Eurodam cruise ship evaluation: An ideally sized ship for the Caribbean and Alaska

Eurodam is proof that cruise traces can certainly change with the instances. On my first-ever cruise with Holland America Line practically 20 years in the past, I struggled to seek out onboard leisure, and the ship was quiet after 9 p.m., with most vacationers hidden away of their cabins. This yr, on a late-season cruise to Alaska, I feared that onboard life would once more be uninteresting.

I mustn’t have frightened. I used to be so busy all day that I typically retired to my cabin round 10 p.m., whereas Eurodam’s extra energetic friends continued the social gathering lengthy after I had snuggled into mattress. The change from my first Holland America cruise to my most up-to-date was due each to the kind of friends on board and the elevated leisure choices accessible on the ship.

The two,104-passenger Eurodam was utterly bought out, and each cabin was occupied for my weeklong Alaska crusing. My shipmates included everybody from younger honeymooners and middle-aged {couples} touring collectively with out their youngsters to multigenerational household teams and retired {couples} and mates.

I can attest that they had been recreation for every thing. Reside music reveals within the Rolling Stone Lounge had been standing room solely, cocktails flowed within the Ocean Bar and the leisure staff even hosted a bar crawl with video games and prizes. I may need fallen asleep earlier than the signature Orange Social gathering began, however many Eurodamers had been ready to social gathering, decked out in orange shirts, robes, equipment and even wigs.

By day, the Crow’s Nest statement lounge was at all times filled with cruisers taking part in video games, making artwork and chatting over drinks and ocean views, and the road for afternoon tea within the eating room snaked midway down the deck. The power was palpable in Glacier Bay, the place the decks had been lined with avid glacier and wildlife spotters. Shore excursions bought like hotcakes, and everybody I spoke to had a blast on their excursions.

So if you’d like a sleepy cruise to Alaska in the summertime (or the Caribbean within the winter), carry on wanting. Eurodam passengers are right here for all of the enjoyable (and the meals) day and night time, on and off the ship.

Overview of Eurodam

The two,104-passenger, 86,273-ton, 11-deck Eurodam was the primary ship in Holland America’s Signature Class. It debuted in 2008, adopted two years later by Nieuw Amsterdam. The ship is neither the most important nor the smallest within the fleet, which suggests it is sufficiently big to supply loads of onboard eating and leisure however not so massive that each area feels overcrowded.

Eurodam was the primary Holland America ship to function the pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind and Italian-themed Canaletto, positioned in a bit of the Lido Market buffet. Its third specialty restaurant, Pinnacle Grill, is in a stunning spot that is open to the atrium somewhat than inside a closed-off restaurant area.

Ultimate for cold-weather cruising in Alaska, Eurodam has a retractable glass dome over its predominant pool, in addition to an open-air aft pool. The ship has a predominant theater and two reside music venues, Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos) and the Rolling Stone Lounge (multipiece cowl band), however doesn’t have the road’s well-liked B.B. King’s Blues Membership.

Eurodam is taken into account a premium cruise ship. It is smaller and a bit extra upscale than 4,000-plus-passenger megaships however bigger and has much less inclusive fares than luxurious cruise ships. Whereas it has a youngsters and youths membership, the ship doesn’t have the expansive youngsters membership area or as sturdy a roster of household actions as Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean cruise ships. It is splendid for multigenerational households (particularly with older or grownup kids), {couples} and teams of mates, and anybody in search of big-ship facilities with out the crowds on big vessels.

What I liked about Eurodam

Recent fish

Holland America has doubled down on sourcing recent fish regionally in its main cruise locations and has partnered with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who’s serving as the road’s international recent fish ambassador. Which means in Alaska, Eurodam’s restaurant menus function regionally caught salmon, cod, halibut, rockfish and Dover sole; within the Caribbean, you will have the choice to style native mahi-mahi, flounder, tuna and yellowtail snapper.

The day by day salmon bowl within the Eating Room was persistently the perfect factor on the menu and completely cooked. The dinner menus highlighted Alaska-themed fish dishes nightly, and I loved recent cod sliders and fried fish sandwiches. The ship even ran a pop-up Alaska seafood boil one night time (for an added charge) for fish lovers to actually dig into regionally sourced seafood.

Should you get pleasure from seafood, this system is unquestionably a cause to decide on Eurodam or one in every of its sister ships.

Rolling Stone Lounge

The place to be on Eurodam after dinner is the Rolling Stone Lounge. A seven-piece band (5 of them sing in addition to play devices) performs three units of rock, pop and R&B covers nightly at this intimate venue on Deck 2.

I am unsure whether or not I liked the band or the viewers extra. The band was extremely versatile and energetic, leaping round on stage and even coming down onto the dance flooring to rock out with the friends. Their vocal vary was unimaginable — and so had been their live performance outfits.

However the band would not be fairly the identical draw with out the group. Cruisers of all ages crowded the dance flooring to bust a transfer to “Footloose” or maintain their sweetheart near “Unchained Melody.” I watched single girls unabashedly strutting their stuff, older {couples} with critical footwork and oldsters dragging embarrassed teenagers as much as dance with them. The people-watching was nearly as good because the tunes.

Tamarind

Should you like Asian meals, Tamarind is my favourite restaurant on board and price the additional charge. The purple-hued restaurant spans Deck 11 midship with window-facing seats on either side of the ship and a big bar and lounge area on the other facet of the elevator corridor.

