Holland America’s Eurodam: A mid-sized ship with 2,100 passengers

With more than a dozen cruise ships carrying 3,000 passengers or more — and giants of 5,500 passengers on order — what used to be called a big ship now is considered small.

Mid-size? Well, that's somewhere between what once was big and what today is too big to fit through the Panama Canal.

Holland America Line looks at its new ship, the Eurodam, as mid-sized. (At left, the ship is docked on the River Tynen in England.)

Yes, we have come that far in the evolution of floating hotels, when a ship of 2,104 passengers is mid-sized.

The Eurodam, which was christened in early July in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, is barely larger than Holland America's Zuiderdam, Oosterdam or Westerdam.

But the Eurodam carries an extra 200 passengers or so by adding another deck on top, pushing the mid-sized limit over 2,000 people while preserving the size of the hull so the ship can squeeze through the Panama Canal (though not anytime soon).

The result is a ship that is much like the others of Holland America Line (HAL). The company, in business for 135 years, has built a reputation on traditional service; designs that include generous portions of space on deck, in cabins and public areas; and art collections that are worthy of a guided tour.

CLICK for info on new cabins, Asian and Italian restaurants, and what the experts say about Cruising Holland America's Eurodam

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Molyneaux is editor of TheTravelMavens.com. CLICK for articles on cruising, golf, Florida, Europe, adventure and travel gear and gadgets.

2 responses to “Holland America’s Eurodam: A mid-sized ship with 2,100 passengers”

Judge Harold Entz, Senior District Judge, Dallas, TX

October 9, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Because my wife and I are experienced cruisers and have enjoyed a number itineraries on HAL, we were anxiously anticipating our Eurodam excursion this past summer on the Scandanavian and Baltic portions of the innaugural season. Though there were many features to commend this ship, overall we (and MANY of our fellow cruisers who we met on the Eurodam) were, frankly, disappointed.
Our stateroom (we were on the Navigator deck) had far too little space to accommodate clothing. One must use a box under the bed to accomodate underwear, socks, etc. The closet space did not lend itself to the hanging of suitcoats or ladies’ dresses without angling the garments to fit the limited space. The absence of public laundry facilities necessitated guests to use the ship’s facilities. The ship’s showtimes at 7 and 9 were very inconvenient when trying to schedule late returning shore excursions with dinner. (No one could explain to us why HAL changed from their long-standing 8 and 10 showtimes.)
The decision to have “open seating” with or without reservations in the lower dining room was, at best, a mixed success. The reservations number was at times very difficult to reach. And once one got to the dining room and the maitre d’ directed a waiter to take the cruiser to the designated table, often the waiter was clueless as to the location of the table.
Tamarind was a delightful culinary experience. Bagus, the affable and efficient maitre d’, has a first rate operation – both as to quality of cuisine and professionalism of the beautiful waitstaff. On two of the four occasions we ate dinner in the Tamarind, we were told that there were no tables available. We presented ouselves at the Tamarind notwithstanding in hopes that there had been a cancellation. Bagus was surprised to learn that the reservation’s receptionist had informed us that no tables were available. Indeed, on BOTH of those occasions we counted over 6 vacant tables during our dinner (we ate dinner at 7 in order to make the 9 o’clock show).
Canaletto was a real plus. Mario, the maitre’ d told us that he scrapped the entire menu when he arrived and replaced it with recipes of his mother and grandmother. My wife and I believe Mario’s lasagne is absolutely the best we have ever had! But with such a fine selection of Italian cuisine, why does HAL stick it in a corner of Lido???
Incidentally, you may wish to consider in future stories regarding HAL that the EXACT same appetizers and entrees at the Rembrandt main dining rooms are also available at dinner in the Lido. All in all, absent a “last minute” special with an itinerary we want to revisit, I don’t know if we will again book a stateroom on HAL.

Pakistan travel

January 24, 2009 at 9:50 am

Nice about Holland restaurants.

Judge Harold Entz, Senior District Judge, Dallas, TX

October 9, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Because my wife and I are experienced cruisers and have enjoyed a number itineraries on HAL, we were anxiously anticipating our Eurodam excursion this past summer on the Scandanavian and Baltic portions of the innaugural season. Though there were many features to commend this ship, overall we (and MANY of our fellow cruisers who we met on the Eurodam) were, frankly, disappointed.
Our stateroom (we were on the Navigator deck) had far too little space to accommodate clothing. One must use a box under the bed to accomodate underwear, socks, etc. The closet space did not lend itself to the hanging of suitcoats or ladies’ dresses without angling the garments to fit the limited space. The absence of public laundry facilities necessitated guests to use the ship’s facilities. The ship’s showtimes at 7 and 9 were very inconvenient when trying to schedule late returning shore excursions with dinner. (No one could explain to us why HAL changed from their long-standing 8 and 10 showtimes.)
The decision to have “open seating” with or without reservations in the lower dining room was, at best, a mixed success. The reservations number was at times very difficult to reach. And once one got to the dining room and the maitre d’ directed a waiter to take the cruiser to the designated table, often the waiter was clueless as to the location of the table.
Tamarind was a delightful culinary experience. Bagus, the affable and efficient maitre d’, has a first rate operation – both as to quality of cuisine and professionalism of the beautiful waitstaff. On two of the four occasions we ate dinner in the Tamarind, we were told that there were no tables available. We presented ouselves at the Tamarind notwithstanding in hopes that there had been a cancellation. Bagus was surprised to learn that the reservation’s receptionist had informed us that no tables were available. Indeed, on BOTH of those occasions we counted over 6 vacant tables during our dinner (we ate dinner at 7 in order to make the 9 o’clock show).
Canaletto was a real plus. Mario, the maitre’ d told us that he scrapped the entire menu when he arrived and replaced it with recipes of his mother and grandmother. My wife and I believe Mario’s lasagne is absolutely the best we have ever had! But with such a fine selection of Italian cuisine, why does HAL stick it in a corner of Lido???
Incidentally, you may wish to consider in future stories regarding HAL that the EXACT same appetizers and entrees at the Rembrandt main dining rooms are also available at dinner in the Lido. All in all, absent a “last minute” special with an itinerary we want to revisit, I don’t know if we will again book a stateroom on HAL.

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Pakistan travel

January 24, 2009 at 9:50 am

Nice about Holland restaurants.

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