Holland America Line Rotterdam Panama Canal Cruise Review – Day 9: March 9, 2026

After an incredible day yesterday transiting part of the Panama Canal and soaking in one of the most fascinating engineering marvels in the world, today brings us somewhere that feels like the complete opposite end of the travel spectrum: Puerto Limón, Costa Rica.

Now when many people think of Costa Rica, they picture something very different. Images usually come to mind of wealthy Americans and expats living the good life on the beach without a care in the world. You picture beaches, fishing boats heading out at sunrise, people sipping a glass of champagne on a sunset cruise, and that laid-back lifestyle Costa Rica is known for.

Well… that’s somewhere else.

Because Puerto Limón, often referred to simply as Limón, is not that place.

Rotterdam arrived around 7:30 a.m., and passengers were cleared to go ashore shortly after 8:00 a.m.. And as we all know, first impressions matter, and if this is your first visit here, that first look from the ship might leave you thinking, “Well… this should be interesting.”

Unlike many cruise ports that have invested heavily in modern cruise terminals and tourist-friendly amenities, Puerto Limón feels very much like a port that just happens to accept cruise ships.

Occasionally.

In fact, not many ships call here. You’ll see the occasional visit from a Carnival or Princess ship, and sometimes a Holland America itinerary like this one will include it, but it’s definitely not a regular stop on most cruise routes, and after spending some time here, you begin to understand why.

The port itself is extremely basic.

There are essentially two piers sitting in what essentially is a large, rundown parking lot, and a small building that has clearly seen better days. Inside that building are rows of (very) tightly packed vendor kiosks selling the usual mix of t-shirts, souvenirs, magnets, and locally made junk.

And that’s about it.

There’s no real cruise terminal, no shopping promenade, and no entertainment area designed for cruise passengers.

If you’re hoping to spend time inside the port area, you’ll run out of things to do in about five minutes.

So if you want to explore, your options are pretty simple: book a shore excursion or venture out into town on your own.

Just outside the port gate you’ll find a sign showing what Limón calls “17 Attractions on Foot,” which maps out a self-guided walking route through town.

Some of the spots listed include:

• Limón Amphitheater
• Vargas Park
• Harbor Master’s Office
• Old Municipal Place
• Municipal Market
• Heart of Jesus Cathedral
• Abel Robles Park
• Los Baños Beach

In theory, it sounds like a nice little walking tour of the town.

In reality… it’s more of a collection of local buildings and small parks, and while it does give you something to see, it’s not exactly the kind of sightseeing experience most cruise passengers are expecting when they think of Costa Rica.

A few of these spots, like Vargas Park, offer views of the waterfront and some green space where locals hang out during the day. The Heart of Jesus Cathedral is another landmark, standing out as one of the more recognizable historic buildings in town.

You’ll also pass by schools, government buildings, and tons and tons local shops along the route.  You’ll quickly notice that there are more appliance stores per square block than Walgreens has stores in Manhattan.

Limón is a working Caribbean town not a polished tourist destination, which is why most visitors who come here choose to head out on excursions to experience what Costa Rica is really famous for.

Because the truth is, the real highlights of this region aren’t in Limón itself.

They’re outside the city, in places like rainforests, wildlife reserves, canals, and national parks, where you can spot monkeys, sloths, toucans, and all the other wildlife Costa Rica is known for.

So if you’re visiting Limón on a cruise, the best plan is usually to leave Limón.

Puerto Limón Shore Excursions

As I mentioned earlier, there really isn’t much happening right around the port itself, which is why most passengers who get off the ship here are heading straight for shore excursions.

And honestly, that’s the way to do it. The Costa Rica you see in brochures and travel shows is all outside the city of Limón.

If you look through the shore excursion list for this port, there are a few options, but three tend to be the most popular, and they all involve a bit of a bus ride to get there.

