I was on board Holland America’s flagship Amsterdam recently. Entering service in October 2000, Amsterdam shares the top position in the HAL fleet with her sister ship Rotterdam.
At approximately 61,000 gross tons, Amsterdam is a mid-sized ship. It feels substantial and capable of transiting the oceans of the world, which Amsterdam does on its yearly world cruise. At the same time, the ship is small enough not only to navigate the confined waters around Alaska, which it does in the summer, but also to retain a feeling of intimacy.
The interior of Amsterdam is one of subtlety and refinement. There is no neon and the colors are muted. At the same time, it is elegant but not overwhelming. This is not a floating palace but rather an upscale hotel. Artwork is beautifully displayed as part of contemporary styled public rooms, softly lit and comfortable.
This isn’t to say that the ship speaks in a monotone. The Queens Lounge, the venue for the ship’s production shows and for guest entertainers, has an almost whimsical art deco styling. The Pinnacle Grill, the alternative restaurant, resembles a Parisian restaurant of the late 19th Century, while the main dining room is an impressive two-deck high space that occupies the stern of the ship.
The passengers on board Amsterdam are in harmony with the ship’s sophisticated atmosphere. They tend to be well-educated, well-traveled and upper middle class. There is nothing flashy about them.
In many respects, Amsterdam echoes her Dutch heritage. Of course, most of the officers are Dutch and a majority of the crew are from the former Dutch colonies in the East Indies. Adjectives like clean, efficient, industrious and high quality come to mind in describing the ship’s style but also words like practical and understated.
I have assembled the information I have gathered about Amsterdam into a profile of the ship complete with an extensive photo tour and commentary. It is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Amsterdam.html
At approximately 61,000 gross tons, Amsterdam is a mid-sized ship. It feels substantial and capable of transiting the oceans of the world, which Amsterdam does on its yearly world cruise. At the same time, the ship is small enough not only to navigate the confined waters around Alaska, which it does in the summer, but also to retain a feeling of intimacy.
The interior of Amsterdam is one of subtlety and refinement. There is no neon and the colors are muted. At the same time, it is elegant but not overwhelming. This is not a floating palace but rather an upscale hotel. Artwork is beautifully displayed as part of contemporary styled public rooms, softly lit and comfortable.
This isn’t to say that the ship speaks in a monotone. The Queens Lounge, the venue for the ship’s production shows and for guest entertainers, has an almost whimsical art deco styling. The Pinnacle Grill, the alternative restaurant, resembles a Parisian restaurant of the late 19th Century, while the main dining room is an impressive two-deck high space that occupies the stern of the ship.
The passengers on board Amsterdam are in harmony with the ship’s sophisticated atmosphere. They tend to be well-educated, well-traveled and upper middle class. There is nothing flashy about them.
In many respects, Amsterdam echoes her Dutch heritage. Of course, most of the officers are Dutch and a majority of the crew are from the former Dutch colonies in the East Indies. Adjectives like clean, efficient, industrious and high quality come to mind in describing the ship’s style but also words like practical and understated.
I have assembled the information I have gathered about Amsterdam into a profile of the ship complete with an extensive photo tour and commentary. It is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Amsterdam.html
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