Eurodam cruise ship evaluation: An ideally sized ship for the Caribbean and Alaska

Eurodam was the primary Holland America ship to characteristic the pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind and Italian-themed Canaletto, positioned in a piece of the Lido Market buffet. Its third specialty restaurant, Pinnacle Grill, is in a stunning spot that is open to the atrium fairly than inside a closed-off restaurant area.

Splendid for cold-weather cruising in Alaska, Eurodam has a retractable glass dome over its most important pool, in addition to an open-air aft pool. The ship has a most important theater and two stay music venues, Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos) and the Rolling Stone Lounge (multipiece cowl band), however doesn’t have the road’s standard B.B. King’s Blues Membership.

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Eurodam is taken into account a premium cruise ship. It is smaller and a bit extra upscale than 4,000-plus-passenger megaships however bigger and has much less inclusive fares than luxurious cruise ships. Whereas it has a youngsters and teenagers membership, the ship doesn’t have the expansive youngsters membership area or as sturdy a roster of household actions as Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean cruise ships. It is perfect for multigenerational households (particularly with older or grownup youngsters), {couples} and teams of buddies, and anybody on the lookout for big-ship facilities with out the crowds on large vessels.

What I liked about Eurodam

Recent fish

Holland America has doubled down on sourcing contemporary fish domestically in its main cruise locations and has partnered with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who’s serving as the road’s world contemporary fish ambassador. Which means in Alaska, Eurodam’s restaurant menus characteristic domestically caught salmon, cod, halibut, rockfish and Dover sole; within the Caribbean, you may have the choice to style native mahi-mahi, flounder, tuna and yellowtail snapper.

The each day salmon bowl within the Eating Room was persistently one of the best factor on the menu and completely cooked. The dinner menus highlighted Alaska-themed fish dishes nightly, and I loved contemporary cod sliders and fried fish sandwiches. The ship even ran a pop-up Alaska seafood boil one evening (for an added charge) for fish lovers to essentially dig into domestically sourced seafood.

In case you get pleasure from seafood, this system is unquestionably a purpose to decide on Eurodam or considered one of its sister ships.

Rolling Stone Lounge

The place to be on Eurodam after dinner is the Rolling Stone Lounge. A seven-piece band (5 of them sing in addition to play devices) performs three units of rock, pop and R&B covers nightly at this intimate venue on Deck 2.

I am unsure whether or not I liked the band or the viewers extra. The band was extremely versatile and energetic, leaping round on stage and even coming down onto the dance flooring to rock out with the friends. Their vocal vary was unbelievable — and so have been their live performance outfits.

However the band would not be fairly the identical draw with out the gang. Cruisers of all ages crowded the dance flooring to bust a transfer to “Footloose” or maintain their sweetheart near “Unchained Melody.” I watched single girls unabashedly strutting their stuff, older {couples} with critical footwork and oldsters dragging embarrassed teenagers as much as dance with them. The people-watching was pretty much as good because the tunes.

Tamarind

In case you like Asian meals, Tamarind is my favourite restaurant on board and value the additional charge. The purple-hued restaurant spans Deck 11 midship with window-facing seats on either side of the ship and a big bar and lounge area on the alternative aspect of the elevator corridor.

The decor is inviting, with plush banquettes lined with pillows scattered among the many tables, however the menu right here is the true draw. Dishes are stuffed with taste and provide one thing for everybody, whether or not you are a beef lover or a vegetarian. The themed cocktail menu attracts from flavors like lychee and yuzu; strive the shiso bitter for one thing scrumptious and totally different.

No offense to the Iron Chef, however my journey buddy and I each most popular the common menu at Tamarind to the Morimoto at Sea pop-up that takes place right here one evening per cruise.

Alaska-themed actions and eating

Caribbean cruisers can skip this part, however I’d be remiss if I did not point out Eurodam’s full embrace of its “We love Alaska” motto (which is plastered throughout the ship’s bow). The ship affords an Alaska-themed brunch on two sea days, Alaska-themed craft cocktails (with glacial ice!) within the Ocean Bar and talks on Alaskan themes within the World Stage throughout time at sea. A wildlife information sails with the ship to assist friends spot whales, porpoises and seals in crusing channels the place animals are sometimes current. You should buy Alaska-themed presents within the ship’s store.

What I did not love about Eurodam

The ship is exhibiting its age

Eurodam did get a refurbishment in 2023, but it surely did not contact all areas of the ship. The cabin decor didn’t really feel trendy, and the darkish wooden furnishings in my room (desk, wardrobe, chairs) all confirmed scratches and dings. The wall paneling in my room had stains and mismatched sections the place presumably one part had been changed and did not precisely match.

