eurodam cruise reviews

Courtesy of Holland America Line |

Find a Cruise on Eurodam

with a cruise advisor

Originally launched in 2008 and updated in late 2015, Eurodam   carries up to 2,104 passengers and 876 crew members.

The ship’s 11 decks include multiple cabin categories: Interior staterooms, Ocean View and Verandah staterooms, Signature Suites and Neptune & Pinnacle Suites. All cabins come equipped with plush Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs. Suites received updates to the furniture, carpeting and bathrooms, as well as a USB outlet on the bed's headboard and a Bose Bluetooth speaker. 

Recent cruisers of Eurodam were pleased with the versatile selection of nine dining venues. Most notably, the ship offers Tamarind, which serves exotic fare from Southeast Asia, China and Japan. 

Daytime activities range from the Greenhouse Spa & Salon to the BBC Earth in Concert experience. More active pursuits include two swimming pools, pickleball courts and more. In the evenings, passengers can sip cocktails at one of the bars or lounges or take in a show at B.B. King's Blues Club.

Eurodam departs from Fort Lauderdale , San Diego , Seattle  and  Vancouver  for sailings in the Caribbean, Alaska, the Pacific Coast and the Panama Canal.

U.S. News Insider Tip: Make sure to attend a show or two – which feature comedy, dancing or singing – offered at the Main Stage. There are also piano duels in the lounge by the casino, and fantastic music at the B.B. King's Blues Club (which can be hard to get a seat at – get there early!). – Leilani Osmundson, Digital Producer

Pros & Cons

Large selection of dining options

Few activities and programs for children

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.1
• Health Rating » 5.0

Eurodam ranks # 3 out of 11 Holland America Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 3 in Best Holland America Line
• # 10 in Best Cruises to Alaska
• # 26 in Best Affordable Cruises
• # 30 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 30 in Best Cruises for Couples

Eurodam offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Eurodam contains 12 decks. Find out which features are available on each Eurodam deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1067 guests have reviewed Eurodam , giving it a rating of 4.1 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

You Might Also Like

Nieuw Amsterdam

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Holland America Eurodam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Eurodam

Activities & entertainment

• Afternoon Tea
• America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art and Craft Classes *
• Art Gallery *
• Beer Tasting *
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Digital Workshop *
• Digital Workshop Computer Classes
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
• Happy Hour Drink Special *
• Hot Tubs (5)
• Hydro Pool *
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Martini Tasting *
• Onboard Lectures
• Photo Gallery *
• Solo Traveler Get-Togethers
• Sports Courts
• Team Trivia
• Wine Tasting *
• The Retreat *
• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• B.B. King's Blues Club & America's Test Kitchen
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Billboard Onboard
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Lincoln Center Stage
• Live Nightly Music
• The Mainstage
• The Dining Room - American
• Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
• Tamarind - Asian Fusion *
• Atrium Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Lido Market - Casual
• Explorer's Lounge - Classic Bar *
• EXC & Explorations Café /Crow's Nest - Coffee Bar *
• Dive-In - Fast Food
• Canaletto - italian *
• New York Pizza - Pizza
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
• Tamarind Bar - Scenic Bar *
• Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
• Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
• Neptune Lounge - Suite Guests

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 59
• Very Good 32
• Terrible 12
• All languages ( 135 )
• English ( 133 )
• Dutch ( 2 )

Upcoming itineraries

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Holiday homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Holland America Eurodam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Eurodam

• Excellent 59
• Very Good 32
• Terrible 12
• All languages ( 135 )
• English ( 133 )
• Dutch ( 2 )

• Work with Us
• Destinations

Holland America Eurodam Review on Alaska Cruise

Nearly four years had passed since my last Holland America’s Eurodam  cruise. But now I was going on a cruise to Alaska aboard the recently refurbished Eurodam .

Here’s my review of the ship and what Eurodam is like on an Alaska cruise.

Holland America Eurodam Review and Photos

Eurodam has been a long-time favorite ship for me. This Alaska Inside Passage cruise was a chance for me to experience the ship after its major 2015 refurbishment. Most of all, I’d learn what cruising Alaska is like on a medium-sized ship.

From Seattle our itinerary included Juneau, Sitka , Ketchikan and the required stop in Victoria, British Columbia. In addition, Eurodam would spend a full day cruising spectacular Glacier National Park.

Eurodam Fast Facts

Cruise Line:  Holland America Cruise Ship:  Eurodam Category:  Premium cruise line – $$$ Passengers/Crew: 2,104/929 Refurbished: 2015 Dining Rooms: 2 Dining Times: 5:45,  8pm and Open Self-Serve Laundry: No

Welcome aboard Holland America’s Eurodam

What to Expect on Holland America’s Eurodam

I’ll start my Alaska Holland America Eurodam review with a little background info about the ship.

Holland America launched Eurodam in 2008, the first of two ships in their mid-size Signature Class of ships. 

With only 11 decks and 2,104 passengers, based on double occupancy, it’s fairly small compared to the mega-ships of other cruise lines. 

That’s one thing I really like and appreciate about Holland America; all of their ships are medium-sized and very easy to get around without a major learning curve.

When Eurodam was refurbished in 2015, it was the first ship to add B.B. King’s Blues Club, and has become one of the liveliest nightspots on the ship.

The following year, the cruise line partnered with the BBC Earth and now features live classical music to accompany the amazing BBC Earth Live movie presentations in the main theater. 

On this particular itinerary, the one-night-only BBC Earth Live event was entitled, “Alaska in Concert”. I never miss these multi-sensory production shows.

There are a total of 24 public rooms aboard Eurodam including 12 bars and lounges, two swimming pools (one under the sliding glass dome), fitness center, spa and salon and my favorite, a dedicated movie theater with freshly popped popcorn.

Alaska is all about the outdoors and there’s plenty of deck space aboard the Eurodam. There’s no “best” side of the ship for viewing as the ship makes a U-turn in Glacier Bay so everyone gets the best view.

Also Read:  21 Best Things to Do in Sitka, Alaska

One of Holland America’s long-standing accolades has been the superior level of service provided by their crew and staff. This cruise didn’t disappoint in that category either. 

Every crew member always said good-morning, may I help you, can I get you anything, without getting too friendly or intrusive that it made you cringe upon each encounter.

Onboard Expenses

Holland America is not an all-inclusive cruise line so plan to pay extra for specialty dining, soft drinks, alcohol & spirits, deluxe coffees and shore excursions. You can purchase various beverage and dining packages before or during your cruise, and you won’t feel nickel’d and dime’d during your vacation. One bottle of wine per person may be brought aboard at embarkation.

As with most cruise lines, wifi is not complimentary. The wifi packages are reasonably priced and connectivity fairly consistent except in wilderness areas of course. One advantage of an Alaska cruise is that you’re still in the United States and you can use your phone for internet access. Just make sure to turn on Airplane mode when cruising the coast of British Columbia!

Eurodam Stateroom Review

My standard balcony stateroom, with a little extra balcony

This is stateroom #5138 and as you can see, there’s a wee bit extra balcony space. There are two really cool features to this balcony; 1. if you stand in the little triangle space you have a perfect forward view without having to look to your side and 2. There’s no one above you to look down onto your balcony – as I was able to do to the enormous balcony just below my room.

As you can see, the standard balcony has everything you’d need including a ton of USB ports dotted around the stateroom. There’s extra storage in the bins above the small sofa as well as at the end of the desk and under the bed. Closet space is excellent, too, with “real” hangers that you can actually remove from the closet rod. You don’t find that on many cruise lines very often.

Something else you don’t find very often is a bathtub. I think almost all of the older Holland America ships put bathtubs in all but the inside staterooms. I was also happy to see that the tub is equipped with large grab bar to help getting in and out of the tub/shower. Or to hold onto in the shower in rough seas!

Under the bathroom countertop is more open storage space. A non-wall-mounted hairdryer is also furnished as is a magnifying mirror. Toiletries are the Elemis standard and pump bottles with shampoo, conditioner and body wash are mounted in the shower. I find the basic Elemis products too harsh so I always bring my own. The bar of hand soap on the sink is just fine.

Cruise Maven Loves:   In the closet is a neatly-folded, not-to-heavy bathrobe and slippers tucked inside a mesh zip bag.

Read next:  How I traveled from Florida to Alaska without flying

Eurodam Dining Review

I’ll admit it. I’m a fussy eater. That’s why more times than not, you’ll find me at the Lido Market scouting out my options. Holland America has revamped their Lido dining experience and grouped food stations into a smoother flow, with clearly-marked signs for each type/category of food; The Homestead for comfort food, salad bar, Asian, a carvery, ice cream, etc.

