Passenger reviews
Have you sailed aboard Volendam? What is
your opinion? Please share your thoughts with
others:
Write
a formal review | Read
more reviews
Need a Ride
to Port of Miami? If yes click
here.
Ship Details
Began service: January, 1999
Guest capacity: 1,440
Total staff: 647
Length: 780 feet
Passenger decks: 10
CDC
inspection score: 87
Volendam Overview
The Volendam cruise ship departs from Fort Lauderdale,
FL, Anchorage, AL, and Seattle,
WA. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Alaska,
Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Check Dates &
Prices for cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, and
Panama Canal.
When she was launched in 1999, Volendam had the
highest passenger capacity in Holland
America's fleet. She proved her modernity by being
the first ship in the fleet to boast a dedicated Internet
center (The Website)
with eight satellite-connected computer stations.
Service personnel are primarily Indonesian and Filipino;
most officers are European, and most of them are from
Holland. One noticeable distinction of Volendam
is the manner in which the staff welcomes and accommodates
passengers with physical challenges. Considerate crew
members assist guests in wheelchairs and those with difficulty
walking, when required, and there is never a sense of
impatience or rushing. There are about 30 wheelchairs
on board for guest use.
Cabins
Deluxe suites offer 563 sq ft. -- including
a "terrace," large enough for a couple of loungers
and a dining table for four. A marble entry foyer, curved
seating area, separate dressing room and full bath with
whirlpool tub provide a luxurious ambiance. More utilitarian
are the 284 sq ft. veranda suites, with
a smaller veranda, separate seating area and small whirlpool
tub in the bath.
All suites include a combination TV/VCR, refrigerator,
complimentary hors d'oeuvres, down duvets, 250-count cotton
sheets, bathrobes, and personalized stationery. This ship
also includes a single penthouse "apartment,"
at 1141 sq ft., with a dining area for eight, a pantry
with microwave, an enormous veranda, and a powder room.
A "concierge club," The Neptune Lounge,
is available for guests in deluxe and penthouse suites.
|
The 384 standard outside cabins are 197 sq ft. but
don't feel spacious. The addition of a large floor-to-ceiling cupboard
and a slight expansion of the bathroom pushes the desk and sitting
area further into the room (and leaves less floor space while increasing
functionality). The storage space is sufficient for two or more people
for several weeks of travel, with a combination of closets, shelves,
drawers, cabinets and desk space.
In most outsides, the TV is wall mounted, freeing the desktop. For
some reason it has been placed near the ceiling, which requires a
very uncomfortable viewing position from the sofa located a few feet
away. Watching TV from bed is the only way to avoid neck pain.
Holland America distinguishes itself in the premium cruise category
by providing one of the nicest standard bathrooms afloat, with plenty
of space and a small but deep bathtub in even the lowest category
outside cabins. A new line of soaps, lotion and conditioning shampoo
(called "Royal Dutch") is presented in large bottles and
bars. There is a new salon-style hairdryer, a magnifying make-up mirror
and a multi-spray showerhead, which can be used as a hand-held or
overhead. The tub enclosure has several well-placed grab bars.
Note One: The water pressure is fine, but during a three-minute shower,
the temperature varied between scalding and frigid. Be careful; the
scalding range can really burn.
Caveat Two: The tub/shower combinations are very difficult to get
into (and out of) for those who have hip, knee or joint problems,
but the ship has a total of 23 cabins designed for physically challenged
passengers, 13 of which are outside, with walk-in showers.
Inside cabins are slightly smaller at182 sq ft.,
and have showers only. Even smaller are the 113 outside staterooms
on the Lower Promenade Deck. These are a favorite
of many repeat guests because of the easy access to the promenade
that circles the ship. (Some of these outsides have fully obstructed
views.) The wide overhang makes the cabins very dark, and although
the windows are covered with a one-way film, prying eyes can still
see inside when the lights are on.
While clean, the spreads, curtains and upholstery are showing signs
of wear, but the brand new Euro-style mattresses make up for it. As
part of Holland America Line's Signature of Excellence
initiative, the ice buckets have been upgraded, a new steel wire-mesh
fruit basket has been added, and triple-sheeting adorns the beds with
high-quality linens. Fluffy Egyptian cotton towels and bathrobes have
also been added.
