Besides the still photos on the Olivia site under "35th BD Bash" "Ship" you can go to the Holland America site  http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Westerdam and click on "Staterooms"

They have Deck Plans and Virtual Tours.  Hope that's what you're looking for.

HEY EVERYONE! LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CRUISE SO MUCH! WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN DOING SOME OF THE EXCURSIONS. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST OLIVIA CRUISE AND WAS WONDERING WHAT SOME GOOD WEBSITES WERE TO GO AND CHECK THE AVAILABLE EXCURSIONS. ALSO, IT SEEMS LIKE A WHILE BACK, OLIVIA HAD A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE ROOMS AND THE DECK PLANS, CAN ANYONE REMEMBER THIS AND TELL ME WHERE I CAN VIEW IT?

I was on the Caribbean Dreams trip earlier this year.  The 2 sides of St. Maarten trip is interesting.  I also snorkeled from a boat, but now can't remember which island.  Loads of fun.

I believe there will be "recommended excursions" for solo's, which just means there's a good chance they'll be other solo's on the same boat, bus, helicoptor, fill in the blank.

Personally, I like to snorkel so I'll be looking for those opportunities.

Torri

Thanks K & M!  Nice to have another person offer their helpful hints!  I am looking forward to this trip and meeting up with many wonderful people.  If I am not scuba diving on the Turks, I would love to visit this beach bar with you gals, if that is ok?  Sounds fun.  Port time is short, so may not dive until later.  Have to see what will be offered for excursions.

Ok, catch up with ya later!!

Inde

You can also go to www.cruisecritic.com and check their message boards for excursion ideas and cost comparisons.  One of my co-worker's has a "brudda in law" on Grand Turk who we're heading to, beach bar and cafe, snorkel right off the beach.  Margaritaville to the right (very popular witha pool, I'm told.)and his place is a few doors down on the left.  Short time in Grand Turk so don't wander too far if not on a ship's excursion.  We'll probably shop and wander and nosh in St Thomas...wonder how many other ships will be in port that day?  It can affect your bargaining power, if it's kosher to haggle there.  It's our first time into the eastern Caribbean.  We'll probably do a ship's excursion in St Marteen because we want to see both sides.  Half Moon is a layback and sip day, if we even get off the ship.  Can't wait to meet everyone, K & M

Yes, it is easy to do things around the ports.  The tender boat will take one into the port, unless the ship docks then we walk off.  The tenders come and go and they will give you a time of when the last tender goes back to theship, do not want to miss that one!!  There willl be plenty to do on ones own, go to the beach, go into the town, and there are vendors that do tours outside of the cruise ship/excursions offered on board.

Ok, word of caution, if one does go with an outside vendor to do an excursion and one is late getting back to the port, forget about the ship waiting for you, unlike if one does a ship offered excursion and it runs late, or a problem arises, the ship will wait for you.

So, always carry a copy of your passport and a credit card and your D.L. with you, for if you are stranded, you will need these to get out of the port you are in to try to catch up to the cruise ships next port, if possible to do that.

Yes, any excursions that are offered thru HAL/Olivia always pick you up and bring you back to the port. 

You can go to www.hollandamerica.com  and get and idea of the excursions that will be offered to us when we do our cruise.  Some may not be offered, some will, just depends.  When  at that site, go to Destinations and from there it will lead you thru to be able to research the kind of excursions that are offered adn be able to read up on them.

Ok, hope this helps get you started, I have checked out the excursions and have an idea of what I will be doing when in Ports.  So good luck and let me know if ya need more assistance.  I have several other web sites I can give you, if ya want.

later,

Inde

Hi ,

 

Just a question ? If you are not planning to do excursions at every port - is it easy to do things to occupy your time , get around , on your own ? Anyone on previous cruises their experiences? Most excursions are 2 hours or so do most bring you back to the port starting point near the ship ? Unless you have been these places before - which excursions are well worth the experience which are so so ...From the ports we will be going on what are each of the places best not to miss experiences - just want any info I can get ....