Eurodam for Kids?

[Queen of Oakville]

In hindisght, i probably booked the Eurodam to hastily without confirming that there will be lots to occupy our kids.

So, I know they have the kids club (my daughter will probably partake, but my son will likely want to hang with us). We do want to spend a lot of family time together.

I recall that there was a movie theater, but do they play any "G" movies?

I'm pretty sure there is no water slide nor mini-golf. Other than the swimmign pools, are there many family activities? My kids will be 5 and 3 when we sail next month.

[big apple]

We just got off the Eurodam and there appeared to be many activities for children of younger ages and Holland has done a good job in this area to appeal to more families with small children and they are not a bother to other cruisers.Would get them both involved.

[Queen of Oakville]

Hey Big Apple - how was your cruise? I've been reading some bad reviews lately at CC, and it has me kinda worried.

[big apple]

First of all Eurodam is a class act and we have 108 days with this line and we were upgraded from obstructed view to a Veranda Aft deluxe room with a balcony twice the size of regular. Boarding was one of the best ever and we arrived at 10:00 and on board with first group.There are many activities to choose from cooking schools,computer classes, camera help etc.Piano bar well attended each night with wide assortment of sing along songs.Fresh flowers everywhere to include dining table.Holland has moved their average age of cruisers from 65 to 55 over the last 10 yrs.Ate at both Tamarind and Pinnacle and both out of this world.Do not concern yourself with reviews from CC and we did have a special meeting attended by cruise director and hotel mgr with gratis drinks.Departing the ship was right on time to the minute.

[CruisingAuthority]

I just returned from the Nieuw Amsterdam which is nearly identical to the Eurodam and I made a video specifically about families cruising on t his ship and Holland America Line. I hope you enjoy the video:

YouTube - Nieuw Amsterdam Family Cruise

[Queen of Oakville]

I watched your video - nice!

[suse]

The number of kids on board will vary according to the week you sail. However, I think you'll have a nice ratio of staff to kids anyway. There are usually less kids on HAL than on other lines.

[Ryan N Olivia]

Don't get caught up with the reviews. I always read the professional reviews because it seems some reviewers allow their personal preferences distract their cruise experience. The Eurodam has a lot of great reviews posted on CC with a few negative. You're going to get that anywhere. Take a look at the recent Solstice reviews; they have been getting some negative reviews too. It seems some people are never satisfied.

[CruisingAuthority]

Yes it's helpful to read the professional reviews...I rarely read consumer reviews because one never knows the level of experience with cruising that person might have. Having been on 300+ cruises, the accumulation of my experience gives me a better average of understanding of what the ships are like, the level of services etc. whereas a consumer who may have been on three or four cruises just doesn't have the expertise for comparing...generally speaking. Of course there are some exceptions, and some interesting perspectives that a consumer might be able to add, which is why I only occasionally read reviews from the consumer. Sorry, I felt like I babbled on that response.

[Queen of Oakville]

You know what, you are right. When we cruised Carnival DREAM last year, it was laden with poor reviews too, and we had a great time! I kept looking for that "Sewage" smell that everyone complained about and (thankfully) never found it.

Okay, open heart and open mind, ready to have a good time. I need to check my siggy after this posts for the # of days till we sail!

[sail7seas]

We booked a cruise on Eurodam when she was about 6 months old out of curiousity to see HAL's newest (at that time) ship. We have sailed a great many times on HAL.

We loved that cruise and ship so much, we have sailed her four more cruises since and now have booked a b-to-b on her new sister, Nieuw Amsterdam.

The kids love the Club HAl on the ships and your children probably will be very happy with the Club HAL staff and activities they offer the kids. Of course, unless you are sailing school vacation, it's hard to know if there will be many other children.

[CruisingAuthority]

Here's part two of our Nieuw Amsterdam video:
YouTube - Nieuw Amsterdam Part TWO