Posts in category: Holland America Line

For most people, you spend months – potentially a year or two – planning a cruise. And so after all that build-up, you want the best experience possible – and you certainly don’t want a cabin that lets you down.

This is especially when we’re talking about a ship that’s as nice as MS Rotterdam – one of the best ships in the Holland America Line fleet.

I was lucky enough to spend the day exploring MS Rotterdam in Plymouth. I have used my time aboard as well as the info I collated from hundreds of online reviews, to come up with this guide to the best and worst staterooms on this HAL ship.

In reality, there are very few cabins or staterooms on any ship that would be truly ‘disappointing’, but there may be some that just have little eccentricities, or are in an awkward place. Or, you might book one that’s brilliant for someone else, but doesn’t quite fit you.

With that in mind, here’s a detailed look at all the cabins available on MS Rotterdam, and a guide to the best ones and the ones you might want to steer clear of, so that your long-awaited cruise goes as perfectly as possible.

MS Rotterdam cabin types

There are four main cabin types you can choose from on MS Rotterdam. These each have subtypes of cabins within them…

• Inside – Standard, Large or Spa
• Ocean View – Single, Large, Spa Large or Family
• Verandah – Standard, Obstructed, Aft-View or Spa
• Suites – Vista, Signature, Neptune, Spa Neptune or Pinnacle

Let’s take more of a look at each of these cabin types, so you can get an idea of which one is the best for you…

Interior Staterooms

MS Rotterdam has three different types of Inside cabins that you can book:

As they are with any cruise ship, Interior cabins are always going to be the cheapest option. They’re great if you’re on a budget and plan on spending most of your time outside of your cabin, exploring everything that MS Rotterdam has to offer.

There are three different types on MS Rotterdam, including Standard and Large. Both of these have two twin beds which are convertible into a single Queen bed if preferred – you just need to let your cabin attendant know.

The third type is a Spa Interior Stateroom – more on those in a little bit.

One thing to note if you’re travelling with children is that the Interior Staterooms on this ship only sleep two people. And there are no inter-connecting Interior rooms either.

I often like to cruise in the cheapest inside stateroom with my children. This isn’t an option on MS Rotterdam. But then again, if you’re looking for a really cheap family cruise, this won’t be the ship for you anyway.

If you do have children and want to avoid the worry of constantly supervising them near the balcony, then a family Ocean View Stateroom would be your best option on MS Rotterdam…

Ocean View Staterooms

There are four types of Ocean View Stateroom available for guests to book on MS Rotterdam. These are:

The next step up from an Interior Stateroom, Ocean View Staterooms have a window that lets you see out over the ocean. The window is nice and large, and lets a lot of bright, natural light into the room.

It’s also handy if you just want to check what you should be wearing before you head out of your cabin for the day – it’s more reliable to look out the window than check any weather app you might have on your phone, after all!

These cabins tend to be larger than the Inside Staterooms, although there are different sizes available.

The smallest of the Ocean View staterooms are designed for solo guests. They’re relatively spacious, considering they’re for one person, and they come with a single twin bed.

Again, there are Spa versions of Ocean View staterooms, and there are also Family Staterooms too, which can sleep up to 5 guests. These have twin beds (convertible to a Queen bed, of course), a sofa bed which can sleep up to 2 guests, and a Pullman bed, which is suitable for children.

Suggested read: What is a Pullman bed on a cruise ship?

Verandah Staterooms

Here are the four types of Verandah Stateroom on MS Rotterdam:

Verandah Staterooms are always some of the most popular on a cruise ship. You don’t just get a view, but you get your own private balcony where you can sit and soak up the fresh sea breeze, and hopefully some of the warm sun too.

Verandah Staterooms are an ideal choice if you like to spend more time in your stateroom. It’s always refreshing to sit on your balcony on a pleasant day, drink in one hand, book in another.

There are four types of Verandah Stateroom, all of which sleep two guests, and the room sizes above include the balcony floor space too.

Obstructed Verandah Staterooms have a partially-blocked view thanks to the lifeboats along the side of the ship. These are cheaper than the other options and are good if you don’t mind having a view that isn’t completely clear.

Aft-View Verandah Staterooms often book up first. They have what many consider to be the best views of the ship, overlooking the wake as you sail. Plus you tend to be more shielded from the wind. You will pay a little more for the privilege though.

Finally, there are also Spa Verandah Staterooms that you can book. (More on those below).

Suites

The different types of Suite on MS Rotterdam are:

There are four main types of suites, with Vista Suites being the introductory option. They’re slightly more spacious versions of a Verandah Stateroom – around 20% bigger on average. It’s a decent size increase, but you don’t get a whole lot extra really.

It depends on your own preferences – if you appreciate the room then a Vista Suite is worth it, otherwise save your money and get a Verandah Stateroom.

Signature Suites are really the start of the real suite class for Holland America ships, with a much more spacious room and a longer list of perks that you get, although it’s still not super-lengthy. The biggest room upgrade will be the king-size bed.

Neptune Suites are larger again, and they have a lot more additional benefits, while Pinnacle Suites are the very best on the ship – they’re extremely spacious (with a Verandah that’s bigger than most of the actual staterooms on the ship) and they include an oversized whirlpool bath too.

If you like the idea of a suite but aren’t sure which to choose, then you should be sure to compare the different perks that you get with each. Take a look at my Holland America Line Suite Benefits Guide to find out more.

Special cabin types on MS Rotterdam

Beyond the standard selection of staterooms on MS Rotterdam, there are a few more choices you can make.

Spa Suites and Staterooms

A popular choice for guests who like to pamper themselves, MS Rotterdam has a selection of Spa Suites and Staterooms to choose from, across Interior, Ocean View, Verandah and Neptune Suite categories.

These staterooms and suites are no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, but what sets them apart is their location and the facilities you’ll find in the room.

These accommodations are all situated close to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, so you never have far to travel if you want to enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment.

Inside the rooms, you’ll also find a selection of spa-themed amenities, including organic bathrobes and slippers, upgraded toiletries, and a loofah mitt with bath salts.

You’ll also get yoga mats and pedometers to help you stay active during your cruise, while the room has a countertop water feature so that you can set the perfect relaxing ambience.

If you’re someone who likes visiting the ship’s spa during your cruise, then these rooms are absolutely worth checking out. Otherwise, the additional cost means they probably aren’t worth it for you.

Accessible rooms

Almost all cruise ships have accessible stateroom and suite options – designed for guests with additional accessibility needs. And MS Rotterdam is no different.

On MS Rotterdam, the accessible rooms are split into two categories – Ambulatory Accessible, and Fully Accessible.

Ambulatory Accessible rooms are those which aren’t designed for wheelchair users, but that have small modifications to handle other accessibility needs for guests. On MS Rotterdam, these rooms include:

• 1 Neptune Suite
• 1 Vista Suite
• 7 Verandah Staterooms
• 1 Family Ocean View Stateroom
• 1 Ocean View Stateroom
• 2 Interior Staterooms

Fully Accessible rooms are suitable for wheelchair users, with widened doorways and a roll-in shower. These include:

• 1 Signature Suite
• 2 Vista Suites
• 14 Verandah Staterooms
• 4 Ocean View Staterooms
• 6 Interior Staterooms

Connecting rooms

There aren’t too many rooms on Holland America’s MS Rotterdam that are suited to families – unlike on ships that are designed for guests with kids, this ship doesn’t have additional beds in almost every room. Instead, they’re limited to certain categories – Ocean View rooms and Pinnacle Suites.

But there is another option – there are connecting cabins which guests can book if they want two staterooms side-by-side. These have a doorway between them, which is normally locked. If your party has booked both rooms, you can ask for the door to be unlocked, giving all guests access to both rooms.

Connecting rooms are available for Ocean View and Verandah Staterooms, and if you request a connecting Verandah, then the balconies can also be connected, opening up that space more too.

How to choose the best room

There are a lot of different decisions that factor into picking the best cabin for your cruise, and as you can tell, there are many different stateroom options on MS Rotterdam to choose from too!

To help you out, I’ve created a checklist that you can work from, which’ll tell you what you should be looking for when you decide to book a cruise. All you need to do is pop your email address and name into the form below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.

MS Rotterdam cabin grades

When choosing the best room on Rotterdam, one thing that you’ll need to get your head around is the cabin grades.

Every cruise ship labels rooms with a cabin grade – this is usually one or two letters at the start of the room number which tell you what kind of room it is. 

Different cruise lines have systems that vary slightly, but with Holland America, you just need to know what the letters stand for – that tells you the type of room. Then the digits afterwards will tell you what deck you are on, and specifically which room you’re in.

If your cabin has a four-digit number then it’s on the first 9 public decks, from the Main Deck (staterooms 1001-1187) right up to the Navigation Deck (staterooms 8001-8203). There are no staterooms on the ninth deck, which is the Lido Deck.

If your cabin has a five-digit number, it means you’re either on the tenth deck, which is the Panorama Deck (staterooms 10001-10055) or the Sun Deck (staterooms 11001-11060).

Here’s a rundown of the different grades of cabins on MS Rotterdam:

The worst cabins on MS Rotterdam – avoid these (maybe)

Now before we get to the best cabins on this ship, let’s take a look at some rooms that you may wish to avoid. It’s not that these are always bad, but depending on your circumstances, you may wish to steer clear of these rooms…

1. Cabins that could make you seasick

8138 to 8203, 10001 to 10055, 11001 to 11060

Some people are more prone to getting seasick than others, and most cruise passengers never need to worry about it. However, if you are one of the unlucky ones who suffers, there are certain staterooms you should avoid that can make things worse.

Those are mainly the staterooms and suites on Decks 10 and 11, at the very front of the ship. This is where you’ll feel the most motion. It’s not a terrible problem on MS Rotterdam – the ship is medium-sized in terms of cruise ships, which helps (the bigger the ship, the less you feel the movement). And it has modern stabilisers.

