Trip Bacon β€” The secret ingredient to the perfect getaway logo

OUR FIRST PANAMA CANAL CRUISE! Holland America Rotterdam First Impressions and Q & A

Life Well Cruised
Life Well Cruised
πŸ…Authority
πŸ‘οΈ 41K viewsπŸ“… 2 years ago⏱️ 10:35

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator provides first impressions from a twelve day Panama Canal cruise aboard the Holland America Rotterdam. While the overall experience is described as positive, the creator notes that the itinerary faced changes due to civil unrest and protests in Panama. Specifically, excursions in Colon were cancelled to ensure passenger safety, as the cruise line wanted to avoid potential risks like blocked roads. Despite these changes, the creator highlights the successful transit through the new Aqua Clara locks. Regarding the ship itself, the creator expresses high praise for the Rotterdam, noting the beautiful design and high quality of the food. The demographic on this particular sailing is described as older and more relaxed compared to previous Holland America voyages. To compensate for the cancelled excursions, the cruise line provided complimentary drinks at several bars and by the pool, a gesture the creator found impressive. The video serves as an interim update rather than a full review, with more detailed information regarding excursions and specific dining areas expected in future content.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Rotterdam
Seriously Tasty
All-time creator consensus for Rotterdam
A Nibble

This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCruise VlogπŸ…Authority Creator
❀️ Best for CoupleOther · Fall · 12 nightsOccasional Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

we're on board Holland America's reram for our very first Panama Canal cruise and unfortunately everything didn't exactly go as planned

I have to tell you overall this has been a really great cruise

we absolutely love this ship it's a midsize ship it is beautiful

the food is honestly some of the best food that I've had on cruises

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Consider booking a balcony room for Panama Canal transit to watch from your own space
βœ“Be prepared for early morning activities during canal transit
βœ“Follow the creator on social media for timely updates on itinerary changes

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Safety during Panama Canal transit due to regional unrest β€” Cruise lines prioritize passenger safety and will make changes to avoid risk
Older demographic on Holland America cruises β€” The relaxed atmosphere is positive and shouldn't deter travelers who enjoy that vibe

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat is happening with Panama Canal cruises due to civil unrest?
QHow has the itinerary been impacted by regional protests?
QWhat are the first impressions of Holland America Rotterdam?

Topics Covered

Itinerary Route2 Happy BaconService Crew4 Happy BaconValue Pricing3 Happy BaconShip Condition4 Happy BaconDining Buffet3Β½ Happy BaconPool Deck3Β½ Happy BaconCrowd Capacity3 Happy BaconKids Family1Β½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Colon, Panama1Β½ Sad Bacon
Top: Excursion to Panama City
Panama City, Panama1Β½ Sad Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube