. We walked away saying we spent a lot of money for a bad experience. Stayed in Neptune suite so not cheap for 14 days. We love HAL and as always, the crew is awesome. It was the age of the ship and lack of entertainment. Plus they took a port away from us and did nothing to make up for it. Thanks for sharing and safe sailing.
Thank you for the perspectives on the Rotterdam. We're booked on it from Rotterdam to Norway in July and this has us primed and ready to go!
Enjoy!!
I would definitely consider this cruise. It looks amazing.
We did 21 days in Norway on this ship and absolutely loved all of it. Norway is so beautiful. Our next HAL cruise will be on the much smaller and older Volendam for 24 days this summer to New England, Canada, Iceland and Greenland. We loved the Grend Dutch cafe and their enormous cream puff on the Rotterdam so disappointed the it is not available on the smaller ships. We love the longer cruises which have much more time to relax. I do think 24 days will be the max my husband will agree to though. We did a 12 day British isles cruise on Princess last summer which was wonderful but very port intensive and tiring with only 2 sea days. We loved all the ports but wish it was a little longer with more sea days.
we did the cruise that goes via Iceland and Greenland. The excursions were mostly good but avoid the Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove one as it is nothing but a tour of tourist traps with not long enough anywhere to see anything worthwhile. If you are going to Nanortalik, make sure you walk down to the "museum". It is actually a series of old thick brick cottages and each one has a different theme. For a few $$ entry, it is excellent value and really educational. Iceland is, as always, amazing. All the excursions are great.
We have done this trip and truly enjoyed it! However one thing to keep in mind with your time in Costa Rica...there are no alligators there. It is likely you saw central american Caimen.
Interested in the club orange and really want to see a video on it. Thank you.
Thank you for this informative video. I will be cruising on the Rotterdam in 19 days to the ABC islands.
Did that trip on the Rotterdam last year. Had a great time. Loved Bb Kings
I've been to Aruba exactly once in my life and I never understood why so many people love it. It turns out I'd taken a tour to the northern part of the island (many years ago), which I didn't realize until watching this video. Suddenly everything makes sense. The natural bridge was beautiful, but now I want to go back and see what everyone else is talking about.
We loved the Club Orange dining room.we were on Rotterdam as well. The staff were wonderful. We Idid the 14 day Norwegian Fjord cruise back in September, so got to know them. Club Orange absolutely worth it.
It was nice to meet you on this cruise! The Rotterdam was a really nice ship. It was disappointing but understandable that Panama City and Colón were cancelled.
I have been on this beautiful ship! Loved it as well.
My wife and I were booked on this Panama Canal cruise itinerary for later this month. We were really looking forward to being on the Rotterdam, having, like you, cruised on the Neiuw Statendam last year. Unfortunately, we had to cancel because of unexpected health issues. Thank you for taking this cruise and telling us about it.
We will be on this ship in April for 22 days from Fort Lauderdale to British Columbia Canada. It's on of my bucket list trips for years. Thanks for your heads up info.
We have the same sailing in November and also booked Club Orange. We enjoy your videos and hopefully you'll do one Specifically for Club Orange.
It was nice to meet you on the excursion in Jamaica! I loved the raft. It was one of my highlights. In Costa Rica, my Aunt Teri and I went to the rain forest. It was amazing. Loved all the music. My husband and I are thinking about an Alaskan cruise with Holland in summer.
Booked on a b2b sailing out of Rotterdam this July! Thanks for the good info!
Well-done review of this longer cruise! You look especially well-rested and happy, so I think you all had a lovely trip! This renews my flagging desires to try a cruise; especially on Holland-America to Alaska( live in NW Washington state). peace
We did a 11 night cruise on the Rotterdam VII (Wayfarer) visiting eastern Caribbean as far down as Barbados.
There is also a reasonably priced restaurant, Canaletto, that was enjoyable and never too busy.
Great video!
I would love to see a video on Club Orange. We are on the Rotterdam to the Panama Canal in February and added Club Orange. I used it to upgrade my obstructed verandah cabin to a regular verandah and saved some money. Love your channel. Thanks.
Your experience looks wonderful! I'm glad you all enjoyed. We've not sailed HAL... maybe we should look into it?!
We're exactly 60 days out from Miami --> Panama on Oceania for my hubby's b'day. Can't wait~!!
We sailed on the Rotterdam to the southern Caribbean in February of 2023 and again in December to eastern caribbean. The cruise was very nice. I miss the Lincoln Center Live music which we had in the Feb cruise but not in recent one.
Yes please do a video on Club Orange!😊
We sailed a three week cruise on the Rotterdam in 2023 to the Baltics and Norwegian fjords. Great cruise/itinerary and the Rotterdam was the perfect ship for this itinerary.
Great video as always Illana. Please do a video exclusively about Club Orange.
9:40 DOWN TIME - Do plan down time DURING a long cruise, especially if your normal sleep-wake schedule is severely affected. On the last day at sea of my eight night cruise, I had to take two 2-hour naps as I was that tired from all the running around and shifted schedule.
I want to see that Club Orange video! Please and thank you. 👍
Thanks Ilana. Really enjoyed this video. I had heard multiple times from other cruisers that the passengers on HA were snotty. Into old world posh. Thanks!
Hope you are having a fun time on ur current cruise line llana and your family and can’t wait to hear about it 🛳️🩵🩵🎉🩵🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🩵🩵🛳️🩵🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🩵🎉🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🩵🩵🎉🩵🛳️🛳️🛳️🩵🩵🩵🛳️🩵🎉🎉🛳️🛳️🩵🩵🩵
Great video! I was on this ship in November 2023. Only thing I would add is it was the BEST THERMAL SPA I've experienced at sea. Better than Celebrity, Princess and Carnival. Very relaxing, highly recommend!
LOVE Old Town, yes Carthaginian the vendors can be "pushy". Saw that you never EVER pull out big amounts of cash, small bills separate. Been Costa Rico twice, really do like it, mostly because it's not built up and commercialized. We've done a partial transit as well as a reposition from Seattle to Miami. Would love to reverse that. "Journey" cruises are so laid back and relaxing.
Got off a similar HAL ship Oosterdam Dec 2. Ours was the 17 day cruise thru the canal. I agree with all of your observations. I would love to go on another HAL cruise again. They did so many things well.