Poof. Just like that it’s time for the second leg of this back-to-back cruise aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam.
If you’re just jumping in here, the previous segment was a 12-day Panama Canal sailing. This next cruise is a 9-day ABC itinerary… well technically a CBA itinerary since we’re visiting the islands in reverse order this time around. The full itinerary for this segment is listed below.
Holland America Line – 9-Day Southern Caribbean
Rotterdam
Dates: March 13–22, 2026
Homeport: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Ship Facts: 2021 build • 99,800 GT • 2,668 passengers (double occupancy)
| Date | Port | Country |
| Mar 13 | Fort Lauderdale (Depart 3:00pm) | USA |
| Mar 14 | At Sea | – |
| Mar 15 | At Sea | – |
| Mar 16 | Willemstad (Depart 11:00pm) | Curaçao |
| Mar 17 | Kralendijk (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 5:00pm) | Bonaire |
| Mar 18 | Oranjestad (Arrive 8:00am) | Aruba |
| Mar 19 | At Sea | – |
| Mar 20 | At Sea | – |
| Mar 21 | Half Moon Cay (Arrive 8:00am, Depart 3:00pm) | Bahamas |
| Mar 22 | Fort Lauderdale (Arrive 7:00am) | USA |
As mentioned in the previous report, this sailing also marks the final Caribbean voyage for Rotterdam for the 2025/26 season. When we return to Fort Lauderdale next Sunday morning the ship will depart on a transatlantic crossing to Rotterdam in the Netherlands where she’ll enter dry dock for a short stay before beginning her European season.
After spending the summer in Europe, Rotterdam will make her way back to Port Everglades on October 31st to kick off the 2026/27 Caribbean season.
A small part of me still wishes Holland America would keep at least one ship sailing from Florida year-round, but for now we get a few months without her before she returns.
Embarkation for In-Transit Guests
Since this is the second half of a back-to-back sailing, embarkation day looks a little different for those of us staying onboard.
Instead of packing up and leaving the ship, the 208 guests continuing on this sailing were asked to meet in the World Stage around 9:00 a.m. so we could be processed as what the cruise line calls “in-transit guests.” As we entered the theater our keycards were scanned so the crew could confirm exactly who was staying onboard.
Once everyone was accounted for, we had to wait until the ship reached a “zero count,” meaning all passengers from the previous cruise had disembarked. From there we were escorted off the ship and into the terminal to clear U.S. Customs using the facial recognition kiosks.
After everyone was processed we lined up again and were escorted right back onto the ship.
The whole process moved surprisingly fast this morning. By about 9:50 a.m. all 208 of us were back onboard Rotterdam and officially starting the next cruise.
Anyone who has done a back-to-back before knows getting this done in under an hour is actually pretty impressive.
Inside Stateroom 6025 on Holland America’s Rotterdam
For this segment of the cruise I had to switch staterooms, moving from the very spacious Family Oceanview cabin on Deck 1 into a much smaller interior room on Deck 6.
Since this sailing falls right in the middle of spring break season, the ship is completely sold out. For the past few days I had been checking with Guest Services to see if any upgrades might open up, but no such luck. So off to my new cabin I went.
For anyone doing a back-to-back who needs to switch rooms, Holland America actually makes the process very easy. Before leaving your first cabin you simply pack up anything that isn’t on hangers and leave your luggage and hanging clothes behind. While you’re off the ship clearing customs, housekeeping moves everything to your new stateroom. When you return, your belongings are already waiting for you. All you have to do is swing by Guest Services to pick up your new keycard.
It’s about as painless as moving cabins can be.
For this leg of the cruise I’m in stateroom 6025, which is what’s known as a “sideways” interior cabin. The name comes from the orientation of the room compared to most cabins that run lengthwise along the hallway. In this layout the room is turned so the bed faces the hallway wall rather than running parallel to it.
What that means in practical terms is the foot of the bed sits only a couple of feet from the door and the hallway wall. The closets and bathroom are positioned off to the side instead of creating that usual buffer zone between the bed and the corridor.
The bathroom itself is about the same size you’ll find in most non-suite cabins, with a vanity and sink along with a walk-in shower that has a glass door. The rest of the cabin is where things feel noticeably tighter.
