holland america westerdam cruise line

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936 ft. length

105.8 ft. width

A fascinating destination in her own right,  Westerdam  has won multiple Best Cruise Ship awards and features superb bar, entertainment and dining venues. During the day, rejuvenate with a spa treatment at the heavenly Greenhouse Spa & Salon®. Head to the upper decks for a friendly game of Pickleball at Sea with top-deck views. Catch a performance at the World Stage or spend your evening on the dance floor at Rolling Stone Lounge.

Best Cruise Ship Awards

Westerdam earns high praise from travel critics, including Best Cruise Ship. Fresh from a recent update and offering unforgettable entertainment, it’s no wonder why.

Onboard Activities

Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities.

Billboard Onboard

ENTERTAINMENT

Sing along, test your music trivia knowledge, or sit back and enjoy as chart-topping hits fill the room each night.

World Stage

World Stage features innovative cruise ship shows and a two-story LED screen that creates a vivid wraparound display.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Our 7-piece band brings you the best in rock, pop, country and more.

Onboard Shopping

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping onboard.

Fitness Center

Take a class in our professionally staffed Fitness Center.

Holland America Line Navigator

Personalize your cruise experience with our free mobile-friendly tool.

Casino Action

The Casino offers games for all levels.

Pickleball at Sea

Enjoy complimentary lessons, tournaments, and courts with amazing top-deck views.

Kids ages 3 to 17 can enjoy an array of activities. Registration required for children under 13.

Dining Experiences

Pinnacle Grill

The ultimate steakhouse at sea, with an exceptional menu of Prime steaks, seafood and wine.

Canaletto is a relaxed setting with authentic Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed when shared.

Lido Market

A casual, modern marketplace, Lido Market offers the widest range of food options on board for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack.

This casual poolside grill serves up the best burgers at sea, Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dogs, golden French fries and more.

24-Hour Room Service

Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish.

Explorations Cafe

Our relaxing café with panoramic views is your home for handcrafted espresso drinks during the day and refreshing cocktails in the evening.

The Dining Room

Our flagship dining experience is a welcoming and sophisticated setting for an exquisite breakfast, lunch or superb multicourse dinner.

Suites & Staterooms

Please select your stateroom or suite type and room category from the available options.

• Daily housekeeping
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Elemis Aromapure soap, lotion, shampoo
• Luxurious bathrobes
• Hair dryers, makeup mirrors
• Generous storage
• Fresh fruit upon request
• Ice service
• TV with On Demand movies, programming

Two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads and a host of amenities are featured in these comfortable staterooms.

These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view.

Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and bath tub with premium massage showerheads.

Signature Suite

• Whirlpool bath

These large, comfortable suites feature a spacious sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and one murphy bed for one person. The bathroom includes a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, and an additional shower stall.

Neptune Suite

• Premium bathrobes, slippers
• Fresh flowers
• One-Touch concierge service
• Whirlpool bath (suite dependent)
• In-suite coffee, espresso
• Complimentary laundry
• Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres served in suite
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Priority boarding for tender ports, priority dining/seating requests, special disembarkation service
• High tea in suite on request
• Exclusive tote bag

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, plus additional shower stall. Amenities include use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge, a private concierge and an array of complimentary services.

Westerdam FAQs

What entertainment options are available in my stateroom?  Each room includes a flat-screen TV with interactive menu of programming including; on-demand movies, music stations, as well as both live and pre-recorded television. Additionally, guests can access ship information, dining options, an onboard activities schedule, shore excursions, and port information through this interactive media console. There are no external inputs available such as A/V or HDMI. Does my stateroom have a mini-fridge?  A mini-fridge is included with all staterooms. Guests who need to refrigerate medication should store it in the ship’s infirmary, as mini-fridges aren’t cold enough for that purpose. What's the cost for mini-fridge rentals?  Unnecessary as all staterooms include a mini-fridge. Are the balconies partitioned? All can be opened upon request. Does my stateroom have an alarm clock?  No, but guests can request a wake-up call. Is there a hairdryer in my room?  Yes. Is there a safe in my room?  Yes. Are there coffee makers in the room?  Only Neptune and Pinnacle Suites feature in-suite coffee and espresso machines. Does my stateroom have WiFi?  All ships are outfitted with wireless Internet. However, we cannot guarantee that each stateroom will receive a signal, as signal strength varies depending on the location of your stateroom. Lanai Staterooms:  No. Family Rooms:  No. Single Rooms : No.

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• Holland America

ms Westerdam

Cruise line Holland America

• Seattle (Washington)
• Yokohama (Tokyo, Japan Kanagawa)
• Hong Kong (China)
• Singapore (Singapore)

ms Westerdam current position

ms Westerdam current location is at East Asia (coordinates 35.93898 N / 141.26779 E) cruising at speed of 14.1 kn (26 km/h | 16 mph) en route to Yokohama. The AIS position was reported 11 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of ms Westerdam

ms Westerdam current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Japan Discovery . The itinerary starts on 13 Apr, 2024 and ends on 27 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Westerdam

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

ms Westerdam Itineraries

Ms westerdam review, review of ms westerdam.

The 2004-built MS Westerdam cruise ship is the 3rd Vista-class Holland America liner, with sisterships ms Oosterdam ,  ms Noordam ms Zuiderdam .

The vessel (IMO number 9226891) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 244128000) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 2000-passenger ship Westerdam balances the duty to honour cruise traditions with adding just enough advanced conveniences to keep things stylish and modern, with comfortable dining venues, various onboard facilities, larger-than-average cabins, and, most of all, with the gentle service of ship's crew members. Westerdam's restaurants provide an option of traditional seating scenarios as well as open, more versatile ones. Passengers might still learn how to mix a martini cocktail or create a flower arrangement, but they might also take computer classes which range from an introduction to e-mail to editing digital photography. Cruisers might watch a chef (the vessel's or an expert from Holland America Line's Food & Wine Magazine partnership) represent a recipe, or they might take part in small group clusters which actually get to make fantastic Food Network-like Culinary Arts Center cuisine.

Decks and Cabins

MS Westerdam staterooms (984 total, in 30 grades) include 162 Suites, 479 Balconies, 181 Oceanviews, 162 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 170-205 ft2 (16-19 m2). Nearly 70% of all passenger cabins have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 28. The largest accommodations are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft2 / 93 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2).

The boat has 11 passenger decks , of which 7 are with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as a separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Westerdam's Vista Dining Room is a 2-deck venue at the aft end of the vessel. One deck is allocated for the guests who choose conventional fixed-seating dining and the other for open seating (passengers can either make a reservation or simply walk in). For those who prefer to be seated at small or large tables should use the reservation system. Three themed teas - Cupcake, Indonesian and Royal Dutch - are served once during a sailing. Holland America's Lido buffet rates among the best organized at sea. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks, the spot is in bright, jazzy colors with seating in the main pool area under a magrodome cover (sliding glass roof) and on the adjacent aft deck. Food is arranged in themed stations that serve up sandwiches made to order, salads, pizza, sushi, stir-fries and typical hot fare. Thus, you don't have to wait behind a passenger picking through the salad bar if you want to move on to the meat station.

