The ability of cruise lines to adapt to changing times is demonstrated by Eurodam. I had a hard time finding entertainment on my first Holland America Line trip over twenty years ago, and the ship was deserted after nine o'clock at night, with most passengers cooped up in their cabins. On a late-season trip to Alaska this year, I was afraid that life on board would be boring once more.
I shouldn't have been concerned. I was so busy during the day that I frequently went to my cabin at approximately 10 p.m., but the more vivacious visitors to Eurodam kept the party going well after I had fallen asleep. My most recent Holland America cruise differed from my first one in part because of the kind of people that were on board as well as the more entertainment alternatives that were offered.
During my weeklong Alaskan cruise, the 2,104-passenger Eurodam was fully booked, with every cabin occupied. My shipmates ranged from middle-aged couples traveling together without children to young honeymooners, to retired couples and friends, to multigenerational family groups.
Overview of Eurodam
The inaugural vessel in Holland America's Signature Class was the 2,104-passenger, 86,273-ton, 11-deck Eurodam. Nieuw Amsterdam made its debut two years after it did in 2008. The ship isn't the biggest or smallest in the fleet, so it's spacious enough to provide plenty of entertainment and dining options without feeling crowded in any one area.
Located in a part of the Lido Market buffet, Eurodam was the first Holland America ship to have the Italian-themed Canaletto and the pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind. Instead of being in a separate restaurant area, Pinnacle Grill, its third specialty restaurant, is located in a charming location that is open to the atrium.
Eurodam features an open-air aft pool and a retractable glass dome over its main pool, making it the perfect vessel for cold-weather cruising in Alaska. The ship lacks the line's well-known B.B. King's Blues Club, but it does include a main theater and two live music venues: the Rolling Stone Lounge (a multi-piece cover band) and Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos).
Eurodam is regarded as a high-end cruise ship. It is larger and has less inclusive pricing than luxury cruise ships, but it is smaller and slightly more premium than megaships with more than 4,000 passengers. Despite having a kids' and teens' club, the ship lacks the large kids club area and the extensive family-friendly program found on Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Couples and groups of friends, multigenerational families (particularly those with older or adult children), and anybody else seeking big-ship amenities without the throng on enormous vessels would find it ideal.
What I loved about Eurodam
Fresh fish
Holland America has teamed up with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who is the line's worldwide fresh fish ambassador, and has increased its efforts to source fresh fish locally in its main cruise locations. As a result, you can sample local mahi-mahi, flounder, tuna, and yellowtail snapper in the Caribbean, while locally caught salmon, cod, halibut, rockfish, and Dover sole are served in Eurodam's restaurants in Alaska.
Perfectly cooked and always the greatest item on the menu was the daily salmon bowl in the dining room. Every night, the dinner menus featured fish dishes with an Alaskan theme, and I relished the fried fish sandwiches and fresh cod sliders. To give fish enthusiasts a chance to savor locally produced seafood, the ship even hosted a pop-up Alaska seafood boil one night (at an additional cost).
Rolling Stone Lounge
After supper, the Rolling Stone Lounge is the place to be on Eurodam. At this small venue on Deck 2, a seven-piece band—five of whom sing and play instruments—performs three sets of rock, pop, and R&B covers every night.
I can't decide if I preferred the crowd or the band. Jumping around on stage and even stepping down onto the dance floor to rock out with the guests, the band was highly enthusiastic and adaptable. Both their singing range and their concert attire were amazing.
But without the audience, the band wouldn't have the same appeal. Every age group of cruisers flocked to the dance floor to show off their dancing skills to "Footloose" or to embrace their significant other to "Unchained Melody." I saw parents dragging embarrassed teenagers up to dance with them, older couples with impressive feet, and unashamedly strutting single ladies. The songs were as amazing as the people-watching.
Tamarind
Tamarind is my favorite onboard restaurant if you enjoy Asian cuisine, and it's well worth the additional cost. With window-facing seating on both sides of the ship and a sizable bar and lounge area on the other side of the elevator hall, the purple-hued restaurant takes up much of Deck 11 midship.
The meal is what really draws people in, even if the setting is welcoming with soft banquettes and pillows strewn across the tables. Whether you're a vegetarian or a beef lover, there is something for everyone in these flavorful dishes. The themed drink menu features tastes like yuzu and lychee; for something unique and delectable, try the shiso sour.I don't mean to be disrespectful to the Iron Chef, but my travel companion and I both liked Tamarind's normal menu better than the Morimoto at Sea pop-up, which happens here once every voyage.
Alaska-themed activities and dining
I'd be negligent if I didn't note Eurodam's full embrace of its tagline, "We love Alaska," which is displayed over the bow of the ship, although Caribbean cruisers may skip this part. The ship features Alaska-themed presentations on the World Stage while at sea, Alaska-themed specialty cocktails (complete with glacial ice!) in the Ocean Bar, and an Alaska-themed breakfast on two sea days. In sailing routes where animals are frequently present, a wildlife consultant accompanies the ship to assist guests in spotting seals, porpoises, and whales. The ship's shop sells goods with an Alaskan theme.
