Eurodam, Getting Ready to Board

I'm on my way to Southampton to board Holland America Line's brand-new ms Eurodam tomorrow and it's going to be a thrill to sail on Holland America Line's first "Signature-class" ship for a week. Our itinerary is unusual because we'll be docked from Sunday through Wednesday in Rotterdam. Eurodam will be christened on Tuesday at 4pm by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, with a Gala Dinner afterward and a huge fireworks display that night. You can be sure that thousands of proud Dutch citizens will be on hand for the festivities.

To prepare for my trip, I've been avidly following the Eurodam News Blog. In the past week Paul Lasley, an award-winning journalist who writes and broadcasts extensively on cruising, has been chatting with members of the Eurodam crew. His "podcasts" on the Eurodam News Blog include interviews with Captain Jeroen van Donselaar, Pam Kern van Donselaar, (Eurodam's tireless blog correspondent, photographer, and Captain van Donselaar's wife), second executive chef, Francis Leong, Neptune Lounge concierge Arturo Bowalan Jr., and Rudi Sodamin, the consulting master chef for Holland America Line. I look forward to seeing them all in person.

Give Paul Lasley's Eurodam podcasts a listen, and if his voice sounds familiar, it’s because he is the producer and host, along with his wife, Elizabeth Harryman, of the iPod art tours available across the Holland America Line fleet.

Don't forget to follow along right here on the Cruise Diva blog for daily reports during the upcoming week from the Eurodam Inaugural Cruise, including the Naming Ceremony and Gala Celebration.

Image Above: Artist's rendering of a Eurodam Spa Stateroom