1. Tortuguero Canal Wildlife Tour – This is probably the most popular excursion offered in Puerto Limón, and you’ll see a long line of buses leaving the port early in the morning for it.  The drive usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Once you arrive, you board a covered river boat that takes you through the Tortuguero canal system, a network of waterways running through dense rainforest.
2. Sloth Sanctuary – If there’s one animal Costa Rica is known for, it’s the sloth, and there’s a well-known Sloth Sanctuary located about 45 minutes to an hour south of Limón.  This excursion takes you by bus to the sanctuary where injured and orphaned sloths are cared for and rehabilitated. Visitors get a guided tour explaining the animals, the conservation work being done, and of course you get to see the sloths up close, which is the highlight for most people.
3. Cahuita National Park & Beach Tour – Another popular option is heading south to Cahuita National Park, which is about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes by bus from the cruise port.  Cahuita is known for its combination of rainforest trails and beautiful Caribbean beaches, making it a good excursion for those who want a mix of wildlife and scenery. It’s one of the few excursions here where you actually get some beach time, which a lot of people expect when they hear “Costa Rica.”

Now if you’re wondering whether there’s a beach near the cruise port, technically there is.

A place called Los Baños Beach is listed on the walking map just outside the port area, but if I’m being honest, it’s not really not a nice beach.  I wandered over and while there is a large park area, it’s pretty run down and the neighborhood around it is sketchy to say the least. You will see many of the locals hanging out in the park, but none were actually on the beach.

In other words, when you stop in Puerto Limón, the real Costa Rica is about an hour away.

Normally this is one of those cruise stops for me where I get off the ship, take a quick selfie to prove I was here, and head right back onboard. Puerto Limón has never really struck me as a place where you want to spend hours wandering around.

But today I decided I needed to get some steps in, so I did a bit of walking around town.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is very much a working town, not a tourist destination. When you leave the port area you’re basically walking into the everyday life of the city, where locals are heading to work, running errands, and doing their shopping.

Much of the area around the port is pretty rundown, with buildings and streets that have clearly seen better days. At one point I wandered down a side street that was lined with stall after stall of street food vendors. If you’re the adventurous type when it comes to street food, you might find something interesting there.

For those who aren’t feeling quite that adventurous, there’s also a KFC nearby, which I suppose qualifies as a little taste of home if fried chicken is what you’re craving while in Costa Rica.

The locals really didn’t pay much attention to cruise passengers at all. There were no aggressive taxi drivers, no tour guides chasing you down the street, and nobody trying to sell you souvenirs every five feet.

It was actually a pretty relaxed atmosphere.

One thing you do have to pay very close attention to is… where you’re walking.  This is definitely a port where “watch your step” is a must.  Sidewalks and roadways are uneven, cobbled together, there are holes in the sidwalks and roads that can easily lead to a sprained ankle if you’re not paying attention.

When all  is said and done, this isn’t the kind of place that’s going to make many travelers’ “must visit again” list. It’s interesting enough to walk around for a little while and see a glimpse of everyday life in Limón, but it’s definitely not a destination people are cruising to specifically see.

Remarkably, when all aboard time rolled around at 4:30pm, two names were called over the ship’s PA system. Uh oh. That’s never a good sign. Someone didn’t make it back in time.

As the clock crept closer to 5:00pm, our scheduled departure time, we were still tied up at the pier. Then suddenly out in the parking lot a bus came rolling in, drove straight up to the gangway, and out came our two missing passengers. A few minutes later the lines were pulled in and we were on our way. A little late leaving Puerto Limón, but thankfully nobody got left behind.

And that’s a good thing, because tonight was one of the biggest nights of the cruise – Orange Party night.

Speaking of being left behind?  Read my article about what happens to you and your stuff if you’re ship leaves without you.

What Happens If I Miss My Cruise Ship?

Before getting into everything orange, here’s a quick look at what was being served tonight in the Lido Market and the Main Dining Room.