Follows the complete list of ms Westerdam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (148-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Vista Restaurant (1120-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (420-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6-11 am, Lunch 11:30-2 pm, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30-8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
• Slice (poolside Pizzeria, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Queen's Lounge, which is an alternative lounge/theatre on Vista Class ships, had a makeover and was transformed into The Culinary Arts Center by day, featuring permanent cooking and viewing equipment to instruct guests on the preparation of various dishes. The Culinary Arts Center is operated via a partnership with Food & Wine magazine and offers wine tastings ($15), cocktail tastings and mixology classes, as well as cooking, cake decorating, garnishing and flower arranging classes. The Queen's Lounge offers musical performances with B.B. King's Blues Club experience for five nights per week. The Digital Workshop, powered by Microsoft, is a dedicated computing education venue, with two rows of computers fronting a big, wall-mounted monitor hooked into the computer of the instructor, to graphically demonstrate each step. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry/Self-Serve Laundromats.

Follows the complete list of ms Westerdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Vista Lounge (846-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (38-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (with live band entertainment, cooking shows, culinary classes; via a partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine”)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
• Meeting Rooms (Hudson, Half Moon, Stuyvesant)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Screening Room (40-seat indoor cinema); Erasmus Room (24-seat library)
• Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Cafe (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 5 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar; The Retreat (adults-only)
• Crow’s Nest (observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck, Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco).

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Westerdam itinerary program is based on Alaska cruises from  Seattle WA  in the summer. The ship also offers Eastern Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale and Panama Canal transits on repositioning.

In the period September 2018 through April 2019, the ship is deployed in Asia for a total of 10 itineraries ranging 10-31 days and visiting China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam. Asian season starts with 14-day Pacific crossing from  Vancouver  to  Yokohama Japan .

Back-to-back cruises can be booked as longer "Collectors Voyage". Combining two B2B itineraries , "Asia Collectors Voyages" range between 23-31 days. "Grand Asia Voyage" (82-day Pacific circumnavigation) departs September 30, 2018, as a roundtrip from LA with all 33 port calls and 6 overnights.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, HAL's Westerdam ship was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru June 2022). Operations restarted on June 12, 2022, with 7-day Alaskan roundtrips (from Seattle) followed by Asian deployment (homeporting in Hong Kong China, and Yokohama Japan). For winter 2022-2023 (September 25 through March 13) the liner was deployed in Australia and New Zealand and homeported in Sydney NSW .

ms Westerdam - user reviews and comments

Photos of ms westerdam.

ms Westerdam ship related cruise news

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Other Holland America cruise ships

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ms Westerdam Wiki

One of HAL's "compass ships", Westerdam is company's 2nd Vista-class liner, with sisterships Noordam , Oosterdam , Zuiderdam .

Wester means "West" (in Dutch).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 6077) has volume 82862 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 10965 tons, max draught 8 m. The powerplant is based on 5x Wartisla-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 3x 16ZAV40S plus 2x 12ZAV40S) with combined output 75,14 MW (100764 hp). The propulsion is diesel-electric and based on 2x ABB Azipod thrusters with combined output 35,24 MW (47260 hp). The registered shipowner is HAL ANTILLEN NV, while the registered manager is HOLLAND AMERICA LINE NV.

Westerdam's Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on April 25, 2004. The 12-night voyage (roundtrip from Venice) visited destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea., including Malta (Valletta), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece/Greek Islands (Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, Piraeus-Athens, Katakolon) and Turkey (Kusadasi-Ephesus). In November 2004 the ship was relocated to North America and from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale operated 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries.

The vessel's Godmother is Renette Pauline Soutendijk (aka Renee Soutendijk, 1957-born Dutch actress).

The ship's interior design theme is Dutch exploration - numerous sculptures, statues and paintings of famous Dutch ships.

In its Atrium area, Westerdam has a cut-glass Dutch sailing ship sculpture. This HAL ship's art collection includes many pre-Columbian artifacts (including 5000-year-old carved figures imported from Ecuador), and also many contemporary artists' signature sculptures and paintings. During its 2007 extensive refurbishment, 34 cabins were added, and major refits were done to several public areas.

Westerdam is HAL's 3rd vessel with this name. The 1st ship was in service for the company in 1946-1965 (scrapped in Spain). Curious fact about this liner (combined cargo-passenger vessel with numerous first-class cabins) is that it was sunk 3 times during WW2 (before the maiden voyage in 1946) - in 1942 (by Allied forces), and in 1944 and 1945 (by the Dutch resistance). MS Westerdam I operated Transatlantic crossings monthly (between Rotterdam and NYC ). The second Westerdam ship was launched 1986 under the brand Homeric (Home Lines), HAL acquired the company in 1988, and in 1989 the vessel underwent a major drydock refit (was lengthened by 130 ft / 40 m). After 13 years in HAL service, in 2002 this vessel was transferred to Costa Cruises (renamed Costa Europa), then chartered/leased to Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) as Marella Dream .

MS Westerdam refurbishments review

During a major drydock refit in 2007 April, Holland America Westerdam ship was stretched by adding a 130 ft / 40 m long midsection. The refit resulted in the following changes:

• 34x new passenger cabins were added when a whole section was installed aft on decks 6, 7, 8, thus narrowing some of the aft-located balconies.
• Many public spaces were redesigned, and the Sea View Pool area (aft on Lido Deck 9) was expanded.
• Changes were done in the area of Library/Shopping Arcade. The Windstar Cafe and the Internet area were removed, new shops were added.
• The Oak Room was replaced by the Explorations Cafe (added to Crow's Nest /Observation Deck 10).

The drydock refurbishment in 2017 (April 14-26, done by Fincantieri in Palermo Sicily Italy ) resulted in the following changes:

• (deck 10) new balcony and inside cabins (a total of 25) were added on Observation Deck 10.
• (decks 1 and 2) Vista Lounge (the ship's theatre) was renamed "The Main Stage".
• (deck 2) Lincoln Center Stage (chamber music hall) was added starboard. Sports Bar was transformed into Billboard Onboard.
• (deck 11) The Retreat (adult sundeck area) was added on Sports Deck 11 (replacing the two Canvas Cover areas there).

General maintenance drydocks (by Sembcorp Marine in Singapore ) were conducted in 2020 (January) and 2023 (January-February). During drydock 2023, ALMACO Group was awarded the turnkey contract to modernize the ship's galley/kitchen areas. Almaco's contract included adding flight-type/rack-type dishwashers in the Lido Market's pot wash area (aft on Deck 9) as well as replacing various equipment. Curiously, to access the pot washing area, yard workers had to cut a hole in the bulkhead and to remove/replace the interior in the Vista Dining Room (lower level on Deck 2) situated on the other side of the bulkhead.

Note: ALMACO Group (1998-founded, Kaarina Finland-based company) specializes in turnkey projects for newbuild cruise ships and modernization of marine and offshore catering, stateroom and laundry areas.

