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Europe 2025 schedule features Port Rotterdam as a homeport of 2 ships (ms Rotterdam, ms Nieuw Statendam) for roundtrips to Northern Europe/Baltic. The program also introduces itineraries to Holy Land, Iberia, Iceland and the UK. The 28-day Legendary Voyage "Arctic Circle Crossing" visits Greenland, Iceland, North Cape, and Scotland. Additionally, all passengers booked in suites automatically receive access to Club Orange, a program that allows cruisers to eat in a private dining room and skip the line at the shore excursions and guest services desks, as well as during tendering. Exclusive onboard events — such as behind-the-scenes tours, private spa consultations and Q&A sessions — are also offered for Club Orange members.
Vista Suites
The theaters are home to all sorts of additional music, dance and comedy performances. Each of the three ships measures 99,863 gross tons and carries 2,650 passengers at double occupancy. Pinnacle Class ships also have all of Holland America's signature entertainment venues — something that can't be said for the line's older vessels. Notably, in addition to a main restaurant and casual buffet, the three Pinnacle Class ships have five separate specialty dining venues — everything from a pan-Asian eatery and an Italian restaurant to a steakhouse. Measuring 99,863 gross tons, Rotterdam is tied with two slightly older sister ships (Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam) as the biggest ship in the Holland America fleet. In addition to being the newest ships in the Holland America fleet, the three vessels, collectively known as the Pinnacle class of ships, have the most amenities of the ships in the Holland America fleet.
Holland America Line's itineraries themed "Signature Experiences"
But it was with Pinnacle Class ships that Holland America truly began to overhaul its offerings in terms of both dining and entertainment. Koningsdam, which debuted in 2016, brought with it the Grand Dutch Cafe (where you'll find the best grilled cheese at sea, along with delicious split pea soup) and Rudi's Sel de Mer, a seafood restaurant developed by chef and food artist Rudi Sodamin. It also boasts the Music Walk concept, a central thoroughfare that houses several performance spaces focusing on different genres of music. A partnership with BBC Earth provides Holland America cruisers with theater screenings of BBC Earth programming as well as magnificent concert events that combine live orchestra music with dramatic footage from BBC Earth. I especially enjoyed “Alaska in Concert,” featured on my Alaska cruise aboard the Zaandam and “Planet Earth II” onboard the Zuiderdam. I’m going to start with libraries, because I literally wouldn’t be alive without them.
Included with your cruise fare:
Cruisers booked in these accommodations have access to a variety of complimentary services, including those of a private concierge. Other amenities include an in-cabin stereo system and entry to the Neptune Lounge. All suite passengers have access to additional amenities, including fresh flowers, a pillow menu, a stocked minibar and binoculars for use during each sailing. Then there's the Sea View Bar, which offers standard poolside drinks near the adults-only Sea View Pool. The most impressive is the Half Moon Bar, which is new to the fleet and features a menu that's a mix of science and history. In addition to wine and beer, this watering hole -- located where the Blend wine mixing bar is found on other Pinnacle-class vessels -- boasts seven exclusive cocktails, each with its own story and ties to Holland America's maritime history.
While Pinnacle-class ships can hold 2,650 passengers at double occupancy, the line's two oldest vessels (known as the R Class) are only designed to carry 1,432 passengers at double occupancy. The newest Holland America ship is typically also the Holland America ship with the most up-to-date venues, including restaurants and bars, as well as the most up-to-date cabins and suites. It's what you want if you desire the very latest and greatest in a vessel for your Holland America cruise vacation. There are also special perks and priority benefits for passengers who pay for Club Orange access.
Because of its smaller size, Volendam has fewer features and amenities than most other Holland America ships, particularly the ships of the newest Pinnacle Class and another recent group of vessels called the Signature Class. Other relatively new Holland America ships include the 2,650-passenger Nieuw Statendam and the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam, which are sister ships to Rotterdam. Passengers also have an impressive number of choices when it comes to destinations. Holland America offers itineraries spanning all seven continents, so you only need to decide where you'd like to go.
Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers - The New York Times
Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Two Holland America Line crew members die in onboard 'steam release' in Bahamas - USA TODAY
Two Holland America Line crew members die in onboard 'steam release' in Bahamas.
