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I would say that I’m a little surprised MS Koningsdam is so low on this list, but going back to what I said at the start of the guide, the scores are very tight between the ships and MS Koningsdam does have an average score of 3.9 out of 5, which is still very good. The ship feels like classical cruising, but with a more modern update thanks to careful renovation. There are still some parts of the ship that feel a little dated though, which is noted in some reviews. MS Nieuw Statendam is widely praised in customer reviews, with particular focus paid to just how beautiful the ship is. Artwork plays a big part of every ship in the Holland America fleet, but the choices made for MS Nieuw Statendam particularly wow guests.
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The bigger criticisms are more towards the couple of spaces that can feel a little busy at times – namely the Lido Marketplace buffet, and the reception area at the (very popular) spa on-board. By day, the Explorations Cafe -- with its clubby, coffeehouse vibe and free online access to the New York Times, plus a nice selection of books and games -- was a steady hub of activity. The comfortable recliners near the windows were also popular for reading or napping. The ship’s public areas are infused with abundant light through full length windows and boast quality furnishings and fittings that are inviting, practical and comfortable, without being overtly edgy or pretentious. Fresh flowers and a $4.1 million art collection that is a festive and eclectic combination of musical, natural and architectural elements add warmth and color to the ship’s soothing, mid-toned backdrops.
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She is the seventh ship in the Holland America fleet to have ever been called the MS Rotterdam, although she was originally due to be called the MS Ryndam. MS Noordam is the final ship in the list, considered the “worst” by customer review and yet still rated quite highly. MS Volendam is the oldest ship currently sailing for Holland America Line, having first launched back in 1999. She launched back in 2010 and then underwent an extensive refit and refurbishment in 2017 to bring the public spaces more up-to-date. Despite the popularity of the newer Pinnacle Class, it’s actually a slightly older ship that is the second most popular in the fleet – 2008’s MS Eurodam. Even in the lower parts of the ship, there are fantastic views from nearly all the entertainment and dining areas via floor-to-ceiling windows..
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During the day things are more sedate, which may suit some people more than others – if you like a long list of activities, you might feel a little bored. So instead, I’ve visited three of the biggest cruise review websites in the world – Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor. And using those websites I’ve found the average review score for all 11 ships in the fleet, and I’ve based this ranking on putting those scores in order. The biggest downsides of the ship were related to the number of people onboard compared to the size of the public spaces. For example, it was often very difficult to find pool chairs at either the main or the aft pools and waiting in line for meals or popular events was very much the norm. If peace and quiet is what you're seeking, the key is to find spaces of solitude wherever you can.
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Your experience onboard will also be dictated by the type of cabin you choose, so make sure you read my guides on the best and worst cabins on each ship, and check out the Holland America suite perks too, to see if upgrading is worth the cost. The MS Koningsdam, the MS Nieuw Statendam and the MS Rotterdam are all the same size, with an internal volume of 99,863 gross tons and a passenger capacity of 2,650. The newer ships are very popular, with the added size used to good effect to increase the spaces where you can relax. But a lot of passengers prefer the feel of the smaller, older ships where the crew feel a touch more personable. Launched in 2006, she was the last of the Vista-class ships and many of the reviews are similar in nature to her sisters.
From the symphonic orchestral beauty of the Lincoln Center Stage to the soulful, dance-floor-burning hits of B.B. King's Blues Club to the sing-along atmosphere of Billboard Onboard, you're guaranteed to find something your ears will enjoy. A three-story atrium midship sports a curvy green glass stairway crowned by a colossal Waterford Crystal compass. In the elevator lobbies, oversize urns sprout artificial foliage and busts of the Dutch royal family mix it up with ornate metal settees.
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This is particularly true of the line's Alaska and Canada/New England itineraries. Meanwhile, choose an older ship and you’ll still get the great service and food standards that the cruise line is known for, but with a much more intimate atmosphere and potentially a lower fare. Sister ship to the MS Zaandam, her design is very similar, meaning she has a very simple layout and she is lacking in a lot of entertainment facilities and cabin options, including those with a balcony. Guests don’t seem to mind the lack of balconies, which is understandable since they know what they’re booking when they choose their cruise. The dated style of the ship doesn’t get much of a mention either – again, guests on Zaandam seem to have a good idea of what to expect, and love the ship for her smaller, more personable atmosphere.
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There's also the aft open air SeaView Pool and Bar, where smoking is permitted. Overall, the flow here is good but can be a little challenging when crossing from one side to the other with access blocked on the right side of Deck 11 for crew. Like most new ships, Rotterdam is laid out with public areas concentrated at the top and bottom of the ship, with decks of accommodations sandwiched between.
In recent years, HAL has earned a well-deserved reputation for offering some of the best and most varied food at sea. The top level of the double deck World Stage theater begins a line-up of public areas on Deck 3 that includes a full wraparound promenade, which was enjoyed immensely on sea days and before and after dinner, weather permitting. Down on Deck 2, don't miss the well-stocked library, a well-received area that will be retrofitted on sister ships Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam. Your cruise fare includes meals in the main dining room, Lido buffet restaurant, the outdoor Terrace Grill and 24-hour room service (except for some for-charge items); the extensive youth program, Club HAL, is complimentary until 10 p.m.
If the paintings and sculptures are worthy of being mentioned in a review, you know they’re special. The MS Nieuw Statendam is the second of the Pinnacle-class ships to sail for Holland America, and in the review scores, she has come out on top. Secondly, the scores are also very tight, and so the difference between the best ship and the worst ship isn’t huge. The best ship on this list has an average of 4.07 out of 5, which means for the entire fleet, there’s only a difference of score of 0.3. Firstly, something I always like to make clear is that “worst” ship does not mean “bad” ship.
What will cost you extra is all drinks beyond water, tea, basic coffee and some juices; all specialty restaurants; most fitness classes; spa and salon services; shore excursions; gratuities; laundry and purchases from any of the onboard shops. Holland America Line cruisers usually run 50 or older and are evenly split between being retired and employed -- the longer the cruise, the older the demographic and the more retired passengers there are. They tend to be foodies and music-lovers (two things for which HAL prides itself), and most are from the U.S. and Canada, though about 20 percent of the passengers are international, with the U.K. Still, it’s worth bearing the review comments in mind because the ships are different, and will suit different cruise guests. The larger, more modern ships have more to do onboard, and they’re much more contemporary, but you can expect to pay a price that reflects that.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only or cruise packages, per person, double occupancy, and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Passengers onboard Holland America Line's ships love the line's dedication to traditional cruise activities, including afternoon tea and ballroom dancing, but they also flock to the line's newer options.
On most Alaska sailings, Holland America cruisers are 60 to 80 percent North American, although this percentage skews towards Australian and New Zealand cruisers when the ship comes Down Under. However, you will still find many nationalities onboard, with Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians making up the majority of the passenger base. With an average age of 55, Holland America passengers skew slightly older than those of some major lines. On Alaska cruises, about 80 percent of cruisers are older than 50; about 40 percent are over 65. In general, Alaska cruises and those taking place during the Australia and New Zealand school holidays attract more families.
And finally, the Music Walk entertainment complex has revolutionized Holland America ships. Those seeking music at night have a wealth of choices, from the dueling pianos at Billboard Live to the Rolling Stone Rock Room to B.B. King’s/The Lincoln Center, which serves as both a classical and Blues/R&B venue. The timing of performances and sound proof doors helped to cut down potentially conflicting noise issues in this part of the ship.
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