The ship additionally appeared to battle with some plumbing points. I obtained whiffs of sewage smells in sure sections of cabin hallways. Our bathe drain stopped engaged on the previous couple of days of our cruise, inflicting us to always flood the toilet. Total, it was not an enormous drawback, but it surely’s finest to method your onboard dwelling quarters with the fitting mindset.

Queues

On a roughly 2,100-passenger ship within the premium class, I’d anticipate finding fewer crowds and queues than on a megaship. However on a number of events, Eurodam didn’t appear prepared for passenger demand.

Embarkation in Seattle took two hours (all of it spent standing in strains), partly as a result of there have been no porters taking baggage, and all of us needed to wait in line to drop off our baggage contained in the terminal earlier than continuing to safety and check-in. I do not know if that was a one-off drawback, however I used to be stunned Holland America did not have the method down pat after a complete season of Alaska cruises from the port.

The queue for the particular Royal Dutch Tea shaped quarter-hour previous to the eating room doorways opening. I made the error of exhibiting up simply minutes earlier than teatime and was sat on the very again of the eating room. Our desk of six by no means obtained served the three-tiered tray of snacks. Once we lastly obtained up and chased down some waiters, they introduced us some plates of leftovers (and we scavenged extra meals from close by tables as their friends left).

You will additionally wait in line if you wish to buy espresso drinks on the Explorations Cafe within the Crow’s Nest, get the shuttle again to port in Sitka (wait time could be a half-hour) and dine at peak occasions within the Eating Room with no reservation. Alter your expectations accordingly.

The room was positioned on the nook the place the ship’s exterior juts out, so the outside wall of our room was on a slant (fairly than at proper angles to the opposite partitions). It additionally meant our balcony was bigger than a regular one, which was a welcome addition in Alaska.

Like most cabins on board, the room featured two twin beds that may be pushed collectively right into a queen. Studying lights and a USB outlet have been on either side of the wood headboard. The bedside tables had an open shelf and two drawers; one had the cellphone. A big drawer was underneath the foot of every mattress (the place I stored additional baggage and my laundry); you can slide your suitcases underneath the primary a part of the mattress.

A flat-screen TV was throughout from the mattress. It supplied a handful of reports, sports activities and leisure channels, motion pictures on demand, podcasts and audiobooks, bow and aft cams, and the identical ship data discovered on the Navigator app.

Crowded in subsequent to at least one aspect of the mattress and adjoining to the sliding glass door resulting in the balcony was a desk with a minifridge and no doorways. It was the primary place to cost your electronics with two North American 115-volt retailers, two 220-volt European retailers and a USB port. A mirror was above the desk, however there have been no cabinets.

Professional tip: I requested our room steward to take away all of the minibar gadgets that have been cluttering up our minifridge and desk space since we didn’t intend to purchase something.

Most traditional cabins appear to have a settee with a espresso desk. Our room had two crimson upholstered chairs that had seen higher days and a espresso desk. Nonetheless, they have been lined up in opposition to the wall as there wasn’t area to rearrange them in a comfortable chat structure. I moved one of many chairs to the desk to make use of my laptop computer. A nook shelf on the opposite aspect of the glass door supplied a couple of further retailers.

The principle storage for the room was a two-section wardrobe. One aspect had a couple of cabinets, together with one holding the protected, and a giant empty space housing the life jackets, which appeared wasted. The opposite aspect had two hanging racks, however I eliminated one so we may hold clothes; there was additionally a excessive shelf and a low area for footwear.

Bathrobes have been additionally offered within the room to be used on board. Moreover, the cabin included a tray with an ice bucket and a corkscrew/bottle opener, throw blankets to be used in your balcony in Alaska and a hair dryer. Uncommon for cruise ships, one of many drawers additionally contained a Bible!

The toilet was massive, with a no-threshold bathe with a seat and wand showerhead however no further cabinets for toiletries. By the sink, three skinny glass cabinets are all you get to retailer your belongings; there wasn’t a lot counter area or a shelf under the sink (and even hooks on the again of the door).

The balcony, although bigger than common, had the usual furnishings for this ship: two metal-and-mesh chairs with movable footrests (a pleasant contact!) and a small, spherical drinks desk.

I’ve to say, I used to be not a fan of this room for a couple of causes:

First, if my description did not make it apparent, the room lacked storage. Aside from the minidrawers within the nightstands, there have been no drawers appropriately sized for storing underwear, socks, swimwear and T-shirts. You possibly can handle with the closet, however most of the cabinets are too excessive to succeed in when you’re on the shorter aspect. There are 4 massive hooks by the cabin door for hanging jackets or baggage however none within the lavatory for moist towels. Customary cabins have a further wardrobe part and extra lavatory storage as properly.