This is probably one of the smallest cabins I’ve had on a Holland America ship, and unfortunately it’s also one of the noisiest. In a typical stateroom, the bathroom and closets sit between the hallway and the bed, which helps block a lot of the sound coming from outside. In this layout, however, the bed is basically right up against the hallway wall.
As a result you hear everything. Conversations in the corridor, doors slamming, people walking past… it all carries straight into the room since there’s just a thin wall separating the bed from the hallway.
It’s not a cabin type I would ever go out of my way to book again. But since this sailing was booked on a complimentary basis, the cruise line assigned the room under what’s called a guarantee category. That simply means you’re guaranteed at least that category of cabin, but the exact location is chosen by the cruise line.
Inside the room you’ll find all the standard amenities: a television, safe, nightstands, a small desk/vanity area, and a stocked minibar fridge. Storage space is fairly limited but workable for one person or maybe two if you pack light.
Power options are decent. On each side of the bed, which can be configured as two twins or a queen, there’s a USB-A port and a U.S. electrical outlet. At the desk you’ll find additional USB-A ports along with both U.S. and European outlets.
It’s a functional cabin… just not one I would ever book again.
Ever.
Video Tour of Stateroom 6025 on Holland America’s Rotterdam
Whoa! What just happened?
Once new passengers began boarding around 11:00 a.m., the vibe on the ship noticeably shifted compared to the previous cruise.
The first thing that stood out was simply the number of people. The ship felt much busier almost immediately. The second thing that became obvious pretty quickly was the number of families and kids onboard this sailing.
That was a noticeable change from the Panama Canal segment, which skewed heavily toward the 65+ crowd that Holland America typically attracts on longer itineraries.
Historically, Holland America hasn’t really been known as a family-focused cruise line, and to be fair that’s still mostly the case today. You won’t find water slides, splash zones, rope courses, or any of the other kid-heavy attractions that are common on ships from lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Norwegian.
There is a kids club onboard, which provides organized activities for younger passengers, but beyond that the ship itself doesn’t offer a lot specifically designed for children or teens.
When it comes to pools, the Lido Pool is essentially the only family-friendly swimming area. The Sea View Pool located at the aft of the ship is designated as adults-only for guests 18 and older. And if you happen to wander back there with kids in tow, seasoned Holland America passengers will have absolutely no hesitation reminding you that it’s an adults-only space.
That said, Holland America has clearly started making an effort to attract a younger crowd in recent years. While the line still caters heavily to its traditional audience, there’s been a noticeable push to bring in more families and younger travelers.
The reality is pretty simple: the core Holland America customer base is aging, and the company knows it needs to bring new generations into the brand if it wants to keep ships full for decades to come.
They’ve started moving in that direction, but when it comes to onboard attractions and amenities aimed at families, Holland America still has a bit of catching up to do.
A Rainy Sail Away
When it came time for sailaway, Mother Nature decided to once again throw a wrench into the plans.
Just like at the start of the previous cruise, Fort Lauderdale was getting hammered with heavy rain, lightning, and wind. That meant the usual outdoor sailaway party at the Sea View Pool was quickly scrapped.
Instead, the festivities were moved inside to the Lido Pool area, which thankfully has a retractable roof. All Holland America ships have these enclosed pool areas since their ships sail in all kinds of climates, not just the warm Caribbean.
With the dome closed, the music started up, the line dancing got going, and despite the storm outside the ship was filled with that familiar first-day cruise energy.
Rain or shine, the second leg of this back-to-back sailing was officially underway.
Simple Items = A Frustrating Start
Before getting into dinner, there were a few frustrating moments during the first day of this segment that are worth mentioning.
First up was the situation with the Retreat cabanas.
As readers of the last segment know, I had rented a cabana in the Retreat during the 12-day Panama Canal cruise. For those unfamiliar, the Retreat is a secluded sun deck area located forward on Deck 12 with private cabanas that can be rented either for the day or for the entire cruise. Most guests opt to rent them for the full sailing. A standard cabana that accommodates two people runs about $980 for a cruise like the previous 12-day segment.
The setup includes two loungers, dedicated cabana attendants who bring drinks and food throughout the day, access to a hot tub, and a large sun deck. On a sold-out cruise like this one, it’s a fantastic place to escape the crowds.
During the previous sailing I noticed that one of the end cabanas was being used as a storage space rather than being rented out. When I asked about renting a cabana for this cruise, I was told they were all sold… except for that one being used for storage.
