Holland America Line’s 2021 Rotterdam Ship Review

Holland America Line, one of the most storied names in cruising, has come a long way since 1873, when it was founded in Rotterdam. The line’s first vessel, a steam and sail ship that often crossed the North Atlantic, was named after the city. As the company grew, it would carry more than 850,000 immigrants to the U.S. between 1880 and 1920. And during World War II, Holland America ships transported nearly 400,000 Allied troops.

So when a new Rotterdam ship arrived in 2021 — the seventh to carry the name — it debuted with nearly 150 years of heritage. And yet, it was also a leap forward for the brand.

Carrying 2,668 passengers and a crew of 1,048, the latest Rotterdam is a large ship, based on Travel + Leisure’s categories, but I found it to be right-sized on my recent trip aboard. I never felt as though I was stuck in the midst of a teeming city, nor did I find it too small to offer a huge array of amenities and entertainment. With a gleaming library, a high-tech theater with seating wrapped around its stage, and the Grand Dutch Café bringing a bit of that Netherlands feel, Rotterdam is sophisticated without being pretentious.

During my trip, around the fjords of Norway, I was particularly fond of the corridor of live concert venues known as Music Walk, which came alive nightly with classical, blues, and even dueling piano performances.

Perhaps thanks to its heritage, Holland America Line has a reputation for drawing a loyal audience of older guests. So, shortly before I boarded Rotterdam, I caught up with Holland America Line’s president, Gus Antorcha, to ask if this new-ish ship was turning any heads among regulars.

“I’m totally not worried about making the brand younger,” Antorcha said. “If we add enrichment and interesting itineraries, the age will be what the age will be.”

During my journey, the ship was dominated by an energetic contingent of colorfully primped Netherlanders, most of whom appeared to be in their 50s and 60s. (The vibe was so Dutch, in fact, that ship announcements were made both in that language and English.) There were also many Danish guests on board, who’d come aboard specifically for the interesting Northern European itinerary.

Here’s a closer look at the vibe on board Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, and my review of the ship’s many features and amenities.

The Staterooms

Cabin decor is contemporary and functional, with coffee and cream tones dominating. Fresh fruit was available on request, along with complimentary shoe shine service, and room service was available 24 hours. I loved my cabin, number 5053, a roomy verandah stateroom that was about 30 square feet larger than most other rooms, with a large balcony.

Otherwise, Rotterdam has 1,340 staterooms, with options ranging from inside cabins without windows up to four different suite categories. The interior cabins can be as small as 143 square feet, which is snug, even for a cruise ship. Other staterooms start at 175 square feet, and Vista Suites have a comparatively large 260-square-foot plan, with locations in prime spots around the ship. At the top end are the Signature and Neptune suites, as well as the one Pinnacle Suite, which is more than five times the size of standard cabins.

Solo travelers are well looked after on Rotterdam, with the choice of a dozen single-occupancy, ocean-view cabins.

Bars and Restaurants

Over years of cruise travel, I have found Holland America Line serves more consistently reliable meals in its main dining room than can be found on other mainstream cruise lines. The entry point is the Dining Room, a two-deck affair that can seat 1,170 guests, which is located at the rear of decks 2 and 3. Topped by a ceiling of gold and blue baubles, the upper levels have graceful curves. Despite the scale of the operation, dishes here are beautifully presented, whether a colorful tomato salad drizzled in fig balsamic vinegar and orange oil, coconut crusted shrimp on a beet and green bean salad, or a rack of lamb served with cannellini beans. Holland America’s seafood is sustainably sourced — the line has partnered with chef Masaharu Morimoto and has numerous endorsements from organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council — and vegetarian and gluten-free items are always available.

In addition to the casual Lido Market, as the ship’s buffet is known, Rotterdam has four extra-fee dining locations. Among them are Canaletto, the ship’s Italian venue, and Rudi’s Sel de Mer, the standout French brasserie with dishes including Dover sole meunière, oysters on the half shell, steak frites, and duck cassoulet. Pinnacle Grill is the steakhouse, and Tamarind serves pan-Asian cuisine. Other no-fee choices include the Grand Dutch Café, where sandwiches and light meals are served, the requisite pizza counter, and a poolside burger bar called Dive-In. Guests staying in Neptune and Pinnacle suites can dine in Club Orange, a more intimate dining room with a menu that largely matches what’s served in the main dining room.

