CRUISING’s fabulous era of elegance is being
celebrated and orchestrated on a regular basis
by the Holland America Line, with Cruise
Weekly recently treated to a sampling of the
opulence on a four-day sailing from New
Zealand to Sydney aboard the MS Oosterdam.
HAL make no secret, nor should they, that
their crew is like a family, with every member
from the captain, to cooks and cleaners rightly
celebrated at the end of every voyage as they
farewell passengers, many of whom have
become personal friends in their own right.
While oozing sophistication and charm
throughout its ten decks, at no point on the
vessel does it ever feel crowded or squashed.
Dining options abound, with many operated
in a regular rotation in order to maintain a
varied menu, while in-room dining is also an
option throughout.
Oosterdam’s culinary prowess is demonstrated
on a nightly basis, with many local ingredients
sourced and prepared into wondrous creations,
and more than 12,000 meals daily overseen by
Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s careful eye.
During the voyage, a stop was made at the
peaceful Bay of Islands region, with a shore
excursion to the Kawiti glow-worm caves and
nearby North Mission House, one of the oldest
homes in NZ and a pivotal scene to the signing of
documents founding the nation of New Zealand.
Oosterdam Hotel Manager Robert Versteeg
(pictured below) has near seen it all in his years
on the high seas, and admires the personal
relationships formed with his crew and the
quirks of some of his passengers.
Versteeg referred to an example where a
guest on a long voyage chose to modify his
stateroom somewhat to give it a more homely
touch, moving his couch onto the balcony and
building a makeshift bar in the vacant space.
Onboard entertainment is never far away, from
informative lectures about historical figures
relevant to destinations being visited, to glitzy
musical performances, workshops useful in
everyday life to the just plain creative such as
lesson in how to make animal shapes out of
ordinary towels.
Captain Henk Draper told CW during the
voyage that he believes HAL has a unique place
in the market, aimed at those seeking a more
relaxed cruising style, adaptable to suit every
taste and delivering that classic atmosphere of
cruising’s bygone era of charm and pure class.
