Passengers: 2,104
Best for: Passengers looking for sophisticated dining and entertainment without a sky-high price tag
Sails: Alaska, the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii, Mexico, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal
At a Glance: This Holland America ship emerged from dry dock in 2015 with made-over suites and a new Music Walk entertainment complex, combining the best of the brand’s new features with the traditional vibe fans love.
MusicWalk is a Must
After the refit, Eurodam became the first ship in Holland America’s fleet with a MusicWalk, a central entertainment area located near the restaurants on Deck 2. Passengers only have to walk a few feet after dinner to take in the B.B. King's All Stars in the Queen’s Lounge, classical music at Lincoln Center Stage, and the Billboard Onboard piano lounge. Most of the shows play several times each evening and songs change nightly, so you never have to see the same show twice.
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The Suites Are Fresh
Well laid out with a contemporary design, cabins on the ship feel larger than they are. They range from a 141-square-foot interior cabin to the 1,357-square-foot Pinnacle Suite, which features a living and dining room, Bose sound system, and a whirlpool on the balcony. During the refit, suites were given a chic top-to-bottom makeover, so if you can swing it, it’s worth the splurge. Other options include the 273-456 square foot Signature Suites and the 506-590-square-foot Neptune Suites.)
Oprah Has a Ticket To Cruise
To help kick off O, The Oprah Magazine’s new partnership with Holland America, Oprah and her BFF Gayle King will both sail to Alaska on the Eurodam in July 2017. It’s the first O, The Oprah Magazine Adventure of Your Life-themed sailing, with more to follow in 2017 and 2018. Even if you don’t make it to one of the special sailings, you’ll still find new Oprah-approved activities on more than 300 Holland America voyages, including a book club, tai chi, meditation, and healthy cooking classes.
The Restaurants Impress
There are multiple restaurants on board, ensuring that passengers will never get bored with their options. Find dishes like apple-cider-brined pork chop and roasted chicken with sausage cornbread stuffing on the menu in the main dining room, which is also open for breakfast and lunch. Choose between two set seating times, or simply walk in and ask for a table whenever you wish. Lido Market feels less like a buffet restaurant than a modified food hall: With names like Breadboard (sandwiches and fresh-baked breads), Wild Harvest (salads), and Distant Lands (international options), each station feels self-contained and unique. Other restaurants included in the price of your voyage are the New York Deli & Pizza and Dive-in, a hot dog and hamburger joint near the pool. But it’s in the for-fee restaurants where the cuisine really shines. Holland America favorites Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, Italian nook Canaletto, and pan-Asian Tamarind continue to be crowd pleasers. Tip: try to score reservations for the nights when either Le Cirque or De Librije (the latter features dishes by Holland America’s Culinary Council member and three-star Michelin chef Jonnie Boer) takes over Pinnacle Grill.
The Cooking Classes Are Worth It
The ship’s Culinary Arts Center hosts demos and hands-on workshops. Soon, all Culinary Arts Centers fleetwide will be run by America’s Test Kitchen. Sign up to learn how to make homemade pasta, pick up some new cake decorating techniques, and master your brunch game with a class on eggs.
