holland america cruises to norway

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What our Holland America Norway cruise on the Rotterdam was like

Tom and I just got back from spending a week in Norway aboard Holland America Line’s newest ship, the Rotterdam. Let me say upfront that Norway is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited and I’m so grateful for our time there. Lush, clean, and with landscapes that look like something out of a fairytale, Norway is one of those places I’ll remember forever. The cruising experience with Holland America was the perfect way to see Norway, so let’s get to it.

Holland America Norway cruise on Rotterdam

Norway is a picture-perfect destination in and of itself, but if you’re a winter lover like me and hate high summer temps, Norway is THE best place you can visit in the summer months. Mild, even cool temps, mean you’ll be comfortable. 

Seeing the country on a Holland America Norway cruise is a really fun way to do it because you get to move around and visit several ports while also having the perfect vantage point for all the beautiful scenery. But we’ll get to all of that.

First, let me tell you where we went on the Holland America Rotterdam…

Flam, Norway. As seen from our verandah.

Holland America Norway cruise itinerary

The Norway cruise we took was the Viking Sagas cruise on Holland America’s newest ship, the Rotterdam in July 2022. The cruise was scheduled to be a roundtrip in and out of Amsterdam, but due to an issue with the canal, we were informed we’d be leaving from Rotterdam.

It was about an hour bus ride from the Amsterdam airport and Holland America provides coach bus service right to the pier, so easy peasy.

Our home for the week. Holland America Rotterdam

Day 1: Depart Rotterdam Day 2: At sea Day 3: Eidfjord Day 4: Flam Day 5: Kristiansand Day 6: Oslo Day 7: At Sea Day 8: Arrive Rotterdam

I’d say the majority of the passengers were Dutch on this cruise which makes sense since it was based out of the Netherlands. Americans came in second. The small remainder were a mix of different nationalities. We didn’t hear much French or Spanish at all. Ship announcements were done in English and Dutch and all employees spoke English, with many speaking Dutch as well.

This is the Voringsfossen Waterfall, Norway’s 83rd highest.

Temps in late July ranged, but the high was in Oslo where it hit the low 70s F. The low was definitely up visiting the fjords in Eidfjord at 830 meters above sea level. It was only in the mid 40s F. Yes, in July! I loved it. Days at sea were breezy and sometimes cool. No complaints here!

In addition to the port stops, several days featured scenic cruising in and around the port just after leaving. The fjords and small towns were some of the most stunning I’ve ever seen. The vantage point from a ship was like no other and for a destination like Norway, I can’t recommend cruising enough. Seeing Norway’s landscapes felt surreal. It was such a change from the fried grass and droughts in my area of France.

Everything in Norway was lush and thriving. I even made myself blink twice and take off my polarized sunglasses just to check if what I was seeing really looked like that. It did!

One great thing about the port stops on our Holland America Norway cruise was that you could walk right off the ship and into town. Unlike some Mediterranean cruise ports like Marseille where you’re docked in an industrial area and have to take a shuttle or taxi to get into town, the Norwegian ports were right where you wanted to be.

In Oslo, it was a short walk from the ship to the heart of the downtown area. The other smaller ports were quaint little towns that you literally walk into when you get off the ship. The fact that we were so central was a major plus! Even if you didn’t do an excursion, you could spend the day on your own without much planning.

At each port, Holland America offers a selection of excursions that you can book ahead of time or once you get on the ship. They have everything from relaxed bus tours to more strenuous activities like kayaking and hiking. There’s something for every type of traveler. If there’s an excursion you have your heart set on doing, definitely book as far in advance as possible so you get a spot.

Holland America Rotterdam review

Holland America has been cruising for nearly 145 years and the Rotterdam set sail last fall. As you’d expect for their newest Pinnacle-class ship, everything was gorgeous and upscale. Home to a max passenger load of about 2,600 and 984 feet long, the Rotterdam is a comfortable size and you’ll get to know the mid-size ship after just a day or two.

I appreciated that the deck plans were clearly marked next to each elevator bank so you knew which direction to head without any confusion. I loved all the special touches including the artwork in each staircase, which ranged from record cutouts featuring the faces of famous musicians to a knitted piece depicting traditional Dutch apartment exteriors, shown above.

It was all so thoughtful and well done. Sometimes I took the stairs just to marvel at the art aboard the Rotterdam!

There were several pools and jacuzzi areas on the Rotterdam although I didn’t even wear my swimsuit once on our cruise. It was a bit cool and I kept busy doing other things. Many people did take advantage of the pools, especially under the solarium area where it was a comfortable temperature and decked out with lounge chairs and other areas to relax. Tom loved the ping pong tables overlooking the pool here so we made sure to get a few rounds in each day.

The decor throughout the ship is tasteful with a somewhat subdued color palette. Everything felt calming and high-end.

Our verandah cabin for the week.

Our Holland America Rotterdam cabin

No Holland America Rotterdam review would be complete without a cabin review, so here it is. We had stateroom 6103 on Deck 6, which is called the Mozart Deck. Holland America calls them Verandah Staterooms and ours was midship. 

When you walk in, the bathroom is directly to your left with storage closets and drawers to your right, and the bed is just after that to the left with a TV opposite it. Then just before the verandah door that opens to the outside, you have a couch to your left with a small table as well as a desk with drawers and a mirror to your right.

The room feels comfortable for two people at about 300 square feet. There was more than adequate storage both under the bed for our luggage and the closets and drawers for clothes. There were a bunch of hangers and a drawers we didn’t even use, so I’d give the closet space a big thumbs up.

The bathroom highlight for me was the glass-doored shower. It came stocked with Elemis shampoo, conditioner, and body wash and the water pressure from the detachable showerhead was top notch.

Next to the vanity, there were some shelves for toiletries, but I like to bring a back of the door organizer so I don’t have to go digging around in my toiletry bag for all my lotions and potions. Also, I found the towels to be nice and big and quite thick.

Moving onto the next part of the cabin, each bedside table had its own light and set of drawers, as well as a plug and USB outlet for easy charging. The desk was on the smaller side but a perfect fit for a room service tray or computer. And let me not forget the bed.

I am picky about beds, let me say that upfront. I HATE firm mattresses and generally hate hotel beds. I am happy to report that the Rotterdam bed and pillows were fabulous. Our bed was actually two smaller ones put together (though you wouldn’t know it) and they were NOT as hard as a board.

The pillows were luxurious and fluffy and I slept so well. I know bedding is subjective but let me say that if you hate firm mattresses, you won’t be disappointed. It didn’t feel too soft either, but it was just right. Wow, I sound like Goldilocks. Sorry. But really, I loved the pillows and bed.

OH, and the robe. Let me not forget that. Our room had two robes to use while on board (that you could buy if you wanted to as well) and I took full advantage one morning when we got room service for breakfast.

Enjoying my morning coffee with a view.

The best part of the cabin was the verandah (sorry bed, you come in second) because when you’re in Norway, the views are everything! Even on sea days, I enjoyed sitting out there (sometimes with a blanket) and taking it all in with coffee or wine, a book, or just my thoughts.

There were two chairs and a small table and the chairs had a separate foot rest piece so you could put your feet up or slide it under the chair out of sight if you didn’t want to use it.

This is a look at the two-level main dining room on Decks 2-3.

Holland America Rotterdam dining

You have a bunch of dining options aboard Rotterdam, many of which are included in your cruise fare. First up is the buffet on Deck 9. You can eat there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and we loved it. Dinner included a roasting station with turkey or prime rib, a salad bar, a “Distant Lands” selection like Chinese stir-fry, comfort food like lasagna and mac and cheese, a full dessert spread of cookies, individual pie or mousse and ice cream and so much more. I’m really just scratching the surface here.

Also included is the main dining room at the rear of the ship on Decks 2-3, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s open seating so you don’t have an assigned table or time. You can eat dinner whenever you want and aren’t required to come at the same time or to the same table each night.

My main dining room dinner. Delicious steak and shrimp!

We ate at a table for two and just walked in each night although you could also make a reservation for a specific time. I recommend you do that to avoid the line of people waiting to be seated without a reservation. One night we did end up waiting about 15 minutes for a table, so if timing is important to you or you have a bigger party, definitely make a reservation.

You can do that (and all kinds of other things like book excursions, view your photos taken on the ship, check your statement, and so much more) via the Holland America Navigator app, so be sure to download that before your trip.

For each meal aboard the Rotterdam, you are given a paper menu that has a selection of appetizers, main courses, and desserts — about 5 or 6 of each — plus a suggested wine list (wine is at an additional charge if you don’t have a drink package).

TIP : If you’re cruising at peak times like during the summer months on a Holland America Norway cruise, avoid the breakfast buffet from 8:30-10am. Opt for the complimentary room service or head to the main dining room on days when your breakfast timing falls in that range. It can get really busy and it’s hard to get a table in the buffet area at that time.

Beyond the buffet and main dining room, you have two other complimentary meal options that lean on the more casual side. The Dive-In that has burgers and hotdogs which were excellent and the NY Deli & Pizza where you can get sandwiches, salads, and pizza. You can order in person or from the Navigator app and then go pick up the food to eat there or bring back to your room.

Maybe I just really like hamburgers and I’m an easy sell, but I found the Dive-In burgers to be really good! You can even get one without a bun that comes sandwiched between two pieces of lettuce. 

Then there are several specialty dining options that incur an additional fee. We went to Rudi’s Sel de Mer , which is a French-style brasserie named after Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. I had lobster and Tom went with the salmon. Our waiter was from Morocco and it made his day to speak French with us since most passengers are not French speakers. The decor was an under the sea theme and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Other specialty dining options on Holland America Rotterdam include sushi and Asian fare at Tamarind and Nami, the Pinnacle Grill, and more. But make no mistake about it, the main dining room meals were excellent. The food overall on Holland America was excellent, so let me stress that. You can stick to your budget and still feel like you had amazing food even if you don’t do specialty dining.

We loved the buffet options and found the main dining room food to be top notch–really. From fish to chicken to lamb and more, the food always came out hot, perfectly cooked, and with a good serving of vegetables. The portions were always on the generous side, I found. Even the fruit platters at breakfast had a good amount of fruit. If you want to eat, you won’t go hungry!

There were also two formal nights on our Holland America Norway cruise. Some people got super dressed up in tuxes and fancy eveningwear and others simply wore a tie and jacket and a nice dress. As long as you’re not in shorts and a t-shirt, all types of dressed up looks were totally OK. Tuxes and heels not required!

The World Stage where dance shows took place.

On-board activities

Each day on our Holland America Norway cruise, we received a paper program in our room that would let us know what was happening throughout the day and evening. There were organized activities, meetups, tournaments, and more. Think fitness classes, a Pride and friends meetup, origami folding, and a cornhole tournament in addition to shows and other entertainment. 

There was something for everyone including flower arranging demonstrations, ballroom dancing, shuffleboard, bingo, and history talks, just to name a few. 

After dinner, you have a few on-stage entertainment options.

A highlight for me was the World Stage where the evening dance shows took place. The theater features 270-degree LED screens that line the walls for a high-tech backdrop. You can see the stage from every single seat and it was a great space to watch the high-energy dancing. A team of six American dancers dazzled us with several different shows. Humanity was my favorite and featured a bunch of upbeat dance numbers to popular songs.

If you wanted to rock out instead, the Rolling Stone Rock Room was where you’d go for one of their three nightly shows, often in the 9, 10 and 11 p.m. timeframe. The band played all kinds of music from days past and today. There was also B.B. King’s Blues Club which brought the best of Memphis R&B to the sea and my gosh, did they have energy!. The Lincoln Center Stage was another musical option where I watched a string quartet play.

It’s not a cruise unless I go to the spa. I took some time to relax in the spa with an hour massage that was heavenly. You could also choose from face and body treatments, a spa pass which gives you access to the hydropools, sauna, the aromatherapy steam rooms, thermal beds, and more. The Rotterdam also offered salon services if you wanted to get your hair done. They even do teeth whitening.

I love testing my luck at the casino when at sea and fully enjoyed myself playing a little here and there. The ship had a nice mix of slot machines and live dealer games like roulette, blackjack, poker, and more. I usually stick to slot machines and watching others play at the tables.

But one night it wasn’t too busy and I figured I’d try something new. One of the dealers gave me a quick roulette tutorial so I could learn the ropes and then I played conservatively for an hour. I felt comfortable playing without an audience and actually won a little bit (and then lost it the next night).

One thing to note is that a certain section of the casino does allow smoking (otherwise you have to go to a designated area on Deck 9), so if you’re sensitive to that, the casino might not be a good choice when it’s busy.

Gym Another thing I love is working out with a view and the gym did not disappoint! The fitness facilities were on Deck 9 at the front of the ship near the spa overlooking the sea. Treadmills and other cardio equipment had standout views and I loved using the treadmill during our scenic cruising days. Lots of other people had the same idea.

There were also strength training machines, a full dumbbell rack, a cable machine and Smith machine. In addition to the main gym floor, there were also two fitness studios. One is used for yoga, Pilates and other classes and the second is a cycling studio with about 20 or so indoor cycling bikes. You can take classes for $20/class or buy a more cost effective pass which gives you access to all of the classes for the week.

The Holland America Rotterdam gym gets a big thumbs up from me. It was light, spacious, and open until 9 p.m. each evening. Zero complaints. There was also an outdoor track area and basketball court on the upper deck if you want to take your workout outside.

Game Room 

For some good, clean fun, put your cell phone away and head to the game room. I didn’t expect to see such a well-done game room with so many choices. It’s up near the Crow’s Nest space toward the front of the ship, has about 10 tables and features a wall of neatly organized briefcases.

Each one corresponds to a specific game and you can find Monopoly, Clue, Yahtzee, puzzles, card games, and so many more. It was a popular place and for good reason. 

If books are more your thing, the library is where it’s at. This special room blew me away. It was like a mini Barnes & Noble where you could borrow one of the many titles available to read in your cabin or in one of the chairs there in the library (complete with a blanket!).

All of the books were new, there were several copies of each, and spanned many different genres. How cool is that? As someone who has always liked to read, the library was one of my favorite things about the Rotterdam (although I didn’t get too far in my book, despite my best intentions)!

We had the premium internet package and found it to be just OK. There were even a couple of days around the fjords where it didn’t work at all. Understandable given the landscape, but just don’t plan on doing any live streaming or Zoom calls because the internet is better suited for simple web browsing and email.

We were told the day prior when internet would be poor due to the fjords so that way people could plan their internet use accordingly.

Is Holland America for retired age people?

This is one of the most common questions I got from friends and family. Is Holland America Line for older people? Holland America is an American-owned cruise line — Carnival Corporation is the parent company — and its cruises are for people who want a classic, upscale cruise experience at whatever age.

While Holland America has a reputation for attracting an older crowd due to its classic style (no waterslides or twerking contests here!), it’s really about your cruising mindset and what you want in a cruise.

I’d say that more than half the ship was over 55. There were many people well into their 70s. But there were also families with kids and grandkids, younger couples like us, and a bunch of teenagers that gave the ship a younger vibe. This is especially true during peak summer times when kids aren’t in school. It didn’t feel like a retirement cruise though by any means.

Holland America also has Club HAL which is a babysitting and kids/teen area. While there aren’t some of the things you’d find on more kid-centric cruise lines like kiddie pools, there are specific activities for kids and teens and they are welcome.

Would I cruise with Holland America again?

Absolutely, yes. We had a great time on our Holland America Norway cruise! In fact, my dad and I are looking at a cruise for us to go on together next year. UPDATE: We went on our Holland America Alaska cruise in June 2023 to honor my mom who passed away and LOVED IT!

It’s a more classic style and feels more low-key than other cruises. What I mean is that you won’t find activities on the schedule at 2 a.m. The shows don’t have a cast of 20 people. There’s also no nightclub/DJ, although there is a dance floor at B.B King’s and the Rolling Stone Rock Room.

We also didn’t witness any crazy behavior that people sometimes associate with cruises stateside. You know, overly inebriated folks who make a scene and that sort of thing while wearing their swimsuit to dinner.

Holland America is classy and attracts a clientele looking for an upscale, cultured experience. Even in college, I was 20 going on 60 and am not big into nightlife and partying. I am an early riser and go to bed early so some of the more lively nightlife you’ll find on other cruise lines isn’t my thing.

But as I mentioned, there were things going on well after I went to bed. The last Rolling Stone Rock Room show was at 11:45 and the casino and bars were still open too.

For me, Holland America is suited to my personal cruise style. Good food, a nice selection of music and entertainment, great gym, a casino and spa, and loads of areas to relax and hang out.

Bottom Line

Cruising to Norway with Holland America was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Norway is gorgeous and if you have the opportunity to go, definitely do it! Holland America was fabulous and if you’re into delicious food, great service, a low-key atmosphere and upscale cruising (that is still affordable), check them out. You won’t regret it!

Have you taken a Holland America Norway cruise? Is it something you’d consider? Hope you enjoyed my Holland America Rotterdam review!

For more on cruising, check out our Mediterranean cruise on Costa’s newest ship, the Toscana.

Coming to France? I have an eGuide with tips every traveler needs before they go.

Disclosure: Thank you to Holland America for hosting us on this incredible trip. All opinions are my own.

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August 13, 2022 at 1:18 am

Your cruise sounded wonderful. I have been on a Hollard America cruise, but it was to Alaska. It was great too. I would love to see more photos of Norway if you took them. Your room photo was impressive. Very nice. This cruise seems good and worth checking out. Thank you for sharing. So gad you enjoyed.

August 18, 2022 at 9:33 am

Yes I’ll put these in my next European trip!

September 11, 2022 at 9:32 pm

Hello we are taking the same cruise soon ….they haven’t yet announced the dates of the formal nights ….I would like to know when where yours it probably be the same for us also (that would help with the reservations )

September 11, 2022 at 9:46 pm

Hi Sarah, both formal nights were when we were at sea. I believe it was the second night and then the second to last night. They are really low-key and most people do not get super dressed up in rides although you can. You will see a lot of men in ties and suits. But there’s also people in more relaxed dress on formal night and they were not very strict about it. Have a great time!

September 13, 2022 at 1:06 pm

I’m going to the same cruise on the 25th of September. I was wondering what type of clothes I should take with me for days inside the cruise? Is it warm or cold inside the cruise, so should I take winter or summer clothes? And can I wear jeans to dinner or it is too casual?

September 13, 2022 at 2:59 pm

Hi there, Norway is definitely going to be cold. As I said at the top of the train ride it was 47°F in July. Indoors on the boat it is comfortable but I would definitely make sure you pack at least one sweatshirt and jacket and definitely a scarf. I don’t think you’ll be needing much in the way of summer clothes. Definitely a few T-shirts but I’d be surprised if you had the opportunity to wear shorts. Enjoy!

I think nice jeans, like no holes or anything, and a nice pair of shoes and a polo shirt would be fine for dinner. They just don’t want you wearing beach clothes to dinner.

September 13, 2022 at 10:35 pm

Thank you so much! Do you have any tips for activities to do there

September 14, 2022 at 4:59 pm

What about the internet on board? Did you buy any of the plans? If I want something mainly for social media

September 14, 2022 at 5:06 pm

Internet was slow even with the premium plan. They let us know the night before if it would be really bad connectivity due to the fjords. You definitely can’t use it to do video calls or

anything like that

July 4, 2023 at 7:22 pm

We are going on the same cruise and looking forward to it. Even more so now that I read your blog.

Are there any excursions you thoroughly enjoyed and worth going on? Or maybe you stayed at some ports and just enjoyed walking around. Any fun activities to do in port would be appreciated

July 4, 2023 at 10:30 pm

Hi Lisa, how cool that you’re going on the same cruise! Definitely the deadliest catch bearing sea tour where we saw the eagles and also the whale watching. Both were really incredible and something I’ll probably never see again.

We didn’t really have much time in Icy Strait or Ketchikan after our excursions but if you have the time, definitely worth walking around (do gondola in icy). Enjoy!

July 5, 2023 at 2:11 am

We are actually going on the Norway Cruise you took. Hope to go to Alaska sometime.

At the Ports in Norway are there any excursions you would highly recommend?

Many thanks, Lisa

July 5, 2023 at 11:51 am

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. I’m going to delete my comment. I was replying quickly from my phone and saw Holland America cruise in the subject line and thought it was on my most recent post about Alaska. We really loved Oslo so I would definitely plan to get off the boat and spend some time there. There are a bunch of museums and all kinds of things and this time of year it should be great. Flam was gorgeous as well!! Sorry again for my mistake

July 6, 2023 at 7:45 pm

Also Lisa, in Flam, HAL offers the railroad and waffles tour (forget exact name) but we found the waffles and lodge you eat them in to be a bit lackluster and a bit of a waste. What we should have done was to take the scenic train on our own (easy to do, just get tickets and make sure you’re back in time) and at the stop, there’s a really fun zipline, if you’re into that sort of thing. It might even be a ship excursion (just not the scenic train and waffles). Looked amazing so I’d say look into that! I forget if I mentioned it in the post but i was 45F at the top of that train ride — a good 10-15 degrees cooler than at the base, yup in july! — so have some warm clothes just in case if you plan on doing excursions that take you up in altitude. The scenery everywhere was breathtaking. It felt like a dream the entire cruise! Again, enjoy!

