Rotterdam
November 15th 2021, I had the priviledge of sailing on the new Holland America Rotterdam. I, together with a client of ours, joined her mid cruise in Barbados, for a 4 day site inspection for an upcoming charter at the end of January.
This was the Rotterdams second retail cruise so some things relating to Covid were still a learning process. Masks, washing of hands, constant wiping down of surfaces etc were all very much part of every day life. Service and food, as always, were both of the highest standards of Holland America. The crew were just so happy to be back working, and the guests were happy to be back cruising – something we have experienced on all of the 9 cruises that our staff have been on since the come back of cruising on June 26th.
The Rotterdam is very much like her sister ship, the
Nieuw Statendam, with just a few subtle changes. The Main Dining Room for instance has blue lights and colors, in contrast to the red colors of the Nieuw Statendam. The Digital Workshop has been replaced with a very nice library – light colors, windows – a relaxing space. Blend, near the Club Orange Restaurant, has been transformed into the Half Moon Bar – a nice intimate place to have a drink before dinner.
The Rotterdam offers several dining options – Main Dining Room, Lido Market, Canaletto, New York Deli & Pizza, Dive In, Explorations Café, Dutch Café, Tamarind & Nami Sushi, Sel de Mer, and Pinnacle Grill.
You can find entertainment in the World Stage, Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Lincoln Center Stage, BB Kings Blues Club.
The entertainment is …………………………………………………….
There are two pools – the aft pool which is open, and the mid ship pool which has a large screen for movies and has a dome that can be either closed or open depending on weather.
The artwork around the ship is predominantly music themed and is valued at around 4.1 Million dollars.
Spa, shops and casino are all of a good size and offer a variety of choices.
This is a perfect ship for both charters and groups.
Written by Diana Bloss
November 18th 2021
