MS EURODAM, the ship... updated 8/2

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Trip Start Jul 02, 2008 Previous
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  Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

MS Eurodam
 
 
Even before we had boarded the MS Eurodam, I was in awe of her.  I had been watching her blog on the H.A.L. web site [ http://www.eurodamnews.com/ ] and following along as she was put together.  I sat in Ohio having my morning coffee when she was dedicated, watching over the internet as the Queen (of The Netherlands) christened her and enjoying every moment of it.  Then we were there, and there she was before us.  Big, strong, beautiful, clean and shiny.  All you could hope for in a new ship.  Once on board, I was impressed with her décor, and the staff seemed H.A.L. friendly and attentive. 
 
I was smittened with her, that's for sure.  But something didn't feel right.  She didn't feel like a Holland America Line ship.  She felt different.  I shrugged it off saying she was new, and just in service.  All the décor, the amenities and service were there, It must be because she is new, or maybe because she is HAL's largest ship ever and I'm just not used to her.  We would see of course just how things would pan out. 
 
We had sailed during the inaugural season of the Noordam in 2006, and I had been taken by how wonderful everything was from the bed linens to the service.  It had been an amazing trip in the Eastern Med., and I fell in love with Holland America Line.  I had so many special "moments" aboard the Noordam and they still affect me to this day, and even though last summers cruise to Alaska on the Oosterdam had been somewhat of a fiasco (and a disappointment), I had high hopes for the 20 days we were about to spend on the Eurodam. 
 
Our Cabin was wonderful, even for an inside cabin.  We had the luck of the draw I guess because we had ended up in a wheelchair accessible cabin which was spacious.  Twice the size of Bob and Carols outside cabin with balcony (I wasn't jealous, really!) And although there was no tub, the shower was cool because the drain was in the floor and the bathroom too was pretty spacious.  We were happy until the drain backed up, and the shower water flowed into the cabin.  Our steward was alerted and he alerted the maintenance staff and it was taken care of, but the drains never worked all that great and water often was all over the bathroom floor, even bypassing the drain grates which are poorly designed.  And the drain seemed to gurgle a lot, even when it wasn't being used.  And that was in both of the cabins we had, staterooms 1011 and 1012.

Her "Bustle"

(we'd had to move at 10 days into the mirror image cabin on the other side of the ship, a move I still don't understand ).  The staff was gracious about it all, and the problem seemed to be taken care of more or less.  Beware of cabin 1012 if you ever sail on the Eurodam, it is below the piano bar one deck up and even with the massive amounts of insulation they most likely used, you could still hear the really bad piano player late at night in our cabin.
 
The ship is beautiful, but I figured out what I didn't like about it was it's openness.  It was too open.  Not enough definition for the various rooms and public areas.  No intimacy.  Perhaps this is a sign of the "Carnivalization" of HAL, perhaps just poor design.  And what happened to the Queens Lounge?  Now it is the "Explorers Lounge" with a full and openly exposed bar.  It totally lost it's intimacy compared to the Noordams Queens Lounge.  And the quartet, who were attractive and played passably, were stuck on one end of the room, instead of situated in the middle.  It seems too stark, too thrown together, like an afterthought. 
 
The Pinnacle Grill is lovely, and their food and service what you would expect.  I truly enjoyed our meals there.  Be sure to splurge at least once for dinner, and once for lunch.  It was/is wondeful.  However, the new Pinnacle Wine Bar seems lost.  We went in there one evening to enjoy a bottle of wine Michael had spied and wanted to try only to be very uncomfortable.  The space does not flow well, it is very stark in its cool colors and hard flooring.  It is very cold, and uninviting.  And the bar height tables and stools in the corners are weird.  It is a great concept, just poorly executed with the wrong colors to be associated with the Pinnacle Grill, and the most uncomfortable furnishings I've ever experienced.  Take note H.A.L., we did not go back for a second bottle of wine.
 
The Tammarind restaurant and the Silk Den were a total surprise.  They were lovely, and their execution is flawless.  From the choice of colors and fabrics to the staff, it was the one place I really liked aboard ship.  My only complaint was my favorite bar tender (Zeni) transferred off ship in the middle of our 20 days.  Other than that, it was flawless, and the food amazing.  The small raised seating areas sectioned off with sheer curtains in the Silk Den were charming, sexy and provided just enough privacy and intimacy.  Bravo!  Be sure to try the Tammarind for lunch too, and book early!
 
The Northern Lights Disco tried the same thing, but with less success.  The disco's seating areas are backless, and separated by a sheer curtain so you could not be comfortable after dancing the night away on the disco floor(Thanks D.J.

The she is! And me too!

Glenn, you did an awesome job!)  Even the bar stools were uncomfortable, more suited to being poised on the edge than relaxed having a beer or cocktail.  A hot lady in a slinky dress will look smashing poised on the edge of one, the rest of us will just have to be uncomfortable. The only cool thing was the projections of the dance floor and occupants onto the table tops... that was cool.  And D.J. Glenn of course, the epitome of cool.
 
The Explorations Café, HAL's  internet, coffee bar, library area was nice, and I liked it being up on the Crows Nest Level, but again, it was not separate enough form the Crows Nest Lounge.  And the name Explorations Café and Explorers Lounge are too close even though the rooms are decks apart (deck 2 for the Explorers Lounge, deck 11 for the Explorations Café).  Kelly, the internet guru aboard the Eurodam, is wonderful and we enjoyed seeing her again! (we'd met her on previous cruises) I don;t know how she does it with the dozens of inane questions and requests she recieves everyday (me included, what a dope I can be sometimes!  Sorry Kelly)
 
HAL has added private cabana's aboard ship, and I liked the ones on deck 10 overlooking the Lido Pool area.  However the cabana's on the Lido Pool deck take up too much space from the other guests, and provide a minimum of privacy for those using them.  Mykel, also someone we'd met on another cruise, showed me around the Lido Cabana's, explaining the benefits, but it is not a place where I would want one, other than for his impeccable and attentive service.

