Photo Guides to Holland America's Rotterdam and to Bayeux France

This week I have posted two photo guides.




Rotterdam is one of two flagships of Holland America Line. She is the sixth HAL ship to bear the name and perhaps because her immediate predecessor was so beloved and well-known, this ship has been somewhat overlooked. This is unfortunate because she is one of the faster passenger ships in service today (25 knots) and is capable of handling the rigors of a transatlantic crossing. Indeed, designing her was the project Stephen Payne worked on before turning to designing Queen Mary 2. This summer she demonstrated her transatlantic capability by doing two traditional ocean liner crossings between Rotterdam and New York.



What is more impressive about Rotterdam is her interior. As with all the current HAL ships, she has a museum quality art collection distributed through the public rooms. In addition, the furnishings, lighting and décor are tasteful and light quality.



I decided to return to the Rotterdam in order to capture the changes that were made to her during her 2009 refit. The biggest change to the interior was the addition of an area called “Mix.” This area replaces some of the prior lounges with a large open area that includes three bars - - a champagne bar, a spirits and ale bar and a martini bar. Mix does give the public spaces a more lively and younger feel than the prior lounges. I did have some doubt, however, about whether the furnishings were consistent with the ship’s overall décor.



Outside, the aft section of the open deck has become an adult-oriented area called the Retreat. The Sea View swimming pool that once dominated this area has been replaced with a shallow pool with sun loungers. This seems to be a recognition of the fact that relatively few passengers actually swam in the pool while quite a few like to relax in the sun. Overhead, a large video screen has been installed.



In addition to photographing these two areas, I re-photographed the rest of the ship. This picked up the more subtle changes that have taken place since the last time I photographed the ship. In addition, there have been advances in digital photography since then. The Beyondships photo tour of Rotterdam is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam-Tour1.html The profile page with a new daily program and some new menus is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam.html



I have also added a new cruise destination page on Bayeux, France. Bayeux is in the Normandy region of Northern France and can be visited during port calls at Cherborugh and Le Harve. Its most important attraction is the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000 year-old embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England.



Also, in Bayeux is a large cathedral, which was consecrated in 1077. Built over several centuries, it incorporates several different styles of architecture and is an impressive sight.



Located not far from the D-Day landing beaches, there are many D-Day related sites around the town and a museum dedicated to the Battle of Normandy in the town. Much more sobering is the Bayeux military cemetery, which is the largest World War II British cemetery in France. It gives an idea of the price of freedom.



Although in the battle zone, Bayeux did not sustain much damage during the war. As a result, it is still a traditional French town with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. It is particularly picturesque along the River Aure, which runs through the center of town.



The Bayeux page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-5.html and is an addition to the Northern France section of Beyondships.

Holland America's Zuiderdam, Profile and Photo Tour

This week, the focus is on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. I will confess at the outset that I quite like Zuiderdam. In fact, I would say that she is now my favorite of the Holland America ships.




To start at the beginning, Holland America Line provides a premium cruise experience. All of the ships have a magnificent art collection and there is a feeling of cultured sophistication. The crews strive to provide excellent service.



The HAL fleet can be broadly divided into two parts. There are the smaller ships - - the S-class, R-class and the unique Prinsendam - - and the larger ships - - the Vista and Signature classes. The smaller ships are somewhat older but more intimate. The larger ships are newer, have more features but are still relative to the rest of the industry only medium size.



Zuiderdam was the first of the larger HAL ships. She marked a new direction for the line when she entered service in December 2002. Accordingly, she was given a décor that is somewhat brighter and bolder than the prior HAL ships. The line subsequently retreated from this direction and so Zuiderdam is also different from the ships that followed. There is nothing outrageous about it but it does give the ship a noticeably livelier atmosphere.

At the same time, it is noteworthy that Zuiderdam was the first Vista class ship built for HAL by the Fincantieri, the Italian ship builder. This design was used for three subsequent Vista ships for HAL and the Signature class is really an expanded version of the design. Indeed, the design is also the basis for ships in the Costa, Cunard and P&O fleets. Clearly it is a successful design and it all began with Zuiderdam.



Holland America likes to roll back the successful features that it develops for new ships into the line’s existing fleet. As a result, Zuiderdam has the Screening Room movie theater, the Canaletto Italian specialty restaurant, the Digital Workshop, and the Explorations Café that debuted on subsequent Vistas or Signature class ships.



What makes Zuiderdam stand out, however, is not the features but how they are used. My impression was that the officers and crew on Zuiderdam enjoyed being there and when people like their work it translates into a better experience for the customer.