The crew members keep passengers warm by serving pea soup on the outside decks and selling hot cocoa and spiked coffee in souvenir cups, and the captain is permitted to spend an hour viewing the glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. In addition to pointing out wildlife, answering questions from visitors, and bringing books and souvenirs from the national park to sell in the Crow's Nest, the park rangers—some of whom are Alaska natives—narrate the Glacier Bay transit.
What I didn't love about Eurodam
The ship is showing its age
In 2023, Eurodam had some renovations, but not all of the ship's components were altered. The dark wood desk, wardrobe, and chairs in my room were all scratched and dingy, and the cabin's interior lacked a sense of modernity. In addition to having stains, the wall paneling in my room had some mismatched areas that might have been replaced.
The ship also appeared to have some plumbing problems. In several areas of the cabin halls, I could smell sewage. During the latter days of our voyage, we had to continuously flood the bathroom because our shower drain had stopped working. Although it wasn't a major issue overall, it's best to approach your onboard living quarters with the appropriate attitude.
Queues
I would anticipate less lines and crowds on a premium category ship with about 2,100 passengers than on a megaship. However, Eurodam appeared unprepared for passenger demand on multiple occasions.
We all had to wait in line to drop off our bags inside the terminal before going to security and check-in, which contributed to the two-hour embarkation time in Seattle (all of which was spent waiting in lines). Porters were not available to take luggage. After a whole season of Alaska cruises from the port, I was shocked that Holland America didn't have the procedure down pat. I'm not sure if that was an isolated incident.
Fifteen minutes before the dining room doors opened, the line for the special Royal Dutch Tea formed. I was seated at the very back of the dining room because I arrived just minutes before teatime. The three-tiered snack platter was never brought to our six-person table. They handed us some plates of leftovers after we eventually got up and chased down the waiters (and we scavenged more food from adjoining tables as their diners left).
Additionally, you will have to wait in line to buy coffee and drinks at the Explorations Cafe in the Crow's Nest, catch the shuttle back to the dock in Sitka (which can take up to 30 minutes), and eat in the Dining Room during busy hours without a reservation. Adapt your expectations appropriately.
Eurodam cabins and suites
From the standard window-inside cabins, ocean-view rooms, and cabins with private balconies to four different types of suites and spa-themed rooms in every category from inside to suite, Eurodam provides a wide range of cabin and suite options.
Although I had a guarantee cabin reservation, which guaranteed me at least a balcony, Holland America picked my specific room location from among the rooms that other passengers hadn't chosen. I was given Room 6049, an ambulatory-accessible cabin, by the line. The accommodation did not have as much open space as would be needed to accommodate someone in a wheelchair, but it did include some amenities to help a visitor with mobility concerns, like a roll-in shower with handrails and a ramp into and out of the balcony.
Our room's outer wall was slanted rather than at right angles to the other walls since it was situated on the corner where the ship's exterior protruded. Additionally, it meant that our balcony was bigger than usual, which was a nice perk in Alaska.
The accommodation, like the majority of cabins on board, had two twin beds that could be made into a queen. The hardwood headboard had a USB port and reading lights on either side. The phone was in one of the two drawers on the bedside tables, which also featured an open shelf. You could slip your suitcases under the main section of the enormous drawer that was located beneath the foot of each bed, where I put my laundry and extra bags.
On the other side of the bed was a flat-screen television. It provided the same ship information as the Navigator app, along with a few news, sports, and entertainment channels, on-demand movies, podcasts, audiobooks, and bow and aft cameras.
A desk with a minifridge and no doors was crammed in next to the sliding glass door to the balcony and beside one side of the bed. With two 115-volt North American outlets, two 220-volt European outlets, and a USB port, it served as the primary location for charging your devices. There were no shelves, but there was a mirror above the desk.
Pro tip: Since we had no plans to purchase anything, I instructed our room steward to clear out the minibar products that were taking up space on our desk and minifridge.
It appears that most ordinary cabins contain a sofa and coffee table. We had a coffee table and two red upholstered chairs that had seen better days. But since there wasn't room for them to be arranged in a comfortable talking arrangement, they were arranged against the wall. To use my laptop, I pushed one of the chairs over to the desk. A couple more outlets were provided by a corner shelf on the opposite side of the glass door.
A two-section wardrobe served as the room's primary storage unit. There were several shelves on one side, one of which held the safe, and a large, vacant space that appeared to be unused for the life jackets. There were two hanging racks on the opposite side, but I took one out so we could hang dresses. There was also a low shoe space and a high shelf.
Additionally, there were bathrobes in the room for passengers to use. The cabin also came with a hair dryer, throw blankets to use on your balcony in Alaska, and a tray with an ice bucket and a corkscrew/bottle opener. There was also a Bible in one of the drawers, which is unusual for cruise ships!
The bathroom was spacious, with a bench and wand showerhead for a no-threshold shower, but no extra shelving for amenities. There was little counter space, no shelf beneath the sink (or even hooks on the back of the door), and only three slender glass shelves by the sink to keep your items.
Despite being larger than usual, the balcony was furnished with the typical items for this ship: two metal-and-mesh chairs with moveable footrests (a lovely touch!). and a little round table for drinks.
I must admit that this space did not appeal to me for several reasons:
First, there was no storage in the room, if my explanation wasn't clear enough. There were no drawers of the right size for keeping T-shirts, socks, underwear, or swimwear aside from the minidrawers in the nightstands. Although the closet is manageable, if you're shorter, several of the shelves are out of reach. There aren't any hooks in the bathroom for wet towels, but there are four big hooks at the cabin entrance for hanging bags or jackets. More bathroom storage and a separate wardrobe area are features of standard cabins.
In order to facilitate storage, I was happy to bring some magnetic hooks to install on the cabin's walls.
Also, unlike many other cabins, the room lacked an entrance hallway. The light from the corridor would shine directly into my face if I was asleep and my friend went out to buy coffee.
Additionally, there was no seating place due to the peculiar layout. The only true uses for the red chairs were to sit by the desk or toss extra items on them. Because it cannot be positioned facing a chair without obstructing the cabin's navigable space, the coffee table also serves as storage exclusively. The poor dining arrangement made ordering room service less alluring.
Picky people should be aware that the cabin furniture has obviously been there for a long and was not replaced during the ship's 2023 dry dock, even though it is not an issue for me. There were dings and blemishes on every piece of wood. They also marked up the walls. The space was uninviting and appeared to be out of date. It fell short of the high-end quality of a Holland America cruise.
Numerous accessible accommodation options are available in different cabin categories at Eurodam. Wider doorways, access to both sides of the bed, and a roll-in shower with a seat and lowered controls are all features of fully accessible cabins for wheelchair users. The same accessible amenities are available in single-side-approach versions of these cabins, but wheelchair access is limited to one side of the bed. Although ambulatory-accessible cottages, such as mine, have accessible showers and wider doorways, they lack the extra floor space needed to fit a wheelchair.
Inside, ocean-view, balcony, Signature Suite, and Neptune Suite accommodations are all accessible.
The majority of regular cabins on Eurodam include tub-shower combos, which is a unique element of the cabin layout. This is fantastic if you enjoy taking baths, but it's not so great if you have difficulties getting in and out of a tub to take a shower. Only showers are available in accessible rooms and inside cabins.
The ship's spa is conveniently accessible from all of the cabins and suites on decks 10 and 11.
Signature Suites, which come in normal and spa forms, are the smallest suites. They range between 273 and 456 square feet in size and have spacious sitting spaces with sofa beds and bathrooms with full-size whirlpool baths and dual vanities. At 506–590 square feet, each Neptune Suite has a larger couch bed, a dressing room, and a king bed instead of a queen.
The best accommodations are two 1,357-square-foot Pinnacle Suites. These have separate dining and living areas, microwaves and pantries, whirlpools on private verandas, stereos, and guest restrooms.
You can pay more for Club Orange admission if you want better amenities and priority and aren't staying in a Neptune or Pinnacle suite. This gives you access to facilities including concierge service, priority seating and a larger menu in the Dining Room, priority access to check-in, tender boats, lines at guest services, and shore excursions, and more. All of these benefits are automatically included in the price of the top two suite levels.
Related: All the information you require on Holland America cruise cabins and suites
Eurodam restaurants and bars
The locally sourced seafood program I stated above is Eurodam's most notable dining feature, but there are other culinary highlights as well. With a variety of inventive or foreign meals in addition to more traditional cruise favorites, I thought the Dining Room menus were extensive (particularly the breakfast and brunch menus).
With its salad bar and sushi counter, which provide a wide variety of vegetables and proteins, the buffet is above average. Visitors who are ready to pay more can choose from a range of specialist restaurants and pop-up locations, and the food at these establishments is typically well worth the additional expense.
Look for meals prepared by renowned chefs who collaborate with Holland America, including David Burke, Jacques Torres, and Ethan Stowell, in all of the ship's restaurants. These complement the food and beverages that chef Morimoto has selected for the Dining Room and his once-a-cruise pop-up restaurant.
Related: The definitive cruise guide on cuisine and dining aboard Holland America ships
Restaurants
The appropriately named eating Room on decks 2 and 3 is the center of Eurodam's eating scene. On port days, it's available for breakfast and lunch; on two of the sea days of our cruise, there was a brunch with an Alaskan theme.
