HAL’s Rotterdam pays a sentimental visit to NYC

May 3, 2023

There has always been a Rotterdam sailing for what is now Holland America Line. The first ship to bear the name made her maiden voyage to New York City in 1872. The passage took 15-days and included stops in Dover and Plymouth, England.

On her first voyage, Rotterdam I carried 70 passengers—10 in Cabin Class and 60 in what was called “Immigrant Class”. She took on 800 tons of cargo, quite something for a 1,700 ton ship that was just 269-feet long with a 35-foot beam. The first Rotterdam sailed for the Nederlansch-Amerikaanshe Stoomvart Maatschappij (Netherlands-American Steamship Company). 25 years later, the name was changed to Holland-Amerika Lign. And on its 25th anniversary HAL owned 6 ships and had carried 90.000 Cabin Class passengers, 400,000 in steerage along with 5 million tons of cargo. It may come as no surprise that the Dutch vessels cargo consisted mostly of flower bulbs, herring and gin.

Rotterdam HAL

ROTTERDAM VII IS A FAR CRY FROM HER PREDECESSORS. AND STILL A TRIBUTE TO THEM…

Purpose-built for contemporary cruising, the new Rotterdam is the 3rd Pinnacle Class ship for Holland America. Her keel was laid in the fall of 2019. The pandemic followed and it was a full two years before she entered service in October 2021. Originally, she was going to be named Ryndam, another storied name in HAL history. Instead, she was renamed Rotterdam, an homage to her six predecessors. She is, of course, the largest of them all. Her 2668 guests board a vessel that is 984 feet long with a beam of 114.8 feet. To this observer, who recently toured a ship so mammoth that our New York City taxi driver quipped “Oh look, they’ve built a building on top of the Passenger Ship Terminal”, Rotterdam seems positively sleek. Topping off at 13 decks, the ship is somehow sleek, modern and inviting.

ROTTERDAM’S INTERIORS SPARKLE WHILE ITS ACCOMODATIONS SOOTHE.

If you follow cruise ship history, you may well remember the reception given HAL’s Zuiderdam. For Holland America Line veterans, the vivid colors used on board were the cause of much conversation. HAL décor had always been traditional, soothing and comforting. Zuiderdam was anything but. In a blatant appeal to a younger demographic, Zuiderdam popped with color. Apparently, youth won out. Rotterdam is a symphony of color from its two sensational two- story Main Dining Room to its extraordinary contemporary Art Collection. Symphony is also an apt description of what HAL now owns: Live Music. The Music Walk is simply astonishing. From The Rolling Stone Rock Room to B.B.King’s Blues Club to the classic Lincoln Center Stage, there’s something for every musical taste.

Rotterdam BB King

The Rolling Stone Rock Room

RETREAT TO AN OCEAN OF CALM…YOUR STATEROOM

As lively as the palate may be in Rotterdam’s Public Spaces, Staterooms aboard are neutral, subdued and almost exclusively white, cream, and tan. The only pops of black, slate gray and light blue come from a few throw pillows, the bed runner and curtains (in oceanview and balcony cabins). The houndstooth carpet pattern also stands out. Even the most standard staterooms are outfitted with touches many mainstream lines don’t bother to incorporate, such as glass showers and shaving bars in the bathrooms; shoeshine baskets and tie racks in the closets; and USB charging ports near the beds in the main cabin, as well as DVD players to go along with the interactive televisions.There’s also an impressive selection of free movie titles from which to choose. Makeup-lovers will appreciate enhanced lighting near each cabin vanity, as well as standalone makeup mirrors, which can be found in the drawers alongside a hairdryer.

Inside Cabin Rotterdam

Passengers looking for more high-end digs will appreciate Rotterdam‘s selection of suites, which include Vista Suites (basically a slightly larger balcony cabin), Signature Suites (with a murphy bed, dual-sink vanity and full-size whirlpool bath) and Neptune Suites (large sitting area, Neptune Lounge access and a private concierge in addition to Signature Suite amenities). All are elegantly appointed and offer a bit more space than standard cabins. All cruisers booked in Neptune Suite accommodations have complimentary Club Orange access, entitling them to meals in the exclusive Club Orange dining room, as well as other perks like priority embarkation and disembarkation. Passengers not booked in suites are able to join Club Orange by paying for those extras.

Forty cabins across several categories, including suites, are tailored for accessibility. Of those 40, 13 are ambulatory accessible for passengers who use canes or walkers. The rest are fully accessible for cruisers with wheelchairs or scooters; they are equipped with roll-in showers and other accommodations. Additionally, the ship provides 12 cabins for solo travelers. All are found in a cluster at the front of Deck 12 (the Main Deck) and are fairly small.

Rotterdam Neptune Suite

Rotterdam Club Orange

AND HOW WAS THE FOOD?

While I only sampled a single lunch at Club Orange at that, it was exceptional in every way. Judging from my perusing their menus and peeking into each venue, food on Rotterdam will not disappoint. Again, there’s something for everyone. The Dining Room is complementary as is the Lido Market Buffet where an amazing array of foods are broken up into “boutique” areas spotlighting either a Cuisine or a style of cooking. It’s open for all meals. The Grand Dutch Café features offers complementary coffee drinks and extra fee alcohol along with prepackaged Dutch Candy and Pastries. Overlooking the pool is New York Deli and Pizza. Then there are the Specialty (read Extra Cost) restaurants. The fees did not strike me as outrageous, but then I do live in New York. But the menus were exciting at the Pinnacle Grill Steakhouse, Nami Sushi—which shares space with Tamarind, Rotterdam’s second Asian themed restaurant. Have an urge for Seafood? Rudy’s Sel de Mer is the place to go. And if you crave Italian, there’s Canaletto right in the Lido. And if you’re still feeling peckish, 24-hour room service is complementary with few exceptions noted on its menu.

Rotterdam Main Dining

Rudys Rotterdam

Rotterdam Pinnacle Grill

Rotterdam Grand Cafe

THERE’S NEVER A DULL MOMENT ABOARD ROTTERDAM

From the Arts to the Art of Pickleball, there’s something to occupy every minute of your time aboard Rotterdam. Start your day in Rotterdam’s fully staffed fitness center. Take a pilates class or follow your own cardio or weight training. For fresh air and exercise, you’ll find a jogging track on deck, basketball and volleyball and the fastest-growing sport in America—Pickleball. Because Holland America has partnered with the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) by becoming the Official Cruise Line of the PPA. Jelles, the Pickleball instructor aboard Rotterdam tells us at least 40 guests a cruise show up for Pickleball lessons – so many that he has to divide the classes into two timetables! There’s even a Pickleball “Tutorial” on the ship’s in-cabin TV network. Swimmers will find pools both inside and out. Below deck, hone your cooking skills at the Culinary Arts Center. Party Planner Classes are held there too. Cake Decorating anyone? There’s a Digital Workshop Powered by Windows where you can add to your computer skills whatever your level. There are Port Information talks, self-guided tours of the ship’s Art and Antiques. There’s shopping, sipping, winetasting. And for those of us who just want to sit and read a good book, Rotterdam has a ship’s library that’s a book lovers dream.