Day 2 of this second segment was a sea day, and the first of two back-to-back sea days as Rotterdam makes her way toward our first port of call on this itinerary, Willemstad, Curaçao. We’re scheduled to arrive there at noon on Monday, March 16.
As I mentioned in the Day 1 report, this cruise is completely sold out and has a noticeably different passenger mix compared to the Panama Canal segment that just ended. There are a lot more families and kids onboard, and nowhere was that more obvious than around the Lido Pool.
I took a walk through the area around 10:00 a.m. and while there weren’t many people actually in the pool yet, the chair hogs were already hard at work.
Take a look at the photo below and count how many people you see in the pool. Then look at the number of loungers that have towels, books, bags, or other “personal belongings” sitting on them.
Unless every one of those people was simultaneously standing in line at the Lido Bar for a drink, chances are most of those loungers were claimed hours earlier by someone who dropped a towel down and disappeared for breakfast and will magically reappear sometime after lunch.
Holland America does mention in the daily program that unattended chairs may have items removed after 30 minutes, and they also note that only Holland America towels should be used to reserve loungers rather than personal items.
The problem, of course, is enforcement.
Do crew members really go around removing towels after 30 minutes? The honest answer is probably not. No crew member making what they make is going to risk getting into an argument with a guest over a lounge chair, only to have that guest march down to Guest Services to complain.
And when it comes to pool chairs, the level of entitlement some people display is something to behold.
There are passengers who will get up at six in the morning, drop a towel and a paperback novel on a lounger, and then disappear until late morning as if that chair now belongs exclusively to them for the rest of the day.
It’s ridiculous behavior, but it happens on cruise ships and resorts all over the world every single day.
What Are Chair Hogs and How to Deal With Them on Your Cruise
As the morning went on the Lido Pool area became more and more crowded. The pool filled up, the bar was busy, and every lounger within sight was claimed. Just a week ago during the Panama Canal segment this same area was quiet, relaxed, and mostly kid-free. Amazing what a difference a new group of passengers can make.
Back at the aft of the ship things were just as busy at the Sea View Pool, which is the adults-only pool area on Holland America ships. This space is officially reserved for guests 18 and older, though in practice that rule sometimes gets tested.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that this is also the ship’s main outdoor smoking area. So you have smokers gathered near the Sea View Bar on one side, a non-smoking seating area on the other, and the pool and sun deck in the middle.
If you can tolerate the smoke, it can be a nice place to escape the family crowd at the Lido Pool. But seasoned Holland America passengers are also known for being very protective of their adults-only space.
If a kid wanders into the Sea View Pool area, there’s a decent chance someone will say something. Sometimes guests handle it themselves, and other times they’ll alert a crew member. Whether or not it gets addressed often depends on the situation, but on a busy sailing like this it can turn into a bit of a gray area.
Personally, you won’t find me hanging out at the pools or hot tubs on a cruise ship anyway.
The idea of sitting in a bubbling cauldron of hundreds of people, many of whom have been drinking all day and may not have left the water for hours, just isn’t my idea of relaxation.
If that’s your thing though… enjoy.
Regional Wine Tasting – a Mariner Society Perk
As a Four-Star Mariner in Holland America’s loyalty program, the Mariner Society, one of the nicer perks is an invitation to the regional wine tasting that’s offered several times during the cruise. Normally this event runs $35 plus the 18% service charge, but for 4 and 5-Star Mariners it’s complimentary!
The first tasting for this cruise was held today, so I joined a couple of cruise friends I’ve had the pleasure of sailing with on several HAL trips in the past, Linda and Lowell. And congratulations to them, as they’ve just reached Four-Star status themselves.
The tasting takes place in the Main Dining Room and usually runs about an hour. When you arrive, you’re greeted with a glass of sparkling wine before being escorted to your table where everything is already set up. Waiting for us were tasting glasses, along with small plates of cheeses and fruit to pair with the wines.
Once everyone was seated, the cellar master and sommelier introduced themselves and their team, explained what we’d be sampling, and kicked things off with a toast.
Just like the tasting on the previous cruise, this one featured four wines: a sparkling wine (in addition to the welcome glass), one white, and two reds. The specific wines change depending on the tasting and sometimes the region the ship is sailing in.
Overall, three of the four wines were quite enjoyable, with one of the reds not really doing much for me. But that’s part of the fun of tastings like this – you get to try different things you might not normally order.
It’s a nice way to spend about an hour relaxing, learning a little about wine, and escaping the chaos happening elsewhere around the ship.
There’s also a premium wine tasting offered during the cruise for $49 plus the service charge, which features higher-end selections. We’ve already signed up for that one later in the sailing on another sea day, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they pour at that event.
Rotterdam’s Most Popular Watering Holes
Speaking of alcoholic beverages, let’s talk about two of the most popular watering holes on Rotterdam: Ocean Bar and Half Moon Bar.
