Holland American Line - Mexican Riviera Cruise
Ship: Oosterdam
April 14th to April 21, 2007

Ship Specifications and Facilities:
Year Introduced - 2003
Gross Tonnage - 82,000 tons
Length - 935 feet
Beam - 106 feet
Maximum Speed - 24 knots
Ship's Registry - The Netherlands
Total Guests - 2,013
Total Crew - 820

The Oosterdam is a beautiful ship that is named for the "east" position of the compass. Two-thirds of the staterooms have private verandahs.  The ship also includes a state-of-the-art spa which some of our family enjoyed. The ship never felt crowded, even though it was at capacity.

Food - Dining choices range from Japanese teriyaki and fresh pasta to wood-fired pizza and multi-course gourmet dinners. The food was good to excellent in different areas of the ship. 

The attractive two-level Vista dining room, at the aft end of the ship, offers two dinner seatings, at assigned tables, at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Our first two dinners were not the greatest, but the remaining nights were excellent. 

The Lido Grill offers something for everyone! Breakfast options include full breakfast, continental, and omelet stations. Then at lunch, passengers can choose from salads, Asian specialties, pasta and pizza, deli fixings for sandwiches, a traditional buffet line, a grill, and a Taco/Fajita bar. Everyday a complimentary ice cream and yogurt bar was offered. I basically have no complaints with the food.

There is also the Terrace Grill outside the buffet in the Lido pool area with hamburgers, hot dogs, and a taco bar. There are some passengers who don't want to dress up and venture into the main dining room, and they are happy to enjoy dinner in the Lido Grill or Terrace Grill.

Itinerary - Stopping at three ports in three consecutive days was exhausting!  Two stops would have been enough. The next time my husband and I book a cruise, I'm going to make sure that there are more days at sea.  If you don't go ashore when in port, nothing is happening on the ship. The bars and shops are closed. Only the Lido Grill is open. Our "Moms" were bored the days they stayed on the ship.

Crew - The crew was excellent, very friendly, and always ready to assist with anything. The crew was mostly Filipino/Indonesian employees. What was amazing, was that the crew members managed to keep everyone's name straight.  Our cabin steward, Ishmail, was exemplary; he kept the cabin spotless and in order. Our waiter, Maude, and our wine steward, Francisco, also gave outstanding service.

Staterooms - Inside and outside standard staterooms are functional and comfortable, with amenities including hairdryers, personal safes, refrigerators, and two closets configured for hanging and/or drop down shelves. We loved having a balcony that we could go out on.

Internet Room - The cost of internet access was ridiculous. They charged 75 cents per minute plus a daily set up fee of $3.00. I only used their internet service once to check my emails.

Room Service - Twenty-four hour room service is available. The room service breakfast menus offer both continental and hot entree choices. The 24-hour menu features burgers, sandwiches, and salads, along with other basics like salmon and grilled chicken.