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Holland America Norway Cruise for Food Travelers

By Author Daryl and Mindi Hirsch

Visiting Norway was a fantasy until we explored the Scandinavian country’s fjords and cuisine during a week-long Holland America Norway cruise on the Nieuw Statendam ship. Discover what we did and ate during this epic maritime adventure.

Norway may be the ultimate cruise destination for a summer cruise. Sound crazy? Hear us out.

First and foremost, the scenery on a Norwegian cruise is jaw-droppingly amazing. When you cruise through Norwegian fjords, the views don’t stop for hours, and the days last even longer. Norway is the land of the midnight sun after all.

Norway’s fjords are the stuff of legend, Nordic legend, to be exact. Seeing rocky-faced fjords that practically explode from Scandinavian waterways is the main reason that there are so many cruises around Norway.

Vikings originally coined the word fjord to describe 1,000+ glacially-formed inlets that strikingly define Norway’s coastline. Other parts of the world have similar geographic formations, but Norway’s fjords are particularly striking.

Taking a Norwegian Fjords Cruise is the ideal way to experience Norway’s landscape in all its glory. During our week-long Vikings Saga cruise, we sailed through the Oslo Fjord and then hit the motherlode when we traversed Sognefjord, Norway’s longest fjord, to reach the tiny village of Flåm. Many travelers consider Sognesfjord to be one of the best fjords in Norway.

Beyond viewing fjords, there’s the cost factor .

In 2015, The World Economic Forum ranked Norway as the 5th most expensive country to visit in the entire world. Exploring Norway on a cruise is a cost-effective way to experience this pricey country without paying for pesky items like hotels, gasoline and restaurant dinners.

To put expenses into perspective, a single serving of fish soup cost us the equivalent of $23 during a port stop in Oslo. While many travelers can afford those prices, a trip through Norway can be a budget-buster for others.

Norwegian Fjord cruises are so popular that multiple cruise companies offer cruises in Norway. Despite Norway’s numerous cruising options, the window is relatively limited for travelers who want to take advantage of optimal Norway weather during the summer months.

We opted to sail through Norway with Holland America on a week that straddled the end of July and the beginning of August. Based on our previous Asia cruise with the cruise line, we knew we would travel in comfort and eat great food – two important components for these two culinary adventurers.

Pro Tip Don’t cruise without travel insurance !

Our Holland America Norway Cruise Experience

Starting in Amsterdam, our week-long Viking Saga cruise whisked us to four exciting Norwegian port cities – Oslo, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Flåm. These cities were awesome to visit, but our time on the Nieuw Statendam was equally satisfying.

Now that we’ve embraced our inner cruise selves, we deeply appreciate sea days that allow us to linger over breakfast in bed while we gaze at views that literally take our breath away. These leisurely days force us to relax, gearing up our energy for intense port days.

In many ways, spending a week on a floating hotel can either be heaven or hell. We choose to spend our time in the former, preferably with excellent food and beverage service. As we detail later in this article, our Norwegian cruise with Holland America did not disappoint in this regard.

With a capacity of 2,666 guests and a length of 975 feet, the Nieuw Statendam is an impressive addition to Holland America’s fleet. The ship first sailed in December 2018 and was officially christened by its godmother, Oprah Winfrey, the following month.

Pro Tip It’s great fun to watch a special video of Oprah exclaiming “Niew Statendaaaaaaaaam!” as she christened the HAL ship

During our mid-summer cruise, the ship was filled to capacity with a diverse collection of passengers in terms of both age and nationality. Ranging from toddlers to octogenarians, the crowd hailed from 52 countries with most from the Netherlands (34%), USA (27%), Belgium (13%) and Canada (4%).

Like most cruise ships, the Nieuw Statendam features pools and whirlpool jacuzzis in addition to a fitness center, spa and casino. But this Pinnacle-class ship shines when it comes to its stylish design and vast art collection.

With 12 decks, the ship has ample room to showcase diverse art that varies in style from classic to more avant-garde creations. We loved exploring this collection during our week-long cruise, often going out of our way in search of new pieces to admire.

Another differentiation is the ship’s culinary program which includes multiple specialty restaurants in addition to its formal dining room and more casual Lido market buffet. A week was just enough time for us to experience every restaurant on the ship, though we don’t blame passengers who found their favorite eateries and stuck with them.

Club Orange

The Nieuw Statendam is one of the first Holland America ships to offer Club Orange to its guests. This premium program offers perks like a private dining room and priority access, both of which we highly appreciated during our cruise, as well as extras like special robes and tote bags. Participants also get extra room service choices for breakfast each morning.

At the time of our sailing, Club Orange cost $50 per person per day, capped at $100 per room per day. However, the value of skipping the lines for check-in and special onboard services was priceless.

Pro Tip You must upgrade to Club Orange before the cruise. Unless the policy changes, it cannot be added once the ship sets sail and must be used for the entire cruise.

Our home for the week was a spacious Verandah stateroom (#5061) on the ship’s fifth floor, otherwise known as the Gershwin deck. Designed with clean Scandinavian design elements, the room’s highlights included a comfortable double bed, cozy seating area, full en-suite bathroom, multiple electrical outlets and enough USB ports to charge our phones each night.

Not only did we have adequate space to unpack our clothes, but we also had areas to work and charge our electronics. And, as a bonus compared to previous cruises we’ve taken, the Wi-Fi worked well in our room. Winning!

Our favorite feature inside the room had to be the HUGE television loaded with and even HUGER selection of channels and movies. When we weren’t watching live MSNBC feeds, we watched movies like Bohemian Rhapsody and Crazy Rich Asians .

Seriously, if we had such an awesome TV in Lisbon , we might never leave the apartment. It would be a problem.

Pro Tip Beyond watching movies on your TV on the Nieuw Statendam, you can also order room service with a few clicks on the remote control.

However, our absolute favorite feature of the Verandah stateroom was an attached balcony that wasn’t technically inside the room. Yes, we loved the room’s private balcony most of all.

Accessed by glass doors, this balcony provided us with awesome views of fjords and sunsets. It was also the ideal spot to enjoy our first cups of coffee each morning.

We weren’t fortunate enough to have a private balcony during our Asia cruise and we survived just fine. Though this perk is not critical to cruise enjoyment, having a balcony was a bit of a game-changer that ramped up our Norway fjords cruise experience to the next level.

Nothing matches relaxing with a book and listening to music on a balcony just steps away from a comfy bed.

Staff And Service

Much of any cruise experience despends on staff and service. With a global team focused on hospitality, the Nieuw Statendam excelled in serving our various needs. We rarely had to ask for anything since the staff seamlessly executed the many functions that keep the floating hotel from sinking.

From a hotel perspective, we enjoyed daily room cleanings as well as nightly turndown service. Each evening, we returned to little chocolate treats and creative towel art creations. Our favorites awaited us on the cruise’s last night when we returned to find chocolate truffles on our bed and a terry cloth monkey handing above from a hanger.

Pro Tip You can learn how to make your own towel art creations during a free Holland America class.

With 991 employees on the ship, it’s fair to say that a good portion keeps busy preparing and serving food. During a fascinating galley tour, we got a first-hand look at the ship’s super clean kitchen.

During this tour, we learned that the ship sources its beef from the US and much of its fish from Norway. We also learned that the ship serves lots of eggs – 36,132 during our cruise to be exact. That’s probably more eggs than could fit in the ship’s two swimming pools!

Onboard Entertainment

We never got bored during our cruise. Not only did we keep busy during the day, but we also spent many evenings rocking out at the ships various entertainment venues.

We split our time at B.B. Kings Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Billboard Onboard and Lincoln Center Stage. Though each venue offered different experiences during our cruise, the musicians were all pros.

Each venue offered a different style of entertainment. We experienced masterworks by Brahms in the Lincoln Center Stage and dueling pianos at Billboard Onboard, but Rolling Stone Rock Room and B.B. King’s Blues Club were where we rocked it out.

We weren’t alone. Passengers filled the ship’s Music Walk each night until the wee hours, singing and swaying to tunes from every decade.

The great part about eating on a big ship like the Nieuw Statendam is the variety of dining options. Some venues are ultra-casual. Others charge a fee and require advance reservations.

We made a concerted effort to dine at every single restaurant during the week. The various cruise food options delighted and, in some cases, impressed us during our Vikings Saga cruise.

Upscale Dining

With its Culinary Council leading the charge, Holland America has elevated the typical cruise food experience by offering a diverse selection of specialty dining options. These chef-driven restaurants offer higher-end dining experiences, each with a different theme and price point.

Eating at each Holland America specialty restaurant during our week-long Norway cruise gave us a chance to travel the world from a culinary perspective. We share the highlights below:

If you splurge on one meal during your Holland America cruise, do it at De Librije. Offered just one night during our cruise, this multi-course meal shocked us with its impeccable execution and extraordinary food.

Chef Jonnie Boer has created a floating three-star Michelin dining experience based on his De Librije restaurant in Zwolle, Netherlands. Though the cost may seem steep at $69 (or $89 with a wine pairing) at the time of our cruise, the value is excellent.

As a comparison, the cost of dining at the chef’s land-locked Dutch restaurant can run around $200 per person or even more after ordering wine.

Our four-course meal was a whirlwind of memorable dishes, each served with panache and a story. Starting with Foie Gras Lollipops in our Amuse Bouche samplers, the hits kept coming to our table while we gazed at an ocean view and sipped California Chardonnay.

It’s a struggle to narrow down meal highlights. We’ll start with Oysters on the Beach served with a trompe l’oeil of silver-painted foie gras oysters, real oysters, Oloroso sherry foam, pickled ginger and sand made from crispy rice. Both a showstopper and a signature dish, this starter is an absolute must for food travelers who love creativity and the element of surprise.

Other memorable dishes included King Fish served with watermelon and avocado, Lobster Bisque poured over Alaskan king crab chunks, Crispy Pork Belly and Baked Pike Perch. We ended our meal on a sweet note with Deconstructed Apple Pie and Lemongrass Caramel desserts.

This thrilling meal rivaled meals we’ve eaten at three-star restaurants in the US and France. It exceeded our expectations and was a true cruise highlight.

In fact, we were shocked to eat food THIS good on a ship that feeds over 2,600 passengers each day. Bravo Holland America!!

Pro Tip Make an advance reservation if you have a special occasion to celebrate on your Holland America Norway cruise. Make a reservation if don’t have a special occasion. In other words, make a reservation.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer

No longer a pop-up like we experienced during our Asia cruise, Rudi’s Sel de Mer has its own dining room on the Nieuw Statendam. Helmed by Holland America’s Master Chef and Culinary Council Chairman Rudi Sodamin, Rudi’s Sel de Mer is a fish-forward restaurant reminiscent of bistros typically found in France’s Provence.

