Roadtrek Cruise on the Holland America
Roadtrek Cruise on the Holland America, Nieuw Amsterdam, March
20th to 27, 2011
by
Julie Ball
We didn’t know what to expect as first time cruisers, but Carol
Ann from New Horizons Travel, Inc. and the Creagers made it so
very easy. They were
the perfect hosts throughout the cruise.
The 936 foot ms Nieuw Amsterdam carried 2094 guests and had a crew
of 884 to provide our every need.
The ship is new and was selected as “Ship of the Year.”
The eighty-five Roadtrekkers and guests checked in with Bill and
Edna Creager to receive the cruise pins they personally designed
and provided for us.
We wore the attractive pins throughout the trip to help us
identify each other.
Everything on this cruise was first class!
The ship was sparkly clean and the international staff
couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly.
Our waiters had our names memorized by the end of the first
dinner. The
food was tasty and the presentation was superb.
We could have all we wanted (ask Dave Gottdiner-three
lobster dinners & one filet at one meal).
The Roadtrekkers
cocktail party was before our first formal dinner.
Unfortunately, some of us didn’t leave our cabins that
night due to seasickness.
That first full day at sea had crosswinds of 41 knots all
day and we were tossed and turned.
Made for some tricky walking around the ship as we received
those gusts. Things
were much better the next day and serene by the end of the cruise.
We learned that Bonine, Travel-Eze wristbands, soda
crackers, beef broth and ginger ale all help those with queasy
stomachs and spinning heads.
We made stops at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto
Rico; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
Each of these ports had a variety of interesting shore
excursions & shopping available.
We truly enjoyed our first
cruise and look forward to our next.
Thanks again, Bill and Edna, for a job well done.
Click here for pictures of the Cruise
Click here for more pictures of the Cruise