I used to be glad I introduced some magnetic hooks to hold on the partitions within the cabin to assist with storage.

Additionally, the room did not have an entrance hallway as many commonplace cabins do. If I used to be asleep and my pal went out to get espresso, the sunshine from the hallway streamed proper into my face.

The odd structure additionally meant there was no sitting space. The crimson chairs have been actually solely helpful for throwing additional stuff on or sitting by the desk. The espresso desk additionally turns into storage solely as a result of you may’t organize it dealing with a chair with out blocking the navigable area within the cabin. It made ordering room service much less interesting as there wasn’t a superb eating setup.

Whereas not an issue for me, choosy people ought to know that the cabin furnishings has clearly been round awhile and was not changed within the ship’s 2023 dry dock. All the wood items had scratches and dings. The partitions have been additionally marked up. The room seemed outdated and was not notably inviting. It didn’t stay as much as the premium nature of a Holland America cruise.

Eurodam affords a number of kinds of accessible cabins in varied cabin classes. Absolutely accessible cabins are arrange for wheelchair customers with wider doorways, entry to either side of the mattress and a roll-in bathe with a seat and lowered controls. Single-side-approach variations of those cabins have the identical accessible options however solely have area for wheelchair entry to at least one aspect of the mattress. Ambulatory-accessible cabins, like mine, have wider doorways and an accessible bathe however don’t have the extra flooring area to accommodate a wheelchair.

You will discover accessible cabins in inside, ocean-view, balcony, Signature Suite and Neptune Suite classes.

One distinctive facet of Eurodam’s cabin structure is that almost all commonplace cabins characteristic tub-shower combos — nice when you love baths however much less nice when you have bother moving into and out of a bath to bathe. Inside cabins and accessible rooms are shower-only.

All of the cabins and suites on decks 10 and 11 are spa cabins with easy accessibility to the ship’s spa.

The smallest suites are Signature Suites (in each common and spa varieties), starting from 273 to 456 sq. ft, and have massive sitting areas with couch beds and bogs with twin vanities and full-size whirlpool baths. Every Neptune Suite, at 506-590 sq. ft, upgrades from a queen mattress to a king and provides a dressing room and a bigger couch mattress.

Two Pinnacle Suites are the highest lodging at 1,357 sq. ft. These characteristic separate dwelling and eating rooms, pantries and microwaves, non-public verandahs with whirlpools, visitor bathrooms and stereo techniques.

In case you’re not staying in a Neptune or Pinnacle suite and wish upgraded facilities and precedence, you may pay additional for Membership Orange entry. This entitles you to precedence entry (check-in, tender boats, strains at visitor companies and shore excursions), precedence seating and an expanded menu within the Eating Room, concierge service and different facilities. Visitors within the high two suite classes get all these perks mechanically included of their fare.

Associated: Every part it is advisable to learn about Holland America cruise cabins and suites

Eurodam eating places and bars

Eurodam’s most noteworthy eating aspect is its domestically sourced fish program I discussed above, however that is not the one culinary standout on board. I discovered the Eating Room menus to be expansive (particularly the breakfast and brunch menus), with a mixture of artistic or worldwide dishes and extra commonplace cruise favorites.

The buffet is a minimize above with its sushi counter and salad bar, which affords a big number of veggies and proteins. A mixture of specialty eating places and pop-up venues affords eating selection to friends prepared to pay additional — and the meals in these eateries are typically value the additional cost.

Search for dishes throughout the ship’s eating places created by world-famous cooks — resembling David Burke, Jacques Torres and Ethan Stowell — who associate with Holland America. These are along with dishes and drinks curated by chef Morimoto, each within the Eating Room and at his once-a-cruise pop-up restaurant.

Eating places

The center of the eating scene on Eurodam is the descriptively named Eating Room on decks 2 and three. It is open for breakfast and lunch on port days; on our cruise, an Alaska-themed brunch was served on two of the ocean days.

Breakfast and lunch are open seating. You will be requested if you would like to share a desk or dine with simply your occasion (presumably incurring a wait if the correct-size desk just isn’t at present obtainable).

The breakfast menu is in depth, which makes the Eating Room a extra compelling alternative than on some cruise ships for a morning meal. Along with all of the cereal, pastries, eggs and pancakes you’d anticipate, choices embody a number of kinds of Asian congee, Indian aloo masala and egg bhurji, kippered herring with scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, Swedish pancakes and banana oatmeal bread French toast. Don’t miss the spiced potatoes that include the Indian breakfast dish; we talked about them for a complete day, they have been that scrumptious.

Vegans will discover nonmeat, nondairy variations of cream cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt, cheese and sausage hyperlinks to substitute throughout the menu.

