Floating Paradise Found: ROTTERDAM Decked! 

I'm so happy you found the tour useful and appreciate your kind comment. Hope you have a fantastic time on ROTTERDAM this summer! Thanks again. :)

Thanks so much, Carole! So glad you enjoyed it! :)

Here's to the real Grande Dame, Jimmy! Long may she serve. :)

Wow, that's very kind of you, Victoria! SO glad you enjoyed the presentation. Thanks so much for commenting, too. :)

Dearest Kelly! Thank you so much! I'm so happy you liked it! Your videos have been splendid and so much fun to watch! Love what you do. :)

Thanks so much Franz. I appreciate your kind words. I think we were both on the 5/29 sailing. I enjoyed it very much. :)

Thank you so much, Bud! So glad you enjoyed both videos. The ROTTERDAM has many nice spaces and a great art collection but I do miss those smaller ships. And, yes, what a difference from the classic FAIRSTAR! Thanks again!

Thanks so much, Michael! Wow, those are some of my favorite ships you sailed in. Hope you have a fantastic time on ROTTERDAM 7. :)

Thanks so much for watching and commenting, Kes!

She is one of my favorite ships. I was fortunate to sail in her five times, including her final voyage for HAL and then another cruise when she was REMBRANDT. I'm so happy she has been saved. Can't wait to go back to Rotterdam to see her again. They have done a great job in preserving her.

Thank you so much, Anne K!

Wonderful, thank you for subscribing!

Thanks so much, Deborah! I'm so glad you liked it. Trying to get a bigger audience for the new ships but am always going to be doing the old ones, too. I only have EMERALD SEAS as OCEAN EXPLORER I and will get to her one day. AMERIKANIS, too. Thanks again. :)

Thank you so much, George! So glad you liked it. :)

Thanks so much, Melvin! Appreciate your watching and posting.

I haven't been included in the latest visits, so can't report on QA with much authority but I will say that the ROTTERDAM's obscured promenades are disappointing. Otherwise, I think she is a nice ship for her size. I do hope to visit QA this year and provide some insights on her design. The VOLENDAM has nice proms if you want to go HAL and the Viking Ocean ships have them, as well, although not lined in teak.

Since I posted this video, I've been told that the slots are there only temporarily for a charter. Let's hope so. :)

Thank you very much! Very kind of you. :)

Thank you for watching and commenting. Putting the boats on the deck level saves more unobstructed space above for balconies. At least this ship has a fully encircling promenade, which is better than what most ships are offering these days

Sorry, but if you scroll to 11:32, the balcony in the Vista Suite I was able to access was pretty much identical to the Veranda Suite shown.

Thank you for posting. I understand how you feel about the new versus recent HAL ships. I definitely prefer the size and wraparound proms of the STATENDAM and ROTTERDAM 6 class but this ship does have some very nice spaces. I have been told the slot machines were there for a charter, so hopefully they have been carted away now.

Well, yes but to be on BRITANIS was an incredible experience to have.

Britanis was a beautiful ship

The slot machines were only there for a charter. They are thankfully gone now. :)

@@midshipcinema oh thank goodness. Wonder what kind of charter it was 🤔

i-phone 12.

@@semsemeini7905 Final Cut. :)

Thanks. We all have our favorites.

It has several steam options, including a Hamam but I don't have a specific list of which types are there.

I'm told VI and IV are actually in the captain's office.

@@midshipcinema Thanks for the update. Excellent video! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@@bernardbmbm5391 Thank you, Bernard! :)

Captain Van Drummel was instrumental in getting HAL to buy back Stephen Card's paintings when the ship was sold. He had been Master of Rotterdam (VI) and requested that painting, as well as Rotterdam (IV) to be installed in the Captain's suite.

@@linerrich Thanks, Rich! So glad he did. I cannot imagine that they would have let them go but then nothing surprises me anymore.

As shown in the video, a covered private sitting area with loungers that guests can rent out.

The outside cabanas are called The Retreat. You can rent them by the day or by the length of the cruise. They include a table and chairs to eat inside, two lounges, robes, and slippers as well as Avian water spray misters. You are provided bottles of cold water in a top hat along with a basket of fresh fruit daily, and are alsoserved chilled grapes, choc covered strawberries and champagne in the afternoon (between 2-3). There is a mini continental breakfast (pastries, coffee, juices, water) served there in the morning (I have also seen champagne served there in the morning as well in case you want to make a mimosa) and the wait staff will also bring you lunch (you have menus to view and choose from). There is an outside eating area with tables and chairs, as well as lounge chairs outside if you want to catch some of the sun's rays. They are usually a quiet space (those not having a cabana are usually not permitted entry to this area) if you want to get away from the crowds and noise.

@@captainahab6089 thanks for that info that’s good place for pepole who do not like the noice and the crowds that place wil not work for me I like cabin with a balcony with it that’s all I need

Thanks for posting. Everything shot in this video is genuine and done from my own personal perspective with no input from HAL. I have been a regular HAL cruiser for over 3 decades, going back to the ROTTERDAM V. That said, times have changed and the ships have changed. I prefer the smaller ships but I do think the current ROTTERDAM has some nice touches.