Some cabins at the aft of the ship can feel the effects too, particularly nearer the top – so consider avoiding the rear cabins on Deck 8. This isn’t helped thanks to the sponson, which is the ducktail of the ship that extends from the stern – this can cause the occasional shudder on the aft-facing cabins which isn’t pleasant if your stomach is churning. 

If you do suffer from seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

2. Vista Suites

Cabin grades AS, A, B, BC

The Vista Suites are an usual choice with Holland America Line, because they feel like they exist between the Verandah and Suite classes of accommodation.

Are they part of the Suite class? Technically yes, but you don’t really get much in the way of suite benefits for choosing one – just a couple of minor improvements in the furnishings of your room, that you likely wouldn’t miss.

Are they better than Verandah Staterooms? Again, technically yes, in that they are bigger – but only by around 20%.

Honestly, while they are very nice, for a lot of people they’re not worth the extra cost compared to a Verandah Stateroom. If you want a Suite, consider a Signature Suite at least (although even those don’t have a great perk selection).

Otherwise, think – would the extra space matter to you? If yes then go for it. But if you won’t use your room much, consider getting a Verandah Stateroom instead.

3. Spa Staterooms and Suites if you’re not interested

Cabin grades SQ, VQ, CQ and IQ

The option of booking a Spa stateroom or suite on MS Rotterdam is good if you’re someone who is really into their spa treatments and lifestyle. The fact that you’re so close to the spa is convenient, and the additional touches in your room can make it feel much nicer.

But they are just little touches – so think about whether you’ll really use the yoga mats and the pedometer, or if you’d want to have the countertop water feature running.

If you’re not sure, then is it worth paying the premium for one of these staterooms, especially if you plan on spending most of your time elsewhere on the ship? The answer’s probably no.

Depending on your sailing, a spa stateroom might not cost much more than its equivalent standard room in the same category, so it’s up to you – but if the costs are substantially different, really weigh up if it’s worth the extra.

You can always take your own yoga mat.

4. Connecting staterooms if you don’t use them

Various

On any cruise ship, connecting staterooms are handy for families and larger groups. Even more so on MS Rotterdam, where there aren’t as many standard staterooms that sleep multiple guests.

But that’s not the reason to avoid booking them if you don’t need them. True, someone else might make better use of them, but there’s an even more practical reason why you should avoid them if you won’t be booking the adjacent room too.

Cruise ship staterooms are made from a metal frame, which offers a decent level of soundproofing. Cut a door into it – even a closed one – and that soundproofing is partially compromised.

The door may stay locked, but you’ll likely hear your neighbours, especially if they’re loud. Which also means they may hear you.

If you value your privacy, book a non-connecting room instead.

5. Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms

4039 to 4105, 4118 to 4165

This really depends on how much you would use a Verandah, and whether the view is important to you or if you just like the fresh air that it offers.

Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms are situated on Deck 4 and are facing the lifeboats, so your view is going to be at least partially blocked – how much so depends on the individual stateroom.

If you don’t care about the view, then these are a good option since they’re cheaper – but think about whether you want a balcony at all. If natural light is all you want then an Ocean View Stateroom would be cheaper.

And if the view does matter to you, then you won’t want it spoiled by a reminder of the emergency boats attached to the ship.

Take a look at this video to get an idea of what you can expect of an obstructed view on MS Rotterdam…

6. Verandah Staterooms with solid-steel railings

4002 to 4020

Similar to the Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms, these are some Verandah Staterooms that offer a limited view, except this is a little different.

These staterooms are situated at the front of the ship, where the wind is at its strongest. As such, the plexiglass that would normally be used for a railing isn’t strong enough, meaning they’re made from solid steel, which you can’t see through.

Not a problem if you’re standing up, but if you like to sit on your balcony, your view is definitely going to be impacted. The sky will look pretty at least.

The worst part is that these aren’t considered Obstructed View, so they don’t get the same discounts – after all, your view is completely uninterrupted if you don’t mind standing at the railing.

While these balconies are larger than average, they will be less comfortable due to the wind, so you may wish to look elsewhere.

7. Rooms directly above the World Stage

4002 to 4036

The World Stage is a fantastic theatre on the ship, taking up the height of two decks on the Plaza Deck (Deck 2) and the Promenade Deck (Deck 3).

Because it’s so impressive, and it hosts amazing live performances, they have quite the sound system in order to fill the room. And if you’ve booked a cabin on the Beethoven Deck directly above (Deck 4) then that sound may well carry through the floor.

The live entertainment shows don’t run on too late, but if you’re someone who likes to be up early and then get an early night ahead of the next day, you might be disturbed.

Thankfully the bars that are open later into the evening are situated above staterooms on Deck 1, and the sound tends to travel upwards, so it’s not too bad late into the night. It’s just those evening hours when music and theatre performances at World Stage may cause you problems if your room is close by.

8. Rooms directly below the Lido pool

8037 to 8091

If you’ve just read the section above and thought that the sound of the World Stage wouldn’t concern you, as you like to stay up at night, then definitely avoid the rooms directly below the Lido pool.

You won’t hear the noise at night here – even when movies are playing, because it just disperses into the open air. But what you may well hear is the sound of people grabbing a lounger first thing in the morning.

And not just reserving a lounger, but dragging it along the decked floor – and that is a sound which will carry right through your ceiling.

If you appreciate a good lie-in, and you don’t want early risers on the pool deck waking you up, book a room elsewhere on the ship.

9. Rooms where engine noise can be heard

1127 to 1177, selected other cabins including 5147

Typically engine noise is well sheltered on a cruise ship, but there can be some cabins – usually on the lowest deck – where you might near the various sounds from the engine room, or you may feel the vibrations.

It’s usually muffled but it may be distracting enough to cause you an issue.

While it is typically contained to cabins on the lowest deck, there are selected other rooms where you can sometimes hear the engines, including as high as Deck 5 – I’ve had an email from a past guest on sister ship MS Koningsdam who named his cabin 5174 as having an issue with pounding engine noises.

10. Rooms above the Jazz Club

4050 to 4080 (rooms ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 only)

Thanks to a past Holland America guest for sending this tip in – these rooms on the port side of the ship are directly above B.B. King’s Jazz Club on the ship, and can be quite noisy right up until midnight.

It’s another cabin where, if you’re a night owl, it’s unlikely to bother you. Indeed, if you love jazz, you might love these rooms! But if you want a comfortable sleep before midnight, best to avoid these.

The best cabins on the ship

So those are the worst cabins you could book on MS Rotterdam – depending on you and your travelling party. What about the best? Which are the real gems of the ship that are always worth your consideration? Let’s take a look…

1. Extended Balcony Rooms

4152, 4154

There are two staterooms on Rotterdam that come with huge balconies, for no extra cost. In fact, these are four times as big as a standard balcony – a huge 205 square feet! They also come with four lounge chairs rather than the standard two.

Take a look at this video for a closer look at one of these huge balconies. It’s from Nieuw Statendam, but you’ll find the exact same thing on Rotterdam, albeit with different cabin numbers.

The reason that these exist is that there is a crew stairwell next door. That means that these rooms get the balcony from what would be the next-door cabin in addition to their own. So they’re double width.

And because these cabins are at the aft of Deck 4, they’re double depth as well. Bonus!

These rooms will likely sell out quite quickly, but it’s certainly worth checking to see if they are available on your cruise.

2. Aft-View Verandah Staterooms

5200, 5204, 5208, 5225, 5227, 5231, 6212, 6214, 6216, 6231, 6233, 6235, 8188, 8190, 8192, 8199, 8201, 8203

The most sought-after views on most cruise ships are those over the wake at the aft of the ship. As you’re sailing you get to see the churning waters you leave behind, and you have the benefit of shelter as the ship moves in the opposite direction.

There are Vista Suites with an aft-view as well, but as I’ve covered above, these aren’t really worth the extra cost. It’s better to just choose a Verandah Stateroom with an aft view as they are still spacious and comfortable.

3. Studio Single Ocean View Staterooms

Cabin grade OO

Not many cruise ships cater for single passengers very well. There are some lines and ships that have dedicated single rooms, but many don’t. And even those that do tend to only offer Inside/Interior staterooms, since they assume that a solo passenger just wants the cheapest cruise possible.

With MS Rotterdam, there are no single Interior staterooms, but you can get an Ocean View Stateroom, and that’s pretty cool if you are travelling alone. Just because you’re a sailing single doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate the views of the ocean!

The staterooms aren’t huge, but they’re a comfy enough size for one person and their belongings. The only downside is that you’re stuck with a single bed – no sprawling on a double. But the fact that you don’t have to pay a single passenger supplement, and you get natural light, is a win.

Take a look at this video for a closer look at this stateroom type:

4. Pinnacle Suite

PS7053

No list of the best accommodations on MS Rotterdam would be complete without a mention of the Pinnacle Suite, the largest suite on the ship by a significant distance.

As a guide, you could fit as many as six Interior Staterooms inside the Pinnacle Suite, and that’s just the indoor space – the balcony is also twice the size of the smaller Interior Staterooms too.

It’s not just about space though – the amenities and the perks you get for booking this suite are what really make it special. Relax in a whirlpool bath, enjoy a complimentary Mimosa each morning in your suite with breakfast, skip past lines almost everywhere on the ship – you’ll really get the VIP treatment.

It is, of course, extremely expensive compared to other staterooms and suites so it’s not for everyone. But if you have the budget available and want to treat yourself, it’s a fine choice.

5. Navigation Deck Aft Staterooms if you smoke

8138 to 8203

On most cruise ships these days, you are very limited in where you can smoke. It’s banned in your stateroom (including on the balcony) and in most public areas of the ship. On MS Rotterdam, there are two smoking areas – the casino, if you’re playing, and the Sea View Bar on Deck 9.