Beyondships profile page for Zuiderdam with copies of daily programs, menus and restaurant reviews is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam.html The multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam-Tour1.html



Also, we have added a new photo essay on Queen Mary 2’s Fourth of July cruise roundtrip from Manhattan. QM2 normally does not dock in Manhattan. However, because another ship was at her usual berth in Brooklyn, the largest ocean liner ever built had to dock at the piers that were the New York home of the great ocean liners of the past. Because of the currents and the size and layout of the piers, this is not so easily done. But, it is magnificent to sail up or down the Hudson past the Manhattan skyline on a summer’s day. The photo essay is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Manhattan-2.html

Super-cruiser Mario; Dining with the Officers; Norwegian Jewel and Zuiderdam Restaurant Reviews

This week Beyondships features something different. In the past, we have brought you interviews ship officers, cruise line executives and people whose work involves them with ships such as marine artists and ship designers. This time, we bring you an interview with a passenger. But what a passenger - - Mario Salcedo has done over 500 cruises with more than 400 of them on Royal Caribbean ships.




Mario is a man living his dream. A successful businessman, Mario rose to hold a prominent position with a Fortune 500 company. Rather than just continue on that path, he turned his back on the corporate life before he turned 50 and dedicated himself to living the life he had always dreamed of. Now he essentially lives 52 weeks a year on cruise ships, mainly RCI’s Liberty of the Seas.



A friendly and outgoing person, Mario likes to chat with his fellow passengers. His is a unique story and he is often asked about how he manages to live at sea. People are also interested in tapping into his expertise and knowledge about cruising.



Beyond ships interview with Mr. Salcedo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html



In recent years, the tradition of having officer tables in the ship’s main dining room has all but vanished. A few lines still have a captain’s table on formal nights but with the exception of Cunard Line, one rarely finds tables hosted by the staff captain, the chief engineer, the hotel director or one of the junior officers.



It is a shame that this tradition is fading away. Dining at an officer’s table gives passengers a unique insight into the operations of the ship and personalizes the relationship between the cruise line and the passengers. Also, I have often found that people who sit down at an officer’s table as strangers often arise as friends. Indeed, I still hear from people who I dined with at an officer’s table years ago.



Somewhat surprisingly, Norwegian Cruise Line, which has a tradition of being non-traditional, is experimenting with reviving this tradition. Of course, various modifications had to be made in order for this tradition to fit with the modern cruising environment. However, the pilot program has been received very well on Norwegian Jewel with many more passengers signing up for it than can be accommodated.



I recently had the opportunity to participate in this program and was able to discuss it with Jewel’s Hotel Director Hugo Vanosmael. The article is at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-officers.html



One of the dining venues on the Jewel is Mama’s Kitchen, a casual Italian restaurant. It could perhaps better be described as an American-style Italian restaurant, serving dishes that one is more likely to find in the States than in Tuscany. By this, I mean no slight. There is a reason that this type of cooking is popular not only in America but worldwide - - it is good. In any event, I have posted a review of Mama’s Kitchen that also looks at Canaletto, a similar concept on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. The review is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Canaletto-Mamas-review.html

Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam - Profile and Photo Tour

Nieuw Amsterdam is Holland America’s latest ship. The sister ship to Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam entered service last summer. She is enlarged version of the line’s Vista class ships - - Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Noordam.

The ship’s name is the Dutch name for New York City, which was founded as a Dutch colony in the 1600s. Accordingly, there are quite a few references to New York in the ship’s artwork and décor. Furthermore, although the ship has a good collection of traditional European and Asian art, the overall atmosphere has a modern sleekness that calls to mind Manhattan.

Nieuw Amsterdam was also the name of one of Holland America’s most beloved ocean liners. Built in the late 1930s, the earlier Nieuw Amsterdam was designed to complement the World’s Fair of 1939. More modern than her contemporaries, she was considered to be one of the most elegant and attractive ships of that period. Unfortunately, only 15 months after her maiden voyage, the Netherlands was invaded as part of the Nazi blitzkrieg. The ship, in New York at the time, was converted into an Allied troop ship and transported thousands of soldiers. After the war, she was restored to her former state and served until 1971 with Holland America, first on the transatlantic service and later as a cruise ship. Thus, today’s Nieuw Amsterdam has a proud heritage.

Life onboard today’s Nieuw Amsterdam follows Holland America’s sophisticated cruising style. There is more emphasis on the intellectual and cultural than on physical activity. However, the ship does have substantial spa as well as two large pool areas. It also has three specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and several casual venues.