In addition to the restaurants, Holland America’s trademark bars, Ocean Bar and Lido Bar, invite imbibing till late, while the Crow’s Nest, located above the bridge, is popular when cruising the fjords and other scenic passages. I enjoyed the Half Moon Bar a few times, with cocktails themed around the line’s history of linking Holland and New York City, while the Tamarind Bar has a roster of martinis.

Where Rotterdam Sails

In winter months, Rotterdam home-ports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and offers alternating nine- and 12-day Caribbean itineraries that reach as far south as the “ABC Islands” in the Dutch Antilles; some longer voyages make partial transits of the Panama Canal. In summer, Rotterdam is based in its namesake city, with seven-, 14-, and 21-day itineraries calling on ports throughout Northern Europe, including in the British Isles, Iceland, Norway, and the Baltic countries.

Shore Excursions

A good variety of shore excursions were offered on my cruise through the fjords of Norway: scenic coach tours past waterfalls, farm visits with cider tasting, kayak paddles alongside soaring cliffs, hikes from Mount Floyen to Skomakerdiket Lake.

In the Caribbean, Holland America’s private island Half Moon Cay has a dazzling beach. Elsewhere, guests can arrange to explore the UNESCO World Heritage city of Willemstad, Curaçao, or go snorkeling in, say, the caves of Norman Island.

Amenities and Entertainment

On Holland America’s ships, it’s all about the live music — and Rotterdam is no exception. Yes, other ships of this size offer plenty of live music, but the way it’s laid out on this ship works perfectly for me, concentrated along a corridor called Music Walk. This includes the Rolling Stone Lounge, where a seven-piece house band rolls out Top 40 classics. Next door, Billboard Onboard is a singalong piano bar, and just down the hall is B.B. King’s Blues Club, which pumps blistering soul, rock, and blues, with the addition of a classical string quartet on longer European sailings.

Just beyond Music Walk, in the ship’s bow, is World Stage, a theater-almost-in-the-round for a variety of performances including dance and vocal reviews backed by two-story LED screens that encircle the audience. Each of these operate most evenings, with a schedule that allows you to venture from one to the next for an entire night. Live music is also on in other locations on the ship, including a dance band in the Ocean Bar.

Rotterdam has two fine pools, a good-sized one located at midship in a two-story space topped with a retractable roof (handy during dodgy weather), and another found aft, facing the wake. The Sports Court features pickleball and ping pong, while Bingo, wine-tastings, and trivia contests are highlighted in the daily newsletter. The Greenhouse Spa has a full roster of treatments, and can also do hair and nails. The gym is accessed through the spa and is stocked with well-maintained cardio equipment and weights. Some fitness classes are free, while yoga and spinning classes come at an upcharge.

Unlike some larger cruise ships, Rotterdam does not offer a self-service laundry facility, though services, including dry cleaning, can be arranged.

Family-Friendly Offerings

Unlike some large-ship brands, Holland America Line doesn’t particularly cater to families with young children. That being said, there are areas set aside for junior cruisers, and itineraries during summer or holiday periods may have quite a few families. Rotterdam’s Kids’ Club is designed for children and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. Activities include a range of arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, and themed parties.

Accessibility

As someone who has considered his mother’s mobility issues when planning a cruise, Holland America ranks high on my list of accessible cruise options. Rotterdam has elevators and accessible restrooms on all public decks. Transfers to shore can be accommodated at most ports, and tender boats have a lift system allowing guests to roll on and off tenders. To prepare for the arrival of a guest with disabilities, the line asks for a Special Requirements Information Form to be submitted 45 days prior to embarkation. (Note that Holland America does not rent wheelchairs or provide assistance for any purpose other than embarkation, disembarkation, and emergency situations.)

On Rotterdam there are 40 staterooms with accessible features, and they’re classified in two ways. Fully Accessible cabins are designed for guests with very limited or no mobility who require use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other assistive device. Ramps allow access to verandas; bathrooms have a roll-in shower with grab bars, a shower seat, accessible shower controls, and a hand-held shower head. Ambulatory Accessible cabins are for guests who do not require use of a wheelchair or scooter but need some accessible features.

Guests who are deaf or hard of hearing can request kits that include visual or tactile alerts for phone ringing or door knocks, phones are equipped for amplified sound, and cabin TVs have closed captioning features. Assistive listening devices are available for shows. For guests who are blind or have low vision, Rotterdam can provide a downloadable daily newsletter and menus for guests with screen reader programs; these can be downloaded to a screen-reader enabled computer in the Explorations Café. Braille menus for the restaurants are available with advance notice.