The diverse styles of the Oosterdam's public spaces allows passengers to find a spot to enjoy a pastry, curl up with a book, indulge in afternoon tea, watch the game, listen to a wide range of music or dance the night away in the disco. The 200-guest casino will appeal to gaming enthusiasts.
Accommodations: The Oosterdam boasts 924 staterooms with pleasant decor in rich tones of gold, rose and blue, with light wood and clean lines. Clients can choose from 136 standard inside cabins, 165 standard outside cabins, 461 deluxe veranda suites, 100 superior veranda suites, 60 deluxe veranda suites and two penthouse veranda suites. Staterooms range from 185 square feet for the standard inside cabin to 1,000 square feet for penthouse accommodations (excluding veranda space). Twenty-eight staterooms are wheelchair- accessible. While the cabins are already comfortable, HAL's Signature of Excellence program will phase in such improvements as 100 percent cotton towels and bed linens, deluxe robes, lighted make-up mirrors, fresh fruit, Euro-top mattresses and a host of other new amenities.
Public Areas: The Vista design added 45 percent more space than what HAL guests are accustomed to on other HAL ships, while adding only 25 percent more guests. This created an airier, more intimate atmosphere. Public spaces include the Erasmus Library, Sports Bar, Piano Bar, Crow's Nest Lounge, Northern Lights Nightclub and Queen's Lounge theater for movies and small stage shows. The Vista Lounge hosts 970 guests for large-scale stage productions, concerts and presentations.
The Greenhouse Spa and Salon offer treatments including warm stone massages; its facilities include 11 therapy rooms, luxuriously tiled thermal suites, a hydro pool and a full service salon. A spacious gym lets visitors work off culinary over-indulgence with an impressive array of equipment, while classes in yoga, Pilates and other au courant exercise trends exercise the spirit.
At the Lido Pool, which features a retractable glass roof to cope with the vagaries of the weather, all guests, including children, can frolic under the friendly eyes of a small group of penguin statues. The open-air aft pool accommodates adults only and is adjacent to the Sea View Bar.
Dining: A wealth of culinary options deftly runs the gamut of passenger tastes, from the Vista Dining Room - which presents elegant food in two seatings on two decks - to the poolside Terrace Grill. The Pinnacle Grill at the Odyssey Restaurant offers an extraordinary dining experience, featuring a European wait staff, Frette linens and Bulgari china. Extraordinary sculpted silver chairs and ceilings reminiscent of storybook mushrooms feed the eyes, while an elegant menu that comprises succulent steaks and lamb, exquisite pasta and elegant vegetarian options satisfies the palate. In addition, the Lido Restaurant features casual dining, the Terrace provides grill fare poolside and the Windstar Caf é serves sweets and ice cream.
Entertainment: Punctuating the elaborate stage shows in the Vista Lounge are stand-up comedians and musical acts, from classical pianists to an excellent ensemble of young a cappella singers. Dutch high tea is served in the afternoon. In the evenings, guests might choose from a request list of hundreds of popular tunes in the piano bar, or enjoy live music in other small lounges. Club HAL keeps youngsters entertained and is being expanded under the line's new Signature of Excellence program. For example, the Club HAL minimum age requirement has been lowered to accept guests as young as three years.
Service: Service is exemplary and friendly. Requests are handled promptly and efficiently, and it's difficult to go anywhere onboard without being greeted several times by a smiling crew member. Waiters in the restaurants are friendly and responsive without being intrusive
Oosterdam is Holland America's newest ship
Through April, the Oosterdam sails from Port Everglades, Fla., providing a premium cruise experience on eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.
Target Passenger:
While HAL continues to strongly appeal to mature travelers and couples of all ages, Executive Vice President David Giersdorf says the Vista-class vessels and, indeed all HAL ships, are reaching out to "more sophisticated travelers looking for a greater
variety of experience."
March 2004 Review
It then heads through the Panama Canal en route to Alaska for the summer season before returning to the Caribbean in the fall. The following is an inspection of the new ship, based on a recent eastern Caribbean voyage.
And while the line does not cater overwhelmingly to families, it does aim to appeal to a multi- generational clientele. "A lot of our customers come with kids," says Giersdorf. "We want to keep parents and grandparents returning to our brand, rather than going to another line when they want to travel with their children."
Reviewed by Peggy Cope
For Travel Agent Trade Magazine
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