Holland America Ryndam Profile and Photo Tour
Overview
Holland America Line launched the Ryndam in 1994, and the cruise ship has served the company well for the past 20 years. I sailed a London to Barcelona itinerary on the Ryndam, and was pleasantly surprised how well maintained and classic the ship looks.
The 1,260-guest Ryndam is a sister ship to the Maasdam, Statendam, and Veendam, all of which were launched between 1992 and 1996. I sailed a "Voyage of the Vikings" transatlantic itinerary from Boston to Amsterdam on the Maasdam, and a Panama Canal voyage from Ft.
Lauderdale to San Diego on the Veendam. Since I had sailed on these two sister ships, the Ryndam felt very comfortable and familiar to me.
In the fall of 2015, the Ryndam and the Statendam will be transferred to one of Holland America's sister companies, P&O Cruises of Australia. This transfer will make room for Holland America's new ship the 2,460-guest MS Koningsdam, which launches in February 2016.
Those who love mid-sized, classic-looking ships have another year to enjoy and experience the Ryndam as a Holland America flagged vessel. The Ryndam's last voyage for Holland America is unique one--28 days from Venice to Sinagpore via the Suez Canal. The ship leaves Venice on October 3, 2015 and arrives in Singapore on October 31. This one may sell out quickly.
This 6-page tour of the Ryndam provides details on many of the ship's features, plus provides links to photos with more information on the ship.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Dining and Cuisine
The Holland America Ryndam has five diverse dining venues:
The Rotterdam is the Ryndam's main restaurant. It is located aft on decks 7 and 8 and is open for both fixed and open seating at dinner. Fixed seating is either at 5:45 or 8:00 pm, and open seating is from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. This relaxed dining venue also features breakfast ordered from a menu and served by the wait staff for those who don't like to eat at a buffet or have room service breakfast.
The Rotterdam features great views of the sea from some of the tables, while others provide a good look at the other diners and restaurant activity. The tables are well-spaced, and the service is excellent.
The Rotterdam dinner menu is interesting and varied. The meal starts with a selection of appetizers, followed by soups and salads, main dishes, and desserts. The menu changes daily, but guests can always order grilled salmon, steak, chicken, French onion soup. Caesar salad, or a baked potato if they are looking for a comfort food meal. The dining room also has theme dinners (like International) that make the menu even more inviting.
The Lido Buffet is aft on deck 11 and has indoor and outdoor seating. This buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is perfect for those looking for a casual meal. The selection is very good at all meals, with some dinner dishes the same as is found in the Rotterdam Dining Room.
I especially enjoyed the omelet and waffle stations at breakfast--two things I never get at home.
Being an ice cream fanatic, I had a scoop or two of the regular (not soft-serve) ice cream every day. I was very happy that it did not cost extra.
The Dive In Grill is next to the Lido Pool mid-ship on deck 11. This casual grill serves yummy hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and amazing French fries. It also has an excellent Mexican buffet each day where guests can make their own tacos, burritos, or taco salads. This grill can get busy, but a server takes your order and gives you a pager/buzzer that will go off when the meal is ready. This pager works in the Lido Buffet indoor dining area, so guests can order their burger and then go have a seat and eat an appetizer before the buzzer goes off.
Canaletto is the Ryndam's Italian restaurant and is located in a secluded section of the Lido Buffet on deck 11. It's only open at night and carries a small surcharge. The tasting menu is terrific and is perfect for sharing. For example, this beef and asparagus dish at Canaletto's was already sliced into six pieces for easy sharing. With about six appetizers and the same number of main courses, two or three couples can enjoy a taste of everything on the menu.
The Pinnacle Grill is the Ryndam's premium restaurant and requires an extra surcharge. It's menu focuses on Pacific Northwest grilled meats and seafood. The china, crystal, and table settings lend an elegance to the dinner, and the service is exceptional. Each course has a selection of items that guests will enjoy. At our dinner for 16 women, I think every item on the menu was tried by someone in the group. I especially enjoyed the steak tartare, Caesar salad, and the grilled halibut and Brussels sprouts.
The cellar master has an exclusive wine tasting dinner in the Pinnacle Grill one night on each voyage. Each course in the six-course tasting menu is paired with a premium wine.
On another night each voyage, the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into Le Cirque. Holland America partnered with the famous French restaurant in New York of the same name to develop a menu for its ships. The menu is French, and the meal is memorable. Four of us dined at Le Cirque and all tried the wine pairing and the different dishes. We were talking about the meal the whole next day and made some of the rest of our group wished they had paid the extra surcharge and joined us. The lamb and Chateaubriand beef were exceptional, and one of our group tried the Creme Brulee and was excited to see the recipe in the bottom of her dish.
Special Dinners
Although the Ryndam has a nice selection of dining options, the ship also has at least one special theme dinner each cruise. We had a Spanish buffet by the pool that featured Paella and grilled ribs and chicken, along with several Spanish side dishes.
Wine Packages
I enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, and Holland America has wine packages that are less expensive than buying wine by the glass or a bottle at a time. Guests can buy 7 bottles of wine from a nice selection of red and/or white. If you don't drink a bottle, the wine server can carry it over until the next night or you can take it to the cabin. Since the wine selection can be mixed, two guests can share a package and drink different wines. It's not difficult to drink 7 bottles in a week when two people are sharing.
Like some other cruise lines, Holland America guests can also buy a "Signature Beverage Package" with a drink card that allows them to have a fixed number of drinks (i.e. soft drinks, specialty coffees, beer, wine, cocktails, or mixed drinks) below a certain dollar threshold each day. (In 2014, the Holland America card was about $45/day and guests could have a maximum of 15 drinks/day, as long as each drink cost less than $7.) This drink card is a good deal for those who don't want to have to pay for every drink individually or who think they will spend more than $45 each day. Two catches to this package--it must be purchased for the entire duration of the voyage, and all adults over 21 in the same stateroom must purchase the package. Of course, the package can't be shared or transferred to another guest.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Cabins and Suites
The 633 cabins and suites on the Ryndam come in almost 30 different price categories in 8 different types, ranging from the 131 interior cabins with about 141-226 square feet up to the 1,273-square foot Pinnacle Suite. The ship also has oceanview cabins, balcony cabins, spa cabins, and three other types of suites.
Since the Ryndam is an older ship, it does not have mostly balcony cabins like Holland America's newer ships.
It does have about 350 cabins with an oceanview, but only about 150 with a balcony.
I stayed in an oceanview cabin on the London to Barcelona cruise on the Ryndam and found I didn't miss a balcony as much as I thought I would. The ship has marvelous classic wooden lounge chairs on the Promenade deck and plenty of other outdoor space to get some fresh air.
All of the cabins and suites have the following amenities:
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Bars, Lounges, and Entertainment
The Holland America Ryndam has several different lounges and bars, many of which feature some type of entertainment.
Starting at the top of the ship, the Crow's Nest forward on deck 12 has amazing seaviews, plus a large dance floor. In the late evening, the bar is transformed into a disco, but it's quiet in the daytime and a good place to read or nap.
The Lido Pool on deck 11 and the Seaview Pool on deck 10 both have outdoor bars where guests can get a drink and enjoy the sunshine.
Deck 8 is home to several different bars. Forward on the deck is the Ocean Bar, with nice views of the sea, a large dance floor, and live dance music in the evenings. Mix is actually three different bars--one for champagne, a second for martinis, and the third for spirits and ales. This third section has a guitar player who entertains in the early evening, and the martini bar transforms into a piano bar after dinner. The Explorer's Lounge has nice sea views like the Ocean Bar and has appetizers and wine specials before dinner. It also features a violinist/pianist combo each evening.
The Exploration Cafe on deck 8 is the ship's specialty coffee bar, library, and Internet center.
The Showroom at Sea on decks 7 and 8 is the Ryndam's main theater. The song and dance troupe perform several times during each cruise, and cabaret entertainers come onboard on the other nights. The Showroom usually has two shows each night, with three shows scheduled on other nights. Depending on the itinerary, special local entertainers come onboard the Ryndam.
