Summary
South Pacific Cruise with Holland America
Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to go on one of those grand cruise voyages around the world? Well, you can find out now. We joined Holland America’s 80-Day Grand Asia Tour for the South Pacific Cruise portion of their grand voyage. Starting in Australia, we sailed through the South Pacific to Hawaii and enjoyed 19 luxurious days at sea.
We boarded the ship in Sydney, Australia along with about 100 other latecomers. We thought we’d be the only newcomers to this epic Asia voyage, but it turns out that many people do a leg or two of the grand voyages. Not everyone has 80 – 120 days to set aside for sailing around the world, but for those who want to see if it’s something they’d like to give a shot in the future or for those wanting something a little more refined than a Caribbean party boat, this is the choice for you.
Our South Pacific Cruise Experience – Days at Sea
We quickly got to know our fellow passengers who welcomed us with open arms in the lounges, piano bars, and on the deck each day. The people on this ship are an older crowd and definitely a well-traveled crowd. One man told us that he wanted to come back and do this voyage because he was in the South Pacific in the 1970s backpacking around and hiring local fishermen to take him to local islands. He was curious to see how it had changed, and we were fascinated to listen to his stories.
Dave and I tend to gel with an older crowd. The people on this Holland America Voyage had been around the world and traveled to remote destinations long before the days of Instagram and TikTok. They travel because they love it, not to see how many likes they will get on a photograph.
Scenes from a South Pacific Cruise
Entertainment on the M.S. Amsterdam
Sea Days on a South Pacific Cruise with Holland America
Sea days are “me” days. They are your time to relax and enjoy life. There are plenty of things to keep you busy, and the MS Amsterdam is large enough that you can easily find a quiet nook to read or sip a cappuccino. If you are up for something more exciting, there are activities scheduled for every minute of the day.
Dave and I fell into a routine. We didn’t realize we were the routine type, but we looked forward to each morning.
A Day In The Life Of Our South Pacific Cruise
8:00 am – Spin Class
This was the best way to start the day. The MS Amsterdam has an amazing gym filled with a dozen stationary bikes and a fantastic personal trainer. Our small group lit up the place as Na’eem pumped us up taking us through sprints, hill climbs, and core work.
9:00 am – Smoothie by the Pool
Dave and I made sure to get the unlimited coffee and drinks package, and our morning routine thanked us. Instead of going to the immense breakfast buffet, we opted for fresh fruit smoothies by the pool. The staff on the cruise were outstanding, and I am not exaggerating when I say they had memorized our names after day one. The minute we ordered something, they had it ready to go the next day.
10:00 am – Explorers Café
Back to the room for a freshen-up before heading to the Explorers Café for our daily cappuccino. We lived for this moment. Choosing a seat by the window, we looked out to the beautiful South Pacific sipping our fresh brew and did absolutely nothing.
We had an Internet package on the cruise, but never felt the need to look online. We were in the place we wanted to be and did what everyone else in the room was doing. Chillaxin’ with our drinks.
11:00 am – Guest Lectures
What I love about Holland America is that they have staff join at every port, and a new guest speaker, entertainer, or instructor would board the ship to share their expertise. From yachting to the history of Polynesia, there was something fascinating to learn each day.
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Lunchtime!
Lunch was our favorite meal of the day. We lived for the big salads and flocked to the salad chef who made us the most delicious mix of crisp greens to get through our day. Protein was always on the menu and we salivated over the sushi bar.
Dining Options
The M.S. Amsterdam has two other restaurants for fine dining. One of our favorite highlights was in the Pinnacle Grill, which was turned into an Evening at Le Cirque. They changed the curtains and menu to mimic the famous Le Cirque restaurant in Las Vegas.
Late Night Fun
By far, our favorite time of day was at the Piano Bar with Piano Man Jeff. When Dave and I first got on board, the atmosphere was quiet until we sat around the piano, prompting others to join in and creating a lively party.
Conclusion
We had a blast on Holland America’s M.S. Amsterdam. We knew we wanted to take a break and relax for a few weeks, and the South Pacific cruise was just what we were looking for. This cruise caught us off guard as we genuinely enjoyed our fellow passengers and the daily routine.