READ MORE:  Holland America Increases Specialty Dining Fees

Eurodam ‘s Rembrandt Dining is on two levels. The first level is located on Deck 2 and offers open seating at breakfast and lunch. At dinner time, it’s again open seating, called “As You Wish” dining with Holland America. You can choose to dine from 5:15 pm until 9:00 pm. The second level is on Deck 3 and is where you go for fixed dining times, offered at 5:15 pm and 8:00 pm.

All totaled, there are 14 dining options, including daily afternoon Royal Dutch Tea time.

Complimentary

• Main Dining Room, Lido Market, Dive-In, 24-hr room service, New York Pizza

Additional cost

• Grand Dutch Café, Gelato, Explorations Café (specialty coffees), Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Tamarind, Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Culinary Arts Center

Cruise Maven loves:   Any of the three dining packages. You’ll save $6 – $9 per person and have wonderful culinary experiences to remember.

Eurodam Entertainment Review

My favorite night spot on Eurodam and any Holland America ship with B.B. King’s Blues Club. The band plays three sets on almost every evening, the last set starting at 10:45 p.m. and that’s when the place really gets going. In addition, there are specialty cocktails with jazz and blues themes.

In partnership with BBC Earth, you can experience live concerts that accompany BBC Earth nature production films from all corners of the earth.

If you haven’t had enough music, head over to Billboard Onboard’s piano bar. Guests can sing along with the piano players who dole out fifty years of top of the charts hits.

Cruise Maven loves:   To arrive a little early for the one and only BBC Earth main stage event. I think the best seats are middle-center.

Onboard Activities

Onboard activities are offered from sunrise til late night. On an Alaska cruise like this one, the ship brought a naturalist on board from the National Park Service and Alice, a member of the Tlingit tribe. They joined us as we entered Glacier Bay and set up their tables in the EXC Lounge.

As part of Holland America’s EXC, Explorations Central – a destination immersion program, the naturalist narrated our 9 -hour cruise through Glacier Bay. Alice was on hand to talk about Native American life in Alaska. I had met Alice a couple of weeks before on another guided trip so it was fun to see her again.

Several times during the cruise (on sea days) a chef from America’s Test Kitchen does a cooking demonstration. No, there aren’t any samples given out at the end! But you do get a large recipe card to bring home.

Also Read:  Holland America and America’s Test Kitchen Jalapeno Poppers Recipe

The pool under the dome was pretty popular – in fact this whole area was usually filled with swimmers, loungers and diners from Dive-In (upper left corner) or the Lido Market.

There’s trivia contests, dance lessons, computer classes and more. Everything is listed in the daily planner that you’ll receive at bedtime.

There’s so much going on, I can’t list it all. But this gives you an idea of some of the activities, especially on sea days.

Cruise Maven Loves:   To always pack a yellow highlighter pen to note the activities in the daily planner that I want to do .

Who’s Onboard

For years, Holland America was known for catering to the over-55 crowd. And for good reason. 

With smaller, easy-to-get-around ships, superior crew training that resulted in respect and kindness to their older passengers and a slightly less jam-packed onboard schedule, it was a perfect combination.

Today, as you’d expect, Holland America adjusted their focus to attract the 40s to 60 crowd. The addition of Music Walk (with Billboard, Lincoln Center and B.B. King’s), more active shore excursions and even improved wifi all help to lower the age demographic.

This Alaska cruise, as on many cruises to our 49th state, attracted an outdoorsy crowd across the age range spectrum. Our cruise began on September 1 so the amount of young children was really minimal. 

During a conversation with the Captain, he related that during the past summer, there were many families some of which spanned three generations.

Despite a somewhat older crowd, every show at the B.B. King Blues Club was a full house. The dance floor was jumping until the last minute of the last music set. Older doesn’t mean the carpet rolls up at 9 p.m. Especially not here.

On every cruise, Holland America hosts a loyalty club luncheon. Eurodam ‘s luncheon filled the lower level of the Rembrandt dining room. Holland America has an avid loyal following and at this event, it was evident.

Parting Thoughts

During this time in Alaska, I also completed a one-week Alaska Inside Passage cruise on a very small ship. 

Getting to Alaska without flying, I traveled aboard the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. I was curious what the same itinerary would be like aboard this larger 2,104 passenger ship.

Bottom line, the Eurodam Alaska cruise was excellent, for several reasons. Because Holland America has been cruising Alaska for 75 years, they have a bit of clout when it comes to being allowed into Glacier Bay.

On my small ship cruise, the Park Service said we weren’t allowed to get up to breathtaking Marjerie Glacier because the viewing area already had its two allotted ships. 

But aboard Eurodam , under spectacular blue skies, we scooted right up to what’s probably the most photographed glacier in the park.

The selection of well-managed shore excursions was vast and varied. There was something for every level of Alaska adventurer. 

Float planes and helicopter rides to stand on mighty glaciers. There were culinary tours, easy walking or uphill hikes, and my favorite, a visit and ride to a dog sledding training camp. 

Something for everyone at every level. Alaska cruises are about the great outdoors, so visits to museums or indoor activities are nearly non-existent.

More of What I love About Eurodam

• Riding up and down in the glass elevators overlooking the ocean. You have to try it – the view is amazing though a bit daunting at first!
• The traditional teak wraparound promenade. No running allowed.
• Watching first-run movies in the dedicated Cinema. Pick up your bag of popcorn at the entrance.
• To have a cocktail or two at the exotic Silk Den Lounge while relaxing on plush, purple velvet sofas.
• The lighted, magnifying make-up mirrors and detached hair dryers
• On Deck for a Cause 5K walk to benefit cancer research.

Holland America Eurodam Review Facts in a Nutshell

Cruise Line:  Holland America Cruise Ship:  Eurodam Category:  Premium cruise line – $$$ Passengers/Crew: 2,104/929 Best time to go:  Alaska cruises go from May – Sept. Beginning and end of season offer best values. Internet:  Fee-based, packages available. Shoreside phone signal in Alaska is available. Itinerary:  Inside Passage cruise round-trip from Seattle. Ports included: Ketchikan, Juneau, Inside Passage, Sitka, Victoria – British Columbia. Gratuities:  Tipping guideline – $14.50 per person per day standard staterooms / $16.00 per person per day suite guests.

Disclosure:  I was an invited guest aboard Holland America Eurodam . I was not offered compensation nor was I required to write this article. As always, all opinions are my own. Cruise experiences are very subjective and if I like or dislike something, it does not mean my readers will all agree. My Holland America Eurodam review represents my personal experiences without bias.

If you like this Eurodam review, please PIN it!

You’ll Also Love

Golden Princess California Coastal Wine Country Cruise

Holland America’s Noordam Looking Good After Extensive Refurbishment

Quebec City on a Canada New England Cruise Plus Snow!

Malaga and Alicante, Spain With Holland America

Carnival sunshine review and at home in port canaveral.

Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas Review – First Impressions

Hi Rebecca, Thank you for your comment…I have to update my article as it seems that you are correct. They’ve gotten rid of the dedicated movie theater. There still are six other Holland America ships with a movie theater and popcorn, though. Also, the newer Koningsdam and the new Nieuw Statendam have movies on the Lido deck and serve popcorn. I’m sorry to learn about the Eurodam losing the movie theater. But the Eurodam is a fabulous ship and always has a good Alaska itinerary. Thank you again and have a wonderful cruise next year. Sherry

According to the Holland America Line “Our Ships At A Glance” pdf – the Eurodam does not have a movie theater. Which might be disappointing because I was looking forward to a movie and popcorn one evening. I’ll find out for certain when we board soon for the next cruise to Alaska.

Hi Liz, Thank you for reading my Eurodam review. I’m currently aboard the Maasdam and enjoying movies in the dedicated Wajang Movie Theater. Holland America’s website states that Eurodam does indeed have a movie theater…same as in my review. Unless something’s changed and their site hasn’t been updated, then the movie theater is still there. I hope this helps. Thank you again. Happy Cruising! Sherry

Just wanted to ask about the Movie Theater – I saw some posts in 2018 that said it had been removed, but sounds like they brought it back since you were there in 2019?

Also, did you happen to see the Retreat Cabanas and do you think one would work for a trip to Alaska in July. We don’t have a balcony booked, but thought this would be a lovely way to view the glaciers.

Thanks – loved your review. I’ll pin it to my pinterest page.

Comments are closed.

What are you looking for?

Get my newsletter plus a FREE guide of DOs & DON'Ts for tourists!

Oui In France

What our Alaska cruise was like aboard Holland America Line’s Eurodam

on everything else · travel

My dad and I just wrapped up a trip of a lifetime to Alaska. We had an amazing time aboard Holland America Line ‘s Eurodam on our 7-day Alaska cruise. This was a very special trip to honor my mom who passed away in October 2021. She had always wanted to do an Alaska cruise but never got the chance, so we did it in her honor.

Let’s get into my Holland America Alaska cruise review!

Table of Contents

Where we went on our Holland America Alaska cruise

I’ll break down each of our port stops below, but here’s our 7-Day Alaskan Explorer cruise itinerary at a glance aboard the Holland America Eurodam cruise ship from June 3-10, 2023:

Saturday: Departed Seattle, 3 p.m.

Sunday: At sea

Monday: Juneau, 1 p.m.-10 p.m.

Tuesday: Glacier Bay scenic cruising & Icy Strait Point evening arrival 6 p.m-10 p.m.

Wednesday: Sitka, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday: Ketchikan, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Friday: Victoria, British Columbia 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

Saturday: Seattle arrival, 7 a.m.

Here we are at the Space Needle!

Our Holland America Alaska cruise left from Seattle on Saturday afternoon but we arrived Thursday night, which gave us a bit of a buffer in case our flight was delayed. The early arrival also allowed us to explore Seattle. It was our first time there and the weather cooperated. We had sunny skies and temps in the high 60s F. It was literally a warm welcome!

First up, we visited Pike Place and the original Starbucks in the early morning hours (thanks jetlag!) and retraced my mom’s footsteps from years ago when she went to Seattle on a business trip. We also went to the Seattle Art Museum and the Space Needle before the cruise left and had a lot of fun discovering Seattle.

My dad and I arrived at the ship on Saturday morning around 11am and the embarkation process had us on the boat and in our room at noon. One thing to note is that your luggage will be delivered to your room up to a couple of hours later, so keep any medication and other important items you might need right away in your carry-on.

The ship: Holland America Line’s Eurodam

The Eurodam was Holland America Line’s first Signature Class ship, completed in 2008, and accommodates about 2,100 passengers and is 936 feet long. It’s home to several specialty restaurants, a bunch of entertainment venues such as B.B. King’s Blues Club where you’ll hear all kinds of R&B classics, a World Stage for the dance, other performances, and talks, and Billboard Onboard.

There’s also a pickleball court on the top decks along with a basketball hoop, walking track, ping pong, pools, and hot tubs.

If relaxing at the spa is more your thing, you’ll find the Greenhouse Spa & Salon® up on Deck 9 next to the fitness center complete with hydropools that are perfect for sea days. There’s also a casino down on Deck 2 with both table games and slot machines.

Cabin 6170, Aft Verandah Stateroom aboard Holland America’s Eurodam

We stayed in cabin 6170 of the Eurodam which is an aft verandah stateroom (balcony cabin) at the very back of the ship looking straight out. It has two twin beds that can be pushed together or kept separate, a couch that can be pulled out to a third bed, desk area, and a bathroom that had a bathtub (not just a shower).

I appreciated the different sized pillows and the fact that there were three per bed. They were comfy as well. It’s the little things, right?

Cabin 6170, Aft Verandah Cabin aboard Holland America’s Eurodam

We found the space to be very comfortable with plenty of room and adequate storage both under the bed and in the closets. The balconies on the aft cabins seem to be a little bigger than standard verandah cabins on the sides of the ship and had two chairs with footrests and a small table.

There were several electrical outlets in the cabin to charge your devices right next to the bed and by the desk. They all had USB outlets so you can plug your chargers directly into the USB ports.

The cabin was a 10/10. Zero complaints! We didn’t find it to be any louder or more prone to motion than other cabins so seasickness wasn’t an issue. I appreciate that Holland America ships all have classic styling and a relaxing feel in all the cabins — no crazy colors or anything so you’ll get great sleep!

Ports we visited on our Holland America Alaska cruise on the Eurodam

I told you a little bit about our short time in Seattle above and I’d definitely recommend spending a day or two in Seattle either before or after the cruise. There’s a lot to see and do and it’s well worth leaving yourself some extra time.

Our first port was Juneau and we had a whale watching/glacier excursion booked. It was a small group tour of just 20 people and included an easy hike to the Mendenhall Glacier first, followed up by a scenic trip on a whale watching boat.

The hike to the glacier is slow and easy and only about a mile long. The tour company has access to a private trail that takes you to the glacier, so there were no crowds along the way. Thank goodness our guide had bear spray just in case we encountered any grizzly bears. Luckily, we didn’t and I’m not sad we didn’t see any bears up close.

The Mendenhall Glacier is stunning in person and well worth the trip. We learned that it’s receding little by little each year so we’re glad to have seen it before it disappears. We also learned a bit about the area and its wildlife along the way. We even saw a porcupine in a tree.

Then, it was time to board our whale watching boat. We lucked out and saw about 15 humpback whales! Tour boats needs to stay 100 yards away from the whales, but even at that distance we saw the whales as they came to the surface and even did a few tail flips for us. It was an amazing sight to witness! They moved too quickly for me to get a photo, though.

Definitely wear layers, gloves, and bring a hat or headband to cover your ears. Even though we had nice weather and it was June, you might get a bit splashed like I did. It also got windy and quite cool toward the end of our tour and I was glad I dressed for the weather (high 40s F). More on what to wear below.

I believe this was the Margerie Glacier. Just WOW!

Glacier Bay

The next day in Glacier Bay was one of the highlights of our Holland America Alaska cruise. Just WOW! It reminded me of some of the sights from our Norway trip ! It’s part of the scenic cruising and you stay on the ship and take in the views from the water.

The narrow bay is flanked by majestic terrain on both sides. From snow-capped mountains to glaciers and forests, it’s out of this world. Glacier Bay State Park was a perfect mix of calm and beauty in one. If you have the chance to go, DEFINITELY GO!

Something I appreciated that really helped us to see everything was how the captain stopped several times and slowly turned the ship 360 degrees. Everyone on board was able to see Glacier Bay in all its glory no matter what side their cabin was on.

On our kayaking excursion!

Icy Strait Point

Later that day after hitting the casino a bit and trying our hand at pickleball, we pulled into Icy Strait Point around 6 p.m. and promptly hopped off the ship to head out to our kayaking excursion. Despite the fact that neither my dad nor I have kayaked much in the past decade, we figured it would be fun. Oh boy, were we in for a surprise.

For the life of us, we couldn’t get the dang tandem kayak to go straight for the first half of the tour. We were just laughing the whole time looking like degenerates at the very back of the group with the second tour guide.

We tried our best and finally got a little better and joined the rest of the group. Our group even saw a sea lion and bald eagle (probably laughing at our pitiful kayaking skills lol).

Kayaking is harder than it looks, let me say that. Thank goodness it was a beginner excursion, nothing strenuous, so we didn’t get too far behind. If you can paddle forward, you’re in good shape.

Along the way, the guides told us about the local area including the wildlife, what life is like there, and the price of groceries. They explained how everything has to be flown in and the meat and dairy products are nearly at their expiration date upon arrival.

You do get a bit wet while kayaking and the tour company provided us with special pants, a life jacket, and a leg covering so we wouldn’t get too wet, so rest assured you’ll have all the gear you need for this excursion. 

We finished up around 9 p.m and had to get back to the ship. There was a cool gondola ride that I wish we had time for. Tom would have loved that. Next time, I guess! All in all, the kayaking was fun and once we figured things out, the tour went a lot more smoothly.

Also, if you stop like our group did a few times to listen to the guide, there are midges (insects) that will bite your face. My dad didn’t feel them biting him and when we got back to the ship, I gasped because his whole forehead looked like he had the measles. They faded after a day or so, but be prepared.

We didn’t have an excursion booked and decided to explore Sitka on our own. There’s a free shuttle bus right from the port that’ll get you into town in about 10 minutes. The downtown area is right on the water so you can walk around and take in the beautiful scenery while shopping or grabbing a bite to eat.

Enormous King Crab legs for sale in Sitka, Alaska

Check out the biggest King Crab legs I’ve ever seen. I thought they were fake at first!

We did a little souvenir shopping and then headed back to the ship in the afternoon.

One of the most stunning things I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.

Ketchikan was where we did the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s tour with crew from the Deadliest Catch reality show. It was the highlight of our trip and this gets a 10 out of 10. If you’re on the fence about what Alaska shore excursions might be right for you, definitely go with this one if you’re interested in fishing, wildlife, and good stories.

First up, you board the Aleutian Ballad that’s been outfitted for tours and you have the option to sit either upstairs or downstairs. Make sure you arrive early so you can get a front row seat.

It’s a 3-hour tour that stays within the calm waters of the Inside Passage, so you definitely won’t get seasick. Along the way, you’ll be treated to stories from Bering Sea fishermen and even get to see and hold some of the crabs they catch. The King Crabs were HUGE and the biggest I’ve ever seen. Everything is released back into the sea. 

Only the tour guides were allowed to hold these because if not done correctly, they could break your finger!

Two parts of the tour were especially moving for us. The first was when the fishermen threw bait into the water which attracted about 20-30 bald eagles. We saw them up close as they dove into the water to grab the fish with their claws.

They swooped down and around in this flying frenzy like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It was quite a show! To be able to witness this in nature — not in a zoo — was extremely emotional for my dad and me and we knew my mom was with us. I’m so grateful we got to see that.

