Cruise Ship Review: Prinsendam

Holland America's Prinsendam

I spent a month cruising on the Prinsendam in the summer of 2012 on a rather extensive Northern European itinerary.  Many of my European posts (Ireland, Norway, Scotland, The Netherlands, and more in the future) originate from my time on the Prinsendam.  I have a love/hate relationship with the Prinsendam that will become evident in the rest of this post.  

Posing with the Prinsendam in Norway.

I love Prinsendam because of its size.  It is a small ship that can dock or tender in just about any port.  It offers wonderful itineraries that rarely repeat.  It simply continues on a world wide never ending journey.  Guests can hop on for a single segment or stay on for back to back to back segments for as long as they wish and can afford.  The Prinsendam offers relatively inexpensive cruises for the port of calls it offers.  The Prinsendam also offers spacious accommodations.  I kid not, my ocean view stateroom had a full size bathtub and walk in closet, and the Prinsendam offers the largest library at sea with a real live librarian to check out books and offer recommendations.  Holland America also offers a full vegetarian menu, the first time I have seen such an option on a cruise ship.  Also unlike any other cruise ship, we were able to purchase alcohol in every port and bring it back on board to our staterooms for on-board consumption.  We made a habit of following the crew members in each port to find out where the best deals on alcohol and soda were.

I hate Prinsendam because of its size.  It is a small ship that offers little in the way of entertainment, with most entertainment provided by the four singers on board.  Our entertainment came almost exclusively from the library (books and dvds).  The food was horrible.  Most nights my vegetarian dish resembled a microwave meal that had not been heated through all the way.  Even when I had food not from the special vegetarian menu I was unimpressed.  Maybe they get away the horrible food because most of the guests are too old to taste.  

As 20 somethings my boyfriend and I were in the severe minority.  One evening I went for a snack at the buffet.  A very old stooped woman asked me if she could sit with me.  I had been starring out the window and was startled by her.  I said yes thinking there must not be an other seat available.  It was only after she sat down I noticed half the tables had no one sitting at them.  She just wanted company.  Unfortunately she was suffering from that old person problem where they stick their tongue out constantly and it waggles around their lips without them noticing.  I was so disgusted after a minute of the tongue wagging at me I couldn't finish, and excused myself.  Holland America in general caters to an older crowd, and therein do not know how to deal with young-person specific issues.  Another issue only young people experience on this ship are the passport policies.  In some ports our passports were taken by the crew and not returned to us until after departure.  The crew claimed this was for the port authorities to inspect them.  However, not having a passport can present a problem for a young person in a foreign port who wants to have a beer at the local brewery or bar.    

I am not ready to return for another cruise on Holland America.  Maybe once I age another 40 years and they change their passport policy I will give it another try.  Everyone once in a while I see the cheap prices and awesome itineraries offered by the Prinsendam and I pause, but then I keep looking for a ship better suited to my cruising style.

I will note that I know plenty of folks over 55 who love Holland America.  I am not saying Holland America is a bad cruise line.  Just that like 55 and over only communities exist, and young people would not enjoy living there, older cruises will enjoy Holland America more than younger cruisers.