We all loved the flamenco dancers who came onboard while the ship was docked in Cadiz.
The Wajang Theater on deck 7 is used for movies and as the Culinary Center. The Center's host led a variety of demonstrations in this center. Some were cooking demonstrations,while others focused on diverse topics like salt scrubs, regional foods, tea, or flower arranging. Some of the chefs participated, and the presentations were fun and interesting.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
The interior common areas of the Holland America Ryndam cruise ship are subdued and a mixture of traditional and contemporary styles. You won't find any neon lights or dazzle on the Ryndam. The atmosphere is quiet, with touches of elegance. Like her sister ships, the centerpiece of the three-deck Ryndam atrium is a contemporary piece of artwork. This piece is a huge fountain.
The theme of the ship is subtle, but features touches of Dutch exploration and culture.
Some of the displays are museum quality, especially those from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The bars and lounges and dining venues take up most of the interior common areas on the Ryndam. The casino and retail shops occupy much of the rest of the space on deck 8. The beautiful Greenhouse Spa and modern Fitness Center occupy much of the space on deck 11 forward and have nice views of the sea.
Overall, the Ryndam is a classic mid-sized ship whose appearance appeals to those who appreciate a quiet, elegant atmosphere rather than a high-intensity, Las Vegas environment.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
My personal favorite outdoor space on the Holland America Ryndam cruise ship is the wrap-around promenade deck seen in the photo above. This teak deck is a busy place, with lots of guests either walking the promenade for exercise or sitting in one of the wooden padded deck lounges.
The ship also has an outdoor Seaview Pool aft on deck 10 and an indoor pool with a retractable sliding roof on Lido deck 10.
Both pools have plenty of seating area with lounges and tables and chairs.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary cruise accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
Holland America Line launched the Ryndam in 1994, and the cruise ship has served the company well for the past 20 years. I sailed a London to Barcelona itinerary on the Ryndam, and was pleasantly surprised how well maintained and classic the ship looks.
The 1,260-guest Ryndam is a sister ship to the Maasdam, Statendam, and Veendam, all of which were launched between 1992 and 1996. I sailed a "Voyage of the Vikings" transatlantic itinerary from Boston to Amsterdam on the Maasdam, and a Panama Canal voyage from Ft.
Lauderdale to San Diego on the Veendam. Since I had sailed on these two sister ships, the Ryndam felt very comfortable and familiar to me.
In the fall of 2015, the Ryndam and the Statendam will be transferred to one of Holland America's sister companies, P&O Cruises of Australia. This transfer will make room for Holland America's new ship the 2,460-guest MS Koningsdam, which launches in February 2016.
Those who love mid-sized, classic-looking ships have another year to enjoy and experience the Ryndam as a Holland America flagged vessel. The Ryndam's last voyage for Holland America is unique one--28 days from Venice to Sinagpore via the Suez Canal. The ship leaves Venice on October 3, 2015 and arrives in Singapore on October 31. This one may sell out quickly.
This 6-page tour of the Ryndam provides details on many of the ship's features, plus provides links to photos with more information on the ship.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Dining and Cuisine
The Holland America Ryndam has five diverse dining venues:
- Rotterdam Dining Room
The Rotterdam is the Ryndam's main restaurant. It is located aft on decks 7 and 8 and is open for both fixed and open seating at dinner. Fixed seating is either at 5:45 or 8:00 pm, and open seating is from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. This relaxed dining venue also features breakfast ordered from a menu and served by the wait staff for those who don't like to eat at a buffet or have room service breakfast.
The Rotterdam features great views of the sea from some of the tables, while others provide a good look at the other diners and restaurant activity. The tables are well-spaced, and the service is excellent.
The Rotterdam dinner menu is interesting and varied. The meal starts with a selection of appetizers, followed by soups and salads, main dishes, and desserts. The menu changes daily, but guests can always order grilled salmon, steak, chicken, French onion soup. Caesar salad, or a baked potato if they are looking for a comfort food meal. The dining room also has theme dinners (like International) that make the menu even more inviting.