If you’re a smoker (which includes e-cigs), it can be inconvenient to trek halfway across the ship when you want to smoke. But there are some staterooms situated just one deck below the Sea View Bar, so it’s only a short walk to the staircase or the elevator and you’re in a comfortable, sheltered smoking space.

Don’t worry if you’re a non-smoker and you book one of these rooms – it doesn’t tend to drift down, since it is an open-air bar – the wind will carry the smoke away. That makes these rooms a good choice for smokers, but not a bad choice for non-smokers. 

Unless you get seasick, as these are some of the cabins I’d suggest avoiding for that reason too.

The best decks on MS Rotterdam

The best decks on MS Rotterdam are the Gershwin Deck (Deck 5), the Mozart Deck (Deck 6) and the Schubert Deck (Deck 7). These decks are surrounded by staterooms above and below, and so are best shielded from noise. 

But really, most people across any deck won’t have many problems at all with sound coming through the floor or ceiling and so are likely to be fine. The best deck could instead come down to whether you’re prone to seasickness (aim for a lower deck) or you want to be nearer the pool (aim for a higher deck).

Final thoughts

MS Rotterdam is the newest Holland America ship. So you can expect a beautiful ship with great features and fantastic artwork throughout. I’m sure that you’ll love your cruise on the ship regardless of which stateroom or suite you choose.

Still, by using this guide, you’ll be able to pick the best option for you, and avoid any that might not suit you. So after a full day of adventuring, amazing dining and relaxation, you can come back to a haven of tranquillity and rest well for the next exciting day.

Remember that none of these staterooms are ‘bad’, and that everything is subjective.

When researching this guide, I used the Holland America deck plans as well as these other resources:

If you still have any questions about the accommodation on Rotterdam, then those would be excellent places to ask.

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

MS Koningsdam is one of the best ships in the Holland America fleet, packed with great restaurants, stunning artworks, and plenty of places to unwind.

It also has some fantastic stateroom choices to suit different budgets, ranging from Interior Staterooms right up to the magnificent Pinnacle Suite.

Choosing a stateroom for your cruise isn’t always easy, and there are also some cabins that you might be best avoiding. There aren’t really any rooms that would be considered a bad choice – this is a modern ship, and every room is at least comfortable – but some might be more suited to you than others.

So I’ve spent some time researching, using the Holland America deck plans and also reading through past cruisers’ experiences on social media and forums.

From that, I’ve put together this guide which looks at all the different stateroom choices, a list of the best accommodation on the ship, and the cabins that you might want to avoid.

MS Koningsdam cabin types

There are four main cabin types you can choose from on MS Koningsdam:

• Inside – Standard, Large or Spa
• Ocean View – Single, Large, Spa Large or Family
• Verandah – Standard, Obstructed, Aft-View or Spa
• Suites – Vista, Signature, Neptune, Spa Neptune or Pinnacle

Let’s take more of a look at each of these cabin types, so you can get an idea of which one is the best for you.

Interior Staterooms

MS Koningsdam has three different types of Inside cabin that you can book:

As they are with any cruise ship, Interior cabins are always going to be the cheapest option. They’re great if you’re on a budget and plan on spending most of your time outside of your cabin, exploring everything that MS Koningsdam has to offer.

There are three different types on MS Koningsdam, including Standard and Large. Both of these have 2 twin beds which are convertible into a single Queen bed if preferred – you just need to let your cabin attendant know.

The third type is a Spa Interior Stateroom – more on those later in this guide.

Ocean View Staterooms

There are four types of Ocean View Stateroom available for guests to book on MS Koningsdam. These are:

The next step up from an Interior Stateroom, Ocean View Staterooms have a window that lets you see out over the ocean. The window is nice and large, and lets a lot of bright, natural light into the room.

It’s also handy if you just want to check what you should be wearing before you head out of your cabin for the day – it’s more reliable to look out the window than check any weather app you might have on your phone, after all!

These cabins tend to be larger than the Inside Staterooms, although there are different sizes available.

The smallest of the Ocean View staterooms are designed for solo guests. They’re relatively spacious, considering they’re for one person, and they come with a single twin bed.

Again, there are Spa versions of Ocean View staterooms, and there are also Family Staterooms too, which can sleep up to 5 guests. These have twin beds (convertible to a Queen bed, of course), a sofa bed that can sleep up to 2 guests, and a Pullman bed, which is suitable for children.

Verandah Staterooms

Here are the four types of Verandah Stateroom on MS Koningsdam:

Verandah Staterooms are always some of the most popular on a cruise ship. You don’t just get a view, but you get your own private balcony where you can sit and soak up the fresh sea breeze, and hopefully some of the warm sun too.

Verandah Staterooms are an ideal choice if you like to spend more time in your stateroom. It’s always refreshing to sit on your balcony on a pleasant day, drink in one hand, book in another.

There are four types of Verandah Stateroom, all of which sleep two guests, and the room sizes above include the balcony floor space too.

Obstructed Verandah Staterooms have a partially-blocked view thanks to the lifeboats along the side of the ship. These are cheaper than the other options, and are good if you don’t mind having a view that isn’t completely clear.

Aft-View Verandah Staterooms often book up first. They have what many consider to be the best views of the ship, overlooking the wake as you sail. Plus you tend to be more shielded from the wind. You will pay a little more for the privilege though.

Finally, there are also Spa Verandah Staterooms that you can book.

Suites

The different types of Suite on MS Koningsdam are:

There are four main types of suites, with Vista Suites being the introductory option. They’re slightly more spacious versions of a Verandah Stateroom – around 20% bigger on average. It’s a decent size increase, but you don’t get a whole lot extra really.

It depends on your own preferences – if you appreciate the room then a Vista Suite is worth it, otherwise save your money and get a Verandah Stateroom.

Signature Suites are really the start of the real suite class for Holland America ships, with a much more spacious room and a longer list of perks that you get, although it’s still not super-lengthy. The biggest room upgrade will be the king-size bed.

Neptune Suites are larger again, and they have a lot more additional benefits, while Pinnacle Suites are the very best on the ship – they’re extremely spacious (with a Verandah that’s bigger than most of the actual staterooms on the ship) and they include an oversized whirlpool bath too.

Suggested read: Holland America Line Suite Benefits

Special cabin types on MS Koningsdam

Beyond the standard selection of staterooms on MS Koningsdam, there are a few more choices you can make.

Spa Suites and Staterooms

A popular choice for guests who like to pamper themselves, MS Koningsdam has a selection of Spa Suites and Staterooms to choose from, across Interior, Ocean View, Verandah and Neptune Suite categories.

These staterooms and suites are no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, but what sets them apart is their location and the facilities you’ll find in the room.

These accommodations are all situated close to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, so you never have far to travel if you want to enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment.

Inside the rooms, you’ll also find a selection of spa-themed amenities, including organic bathrobes and slippers, upgraded toiletries, and a loofah mitt with bath salts.

You’ll also get yoga mats and pedometers to help you stay active during your cruise, while the room has a countertop water feature so that you can set the perfect relaxing ambiance.

If you’re someone who likes visiting the ship’s spa during your cruise, then these rooms are absolutely worth checking out. Otherwise, the additional cost means they probably aren’t worth it for you.

Accessible rooms

Almost all cruise ships have accessible stateroom and suite options – designed for guests with additional accessibility needs. And MS Koningsdam is no different.

On MS Koningsdam, the accessible rooms are split into two categories – Ambulatory Accessible, and Fully Accessible.

Ambulatory Accessible rooms are those which aren’t designed for wheelchair users, but that have small modifications to handle other accessibility needs for guests. On MS Koningsdam, these rooms include:

• 1 Neptune Suite
• 1 Vista Suite
• 7 Verandah Staterooms
• 1 Family Ocean View Stateroom
• 1 Ocean View Stateroom
• 2 Interior Staterooms

Fully Accessible rooms are suitable for wheelchair users, with widened doorways and a roll-in shower. These include:

• 1 Signature Suite
• 2 Vista Suites
• 14 Verandah Staterooms
• 4 Ocean View Staterooms
• 6 Interior Staterooms

Connecting rooms

There aren’t too many rooms on Holland America’s MS Koningsdam that are suited to families – unlike on ships that are designed for guests with kids, this ship doesn’t have additional beds in almost every room. Instead, they’re limited to certain categories.

But there is another option – there are connecting cabins that guests can book if they want two staterooms side-by-side. These have a doorway between them, which is normally locked. If your party has booked both rooms, you can ask for the door to be unlocked, giving all guests access to both rooms.

Connecting rooms are available for Ocean View and Verandah Staterooms, and if you request a connecting Verandah, then the balconies can also be connected, opening up that space more too.

Here’s how to choose the best cabin

There are a lot of different decisions that factor into picking the best cabin for your cruise, and as you can tell, there are many different stateroom options on MS Koningsdam to choose from too!

To help you out, I’ve created a checklist that you can work from, which’ll tell you what you should be looking for when you decide to book a cruise. All you need to do is pop your email address and name into the form below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.

MS Koningsdam cabin grades

Cruise ships label rooms with a cabin grade – this is usually one or two letters at the start of the room number which tell you what kind of room it is. 

Different cruise lines have systems that vary slightly, but with Holland America you just need to know what the letters stand for – that tells you the type of room. Then the digits afterwards will tell you what deck you are on, and specifically which room you’re in.

If your cabin has a four-digit number then it’s on the first 9 public decks, from the Main Deck (staterooms 1001-1177) right up to the Navigation Deck (staterooms 8001-8201). There are no staterooms on the ninth deck, which is the Lido Deck.

