The main Eurodam cabins to avoid are on Deck 8 directly under the Lido Market and pools, on Deck 1 near the World Stage and below the Deck 2 music venues, and the verandahs where a lifeboat or a solid steel wall gets in the way of the view, mainly forward on Deck 4 and midship on Deck 5. For a quiet, steady cabin, book midship on Decks 5 to 7 with cabins above and below you. If you want the best balcony at a good price, look at the aft-facing verandahs on Deck 4.
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Eurodam is a Signature-class ship. She was built by Fincantieri in 2008, measures about 86,000 gross tons and carries around 2,100 guests at double occupancy. Her only sister is Nieuw Amsterdam (2010), which has an almost identical layout, so nearly everything below applies to both ships. Cabin numbers can shift slightly between the two, so always check the deck plan for the exact ship you are booking.
Eurodam at a glance: cabin types and decks
Eurodam has a little over 1,000 staterooms, and roughly two-thirds of them have a verandah. To make sense of the advice below, it helps to know how the decks are laid out. Holland America names its decks as well as numbering them:
- Deck 1 (Main): cabins, the atrium and the World Stage area forward.
- Deck 2 (Lower Promenade): casino, music venues and bars, plus the lower level of the dining room.
- Deck 3 (Promenade): shops, the upper dining room and the wraparound promenade with its lifeboats.
- Decks 4 to 8 (Upper Promenade, Verandah, Upper Verandah, Rotterdam, Navigation): mostly cabins. The Neptune Lounge for suite guests is on Deck 7.
- Deck 9 (Lido): Lido Market buffet, pools and spa.
- Decks 10 and 11 (Panorama and Observation): more cabins, including the spa cabins, plus Club HAL, sports courts and the Crow’s Nest.
The table below sums up the main categories, using approximate sizes from published deck plan data. Holland America sometimes renames or splits categories, so treat the letters as a guide and confirm them when you book.
| Cabin type | Typical codes | Approx. size | Where on the ship | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | I, J, K, L, M, N, IQ (spa) | 140-285 sq ft | Decks 1, 4-8, 10 | Cabins under Deck 2 venues or near crew doors |
| Ocean view | C, D, E, F, G, H, CQ (spa) | 140-285 sq ft | Decks 1, 4-6, 10, 11 | Obstructed-view grades that look onto lifeboats |
| Verandah | V, VA-VF, VH, VQ, VT (spa) | About 175 sq ft plus balcony | Decks 4-8, 10, 11 | Steel-walled forward balconies, lifeboat views, shallow spa balconies |
| Signature Suite | SS, SY, SZ, SQ/SU (spa) | About 300 sq ft | Decks 5, 6, 10 | Forward suites move more in rough seas |
| Neptune Suite | SA, SB, SC | About 270-380 sq ft | Decks 4-8 | Few downsides; aft-facing ones are the most sought after |
| Pinnacle Suite | PS | About 1,000 sq ft plus large verandah | Deck 7 (only two on board) | Price, and they sell out early |
Eurodam cabins to avoid (and why)
None of these cabins is bad as such. Each one has a specific drawback that matters a lot to some people and not at all to others. Here are the locations most worth checking before you pay a deposit.
1. Deck 8 cabins under the Lido Market and pools
Deck 9 is the Lido, home to the Lido Market buffet, the pools and the spa. Deck 8 cabins directly beneath the buffet are the ones most likely to hear early-morning set-up, sliding chairs and food-service carts, especially on sea days. If you sleep lightly, compare the Deck 8 and Deck 9 plans side by side and avoid any cabin with the buffet or pool deck directly above it. Many Deck 8 cabins are fine, but the ones under the Lido Market are the classic Eurodam noise complaint.
2. Deck 1 cabins near the World Stage and under the Deck 2 music venues
Holland America’s own deck plan puts Deck 1 next to the World Stage and directly below the Deck 2 entertainment area. Cabins forward on Deck 1, near the theater, can pick up rehearsals, show crowds and foot traffic. Cabins under the Lower Promenade music venues can hear bass and late-night noise. Cruise forum posters have pointed to Main deck cabins around C1056 to C1066, plus a few nearby inside cabins, as the ones most affected. They also say the starboard side tends to be quieter than port. The venue line-up on Deck 2 has changed over the years, so check what is currently above any Deck 1 cabin you are considering.
