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Ship Statistics
With two-tiered show lounges and dining rooms, deluxe staterooms and suites with spacious verandahs--and more staff members per guest than on any other major cruise line, the Veendam is sure to please. Art and antiques displayed throughout the ship-over a million dollars' worth-provide a sense of luxurious warmth. Escape depends on leaving a world of routine, regimen and restrictions behind and entering a carefree, graceful world where everything seems to exist for you alone. Such is the world of Holland America, recognized time and again as the "best premium cruise line in the world"-and for seven years running, "best overall cruise value."
Ship Highlights
Overview Veendam The Dutch roots of the ship are reflected in the names and decor of its public rooms and in the $2 million art collection: magnificent antique Delft, armor and ship models on display and huge Georgia O'Keefe-like flower paintings in the dining room which are actually magnified details from Dutch still life paintings. The crew is very highly regarded, presenting a special cultural show, singing Indonesian songs in the dining room and supervising regional specialties at lunch. The lobby atrium is well designed to allow a flow of people booking shore excursions or making arrangements with the front desk, and the photo gallery is right off the lobby, as well. The Java Lounge, tucked away at the end of a hallway, is filled with a steady stream of small groups and individuals enjoying espressos and cappuccinos while reading or chatting. The Explorer's Lounge, with its huge ship models and secluded tables for two tucked away at the end, is in use day and night. The casino, placed along a wandering path from the atrium near the shops, attracts a very strong late night crowd, partly because of the attractiveness of the two bars, the Casino Bar and the secluded Piano Bar, which feature excellent entertainment. Surprisingly, the huge television set surrounded by a sports lounge sees little use. Washers and dryers are available for use with a fee, irons and boards are free. Entertainment The 600-seat Rubens Lounge is very impressive, from the etchings of Rubens' portrait in the glass entrance doors to the elegant balcony. The lines are organic, featuring columns tapered smaller at the bottom than at the top with attached glass figures illuminated from within. The tri-color marble and granite dance floor and the superb sound system attract a good crowd of passengers. In the later hours, guests seem to gravitate heavily to the smaller performance areas with singers and pianists playing well into the night; the disco wasn't so well attended. The casino has 108 slot machines, stud poker, draw poker, a roulette table, a dice table and five blackjack tables, and in general nobody had to wait to play. The 249-seat Wajang Theater, which shows two movies at four times during the day, complete with popcorn, was very well attended. Close your eyes and open your mind to all of the thrill seeking entertainment alternative that you'll have the opportunity to venture. No matter how you plan on spending your night, the Veendam remains well equip to accommodate each and every one of your desires. If you're looking for the relaxed scenery of a lounge, you'll find plenty. If you're in the mood for the mingling bar atmosphere, you'll feel completely comfortable in our bars.
Fitness and Recreation The spa has the usual range of Steiner treatments and products; there are men's and women's saunas and steam rooms, a juice bar and salon/barber shop, and a fully equipped gym plus aerobics classes and a jogging track. The ship also has two practice tennis courts and Jacuzzis adjoining the Lido pool. A smaller pool on the Navigation deck is less crowded and attracted sunbathers and families. The line offers plenty information in port for the independent traveler, and there are continuous activities during the day, from bingo to wine tasting, games, movies (in cabin and in the theater) and mixers or classes. There is no e-mail or Internet access, although this is expected to change by the end of the year. Activities Choose the blissful pampering of a facial. Let the trained fingers of a massage therapist sooth your muscles while working fragrant oils into your skin. Enjoy therapeutic water treatments as you steam in a thermal suite or bathe in exotic herbs. All this while cruising to exotic destinations and enjoying other Holland America's Veendam onboard experience indulgences.
Family Although there are no dedicated children's areas on the Veendam, there are children's programs, which use open deck space, meeting rooms and other public areas. The ship has more than a hundred children on board at times, although numbers can be much smaller, depending on the sailing date. Club HAL caters to younger passengers ages 5-17 with structured programs, and they seem to enjoy themselves very much. Counselors meet at the beginning of the cruise with parents and guardians, and they must personally drop off and pick up each younger child. For diapers, formula and other services, passengers should make their requests known when they book the cruise. Fellow passengers There is a good sprinkling of international passengers, Latin America, Asian and European, but the overwhelming majority is North American. Dress A dark suit is fine for formal nights on board; some men even wore dark sports coats, although there was a generous sprinkling of tuxedos. Two formal nights are set on a seven-day cruise; the second isn't the conventional final night but the one before is. The rationale is that people are too busy packing on the last night to have a big formal occasion. On casual nights both men and women wore casual pants and shirts. Gratuity For years and years, Holland America Line distinguished itself with its "no tipping required" policy, the objective of which was to prove that the cheerful and accommodating staff worked for the love of serving their guests, not for tips. Unfortunately, many passengers took this to mean "tips are included," or "tipping not allowed," so as Holland America hopes to attract a more diverse clientele and more first-time cruisers, the tipping policy has been specifically addressed. |
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is considered the culmination of the Statendam-class ships, with a strong traditional flavor. Her signature is a kind of private pampering, with all sorts of retreats where passengers can enjoy a quiet moment or a book within the activities of the ship. Although the ship carries 1,226 passengers, the feeling is intimate, since spaces are broken up into little cafes and lounges, deck sections and small rooms dedicated to cards, puzzles, books, etc. The main decks are organized around an atrium pierced by Jacob's staircase, a sculpture of Murano stained glass.