If your cabin has a five-digit number, it means you’re either on the tenth deck, which is the Panorama Deck (staterooms 10001-10055) or the Sun Deck (staterooms 11001-11058).

Here’s a rundown of the different grades of cabin on MS Koningsdam:

The worst cabins on MS Koningsdam – consider avoiding these!

1. Cabins that could make you seasick

8138 to 8201, 10001 to 10055, 11001 to 11058

Some people are more prone to getting seasick than others, and most cruise passengers never need to worry about it. However, if you are one of the unlucky ones who suffer, there are certain staterooms you should avoid that can make things worse.

Those are mainly the staterooms and suites on Decks 10 and 11, at the very front of the ship. This is where you’ll feel the most motion. It’s not a terrible problem on MS Koningsdam – the ship is medium-sized in terms of cruise ships, which helps (the bigger the ship, the less you feel the movement). And it has modern stabilisers.

Some cabins at the aft of the ship can feel the effects too, particularly nearer the top – so consider avoiding the rear cabins on Deck 8. This isn’t helped thanks to the sponson, which is the ducktail of the ship that extends from the stern – this can cause the occasional shudder on the aft-facing cabins which isn’t pleasant if your stomach is churning. 

If you do suffer from seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

2. Vista Suites

Cabin grades AS, A, B, BC

The Vista Suites are an unusual choice with Holland America Line, because they feel like they exist between the Verandah and Suite classes of accommodation.

Are they part of the Suite class? Technically yes, but you don’t really get much in the way of suite benefits for choosing one – just a couple of minor improvements in the furnishings of your room, that you likely wouldn’t miss.

Are they better than Verandah Staterooms? Again, technically yes, in that they are bigger – but only by around 20%.

Honestly, while they are very nice, for a lot of people they’re not worth the extra cost compared to a Verandah Stateroom. If you want a Suite, consider a Signature Suite at least (although even those don’t have a great perk selection).

Otherwise, think – would the extra space matter to you? If yes then go for it. But if you won’t use your room much, consider getting a Verandah Stateroom instead.

Take a look at this video which showcases the different suites on Koningsdam…

3. Spa Staterooms and Suites if you’re not interested

Cabin grades SQ, VQ, CQ and IQ

The option of booking a Spa stateroom or suite on MS Koningsdam is good if you’re someone who is really into their spa treatments and lifestyle. The fact that you’re so close to the spa is convenient, and the additional touches in your room can make it feel much nicer.

But they are just little touches – so think about whether you’ll really use the yoga mats and the pedometer, or if you’d want to have the countertop water feature running.

If you’re not sure, then is it worth paying the premium for one of these staterooms, especially if you plan on spending most of your time elsewhere on the ship? The answer’s probably no.

Depending on your sailing, a spa stateroom might not cost much more than its equivalent standard room in the same category, so it’s up to you – but if the costs are substantially different, really weigh up if it’s worth the extra.

You can always take your own yoga mat.

4. Connecting staterooms if you don’t use them

Various

On any cruise ship, connecting staterooms are handy for families and larger groups. Even more so on MS Koningsdam, where there aren’t as many standard staterooms that sleep multiple guests.

But that’s not the reason to avoid booking them if you don’t need them. True, someone else might make better use of them, but there’s an even more practical reason why you should avoid them if you won’t be booking the adjacent room too.

Cruise ship staterooms are made from a metal frame, which offers a decent level of soundproofing. Cut a door into it – even a closed one – and that soundproofing is partially compromised.

The door may stay locked, but you’ll likely hear your neighbours, especially if they’re loud. Which also means they may hear you.

If you value your privacy, book a non-connecting room instead.

5. Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms

4042 to 4107, 4120 to 4167

This really depends on how much you would use a Verandah, and whether the view is important to you or if you just like the fresh air that it offers.

Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms are situated on Deck 4 and are facing the lifeboats, so your view is going to be at least partially blocked – how much so depends on the individual stateroom.

The lifeboats are lower than the balcony rail though, so you can see right over them in most cases. Take a look at this video to see what the view looks like…

If you don’t care about the view, then these are a good option since they’re cheaper – but think about whether you want a balcony at all. If natural light is all you want then an Ocean View Stateroom would be cheaper.

And if the view does matter to you, then you won’t want it spoiled by a reminder of the emergency boats attached to the ship.

6. Verandah Staterooms with solid-steel railings

4002 to 4020

Similar to the Obstructed View Verandah Staterooms, these are some Verandah Staterooms that offer a limited view, except this is a little different.

These staterooms are situated at the front of the ship, where the wind is at its strongest. As such, the plexiglass that would normally be used for a railing isn’t strong enough, meaning they’re made from solid steel, which you can’t see through.

Not a problem if you’re standing up, but if you like to sit on your balcony, your view is definitely going to be impacted. The sky will look pretty at least.

The worst part is that these aren’t considered Obstructed View, so they don’t get the same discounts – after all, your view is completely uninterrupted if you don’t mind standing at the railing.

Add in the fact that the balcony will be less comfortable due to the wind, and you may wish to look elsewhere.

7. Rooms directly above the World Stage

4002 to 4036

The World Stage is a fantastic theatre on the ship, taking up the height of two decks on the Plaza Deck (Deck 2) and the Promenade Deck (Deck 3).

Because it’s so impressive, and it hosts amazing live performances, they have quite the sound system in order to fill the room. And if you’ve booked a cabin on the Beethoven Deck directly above (Deck 4) then that sound may well carry through the floor.

The live entertainment shows don’t run on too late, but if you’re someone who likes to be up early and then get an early night ahead of the next day, you might be disturbed.

Thankfully the bars that are open later into the evening are situated above staterooms on Deck 1, and the sound tends to travel upwards, so it’s not too bad late into the night. It’s just those evening hours when music and theatre performances at World Stage may cause you problems if your room is close by.

8. Rooms directly below the Lido pool

8037 to 8091

If you’ve just read the section above and thought that the sound of the World Stage wouldn’t concern you, as you like to stay up at night, then definitely avoid the rooms directly below the Lido pool.

You won’t hear the noise at night here – even when movies are playing, because it just disperses into the open air. But what you may well hear is the sound of people grabbing a lounger first thing in the morning.

And not just reserving a lounger, but dragging it along the decked floor – and that is a sound that will carry right through your ceiling.

If you appreciate a good lie-in, and you don’t want early-risers on the pool deck waking you up, book a room elsewhere on the ship.

9. Rooms where engine noise can be heard

1127 to 1177, selected other cabins including 5147

Typically engine noise is well sheltered on a cruise ship, but there can be some cabins – usually on the lowest deck – where you might near the various sounds from the engine room, or you may feel the vibrations.

It’s usually muffled but it may be distracting enough to cause you an issue.

While it is typically contained to cabins on the lowest deck, there are selected other rooms where you can sometimes hear the engines, including as high as Deck 5 – I’ve had an email from a past guest who named his cabin 5174 as having an issue with pounding engine noises.

10. Rooms above the Jazz Club

4050 to 4080 (rooms ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 only)

Thanks to a past Holland America guest for sending this tip in – these rooms on the port side of the ship are directly above B.B. King’s Jazz Club on the ship, and can be quite noisy right up until midnight.

It’s another cabin where, if you’re a night owl, it’s unlikely to bother you. Indeed, if you love jazz, you might love these rooms! But if you want a comfortable sleep before midnight, best to avoid these.

The best rooms on the ship

So those are the worst cabins you could book on Koningsdam – depending on you and your travelling party.

What about the best? Which are the real gems of the ship that are always worth your consideration? Let’s take a look…

1. Aft-View Verandah Staterooms

5198, 5202, 5206, 5219, 5221, 5225, 6212, 6214, 6216, 6231, 6233, 6235, 8188, 8190, 8192, 8197, 8199, 8201

The most sought-after views on most cruise ships are those over the wake at the aft of the ship. As you’re sailing you get to see the churning waters you leave behind, and you have the benefit of the shelter as the ship moves in the opposite direction.

There are Vista Suites with an aft-view as well, but as I’ve covered above, these aren’t really worth the extra cost. It’s better to just choose a Verandah Stateroom with an aft view as they are still spacious and comfortable.

2. Studio Single Ocean View Staterooms

Cabin grade OO

Not many cruise ships cater for single passengers very well. There are some lines and ships that have dedicated single rooms, but many don’t. And even those that do tend to only offer Inside/Interior staterooms, since they assume that a solo passenger just wants the cheapest cruise possible.

With MS Koningsdam, there are no single Interior staterooms, but you can get an Ocean View Stateroom, and that’s pretty cool if you are travelling alone. Just because you’re a sailing single doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate the views of the ocean!

The staterooms aren’t huge, but they’re a comfy enough size for one person and their belongings. The only downside is that you’re stuck with a smaller bed. But the fact that you don’t have to pay a single passenger supplement, and you get natural light, is a win.

Take a look at this video from Harr Travel for a close look at this stateroom type…

3. Pinnacle Suite

PS7053

No list of the best accommodations on MS Koningsdam would be complete without a mention of the Pinnacle Suite, the largest suite on the ship by a significant distance.

As a guide, you could fit as many as six Interior Staterooms inside the Pinnacle Suite, and that’s just the indoor space – the balcony is also twice the size of the smaller Interior Staterooms too.

It’s not just about space though – the amenities and the perks you get for booking this suite are what really make it special. Relax in a whirlpool bath, enjoy a complimentary Mimosa each morning in your suite with breakfast, skip past lines almost everywhere on the ship – you’ll really get the VIP treatment.

It is, of course, extremely expensive compared to other staterooms and suites so it’s not for everyone. But if you have the budget available and want to treat yourself, it’s a fine choice.

Here’s a video of the Pinnacle Suite. It’s worth a watch just for how cute the child presenters are!