Lunch and breakfast are open sitting. You'll be asked if you want to eat with your party or with other people at the table. If the right-sized table isn't available, you might have to wait.
The Dining Room is a more appealing option for breakfast than on certain cruise ships because of the vast breakfast menu. There are a variety of Asian congees, Indian aloo masala and egg bhurji, kippered herring with scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, Swedish pancakes, and banana oatmeal bread French toast, in addition to the usual cereal, pastries, eggs, and pancakes. The spicy potatoes that accompany the Indian breakfast meal are a must-try; they were so good that we raved about them all day.
Throughout the menu, vegans can discover nonmeat and nondairy alternatives for cream cheese, scrambled eggs, yogurt, cheese, and sausage.
On certain days, lunch is served, and the menu offers a condensed selection of appetizers, main courses, and desserts. After a day in Ketchikan, I had a tuna melt with crunchy french fries and a spinach and artichoke dip.
We scheduled our meals to have the Alaska-themed brunch for both breakfast and lunch because it was so delicious. The Alaskan blueberry pancakes needed more blueberries, but the wild forest mushroom crepes were delicious — after I scraped off the excess Hollandaise sauce. The creamy goat cheese sprinkled with various berries was a cute little appetizer. The fisherman's halibut sandwich was a sophisticated take on fish and chips for lunch.
For dinner, guests have the option of open-seating from 5 to 9 p.m. or assigned table seating at 5 or 8 p.m. One of the two dining rooms will be allotted to you.
Alaskan staples are featured in the dinner menu, which is broken down into appetizers (fresh cod sliders, seafood deviled eggs), main courses (chile rellenos, pork medallions with huckleberry jam, homemade lasagna), and desserts (chocolate and whiskey torte, strawberry crisp). Additionally, Iron Chef Morimoto's fresh halibut and epice lobster tails, as well as filet mignon, lobster, and strip loin steak from Pinnacle Grill, are available for an additional fee.
In Alaska, they served a different fish bowl every night, and these were the tastiest appetizers. The many sauces and garnishes gave the perfect amount of flavor to the juicy and delicate fish.
Holland America loves to embrace its heritage and can trace its origins back to the Netherlands. To sample Dutch classics like Bossche bol cream puffs and Hodge Podge Klapstuk (braised beef brisket), look for the Dining Room's Dutch-themed supper, which is served one night per trip.
On certain days, a Dutch-themed afternoon tea is served at 3 p.m. and is so well-liked that by 2:45 p.m., a line is already stretching down the Deck 3 hallway. Arrive early. On the first sea day, we were among the last people in line and were given leftovers rather than the adorable three-tiered plates of scones, finger sandwiches, and chocolates. The atmosphere is enjoyable even though the sandwiches and snacks aren't very noteworthy. Make sure your platter has the stroopwafels, which are the greatest treats.
The Lido Market buffet, which is located on Deck 9 between the ship's two pools, is the dining destination for cruisers seeking a shorter, more relaxed dinner. Opening hours are 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with one-hour breaks in between meals. However, the number of guests who arrived for a supper at precisely the wrong moment was unexpected. The coffee and tea station nearest the main pool is open all day and all night.
All of your morning favorites, such as freshly prepared eggs and omelets, are served at breakfast stations.
I really like the make-your-own salad bar during lunch, which had a ton of vegetables and proteins including chicken and seared tuna. My son would have swooned over the constantly accessible sushi, even if I'm not a sushi lover. I continued to consider the Asian and Indian choices. A spaghetti bar, lasagna, fish and chips, and other hot options looked appetizing, but my travel companion was a frequent client of the deli sandwich counter. Treat yourself to the ship's calorie-dense cookies instead of the dessert display, with or without a scoop of ice cream.
With a carving station, hot entrees (many of which are repeats from the Dining Room), an international station, a salad bar, a pasta station, and a variety of desserts, dinner is much like lunch. In Alaska, it's a particularly good choice if you don't want to dress up for dinner after spending the day outside in the cold. The majority of the stations close after 8 p.m., while those that remain provide late-night delicacies like taco bars, fried chicken, and macaroni and cheese.
You may get a quick bite without having to dry off at one of the two laid-back places located on either side of the Lido Market, one on each of Eurodam's pool sections. Additionally, you are welcome to bring food from these locations to the buffet.
Dive-In is Eurodam's grill by the main pool. It offers dogs with crispy french fries, either unadorned or topped with a variety of toppings, and burgers (beef, portobello mushroom, Beyond, and a chicken sandwich). Here, I've never had a bad sandwich.
When you're hungry during the off-peak hours, NY Pizza by the aft pool below the Lido Market is a nice option because it's open all afternoon and into the evening. You can order a 9-inch thin-crust pie from a selection of options or make your own, or you can grab a slice or a salad. Try the Wall Street with prosciutto, arugula, and gorgonzola, or the Primo with salami, pickled peppers, and red onion, which was designed by renowned Seattle chef Ethan Stowell. Pizza on cruise ships isn't the greatest, but if you get one freshly baked, it will satisfy your craving for cheesy bliss.