Hint 1: If you want a longer sofa, book a stateroom designated as
a "triple."
Hint 2: Those who are going for an inside cabin should try to book
either 2555 or 2554, on Main Deck. Guests who are
wheelchair-bound get first dibs, but if either one is open, grab it.
They are huge and they feel more like a hotel room than a cruise ship
cabin.
Hint 3: Some of the Lower Promenade cabins that
are listed as "fully obstructed" really aren't; they
are "partially" blocked by the outside bulkheads around
the promenade, and from a few, you still have a limited ocean
view. They are priced comparably to an inside and can be a fantastic
bargain, especially the ones at the aft of the ship.
Dining
Dining options on Volendam are varied and plentiful,
from early morning continental breakfast to the themed midnight-snack
buffet. Apart from the regular restaurant service, hungry guests will
also find a hamburger/hot dog/taco/fajita station located near the
Lido pool, (self-serve from 11:30am - 5 pm), afternoon
tea, and room service is available 24 hours. Special diets are easily
accommodated by Volendam's kitchen, but advance notice is
required.
The two-story Rotterdam Dining Room, surrounded with
windows, serves open-seating breakfast and lunch and has two assigned-seating
dinner times with plenty of small tables for two. Even as the concept
of open-seating dining is becoming more popular throughout the industry,
there are still many cruise guests who enjoy the traditional same-table,
same-time, same-partners dinner.
While I generally prefer the ease of casual dining, I look forward
to the shows that the waitstaff puts on, as do many who enjoy traditional
cruising. In response for the demand for more choice, the line will
soon be introducing four assigned-seating dinner times throughout
its fleet.
Hint: Early seatings tend to book up first on this ship, so book your
cruise early or be prepared for one of the later dining times.
The Lido Cafe, a cafeteria-style restaurant, is open
for all meals. Most guests choose to have a casual breakfast and lunch
in the Lido, and for dinner, the dining area is transformed
into a semi-restaurant, with table linens and waiters. During busy
breakfast and lunch times, fruit, salads, cheeses, breads and other
cold items are self-serve while most of the hot items are portioned
out from behind the counter. There is a pasta station, a wok station,
soup and salad bar, pizza bar, ice cream and dessert bar. Dining-room
fare is served in the regular buffet line. The restaurant itself is
open and cheery, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Pinnacle Grill, Volendam's only specialty
restaurant, serves aged beef, lobster tails, fish, and lamb in an
elegant environment. Reservations are required and there is a $20
per person charge to dine, but all courses are included, the selections
are terrific, and the service is impeccable.
The room service menu is not extensive but does offer a fair variety.
While not specified anywhere, during lunch and dinner times you can
order from the restaurant menu and have it delivered to your room.
The Java Cafe remains one of the most popular spots
on this ship. Serving a variety of coffees (espresso, cappuccino,
latte) and freshly baked cookies, there is no charge for this little
luxury ... yet. It's one of the small indulgences that Holland America's
guests appreciate the most, but when the ship goes through an upgrade
in early 2006, it will be merged into a larger Internet Cafe/Library/Card
and Game Room center. There will be pastries, flavored
coffees, more specialties, and it will no longer be free.
Entertainment
The entertainment on Volendam is surprisingly diverse, with
two shows nightly in the two-tiered Frans Hals lounge,
a dance music combo that doubles as the deck band on warm Caribbean
evenings, a harpist, a classical quartet, a resident pianist and a
variety of individual performers. Lavish Broadway-style productions
are offered in Frans Hals, pre-dinner piano and post-dinner
dancing in The Crow's Nest, Baroque and Classical
after dinner music in the Explorer Lounge (complete
with brandy, coffee and divine chocolates) and dance music in the
Ocean Bar before and after dinner. Recent-run movies
are shown both in-cabin and in the Wajang Theatre,
where you can get freshly made popcorn.
A Holland America favorite is the crew show, with
folkloric presentations from the native countries of these hard-working
individuals. On every cruise, there is a series of games at various
times of the day: Team Trivia, Name That Tune, Liars Club and others
administered by the Cruise Director, and of course there are both
bingo and art auctions. The casino gets quite lively
at table games and at the wide assortment of slot machines; price-to-play
ranges from a nickel to $5.
