This 11-day adventure on Holland America Line’s Eurodam is drawing to a close, with today’s visit to St. Thomas marking one of the final two stops. The last will be Half Moon Cay on Tuesday before the ship returns to port on Wednesday.
We arrived in St. Thomas around 6:30 am, and with the quest for constant punctuality, the all clear to disembark came precisely at 8:00 am – not a minute before or after! Originally, our docking spot was slated for Crown Bay, a stark contrast to the main terminal, Havensight.
Crown Bay, a former military base repurposed for cruise ships, has little in the way of nearby attractions. Taxis become a necessity for any exploration beyond the immediate vicinity. Thankfully, our docking location today was the much more convenient Havensight terminal.
While Havensight doesn’t offer extensive options within walking distance, you can walk through the town itself, or head across the street for a unique experience on the Skyway to Paradise Point. This gondola system transports you up the mountainside for breathtaking panoramic views of the island and cruise ships below.
St. Thomas is the gateway island of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Known for its beaches and coral reefs teeming with marine life, it’s a haven for snorkelers and scuba divers. Charlotte Amalie, the capital, boasts a rich history dating back to the 1600s when it was colonized by the Danes.
Lido Market Breakfast Menu
For those looking for a quick breakfast before heading off the ship to explore St. Thomas, the Lido Market buffet had this to offer…
Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu
The traditional sit-down, full-service breakfast was available in the Main Dining Room.
Mariner Society Activities, or Lack Of
One thing that has not happened so far this cruise, which usually happens on all voyages, is the events to recognize Mariner Society members – Holland America’s loyalty program.
You earn points based on the number of nights, accommodation class, and onboard spend (casino excluded). These points then equate to five different “star” levels each offering their own set of perks.
Mariner Society Levels:
- One Star – one cruise completed
- Two Star – 30 cruise day credits
- Three Star – 75 cruise day credits (my current status level)
- Four Star – 200 cruise day credits
- Five Day – 500 cruise day credits
The most loyal members are Five Star Mariners, and most sailings have quite a few of those folks on board.
To show appreciation, Holland America “usually” has a Mariner’s Society lunch and also a cocktail reception with the captain. Neither have occurred this trip so far.
With tomorrow being a sea day, it’s quite possible invites will arrive in mailboxes tonight.
More details on the program – https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/plan-a-cruise/get-ready-for-your-cruise/mariner-society
Lido Market Lunch Menu
It’s time for lunch and here’s a peek at what’s being served on the buffet at the Lido Market.
Main Dining Room Lunch Menu
Meanwhile, in the main dining room, the same menu is available daily for lunch.
Port of Call: St. Thomas
St. Thomas heat got me today, but the sky-high views from Paradise Point were worth it! I rode the gondola 700 feet up for $25, treated to breathtaking panoramas, a restaurant, bar, and gift shops. Snapping photos, I grabbed a refreshing Island Sunny Ale by St. John Breweries (different from St. John’s in Antigua!). Exploring further, I even found a hidden gem – maybe one of the last KMarts on Earth!
Lido Market Dinner Menu
It’s dinner time and here’s what’s on the menu tonight at the Lido Market buffet.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Down on Deck 2 and 3 in the Main Dining Room, here’s tonight’s dinner menu.
Morimoto at Sea
Holland America Line offers a special opportunity for guests to enjoy Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s culinary creations at sea. On most ships, one night per voyage, the Tamarind restaurant transforms into Morimoto by Sea. This unique experience features a three-course meal designed by Chef Morimoto himself, highlighting the freshest seafood available through Holland America’s global fish program. For a $55 per person cover charge plus an 18% gratuity, you can enjoy a delicious and exclusive dining experience created by a world-renowned chef.
Here’s a look at the Morimoto at Sea menu being offered tonight.
Showtime in the World Stage
Deciding to finally catch a show on this cruise, I ventured to the main theater. Having experienced somewhat underwhelming productions on past Holland America cruises, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Tonight’s theme was a nostalgic trip through classic TV variety shows, with costumes and music straight out of the 60s and 70s in a brand new show debuting this cruise, “All That!.”
Unfortunately, the energy lacked a live band, relying solely on pre-recorded music and the cast’s vocalists and dancers. While the female singer impressed with her voice and well-matched song choices, the male singers struggled with their assigned pieces, resulting in some off-key moments. The choreography, like the singing, was decent but didn’t leave a lasting impression.
Pinnacle Grill Dinner
For dinner, I made one final stop at the Pinnacle Grill, the ships $42pp +18% steakhouse.
The restaurant at 8:30pm was busier than it has been every other night I had dinner here this cruise and service was suffering.
It wasn’t until almost 8:45pm when my server came over with the bread basket and asked if I was ready to order.
Appetizers arrived not long after they were ordered and the pacing of the dinner got back on track.
I started out once again with the Clothesline Candied Bacon and a Wedge Salad. It took me this long to realize that the bacon is best cut up and placed on top of the salad!
For the main course, I went with the 15oz ribeye, cooked medium rare. It was cooked to my desired temperature and seasoned well, although, I found it to be really greasy. Yes, it’s a ribeye… but…
After I finished dinner, I sat waiting for my check for about another 10 – 15 minutes. It was never brought over, so I just left. Keep in mind, this is not a dine-and-dash, as it’s already charged to your shipboard account, but you’re brought over a paper copy to sign along with the option to add on tip in addition to the already 18%.
Not sure if tonight was just an off night or what, but service was not up to the expectations set earlier on in the cruise.
Good Night!
Since dinner was a bit slow to start, by the time I was done it was approaching 10:30pm. All bars, except the Sea View Bar, close at 11pm. A quick walk around the ship saw very little activity in the Rolling Stone lounge and in Billboard Onboard, even though both venues were still playing live music.
After walking around the upper decks for a while, I called it a night.
We are currently at sea until our next port of call, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, which will be on Tuesday and back to Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday.