Holland America Line’s 2021 Rotterdam Ship Evaluate

Holland America Line, probably the most storied names in cruising, has come a good distance since 1873, when it was based in Rotterdam. The road’s first vessel, a steam and sail ship that always crossed the North Atlantic, was named after town. As the corporate grew, it could carry greater than 850,000 immigrants to the U.S. between 1880 and 1920. And through World Struggle II, Holland America ships transported practically 400,000 Allied troops.

So when a brand new Rotterdam ship arrived in 2021 — the seventh to hold the identify — it debuted with practically 150 years of heritage. And but, it was additionally a leap ahead for the model.

Carrying 2,668 passengers and a crew of 1,048, the newest Rotterdam is a big ship, based mostly on Journey + Leisure’s classes, however I discovered it to be right-sized on my current journey aboard. I by no means felt as if I used to be caught within the midst of a teeming metropolis, nor did I discover it too small to supply an enormous array of facilities and leisure. With a gleaming library, a high-tech theater with seating wrapped round its stage, and the Grand Dutch Café bringing a little bit of that Netherlands really feel, Rotterdam is refined with out being pretentious.

Throughout my journey, across the fjords of Norway, I used to be notably keen on the hall of reside live performance venues generally known as Music Stroll, which got here alive nightly with classical, blues, and even dueling piano performances.

Maybe because of its heritage, Holland America Line has a status for drawing a loyal viewers of older visitors. So, shortly earlier than I boarded Rotterdam, I caught up with Holland America Line’s president, Gus Antorcha, to ask if this new-ish ship was turning any heads amongst regulars.

“I’m completely not fearful about making the model youthful,” Antorcha mentioned. “If we add enrichment and attention-grabbing itineraries, the age shall be what the age shall be.”

Throughout my journey, the ship was dominated by an lively contingent of colorfully primped Netherlanders, most of whom seemed to be of their 50s and 60s. (The vibe was so Dutch, actually, that ship bulletins have been made each in that language and English.) There have been additionally many Danish visitors on board, who’d come aboard particularly for the attention-grabbing Northern European itinerary.

Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the vibe on board Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, and my assessment of the ship’s many options and facilities.

The Staterooms

Cabin decor is up to date and practical, with espresso and cream tones dominating. Recent fruit was obtainable on request, together with complimentary shoe shine service, and room service was obtainable 24 hours. I cherished my cabin, quantity 5053, a roomy verandah stateroom that was about 30 sq. ft bigger than most different rooms, with a big balcony.

In any other case, Rotterdam has 1,340 staterooms, with choices starting from inside cabins with out home windows as much as 4 completely different suite classes. The inside cabins may be as small as 143 sq. ft, which is cosy, even for a cruise ship. Different staterooms begin at 175 sq. ft, and Vista Suites have a relatively giant 260-square-foot plan, with places in prime spots across the ship. On the prime finish are the Signature and Neptune suites, in addition to the one Pinnacle Suite, which is greater than 5 occasions the scale of normal cabins.

Solo vacationers are effectively sorted on Rotterdam, with the selection of a dozen single-occupancy, ocean-view cabins.

Bars and Eating places

Over years of cruise journey, I’ve discovered Holland America Line serves extra constantly dependable meals in its fundamental eating room than may be discovered on different mainstream cruise traces. The entry level is the Eating Room, a two-deck affair that may seat 1,170 visitors, which is positioned on the rear of decks 2 and three. Topped by a ceiling of gold and blue baubles, the higher ranges have swish curves. Regardless of the dimensions of the operation, dishes listed below are superbly offered, whether or not a colourful tomato salad drizzled in fig balsamic vinegar and orange oil, coconut crusted shrimp on a beet and inexperienced bean salad, or a rack of lamb served with cannellini beans. Holland America’s seafood is sustainably sourced — the road has partnered with chef Masaharu Morimoto and has quite a few endorsements from organizations such because the Marine Stewardship Council — and vegetarian and gluten-free objects are all the time obtainable.

Along with the informal Lido Market, because the ship’s buffet is thought, Rotterdam has 4 extra-fee eating places. Amongst them are Canaletto, the ship’s Italian venue, and Rudi’s Sel de Mer, the standout French brasserie with dishes together with Dover sole meunière, oysters on the half shell, steak frites, and duck cassoulet. Pinnacle Grill is the steakhouse, and Tamarind serves pan-Asian delicacies. Different no-fee selections embody the Grand Dutch Café, the place sandwiches and light-weight meals are served, the requisite pizza counter, and a poolside burger bar known as Dive-In. Company staying in Neptune and Pinnacle suites can dine in Membership Orange, a extra intimate eating room with a menu that largely matches what’s served in the principle eating room.

