There are a couple of things I really loved about our dining experiences on board Holland America Line‘s ms Noordam on our recent cruise. One, of course, was the amazing food. Each evening in the Dining Room offered a five-course extravaganza, with the menus different each evening (though some items, like the filet or the French onion soup, were always available). However, if, say, two of the appetizers sounded too good to pass up, your server wouldn’t bat an eyelash if you ordered both . . . as well as a soup and a salad. And, not that I would ever do such a thing (ha!), but he would also firmly support your decision to have two desserts because you had to try both the chocolate mousse and the crème brûlée. And the presentation for every plate was a feast for the eyes; the attention to detail with every edible flower or flourish of sauce was remarkable, especially when one considers how many plates the galley is putting out every evening.

I also appreciated the open dining policy we enjoyed on this cruise. In the past, we’ve opted for a set dining time and to have a designated table. We picked a late seating, had a fabulous window table and enjoyed the chance to really get to know our wait staff . . . and they came to know us and our preferences as well. This time, though, we decided to let each day’s activities determine when we and our traveling companions would arrive for dinner. The maitre’d would ask us if we preferred to dine at a separate table or wouldn’t mind sharing with two or four others. We always opted for the chance to meet other travelers and were always delighted with our dinner partners.

We met Denis, an urban planner from Montréal, on our first night and enjoyed lively and interesting conversation. A few days later, after viewing the chaotic sprawl of Cairo, we were eager to get his take on it and were pleased when our paths crossed again. (When we mentioned Cairo, he was virtually speechless and could only roll his eyes in horror.) Another evening we shared travel stories with Nancy and Chris, two ladies who inspired me to still be traveling the world when I’m 85, too. We also met delightful couples from Australia and Britain (those Aussies and Brits really get out and see the world!) and found instant connections and the fellowship of traveling.

Yes, I would gladly cruise again, and I would definitely opt for open dining and the chance to break bread with my fellow travelers.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor