Holland America Line Blog Posts

More About Holland America Line

Arrive in a lounge to the strains of a lively dance band, share a martini flight in Mix or sing along in the Piano Bar. 

Holland America ships provide a wide variety of exciting youth- and teen- friendly activities and facilities for guests ages 3 to 17.

Club HAL® - Kids*: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as pirate treasure hunts, hands-on pizza making, storytelling, “Little Artists” crafts, ice cream sundae parties and a farewell pajama party. All children participating in Club HAL must be completely toilet trained. No diapers or pull-ups are permitted in the Youth Center. Youth Staff cannot assist children in the restroom.

Club HAL® - Tweens*: Tweens, ages 8-12, take part in Xbox and Wii tournaments, relay races, scavenger hunts, karaoke disco parties and participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program in Alaska on Alaska cruises.

The Loft and The Oasis - Teens*: ages 13-17, enjoy mocktail mixology classes, late-night sporting competitions, teen yoga and hip hop classes, guys verses girls scavenger hunts, cooking demos, tech classes and teen-only night club events. When there are more than 100 children on board, a HAL Talent Show is offered. (The Loft and Oasis are not available on ms Prinsendam. The Oasis is located on ms Statendam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Zaandam, ms Volendam and ms Amsterdam.)

Kids & Teens Culinary Arts Center: Workshops and lively demonstrations for kids and teens offering basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety and recipe instruction. Workshops are offered for two age groups: ages 3–7, and ages 8–15. Demonstrations are open to all ages.

*On the ms Prinsendam, youth activities are offered for ages 5-17. All other ships offer youth activities for ages 3-17.

In addition to the kids' activities programs, Holland America serves a wide variety of kid-pleasing food, including special sandwiches, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. Baby food, high chairs and booster seats may be requested in advance of boarding. Baby-sitting services are available for a small surcharge. Special kid-friendly birthday parties can also be arranged with advance notice.

Special Needs HAL Youth Programs recognize that some children may have special needs. Special needs children are invited to attend activities based on their chronological age. HAL Youth Programs have many staff trained to work with special needs children. Guests should make HAL aware of this when booking their reservation.

Important Note:  A limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available at no charge. These must be reserved in advance at the time of booking. An international children's menu is offered at dinner and includes a variety of appetizers, salads and soups, and standard items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and chicken, plus chef's specials like beef tacos, grilled cheese, fish and chips or spaghetti.

NEW FAMILY STATEROOMS
Unique aboard Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam: new Family Ocean-view Staterooms that make traveling together more convenient and pleasurable, with two separate shower facilities, additional closet space and accommodations for up to five guests.

Whether you prefer a simple ceremony and a small, elegant reception or lots of family and friends at a larger celebration, a wedding cruise on one of our elegant ships will launch a lifetime of memories. Choose to get married on board, under the palms on an exotic Caribbean island beach or on top of a majestic Alaskan glacier. No matter what your preference, a wedding cruise coordinator is ready to help you tailor a wedding package to meet your needs and help you and your loved ones have the ultimate onboard experience.

Wedding cruise packages include:

•A personalized ceremony
•Wedding coordinator services
•Flowers, cake, champagne, a photo album and a keepsake-wedding certificate
•Services such as photography, live music, receptions and pampering appointments can also be added to customize your wedding cruise package
•Wedding cruise packages are available on each ship in the fleet and start at $795 for a simple ceremony for two for North America and Caribbean sailings and $1,900 for Europe sailings.

To arrange a North American or European wedding cruise, please use the following contact information: North America/Caribbean & Europe: Royal Ocean Events, Inc. 4803 Haviland Street, Suite 1 Delta, BC V4K 2V6 Canada;  PH: (604) 940-1181 or 1-888-475-5511 FX: (604) 940-6216; info@royalwed.com

Renewal of Vows On Board
For couples that would like to say their wedding vows while at sea, Holland America Line offers an onboard Renewal-of-Vows package. As part of the package, the guests will receive flowers in their stateroom, and invitations are made available to invite guests to the ceremony and celebration.
The couple also receives:

•A 10x7 activity sheet
•Dinner for 2 one evening in the Pinnacle Grill
•A celebration featuring music, champagne, wine and hors d'oeuvres served by Holland America Line's five-star staff

The onboard honeymoon, anniversary and Renewal-of-Vows packages may be booked through Holland America Line's Ship Services Department, (800) 541-1576.