4. Navigation Deck Aft Staterooms if you smoke

8138 to 8201

On most cruise ships these days, you are very limited in where you can smoke. It’s banned in your stateroom (including on the balcony) and in most public areas of the ship. On MS Koningsdam, there are two smoking areas – the casino, if you’re playing, and the Sea View Bar on Deck 9.

If you’re a smoker (which includes e-cigs), it can be inconvenient to trek halfway across the ship when you want to smoke. But there are some staterooms situated just one deck below the Sea View Bar, so it’s only a short walk to the staircase or the elevator and you’re in a comfortable, sheltered smoking space.

Don’t worry if you’re a non-smoker and you book one of these rooms – it doesn’t tend to drift down, since it is an open-air bar – the wind will carry the smoke away. That makes these rooms a good choice for smokers, but not a bad choice for non-smokers. 

Unless you get seasick, as these are some of the cabins I’d suggest avoiding for that reason too.

The best decks on MS Koningsdam

There is no single best deck on MS Koningsdam – it depends on your needs. Many people prefer the Gershwin Deck, Mozart Deck or Schubert Deck for their stateroom, since those decks have only cabins directly above and below, which helps to minimise the noise levels.

Noise shouldn’t be a huge issue for you wherever you stay on the ship, but it can be in some places. If that doesn’t bother you, then you might find that the best deck for you is something lower, especially if you want to be nearer the bars or you suffer from seasickness.

And if the pool is your priority, a higher deck might be best for you.

Final thoughts

Again, let me reiterate that none of the stateroom choices on MS Koningsdam are outright bad. They’re all lovely, modern, comfortable and spacious – but some might just be better suited to you than others.

With this guide, I hope you’ve been able to narrow down your choices if you’re planning to sail on the ship. Whichever room you ultimately decide to book, you’ll have an amazing cruise, I’m sure.

Remember to sign up to get my checklist sent to you as well, so you always have that to hand when it is time to select your stateroom.

When researching this guide, I used the Holland America deck plans as well as these other resources:

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Following the success of the earlier Vista-class of ship for Holland America, the cruise line decided in 2008 to expand its fleet with a new class that enhanced the existing design. And the first of these Signature-class ships to launch was the MS Eurodam.

She may be a little older than some of the more recent additions to the fleet, but the MS Eurodam is still a very popular cruise ship. Offering a range of itineraries around the Caribbean and Alaska, guests can enjoy a relaxing escape with good food and comfortable accommodations.

But which accommodation specifically? That’s a decision you need to make when booking, but I’ve put together this guide to help you.

I’ve taken a look at all of the stateroom options on MS Eurodam, but also checked cruise forums and social media groups to see which are the best and worst choices for the ship.

If you’re considering a cruise on MS Eurodam, don’t book a thing until you’ve read this article – that way, you’ll be able to choose the perfect stateroom or suite for you.

MS Eurodam cabin types

There are four main cabin types you can choose from on MS Eurodam. These each have subtypes of cabins within them…

Let’s take more of a look at each of these cabin types, so you can get an idea of which one is the best for you…

Interior Staterooms

The Holland America Eurodam has three different types of Inside cabins that you can book:

As they are with any cruise ship, Interior cabins are always going to be the cheapest option. They’re great if you’re on a budget and plan on spending most of your time outside of your cabin, exploring everything that MS Eurodam has to offer.

There are three different types on Eurodam, including Standard and Large. Both of these have two twin beds which are convertible into a single Queen bed if preferred – you just need to let your cabin attendant know.

Some of the Large Interior Staterooms sleep 3 or 4 guests. There’ll always be a sofa-bed, and those quad rooms will have an additional upper bed for a fourth guest.

The third type of Interior Stateroom is a Spa Interior Stateroom – more on those later on in this post.

Ocean View Staterooms

There are three types of Ocean View Stateroom available for guests to book on MS Eurodam. These are:

The next step up from an Interior Stateroom, Ocean View Staterooms have a window that lets you see out over the ocean. The window is pretty big and lets a lot of natural light into the room.

It’s also handy if you just want to check what you should be wearing before you head out of your cabin for the day – it’s more reliable to look out the window than check any weather app you might have on your phone, after all!

These cabins tend to be larger than the Inside Staterooms, which is another bonus that you get, as well as the obvious perk of having a window.

Some of the Ocean View staterooms on Nieuw Eurodam – those on Deck 4 – have an obstructed view. This is because the lifeboats are stored directly outside the room. Some are classified as fully obstructed, while others are partially obstructed.

They’re cheaper, as you’d hope, and they’re a good choice if you don’t care about the view but just want the natural light. After all, the windows are pretty huge!

Again, there are Spa versions of Ocean View staterooms, and there are also some that sleep families – again, there are options for 3 or 4 guests. And again, those for 4 people have a sofa bed and a Pullman bed that comes down from the ceiling.

Verandah Staterooms

Here are the three types of Verandah Stateroom on MS Eurodam:

Verandah Staterooms are always some of the most popular on a cruise ship. You don’t just get a view, but you get your own private balcony where you can sit and soak up the fresh sea breeze, and hopefully some of the warm sun too.

Verandah Staterooms are an ideal choice if you like to spend more time in your stateroom. It’s always refreshing to sit on your balcony on a pleasant day, drink in one hand, book in another.

There are three types of Verandah Staterooms, and the room sizes above include the balcony floor space too.

Of the Standard Verandah Staterooms, some again are suitable for 3 or 4 guests. So your kids can enjoy the view with you – although you will only get two chairs on the balcony.

Aft-View Verandah Staterooms often book up first. They have what many consider to be the best views of the ship, overlooking the wake as you sail. Plus you tend to be more shielded from the wind. You will pay a little more for the privilege though.

Finally, there are also Spa Verandah Staterooms that you can book. (More on those below).

Suites

The different types of Suite on MS Eurodam are:

There are three main types of suites on MS Eurodam. She doesn’t have any Vista Suites like you’ll find on some other ships in the Holland America fleet, but considering how Vista Suites aren’t much better than a Verandah Stateroom, that’s no big loss.

Signature Suites are really the start of the real suite class for Holland America ships, with a much more spacious room and a longer list of perks that you get, although it’s still not super-lengthy. You get a queen-size bed (worth noting, as some Signature Suites on other ships get you a king-sized one) and a sofa bed for a third guest.

Neptune Suites are larger again, and they have a lot more additional benefits. Just a heads up, if you were checking the deck plans yourself – Neptune Suites are marked as sleeping up to three guests, but their sofa beds are bigger and can accommodate two smaller guests. So you can comfortably fit four people in one.

Pinnacle Suites are the very best on the ship – they’re extremely spacious (with a Verandah that’s bigger than most of the actual staterooms on the ship) and they include an oversized whirlpool bath too. Again, a sofa bed large enough for two guests is included if you want to enjoy this suite with your family.

If you like the idea of a suite but aren’t sure which to choose, then you should be sure to compare the different perks that you get with each. Take a look at my Holland America Line Suite Benefits Guide to find out more.

Special cabin types

Beyond the standard selection of staterooms on MS Eurodam, there are a few more choices you can make.

Spa Suites and Staterooms

A popular choice for guests who like to pamper themselves, MS Eurodam has a selection of Spa Suites and Staterooms to choose from, across Interior, Ocean View, Verandah and Neptune Suite categories.

These staterooms and suites are no bigger than their non-spa counterparts, but what sets them apart is their location and the facilities you’ll find in the room.

These accommodations are all situated close to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, so you never have far to travel if you want to enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment.

Inside the rooms, you’ll also find a selection of spa-themed amenities, including organic bathrobes and slippers, upgraded toiletries, and a loofah mitt with bath salts.

You’ll also get yoga mats and pedometers to help you stay active during your cruise, while the room has a countertop water feature so that you can set the perfect relaxing ambience.

If you’re someone who likes visiting the ship’s spa during your cruise, then these rooms are absolutely worth checking out. Otherwise, the additional cost means they probably aren’t worth it for you.

Accessible rooms

Almost all cruise ships have accessible stateroom and suite options – designed for guests with additional accessibility needs. And MS Eurodam is no different.

On MS Eurodam, the accessible rooms are split into two categories – Ambulatory Accessible, and Fully Accessible.

Ambulatory Accessible rooms are those which aren’t designed for wheelchair users, but that have small modifications to handle other accessibility needs for guests. On MS Eurodam, these rooms include:

• 14 Verandah Staterooms
• 6 Ocean View Staterooms

Fully Accessible rooms are suitable for wheelchair users, with widened doorways and a roll-in shower. These include:

• 2 Neptune Suites
• 2 Signature Suites
• 2 Verandah Staterooms
• 4 Interior Staterooms

Connecting rooms

While there are some staterooms on MS Eurodam that are suitable for 3 or 4 guests, the additional beds aren’t the biggest. They’re fine if you’re travelling with younger children, but for teenagers or other adults, they will be a little cramped.

But there is another option – there are connecting cabins that guests can book if they want two staterooms side-by-side. These have a doorway between them, which is normally locked. If your party has booked both rooms, you can ask for the door to be unlocked, giving all guests access to both rooms.

Connecting rooms are available for Interior, Ocean View and Verandah Staterooms, and if you request a connecting Verandah, then the balconies can also be connected, opening up that space more too.

You can even book a Neptune Suite and a Verandah Stateroom with connecting doors if you want to really maximise your space.

How to choose the best room

There are a lot of different decisions that factor into picking the best cabin for your cruise, and as you can tell, there are many different stateroom options on MS Eurodam to choose from too!

To help you out, I’ve created a cabin checklist that will tell you which rooms to avoid on any ship.

All you need to do is pop your email address and name into the form below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.

MS Eurodam cabin grades

When choosing the best room on Eurodam, one thing that you’ll need to get your head around is the cabin grades.