Both are located on Deck 2 just a few steps from each other. Ocean Bar sits right outside Pinnacle Grill and Rudi’s Sel de Mer, while Half Moon Bar is around the corner near Club Orange. If you’re heading to dinner at one of the specialty restaurants, chances are you’ll pass one of these bars along the way.
These are prime spots for pre-dinner and post-dinner cocktails, and they tend to get busy right around those times. They also happen to be the only places onboard where you can order smoked cocktails, including a smoked Old Fashioned. If you enjoy that smoky aroma drifting across the bar while your drink is being finished tableside, it’s absolutely worth ordering.
Both bars carry a pretty impressive selection of top-shelf spirits, some of which can definitely make your onboard account feel a little lighter. But hey, you only live once.
And no, before anyone asks, Louis XIII is not included in the beverage package. If you want a pour, it’ll set you back $200 for a 1.5 oz pour. The current champion for most expensive spirit onboard, however, is Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey, which rings in at $299 for a 1.5 oz pour.
If you’re looking for excellent cocktails, a lively atmosphere, and bartenders who know their craft, Ocean Bar and Half Moon Bar are two of the best spots on the ship. Reema, Liam, and Barney behind the bar are worth the visit alone.
Menus for both bars are below.
Ocean Bar
Ocean Bar sits right at the top of the atrium, making it one of the most social spots on the ship once things start buzzing. It’s the kind of place where cocktails turn into dancing, people-watching is elite, and you suddenly realize you’ve been there longer than planned.
Available on: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Westerdam, Zaandam, Zuiderdam
Half Moon Bar Menu
Half Moon Bar, found only on Rotterdam, is a moody little hideaway known for smoky, theatrical cocktails and a more intimate vibe. It’s the kind of place you stumble into once and then quietly make part of your nightly routine.
Available on: Rotterdam
You can check out all the bar menus from Holland America venues across the fleet, here.
Dressy Night & Gala Dinner
Since this was the first sea day of the cruise, it also meant Dressy Night onboard.
Compared to the previous sailing, there were noticeably more people getting into the spirit this time around. With so many families onboard for this segment, a lot of passengers were dressed up and taking advantage of the photographers stationed around the ship. Everywhere you looked there were couples, families, and groups lining up for their Dressy Night photos.
As is typical on Holland America, Dressy Night also means a special gala menu in the Main Dining Room with some upgraded offerings for the evening.
Below is a look at the gala menu being served in the MDR tonight, along with what was available over at the Lido Market for those who preferred a more casual dinner.
Holland America Main Dining Room Gala Dinner Menu A
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu C
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Dinner at Rudi’s Sel de Mer
As I mentioned in my Day 12 wrap-up from the previous segment, one restaurant I didn’t get around to during that cruise was Rudi’s Sel de Mer. That changed tonight.
At $55 per person plus the 18% service charge, Rudi’s is one of the more expensive specialty dining options across the Holland America fleet. Even for 4 and 5-Star Mariners, the discount here is only 25% instead of the usual 50% offered at the other specialty restaurants. The assumption is that Holland America has to pay Rudi for the use of his name and concept, which likely explains the smaller discount.
Rudi Sodamin has been tied to Holland America for decades and is one of the original celebrity chefs connected to cruise lines. These days you’ll also find his influence across several Carnival Corporation brands. Carnival ships like Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee feature Rudi’s Sea Grill, Princess Cruises has The Catch by Rudi on multiple ships, and here on Holland America you’ll find the full Sel de Mer concept on the Pinnacle-class ships. On the rest of the fleet it occasionally appears as a pop-up dining experience, similar to how Morimoto at Sea operates.
On Rotterdam, Rudi’s is a relatively small venue tucked onto Deck 2 next to Pinnacle Grill and right between Ocean Bar and Half Moon Bar. It only has a handful of tables and surprisingly it’s often not that busy, which is a shame because the food here is consistently excellent.
The menu leans Mediterranean with plenty of seafood options, along with steaks, chicken, lamb, and lobster, all plated with the artistic flair Rudi is known for.
Holland America Rudi's Sel De Mer Dinner Menu
Sel de Mer is an intimate Mediterranean Bistro featuring the flavors of France, Spain and Greece with a focus on fresh fish and authentically prepared recipes.
Available on: Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam
I didn’t have a reservation tonight. After finishing a drink at Half Moon Bar I wandered over around 8:15 p.m. and got a table without any issue.
To start, I ordered the beef tartare. Normally it comes topped with a quail egg, but I swapped that out for a little caviar instead. I followed that with the burrata and prosciutto, which was incredibly fresh and creamy. Both starters were excellent.
A quick reminder to myself about the bread service here. The bread and flavored oils are ridiculously good and dangerously addictive. If you want to make room for everything else, it’s probably best to skip it. Easier said than done.
For the main course I went with the whole Dover sole meunière, which carries a $15 supplement. This dish is prepared tableside and was clearly a popular choice tonight as the servers were constantly moving around the dining room filleting fish at each table. The sole was perfectly cooked, light, flaky, and buttery. Paired with a side of ratatouille, it made for an outstanding main course.
