Length:<\/em> 936 feet
Beam:<\/em> 105.8 feet
Maximum speed: <\/em>24 knots (service at 22 knots)
Ship’s Registry: <\/em>The Netherlands
Passenger capacity:<\/em> 1,918
Crew:<\/em> 800<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-312.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-313.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat all this means is that it is a large ship and that there were more than 1500 other passengers taking this trip. Surprisingly, you seldom felt like you were in a crowd. This is what impressed me the most. You never had to wait in line. The organization is impressive! I never heard people complaining\u2026The staff is everywhere ready to make things easy and smooth, be it at the dining room, the reception desk, the pool, your stateroom, the bars\u2026everywhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our stateroom was not large, but it had a verandah so it felt less claustrophobic. Every night when we returned, there was a different towel animal waiting on the bed, often with chocolates for eyes\u2026
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-314.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-315.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-316.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-317.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat I feel is the most striking feature of Holland America is their art collections. The Noordam has over 2 million dollars worth of art on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had heard that the ships have iPod audio guides to walk you through it all as in a museum, so that was one of the first things I tried once I got on board. It was a good way to familiarize myself with my surroundings and to make sure I did not miss any of the important pieces of artwork displayed throughout the vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are museum-quality paintings such as an oil painting of the city of Utrecht dated 1842. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the staircase there is a collection of paintings depicting Holland ships of years gone by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-318.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-319.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most valuable pieces of furniture onboard the ship is a chest made in 1885 and inlaid with ebony and precious stones flanked by carved wooden 17th-century Baroque columns.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-320.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-321.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn our rooms there were reproductions of details from the Taj Mahal,
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-322.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is a different Andy Warhol print on several ships. On this one it is one of the Dutch queen.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-323.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are marble sculptures, bronzes, strange montages and even old woodcarvings.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-324.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-325.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-326.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-327.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI loved these caryatids\u2026
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-328.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI am not sure what this piece is but it was part of a pair.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-329.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are scaled ship models,
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-330.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEverywhere you look there is art: on ceilings, on furniture, even barstools\u2026
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-331.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn every cruise ship the main foyer is always the place to display a key decorating element and this one is no exception.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-332.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-333.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is a very large library \/ Internet caf\u00e9 on the Noordam with reference books and atlases as well as all the latest magazines. Speaking of which, everyday we received a newspaper, which was geared, towards our country of origin\u2026. (With local news as well as sports results).
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-334.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf course there is a pool, as a matter of fact there are 2, but this one has a retractable roof, which is very convenient.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-335.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is a culinary institute on board several Holland ships. Of course I attended all the free demonstrations that I could and also signed up for a hands on class with the Pinnacle grill chef. That was a lot more fun\u2026although I felt he mixed too many flavors in one dish\u2026it was still worth it.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-336.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe also attended a flower arranging demonstration and that drew my attention to all the flower displays on board. So from then on I took photos as with the art pieces\u2026
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-337.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-338.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-339.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat about the food, people ask\u2026well it was good. Definitely better than any of the other cruise lines I have tried. The chefs are magicians with meat, especially beef\u2026. and lamb. Their pasta was very nice as was their seafood. Their only weakness as far as I can tell has to be with pastry. Their desserts were never the roll over and beg kind\u2026even if it was always decent\u2026 The dining room staff was efficient and pleasant. They \u201cforced\u201d you to use their sanitizer every time you walked in. When you walked out after dinner there was a display of dried fruit, and candied ginger that I loved. The buffets were varied and tasty. There were the usual: Asian, Italian, salads, deli etc, their ice cream was good. I loved that even if it is supposed to be a serve yourself, there was always someone to serve you so that you did not have to juggle your plate and the serving utensils. We usually took our tray outside by the pool to eat and that was always pleasant. We tried the Pinnacle grill once (that is their upscale dining room that costs an extra). It truly is an experience. Even the china is pretty\u2026. and they bring a tray of chocolate truffles at the end of the meal\u2026
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-340.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAfternoon tea was nice and relaxed with classical music and white-gloved service of tea sandwiches and petits fours\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also late night buffets of course; one was a Mediterranean extravaganza, one was a dessert buffet, \u2026 I loved this cheesecake with chocolate mice on it
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-341.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-342.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere is a variety of activities on a cruise ship, from a casino, to a cinema, from conferences and demonstrations to games and contests, from shows to competitions but on Holland there is one activity that I took part in and that I found very moving, it is an the deck for the cure. A 5km walk around the ship to collect money for breast cancer research. To register you made a small donation to the Holland breast cancer research fund. Everyone was given a T-shirts. The gathering of participants before the race was very touching as some people talked about how their lives had been changed because of breast cancer. Then the survivors were asked to take place at the head of the group and we were off. We ran around the ship 9 times in order to complete 5 km.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flyingplates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/image-343.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI did not visit the mechanical rooms of the ship but what amuses me is that with all the science and technology, you still need human beings to catch the ropes and cables that tie the ship to the pier.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n