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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Volendam – Holland America

On Saturday 3rd December, I had the privilege of going onboard the Holland America ship Volendam while she was berthed in Melbourne.

Facts: Able to carry up to 1,432 passengers the Volendam is 781 feet long and 10 guest decks high. 4 restaurants, 2 swimming pools, Movie Theatre, Spa & Sauna, Library, Casino, Practice Tennis Court, Basketball Court and more are all on offer. She was built in 1999 and refurbished in 2011.
We started at the top in the Crows Nest, a bar, night club, scenic viewing lounge and much more. At the Bow (front) of the ship there are large windows almost 180, this is a great spot to relax and watch the world go by or ignore the magnificent Milford Sounds or Alaskan Glaciers.
Another great spot to view the scenic pleasures of cruising is the Bow located on Deck 3. Out in the open you can see, smell and feel the sights as they go by.

There are 2 pools on board, the main pool on the Lido (8) deck, with a retractable Sliding Dome Cover so you can still swim on those colder days. At the Aft (back) of Lido (8) Deck is a smaller pool. This pool is the “quiet” pool and children and not encouraged to swim there.
At the Bow of Lido Deck you will find the Spa, Sauna and Gym. Facing out to sea this is a great view for those motivated to go for a run on the treadmill.
Restaurants:
The Lido Restaurant on Deck 8 is the Buffet Restaurant, offering a great range of food from Sushi – Fruit – Specials of the Day. Ideal if you are in a rush for your meal as have an activity to rush to or don’t feel like dressing up for the Main Restaurants.
The Caneletto is Italian themed and located next to the Buffet holds 66 guests and must be pre-booked

The Rotterdam Dining Room
is the Ala Carte Restaurant onboard and has 2 sectors, upstairs for those who are on Traditional (set time) dining and downstairs for those on Anytime (Open) dining. With Anytime dining you can pre-book a seating time and table up to 3 days prior.
Pinnacle Grill
is the only dining option that charges. $10 for lunch (12-1:30pm) and $25 for dinner (5 - 9:30pm) this is an elegant dining room with Sterling Silver beef or premium seafood to choose from (other options also available).

Also onboard is the Explorations Café if you need your daily Latte fix (costs apply), you will find this in the Library on Upper Promenade (5) Deck.

On Deck 7 (Navigation) you will find the Neptune Lounge, this area is for those booked in a Deluxe Verandah Suite or Penthouse Suite only. With your own private Concierge you can ask him anything from booking shore tours to assisting with onboard enquiries. There is also the option to eat breakfast in here and there are snacks & coffee provided complimentary daily
There 15 bars and lounges to relax onboard and I am sure you will find them all before the cruise is over: Please note the drinking age is 21 years on Holland America
3 of the main bars onboard other than the Crows Nest:
Piano Bar is a small bar located on Deck 5, where you can listen to a Pianist or even a Guitarist
Ocean Bar also on Deck 5 with Live music
Explorers Lounge has a string quartet playing during the evening
There is also plenty more to occupy your time:
The Frans Hall Show Lounge to watch a variety of Evening Shows from singing and dancing to local acts and performances by the crew.
The Casino offers a typical variety of machines and tables for everyone. Please note the Casino is the only indoor smoking area on the ship
The Wajang Theatre and Culinary Centre, watch a movie or a live cooking demonstration!
The Microsoft Workshop – take a class and learn all you can and more about computers, email, Facebook or start your own Blog!

Childrens Clubs:
Please note children who are not potty trained are not allowed in the Childrens Clubs at any age and are also NOT allowed in the swimming pools.

Club HAL: Operates on strict age guidelines and will not allow cross-over. 3-7 years must be signed in and out sing a password by the parents and 8-12 years can either have a password or sign themselves in & out (as approved by the parents). The 13-17 year age group have a relax chill out loft with Wii and iPod docking stations, and upstairs there is this amazing outdoor teen only area.

Babysitting is available in Club HAL (3-12 years) from 10pm – 1am at US$5/hour/child. In cabin babysitting is available on a pre-book basis for under 3’s at approx. US$6/child/hour.

So to book your cruise on Volendam check out the Itineraries on: Cruise on Volendam

Can’t find what you’re looking for them email us on cruise@cruiserepublic.info

Happy Kruizing!
Kirsty

Below is this Library, to the right the Neptune Lounge

9 comments:

  1. Got off in Melbourne after cruising for 12 days on Volendam. Had a fabulous time after booking with Cruise Republic. Received excellent advice on early disembarkation unlike others on the cruise.

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  2. Hey She Devil,

    Glad to hear you had a great time onboard the Volendam and we were able to help you with your early disembarkation!

    Cheers Kirsty

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  3. The Volendam was the first cruise ship we went on, back in 2002, when we did the Inside Passage Cruise in Alaska. We became hooked and have since sailed on another 6 cruises. The Volendam was just so elegant and the staff so pleasant and helpful.Although we have sailed with other cruise lines, Holland America is definitely our favourite.

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  4. SAiled on Volendam recently and found it excellant in every respect.Amenities,Food,Staff,Cabins ans customer servise all first class.Will sail on her again next year

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  5. Sailed on Volendam from Hong Kong for 2 weeks loved every minute of the cruise Steph.

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  6. Sailed from Los Angeles to Sydney recently. Gomer Pyle was on the cruise and mixed freely with the passengers. The ship has a noise problem on the lower promenade deck below the galley - constant noise from early am to about 11.30 at night. Apart from dropping of crates and cooking implements on the deck by staff, the hot water pipes creak and groan and make sleep near impossible. HAL offered passengers a $150 discount off bill and some passengers had to sleep in inside cabins to get some rest. No upgrades offered by HAL. They know there is a major problem and just feed you crap.
    The food was fairly mundane with too much repetition. Very little choice for salads - meat choice limited, potato salad only available for barbeques and special occasions.
    A big plus - you can take as much beer and wine on board as you can pack or carry, no spirits allowed. Buy your own grog and save a fortune.
    Low price slots on poker machines blanked off so that you have to spend a lot more if you like a flutter.
    Apart from the above, the ship is exceptionally clean and recommend - but avoid lower promenade cabins near galley.

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  7. We were very impressed with the service layout and food on Volendam,the staff in particular were very pleasant,all of them.
    We would definitely go with Holland America again,thanks for the chance to comment on such nice people.

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  8. we did 14 day cruise around south pacfic and fiji last january on volendam, and going again in 4 weeks ,14 days around NZ,on volendam, taking partner parents,and their best friends,Our teenager daughter loved it last year ,did 3 day with pacfic dawn in june, and our daughter brought along 3 friends. whats the saying, when you had the best, you dont go 2nd class. P@O are so down in our list.(never) going on the princess dawn in April around Tassie.Cannot fault the Volendam, food,shows, friendly staff.

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  9. went on the volendam to melb,burnie and around new zealand in early nov this year and inside passage in june this year.good part was the the ports we stopped at which were great,staff,nice people we met from all over the world,parts of the entertainment,and glen in the piano bar.
    terrible was the noises near our room,which was on dolphin deck two doors back from anchor room with sick bay two doors the other way.this together with the door banging around the clock made it impossible to sleep,averaging about four hour per night.DO NOT GO ON THIS DECK!!!
    entertainment is fosused to the 70's plus age group so if you are younger this is not for you.take some antibiotics with you for when you get the dreaded boat flu.we had lobster one night in the dining room and it was like rubber,and another night my medium steak almost ran away.
    we have cruised over 100 days and have found princess to be the best by far.going from syd to uk on p&o uk arcadia for 49 night in march 2012.hears hoping the poms put on a good cruise.

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