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Westerdam Overview

Holland America’s ms Westerdam is a premium family-friendly ship. While onboard, the family can stick together or split up and enjoy the features they really want to see. Mom can indulge with a facial at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon while dad gets in on a pick up game of basketball. The kids will be busy all day and into the night at Club HAL where trained childcare professionals will be leading the kids in scavenger hunts and arts and crafts projects. Even your teenager will have fun at The Loft, a teen hangout where they can take tech classes and participate in a talent show. The family can always regroup for a fabulous dinner and a show at the ms Westerdam’s Vista Show Lounge at night.  

• Passenger Capacity: 1,964 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2004
• Last Refurbished: 2023

Westerdam Cruise Destinations

Holland America Line prides itself on offering a superb variety of destinations. This cruise line visits 7 continents and over 320 ports worldwide while embarking from all types of ports, from convenient close-to-home ports to far-away exotic departure ports. You can plan a special romantic cruise to the Greek Isles or an enriching vacation in Asia. In addition, Holland America's connections with Alaskan hotels and their ownership of Half Moon Cay (their private Caribbean island) have differentiated them in Alaska and the Caribbean. 

Enjoy the natural beauty and inherent adventure of America’s 49 th State with an Alaska cruise.

Culinary eccentricity meets historical adventure when you cruise to Asia and the Pacific.

Get a taste of the land under, and wander the outback with some wallabies with a cruise to Australia/New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Delve into the unique Hawaiian culture and spectacular tropical delights of the islands with a cruise to Hawaii.

South Pacific / Tahiti

The South Pacific and Fiji are your tropical paradise. Holland America wants you to experience true bliss when you sail with them to these secluded islands. 

Southeast Asia

Get a taste of the Far East on a Holland America cruise to Southeast Asia in Tokyo, Thailand or Taipei.

Transpacific

Cruise across the Pacific Ocean in style aboard one of Holland America’s premium ships. You could visit a wide variety of exotic ports while traveling between stunning worlds.

U. S. Pacific Coast

Discover the history of the West and the cultures of some of the finest America cities with a Pacific Northwest or Pacific Coast cruise.

Westerdam Departure Ports

Sail to the world’s hot spots with Holland America. This revered cruise line has sailings from cities around the world like Ft. Lauderdale, Valparaiso, Barcelona, Sydney and Montreal.  All of their departure ports are convenient to get to with major airports and public transportation. Get ready for an amazing cruise vacation with Holland America, your first step is to call us at The Cruise Web to speak with a consultant and find your perfect itinerary. 

Perth (Fremantle), Australia

Cruise to Perth and enjoy the blend of old with new, along with Western Australia’s natural beauty. Take in the vibrant culture as you enter old world cafés next to the lively bars all buzzing with music and locals.

The near perfect days, beautiful scenery, pristine beaches and sparkling water offer the perfect backdrop for any dream adventure in Sydney, Australia.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China

One of the world’s most exciting modern cities, Hong Kong offers a true East meets West experience where you can shop for traditional Chinese cure-alls and attend high tea all in the same afternoon.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

Auckland, New Zealand

The mild temperatures in Auckland enhance an outdoorsy cruise destination. Tour the many beaches, hike beautiful mountain ranges or just wander Auckland’s city streets.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether it’s your cruise destination or a launching point, Vancouver is a beautiful destination in itself with a sophisticated downtown and lots of natural elements to explore.

Yokohama, Japan

See Japanese history in person as you discover Yokohama, Japan’s biggest port city, where the country was first opened to outside trade after more than 200 years of seclusion.

Westerdam Deck Plans

Lower promenade, promenade deck, upper promenade, verandah deck, upper verandah deck, rotterdam deck, navigation deck, observation deck, sports deck, westerdam staterooms.

Balcony (VA)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Balcony (VB)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Balcony (VC)

Verandah Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Balcony (VD)

Balcony (ve), balcony (vf), balcony (vh).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Inside (MM)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (DD)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

Oceanview (E)

Oceanview (f), oceanview (c).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (D)

Oceanview (g).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views.

Oceanview (H)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All H-category staterooms have fully obstructed views. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (HH)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have bathtub and roll-in shower.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have single side approach to the bed, bathtub and roll-in shower.)

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo Gallery for Westerdam Cruise Ship

Are you a visual learner? Check out this photo gallery of the Holland America experience. Here you can see the amazing dining venues, spacious staterooms and beautiful destinations the ship sails to. 

Erasmus Room

Westerdam in the open water

Pinnacle Grill

Top 10 Westerdam Cruises

• Westerdam 16-DAY NORTH PACIFIC CROSSING Departing From Yokohama, Japan (Apr 2024)
• Westerdam 7-DAY ALASKA EXPLORER Departing From Seattle, Washington (May 2024 - Aug 2025)
• Westerdam 53-DAY MAJESTIC JAPAN Departing From Seattle, Washington (Sep 2024)
• Westerdam 51-DAY MAJESTIC JAPAN Departing From Vancouver, British Columbia (Sep 2024)
• Westerdam 23-DAY SOUTH PACIFIC CROSSING Departing From Seattle, Washington (Oct 2024)
• Westerdam 58-DAY SOUTH PACIFIC & AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATION COLLECTOR Departing From Seattle, Washington (Oct 2024)
• Westerdam 35-DAY AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATION Departing From Sydney, Australia (Nov 2024)
• Westerdam 14-DAY AUSTRALIA CIRCUMNAVIGATION Departing From Perth (Fremantle), Australia (Dec 2024)
• Westerdam 14-DAY NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY Departing From Sydney, Australia (Dec 2024)
• Westerdam 14-DAY AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Departing From Sydney, Australia (Jan 2025 - Mar 2025)

Learn More About Holland America Line

Accessibility

Learn about Holland America's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including hearing impairment, service animals and oxygen needs.

Savor dining aboard Holland America, including the Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Tamarind, Lido Restaurant, Master Chef's Room, main dining room, room service and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Holland America's onboard entertainment, including BB King's Blues Club, an onboard theater, casino, indoor and outdoor movie screens, bars and lounges.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Holland America's onboard activities, including culinary classes, digital workshops, regional experiences, art galleries, pools, sports courts, duty-free shopping and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Holland America's friendly staff take care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Holland America's cruising awards.

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Relax in Holland America's greenhouse spa, salon, fitness center and fitness classes. There are also Hydrotherapy pools on some Holland America ships.

Special Events

Make the most of your Holland America Line cruise with exclusive special events and signature experiences in select cities.

Explore Holland America's deluxe cruise staterooms, including Pinnacle, Neptune, Signature and Vista Suites, along with balcony, ocean-view and inside staterooms.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children aboard Holland America. Youth programs provide supervision and activities for children ages 3-17, along with babysitting programs.

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• Cruising / Holland America / Ship Reviews

Holland America’s Westerdam: Review and Ship Tour

by Prof. Cruise · Published August 22, 2023 · Updated August 24, 2023

Introduction

Before I get to the specifics of the Westerdam, I need to share something deeply disturbing that happened just prior to this cruise. But first, by way of necessary context and background for those who are new to my blog, you should know that I love cruising more than anything else in life (my dog would argue that I love him more based on the number of kisses he endures in a day, but I put him at a close second). You should also know that my kid, now ten, has been cruising regularly since he was an infant and will easily achieve platinum (or the equivalent loyalty status) on every cruise line before he turns 18. And he’s always loved it as much as I do. Well, almost.

But a few weeks prior to our sailing on the Westerdam he told me he didn’t want to go – he didn’t want to miss school. Upon hearing this my jaw detached from my face and fell all the way to China with enough force as to prompt fears of an attack by the United States, promoting WWIII: “Let me get this straight son, you’d rather go to school than go on a cruise?!?!” So I, pending a willing family coming forward to adopt him, was in the unprecedented position of trying to convince my kid that he was going to have fun. On a cruise! Stay tuned…

Anyway, to the Westerdam. Ms Westerdam was my third Vista class ship on Holland America, having previously sailed on the Zuiderdam and the Noordam and, to make a long story short (honestly, you could save yourself serious time and eye rolls if you just stopped reading at the next period) solidified my love for this class of ship and for Holland America in general.

ms Westerdam Ship Tour

Before I get to all the things I loved about the Westerdam and a few that I didn’t, here is a full ship tour (please subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss additional Westerdam and Holland America content):

Things I LOVED about ms Westerdam

Here are the many thing I loved about the Westerdam…

Ship Size and Layout

Ms Westerdam and I have two obvious things in common, our small stature and our outsized personalities. While that second one is somewhat subjective (be kind in the comments), there’s no doubt that ms Westerdam is on the small side for a cruise ship in the era of “bigger is better” and I’m on the small side for a full-grown adult woman (I enjoy ample leg room in coach class on airplanes and save money on clothes by shopping in the children’s department). And while there are some advantages to being a tiny human (I still get charged child prices at museums and amusement parks), there are advantages to smaller cruise ships too (even though every non-luxury cruise line is moving away from them). What, you ask? Fewer steps from one dining venue to another, for one. I am NOT on vacation to burn calories between my second breakfast and my mid-morning snack!

At 936 feet long, 82,500 gross tons, and able to accommodate 1,964 guests and 800 crew members, I found the Westerdam the perfect size! She was also extremely easy to navigate even though it still took me two days to locate the Crow’s Nest and 7 (out of 7) to head down the correct hallway for my stateroom coming off the elevator.

Outdoor Wraparound Promenade Deck

Wide, wraparound outdoor promenade decks are one of my favorite features of Vista class ships on Holland America and I spent my usual time each day on the Westerdam walking while listening to an audio book and scanning the horizon for wildlife and UFO’s (since I have a better track record of seeing those than the whales and dolphins every one else always sees that I NEVER do).

Retractable Roof

The main pool area on the Westerdam features a retractable roof for temperature control, keeping rain out of your giant frozen cocktail, and preventing the wind from turning deck chairs into projectiles (except when revenue is down in the medical center, then they leave it open). And it’s pretty cool to watch it open and close. Honestly, it was better than much of the entertainment in the main theater at night (we’ll get to that later).

Fresh Flowers

Holland America is known for having beautiful fresh flowers onboard and I enjoyed them on the Westerdam. Even though I knew they were real, I still had to smell and touch them to confirm (with all the cuts happening across all cruise lines, I’m bracing myself for the day they smell like plastic and dust).

This was the first time I’d seen one of the newly retrofitted libraries on HAL and I LOVED it. So did Mr. Cruise, a man who can polish off an entire Stephen King novel in the time it takes me to watch one episode of Teen Mom. His packing list for a cruise looks like this: 5,000 books. If I want him to have clean underwear, deodorant, and something that won’t get us turned away from the dining room on formal night, I have to pack it for him. Seriously, he brings so many books that when they weigh his checked luggage before a flight, they charge him the going rate for an overweight bag AND whatever it costs to replace their scale.

Pickleball Court

While the whole world has fallen in love with pickleball, there are three groups left on earth who remain skeptical. Tennis courts, 10 year-olds who love playing basketball on Holland America ships, and the mothers of 10 year-olds who love playing basketball on Holland America ships. Can you imagine what it must be like to be a one of the few surviving tennis courts right now? It’s like being the rotary phone of racket sports. And as the mother of a son who used to do two things on HAL cruises, eat ice cream and play basketball, I wasn’t initially a fan of the new pickleball courts taking up time and real estate on the sports decks. You mean I can’t just send my kid up to play basketball while I fall asleep in the Crow’s Nest (see next section)? But we (occasionally) embrace change in our family and decided to give pickleball a try. And…we liked it! Not as much as ice cream and basketball (and school), but enough to give us one more cruise activity we can enjoy together as a family.

Crow’s Nest

The Crow’s Nest, located on deck 10 at the very front of the ship offered the perfect spot to sip a cocktail while reading a novel. At least that was always my plan. In action it looked more like half a cocktail and a two hour nap. Every 20 minutes someone would poke me to complain of my snoring and I’d awaken to gaze out at the gorgeous, sweeping (and hypnotic) ocean views only to return to merry (and loud, as I was repeatedly told) slumber. My tip for the Crow’s Nest? Stick with espresso drinks (available at the bar) and a genre like romance or mystery/thriller. This is NOT the time to tackle Kant’s thesis of transcendental idealism.

There’s a full bar in the Crow’s Nest, plentiful seating, and a huge selection of board games and puzzles.

Elemis Bath Products

Those sailing in interior or obstructed oceanview cabins (as was our case) will enjoy the same high quality Elemis bath products, including separate conditioner, on the Westerdam as those in much more expensive cabin categories. My hair, used to my husband’s Head and Shoulders, was like, “finally I get to be pampered on vacation too!”

Turndown Service

I love the towel animals and bed chocolates that were provided with our nightly turndown service. But I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why the animals weren’t just gobbling up the chocolates taunting them mere inches from their mouths. Well, duh, because they have no eyes! Seriously though, it’s these little touches that really set Holland America apart.

The overall quality of the food on Holland America is superior to every other non-luxury line in my opinion (which is generally questionable, but the food really is good) and our dining experience on the Westerdam was no exception. Here were some of my favorites…

Dive-In : Is it the Dive-In Sauce? The extra crispy fries? The numerous vegetarian options? The app-based ordering? Yes! All of that and more make Dive-In my favorite burger/dog joint at sea and I ate there every day on the Westerdam (sometimes for first lunch, sometimes for second lunch, and sometimes for snack fries). Hot tip for Dive-In : As you’re getting back on the ship from port, open HAL’s Navigator App and place an order for Dive-In. By the time you drop your stuff off at your cabin your order will be prepared and waiting for you at the counter (the app will alert you when it’s ready). No lines!

Lunchtime Taco/Nacho Bar:

I affectionately refer to this one as “Qdoba at sea.” I say “affectionately” because Qdoba is my favorite land-based fast food restaurant. This complimentary taco/nacho bar, with an extensive selection of premium toppings, is located near the main Lido pool on the Westerdam and open for lunch. Unlike Qdoba and almost any other food option on the Westerdam, it’s self-serve, so you can construct your dream nacho tower and won’t have to keep asking for, “more cheese please!”