The decor is inviting, with plush banquettes lined with pillows scattered among the many tables, however the menu right here is the true draw. Dishes are filled with taste and provide one thing for everybody, whether or not you are a beef lover or a vegetarian. The themed cocktail menu attracts from flavors like lychee and yuzu; strive the shiso bitter for one thing scrumptious and totally different.

No offense to the Iron Chef, however my journey buddy and I each most well-liked the common menu at Tamarind to the Morimoto at Sea pop-up that takes place right here one night time per cruise.

Alaska-themed actions and eating

Caribbean cruisers can skip this part, however I might be remiss if I did not point out Eurodam’s full embrace of its “We love Alaska” motto (which is plastered throughout the ship’s bow). The ship provides an Alaska-themed brunch on two sea days, Alaska-themed craft cocktails (with glacial ice!) within the Ocean Bar and talks on Alaskan themes within the World Stage throughout time at sea. A wildlife information sails with the ship to assist friends spot whales, porpoises and seals in crusing channels the place animals are sometimes current. You should purchase Alaska-themed items within the ship’s store.

In Glacier Bay Nationwide Park and Protect, the captain has permission to spend an hour on the glacier, and the crew members preserve passengers heat by providing pea soup on the outer decks and promoting spiked espresso and sizzling chocolate in memento cups. The park rangers, who embrace Alaska natives, present narration of the Glacier Bay transit, level out wildlife, reply visitor questions, and produce aboard books and nationwide park souvenirs to promote within the Crow’s Nest.

What I did not love about Eurodam

The ship is displaying its age

Eurodam did get a refurbishment in 2023, but it surely did not contact all areas of the ship. The cabin decor didn’t really feel trendy, and the darkish wooden furnishings in my room (desk, wardrobe, chairs) all confirmed scratches and dings. The wall paneling in my room had stains and mismatched sections the place probably one part had been changed and did not precisely match.

The ship additionally appeared to battle with some plumbing points. I acquired whiffs of sewage smells in sure sections of cabin hallways. Our bathe drain stopped engaged on the previous couple of days of our cruise, inflicting us to continually flood the toilet. General, it was not an enormous downside, but it surely’s greatest to method your onboard residing quarters with the correct mindset.

Queues

On a roughly 2,100-passenger ship within the premium class, I might look forward to finding fewer crowds and queues than on a megaship. However on a number of events, Eurodam didn’t appear prepared for passenger demand.

Embarkation in Seattle took two hours (all of it spent standing in traces), partly as a result of there have been no porters taking baggage, and all of us needed to wait in line to drop off our baggage contained in the terminal earlier than continuing to safety and check-in. I do not know if that was a one-off downside, however I used to be stunned Holland America did not have the method down pat after a whole season of Alaska cruises from the port.

The queue for the particular Royal Dutch Tea shaped quarter-hour previous to the eating room doorways opening. I made the error of displaying up simply minutes earlier than teatime and was sat on the very again of the eating room. Our desk of six by no means acquired served the three-tiered tray of snacks. After we lastly acquired up and chased down some waiters, they introduced us some plates of leftovers (and we scavenged extra meals from close by tables as their friends left).

You will additionally wait in line if you wish to buy espresso drinks on the Explorations Cafe within the Crow’s Nest, get the shuttle again to port in Sitka (wait time is usually a half-hour) and dine at peak instances within the Eating Room with out a reservation. Alter your expectations accordingly.

Eurodam cabins and suites

Eurodam provides quite a lot of cabin and suite selections, from the same old window insides, ocean-view rooms and cabins with non-public balconies to 4 forms of suites and spa-themed rooms in all classes from inside to suite.

I used to be booked in a assure cabin, which meant I might get no less than a room with a balcony, however Holland America selected my precise room location from whichever cabins hadn’t been chosen by different friends. The road assigned me to Room 6049, an ambulatory-accessible cabin. That meant the room had some options to help a traveler with mobility points, similar to a ramp onto and out of the balcony and a roll-in bathe with handrails, but it surely didn’t have as a lot open area as could be required to accommodate somebody in a wheelchair.

The room was positioned on the nook the place the ship’s exterior juts out, so the outside wall of our room was on a slant (somewhat than at proper angles to the opposite partitions). It additionally meant our balcony was bigger than a typical one, which was a welcome addition in Alaska.

Like most cabins on board, the room featured two twin beds that may be pushed collectively right into a queen. Studying lights and a USB outlet had been on both sides of the wood headboard. The bedside tables had an open shelf and two drawers; one had the cellphone. A big drawer was underneath the foot of every mattress (the place I saved further baggage and my laundry); you can slide your suitcases underneath the principle a part of the mattress.

A flat-screen TV was throughout from the mattress. It provided a handful of reports, sports activities and leisure channels, motion pictures on demand, podcasts and audiobooks, bow and aft cams, and the identical ship info discovered on the Navigator app.

Crowded in subsequent to 1 facet of the mattress and adjoining to the sliding glass door resulting in the balcony was a desk with a minifridge and no doorways. It was the principle place to cost your electronics with two North American 115-volt shops, two 220-volt European shops and a USB port. A mirror was above the desk, however there have been no cabinets.

Professional tip: I requested our room steward to take away all of the minibar gadgets that had been cluttering up our minifridge and desk space since we didn’t intend to purchase something.

Most traditional cabins appear to have a settee with a espresso desk. Our room had two purple upholstered chairs that had seen higher days and a espresso desk. Nonetheless, they had been lined up in opposition to the wall as there wasn’t area to rearrange them in a comfy chat structure. I moved one of many chairs to the desk to make use of my laptop computer. A nook shelf on the opposite facet of the glass door provided a number of further shops.

The primary storage for the room was a two-section wardrobe. One facet had a number of cabinets, together with one holding the protected, and an enormous empty space housing the life jackets, which appeared wasted. The opposite facet had two hanging racks, however I eliminated one so we may cling clothes; there was additionally a excessive shelf and a low area for footwear.

Bathrobes had been additionally offered within the room to be used on board. Moreover, the cabin included a tray with an ice bucket and a corkscrew/bottle opener, throw blankets to be used in your balcony in Alaska and a hair dryer. Uncommon for cruise ships, one of many drawers additionally contained a Bible!

The lavatory was giant, with a no-threshold bathe with a seat and wand showerhead however no further cabinets for toiletries. By the sink, three skinny glass cabinets are all you get to retailer your belongings; there wasn’t a lot counter area or a shelf under the sink (and even hooks on the again of the door).

The balcony, although bigger than common, had the usual furnishings for this ship: two metal-and-mesh chairs with movable footrests (a pleasant contact!) and a small, spherical drinks desk.

I’ve to say, I used to be not a fan of this room for a number of causes:

First, if my description did not make it apparent, the room lacked storage. Apart from the minidrawers within the nightstands, there have been no drawers appropriately sized for storing underwear, socks, swimwear and T-shirts. You may handle with the closet, however lots of the cabinets are too excessive to achieve for those who’re on the shorter facet. There are 4 giant hooks by the cabin door for hanging jackets or baggage however none within the rest room for moist towels. Customary cabins have an extra wardrobe part and extra rest room storage as properly.

I used to be glad I introduced some magnetic hooks to hold on the partitions within the cabin to assist with storage.

Additionally, the room did not have an entrance hallway as many normal cabins do. If I used to be asleep and my buddy went out to get espresso, the sunshine from the hallway streamed proper into my face.

The odd structure additionally meant there was no sitting space. The purple chairs had been actually solely helpful for throwing further stuff on or sitting by the desk. The espresso desk additionally turns into storage solely as a result of you may’t organize it dealing with a chair with out blocking the navigable area within the cabin. It made ordering room service much less interesting as there wasn’t a very good eating setup.

Whereas not an issue for me, choosy of us ought to know that the cabin furnishings has clearly been round awhile and was not changed within the ship’s 2023 dry dock. All the wood items had scratches and dings. The partitions had been additionally marked up. The room regarded outdated and was not significantly inviting. It didn’t reside as much as the premium nature of a Holland America cruise.

Eurodam provides a number of forms of accessible cabins in numerous cabin classes. Totally accessible cabins are arrange for wheelchair customers with wider doorways, entry to either side of the mattress and a roll-in bathe with a seat and lowered controls. Single-side-approach variations of those cabins have the identical accessible options however solely have area for wheelchair entry to 1 facet of the mattress. Ambulatory-accessible cabins, like mine, have wider doorways and an accessible bathe however shouldn’t have the extra flooring area to accommodate a wheelchair.

You will discover accessible cabins in inside, ocean-view, balcony, Signature Suite and Neptune Suite classes.

One distinctive side of Eurodam’s cabin structure is that almost all normal cabins function tub-shower combos — nice for those who love baths however much less nice when you’ve got bother getting into and out of a bath to bathe. Inside cabins and accessible rooms are shower-only.

All of the cabins and suites on decks 10 and 11 are spa cabins with easy accessibility to the ship’s spa.

The smallest suites are Signature Suites (in each common and spa varieties), starting from 273 to 456 sq. ft, and have giant sitting areas with couch beds and bogs with twin vanities and full-size whirlpool baths. Every Neptune Suite, at 506-590 sq. ft, upgrades from a queen mattress to a king and provides a dressing room and a bigger couch mattress.

Two Pinnacle Suites are the highest lodging at 1,357 sq. ft. These function separate residing and eating rooms, pantries and microwaves, non-public verandahs with whirlpools, visitor bathrooms and stereo programs.

Should you’re not staying in a Neptune or Pinnacle suite and need upgraded facilities and precedence, you may pay further for Membership Orange entry. This entitles you to precedence entry (check-in, tender boats, traces at visitor companies and shore excursions), precedence seating and an expanded menu within the Eating Room, concierge service and different facilities. Friends within the high two suite classes get all these perks robotically included of their fare.

Associated: The whole lot you should learn about Holland America cruise cabins and suites

Eurodam eating places and bars

Eurodam’s most noteworthy eating component is its regionally sourced fish program I discussed above, however that is not the one culinary standout on board. I discovered the Eating Room menus to be expansive (particularly the breakfast and brunch menus), with a mixture of artistic or worldwide dishes and extra normal cruise favorites.

The buffet is a minimize above with its sushi counter and salad bar, which provides a big choice of veggies and proteins. A mixture of specialty eating places and pop-up venues provides eating selection to friends prepared to pay further — and the meals in these eateries are usually value the additional cost.