Lunch is obtainable on choose days, and the menu options an abbreviated record of selections throughout starters, mains and desserts. I loved a spinach and artichoke dip, and a tuna soften with crispy french fries after a time out in Ketchikan.

The Alaska-themed brunch was so good that we timed our meals to strive it for breakfast and lunch. The creamy goat cheese dotted with assorted berries was a stunning little starter; the Alaskan blueberry pancakes wanted extra blueberries, however the wild forest mushroom crepes have been tasty — as soon as I scraped off the extreme Hollandaise sauce. For lunch, the fisherman’s halibut sandwich was basically a classier model of fish-and-chips.

Visitors can select their eating fashion for dinner, both assigned desk seating at 5 or 8 p.m. or open-seating eating from 5 to 9 p.m. You will be assigned one of many two eating rooms.

The dinner menu is split into starters (contemporary cod sliders, seafood deviled eggs), mains (chile rellenos, pork medallions with huckleberry jam, do-it-yourself lasagna) and desserts (chocolate and whiskey torte, strawberry crisp), with Alaskan specialties highlighted. You may also pay additional for Pinnacle Grill filet mignon, lobster and strip loin steak and Iron Chef Morimoto’s contemporary halibut and epice lobster tails.

Each night in Alaska, a unique salmon bowl was supplied, and we discovered these to be one of the best entrees. The salmon was moist and tender, and the totally different sauces and toppings added simply the correct amount of taste.

Holland America traces its roots to the Netherlands and likes to embrace its heritage. Search for the Dutch-themed dinner one evening per cruise within the Eating Room to strive Dutch specialties resembling Hodge Podge Klapstuk (braised beef brisket) and Bossche bol cream puffs.

A Dutch-themed afternoon tea is served on choose days at 3 p.m. and is so standard that the road snakes down the Deck 3 hallway by 2:45 p.m. Arrive early — we have been among the many final in line on the primary sea day and obtained served leftovers as an alternative of the lovable three-tiered trays of finger sandwiches, scones and sweets. The snacks and sandwiches are nothing particular, however the expertise is enjoyable. One of the best treats are the stroopwafels, so make certain your tray contains them.

Cruisers on the lookout for a faster, extra informal meal make their eating residence the Lido Market buffet, discovered between the ship’s two swimming pools on Deck 9. It is open from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with hourlong closures between meals. Nonetheless, it was stunning what number of friends we spoke to confirmed up for a meal at precisely the fallacious time. The tea and low station closest to the central pool is open 24 hours a day.

Breakfast stations serve all of your morning favorites, together with made-to-order eggs and omelets.

At lunch, I used to be a giant fan of the make-your-own salad bar, which was stocked with loads of veggies and proteins like seared tuna and rooster. I am not a sushi fan, however my son would have drooled over the always-available sushi. I stored eyeing the Indian and Asian choices. My journey buddy was an avid buyer of the deli sandwich counter, although a number of the scorching selections (a pasta bar, lasagna, fish-and-chips and so forth) seemed tempting. Skip the dessert show and deal with your self to the ship’s worth-the-calorie cookies, with or with no scoop of ice cream on the aspect.

Dinner is much like lunch, with a carving station and scorching entrees (many repeats from the Eating Room), a world station, a salad bar, a pasta station and an array of desserts. It is an particularly good possibility in Alaska when you do not really feel like dressing up for dinner after a day outdoors in chilly climate. After 8 p.m., a lot of the stations shut down, and the remaining ones swap to late-night fare, resembling macaroni and cheese, fried rooster and a taco bar.

Two informal choices are located on both aspect of the Lido Market, one on every of Eurodam’s pool areas, so you may seize a fast chew with out having to dry off. You may also convey meals from these venues into the buffet to combine and match.

Dive-In, by the central pool, is Eurodam’s grill. It serves burgers (beef, portobello mushroom, Past and a rooster sandwich) and canines with crispy french fries, served bare or with a alternative of toppings. I’ve by no means gone fallacious with a sandwich right here.

NY Pizza by the aft pool behind the Lido Market is open all afternoon and into the night hours, so it is an ideal alternative if you’re hungry throughout off hours. Decide up a slice or a salad, or order a 9-inch thin-crust pie from an inventory of choices or construct your personal. Strive the Primo, created by acclaimed Seattle-based chef Ethan Stowell, with salami, pickled peppers and crimson onion, or the Wall Avenue with prosciutto, arugula and gorgonzola. So far as cruise ship pizza goes, it isn’t one of the best, however when you order a pie scorching from the oven, it’ll scratch your itch for tacky goodness.