- Lido Buffet
The Lido Buffet is aft on deck 11 and has indoor and outdoor seating. This buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is perfect for those looking for a casual meal. The selection is very good at all meals, with some dinner dishes the same as is found in the Rotterdam Dining Room.
I especially enjoyed the omelet and waffle stations at breakfast--two things I never get at home.
Being an ice cream fanatic, I had a scoop or two of the regular (not soft-serve) ice cream every day. I was very happy that it did not cost extra.
- Dive In Grill
The Dive In Grill is next to the Lido Pool mid-ship on deck 11. This casual grill serves yummy hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and amazing French fries. It also has an excellent Mexican buffet each day where guests can make their own tacos, burritos, or taco salads. This grill can get busy, but a server takes your order and gives you a pager/buzzer that will go off when the meal is ready. This pager works in the Lido Buffet indoor dining area, so guests can order their burger and then go have a seat and eat an appetizer before the buzzer goes off.
- Canaletto
Canaletto is the Ryndam's Italian restaurant and is located in a secluded section of the Lido Buffet on deck 11. It's only open at night and carries a small surcharge. The tasting menu is terrific and is perfect for sharing. For example, this beef and asparagus dish at Canaletto's was already sliced into six pieces for easy sharing. With about six appetizers and the same number of main courses, two or three couples can enjoy a taste of everything on the menu.
- Pinnacle Grill
The Pinnacle Grill is the Ryndam's premium restaurant and requires an extra surcharge. It's menu focuses on Pacific Northwest grilled meats and seafood. The china, crystal, and table settings lend an elegance to the dinner, and the service is exceptional. Each course has a selection of items that guests will enjoy. At our dinner for 16 women, I think every item on the menu was tried by someone in the group. I especially enjoyed the steak tartare, Caesar salad, and the grilled halibut and Brussels sprouts.
The cellar master has an exclusive wine tasting dinner in the Pinnacle Grill one night on each voyage. Each course in the six-course tasting menu is paired with a premium wine.
On another night each voyage, the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into Le Cirque. Holland America partnered with the famous French restaurant in New York of the same name to develop a menu for its ships. The menu is French, and the meal is memorable. Four of us dined at Le Cirque and all tried the wine pairing and the different dishes. We were talking about the meal the whole next day and made some of the rest of our group wished they had paid the extra surcharge and joined us. The lamb and Chateaubriand beef were exceptional, and one of our group tried the Creme Brulee and was excited to see the recipe in the bottom of her dish.
Special Dinners
Although the Ryndam has a nice selection of dining options, the ship also has at least one special theme dinner each cruise. We had a Spanish buffet by the pool that featured Paella and grilled ribs and chicken, along with several Spanish side dishes.
Wine Packages
I enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, and Holland America has wine packages that are less expensive than buying wine by the glass or a bottle at a time. Guests can buy 7 bottles of wine from a nice selection of red and/or white. If you don't drink a bottle, the wine server can carry it over until the next night or you can take it to the cabin. Since the wine selection can be mixed, two guests can share a package and drink different wines. It's not difficult to drink 7 bottles in a week when two people are sharing.
Like some other cruise lines, Holland America guests can also buy a "Signature Beverage Package" with a drink card that allows them to have a fixed number of drinks (i.e. soft drinks, specialty coffees, beer, wine, cocktails, or mixed drinks) below a certain dollar threshold each day. (In 2014, the Holland America card was about $45/day and guests could have a maximum of 15 drinks/day, as long as each drink cost less than $7.) This drink card is a good deal for those who don't want to have to pay for every drink individually or who think they will spend more than $45 each day. Two catches to this package--it must be purchased for the entire duration of the voyage, and all adults over 21 in the same stateroom must purchase the package. Of course, the package can't be shared or transferred to another guest.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Cabins and Suites
The 633 cabins and suites on the Ryndam come in almost 30 different price categories in 8 different types, ranging from the 131 interior cabins with about 141-226 square feet up to the 1,273-square foot Pinnacle Suite. The ship also has oceanview cabins, balcony cabins, spa cabins, and three other types of suites.