3. Forward Deck 4 verandahs with solid steel walls
On the Upper Promenade (Deck 4), the forward verandahs, roughly cabins 4001 to 4042, have solid steel balcony fronts rather than glass. When you sit down, the wall blocks most of the sea view, and you need to stand to see over it. Some people like the extra privacy and shelter from the wind, especially in Alaska. If you want to watch the scenery from a lounger, though, choose a cabin further aft. Be careful with “verandah guarantee” fares: they can put you in exactly this kind of cabin.
4. Lifeboat-view verandahs and obstructed ocean views
Eurodam’s bright orange lifeboats hang along the Promenade (Deck 3), just below the first cabin decks. The cabins this affects most are:
- Deck 4 corner “hump” verandahs near the lifeboats, which past guests identify as cabins 4053, 4054, 4129 and 4132.
- Midship Deck 5 verandahs, which sit above the lifeboats. The outward view is usually fine, but looking down you see lifeboat roofs instead of water.
- Obstructed-view ocean view cabins, which are sold at a discount because a lifeboat partly or mostly blocks the window. How much they are blocked varies from cabin to cabin.
Obstructed-view cabins can be good value if you mainly want natural light. Just book them knowing what you are getting.
5. Shallow or “Juliet” spa balconies (VQ and VT)
The spa cabins high up on Decks 10 and 11 put you close to the Greenhouse Spa. Their balconies are narrower than standard, though. VQ balconies are only about 4 feet deep, and the VT cabins on Deck 11 have Juliet-style balconies that are really only for standing. If a proper balcony with two chairs matters to you, these aren’t the cabins to book. Deck 11 cabins are also close to the sports courts.
6. Far forward cabins if you get seasick
Cabins at the very front of the ship, and especially high up, feel the most pitching in a swell. Forum posters mention forward suites on Decks 5 and 10 in particular. This matters most on open-sea repositioning cruises and winter crossings. It matters much less on a calm Caribbean week or in Alaska’s Inside Passage.
7. Connecting cabins if you are not traveling as a group
Eurodam has a large number of connecting cabins, around 280 according to published ship data. The connecting doors are not as well soundproofed as solid walls, so you may hear the TV or conversation next door. Families should book them; couples who want quiet should avoid them. On the online deck plan, connecting cabins are usually marked with a small symbol between the two rooms.
Other small things to look for on the plan include laundry and service rooms, elevator lobbies and crew doors. Cabins next to them can hear doors and carts. These are minor issues, but worth a glance.
Eurodam best cabins to book
Now for the good news. Some Eurodam cabins are consistently well regarded, and several of them aren’t the most expensive on board.
Aft-facing verandahs on Deck 4
The aft-facing Upper Promenade verandahs, roughly cabins 4133 to 4179, have deeper balconies, around 7.5 feet compared with about 5.5 feet on a standard verandah. They also give you a view of the wake. Cabins 4166 and 4168 have extra-wide balconies. Because Deck 4 is lower down, these cabins feel less motion than aft cabins higher up. Many repeat Holland America guests rate them the best-value balconies on the ship. Aft cabins on higher decks can be even deeper, but the stern balconies on the upper decks are smaller than many people expect, so check each one.
Neptune Suites
Neptune Suites come with access to the Neptune Lounge on Deck 7 and concierge help, which makes a real difference on longer voyages. The balconies are also large, about 135 sq ft. The aft-facing Neptune Suites are the ones people tend to fight over. They are quiet, have wake views and cost much less than a Pinnacle Suite.
Pinnacle Suites
Eurodam has just two Pinnacle Suites, both on Deck 7. Each one is roughly 1,000 sq ft with a very large verandah, and they come with Neptune Lounge access and Holland America’s top suite perks. If they are in your budget, they are the best rooms on the ship, but they often sell out more than a year ahead.
Signature Suites
Signature Suites, mainly on Decks 5 and 6, give you a separate sitting area, a larger bathroom and a balcony of about 85 sq ft. They sit between the Verandah and Neptune categories and are a good upgrade if you want more space without paying for full suite perks. Choose midship or aft ones over far-forward ones if motion bothers you.
Midship verandahs on Decks 5 to 7
For most people, the safest choice is a standard verandah midship on Decks 5, 6 or 7. These cabins have other cabins above and below them, are close to the elevators, and are well away from the Lido and the Deck 2 venues. Pick one that is not directly above the Deck 3 lifeboats and you have a quiet, steady cabin with a clear view.