Fitness & Recreation
The Ocean Spa offers a wide range of gym equipment
(treadmills, stationary bikes, free-weights, stair-steppers and rowing
machines) which can be used while watching one of the flat-screen
TV's or while gazing through the wall of windows. A large aerobics
section is included in the gym, featuring daily classes; Pilates and
Yoga instruction is available for a fee.
The spa offers pampering treatments and salon services at prices comparable
to other spas at sea and on land. Mud wraps, facials, and deep-tissue
and aromatherapy massages are among the most popular treatments, while
manicures, pedicures and hair care is available in the salon. There
are men's and women's sauna and steam rooms available to Volendam
guests at no charge. The spa will be getting a facelift that will
include a Thalassotherapy pool, an expanded pedicure section, and
a softer, more tranquil look to the massage treatment rooms.
On the Lido Deck, you will find the central
pool, which is surrounded by a glass enclosure and has a
retractable dome cover, two hot tubs, food stations, the Dolphin
Bar, and the aft pool.
The Promenade deck is ideal for those who like to
walk (each circuit equals one-quarter of a mile), and joggers can
use the Sports Deck track. There is a netted tennis/volleyball
court on the Sports Deck and shuffleboard courts.
Public Areas
Bright colors prevail throughout most of the ship; her theme
is "flowers."
Volendam is an easy ship through which to maneuver; both
her size and layout make her comfortable within minutes of boarding.
While the cruise I was on was completely sold out, not once did I
have a feeling of crowding or experience any long lines, anywhere.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this ship is the hidden "nooks
and crannies" located around her public decks. Perfect for intimate
conversation, or just to hide out and read, these spaces include sofas
, armchairs facing sweeping vistas, and corner banquettes away from
the crowd. Look for the massage chairs on deck 5's port side; have
a $1 bill ready if you want to vibrate.
The circular three-story atrium is surrounded by
shops, offices, and guest service counters. The Future Cruise
consultant's desk is located here as well. One floor up,
the Promenade deck holds the Front Desk,
the Shore Excursion counter, and desk for the Guest
Relations manager. The Upper Promenade deck
has a wide assortment of shops surrounding the atrium, as well as
cozy seating and little tables placed around the perimeter railing.
Smoking is extremely limited on Volendam, with small sections
for smokers allocated in most of the bars and lounges. Only in the
casino, Sports Bar and at the Dolphin
Bar for "Cigars Under the Stars"
was there any noticeable tobacco smoke odor.
There is a large (and usually busy) card room and
a library; the Internet center sits
between these two rooms. Although the satellite service can be very
slow at times, the Internet program on board Volendam is
more reasonably priced than on many other ships, with packages starting
at 75 cents per minute and descending to as low as 40 cents per minute
if you buy a block of time. Wireless service is available for those
with laptops and wireless cards (the cards can be rented from the
Internet center as well), with "hot spots" located throughout
the ship.
At night, the Crow's Nest, located forward at the
top of the ship, is a bar and dance venue, but this room truly shines
during the day. Floor to ceiling windows surround the large space,
which has seating divided into intimate groupings and sofas along
the windows. It's an ideal place to curl up with a good book and a
cup of coffee or glass of wine
Kids
Volendam is ideally suited
for a family vacation. There were several families aboard during my
cruise, and while there may not be rock-climbing walls or ice-skating
rinks on this ship, there were plenty of activities for young people
to enjoy.
Club HAL, Holland America's "kid's camp,"
operates daily, with age-appropriate activities and a space called
the Sky Room . Arts and crafts, computer classes,
games, sing-alongs and sea lore are all part of the program, which
is complimentary for all families. Evening babysitting can be arranged
for an additional fee if available (it's best to inquire as soon as
possible to reserve your preferred times).
Teens enjoy the movies, pools, video arcade and the unlimited pizza,
hot dogs and ice cream available during most of the day; special activities
are set aside for those in the teen group when there are enough of
them on board.
Expert Volendam reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, and Panama
Canal.
Volendam cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Volendam Score:
87
Cruise
Critic: Volendam
The Cruise Critic gives Holland America's Volendam a 3-ribbon
rating.
Web links
Holland
America Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Holland
America Cruises at the company's official Web site.
| Holland America
cruise ships |
| |
| |
|
.
