Signature of Excellence Continues

As part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence, Holland America Line is doubling the amount to be spent in upgrades, enhancements and new features on five of the line's most popular ships. Over the next two years, the ms Statendam, ms Ryndam, ms Maasdam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam will undergo extensive dry docks to create new venues, new staterooms, new décor and more. The $200 million program will begin when Veendam enters an extended dock in spring 2009, and the last ship is slated for completion in early 2011.

The investment in this new series of enhancements will include a new resort pool concept, innovative lanai staterooms, new entertainment and enrichment options, all new stateroom décor and more. Holland America Line's commitment to enhancing its premium fleet now exceeds $525 million.

Signature of Excellence features and amenities are evident in every aspect of the Holland America Line cruise experience, offering guests more luxurious accommodations, more enticing destinations, enhanced dining experiences, more creative activities and even higher levels of service.

While Holland America offers many consistent features across the fleet, its 13 ships do offer varied onboard ambiances.

First up -- and garnering the lion's share of hype -- is the company's ultra-contemporary Vista-class of vessels. The first in the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger group of ships was the Zuiderdam, which entered service in 2003. The Oosterdam debuted in 2003, followed by Westerdam in April 2004, and Noordam in March 2006.

Highlights of the Vista-class ships include ocean views in 85 percent of the staterooms, and verandahs in 67 percent of the staterooms; each stateroom is also equipped with a data port connection. The ships feature nifty, glass-walled exterior elevators that ascend up 10 decks and provide fabulous panoramic views. The alternative restaurant, spa, entertainment lounge, penthouse verandah suites and Internet cafe on the Vista-class ships are the largest in the Holland America fleet. There are extensive Club HAL children's play facilities on all Vista-class ships.

Noordam's architecture, which incorporated the Signature of Excellence enhancements, also included the addition of 27 feet of aft deck space and 35 new staterooms added to the aft end of the ship. It has proved so successful that Holland America plans on taking each of the previous Vista-class ships into dry dock, over a three-year period, to incorporate those additions.

Almost as contemporary are the 60,000-ton, 1,440-passenger sister ships Zaandam and Volendam. The ships debuted in 1999 and 2000, sandwiched in between the launch of the line's Rotterdam and Statendam classes of ships. Zaandam and Volendam feature a convenient third staircase for easier access to public rooms, a very spacious and well-equipped gym facility, and more of the popular "verandah suites" (168) than any other Holland America ship. Zaandam and Volendam were the first ships in the fleet to introduce what has now become Holland America's signature restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill.

The Rotterdam-class vessels consist of the line's two flagships, the 1,316-passenger Rotterdam and the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam, built in 1997 and 2000, respectively. (Both ships are 780 feet long and approximately 60,000 tons.) As flagships, the Rotterdam and Amsterdam were designed to show off Holland America at its best -- and most opulent. They are the most posh ships in the line, decorated with a lot of dark woods, ornate dining facilities, elaborate atriums, and the impressive original artworks that are the line's hallmark. Constructed for longer voyages, the ships carried passengers on the Grand World Voyages from 1997 - 2001.

The Statendam-class ships include Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Veendam. The four vessels entered service between 1993 and 1996. The ships were ordered not long after Carnival Corporation bought Holland America. Since Carnival didn't want the Holland America ships to compete in size with its own Carnival Cruise Lines, the Statendam ships were kept to a more modest size: 55,000 tons, 720-feet long, with a passenger capacity of approximately 1,260. It's a nice configuration that feels more spacious than other mid-sized ships. The Statendam-class ships feature two-level dining rooms and large atriums.

The eight older ships have now been upgraded with Signature of Excellence enhancements, and all boast the Explorations Cafe, Culinary Arts Center, Eurotop mattresses, upscale bedding, massage showerheads, lighted make-up mirrors, salon-style hairdryers, and expanded children's and teen centers found on the newer Vista-class ships.

Holland America purchased the 793-passenger Prinsendam in 2002. Built in 1988, the ship was originally called the Royal Viking Sun, and then became the Seabourn Sun. Holland America dubbed the ship its "Elegant Explorer," and is now utilizing it primarily for longer sailings, such as the Grand World Voyage. Although Holland America updated the ship when it purchased it, the Prinsdendam still has an old-world feel, with lots of dark woods and brass accents. But it also has plenty of modern amenities, including a nicely equipped Internet cafe with wireless access in hot spots throughout the ship and a small but lovely Pinnacle Grill Restaurant. The Prinsendam's promenade deck, with its unobstructed views, is one of the nicest on the seas.