Yogurt Bar:

The yogurt bar located in the buffet at breakfast offered a delicious selection of yogurt, fruit purees, and toppings (nuts, seeds, dried and fresh fruit, oats). I made myself a custom yogurt parfait each morning after the gym as a pre-breakfast while I waited for my family to get ready. Now should that last sentence leave you with the impression that I’m healthy and disciplined on a cruise, well, keep reading before you accuse me of being completely nuts (see what I did there).

Hard Ice Cream at the Buffet : For those who read my review our of 16-day New Zealand sailing on the Noordam, you’ll recall that we finally settled an argument parents and children have been having for generations where the parent says, “you can’t survive on ice cream alone!” And the child says, “yes I can!” It turns out our kid was able to survive for 16 days on ice cream alone. Which also makes me wonder if he’s right about other things like that I’m soooooooo embarrassing when I wear ankle weights to the grocery store. Anyway my son, once again, loved the hard ice cream (available in chocolate, vanilla, a rotating daily flavor, and sugar free) on the Westerdam buffet. And if you’re wondering why I wear ankle weights to the grocery store, it’s because I loved the hard ice cream too and now find myself in the position of needing to melt some of it from my thighs before my next HAL cruise on the Zuiderdam in just a few days. #cruiseproblems

Beecher’s Mac ‘n Cheese: Even though I live two blocks from the Beecher’s flagship store in Pike Place Market and, should I get a craving for some mac n’ cheese, can walk over there in under five minutes where I’ll invariably hear from some tourists about how lucky I am to live so close, I love that Holland America ships offer Beecher’s mac n’ cheese and I order it everywhere it’s offered (regularly on the buffet at lunch and dinner and at lunch in the main dining room). And still, every single time, I say, “this is last meal worthy” and “this would have cost me $12.89 at home.”

Buffet Sushi: Let me apologize if those two words in sequence prompted a sudden episode of involuntary retching. The same thing happens to me when the words “raisin” and “cookie” appear in close proximity. But I assure you, the buffet sushi on the Westerdam was fresh and delicious and included at no extra cost. There are even vegetarian rolls available (you just have to ask).

Bread Pudding: Speaking of raisins, if Holland America would just start offering raisins as an optional add-in for their signature bread pudding with the necessary warning label “WILL ruin this otherwise perfect dish,” it might just surpass Carnival’s chocolate melting cake as the best included dessert at sea. It’s available at the dessert stations on the buffet (but you have to ask for it at the counter).

Fruit Crisps : But if I could, in good conscience, elevate a dessert that contains fruit to the position of best included dessert at sea , it would be the warm fruit crisps with vanilla ice cream offered at dinner in the dining room on the Westerdam. I can’t, I just can’t. But that didn’t stop me from ordering them every single night. While they all look identical in the approximately 2,000 photos I took of them, the flavor was different every night.

Dining Room Breakfast:

Continuing to give out food awards, if I had to choose my #1 favorite food-related feature of the Westerdam (and HAL in general), it would be the dining room breakfast. The menu is extensive, delicious, vegan friendly (with coconut yogurt and vegan eggs as recent additions), and has a large selection of international offerings you won’t find on any other line. We ate there every morning, ordering multiple items each, and still didn’t make it all the way through the menu. While I can think of many reasons to book a longer cruise, getting to sample all the delicious breakfast items is definitely among them. Here’s the menu if you haven’t sailed on HAL yet:

Holland America Breakfast Menu, Food Pics, and Review

Itinerary Specific Features

While many cruise lines have shifted away from itinerary specific menus and programming (because it’s cheaper to standardize everything), on our Alaska itinerary onboard the Westerdam we experienced Alaska at port and onboard. “Alaska up Close” featured new Alaska-themed dining and beverage experiences (including cocktails prepared with real glacial ice), Alaska-focused EXC Talks, wildlife viewing and educational opportunities with an onboard naturalist, and locals brought onboard at several ports to offer presentations about local wildlife and native culture. Guests could even participate in “On Deck for a Cause: Alaska’s Parks,” a 5k fundraising walk to raise money for a nonprofit dedicated to Alaska conservation. 

One of my family’s favorite activities onboard the Westerdam were the EXC multi-media lectures given by our cruise director. My 10-year-old even loved them (maybe because they reminded the weirdo of school?!?) They were highly engaging, well-written, fascinating, moving at times, and most of them, as mentioned above, were specific to our itinerary. Some of the topics included: The Iditarod, whales of Alaska, and pioneering women of Alaska.

Things I DIDN’T LOVE about ms Westerdam

Here are a few things that missed the mark for me on the Westerdam…

Evening Entertainment in the Main Theater

The Westerdam fell short when it came to nightly entertainment on the main stage. While I enjoyed the two performances I saw of the Step One Dance Company (Humanity and Move), they just don’t compare to the production shows on other lines.

And while the guest performers were fine (comedian Jose Sarduy and two performances from Major Fourth), there wasn’t enough variety of high quality entertainment offered (a few evenings movies were shown instead of live performances). Also…

No Lincoln Center Stage

I know, I know, Lincoln Center Stage has been gone for months and this wasn’t my first HAL cruise without it. And, sadly, this wasn’t my first cruise without seeing it on the main stage as was promised by HAL when they announced the elimination of the intimate nightly performances on the dedicated stage. But once again, we had no Lincoln Center Stage performance on the main stage during our sailing. Has anyone else seen these recently on other ships? Or should I just give up on them to avoid disappointment?

We did enjoy 3rd Avenue West , a trio comprised of a pianist, bass player, and guitarist who performed regularly in the Ocean Bar, but listening to music in a crowded bar area with people talking and walking through wasn’t an equivalent experience to Lincoln Center Stage.

No Waffle Cones

If my list of complaints strikes you as increasingly petty, you’re right. Honestly, it was challenging to come up with enough negative things to counter the possible accusation that I’m a HAL cheerleader (although if I were to become a cheerleader for a particular line, it would have to be HAL or NCL only because they have the shortest number of letters and require the least amount of lung capacity and fewest number of high kicks). But, unlike on every other HAL cruise we’ve been on, the Westerdam didn’t offer waffle cones for the buffet ice cream. Why does this matter? Because a waffle cone is a dessert in itself, not just a receptacle for the real dessert allowing me to more easily eat it with one hand en route to a table on which to deposit the three additional desserts in my other hand. With a cake cone I always contemplate whether I should eat it or just sacrifice the remaining ice cream in the bottom and get back in line for another two scoops (better make it three to account for the lost half a scoop trapped in edible cardboard).

Specialty Restaurants

We ate at both the steakhouse, Pinnacle Grill, and the Italian speciality restaurant, Canaletto, on the Westerdam and enjoyed them both (I especially appreciated having vegetarian options). However, because the quality of the MDR food was so high, I didn’t find the speciality restaurants a good value. Unless we have onboard credit to burn though (as we did in this case), we usually skip speciality dining on Holland America cruises.

Would I sail on ms Westerdam Again?