We embraced the restaurant’s seafood theme and ordered dishes like Tuna Salade Niçoise , Bouillabaisse Marseillaise and the restaurant’s signature Whole Dover Sole Meunière. Though technically too full for dessert, we shared Rudi’s Face to Face chocolate fruit creation pictured above. What can we say? The smiling food face made us happy.

Pro Tip Order your meal wisely. Rudi’s Sel de Mer serves its menu on an a la carte basis. At the time of our cruise, prices ranged from $4 for desserts like the Face Plate dessert to $49 for an extravagant Fruits de Mer starter for two.

Pinnacle Grill

Norway is known for its seafood, but Holland America also offers meat options including US-sourced prime steak. True meat lovers can eat their weight in steak at Pinnacle Grill, celebrity Chef David Burke’s Pacific Northwest steakhouse, while sailing on the Nieuw Statendam.

Burke is yet another member of the cruise line’s Culinary Council. Additional members include chefs like Jacques Torres and Ethan Stowell.

This specialty restaurant sources its meat from Washington’s Double R Ranch and cooks it to juicy doneness. Steak options include Filet Mignon, New York Strip, Bone-In Rib Eye and Porterhouse.

Pinnacle Grill serves more than steak. We also ate dishes like a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail served with brandy horseradish cocktail sauce and an Iceberg Wedge Salad with buttermilk dressing, gorgonzola, bacon, tomato, red onion, chives and toasted walnuts.

Adding some fun to our meal, we shared Burke’s unique Clothesline Candied Bacon starter with maple, black pepper and half-sour pickles. We also indulged in a few bites of the restaurant’s Not-So-Classic Baked Alaska with Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ic cream and bing cherries jubilee before we rolled back to our room.

Pro Tip Expect to spend $35 for dinner or $10 for lunch when you dine at Pinnacle Grill. Additional costs apply to special items like the 16-oz. Dry-Aged Delmonico steak and the 5-oz. Lobster Tail.

Chef Andy Matsuda, another Holland America Culinary Council member, developed the menu for Tamarind, the cruise line’s fusion restaurant. Rather than showcasing one type of cuisine, Tamarind’s menu features Asian dishes from Southeast Asia, China and Japan.

During our meal, we took a took our tastebuds on a trip down memory lane with dishes like Chinese Five Spice Baby Back Ribs and Tom Khakai, a Thai soup featuring coconut chicken and chili oil. Though not as spicy as food we’ve eaten in Asia, these dishes made for a fun dinner option.

The surcharge for dining at Tamarind was $25 per person at the time of our cruise.

An over-achiever, Matsuda also developed the menu for Nami Sushi, a small sushi restaurant attached to Tamarind’s grand dining room. Menu options include Nigiri, Sashimi and Sushi Rolls as well as cooked options like Shrimp Tempura and Grilled Atlantic Crab. All dishes were priced on an A La Carte basis ranging from $3 to $7.50 at the time of our cruise.

We enjoyed sitting at the sushi bar while we dipped reasonably priced sushi into wasabi-laced soy sauce. In full disclosure, this sushi paled in comparison to the excellent raw fish we ate during our port stop in Stavanger (see below). But it was still a fun experience to eat sushi on the ship.

The Dining Room

The Nieuw Statendam’s Dining Room offers a refined dining experience in a stunning setting. Each member of HAL’s Culinary Council contributes dishes, with options for vegetarians, vegans and full-on carnivores. On gala nights, the Dining Room offers extra-special menus.

True Confession: The only meal we ate in the Dining Room was afternoon tea. We simply ran out of time in our quest to dine at the ship’s many specialty restaurants during our seven-day cruise.

This confession makes us sad. No, there was nothing wrong with the tea service. Rather, we have fond memories of our Dining Room meals during our Asia cruise and wish we had created new ones on our Norway cruise.

Pro Tip You can eat as much as you want in the Dining Room without worrying about surcharges. Expect to pay extra for wine and other beverages.

Casual Dining

As fun as it is to dress up and eat multi-course meals, casual dining can be awesome during a week-long cruise. We checked out the following casual dining options during our Nieuw Statendam cruise:

As the saying goes, membership has its privileges. In our opinion, one of the main reasons to join Club Orange is to dine in the private Club Orange dining room. This restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner daily.

Despite its exclusivity, the Club Orange restaurant is a casual space with big glass windows and an open kitchen. Not surprisingly, the decor includes some orange touches. Dishes are similar to those served at the ship’s Dining Room and Lido Market.

Pro Tip If you opt to build your own omelet during breakfast, be sure to add smoked salmon, asparagus and goat cheese.

Lido Market & Canaletto

The Lido Market offers a fast-casual venue with dozens of themed stations serving sandwiches, salads, sushi and more. Not your stereotypical buffet, the popular Lido Market has healthy options as well as decadent desserts.

Available on a first-come-first-serve basis, many tables have sweeping ocean views. The Lido Market serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a late-night bonus meal.

Located right next to the Lido Market, Canaletto serves Italian food for a small surcharge ($15 at the time of our cruise) in a family-style setting. We ate Lasagna Bolognese and Spaghetti Alle Vongole Veraci E Gamberi during our Canaletto meal. Making it there just under the wire on the last night of the cruise, we didn’t have room for dessert after a week of eating cruise food.

Grand Dutch Cafe

We’re not sure how it happened, but we didn’t eat at the Grand Dutch Cafe until the last day of our cruise. Perhaps we were burnt out on Dutch food after a week eating our way through Amsterdam . Either way, it was a mistake. A big mistake.

As it turns out, the Grand Dutch Cafe serves the best beer on the ship and banging apple pie. Between 4:30 and 8 pm, the popular cafe adds snacks like bitterballen (fried Dutch meatballs) to its menu. Food is complimentary at this venue and drinks are sold for a surcharge.

Pro Tip You can order cappuccinos and lattes, each priced at $3.50 each at the time of our cruise. The cafe uses Rotterdam 1873 beans to brew its coffee beverages.

The more we travel the world, the more we appreciate the simple things in life. And by simple, we mean American fast food like hamburgers and french fries.

The Nieuw Statendam clearly gets us. Their Dive-In serves juicy burgers, crispy fries and Nathan’s hot dogs at a stand located next to the pool. Dive-In also serves sandwiches with chicken and portabella mushrooms if that’s your thing.

As for us, our thing is burgers made with all-American ground beef and topped with special sauce. Yum!

Pro Tip Chill out by the pool after you place your order. Dive-In will buzz you when your food is ready.

New York Pizza & Deli

We love pizza so much that we spent a month eating Neapolitan pies in Naples . Needless to say, we were pleased to discover New York Pizza & Deli on the Nieuw Statendam.

This casual pizzeria serves a handful of specialty pizzas until midnight and also provides an option to build your own pie from a selection of sauces, meats and veggies. Other menu options include sandwiches, salads, desserts and movie night snacks – think popcorn and nachos.

Pro Tip You can start your morning with a bagel and lox at NY Pizza & Deli. If you don’t like salmon, you can order a breakfast bagel with ham, cheese and a fried egg instead.

Discovering G Gelato was dangerous considering our love for Italy’s creamy ice cream product. Somehow, we limited ourselves to just two visits during the week, perhaps because we kept ourselves busy eating all the other food on the ship.

Just like us, the G Gelato staff trained at Caripigiani Gelato University in Bologna . Beyond ice cream, Gelato serves gourmet popsicles and milkshakes for small surcharges ranging from $2 to $5 at the time of our cruise.

Pro Tip Don’t forget to order a topping or two. They’re included with each gelato order.

In-Room Dining

Despite the overwhelming number of dining options on the Nieuw Statendam, sometimes the best option is none of them. In other words… Room Service.

We loved having breakfast delivered to our room most mornings. It was as easy as choosing our options and leaving a marked-up menu outside our door. The cost was free but the reward was huge since we were able to enjoy breakfast in plush bathrobes and a view of Norwegian fjords.

Pro Tip You can order room service on a 24/7 basis. Menus are listed on the TV and vary based on the time of day. Items are free unless otherwise noted.

During our Norway fjords cruise, we enjoyed cocktails at the Ocean Bar and an international beer tasting at Billboard Onboard. We also sipped coffee at the Explorations Cafe.

Ironically, we found the ship’s best beer at the Grand Dutch Cafe (see above). Drinks are also available at the ship’s various entertainment venues.

Pro Tip Learn how to blend your own wine at the aptly named BLEND by Chateau St. Michelle. You can then drink your customized wine later at dinner or in your stateroom. A blending session at BLEND cost $47 at the time of our cruise.

Destinations

Our Holland America Norway cruise started and ended in Amsterdam before sailing to four unique ports in Norway. Cruising and eating our way through Norwegian Fjords was half the fun; visiting the following Norwegian cities was the other half:

Port 1 – Oslo

Oslo provided us with a rainy introduction to Norway, but we didn’t let the rain slow us down or dampen our spirits. Instead, we had a great time taking a self-guided tour of Oslo with a focus on the city’s culinary delights. While in Oslo, we sampled traditional Norwegian food as well as hot dogs , specialty coffee and waffles.

Discover our Norwegian food favorites .

As Norway’s capital city, Oslo has an abundance of culture including its Viking Ship Museum , Akershus Fortress and Royal Palace. We saved all of these destinations for our next visit to Oslo, though we took a few minutes to peek into the historically rich Oslo Cathedral between food stops.

Port 2 – Kristiansand

We never heard of Kristiansand until our Norway cruise. As it turns out, this charming port city is one of the most populous cities in all of Norway.

Rumor has it that Kristiansand is also one of Norway’s sunniest cities. Since it rained the day we docked in Kristiansand, we spent the day exploring a gentrified fish market at Fiskebrygga, drinking specialty coffee at Cuba Life and wandering around alleys filled with little white houses.

Port 3 – Stavanger

Famous for petroleum oil and fish, Stavanger is Norway’s fourth-biggest city. Both quaint and cosmopolitan, Stavanger has plenty to do from museums to shops. We, however, focused our exploration on the city’s culinary offerings.

Stavanger has excellent specialty coffee shops, bakeries and sushi bars. We started our tasty day with excellent flat whites at Kokko Kaffebar , continued it with Norsk Kannelboller (Nordic cinnamon buns ) at Renaa Xpress and ended it with a bang with sushi at Sabi Sushi .

Port 4 – Flåm

With just 350 residents, Flåm attracts a lot of tourists due to its natural beauty and scenic train. While outdoor enthusiasts can explore the area by boat or bike, we opted to take the ride the Flåm Railway through waterfalls and mountains before eating waffles in Vatnahalsen.

We have no regrets with how we spent our day. The Flåm Railway lived up to its description as one of the world’s most beautiful journeys. We also spent some time walking around the Flåm harbor, an idyllic spot for both selfies and reflective moments.

