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Eurodam, Holland Americas new Signature class ship |
| Reviewed By: Ingle, Rugby on 1st Jul 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Holland America Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Ms Eurodam |
Sailed:
June,
2008 |
| Destination: British Isles |
Age: 65+ |
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We arrived at dock 104 in Southampton for a day visit on Holland America’s new Eurodam. This is the first of their new Signature class ships, at 86,700 tons, which was en route from the shipyard in Venice to Rotterdam, where the naming ceremony was planned for the following week. From the outside it did not look very attractive as with most modern ships and passengers requirements for balconies means that they all look like a block of flats. However, when you get inside it is a very attractive ship and it was nice to go on a brand new ship, which had not yet had any paying passengers. The decor is not brash, but understated elegance with lots of decorative features around. Going into one of the public toilets. There were no paper towels, no electric hand dryers but a holder with rolled up mini towels about the size of a handkerchief. They are much better than paper towels. As they were all brand new they were nice and fluffy and presumably they get recycled through the laundry. This attention to detail set the scene. There were lots of fresh flower displays around the ship.
We were invited into the theatre for a presentation given by Jo Ann Tayor, who is the manager of the mariner society, or in other words the HAL loyalty club. The presentation described the HAL cruising itineries, which in fact cover all seven continents. There was quite large casino area near to the theatre, with lots of slots machines, which spoilt the ambiance of that area but it is obviously to cater for the Americans.
We were then invited into the main restaurant for lunch. The lunch was a fixed menu consisting of a seafood cocktail, surf and turf, (fillet steak on a bed of puree potatoes, with an extremely large king prawn) followed by a dessert of summer berries with ice cream in a basket accompanied with a choice of white, rose or red wine. It was extremely good and very well served, which highlighted the HAL ethos of warm, intuitive style of service “never in the way, never out of reach”
Following lunch we were free to explore the ship and several staterooms were available for inspection. All staterooms have a flat panel TV and DVD player and terry cloth bathrobes, with amble storage space even in the smaller ones. All were nicely furnished with pictures on the wall. There are some wheelchair accessible cabins
On the upper decks there was a large fitness centre, swimming pool with sliding roof and self-service restaurant. There was also a spa, thermal suites and private cabanas on the deck, which can be hired for a small fee.
At the front of the ship is the Crows nest, behind which is the library and computer centre. Within the library area there is a speciality coffee bar, with a range of coffee, teas and hot chocolate and a selection of cakes. Around the outside of the Crows Nest/library area, there are a number of recliner leather chairs, which looked really comfortable
On the promenade deck there is a wide promenade, which you can walk all the way round, with steamer chairs. There is vast range of shops inside.
It is not possible from a short visit to know what the ship would be like on an actual cruise but we came away with a very good impression of the ship and I am sure that would satisfy the most discerning traveller.
We would like to thank Andrew and Sukie from cruise.co.uk for arranging this vist.
Photos can be seen on
http://picasaweb.google.com/briani062/Eurodam
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