Along with the eating places, Holland America’s trademark bars, Ocean Bar and Lido Bar, invite imbibing until late, whereas the Crow’s Nest, positioned above the bridge, is well-liked when cruising the fjords and different scenic passages. I loved the Half Moon Bar just a few occasions, with cocktails themed across the line’s historical past of linking Holland and New York Metropolis, whereas the Tamarind Bar has a roster of martinis.

The place Rotterdam Sails

In winter months, Rotterdam home-ports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and gives alternating nine- and 12-day Caribbean itineraries that attain as far south because the “ABC Islands” within the Dutch Antilles; some longer voyages make partial transits of the Panama Canal. In summer season, Rotterdam is predicated in its namesake metropolis, with seven-, 14-, and 21-day itineraries calling on ports all through Northern Europe, together with within the British Isles, Iceland, Norway, and the Baltic nations.

Shore Excursions

A great number of shore excursions have been supplied on my cruise via the fjords of Norway: scenic coach excursions previous waterfalls, farm visits with cider tasting, kayak paddles alongside hovering cliffs, hikes from Mount Floyen to Skomakerdiket Lake.

Within the Caribbean, Holland America’s non-public island Half Moon Cay has a blinding seashore. Elsewhere, visitors can prepare to discover the UNESCO World Heritage metropolis of Willemstad, Curaçao, or go snorkeling in, say, the caves of Norman Island.

Facilities and Leisure

On Holland America’s ships, it’s all in regards to the reside music — and Rotterdam isn’t any exception. Sure, different ships of this dimension supply loads of reside music, however the best way it’s laid out on this ship works completely for me, concentrated alongside a hall known as Music Stroll. This consists of the Rolling Stone Lounge, the place a seven-piece home band rolls out High 40 classics. Subsequent door, Billboard Onboard is a singalong piano bar, and simply down the corridor is B.B. King’s Blues Membership, which pumps blistering soul, rock, and blues, with the addition of a classical string quartet on longer European sailings.

Simply past Music Stroll, within the ship’s bow, is World Stage, a theater-almost-in-the-round for quite a lot of performances together with dance and vocal evaluations backed by two-story LED screens that encircle the viewers. Every of those function most evenings, with a schedule that lets you enterprise from one to the following for a whole night time. Stay music can also be on in different places on the ship, together with a dance band within the Ocean Bar.

Rotterdam has two fantastic swimming pools, a good-sized one positioned at midship in a two-story house topped with a retractable roof (helpful throughout dodgy climate), and one other discovered aft, going through the wake. The Sports activities Courtroom options pickleball and ping pong, whereas Bingo, wine-tastings, and trivia contests are highlighted within the each day e-newsletter. The Greenhouse Spa has a full roster of remedies, and can even do hair and nails. The health club is accessed via the spa and is stocked with well-maintained cardio tools and weights. Some health lessons are free, whereas yoga and spinning lessons come at an upcharge.

Not like some bigger cruise ships, Rotterdam doesn’t supply a self-service laundry facility, although companies, together with dry cleansing, may be organized.

Household-Pleasant Choices

Not like some large-ship manufacturers, Holland America Line doesn’t notably cater to households with younger youngsters. That being mentioned, there are areas put aside for junior cruisers, and itineraries throughout summer season or vacation durations could have fairly just a few households. Rotterdam’s Youngsters’ Membership is designed for kids and youths ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally skilled workers. Actions embody a spread of arts and crafts, sports activities, online game competitions, scavenger hunts, and themed events.

Accessibility

As somebody who has thought-about his mom’s mobility points when planning a cruise, Holland America ranks excessive on my listing of accessible cruise choices. Rotterdam has elevators and accessible restrooms on all public decks. Transfers to shore may be accommodated at most ports, and tender boats have a carry system permitting visitors to roll on and off tenders. To arrange for the arrival of a visitor with disabilities, the road asks for a Particular Necessities Info Kind to be submitted 45 days previous to embarkation. (Word that Holland America doesn’t lease wheelchairs or present help for any goal aside from embarkation, disembarkation, and emergency conditions.)

On Rotterdam there are 40 staterooms with accessible options, and so they’re categorised in two methods. Absolutely Accessible cabins are designed for visitors with very restricted or no mobility who require use of a wheelchair, scooter, or different assistive gadget. Ramps enable entry to verandas; bogs have a roll-in bathe with seize bars, a bathe seat, accessible bathe controls, and a hand-held bathe head. Ambulatory Accessible cabins are for visitors who don’t require use of a wheelchair or scooter however want some accessible options.

Company who’re deaf or exhausting of listening to can request kits that embody visible or tactile alerts for telephone ringing or door knocks, telephones are outfitted for amplified sound, and cabin TVs have closed captioning options. Assistive listening gadgets can be found for reveals. For visitors who’re blind or have low imaginative and prescient, Rotterdam can present a downloadable each day e-newsletter and menus for visitors with display screen reader applications; these may be downloaded to a screen-reader enabled laptop within the Explorations Café. Braille menus for the eating places can be found with advance discover.