I’m off on another cruise and this time, I’m sailing on Holland America Line’s Eurodam. Launched in 2008, Eurodam was Holland America’s very first Signature-class ship. She initially cruised destinations in the Mediterranean, Western Europe, the Baltic Sea, and regions like Norway, the British Isles, Canada, and the Caribbean. Since 2017, her itinerary has become seasonal. From May to September, she offers Alaska cruises departing from Seattle. The remaining months, October through April, the Eurodam sails the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.
I have been on Eurodam several times including on a 3-day Bahamas cruise in 2008, 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise in 2013, and a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise in 2015.
With the capacity for just 2,104 passengers, Eurodam can offer a level of service that larger ships just can’t, which sets Holland America Line apart from the competition. However, the line has built larger ships with the newest being the Rotterdam which accommodates a maximum of 4,100 passengers – quite a bump up from Eurodam!
This is an 11-day Eastern Caribbean cruise which is pretty port intensive. We will be calling upon Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda; Roseau, Dominica; Castries, Saint Lucia; Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis; St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; and Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas – Half Moon Cay. A few of these ports of call are new to me, which I’m pretty excited about!
This cruise has been comped as part of a Holland America Player’s Club casino offer. I paid $100, which is refunded back as onboard credit, plus $225 in port fees and taxes for a guaranteed inside stateroom. On previous cruises on the Eurodam, I stayed in the ship’s Penthouse Suite and Neptune Suites, but never an inside stateroom.
For this trip, I will be trying a different format for the review, posting notes and photos as they happen, so feedback is appreciated!
Embarkation Time!
Embarkation was a breeze! I arrived at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL, around 11:45 am, dropped off my luggage, and proceeded to check in. The lines weren’t long at all, and within a few minutes, I was through security and onto the next step.
Unfortunately, for some reason, the facial scan and passport scan didn’t work for me. I had to go to another check-in counter to complete that step. Even with that minor delay, though, the whole process from arriving at the curb to getting on the ship took only about 30 minutes.
Inside Stateroom 6171
Once I was on board, I made a beeline for my stateroom. It’s an inside cabin, all the way aft on deck six. The Eurodam isn’t a brand-new ship, launched back in 2008, so it doesn’t have all the fancy extras you see on some of the newer ones. That’s true for the stateroom too.
The room features two twin beds that can convert to a king with reading lights on both side along with a single USB port on each side which were added during a recent refit. Additional amenities include a small flat-screen TV, fully stocked mini-bar with pay-as-you-use-them beverages which are not included in a beverage package, small desk/make-up area, adjustable table for in-room dining, a safe, bathrobes, and plenty of closet storage space.
While the living area of the stateroom didn’t seem dated or show much wear, the bathroom is where you can tell you’re on an older ship. Similar to older Carnival Cruise Line ship’s bathrooms, the interior staterooms on Eurodam have a plastic countertop and a shower with a shower curtain rather than a door. Storage was not that plentiful in the bathroom. All Holland America Line ships feature Elemis bath products.
Lighting throughout the stateroom is the older fluorescent style, and power outlets are scarce. In fact, the only power outlets in the room were located on the writing desk/make-up area and there are only 2 US and 2 European outlets. There is an additional USB port in this area as well.
As far as space is concerned, like any interior it’s tight, but for a solo traveler like myself it’s enough space.
Overall, considering the age of the ship, the room is in pretty good condition and the motion activated nightlight that illuminates the floor outside the bathroom door is a plus considering how dark interior rooms get.
Video Tour of Stateroom 6171 on Holland America Eurodam
Let me take you on a virtual tour of Interior Stateroom 6171 on Eurodam in this walkthrough video.
Mini Bar Pricing
Like I mentioned, there is a fully stocked mini bar in the stateroom completed with soda, beer, a selection of pre-made On the Rocks cocktails and more. These are all charged to your shipboard account as you consume them and are not included in a beverage package. They are replenished by your stateroom attendant.
Lido Market Lunch Menu
Upon arrival, lunch was being served in the Lido Market – the ship’s buffet located on Deck 9. Here is what’s on the menu today!
Other Lunch Options
Other options for lunch today, and everyday, include the Dive In located on the Lido Deck at the Lido Pool which offers up burgers, dogs, and fries. For those looking for pizza, New York Pizza, also located on the Lido Deck but at the aft Sea View Pool offers flatbread pizza by the slice and whole round pies along with pre-made salads and desserts.
Ship Spotting at Port Everglades
Ooh, there’s the Odyssey of the Seas in port today! One of those fancy Quantum class ships from Royal Caribbean. Speaking of Quantum class, I actually scored a spot on the maiden voyage of the very first one, Quantum of the Seas. Out of all the Royal Caribbean ships I’ve been on, Quantum class takes the crown for sure!
Look who else docked today – the Holland America Zaandam, another “dam” shipmate!
