Cruise’n’Travel Journalist, Cruise reviewer &
Maritime Historian
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.
“Gold 2010 Rear Admiral William M. Benkert
Environmental Protection Award” from the
“World’s Leading Green Cruise
Line Award” and the “
Introduction:
ms Rotterdam is the standard bearer of this now 140 year old great
shipping company “Holland America Line (HAL) proud fleet. This superb
ship reflects the highest attainment of
Although HAL had been taken over by Carnival Corp, but HAL did retain a
great deal of their independence and thus the look of their new ships are far
superior up to the R-Class. But, what they built for Cunard, Costa Cruises and
P&O UK, is a whole different story. However, the S-Class ms Statendam and
her three sisters’ and the R-Class retain that traditional HAL influence,
which is sadly lacking in the newer and very much larger HAL Carnival designed
Vista & Signature class ships, which I loathe!
Guests savour cuisine presented on gleaming Rosenthal china in their
choice of dramatic dinning venues, be it in the two-tiered salon having windows
soar high above the sea, or the candlelit intimacy of a Venetian villa at the
Pinnacle Grill where you will dine in the grandest of style as you will eat
from the most beautiful “BVLGARI” China, drink from fine
“Riedel” stemware and the table being laid with the finest
“Frette” Linens.
Quietly and invisibly, the
More about the ms
Rotterdam:
The 5 Star deluxe ms Rotterdam is one of
the most elegant and intimate cruise ships afloat!
She is seen here at anchor, providing a
regular tender service to an exotic
The superb 59,885-ton ms Rotterdam is indeed a very special ship and
has become one of the most popular ships in the Holland America Line (HAL)
fleet. What makes all HAL ships stand apart from all other mainline cruise
ships in the world is that they will always operate with fewer passengers
onboard, as well as having at least one crew member per two passengers. That is
a considerable improvement to other cruise ships of the same size in the world!
In addition, service onboard HAL is simply unparalleled, for their
superb Indonesian dinning room and cabin staff are not just genuinely friendly,
but they are super efficient and very helpful as they just cannot do enough for
you! The drink and beverage staff is all Filipino and they also are carefully
selected and do an amazing job. There is one thing that is different with HAL
crew members to crews on other ships. Holland America Line has it own Academy
where their crew are fully trained before they ever set foot onboard their
ships, thus they have the HAL expertise and high standards taught, even though
they may have had previous training, which is just sufficient for HAL!
I recently returned from a HAL cruise around beautiful
The beautiful ms Rotterdam, like all of the HAL ships, is blessed with
a beautiful wide all teak full walk around Promenade Decks, and whilst she
cruises certain regions of the globe the bow section is opened up to
passengers, which is quite unique to Holland America.
Holland America Line ships are famed for their massive Art collections
onboard their ships, and it is certainly is a big feature, for you will be able
to stroll around the ship and be delighted as you discover piece after piece,
be it a painting, a special 17thg.century vase, the "Terracotta Warriors,
which is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi
Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funeral art that was buried
with the Emperor in 210–209 BC with the purpose being to protect him in
his afterlife. These figures, obviously dating from the third century BC, were
discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong
District,
These marvellous statues are located aft
on Upper Promenade Deck between the Explorer’s Lounge & the
Explorations Café
The two desks seen are used by the
future cruise manager
Let us tour the ms Rotterdam:
Promenade Deck – All decks are toured from Forward
to aft.
Like on most of the
cruise ships today far forward you will find the Grand Showroom, and a unique
feature onboard HAL ships is that the forward section is usually set out more like
an intimate club-like section with tables and chairs, thus ideal for passengers
to have a chat prior to show and enjoy a drink in comfort! The rest of the theatre, has two main levels being far more traditional
style of seating.
Here we see a view from further aft
Her nine main passenger decks are serviced by 10 elevators (lifts) and
you will discover a host of magnificent lounges and bars as well as the multi
level Theatre/Showroom, four Restaurants, 2 Pools, the middle one having a huge
glass sliding roof for cooler climates, and at the top of the ship, far forward
is the ever popular Crow’s Nest! The three level Atrium has to be seen to
believed, as it has an amazing grand elaborate clock in the centre. This grand
Flemish clock has two faces and it is based on the signs of the Zodiac and the
movements of the Planets
The Wajang Theatre and the Culinary Arts
Centre
Next comes the
delights of the *“Pinnacle Grill,” which is one of the ships
alternative Restaurants, which is open for Lunch and Diner. It is vital that an
appointment is made early as this is without a doubt one of the most popular
restaurants on the seven seas, for the evening meal is usually booked out within
the first few days of the cruise. You may ask, “But why?” Well this
is very easy to answer, for once you have discovered the sublime cuisine on
offer and its presentation, the ultimate service, and you will dine in the
grandest of style as you will eat from the most beautiful “BVLGARI”
China,, drink from fine “Riedel” stemware and the table being laid
with the finest “Frette” Linens. Thus at the Pinnacle, you will
receive nothing but the very best, that is why it is the Pinnacle of Dining!
Upper
Promenade Deck.
Far forward is the
upper level of the Showroom and on the portside are some shops. Whereas on the
starboard side of the Atrium is the ever popular Ocean Bar that has both a
bandstand and a dance floor as each night the band will play! This is a
relaxing Lounge and bar during the day and it has a good feel about it and a
wonderful décor!
See one Casino, you have seen them all!
Next to the Casino
starboard side is recently created “The MIX” and it has two distinct
sections, the Martini MIX and the Champagne MIX, thus this is the
place to meet for all those Martini and
The Martini MIX
Next on the
Starboard side is a popular venue found on every HAL ship the Explorers Lounge.
It always has a huge Dutch Maritime painting on the wall, and the furnishings
in the room are elegant and fitting with its surroundings. Every evening the
classical musicians Adagio play their classical repertoire, which is always
well attended and I tend to be present on a frequent basis when I am onboard a
HAL ship!
Several terracotta warriors can just be
seen on the left
The delightfully relaxing
Exploration’s Café
Here we see the other side the Internet
section and we can see the size of the venue!
We now come to the
grand two level La Fontaine Dinning Room
The magnificent La Fontaine two level
Dinning Room
Above & below: Two further views of this elegant
venue!
The exclusive use of
the Neptune Lounge is for guests in the Neptune and Pinnacle
Suites only. The industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place
to relax, socialize with other Suite guests and enjoy the personalized service
of a concierge. These fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen
television, a library, luxurious leather sofas and chairs. Throughout the day
and night an always changing variety of delicious refreshments are available
and wi-fi for a small charge. When the Neptune Lounge
is closed during the middle of the night, a “One-Touch 24-hour Concierge
Service” is available.
Above and below: Two views of the luxurious Neptune
Lounge
The bottom view also shows the canapés
and drinks station at the forward section
The venue has an attendant at all times
Far forward is the
“Green House Spa and its many excellent associated facilities, such as
the massage rooms and the delights of the Thermal Suite and the most popular of
all the Therapy Pool. In addition there is the Beauty Salon, the Aerobics Room,
and of course the large the Fitness Centre (the Gym) and male and female
sauna’s! Each morning there are free sessions, such as stretch classes
and other fitness sessions, see your daily “Explorer” that arrives
in your Stateroom every evening for details!
The Hydro Therapy Pool
The Thermal Suite
Everything you need is here, as well as
a great view!
Directly aft is the
huge Lido Deck with the Main Pool, but what is so unique is that this entire
area can be enclosed by a giant glass sliding roof up on Deck 9 during wet or
cols weather. Far forward on the starboard side is the popular “Terrace
Grill” where you can order a freshly made hamburger or choose from many other
options. There is a covered cooled counter nearby where you can help yourself
for salads or other items on offer.
But there is also the superb Lido Bar
portside aft, but in this image you can also see the Terrace Grill on the far
right
The wonderful Lido Bar
The Lido Restaurant (Buffet) is where you will find a wide range
counters with a host of styles of delicious cuisines,
Above & below: Further buffets on the starboard side and
the area to enjoy a good Breakfast, Lunch or a full Diner!
AS we head out of the
Lido Restaurant to the aft deck, we enter the Adults only “The
Retreat.” Here you will find the rather unique retreat pool and
it’s special Bar. The point is that this may not
be the pool to swim in but more to relax in, as mosaic sun lounges are set in
its various depths of water. “The Bart at the Retreat” is close by
and it has barstools and sufficient quality furnishings as does the entire
ship! You will never find cheap plastic on
countless tables and chairs spread around this
deck as well as further sun lounges
Sports
Deck.
Beside the ample deck
space and the jogging track in the middle of this deck, there are only two
venues as such, thus as we have done so far we will commence far forward of the
ship.
Here we find the
ever popular Crow’s Nest a venue that has one of the best views possible,
a 180 degrees in fact! This is a delightfully
colourful venue with a circular Bar located mote
toward port and there is a performer’s space and space for dancing in the
evening as entertainment is provided nightly. That is special about HAL that
there is so much music around the ship. Every evening you will find it in the
Ocean Bar, the Explorers Lounge as well here in Crews Nest, and then not to
forget the Showroom which has a grand performance every single night, and of
course there are daytime performances as well!
It is the views that makes Crow’s
Nest so popular, but it does offer so much more!
This is CLUB HAL catering for the little
ones
We are going up just a few years and
this is the Game Room
Now we have reached THE LOFT for the
Teenagers they have this, but so much more!
There is a lounge, dancing space and
still more! Note the stairs going UP!
Well on the top decks is the exclusive
“Oasis” for THE LOFT, there is heaps of space and note the chairs,
next to it is a big rock
The photo below will reveal what is in
there?
Well, this is THE LOFT’s
private pool complete with a waterfall!
As you have seen the ms Rotterdam is a very
special ship and it has something for every age group! But you may well ask,
“All that looks really good, but what about the accommodations do theu match the quality of the public venues?” Page
Two will 1. prove that they certainly do, and 2.
it wil give you a description of all accommodations
onboard the Rotterdam, from the very cheapest Inside cabin for those who are
budget minded to the Outside cabin, the Verandah cabins and right up to the
Penthouse Suite!
Below discover some very Special
2014 Discovery Voyages! From 14 to 53 days!
A stern view of the ms Rotterdam, would
you not prefer to be onboard rather than see her depart without you?
Special 2014 Cruises Rotterdam & Southampton to
The Indonesian Discovery voyages will visit:
ms Rotterdam VI –
Index.
Page One: ms Rotterdam Mainpage
Page
Two: Accommodations
Page
Three: Deck & Cabin Plan
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-Also visit my other
ms Prinsendam & ms
Statendam
ms Oosterdam 2013 Cruise’n’Ship Review
ms Volendam Cruise Review
Also read our Holland America Line
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.
Please name the
ship you are enquiring about!