Quick aside: I actually made a memorial diamond from my mom’s ashes and she had her homecoming in March 2023. This special trip is the first (hopefully of many) where my mom came along in diamond form.

The second thing which was especially meaningful to us was when the crew members pulled up a crab pot that had a bunch of tags on it. They explained that each tag had a handwritten message from guests who wanted to honor a loved one and we knew it was something we wanted to contribute to as well. It was perfect, considering the whole purpose of our trip — to honor my mom and take her on her bucket list trip.

The donations go toward helping a local group of natives who have lost fishermen over the years. They depend on fishing to live and donations go toward helping their families. We made a donation and got our own blank tag that will then get attached to the crab pot with all the others. I wrote my message, signed the tag, and smiled despite the tears.

Victoria, BC

It was a rainy and cool night, so my dad and I decided to stay on the ship. It was a late arrival, and since we had food and drinks on the boat and were tired, we figured we’d catch Victoria another time and call it an early night.

Holland America Line Eurodam food

OK, let’s move on to what we ate!

For meals, you have several dining options on your Holland America Alaska cruise:

–Buffet on Deck 9, the Lido Deck (for breakfast, lunch and dinner)

–Main Dining Room on Decks 2-3 (for breakfast and dinner, and lunch on certain days)

–Specialty dining restaurants (additional fee, for lunch and dinner)

–Room service (24/7)

— Dive-In and New York Pizza on Deck 9 (Dive-in closes at 6 p.m. but NY Pizza stays open until 11 p.m.)

First, I’ll start with the most important meal of the day! We’re breakfast lovers and had no shortage of choices. Since it’s our favorite meal of the day, we went big and tried almost everything on the menu. Standouts for me were pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles, omelets, and the sausage patties (you can’t get them in France!).

You can either have breakfast upstairs at the buffet on the Lido Deck 9, in the main dining room at a sit-down table with a menu and waiter, or opt for room service (which is free). We split our breakfasts between the buffet and main dining room.

We opted for a room service breakfast on the morning we arrived in Ketchikan, as we had an early excursion and the main dining room wasn’t open yet (had to be out the door by 7:30am and that’s when it opened). The buffet opens at 6 a.m., though for the early risers.

For lunch, we usually hit the buffet and had a small lunch and saved our appetite for dinner. I tried Dive-In and New York Pizza and both were excellent. Dive-In is kind of a Shake Shack-style place with a bunch of burger, hot dog, and fry options.

For dinner, we ate in the main dining room every night except for the first night where we had booked a table ahead of time at the Pinnacle Grill. You can book specialty restaurants ahead of time or once you’re on board, but if you have your heart set on a specific day and time, definitely reserve a table ahead of time or on the first day since reservations are required. My dad got lamb and I got chicken. Both were excellent. There are also vegetarian options.

To sum up my thoughts on the food, well, I can’t praise the food enough. We didn’t have a single subpar meal on the Eurodam. We ate everything from fish and shrimp to beef and lamb and even escargots. Desserts ranged from tiramisu, to a hot fudge ice cream sundae, to a fruit crumble, and so much more. Portions are on the medium size, I’d say. They were just right.

I’d also like to point out that the entire Holland America staff took extra care with my food allergy and no mistakes were made. I let the dining staff supervisor know about my problem with citrus right when we boarded and everyone was made aware.

This was really important to me because sometimes I get nervous at restaurants when the staff doesn’t seem too confident about what’s in their food, but this was not a problem at all on our cruise. I was so thankful that mealtime wasn’t stressful for me. Thanks, Holland America, for taking food allergies seriously.

What to pack for an Alaska cruise

This could be an entire post in and of itself, but here are a few quick tips for what to pack for an Alaska cruise in June.

A light rain jacket , thin goose down packable puffer jacket , both short and long sleeved shirts, and sturdy hiking shoes/sneakers are a must. It’s a good idea to wear non-cotton pants that won’t absorb water, so leave your jeans on the boat and opt for quick-drying pants on excursions.

A scarf, gloves, and a hat are must-have items as well. I wore a poncho (above) for our Whales & Trails tour and it served me well in the drizzle. An umbrella would have worked as well.

I’d recommend being prepared for a variety of weather conditions including rain and wind, with temps that range from the 40s-70s F. In Juneau, it was about 48 F as a high and it got cool and wet on our whale watching tour. Same for Glacier Bay — not warmer than 50 F and it was cloudy.

The sun came and went and I was glad I layered up. In the cooler ports, I had on a t-shirt, long sleeved medium-weight hoodie, my packable puffer jacket, and a thigh-length rain jacket (plus a scarf and gloves), plus sneakers. And I’m someone who is rarely cold. What I wore was perfect.

Other days, I left the puffer coat on the ship and just wore a long sleeve shirt and rain jacket.

Depending on your excursions, you may want to consider hiking boots and additional gear if you’re doing all-day hiking, fishing, etc. But for the average cruiser, what I’ve mentioned above is sufficient. Also keep in mind that there are laundry services on board.

If you are planning on going to the spa or the hot tubs or pool, don’t forget your swimsuit. On our first day as we left Seattle, it was in the low 70s F and people were in the pool, so it’s not always too cold to swim.

I will point out that our tour guides in Juneau remarked that it was a bit cooler than usual (in the 40s F), but still, definitely bring layers and be ready for anything. June really is the best time to go to Alaska — not quite peak season and not as much rain as later in the summer.

Things I brought that I never ended up wearing : Shorts, sandals, and my dress. The formal/gala nights are pretty low-key in Alaska and plenty of people opted out or just wore nice pants (it’s quite cool on the ship) and a dressy top — not a fancy dress. I also packed about four tops I never touched.

2 Things I should have brought that I forgot : A refillable water bottle. Totally slipped my mind! It’s great for both on the ship and off. This is the one I forgot (with a sports top).

Also, hand cream would have come in handy (couldn’t resist the pun!). While there’s regular body lotion in the cabin, a moisturizing hand cream would have been great to have. This is my favorite . Your hands will get dry from all the hand washing and hand sanitizer, as well as from the cool weather.

What’s a Holland America Line cruise like?

Before last summer when Tom and I went to Norway on Holland America’s Rotterdam , I didn’t know what to expect. As a teen and young adult, I had cruised on Carnival and wasn’t familiar with Holland America Line at all. When I asked around, people said it’s for elderly people and the ships don’t have much going on. 

But the stereotypes didn’t hold true.

Alaska is a pretty active destination with many cruisers opting for active excursions like kayaking, hiking, and more, so I found the other passengers to be on the younger side overall. I’d say over 90% were American (whereas on our Norway trip, the majority were Dutch).

I don’t have stats from the cruise line, but the average age was probably 50 (not 80!), with many couples in their 20s and 30s and lots of multigenerational families cruising together.

Keep in mind that Holland America is an American-owned cruise line — Carnival Corporation is the parent company — and its cruises are for people who want a classic, upscale cruise experience at whatever age.

School is out in June in many areas of the U.S. so it makes sense that we saw a bunch of kids and teens. As we get further into the summer season, I’m sure that will only increase. The average age skews toward an older crowd outside of peak season.

If you haven’t seriously considered Holland America because it has a rep for being a cruise line for senior citizens, I’d urge you to reconsider. Yes, there were older folks on board but it was a nice mix. I definitely didn’t feel like I was on a retirement cruise by any means. Not that that would be a bad thing, but for those of you curious about the average age, I just wanted to share my experience.

While you won’t find water slides, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, and wet tee shirt contests on Holland America, you will find great live music, destination talks, expertly choreographed dance shows on the World Stage, a casino, gym, spa, and a bunch of daily on-board activities like tai chi, pickleball, origami folding, a game room, and all kinds of other things to keep you busy.

Something I loved was the library where you can borrow a book for the duration of the cruise. I read Lucy Foley’s “ The Paris Apartment ” and loved sitting in the Barnes & Noble-esque library chairs watching the waves from the window. It was a perfect cruise (or beach) read!

Another highlight was the B.B. King’s Blues Club. The musicians ROCKED and often had crowds well after midnight. We also loved the dance shows. The six dancers that made up Step One performed beautifully.

Would I cruise with Holland America Line again?

Absolutely, yes. This was my second Holland America Line cruise ( Norway was my first, and this was my dad’s first cruise with them, of hopefully many) and we had a great time! 

Holland America has a more classic style and feels more low-key than other cruise lines. What I mean is that you won’t find activities on the schedule at 2 a.m. The shows don’t have a cast of 30 people. There’s also no nightclub/DJ, although there is a dance floor at B.B King’s and entertainment that can span well past midnight.

We also didn’t witness any crazy behavior that people sometimes associate with cruises. You know, overly inebriated folks who make a scene and that sort of thing while wearing their swimsuit to dinner. None of that to be found!

