Hit the Decks on HAL’s new live music-themed ship

It’s not often you’re the first passenger but, when I step onto Holland America’s brand-new cruise ship Rotterdam, a crew member informs me that I’m guest Number One. I’m also the first travel trade journalist to sail on this latest addition to the Dutch liner’s fleet and, as I soak up the momentary solitude, I’m struck by the ship’s style and pizazz.

A four-storey gold sculpture stretches through the heart of the atrium, and on the stairwell leading to my cabin there’s captivating artwork. An LP and sleeve of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust have been transformed into a visual masterpiece; ditto with John Lennon’s Imagine. This is a ship with a musical soul.

My sister, Karen, has joined me for a seven-night Southern Caribbean voyage from Fort Lauderdale. By a stroke of luck we’ve been upgraded to a Neptune Suite that’s four times the size of the balcony cabin we’d booked. Flamboyant Bergere armchairs add wow factor to the lounge-come-bedroom, and the oversized balcony has enough furniture for six. The bathroom resembles a private spa with a jet massage tub and, better still, we’re entitled to free laundry. Your clients (like me) could really get used to this!

SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Rotterdam is the eleventh ship in Holland America Line’s fleet and the third in the Pinnacle Class series. The liner promises more space per passenger than any other mid-size ship, and this roominess is evident everywhere. There are always well-spaced poolside sunbeds available, and I frequently have the jogging track, promenade deck and outdoor gym to myself. Occasionally I even find myself alone in the pool – the middle one has a retractable roof reminiscent of Wimbledon’s; brilliant in inclement weather.

The piece de resistance is the “pickleball” court, which is so massive it’s hard to believe it’s on a ship. This is a racket-sport hybrid of tennis, ping-pong and badminton that’s not only great fun, but also an excellent workout.

On our first visit to the sparkly, two-tier dining room it becomes clear we’ll have to play a lot of pickleball to still fit in the clothes we packed! Orange jumbo shrimp cocktail is followed by filet mignon with crabmeat (a surf and turf combo which works beautifully), followed by chocolate souffle for dessert. Each course is delicious and served on Dutch Royal Delft pottery in a nod to the ship’s heritage.

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE

Afterwards we explore Rotterdam’s Music Walk – an alley with multiple live music venues located on Deck 2. For classical music lovers there’s Lincoln Center Stage; for chart hits there’s Billboard Onboard. If your clients fancy boogieing to Hound Dog then BB King’s Blues Club is the spot. And at the Rolling Stone Rock Room, affiliated to the famous magazine, my sister and I enjoy listening to the band belting out Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure.

The next day I mention how we loved the live music to hotel general manager Errol Nelson. “All our guests rave about it,” he says. “No other cruise line has this kind of daily branded entertainment, and Rotterdam is the only ship which has the Rolling Stone Rock Room. We like to deliver the experience of a small luxury ship while offering the entertainment of a large ship.”

It’s this ethos that keeps Holland America guests coming back time and again. Every day, each passenger is made to feel special. The crew know our names, open doors for us and help carry our cups of tea, sometimes even back to the cabin! 

The entertainment is of invariably high quality. The liner has a partnership with BBC Earth, the result of which is David Attenborough nature footage played on a 270-degree wraparound LED screen accompanied by a live classical quartet. It’s brilliant.

FINE DINING

The cuisine is equally impressive, from the buffet and the main dining room to the Grand Dutch Cafe, an eatery that serves specialities (included in the fare) from Holland, such as pickled herring or pea and ham soup. And while it’s not necessary to splurge on its speciality restaurants, the 12oz lobster tail in French Brasserie Rudi’s Sel de Mer, and the Cashew Barramundi in Asian-inspired Tamarind, are worth the extra.

I sneak a peek at the balcony cabin I’d booked. It’s smaller than our suite but equally stylish, and no doubt we’d have similarly enjoyed the voyage had that been our base. Nonetheless, there are perks to being a Neptune Suite guest (beyond the free laundry), which your clients might like to consider. There’s access to a private lounge complete with snacks, drinks and a concierge. And Neptune guests have their own private restaurant, Club Orange. These benefits are particularly welcome as we come out the other side of the pandemic, and the leap in price isn’t as steep as you’d imagine.

TIME TO DISCOVER

We’ve three ports of call. First is Holland America Line’s private Bahamian island, Half Moon Cay, where we laze and walk along the sugary white sand, which fringes a sea so turquoise that we’re constantly photographing it. 

Next is the colourful Unesco World Heritage Site of Willemstad, Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island 40 miles north of Venezuela. We cross its pontoon bridge – the world’s only one to open sideways – and browse its floating market. We also visit its synagogue, the oldest in continuous use in the Americas. Its floor has always been sandy, originally so the footsteps of its congregants – who historically feared persecution – couldn’t be heard. 

Our only ship excursion is in Curacao’s neighbour Bonaire, where a junk boat takes us to an uninhabited island to snorkel. Coral reefs teem with parrotfish and angelfish, but our favourite is the blue tang, a delicate bright-blue beauty.

Rotterdam hits all the right notes. It blends the classic qualities that Holland America is renowned for – service, food and friendliness – with the modern flair of its showcase Music Walk. It doesn’t just take guests sailing around the world – it has them rocking all over it too!

BOOK IT

A seven-night Have It All round-trip Western Caribbean voyage in a balcony cabin on Rotterdam costs from £1,449pp, including an excursion, dinner in a speciality restaurant, drinks and Wi-Fi, departing Fort Lauderdale on 28 December 2022.

hollandamerica.com