Renewal of Vows at Half Moon Cay
Guests that visit Half Moon Cay, the company's own island paradise, on Holland America Line Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises may renew their wedding vows on the island in a private, traditional Bahamian chapel nestled in a garden overlooking the sea. This is a more casual ceremony than on board and participants are encouraged to wear their favorite tropical attire. Champagne and cake are served after the ceremony. Each couple is photographed on the island and the photo is delivered to their stateroom in a souvenir frame. Arrangements for renewal of vows at the chapel may be made through the Guest Relations Manager at the Front Office on board the ship.

Each Holland America Line ship hosts a gathering for Solo Travelers early during their cruise. And there are plenty of things for solo travelers to do that make it easy to meet fellow cruisers. From cooking classes to computer instruction, dance classes to games, there’s something for every interest and skill level.

You can count on the gracious staff and crew to make everyone feel welcome. Guests may even request to be seated with other singles at dinner. Many of our Single Partner Program guests have become fast friends and some even book future Holland America Line cruises together.

Single guests who agree to share a stateroom with another nonsmoking guest of the same sex pay only the per-person, double occupancy rate. (If a partner can't be located for you, you cruise solo at the agreed-upon double-occupancy fare.) Single guests who prefer not to share a stateroom may book a double stateroom for 150 to 200 percent of the double occupancy fare, depending on the cruise and stateroom category. This program applies to selected staterooms on all ships in the fleet. The Single Partner Program is not available on Grand Voyages (Grand World Voyage, South America & Antarctic Voyage and Mediterranean & North Africa Voyage) or Alaska Land+Sea Journeys.

For your comfort and convenience we offer full laundry and dry cleaning service on each ship in the Holland America Line fleet. In your stateroom you will find laundry bags and price lists conveniently located in your closet.

Onboard self-service launderettes consisting of washers, dryers, irons and ironing boards are available on the Maasdam, Prinsendam, Rotterdam and Veendam. There is a charge for the use of the self-service launderettes and it is coin operated. Iron and ironing boards are provided at no cost.

Please note: For safety reasons, travel irons, steamers, and electric water heaters/kettles may not be used in your stateroom.

Please consult the Daily Program regarding times and locations for the following:

Catholic - Mass is held daily.

Interdenominational - An interdenominational service is conducted each Sunday and on appropriate religious holidays.

Jewish - A Sabbath Eve is held each week. Anyone wishing to volunteer to lead this service should contact the Cruise Director. A Rabbi is on board for High Holiday services.

Refined amenities and our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed grace each elegant stateroom offered by Holland America Line. Most of our spacious cruise ship rooms are ocean-facing; many have teak-lined verandahs for dining alfresco or sunbathing in private. Unpack once and let the vacation begin. Each spacious stateroom is a haven of serenity and space. We invite you to relax in this perfect blend of modern enhancements and timeless comfort.

SIGNATURE TOUCHES IN EVERY STATEROOM

•Our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed featuring a plush Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens
•Daily housekeeping to tidy belongings and keep staterooms immaculate
•100% Egyptian cotton towels
•Lighted magnifying mirrors; massage showerheads; salon-quality hair dryers
•Luxurious bathrobes for use during the voyage
•Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure
•Flat-panel TV and DVD player
•Complimentary DVD library
•Generous storage
•Safes for your valuables
•Complimentary fresh fruit on request
•Complimentary 24-hour In-Room Dining
•Nightly turndown service
•Complimentary shoeshine service
•Complimentary ice service

Suite Luxury: you deserve it. Reward yourself with extra room to spread out, your own verandah for sunning or dining, and a host of complimentary services. For guests choosing suite accommodations, an extra measure of luxurious living awaits. Open the floor-to-ceiling glass door to your private teak-lined verandah and breathe the fresh ocean air.

