Holland America Cruise Line

MS Eurodam

Rating: Submit your review here Operator: Holland America Line Year Built / Last Refurbished: 2008 / 2008 Length / Tonnage: 936 / 86,273 Number of Cabins / Passengers: 1,022 / 2,104 Officers / Crew: Dutch / International Operating Area: Mediterranean, Europe

Deck Plans Sports Deck Observation Deck Lido Deck Navigation Deck Rotterdam Deck Upper Verandah Deck Verandah Deck Upper Promenade Deck Promenade Deck Lower Promenade Deck Main Deck Deck Legend

Delivered in summer 2008, the Eurodam marks Holland America Line's newest class of vessels and is the largest ever constructed for the premium line. With an estimated all-in cost of $450 million, the new 86,000-ton Panamax Eurodam was built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard.

"This is the 80th passenger ship to sail in the company's fleet and the first ship in our illustrious history to bear the name Eurodam," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. "We chose the name Eurodam to celebrate our European and Dutch heritage and our third century of sailing in one of the world's most popular cruising regions." The company's first ship, the ss Rotterdam, sailed her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York City in October of 1872, 134 years ago last month.

The Eurodam continues several Holland America Line features, including the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

Staterooms and suites on ms Eurodam feature an inspired and a distinctly different décor from the earlier ships in the Holland America fleet.

The staterooms and suites offer a calming, more mono-chromatic design, accented with bursts of color, replaceing the floral schemes used in the past. The elegantly simple design enhanced with rich wood tones and the use of burnished nickel fixtures. Passenger corridors leading to the guest staterooms are also decorated in the same contemporary theme.

"Holland America Line chose NB Design Group of Seattle to create the stylish new décor," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. "We sought a design firm capable of providing a fresh look while retaining a tailored, Euro-classic aesthetic. NB Design Group has succeeded wonderfully by introducing different woods and textures and fresh color combinations."

Nancy Burfiend, principal designer and founder of NB Design Group, added the intent was to transform each stateroom and suite into a calming oasis where guests could relax and rejuvenate.

"There so much taking place aboard a cruise ship – diverse activities, exciting dining, theater shows, and more – that we wanted the guest rooms to reflect a soothing environment," said Burfiend. "For example, the deluxe verandah suites will feature rich walnut furniture, charcoal gray seating, crisp white draperies and a patterned gray tip sheared carpet – accented with powder blue and citrius orange in strategic areas to add dimension and interest.

"Inside staterooms have blond, maple-toned furniture to create a lighter environment, with the recessed area behind the beds painted sky-blue and covered by sheer curtains with a burn-out, wave pattern that allows hints of blue to show – in effect, creating the sense of a window," Burfiend added.

The new décor is in all staterooms on the 11-passenger deck Eurodam. For the first time on any Holland America ship, staterooms were added to the top decks. Deck 11 just off the Crow’s Nest features 10 verandah staterooms and, just below on Deck 10, 28 staterooms with verandahs and four, forward-facing "panorama" rooms are located.

With one more deck than Holland America’s 10-deck Vista-class ships, the Signature-class Eurodam features three alternative dining venues, including a new pan-Asian restaurant on Deck 10. The Explorations Café – powered by The New York Times – located on Deck 11 on the starboard side of the Crow’s Nest.

Staterooms feature all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities: plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel televisions, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary fruit baskets.

A hotel service charge of US $10 per passenger is automatically added to each guest's shipboard account on a daily basis. Passengers can adjust that mount at the end of the cruise by visiting the hotel manager's desk. A 15% service charge automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases.

Eurodam currently sails on alternating 12-day Europe and Mediterranean itineraries.