The Prinsendam is Holland America Lines (HAL for short) most intimate and smallest ship. Because of her size she is able to go beyond the larger ships into much smaller ports and destinations. She is also the oldest HAL ship and in a class by herself.
The Prinsendam is affectionally known as the "Elegant Explorer".
She is the only HAL ship not built by HAL. She was built in 1988 and originally named the Royal Viking Sun then later the Seabourn Sun. HAL accuiried the ship in 2002 and a major upgrade
was done in 2007. She carries 835 passengers and approximately 440 crew members.
The Prinsendam has lots of public areas in which you may find people reading, relaxing, playing cards or putting together puzzels. Then of course you may take cooking classes,
go to wine tasteing, take in a recently released movie (popcorn included), take Digetal Workshops, Yoga, Pilate classes and numerous gym equipment to work out on. So on a cruise you may be as physicaly active as you want or just sit on your belcony and watch
the fish swim by.
If I can't find Bob I'll go look for him at the Crows Nest Lounge. I think that is his favorite place to be. Lot's of passengers seek out a nice comfortable chair up here to read or just to watch the world float by. It's also not uncommon
to hear a snore or two from time to time as it is very mesmerizing watching the waves and birds when there is land nearby. The Crows nest is just above the Bridge so we see everything the Captain see's as he sails the ship.
There are certainly other
Lounges and Bars which are nice and spacious and are great places to meet and relax as well. The Explores Lounge, the Ocean Bar,the Oak Room, the Java Bar & Cafe as well as the Explorations Cafe. the Neptune Lounge for Suite passengers. There is the
Wajang Theater and Cullinary Arts Center, the Showroom at Sea and the Greenhouse Spa & Salon. So as you can see there are lots of public spaces to enjoy and you don't just have to stay in your stateroom.
In our stateroom we will have a King
Size bed which can be made into 2 singles. A walk-in closet. full bathroom with tub and shower. A desk, a flat screen TV where we can also watch DVD's from. a small coffee table 2 chairs and a couch. We also have a small deck with 2 wicker chairs and
a small table. At our sail-away from Fort Lauderdale we will be all on our deck, midship, holding our Canadian Flag and waving to all on shore. You may also watch us leave from Port Everglades on their Web Cam, where I have requested a wave, at 6:00pm Atlantic
Standard Time. 5:00pm Eastern Time. If you watch on your computer be sure to see us waving our flag.
There are 3 dining rooms on the Prinsendam. The La Fontain Dining Room, the Lido Dining Room which is Buffet style, and the Pinnacle Grill which is
a speciality Restaurant and requires a fee. The main Dining Room and Pinnacle Grill are set times for dining; but at the Lido you can eat from very early in the morning to very late at night for a cup of hot green tea before retiring. And some times a
warm chocolate chip cookie, yum! Then of course there is always at least one or two looking for an ice cream cone,or pizza before bed.
There are two pools on board, a lap pool on the aft deck of the Upper Promenade Deck, where our cabin is mid
ship, so we will have only a short walk to it. and then another mid ship on the Lido deck. There are also Basketball and Croquet Courts.
A small Casino to give your money a "chance", oop's I meant "away". They have puzzels, suduko, dominos, cards,
trivia games and other games as well. Oh. I'm getting tired with all there is to do. That's what I like about cruising, besides going to see different Ports. Countries and their culture. You can relax or be as busy as a Bee while aboard ship.
Another great thing about HAL on the Lower Promenade deck on all their ships you can walk fully around the ship for your exercise or to sit on deck and watch everyone else. One trip completly around the Prinsendam's deck is a quarter of a mile. I wonder
just how many miles I'll make it walking around. Well if it's miles I might be crawling. It is a very comfortable walk, as the deck is all teak wood.
I'll try to write daily while aboard ship but there may be times when we are not within satalite coverage,
it's not like on land. On board ship they rely on those satalites in the sky.