Holland America Line was founded in 1873, its name kept from the early days of transatlantic travel between Holland and the United States. It is now owned by Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest operator.
Holland America Line aim towards the premium end of the cruise market, and the package is certainly of high quality with attentive staff, good quality ships and fresh ideas.
The setting is unhurried with fine quality surroundings and plenty of eclectic artwork, decent food and service from a smiling Indonesian / Filipino crew who provide good service with the finesse of the best premium cruise lines.
The decor is restful on board the older ships, whilst the newest ships are more lively and glitzy, but still with an high-class sense of style.
The brand new Eurodam will debut in Europe in June 2008, boasting a host of new enhancements including three alternative restaurants. Most of her cabins have a sea-view with the majority of those with a private balcony. See our Holland America 2008 Late Deals and our Holland America 2009 Early Booking Offers.
Berlitz Review of
Holland America Line
Fresh management with updated ideas, HAL’s ‘Signature of Excellence’ programme, the food variety and creativity have all made the HAL experience better recently. The ships benefit from an abundance of fresh flowers, museum-quality art pieces, and more attention to detail than all the other major lines.
Younger families with children and grandchildren are best suited to the new, larger ships such as Eurodam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam.
Older adults are best suited to ships that are smaller and less glitzy (Amsterdam, Maasdam, Prinsendam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, and Zaandam).
All the ships are well maintained and cleaning takes place constantly. All ships have teakwood outdoors promenade decks, whereas most rivals have artificial grass or some other form of indoor-outdoor carpeting.
HAL’s crew members are willing, polite, and smile a lot, which is more than can be said for service staff on land today.
HAL is one of only three of the 10 major cruise lines with proper cinemas built into all its ships. It also operates many theme-related cruises, and has an extensive ‘University at Sea’ programme of lecturers. The cinemas also have superb full demonstration kitchens built in for HAL’s new ‘Culinary Arts’ programme that includes celebrity chefs, and interactive cooking demos. HAL has established smoking and no-smoking areas throughout its ships, although in reality there are many more smokers than you might expect (depending on ship and itinerary). If you are a non-smoker, be aware.
Embarkation: When you first embark, a member of staff, dressed in a crisp white uniform (or black butler’s uniform if you are in one of the top suites) will escort you directly to your cabin (and carry your hand luggage). Early embarkation and leisurely disembarkation is now available aboard all HAL ships.
Find out more about Holland America cuisine, entertainment and cruising for families
Gratuities (tipping) and currency
Around US$10 per person per day is added to your onboard account. You can have this amount adjusted, but you’ll need to visit the information desk to do so. Additionally, 15% is added to bar and wine accounts.
The onboard currency is the US dollar.
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