Even after all of that I still managed to squeeze in dessert. I went with the warm strawberry tarte tatin with caramel and crème fraîche. It was the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
Service throughout the evening was excellent and very much on par with the level of attention you get next door at Pinnacle Grill. The staff were friendly, attentive, and never rushed the meal.
Because of the price, Rudi’s is a restaurant that some guests tend to skip. But if you’re looking to splurge on one specialty dinner during the cruise, this is absolutely one worth trying.
Another sea day tomorrow, so get your lido deck chairs early! As always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Abs Class | Fitness Center 9 |
| 7:30 AM | Walk a Mile | Atrium 3 |
| 8:00 AM | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:30 AM | Sunrise Stretch | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 9:00 AM | Pickleball Instruction: The Basics | Sport Court 11 |
| 9:00 AM | Coffee with Nick | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 9:00 AM | Shinola Watches: American Made | The Shops 2 |
| 9:30 AM | Origami Folding: Crab again at 4:30 PM | Game Room 12 |
| 9:30 AM | Military Meetup | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 10:00 AM | Explore With Shore Excursions | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 10:00 AM | Pickleball Open Play | Sport Court 11 |
| 10:00 AM | Learn to Line Dance | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 10:00 AM | Let’s Play Ping Pong | Lido Balcony 10 |
| 10:00 AM | Mahjong Players Meet until 3:00 PM | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 10:00 AM | Party Bridge Play until 12:00 PM | Stuyvesant Room 1 |
| 10:30 AM | Early Bird Diamond Dash | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 10:30 AM | Creating Design from Doodles | Game Room 12 |
| 10:30 AM | Increase Your Metabolism Seminar | Fitness Center 9 |
| 11:00 AM | The Art of Flower Arranging | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Over $1,000 Jackpot Bingo Ticket Sales | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Learn to Play Sjoelen | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 11:00 AM | Non-Surgical Facelift | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 11:30 AM | Modern Calligraphy | Game Room 12 |
| 12:00 PM | Singles & Solo Traveler Lunch | Dining Room 2 |
| 12:00 PM | The Caribbean Shopping Show | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 12:00 PM | Fragrance Finds from $39.99 | The Shops 2 |
| 12:30 PM | The Hair Show | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:00 PM | Today’s Trivia: Travel | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Regional Steel Pan Soloist Dereck Plays | Lido Balcony 10 |
| 1:00 PM | Teen Pictionary Challenge | Kids Club 10 |
| 1:00 PM | Mixology Class: Cosmopolitan & Manhattan $25 | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Grand Opening Art Auction | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Party Bridge Play until 4:00 PM | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 1:00 PM | Designer Sunglasses: Special Offer | The Shops 3 |
| 1:30 PM | Ladies Pamper Party | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:30 PM | Watercoloring: Flowers again at 2:30 PM | Game Room 12 |
| 2:00 PM | Regional Steel Pan Soloist Dereck Plays | Lido Balcony 10 |
| 2:00 PM | Paper Airplane Building | Dining Room 2 |
| 2:00 PM | Regional Wine Tasting $35 | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 2:00 PM | The Caribbean Up Close: Water Works | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 2:00 PM | Designer Watch Sale: Up to 30% Off | The Shops 2 |
| 2:30 PM | High Seas Happy Hour 10% Off | The Shops 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Cornhole Challenge | Sport Court 11 |
| 3:00 PM | English Tea Time | Dining Room 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Over $1,100 Jackpot Bingo Ticket Sales | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 3:00 PM | Diamond & Gemstone Enrichment Seminar | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 3:00 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 3:00 PM | Coloring for Adults | Game Room 12 |
| 3:30 PM | Tighten your skin with Thermage | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 4:00 PM | Team Trivia Challenge | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 4:00 PM | Shuffleboard Challenge | Sport Court 11 |
| 4:00 PM | Over $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 4:00 PM | EFFY’s Yellow Diamond Experience | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 4:30 PM | Dressy Night Portrait Studio | Atrium 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Stretch | Fitness Center 9 |
| 5:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Class: Waltz | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Cocktails with Nick featuring Vivace Strings Trio | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 5:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Catholic Prayer | Hudson & Half Moon Room 1 |
| 5:30 PM | Swarovski: 10% Off | The Shops 3 |
| 6:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Music Trivia: Through the Decades | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 7:00 PM | King of Color: Colored Diamond Sale | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 7:15 PM | Captain’s Welcome | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:30 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Tricia Kelly | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:45 PM | Game Show: Secret Identities | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 8:00 PM | Majority Rules for Teens | Kids Club 10 |
| 8:00 PM | Movies by the Pool: Hamnet | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Tricia Kelly | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 11:00 PM | $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 11:15 PM | Dance to the Hits: Disco | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 12:00 AM | Stay and Play Slots All Night | Casino 3 |