I love the diversity of the collection which represents 37 nationalities among the artists. Passengers also have an impressive number of choices when it comes to destinations. Holland America offers itineraries spanning all seven continents, so you only need to decide where you'd like to go. Holland America sailings aren't the least expensive you'll find, but they won't totally bust your budget, either, particularly if you opt for a more bare-bones cabin in the inside or ocean-view categories.
Pinnacle Grill
Do yourself a favor and book at least one scenic flight during your cruise, whether it’s in Juneau or elsewhere. I thought we would take more advantage than we did, but we loved the dining room so much, we went there more often. This is the highest-end restaurant onboard, with the smallest capacity — and also, of course, my favorite. I also found each person we interacted with to be accommodating and patient, even when guests weren’t particularly warm with them.
Koningsdam: Ship & Amenities
Whether you’re sailing along the shore or embarking on an unforgettable shore excursion, you’ll experience the best of Alaska. There was definitely a time in my life when I was all about taking small ships, cargo ferries, and local buses, and avoiding experiences like cruises. However, now with a young child, it ended up being such an easy, beautiful way to take a vacation. We didn’t have to worry about logistics, food, cleaning up after meals (which can be messy with a one-year-old), or having things to do while he napped.
Find an Oosterdam Cruise from $759
You can adjust the amount up or down or remove it completely (which we don't recommend doing) by visiting the guest services desk. You cannot adjust or remove gratuities after your sailing has ended. It provides an upscale sit-down experience with waiter-served meals. If you choose As You Wish dining, you can arrive at the dining room any time between set hours and eat at your own table (or a communal table if you wish). If you choose set seating, you will dine at one of two set dining times with assigned tablemates at the same table and with the same waiters each night.
Depending on each day's schedule, the main dining room might also be open for breakfast and lunch. The latter is a fantastic place to seek out complimentary between-meal snacks and extra-charge alcohol and specialty coffee beverages. Even the ship’s advanced navigation and communication systems are designed to ensure the utmost safety of all passengers and crew. Rest assured that when you step aboard the Oosterdam, you can relax and enjoy your journey with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are in the safest of hands. By day, it’s open to kids and teenagers, and at night it’s open for the whole family.
The ultimate guide to Holland America cruise ships and itineraries - The Points Guy
The ultimate guide to Holland America cruise ships and itineraries.
Posted: Thu, 16 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This venue also offers appetizers (a la carte), such as Chinese five-spice baby back ribs and a satay sampler. I enjoyed the sushi sampler plate with my cocktail before my dinner at Tamarind, where I dove into a satay sampler, the tom aha kai sweet and sour chicken soup with coconut milk and red curry coconut chicken with jasmine rice. The menu also offers creations like Mongolian barbecue lamb chops, crispy duck with ginger-chili glaze and wok-seared lobster. This is a classic cruise itinerary for visiting this destination, and gives cruisers, especially those making their first voyage up, a great look at so many of the charms of Alaska. After Juneau, we had a day of scenic cruising, including a visit to Hubbard Glacier. In the case of the one-way voyages between Florida and California, Holland America's ships will make the full journey through the canal's three sets of locks from the Caribbean to the Pacific or vice versa.
Holland America offers a broad range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from a single home port in the regions — Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades. I love art and a beautiful interior design that is more elegant than the Las Vegas-style on many cruise lines. Holland America delivers with stunning, sophisticated interiors adorned with a curated art collection on each ship.
Ships in the Holland America fleet — formerly the Nederlandsche-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (Dutch-American Steamship Company) — carried immigrants from Europe to North America at regular intervals. As such, the line often attracts older cruisers and genealogy buffs looking to experience sea travel much like their grandparents, great-grandparents and even great-great grandparents did (albeit with more modern comforts). And veterans who found themselves on Holland America ships used as military transport during World War II often sail on the line's modern vessels as a way to reminisce. Additionally, the Oosterdam features a casino, a nightclub, and a range of bars and lounges for socializing and meeting new people such as the Gallery Bar on Deck 2 and Explorations Café on Deck 10. Guests can soak up the sun in style, surrounded by elegant loungers and comfortable seating areas.
Pinnacle Suites
Holland America Line maintains a fleet of 14 ships, each with its own brand of amenities and travel destinatios. The company runs up to 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries with 2- to 114-day itineraries. Holland America Lines also offers a broad range of food and dining options as well as entertainment and on-board activities which can cater to individual passenger taste. Holland America Line offers a wide range of itineraries to various destinations worldwide.
All suite passengers have access to additional amenities, including fresh flowers, a pillow menu, a stocked minibar and binoculars for use during each sailing. In many cases, they also have had entire eateries and bars renovated over the years with concepts that first debuted on newer vessels. As a result, the oldest Holland America ships are a good choice for someone who wants to try Holland America but is looking to travel with a smaller crowd. The oldest ships in the Holland America fleet thus appeal to a subset of Holland America fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. The Pinnacle-class ships also have spectacular state-of-the-art main theaters with push-out stages enveloped by two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screens.
Children are split into three groups — Kids (ages 3-6), Tweens (7-12) and Teens (13-17) — for age-appropriate activities that might include video game play, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, theme parties and poker tournaments.
We ordered large bottles of water for our room in advance, since we’ve done it in the past and it was easy to put them in the refrigerator and take them along to shore excursions and drink from them all day. It also saved money over buying a bottle of water while leaving the ship ($4.10 each for a small bottle of water on Holland America!). You always want to be able to walk outside to take in the scenery, which often will include sightings of whales, birds, dolphins and great snow-capped mountains and glaciers, of course. Another great sanctuary is The Library, a big library that is a quiet space with window views to the promenade that encircles Deck 3. Cruisers loan out the books on the honor system with the promise to return them by the end of their sailing.
We had a day and a half sailing up to Juneau, and the onboard programming included talks about the history of Alaska, the Iditarod dogsled race, native culture and wildlife. We also got a rundown from the excursion team explaining all kinds of activities we could enjoy ashore when we got to our ports. I love that there are many onboard opportunities for cooking demonstrations and tastings. Also, on each voyage, Holland America brings aboard a guest chef to help you learn about the culinary traditions in the ports you will be cruising to.
I have to be honest that the size of the ship (2,500 capacity, one of Holland America’s largest) made me hesitate. I know for sure I’m not the kind of person who would enjoy the huge ships that have 5,000+ passengers, those big slides, and bellyflop competitions. But the Koningsdam was classy, with some shared areas we loved, particularly the Crow’s Nest on the 12th floor, with a fantastic view all around the front of the ship, coffee, and couches for Felix to crawl on.
This includes 80 types of fresh fish being served across our thoughtfully crafted itineraries through our Global Fresh Fish Program. With native fresh fish and ingredients sourced directly from those who know them best, our destination dining tells the story of each region through unique flavors. This means your taste buds will delight in the cruise dining experience, where our cuisine goes beyond the plate. There was also a gym that had regular classes and plenty of machines to choose from. There’s also a spa, shopping, casino, a few live music venues, and a large theater. I’d encountered a lot of chicken nuggets and subpar burgers in the past on my brief cruise experiences.
These things put me to sleep… but we did sit in comfortable chairs and read a lot of books. The bathroom offers a bath/shower combo, which is a treat for those who enjoy a bath. You can’t always get a cruise ship cabin with a bath tub these days. The Explorer’s Cafe is located at the very top of the ship overlooking the bow as a spacious observation lounge space.
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