Large Deck 1 inside cabins
If you’re on a budget, the larger Main deck inside cabins (category J, around 225 sq ft according to past guests) are some of the roomiest interior cabins in Holland America’s fleet. Some of them can sleep four. Choose ones away from the forward theater area and from the cabins under the Deck 2 music venues mentioned above.
Best Eurodam cabins for seasickness
A ship moves least at its center, so for seasickness choose a midship cabin on a low deck. On Eurodam, the best options are midship cabins on Deck 1 (interior or ocean view) or midship verandahs on Deck 4 and Deck 5. Avoid the far forward cabins, and remember that higher decks feel more sway. An ocean view or balcony also helps, because being able to see the horizon reduces nausea for many people.
Where Eurodam is sailing matters too. According to published 2026-27 schedules, she spends the winter on Caribbean round trips from Fort Lauderdale. These include 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean loops calling at Half Moon Cay (now marketed as RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay), Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Cozumel and Grand Cayman, along with some longer 10- to 14-night voyages. In summer she moves to Seattle for 7-night Alaska round trips, with Panama Canal repositioning cruises between the two seasons. The Caribbean and the Inside Passage are usually fairly calm. The repositioning voyages and some open-ocean stretches can be rougher, so cabin location matters more on those. Schedules change, so check the current itinerary on Holland America’s Eurodam page.
Eurodam obstructed view cabins: are they worth it?
Obstructed-view cabins are some of the cheapest outside cabins on Eurodam. Whether they are worth it depends on what you want from a window. You get daylight and a sense of the time of day. You may not get a sea view at all if the cabin looks straight at a lifeboat. Two practical tips:
- Look at the deck plan legend. Holland America marks obstructed and partially obstructed cabins on its deck plans. Partial obstructions are often barely noticeable, while full obstructions can mean a wall of orange.
- Compare the price gap. If the difference between an obstructed ocean view and a standard interior is small, the window may be worth it. If the price is close to a midship verandah instead, the verandah is usually the better buy.
How to check a Eurodam cabin before you book
The thing most cabin guides skip is a simple routine for checking a specific cabin number. Here is a quick five-step check that works for any Eurodam (or Nieuw Amsterdam) cabin:
- Look up. Open the deck plan for the deck above your cabin. If you see a buffet, pool, gym, galley or bar instead of more cabins, expect some noise.
- Look down. Check the deck below for theaters, lounges or the casino, which matter most for Deck 1 and Deck 4 cabins.
- Look outside. On Decks 4 and 5, check whether the lifeboats on Deck 3 sit below or beside your cabin. Forward on Deck 4, check whether the balcony has a steel front.
- Look sideways. Look for connecting-door symbols, service rooms, laundry rooms and elevator banks next to the cabin.
- Check the balcony depth. Spa cabins (VQ and VT) and some forward cabins have smaller balconies than the standard verandah.
If you are choosing between Holland America ships, our guide to Holland America ships ranked by real customer reviews shows where Eurodam stands in the fleet. Once you have picked a cabin, it is also worth reading about whether Holland America drink packages are worth it before you finalize your booking. If you are comparing lines, our Celebrity Cruises cabins to avoid guide uses the same approach.
FAQs
What deck is best on the Eurodam?
For most people, Decks 5, 6 and 7 midship are the best, because they have cabins above and below them and sit away from the Lido and the Deck 2 entertainment venues. For the best balcony value, aft-facing cabins on Deck 4 are a popular choice.
Which Eurodam cabins have obstructed views?
Obstructed-view cabins are the ones that look onto the orange lifeboats along Deck 3. Some Deck 4 corner verandahs, such as 4053, 4054, 4129 and 4132, sit beside the lifeboats, and midship Deck 5 verandahs look down onto them. Forward Deck 4 verandahs (roughly 4001 to 4042) have solid steel balcony walls.
Are Deck 8 cabins on Eurodam noisy?
Deck 8 cabins directly below the Lido Market and pool area on Deck 9 can hear early-morning set-up and chair noise. Deck 8 cabins with other cabins above them are generally fine.
Is Nieuw Amsterdam the same as Eurodam?
Yes. Nieuw Amsterdam is Eurodam’s Signature-class sister and has a nearly identical layout, so the same cabins-to-avoid advice applies. Check exact cabin numbers on each ship’s own deck plan.
How many passengers are on the Eurodam?
Eurodam carries about 2,100 guests at double occupancy, and up to around 2,500 when third and fourth berths are filled. She has roughly 900 crew.
