Exploring the Orient with Holland America
Features Editor John Newton savours the delights of ms Volendam As cruising continues continues to be a tourism industry lifeline with phenomenal growth year-on-year, Holland America Line (HAL) is pulling out all the stops to retain its status as one of the world's top cruise lines. HAL has been taking high seas travellers to historic and exotic destinations around the world for more than 140 years. And it's adding to its fleet of mid-sized ocean liners with two new ships on order – Nieuw Statendam in November next year and a to-be-named liner in 2021. But seasoned grand old ladies like ms Volendam - ideal for mature travellers looking for top notch on board activities and relaxing coffee lounges - will continue to play a major role in HAL's cruise operations. The 18 year-old, much-loved ship is scheduled for a facelift later this year and at 61,000 tonnes is a “perfect size” for Asian ports, where she can dock close to city centres, such as on the busy Huang Pu River in Shanghai, while bigger ships are forced to drop anchor further afield. Like all HAL's Italian-built ships, Volendam is a sophisticated cruising experience with many attributes. Dining, entertainment and a well-drilled crew top the bill. While the casino, bingo and trivia quiz sessions have their followers, new innovative programmes – like the top-rating US TV show, America's Test Kitchen – are wooing Volendam cruisers, who clamour to learn how to make pasta in a food processor and how to roll it with a hand-cranked machine. Afterwards, they can enjoy a sample of their newly-created cooking skills, such as wild mushroom ravioli with brown butter sauce. Simple and delicious. So, too, the amazing a la carte lunches and dinners from the chefs in the galley, where 6000 meals are produced every day for the fining dining restaurant, Pinnacle Grill, the main dining room - Rotterdam - Italian Canaletto restaurant and the re-branded Lido Market buffet restaurant. “America's Test Kitchen (ATK) offers a science-based approach and tested recipes for foolproof cooking. Cruise travellers go home with skills,” said Jerrol Golden, HAL's deputy director, international public relations. “ATK will be rolled out to all ships by September this year. Currently, it's on board Westerdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Oosterdam and Volendam. Also new for HAL in 2017 is BBC programming featuring film presentations, five multimedia shows and children's activities, while a live concert - Frozen Planet – has been specially created for HAL, based on the BBC's 'Blue Planet' program that takes passengers on a journey across oceans and landscapes to extreme conditions. With its headquarters in Seattle and support offices in Sydney, Rotterdam and Southampton, HAL is always on the look-out for premium products with touches of luxury, according to Jerrol Golden. And destinations in Asia, like Shanghai, are backing cruise operators to the hilt. “They want the cruise ship business,” said Golden. And HAL is banking on cruisers, too, to boost its Asia cruises to China, Korea and Japan. While the weather can put a dampener on any cruise, HAL's Volendam – and its superb crew of ever-smiling waiters, ever-helpful stateroom attendants and polished entertainers - more than made up for it on board. It was as good as it gets. See John’s review of the Ports-of-Call For details on HAL's 2017 and 2018 world cruises, go to: http://www.hollandamerica.com/ or emai linfo@hollandamerica.com |
America's Test Kitchen
Crows Nest
Balcony Stateroom
Exotic Delights
Pinnacle
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It'll cost you a little bit more, but an elegant evening at Volendam's fine dining Pinnacle Restaurant is a 'must do'.
The mouth-watering menu is topped by the 'President's Cut'.
Holland America Line's president, Orlando Ashford, has hand-picked a signature cut of steak – a 36-ounce bone-in rib eye, which is claimed takes indulgence to a new level.
It's more than enough for one and comes from the Double R Ranch in Washington State, which is recognised as the premier beef brand in the US north-west.
Other non-beef highlights on the Pinnacles menu are:
• Broiled Alaskan king salmon
• Steamed Alaskan king crab legs and
• Cedar planked halibut with shrimp scampi
HAL offers dining packages giving passengers the opportunity to test their taste buds at the specialty restaurants (Pinnacles and Canaletto) on multiple nights.
On board 'location guides' on Volendam – were key to passengers getting to know the cities they were planning to visit before they ventured off the ship. Passengers, who planned to go-it-alone instead of taking booked excursions from the ship - could ask the guides anything they wanted to know about the ports of call. One 'location' meeting was called 'The aesthetics of the Japanese tea ceremony'.
Volendam wine packages allow passengers to a pre-determined number of wines, with savings of up to 25 per cent. The 'Navigator's Choice' is priced at US$89 for three bottles, while the US$149 for five and US$199 for seven. The more premium 'Admiral's Choice' costs US$119 for three bottles, US$199 for five and US$269 for seven.
The mouth-watering menu is topped by the 'President's Cut'.
Holland America Line's president, Orlando Ashford, has hand-picked a signature cut of steak – a 36-ounce bone-in rib eye, which is claimed takes indulgence to a new level.
It's more than enough for one and comes from the Double R Ranch in Washington State, which is recognised as the premier beef brand in the US north-west.
Other non-beef highlights on the Pinnacles menu are:
• Broiled Alaskan king salmon
• Steamed Alaskan king crab legs and
• Cedar planked halibut with shrimp scampi
HAL offers dining packages giving passengers the opportunity to test their taste buds at the specialty restaurants (Pinnacles and Canaletto) on multiple nights.
On board 'location guides' on Volendam – were key to passengers getting to know the cities they were planning to visit before they ventured off the ship. Passengers, who planned to go-it-alone instead of taking booked excursions from the ship - could ask the guides anything they wanted to know about the ports of call. One 'location' meeting was called 'The aesthetics of the Japanese tea ceremony'.
Volendam wine packages allow passengers to a pre-determined number of wines, with savings of up to 25 per cent. The 'Navigator's Choice' is priced at US$89 for three bottles, while the US$149 for five and US$199 for seven. The more premium 'Admiral's Choice' costs US$119 for three bottles, US$199 for five and US$269 for seven.