During our cruise, Holland America offered dozens of shore excursions in all four port cities and Amsterdam. Since we love independently eating our way through cities, we ultimately decided to participate in just one excursion – the Flåm Railway.

We knew we had to take the Flåm Railway tour after we randomly met Lisa Ekhall Stentvedt, the blogger behind Fjords and Beaches , just a month before the cruise Originally from the tiny town of Flåm, Stentvedt easily convinced us that this train ride was not to be missed.

We’re super glad that we did the Flåm Railway excursion. Priced at $179.95 per person at the time of our cruise, this excursion includes a roundtrip ride through 20 tunnels to Vatnahalsen with a stop at Kjosfossen, an epic waterfall. It also includes waffles served with sour cream and jam at Vatnahalsen Høyfjellshotell.

Though we would have been able to navigate the train on our own, taking the tour simplified our journey and ensured a comfortable return before the ship departed for Amsterdam. Plus, as previously noted, the excursion included waffles. And who doesn’t love waffles?

What To Pack

Packing for a Holland America cruise is the opposite of stressful. If you forget something important, you can easily purchase it on the ship. Further, the dress code is flexible, with an emphasis on comfort, except for gala nights.

These are our suggestions for items that you’ll want to pack and others that you’re better off leaving at home:

Don’t Forget These Items

• Clothing for All Types of Weather: Since Norway’s weather is volatile, you’ll need to be ready for both sunshine and rain as well as various temperatures. To be safe, pack short sleeves, long sleeves and jackets.
• Gala Attire: Gala nights are the time to put on your fancy duds. We recommend suits, or at least a sports jacket, for men and cocktail dresses for women; however, you can go as fancy as you like.
• Swimsuit : Bring a swimsuit regardless of the weather forecast. It will come in handy for both the pools and jacuzzi hot tubs.
• Comfortable Shoes : Pack walking shoes for excursion and port visits. Also, don’t forget sneakers if you plan to work out at the ship’s fitness center.
• Adaptors : Unless you’re based in Europe or the US, you’ll want to bring adaptors to plug your electronics into the electrical outlets. Our room had outlets that supported both European and US plugs.
• WiFi Hot Spot : Holland America offers attractive internet packages. However, you may want to bring a hot spot if you’re an extra-heavy internet user.
• Books or Kindle : Upload a book or two to your Kindle before the cruise. You’ll have time to read on the ship

Leave These Items at Home

• Towels: Holland America provides beach towels for the pools as well as bath towels in the staterooms.
• Basic Toiletries: Holland America provides shampoo, conditioner and soap. However, you’ll want to pack personal items like sunscreen, shaving lotion and toothpaste.
• Maps: The crew handles the ship’s logistics. However, you may want to bring maps to navigate your way around the port cities unless your phone has data coverage in Europe.

Final Thoughts on Our Holland America Norway Cruise

We’re fans after cruising twice with Holland America. Both cruises offered unique touring opportunities and outstanding food. We’re still shocked by the excellent meal we ate at De Librije – it was that good.

Research and book a vacation with Holland America that meets YOUR personal preferences and budget.

Get a discounted quote for travel insurance to protect your trip from things like injuries, theft and cancelations. We never travel without protection!

Hungry for More Cruises?

About the Authors

Daryl and Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article. Sponsorship We thank Holland America for hosting us to facilitate this article.

Original Publication Date: September 3, 2019

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• Daily housekeeping
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These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view.

Filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these staterooms include a sitting area, two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and shower with premium massage showerheads.

Vista Suite

With a verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable sitting area, these comfortable suites are filled with light. They include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, plus a shower, mini-bar and refrigerator.

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These large, comfortable suites feature a spacious sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, and one murphy bed.

Neptune Suite

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• Pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres served in suite
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Priority boarding for tender ports, priority dining/seating requests, special disembarkation service
• High tea in suite on request
• Exclusive tote bag

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity and large shower. Amenities include use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge, a private concierge and an array of complimentary services.

Your Ship: Rotterdam

Our newest ship, Rotterdam, delivers the best of everything we do: exquisite cuisine, award-winning service, superbly appointed staterooms and suites, and world-class entertainment. Dance the night away at B.B. King’s Blues Club or relive your favorite rock classics at Rolling Stone Lounge. Experience Rotterdam’s Pinnacle Class luxury and find a mastery of the details that keep our guests returning again and again.

• 975 ft. Length
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Dining & Onboard Activities

Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities.

Pinnacle Grill

The ultimate steakhouse at sea, with an exceptional menu of Prime steaks, seafood and wine.

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes from James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council® member, David Burke. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor.

*Meals at Pinnacle Grill are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Canaletto is a relaxed setting with authentic Italian cuisine that is best enjoyed when shared.

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more. Including pasta made fresh daily. Buon Appetito!

Meals at Canaletto are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Explore traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with cuisine praised by Condé Nast Traveler as rivaling the top restaurants on land.

Praised by  Condé Nast Traveler  for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. The menu, which honors the elements of water, wood, fire and earth, features such exotic fare as wok-seared lobster, barramundi (Asian sea bass) in banana leaf and sushi, accompanied by chilled or heated sake. 

Meals at Tamarind are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Rudi's Sel De Mer

Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s award-winning, lively brasserie offers a modern twist on classic French dishes and seafood.

Named for Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, Rudi’s Sel de Mer is an intimate brasserie featuring classic French dishes reimagined with contemporary flair. Menu selections include whole Dover sole meunière with shaved pink Himalayan sea salt, oysters on the half shell, fruits de mer, and salt-crust baked branzino, as well as favorites such as steak frites, duck cassoulet and coq au vin. Conclude your dinner with a classic dessert and fine French cheeses.  

Meals at Sel de Mer are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurant is available on  Rotterdam ,  Koningsdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , but on other ships, the Rudi’s Sel de Mer menu is available on select evenings in Pinnacle Grill.

Lido Market

A casual, modern marketplace, Lido Market offers the widest range of food options on board for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night snack.

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads; Homestead, serving up comfort classics; Distant Lands, featuring global cuisine; Sweet Spot, for ice cream creations and desserts; Roasting Pan, hand-carved meats, fish and other hearty entrees; Perk, freshly brewed beverages and chilled juices; Quench, premium coffee, beer, wine, and soda available for purchase; Rise, savory quiches, croissants and sandwiches, and more.

This casual poolside grill serves up the best burgers at sea, Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dogs, golden French fries and more.

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

New York Pizza

Our poolside pizzeria has fresh Italian salads and authentic thin-crust personal pizzas with savory toppings.

At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night. This venue is New York Deli & Pizza on  Koningsdam ,  Rotterdam  and  Nieuw Statendam , offering made-to-order deli sandwiches in addition to pizza.

24-Hour Room Service

Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish.

Sleep in and have breakfast delivered. Enjoy an early dinner on your verandah before an evening excursion. Order a salad, sandwich or entrée any time. Room Service is only a phone call away. All selections are included in your cruise fare unless otherwise noted on the in-room menu.

Explorations Cafe

Our relaxing café with panoramic views is your home for handcrafted espresso drinks during the day and refreshing cocktails in the evening.

At Explorations Café, sink into plush chairs and sofas in a comfortable environment. Sip elegantly prepared espresso drinks and nosh on fresh pastries from the coffee bar. You can also take in fantastic views, catch up on your favorite book or browse the web. 

Dine on delectable sushi and sip Asian-inspired spirits at Nami Sushi, a sushi bar within Tamarind offering stunning ocean views.

Nami Sushi offers a tempting array of the sushi rolls he’s created. Choose from such delectable selections as Tempura Lobster Roll with soft shell crab tempura; Dragon Roll with tempura shrimp, unagi sauce and avocado; Tsutsumi Roll with snapper, green olive, caper and avocado; Futomoki Roll with crab, yamagobo, avocado and cucumber; Volcano Roll with sesame-marinated salmon and Thai chilis; Nigiri sushi with tuna, salmon and ebi shrimp; and more. The word “nami,” Japanese in origin, means “wave” and is an homage to the ocean views you’ll enjoy as you dine on the freshest, tastiest and most inventive sushi at sea.

With many flavors to choose from and ingredients like Sicilian pistachios and amarena cherries, each frozen spoonful transports you to Italy.

At “G” Gelato, you can indulge your sweet tooth with a classic European gelato (ice cream), made fresh on board each day by chefs trained at the Carpigiani Gelato University. Choose from among 12 delightful flavors, two of which are rotated daily. Smooth, creamy and refreshing, this tasty treat is served in a variety of ways, including gelato popsicles and the flavors of G, composed shots with layers of caramel, nuts and gelato. Love pistachio?  Select ingredients like Sicilian pistachios make our pistachio gelato out of this world!

Club Orange Program Benefits

Club Orange offers an added level of luxury on Holland America with expanded dining menus, special events and priority access. Learn more about Club Orange.

See the  full Club Orange benefits  (PDF)

Join Club Orange to experience a new level of luxury, from priority check-in and disembarkation to premium dining amenities. Club Orange benefits include a complimentary stateroom upgrade, a special event chosen by the captain and priority check-in and disembarkation. Read on for a full list of Club Orange benefits.

Please  contact us  for Club Orange pricing and availability or to enroll.

The Dining Room

Our flagship dining experience is a welcoming and sophisticated setting for an exquisite breakfast, lunch or superb multicourse dinner.

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable multi-course dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. For dinner, choose from classics such as Boneless Lamb Loin en Croute, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian dishes. 

Crow's Nest

BARS AND LOUNGES

Enjoy cocktails and sunsets in this lounge, featuring panoramic views.

Holland America Line offers you a wide selection of lounges onboard. The panoramic view takes center stage in The Crow's Nest at the top of the ship, where you can relax just about any time of day and enjoy your favorite drink.

Enjoy cocktails and ocean views while listening to live music.

Holland America Line offers you a wide selection of lounges. This popular bar is at the top of the atrium and is the perfect locale for cocktails and dancing.

Tamarind Bar

Partake in exotic cocktails and sakétinis amid wraparound ocean views.

Which is more delightful: the apple-pear saketini in your chilled glass or views of the sun going down in a crimson blaze? Enjoy both in this stylish hideaway – your destination for panoramic views and exotic cocktails, and just one of the wide selection of lounges and gathering places on board.

For aficionados, this is truly your whisk(e)y wonderland. At NOTES, a dedicated whisk(e)y bar guests can gaze in awe at the more than 120 labels on display.

For aficionados, this is truly your whisk(e)y wonderland. At NOTES, a dedicated whisk(e)y bar guests can gaze in awe at the more than 120 labels on display — and sample some of the rarest whisk(e)y selections in the world. An interactive menu board and multiple tasting options are designed to identify uniquely personalized flavor profiles for every guest.

Billboard Onboard

ENTERTAINMENT

Sing along, test your music trivia knowledge, or sit back and enjoy as chart-topping hits fill the room each night.

2 pianos - 60 Years of Chart Toppers - 100s Of Songs.  Sing along, test your music trivia skills or just sit back and enjoy as the hits fill the room each night.

World Stage

World Stage features innovative cruise ship shows and a two-story LED screen that creates a vivid wraparound display.

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evenings, Step One Dance Company, vocal sensation Cantaré, BBC Earth in Concert and more take the stage.  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam  bring the World Stage experience to the next level by surrounding you in spectacular sight and sound with a two-story, panoramic LED screen.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Our 7-piece band brings you the best in rock, pop, country and more.

Dance to your favorite songs with one of the best bands at sea. From rock and pop to country and beyond, we provide the perfect playlist live, each and every cruise.

Onboard Shopping

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping onboard.

Enjoy a wide variety of duty-free shopping in such signature shops as The Vault, Diamonds and Gemstones by Merabella, which offers the best diamonds at sea, brought to you by Effy.

Fitness Center

Take a class in our professionally staffed Fitness Center.

Stop by the professionally staffed Fitness Center equipped with the latest cardio and weight machines. Try one of our classes on indoor cycling, Pilates and more or work out at your own pace. You can also head out for fresh air and exercise on deck, where you'll find basketball and volleyball courts, and two refreshing pools (available on select ships). Some classes may have a nominal fee.

Holland America Line Navigator

Personalize your cruise experience with our free mobile-friendly tool.

Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. 

Casino Action

The Casino offers games for all levels.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Movies On Board

Enjoy recent-release films in the movie theater on select ships or in the comfort of your stateroom.

Screening nightly in the movie theatre (on select ships) are recent-release films and perennially popular classics. You can also watch movies any time in your stateroom or suite. And aboard  Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam  and  Rotterdam , watch your favorite stars light up the night on a giant outdoor LED movie screen by the Lido Pool.

Pickleball at Sea

Enjoy complimentary lessons, tournaments, and courts with amazing top-deck views.

Play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with Holland America Line, the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association. All our cruise ships feature pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views. The equipment and courts are available for a match anytime, so long as the weather allows. Frequent pickler? Join a pickleball tournament at sea and put your dink shot to the test. Hesitant amateur? Learn the basics at complimentary beginner’s lessons, starting in spring 2023. Commemorative starter kits will soon be available in our retail shops — purchase as gifts for avid players or as souvenirs, so that you can always look back on your pickleball cruise memories.

Kids ages 3 to 17 can enjoy an array of activities. Registration required for children under 13.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. Note: Kids Club is not offered on cruises of 25-days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages. We will offer a selection of children’s activities throughout these longer voyages for any children who may be onboard.

14-DAY NORWEGIAN FJORDS WITH SCOTLAND AND COPENHAGEN

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Tromso, Norway

Though Tromso is located north of the Arctic Circle, it maintains a mild climate thanks to the warmer waters carried by the North Atlantic Gulf Stream. Arctic voyagers often commence their adventures in the city, also known as the Paris of the North. Several highlights of sightseeing tours are Norway's largest planetarium, the town's historic center with its beautiful wooden houses and the landmark Arctic Cathedral, designed by Jan Inge Hovig. Tromso is a prime locale for viewing the northern lights and other phenomena like summer's midnight sun and the polar night that dominates between November and January.

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Norwegian Cruise Line vs Holland America

Tuesday, May 7th

2024 Cruise Line Reviews

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best for large-ship sailing, especially in Alaska
• 18 ships in the fleet
• Ships accommodate anywhere from 1,900 to 4,000+ passengers
• Private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay
• Exciting amenities on board, like go-kart tracks and climbing walls
• No required or recommended gratuities
• Freestyle cruising plus "Free at Sea" promos can make your cruise flexible and affordable

Norwegian Cruise Line, or NCL, offers sailings to destinations around the world plus exciting entertainment and flexible amenities. NCL is suitable for cruisers of all ages and adventure levels, and it's one of the only non-luxury class cruise lines that doesn't require gratuities (or even recommend them at any particular amount). While being on a ship with 2,000-4,000 other passengers might not appeal to some vacationers, NCL's large ships make it easy to eat, play, and relax in any way you want.

• Holland America
• Best for older guests (50+)
• 11 ships in the fleet
• Mid-size ships (1,400-2,600 passengers, depending on the ship)
• Over 500 itineraries with stops in 100+ countries

Holland America Line is a premium cruise line with a fleet of 11 mid-sized ships, offering over 500 itineraries with stops in 100+ countries. The line is known for its exceptional service, exquisite cuisine, and sophisticated onboard experience, making it a popular choice for older travelers seeking luxury and elegance. Overall, Holland America Line offers a relaxed and classy vacation experience to the world's most sought-after ports of call, especially for those ages 55+.

More Cruise Line Reviews

• Royal Caribbean

• Disney Cruise Line

• Celebrity Cruises

• Virgin Voyages

• Viking Cruises

• Regent Seven Seas

• Princess Cruises

• MSC Cruises

• Carnival Cruises

The 15 Best Cruise Lines

Which cruise line is the best.

Cruising is a popular way of traveling for many people, offering a unique experience that combines the convenience of a floating hotel with the excitement of visiting multiple destinations in one trip. In an average year, over fifteen million people say "all aboard" and set sail on an amazing vacation.

There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. What would you like to see and do while you're onboard? Is a casino a must-have or a rather-avoid? Would a Broadway-caliber show tip the scales for you? Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting.

Cruise Line FAQ

Which cruise line is the best, what is included in the cost of a cruise, what is the minimum age to cruise, what are the dining options on a cruise ship, are cruise ships crowded, do i have to dress up, are activities included at destination ports, can i bring my own alcohol onboard.

Continued from above...

Another factor that can influence which cruise line you choose is the itinerary. Cruise ships travel all over the world, but some cruise lines may not have destinations available where you're hoping to go. You should also consider the size of the ship: larger ships offer more amenities, but smaller ships can access ports that bigger ships can't.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing.

When you take a cruise, it's almost always expected that you'll tip the crew members who have attended to your needs while onboard: your cabin steward ( who probably leaves your towels folded into fun shapes every night ), your servers at your nightly meals, and the head waiter. Cruise lines have a recommended gratuity to cover all three of those staff members, usually $15-$20 per traveler, per day; the total gratuity amount may be charged automatically to your account, or you may be given envelopes to make cash payments.

While it usually isn't mandatory to pay those gratuities - you can ask to have them removed if they're applied automatically, especially if you've received poor service - it's typically considered in poor taste not to tip at the suggested levels (because crew members' salaries, much like servers at your local restaurant, are based on the expectation of tips paid by guests). And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.

Now that you have a good overview of the cruising experience, which cruise line should you choose? Beyond the points we already covered, here are a few additional criteria that might make it easier to pick:

• Embarkation port. You could get a great deal on a cruise, but what will it cost you to get to the port? That could involve airfare, an overnight stay or two in a nearby hotel (so that you're less likely to be affected by travel delays), and transportation from the airport or hotel to the port. This is especially true if you're taking a cruise that departs from an international destination.
• Perks for repeat cruisers. Like frequent flyer programs on airlines, most cruise lines offer benefits the more you sail. If you find yourself absolutely loving cruise vacations, it can be advantageous to put all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Rewards programs can include casino benefits, complimentary meals at the upgraded dining experiences, exclusive sail-away parties with free cocktails and tchotchkes, early-access booking on future cruises, and much more.
• Reputation. It's a really smart idea to see what other travelers have said about their overall experience with a cruise line before booking your trip. The ads on TV may make that private island look amazing, but someone who's been there might point out that you'll pay extra to get on that waterslide. Or, previous cruisers could tell you that despite having several formal nights on the schedule, a particular cruise line has no problem with people showing up to dinner in flip-flops and swimsuit coverups. Find out if the cruise line you're considering lines up in reality with what they advertise.

Here at Top Consumer Reviews, cruising is one of our favorite ways to travel and experience new things. And with so many different cruise lines to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But, don't worry: take a look at our in-depth analysis of today's most popular options, find the one that's the best match for your vacation ideas and your travel party, and book that trip you've been dreaming of. Bon voyage!

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• HAL-Holland America's ms Rotterdam sets sail with 100% biofuel...

HAL-Holland America's ms Rotterdam sets sail with 100% biofuel for Norwegian Fjord cruises

HAL-Holland America Line 's flagship MS Rotterdam has embarked on a significant long-term trial utilizing 100% low carbon intensity biofuel during the current Norwegian Fjords voyages. This initiative represents the latest advancement in Carnival Corporation 's ongoing series of biofuel tests, transitioning from biofuel blends to entirely certified biofuel, mirroring similar efforts in the broader commercial maritime sector.

The passenger ship was supplied with biofuel sourced from feedstocks by GoodFuels and provided by FincoEneries before departing Port Rotterdam, Netherlands , on April 27th.

Constructed by Fincantieri and delivered on July 30, 2021, Rotterdam is among the newest vessels in the industry under Holland America's operation.

Previous trials have demonstrated Rotterdam's ability to operate on biofuels seamlessly, without requiring modifications to the engine or fuel system.

In this initial phase of the test, Rotterdam will utilize biofuel in 1 of her 4 engines during cruises this month, achieving an anticipated 86% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. The biofuel will power the ship as it navigates through Norway's picturesque fjords, including Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord.

Holland America Line has indicated the potential for expanding the use of biofuel to multiple engines as the trial progresses through the summer months.

Holland America Line Begins Pilot Test of Renewable Fuels

• May 2, 2024

Holland America Line has announced the start of a long-term biofuel test on the Rotterdam, leveraging 100 percent low carbon intensity biofuel while sailing within the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords.

According to a company statement, tship bunkered the biofuel before leaving the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, April 27, 2024, and will operate one of its four engines using low carbon intensity oil derived from organic waste or residues and certified according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive while in the Fjords.

The GoodFuels MR1-100 sustainable biofuel supplied by FincoEnergies will yield an estimated 86% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

“Holland America Line is committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and we are excited to demonstrate a next-generation fuel source that can help us toward our pursuit of net zero emissions,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Converting items such as food waste into fuel is an innovative way to meet environmental challenges and we thank the Dutch government for its support.”

The initial tests will occur on one of the ship’s four engines during cruises this month, with the potential to expand to multiple engines during the summer while operating in the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords, specifically Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.

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Everything You Need to Know About the New $49 per day 'Standby' Cruise Fare

Holland America Line is revolutionizing how cruise lovers sail the seas with a new Standby List Program costing travelers a mere $49 per day.

Faith Katunga • May 2, 2024

Holland America Line is revolutionizing how cruise lovers sail the seas with a new Standby List Program. The US-owned cruise line is offering travelers the chance to cruise for a mere $49 per day. This industry-first initiative presents an incredible opportunity for spontaneous adventurers and budget-conscious explorers alike. Here’s the lowdown on how the program works and what you must consider before jumping on board.

The Standby Program Explained

At just $49 per day, excluding taxes, fees, and port expenses, Holland America’s concept is simple. With this offer, cruisers can place their names on a standby list for specific itineraries. If unsold rooms are available, those on the waitlist may be confirmed for a voyage. This program is ideal for those who can pack their bags and set off at a moment’s notice, as confirmation can come as little as two days before departure.

The logic behind these low rates is straightforward. Cruise lines like Holland America prefer to sail with every cabin filled to maximize revenue and efficiency. Since most of a ship’s expenses are fixed, the additional revenue from passengers who spend on board makes filling empty rooms at reduced rates a financially sound strategy.

What’s the Catch?

While this offer sounds like a dream, there are a few caveats to consider. First, you can’t use the standby fares if you’re under 21; that includes families with young children. Second, passengers are not guaranteed a particular room type or location. Plus, they may be assigned to any available stateroom category. Lastly, given the last-minute nature of standby confirmation, it’s recommended for those residing close to departure ports to avoid costly last-minute airfare.

Additionally, the third and fourth guests in a stateroom can travel nearly free, only paying taxes and fees. However, these fares are only available for some cruises. They also tend to be limited to specific ports and times of the year. To participate, you must pay the reduced fare upfront when adding yourself to the standby list.

How to Get on the Standby List

To join the elusive Standby List, you can select an eligible itinerary from Holland America’s list and call 877-724-5425 to sign up. You will receive a full refund if you are not chosen for the cruise. If you are one of the fortunate few, you should expect to hear about your status seven or two days before the cruise leaves.

It’s worth noting that standby fares may not always be the best deal out there. Savvy travelers, or those with the help of travel advisors, may find similar or even lower prices without the restrictions of standby booking. Other cruise lines, like Princess Cruises, offer last-minute deals without adopting a standby program.

Still, Holland America’s $49 per day standby fare can suit the most flexible travelers. However, before you decide to join the Standby List, consider your proximity to departure ports, the unpredictability of cabin assignments, and whether the thrill of spontaneity is worth the gamble.

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The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Call it the cruise line for people who want a big amenity-filled ship that isn't a floating amusement park.

Princess Cruises operates relatively large, reasonably priced vessels. But unlike many of its competitors in that space — most notably Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — it doesn't load them up with sprawling water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag courses and other flashy, family-focused diversions.

Compared to most of its big ship-operating rivals, Princess is known for a more serene, almost old-school style of cruising that isn't about a lot of gee-whiz attractions.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

As Princess executives like to say, the line is all about warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance designed to spark connections among passengers.

Instead of bustling attractions, the top decks on the typical Princess ships offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle. Inside, the experience revolves around dining, classic showroom entertainment and a classy bar and music scene — just as it has on Princess ships for years.

This is, notably, just the way Princess customers like it. Popular with middle-aged couples, retirees and multigenerational families, the "Love Boat" line caters to people who like a more traditional type of cruising than you'll find on the vessels of most other big-ship lines.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

3 things TPG loves about Princess Cruises

• The abundance of outdoor pool and lounge areas on its ships
• Its expansive spas
• Its far-flung itineraries

What we could do without

• The lack of big suites on most of its vessels

The Princess Cruises fleet

Princess has downsized its fleet considerably in recent years with the removal of five vessels, but it's still the world's fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 16 ships that together offer roughly 50,000 berths.

In general, Princess operates big ships, though they're not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the two lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessel, the line's new Sun Princess , measures around 177,000 tons. That's about 29% smaller than the biggest ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The line's Royal Class vessels are more than 40% smaller than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

Sun Princess is, without a doubt, the belle of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer, bigger and more venue-filled than the line's other ships, it debuted in early 2024 and carries 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

Also relatively new and chock-full of lots of venues are the line's five Royal Class ships, which measure between 142,229 and 145,281 tons. These vessels began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers apiece at double occupancy.

Still, the biggest cohort of ships in the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the vessels in this class are smaller than Sun Princess and the Royal Class ships at around 107,000 to 116,000 tons in size. This smaller size allows them to operate a wider range of itineraries than the Royal Class ships, but they're still big enough to offer a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Rounding out the Princess fleet are its two Coral Class ships, which, at around 92,000 tons, are the smallest of the line's ships. They each carry around 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

The downsizing of the Princess fleet over the past few years had a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Three ships left the Princess fleet starting in 2020 as part of an effort to cut costs during the line's coronavirus-caused global shutdown. Another two vessels — Golden Princess and Star Princess — had been scheduled to leave the Princess fleet even before the pandemic began. They were transferred to one of the line's sister companies, P&O Cruises Australia.

The line currently has one more vessel on order that will be a sister to the recently unveiled Sun Princess. To be called Star Princess, it's due to debut in August 2025.

Destinations and itineraries

Princess Cruises sails to more than 100 countries on seven continents, from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia, and it offers a wide range of itineraries — around 170 in a typical year. The line's ships visit more than 380 different ports and destinations and take passengers to more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Among the line's voyages, you'll find everything from three-day sampler cruises down the Pacific Coast to 116-day around-the-world voyages.

Princess is particularly known for cruises to Alaska , where it dominates the market for cruises along with sister line Holland America . In a typical year, Princess deploys seven or eight ships to Alaska in the summer — far more than most other lines. It also operates its own wilderness lodges in the state, as well as tourist trains and buses. It uses the lodges, trains and buses to offer a range of 10- to 17-night Alaska cruisetours that combine a cruise with land-based touring.

Princess also typically deploys five to seven ships to Europe in the summer, and it has a big presence in Australia, where it can deploy as many as six ships for parts of each year. In recent years, it has also become a major player in cruises around Japan that cater to both American and Japanese travelers, as well as Australians.

In North America, Princess ships sail out of Fort Lauderdale; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; Galveston, Texas; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whittier, Alaska. There are also some sailings that depart from New York City, Quebec City and Honolulu.

In Europe, Princess ships mostly sail out of Southampton in the United Kingdom; Copenhagen; Barcelona; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome).

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess Cruises ship

Who sails Princess Cruises

Princess appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 54, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

As noted above, these aren't people necessarily craving go-kart tracks and ropes courses at sea. They're people looking to explore the world in a comfortable, classy sort of way that also is relatively affordable. That last part is key. Princess offers a lot of globe-circling itineraries of the sort often available from high-end luxury lines. However, it does so at a much lower price.

While not the biggest line for families with young children, Princess does draw a lot of multigenerational family groups. It's the line you take if you want an affordable ship that'll appeal to your 70-year-old parents as much as your 12-year-old kid.

Princess also draws a lot of passengers celebrating milestones. The line markets heavily to people marking birthdays and anniversaries with special packages and programs. It's also a huge player in the market for destination weddings at sea, with a division that will help you arrange a ceremony on board or at an exotic location on land during a port call.

Princess was, notably, the first cruise line to host modern-day weddings on ships, offering ceremonies officiated by the ships' captains hosted in onboard chapels.

It is, after all, the "Love Boat" line.

Cabins and suites

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Princess ships fall into one of three broad categories: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins. Balcony cabins, in particular, are widespread on Princess ships. Among mass-market lines, Princess was the pioneer in adding large numbers of balcony cabins to ships.

While balcony cabins are common on Princess ships, you'll find relatively few suites on them. Just 50 of 2,162 cabins on the line's new Sun Princess are suites, for instance, and that's a lot more suites than you'll find on most other Princess ships.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or to pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, the Grand Class vessels each offer two Family Suites that can be created by connecting a Mini-Suite with an adjacent inside cabin to form a six- to eight-person complex.

Unveiled five years ago, Sky Princess featured the line's first truly large stand-alone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. Such suites were added to the line's Discovery Princess, too.

There are two of the suites on each of the ships, and they measure a generous 1,800 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

The line's new Sun Princess also has several large suites that measure as much as 1,260 square feet.

Still, even the biggest suites of Sky Princess, Discovery Princess and Sun Princess aren't the truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest Royal Caribbean or Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships. If that's what you're after, Princess isn't your line.

Related: The 7 best cruise ship suites — picked by someone who has seen them all

Restaurants and dining

Every Princess vessel has three main dining rooms where meals are included in the fare, and these dining rooms are at the heart of the dining experience on Princess ships. Many passengers have all or most of their dinners in a main dining room.

As of this year, the three main dining rooms on each Princess ship operate under different formats. At one of the main rooms, you can make a reservation for any time, provided a table at the time you want is available. To ensure the time you want, it's best to reserve a table far in advance of your sailing, which you can do online once you've paid for the cruise in full. You also can make reservations on board ships during your cruise.

At another of the main dining rooms, you can just show up for dinner at any time without a reservation and be seated on a space-available basis.

The third main dining room on every Princess ship offers a fixed-time "traditional" seating option where you can request the same table at the same time with the same waiter every night of a cruise.

Every vessel also has a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. Near the main pool area on most ships, it's usually called Horizon Court but is also known as the World Fresh Market or Panorama Buffet on some vessels.

Other covered options on at least some Princess ships include poolside pizza outlets and poolside grills serving burgers. Also, on sea days, Princess transforms a bar or dining venue at lunchtime into an included-in-the-fare English-style pub. It serves traditional pub food such as fish and chips and cottage pie, along with Bass Ale or Guinness (for an extra charge).

Every Princess ship also has at least a couple of extra-charge eateries. On most ships, you'll find the line's signature Italian restaurant, Sabatini's. It serves homemade pasta, seafood and other Italian specialties in an elegant setting and comes with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Most Princess ships also have a signature steakhouse. On most vessels, it's called Crown Grill and offers premium beef and seafood cooked to order in an open, theater-style kitchen. On two ships — Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — it's called Sterling Steakhouse, where passengers choose their cut of steak from a tray presented by their waiter.

On two ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — the steakhouse has a Cajun and Creole twist. In addition to steak dishes, the menu features New Orleans-style peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs and gumbo. On those vessels, it's called the Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse.

All the steakhouses come with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Princess ships also offer a chef's table experience — a concept the line pioneered in the cruise world. Costing $95 to $115 per person, it includes pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the ship's galley with the executive chef before a main dining experience at a private table in the dining room.

Another dining option that recently began popping up on Princess ships is a seafood eatery called The Catch by Rudi, designed by Princess' head of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin. (Holland America fans will remember Sodamin as that line's longtime master chef.)