That led to a fair amount of back and forth with the crew and eventually a supervisor getting involved. After some persistence, around 1:00 p.m. they finally approved renting that cabana out to me. The crew quickly cleared it out, cleaned it up, and got everything set up.
It all worked out in the end, but it was a bit puzzling that a perfectly good cabana was being used for storage instead of generating revenue, especially on a completely sold-out sailing.
The second issue was a somewhat disappointing interaction with my new stateroom attendant.
When I returned to my cabin before dinner I had a few items of laundry I wanted to send out, but there was no laundry bag or form hanging in the closet like there usually is. Since you can hear just about everything happening in the hallway from this particular cabin, I heard the attendants working nearby and stepped out to ask for a bag and form.
Instead of a simple “no problem,” I was told it should already be hanging in my closet.
I explained that I had checked several times and it wasn’t there. He insisted that it was. To humor him I went back into the room and checked again… still no bag.
Eventually he handed me one, but the whole interaction felt unnecessarily argumentative, almost like I was being accused of stealing a laundry bag.
I mentioned to him that when my belongings were moved from my previous stateroom earlier in the day, the hanger with the laundry bag might have been removed during the process. Either way, it should have been a quick “sorry about that” moment instead of turning into a mini debate.
The third minor frustration involved the Mariner Society reception.
Some friends who happened to be on this sailing asked where I was during the reception, and my answer was simple: I didn’t receive an invitation. That’s not entirely unusual, as sometimes Holland America splits the receptions into two events depending on how many 3, 4, and 5-Star Mariners are onboard.
I assumed the first event was for the 3-Star guests and that I’d receive my invite later for the 4 and 5-Star reception.
Turns out that wasn’t the case.
Later on I asked about it and discovered my invitation had been delivered to my previous stateroom and never forwarded to the new one.
None of these issues were major problems, but they were three little frustrations that really shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Still, not exactly the kind of things that are going to ruin a cruise. We move on.
Dinner at Pinnacle Grill on Holland America Line
Dinner time.
As is tradition on the first night of a Holland America cruise, the Lido Market was serving its popular steak and shrimp dinner, and tonight was no exception. It’s always a big hit with passengers who want a quick meal on embarkation night without dealing with the main dining room. Below is a look at tonight’s menus for both the Lido Market and the dining room.
Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu Night 1
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Holland America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu Night 1
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
For me, however, dinner was at Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s signature steakhouse. The cover charge here is $52 per person, though one of the nice perks of being a 4-Star Mariner is getting 50% off that price.
Embarkation night is actually one of my favorite times to dine at the specialty restaurants. Many guests are still unpacking, exploring the ship, or grabbing a casual meal elsewhere, which means the specialty venues tend to be very quiet. That makes for a relaxed, unrushed dinner after what is usually a hectic travel and embarkation day.
Tonight was exactly that.
Just like on the previous cruise, the dining room was nearly empty with only a handful of tables occupied. It felt more like a private dinner than a busy restaurant.
Holland America Pinnacle Grill Dinner Menu
Pinnacle Grill Dinner is Holland America’s classic upscale steakhouse experience, with prime steaks, fresh seafood, and polished service that feels like a proper night out. If you’re looking for the ship’s most traditional specialty dinner, this is usually the reservation people book first.
Available on: all ships
I started things off with the heirloom tomato salad, which is always fresh and light, along with a shrimp cocktail. Both were excellent.
For the main course I decided to kick off this cruise with a bit of a celebratory dinner: surf and turf. A New York strip steak paired with a lobster tail, both cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious.
To finish things off I kept dessert simple with a some vanilla ice cream.
The meal was flawless from start to finish. Excellent food, attentive service, and a quiet dining room made for a great way to begin the second segment of this back-to-back sailing. Pinnacle Grill continues to be one of the most reliable dining spots anywhere on the ship.
After dinner I took a quick walk around to see what the first night crowd looked like. As expected, the ship was buzzing. The casino was busy, B.B. King’s Blues Club had a packed dance floor, and the Rolling Stone Rock Room was standing room only. Clearly everyone was out and about checking out the entertainment options.
As for me, I decided to call it a night and head back to the room.
Unfortunately, this sideways interior cabin is about as quiet as a bus station. With the bed just inches from the hallway wall, you hear every conversation, every door slam, and every group of people wandering back to their rooms.
So in went the sleep buds in an attempt to drown out the hallway traffic.
