Ms Zaandam of Holland America Cruise Line Review
The Ms Zaandam is a midsize “R Class” ship of Holland America Line named in honor of the city of Zaandam, Netherlands located near Amsterdam. It is decorated with a musical theme with objet d’art and mementos from the world’s greatest musicians such as guitars signed by Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stone, Iggy Pop and Queen among others and a Baroque-type Dutch pipe organ, even a saxophone signed by former US President Bill Clinton.
MS Zaandam
Photo by Monika & Tim
For its 1,440 guests, Ms Zaandam offers a distinctive cruising experience with its large and airy public rooms as well as roomy and elegantly adorned cabins and staterooms, 197 of which have private balconies. The wide selection of activities and extravagant amenities such as the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, the Pinnacle Grill among others, on board Ms Zaandam will make a cruising experience truly unforgettable.
The Main Lounge of Ms Zaandam is a place where guests can relax and sip a before or after dinner drink amid a sophisticated and tranquil atmosphere. This same Main Lounge is transformed as a glitzy state-of-the- art theater for exhilarating Broadway-type performances. The master chefs of Ms Zaandam offer epicurean cooking lessons at the Culinary Arts Center, the very modern demonstration kitchen presented by Food & Wine Magazine. The luxury coffee house powered by The New York Times called the Exploration Café is a place where guests can surf the net to their heart’s content, check their emails and send emails, read and or leaf through the ship’s very extensive library.
Dining is another unique experience on board Ms Zaandam with is main dining room, Rotterdam Dining Room, offering a five course continental menu with low-carb and vegetarian selections paired with an extensive wine list impeccably served by attentive waiters. Pinnacle Grill, Ms Zaandam’s classy reservations-only restaurant, is Ms Zaandam’s pride, while Lido Restaurant offers freshly cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner in a more relaxed ambiance.
Holland America Cruises for Families
For over 130 years Holland America cruises for families have offered discriminating families an incomparable cruising experience. Their spacious and luxurious fleet of cruise ships sails to over 280 ports and visits exciting and exotic destinations all over the world. Holland America cruise ships are mid-size ships that accommodate fewer guests compared to other cruise ships – big enough for all the varied exciting activities that discriminating guests expect, but small enough to make the cruising experience pleasurable and comfortable. All ships have spacious and open wraparound decks in teak and roomy and comfortable and luxurious staterooms most of which have balconies. There is approximately one crew member that attends to every two guests making Holland America cruise for families superior when it comes to service.
Families enjoy stress-free holidays surrounded with comfort and indulgence and savoring superb meals while on a Holland American cruise for families knowing that there are activities and entertainment for everyone – young and old and for every interest. Regardless of your destination preference – from the sun – soaked beaches of the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico, to the awe-inspiring Panama Canal, to the fascinating magnificence of the Antarctica and South America and to the rugged shores of Australia and New Zealand, one thing you will find in common is the unrivaled fun and excitement on board.
Holland America cruises for families offer a wide array of exhilarating age-appropriate activities for kids and youth – friendly facilities. it also makes available entertainment and activities that can be enjoyed together by every member of the family as well as for adults-only pursuits and amusements. Parents will be free from anxiety while relaxing and enjoying the adults-only activities knowing that their kids are safe and well-attended to in their own youthful pursuits. The Club HAL has separate activities for kids 3-7 and 8-12 while the teens have their venue called The Loft and The Oasis. Photo by im elsewhere
MS Prinsendam Cruise Ship Review
The Ms Prinsendam is the smallest and most intimate ship of Holland America Lines that is designed to discover the far-flung corners of the world in sophistication and elegance. It only accommodates 832 passengers and offers its guests the ambiance of a classic yacht with the capaciousness of a big ship. It is a true prince of a ship that sails to exotic destinations on a longer haul that include the Antarctica, Black Sea and the Mediterranean and a big favorite of more mature guests that prefer a classic style of cruising in a ship with modern conveniences.
