One of my favorite cruise ships in the Holland America Line fleet is the ms Eurodam, or the “Mighty E” as she is known to her loyal followers. The Eurodam is a Signature-class ship, launched in 2008, and is the 80th ship in the history of the Holland America Line. At 86,700 tons, the Mighty E carries 2,104 passengers and 929 crewmembers and cruises at a max speed of 24 knots.
I’ve sailed the Caribbean on the Eurodam several times since her launch and always recommend her to those looking to take a Holland America Line cruise. Some of the things that sets Eurodam apart from other ships in the HAL fleet include the addition of the Pan Asian restaurant, Tamarind, which is one of my favorites and the private cabanas located around the ship’s main pool and private retreat area.
Over the next few days, I’ll be posting updates and photos from Joe Palko who is sailing on Eurodam on a 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, FL) with stops in Half Moon Cay, Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Key West.
Day 1 – Fort Lauderdale:
“We arrived at Port Everglades around 1:00PM. Check-in lines were incredibly long but were organized and moved quickly. We had priority due to having a Neptune Suite. The priority line was short and check-in was super fast. In fact, it took only around 15 minutes from check-in until the time we were actually onboard the ship.
The Eurodam is starting to show her age in some areas, but the crew keeps her very well-kept overall.”
(Note from Scott: In April 2011, the Eurodam underwent her first drydock since her launch. She received a new coat of paint, had her pods and thrusters serviced, new teak decking on the Lido deck, and general interior maintenance.)
“Unlike most Holland America Cruises I’ve been on, the floor mats in the elevators no longer have the day of the week on them.”
(Note from Scott: The day of the week elevator mats are something that disappeared on many Holland America Line ships over time, much to the chagrin of many cruisers like myself who need to be reminded that today is Monday not Saturday! During my recent MSC Divina Cruise, the elevators featured removable tiles that displayed the day of the week instead of floor mats. One can speculate the cost of cleaning and replacing worn mats were the reason they were taken out.)
“We were able to go to our stateroom, 7052, right away, and upon our arrival was immaculate and everything was in its place.
The mandatory safety drill took place around 3:15pm and was well organized. In addition to the safety briefing video playing on the stateroom television, another video advised passengers not to dress flashy or wear good jewelry when venturing out on shore. I took extra note of the warning to be weary of people who approach you that speak English. It’s nice to know that criminals will at least rob you in your native tongue!
Unfortunately, the weather in Fort Lauderdale was not cooperating and it was raining at the time of the sail-away, so the party of the Lido deck was sparsely attended, but there were those of us who braved the elements to celebrate the start of our vacation.”
(Note from Scott: More and more cruise lines are starting to advise passengers about the high crime rates that exist in many of the ports of call, but don’t actually come out and say what these crimes are. Atty. Jim Walker who runs the blog Cruise Law News frequently writes about murders, rapes, robberies, and assorted violence that occur in areas such as the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic. I always advise cruisers to avoid venturing out on their own and only book shore excursions through the cruise line or with a well-researched and reputable tour company. High crime rates in many of these areas is one of the reasons I very rarely venture out when a ship pulls into port.)
Day 2 – Half Moon Cay:
(Note from Scott: Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas and happens to be my personal favorite island. As a Carnival Corp. brand, Half Moon Cay is also called upon by Carnival Cruise Line ships as well. Some of the features of the island include a beach with a children’s water park, private small cabanas, larger family cabanas, a bar, BBQ area where lunch is served, and of course plenty of shore excursions such as a stingray adventure, horseback riding and more.
A few things to note about a visit to Half Moon Cay: 1) If you purchased a beverage package, your package is not valid for beverages ordered on the island. All beverages purchased on Half Moon Cay are additional and will be charged to your shipboard account. 2) Consider getting a cabana. For a few hundred bucks you get peace of mind knowing you will have loungers available for your use as loungers on the beach are taken up quickly, you’ll have a nice shady space to retreat to where you can have a few drinks or a snack, and of course hang out with friends without getting fried in the sun! 3) It is a tender port and you will need to tender back and forth to the ship.)
“The weather during the day was beautiful. Bright sunshine and temps in the 80s were accompanied by a light breeze. There was a very short wait for a tender to take us to and from the island and tenders ran all day. When one tender filled up, another was right behind it ready to go.
Like other visits to Half Moon Cay, the island was in great condition and was well prepared for guests. We had lunch at the Island BBQ which featured standard cookout food including hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chicken, and steak, all of which were very good.
Back on the ship, we enjoyed dinner at Tamarind. If there is one restaurant to have dinner at on the Eurodam, it should be Tamarind. The service is incredible and the food is some of the best I have ever eaten.” (Note from Scott: Sentiments I share about Tamarind!)
Thanks, Joe for this update, and stay tuned for some more from Joe as he sails through the Caribbean. He did note that Internet access has been spotty on the ship and it’s very slow. Internet on Holland America Line ships has always been an issue for me and one which still apparently is one for others as well.
Joe did not address one issue during his check-in, but I did ask him via email about the vibration issue that has plagued Eurodam for quite some time. During my last sailing on her, it was extremely noticeable in Tamarind where the vibrations were so severe it actually shook glass and tableware throughout the entire meal. Joe said vibrations can be felt throughout the ship and depending on where you are at, can be minimal to “pretty bad” despite smooth sailing. Check out this video I took during dinner:
Personal Day-By-Day Eurodam Cruise Review:
Photo Tour of the Eurodam:
Photography is a crucial component of preserving memories during any vacation, and this cruise was no exception. I took numerous pictures that highlight different features of the ship, such as its interior design, exterior pool areas, and my own cabin. You can view these photos in the Eurodam Photo Tour and the daily review of the cruise, which can be accessed through the links provided.