Rotterdam Caribbean Lido Dutch Dinner (3/2026)

Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026

Available on: all ships

Bakery Shop Rise

Dark Bread

Dutch Rusk

Raisin Bread

Potato Bread

Baguette

Bay Shrimp Slider

Dutch Apple Pie

Bread Board

Dutch Cheese Corner

Old Amsterdam, Gouda, Edam, Maaslander, stem ginger, dried dates, nuts, dried figs, crackers

Port to Plate Featured Smoke Fish & Herrings

Pickled Sour Cream Herring

Roll Mops

Smoked Mackerel

Smoked Trout

Salmon Hot Smoked

Gravlax

Liverwurst

Salami Sopressata

Salami Napoli

Smoked and Peppery Salami

Dutch Shrimp Salad

Dutch cocktail sauce, chopped onions, pickled vegetables

Wild Harvest Signature Salads

Chop Chop

Chicken Caesar

Cobb Salad

Asian Sesame with Seared Tuna

Distant Lands Italian

Bami Goreng

Dutch Apple Pannekoek

Baked Ham & Cheese Macaroni

Garlic Rolls

Focaccia Wheel

Create Your Own Pasta

Marinara Pasta

Bolognese Pasta

Alfredo Pasta

Basil Pesto Pasta

A Taste of Indonesia

Gado Gado Salad

Bami Goreng

Nasi Goreng

Green Beans with Sambal

Udang Goreng Asam

Babi Kecap

Gulai Ayam

Soup

Dutch Pea Soup

Carvery

Smoked Pork Loin

grain mustard cream sauce

Sauces

Gravy

Hollandaise

Creamy Peppercorn Sauce

Apple Sauce

Sides

Braised Red Cabbage

Peas & Diced Carrots

Steak Fries

Dutch Boerenkool

Stamppot

Indian Vegetarian

Vegetable Biryani

Palak Paneer

Indian Protein

Mutton Rogan Josh

Indian Rice

Basmati Rice

Homestead Mains

Seafood Zeeland

shrimps, mussels, scallops, salmon, lobster sauce

Beef Hache

Grilled Sirloin Steak

Kibbeling

Roasted Chicken

Chicken Sate

peanut sauce

Kaassoufflé

Beef Flamande

Dutch Meatballs

Veal Kroketten

Vegan Braised Bell Pepper

Comfort Dish

Pork Cordon Bleu

Homestead Sides

Mac and Cheese

Desserts

Tompouce

Apple Pie

Lindt Chocolate Tulip

Vlaflip

vanilla custard with berries

Crepes Made to Order

Selection of Ice Creams

Rum Butter Caramel Sauce with Choice of Fresh Fruit Topping

Lido - Late Night 10:30pm - 11:30pm

Sliced Fruits

Apple, Pears, Banana, orange, Grapes

Chickpeas, Artichoke and Arugula

Roasted Tarragon Chicken

walnuts, celery, and apples

Cheese Selection

Blue, Brie, Leiden

Tossed to Order

Asian Tuna Salad

Selection of Artisan Breads

Panini Grilled to Order

El Toro

beef brisket, bourbon bbq sauce, roasted bell pepper, dill pickle, tomato, lettuce, red onion, cream cheese, mayonnaise, cilantro, chili flakes, garlic baguette

Fish Crispy Taco

Mini Pork Katsu

Southern Fried Chicken

French Fries with Toppings

Cheese Sauce, Bolognese Sauce, Ketchup, Mayo

Beef and Broccoli

Jasmine Rice

Pakoras

Spaghetti Bolognese

Garlic Bread

Boston Cream Pie

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Triple Berries

Fruit Tartlet

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Rotterdam MDR Caribbean Dutch Dinner (3/2026)

Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026

Available on: all ships

Cocktails

Dutch 75

$11.00

De Lijn Gin, Sparkling Wine, fresh lemon juice

Cazadores Margarita

$13.00

Cazadores Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime Juice

Cosmopolitan

$12.00

Absolut Citron, Cointreau, cranberry, lemon

Ship Shape Manhattan

$13.00

Buffalo Trace bourbon, Carpano Antica, Noilly Prat Dry, Angostura bitters

Wines

Holland America Line Sparkling Wine

$10.00 | $40.00

Washington

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay

$12.00 | $48.00

Washington

Sokol Blosser Evolution Pinot Noir

$14.00 | $56.00

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

$18.00 | $72.00

California

Starters

Bay Shrimp Cocktail

Dutch cocktail sauce, boiled egg

Steak Tartare

capers, gherkins pickles

Chicken, Sweetbreads And Mushroom Cream

puff pastry, Hollandaise sauce

Westland Salad

tomato, cucumber, egg, mustard dressing

Green Peas Soup

pumpernickel, speck ham

French Onion Soup

Gruyère cheese crouton

Classic Caesar Salad

romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, Caesar dressing, anchovies

Mains

Bami Goreng

Indonesian stir-fried noodles, chicken and shrimp saté, peanut sauce, krupuk shrimp crackers

Hodge Podge Klapstuk

braised beef brisket, carrots, potatoes, onions, butter gravy

Beef Tenderloin, Mushrooms

chateau potatoes, sauteed vegetables

Pan Fried Dover Sole, Lemon Butter

parsley potatoes, asparagus, carrots

Vegan Braised Bell Pepper

brown rice, tomato coulis

Pork Cordon Bleu

ham, gouda, green peas, carrots, Lyonnaise

Roasted Chicken

French fries, apple sauce

Salmon Fillet, Bay Shrimp

saffron risotto, fennel

Featured

15 oz Pinnacle Grill Boneless Ribeye

$20.00

shallot confit, aged balsamic, green peppercorn, baked potato, creamed spinach

By Iron Chef Morimoto

Fresh Catch Grouper

$25.00

braised, soy ginger reduction, steamed baby bok choy, baby carrot

Yuzu Butter Grilled Lobster Tails

$25.00

seasonal Asian greens

Desserts

Crème Brûlée

burnt sugar

Tompouce

puff pastry, vanilla custard, royal icing

Apple Pie

vanilla ice cream

Lindt Chocolate Tulip

chocolate cream, flourless chocolate sponge

Lindt Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae

vanilla ice cream, chocolate chunks, stroopwafel

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Dutch Night Dinner in the Main Dining Room

You’ll notice tonight’s menu was a special Dutch-themed dinner, honoring Holland America Line’s Dutch roots. That theme ties directly into the Orange Party, since orange is the national color of the Netherlands, stemming from the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange.

With the party scheduled to start at 9:15pm, I decided to head to the main dining room a little earlier than usual.

I started things off with the beef tartare, which was actually a nice surprise to see on the MDR menu. Usually that’s something reserved for the specialty restaurants, so it was a welcome addition. The portion was nice, although it definitely could have used a few more pieces of crostini to go along with it.

For the main course I went with the pan-fried Dover sole, a small filet of fish with a nice buttery flavor served alongside vegetables and potatoes. Simple, but well prepared.

And when dessert rolled around, there was really only one option on a Dutch-themed night.

Dutch apple pie.

You can’t have Dutch night without it.

Service once again was very quick, and I was in and out in about 45 minutes. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m not the biggest fan of dining in the main dining room on cruise ships in general. Service often feels rushed, the food sometimes arrives a little lukewarm, and the overall goal seems to be turning tables as quickly as possible.

In fact, Carnival Cruise Line just announced they’re rolling out a new “express dinner” option in their main dining rooms for guests with anytime dining. The idea is a smaller menu where they guarantee you’ll be in and out in under an hour.

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I spent more than an hour in a cruise ship dining room on any cruise line.

On Holland America, I’ve sometimes been in and out in under 30 minutes, much to my disappointment.

How does that happen?

Well, the reality is that most of the food is already prepared and plated ahead of time. The servers simply go into the galley, grab what they need, and bring everything out. At their service stations they have equipment that keeps dishes warm or chilled until they’re delivered.