We’ll now be spending the next two days at sea as Rotterdam makes her way toward our first port of call, Willemstad, Curaçao. We’re scheduled to arrive there at noon on Monday and will remain in port until 11:00 p.m.
More tomorrow, and as always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Crossword & Number Puzzles Available | Library 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Make Your Dining Reservations until 4:00 PM | Atrium 2 & Lido Market 9 |
| 11:00 AM | The Greenhouse Spa Look & Book Tours | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 11:00 AM | Visit the Thermal Suite & Hydropool | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 12:00 PM | Visit the Shore Excursions Desk until 7:00 PM | Shore Excursions 12 |
| 12:00 PM | Guess the Weight of the Sculpture | Atrium 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Walk In Acupuncture Clinic | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:00 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of the Gemstone | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Art & Craft Open House until 3:00 PM | Game Room 12 |
| 1:00 PM | Kids Club Registration until 3:00 PM | Kids Club 10 |
| 1:00 PM | Pickleball Meet & Greet until 3:00 PM | Sport Court 11 |
| 1:30 PM | Personalized Lipstick Blending | The Shops 2 |
| 2:00 PM | A Gift From EFFY: Traveler Tags | Atrium 3 |
| 2:00 PM | WIN a $1,000 Onboard Shopping Spree | Atrium 3 |
| 2:00 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of the Gemstone | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Meet Your Port & Shopping Concierge Archie | Atrium 3 |
| 3:00 PM | All Aboard as Rotterdam Departs Fort Lauderdale | Shipwide |
| 3:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 3:30 PM | Sail Away Celebration | Sea View Pool 9 |
| 4:00 PM | Regional Steel Pan Soloist Dereck Plays | Sea View Pool 9 |
| 4:30 PM | Walking in Comfort | Fitness Center 9 |
| 4:30 PM | Have your Casual Portrait Taken | Atrium 2 |
| 5:00 PM | The Greenhouse Spa & Salon Raffle Drawing | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Ask Your Travel Guide Holly until 7:00 PM | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 5:00 PM | Welcome Aboard Steak & Shrimp Dinner | Lido Market 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Catholic Prayer | Hudson & Half Moon Room 1 |
| 5:00 PM | Guess the Weight of the Sculpture | Atrium 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of The Gemstone | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 5:30 PM | Evening Sips: Taste Fine Spirits | The Shops 3 |
| 5:30 PM | Art Scavenger Hunt | Art Gallery 1 |
| 6:00 PM | Collect Your Free Bingo Ticket | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 6:00 PM | PRIDE Meetup: For LGBTQ+ and friends | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Shabbat Service | Hudson & Half Moon Room 1 |
| 6:00 PM | Rotterdam Ship Tour | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 6:00 PM | Introducing Lewie the Lion | The Shops 3 |
| 6:30 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 6:30 PM | EFFY Jewelry’s Welcome Celebration Raffle | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Regional Steel Pan Soloist Dereck Plays | Ocean Bar |
| 7:00 PM | Music Trivia | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Kids Club Registration until 10:00 PM | Kids Club 10 |
| 7:00 PM | Scratch Off Tickets on Sale | Casino 3 |
| 7:00 PM | Pre-Owned & Pristine Rolex Watches | The Shops 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Beat the Clock... It’s Time to Shop | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 7:15 PM | Billboard Onboard Duo Plays: Billboard Onboard | Billboard Onboard |
| 7:30 PM | On World Stage: A Rotterdam Preview | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 8:00 PM | Rolling Stone Lounge Band Plays: Rolling Stone Lounge | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 8:00 PM | Teens Meet & Greet Ages 12 - 17 | Kids Club 10 |
| 8:00 PM | Young Adult Meetup Ages 18 - 30 | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 8:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 8:45 PM | Billboard Onboard Duo Plays: The Beatles | Billboard Onboard |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: A Rotterdam Preview | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 9:30 PM | Rolling Stone Lounge Band Plays: Rolling Stone Lounge | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 10:15 PM | Billboard Onboard Duo Plays: All Requests | Billboard Onboard |
| 10:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 11:00 PM | $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 11:00 PM | Rolling Stone Lounge Band Plays: Rolling Stone Lounge | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 11:15 PM | Dance to the Hits: 70s & 80s | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 AM | Stay and Play Slots All Night | Casino 3 |