Posted: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Of the "Big Eight" cruise lines, Holland America Line is the one that prides itself most heavily on legacy. Among the other industry players, which are relatively new in comparison, Holland America stands out because of its longevity, having begun passenger operations in 1873 to ferry passengers across the Atlantic between The Netherlands and New York City. On a Holland America Line South America cruise, you can experience legendary lands in elegant comfort, aboard one of our premium mid-size ships.
ASIA CRUISES
During the day, rejuvenate with a spa treatment at the heavenly Greenhouse Spa & Salon®. Head to the upper decks for a friendly game of Pickleball at Sea with top-deck views. Catch a performance at the World Stage or spend your evening on the dance floor at Rolling Stone Lounge. The second of our Signature Class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam, celebrates historic New York City with an inspired design and art collection. While on board, rejuvenate in the tranquil Spa & Salon, play pickleball at sea, or enjoy a tantalizing meal at fine dining restaurants. When you’re in the mood for music, Billboard Onboard fills the room with chart-topping hits.
Imagine majestic tidewater glaciers, iconic animals roaming freely, breaching whales, colorful Klondike Gold Rush history and wide-open spaces of incomparable beauty.
The idea eventually evolved into the "Alaska Land+Sea Journeys" - HAL's itinerary program that combines sea voyages with land-based adventure tours to Denali NP and Yukon Canada. Newer Holland America cruise ships generally are bigger than older Holland America ships — sometimes much bigger. As a result, they have room for more onboard venues and attractions than the line's older vessels.
I generally love kids and deeply appreciate those who are kind and patient with my son when we travel. But I admit to enjoying the smaller number of kids on most Holland America sailings. King’s Blues Club (which still exists on some ships, but has been replaced with the, inferior in my opinion, Rolling Stone Rock Room on several others) and am on a one-woman crusade to bring them back, I still love the surviving music on HAL. A separate dressing room provides space for your clothes, and the bathroom and balcony each have their own whirlpools.
As a souvenir (at ship's Grand Dutch Cafe, and Explorations Cafe) is available for purchasing regular and decaffeinated 12-oz bag (Rotterdam 1873 beans). In October 2019, HAL implemented fleetwide new Club Orange amenities, including cabin upgrades (within the booked category) and the "Captain's Choice" event. In November 2015, HAL announced a USD 300 million fleetwide drydock refurbishment program. The fleet renovation project included Suite improvements (new decors, furnishings, amenities and services upgrades) for all staterooms on Vista-Signature-R-Class boats. The first scheduled for drydocks were Oosterdam and Eurodam, followed by Westerdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam,Zuiderdam,Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Zaandam. These are Statendam (now Vasco da Gama), Maasdam (now CFC Renaissance), Ryndam (now Celestyal Journey) and Veendam (now Aegean Majesty).
On ships in the Vista Class, the similarly themed Rolling Stone Lounge hosts a seven-piece band that covers a range of music styles, including R&B, rock, pop and country. B.B. King's Blues Club is a popular venue on Signature Class and Pinnacle Class ships. Named for the famed blues artist, it houses live performances of the same genre. On Vista Class, Signature Class and Pinnacle Class vessels, Billboard Onboard is where you can catch dueling pianos with musicians playing popular tunes that top the Billboard charts.
In fact, it looked like loads of fun (I’m was just too busy eating 23 out of 24 hours each cruise day to find out). No, it was because I frequently cruise with my 10-year-old son who is a huge basketball fan and the conversion of onboard basketball courts to pickleball courts for a portion of each day means one less thing to keep him entertained and his fingers out of my food. I taught my kid (and myself) how to play pickleball and now it’s an activity we can enjoy as a family on our Holland America cruises. All cruisers booked in Neptune Suite accommodations have complimentary Club Orange access, entitling them to meals in the exclusive Club Orange dining room, as well as other perks like priority embarkation and disembarkation. Passengers not booked in suites are able to join Club Orange by paying for those extras. In recent years, HAL has earned a well-deserved reputation for offering some of the best and most varied food at sea.
For starters, the newest vessels feature an entire music-themed promenade, and each ship's main theater, dubbed the World Stage, hosts several fabulous shows each cruise. These cabins are also outfitted with a split bathroom setup — one room with a bathtub/shower, sink and toilet and another with a shower and sink. Itineraries run the gamut from standard Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada/New England and Pacific Coastal voyages to more bucket-list regions like Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Panama Canal. More far-flung destinations include places like South Africa, Oman, Egypt, China, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Turkey, Morocco, Malaysia, Fiji and other areas of the world that are often cumbersome to reach if you're not on a ship.
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