The first three parts of this series are found at the following dates:
Part 1: Motoring to San Diego, enroute to Hawaii, 05.01.10 *****
Part 2: Washington and Oregon, Enroute to San Diego & Ship 05.01.11 ****
Part 3: Klamath Lake, and then on into California, 05.02.25 *****
The Ship ms Ryndam, Holland America Line
All measurements below are the kind officially used in the United States of America where they don't yet use the metric system. This is because most of the passengers are from the USA, although there are many from a number of countries, including Canadians and Chinese. Canada has officially used the metric system for
many years now, but those of us, like me, who were raised using the English system still understand it best. If you want these measurements converted to metric you'll have to do it for yourself because I can't spend the time and energy needed. :-) Even if you don't, I think you'll still get some idea of the ship's
size and relative sizes of one thing to another from this list.
Gross Tonnage: 55,451 tonsLength: 720 feetWidth: 101 feetDraft: 24 feet 6 inchesBuilt: 1994 Monfalacone, ItalyGuest Capacity: 1,266
Crew: 560Bow Thrust: 2 x 2340 HPStern Thrust: 1 x 2340 HPProps: 2 x 16,300 HP Variable PitchEngines: Diesel ElectricMax. Speed: 21 knots
Decks fron the top deck, down to the hold, and what are to be found there.
Sky Deck: Big outdoor observation area
Sports Deck: Crows Nest, the Lido pool's sliding dome cover, two
practise tennis courts, shuffleboard. Sky Deck
Lido Deck: Lido sun deck, big observation deck, Ocean gym, Ocean spa,
beauty salon, Terrace grill, Lido deck and pool, Dolphin
bar, Lido restaurant
Navigation Deck: Many staterooms. The Bridge and an outside deck swimming
pool)
Verandah Deck: Many staterooms
Upper Promenade Deck: No staterooms. Formal upper level Rotterdam dining room,
shopping arcade, boutique, Vermeer shop, kiosk, lounges,
library, large outdoor Vermeer balcony, casino, casino
bar, Piano bar, Ocean bar, puzzle room, card room,
Explorers lounge, vido arcade, two meeting rooms: Kings
Room and Queen's Room.
Promenade Deck No staterooms. Formal lower level Rotterdam dining room,
Vermeer lounge, photo Gallery, front office, shore
excursions, The Atrium, Java Cafe, Wajang movie theatre,
2 meeting rooms: Hudson Room and Half Moon room. Above
outside walking decks on each side on this level are
suspended the life-boats and covered, motorized boats for
going ashore when not at a dock
Lower Promenade Deck: Many staterooms
Main Deck Many staterooms
A Deck Many staterooms
There are two more lower decks, and then the hold, below A deck. They are for crew only.
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There are wide carpeted stairways in the main areas and elevators on all floors.
Also public washrooms. A feature of these are stacks of small clean terryclothhand towels to be thrown into a bin to be washed after any use.
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Our stateroom was on the Lower Promenade deck. It had a big, wide window with a
deep ledge, curtains and heavy drapes, twin beds, a night table between them, a
2 person sofa with a little fixed table before it on which was kept a bowl of fresh fruit such as apples, pears, oranges. There was a round footstool and things could be stored inside of it. A dressing table with mirror and lights. On the dressing table was ship information, an ice pail, bottled water and cans of pop. (If you used the water or pop you paid for it on your final bill.) There was a small arm-chair which could be used at the dressing table.
An entry hall had the powder room on one side. This contained a sink in a counter-top with shelves above and a 2 way mirror and a hair dryer and good lights, toilet, shelf of towels, bath-tub and shower.
Opposite this on the other side of the narrow hall were closets. They had mirrors on the inside of the doors so you could see yourself when fully dressed. On
the top shelves were life jackets, extra blankets, and so on. There was a smallsafe for valuables, shelves and space with wooden hangers for each of us to hang
our long clothing or shorter clothing. Suitcases could be stored here in the bottom, or under the beds. Everything was very compact, and it was amazing how they managed to get all of this into quite a small space, but not as small as in
a sleeping car of a train.
Uncle Ben and I didn't go to the video arcade or the casino. We went to one of
the bars in the evening, where a trio played classical European music. We usually had a couple of drinks, he likes fresh lime with tonic water and not too much
ice, and I like a mixed drink with no alcohol either.
I borrowed books from the library. We used the card room to talk to a new friend one night after dinner. We enjoyed two movies and a presentation about the ship in the Wajang Theatre. Outside the theatre there was an old-fashioned popcorn cart.
The shopping arcade had interesting and informative information about pearls especially for this trip to Hawaii, and about amber for the same ship's voyages toRussia.
We received first sitting in the dining room, as requested when we booked. We went to a lecture each morning on some interesting subject. Ben spent time in the pool and sauna. We both spent a lot of time on deck.
We ate breakfast and sometimes lunch from the huge buffet on the Lido deck and dinner and sometimes lunch in the formal dining room. Every day a couple of little newspapers arrived under your door. One was daily news in brief, the other told things about the ship, and especially what kind of clothing was expected in
the dining room in the evening. Sometimes formal, sometimes, semi, and sometimes casual.
I went to high tea at 4 pm a couple of times in the dining room, and once with Ben. We met a lot of people. It was fun.
I'll tell you more about the trip in a later post.
End of part 4
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