Search for dishes throughout the ship’s eating places created by world-famous cooks — similar to David Burke, Jacques Torres and Ethan Stowell — who associate with Holland America. These are along with dishes and drinks curated by chef Morimoto, each within the Eating Room and at his once-a-cruise pop-up restaurant.

Associated: Holland America eating places: The last word cruise information to meals and eating on board

Eating places

The guts of the eating scene on Eurodam is the descriptively named Eating Room on decks 2 and three. It is open for breakfast and lunch on port days; on our cruise, an Alaska-themed brunch was served on two of the ocean days.

Breakfast and lunch are open seating. You will be requested if you would like to share a desk or dine with simply your social gathering (probably incurring a wait if the correct-size desk shouldn’t be at present accessible).

The breakfast menu is intensive, which makes the Eating Room a extra compelling selection than on some cruise ships for a morning meal. Along with all of the cereal, pastries, eggs and pancakes you’d anticipate, choices embrace a number of forms of Asian congee, Indian aloo masala and egg bhurji, kippered herring with scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, Swedish pancakes and banana oatmeal bread French toast. Don’t miss the spiced potatoes that include the Indian breakfast dish; we talked about them for a whole day, they had been that scrumptious.

Vegans will discover nonmeat, nondairy variations of cream cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt, cheese and sausage hyperlinks to substitute throughout the menu.

Lunch is obtainable on choose days, and the menu options an abbreviated record of selections throughout starters, mains and desserts. I loved a spinach and artichoke dip, and a tuna soften with crispy french fries after a day trip in Ketchikan.

The Alaska-themed brunch was so good that we timed our meals to strive it for breakfast and lunch. The creamy goat cheese dotted with assorted berries was a stunning little starter; the Alaskan blueberry pancakes wanted extra blueberries, however the wild forest mushroom crepes had been tasty — as soon as I scraped off the extreme Hollandaise sauce. For lunch, the fisherman’s halibut sandwich was basically a classier model of fish-and-chips.

Friends can select their eating fashion for dinner, both assigned desk seating at 5 or 8 p.m. or open-seating eating from 5 to 9 p.m. You will be assigned one of many two eating rooms.

The dinner menu is split into starters (recent cod sliders, seafood deviled eggs), mains (chile rellenos, pork medallions with huckleberry jam, do-it-yourself lasagna) and desserts (chocolate and whiskey torte, strawberry crisp), with Alaskan specialties highlighted. You can too pay further for Pinnacle Grill filet mignon, lobster and strip loin steak and Iron Chef Morimoto’s recent halibut and epice lobster tails.

Each night in Alaska, a distinct salmon bowl was provided, and we discovered these to be the perfect entrees. The salmon was moist and tender, and the totally different sauces and toppings added simply the correct amount of taste.

Holland America traces its roots to the Netherlands and likes to embrace its heritage. Search for the Dutch-themed dinner one night time per cruise within the Eating Room to strive Dutch specialties similar to Hodge Podge Klapstuk (braised beef brisket) and Bossche bol cream puffs.

A Dutch-themed afternoon tea is served on choose days at 3 p.m. and is so well-liked that the road snakes down the Deck 3 hallway by 2:45 p.m. Arrive early — we had been among the many final in line on the primary sea day and acquired served leftovers as an alternative of the lovable three-tiered trays of finger sandwiches, scones and sweets. The snacks and sandwiches are nothing particular, however the expertise is enjoyable. The most effective treats are the stroopwafels, so ensure that your tray contains them.

Cruisers in search of a faster, extra informal meal make their eating house the Lido Market buffet, discovered between the ship’s two swimming pools on Deck 9. It is open from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with hourlong closures between meals. Nonetheless, it was shocking what number of friends we spoke to confirmed up for a meal at precisely the fallacious time. The tea and low station closest to the central pool is open 24 hours a day.

Breakfast stations serve all of your morning favorites, together with made-to-order eggs and omelets.

At lunch, I used to be an enormous fan of the make-your-own salad bar, which was stocked with loads of veggies and proteins like seared tuna and hen. I am not a sushi fan, however my son would have drooled over the always-available sushi. I saved eyeing the Indian and Asian choices. My journey buddy was an avid buyer of the deli sandwich counter, although a few of the sizzling selections (a pasta bar, lasagna, fish-and-chips and so forth) regarded tempting. Skip the dessert show and deal with your self to the ship’s worth-the-calorie cookies, with or with out a scoop of ice cream on the facet.

Dinner is just like lunch, with a carving station and sizzling entrees (many repeats from the Eating Room), a world station, a salad bar, a pasta station and an array of desserts. It is an particularly good choice in Alaska when you do not really feel like dressing up for dinner after a day exterior in chilly climate. After 8 p.m., a lot of the stations shut down, and the remaining ones change to late-night fare, similar to macaroni and cheese, fried hen and a taco bar.

Two informal choices are located on both facet of the Lido Market, one on every of Eurodam’s pool areas, so you may seize a fast chunk with out having to dry off. You can too carry meals from these venues into the buffet to combine and match.

Dive-In, by the central pool, is Eurodam’s grill. It serves burgers (beef, portobello mushroom, Past and a hen sandwich) and canine with crispy french fries, served bare or with a selection of toppings. I’ve by no means gone fallacious with a sandwich right here.

