I must confess, day 2 in Rotterdam was consumed by all things SS Rotterdam and Holland America Cruise Lines. We had ended Day 1 coming aboard, checking-in, dinner & drinks, and a little wandering through the public rooms before settling down in the cabin. We had a comfortable room: sitting area, desk space, king-size bed, TV with some English language programming, and a really nice curved-glass enclosed shower. We slept well under feather duvets with the porthole windows open to catch the breeze. But we did find the mattress to be hard as a board! This has been a problem that pops up frequently in European hotels. Could it be we’ve grown old, soft and stiff?
We awoke on day 2 to a bright, warm, sunny day. After breakfast on the outside Lido deck, we took the Engine Room Tour and then followed it up with the Bridge Tour and Ship’s Tour. Roger, of course, loved all the mechanical details; I was more interested in the history and design aspects. It was all fascinating!
And I have pictures:
Model of the SS Rotterdam as she looked in the 1960s.This is the type of whimsy you usually find on a Disney ship. It may look real, but this is a scuplture of a crewman painting the hull! The 4 windows above the painter belong to our cabin #6002.We booked a catagory of cabin billed as former Officer’s Quarters. This is a view of our cabin, #6002. The middle door of the hutch folds down to form a desk. The chair will do double duty at the desk.A view of the siing area.The sleeping area. I’m certain the officer who had this cabin did NOT have a king sized bed!The end of day libation in the First Class Ambassador’s Lounge.Dinner in the Lido RestaurantLook at that photo on the wall. Doesn’t it look like Pat Sajak and Vana White!Breakfast on the Lido Restaurant deckside.This is the promenade deck and that window at the end is the old purser’s office which is now the Ship’s Tour office. It is conveniently located just outside the gift shop!Starting the engine room tour.The engine room tour on the SS Rotterdam. All those white pipes are encased because they contain asbestos. Those red stripes are to remind us that care should be taken to not disturb the casing!!!Starboard Propeller and SpareStabalizer ShaftEngine Room ControlsThe engine room crew quarters.Starting the Bridge Tour.Fire ControlCommunicationsNavigationBridgeCaptain’s QuartersBridge officer’s quarters.Foredeck1000′ of Anchor ChainAll too quickly, the adventure comes to an end and we must depart.Back we go on the water taxi.Back to the New York Hotel Water Taxi Landing.Back to the MS Rotterdam.This time, our end of day libation is on the Lido Pool Deck of the MS Rotterdam during our sail away from Rotterdam.And we wave goodbye to the lovely city of Rotterdam.
RovingRaconteurs.com 