Hello Happy Cruisers!
Please keep me in mind when booking YOUR next cruise. I would love to help you! Visit www.CLMPeaceTravel.com or 970-396-8253. Remember. Call me if you can’t find what you want, or you’ve found cheaper pricing or what you need. Sometimes websites aren’t always up to date with SALES and SHIPS, and both you and I win by your catching me with questions one way or other. Yes, it’s true, I have been on about 100 cruises and by that you might say I have developed a little expertise in the cruise world of today. Plus I LOVE catching up on what’s going on in your world as well!
And I just love it when you decide to come hang out with me and DREAM! Today, let’s hit the seas on one of those DAM ships! You know…. The Holland America Line ending on all their ship names. There’s the Westerdam, the Rotterdam, the Oosterdam, the Ryndam, the Zuindam …. And the list goes on and on. How about we try out the Nieuw Amsterdam. She is a beauty!
Yes, that IS the correct spelling and I took some photos just to prove it.
And yes, I do have a few cards from the DAM ships very similar to a key card used to enter a hotel room. These days when you board a ship your cabin key card becomes your “click on and off” ticket. It is a very clever way to see that you are in the system as they do take your photo, yes, but also to know if/when someone from the ship is NOT onboard when the ship is ready to leave port.
Art is evident throughout the ship in various ways. Right away you get the feeling of “classy” and makes the tour interesting, to say the least. The Nieuw Amsterdam and the Eurodam are the newest in the Holland America Fleet and the décor is a fun addition to the HAL experience.
Greeted in the public areas the hard-working staff was already polishing handrails and keeping the ship neat and tidy. You will always find a big smile on these guys’ faces, making the welcome extra special.
One of the unique concepts Holland America Line brought to light is a Culinary Center on their ships. As you can see the Center is quite large and passengers enjoy learning from chefs and experimenting with various recipes. This center is used extensively and is always full of folks excited and having fun.
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Another unique concept on HAL is every cabin on the Nieuw Amsterdam has a couch in the cabin. Longer voyages are quite common on HAL and it surely makes a difference to have a couch to relax on in the cabin once in awhile, rather than sitting on the bed. Here you see an inside cabin and an outside cabin, quite comfortable space wise.
Of course Balcony and Suite cabins are common as well, most having a full bath with tub and shower. Spacious is used to describe this upscale selection.
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Personally I was excited to see a private deck hot tub! Having booked one and having seen one are two different things. Yes, I think I could handle this. How about you? Does that look like the height of relaxation?! And luxury?
The specially designed Showroom has events nightly, everything from Broadway Shows to entertainment of various kinds. Beautifully designed, the showroom is on two levels with elegantly comfortable seating.
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Headed toward our hosted luncheon on-board, we pass by another artistic masterpiece. Resembling a New York intimate nightclub setting, notice the chandelier is the NYC skyline shining both up and down. The Northern Lights Nightclub is unique to HAL, as is the Ocean Bar and Piano Bar. All these venues are used throughout the evening and the piano bar quite often has standing room only.
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A new feature that has been highly used and talked about is the Tamarind and Silk Den Lounge, pan-Asian type restaurants open at lunch and dinner. Combined with the always elegant Pinnacle Grille, it has given HAL enthusiasts new choices for specialty dining.
Business Development Managers from Holland met with travel professionals at lunch, explaining the HAL product even more. Very impressive.
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One might think with an older crowd there is no need for children’s facilities, but actually the HAL Club is very popular. More and more multi-generational families are taking advantage of cruises because of the economical way in which all can travel together yet do their own thing.
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On the last Holland America cruise I took to Alaska, there were hundreds of children aboard, but you hardly ever saw them except on land. The “travel together” concept has caught on quite nicely in the cruise world.
Last but certainly not least, I want to show you my favorite part of Holland America … their SPA ! Heated lounge chairs are positioned so when one is in the popular bathrobes lounging, looking out over the back of the ship at the wake curling up, water quietly trickling down a water feature near, what can I say? It is HEAVENLY! Additionally the rather unique gigantic whirlpool where couples can lie on steel rods with waters swirling around them, now that is pure luxury!!!
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Pool areas with open/close dome top are used quite frequently when available on certain ships. Even when it’s rainy outside, the water still feels heavenly inside.
On the newer ships it is now possible to rent a “cabana” or special beach chair, even in the rain. Concepts such as this have sprung up from various parts of the world to various venues in the world.
Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam….. ready to go? Give me a call at 970-396-8253 and let’s decide on your itinerary. Not sure which ship you want to take? That’s OK. With over a hundred or so cruises under my belt, I bet we can find the perfect one for you.
www.CLMPeaceTravel.com —- where you can explore various ship deck plans, get your ticket to that concert you have been thinking about, book your next fight and hotel or simply buy flowers for that special person in your life. Check it out.
Until next time Happy Cruisers!