Beyondships profile page for Nieuw Amsterdam is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Nieuw.html It has deck plans, menus, daily programs, recipes and other information about the ship as well as acting as the home page for the Nieuw Amsterdam section of the site.

The multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Nieuw-Tour1.html

Half Moon Cay - - Photo Tour and Commentary

Half Moon Cay is a private island in the Bahamas that was purchased by Holland America Line in the late 1990s. The line has constructed a resort complex on this previously uninhabited island and it now serves as a port of call for Holland America ships and for the ships of sister company Carnival Cruise Lines.

Several of the major cruise lines have private island resorts that have been developed into tropical paradises. Half Moon Cay has been consistently rated highly by cruise ship passengers.

The most outstanding feature of Half Moon Cay is the nine-mile long crescent shaped beach. It is covered with white sand and crystal-clear water laps up on it Deck chairs, hammocks and cabanas lie under the shade of palm trees around the lifeguard-supervised swimming section. Further up the beach, there is just pristine sand.

Half Moon Cay is not just a beach, however. There are the usual beach-related playthings such as paddle boats and floats. But, there are other things to do such as a string ray encounter and riding horses along the beach. You can get a massage, renew wedding vows in the Bahamian church, snorkel, parasail or go for a guided tour on a jet ski, a kayak or a glass bottomed boat.

For the guests’ convenience, the crew of the ship that is visiting the island prepares a barbeque lunch in the restaurant pavilion. There are several bars but members of the bar staff also walk along the beach so that guests do not even have to leave their lounge chair.

Children can play either in the Aqua Park or in the separate Club Hal playground area.

Meanwhile, adults can indulge in shopping or have their hair braided in the Bahamian market area.

The resort is only a small portion of the island. Most of it has been left undeveloped as a wildlife sanctuary. There are guides and tours to instruct the intellectually curious about the island’s ecology.

Half Moon Cay is a fantasyland. It is an escape from the real world. But I think that everybody needs to do that once in a while. Beyondships’ photo tour and commentary is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-HalfMoon-1.html

Holland America's Westerdam - - Profile and Photo Tour

Holland America’s Westerdam exudes a feeling of quiet elegance. The ship is not ornate. The basic interior design is contemporary like the top executive offices at the headquarters of a large corporation. The lighting is soft, the walls are un-detailed but covered in nice materials. What makes it interesting is the use of museum quality art work to populate the spaces. They often do not immediately catch the eye but upon closer inspection there is much to discover about them.

This type of atmosphere appeals to the typical Holland America guest. They are worldly and usually experienced travelers. They want subtle sophistication. The ship is a relaxing refuge as they go about exploring but still one that offers intellectual and cultural stimulation.

Westerdam is one of four Vista class ships in the HAL fleet. At over 80,000 gross tons, she is one of the biggest ships that HAL owns. However, she is not as large as many ships being built today. Thus, she has space for all of the features that one would expect from a modern ship but still has an intimate feel.

Beyondship’s profile page for the Westerdam is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Westerdam.html and the multi-page photo tour begins at. http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Westerdam-Tour1.html

While I was on the Westerdam, I spoke with the Hotel Manger Marcella Himmelreich and asked her about what makes a cruise on the Westerdam a premium cruise experience. Our conversation is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Westerdam-Article-HM.html

Holland America's Maasdam in Canada and New England

In the fall, the cruise ships gather in New York and in Boston for cruises to Canada and New England. The autumn leaves are starting to change and people want to see the colors. Also, it is hurricane season in the Caribbean and the weather in Europe is starting to decline so the ships gravitate toward the northeastern United States.

One ship that one frequently sees on such cruises is Holland America’s Maasdam. One of the S-class HAL ships, Maasdam is large enough to provide the amenities of a modern cruise ship but also small enough to get to ports such as Montreal. Thus, Maasdam is well-suited to the Canada/New England run.

I have had the opportunity to photograph Maasdam several times when she was in Canada and in New England. She has pleasing lines and is photogenic.

Accordingly, I have added a photo essay to the Beyondships’ profile of Maasdam showing her in Halifax, one of the more popular ports of call on this route, and in Boston, which is the embarkation port for many of her cruises. This essay is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Maasdam-photo-1.html

Profile and Photo Tour of Holland America's Veendam

Holland America’s Veendam is one of the first ships that was profiled on Beyondships. She is a relatively small ship in comparison to today’s mega-cruise ships but she has elegance and sophistication.

