Articles

Holland America Launches Noordam February 2006
by Roy Witman © 2008

If you're a cruise lover who is always looking for the newest, the best and the most exciting, Holland America has a treat for you. Scheduled for launch February 22, 2006, Holland's newest ship - the msNoordam - will be a ship of firsts.

As the first Vista-class vessel in its fleet to sail with a full-featured complement of Signature of Excellence® enhancements, Noordam is anything but ordinary. In fact, it's the first of its kind. Just a few of the onboard enhancements you'll find on Noordam include:

Explorations Café (powered by the New York Times) - This cyber coffeehouse complete with espresso bar, over 2000 books, Discovery Channel programming, Internet stations, music listening, guest lecturers and more.

Pinnacle Wine Bar - Exclusive to Noordam, the Pinnacle Wine Bar will offer a tremendous selection of worldwide wines from which to choose.

Culinary Arts Program - In cooperation with Food & Wine Magazine, the Noordam will be the first Holland ship to offer the Culinary Arts Program. More than 60 world-class chefs and food experts will offer live cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art show kitchen. In a theater-style kitchen, famous chefs will offer up to 16 guests the chance to participate in hands-on classes. The rest of the audience can look on via large-screen, plasma screens. The classes will also be broadcast to staterooms for guests who want to view the demonstrations in the comfort of their cabins.

Gourmet Dining - One of the highlights of any cruise is the food. Noordam promises not to disappoint. The expanded Pinnacle Grill will feature five-star, Pacific Northwest fare with four dining times for the ultimate in convenience and culinary delight.

Kids' & Teens' Programs - More kid- friendly than ever, Noordam will set the standard with its Club HAL® and Loft for Teens venues. Supervised, age-specific activities will be offered in Club HAL® for children ages 3-12. Art tables, big- screen TVs, a fun slide, video games, air hockey, Sony Playstations and more are available in a comfortable, safe setting. Teens are also addressed aboard Noordam with the introduction of The Loft.

Designed to resemble a New York artist's loft, this teen getaway lets younger cruisers socialize with those their own age in complete safety. Music, videos, Internet access, big-screen TVs and a special teen-only pass to the exclusive Oasis club are included. While at The Oasis, teens have access to a teen-only sun deck with cool chairs, a nine-foot waterfall and cave, snack machines, sound and laser-light shows, luaus, dance competitions and more.

Exceptional Staterooms - Eighty-seven percent of Noordam's staterooms offer ocean views. All 924 staterooms feature luxury accompaniments including Euro-top, plush beds, waffle/terry cloth robes, DVD players, massage showerheads, professional hair dryers and more. And the service is - as always - unobtrusive, attentive and far beyond your expectations.

There's truly more to do and see onboard Noordam than any other ship in Holland's current fleet. But the main purpose for choosing a cruise vacation is to explore new destinations. Noordam whisks you away to exotic ports with familiar names, with each bearing the distinctive thumbprint of Holland America.

Exciting Destinations

The Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries offer visits to Holland America's private island Half Moon Cay. Voted “Best Private Island” by Porthole Magazine four years running, Half Moon Cay offers exciting, exclusive activities available only to Holland guests.

The Mediterranean is another locale to which Noordam can take you. The intriguing history, magnificent architecture and delectable cuisine of Italy, Greece, Turkey and more are featured as Noordam itineraries.

In Holland America's 130 years of providing refined, exceptional cruise vacations, there has not been a Vista-class ship as grand as Noordam. Her legacy has been established even before her maiden voyage and she promises to show you the world as you've never seen it!

Read more about the Holland America Cruise Line.
Read more about European Cruises.
Read more about Mediterranean Cruises.
Read more about Caribbean Cruises.