ms Eurodam

Eurodam

Eurodam offers various amenities, dining choices

Ship Review by Michael Coleman, December, 2009

The question facing passengers during seven-night Caribbean cruises aboard Holland America’s Eurodam this winter isn’t what to do onboard but whether there’s enough time to enjoy all that’s being offered.

The 2,104-passenger, 86,000-ton ship features a host of events and activities in some 31 public rooms.

Highlights include demonstrations in the Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine; health, fitness and wellness opportunities in the ship’s Greenhouse Spa and Salon; and Digital Workshops, daily, where passengers learn the nuances of personal web page design, photography, computer safety and maintenance.

There’s a screening room showing feature films — odd these days at sea aboard modern vessels but an extremely nice touch — plus an Internet cafee (Explorations on Deck 11), a casino, shops and art gallery.

Eurodam features two pools — Lido surrounded by cabanas for rent and Sea View, an adults-only retreat on Deck 9 aft. Look also for bridge play, afternoon tea, volleyball and basketball games on the Sports Court, Pilates, cycling, Wii games and trivia contests.

Culinary Options

The 2,104-passenger Eurodam, the newest vessel in Holland America’s 14-ship fleet, offers an array of onboard events and activities and some of cruise travel’s more appealing dining options. Photo by Michael Coleman

The 2,104-passenger Eurodam, the newest vessel in Holland America’s 14-ship fleet, offers an array of onboard events and activities and some of cruise travel’s more appealing dining options. Photo by Michael Coleman

Holland America has been making its name the past couple of years tied to an ambitious, hands-on passenger approach to culinary education. Eurodam has its own dedicated space, a theater-style venue on Deck 3 which features an elaborate show kitchen complete with large plasma video screens and a display counter where guests participate in cooking demos, culinary classes and one-on-one learning. Top chefs, leading cook book authors and wine experts lead the charge.

There are nine bars/lounges onboard. The ship features a two-level main dining room (Rembrandt); there’s a casual eatery to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner (Lido); a pool grill (Terrace); and of course a pizza venue aptly named Slice.

The best culinary options, however, are from among three reservations-only specialty restaurants where Pan Asian, Pacific Northwest and Italian offerings abound.

Tamarind, with seating for just 144 patrons, features Asian-inspired entrees from sea bass with a hoisin-lime glaze to steamed shrimp and scallops with garlic, ginger and chili. The wasabi soy-crusted beef tenderloin is not to be missed. The all-female Asian team of servers may also offer Rijsttafel, a Dutch adaptation of the traditional Indonesia dinner of rice accompanied by more than a dozen, often spicy, side dishes. Meals are just $15 per person.

Pinnacle Grill is without question one of cruise travel’s most beautifully-appointed alternative dining venues. Featuring Pacific Northwest specialties (Holland America’s ancestry dates back to Rotterdam in 1873 but corporate headquarters are now in Seattle) look for select cuts of Sterling Silver beef plus seafood appetizers and entrees. Select wines from the Pacific Northwest are a nice accompaniment. Distinctive Bvlgari china, Frette linens and elegant Riedel stemware add to the experience. Meals are $20 per person.

Canaletto, meanwhile, comes to life for dinner when a section of the Lido restaurant is transformed each evening into a family-style Italian venue. It’s casual and walk-ups are accepted although reservations for the 72-seat locale are encouraged.

Rounding out Eurodam’s culinary journey is a late-night feast in Lido, evenings, after 11. Complimentary room service is available 24/7.

On the Web: www.hollandamerica.com.

Ship

  • Year Built: 2008
  • Passenger Capacity: 2,611
  • Passenger Decks: 11
  • Number of Crew: 929
Staterooms

  • Total Staterooms: 1,052
  • Suites with balcony: 112
  • Suites, no balcony: 0
  • Ocean View with balcony: 596
  • Ocean View, no balcony: 189
  • Inside: 155
  • Inside Atrium View: 0
Entertainment

  • Casino
  • Disco/Nightclub
  • Movies
  • Card Room
  • Game Arcade
Spa / Wellness / Fitness

  • Fitness Center
  • Full Service Spa
  • Sauna/Steam Room
  • Beauty Salon
  • Outdoor Pool
Public Rooms

  • Bars/Lounges
  • Library
  • Internet Center
Children / Teens

  • Organized Age-Specific Activities
  • Dedicated Teen Center
  • Teen Programs
  • Youth Staff
  • Babysitting Available
Dining

  • Traditional Assigned Seating
  • Open Seating Dining
  • Formal Nights
  • Specialty/Alternative Dining Venues
  • Coffeehouse/Patisserie
  • 24-Hr Venues
Other Facilities / Services

  • Elevators
  • Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques
  • Dry Cleaning/Laundry
  • Concierge Desk
  • Infirmary/Medical Center
  • Safe Deposit Boxes
  • Business Center Services
  • Culinary Arts Center-
    Demonstration Show Kitchen
(Visited 28 times, 1 visits today)

2 Comments

  1. Nam Heo says:

    We would love to take ms Eurodam ’10-Day European Wonders’ on 05/19/2010. This itinerary fits perfect for our European Cruises. However, we can’t accomodate your sail date of 5/19/2010. I have already spoken with your agent that you no longer offer this ’10-Day European Wonders itinerary this year. When will you be again offering this exact ’10-day European Wonders itinerary’? We will be the first on it as soon as it offers in the future. Thanks in advance for your reply.

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