| VEENDAM |
| HOLLAND AMERICA LINE |
VEENDAM
TOUR
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COMMENTARY
TOUR
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COMMENTARY
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OVERVIEW page 1
BARS AND
NIGHTTIME ENTERTAINMENT page 2
AMENITIES page 3
DINING page 4
ACCOMMODATIONS page 5
BARS AND
NIGHTTIME ENTERTAINMENT page 2
AMENITIES page 3
DINING page 4
ACCOMMODATIONS page 5
OVERVIEW
VEENDAM is the last of four Statendam class
(a.k.a S-class) cruise ships built for Holland
America in the early and mid-1990s. She is
also the fourth HAL ship to be named after a
small village in the northeastern part of The
Netherlands.
She is not a big ship by today's standards but
she is big enough to house the amenities that
sophisticated travelers expect on a large cruise
ship.
Sophistication is a word that comes readily to
mind when touring VEENDAM. The ship's art
collection is superb and the decor throughout
elegant. Glitz has been kept to a minimum.
Good taste prevails.
The ship is small enough to go places where
many of the larger cruise ships cannot (e.g.,
Montreal). She is also maneuverable enough
that she can dock in small ports without the
assistance of tugs.
At the same time, the ship has good
seakeeping abilities that enable her to handle
rough seas. Indeed, according to her captain,
a problem that he faced recently when he had
to cancel a port due to bad weather was
persuading the passengers that weather
conditions justified the cancellation. The ship
rides so well that the weather just did not seem
to be so bad.
As a sophisticated ship, VEENDAM retains
many of the traditions of the sea. The dress
code is more formal than on mass market
ships. The captain and his officers dine with
the passengers in the main dining room. A
steward with a set of chimes summons
passengers to dinner.
At the same time, the ship has been upgraded
with the new developments in nautical
technology as well as with the amenities that
are trademark HAL ships such as the Pinnacle
Grill, the Explorations internet cafe, and a
culinary arts center.
The ship underwent a major refit in 2006 that
included building a two-story youth center and
extending the spa over the bridge.
(a.k.a S-class) cruise ships built for Holland
America in the early and mid-1990s. She is
also the fourth HAL ship to be named after a
small village in the northeastern part of The
Netherlands.
She is not a big ship by today's standards but
she is big enough to house the amenities that
sophisticated travelers expect on a large cruise
ship.
Sophistication is a word that comes readily to
mind when touring VEENDAM. The ship's art
collection is superb and the decor throughout
elegant. Glitz has been kept to a minimum.
Good taste prevails.
The ship is small enough to go places where
many of the larger cruise ships cannot (e.g.,
Montreal). She is also maneuverable enough
that she can dock in small ports without the
assistance of tugs.
At the same time, the ship has good
seakeeping abilities that enable her to handle
rough seas. Indeed, according to her captain,
a problem that he faced recently when he had
to cancel a port due to bad weather was
persuading the passengers that weather
conditions justified the cancellation. The ship
rides so well that the weather just did not seem
to be so bad.
As a sophisticated ship, VEENDAM retains
many of the traditions of the sea. The dress
code is more formal than on mass market
ships. The captain and his officers dine with
the passengers in the main dining room. A
steward with a set of chimes summons
passengers to dinner.
At the same time, the ship has been upgraded
with the new developments in nautical
technology as well as with the amenities that
are trademark HAL ships such as the Pinnacle
Grill, the Explorations internet cafe, and a
culinary arts center.
The ship underwent a major refit in 2006 that
included building a two-story youth center and
extending the spa over the bridge.
Throughout the public areas on
VEENDAM are substantial works of
art such as the Spanish cooking urn
above and the more modern mural
below painted in the Dutch maritime
style.
VEENDAM are substantial works of
art such as the Spanish cooking urn
above and the more modern mural
below painted in the Dutch maritime
style.
In the central atrium is a three story high, cut-class
sculpture depicting the biblical Jacob's Ladder (above).
It is a as close to glitter/shock and awe as the decor in
VEENDAM gets.
sculpture depicting the biblical Jacob's Ladder (above).
It is a as close to glitter/shock and awe as the decor in
VEENDAM gets.
Service is very important to
HAL and it maintains its own
hotel school in the Philippines
to train new recruits before they
arrive on ship. There is also a
school in Indonesia for
restaurant workers. Additional
training takes place on board.
As a result, service tends to be
friendly and efficient. At right
is VEENDAM's reception desk
located in the Atrium.
HAL and it maintains its own
hotel school in the Philippines
to train new recruits before they
arrive on ship. There is also a
school in Indonesia for
restaurant workers. Additional
training takes place on board.
As a result, service tends to be
friendly and efficient. At right
is VEENDAM's reception desk
located in the Atrium.
VEENDAM has a wrap-round teak promenade
deck (right) with wooden deck chairs.
There are frequent reminders onboard of
HAL's 130 year-history. Below is a model of
the NIEU AMSTERDAM.
deck (right) with wooden deck chairs.
There are frequent reminders onboard of
HAL's 130 year-history. Below is a model of
the NIEU AMSTERDAM.
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