Spa Suites - Opt for the serenity of a Spa Suite or Stateroom, featuring modern spa amenities such as yoga mats and an iPod® docking station. Also conveniently located near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, where you may easily book spa treatments and salon services.

Vista and Signature Suites:
•NEW: Premium duvet, and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers
•NEW: Binoculars for use during voyage
•A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows
•Premium duvet; oversized bath towels; and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers
•No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining
•Personalized cruise stationery
•One-touch telephone concierge service
•Fresh flowers
•Umbrellas for your use on the cruise

Pinnacle and Neptune Suites – Signature Suite amenities plus:
•NEW: In-suite coffee and espresso machine
•NEW: Bose® SoundDock®
•NEW: Expanded line of Elemis bath amenities
•NEW: Complimentary mimosas with in-suite
breakfast
•NEW: Premium duvet, and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers
•A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and Wi-Fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.
•Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise
•Complimentary sparkling wine served in the Neptune Lounge upon embarkation
•Complimentary bottled water provided in suite at embarkation
•Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night
•Cold hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request
•Cocktail party with ship's officers
•Priority boarding for tendered ports of call
•Special disembarkation service
•Priority dining and seating requests
•Exclusive daily breakfast service
•High tea service in suite on request

NEW FAMILY STATEROOMS
Unique aboard Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam: new Family Ocean-view Staterooms that make traveling together more convenient and pleasurable, with two separate shower facilities, additional closet space and accommodations for up to five guests.

NEW SINGLE STATEROOMS
Solo travelers are beautifully accommodated on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, thanks to elegant new staterooms tailored just for one.

The Suite Life will be even Sweeter - As part of a $300-million brand enhancement initiative, we are planning exciting enhancements with new furnishings, décor, amenities and upgrades for all suites on our Signature-, Vista- and R-Class ships. Ships will receive the suite enhancements as they head into their scheduled dry docks over the next few years.

Bring a swimsuit as all of our ships have pools and whirlpools. You may wish to bring more than one outfit for the water. We ask that you wear shoes and a cover-up over a bathing suit when walking through the interior of the ship. If you would like to jog on the sports deck or work out in the fitness center, bring workout gear.

Footwear should include comfortable walking shoes for visits ashore and sandals or rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck.

Evening dress falls into two distinct categories: Smart Casual or Gala. Most evening Smart Casual attire is appropriate and can be defined as slacks and sports shirts or sweater for men and skirt or trousers and sweater or blouse for women. Shorts, pool/beachwear, distressed jeans and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in fine dining restaurants.

Gala nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants. The number of Gala evenings on your cruise will depend upon the duration of the voyage. Please note, if you have booked collector voyages, the number of Gala evenings is based upon the duration of each individual voyage of the ship.

Holland America Line does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of disability. We seek, to the extent feasible, to accommodate guests with disabilities. However, some needs require adequate time to prepare for a guest's arrival. It is recommended that guests make every effort to contact our Access & Compliance Department and to submit Special Requirements Information (SRI) Form well in advance of the departure of their cruise and/or cruisetour. We recommend submitting an SRI upon booking or a minimum of 45 days prior to departure.

Our vessels have specially designed staterooms for guests who use wheelchairs. If you have not booked one of these wheelchair accessible staterooms but instead will be using a standard stateroom, you need to know about some limitations that adversely impact maneuverability, especially ingress and egress into bathrooms. For example, bathroom dimensions, doorsills, and the height of bathtubs in standard staterooms are often difficult to negotiate for guests who have limited mobility. Additionally, standard stateroom doors and hallways may be too narrow for a wheelchair or scooter to maneuver into and out of the stateroom. Note: For safety reasons, these mobility devices must be stored and charged in the guests' staterooms.