Yes, unequivocally yes! But the more salient question is, would my kid miss school to sail on her again? Shockingly, no. While he enjoyed numerous aspects of our cruise, if given the choice, he held firm that he’d still rather have been in school. Which proves to me that neither nature or nurture can explain this kid. A hospital swap is my only viable explanation at this point. Who out there has my real kid (who probably has no visible eyebrows and an overdeveloped sweet tooth) and can I please have him back before our next cruise? And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points):  Post to the comments any questions you may have about the Westerdam or share your own experience sailing on her.

And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

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Nice write-up! I too will miss the Lincoln Center classical music as it fit so well with HAL’s tradition of an ocean liner. We are booked on Zaandam (I believe that is Vista) for 2024 and the two things I am super excited about is the taco/nacho bar and the promenade deck! 🙂

I am right with you on the entertainment on the World Stage. My being a professional pianist who has accompanied dancers and theatre singers and opera singers and was the first pianist hired at Walt Disney World may be a factor, but …. yes, the Step One dancers are talented, but the choreography is nothing special. (“Sophomoric” came to mind.) I watched the show for 15 minutes and left to wander the ship. I’m sure there are cruisers who don’t have my level of musical saturation who enjoyed it very much, and I’m happy for them. I’ll leave my good seat for someone else.

(I’ll spare you my comments on the volume level of the groups in Billboard Onboard – with the exception of the pianists – and BB King’s. My partner and I had to go sit in the hallway to enjoy the music.)

There were waffle cones August 6-13, there were popular and they would run out. They have self serve too which was not mentioned. Vanilla or a flavor and they can make a twist.

Good to know! Thanks! Maybe they were just out when we asked (although I never saw anyone else with them either – hopefully it was a specific issue with our sailing that has been rectified).

Thank you for your review of the Westerdam. We will be on her in June 2024 for 28 days. HAL is our very favorite cruise line and we have tried most of them. We currently have 3 HAL cruises booked in the next year. We have been on the Westerdam but just a lunch tour in Seattle. It was very nice and we are excited to sail for 28 days in June!!

Fabulous review … Enjoying your posts and social media … I’m just starting out on the social media front as a retirement hobby and I can’t say enough about your approach.. we’ve over 360 cruise days and will spend our second winter living on cruise ships January thru end of March … thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for your generous words, Steve. Wow, wintering on cruise ships? Living the dream! I can’t wait to follow along on all your adventures!

Sailing on this beautiful ship in Nov-Dec for the 2nd leg leaving Singapore and visiting islands of Indonesia…your review has got be all excited for my trip….thank you

Wow, that sounds like an amazing itinerary! Enjoy it!

We are also on that trip, leaving from Seattle. Hopefully we will meet you.

Looks wonderful

I was just on Westerdam Aug 13-20. There were waffle cones, but I never saw the yogurt bar. In general, food was just a hair above average, with no standouts. Sushi was good, but with 300% more rice than anything I’ve seen before. Staff was good and friendly, but didn’t excel. Band was amazing, but piano player duo just horrendous screaming out of tune. Activities were boring and lacking, and much of the ship decor plain and generic. The decision to stop in Victoria with a max usable time off ship of 90 minutes is asinine. Overall, everything about Holland America and the Westerdam seemed to strive for average, reach it, and then go out of the way not to excel past it. But fortunately, I did not experience big negatives either (except for the stupidity of the Victoria stop). I’m an experienced cruiser, but first time on HA. There just wasn’t enough there to draw me back.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It’s always interesting to hear from someone on the same ship/itinerary.

Our first cruise experience was on the Westerdam in June. We’re of a certain age and wondered if we were the cruising sort. This experience sold me on cruising and Holland America. We got extra value by booking through Costco! Good review!

Going on my very first cruise in a couple of weeks on Westerdam for an Alaskan cruise and having trouble finding an answer to my question. We have an ocean view room on the upper veranda deck, looks like front of the ship, and I’m trying to figure out our quickest access to get outside since we sadly don’t have a balcony. I can’t tell the quickest way for us to get outside.

Tammy, if you’re on Facebook. Join the Holland America Line Alaska Cruises group. You’ll get quick answers to your questions and lots of valuable information.

Take the stairs down to Deck 3 Promenade then straight out the doors.

We pretty much love everything about HAL, especially the service. Do miss the Broadway style shows,too. Almost 5 star and enjoying perks. We are older and cruise for relaxing and socializing. No need for an amusement park and gigantic shops. We cruise 3 to 4 times a year. Looking forward to N Hawaiian cruise in October.

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Find a Cruise on Westerdam

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Carrying up to 1,964 passengers and 810 crew members, Westerdam first debuted in 2004 and last received small updates in January 2023. 

Onboard facilities include the World Stage live music venue, as well as BBC Earth Experiences, the Greenhouse Spa & Salon and multiple swimming pools.

When it’s time to dine, the ship's dining venues range from the casual poolside Dive-In grill to the upscale Pinnacle Grill. After dinner, guests can enjoy live music at the B.B. King’s Blues Club, take in a theatrical performance or try their luck in the casino.

Lodging options include Inside, Ocean View and Verandah cabins, as well as three Suite categories. Standard amenities include Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs.

Westerdam departs from  Hong Kong , Seattle , Vancouver ,  Singapore ,  Tokyo  and more for sailings across Alaska, Australia, the Pacific Coast and Asia. 

Pros & Cons

Sails to unique ports across Asia and Alaska

Ship caters to more mature travelers

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 3.9
• Health Rating » 4.5

Westerdam ranks # 7 out of 11 Holland America Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 7 in Best Holland America Line
• # 24 in Best Cruises to Alaska
• # 48 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 61 in Best Affordable Cruises

Westerdam offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Westerdam contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Westerdam deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 867 guests have reviewed Westerdam , giving it a rating of 3.9 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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About Westerdam

With a spacious and comfortable atmosphere, Holland America's mid-sized Westerdam offers personalized attention and a delightful intimate ambiance. She features stunning staterooms, many with verandahs, lots of activities and a myriad of delicious dining options, ranging from casual to elegant. Boasting a multi-million-dollar art collection with a theme of Dutch heritage in the New World, adds a dimension to the cruise experience. A self-guided iPod tour will let you view the amazing works, which range from a huge Indian silver-overlaid wood palace doorway, to works by Andy Warhol.

Chic specialty bars and lounges, including the signature Crow's Nest, with incredible views, offer the perfect spot for a drink, conversation and meeting new friends. Sharpen your computer skills at the complimentary Digital Workshop. Shoot the hoops at the sports deck. Kids will love the fun activities at Club HAL and teens will head to an area just for them, The Oasis and The Loft.

Enjoy a myriad of diverse amenities on the Westerdam, including fabulous restaurants with delicious cuisine, bars, nightclubs, lounges, a casino, Las Vegas-style shows and 2 swimming pools, one with a retractable roof. Duty-free shops offer an array of items and spectacular jewelry is featured at the luxury Merabella. Foodies will flock to the Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, with a state-of-the-art kitchen demonstration kitchen and cooking classes. Enjoy the lovely Art Gallery and go online at the Internet Center. Watch your favorite movie as you snack on complimentary popcorn at the Movie Theatre or choose from more than 1,000 DVD titles that will be delivered to your stateroom to view.

