Holland America Line said its latest Signature of Excellence innovation, the addition of lanai-style accommodations aboard the Veendam, has received rave reviews from its guests.
Similar in size to the line's outside-view staterooms, the lanai accommodations, which were added to the Veendam when it was in drydock last March, feature large sliding glass doors with direct access to the Lower Promenade wrap-around teak walking deck. Lanai staterooms will be added to the Rotterdam this year and to three other HAL ships by 2013.
"We are very pleased with the lanai staterooms and the enthusiastic response from our guests," said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. "They have a nice layout and direct deck access, and enhanced views are a major benefit," he added.
The recent addition of the 38 lanai staterooms on Veendam are a key feature in the latest round of Signature of Excellence enhancements at Holland America. Thirty-two new veranda staterooms also were built on the aft portion of the ship, along with eight new inside staterooms. All staterooms aboard Veendam received new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners and resurfaced desks and vanities. Bathrooms saw an "extreme makeover," the line said, with new vanities and cabinetry.
Each lanai stateroom also features reserved deck chairs outside sliding glass doors that have a one-way mirrored coating to ensure privacy.
An additional stateroom enhancement was the creation of 15 spa staterooms -- 12 outside converted to veranda in drydock and three other inside -- featuring a variety of exclusive spa amenities. A countertop water feature in each stateroom provides a natural, ambient background sound, and artwork reflects serene images in nature. Exclusive spa treatments and a spa room service menu are offered only in these staterooms.
Except for the Veendam, completed at the end of April 2009, and the Rotterdam, to be completed in December, stateroom enhancements to the Holland America fleet will be completed in two phases. First, in a series of drydocks in 2010 and 2011, the Maasdam, the Statendam and the Ryndam will receive stateroom upgrades. The second series of drydocks in 2012 and 2013 will add lanai staterooms and new accommodations on the aft portion of the ships, as well as forward veranda and spa staterooms.
The Veendam's capacity increased to 1,350 as a result of the stateroom additions. Guest capacity on the Rotterdam will be 1,404. Capacity on the Statendam, the Maasdam and the Ryndam will increase to 1,350 following the upgrades.