You'll note that one area of the Lido Market has slightly different furnishings and an Italian flair. Every evening, a portion of the buffet restaurant is occupied by Canaletto, an Italian specialty restaurant. Italian classics including burrata, veal and sage meatballs, Chianti-braised beef short ribs, pasta with shrimp and clams, tiramisu, and affogato are offered at this sit-down restaurant that is staffed by waiters. It costs $25 per person to eat here.
Alaskan cruisers who enjoy seafood should be on the lookout for the Seafood Boil pop-up, which is only available for one night in the Lido Market. A variety of Alaskan seafood, including clam soup, salmon, mussels, clams, and shrimp, is served for $35 per person. For dessert, there is a berry crisp and vanilla ice cream.
The Pinnacle Grill, Holland America's renowned steakhouse and seafood restaurant, is located on Deck 2 midship if you want to treat yourself to a fantastic lunch. Lunch and dinner are available for a charge ($19 and $46 per person, respectively). A variety of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks are the restaurant's main attraction, but there are also nonsteak selections including grilled lamb chops, lobster tail, and a tomato and eggplant tarte tatin.
The Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska, which uses Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, is the restaurant's hallmark dish, however I personally always choose the chocolate souffle or key lime pie for dessert.
Although there is a variety of sandwiches and entrees on the smaller lunch menu, you can still order steak.
Because I adore Asian cuisine in all its forms, Tamarind is one of my favorite cruise ship specialty restaurants. From the satay sampler, spring roll appetizers, dan dan noodles, and crispy duck meals to the yuzu cheesecake and yuzu and lychee sorbet desserts, every dish I've had there has been excellent.
The venue on Eurodam appeared brighter than on the newer ship Rotterdam (though perhaps that was more due to the time of day), and I particularly like the black Japanese serving ware and the purple and gold décor. It's well worth the $35 per person fee to eat at Tamarind.
Tamarind is located on Deck 11 midship, with its sister restaurant, Nami Sushi, in the center. In addition to a variety of sashimi, nigiri sushi, and sushi rolls, this a la carte restaurant offers appetizers, main courses, and desserts, some of which are just available at Nami and others from the Tamarind menu.
Start your dinner with tuna poke, spicy edamame, or tofu and wakame miso soup; sample one of the specialties, including seared albacore tuna or Hamachi usuzukuri; and finish with Japanese mochi ice cream for a sweet treat.
The fish-forward dining experience Morimoto at Sea pop-up is also located in Tamarind. A three-course lunch featuring dishes prepared by the famous Iron Chef is available for $55. Start with a fresh tuna pizza or sushi plate, and for your main dish, have entire sea bass or lobster pad thai. Fortunately, desserts don't include fish. The dark chocolate sphere that melts when hot salted caramel is drizzled over it is the show-stopper; if you enjoy pop rocks and coconut, try the white chocolate lime ganache.
I commend Holland America for continuing to provide free room service. A continental breakfast basket of pastries and yogurt, vegetable frittata, yogurt parfait, juices, tea and coffee, cereal, toast, fruit, and an All-American meal consisting of eggs, hash browns, bacon, and sausage are among the breakfast options available for order between 6 and 10 a.m. Steak and eggs, lobster Benedict, and a morning smoothie are among of the extra-charged dishes.
From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., the restaurant serves all-day meals that include appetizers like Caesar salad and chicken noodle soup, main courses like oven-roasted chicken and three-bean chili, sandwiches like club sandwiches and a barbecue pulled pork sub, and desserts like chocolate layer cake and New York cheesecake. From 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., a limited selection of this menu is offered for late-night ordering. Miniature burgers, banana pudding, grilled cheese, spaghetti with meatballs, and chicken nuggets are all on the children's menu.
You can get some things from the specialty restaurants to be delivered to your cabin for an extra charge. Dive-In dogs and burgers are available around-the-clock for $5 each. Only dinnertime is when the Pinnacle Grill and Tamarind menus are open; bento boxes cost $15 apiece, while some steaks and lobsters are priced a la carte.
Bars
Even though Eurodam is not the largest cruise ship, bars can be found almost anywhere you go. While some are standalone, others are attached to dining and entertainment areas. Look for happy hour deals at the Ocean Bar and Billboard Onboard between 4 and 5 p.m., when beverages that are normally priced up to $11 are 50% off.
Outside the Pinnacle Grill on Deck 2, the Pinnacle Bar features two distinct personalities. To relieve the strain on Deck 11's main coffee bar, it offers specialized coffee drinks at an additional cost in the morning. In the evenings, it serves as the ship's wine bar and the location for predinner beverages prior to dining in the Dining Room down the hall or the Pinnacle Grill across the street.