Holland America Line has ordered one new ship, Eurodam, the first in the new Signature-class, to be delivered in 2008; they have an option on a second new-build for delivery in 2010. Almost identical to the Vista-class, Signature (86,000 GRT and 2,104 passengers) will add another deck, second specialty restaurant surrounding the stack area, a premium wine-tasting lounge and a top-side observation space.

Cruise Line Info: Holland America Cruise Reviews by Cruise CriticThe Fleet Cruise Line Overview Onboard Experience Fellow Passengers Itineraries Shore Excursions
The Fleet
While Holland America offers many consistent features across the fleet, its 13 ships do offer varied onboard ambiances.

First up -- and garnering the lion's share of hype -- is the company's ultra-contemporary Vista-class of vessels. The first in the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger group of ships was the Zuiderdam, which entered service in 2003. The Oosterdam debuted in 2003, followed by Westerdam in April 2004, and Noordam in March 2006.

Highlights of the Vista-class ships include ocean views in 85 percent of the staterooms, and verandahs in 67 percent of the staterooms; each stateroom is also equipped with a data port connection. The ships feature nifty, glass-walled exterior elevators that ascend up 10 decks and provide fabulous panoramic views. The alternative restaurant, spa, entertainment lounge, penthouse verandah suites and Internet cafe on the Vista-class ships are the largest in the Holland America fleet. There are extensive Club HAL children's play facilities on all Vista-class ships.

Noordam's architecture, which incorporated the Signature of Excellence enhancements, also included the addition of 27 feet of aft deck space and 35 new staterooms added to the aft end of the ship. It has proved so successful that Holland America plans on taking each of the previous Vista-class ships into dry dock, over a three-year period, to incorporate those additions.

Almost as contemporary are the 60,000-ton, 1,440-passenger sister ships Zaandam and Volendam. The ships debuted in 1999 and 2000, sandwiched in between the launch of the line's Rotterdam and Statendam classes of ships. Zaandam and Volendam feature a convenient third staircase for easier access to public rooms, a very spacious and well-equipped gym facility, and more of the popular "verandah suites" (168) than any other Holland America ship. Zaandam and Volendam were the first ships in the fleet to introduce what has now become Holland America's signature restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill.

The Rotterdam-class vessels consist of the line's two flagships, the 1,316-passenger Rotterdam and the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam, built in 1997 and 2000, respectively. (Both ships are 780 feet long and approximately 60,000 tons.) As flagships, the Rotterdam and Amsterdam were designed to show off Holland America at its best -- and most opulent. They are the most posh ships in the line, decorated with a lot of dark woods, ornate dining facilities, elaborate atriums, and the impressive original artworks that are the line's hallmark. Constructed for longer voyages, the ships carried passengers on the Grand World Voyages from 1997 - 2001.

The Statendam-class ships include Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Veendam. The four vessels entered service between 1993 and 1996. The ships were ordered not long after Carnival Corporation bought Holland America. Since Carnival didn't want the Holland America ships to compete in size with its own Carnival Cruise Lines, the Statendam ships were kept to a more modest size: 55,000 tons, 720-feet long, with a passenger capacity of approximately 1,260. It's a nice configuration that feels more spacious than other mid-sized ships. The Statendam-class ships feature two-level dining rooms and large atriums.

The eight older ships have now been upgraded with Signature of Excellence enhancements, and all boast the Explorations Cafe, Culinary Arts Center, Eurotop mattresses, upscale bedding, massage showerheads, lighted make-up mirrors, salon-style hairdryers, and expanded children's and teen centers found on the newer Vista-class ships.