Our Wheelchair Accessible Staterooms offer features such as wider entry doors, roll-in showers with grab bars, benches/seats, and hand-held shower nozzles, as well as lowered closet and towel rods.

You can test lady luck on many of the favorite games including Blackjack, Poker, Craps, Roulette and Slots. Complimentary gaming lessons are held at the beginning of the cruise. Another great way to win money and prizes is by playing one of the many Bingo games scheduled throughout the cruise.

On the Eurodam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam, you can completely unwind in airy, tented cabanas in the Retreat or around the mid-ship pool on Lido Deck.  Furnished with modern woven chaises, ottomans and upholstered settees, all cabanas come stocked with bathrobes and plush towers, handheld fans and an Evian spray mister to keep you cool.  Enhance your mood with iPods preloaded with great music.  Chilled waters are available and mid-morning, enjoy frozen graps and chocolate-covered strawberries served by your butler who will return with a glass of champagne in the afternoon.

The 14 cabanas in the spa-like Retreat are the place to relax and recharge.  Fresh fruit, salads, wraps and juices are available, as well as light breakfast options.   And, you can arrange discounted select services from the Greenhouse Spa and Salon on port days. 

Around the Lido, 8 cabanas offer a private respite in a lively area of the ship.  Lunch at the Lido cabanas will be served upon request from a menu of poolside favorites from Dive In or Lido Restaurant.  

Cabanas may be rented for the entire cruise or for the day.

Always at the heart of the Holland America cruise experience is our warm and award-winning style of service that is never in the way and never out of reach. We sail with nearly one crew member for every two guests, providing the intuitive, gracious service that has long defined classic cruising. Our extensive onboard services, special dining requests to full service laundry and dry cleaning services, are designed with your comfort and convenience in mind. Our specially trained crew takes pride in anticipating and fulfilling your every wish. From our waiters and bartenders to our chefs and wine experts, our spa technicians and fitness instructors to our officers and housekeeping staff, everyone is dedicated to providing you with the gracious and personalized service that will make your cruise vacation memorable. On board the ships of Holland America Line you'll discover a cruise experience that is modern, fresh and appealing — in an ambiance that is timeless and refined.

Savor diverse restaurants and menus. Choose a set seating time each evening or be spontaneous. As You Wish® dining is all about flexibility and freedom. One level of our main Dining Room hosts sittings at 5:45pm and 8:00pm; the other is reserved to welcome guests as they arrive (the Prinsendam has a one-tier Dining Room). And throughout the ship, there are restaurants to suit every mood, from Italian cuisine one night to a perfectly grilled porterhouse the next.Our new Pinnacle-class ships, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendan, offers even more variety, including the whimsical Grand Dutch Café, Dive-in for fresh grilled burgers, New York Deli and Pizza, and Gelato.

The elegant main Dining Room

•Luxurious Dining Room, graced with fine art and antiques
•Five-course menus with offerings from classic preparations regionally inspired cuisine to vegetarian options
•Your choice of traditional pre-set seating and dining times or a flexible open schedule

The Pinnacle Grill
Refined and luxurious, romantic and intimate, the Pinnacle Grill represents the pinnacle of exceptional dining. Make reservations for an intimate meal graced by luxurious appointments such as Bvlgari china, Riedel stemware and Frette linens. There is a nominal fee for lunch and dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.
Canaletto Restaurant
“Spartire” is the Italian word for sharing; our new menu is designed around this authentic Italian experience and offers a variety of dishes to enjoy and share with family and friends. There is a nominal fee charged for dinner at Canaletto.
Tamarind
Aboard the Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw Statendam, enjoy the Tamarind for food evoking the rich culinary traditions of Southeast Asian, China and Japan. There is a nominal fee charged for dinner in Tamarind.
Sel de Mer
Aboard the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, Rudi's Sel de Mer ("sea salt," in French) is an intimate seafood brasserie offering a contemporary twist on French seafood classics, with à la carte dishes ranging from fresh oysters to salt-crusted whole fish to bouillabaisse. Also, Rudi’s Sel De Mer will be an exclusive one-night experience onboard select ships as a pop-up restaurant.
Culinary Arts Center
In the evening onboard Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, the Culinary Arts Center transforms into a new dinner concept, an immersive farm-to-table experience where master chefs prepare simple, artisanal dishes in full view of the diners.