Every cruise ship labels rooms with a cabin grade – this is usually one or two letters at the start of the room number which tell you what kind of room it is. 

Different cruise lines have systems that vary slightly, but with Holland America, you just need to know what the letters stand for – that tells you the type of room. Then the digits afterwards will tell you what deck you are on, and specifically which room you’re in.

If your cabin has a four-digit number then it’s on the first 9 public decks, from the Main Deck (staterooms 1001-1130) right up to the Navigation Deck (staterooms 8001-8175). There are no staterooms on the ninth deck, which is the Lido Deck.

If your cabin has a five-digit number, it means you’re either on the tenth deck, which is the Panorama Deck (staterooms 10001-10046) or the Observation Deck (staterooms 11001-11010).

Here’s a rundown of the different grades of cabins on MS Eurodam:

The worst cabins on MS Eurodam – consider avoiding these!

Now before we get to the best cabins on this ship, let’s take a look at some rooms that you may wish to avoid. It’s not that these are always bad, but depending on your circumstances, you may wish to steer clear of these rooms…

1. Cabins that could make you seasick

8118 to 8179, 10001 to 10046, 11001 to 11010

Some people are more prone to getting seasick than others, and most cruise passengers never need to worry about it. However, if you are one of the unlucky ones who suffers, there are certain staterooms you should avoid that can make things worse.

Those are mainly the staterooms and suites on Decks 10 and 11, at the very front of the ship. This is where you’ll feel the most motion.

It’s not a terrible problem on MS Eurodam – the ship is medium-sized in terms of cruise ships, which helps (the bigger the ship, the less you feel the movement). And it has modern stabilisers.

Some cabins at the aft of the ship can feel the effects too, particularly nearer the top – so consider avoiding the rear cabins on Deck 8. This isn’t helped thanks to the sponson, which is the ducktail of the ship that extends from the stern – this can cause the occasional shudder on the aft-facing cabins which isn’t pleasant if your stomach is churning. 

If you do suffer from seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck.

2. Spa Staterooms and Suites if you’re not interested

Cabin grades SQ, VQ, CQ and IQ

The option of booking a Spa stateroom or suite on MS Eurodam is good if you’re someone who is really into their spa treatments and lifestyle. The fact that you’re so close to the spa is convenient, and the additional touches in your room can make it feel much nicer.

But they are just little touches – so think about whether you’ll really use the yoga mats and the pedometer, or if you’d want to have the countertop water feature running.

If you’re not sure, then is it worth paying the premium for one of these staterooms, especially if you plan on spending most of your time elsewhere on the ship? The answer’s probably no.

Depending on your sailing, a spa stateroom might not cost much more than its equivalent standard room in the same category, so it’s up to you – but if the costs are substantially different, really weigh up if it’s worth the extra.

You can always take your own yoga mat.

3. Connecting Staterooms if you don’t use them

Various

On any cruise ship, connecting staterooms are handy for families and larger groups. Even more so on MS Eurodam, where there aren’t as many standard staterooms that sleep more than two guests.

But that’s not the reason to avoid booking them if you don’t need them. True, someone else might make better use of them, but there’s an even more practical reason why you should avoid them if you won’t be booking the adjacent room too.

Cruise ship staterooms are made from a metal frame, which offers a decent level of soundproofing. Cut a door into it – even a closed one – and that soundproofing is partially compromised.

The door may stay locked, but you’ll likely hear your neighbours, especially if they’re loud. Which also means they may hear you.

If you value your privacy, book a non-connecting room instead.

4. Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms

4055 to 4130

This really depends on whether the view is important to you or if you just like the idea of having some natural light.

Obstructed Ocean View Staterooms are situated on Deck 4 and are facing the lifeboats, so your view is going to be at least partially blocked – how much so depends on the individual stateroom.

If you don’t care about the view, then these are a good option since they’re cheaper.

And if the view does matter to you, then you won’t want it spoiled by a reminder of the emergency boats attached to the ship.

5. Verandah Staterooms with solid-steel railings

4001 to 4042

Some Verandah Staterooms also offer a limited view, except this is a little different.

These staterooms are situated at the front of the ship, where the wind is at its strongest. As such, the plexiglass that would normally be used for a railing isn’t strong enough, meaning they’re made from solid steel, which you can’t see through.

Not a problem if you’re standing up, but if you like to sit on your balcony, your view is definitely going to be impacted. The sky will look pretty at least.

The worst part is that these aren’t considered Obstructed View, so they don’t get the same discounts – after all, your view is completely uninterrupted if you don’t mind standing at the railing.

While these balconies are larger than average, they will be less comfortable due to the wind, so you may wish to look elsewhere.

6. Rooms directly above the World Stage

4001 to 4050

The World Stage is a fantastic theatre on the ship, taking up the height of two decks on the Lower Promenade Deck (Deck 2) and the Promenade Deck (Deck 3).

Because it’s so impressive, and it hosts amazing live performances, they have quite the sound system in order to fill the room. And if you’ve booked a cabin on the Upper Promenade Deck directly above (Deck 4) then that sound may well carry through the floor.

The live entertainment shows don’t run on too late, but if you’re someone who likes to be up early and then get an early night ahead of the next day, you might be disturbed.

Thankfully the bars that are open later into the evening are situated above staterooms on Deck 1, and the sound tends to travel upwards, so it’s not too bad late into the night. It’s just those evening hours when music and theatre performances at World Stage may cause you problems if your room is close by.

7. Rooms directly below the Pool Deck

8027 to 8077

If you’ve just read the section above and thought that the sound of the World Stage wouldn’t concern you, as you like to stay up at night, then definitely avoid the rooms directly below the swimming pools.

You won’t hear the noise at night here – even when movies are playing, because it just disperses into the open air. But what you may well hear is the sound of people grabbing a lounger first thing in the morning.

And not just reserving a lounger, but dragging it along the decked floor – and that is a sound that will carry right through your ceiling.

If you appreciate a good lie-in, and you don’t want early risers on the pool deck waking you up, book a room elsewhere on the ship.

8. Rooms next to the elevators

C1081, C1082, H4089, H4092, G4091, G4094, SS5093, SS5098, V5095, V59100, SS6082, SS6084, SS6087, SS6089, SS7057, SS7058, SS7059, SS7060, VA8074, VA8076, VA8077, VA8079

On most decks of MS Eurodam, there are 14 elevators/lifts to help passengers get from floor to floor. Four of these are nearer the front of the ship and four are towards the aft, but the more problematic ones are right in the middle of the ship.

Because there are six elevators here, most passengers tend to come here because there’s more chance of them getting a ride. But they are adjacent to rooms on most floors too.

So if you get a stateroom or suite alongside this area, you might hear a lot of noise – not so much from the elevators themselves but from the congregating passengers.

The best cabins on MS Eurodam – try to book these!

So those are the worst cabins you could book on MS Eurodam – depending on you and your travelling party. What about the best? Which are the real gems of the ship that are always worth your consideration? Let’s take a look…

1. Extended Balcony rooms

4166, 4168

There are two staterooms on Eurodam that come with huge balconies, for no extra cost. In fact, these are four times as big as a standard balcony – a huge 205 square feet! They also come with four lounge chairs rather than the standard two.

The reason that these exist is that there is a crew stairwell next door. That means that these rooms get the balcony from what would be the next-door cabin in addition to their own. So they’re twice as wide!

And because these cabins are at the aft of Deck 4, like other balconies in this area, they’re double depth as well. Bonus!

These rooms will likely sell out quite quickly, but it’s certainly worth checking to see if they are available on your cruise.

There are other rooms with larger balconies too, where the ship draws inwards at the middle of the ship, but these tend to cost more than the equivalent rooms in the same category.

2. Aft-View Verandah Staterooms

4178, 4180, 4182, 4183, 4185, 4187, 5188, 5189, 5190, 5191, 5192, 5193, 6166, 6168, 6170, 6177, 6179, 6181, 7134, 7136, 7138, 7139, 7141, 7143, 8164, 8166, 8168, 8175, 8177, 8179

The most sought-after views on most cruise ships are those over the wake at the aft of the ship. As you’re sailing you get to see the churning waters you leave behind, and you have the benefit of shelter as the ship moves in the opposite direction.

There are Neptune Suites with an aft-view as well, but these are a lot more expensive. So while they are great choices, you do have to pay that premium to get the view.

3. Pinnacle Suite

PS7031, PS7036

No list of the best accommodations on MS Eurodam would be complete without a mention of the Pinnacle Suites, the largest suites on the ship by a significant distance.

Take a look at this video to see what to expect from the best suite on Eurodam…

As a guide, you could fit as many as six Interior Staterooms inside the Pinnacle Suite, and that’s just the indoor space – the balcony is also twice the size of the smaller Interior Staterooms too.

It’s not just about space though – the amenities and the perks you get for booking this suite are what really make it special. Relax in a whirlpool bath, enjoy a complimentary Mimosa each morning in your suite with breakfast, skip past lines almost everywhere on the ship – you’ll really get the VIP treatment.

It is, of course, extremely expensive compared to other staterooms and suites so it’s not for everyone. But if you have the budget available and want to treat yourself, it’s a fine choice.

4. Navigation Deck Aft Staterooms if you smoke

8118 to 8179

On most cruise ships these days, you are very limited in where you can smoke. It’s banned in your stateroom (including on the balcony) and in most public areas of the ship. On MS Eurodam, there are two smoking areas – the casino, if you’re playing, and the Sea View Bar on Deck 9.

If you’re a smoker (which includes e-cigs), it can be inconvenient to trek halfway across the ship when you want to smoke. But there are some staterooms situated just one deck below the Sea View Bar, so it’s only a short walk to the staircase or the elevator and you’re in a comfortable, sheltered smoking space.