Indulge in the amazing treatments at the acclaimed Greenhouse Spa & Salon, sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated. Take a yoga class at the state-of-the-art Fitness Center and greet the day on deck with a fresh sea breeze each morning with tai chi or take or stroll on the Promenade's wraparound deck or simply take in the incredible view from the comfy deck chairs. Enjoy a cup of coffee with a fresh pastry as you read the papers at the Explorations Café. The day is yours on the lovely Westerdam.

With exciting restaurants, including casual outdoor eateries and fine dining, the Westerdam has something to please everyone. Delicious cuisine is served at the stunning two-level Vista Dining Room with exquisite multi-course dinners, including vegetarian and vegan selections from an exclusive menu. Superb cuisine awaits at the elegant Pinnacle Grill, with luxurious appointments, including Bvlgari china, Frette linens and Riedel stemware. Feast on regional Italian dishes at the family-style Canaletto and a variety of made-to-order choices are offered at The Lido Restaurant. Families will love the Terrace Grill, located poolside, perfect for a casual lunch of grilled favorites. Complimentary room service is offered 24/7.

Choose from a variety of staterooms, from large interior and ocean-view, to luxurious Penthouse Suites. Relax in your elegantly appointed "home at sea" with comfortable furnishings, sure to please the most discerning traveler. Connecting staterooms are perfect for families. Exclusive to Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Verandah Suite guests, is the Neptune Lounge on the all-suite concierge deck.

Exciting entertainment includes Las-Vegas style performances at the Vista Show Lounge, sing-alongs at the fun Piano Bar, dancing late into the night at Northern Lights and try your luck at the fully-equipped Casino. All this and much more awaits you on the fabulous Westerdam.

Cruise to exciting worldwide destinations on the Westerdam.

Pinnacle Suites (Penthouse Verandah Suites)

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Neptune Suites (Deluxe Verandah Suites)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Signature Suites (Superior Verandah Suites)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Verandah Oceanview Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queensize bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Verandah Oceanview Stateroom

Large Oceanview Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

Large Ocean-view Staterooms (Partial View)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views.

Large Oceanview Stateroom (Obstructed View)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.All G-category staterooms have partial sea views. All H- & HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

Large Oceanview Staterooms (Obstructed View)

Large or Standard Interior Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Large Interior Staterooms

Standard Interior Staterooms

View Deck Plan

Pinnacle Grill

Deck: 2 - Lower Promenade

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes.

Dining Room

Decks: 2 - Lower Promenade 3 - Promenade

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes.

Deck: 9 - Lido

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack.

Lido Market

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads.

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more.

Crow's Nest Cafe

Deck: 10 - Observation

Crow's Nest Cafe.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker.

Deck: 3 - Promenade

Crow's Nest

Crow's Nest.

Sea View Pool

Sea View Pool.

Fitness Center

Fitness Center.

Spa and Salon

During a leisurely day at sea, few places help you refresh, relax and rejuvenate like the Spa & Salon. This heavenly retreat nurtures every aspect of your well-being with renowned spa rituals and healing touches. In the spa, pamper your skin with facial treatments featuring premium, naturally sourced ingredients. Nurture your body, too, with massage treatments employing time-honored, hands-on massage techniques gleaned from around the world.

Neptune Lounge

Deck: 7 - Rotterdam

Neptune Lounge.

Explorers Lounge

Explorers Lounge.

Sports Court

Deck: 11 - Sports

Sports Court.

Decks: 1 - Main 2 - Lower Promenade 3 - Promenade

World Stage

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evening, World Stage features shows from one or more sensational groups like Step One Dance Company, Cantaré, Island Magic and more.

Guest Services

Deck: 1 - Main

Guest Services.

Billboard Onboard

Billboard Onboard.

Gallery Bar

Gallery Bar.

Art Gallery

Art Gallery.

Photo Shop.

Hydro Pool.

Sliding Dome Cover

Sliding Dome Cover.

Pinnacle Bar

Pinnacle Bar.

The Retreat

The Retreat.

Observation Deck

Observation Deck.

Future Cruises

Future Cruises.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Rolling Stone Lounge.

Portrait Studio

Portrait Studio.

Stuyvesant.

Effy Jewelry

Effy Jewelry.

Sea View bar

Sea View bar.

Art Studio.

Shore Excursions

Shore Excursions.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.

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• Destinations

All Spruced Up! Holland America Westerdam Renovations Completed

When Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam emerged from a 12-day dry dock, the ship debuted a slew of renovations. Added were new public spaces and amenities, including the new informative and interactive Explorations Central, or EXC, located in the Crow’s Nest and Rijksmuseum at Sea.

Additions include Music Walk, a version of the Rijksmuseum and Explorations Central.

Holland America Westerdam Emerges From Refurbishment

In This Post...

Suites received additional upgrades modifications, enhancements to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, renovations to youth areas Club HAL and The Loft. Deck 10 received 25 new guest staterooms comprised of 18 verandah and seven interior staterooms.

“We have many innovative new programs and enhancements launching across the fleet, and it’s exciting to see them finally come to life on Westerdam, which is the first Holland America Line ship to get Rijksmuseum at Sea and EXC,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president.”

What Was Added to Westerdam ?

Rijksmuseum at sea.

Holland America Line’s partnership with Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, celebrates the company’s Dutch heritage. With Rijksmuseum at Sea on Westerdam, reproductions of some of the museum’s most famous masterpieces are showcased at a dedicated space located on Deck One of the Atrium. Guests also can view videos about the museum and its collections on the in-stateroom television.

READ NEXT:   How to get to Rijksmuseum from Amsterdam River Cruise Dock

Exploration Central A.K.A. EXC

Holland America’s destination immersion experiences kick into high gear with the launch of EXC programming. The multifaceted EXC experience combines a wide array of travel resources with enrichment opportunities. Much of the EXC experience is featured in the newly created Exploration Central’s hub located in the Crow’s Nest. EXC is a comprehensive resource and engagement center with interactive screens and a Virtual Bridge. This new programming offers a full EXC Team to engage with guests, EXC Tours, EXC Destination Guides, EXC Channel and Theater EXC.

The addition of Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard compliments the already-existing  B.B. King’s Blues Club. Lincoln Center Stage showcases an ensemble of world-class musicians that perform multiple chamber music programs every night. Billboard Onboard features the talents of two pianists performing dynamic shows centered around the interesting facts and figures of the music industry as chronicled by Billboard.

Gallery Bar

This venue serves an exclusive cocktail menu created by celebrity mixologist Dale DeGroff. It replaces Northern Lights bar and disco and is adorned with an eclectic and whimsical mix of artwork including portraits, landscapes, still life and abstract pieces.

America’s Test Kitchen Updated

America’s Test Kitchen received a new color palate and enhancements to the show kitchen. Produced in partnership with the namesake, long-running public television cooking program, America’s Test Kitchen features shipboard cooking demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

Lido Market

The Lido buffet has been transformed into the Lido Market concept — a marketplace with different themed stations offering a selection of options for on the go or quickly made to order. Areas include fresh-baked breads and pastries at Breadboard, classic comfort food at Homestead, dishes from around the globe at Distant Lands, Wild Harvest’s freshly made personalized salads, and sweet treats at Sweet Spot.

