Cruise ship vacations are becoming increasingly popular and it's little wonder since once aboard these floating resort hotels there's little to do but enjoy yourself. A recent seven day cruise aboard the Holland American's (HAL) Oosterdam to ports along the Mexican Pacific coast provided plenty of time for rest and relaxation.

The Oosterdam is a new ship launched in 2003. With staterooms for 1,850 guests and a crew of 800, this ship is big. Three trips around the deck from bow to stern and you've walked more than a mile. The Oosterdam sails from San Diego to Mexican ports in the fall and winter and from Seattle to Alaska in the spring and summer. You can learn more at www.hollandamerican.com. HAL has 13 cruise ships in its fleet and sails throughout the world.

Cruise ships spend very little time in port, so getting one group of passengers off and another on is a major operation that requires hundreds of people (both on board and on land) and a well-organized system to make it work. From the time we arrive at dockside in San Diego until we were sitting on our stateroom veranda took just over an hour and our luggage was delivered to our room within another hour. Getting off at the end of the cruise was equally smooth and efficient. Remember too, the ship must be fully cleaned and restocked with food and beverages when it's in port. It's a massive job and it happens at the end of every cruise.

HAL employs a small army of service workers from Indonesia and the Philippines who are trained at a special school in Jakarta. These men (and a few women) work 10 months a year and earn good wages plus gratuities. Our cabin steward was responsible for just six rooms and was always available.

The service crew has its own quarters including a kitchen and dining facility providing food they prefer (home cooking). Passengers encounter HAL's friendly service personnel most often in the ship's restaurants. The Oosterdam has three principle restaurants plus numerous bars where drinks and snacks are served. Cruise ships are famous for their food and the quality of food served on the Oosterdam was outstanding. I was fortunate to have a tour of the ship's kitchens. Here, 188 chefs and an army of helpers prepare 11,000 meals each day. The food storage rooms alone cover an area as big as a football field. We ate breakfast in our stateroom most days. The kitchen delivers about 500 room service breakfasts to guests each morning. The Lido restaurant which offered a wide range of cuisine buffet style was just one deck above us, so it was easy to use the staircase (for exercise) to pick up a quick snack. The ice cream counter had a steady business, also the pizza and burger station. One of the ships two swimming pools was right behind the Lido restaurant and you could take your food outside and people watch. Actually, people watching is a fun activity on board. Twice during our seven days cruise, we had formal dinners in the ship's Vista Dining Room. While not all the men wore tuxedos, many did and a coat and tie was mandatory. The women guests took advantage of these occasions and many came dressed in formal gowns and long dresses. It did make the evenings something special. Nearly everywhere you went on board (and in port as well) the ship's photographers were capturing guests experiencing the moment. The following day, thousands of color prints were displayed at the ship's photo center for purchase.

If you haven't filled up at dinner, the Oosterdam offers a late night buffet in it's Lido restaurant after 11 p.m.

Shopping is a big part of cruising both in port and on board. While a variety of merchandise is available, sparkling jewelry and duty free wine and liquor seem to dominate the business. I purchased a pair of black socks having forgotten to pack any. The ship's Greenhouse Spa and Salon is also a major attraction and my wife enjoyed a deep cleansing facial and relaxing massage during our cruise. Next to the restaurants, the busiest place on the Oosterdam was the Casino. In operation from mid-day until the wee hours, guests enjoyed a variety of games of chance. There's also plenty of entertainment on board from live bands and DJs for dancing to fully staged musicals and comedy revues in the ship's large Vista Theater. In addition to it's two swimming pools, there's a volleyball court, a basketball court, and a full gym with all the latest exercise and fitness equipment.

Many HAL cruise ships, including the Oosterdam, feature a Culinary Arts where guest chefs demonstrate their cooking techniques and reveal favorite recipes. Frequently, members of the audience are invited to participate and everyone gets an opportunity to sample the delicious cuisine.

The Oosterdam like most new cruise ships has largely outside staterooms and all with private "verandahs." A large plate glass door (to the veranda) and window make the room feel larger and allows for more natural light and great views of the ocean and shoreline. We sometimes ate breakfast there or just enjoyed the Mexican sunshine with a good book from the ship's library.

Holland American is known for its outstanding service. This was particularly evident in the Oosterdam's main dining room. Our waiter was seemingly always at hand and ready to take care of any request. He quickly remembered my preferences (white wine and decaf coffee) and never had to ask a second time. The food was always the correct temperature, attractively presented, and delicious ‹ a real tribute to the ship's kitchen staff and managers.

Organized on-shore activities were plentiful and covered a wide range of interests from visiting historic sights to scuba diving. My wife and I took an enjoyable coach tour to Todos Santos, a small town with a number of local artists and galleries 60 miles north of our port city of Cabo San Lucas. We also went bird watching (aboard a small motorboat) in a mangrove forest south of Mazatlan and saw a number of ocean birds and local species. Lunches at local restaurants gave us an authentic taste of Mexico.

The Dutch seem to know all the secrets to great hospitality and enjoyable cruising. I'm already planning my next excursion with HAL.