You will discover that one nook of the Lido Market has an Italian theme and barely totally different furnishings. That is Canaletto, an Italian specialty restaurant that takes over a piece of the buffet restaurant every night. It is a sit-down, waiter-served restaurant that includes Italian specialties resembling burrata, veal and sage meatballs, Chianti-braised beef quick ribs, spaghetti with shrimp and clams, tiramisu and affogato. The cost to dine right here is $25 per particular person.

Seafood followers cruising in Alaska ought to preserve an eye fixed out for the one-night-only Seafood Boil pop-up within the Lido Market. For $35 per particular person, you get a mixture of Alaska seafood, resembling clam chowder, salmon, mussels, clams and shrimp, and a berry crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

In case you’re trying to splurge on a wonderful meal, the Pinnacle Grill on Deck 2 midship is Holland America’s signature steakhouse and seafood venue. It is open for each lunch and dinner for a charge ($19 or $46 per particular person, respectively). The spotlight here’s a number of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks, however you can too select from grilled lamb chops, lobster tail, a tomato and eggplant tarte tatin and different nonsteak choices.

Personally, I will at all times vote for the chocolate souffle or key lime pie for dessert, however the signature dish right here is the Not-So-Traditional Baked Alaska, which options Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.

You possibly can nonetheless order steak off the smaller lunch menu, however you may discover a mixture of entrees and sandwiches, such because the Pinnacle burger, a lobster roll and a beef tri-tip sandwich.

Tamarind is considered one of my favourite cruise ship specialty eating places industry-wide as a result of I like Asian meals of every kind. Every part I’ve eaten there was scrumptious, from the satay sampler, spring roll appetizers, dan dan noodles and crispy duck entrees to the yuzu cheesecake and yuzu and lychee sorbet desserts.

The purple and gold decor and black Japanese serving ware additionally communicate to me, and the venue on Eurodam appeared brighter to me than on newer ship Rotterdam (although perhaps that had extra to do with the time of day). The surcharge to dine in Tamarind is $35 per particular person (and completely value it).

Tamarind spans either side of Deck 11 midship — within the center is its sister restaurant, Nami Sushi. This a la carte restaurant options a mixture of sashimi, nigiri sushi and sushi rolls, however you can too order starters, mains and desserts, some from the Tamarind menu and others unique to Nami.

Begin your meal with tofu and wakame miso soup, tuna poke or spicy edamame; strive one of many signature dishes, resembling Hamachi usuzukuri or seared albacore tuna; and finish on a candy word with Japanese mochi ice cream.

Tamarind can also be the positioning of the Morimoto at Sea pop-up, a fish-forward eating expertise. For $55, you may get pleasure from a three-course meal with choices created by the superstar Iron Chef. Begin with a sushi plate or contemporary tuna pizza, and luxuriate in lobster pad thai or entire sea bass on your most important course. Desserts, fortunately, are fish-free. The showstopper is the darkish chocolate sphere that melts aside with a drizzle of scorching salted caramel; when you like pop rocks and coconut, strive the white chocolate lime ganache.

I applaud Holland America for holding room service complimentary. You possibly can order breakfast between 6 and 10 a.m. from a menu that features juices, tea and low, cereal, toast, fruit, a continental breakfast basket of pastries and yogurt, vegetable frittata, yogurt parfait and an All-American breakfast with eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage. Just a few extra-fee gadgets embody lobster Benedict, steak and eggs, and a breakfast smoothie.

All-day eating from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. contains starters like rooster noodle soup and Caesar salad, entrees like three-bean chili and oven-roasted rooster, sandwiches like a barbecue pulled pork sub and membership sandwiches, and desserts together with New York cheesecake and chocolate layer cake. A restricted model of this menu is offered for late-night ordering from 11 p.m. to six a.m. A youngsters menu options rooster nuggets, spaghetti with meatballs, miniature burgers, grilled cheese and banana pudding.

For a further charge, you may order choose gadgets to your cabin from the specialty eating places. Order Dive-In burgers and canines for $5 per merchandise, 24 hours a day. The Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind menus can be found solely throughout dinner hours; choose steaks and lobsters are priced a la carte, whereas bento containers are $15 every.

Bars

Eurodam just isn’t the largest cruise ship, however you’ll nonetheless discover a bar practically in every single place you go. Some are stand-alone, whereas others are related to leisure and eating areas. Search for completely satisfied hour specials from 4 to five p.m. at Billboard Onboard and the Ocean Bar, when drinks frequently priced as much as $11 might be 50% off.

The Pinnacle Bar on Deck 2 outdoors the Pinnacle Grill has a break up character. Within the morning, it serves extra-fee specialty espresso drinks to take the strain off the primary espresso bar on Deck 11. Within the evenings, it turns into the ship’s wine bar and the spot for predinner drinks earlier than a meal within the Pinnacle Grill throughout the way in which or the Eating Room down the corridor.

