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| Intimate Seating in Silk Den |
Eurodam
Signature-class Excellence
July 2008
Part Two
Public Areas
Adorned by an unusual chandelier of transparent flower-shaped forms, Eurodam's modest triple deck atrium only hints at what lies beyond. Public rooms are concentrated on Promenade and Lower Promenade decks, from the three-deck Mainstage showroom forward to the exquisite two-deck Rembrandt Dining Room aft. In between are the cozy Ocean Bar and Explorers Lounge, Casino, Northern Lights Disco, Piano Bar, lively Sports Bar, Pinnacle Grill, and Queen's Lounge. New additions are the Pinnacle Bar, a somewhat quirky and industrial-modern wine bar adjacent to the Pinnacle Grill restaurant, and Silk Den, an intimate bar/lounge with a Far East motif adjacent to Tamarind Restaurant and overlooking the Lido Pool.
The Crow's Nest and Explorer's Lounge are perhaps the most traditional of the public rooms on board Eurodam. Subtle variations in decor between port and forward-facing areas of the Crow's Nest make it the ideal setting for watching the ship approach ports of call or after dinner brandy. While both lounges are large, they have distinctive, intimate seating areas for cocktails and inlaid wood floors ideal for dancing. At one end of Explorer's Lounge, an actual bar is a new addition. Adjacent to the Crow's Nest, the Explorations Cafe is a combination library, Internet center, and specialty coffee bar.
The Greenhouse Spa boasts a full menu of salon services and spa treatments. A hydro pool and thermal suite are extra-tariff indulgences for complete relaxation and the aroma-steam room is a rare treat for sinus sufferers. Don't overlook your exercise regime while on board; Eurodam has a fully equipped fitness center with state-of-the art equipment and a wide range of classes. After a power walk around the teak Promenade Deck (three laps equals a mile), take a refreshing dip in one of the two pools or select one of the hot tubs to soak sore muscles.
Children haven't been overlooked in the expanded indoor and outdoor facilities for Eurodam's "Club HAL" Program and they will enjoy their own cruise cuisine from special menus designed to appeal to young passengers. Club HAL features play areas, computer center, and even a small stage for youthful performers. Teens, always difficult to please, can participate in a wide range of sports, dance parties, and entertainment options. Even "doing their own thing" with new-found pals is completely safe at sea.
The Art of the Eurodam Experience
Why go on a cruise if you don't see expansive views of the sea? Like her Vista-class sisters, Eurodam presents those sea views and more in unexpected ways. For instance, four scenic elevators carry guests from Deck 1 to Deck 11. While you are waiting, take a good look at the etched glass doors—they mirror the 1920's motif of the interior elevator doors done in cast aluminum. Frans Dingemans, the ship's architect, contrives to give guests the "impression they are on a little ship with lots of surprises." For instance, two whimsical "theater" sculptures in the passageway outside the Queen's Lounge capture the art of food: one features farm animals in the box seat of a glamorous theater peering down at a chef seated below; the other is an ornate dining room with a tiny slice cut out of a huge apple and served on a plate for an anticipated guest.
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| Culinary Arts Demonstration |
Marvelous nooks and crannies contain hallmarks of Holland America vessels—priceless works of art and magnificent flower arrangements. Look up at the ceilings for delicate glass ornamentation and do take the stairs where you will find whimsical benches outside elevators and captivating paintings and sculptures on the stairwell landings. Even accommodations are decorated with a collection of surreal prints by Dutch painter Bas Sebus, whose work so impressed Holland America Line President & CEO Stein Kruse that he requested it be displayed in every stateroom.
Enjoy the priceless antiques and artwork, but don't overlook the opportunities for "performance" art as well. Introduced on Eurodam is the Holland America Digital Workshop Powered by Microsoft Windows that offers a series of free lessons focused on taking better vacation photos, editing them, and using them in creative ways to preserve and share their memories. Even more food for thought is showcased in the Culinary Arts Center (above) where Eurodam's enthusiastic chefs share their expertise during cooking demonstrations and classes for adults and children.
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| Retreat Cabanas |
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| Poolside Cabana |
The Art of Relaxation
It's not uncommon to hear laments about the lack of privacy aboard many ships these days. Accommodations with private balconies solve the problem for many. However, others don't want to be that isolated—they want to be near the action, just not in the center of it—and Eurodam has ideal options for everyone, even the most "I vant to be alone" types will find a haven in Retreat cabanas and poolside cabanas.
Fourteen cabanas in the Retreat area offer a spa-like private area where you can relax with refreshments and deluxe leisure amenities. The tented cabanas are furnished with modern woven chaise loungers, ottomans, and upholstered settees. All include the use of bathrobes and plush towels, hand-held fans, an Evian spray mister, and iPods preloaded with music. Chilled waters are available and you can look forward to iced fruit skewers in mid-morning and frozen grapes, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a glass of champagne in the afternoon. An additional eight light and airy cabanas with cushy wicker double-loungers are located around the Lido pool.
Book your cabana per day or the entire cruise either online at Holland America's web site or once onboard at Reception or the Lido Pool Bar. The Retreat has family-sized cabanas that accommodate four adults and two children (under age 16); all others are for two adults and two children (under age 16). Fees vary by size, location, and sea or port day.
What You WILL Find:
- Delicious meals, creatively presented
- Spa cuisine and other healthy food selections
- Gracious service by a professional staff
- Activities to suit a wide range of interests for all ages
- A rollicking late-night disco
- Stunning artwork and flowers
- Duty free shops generously stocked with high-end merchandise
- Numerous triple and quad staterooms and suites suitable for families
- Attention to accessibility for the physically challenged, including equipment for the hearing impaired
- Spa services by the exclusive Greenhouse Spa & Salon
- Guest performers, production shows, and some of the best entertainment at sea throughout the vessel
- Four outside panorama elevators with scenic vistas of the sea
- Enrichment programs that range from culinary demonstrations to computer classes
- WiFi Internet access in public lounges (and, if your stateroom is nearby, you can log on from there as well)
What You WON'T Find:
- Glitz and flashing lights (except in the disco & casino)
- Boredom
- Laundry rooms
Fast Stats
- 86,700 tons
- 936 feet long, 105.8 feet wide
- 2,104 guests, double occupancy
- 11 decks, 14 elevators
Following her maiden season of European cruises, Eurodam will cross the Atlantic to offer a series of Canada/New England sailings in the fall and Caribbean cruises through the winter before heading back to Europe.
Back to --> Eurodam Preview, Part 1
Photos © CruiseDiva.com
Follow Cruise Diva's Blog day-by-day from Eurodam's Inaugural cruise:
- Eurodam, First of Holland America Line's "Signature Class" Ships
- Eurodam, Getting Ready to Board
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Sailing From Southampton
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Arrival In Rotterdam
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Surfing the Digital Workshop
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Regal Naming Ceremony
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Everything Is Relative
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: Sailing From Rotterdam
- Eurodam, The Inaugural: What A Greeting
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