I was seated right next to the waiter station, and my server walked out of the kitchen carrying three plates on his tray – my appetizer, my entrée, and my dessert.

With one hand he cleared my plate, and with the other he immediately set down the next course.

Boom. On to the next one.

Honestly, I hate that.

I prefer having some time between courses to relax and enjoy dinner, but when you’re feeding thousands of people every night, the goal isn’t lingering over a meal.

The goal is keeping things moving.

And that’s one of the reasons I end up spending most of my evenings in the specialty restaurants, even though they come with an extra charge.

Morimoto By Sea Pop-up Dinner

A quick note before moving on. In addition to tonight’s Dutch themed dinner in the main dining room, Holland America was also offering one of its special pop-up dining events, Morimoto by Sea. This is a $55 specialty dinner held in Tamarind up on Deck 12 and features a menu created by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. The event is usually offered just once per cruise and tends to sell out quickly.

I’ve actually done this dinner before. I experienced it on Zuiderdam, which you can read about here, and I also tried it earlier on this very ship, Rotterdam, which you can read about here. Same menu, but two very different experiences depending on the ship and service that night.

I didn’t take advantage of the Morimoto dinner this time around, but I do plan on attending it during the next segment of the cruise that begins Friday, so stay tuned for a full report on that.

Morimoto by Sea Pop-Up

Morimoto by Sea is a special pop-up dining event that takes over Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill for one unforgettable night during the cruise. Featuring dishes created by Chef Morimoto and a curated drink menu, it’s one of the most sought-after reservations onboard when it appears.

Available on: all ships except Nieuw Amsterdam

Appetizers

Morimoto Fresh Tuna Pizza

anchovy aioli, kalamata olive, red onion, jalapeno

Tori Ramen Noodle Soup

soy egg, bamboo shoot, chashu, Japanese braised pork belly, hot broth poured at the table

Tempura Calamari Salad

quinoa two ways, white miso dressing, mixed greens, can be served without calamari on request

Pork Gyoza Dumpling

scallion ginger sauce

Sushi Plate

nigiri salmon, hamachi, hotate, maki roll ebi tempura, dungeness California, salmon shikai maki vegetarian can be served on request