The Ocean Bar on Deck 3 midship is a well-liked hangout day or night, and you’ll hearken to a stay band throughout dinner hours. Right here is the place you may discover destination-themed craft cocktails, together with six drinks created by mixologist Sam Ross particularly for Alaska. (Do not miss the Klondiker or the PNW Penicillin.) When the ship heads to the Caribbean, this drink menu might be swapped out for a brand new assortment created by James Beard Award-winning drinks historian David Wondrich.

The bartenders right here additionally create some specialty drinks with a wow issue. In case you like your drinks candy, order a bubble martini; when you like yours smokey (actually), order a foggy boulevardier or a cherry Previous-Customary.

Music venues Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge, in addition to the on line casino, have bars hooked up with themed cocktail menus. I am advised the Billboard Onboard bartenders make a imply white Russian.

The Lido Bar by the primary pool and the Sea View Bar by the again pool on Deck 9 are your go-to’s for umbrella drinks on a scorching day or beer and cocktails together with your buffet lunch.

The Explorations Cafe within the Crow’s Nest on Deck 11 is the ship’s most important espresso bar, the place you can begin (or proceed) your day with lattes, cappuccinos, hallmark and better-than-the-Lido espresso, with or with out alcohol. It additionally serves cocktails to people tenting out in its comfortable seating all through the day and night.

A hidden gem on this ship is the Tamarind Bar throughout the corridor from the restaurant. Its unique cocktail menu contains Asian-inspired drinks such because the Shiso Bitter and the Wasabi Cocktail. Cozy as much as the small bar, sink into a simple chair by the window or take a gaggle to one of many curtained-off cabanas. The bar is a quieter various to the Crow’s Nest crowds on sea days.

Eurodam actions

One can find your means simpler round Eurodam if you keep in mind that all of the enjoyable is within the entrance and all of the meals is within the again. You will discover the important thing leisure and exercise areas on decks 2 and three and decks 9 to 11, primarily ahead and midship.

Our cruise was gentle on actions past wildlife viewing, however folks had no drawback holding themselves entertained. Sea day enjoyable included line dance courses, arts and crafts, bridge and mahjong video games, bingo, trivia and vacation spot talks. You will additionally discover all of the promotional occasions, together with spa seminars, procuring occasions and artwork auctions.

Do not miss On Deck for a Trigger, a charity walkathon across the ship. In Alaska, the funds raised profit schooling, science and analysis in Alaska’s parks. Individuals and donors will obtain a T-shirt.

The center of any cruise ship is the pool deck, and Eurodam’s has a retractable glass roof, so the pool can be utilized in wet, cool Alaska. The ship has two pool areas on Deck 9. The coated pool is the midship Lido pool, flanked by three scorching tubs and loads of lounge chairs. It does get humid inside with the roof closed. One aspect of the ship is lined with curtained-off cabanas obtainable for lease.

The aft Sea View pool and its two scorching tubs are open to the weather. The smoking space can also be right here, by the Sea View bar. In Alaska, it is a standard spot for wildlife viewing, although when you like an outside scorching tub on a cold day, come on over.

The Retreat sundeck on Deck 11 is an unique space that includes cabanas with padded lounge chairs and a seating space with a desk. Solely passengers who pay to lease a cabana for the day or your entire cruise can entry the sundeck.

Cabanas include bathrobes and towels, heat and chilly towels, chilled bottles of water, a fruit basket, midafternoon ice cream and a late-afternoon snack of glowing wine, frozen grapes and chocolate-dipped strawberries. You will additionally obtain particular bar, breakfast and lunch service. The Retreat was empty in Alaska, however within the Caribbean, I might think about it is an effective way to flee the pool deck crowds. (In contrast to on some Holland America ships, Eurodam’s Retreat doesn’t characteristic a scorching tub.)

Ahead of the Lido pool is the ship’s spa, salon and health middle. You possibly can pamper your self with massages, facials, males’s shaves, hair styling and pedicures at upmarket costs. Search for embarkation or port day specials or a number of therapy reductions.

You may also purchase a day or cruise go to the ship’s thermal suite. It features a hydrotherapy pool, in addition to a thermal suite with heated lounge chairs, steam rooms and saunas.

The health middle appears massive as a result of the group health class area is within the middle of the room fairly than in a separate area. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes and rowing machines face a row of home windows. You may also work out with free weights or resistance machines.

It is free to make use of the health middle and to attend sure courses, however others — like yoga or boot camp — price additional.

Professional tip: The one water bottle filling station we may discover on board was within the health middle.

The pickleball craze has taken over the sports activities courtroom on Deck 11 aft, and each classes and competitions happen on a number of days all through every cruise.

