The Eurodam’s Crow’s Nest Lounge has books, puzzles and board games available. It’s a nice place to enjoy a cocktail before dinner, but it’s crowded during the daytime.
Our family took a 7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise aboard Holland America's Eurodam.
Holland America's reputation for having excellent onboard entertainment is deserved. Indeed, we loved the music, magic and comedy acts aboard the Eurodam.
Nevertheless, we wish the Eurodam spent more time emphasizing Alaska's natural wonders and less time pushing shopping-related activities. (We counted 210 product- or service-related events on the ship's weeklong schedule!)
Here is a guide to the various things to do aboard the MS Eurodam. We hope it helps you decide whether a Holland America cruise to Alaska is a good choice for your family.
Whale Watching
The Tamarind Bar (on Deck 11) might be the best whale-watching spot on the Eurodam. Unlike the crowded Crow’s Nest, the Tamarind Bar is empty during the day and has a similar view.
Looking for wildlife at sea is like watching a meteor shower: A lot of time is spent waiting. When something does happen, it may not happen in front of you. There is also a fear of missing out.
For the first two days of our cruise, we couldn't go near a window without someone telling us "You just missed the most amazing thing." It was frustrating.
Thankfully, we spotted a humpback whale breaching in the waters outside of Victoria. We also saw a pod of seven orcas (i.e. killer whales) swim past our balcony.
Here is our advice for whale and wildlife watching aboard the Eurodam:
Leave small kids in Club HAL. Whale watching requires a lot of patience.
Don't expect close-up views. To the naked eye, a distant whale can look the same as a bird or a sea lion. It's important to pack a good pair of binoculars.
Go to the Tamarind Bar, especially when it is closed. The Crow's Nest gets crowded quickly because it has sweeping views from atop the ship. Meanwhile, the Tamarind Bar has a similar view and remains empty for most of the day.
Don't rely on announcements from the bridge. The officers in the bridge only announced a whale sighting once during our cruise. (This was disappointing.)
Avoid cabanas and private viewing areas. The Eurodam is littered with sunbathing cabanas that clog the decks and obstruct the view of other passengers. These cabanas don't make sense on a sightseeing cruise (even if you're inside of one).
Walking the Deck
The Deck 3 Promenade was rarely crowded. It’s a great place to relax or watch coastal scenery.
The Eurodam's Promenade on Deck 3 gives passengers the opportunity to walk 360-degrees around the ship: Three laps equals one mile.
Deck 3 also hosts "On Deck for a Cause," a charitable 5K fundraising walk that supports cancer organizations. Contributions are tax deductible.
Mainstage Entertainment
The Mainstage is used for live performances, lectures and screenings. Arrive early for good seats.
The Eurodam's Mainstage encompasses Decks 1, 2 and 3. It's a large venue that hosts a variety of live and pre-recorded entertainment, including:
Movie screenings;
BBC's "Wild Alaska";
Educational lectures;
Dance performances;
Magic by Joseph Réohm;
Comedy by David Crowe; and
A show performed by the Eurodam crew.
Joseph Réohm's blend of comedy and magic was entertaining. The illusionist also hosted a fun workshop in which he taught passengers a magic trick.
David Crowe, the onboard comedian, is a funny, down-to-Earth guy. He gave us wildlife spotting tips when we bumped into him on deck.
Vince Ricco, the Eurodam's cruise director, hosts several "EXC Talks" on the Mainstage. These educational lectures are similar to a TED talk. Young children might get bored.
The Mainstage also doubles as a movie theater (with a great sound system). We enjoyed a screening of BBC's "Wild Alaska" that was scored to classical music.
Many of the Mainstage's seats have an obstructed view (especially in the balconies), so it's important to arrive early for evening shows. Consider taking motion sickness medicine: The stage is at the bow of the ship and it sways in rough water.
Live Music
Billboard Onboard is an upbeat music lounge adjacent to the Eurodam’s Gallery Bar and casino.
The Eurodam has three live-music venues:
B.B. King's Blues Club - This is the largest music venue on the Eurodam. On most nights, "B.B. King's All Stars" play three sets of R&B favorites. It's a high-energy show.
Lincoln Center Stage - This narrow venue hosts a string quartet, accompanied by a pianist. We especially liked when these classically-trained musicians performed the themes from Jaws, Psycho, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and other famous films.