Side Dishes

House Fried Rice

egg, shrimp, chicken, scallion, vegetables

Steamed White Rice or Brown Rice

Wasabi Mashed Potato

Wok Seared Bok Choy

Steamed Vegetables with Tofu

ponzu and gochujang-aioli

Main Course

Crispy Fried Whole Market Fresh Fish

sweet tamarind chili sauce, pickled vegetables

Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Oyster Satay

sautéed vegetables, teriyaki sauce

Ishiyaki Buri Bop

fresh Pacific yellowtail, white rice cooked tableside in a hot stone bowl

Angry Lobster Pad Thai

Maine lobster, rice noodles, Thai red curry sauce

Japanese Curry

fried tofu, seasonal vegetables

Grilled Beef Tenderloin Steak

sweet potato tempura, Japanese-style gravy sauce with mushroom

Shrimp Three Ways

panko, tempura, grilled with yakisoba, tartar, gochujang, tonkatsu sauce

Dessert

Dark Chocolate Sphere

marshmallow cream, chocolate sorbet, hot salted caramel sauce

Baked Tofu Cheesecake

brûlée style, mango passion salsa, blueberry lemon sorbet

White Chocolate Lime Ganache

coconut foam, mango-yuzu sorbet, rice pudding

Sorbet Trio

lychee, mango-yuzu sorbet, blueberry

Signature Cocktails

Casual Encounter

$14.00

Belvedere vodka, canton ginger, lemon, cucumber

Morimotini

$15.00

Haku vodka, morimoto junmai sake

Cucumber Mojito

$12.00

Bacardi 8, agave, lime, orange, cucumber

Yuzu Cocktail

$12.00

De Lijn Gin, yuzu juice, vanilla, soda

Lychee Martini

$12.00

Roku Gin, morimoto junmai sake, lychee liquor

Sake

Morimoto Sake Moriawase

$34.00

Flight of four chef morimoto sakes

Morimoto Premium Sake

Morimoto Junmai

$9.00 / $25.00 / $66.00

Morimoto Junmai Ginjo

$12.00 / $35.00 / $90.00

Morimoto Junmai Daiginjo

$16.00 / $42.00 / $130.00

Morimoto Sparkling Nigori

$8.00 / $35.00

Wine

Holland America Line Sparkling Wine

$10.00 / $40.00

Taittinger Brut Champagne

$22.00 / $88.00

Morimoto 'Morimoto Dream' Brut Rosé

$15.00 / $60.00

Benziger Sauvignon Blanc

$13.00 / $52.00

Les Fumees Blanches Sauvignon Blanc

$12.00 / $48.00

Long Shadows 'Poets Leap' Riesling

$14.50 / $58.00

K Vintners 'Powerline' Viognier

$17.25 / $69.00

Grgich Hills 'Morimoto Dream' Chardonnay

$24.00 / $96.00

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé

$12.00 / $48.00

Mark West Pinot Noir

$12.00 / $48.00

Rocky Pond 'Stratastone' GSM

$14.00 / $56.00

Grgich Hills 'Morimoto Dream' Cabernet Sauvignon

$26.25 / $105.00

Beer

Sapporo

$7.75

Stella Artois

$7.75

⬇ Download PDF

🖼️ Menu Images

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Orange Party Time!

With dinner out of the way, it was time for one of the biggest events you’ll find on any Holland America cruise – Orange Party night.

The party officially kicks off at 9:15pm and on Rotterdam it’s held in the BB King’s Blues Club. If you’ve sailed on one of Holland America’s Pinnacle class ships before, you already know that this venue is one of THE liveliest spots on the ship, and when the BB King’s band hits the stage, the crowd gets fired up.

Orange Party is easily the biggest celebration of the cruise and it’s Holland America’s way of leaning into their Dutch heritage.   For those who want to get the evening going a little earlier, Holland America also offers an Orange Party Bar Hop that starts around 8:30pm. For $29 per person, guests make their way through several bars around the ship enjoying pre-batched cocktails at each stop before the group eventually ends up at BB King’s right as the main party begins.

Once the party gets underway, the bar staff has a small bar set up in the breezeway where you can purchase orange-themed cocktails and the gift shop sells orange accessories for anyone who didn’t pack their own festive attire. And yes, a lot of people really get into the theme – including myself as you can tell! Shirts, dresses, hats, feather boas, glasses – if it’s orange, someone is probably wearing it.

They also start things off by passing around light bites, which is a nice touch since many people head straight there after dinner.

Then the band kicks in.

The BB King’s band usually opens with a high-energy set that runs close to an hour, and the dance floor fills up almost immediately. Even if dancing isn’t really your thing, it’s hard not to get pulled into it when the entire room is clapping, singing along, and moving around.

I’m not exactly known for tearing up the dance floor, but Orange Party is one of those nights where you kind of just go with it. The atmosphere is fun, the music is great, and everyone’s in a good mood.

From past cruises I’ve taken on Holland America, Orange Party has always been one of those events that people remember. It’s one of the few times on the cruise where the ship really feels like a full-on party instead of the more laid-back vibe the line is known for.

After the band wrapped up their first set and the dance floor started thinning out a little bit, I decided to call it a night. It had been a long couple of days between the Panama Canal transit and today’s stop in Costa Rica, so heading back to the room seemed like a pretty good plan.

Tomorrow we’ll be spending another full day at sea as Rotterdam makes her way to our final port of call for this cruise, George Town, Grand Cayman.

As always, thanks for following along.

Daily Schedule

Personal Day-By-Day Rotterdam Cruise Review: