Having only come off Holland America Line's Westerdam late last year, I can attest to the significance of its recent 12-day refurbishment.
The results are dramatic.
"We have many innovative new programs and enhancements launching across the fleet, and it's exciting to see them finally come to life on Westerdam, which is the first Holland America Line ship to get Rijksmuseum at Sea and EXC," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president, in a press release.
"Holland America Line is in a transformative era, and that will be reflected in on board spaces over the coming years as ships are updated with new venues and programming that are moving our brand forward."
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The work was completed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy to introduce some of the brand's new concepts to the fleet for the first time-mainly EXC (Explorations Central) and Rijksmuseum at Sea.
Also among the improvements were the addition of Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard to complete Music Walk, as well as the Gallery Bar. Lots of other enhancements were made ship-wide, including 25 extra staterooms.
EXC (Explorations Central)
EXC (Explorations Central) has now taken up residence in the Crow's Nest and has modernized not just the observation lounge but the destination experience as well. From my own observation, the seating is vastly improved thanks to the removal of the senseless inward-facing benches along the windows in favor of furniture that can be turned to look out.
Plus, from a functional standpoint, the former Explorations Cafe has folded into the central bar to make new room for all sorts of interactive resources. There's even a Virtual Bridge with readouts of the live navigation instrumentation below. All the while, the EXC programming extends to an EXC Team, EXC Tours, EXC Destination Guides, EXC Channel and Theater EXC.
Rijksmuseum at Sea
The guest services lobby has been redecorated to become the line's first Rijksmuseum at Sea in partnership with the Museum of the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Celebrating the brand's Dutch heritage are reproductions-some fantastically oversized-of the collections' masterpieces.
The atrium is now activated in a new way, and guests can learn more via video on their in-stateroom televisions.
Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard
Music Walk is now fully realized on Westerdam with Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard joining the existing B.B. King's Blues Club.
The new Lincoln Center venue displaces half of the former Explorer's Lounge where chamber music was featured previously and continues to be elevated, while the Billboard space takes over that once occupied by the Piano Bar and Sports Bar. Appropriately, dueling piano music is now center stage while interesting music industry data is displayed.
Gallery Bar
Making better use of the once underutilized Northern Lights Night Club is now the Gallery Bar as a cool gathering place surrounded by diverse portrait, landscape, still life and abstract art. Meanwhile, exclusive cocktails on the menu come from celebrity mixologist Dale DeGroff.
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The Retreat
With the addition of new staterooms on Deck 10, The Retreat was relocated to Deck 11. 15 private cabanas can be rented here for a quiet private sanctuary.
America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen also finalized its setting.
When we were last on board, it was still mostly an overlay of the previous Culinary Arts Center. Now, refreshed gray and red colors and show kitchen updates join new cooking demo guest tables and chairs. The collaboration with the television program showcases cooking demonstrations and hands-on workshops.
Lido Market
Also enhanced is the Lido Market buffet with different themed stations from fresh breads to comfort food. For example, international cuisine is featured at Distant Lands, salads are spotlit at Wild Harvest and desserts are served at Sweet Spot.
Staterooms and Suites
Of the 25 newly added staterooms, 18 are veranda and seven are interior varieties. Ship-wide, large LED flat-screen TVs were installed for a new interactive television system with free on-demand movies and TV shows. Also accessible are the daily program and information like restaurant overviews, spa services and guest accounts.
What's more, suites received the fleet-wide enhancements including new headboards, carpet, wall coverings, privacy curtains and bed runners and skirts. Quartz stone surfaces now top the desks, dressers, nightstands and vanities. Bathrooms also got updated with glass and floor tiles, a new vanity area and nightlight.
Additional suite enhancements are new vanity lighting, USB headboard outlets, bedside LED lights, upgraded electrical outlets and a lit closet rod.
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Other Improvements
Rounding out the work completed on Westerdam are updates to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, as well as Club HAL and The Loft. Other public areas got new soft furnishings like carpets, drapery, chairs and sofas with outside areas specifically receiving new pool deck loungers, teak decking and the revised Holland America Line logo on the funnels.
Westerdam is currently sailing in the Mediterranean on 12-day routes between Barcelona, Spain and Venice or Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
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