Holland America is classy and attracts a clientele looking for an upscale, cultured experience. Even in college, I was 20 going on 60 and am not big into nightlife and partying. I am an early riser and go to bed well before midnight, so some of the more lively nightlife you’ll find on other cruise lines isn’t my thing anyway.

For me, Holland America is suited to my personal cruise style. Great food, a nice selection of music and entertainment, nicely equipped gym, a casino and spa, and loads of areas in which to relax and hang out.

Our Holland America Alaska cruise was absolutely incredible and I hope my mom was able to enjoy it too. I have to believe she was there with us in spirit and is at peace. Cheers to Alaska and thank you to my dad. 😉 This was the most meaningful trip I’ve ever taken and it was brought me so much comfort to have been able to do it with my dad.

I hope you’ll check out Holland America Line for your next cruise to Alaska and that you’ll have as much fun as we did! It was truly a great experience.

Disclosure: Please note our Holland America Alaska cruise was NOT a press trip.

PIN my Holland America Alaska cruise reviews post:

You might like

Sign up for the Oui In France Newsletter!

Stay up to date with everything Oui In France! Plus get my FREE GUIDE with 24 DOs & DON'Ts to keep in mind when visiting France!

June 17, 2023 at 3:20 pm

Wow! I’m glad you and your dad had an amazing time, and also that you felt your mom there in spirit! Seattle and Alaska are two places my family and I would love to visit. I’ve wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska for quite a while. The atmosphere on this cruise sounds perfect to me too! We went on a cruise to Nova Scotia out of Boston in June, maybe 10 years ago, and I loved the cool, foggy weather. It was on Carnival, which isn’t really my ideal atmosphere, but my sons liked all the activities. Thanks for a great review, and I hope you have a great summer!

June 17, 2023 at 5:48 pm

Thanks so much, Susan! It’s really a spectacular trip. Hope you have a great summer too 🙂

June 17, 2023 at 5:12 pm

A wonderful post. Thank you, Diane.

June 17, 2023 at 5:47 pm

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for reading!

June 18, 2023 at 11:52 pm

This sounds like the trip of a lifetime, Diane! I’m so glad you got to do this with your dad in memory of your mom. It’s so meaningful that you were able to write a message on the crab pot tag as well.

The photos are also absolutely stunning – I’ve been meaning to ask, but did you get a new camera in the last couple years? Would love to know the model and lens as I’ve been considering getting a new camera for a while (looking at a Sony full-frame).

Hoping you have a wonderful rest of your summer with many more meaningful trips!

June 19, 2023 at 3:08 pm

It really was amazing, thank you so much for reading. 🙂

So glad you like my photos and to answer your question, believe it, or not, all the photos you see here (except kayak pic, that was a GoPro) were taken with my iPhone 11!! I do have a new camera, but I did not bring it with me on this trip in an effort to pack light. Thx again!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of new posts by email.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Holland America Line

Just off Eurodam. My Honest Review.

By Aquahound , September 29, 2019 in Holland America Line

Recommended Posts

Good day HAL board.  I just returned from Eurodam Sep 21-28, roundtrip out of Seattle, and thought I'd give a review.  I'll try to keep it as balanced as possible but must warn you that there will be quite a bit of negativity included with the positives.   😉   I'm going to segment it a bit because I like to include photos.  

I'll start with the booking.  DW and I decided to book a last-minute trip out of either Seattle or Vancouver.  We looked at all the available lines and because most were nearly completely booked, the prices were sky high.  The ships with the most vacancies and lowest prices were Eurodam, Oosterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam (see a trend there?), and a Princess cruise that went down the California coast.  We pulled the trigger on Eurodam which was made sweeter by a deal they were running on the Signature Beverage Package.  To include the SBP was only a $140 per person upcharge.  However, HAL needs to get their info straight on the SBP.  When they sent me my booking confirmation, it said it was limited to drinks up to $9 when its actually $11.  

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

If anyone has ever cruised out of Seattle and drove to the port, you know it's a bit of a hassle.  You can't just park your car and walk to the terminal like other ports.  You must ride a shuttle.  They were using 2 small shuttle vans and it was a bit of a wait.  Lucky for us, the weather was decent.  

Once in the terminal, it was a breeze.  They were shooting for an 11:30 boarding but it was delayed slightly due to a breast cancer group that was boarding just for the day and having lunch on board.  Certainly a great cause so I had no problem waiting the extra 15 minutes.  They had tables set up with cookies and water, and you could book specialty dining and spa services if you wanted to.  

We boarded with Group B at 11:45 and were able to go straight to our room.  This is a great thing about HAL.  On RCI and Celebrity, you can usually board at 11:00, but the rooms aren't ready until 1.  On Princess, they usually have the rooms ready but boarding is usually delayed until at least 12.  

We booked a VH guarantee and were assigned room 8038, which is a VA.  Can't complain about that!  Our only concern about being on deck 8 (Navigation Deck) was being directly under the Lido deck.  We've had bad experiences in the past.  However, this was a total non-issue.  I'm thinking it's because of the private cabanas on the Lido that the crew is not dragging chairs around all night for cleaning.  

The room itself was in a great location, mid ship, and an easy walk to the Lido and the Crows Nest. The balcony had very comfortable chairs that reclined and had a foot rest.  I only wish HAL would place taller tables out there for balcony dining like Celebrity has.  

We did have a few problems though.  The first was the shower.  It would not hold a constant temperature.  It would turn ice cold and then scalding hot on its own.  We complained about this to Guest Services and they said they would look in to it, but the problem was never fixed.  As the cruise went on, the temperature variance did get better though.

Another problem was the toilet.  Three times during this cruise, we had to have maintenance come fix the toilet due to it not flushing.  

The flat screen TV was a nice addition to the room.  It had 4 music channels, bow and aft cameras, 9 or 10 live tv channels, several cruise related travel shows such as Jeff Corwin, Vacation Creation, etc.  You can also check your on board account, and book excursions and specialty dining.  

Just one gripe.....HAL still uses those darned room service menus that you hang on your door.  C'mon HAL.  Get with the times and include it on the TV.  

Thanks for your review.

Tamarind: They were running a 25% off special for night 1 so we booked it.  I wouldn't say the food was excellent, but it was very good.  We were a little disappointed that they did not have crab, so all the dishes with crab were not available.  The service, however, was excellent.  The girls working Tamarind were very friendly and always had smiles on their faces.  

Pinnacle Grill: We were a little disappointed with PG.  We started with the Lobster Bisque and neither one of us could finish it due to it being way over salted.  I also had the shrimp cocktail and the shrimp was rubbery, as though it was on the verge of going bad.  DW ordered the lamb and I had the 10oz filet.  I thought the filet was very good.  DW enjoyed the lamb but didn't think it was any better than the lamb chops we had in the main dining room a few nights earlier.  On past cruises, we've booked the steak house more than once.  However, it was one and done on this voyage.  

Main Dining Room:  This is where it really goes down hill.  We had open seating.  Apparently, gone are the days of waiters introducing themselves, explaining the menu and offering suggestions.  On one night, the introduction was "what'll it be?" When we did ask for suggestions, it was always the same answer....the $29 seafood dish....as though that's what they were instructed to say.  I thought this experience was very disappointing because HAL sorta has a reputation for great service.  At least, it HAD one.  

Lido: Typical buffet.  The food seemed to start off great at the beginning of the cruise, but the quality seemed to taper off as the cruise went on.  They also keep weird hours.  I don't understand the half hour to 1 hour closing at night.  For example, it would close at 9 and then re open at 9:30.  Strange.

Dive-In: Total disaster.  The burgers were ok, but it was about a 30 minute wait to get your order.  Not worth it.

What I think is missing on HAL is a 24 hour venue like the International Cafe on Princess or Cafe Promenade on Royal Caribbean.   Not that I'd go at 2am, but its nice during the day to go pick up a small sandwich or finger foods.  I seem to remember this previously existing at the specialty coffee stand in the Crows Nest, but not any more.  I'll get to that one later.  

Here's a couple pics of the MDR:

FlorenceItaly

 O n one night, the introduction was "what'll it be?"  

What!?  SMH!

Enjoying your review.  Thank you.  And, what a deal to add on beverage package for $140.

Sorry you didn't have a good experience in the MDR. Our cruise in Mar was great, food & service had no complaints. We always have fixed seating, don't know if that makes a difference with the waiters. 

6 minutes ago, ski ww said: Sorry you didn't have a good experience in the MDR. Our cruise in Mar was great, food & service had no complaints. We always have fixed seating, don't know if that makes a difference with the waiters. 

I'm thinking it makes a difference.  The waiters in open seating seemed so rushed and distracted. I'm wondering if they cut staff in open seating and they were having a hard time keeping up. 

sevenseasnomad

Awaiting the rest of your review.  Thanks for posting pictures, which add an interesting dimension and bring back memories of our cruises on Eurodam . 

