Cruise’n’Ship Reviewer,
Cruise‘n’Travel Journalist, Maritime Historian
ms
Oosterdam maiden arrival in
PLEASE NOTE: All photographs on this page were kindly provided by Holland America Line, Inc.
It is a well known fact that I consider Holland
America Line (HAL) to be one of the finest cruise companies in the world! The
truth is that this company has been in the passenger shipping industry since
1873 and Holland
America Line has continually received countless cruise awards and accolades for
being one of the finest and highest rated as well as the best value Cruise Line
each year, and that is for two full decades up to and including 2012. That is
something that not a single other cruise line is able to match!
These are just
some of the International awards received and I have including the prestigious
Australian AFTA Award.
“The
Highest Rated Cruise Line” – Conde Nast
Travellers Readers; Choice Travellers Awards; Travel & Leisure Word’s
Best Awards.
“Best Cruise
Operator” (Internationally based) - AFTA award at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards.
“Gold
2010 Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Environmental Protection Award” from the
“World’s
Leading Green Cruise Line Award” and the “
And countless awards further have followed since this list was added to this page!
Although Holland
America Line became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp in 1989, but thankfully HAL has
remained completely separate from Carnival in relation to the management of
their ships, as all HAL ships remain registered in Rotterdam, The Netherlands,
whereas the vast majority of all other Carnival owned companies, such as
P&O UK, Cunard and the Princess Cruises ships for example have been
reregistered in Hamilton Bermuda. In addition Holland America is not sold or
marketed by the Carnival companies as all the other companies are, but by
Holland America Line has its own offices, including here in Australia where they
have their own premises, apart from Carnival, whilst all the other companies as
I said, are sold and managed by Carnival. In addition, unlike
P&O, Cunard & Princes Cruises, etc, you will not see the name of
Carnival on a HAL brochure, just Holland America Line Inc. Thus remember this
is a cruise company that stands miles apart from the rest of the Carnival group
of company’s, and thus all the awards that this remarkable company has
received over the years attests’ to this remarkable feat! You can book
directly with the Holland America Line own office in
Holland America Line is also famed for their superb
and unique style of service due to their refined touches on board, something
that no other cruise line in their class offers, yet their fares are comparable
and are most affordable! Thus for Australian’s and New Zealanders who are
thinking of undertaking a cruise vacation, consider taking one on a HAL ship in
the future. The fabulous and ever popular 61,214 ton ms Volendam commenced her
cruise duties for HAL for the regular summer series a good number of years ago
and she has proven to be extremely popular, so much so that in 2011 -2012 she
was joined by her sister the ms Zaandam. However, for the 2012 -2013 summer
season HAL will bring back the Volendam for a shorter but a very unique
programme, but for the duration of the summer season her larger and elegant
82,305-ton ms Oosterdam will take over from the Volendam, which will head for
Asia after a voyage around Australia..
ms Oosterdam will cruise to destinations around
Pacific as well as the ever popular cruises around
Oosterdam berthed at the Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay Sydney, her
home port, whist she is based here during the summer cruise season
Details and specifications regarding the ms
Oosterdam :
The Oosterdam is the
second of four identical sister ships, the first was the ms Zuiderdam in
December 2002, followed by the ms Oosterdam in July 2003, next came the ms
Westerdam in April 2004, with the last
being the ms Noordam in February 2006. All of these ships were externally based
on the Vista class of ships and they were built by the famed Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani
S.p.A., at their Fincantieri Ship Yards at
Marghera, near
The ms Oosterdam was
christened by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the
Specifications: 82,305 GRT (Gross registered Tons).
Length: 290m (950ft). Beam: 32.25m (105.8ft). Draught: 7.9m (26ft). Power and
drive: Combined diesel and gas turbine electric power, propulsion is per 2 x
360° Azipod’s, producing 17.62 MW (23956.53 ps). Speed: 24 knots max (44
km/h), service speed, 22 knots. She has 11 passenger decks, accommodating just
1,916 guests with a crew of 812, meaning that there are almost two crew members
per passenger, which is far higher than most ships based in Australian waters,
or anywhere for that matter, unless you are sailing on a super premium boutique
smaller expedition ship! Her call sign is: PBKH. IMO number: 9221281.
Now we have completed
her details and all our ship lovers are satisfied; let us continue for those
who simply love the comforts and the luxury of cruising, and that is just what
Holland America is so famed for.
These are a few of the ms
Oosterdam ’s superb on board features:
Three level
Crow's Nest: offers sweeping 270°
views during the day and it is a fashionable nightclub each evening
Explorations Café, powered by The
New York Times: a comfortable, *coffee
house environment where you can browse through an extensive library, surf the
Internet and check email or simply read the morning paper. *Barista
coffee and pastries are available.
Lido Restaurant: offers a relaxed
ambiance for all three meals and features a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order
specialties
Canaletto Italian Restaurant: Why
not try an evening meal and enjoy some superb Italian dinning.
*Pinnacle Grill: This intimate
reservations-only venue offers an elegant, sophisticated dining experience.
Featuring premium Sterling Silver beef, inspired seafood dishes and many select
wines rated "Excellent" by Wine
Spectator - as well as distinctive Bvlgari® china, Riedel® stemware and
Frette® linens
The Digital Workshop powered by Microsoft Windows: Guests will be able to show and tell their vacation memories,
learning how to share all their digital memories through email, blogging and
social networking - so friends and family can see where they've been cruising
even before they return home. Free workshops taught by Microsoft-trained
“techsperts” make it easy and fun, even for novices
The
*Greenhouse Spa & Salon: features
heavenly beauty and wellness rituals. Enjoy a facial, hot stone massage, steam in
a thermal suite and have your hair and nails done for a special evening.