Spacious

 
Cannaletto, the Italian restaurant that takes up part of the Lido Restaurant area in the evening is a great concept (and although I did not dine there).  No additional fee, but again, too open to the rest of the area, no intimacy although they have tried. It needs to be more separate.  The food smelled wonderful, and I will admit the Italian dishes I had aboard were wonderful.  It' s only downfall, again, being part of the Lido Restaurant.  If you plan to sail on the Eurodam, book Cannaletto early, it books up fast!
 
And speaking of the Lido Restaurant, the light fixtures they chose for the area are beautiful, just not practical.  More than one had already been broken and not replaced during our first 10 days, followed by even more the second.  I was also disappointed in the food in the Lido, something I remember form the Oosterdam last summer.  Marginal at best.  Although the sugar free deserts (especially the cream puffs) were great!  And it never seemed hot enough.  Someone told me that they were having issues with the heating elements in the Lido and they were scheduled to be replaced on July 25th when she was in Copenhagen! 
 
We really liked the Grill on the Lido pool area, the burgers and fries were awesome, although I didn't understand some of the weird sauces they put on the turkey and salmon burgers.  Simple tastes where burgers come in I guess.  The Pizza place by the Sea View Pool was also great, convenient and tasty. 

The Rembrandt dining room is lovely, with the first level bring for "Dine as you Wish", HAL's answer to NCL's freestyle cruising.  Why anyone would want to wait for a table when they an have prearranged seating beats me, but a lot of people did sign up for it.  Wanda and Ken liked it, but they ate very early and never had to wait.  They also said that they did not have to sit with anyone if they did not want to.  The other plus was you didn't sit with the same peole each night, unless you arranged to.  We had the late seating on the upper level, but Michael and I both like that and would arrive around 8:10 for dinner, after the rush and line to be seated was over.  The dining rooms taff was wonderful, from Agus at the door, to Doddy and Eko at the table.  Excellent decor, lovely linens and china, good wine seletion, and I always loved the idea that you don't have to drink a whole bottle eah night, that they'll hold it over for you to the next evening!  And be sure to try the Rembrandt for breakfast and lunch, a nie change of pace form the hustle and bustle of the Lido.
 
The Spa, ah the Spa.  Carol and I loved the Spa, with it's thermal suite of warm beds, dry and wet saunas an the awesome mineral bath Jacuzzi pool for 50! (an approximate number.

Oh so spacious!

It was BIG!)  Michael enjoyed the services he had while there, as did Carol with her massage.  The quiet room in the spa area, open to everyone who uses the gym and spa facilities, is one of the best kept secrets aboard ship.  Carol went on and on about the lemon water and special cold tea they had there.  Refreshing!  And peaceful too!  The gym is large and functional, and yes, I did go there and even used the equipment (and lost my coffee card and room key).
 
The out door sunning areas are high and plentiful on the ship, something I thought the ship lacked when I first walked around her.  They were not much in use in the Baltic, too cool and windy for all but one or two days, but once she's in the tropics, they'll get used a lot, and be served well by the crew I am sure.  I just feel sorry for them, the beverage staff, it's a long trek down to the Sea View pool for drinks!
 
The theater was spectacular, as was the casino.  I avoided the Piano Bar (for obvious reasons, like it being too loud, and the pianist, no, the piano player being really bad), other than to peek in one day just to see what it was like.  I liked how the Sports Bar was opened up to the casino, one of the few more open spaces I did like aboard ship.  The Martini Bar (a.k.a. Atrium Bar) is standard, and wonderful.  Sign up for the Martini classes, they looked fun and I will do so on my next cruise!  Unfortunately, the Atrium/Martini Bar sits under the most ugly piece of artwork afloat.  Something akin to Pepto Bismol and melted plastic ceiling lamp shades.  It is shaped like a giant pink volcano suspended upside down from the ceiling.  I did not appreciate it, nor did many of the other guests.  Unfortunately, many more passengers will be subjected to it over the years. 
 
Over all, she's a fine ship, a bit too big boned perhaps, but pretty none the less.  HAL has their work cut out for them though.  There is major fine tuning to be done.  Would I sail on her again?  Perhaps, for the right cruise, but she would not be my first choice.  We are going to try some smaller, more intimtae ships, such as the Volendam which we have already booked for Dec 09. 

P.S.  I do not mean to sound too critical, she truely is a lovely ship, and the staff is superb.  Perhaps my expectations were too high, perhaps my expereinces on the Noordam were the exception, and not the rule.

comfy too!

But by all means, board her with an open mind and heart, she is a grand lady and HAL will do their best not to disappoint.

I did hear yesterday (today is 8/2/08) from friends we met aboard, who were so disappointed in HAL and thier cruise (they were on the first 10 days) that they canceled their December sailing on HAL entirely.  Thats a lot of disappointment!  Change is an inevitability, especially in the travel industry.  HAL has to change in order to survive with rising costs and changing clientel.  I just hope she also remembers her roots.  And I wonder if they'll continue to break from tradition and name thier next ship the "Ameridam" or "Asiadam". 

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UGLY! Nothing more said!	Not so comfy	More Wine Bar	Pinnacle Wine Bar
The Ocean Bar	More Ocean Bar	Tea in Tammarind	Desert in Tammarind
Ocean Bar	Sports Bar	Sports Bar	Sports Bar
Mineral Spa Pool	Thermal Suite	Martini Bar

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