HAL's first Signature class ship with poolside cabanas takes contemporary European design and creature comforts to a new level.

After more than a century of operations in Rotterdam, Holland as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, Holland America Lines followed the vacation cruise industry to the U.S., becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines in 1989. The brand, whose 14 ships now sail to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, has come full circle for its 135th anniversary, celebrating its European heritage at a time when the entire industry is courting the affluent European market. With a full cadre of international press and travel agents, we watched as HAL's latest vessel, the gracious ms Eurodam, was christened in July 2008 by Queen Beatrix of Holland. Moored next to the squat mid-19th century Holland-Amerika Ligne warehouse along Rotterdam's port, ms Eurodam -- at 86,700 gross tonnes, 11 stories and 1,052 staterooms -- appears to be a sleek, streamlined beauty.

Décor

ms Eurodam is decorated with the nautical paintings, large sculptures, gilded lighting fixtures, and cacaphony of patterned carpets used in preceding Vista class ships, Zuiderdam and Noordam, but with a contemporary European restraint attributed to a new Danish design team. To mitigate the increased number of passengers, several more intimate dining and entertainment venues have been established in oceanview lounges and screened off seating areas. Cabins feature the line's rich wood paneling, flat screen TVs, pillow-top mattresses and marble sinks. Art lovers can pick up an iPod pre-loaded with a walking tour of the ship's collection. We admired small nautical prints, striking Venetian glass, and some amusing collages tucked into showcases -- evidence of the detail that went into this ship's design. Even the main swimming pool sculpture, typically a frolicking dolphin or polar bear, has been replaced by a solemn marble sculpture/waterfall that resembles an ancient funerary stele.

Staterooms

The deluxe verandah cabin we occupied on the Eurodam's debut cruise from Rotterdam to Copenhagen had a large balcony that was the ideal place to admire the changing banks of the Rhine and Elbe waterways. The 200-square-foot stateroom was luxurious for two adults and boasted plenty of closet and drawer space; some have a daybed to sleep a child and all have bathtubs. A big ticket alternative that provides more space -- and those delightful verandahs for everyone -- is to book a junior suite with sofabed with an adjoining twin-bedded cabin.

Families who invest in a suite are given access to the Neptune Lounge, where concierges assist with fine dining reservations and maintain snacks, drinks, hors d'oeuvres and more for a discrete number of cabins. For a daily fee, families can also splurge on the fun poolside cabanas on the Lido Deck. In these private tent-like gathering areas, guests can experience many amenities previously reserved for cabins, such as a mini-fridge, room service, ceiling fan and chaise lounges.

Tip: With young children, families will get more bang for their buck in interior rooms (where two single beds can be made up from the seating areas); kids will likely spend all their waking hours in the children's program. Forget the in-room WiFi; limit internet access to sessions in the cybercafe, where parents can drink while teens sip on mochaccinos and use the ship's computers. WiFi coverage is spotty and expensive.

Dining

HAL ships are known for their excellent food, and their signature gourmet eatery is the Pinnacle Grill, a romantic and elegant, premium-priced a la carte restaurant with fine steaks, Alaskan salmon and an extensive wine list. The vast two-story Rembrandt Dining Room is where you'll have an assigned seating time (this is flexible) and table, with waiters who will become your kids' best friends. But the m.s. Eurodam offers enhanced dining choices that you should take advantage of, especially if your party is celebrating a family milestone. Tamarind is a high-style, pan-Asian venue serving a variety of popular Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare, such as a Rijsttafel, satay, seafood, sushi and various noodle dishes. The premium here is $15 pp, as opposed to the $30 pp tariff at the Pinnacle. The family-friendly Canaletto is an Italian dinner restaurant tucked into a quiet corner of the Lido (where major buffets are served three times a day). At dinner, Canaletto presents fresh pastas, salads and changing antipasto dishes, and there's no extra fee. The poolside snackbar has been upgraded into the more sophisticated Slice, where custom-made pizzas are served throughout the day, and the Terrace Grill is offering a new lunch menu.

Tip: The Asian-inspired Tamarind costs extra only at dinner, so book ahead for a fancy lunch during your day at sea. Kids will especially enjoy the yummy dim sum and fruity mocktails. All the a la carte restaurants should be booked as soon as you board the ship to ensure some variety, but having said that, our family has flourished on past HAL cruises by eating delicious meals at the classic Rembrandt and Lido.