Holland America Line – MS Prinsendam
Photo by Brian Clayton
Ms Prinsendam was recently upgraded in 2007 and it now embodies most of Holland America’s most favored institutional amenities and facilities. It now has on board Holland America’s trademark Explorations Café powered by the New York Times; the elegant Pinnacle Grill, the line’s alternative restaurant; the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, a modern demo kitchen offering interactive cooking lessons; and the Greenhouse Spa & Salon that offers guests exotic wellness and beauty treatments. It also has a movie theater, whirlpool, state-of the art fitness center and two modest size pools. The upgrading also brought the Club HAL kid’s program to Ms. Prinsendam.
On board Ms Prinsendam you won’t find rock walls, ice rinks, water slides and other mass market cruise amenities usually found in big mega cruise ship. What it offers is classic cruising style with fine meals in elegant ambiance complete with sparkling crystals, exquisite china and fine linen at the La Fontaine Dining Room and Pinnacle Grill; freshly cooked gourmet food offered in athe more relaxed setting of Lido Restaurant, traditional cruise variety shows featuring talented dancers and singers, comedians and illusionists at the Queen’s show lounge and dedicated, impeccable and gracious service of well-trained crew and staff.
MS Maasdam Cruise Ship Review
MS Maasdam of Holland America Lines’ is a small & elegant ship compared to other cruise ships and is designed for fewer guests, only a maximum of 1,258 passengers, but making available more space for utmost luxury and comfort. A colossal sculpture by Luciano Vistosi called “Totem” is the centerpiece of this well-designed cruise ship displayed in a towering three – tiered atrium. This amazing work of art made use of 2,000 sparkling pieces of cut glass. Other interesting art work on MS Maasdam include a collection of seven Japanese iron pots and a charcoal brazier which date back from the end of the Edo era and two abstract murals decorating the Rotterdam Dining Room.
MS Maasdam Cruise Ship
Photo by justinrussell
MS Maasdam offers exemplary dining experience in all its dining venues that comprise the Rotterdam Dining Room, the MS Maasdam’s main dining room that includes 5 – course menus that include low-carb, vegetarian and continental cuisine as options; an extensive wine list and unimpeachable service. Pinnacle Grill on the other hand offers an elegant and intimate dining experience and Lido Restaurant is a casual and relaxed venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner that serves a wide array of fresh short order specialties.
Incomparable amenities and activities on board MS Maasdam include food presentations, intimate cooking lessons and tasting events presented by Food & Wine magazine at the modern demo kitchen; the Exploration Café powered by The Now York Times where guests can surf, read and drink coffee to their heart’s content; greenhouse Spa & Salon for blissful wellness and beauty rituals; Rembrandt Show Lounge for a variety of musical and artistic shows; Crow’s Nest is a chic nightclub at night and a viewing deck by day time; Club HAL, a dedicated area for youthful activities ; and the Loft, a place for the young to hang out, socialize and have fun.
MS Eurodam Ship Review
MS Eurodam Ship Review
Are you tired of all the marketing tactics that many cruise liners have in mind? If you are up to the game of mixing the old with the new, Eurodam is just the right cruise ship for you. This cruise ship offers the same warm hospitability that you would normally experience in other lines in the same fleet but this has something up in store. They have a lot to offer that is not commonly seen in her other sisters.
MS Eurodam Cruise Ship
Photo by Jemingway
If you want to be entertained by a classic evening gala, this is the right thing for you! It has the first ever Asian restaurant, the Silk Den. It is designed homage to Hong Kong’s hip and modern nightlife, as if you are in one of the clubs in Wanchai.
To add to its contemporary vibe, it added another place where you do a lot of things such as read, drink coffee, surf the Net, among others. This place is perfect for those who want to be acquainted with other passengers aboard.
Instead of the common tennis courts you would normally see in Holland America’s cruise ships, the ship has a basket ball which can also be turned into a dodgeball court when the need arises.
This is perhaps a bold move that Holland America wanted in order to diversify its market. It used to cater to the older set as well as among the active ones. Now it has broadened the market. This move worked for it has already seen the results.
Nightlife here is formal for most part. Passengers are requested to dress up to the nines in the evening. In other times of the day, casual wear is highly acceptable. Restaurants, too, follow a certain type of protocol where informal clothing may not be suited, although in other parts of the ship like the outer decks, you can wear this gear.