A favorite spot to hang out day or night is the Ocean Bar on Deck 3 midship, where you may enjoy a live band performance during dinner. Here you'll find specialty cocktails with a destination theme, including six that mixologist Sam Ross made especially for Alaska. (Don't overlook the PNW Penicillin or the Klondiker.) This drink menu will be replaced by a new one designed by James Beard Award-winning drinks historian David Wondrich when the ship sails to the Caribbean.
Additionally, the bartenders here make some amazing specialty drinks. choose a bubble martini if you want sweet beverages; choose a foggy boulevardier or a cherry Old-Fashioned if you prefer smokey (literally) cocktails.
Bars with themed drink menus are attached to the casino and music venues Billboard Onboard and the Rolling Stone Lounge. I've heard that the bartenders on the Billboard Onboard make a mean white Russian.
For umbrella drinks on a hot day or beer and cocktails with your buffet lunch, the Sea View Bar by the back pool on Deck 9 and the Lido Bar by the main pool are your best bets.
You can begin (or prolong) your day with lattes, cappuccinos, and signature and better-than-the-Lido coffee, with or without alcohol, in the ship's primary coffee bar, the Explorations Cafe in the Crow's Nest on Deck 11. In addition, it offers beverages to guests who camp out in its comfortable couches both day and night.
The Tamarind Bar, which is located across the hall from the restaurant, is a hidden treasure on this ship. Asian-inspired cocktails like the Wasabi Cocktail and the Shiso Sour are available on its special cocktail menu. Take a party to one of the curtained-off cabanas, relax in an easy chair by the window, or cozy up to the small bar. On sea days, the pub is a more sedate option than the Crow's Nest crowds.
Eurodam activities
You'll find it easier to navigate Eurodam if you remember that the fun is in the front and the food is in the back. The main entertainment and activity areas are located on decks 2 and 3, as well as decks 9 through 11, primarily forward and midship.
Aside from nature viewing, our cruise had few activities, yet everyone was entertained. Line dancing workshops, arts and crafts, bridge and mahjong games, bingo, trivia, and destination talks were among the activities available on Sea Day. You will also find all promotional activities, such as spa seminars, shopping events, and art auctions.
Don't miss the charity walkathon around the ship, On Deck for a Cause. The money earned in Alaska goes toward science, education, and park research. T-shirts will be given to donors and participants.
The heart of any cruise ship is the pool deck, and Eurodam's has a retractable glass roof, so the pool can be used in rainy, cool Alaska. The ship has two pool areas on Deck 9. The covered pool is the midship Lido pool, flanked by three hot tubs and plenty of lounge chairs. It does get humid inside with the roof closed. One side of the ship is lined with curtained-off cabanas available for rent.
The aft Sea View pool and its two hot tubs are open to the elements. The smoking area is also here, by the Sea View bar. In Alaska, it's a popular spot for wildlife viewing, though if you like an outdoor hot tub on a chilly day, come on over.
Deck 11's Retreat sundeck is a private space with cabanas with padded lounge chairs and a table for dining. The sundeck is only accessible to guests who have paid to hire a cabana for the day or the duration of the voyage.
Bathrobes and towels, warm and cold towels, chilled water bottles, a fruit basket, midafternoon ice cream, and a late-afternoon snack of chocolate-dipped strawberries, frozen grapes, and sparkling wine are all included in the cabanas. Additionally, you'll get special breakfast, lunch, and bar service. The Retreat was deserted in Alaska, but I believe it would be a nice place to get away from the pool deck crowds in the Caribbean. (Eurodam's Retreat does not have a hot tub, in contrast to several Holland America ships.)
The ship's fitness center, salon, and spa are located in front of the Lido pool. You can treat yourself to high-end massages, facials, men's shaves, hair styling, and pedicures. Keep an eye out for discounts on numerous treatments or embarkation or port day promotions.
Additionally, a day or cruise pass to the ship's thermal suite is available for purchase. In addition to a thermal suite featuring saunas, steam rooms, and heated lounge chairs, it has a hydrotherapy pool.
Because the group fitness class area is in the middle of the room rather than in a separate area, the fitness facility appears to be quite vast. A row of windows faces elliptical trainers, stationary cycles, rowing machines, and treadmills. You can also use resistance machines or free weights to work out.
While some classes, like yoga or boot camp, are free to attend, others, like the fitness center, are not.
Pro tip: The exercise area was the sole water bottle refill station we could locate on board.
Pickleball lessons and contests are held on several days during each trip, and the sport has taken over the sports court on Deck 11 aft.
On Deck 11, the Crow's Nest has a game lounge on the starboard side and an art studio on the port side. You can take free art classes like calligraphy, watercolor painting, or origami folding, or you can pay more for longer, more involved classes like canvas painting with a tutor.