Holland America purchased the 793-passenger Prinsendam in 2002. Built in 1988, the ship was originally called the Royal Viking Sun, and then became the Seabourn Sun. Holland America dubbed the ship its "Elegant Explorer," and is now utilizing it primarily for longer sailings, such as the Grand World Voyage. Although Holland America updated the ship when it purchased it, the Prinsdendam still has an old-world feel, with lots of dark woods and brass accents. But it also has plenty of modern amenities, including a nicely equipped Internet cafe with wireless access in hot spots throughout the ship and a small but lovely Pinnacle Grill Restaurant. The Prinsendam's promenade deck, with its unobstructed views, is one of the nicest on the seas.

Holland America Line has ordered one new ship, Eurodam, the first in the new Signature-class, to be delivered in 2008; they have an option on a second new-build for delivery in 2010. Almost identical to the Vista-class, Signature (86,000 GRT and 2,104 passengers) will add another deck, second specialty restaurant surrounding the stack area, a premium wine-tasting lounge and a top-side observation space.
Cruise Line Overview
If you had to pick one word to describe the Holland America Line, that word would be "venerable." The line is arguably the most historic and tradition-laden on the seas today. Its first ship, the 1,684-ton Rotterdam, set sail on a voyage between Holland and New York in 1873 and today HAL ships sail all around the globe.

The line originally was named The Netherlands-America Steamship Company, but soon became known as the Holland America Line because it carried great numbers of immigrants from Holland to America. The company concentrated on the trans-Atlantic passenger trade, as well as the commercial freight shipping business until the 1970's. Its first purpose-built passenger ship was built in 1973, and since then, the line has concentrated on cruise vacation travel. In 1978, Holland America moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to Stamford, Connecticut. The company's headquarters then moved to Seattle, Washington in 1983, in order to consolidate operations with an Alaska tour company, Westours (Holland America had purchased a controlling interest in Westours in the early 1970's). In 1988, Holland America purchased Windstar Cruises, operator of four- and five-masted computer-guided sailing ships.

A year later, the behemoth Carnival Corporation acquired the Holland America Line, which remains headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Holland America may now be a U.S.-based cruise line, but it continues to maintain strong ties with its Netherlands heritage. Ships in its fleet -- since the 1890's and continuing today -- bear the suffix "dam." Most of the names are inspired for actual dams that traverse the rivers of the Netherlands. In other cases, such as with its Vista-class of ships, the names represent points of the compass (Oosterdam is East, Westerdam is West, Noordam is North, etc.). Many of the names are in their fourth, fifth or sixth incarnations. Eurodam, HAL's newest offering, will come online in June 2008, the first in the line's new Signature Class.

Another nice traditional touch: In the summer of 2003, Holland America celebrated its 130th anniversary in Rotterdam, its founding city. It was a royalty-studded gala in which the townspeople lined the docks to celebrate their most famous homegrown enterprise. The celebration had another purpose: to inaugurate the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Oosterdam. The Oosterdam is the second in the line's Vista-class ships, the largest vessels in Holland America's history. The third Vista-class ship, the Westerdam, was launched in April 2004; the fourth and final, Noordam, debuted in March 2006.

The Vista-class ships are not the only news from the line of late. At the end of 2003, Holland America announced a new initiative, known as the "Signature of Excellence." Under the initiative, completed in early 2006, the line has spent over $225 million to enhance its fleet in areas of guest accommodations, public rooms, dining, service and enrichment programs.

HAL's Ryndam, which underwent an extensive dry docking in summer 2003, was the first ship in the fleet to emerge with the full "Signature of Excellence" refurbishment; Noordam was built with enhancements in its architecture.

Some of the changes include an early embarkation program that allows guests to board as early as 11 a.m.; a new Culinary Arts Center for cooking demonstrations and classes; table-side waiter service in the ships' casual dining venue, Lido Restaurant; exclusive "Medallion Shore Excursions" at its exotic destinations, such as Asia and Africa; an expanded "Speakers Program"; new Greenhouse Spas on all ships, offering exclusive treatments in thermal suites and hydro pools; the "Explorations Cafe" to serve as a multidimensional venue for onboard programming; 24-hour concierge service for suite guests; and more extensive youth programs.

FIND More Information Below...

Amsterdam  ·  Eurodam  ·  Maasdam  ·  Noordam  ·  Oosterdam  ·  Prinsendam  ·  Rotterdam  ·  Ryndam  ·  Statendam  ·  Veendam  ·  Volendam  ·  Westerdam  ·  Zaandam  ·  Zuiderdam