Westerdam currently is cruising the Mediterranean on 12-day itineraries between Barcelona, Spain, and Venice or Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

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No Solo Supplement with This Cruise Line

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Westerdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Explorations Central
• Crows Nest _ Observation Lounge
• Afternoon Tea
• Americas Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art and Craft Classes *
• Beer Tasting *
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Sports Court
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Whirlpools (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Martini Tasting *
• Onboard Lectures
• Solo Traveler Get_Togethers
• Team Trivia
• Greenhouse Spa and Salon *
• Wine Tasting *
• The Retreat *
• Guest Services
• Art Gallery *
• Photo Shop *
• The Shops *
• Conference Rooms
• Neptune Lounge _ Suite Guests
• World Stage
• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Billboard Onboard
• BB Kings Blues Club
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Lincoln Center Stage
• Live Nightly Music
• The Dining Room - Main
• Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
• Explorers Lounge - Classic Bar *
• Explorations Cafe - Coffee Bar *
• Dive_In - Pool Grill
• Canaletto - Italian *
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Lido Market - Buffet
• Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
• Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
• Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Room Service *

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 30
• Very Good 16
• Terrible 10
• All languages ( 83 )
• English ( 81 )
• French ( 1 )
• Dutch ( 1 )

Upcoming itineraries

Westerdam Decks and Cabins

• 2 Lower Prom.
• 3 Promenade
• 4 Upper Prom.
• 6 Upper Ver.
• 7 Rotterdam
• 8 Navigation
• 10 Observation
• Click here for ALL
• Signature Suite
• Neptune Suite
• Pinnacle Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabins Check

Built in 2004, the Westerdam cruise ship weighs 82K tons and has 984 staterooms for up to 2362 passengers served by 817 crew . There are 11 passenger decks, 7 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 35 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Westerdam showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Last Drydock: Feb 2023

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

PINNACLE SUITE

Floor Diagram Pinnacle Suite

Sleeps up to: 4 2 Cabins Cabin: 1000 sqft (94 m 2 ) Balcony: 318 sqft (30 m 2 )

Click for    

More Info [+/-]

Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, stateroom cabin perks, neptune suite.

Floor Diagram Standard layout

Sleeps up to: 4 60 Cabins Cabin: 380 sqft (36 m 2 ) Balcony: 136 sqft (13 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

 Accessible Info [+/-]

Important size information, more diagrams of this cabin type.

SIGNATURE SUITE

Sleeps up to: 3 100 Cabins Cabin: 289 sqft (27 m 2 ) Balcony: 100 sqft (9 m 2 )

Sleeps up to: 4 479 Cabins Cabin: 200 sqft (19 m 2 ) Balcony: 54 sqft (5 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Sleeps up to: 4 181 Cabins Cabin: 170 sqft (16 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Sleeps up to: 4 162 Cabins Cabin: 170 sqft (16 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Westerdam Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Westerdam Quick Stats

Big picture westerdam decks.

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Westerdam Links

• PDF of all the decks
• PDF (choose your own decks)
• Westerdam DECK DRAG
• Westerdam Cabin Check

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• Cruise News

Cruise Line Adds “Glacier Day” to Its Alaskan Cruise Itineraries

Andrea Santillan

• April 18, 2024

Holland America Line (HAL) is adding “Glacier Day” to its Alaskan sailings as part of its “We Love Alaska” campaign.

The cruise line says its activities and other similarly themed initiatives will “help foster a deeper connection to the people, history, and culture of the state.” 

As part of Glacier Day, passengers on Alaskan adventures can get to know the region through educational presentations, sighting times, information viewing stations, scenic commentary, and photo opportunities. It will also offer Alaska-themed cocktails and local food.

Each cruise will have a map showing where animals can be found and an expert guide who will point them out along the way. For those who want to explore further, Holland America has almost 180 shore excursions.

Through the Global Fresh Fish Program, cruise ships will serve fresh seafood through its port-to-plate program and unique dishes curated by HAL Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto.

There will also be a new Alaska Seafood Boil and an Alaskan Brunch Menu for an added fee . Both will be served once during each cruise.

Cocktails include the Klondiker, Midnight Sun, PNW Penicillin, and Juneau AK. These will be prepared by Sam Ross, 2011’s “US Bartender of the Year” and the owner of the “Best Bar in the US” in 2022. Guests can also enjoy the debut of the Killer Whale Pale Ale, the result of a collaboration with Seattle’s oldest craft Brewery, Pike Brewing. 

Passengers who want to support Alaska’s parks can participate in “ On Deck for a Cause, ” a 5K fundraising walk that benefits ongoing science, research, and educational activities in the region’s local parks. Last year’s event raised over $100,000 for Alaska Geographic .

Which itineraries will host Glacier Day and other Alaskan events?

The new offerings will be available this April 27 for sailings from Vancouver and May 4 for voyages from Seattle. Vessels departing from these 2 cities include Koningsdam, Eurodam, Noordam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Zaandam, and Westerdam. 

Alaskan itineraries span 7, 14, and 28 days. The longest trip, the 28-day Arctic Circle Solstice Legendary Voyage, will visit 12 Alaska ports.

A recent industry report revealed that expedition and exploration cruising is the industry’s fastest-growing sector .

From 2019 to 2023, 71% of passengers embarked on these types of itineraries.

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Holland America to Debut New ‘Glacier Day’ in 2024

• April 18, 2024

Holland America Line is debuting “Glacier Day” on its 2024 Alaska cruises and enhanced onboard experiences, according to a press release.

The new offerings include Alaska Up Close presentations as well as culinary and beverage experiences to help guests immerse themselves in the history and culture of the state. The 2024 season kicks off on April 27 from Vancouver and May 4 from Seattle.

The new Glacier Day includes sighting times, scenic commentary, presentations, informational viewing stations, photo opportunities, Dutch Pea Soup on deck, Glacier Ice cocktails, talks by Glacier Bay National Park Rangers and Huna cultural interpreters, an open bow for viewing, and more.

“Holland America Line continues to focus on bringing regional and local experiences on board every cruise, with our Alaska sailings leading the way in authentic programming, localized cuisine, and now special events like ‘Glacier Day’,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. “We continue to cultivate like-minded partnerships and fine-tune everything from cocktails to wildlife maps to ensure our guests are completely immersed in all facets of Alaska.”

Through September 2024, guests can embark on Holland America Line’s Alaska cruises and Cruisetours from Vancouver and Seattle aboard the Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam. In addition to seven-day cruises, guests can take longer 14-day cruises and a new 28-day Arctic Circle Solstice Legendary Voyage that includes 12 Alaska ports.

Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.

Additionally, Holland America Line is debuting a new “Killer Whale Pale Ale” on all Alaska cruises. The beer was produced in collaboration with Pike Brewing and features notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruits. Guests can also enjoy cocktails created by acclaimed bartender Sam Ross that will be featured in the bars on all Alaska ships: Juneau AK, Klondiker, PNW Penicillin, Mosquito, Midnight Sun and Frontier Champagne Flip.

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