We always book at least a year in advance and have early fixed dining where the waiters don't seem rushed.  They introduce themselves, and the service is usually wonderful.  Since this was a last-minute cruise, I imagine fixed dining, both early and late, was closed.  Did you try to reserve a table in open seating?  You can do that.  With a reservation, you can request the same table, same wait staff that allows for some familiarity.  Sorry your cruise didn't meet your expectations.  Will you cruise again with HAL?

thanks for the review.

Good deal on the cabin and the Signature beverage package for sure 🙂  

Sorry to hear about the MDR - I’m guessing it’s the open seating.  I just don’t do it with experience once in it and I far prefer the fixed unless I can secure the same table and same waiter in Open but then it’s the same as fixed 😉  

Cruzaholic41

Subscribed. Love the review so far and I agree with much of it. Patiently waiting for the rest.   

And like the last person said, thanks for including pics. 

I’m enjoying your honest and well written review.  We had fixed seating on our last cruise and it was a disaster. We usually feel fixed is much better but it sure wasn’t this time. The waiters have too many tables. We often didn’t get water refills and sat with dirty plates for a long time.  No napkins in the lap and no serving women first and no simple chit chat.  All gone as they are running around like crazy.  By the time they asked if everything was ok the meal was done.  Not that I’ve ever sent anything back but it’s nice to be asked if you need anything else.  My local mom and pop restaurant does a better job.  

Sorry guys.  DW needs to use this computer for work so I have to keep taking breaks.  

Krazy Kruizers

I am enjoying your review.

Don't like the "what'll it be" attitude!!

Just now, Aquahound said: Sorry guys.  DW needs to use this computer for work so I have to keep taking breaks.  

That's okay -- we can wait.

50 minutes ago, sevenseasnomad said: Since this was a last-minute cruise, I imagine fixed dining, both early and late, was closed.  Did you try to reserve a table in open seating?  You can do that.  With a reservation, you can request the same table, same wait staff that allows for some familiarity.  Sorry your cruise didn't meet your expectations.  Will you cruise again with HAL?

That's exactly what happened.  We thought about reserving a certain table but we never had an experience good enough to want the same table.  We were hoping different waiters would make a difference.

Would I book again?  I never say never.  I can just say with certainty it won't be a preference.  

AncientWanderer

32 minutes ago, Riversedge said: I’m enjoying your honest and well written review.  We had fixed seating on our last cruise and it was a disaster. We usually feel fixed is much better but it sure wasn’t this time. The waiters have too many tables. We often didn’t get water refills and sat with dirty plates for a long time.  No napkins in the lap and no serving women first and no simple chit chat.  All gone as they are running around like crazy.  By the time they asked if everything was ok the meal was done.  Not that I’ve ever sent anything back but it’s nice to be asked if you need anything else.  My local mom and pop restaurant does a better job.  

 I do think the waitstaff is overwhelmed.  Our last two cruises, we had fixed seating and were never offered coffee after dinner.  They served it nicely when we proactively asked for it, but they never offered.  I suppose they hope that'll be one less task to perform.   You can't blame them.

Entertainment.

I know a lot of this is beat to death on this board but I still need to include it.  

Mainstage:  Awful.  Just, awful.  Night 1 was a TV show about the ports.  Night 2 was one of the worst magicians I've ever seen. Night 3 was a comedian who frankly, wasn't that funny.  We laughed a couple times but that was it.  Night 4 was a duo between the previously mentioned magician and comedian.  We didn't attend.  Night 5 was a BBC show using only the TV screens.  We didn't stick around. We could tell immediately that it wouldn't be the good performance we saw on Koningsdam 2 years ago.   

Night 6 was finally a show.  It was Step One performing "Humanity."  It was ok, but I think that's because everything was so bad leading up to it.  It was 6 dancers performing very safe dance moves to a light show.  At one point, the lights just flashed around for about a minute with no dancers on stage.  It felt kinda awkward.  There were no singers.  It really felt like a money saver to just put 6 dancers to a light show.  

On day 7, it was only one act at 3:30 due to arriving in Victoria at 6pm.  It was Step One performing "Stages."  It was the same 6 dancers doing some routine about relationships.  There were no costume changes and the act never seemed to change. DW stuck around but I walked out.  I was very bored with this one.  

Billboard Onboard: In my opinion, HAL needs to tweak this one.  Why have 2 pianos if you're not going to follow a true dueling piano format like Howl at the Moon?  The pianos and singers sounded very weak and there was little motivation to join in.  They should either go with true "dueling pianos" or go back to the single piano format with an engaging performer.  

Lincoln Center Stage:  The performers did a great job.  They were a pleasure to listen to.  However, the venue sucks.  It's a bunch of chairs lined up that fill in very quickly.  If you're not there early, you're banished to the back section that can't even see the stage.  

BB King Blues Club:  Excellent!  This band was probably the best I've heard yet.  Both the male and female lead singers were excellent and unlike past cruises, they actually played a few blues songs.  

Now on to my biggest complaint.  HAL really needs to have at least 1 lounge that plays softer music like a solo pianist or guitarist.  There was no entertainment whatsoever in the Cows Nest and the piano in the Ocean Bar was never used.  During the sea days, live entertainment could not be found anywhere on the ship.  It made for very boring sea days.  

There was only one passenger-participation game show.  It was "Majority Rules."  I wish they would do these more often because they're very entertaining, even if not playing.

The Orange Party was a lot of fun.  However, it was held in the Blues Club so it was packed.  This party would be so much better if they held it on the Lido like others lines do.  

Here's the Ocean Bar....empty, of course, because there's no entertainment.  

20 minutes ago, Aquahound said: There was no entertainment whatsoever in the Cows Nest...

canadianbear

I definitely miss the live music in the Ocean bar. We loved having cocktails there and listening to the music while people danced.  

Eurodam is a very nice ship.  My very first HAL cruise was on Nieuw Amsterdam and I really liked this class of ships, so I knew I would like Eurodam.  In general, it is not a crowded ship.  In some areas, you can tell its a 12 year old ship, such as the brass trim everywhere.  However, the rest of the decor was really nice.  

Like other HAL ships, the central atrium is mostly unimpressive.  One thing I like about the older Vista Class ships is the stairway in the atrium with a small bar at the bottom.  It doesn't exist on this ship. 

My biggest disappointment was what's been repeated so many times on this board....the Crows Nest.  This was the first time I've seen the coffee stand combined with the bar and I didn't like it.  This is such a beautiful venue in a prime location, but what HAL is doing to this lounge is a travesty.  They took away most of the bar stools, leaving maybe 5 or 6.  At night, it was a ghost town and like I said earlier, no live entertainment.

One great feature of this ship that is sadly disappearing on new HAL ships is the outdoor promenade.  I love the traditional look with the wood decks and furniture.  During this cruise, we enjoyed using the promenade to walk fore and aft, and to take in the sights.  A really nice touch was the blankets laid out on the chairs.  Post Pinnacle Class, I hope HAL returns to including these on their new ships.  

Both pools were heated and people did use them.  I never got in, mostly for the reason of not having a pair of swim trunks.  They never did open the glass cover, so it always felt really nice in this room.  The aft pool and bar area was really nice but I found it very uncomfortable due to the smoking so I rarely went back there.  

By the way, I've read a few times on this board that they ban smoking while in Glacier Bay.  Not true.  

I do agree about room service.  We should be able to order electronically either by tv or the navigator app. 

I think the proliferation of specialty dining rooms on cruise ships is impacting service.  They really haven’t increased staff just locations, crew counts are the same as before the intro of these locations.  I would prefer if they had paid menu items in one dining room than spreading the restaurant staff thin all over the ship.   

I do think entertainment and enrichment are unfortunately being downgraded.  I was never a big fan of HAL entertainment but I always looked forward to the enrichment programs 

One little thing I enjoy finding on cruise ships is the wall full of plaques awarded at the ports of call.  On Eurodam, this is not in an obvious area.  It's kinda hidden in a rarely used stairway.  Kudos to anyone who can say where this is.  

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 10:41 AM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• CruiseMapper
• Holland America

Cruise line Holland America

• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Seattle (Washington)

ms Eurodam current position

ms Eurodam current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 33.16799 N / -118.14875 W) cruising at speed of 13.6 kn (25 km/h | 16 mph) en route to US AOU. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of ms Eurodam

ms Eurodam current cruise is 20 days, one-way from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver . Prices start from USD 1609 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 13 Apr, 2024 and ends on 03 May, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Eurodam

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

ms Eurodam Itineraries

Ms eurodam review, review of ms eurodam.

The 2008-built MS Eurodam cruise ship is the first of two Signature-class Holland America liners, with sistership ms Nieuw Amsterdam .