The Crow’s Nest on Deck 11 options an artwork studio on the port aspect and a recreation lounge on the starboard aspect. You possibly can attend free artwork courses resembling watercolors, origami folding or calligraphy, or pay additional for longer and extra in-depth courses, resembling guided portray on canvas.

We noticed many cruisers placing collectively puzzles or taking part in board video games (present in “Deal or No Deal”-style steel briefcases) on sea days. Between the comfortable chairs by the floor-to-ceiling home windows and the ever-popular espresso bar, the Crow’s Nest is at all times packed, so convey your endurance if on the lookout for a desk.

You possibly can attempt to win some enjoyable cash on the recreation tables and slot machines within the on line casino on Deck 2. The venue is nonsmoking, so you may’t gentle up when you double down.

Spend your winnings on the ship’s retailers on Deck 3. You should purchase every part from effective jewellery and watches to make-up and fragrance, designer purses, Holland America emblem put on and destination-related souvenirs. A separate show and procuring nook is devoted to Effy jewellery.

In case you’d fairly buy artwork, head to Deck 2, the place Park West has arrange an artwork gallery. You possibly can bid on work and sculptures throughout auctions on board. In case your favourite topic is your self (or your family members), you should purchase photographs taken by the ship’s photographers, in addition to cameras and binoculars, on the photograph store on Deck 3. You may also arrange a portrait session to get these Christmas card photographs.

A library on Deck 3 is extra like a bookstore, with a number of copies of a curated assortment of standard books, fairly than a library with cozy studying nooks. Borrow your e book and skim it elsewhere on board. There’s additionally a take-one-leave-one shelf for guest-donated books.

Holland America affords the appropriately (albeit uninspiringly) named Children Membership on all of its ships. It accommodates youngsters from ages 3 to 17 underneath the supervision of professionally educated youth workers.

Kids are break up into three teams — Children (ages 3 to six), Tweens (7 to 12) and Teenagers (13 to 17) — for age-appropriate actions which may embody online game play, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, theme events and poker tournaments. Two play areas are on Deck 10 midship; the Excessive Rating recreation room is stocked with pingpong, skee ball and different video games for youths and teenagers to get pleasure from on board.

The atrium space on Deck 1 homes the visitor companies desk and future cruise reserving desk, plus a small web cafe. The shore excursions desk just isn’t on this space (because it could be on different cruise strains) however up in Explorations Central on Deck 11 ahead. Teams on board host seminars and meetups within the three assembly rooms on Deck 3.

The ship then repositions down the Pacific Coast and thru the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. From its base there, Eurodam affords Caribbean cruises on alternating itineraries that may be mixed into one longer cruise. For the 2024-2025 season, it’ll sail largely 10- and 11-night cruises that may be mixed into 21-night sailings to the Jap and Southern Caribbean. In 2025-2026, it’ll sail seven-night Jap and Western Caribbean routes that may be mixed right into a two-week cruise with totally different ports every week.

In early April, the ship reverses course, transiting again by way of the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast to Seattle.

Fares begin at $1,079 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy, for a seven-night shoulder-season cruise to Alaska. Seven-night Caribbean cruises begin at $829 per particular person for an inside cabin, whereas 10-night Caribbean cruises begin at $969 per particular person.

All taxes and charges are included in these fares, that are Holland America’s most simple fares. It additionally affords a “Have It All” add-on package deal for an additional charge that features a restricted variety of specialty eating meals, a shore tour credit score, a Wi-Fi package deal and a drink package deal. The associated fee is $55 per particular person, per day, when booked precruise (or $65 per particular person if booked on board).

What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

Nearly all of Eurodam’s sailings are closed-loop cruises that depart from and return to the identical U.S. port (Seattle or Fort Lauderdale). In case you are a U.S. citizen taking a closed-loop voyage, you may sail together with your authentic beginning certificates and a government-issued photograph ID, resembling a driver’s license, as an alternative of a passport.

For all different one-way sailings that embark and debark in numerous ports, you will want a legitimate passport with at the least six months left till expiration and sufficient clean pages for stamps.

Whether or not you are required to have a passport or not, TPG at all times recommends touring with one, simply in case there’s an emergency that requires you to disembark your crusing out of the country.

Additionally, you will want your boarding paperwork, both printed or in your cellular system through the Holland America Line Navigator app, to point out on the pier throughout embarkation.

Gratuities

You can be charged $17 per particular person, per day for crew gratuities ($19 when you’re booked in a set). You possibly can alter the quantity up or down or take away it utterly (which we do not advocate doing) by visiting the visitor companies desk. You can not alter or take away gratuities after your crusing has ended.