NY Pizza by the aft pool behind the Lido Market is open all afternoon and into the night hours, so it is an awesome selection if you’re hungry throughout off hours. Choose up a slice or a salad, or order a 9-inch thin-crust pie from a listing of choices or construct your personal. Attempt the Primo, created by acclaimed Seattle-based chef Ethan Stowell, with salami, pickled peppers and purple onion, or the Wall Avenue with prosciutto, arugula and gorgonzola. So far as cruise ship pizza goes, it is not the perfect, however for those who order a pie sizzling from the oven, it would scratch your itch for tacky goodness.

You will discover that one nook of the Lido Market has an Italian theme and barely totally different furnishings. That is Canaletto, an Italian specialty restaurant that takes over a bit of the buffet restaurant every night. It is a sit-down, waiter-served restaurant that includes Italian specialties similar to burrata, veal and sage meatballs, Chianti-braised beef quick ribs, spaghetti with shrimp and clams, tiramisu and affogato. The cost to dine right here is $25 per particular person.

Seafood followers cruising in Alaska ought to preserve a watch out for the one-night-only Seafood Boil pop-up within the Lido Market. For $35 per particular person, you get a mixture of Alaska seafood, similar to clam chowder, salmon, mussels, clams and shrimp, and a berry crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Should you’re trying to splurge on a wonderful meal, the Pinnacle Grill on Deck 2 midship is Holland America’s signature steakhouse and seafood venue. It is open for each lunch and dinner for a charge ($19 or $46 per particular person, respectively). The spotlight here’s a choice of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks, however you may as well select from grilled lamb chops, lobster tail, a tomato and eggplant tarte tatin and different nonsteak choices.

Personally, I am going to at all times vote for the chocolate souffle or key lime pie for dessert, however the signature dish right here is the Not-So-Basic Baked Alaska, which options Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.

You may nonetheless order steak off the smaller lunch menu, however you will discover a mixture of entrees and sandwiches, such because the Pinnacle burger, a lobster roll and a beef tri-tip sandwich.

Tamarind is one in every of my favourite cruise ship specialty eating places industry-wide as a result of I like Asian meals of every kind. The whole lot I’ve eaten there was scrumptious, from the satay sampler, spring roll appetizers, dan dan noodles and crispy duck entrees to the yuzu cheesecake and yuzu and lychee sorbet desserts.

The purple and gold decor and black Japanese serving ware additionally converse to me, and the venue on Eurodam appeared brighter to me than on newer ship Rotterdam (although perhaps that had extra to do with the time of day). The surcharge to dine in Tamarind is $35 per particular person (and completely value it).

Tamarind spans either side of Deck 11 midship — within the center is its sister restaurant, Nami Sushi. This a la carte restaurant options a mixture of sashimi, nigiri sushi and sushi rolls, however you may as well order starters, mains and desserts, some from the Tamarind menu and others unique to Nami.

Begin your meal with tofu and wakame miso soup, tuna poke or spicy edamame; strive one of many signature dishes, similar to Hamachi usuzukuri or seared albacore tuna; and finish on a candy notice with Japanese mochi ice cream.

Tamarind can also be the positioning of the Morimoto at Sea pop-up, a fish-forward eating expertise. For $55, you may get pleasure from a three-course meal with choices created by the celeb Iron Chef. Begin with a sushi plate or recent tuna pizza, and luxuriate in lobster pad thai or entire sea bass to your predominant course. Desserts, fortunately, are fish-free. The showstopper is the darkish chocolate sphere that melts aside with a drizzle of sizzling salted caramel; for those who like pop rocks and coconut, strive the white chocolate lime ganache.

I applaud Holland America for conserving room service complimentary. You may order breakfast between 6 and 10 a.m. from a menu that features juices, tea and low, cereal, toast, fruit, a continental breakfast basket of pastries and yogurt, vegetable frittata, yogurt parfait and an All-American breakfast with eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage. Just a few extra-fee gadgets embrace lobster Benedict, steak and eggs, and a breakfast smoothie.

All-day eating from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. contains starters like hen noodle soup and Caesar salad, entrees like three-bean chili and oven-roasted hen, sandwiches like a barbecue pulled pork sub and membership sandwiches, and desserts together with New York cheesecake and chocolate layer cake. A restricted model of this menu is offered for late-night ordering from 11 p.m. to six a.m. A youngsters menu options hen nuggets, spaghetti with meatballs, miniature burgers, grilled cheese and banana pudding.

For an extra charge, you may order choose gadgets to your cabin from the specialty eating places. Order Dive-In burgers and canine for $5 per merchandise, 24 hours a day. The Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind menus can be found solely throughout dinner hours; choose steaks and lobsters are priced a la carte, whereas bento containers are $15 every.

Bars

Eurodam shouldn’t be the most important cruise ship, however you’ll nonetheless discover a bar practically all over the place you go. Some are stand-alone, whereas others are linked to leisure and eating areas. Search for joyful hour specials from 4 to five p.m. at Billboard Onboard and the Ocean Bar, when drinks often priced as much as $11 can be 50% off.

The Pinnacle Bar on Deck 2 exterior the Pinnacle Grill has a break up character. Within the morning, it serves extra-fee specialty espresso drinks to take the stress off the principle espresso bar on Deck 11. Within the evenings, it turns into the ship’s wine bar and the spot for predinner drinks earlier than a meal within the Pinnacle Grill throughout the best way or the Eating Room down the corridor.

