Overall Score
| BERLITZ'S RATING |
| |
Possible |
Achieved |
| |
| Ship |
500 |
431 |
| Accommodation |
200 |
165 |
| Food |
400 |
282 |
| Service |
400 |
276 |
| Entertainment |
100 |
77 |
| Cruise |
400 |
312 |
| |
The ship’s name is derived from the fishing village of Volendam, located north of Amsterdam, Holland. The hull is dark blue, in keeping with all Holland America Line ships. Having been built to approximately the same size as the company’s newest Rotterdam, the same layout and public rooms have been incorporated into the interiors. This carries on the same flow and comfortable feeling so that repeat passengers will quickly feel at home aboard almost any ship in the Holland America Line fleet.
Volendam has three main passenger stairways, which is so much better than two stairways, particularly the viewpoints of safety, accessibility and passenger flow. There is a magrodome-covered pool on the Lido Deck between the mast and the ship’s funnel. The main interior design theme is flowers, from the 17th to the 21st centuries. The interior focal point is a huge crystal sculpture, Caleido, in the three-deck-high atrium, by one of Italy’s leading contemporary glass artists, Luciano Vistosi. Health spa facilities include more treatment rooms (each has a shower and toilet).
In the casino bar (also known as the ship’s sports bar), a cinematic theme presents visions of Hollywood, and includes a collection of costumes, props, photos and posters of movies and the actors who starred in them.
At the Lido Deck swimming pool, leaping dolphins are the focal point. The pool itself is also one deck higher than the Statendam-class ships, with the positive result being the fact that there is now direct access between the aft and midships pools (not so aboard the S-class ships).
There is a charge to use the washing machines and dryers in the self-service launderette, although it really should be included for the occupants of high priced suites. Although room service is adequate, it remains a weak point.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008