In 2009, Veendam underwent a major refit. The focus of the work was on the stern area where the aft pool was turned into a resort-style shallow pool and the surrounding area transformed into a retreat. In addition, a series of balcony cabins were added along the stern.

What I had not expected when I went onboard recently were the changes to the ship’s interior. The area that was the casino bar has been re-done into “The Mix”, which encompasses three different bars - - spirits and ale, champagne and martinis. In some ways, the concept is similar to the “Bar Central” area on the larger NCL ships. However, here the three bars are physically separate.

The Ruebens Show Lounge is now the Showroom at Sea. In addition to changing the name, HAL has changed the concept. Instead, of being a theater, there are nightclub like tables in front of the stage.

All of the changes to Veendam necessitated essentially redoing the Beyondships’s profile and photo tour. The profile page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Veedam-Profile.html and the new photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Veendam-Tour1.html

In addition, Veendam now spends her summers cruising from New York to Bermuda. This has produced several opportunities to photograph her in one port or the other. Accordingly, I have added a new page of exterior photos of Veendam to the profile at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Veendam-photo-1.html

Photos of Holland America's Eurodam

This week the focus shifts to Holland America’s Eurodam. This ship is s Super-Vista class ship, which means that she is an enlarged version of the Vista class design used in ships such as HAL’s Noordam and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia.

In the two years since Eurodam entered service, I have come across her numerous times in my travels. I think this is because Eurodam does not do the same itinerary each week. For part of the year, she is in Europe, for part in Canada/New England and for part in the Caribbean. The ship gets around.

For me, that is just fine. While she does not have the lines of a traditional passenger ship, she is a photogenic modern cruise ship. Also, she is a maneuverable ship and that allows her to do interesting things in close proximity to other ships, which makes for interesting photos. Accordingly, I have put together a new photo essay of pictures of Eurodam in various ports. It is at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam-Photos.html

In addition, since my profile of Eurodam was done shortly after the ship entered service, I have updated both the profile and the photo tour of Eurodam on Beyondships. This includes lots of new photos. The profile is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam.html and the photo tour is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam-Tour1.html

Talking with the Captain and Hotel Director of Norwegian Pearl

Continuing on with Norwegian Pearl, this week I have posted interviews with the captain of the Pearl and her hotel director. The idea here is to let the people who run the ship talk about what they are trying to do with the ship and get their inside view about what the ship is like.

Not surprisingly, when one asks Captain Lars Bengtsson and Hotel Director Denis Prguda about the experience on Norwegian Pearl, the first thing they talk about is Freestyle Cruising. It is not surprising because Freestyle is the concept that Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) uses to distinguish itself from the other major cruise lines.

Freestyle is all about letting the guest decide what to do and when. As Captain Bengtsson noted there are limits, one cannot do anything one wants but the NCL ships are designed and operated to give the passengers a variety of choices in deciding what to do.

Although the concept is not limited to dining, that is the context in which Freestyle is most often mentioned. Under the traditional cruise ship system, a guest is assigned a specific time and table in the main dining room for dinner. On Norwegian Pearl and her fleetmates, there are no assigned times and the guest is free to dine in any of the dozen or so different dining venues.

The concept does give the guests greater freedom of choice. There can be problems, however. If everybody arrives at the same dining venue at the same time, there is going to be a wait for tables. However, this seems to work itself out after the first day or so as the passengers get used to the idea that there are a number of places to go and get used to the reservation system.

The Freestyle concept has proven so popular that the other major lines have been incorporating parts of it on their ships. Nearly all now have a flexible dining option under which a guest can decide when to dine in the flexible dining section of the main dining room. Also, the newer ships coming out of the shipyards have more and more alternative specialty restaurants.

Oddly enough, the trend toward incorporating parts of the Freestyle concept at other lines has undermined the traditional dining system. One of the prime virtues of that system is that one sits down at a table full of strangers the first night and within a day or so, it becomes a table full of friends as everyone gets to know each other over the course of several meals. However, with all of the alternatives available now, people do not come to the assigned table every night.

That is not NCL’s problem, however. In fact, under the Freestyle system, one can ask to share a table in the main dining rooms and thus be assured of meeting people each night.

Freestyle is across the board on all NCL ships. Thus, it is not the only thing that makes Norwegian Pearl work so well. Thus Captain Bengtsson and Mr. Prguda also spoke about other aspects of the Norwegian Pearl experience.