The Ocean Bar on Deck 3 midship is a well-liked hangout day or night, and you’ll hearken to a reside band throughout dinner hours. Right here is the place you will discover destination-themed craft cocktails, together with six drinks created by mixologist Sam Ross particularly for Alaska. (Do not miss the Klondiker or the PNW Penicillin.) When the ship heads to the Caribbean, this drink menu can be swapped out for a brand new assortment created by James Beard Award-winning drinks historian David Wondrich.

The bartenders right here additionally create some specialty drinks with a wow issue. Should you like your drinks candy, order a bubble martini; for those who like yours smokey (actually), order a foggy boulevardier or a cherry Outdated-Usual.

Music venues Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge, in addition to the on line casino, have bars connected with themed cocktail menus. I am instructed the Billboard Onboard bartenders make a imply white Russian.

The Lido Bar by the principle pool and the Sea View Bar by the again pool on Deck 9 are your go-to’s for umbrella drinks on a sizzling day or beer and cocktails together with your buffet lunch.

The Explorations Cafe within the Crow’s Nest on Deck 11 is the ship’s predominant espresso bar, the place you can begin (or proceed) your day with lattes, cappuccinos, hallmark and better-than-the-Lido espresso, with or with out alcohol. It additionally serves cocktails to of us tenting out in its comfortable seating all through the day and night.

A hidden gem on this ship is the Tamarind Bar throughout the corridor from the restaurant. Its unique cocktail menu contains Asian-inspired drinks such because the Shiso Bitter and the Wasabi Cocktail. Cozy as much as the small bar, sink into a straightforward chair by the window or take a gaggle to one of many curtained-off cabanas. The bar is a quieter different to the Crow’s Nest crowds on sea days.

Eurodam actions

You can see your method simpler round Eurodam if you keep in mind that all of the enjoyable is within the entrance and all of the meals is within the again. You will discover the important thing leisure and exercise areas on decks 2 and three and decks 9 to 11, primarily ahead and midship.

Our cruise was mild on actions past wildlife viewing, however individuals had no downside conserving themselves entertained. Sea day enjoyable included line dance courses, arts and crafts, bridge and mahjong video games, bingo, trivia and vacation spot talks. You will additionally discover all of the promotional occasions, together with spa seminars, procuring occasions and artwork auctions.

Do not miss On Deck for a Trigger, a charity walkathon across the ship. In Alaska, the funds raised profit training, science and analysis in Alaska’s parks. Individuals and donors will obtain a T-shirt.

The guts of any cruise ship is the pool deck, and Eurodam’s has a retractable glass roof, so the pool can be utilized in wet, cool Alaska. The ship has two pool areas on Deck 9. The lined pool is the midship Lido pool, flanked by three sizzling tubs and loads of lounge chairs. It does get humid inside with the roof closed. One facet of the ship is lined with curtained-off cabanas accessible for lease.

The aft Sea View pool and its two sizzling tubs are open to the weather. The smoking space can also be right here, by the Sea View bar. In Alaska, it is a well-liked spot for wildlife viewing, although for those who like an out of doors sizzling tub on a cold day, come on over.

The Retreat sundeck on Deck 11 is an unique space that includes cabanas with padded lounge chairs and a seating space with a desk. Solely passengers who pay to lease a cabana for the day or your complete cruise can entry the sundeck.

Cabanas include bathrobes and towels, heat and chilly towels, chilled bottles of water, a fruit basket, midafternoon ice cream and a late-afternoon snack of glowing wine, frozen grapes and chocolate-dipped strawberries. You will additionally obtain particular bar, breakfast and lunch service. The Retreat was empty in Alaska, however within the Caribbean, I might think about it is an effective way to flee the pool deck crowds. (In contrast to on some Holland America ships, Eurodam’s Retreat doesn’t function a sizzling tub.)

Ahead of the Lido pool is the ship’s spa, salon and health heart. You may pamper your self with massages, facials, males’s shaves, hair styling and pedicures at upmarket costs. Search for embarkation or port day specials or a number of therapy reductions.

You can too purchase a day or cruise cross to the ship’s thermal suite. It features a hydrotherapy pool, in addition to a thermal suite with heated lounge chairs, steam rooms and saunas.

The health heart appears giant as a result of the group health class area is within the heart of the room somewhat than in a separate area. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes and rowing machines face a row of home windows. You can too work out with free weights or resistance machines.

It is free to make use of the health heart and to attend sure courses, however others — like yoga or boot camp — price further.

Professional tip: The one water bottle filling station we may discover on board was within the health heart.

The pickleball craze has taken over the sports activities courtroom on Deck 11 aft, and each classes and competitions happen on a number of days all through every cruise.

The Crow’s Nest on Deck 11 options an artwork studio on the port facet and a recreation lounge on the starboard facet. You may attend free artwork courses similar to watercolors, origami folding or calligraphy, or pay further for longer and extra in-depth courses, similar to guided portray on canvas.

We noticed many cruisers placing collectively puzzles or taking part in board video games (present in “Deal or No Deal”-style metallic briefcases) on sea days. Between the comfortable chairs by the floor-to-ceiling home windows and the ever-popular espresso bar, the Crow’s Nest is at all times packed, so carry your persistence if in search of a desk.

You may attempt to win some enjoyable cash on the recreation tables and slot machines within the on line casino on Deck 2. The venue is nonsmoking, so you may’t mild up whilst you double down.

