Holland America has been in the midst of a change for several years and Westerdam is a perfect example of the line's new, younger persona. Rather than exclusively catering to the senior market, Westerdam now is perfectly positioned to attract both baby boomers and older Gen Xers.

The ship offers something for most everyone in those age brackets. Music lovers have three amazing choices from classical (including modern hits in classical style) at Lincoln Center Stage to have-to-dance blues and rock 'n roll in B.B. King's to sing-along sessions of your favorite radio hits at Billboard Onboard. While you're not going to find any raucous early-morning parties on Westerdam, the entertainment onboard keeps the boat rocking until a bit past midnight. This is particularly true on the ship's European itineraries, which bring in a more global -- and younger -- group of passengers. Foodies will love the America's Test Kitchen theater, with its step-by-step cooking demonstrations (recipe cards with simple directions included), as well as the two pop-up gourmet restaurants, each providing epicurean feasts at reasonable prices. Those looking for enrichment during their travels will find computer and camera classes in the Digital Workshop, as well as destination lectures from the Explorations Central (EXC) experts. Plus, the neat interactive touch tables in the Explorations Central lounge have a variety of information about many of the ports of call on every itinerary. We loved stopping by the Question of the Day display each day to give our answer to questions like, "Which country could you visit over and over and never get tired of?" With all that's on the daily schedule, along with the spaces that are still perfect for relaxation -- the Crow's Nest section of Explorations Central, the King's Room library -- Westerdam is a perfectly calculated mixture of energy and tranquility. Uncover the best deals with a Holland America Line expert Jill Vosters Specialities : Couples & Romance and Destination Weddings 121 reviews Call Agent Barbara Lawrence Specialities : All Inclusive and Family Vacations 38 reviews Call Agent Danny Fisher Specialities : River Cruises and All Inclusive 33 reviews Call Agent Jody Piotter Specialities : River Cruises and Luxury Cruises 27 reviews Call Agent Lori Hischke Specialities : River Cruises and Honeymoons 16 reviews Call Agent Ruth Daniel Specialities : Luxury Cruises and River Cruises 13 reviews Call Agent Amy Stambaugh Specialities : River Cruises and National Parks 11 reviews Call Agent Karen Copeland Specialities : River Cruises and All Inclusive 9 reviews Call Agent Ilana Goldstein Specialities : Luxury Cruises and All Inclusive 8 reviews Call Agent Brenda Rogerson Specialities : River Cruises and Groups 8 reviews Call Agent But with all that's new, Westerdam has not lost Holland American staples like an emphasis on service (though on our cruise, service had the occasional bump, particularly in the restaurants) and delicious food in all venues.