Since the Ryndam is an older ship, it does not have mostly balcony cabins like Holland America's newer ships.
It does have about 350 cabins with an oceanview, but only about 150 with a balcony.
I stayed in an oceanview cabin on the London to Barcelona cruise on the Ryndam and found I didn't miss a balcony as much as I thought I would. The ship has marvelous classic wooden lounge chairs on the Promenade deck and plenty of other outdoor space to get some fresh air.
All of the cabins and suites have the following amenities:
- Daily housekeeping
- 100% Egyptian cotton towels
- Lighted magnifying mirrors; massage showerheads; salon-quality hair dryers
- Bathrobes for use during the voyage
- Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure
- Flat-panel TV and DVD player
- Access to the complimentary DVD library
- Closets, drawers, and shelf storage
- Safes
- Complimentary fresh fruit on request
- Complimentary 24-hour In-Room Dining
- Nightly turndown service
- Complimentary shoeshine service
- Complimentary ice service
More on the Holland America Ryndam
Bars, Lounges, and Entertainment
The Holland America Ryndam has several different lounges and bars, many of which feature some type of entertainment.
Starting at the top of the ship, the Crow's Nest forward on deck 12 has amazing seaviews, plus a large dance floor. In the late evening, the bar is transformed into a disco, but it's quiet in the daytime and a good place to read or nap.
The Lido Pool on deck 11 and the Seaview Pool on deck 10 both have outdoor bars where guests can get a drink and enjoy the sunshine.
Deck 8 is home to several different bars. Forward on the deck is the Ocean Bar, with nice views of the sea, a large dance floor, and live dance music in the evenings. Mix is actually three different bars--one for champagne, a second for martinis, and the third for spirits and ales. This third section has a guitar player who entertains in the early evening, and the martini bar transforms into a piano bar after dinner. The Explorer's Lounge has nice sea views like the Ocean Bar and has appetizers and wine specials before dinner. It also features a violinist/pianist combo each evening.
The Exploration Cafe on deck 8 is the ship's specialty coffee bar, library, and Internet center.
The Showroom at Sea on decks 7 and 8 is the Ryndam's main theater. The song and dance troupe perform several times during each cruise, and cabaret entertainers come onboard on the other nights. The Showroom usually has two shows each night, with three shows scheduled on other nights. Depending on the itinerary, special local entertainers come onboard the Ryndam.
We all loved the flamenco dancers who came onboard while the ship was docked in Cadiz.
The Wajang Theater on deck 7 is used for movies and as the Culinary Center. The Center's host led a variety of demonstrations in this center. Some were cooking demonstrations,while others focused on diverse topics like salt scrubs, regional foods, tea, or flower arranging. Some of the chefs participated, and the presentations were fun and interesting.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
The interior common areas of the Holland America Ryndam cruise ship are subdued and a mixture of traditional and contemporary styles. You won't find any neon lights or dazzle on the Ryndam. The atmosphere is quiet, with touches of elegance. Like her sister ships, the centerpiece of the three-deck Ryndam atrium is a contemporary piece of artwork. This piece is a huge fountain.
The theme of the ship is subtle, but features touches of Dutch exploration and culture.
Some of the displays are museum quality, especially those from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The bars and lounges and dining venues take up most of the interior common areas on the Ryndam. The casino and retail shops occupy much of the rest of the space on deck 8. The beautiful Greenhouse Spa and modern Fitness Center occupy much of the space on deck 11 forward and have nice views of the sea.
Overall, the Ryndam is a classic mid-sized ship whose appearance appeals to those who appreciate a quiet, elegant atmosphere rather than a high-intensity, Las Vegas environment.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
My personal favorite outdoor space on the Holland America Ryndam cruise ship is the wrap-around promenade deck seen in the photo above. This teak deck is a busy place, with lots of guests either walking the promenade for exercise or sitting in one of the wooden padded deck lounges.
The ship also has an outdoor Seaview Pool aft on deck 10 and an indoor pool with a retractable sliding roof on Lido deck 10.
Both pools have plenty of seating area with lounges and tables and chairs.
More on the Holland America Ryndam
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary cruise accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.