The vessel (IMO number 9378448) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 245206000) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 2100-passenger ship Eurodam is offering an onboard atmosphere that blends elements from HAL's past and present. The vessel's stylish art collection, its excellent trained crew members - that hail mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia - and courtly evening amusement, from a nightly string quartet to cheek-to-cheek dancing, all connect cruisers to Holland America's magnificent inheritance.  MS Eurodam was last refurbished in January 2016. Following the 2-week long drydock, ms Eurodam boasts a number of new dining venues, suite offerings and entertainment options. Guests on HAL Eurodam boat will find new food and beverage offers. Replacing Northern Lights, passengers can start the evening at the new cocktail bar Gallery Bar, serving unique drinks by celebrity mixologist Dale DeGroff. On Lido deck, passengers will find a reconfigured Lido Market, with modern “island station” design.

For suite guests, a refreshed experience is prepared. As announced earlier in 2015, the refresh program is adding new carpet, furniture, USB charging ports and revamped electrical outlets, an enhanced bathroom and vanity. Announced as brand new offerings for the upcoming Koningsdam , Billboard Onboard & Lincoln Center Stage made a grand appearance on ms Eurodam, with new ways for passengers to dive into music. Billboard Onboard creates an exceptional twist to traditional night entertainment, hosting live musicians who perform Billboard’s hottest hits, mix in dueling pianos and music trivia. Via a partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Stage will host nightly performances of classical music, as well as afternoon recitals on sea days.

Decks and Cabins

MS Eurodam staterooms (1052 total, in 38 grades) include 116 Suites, 602 Balcony, 179 Oceanviews, 155 Inside cabins. Most cabins are sized 175 ft2 (16 m2). Most balconies are sized 45 ft2 (4 m2). Nearly 70% of all staterooms have private step-out balconies, and 86% of all cabins are outside, On Deck 11 are located Juliet cabins (false/French balcony rooms). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 27. The largest are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft2 / 93 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2). The ship also has Spa cabins (8) and Spa suites (8).

The boat has 12 passenger decks , of which 8 are with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as a separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

MS Eurodam boasts more dining options than any other ship in the fleet of Holland America besides her sister ms Nieuw Amsterdam. The seven different and distinct dining areas provide casual and formal options. The Rembrandt Restaurant is ship's 2-deck Main Dining Room, and it's open daily for open seating breakfast and occasionally for open seating lunch. At breakfast, there are a lot of choices, from yogurt, fruit and granola, to corned beef hash, pancakes and eggs prepared in many ways. When lunch is served in the Rembrandt, the choice of options is perfect and includes salads, starters, soups, entrees and desserts. It's a relaxing and civilized alternative to the Lido buffet.

Follows the complete list of ms Eurodam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (140-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Rembrandt Restaurant (1114-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15-9 pm. 
• Terrace Grill (46-seat fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (470-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6-11 am, Lunch 11:30-2 pm, Afternoon Tea, Dinner 5:30-8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
• Tamarind (142-seat Asian specialty restaurant; reservations-only)
• Slice (complimentary Pizzeria, poolside).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The progress that ms Eurodam introduces for HAL is relatively gentle. The ship is an evolution, rather than a revolution. Still, some changes point more to Holland America's future than to its past. Eurodam is the first cruise liner built for Holland America without a tennis court, for instance. The area went a long way to making room for a combination basketball/dodgeball court, Silk Den and nearby Tamarind. The private, extra-fee cabana zones around and above the major swimming pool remind more of a sleek South Beach resort than a cruise liner. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of ms Eurodam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• The Mainstage (890-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (36-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub (now Gallery Bar cocktail bar)
• Billboard Onboard & Lincoln Center Stage
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (166-seat, with live band entertainment, cooking shows, culinary classes; via a partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine”)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (lounge with bar; classical concert performances); Silk Den Lounge
• King’s Room (complimentary workshops, Internet computers room, by a partnership with Microsoft) 
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Screening Room (38-seat indoor cinema)
• Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Cafe (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 7 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar; The Retreat (adults-only)
• Crow’s Nest (observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck, Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco).

In 2023, HAL conducted 5 wet-dock refurbishments to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam). Each of the enlarged gambling facilities now has 140 of the gaming industry's newest slot and video poker machines. In addition, a separate non-smoking area was added in the casinos of Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Eurodam itinerary program is based on European voyages in the Baltic (leaving out of Amsterdam Holland and Copenhagen Denmark ), the Mediterranean (from Civitavecchia-Rome ), the Caribbean (out of Fort Lauderdale Florida USA ), as well as Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com).

HAL is among the few companies that offer partial Panama Canal cruises that combine popular Caribbean islands with Panama's Gatun Lake . The itinerary's "Panama Canal" segment features passing through the Gatun Locks and sailing in the Gatun Lake.

Next table shows HAL's "Panama Canal Sunfarer" itinerary (11-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale ).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 MS Eurodam became Holland America Line's fist ship to restart operations. For the summer program were scheduled 7-day Eastern Mediterranean itineraries leaving roundtrip from homeport Piraeus-Athens Greece . Bookings opened on May 6.

• "Idyllic Greek Isles" itinerary visited Kotor Montenegro , Corfu Island (Kerkyra) , Santorini Island (Thíra) , Mykonos Island .
• "Ancient Wonders" itinerary visited Haifa Israel , Nafplio (Mycenae) , Mykonos, Rhodes Island .
• "Adriatic Allure" itinerary (Athens to Venice Italy) visited Mykonos, Katakolon (Olympia) , Crete island (Chania) , Sarande Albania .

ms Eurodam - user reviews and comments

Photos of ms eurodam.

ms Eurodam ship related cruise news

HAL-Holland America elevates Alaska cruising experience with 'Glacier Day' and enhanced programming

As part of its "We Love Alaska" onboard experience, HAL-Holland America Line is unveiling "Glacier Day" on its Alaska cruises, offering new...

HAL-Holland America unveils 2025-2026 Mexico and Pacific Coast seasons

HAL-Holland America Line has launched its Mexico and Pacific Coast seasons for 2025-2026, offering extended visits to distinctive ports such as...

HAL-Holland America unveils Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises for 2025-2026 season

HAL-Holland America Line has commenced bookings for its 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii voyages, offering departures from 5 USA homeports across a...

HAL-Holland America opens bookings for 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises

HAL-Holland America Line, renowned for its premium and destination-focused voyages, has commenced bookings for its 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii...

HAL-Holland America achieves fleetwide shore power installation

HAL-Holland America Line has achieved a significant sustainability milestone with the completion of shore power installation on its entire fleet. MS...

HAL-Holland America opens bookings for 2025 Alaskan cruises

HAL-Holland America Line has now opened reservations for its 2025 Alaska season. With a remarkable 75 years of experience sailing in the region...

HAL-Holland America starts Alaska 2023 cruise season with MS Eurodam ship from Seattle

HAL-Holland America kicked off its 2023 Alaskan season on Monday, May 1st, with the arrival of ms Eurodam at the Port of Seattle (Washington USA...

HAL-Holland America announces 2024-2025 USA & Canada West Coast cruises

HAL-Holland America Line has started accepting bookings for their 2024-2025 West Coast cruise season, which includes sailings from San Diego...

HAL-Holland America adds Boston/Bermuda/longer itineraries for 2024-2025 Caribbean season

Longer cruises in the Caribbean were scheduled by HAL-Holland America for winter 2024-2025, including the return of visits to Bermuda. Boston...

HAL-Holland America introduces 2023-2024 West Coast USA cruises

San Diego (California USA) has been a West Coast homeport for HAL-Holland America since the 1990s. Season 2023-2024 is highlighted by two solar...

•   show more news

Other Holland America cruise ships

• ms Koningsdam
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam
• ms Nieuw Statendam
• ms Oosterdam
• ms Rotterdam
• ms Volendam
• ms Westerdam
• ms Zuiderdam

ms Eurodam Wiki

Eurodam is Holland America's 1st Signature-class liner, with sistership Nieuw Amsterdam . The vessel is the 80th servicing this company. The Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on July 5, 2008. Ship's Godmother was HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

In July 2017, the cruise ship hosted a specially themed cruise in Alaska. The "Share the Adventure Cruise" 2017 voyage (July 15-22) followed an exclusive partnership between Holland America and The Oprah Magazine. Besides Oprah Winfrey, herself the list of special guests onboard included Gayle King (TV personality), India Arie (singer), Glennon Doyle Melton (activist, speaker) and Angela Davis (political activist, motivational speaker). Four more Oprah Magazine-themed "Adventure of Your Life" cruises were scheduled through 2018, all featuring onboard exclusive program activities

The list of all The Oprah Magazine themed "Adventure of Your Life" HAL cruises included the following itineraries (as dates and destinations): July 15, 2017 (7-Day Alaska from Seattle on Eurodam), November 29, 2017 (11-Day Southern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale on Koningsdam ), March 3, 2018 (7-Day Eastern Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale on Nieuw Amsterdam ), August 11, 2018 (7-Day Alaska from Seattle on Eurodam) and October 28, 2018 (7-Day Western Caribbean roundtrip Fort Lauderdale on Nieuw Amsterdam ).

