SS Rotterdam

The staff were all good, the beds were okay, and our room was a decent size and clean. We enjoyed the stay, though I expected to be able to explore more of the ship. Quite a few areas were off limits, and the only place we found to sit outside was by the restaurant at the back. I thought there'd be more chance to enjoy the sunset, walk along balconies, or maybe play shuffleboard. That really took away from the experience, which felt more like paying for a room than getting the full ship stay. I'd give it 3.5 stars overall. Parking was available, but we arrived late and used the street parking meter, which came to half the price.

The main problem was the noise. There was loud banging and sound from the bar upstairs until 2am, then again at 6:30am, so I couldn't sleep. There are no staff on site after 11pm, so I had to put up with it. When I complained the next morning, the staff didn't seem to care and wouldn't even hear the details to see whether it could be prevented in future. They just offered free parking, which was no use to me since I wasn't travelling by car. The breakfast was poor, with a small selection: dry scrambled eggs and beans, plus a few pieces of cheese and sliced meat. The room quality was bad too, with stained, loose carpets and dirty bathrooms. This doesn't feel like a four-star hotel. I've stayed in hostels that impressed me more, and I'm shocked by the positive reviews. Maybe people are caught up in nostalgia for the aging ship. I'll be speaking to my travel booking company because this shouldn't be recommended as a business hotel, let alone a four-star one. Awful, avoid it.

The Lido Grill was very good for dinner, with generous servings of brisket and ribs, and the breakfast was excellent. Our room was huge and had two porthole windows, so staying on the ship was a lot of fun. The only downside was that the Gift Shop shuts before 5pm. There's a bus into Rotterdam, or it's about a 25-minute walk.

We came because my mother-in-law had wanted to visit for ages, and ended up having a terrific time. The ship is beautiful, the rooms are excellent, and the staff are friendly. We loved the Lido Grill, especially the brisket, and the view over Rotterdam harbour and the Euromast is amazing. It may be pricey, but I think you get good value for the money.