Holland America Rotterdam Panama Canal Cruise Review

Day 11 of this 12-day Panama Canal cruise finds us at our final port stop, George Town, Grand Cayman. If you’ve been here before, or if you’ve followed along with my cruise reports over the years, you already know this is a tender port. There’s no dock for the ship to tie up to, so vessels anchor a short distance offshore and passengers are ferried back and forth using tender boats operated by the local port authority.

Tender operations work a little differently than simply walking down a gangway. For those who want to be among the first ashore, tender tickets are required. Guests pick up a ticket with a group number and wait until that group is called before heading down to board the tender. Holland America’s four- and five-star Mariners have their own little perk here, meeting in a designated lounge and being among the first groups to go ashore.

Tender service began around 8:20am this morning, and by about 10:45 the demand had dropped enough that tickets were no longer required. At that point you could simply head down to the tender area and hop on the next available boat.

Our stop here today is actually a relatively short one, with the last tender scheduled to leave shore at 3:30pm. Most itineraries stay here until around 4:30 or even 5pm, so it’s a bit of a quick visit. Grand Cayman is often one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean with several ships anchored offshore at the same time, but today we got lucky. The only other ship visiting was Celebrity Apex, anchored a short distance away.

Celebrity Apex and Rotterdam at anchor in Grand Cayman on March 11, 2026

The actual tender ride from ship to shore only takes about five minutes. Most of the time spent tendering isn’t the ride itself but the process of loading and unloading passengers. On Holland America ships, where the demographic tends to skew a bit older and there are often more guests with mobility challenges, it can take a little longer. Pack a little patience anytime you’re dealing with tenders.

I headed down around 1:00pm and ended up waiting about half an hour. When I arrived a tender from shore had just pulled up and it took that whole half hour for everyone to disembark before we were allowed to board and head in.

On the tender heading to shore in Grand Cayman

Once ashore it was actually quite nice walking around when the port wasn’t packed. When four or five ships are visiting at once the streets here can get pretty crowded, but today things were pretty calm and relaxed.

Right outside the tender pier you’ll find plenty of shopping. The area is lined with small malls and storefronts selling everything from jewelry and watches to rum cakes, t-shirts, and the usual assortment of cruise port souvenirs designed to separate you from your hard-earned money.

A look around the port area in Grand Cayman

If you walk a few blocks inland you’ll find even more shops along Cardinal Avenue and nearby streets, along with a handful of restaurants and cafés if you’re looking to grab a bite or a drink. There are also a few attractions within walking distance including the Cayman Islands National Museum, which sits in one of the oldest buildings on the island and offers a look at local history, culture, and maritime heritage.

Another nearby spot is Heroes Square, a small plaza with monuments honoring Caymanian leaders and a historic courthouse that dates back to the 1800s. It’s a quick stop but worth a look if you’re wandering around the area.

One thing you won’t find here though… Senior Frog’s. And honestly, that’s probably for the best.

For those who want to do more than wander around town, Grand Cayman is known for some pretty good shore excursions, especially if you’re into scuba diving.

The most popular excursion is a visit to Stingray City. Boats take guests out to a shallow sandbar where wild southern stingrays gather in waist-deep water. You can stand in the water, hold the stingrays, and feed them. It’s one of the most famous wildlife experiences in the Caribbean and a huge draw for cruise passengers.

Another popular excursion is a trip to the Cayman Turtle Centre where visitors can see and learn about sea turtles raised as part of conservation efforts.

Like I mentioned, snorkeling and scuba diving are big here. The waters around Grand Cayman are known for their incredible clarity and coral reefs, with excursions taking guests out to spots like Coral Gardens or the famous USS Kittiwake shipwreck.

Then there’s the question people always ask when they visit Grand Cayman: what about the beaches?

While George Town sits right along the water, the shoreline areas right near the port aren’t really beaches you’re going to want to spend the day at. There are a few small stretches of sand where you can walk down to the water and poke around, but these areas are often used by local fishermen to clean their catch. That means you’ll occasionally see fish scraps in the water, which isn’t exactly the ideal swimming environment unless you enjoy sharing the water with whatever happens to be attracted to fish guts.

A small beach area near the port in George Town, Grand Cayman

You can walk down and take a look, and there’s actually quite a bit of marine life visible right along the shoreline, but it’s not a place most visitors would set up for a full beach day.

If you’re looking for a proper beach, the place everyone heads to is Seven Mile Beach, which is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. It’s about a 10 to 15 minute drive from the port and is easily reached by taxi. There are also public buses that run along the main road if you want a cheaper option, but taxis are usually the quickest and easiest way to get there.

Seven Mile Beach offers long stretches of soft white sand, calm turquoise water, and plenty of beach bars, restaurants, and resorts where you can rent chairs and umbrellas.

So while the port area itself is more about shopping and wandering around town, if you want the classic Cayman Islands beach experience, you’ll need to take a short ride up the coast.

As I mentioned earlier, the last tender back to the ship was scheduled for 3:30pm, and right on schedule, the anchor was brought up and we set a course back toward Fort Lauderdale, bringing this Panama Canal adventure one step closer to the end.

To Passport, or Not to Passport? That is the question!

Now there’s a question I get asked all the time when it comes to going ashore in ports like this, and it’s one of those cruise debates that seems to come up over and over again.

Do you take your actual passport with you when you go ashore… or do you just bring a photocopy or a picture of it on your phone?

Personally, I always, always, always take my physical passport with me, along with my driver’s license and some cash.

Some people disagree with that approach and prefer to leave their passport locked in the safe in the stateroom. Instead, they carry either a photocopy of the passport or a photo of it on their phone. The thinking there is simple: if something gets lost or stolen while you’re ashore, at least it’s not your passport.

And that argument does make some sense.

Losing your passport in a foreign country can definitely complicate things. Replacing it means dealing with an embassy or consulate, filling out paperwork, and potentially delaying your trip home.

But here’s the flip side.

If you do miss the ship, the cruise line will usually go into your stateroom, open the safe, and look for your passport. If they find it, they’ll leave it with the port agent so you can retrieve it. That’s helpful, but it’s not always as simple as it sounds.

You’ll still need to track down the port agent, which may or may not be located right near where you are, and depending on the situation you could be waiting around for a while before you’re able to get it. And of course that assumes the ship’s crew was actually able to find your passport in the safe.

If they can’t locate it, then things get a lot more complicated. At that point you’re in a foreign country without the document you need to travel internationally. That means before you can even begin figuring out how to catch up with the ship or get home, you’ll need to locate the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and start the process of getting an emergency passport issued.

That’s not exactly something most people want to deal with while already stressed out about missing their cruise ship.

Having your passport with you eliminates that entire problem.

If you do miss the ship, you already have the document needed to board a flight to the next port or return home.

There’s also another scenario people don’t often think about. If you were to end up in a situation where you needed medical attention ashore and had to be transported to a hospital, having your passport with you makes things much easier from an identification and documentation standpoint.

Now of course there’s still the risk of losing it.

For extra protection, I also keep a photo of the passport on my phone, just in case.

So my recommendation is simple: bring the passport.

The odds of losing it are pretty small if you’re careful, but the inconvenience of not having it if something goes wrong can be a lot bigger.

What Happens If I Miss My Cruise Ship?

Dinner time, so let’s take a look at what’s being served up tonight around the ship. Below are the menus for both the Lido Market and the main dining room for this evening’s service.

Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu Night 11

Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026

Available on: all ships

Mixed Herb and Pecorino Focaccia

Savory Focaccia

Soft Rolls

Bread Roll

Loaf Bread

Pretzel

Cherrie Pie

Peach Crisp

Lemon Pound Cake & Blueberry Sweet Streusel Loaf

Baked Grandma Sheet Peaches Pan Cake

Kachumaba Salad, Raita

Lam Biryani

Pulao Rice

Vegetable Jalfrezi

Mahi-Mahi Tikka

Seekh Kebab, Beef and Lamb Kebab

Chicken Leg Tandoori, Chicken Tikka Masala

Sliced Fruits

Apple, Pear, Banana, Orange, Grapes

Apple, Pear and Pecan Salad

Honey Citrus Heirloom Tomatoes with Italian Dressing

Cheese Selection

Gorgonzola, Bel Pease, Edam

Tossed to Order

Greek Salad

Selection of Artisan Breads

Panini Grilled to Order

Porchetta

roast pork belly, sauce verde, onion balsamic marmalade, endive, grilled bell pepper, tomato, kale, Parmesan, rustic ciabatta

Chicken Samosa

Beef Fajitas

Chicken Almond Tender

French Fries with Toppings

Cheese Sauce, Bolognese Sauce, Ketchup, Mayo

Pork Sweet and Sour

Fried Rice

Egg Plant Parmesan

Spaghetti Fungi E Fusilli

Garlic Bread

Key Lime Pie

Double Chocolate Cup Cake

Apple Caramel

Fruit Slice

Holland America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu Night 11

Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026

Available on: all ships

Dutch 150

De Lijn Gin, Sparkling Wine, fresh lemon juice

$11

Bahama Mama

Flor De Cana Rum, Malibu Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine

$12

Pusser’s Painkiller™

Pusser’s Rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, grated nutmeg

$13

El Presidente

Planteray 3 Star, Vermouth blanc, dashes of orange curaçao and grenadine

$13

Trader Vic’s Mai Tai

Appleton Aged Rum, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice, orgeat

$13

Featured Beer

Kalik

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

cream cheese, parmesan cheese, bread sticks

Pickled Red Beet with Goat Cheese

pine nut vinaigrette

Salmon & Tuna Poke

crème fraiche, chili, plantai

French Onion Soup

Gruyère cheese crouton

Classic Caesar Salad

Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, anchovies

Mixed Lettuce Salad

roasted beets, chopped egg, red onion

Cabbage Bacon Soup

chicken-tomato broth, onion

Grilled Molasses Lamb Chops

scalloped potatoes, vegetables

Beef Short Rib Stroganoff

egg parsley noodles, turnips, carrots

Chicken Paillard

coconut, coriander, new potatoes, wholegrain mustard jus

New York Strip Loin, Steak Fries

garlic herb butter

Rustic Home-Made Lasagna

tomato sauce, basil

Roasted Cobia, Coconut-Clam Reduction

braised fennel, carrots, asparagus

Honey Sriracha Salmon Bowl

jasmine rice, avocado, cucumber, edamame

Beyond Beef Stuffed Zucchini

paprika, oregano, tomato

Fusilli a la Vodka

pancetta, marinara, cream

Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding

warm rum vanilla sauce

Banana Cream Pie

cashew crust, crème patisierre, caramel

Chocolate Hazelnut Slice

caramel popcorn

Strawberry Cheesecake

whipped cream

Artisan Cheese Selection

S’mores Sundae

vanilla ice cream, brownie, marshmallow, graham, chocolate sauce

Ice Cream of the Day

Dinner at Pinnacle Grill

Tonight I headed back over to Pinnacle Grill because there was one dish on the menu that I had my eye on and really wanted to try. Pinnacle, of course, is Holland America’s $52 per person steakhouse, so naturally when you think of it you think steak, steak, and more steak. But tonight I wanted something a little different.

Holland America Pinnacle Grill Dinner Menu

Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026

Available on: all ships

Table-Side Caesar Salad

heart of romaine, Parmesan, croutons, anchovies

Vine Ripened Beefsteak Tomato Salad

sliced purple onion, balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

cucumber, sweet chili-mustard

Lobster Bisque

crème fraîche, aged cognac

Panko Fried Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Beyond Meat mince, vegan mayonnaise remoulade, parsley, quinoa salad

Mafaldine, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Burrata & Chiles

preserved lemon, Calabrian chili, olive oil

Steakhouse Wedge Salad by David Burke

crispy bacon, blue cheese, tomato, candied walnuts, ranch dressing

Shrimp Cocktail

brandy-horseradish cocktail sauce

Clothesline Candied Bacon by David Burke

maple, black pepper, half-sour pickles

Ossetra Malossol Caviar

crème fraîche, buckwheat blinis

$50 Supplemental

8oz Filet Mignon