Public Areas & Facilities

Alongside her newer fleetmates, Prinsendam appears positively diminutive. Launched in 1988 and originally christened Royal Viking Sun for the now-defunct Royal Viking Line, the luxury ship subsequently sailed as Seabourn Cruise Line's Seabourn Sun before joining Holland America Line in 2002. Extensive renovations added signature Holland America Line features to the boutique-style Prinsendam. Artwork, antiques, and Signature of Excellence elements such as a Culinary Arts Center and upgraded cabin amenities have now made their way onboard.

Originally designed for lengthy worldwide cruising, Holland America has dubbed Prinsendam the "Elegant Explorer" and filled her interiors with classic and comfortable public rooms. The nautically appointed Ocean Bar and Explorer's Lounge are favorite gathering spots for pre-dinner drinks, live music, and dancing. A traditional 360-degree promenade deck floored in teak and lined with cushioned deck chairs encircles Lower Promenade Deck.

Restaurants

The formal dining room has two set dinner seatings with assigned tables. Alternatives are Pinnacle Grill, the elegant specialty restaurant, and the casual Lido Restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The Lido buffet and poolside grill also serve breakfast and lunch and the dining room offers open seating for those meals. Afternoon tea is a daily event and room service is available around the clock.

What Works & What Doesn't

Longer itineraries to far-flung destinations attract older passengers with enough time and disposable income for extended travel. As a result, you will usually find very few children aboard Prinsendam. A supervised Club HAL children's program is offered on most sailings, but this isn't the best ship for families. Unfortunately, the ship's library is quite small and doesn't incorporate the popular Explorations Café concept in the rest of the fleet. Fortunately, there is the nearby Java Bar for coffee and quiet alcoves for reading in the adjacent Explorer's Lounge and Oak Room.

Accommodations

Layout: Staterooms are spacious, but not all accommodations within each category have identical furniture placement, and room amenities can vary. There are only a handful of inside cabins, but a mere 38% of the outside cabins and suites have private balconies. Every stateroom has adequate storage space for long cruises, and most have walk-in closets. Some cabins near the bow have portholes instead of large windows. For all these reasons, cabin selection must be made carefully on Prinsendam; fortunately, the ship's deck plan is very detailed.

Amenities: All staterooms and suites are appointed with Euro-top mattresses, 250-thread-count cotton bed linens, magnifying lighted mirrors, hair dryers, a fruit basket, flat-panel TVs, and DVD players. Bathroom extras include Egyptian cotton towels, shampoo, body lotion, and bath gel, plus bathrobes to use during the cruise. Balcony cabins also have refrigerators.

Suites: Suites have duvets on beds, a stocked minibar, and personalized stationary. Suite occupants also have the use of the private Neptune Lounge, concierge service, pre-dinner canapés upon request, binoculars and umbrellas for use during the cruise, an invitation to a VIP party with the captain, and complimentary laundry, pressing, and dry-cleaning service. The Penthouse Verandah Suite has an ocean-view whirlpool bathtub and separate shower.

Good to Know: Connecting cabins are available in a range of categories. Eight staterooms are wheelchair accessible.

Category	Size (square feet)
Penthouse Suite	577
Verandah Suites	251-391
Deluxe Verandah Outside	177-187
Ocean View	181-191
Inside	128-138

Favorites

Smoke on the Water: One of the most charming places at sea to smoke cigars and enjoy an after-dinner brandy or port is Prinsendam's Oak Room with its clubby atmosphere and faux fireplace.

Best Place to See the Sea: We like to see where we are going, so we love the view from the Crow's Nest observation lounge, a Holland America trademark. Any of the outside forward-facing decks provides a tempting spot to watch the horizon.

Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: For quiet conversation with a little night music in the background, we head for the Ocean Bar or Explorer's Lounge.

Just Fore Golfers: Bring your game up a notch and hone your strokes between courses in port. Prinsendam is the only ship in the Holland America fleet with a golf simulator.

Best Place to Get Wet: Ten staterooms aft of the public rooms on Promenade Deck are just steps from a nearly-private hot tub with a view of the ship's wake.