Kids Club

Expanded family amenities cater to grands and/or parents traveling with infants to teens. Club HAL's supervised program serves kids 3 to 12-years in a maze of colorful rooms on the 10th floor Lido Deck. From bright orange stools (Holland's own color) to flat screen computers, comfy furnishings and age appropriate climb-on toys for little ones, this is a larger and more fun area than on previous HAL ships.Tweens ages 8-12 have arcade games, more computers and video games, foosball and Karaoke, in addition to mini-golf on deck, swim parties and access to the new Culinary Arts Center for 5-minute classes in pizza and snack making. Teens can also hang in their own secluded space, The Loft, to dance, IM or just meet fellow sailors.

Infants from 6-months are being welcomed aboard. Guaranteed group babysitting ($5/HR) is available nightly from 10pm to midnight while siblings ages 3 and up play in Club HAL's supervised "after hours" program; at other times, private caregivers are available on a first-come basis ($8/HR). A physician and nurses man the ship's clinic in case young sailors have trouble at sea.

Spa

The line's Green Door Spa & Salon offers a fitness center that's larger than on any other HAL ship, with great seaviews from the treadmills. There's a well appointed sauna, steam and thermal room; and a Tui Na relaxation lounge. The large thalassotherapy pool is filled with warm water and massage jets; pricey day passes are available for those who just want to soak or recline on the heated ceramic chairs.

HAL's 46 Spa Cabins are adjacent to and above the Green Door on the 10th and 11th decks. In addition to the same stateroom configurations, there are organic fabrics, aromatherapy pillows, toiletries, healthy snacks and other wellness items to comfort guests.

Tip: Those who register for aquarobics classes at a nominal fee get free use of the thalassotherapy pool for the day, a good deal. Also note that ms Eurodam has a small adults-only pool on the 11th floor spa deck with its own chaise lounges, where you can usually find a seat.

Play Areas

If your family is into mild recreation, there's shuffleboard, a deckside chess set, and a half basketball court that sees some action from the teens. But HAL guests are usually more interested in the latte choices at the Explorations cybercafe sponsored by the (digital) New York Times. On ms Eurodam, it's housed in the Crow's Nest, the uppermost lounge with the best sunset views. The Culinary Arts Center gives simple cooking classes on sea days that also draw a large crowd. Just as computers have played a larger onboard role for kids (DVD screenings, X-Box consoles, IMing machines), so they have for entertaining adults, with an innovative, no-fee HAL Digital Workshop designed by Microsoft Windows. With the help of "techsperts," passengers learn to use memory cards, download and store photos, blog, edit digital movie clips; it's a real conversation starter.

Entertainment

More babysitting enables new parents to enjoy the casino and nightly high calibre shows. We saw a few song and dance reviews that were very high energy, done in a fun cabaret style with lots of costuming and dance moves. HAL is known for its quieter pleasures: the scrumptious Kir Royales produced at the Pinnacle Bar, crooners at the nightly piano bar, friendly bartenders at the sports bar, even chatty baristas at Explorations. The Silk Den is the pretty new lounge outside the Tamarind Restaurant; it's romantic and the place to sip on saketinis.

Passengers can also try the ms Eurodam Casino, where the five blackjack tables see most of the action.

Service

Service from the skillful crew (often experienced workers transferred from other vessels) is friendly and impeccable. HAL's staff is largely Indonesian and Philippino, and their obvious affection for children makes kids of all ages feel at home and, even more important, special. On ms Eurodam, 929 crew serve a full ship of 2,104.

Prices & Details

After its debut in Rotterdam and maiden voyage in the Baltic region, ms Eurodam crossed the Atlantic to offer Canada and New England sailings from New York. Beginning in October 2008, she will sail to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean on three to seven-day itineraries.

Rates vary by season and itinerary, and will remain at a premium over HAL's Vista class ships for the near future. Note that the line has begun a "Family Reunion Program" promising specially reduced group rates; upgrades for those who book eight or more cabins; a Fountain soda card (good for 20 beverages) for every family member; a festive lunch for all in the ship's gourmet Pinnacle Grill, and other perks. For more information on m.s. Eurodam's schedule and special Family Reunion fares, contact your travel agent or HAL agents directly through www.hollandamerica.com or by calling 877/724-5425.