Another Holland America Line ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam is in port along with Celebrity Apex, both seen here as they depart Port Everglades.
What Day is It?
Ah, spotted a funny detail! Looks like someone forgot to swap out the rug in the panoramic elevator… and judging by the state of it, they might have forgotten for a few days now… as today is Saturday!
Carpet Wayfinders
Hey, I noticed a cool detail! The rugs in the elevator hallways aren’t just there for looks – they actually act as wayfinders too! Such a neat touch, helps you know where you are on the ship at a glance.
Full-on Classic Muster Drill Today
Ugh, blast from the past on the muster drill today! Remember when we all just scanned our cards at the station and that was it? Apparently, COVID decided those days were over. Here we were, herded to our muster station like sardines for a full-blown life jacket demo and emergency spiel. It was a total throwback, and let’s be honest, a complete pain!
St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
With tomorrow being St Patrick’s Day, there will be a bar crawl to celebrate. Being that there are only eight bars on board, with only four participating, it should be a quick crawl!
Cost $35 pp.
Late Departure
The Eurodam was scheduled to be the first ship to depart Port Everglades at 3pm. However, we had a lot of late arrivals due to flight delays which the ship waited for. That, along with a medical emergency that required a passenger to be disembarked prior to departure, resulted in us leaving port an hour later, at 4pm.
Lido Market Welcome Aboard Steak Dinner Menu
The first evening on a Holland America Line cruise, there is a Welcome Aboard Steak Dinner served at the Lido Market buffet for those looking to fill their bellies with some good food, but don’t want to get dressed up and hit the Main Dining Room on their first day. Here’s a peek at this once-a-cruise menu.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
For those looking to enjoy dinner in the ship’s Main Dining Room, here’s what’s on the menu tonight.
Holland America Line Tote Bag
After wandering around, I returned to my stateroom to shower and get dressed for the evening. On my bed, was a gift – a Holland America Line tote bag. These are made from recycled materials, which is great for the environment. But honestly, I kinda miss the old cloth bags. There was just something about them…
Pre-Dinner Entertainment
I caught a show at the Rolling Stone Lounge before dinner! The band wasn’t half bad, gotta give them credit. They’re playing three sets tonight: Into the Mix going on now, then later they’ve got Classic R&B and apparently a whole set dedicated to 80s rock – the decade, not necessarily the average age of everyone on board, wink wink!
The Rolling Stone Lounge is a somewhat new addition to Eurodam. It occupies the space that was formerly B. B. King’s Blues Club which is no longer offered on the ship. Signage throughout was not replaced to reflect the name change, but simply has stickers placed over the old name – something that seems cheap and not well thought out.
B. B. King’s was a venue that many miss on the ships it was removed from. During my recent Rotterdam cruise, the Blues Club (which is still there) was packed every night!
Pinnacle Grill Dinner
Tonight, I treated myself to dinner at the ship’s steakhouse, the Pinnacle Grill. This specialty restaurant sets you back $46 pp, plus an 18% service charge on top. No reservation for me, I just winged it at 8:30 pm and snagged a table. Come to think of it, there were only four other tables filled the whole place – the ship must be super quiet tonight! Interesting to see how the rest of the night goes, but for now, dinner time!
For my starter, I dived into the steak tartare. Absolutely fantastic! The flavor was on point, but I gotta say, they could’ve been a bit more generous with the crostini. Not a deal breaker, but definitely left me wanting a bit more!
Speaking of appetizers, unlike Carnival where bacon’s a buffet fugitive, showing up only every other day, here at Pinnacle Grill, it’s a permanent menu resident. I went for it, and let me tell you, it’s definitely on the sweet side.
Main course is up, and I opted for the classic New York Strip, cooked medium rare, with a baked potato and creamed spinach on the side. The steak itself was seasoned perfectly and cooked exactly as I requested. Only hitch? It was a bit on the chewy side. Now, New York Strips can have a reputation for that, so I figured this one must have come from particularly well-exercised cattle! Overall, the steak gets a solid 3 out of 5 from me, mostly due to the toughness. On a brighter note, at least I had two pepper grinders on the table to amp up the flavor!
When it came time for dessert, I just opted for some simple sorbet which was brought out with some chocolate candies.
Service in the Pinnacle Grill was as one would expect for the top restaurant on the ship – amazing. My server was very knowledgable, friendly and was always coming around checking up, clearing crumbs, providing fresh silverware, refilling my water glass, and timing the delivery of entrees perfectly. A truly great way to kick off the next 11 days on the Eurodam!
Calling it a Night
10:30 pm and the Rolling Stone Lounge rockers have clocked out for the night. Looks like the piano wizards over at Billboard Onboard are winding down their set too. Party’s almost over – bars close at 11 pm sharp, except for the Sea View Bar which keeps the party going until midnight.
Took a quick spin through the casino, but Lady Luck wasn’t feeling generous tonight – guess it’s bedtime for this sailor!