Don’t worry if you’re a non-smoker and you book one of these rooms – it doesn’t tend to drift down, since it is an open-air bar – the wind will carry the smoke away. That makes these rooms a good choice for smokers, but not a bad choice for non-smokers. 

Unless you get seasick, as these are some of the cabins I’d suggest avoiding for that reason too.

The best decks to book

The best decks on MS Eurodam are the Verandah Deck (Deck 5), the Upper Verandah Deck (Deck 6) and the Rotterdam Deck (Deck 7). These decks are surrounded by staterooms above and below, and so are best shielded from noise. 

But really, most people across any deck won’t have many problems at all with sound coming through the floor or ceiling and so are likely to be fine. The best deck could instead come down to whether you’re prone to seasickness (aim for a lower deck) or you want to be nearer the pool (aim for a higher deck).

Final thoughts

The MS Eurodam still has plenty to offer, despite being a little older, so she’s worth checking out if you like the idea of a premium cruise around Alaska or the Caribbean.

Just keep this guide handy, or sign up for my checklist, and you shouldn’t have any problems finding the best stateroom for you.

When researching this guide, I used the Holland America Eurodam deck plans as well as these other resources:

If you still have any questions about the accommodation on Eurodam, then those would be excellent places to ask. There aren’t any ship-specific Facebook groups for Eurodam, but the main Holland America one should be able to help.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Holland America’s premium style of cruising is very popular. From the high-quality food to the comfortable, spacious accommodation choices, the ships are well-loved by loyal Holland America fans.

But what if you’re not already one of those loyal cruisers? If you’re looking to try your first cruise, which ship should you pick? They aren’t identical, so how do you know which one is most suited to you, and also which one is thought of as the best? 

How I gathered the data

In this guide, I’ve ranked all 11 Holland America ships from best to worst, but I wanted to clarify exactly how I’ve done that.

Because, unfortunately, I’ve not yet had the pleasure of sailing on every Holland America ship. So to base it on my opinion alone would be a little unfair.

So instead, I’ve visited three of the biggest cruise review websites in the world – Cruise Critic, Cruiseline.com and TripAdvisor. And using those websites I’ve found the average review score for all 11 ships in the fleet, and I’ve based this ranking on putting those scores in order.

A couple of interesting points before I get started, just to add some context.

Firstly, something I always like to make clear is that “worst” ship does not mean “bad” ship. In fact with Holland America, the review scores are all pretty high. The “worst” ship on this list has an average score of 3.77 out of 5, which is pretty solid.

Secondly, the scores are also very tight, and so the difference between the best ship and the worst ship isn’t huge. The best ship on this list has an average of 4.07 out of 5, which means for the entire fleet, there’s only a difference of score of 0.3.

So as I take you through the list, just remember that we’re not talking about huge gulfs in class between each ship. The scores are based on thousands of reviews, so the ranking is accurate, but each ship is only marginally better or worse than the other.

With all that in mind, let’s find out which is the best Holland America ship (just), and which ship is unlucky enough to be in last place.

And the best ship is…

The best Holland America ship according to customer reviews is the MS Nieuw Statendam, although her average review score is only 0.4 better than MS Eurodam and 0.7 better than the newest ship in the fleet, MS Rotterdam.

1. MS Nieuw Statendam

The MS Nieuw Statendam is the second of the Pinnacle-class ships to sail for Holland America, and in the review scores, she has come out on top.

The Pinnacle-class ships are very popular with the cruise line’s regular guests, since they offer more spacious public areas and staterooms without really losing the feel of a smaller ship, even if they’re somewhat larger than the older ships in the fleet.

MS Nieuw Statendam is widely praised in customer reviews, with particular focus paid to just how beautiful the ship is. Artwork plays a big part of every ship in the Holland America fleet, but the choices made for MS Nieuw Statendam particularly wow guests. If the paintings and sculptures are worthy of being mentioned in a review, you know they’re special.

The service and food are also highly rated, while reviews of the cabins are majority positive, with just a handful saying that they are “adequate”. The biggest negative for the ship is the entertainment options during the day and evening, with some guests finding them to be a little bland.

Read more: MS Nieuw Statendam Cabins To Avoid

2. MS Eurodam

Despite the popularity of the newer Pinnacle Class, it’s actually a slightly older ship that is the second most popular in the fleet – 2008’s MS Eurodam.

Despite her age, she has been carefully refurbished to a high standard so that she still offers a comfortable ship environment, even if the decor isn’t quite as sleek as the later ships.

Guests love MS Eurodam because she epitomises everything that is good about Holland America. She’s a mid-sized ship that mostly doesn’t feel crowded, with a great variety of food and excellent service from the crew who really go out of their way to make guests feel special.

The entertainment on MS Eurodam is well-reviewed too. The bigger criticisms are more towards the couple of spaces that can feel a little busy at times – namely the Lido Marketplace buffet, and the reception area at the (very popular) spa on-board.

Read more: MS Eurodam Cabins To Avoid

3. MS Rotterdam

The MS Rotterdam is the newest ship in the Holland America fleet and she shares a lot of the same positive feedback as her earlier sister ship MS Nieuw Statendam, with the artwork of the ship again being notably popular.

Overall, Holland America ships are seen as some of the most stylish in the world, without being overly glitzy or kitsch.

I think MS Rotterdam scores slightly lower than MS Nieuw Statendam due to teething problems. A lot of the reviews that talk about negatives mention slow service, the food not being the best, or problems with communication from the cruise line or ship – things which should be improving now that the ship has had more than a year in service.

There are some reviews that mention a perceived change in the service levels – as if the crew on MS Rotterdam aren’t quite as willing to care for guests as those on smaller ships, which could be a sign that as the ships are getting larger, guests are missing the really intimate feel of smaller ships.

Read more: MS Rotterdam Cabins To Avoid

4. MS Nieuw Amsterdam

MS Nieuw Amsterdam is the sister ship of MS Eurodam and is an almost identical size – officially she is marginally smaller by just 3 gross tons.

She launched back in 2010 and then underwent an extensive refit and refurbishment in 2017 to bring the public spaces more up-to-date.

The results are really positive, with reviews mentioning how clean and welcoming the ship feels. What also stands out is the service – while some people aren’t as happy with the standards on the slightly newer ships, on MS Nieuw Amsterdam the crew are very highly spoken of.

Criticisms of the ship mainly focus on how she is tailored towards an older market, and so late-night entertainment is limited, with some noting that the food has some issues and some of the popular public areas did still get a little crowded at times, despite the overall space of the ship.

Read more: MS Nieuw Amsterdam Cabins To Avoid

5. MS Oosterdam

The MS Oosterdam is one of four ships that make up the Vista class, each one named for a point on the compass in Dutch (“oost” = “east”). She launched in 2003 and remains a very popular ship in the fleet, thanks to her comfortable atmosphere and balance of the traditional and modern sides of cruising.

MS Oosterdam is not a big flashy ship although she does feature Holland America’s Music Walk which features live music in the evening. During the day things are more sedate, which may suit some people more than others – if you like a long list of activities, you might feel a little bored.

The ship feels like classical cruising, but with a more modern update thanks to careful renovation. There are still some parts of the ship that feel a little dated though, which is noted in some reviews.

Read more: MS Oosterdam Cabins To Avoid

6. MS Koningsdam

I would say that I’m a little surprised MS Koningsdam is so low on this list, but going back to what I said at the start of the guide, the scores are very tight between the ships and MS Koningsdam does have an average score of 3.9 out of 5, which is still very good.

The ship debuted in 2016 to a lot of pomp – this was the first new ship to launch for Holland America in six years and she helped to really bring the cruise line up to date with her stunning interior design.

However, the reason she is a little lower is something I alluded to with MS Rotterdam – to guests, it feels like the newer, bigger ships have lost a little of the Holland America magic, and the crew service isn’t quite as good when there are more passengers to handle. 

Guests criticise the quality of the entertainment too, which may be a sign that guests of other cruise lines with Broadway-style shows are trying the newer Holland America ships, and feeling disappointed with the comparison.

Read more: MS Koningsdam Cabins To Avoid

7. MS Westerdam

MS Westerdam was the third ship in the Vista Class to launch, first setting sail in 2004. She has been carefully renovated and updated over the years, including the addition of the Music Walk entertainment for the evening, which has helped to give her a new lease of life.

That’s not to say she’s completely modern – there are parts of the ship that very much have the decor of the time, but if you want a ship that feels cosy and comfortable, that blends the feelings of a classic ship with the cleanliness of a more contemporary one – then MS Westerdam could be ideal.

Reviews mention how good the service is, although the food does have some mixed reviews – more related to the service of food rather than the quality, which is widely regarded as excellent. 

There isn’t a lot to do during the day and, like most Holland America ships, the kids’ areas are a little dated and dull. But if you enjoy exploring ports or don’t mind spending your day poolside, you’ll like the atmosphere of MS Westerdam.

Read more: MS Westerdam Cabins To Avoid

8. MS Zuiderdam

MS Zuiderdam is another Vista-class ship – the first to launch, back in 2002. And she shares many of the similar positives and negatives as her sister ships do, including decor that has been suitably updated but does remain a little bit dated in places, as does the pool area, as called out in a handful of reviews.

Like her sister ships, she has good quality evening entertainment thanks to the Music Walk, but her daytime activities are a little lacking. Guests on Zuiderdam do comment on the quality of the enrichment offerings, including lectures on the ports being visited and the library resources, but it’s certainly not a ship that is thrill-a-minute during daytime hours.

The standards of service are still overwhelmingly high, with just a few minor comments from those who’ve had a bad experience with the food or who’ve had issues during their stay. Most people find the ship to be relaxing, but definitely tailored to a more mature audience.

