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On a dreary day punctuated with rain earlier this week, I had the opportunity to step aboard and tour Holland America Line‘s bright and vibrant Volendam during her turnaround call at Port Metro Vancouver’s Canada Place cruise ship terminal.
Holland America Line’s Volendam docked at Canada Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
A derivative of the line’s highly-successful Statendam-class ships, Volendam is a direct sister to the 2000-built Zaandam, and a near-sister to Holland America’s globetrotting Amsterdam and Rotterdam. If you’ve sailed aboard any of these ships before, you’ll feel right at home on Volendam; her deck plan nearly mirrors that of her sisters. In fact, that’s one of the greatest things I love about Holland America Line ships: they all boast a very similar deck arrangement and layout, but with a decor, style and color palette that is uniquely their own.
Bright, bold, beautiful: the interior design of Holland America’s MS Volendam. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Although she first entered service in 1999, you’d never know it by stepping onboard: the intervening years and refits have been kind to this comfortable ship, and her dedicated crew keeps her absolutely spotless.
Grab a book and a drink and enjoy the views from the Crow’s Nest Lounge, forward on Sports Deck 9. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
She’s also the ideal ship to sail aboard to Alaska: her interiors are bright and colourful, and full-size windows flank nearly every public room. Like almost all Holland America ships, she also has a retractable magrodome cover above her Lido Deck midships pool that can be opened or closed for all weather conditions.
The midships Lido Pool features a retractable “magrodome” roof that can open or close depending on weather conditions. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Here are a few images of Volendam, taken from our comprehensive, Deck-by-Deck Photo Tour coming soon here on From the Deck Chair!
The Piano Bar, located amidships on the starboard side of Upper Promenade Deck 5. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Take in a cooking class at the Culinary Arts Centre, tucked away next to the Wine Bar on Promenade Deck 4. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Volendam’s colour palette is distinctly her own. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
At the heart of the ship: her space-age atrium sculpture is one of the most futuristic of any Holland America Line ship. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
The Crow’s Nest, perched high atop the ship, offers a variety of cozy seating options, or even a full-size dance floor. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Funky retro lighting lines the Lido Restaurant, aft on Lido Deck. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Volendam’s dedicated Wine Bar, on Promenade Deck 4 just aft of Reception. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Volendam’s aft elevator bank. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
A Holland America staple: the Explorer’s Lounge. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Enjoy the ultimate relaxation in the Greenhouse Spa, forward on Lido Deck. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Our full Photo Tour of Holland America’s Volendam is coming next week! Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
From the Deck Chair will return Monday, June 18th!
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