Other delightful ways to dine:

•Fresh, cooked-to-order specialties in the Lido Restaurant for breakfast and lunch
•Made-to-order dinner entrees and tableside waiter service in the Lido Restaurant for dinner
•Complimentary 24-hour in-room dining
•'Dive In' located on deck
•Late-night snack; Chocolate Dessert Extravaganza
•Explorations Café featuring pastries and espresso drinks
•Daily Afternoon Tea service, elevated to Royal Dutch High Tea once per cruise

A master staff and crew

•Enhanced menu design under the direction of Master Chef Rudi Sodamin
•Executive chefs inducted into the prestigious Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international food and wine society

Signature touches

•Ice cream bar featuring complimentary treats
•Hot hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour.

Special dietary needs, such as vegetarian, diabetic or gluten-free meals, are easily accommodated with advance requests. Kosher meals and a Health Conscious Dining option are also available. To arrange special meals, please contact the Ship Services Department at 800-541-1576 at least 90 days prior to departure. As You Wish® dining is currently available on each of our ships on all cruises.

EXPANDED CHOICES FOR OUR GUESTS
Welcome to today’s Holland America Line—still classic and premium, but energized with new ideas. You can see it in the growing list of branded experiences:

Through BBC Earth’s innovative programming, guests will be taken closer to the ocean and natural world through groundbreaking concerts, films, shows, children’s activities and feature cruises.

Holland America Line is teaming up with America’s Test Kitchen to offer an enticing selection of live onboard cooking shows and hands-on workshops where guests will learn foolproof techniques and user-friendly recipes to make delectable dishes with confidence.

Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times, offers a coffeehouse environment featuring custom espresso drinks, pastries, Internet stations, and one of the most comprehensive libraries at sea.

From photo editing to PC security and cloud storage, Digital Workshop, powered by Windows, offers fun, free and informative sessions led by Microsoft-trained hosts.

Holland America Line is celebrating its Dutch heritage in a new partnership with Rijksmuseum, the most-visited national museum in the Netherlands. Through the collaboration, the “Rijksmuseum at Sea” will move fleetwide over the next several years.

On Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam guests can experience BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the only purpose-built wine-blending venue at sea, with interactive learning and a chance to create their own custom wine to enjoy on board.

Introducing Music Walk
Entertainment has always been the heart and soul of evenings aboard Holland America Line, and promise takes new dimension with Music Walk, three stages presenting a variety of live music nightly. Available on these ships:
Nieuw Statendam
Koningsdam
Eurodam
Nieuw Amsterdam
Oosterdam
Westerdam
Zuiderdam

Lincoln Center Stage
In an exclusive partnership with the world’s leading center for the performing arts, Lincoln Center Stage showcases outstanding, live chamber music performances.

BB King's Blues Club
Direct from Beale Street, the B.B. King’s All-Stars Band brings the best of Memphis music to sea. From funky and fast to soulful and smooth, this eight-piece band performs nightly.

B.B. King’s Blues Club now appearing on these ships:
Eurodam
Nieuw Amsterdam
Noordam
Westerdam
Zuiderdam
Noordam
Koningsdam
Nieuw Statendam
Oosterdam

Billboard Onboard
Guests are part of the show as live musicians rock the crowd with 50 years of chart-topping hits. Between nightly sets, guests can sing and play along with trivia questions presented on screens throughout the room.

World Stage
An extraordinary theater at sea, features a two-story, 270-degree high-definition LED screen that immerses audiences in an ever changing backdrop of sight and sound.

Classic Style

Culinary Council

Unrivaled Destinations

Pinnacle Class Ships