In a year in which barely a month has passed without the fancy launch of a
gleaming new ship, yet another joined the world’s cruising fleet last week –
and it’s the most impressive launch of the season.
Eurodam is not just a new ship, but the biggest and poshest in Holland
America’s 14-strong fleet. With room for 2,100 passengers, she’ll be
summering in the Baltic and along the Norwegian coast, mostly using
Copenhagen as the base port, before crossing the Atlantic to peek at the
autumn colours of Canada’s Atlantic seaboard and New England. Winter is
whiled away in the Caribbean. It’s not a bad life.
I joined the ship on the first three days of her maiden voyage from Rotter-dam
to Copenhagen – and, I’ll admit, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.
Eurodam has clearly been designed to incorporate as many cabins with balconies
as possible, even tumbling all the way down the stern, so she looks more
like a toppled block of flats than a ship.
Step on board and it’s visual treats all the way. The interiors, with muted
colours and a sprinkling of arts and arte-facts, are more subtle than the
bling and brass beloved of today’s ship-shapers. The two decks that house
most of the communal space are cleverly divided: even with a full house, you
can escape the mob. Cabins, though, are tight, and are made tighter by the
fact that you can’t leave the balcony door open (to keep the air-con at
maximum efficiency, although an automatic off switch could have sorted
that).
As for food, Eurodam scores highly. The main Rembrandt restaurant offers a
choice of both fixed times and tables as well as the option to dine when,
and with whom, you want. (Many cruise ships aren’t this flexible.) There are
three speciality restaurants, one Asian-inspired (£7.50pp extra), a good
grill (£15) and an okay Italian.
The entertainment was a bit feeble, with limited offerings even during long
days at sea. The facilities, on the other hand, aren’t bad. Eurodam has a
fancy spa, an impressive gym with ocean views, a comfy mini-cinema, a
culinary-arts centre for cooking demos, a children’s club, a casino and a
well-stocked library (books, DVDs and internet).
There’s lots of open deck space, with plastic sun loungers, two pools – one
with a retractable roof – and, unique in the cruising world, a number of
tented cabanas with double day beds, preloaded iPods and wraparound curtains
(but they cost £15-£38 per day).
The itineraries: in winter, the one-week, back-to-back, identical sailings out
of Fort Lauderdale, visiting the Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, St Thomas in
the US Virgin Islands, and a privately owned island in the Baha-mas, are
primarily aimed at Americans. Brits could be put off by the hassle of US
immigration, as well as the emphasis on the American Caribbean islands –
there are scores of more interesting itineraries on ships out of Barbados,
for example.
The summer itineraries in Europe make more sense. Although most of the
destinations can be more conveniently cruised from a UK port, flying into
Copenhagen cuts out the 24-hour toss across the North Sea. There’ll also be
far fewer Brits on board.
So, why pick Eurodam rather than the scores of other cruise ships? She’s just
the ticket if you’ve never cruised before and want a classic, well-run,
refined ship. If you don’t like Eurodam, you probably shouldn’t go cruising.
Sample prices: a week in the Caribbean starts at £1,089pp, including
flights from the UK; and a week in the Baltic starts at £1,199, flying into
and out of Copenhagen. For details, call 0845 351 0557 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.