Billboard Onboard - These "dueling pianos" are adjacent to the Gallery Bar. The singing pianists played an eclectic mix of songs, from '60s classics to Top 100 hits. We liked the concept, but some of the songs tested the singers' vocal ranges.
During the day, these same venues host trivia, classes and "gameshows."
Dancing
There isn't much dancing aboard the Eurodam despite all the live music. The dance floor in B.B. King's Blues Club opens nightly at 11:30 p.m.
Afternoon Tea
The Eurodam’s dining room hosts afternoon tea at 3.p.m. Private tables may be requested.
The dining room hosts afternoon tea at 3 p.m.
The Maître D' liked grouping passengers together, leaving them to awkwardly decide which one-of-a-kind finger sandwich (or petits fours to take). We suggest asking for a private table.
Fitness Center
The Eurodam's Deck 9 fitness center includes stationary bikes, treadmills, cardiovascular machines and free weights. The gym also hosts presentations like "Secrets to a Flatter Stomach." (We caught the tail-end of a presentation; it seemed like an infomercial to us.)
The ship's jogging track and basketball courts are located on Deck 11.
Pools
The Eurodam has two pools, but this is not the ship for peaceful swimming.
The outdoor pool is heated, but not inviting in cold, windy weather. Meanwhile, the indoor pool (beneath a retractable ceiling) was mobbed with unruly children. It was mayhem, daily.
America's Test Kitchen
The Eurodam hosts live cooking demonstrations in the same space as B.B. King's Blues Club. From a passerby's perspective, these shows looked professional and well attended.
Parties and Meetups
The Bon Voyage Sailaway party was a bust. Complimentary drinks would have been a nice touch.
We were disappointed by the Bon Voyage Sailaway party on the Lido Deck.
The Eurodam pushed-off 45 minutes later than the scheduled time. Hors d'oeuvres were scarce. There were no free drinks, just long lines at the bar. In hindsight, the Deck 3 Promenade is the best place to watch the Seattle skyline disappear into the horizon.
The ship also hosts a Dutch-themed "Orange Party" and various meetups for singles, solo travelers, LGBTQ passengers, military and friends of Bill W.
Classes
The staff in the Photo Shop teach daily photography workshops. There are also Microsoft-branded digital workshops that (surprise!) revolve around Microsoft products.
A line-dancing class and flower arranging workshop are held once per week.
Religious Observances
Catholic Mass is offered daily. An interdenominational service is conducted on Sunday and a Shabbat gathering is held on Friday.
Meteor Showers and Northern Lights
Awake after midnight? Alaska is one of the best places to see the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs annually between July and August.
The Northern Lights are a winter phenomena. That said, there is a small chance of seeing aurora borealis on Alaskan cruises in April, August and September.
Paid Activities and Entertainment
Casino
The Eurodam’s casino is small and tasteful. It was often empty during the day.
The Eurodam has a small casino that includes card tables, slot machines and video games. The casino also hosts lottery drawings and Texas Hold'em (cash games and tournaments).
Bingo tournaments are held in the lounge beside the casino.
Greenhouse Spa
The Eurodam's spa advertises hydro pools, thermal suites, acupuncture, detoxification and ambiguous services like "Lose Up to 8 Inches in One Session." We didn't visit the spa.
Shopping
The shops aboard the Eurodam are similar to the duty-free stores at an airport.
The Eurodam has a collection of shops that sell jewelry, alcohol, cigarettes, clothing and souvenirs. These shops are reminiscent of the duty-free stores that you'd find in an airport.
Food and Drink
There are several beer, wine and liquor tastings aboard the Eurodam, including:
Martini Sampling ($15.00);
Sommelier Suite Wine Tasting ($19.95);
Alaskan Beer Tasting ($15.95);
Sip and Savor: Wine & Appetizer Pairing ($5.00);
Bartender's Choice: Sake Tasting ($19.95);
Bartender's Choice: Single Malt Tasting ($19.95);
Wines of the World Tasting ($25.00);
Cocktail Mixology ($15.00);
Bartender's Choice: Cognac Tasting ($19.95);
Eurodam's Bar Hop ($22.00); and
Premium Wine Tasting ($39.00).
We didn't partake in these tastings, partly on principle (we didn't like the constant sales pressure on the ship), but also because the events didn't inspire us.