Spend your winnings on the ship’s retailers on Deck 3. You should buy every thing from fantastic jewellery and watches to make-up and fragrance, designer purses, Holland America emblem put on and destination-related souvenirs. A separate show and procuring nook is devoted to Effy jewellery.

Should you’d somewhat buy artwork, head to Deck 2, the place Park West has arrange an artwork gallery. You may bid on work and sculptures throughout auctions on board. In case your favourite topic is your self (or your family members), you should buy pictures taken by the ship’s photographers, in addition to cameras and binoculars, on the photograph store on Deck 3. You can too arrange a portrait session to get these Christmas card pictures.

A library on Deck 3 is extra like a bookstore, with a number of copies of a curated assortment of well-liked books, somewhat than a library with cozy studying nooks. Borrow your e book and browse it elsewhere on board. There’s additionally a take-one-leave-one shelf for guest-donated books.

Holland America provides the appropriately (albeit uninspiringly) named Children Membership on all of its ships. It accommodates kids from ages 3 to 17 underneath the supervision of professionally educated youth workers.

Kids are break up into three teams — Children (ages 3 to six), Tweens (7 to 12) and Teenagers (13 to 17) — for age-appropriate actions which may embrace online game play, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, theme events and poker tournaments. Two play areas are on Deck 10 midship; the Excessive Rating recreation room is stocked with pingpong, skee ball and different video games for teenagers and youths to get pleasure from on board.

The atrium space on Deck 1 homes the visitor companies desk and future cruise reserving desk, plus a small web cafe. The shore excursions desk shouldn’t be on this space (because it is perhaps on different cruise traces) however up in Explorations Central on Deck 11 ahead. Teams on board host seminars and meetups within the three assembly rooms on Deck 3.

Eurodam reveals

The World Stage, which spans decks 1 to three on the entrance of the ship, is Eurodam’s predominant leisure area. On my weeklong cruise, the ship’s solid of singers and dancers placed on three song-and-dance revues. Should you like that form of factor, the reveals are a fantastic technique to cross 45 minutes, however you’ll not miss a lot for those who skip them fully.

On the opposite nights, visitor performers take the stage. On our cruise, these included a comic and a piano virtuoso.

All Holland America ships are massive on reside music, and Eurodam isn’t any exception. Billboard Onboard, throughout from the on line casino on Deck 2, options dueling pianists who carry out themed units in between, encouraging you to order drinks. Singing alongside is inspired. When the pianists say, “The extra you drink, the higher we sound,” you need to consider them.

Down the corridor, the higher performers take the stage within the Rolling Stone Lounge, the place a multipiece band with a number of singers belts out well-liked songs in reveals that includes the hits of the ’80s or the sounds of soul. Friends are inspired to stand up and dance within the area in entrance of the stage. The singers and musicians right here had been excellent, and the group was all too joyful to shout out requests and boogie down on the dance flooring.

The once-a-cruise Orange Social gathering takes place right here; for those who neglect to pack citrus-colored apparel, you may choose up orange equipment within the ship’s retailers that day.

Eurodam itineraries and pricing

Eurodam winters within the Caribbean and summers in Alaska and can proceed this schedule by way of summer season 2026.

From late April by way of late September, Eurodam bases in Seattle and sails predominantly seven-night round-trip “Alaska Explorer” cruises, which go to Juneau, Icy Strait Level, Sitka, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay Nationwide Park and Protect.

The ship then repositions down the Pacific Coast and thru the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. From its base there, Eurodam provides Caribbean cruises on alternating itineraries that may be mixed into one longer cruise. For the 2024-2025 season, it would sail principally 10- and 11-night cruises that may be mixed into 21-night sailings to the Japanese and Southern Caribbean. In 2025-2026, it would sail seven-night Japanese and Western Caribbean routes that may be mixed right into a two-week cruise with totally different ports every week.

In early April, the ship reverses course, transiting again by way of the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast to Seattle.

Fares begin at $1,079 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy, for a seven-night shoulder-season cruise to Alaska. Seven-night Caribbean cruises begin at $829 per particular person for an inside cabin, whereas 10-night Caribbean cruises begin at $969 per particular person.

All taxes and charges are included in these fares, that are Holland America’s most elementary fares. It additionally provides a “Have It All” add-on bundle for an additional charge that features a restricted variety of specialty eating meals, a shore tour credit score, a Wi-Fi bundle and a drink bundle. The fee is $55 per particular person, per day, when booked precruise (or $65 per particular person if booked on board).

What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

The vast majority of Eurodam’s sailings are closed-loop cruises that depart from and return to the identical U.S. port (Seattle or Fort Lauderdale). In case you are a U.S. citizen taking a closed-loop voyage, you may sail together with your authentic start certificates and a government-issued photograph ID, similar to a driver’s license, as an alternative of a passport.

For all different one-way sailings that embark and debark in several ports, you will want a sound passport with no less than six months left till expiration and sufficient clean pages for stamps.

Whether or not you are required to have a passport or not, TPG at all times recommends touring with one, simply in case there’s an emergency that requires you to disembark your crusing in another country.

Additionally, you will want your boarding paperwork, both printed or in your cellular machine through the Holland America Line Navigator app, to point out on the pier throughout embarkation.

Associated: What paperwork do you want for a cruise? From passports to printouts, this is what to take

Gratuities

You’ll be charged $17 per particular person, per day for crew gratuities ($19 for those who’re booked in a set). You may regulate the quantity up or down or take away it utterly (which we do not suggest doing) by visiting the visitor companies desk. You can not regulate or take away gratuities after your crusing has ended.

An 18% service cost can be added to bar drinks, the drink bundle and specialty restaurant meals, in addition to different a la carte meals costs and spa purchases.

Contemplate bringing money to tip porters at your embarkation port and shore tour guides and bus drivers.

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Wi-Fi

Holland America provides three Wi-Fi packages for an added charge.

The Surf bundle lets you use social media and messaging apps (with out audio or video entry), examine e-mail and surf the online.

The Premium bundle provides entry to video and Wi-Fi calling and file transfers to the Surf bundle.

The Stream bundle contains every thing within the Premium bundle and provides the flexibility to play on-line video games and stream reveals and music.

If you are going to buy Holland America’s Have It All all-inclusive bundle, you’ll obtain the Surf bundle (however pays an extra charge to improve); often, the Premium bundle is offered with a Have It All buy as a part of an early reserving promotion. Web plan costs range based mostly on the size of the cruise and the variety of gadgets included.

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Carry-on drinks coverage

Holland America’s alcohol coverage permits cruisers 21 years of age and older to carry bottles (750 milliliters or much less) of wine or Champagne on board for a corkage charge of $20 per bottle, no matter the place the alcohol is consumed. No beer, liquor or boxed wine is allowed.

You may carry wine again on board if bought in port, however liquor and different forms of alcohol can be held for you till the tip of the voyage. If you are going to buy wine throughout a Holland America-sponsored shore tour to a vineyard, the road will waive the corkage charge for one bottle per particular person, per tour.

Most nonalcoholic drinks will not be allowed to be introduced on board. Nonetheless, every passenger is allowed to carry cans or cartons of water, to not exceed six 1-liter cans or cartons or 12 500-milliliter cans or cartons. Plastic bottles will not be allowed, and you can be requested to eliminate opened drinks earlier than boarding the ship.

Crew members will scan checked and carry-on baggage and discard any contraband drinks.

Associated: Can I carry alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line information

Smoking coverage

Smoking usually shouldn’t be allowed in indoor areas on Eurodam, together with cabins and cabin balconies and the on line casino. This contains e-cigarettes, cigars and pipes. The one designated smoking space on board is the Sea View Bar space.

Violations of those insurance policies will lead to a $250 fantastic; repeated offenses may trigger a passenger to be disembarked from the crusing.

As a part of Eurodam’s insurance policies to forestall onboard fires, anybody who purchases scented candles in port may have their souvenirs confiscated, to be returned on the final day of the cruise.

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Laundry

Eurodam provides send-out laundry, dry cleansing and urgent companies for a charge, however there are not any self-service laundry services on board. You may pay by the merchandise, starting from $1 to $10.50. You can too buy an infinite laundry or urgent bundle or fill the offered laundry bag and have all gadgets washed for a flat $25 charge.

Electrical shops

Cabins provide a mixture of North American 115-volt and European 220-volt shops, plus USB ports. In our cabin, for instance, there was a USB port on both facet of the mattress. The desk space had one other USB outlet and two 115-volt and two 220-volt shops. Two further 115-volt shops had been positioned above a nook shelf, with a shaver-only outlet within the rest room.

Forex

The foreign money on board is the greenback. Eurodam operates a cashless system whereby passengers hyperlink a bank card or sum of money to their room keycards, which may then be used to cost onboard purchases.

The ship doesn’t have an ATM, however you may request a money advance, topic to restrictions. Your onboard account can be charged for the money quantity plus a 3% charge.

Consuming age

The ingesting age on board is 21. Passengers youthful than 21 could not buy or devour alcohol.

Costume code

Holland America has two forms of night gown codes: good informal and dressy. On good informal nights, you will be fantastic so long as you do not put on shorts, ripped denims, beachwear or males’s tank tops in eating places.

On dressy nights, ladies ought to put on clothes, skirts or good slacks, and males ought to placed on collared shirts, slacks and jackets. Denims will not be acceptable within the nicer eating places. Cruisers undoubtedly gown down in Alaska, and the gown codes will not be strictly enforced. On the second formal night time on our cruise, we skipped the Eating Room for the buffet however noticed as many, if no more, individuals dressed down on the Rolling Stone Lounge than dressed up in jackets and cocktail apparel.

Daywear is informal and influenced by the vacation spot and present climate. Within the Caribbean, cruisers put on shorts or solar clothes; in Alaska, you will see extra fleece jackets, denims and climbing pants. Footwear and shirts/swimwear cover-ups are required indoors.

One night time per cruise is the Orange Social gathering, and also you would possibly want to be on theme with orange garments or equipment. Should you’ve forgotten your orange apparel, you should buy some on the retailers on board.

Associated: What to put on on a cruise: Cruise apparel and cruise line gown codes

Backside line

Eurodam is a wonderfully sized ship for weeklong Alaska and Caribbean sailings. It provides sufficient eating and leisure selection to complement busy days in port and a variety of cabins to go well with numerous budgets.

The ambiance is a little more subtle than a megaship expertise, however your fellow cruisers can be enthusiastic and up for a enjoyable time. Whether or not you are simply married, retired or someplace in between, you may have a beautiful trip on this ship. I do know I did.

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