Club HAL®: our dedicated youth
facilities and activities for kids ages 3 - 12; activities are supervised and
age appropriate
The Loft: designed exclusively for
teens (13 - 17) to have fun, socialize and hang out with people their own age
I am sure that many
Australian’s who have sailed on the ms Volendam look forward to the
arrival of the ms Oosterdam!
One thing I
particularly like on board all HAL ships is the careful detail that is given to
the hygiene on board their ships and how it is presented to every passenger on
the ship. The company is not known for nothing for having what they are world
famous for as the “Spotless Fleet.”
When you step on
board you will be amazed by the sheer delights of colour, the masses of flowers
and all the art that is found throughout the ship! You can tour the ship and
find something new and exciting every single day!
But what will be the
most impressive of all is the attentive detail is the amazing service, the
superb food that will satisfy the most discerning person, no matter how fussy
you are, for if you wish something special, be assured it will be there! And
the best entertainment I have ever found on any cruise company, it is top
quality, with excellent staging and wonderful performances that leave you
wanting for more and more, and best still, you do not feel like you have been
to one of those cheap
Now let us take a
closer look at the ship herself!
Her décor is quite
amazing, as although she is as modern as tomorrow, yet she seem to have a split
personality in some of her venues, for overall she has that feel of stylised
art deco, to the ultra modern in some rooms, to the classic style in the
Library section of the “Explorations Café. Her Lido Deck and pool area is
very spacious, and unlike the vast majority of cruise ships these days that
have cheap plastic chairs and tables, not on HAL, where you will discover
delightful high quality cane and metal seating and quality tables and at the
Lido Bar end of the pool the lighting is shaped like ultra modern trees. Of
course high above there is that massive glass sliding dome that can be closed
in cooler weather! Other special touches that are so HAL, each morning as you
step into the lift you will discover there is a new mat that has the name of
the day on it, thus you will always know what day of the week it is, also
public facilities (WC) are some of the best equipped that I have personally I
have seen on any ship! There are not just paper towels, but also small cloth
hand towels! As I said earlier hygiene is important on HAL. When finished your
hand washing and drying, HAL encourage you to take a paper towel to the door,
open it using a paper towel, for sadly some people may not have washed, and
there is a bin at the door for the paper towel. Now that is clear thinking
Holland America Line!
The Atrium Bar on
Main Deck, note the stylised art deco feel of her décor
On the top level of
the Atrium is the popular Ocean Bar
Slightly aft on the
port side is the Northern Lights Night Club
This venue completely
changes as the stage converts into a full kitchen for the
“Culinary Arts Centre” and cooking demonstrations, etc
On Promenade Deck is the mini cinema or the Screening Room as it is called
Join the “Digital Workshop” to learn new computer skills from
a Microsoft “Techspert”
Open dinning is
available on the lower level, or first and second sittings on the upper level
The Crows Nest Bar
Note above you can
see part of the sliding glass roof, that is currently open
Looking down from Observation deck at the Lido Pool and deck with the
delightful Penguin sculptures
on the right (forward) you can see the now open glass sliding roof
HAL has some of the most luxurious Spa facilities; this is the Hydro Pool
Far aft is the Seaview pool and spacious decks
Accommodations:
I have found that HAL
staterooms are very spacious and even the most inexpensive inside room as can
be seen below is a most pleasant room indeed and it has every possible facility
that one could wish for to provide the perfect vacation, whilst going on a
value for money vacation. In all staterooms, beds can either be made up in a
twin bedded or a double bed configuration, just let your travel agent know when
you make your booking, regarding your preference, but you must do this when you
book!
Every Stateroom
includes:
Luxurious beds featuring Sealy®
Premium Euro-Top mattresses and finely woven cotton linens.
Deluxe waffle weave and terry
cloth bathrobes for use during your voyage.
100% Egyptian cotton towels.
Premium massage showerheads.
5X magnifying make-up mirrors
and salon-quality hair dryers.
Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo
and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure.
Complimentary fresh fruit on
request.
Elegant ice bucket and serving
tray for in-stateroom beverages.
Flat-panel TV and DVD player.
Ice service, shoeshine service
and nightly turndown service.
Whilst the Deluxe and Penthouse
have additional features including the use of the Neptune Lounge and other
facilities.
Please note that I
have not included everything that is in the cabin, such all as the usual
inclusions, like a phone and hairdryer, etc. HAL has thought of just about
everything!
Twin or double
And remember you are
looking at the cheapest stateroom on the ship, yet it still has a lounge area
This is a standard
outside twin or double
All staterooms are
very spacious
Verandah staterooms
have become more and more popular with many and Oosterdam has five decks of them
Here we see one of
the superior Verandah staterooms offering a spacious lounge area
But why not opt for a
Deluxe Verandah suite and do it in some real style as well as enjoy the
delights of the Neptune Lounge
Want to go in style,
well, here we see the Penthouse
PLEASE NOTE: All photographs on
this page were kindly provided by Holland America Line, Inc.
Here we see the
Oosterdam departing on her maiden cruise out of
In 2012 and 2013 the ms Oosterdam will be sailing out
of
For a Holland America Line cruise brochure or
for more information on their superb cruises from Australia or throughout the
world, consult a cruise specialist, who is a travel professional or in
Australia call Holland America Line at 1300 987 322 or visit www.hollandamerica.com.au.
-Also visit my other
ms Prinsendam & ms
Statendam
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Commenced in
the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
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