My interview with Captain Bengtsson http://www.beyondships.com/NCLPearl-captain.html is at and my interview with Mr. Prguda is at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLPearl-HD.html The photo tour and commentary on Norwegian Pearl begins at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLPearl-Tour-1.html (My apologies for posting the link to the photo tour of Norwegian Jewel last week).

Commenting on some items in the news . . .

Carnival Corp CEO Micky Arison has indicated that the firm will probably not place any more orders for new ships this year beyond the two it recently placed for its Princess Cruises subsidiary. (The two Princess ships will be 139,000 gross tons and carry 3,600 passengers). This indication is not entirely unexpected, the pace with which the major lines were building new ships could not continue forever. There is a lot of capacity out there.

One thing that has resulted from all of the newbuilds over the last decade is the public has come to view cruise ships like new cars. If a ship is a few years old, it starts to lose its attractiveness. People begin to think of it as an old ship and are less likely to sail on it. However, ships are built to last 40 years or so. While they may not have that new car smell, a five or ten year old ship is not an old ship. It will be interesting to see if the public adjusts its perception or whether the industry needs a torrent of new ships in order to keep up the excitement about cruising.

What does one do with ships that are still perfectly good but which the public no longer considers new? The industry’s answer is often to send them to new and growing markets, away from the traditional cruise market. It was recently announced that Sea Princess, which is a very nice mid-sized ship, will be joining fleetmates Dawn Princess and Sun Princess cruising out of Australia next winter. Holland America and Royal Caribbean have also announced recently that they will be sending ships to this market.

The industry also sends older ships in for major overhauls so that they will have more of the features that are found on the ships just coming out of the shipyards. HAL’s Ryndam, for example, just completed a $17 million overhaul in which additions were made to her public spaces and the accommodations re-done.

Photo Tour of Holland America's Prinsendam

In the mid to late 1990s, the one irrefutable question what else is there to Cunard besides Queen Elizabeth 2 was Royal Viking Sun. Yes, Cunard had several other ships, some of which were well-loved by their regular passengers and crew, but Royal Viking Sun was the only one recognized throughout the induistry and the cruising public as a first-class cruise ship.

Acquired from Royal Viking Line in 1994, Royal Viking Sun had little in common with QE2. She was half the size, she was a cruise ship and her officers and cruising style were preimarily Norwegian rather than British. Still she was successful offering luxurious long voyages to destinations around the world.

Proof that Royal Viking Sun was a cut above her contemporaries is the fact that she is still sailing for a major cruise line today as Holland Americ's Prinsendam. Built in 1988, many ships of that era are now serving the secondary market or are now Asian gambling ships. However, Prinsendam coontinues to do long voyages to exotic locales providing intimate, elegant cruises in keeping with Holland America's premium standards.

My profile of Prinsendam appears at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Prinsendam.html and the extensive photo tour and commentary begins at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Prinsendam-Tour1.html .

Photo Tour of Holland America's Maasdam

When Maasdam entered service in 1993, she was one of the largest ships ever to be built for Holland America Line. However, as cruise ships have grown ever larger, at just over 55,000 gross tons, Maasdam is now relatively small. Indeed, she is 30,000 tons smaller than HAL’s most recent ship Eurodam.

However, her size has let her find her own niche. She is large enough to roam the oceans of the world but small enough to visit ports that the new larger ships cannot. She is large enough to have most of the amenities that one would expect on a modern cruise ship but small enough that it is easy to get around. With some 1,200 passengers, there is the opportunity to get to know a variety of people but not so many passengers that one feels lost in the crowd.

Life on Maasdam seems well-ordered and serene. One is surrounded by displays of museum quality art punctuated by displays of fresh-cut flowers. The lighting is kept low giving a restful ambiance to the public rooms with their contemporary designs and superior quality fabrics. Passengers tend to indulge in quiet conversation, social dancing and the ship’s enrichment program, which includes cooking demonstrations, lectures and films.

Maasdam offers a premium cruise experience. This means that in addition to nice surroundings, the line strives for service excellence. The ship has been continually upgraded over the years with new features while at the same time adhering to traditional values.

My profile of Maasdam can be found at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Maasdam.html and the photo tour and commentary begins at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Maasdam-Tour1.html

On the military side of the site, I have posted an article in which Assistant Secretary of Defense Tom Hall discusses the transition from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve and how that has affected America’s armed forces Reserve and National Guard. http://beyondships.com/sspi-hall.html

The Charm of Statendam

Statendam is one of the “small” ships in the Holland America fleet. It did not start out that way. At over 50,000 gross tons, Statendam is a large ship. However, since she went into service in 1993, cruise ships have become so much larger that she now seems like a small ship.