An 18% service cost might be added to bar drinks, the drink package deal and specialty restaurant meals, in addition to different a la carte meals fees and spa purchases.

Think about bringing money to tip porters at your embarkation port and shore tour guides and bus drivers.

Associated: Tipping on a cruise: What to learn about cruise ship gratuities

Wi-Fi

Holland America affords three Wi-Fi packages for an added charge.

The Surf package deal lets you use social media and messaging apps (with out audio or video entry), test e-mail and surf the online.

The Premium package deal provides entry to video and Wi-Fi calling and file transfers to the Surf package deal.

The Stream package deal contains every part within the Premium package deal and provides the power to play on-line video games and stream exhibits and music.

If you are going to buy Holland America’s Have It All all-inclusive package deal, you’ll obtain the Surf package deal (however pays a further charge to improve); sometimes, the Premium package deal is offered with a Have It All buy as a part of an early reserving promotion. Web plan costs range based mostly on the size of the cruise and the variety of gadgets included.

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Carry-on drinks coverage

Holland America’s alcohol coverage permits cruisers 21 years of age and older to convey bottles (750 milliliters or much less) of wine or Champagne on board for a corkage charge of $20 per bottle, no matter the place the alcohol is consumed. No beer, liquor or boxed wine is allowed.

You possibly can convey wine again on board if bought in port, however liquor and different kinds of alcohol might be held for you till the tip of the voyage. If you are going to buy wine throughout a Holland America-sponsored shore tour to a vineyard, the road will waive the corkage charge for one bottle per particular person, per tour.

Most nonalcoholic drinks usually are not allowed to be introduced on board. Nonetheless, every passenger is allowed to convey cans or cartons of water, to not exceed six 1-liter cans or cartons or 12 500-milliliter cans or cartons. Plastic bottles usually are not allowed, and you can be requested to eliminate opened drinks earlier than boarding the ship.

Crew members will scan checked and carry-on baggage and discard any contraband drinks.

Associated: Can I convey alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line information

Smoking coverage

Smoking typically just isn’t allowed in indoor areas on Eurodam, together with cabins and cabin balconies and the on line casino. This contains e-cigarettes, cigars and pipes. The one designated smoking space on board is the Sea View Bar space.

Violations of those insurance policies will end in a $250 effective; repeated offenses may trigger a passenger to be disembarked from the crusing.

As a part of Eurodam’s insurance policies to forestall onboard fires, anybody who purchases scented candles in port could have their souvenirs confiscated, to be returned on the final day of the cruise.

Associated: Is smoking allowed on cruise ships? A line-by-line information

Laundry

Eurodam affords send-out laundry, dry cleansing and urgent companies for a charge, however there are not any self-service laundry amenities on board. You possibly can pay by the merchandise, starting from $1 to $10.50. You may also buy an infinite laundry or urgent package deal or fill the offered laundry bag and have all gadgets washed for a flat $25 charge.

Electrical retailers

Cabins provide a mixture of North American 115-volt and European 220-volt retailers, plus USB ports. In our cabin, for instance, there was a USB port on both aspect of the mattress. The desk space had one other USB outlet and two 115-volt and two 220-volt retailers. Two further 115-volt retailers have been positioned above a nook shelf, with a shaver-only outlet within the lavatory.

Foreign money

The foreign money on board is the greenback. Eurodam operates a cashless system whereby passengers hyperlink a bank card or sum of money to their room keycards, which might then be used to cost onboard purchases.

The ship doesn’t have an ATM, however you may request a money advance, topic to restrictions. Your onboard account might be charged for the money quantity plus a 3% charge.

Consuming age

The ingesting age on board is 21. Passengers youthful than 21 could not buy or eat alcohol.

Costume code

Holland America has two kinds of night gown codes: good informal and dressy. On good informal nights, you may be effective so long as you do not put on shorts, ripped denims, beachwear or males’s tank tops in eating places.

On dressy nights, ladies ought to put on clothes, skirts or good slacks, and males ought to placed on collared shirts, slacks and jackets. Denims usually are not applicable within the nicer eating places. Cruisers positively gown down in Alaska, and the gown codes usually are not strictly enforced. On the second formal evening on our cruise, we skipped the Eating Room for the buffet however noticed as many, if no more, folks dressed down on the Rolling Stone Lounge than dressed up in jackets and cocktail apparel.

Daywear is informal and influenced by the vacation spot and present climate. Within the Caribbean, cruisers put on shorts or solar clothes; in Alaska, you may see extra fleece jackets, denims and mountaineering pants. Footwear and shirts/swimwear cover-ups are required indoors.

One evening per cruise is the Orange Get together, and also you may want to be on theme with orange garments or equipment. In case you’ve forgotten your orange apparel, you should purchase some on the retailers on board.

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