The following table shows HAL's first Oprah-themed voyage on Eurodam (itinerary's ports/times).

Prices started from USD 2000 per person (double occupancy Inside cabin rates).

• 1-855-932-1711
• My Account Hello Credits My Account Log out

936 ft. length

105.8 ft. width

Our first Signature Class ship, Eurodam epitomizes grace and excellence. Test your music trivia skills at Billboard Onboard or catch a performance at the stunning World Stage. During the day, head to top-level decks to play pickleball at sea amid an ever-changing ocean backdrop or rejuvenate with therapeutic spa treatments at the Spa & Salon.

Eurodam Receives Best Dining Award

BestProducts.com named Eurodam the best cruise ship for great dining and diverse cruise destinations. Guests will enjoy delectable food options and cooking classes, plus an array of exciting ports across the globe.

Onboard Activities

Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities.

Billboard Onboard

ENTERTAINMENT

Sing along, test your music trivia knowledge, or sit back and enjoy as chart-topping hits fill the room each night.

2 pianos - 60 Years of Chart Toppers - 100s Of Songs.  Sing along, test your music trivia skills or just sit back and enjoy as the hits fill the room each night.

World Stage

World Stage features innovative cruise ship shows and a two-story LED screen that creates a vivid wraparound display.

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evenings, Step One Dance Company, vocal sensation Cantaré, BBC Earth in Concert and more take the stage.  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam  bring the World Stage experience to the next level by surrounding you in spectacular sight and sound with a two-story, panoramic LED screen.

Onboard Shopping

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping onboard.

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping in such signature shops as The Vault, Diamonds and Gemstones by Merabella, which offers the best diamonds at sea, brought to you by Effy.

Fitness Center

Take a class in our professionally staffed Fitness Center.

Stop by the professionally staffed Fitness Center equipped with the latest cardio and weight machines. Try one of our classes on indoor cycling, Pilates and more or work out at your own pace. You can also head out for fresh air and exercise on deck, where you'll find basketball and volleyball courts, and two refreshing pools (available on select ships). Some classes may have a nominal fee.

Holland America Line Navigator

Personalize your cruise experience with our free mobile-friendly tool.

Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. 

Casino Action

The Casino offers games for all levels.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Unleash your competitive spirit in our new family game room.

Unleash your competitive spirit at High Score!, our new family game room. By day, it’s a secret hideaway for kids and teens, where they can engage in a fast-paced flurry of four-person air hockey or contend for bragging rights in the video arcade. At night, the entire family is welcome to bond over board games, skee-ball, a tilting labyrinth and family activities.

Pickleball at Sea

Enjoy complimentary lessons, tournaments, and courts with amazing top-deck views.

Play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with Holland America Line, the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association. All our cruise ships feature pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views. The equipment and courts are available for a match anytime, so long as the weather allows. Frequent pickler? Join a pickleball tournament at sea and put your dink shot to the test. Hesitant amateur? Learn the basics at complimentary beginner’s lessons, starting in spring 2023. Commemorative starter kits will soon be available in our retail shops — purchase as gifts for avid players or as souvenirs, so that you can always look back on your pickleball cruise memories.

Kids ages 3 to 17 can enjoy an array of activities. Registration required for children under 13.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.

Dining Experiences

Pinnacle Grill

The ultimate steakhouse at sea, with an exceptional menu of Prime steaks, seafood and wine.

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes from James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council® member, David Burke. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor.

*Meals at Pinnacle Grill are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Canaletto is a relaxed setting with authentic Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed when shared.

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more. Including pasta made fresh daily. Buon Appetito!

Meals at Canaletto are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Explore traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with cuisine praised by Condé Nast Traveler as rivaling the top restaurants on land.

Praised by  Condé Nast Traveler  for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. 

Meals at Tamarind are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Lido Market

A casual, modern marketplace, Lido Market offers the widest range of food options on board for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack.

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads; Homestead, serving up comfort classics; Distant Lands, featuring global cuisine; Sweet Spot, for ice cream creations and desserts; Roasting Pan, hand-carved meats, fish and other hearty entrees; Perk, freshly brewed beverages and chilled juices; Quench, premium coffee, beer, wine, and soda available for purchase; Rise, savory quiches, croissants and sandwiches, and more.

This casual poolside grill serves up the best burgers at sea, Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dogs, golden French fries and more.

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

New York Pizza

Our poolside pizzeria has fresh Italian salads and authentic thin-crust personal pizzas with savory toppings.

At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night. This venue is New York Deli & Pizza on  Koningsdam ,  Rotterdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , offering made-to-order deli sandwiches in addition to pizza.

24-Hour Room Service

Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish.

Sleep in and have breakfast delivered. Enjoy an early dinner on your verandah before an evening excursion. Order a salad, sandwich or entrée any time. Room Service is only a phone call away. All selections are included in your cruise fare unless otherwise noted on the in-room menu.

Explorations Cafe

Our relaxing café with panoramic views is your home for handcrafted espresso drinks during the day and refreshing cocktails in the evening.

At Explorations Café, sink into plush chairs and sofas in a comfortable environment. Sip elegantly prepared espresso drinks and nosh on fresh pastries from the coffee bar. You can also take in fantastic views, catch up on your favorite book or browse the web. 

Dine on delectable sushi and sip Asian-inspired spirits at Nami Sushi, a sushi bar within Tamarind offering stunning ocean views.

Nami Sushi offers a tempting array of the sushi rolls he’s created. Choose from such delectable selections as Tempura Lobster Roll with soft shell crab tempura; Dragon Roll with tempura shrimp, unagi sauce and avocado; Tsutsumi Roll with snapper, green olive, caper and avocado; Futomoki Roll with crab, yamagobo, avocado and cucumber; Volcano Roll with sesame-marinated salmon and Thai chilis; Nigiri sushi with tuna, salmon and ebi shrimp; and more. The word “nami,” Japanese in origin, means “wave” and is an homage to the ocean views you’ll enjoy as you dine on the freshest, tastiest and most inventive sushi at sea.

The Dining Room

Our flagship dining experience is a welcoming and sophisticated setting for an exquisite breakfast, lunch or superb multicourse dinner.

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes. 

Suites & Staterooms

Please select your stateroom or suite type and room category from the available options.

• Daily housekeeping
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Elemis Aromapure soap, lotion, shampoo
• Luxurious bathrobes
• Generous storage
• Fresh fruit upon request
• Ice service
• TV with On Demand movies, programming

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads and a host of amenities are featured in these comfortable staterooms.

• Hair dryers, makeup mirrors

These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view.

Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and bath tub with premium massage showerheads.

Signature Suite

• Whirlpool bath

These large, comfortable suites feature a spacious sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and one murphy bed for one person. The bathroom includes a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, and an additional shower stall.

Neptune Suite

• Premium bathrobes, slippers
• Fresh flowers
• One-Touch concierge service
• Whirlpool bath (suite dependent)
• In-suite coffee, espresso
• Complimentary laundry
• Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres served in suite
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Priority boarding for tender ports, priority dining/seating requests, special disembarkation service
• High tea in suite on request
• Exclusive tote bag

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, plus additional shower stall. Amenities include use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge, a private concierge and an array of complimentary services.

Eurodam FAQs

What entertainment options are available in my stateroom?  Each room includes a flat-screen TV with interactive menu of programming including; on-demand movies, music stations, as well as both live and pre-recorded television. Additionally, guests can access ship information, dining options, an onboard activities schedule, shore excursions, and port information through this interactive media console. There are no external inputs available such as A/V or HDMI. Does my stateroom have a mini-fridge?  A mini-fridge is included with all staterooms. Guests who need to refrigerate medication should store it in the ship’s infirmary, as mini-fridges aren’t cold enough for that purpose. What's the cost for mini-fridge rentals?  Unnecessary as all staterooms include a mini-fridge. Are the balconies partitioned? All can be opened upon request. Does my stateroom have an alarm clock?  No, but guests can request a wake-up call. Is there a hairdryer in my room?  Yes. Is there a safe in my room?  Yes. Are there coffee makers in the room?  Only Neptune and Pinnacle Suites feature in-suite coffee and espresso machines. Does my stateroom have WiFi?  All ships are outfitted with wireless Internet. However, we cannot guarantee that each stateroom will receive a signal, as signal strength varies depending on the location of your stateroom.  Porthole Size:  15-inch diameter. Voltage:  110V /220V. Window Size (average):  45 inch x 35 inch. Lanai Staterooms:  No. Family Rooms:  No. Single Rooms:  No.

• PDF All Decks
• Accessibility Routes (PDF)

Recommended For You

Sign up for special offers.