The Catch by Rudi is only on Sun Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess. Like the Princess steakhouses, it has a $45 per person cover charge.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 10 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Princess ships are loaded with entertainment that ranges from Broadway-style theater shows to street entertainers who appear in each vessel's central piazza. That said, they're not floating amusement parks. Unlike some big-ship lines, Princess isn't topping its vessels with waterslides, go-kart tracks, ropes courses and other family-focused attractions.

Theaters and shows

There's no shortage of theater and lounge entertainment on Princess ships. On a typical night, you might find a flashy, fast-paced production show playing in the main theater, a comedian performing in a secondary lounge and live music on offer in several more venues.

In many cases, the main theaters on Princess ships are quite elaborate, with Broadway-show-level lighting and special effects, and the productions housed within the theaters are elaborate, too.

Princess has upped its game with its theater productions in recent years through a partnership with Stephen Schwartz, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Wicked," "Godspell" and "Pippin."

Among new productions that Schwartz has worked on is "The Secret Silk," which features life-size puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, dancing and special effects. It was created and directed by John Tartaglia, a star of Broadway's "Avenue Q" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Princess is also known for its karaoke nights, and it holds a "The Voice of the Ocean" competition during cruises, which is a spinoff of the TV show. Passengers compete in a live performance after karaoke auditions and rehearsal sessions with the shipboard band and backup singers. A team of coaches sits in giant "I Want You" chairs, just like on the show, and passengers vote to choose the winner.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Princess ships are filled with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

On many ships, the hub of activity is the Piazza, a sprawling, multilevel space that serves as a central gathering place, like a square in Italy. The configuration of the Piazza varies by ship, but the area typically offers several shops, a coffee bar called International Cafe, a wine bar called Vines and (on some vessels) additional bars and eateries. The Piazza is also home to roving street performers.

Every Princess ship also has a casino, often just off the Piazza, and spas are big on Princess ships. The Lotus Spa complexes on the line's Royal Class ships offer nearly two dozen treatment rooms, an extensive beauty salon and a thermal suite with a hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, a Turkish-style steam bath and other steam chambers.

Several of the newer Princess ships, including Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess, have jazz clubs called Take 5.

In addition to such venues, Princess offers a lot of enrichment activities on its ships. The line has partnered with Discovery to offer a Discovery at Sea program on vessels that includes activities like stargazing with a specialist from a top deck. The program also brings destination specialists and naturalists on board in places such as Alaska to offer insights.

Inspired by Discovery's popular "Shark Week," Princess has also created Shark Week at Sea programming that runs on select sailings in the summer with activities and games designed to challenge both adults and kids on the myths and interesting facts about sharks.

Culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and dance classes also are popular on Princess ships.

Top-deck attractions

The top decks of most Princess ships are notable for what they don't have: There are no roller coasters or pedal-powered sky rides like you'll find on Carnival ships or the go-kart tracks that top some Norwegian vessels. There are no surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls or zip lines of the sort found on Royal Caribbean vessels. For the most part, there aren't even waterslides or watery splash zones (two vessels, Caribbean Princess and Sun Princess, do have splash zones).

Princess executives long ago decided not to engage in what they call the "amusement park arms race" taking place among lines operating big resort-like ships.

Instead, the line has mostly stuck to the basics with its top decks. They are covered with relaxing pool and lounge zones — and lots of them.

On the last three Royal Class ships, for instance, there's a main pool area at the center of the top deck with two full pools and three hot tubs, plus a secondary pool area at the back of the ship with another pool. There's also an adults-only pool area toward the front of the vessel, along with an extra-charge, adults-only relaxation area called the Sanctuary.

Between all these pool and lounge areas running along the sides of the ship are additional sunning areas with lounge chairs and four more hot tubs.

In short, there is a ton of space for relaxing on the top deck of these newest Princess vessels — more than you'll find on any other ship of comparable size, save for their earlier sisters in the Royal Class.

The one big attraction that you will find on the top deck of Princess ships, always at the main pool area, is a giant Movies Under the Stars movie screen. A growing number of cruise ships now have movie screens on their pool decks, but Princess pioneered the concept.

The screens show movies, concerts and sporting events during the day, but at night, they really shine. In a longtime Princess tradition, the line turns the main pool areas of its ships into outdoor movie theaters at night by reconfiguring lounge chairs to face the screen and bringing out blankets to ward off the evening chill. They even serve popcorn.

Some ships also feature basketball courts, miniature golf putting courses, shuffleboard games and pingpong tables tucked into corners of their top decks.

Additionally, the new Sun Princess has a family-friendly play zone called Park19 with a hang-gliding-like ride experience, a ropes course and the previously mentioned splash zone — quite a bit more family-fun pizazz than has been the norm at the line. For now, it's the outlier in the Princess fleet when it comes to decktop amusements.

Children's programs

While it doesn't draw as many families with young children as Carnival or Royal Caribbean, Princess offers an extensive children's program that gets high marks from parents.

The Princess Youth and Teen centers were recently rebranded "Camp Discovery" as part of the line's partnership with Discovery Communications and offer free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 17.

The line splits children in the program into three age groups: the Treehouse (ages 3 to 7 years), the Lodge (ages 8 to 12 years) and the Beach House (ages 13 to 17 years). Each age group often has its own separate facilities on ships. On some ships, the age groups may be further divided based on available space.

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities, with newly revamped experiences designed to "help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memories."

While the free programming for children ages 3 to 12 ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at shipboard Youth and Teen centers from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. During those hours, they're supervised in what is essentially a group child-sitting service.

The Youth and Teen centers also welcome children under the age of 3 if they are accompanied by an adult.

Related: The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all international itineraries, including world cruises and sailings to Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, the Panama Canal (partial and full transit), Caribbean voyages that visit Martinique or Guadeloupe, the South Pacific and Tahiti.

If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for many domestic itineraries (including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico sailings). You can instead travel with an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, are also acceptable. That said, Princess strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months. The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Where can I cruise without a passport?

Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. (You can also increase the tip amount if so desired.) Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, dining room wine accounts and spas.

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

Princess has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems with landlike speeds across its fleet in recent years, such that you now can stream video on ships. That's the upside. The downside is that such service costs a lot more than Wi-Fi access did in the past. Pricing changes over time, but the line was recently charging $24.99 per day to hook up a single device. That's an enormous increase from as recently as early 2023, when Wi-Fi access was available for just $9.99.

The faster Princess Wi-Fi system is called MedallionNet, and it's one of several technological upgrades that Princess has made to its ships in recent years under an umbrella called MedallionClass. MedallionClass also brings expedited embarkation, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food and beverage delivery, and the ability to locate friends and family on board — all via an app for mobile devices and a Princess-issued medallion that passengers carry while traveling.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

Carry-on drinks policy

Princess allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding at no charge (for consuming in your room; you'll be charged a $20 corkage fee if you want to bring it to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink). You can bring even more bottles of wine on board, but you will pay a $20 corkage fee per bottle.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in cigar lounges, designated sections within nightclubs and at designated slot machines within casinos (for those who are playing). It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be charged a $250 fine per occurrence. One exception to the above rule is that e-cigarettes are allowed in cabins (but not on cabin balconies).

Princess ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3 per load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box. Additionally, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, and some also have European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins.

The currency used on most Princess itineraries is dollars. The exceptions are select sailings on ships based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system, with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a medallion that you can use to make charges. This same card or medallion also is what lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on many Princess itineraries. The exceptions include sailings between ports in Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Singapore, where the drinking age is 18. For cruises between Japanese ports, the drinking age is 20.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

At night, there is an official dress code that is enforced when entering restaurants. Most nights are designated as "smart casual," which Princess takes to mean pants and an open-neck shirt for men and skirts and dresses or slacks for women.

Beach attire, shorts, baseball caps and casual jeans (think: the fraying kind or those with holes) are not allowed. One or more nights per cruise, depending on the cruise length, will be designated as a "formal" night when men are expected to turn out in dark suits with a tie or even a tuxedo. The suggested attire for women on such nights is evening gowns or cocktail dresses.

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Princess Cruises' loyalty program

Princess has a four-tier frequent cruiser program, the Captain's Circle, that is worth joining for the perks — if you're willing to bear with its convoluted tier qualifying structure.

You reach the first tier, Gold, by taking a single cruise. However, from there, you move to each successive tier either by accruing a certain number of "cruise credits" (which aren't necessarily the same as the number of cruises you've taken) or by sailing a certain number of days.

To reach the Ruby level, for instance, requires three cruise credits (more on those in a moment) or 30 days on Princess ships. Platinum status kicks in after five cruise credits or 50 days on ships.

Related: Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle loyalty program: Everything you need to know

In most cases, members earn one cruise credit for every cruise they take. However, members who book a suite or travel solo in a cabin meant for two will receive two cruise credits for the voyage. The number of cruise credits you have earned is thus often the same as the number of cruises you have taken, but not always.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll receive things like an invite to a private party (at the Gold tier) and a free upgrade for your travel insurance package when buying it through the line (at the Ruby tier). However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum, brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, and a free internet package.

The top Elite level (15 cruise credits or 151 cruise days) adds such things as an exclusive window to preview and book new itineraries, priority ship-to-shore water shuttle service, complimentary laundry and a complimentary minibar setup.

Members at all tier levels get access to special pricing on certain cruises. They also receive a monthly newsletter and a membership pin.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Princess passenger staying in suites will hit the Platinum level after just three cruises. The top Elite level is reachable within just eight cruises for someone staying in suites.

Related: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

Princess ships are very reasonably priced. They're not the least expensive vessels out there, but they're not pricey by any means. It's possible to find Princess voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Mexico starting under $100 per person, per night, including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

For instance, as of the date of this story's posting, six-night sailings from Galveston, Texas, to the Western Caribbean in February 2025 started at just $418 per person, not including taxes and fees of $138. That works out to just $93 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October, November (not including Thanksgiving week) and parts of December.

When you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels. Many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance also gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Princess ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance.

Specifically, the line now offers bundle pricing for extra-charge items such as gratuity fees, Wi-Fi fees and a few other fees for onboard items if passengers pay for them in advance.

The line's Princess Plus plan gives passengers prepaid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan, a basic beverage package and a few other freebies for a bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

An enhanced version of the above plan called Princess Premier gives you Wi-Fi access on more devices, a premium drinks package and other additional inclusions for $80 per person, per day.

Most onboard activities, such as theater shows, are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Princess.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure that Princess is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Princess cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual up-to-$300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

Princess offers big, amenity-filled ships that are comfortable and classy at an affordable price.

If you're looking for a lot of top-deck fun zones — waterslides, go-kart tracks and the like — it's probably not the line for you. However, if you're on the hunt for not-too-expensive vessels that will take you to the farthest corners of the world in comfort, Princess ships should be on your shortlist.

It's also a great line if you're trying to put together a multigenerational trip, as its ships are designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups.

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