Holland America Line - MS Volendam
Fast Facts - Ms Volendam
Cruise Line: Holland America Line
Vessel: ms Volendam
Star Rating: 4
Tonnage: 61,136
Max Passenger Capacity: 1,432
Total Crew: 588
Entered Service: 1999
Passenger Deck: 9
Facilities: 716 staterooms (22 wheelchair accessible), show lounge, dining room/restaurant/upmarket grill, piano/ocean/sports bars, caf, meeting room, fitness centre and spa facility, indoor and outdoor pool, casino, children's club, library, cinema, self-service launderette.
MS Voledam
Discover the other great south land on a cruise that visits some of the world's most spectacular ports and places.
Volendam spends much of her life cruising Australian and New Zealand waters. She is a traditional ship with up to the minute facilities. The crew pay particular attention to the needs of disabled passengers and there are a number of facilities on the ship especially designed for them. The ship enjoys a very high ratio of return passengers and this says a lot for the levels of service, the comfort and facilities available on her. She attracts a wide range of passenger from young families to retirement age couples.
The Volendam offers a wide range of cabins and suites. There are quite a few veranda cabins and these are always the first to go. Verandas at the top of the range suites are more like terraces and are fully equipped with outdoor furniture. All cabins have en-suite bathrooms with those closer to the top of the range containing bath tubs and whirlpools. All cabins are complete with LCD TV, DVD and sound systems.
There are four sittings for dinner in the main restaurant but an area is set aside for those passengers who prefer a more flexible arrangement. There is a strict dress code in the main restaurant at all times, especially in the evenings. No eating dinner in shorts and a baseball cap here. There are many other opportunities for eating and food is available almost all round the clock from the early morning continental breakfast to the themed midnight snack buffet. In any case, there are hamburgers, hot dogs and like food available near the pool for most of the day. The two-story Rotterdam restaurant near the stern of the ship serves informal breakfast and lunch and has two formal sittings for dinner. This restaurant has many tables for two for those who prefer to dine that way.
As on all Holland America ships, there is plenty to do with a very wide choice of entertainment. There are two live shows nightly in the Frans Hals lounge. Dance music, classical and Baroque are on offer at various places during the evenings. There is a computer suite sponsored by Microsoft where passengers can learn many things from making video to creating a website or blog. Of course, there are a pool, a fitness centre and a casino. Depending on where the ship is cruising, there are many excursions available and help is on hand to make the best of trips ashore. The Crow’s Nest at the top of the ship is intended as the best viewing platform on the ship but at night it become a bar and hopping dance venue.
Volendam is a traditional cruise ship but with many modern facilities. She appeals to a wide range of passenger and even sulky teenagers perk up when they discover what has been especially designed for them. The ship visits some spectacular venues on her cruises and the cuisine reflects her Australasian cruising grounds.