Many people like the S class ships (of which Statendam was the first built) because of her size. One does not have to walk that far to get from place to place onboard. Also, the S class ships can get into ports that are too small for their bigger cousins. As a result, they are able to do more unusual itineraries, which is often an attraction for experienced cruisers.

Holland America wants its guests to feel that when they go aboard any ship in its fleet, the guests will find the same amenities and features that they enjoyed on their last Holland America voyage. Accordingly, it continually upgrades its ships so that they have the same features as the newer ships. For example, HAL’s specialty restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill, was added to Statendam in 2002. Other enhancements have been made as part of the line’s Signature of Excellence program. Of course, when a new feature is added, it has to be scaled to the size of the ship.

Statendam has a $2 million art collection that is in keeping with the high standards of the ship. The décor is contemporary but restrained and elegant.

My profile of Statendam is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Statendam.html and my photo tour and commentary about the ship is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Statendam-Tour1.html

Holland America's Eurodam - - Incorporation of excellence

Eurodam is Holland America’s newest and largest ship. Named by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in July, Eurodam seeks to incorporate all of the best elements of Holland America’s premium style cruising. Indeed, her designers sought to take all of the concepts developed during HAL’s multi-million dollar Signature of Excellence fleet upgrade program and include them in the the ship.

The ship started off from the design used for HAL’s Vista class ships, the most recent of which is the Noordam. To this design was added an extra deck that enable HAL to include a new Asia-fusion specialty restaurant as well as a series of spa-staterooms. These staterooms have special access to the ship’s spa and are based on the idea that a cruise can be like a spa retreat. There is also an open deck area with private luxury cabanas.

Although the remainder of the ship also has some new features. An Italian specialty restaurant has been added to the buffet area. The Explorations library/internet center/specialty coffee bar has been moved up higher on the ship so that it has spectacular views. A movie screening room and a digital camera workshop have been added to the public rooms.

While there is much that is new about Eurodam, the ship is very much in the Holland America mold. The public rooms are restrained in their décor punctuated with fine art and fresh flowers. The officer and crew are still friendly and eager to please.

My profile of Eurodam appears at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam.html and the photo tour and commentary begins at: http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Eurodam-Tour1.html

Profile of maritime artist Stephen Card

While there are several very good contemporary artists who do paintings of ships, Stephen Card is today’s premier marine painter. His paintings are not only technically accurate depictions of ships, they convey the spirit and character of these vessels.

Captain Card knows ships. His first career was as a deck officer on merchant ships and later as the Harbor Master in his native Bermuda. It was not until a cruise line executive happened by chance to see a painting that Card had done for his own amusement that Card became a full time artist.

Since then Captain Card has done more than 90 paintings for Holland America Line and has an extensive collection on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria as well as paintings on other cruise ships and in private collections. Because he researches each ship that he paints, Captain Card has a deep knowledge of the history of passenger ships. This has enabled him to write two books that are as much about maritime history as they are about art.

I spoke with Captain Card recently and the interview is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-people-card.html

The Quiet Elegance of Holland America's Rotterdam

Holland America’s Rotterdam is the sixth ship to bear that name for HAL. The fifth ship was a much-loved classic ocean liner. As a result, the current Rotterdam has been somewhat overshadowed by her predecessor. This is unfortunate because the current Rotterdam is a very good cruise ship in her own right.

Although she shares the honor of being co-flagship with the Amsterdam, Rotterdam is not the newest or largest ship in the HAL fleet. The ship went into service in 1997 and is just under 60,000 gross tons whereas HAL’s latest ship, the Eurodam, is 86,700 tons. The fact that she retains her flagship status while the rest of the industry has been emphasizing larger and larger ships underscores HAL’s dedication to medium-size ships.

Rotterdam has a varied itinerary, traveling to the Baltic, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, as well as on a world cruise. These voyages are often longer than the typical cruise. As a result, the ship attracts well-educated travelers who can take the time to do long voyages.

Inside Rotterdam is quiet sophistication. There is extensive use of wood paneling and soft lighting in the public rooms. While there is an extensive museum-quality art collection, it is blended with the décor instead of being set apart from the living space. This gives the ship more of a relaxed feel. In addition, HAL keeps the number of passengers below what a ship of this size could carry, which results in more space per passenger. The result is clearly a premium product with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

My profile of the Rotterdam with ship information, menus, and daily programs, is at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam.html and my photo tour starts at http://beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam-Tour1.html

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