On sea days, we observed a lot of cruisers playing board games or assembling puzzles (found in metal briefcases similar to "Deal or No Deal"). Bring patience if you're trying to get a table because the Crow's Nest is always full due to the popular coffee bar and the comfortable chairs by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The casino on Deck 2 has game tables and slot machines where you can try to win some fun money. You can't light up as you double down because the place isn't smoking.
Shop on Deck 3 of the ship to spend your riches. Fine jewelry and watches, cosmetics and fragrances, designer purses, apparel bearing the Holland America insignia, and mementos associated with the location are all available for purchase. The Effy jewelry has its own display and sales area.
Park West has put up an art gallery on Deck 2, if you'd prefer to buy artwork. At onboard auctions, you can place bids on sculptures and paintings. At the photo shop on Deck 3, you can purchase photographs shot by the ship's photographers, along with binoculars and cameras, if you have a preference for taking pictures of yourself or your loved ones. For those Christmas card pictures, you can also schedule a portrait session.
Instead of being a library with comfortable reading nooks, a library on Deck 3 is more akin to a bookstore, with several copies of a carefully chosen selection of well-known novels. Read your book somewhere on board by borrowing it. Additionally, there is a take-one-leave-one shelf for books donated by visitors.
On all of its ships, Holland America has the aptly (but uninspiredly) called Kids Club. Under the guidance of young workers with professional training, it houses kids ranging in age from three to seventeen.
For age-appropriate activities, kids (ages 3 to 6), tweens (7 to 12), and teens (ages 13 to 17) are divided into three groups. These groups may participate in video games, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, theme parties, and poker tournaments. There are two play spaces on Deck 10 midship; pingpong, skee ball, and other games for kids and teenagers to enjoy on board are available in the High Score gaming room.
The atrium on Deck 1 includes the guest services desk and future cruise booking counter, as well as a small internet cafe. The shore excursions desk is not located in this area (as it may be on other cruise lines), but rather in Explorations Central on Deck 11 Forward. Seminars and gatherings are hosted by groups on board in Deck 3's three meeting spaces.
Eurodam shows
Eurodam's major entertainment space is the World Stage, which spans decks 1–3 in the front of the ship. During my weeklong vacation, the ship's troupe of singers and dancers performed three song and dance revues. If you enjoy that type of entertainment, the shows are a good way to spend 45 minutes, but you won't lose anything if you avoid them totally.
On the other nights, guests take the stage. A comedian and a piano virtuoso were among those who entertained us on our voyage.
All Holland America ships, including Eurodam, have a strong emphasis on live music. Billboard Onboard, located across from the casino on Deck 2, features dueling pianists who play themed performances in between, urging you to order drinks. Sing-along is welcomed. When pianists claim, "The more you drink, the better we sound," you should trust them.
Down the hall, the best performers take the stage at the Rolling Stone Lounge, where a multi-singer band screams out popular songs in concerts featuring 1980s hits or soulful tones. Guests are urged to get up and dance in the area in front of the stage. The singers and musicians were fantastic, and the audience was more than happy to yell out requests and boogie down on the dancefloor.
The once-a-cruise Orange Party is held here; if you fail to pack citrus-colored apparel, you can purchase orange accessories from the ship's shops that day.
Eurodam itineraries and pricing
Eurodam spends the winter in the Caribbean and the summer in Alaska, and this will continue until the summer of 2026.
From late April to late September, Eurodam departs from Seattle on seven-night round-trip "Alaska Explorer" excursions that visit Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
The ship then repositions itself along the Pacific coast and through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale. Eurodam operates Caribbean cruises on alternate itineraries that can be combined into a longer voyage. For the 2024-2025 season, it will mostly sail 10- and 11-night voyages to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, which can be combined into 21-night sailings. In 2025-2026, it will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean trips that can be combined into a two-week cruise that visits new ports each week.
In early April, the ship reverses course, returning through the Panama Canal and up the Pacific Coast to Seattle.
A seven-night shoulder-season trip to Alaska costs $1,079 per person, based on double occupancy. Seven-night Caribbean cruises start at $829 per person for an inside cabin, while 10-night Caribbean cruises begin at $969 per person.
These are Holland America's most basic fares, and they include all taxes and levies. It also has a "Have It All" add-on package for an additional price, which includes a limited number of specialty dining meals, a shore excursion credit, a Wi-Fi package, and a drink package. When booked before the trip, the cost is $55 per person per day.
What to Know Before You Go
Required documents
The bulk of Eurodam's sailings are closed-loop cruises that depart and return to the same US port (Seattle or Fort Lauderdale). If you are a US citizen embarking on a closed-loop cruise, you can sail with your original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, instead of a passport.
All other one-way sailings that board and disembark in separate ports require a valid passport with at least six months remaining before expiration and enough blank pages for stamps.
Whether or whether you are required to carry a passport, TPG always recommended that you have one in case of an emergency that causes you to disembark in a foreign nation.