Read more: MS Zuiderdam Cabins To Avoid

9. MS Zaandam

MS Zaandam is one of the older ships in the Holland America fleet, and one of two ships still remaining from the R Class.

She’s also quite old in style, which has pros and cons – she’s not got many balconies or indeed much choice at all when it comes to cabin options, but she’s also really easy to navigate.

Guests don’t seem to mind the lack of balconies, which is understandable since they know what they’re booking when they choose their cruise. The dated style of the ship doesn’t get much of a mention either – again, guests on Zaandam seem to have a good idea of what to expect, and love the ship for her smaller, more personable atmosphere.

Negative reviews tend to focus on the entertainment – both the lack of choice and also the quality, with some reviewers talking about how the evening acts are average but not particularly exciting.

Read more: MS Zaandam Cabins To Avoid

10. MS Volendam

MS Volendam is the oldest ship currently sailing for Holland America Line, having first launched back in 1999.

Sister ship to the MS Zaandam, her design is very similar, meaning she has a very simple layout and she is lacking in a lot of entertainment facilities and cabin options, including those with a balcony.

And while she may be the second-worst ship on this list according to customer reviews, her average scores are still high. That’s because people know what to expect from her, and are generally really happy with the experience. This is traditional cruising – exceptional service and a focus on the core relaxation and exploration experiences rather than a lot of flashy facilities to fill your day.

The negative reviews of MS Volendam do focus on the age of the ship though – she has been through renovations, but there are a lot of signs of how old she is, and passengers do notice them. If you don’t mind her feeling a little worn-in then you’ll still have a great time.

Read more: MS Volendam Cabins To Avoid

11. MS Noordam

MS Noordam is the final ship in the list, considered the “worst” by customer review and yet still rated quite highly.

Launched in 2006, she was the last of the Vista-class ships and many of the reviews are similar in nature to her sisters.

This means customers love the size of the ship, and the balance between spacious public areas and a more intimate cruising experience, helped by the high standards of service from the crew who take the time to learn everyone’s names and drink orders, making you feel special.

Negatives are the lack of real excitement during the day, and limited options at night, including a lack of quality to the evening entertainment when compared with other cruise lines. Some reviews do mention her feeling a little older too, but it’s a minor quibble generally – more reviews comment on how clean and well-kept she is.

Read more: MS Noordam Cabins To Avoid

Choosing the best Holland America ship for you

When it comes to choosing the best Holland America ship for you, it really depends what you’re looking for.

The newer ships are very popular, with the added size used to good effect to increase the spaces where you can relax. But a lot of passengers prefer the feel of the smaller, older ships where the crew feel a touch more personable.

The bottom line

It’s worth remembering what I said at the start – the score difference between the ships in the Holland America fleet is relatively minimal, and on pretty much any ship you’ll have a great time.

Still, it’s worth bearing the review comments in mind because the ships are different, and will suit different cruise guests. The larger, more modern ships have more to do onboard, and they’re much more contemporary, but you can expect to pay a price that reflects that.

Meanwhile, choose an older ship and you’ll still get the great service and food standards that the cruise line is known for, but with a much more intimate atmosphere and potentially a lower fare.

Your experience onboard will also be dictated by the type of cabin you choose, so make sure you read my guides on the best and worst cabins on each ship, and check out the Holland America suite perks too, to see if upgrading is worth the cost.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Holland America is a former shipping company that switched to a full-time cruise company in 1989. Since then it has offered a sort of premium-mainstream brand of cruising – not quite luxury cruising, but a step up from some of the mainstream cruise lines that are pitched more at families.

The Holland America fleet currently stands at 11 ships, and has just as many former ships in its ranks, selling them to various other cruise lines.

The current fleet is split between four classes, and this seems to be the planned fleet for the foreseeable future – unlike most other cruise lines, Holland America doesn’t currently have a new ship on order.

So which ships are the biggest, the smallest, the newest and the oldest in the current fleet? Which ship should you be looking to book a cruise on if you want the most modern features? Let’s take a look.

Holland America ships ranked by age

Here’s a rundown of the Holland America cruise ships by age, including the last time they were refurbished, from the newest ship to the oldest.

The newest ship

The newest ship in the Holland America fleet is MS Rotterdam. She launched in 2021 and was the third ship in the Pinnacle Class.

Originally planned to be named the Ryndam, she was renamed during construction to honour the cruise line’s history – becoming the sixth ship named Rotterdam to sail for HAL.

The fleet doesn’t have any new ships on order currently, so for now, the MS Rotterdam will remain the flagship in the fleet alongside the MS Nieuw Statendam and the MS Koningsdam, sister ships of the MS Rotterdam.

These three are the most recent additions to the fleet, with MS Koningsdam launching in 2016 and MS Nieuw Statendam launching in 2018. The MS Nieuw Statendam even received a refurbishment just two years after she launched, ensuring that she remains a true flagship alongside her sisters.

The newest ships have a capacity that’s around 25% more than the previous largest ships in the fleet, but they’re still a lot smaller than many other cruise line’s ships.

Read more: The Newest Holland America Ships (In Order)

The oldest ships

The MS Volendam and the MS Zaandam are the oldest ships in the Holland America fleet, with the Volendam being slightly older as she launched in 2009, with Zaandam following a year later. These ships are part of the Rotterdam Class, more commonly referred to as the R-Class.

There were two other ships in the R-Class for Holland America – the MS Rotterdam and the MS Amsterdam. The MS Rotterdam was the oldest ship in the fleet as she launched in 1997. But in 2020 the two ships were sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, sailing now as Borealis and Bolette respectively.

While some of the ships in the Holland America fleet are a little older now, none of them are ancient. Holland America has a policy of selling off its older ships on a relatively regular basis, maintaining a fleet that is modern and lives up to its premium standards.

And older ships also go through multiple refurbishments, so that no ship ever feels tired or boring. From adding new features to simply ensuring staterooms and public areas are properly maintained, Holland America is always looking to keep even its oldest ships looking their best.

Holland America ships ranked by size

The table below lists the Holland America Line cruise ships by size, from largest to smallest. It also shows how many guests each ship can accommodate as well as the class of ship.

As you can see, most of the ships are very similar in size, while the oldest two ships are a little smaller. None of the Holland America ship sizes are troubling the lists for the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Holland America’s biggest ships aren’t huge…

The biggest ships in the Holland America Line fleet are the Pinnacle Class ships – the MS Rotterdam, the MS Nieuw Statendam, and the MS Koningsdam. They’re all the same size, and can accommodate 2,650 guests at double occupancy.

These ships all have 13 decks – numbered from 1 to 14, skipping the unlucky number 13, and they are all just over 980 feet in length.

Holland America’s biggest ships are nowhere near the same size as the biggest ships for other cruise lines. Compared to the biggest cruise ships in the world – the Oasis Class ships for Royal Caribbean – they can only hold around 46% of the maximum guests at double occupancy.

In terms of length, the difference is quite surprising – there’s only a 200-foot difference between the Holland America Pinnacle Class ships and the Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ships. But the width of the beam is notable. For the Pinnacle Class ships, it’s 114 feet, and for the Oasis Class ships, it’s 210 feet, making them almost twice as wide.

And this is important because Holland America Line has designed the Pinnacle Class ships to a very specific blueprint – they meet the New Panamax specification.

What this means is that they are designed to be able to sail through the newest set of locks in the Panama Canal, the ones that were opened in 2016. This opens up more cruising options for the ships as they can easily sail the Panama Canal if needed, allowing them to transition between the east and west of the Americas much faster.

Plus, sailings through the Panama Canal are fascinating – well worth a look if you want to see how a giant cruise ship can traverse man-made canals.

Holland America’s smallest ships

The two oldest ships in the Holland America fleet are also the smallest – the MS Zaandam and the MS Volendam. Both of these ships have a maximum guest capacity of 1,432, with the MS Volendam having a slightly lower gross tonnage (61,214 compared to MS Zaandam’s 61,396).

They aren’t really ‘small ships’  that you would consider as luxury ones limited to fewer than 1,000 passengers, but they’re definitely on the smaller side of the mid-sized ship range. All of Holland America’s ships are what you’d consider mid-sized compared to other cruise lines, but these two, in particular, are great if you want a quieter cruise.

It’s worth noting that MS Volendam was chartered in May 2022 by the actual city of Rotterdam, to be used as a refugee shelter for people who had escaped from Ukraine following the invasion by Russia. 

While the charter was originally scheduled for three months, it was then extended by a month to run until September. The ship was still manned by Holland America crew during this period.

Ship classes explained

There are currently four classes of ship in the Holland America fleet. The newest ships are the Pinnacle Class ships.

Before that, there was the slightly smaller Signature Class. Ships built in the early 2000s belong to the Vista Class and those pre-millennium are Rotterdam Class ships.

Ah, but which ships are the best? It’s not clear-cut…

While Holland America has gone to great lengths to update its older ships, the best ships are definitely the newest Pinnacle Class ships. But thanks to those careful renovations, it’s not a huge gulf in difference.

With capacities ranging from around 1,500 to 2,600 guests, none of the ships in the Holland America fleet are massive, and they’re definitely aimed more at people who prefer a quieter cruise rather than one with 4,000+ people onboard.

That being said, the ships aren’t exactly sparse, and there is plenty to see and do on board. The newest ships do have some of the better features, including the widest selection of dining venues, ranging from the exclusive feel of the Pinnacle Grill and Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurants, to more casual venues like Dive-In, the poolside grill, and the poolside pizzeria.

If you’re looking to enjoy the newest ships with the most choice of bars and places to eat then I would definitely lean towards a Pinnacle-Class ship, but if you’re not as worried about that and one of the smaller ships has a better itinerary then that would be the way to go. 

The onboard experience won’t be radically different, unlike with some cruise lines where their biggest and smallest ships are a world apart.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me