You will also need your boarding documents, which may be printed or downloaded to your mobile device via the Holland America Line Navigator app, to show at the dock for embarkation.
Gratuities
Crew gratuities will cost $17 per person, per day ($19 if you rent a suite). You can change the amount or remove it completely (which we do not recommend) by going to the guest services desk. Gratuities cannot be adjusted or removed after the voyage has ended.
Bar beverages, the drink package, specialized restaurant meals, other a la carte food costs, and spa purchases will all have an 18% service fee.
Consider taking cash to tip porters at the embarkation port, as well as shore excursion guides and bus drivers.
Wi-Fi
Holland America has three Wi-Fi packages at an additional cost.
The Surf bundle lets you to utilize social media and chat apps (but not audio or video), check your email, and browse the internet.
The Premium option adds video and Wi-Fi calling, as well as file transfers, to the Surf service.
The Stream bundle contains all of the features of the Premium subscription as well as the ability to play online games and stream shows and music.
If you buy Holland America's Have It All all-inclusive package, you will get the Surf package (although you can upgrade for an extra cost); occasionally, the Premium package is offered with a Have It All purchase as part of an early booking promotion. Internet plan rates differ depending on the length of the voyage and the number of devices included.
Carry-on drinks policy
Holland America's alcohol policy permits cruisers aged 21 and up to bring bottles (750 milliliters or fewer) of wine or Champagne on board for a $20 corkage fee, regardless of where the alcohol is consumed. No beer, liquor, or packaged wine is permitted.
You may bring wine back on board if purchased in port, but liquor and other types of alcohol will be held for you until the end of the cruise. If you buy wine on a Holland America-sponsored shore excursion to a winery, the line will eliminate the corkage price for one bottle per passenger and tour.
Most nonalcoholic beverages cannot be brought on board. Each passenger, however, is permitted to bring six 1-liter cans or cartons of water or twelve 500-milliliter cans or cartons. Plastic bottles are not permitted, and any opened beverages must be disposed of before to boarding the ship.
Crew members will search checked and carry-on bags for illicit beverages and reject them.
Smoking policy
Smoking is not permitted in any indoor spaces on Eurodam, including staterooms, cabin balconies, and the casino. This includes electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. The sole designated smoking spot on board is the Sea View Bar.
Violations of these policies may result in a $250 fine, and repeated infractions may result in a passenger being removed from the sailing.
As part of Eurodam's policy to avoid onboard fires, anyone who purchases fragrant candles in port will have their mementos confiscated and returned on the final day of the cruise.
Laundry
Eurodam provides send-out laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services for a cost, however there are no self-service laundry facilities on board. You can pay per item, which ranges from $1 to $10.50. You can also buy an unlimited washing or pressing package, or fill the provided laundry bag and have everything washed for a flat $25 cost.
Electrical outlets
Cabins include a mix of North American 115-volt and European 220-volt outlets, as well as USB connections. In our cabin, for example, there were USB ports on each side of the bed. The desk area included another USB port as well as two 115-volt and two 220-volt outlets. Two extra 115-volt outlets were installed above a corner shelf, along with a shaver-only outlet in the bathroom.
Currency
The dollar is the currency used on board. Eurodam has a cashless system in which passengers link a credit card or cash to their room keycards, which can subsequently be used to make onboard purchases.
The ship does not have an ATM, but you can request a cash advance, subject to certain conditions. Your onboard account will be charged the cash amount plus a 3% fee.
Drinking age
The drinking age onboard is 21. Passengers under the age of 21 may not purchase or drink alcohol.
Dress code
Holland America has two different evening dress codes: smart casual and dressy. On smart casual nights, you'll be alright as long as you avoid wearing shorts, ripped jeans, beachwear, or men's tank tops to restaurants.
On dressy nights, women should wear dresses, skirts, or fine pants, while males should wear collared shirts, slacks, and jacket. Jeans are not suited for finer eateries. Cruisers dress casually in Alaska, and dress standards are not strictly enforced. On our cruise's second formal night, we missed the buffet in the Dining Room but observed just as many, if not more, people dressed casually in the Rolling Stone Lounge as in jackets and cocktail clothes.
Daywear is casual and inspired by the location and the weather. Cruisers wear shorts or sun dresses in the Caribbean, but fleece jackets, jeans, and hiking pants are more common in Alaska. Indoors, you must wear shoes and shirts or swimming cover-ups.
The Orange Party is held one night per voyage, and you may choose to dress in orange to match the theme. If you've forgotten your orange outfit, you can get some at the shops on board.
Bottom line
Eurodam is the ideal size for week-long cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. It provides ample food and entertainment options to supplement busy days in port, as well as a choice of cabins to suit different budgets.
The environment is more refined than on a megaship, yet your fellow cruisers will be energetic and ready to have fun. Whether you're newly married, retired, or anywhere in between, you can have a fantastic holiday on this ship. I know I did.
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