Have you ever all the time needed to remain on board the ship, however you’re a bit afraid of the tough sea? Or are you an avid traveller, who loves exploring uncommon lodging? Maybe you’re in search of a particular resort to remain at throughout your journey to Rotterdam? Look no additional, as a result of I’ve you coated!
The ss Rotterdam is a historic ship become a resort. It used to sail between the Netherlands and New York, beginning in 1959. Whereas staying at that distinctive resort, you possibly can discover it and study the way it was navigated or what individuals had been doing in the course of the lengthy journeys. After staying on it twice, right here is my full ss Rotterdam resort assessment.
ss Rotterdam Resort Evaluate
This put up accommodates some affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my Privateness Coverage for more information. Our keep on ss Rotterdam was complimentary. Nonetheless, as all the time, I’m providing you with an sincere assessment right here.
The ss Rotterdam Historical past
The ss Rotterdam is a historic ship and a former Holland-America ocean liner. Its first voyage was in 1959 when it sailed from Rotterdam to New York. One of many passengers on her maiden voyage was then Princess, later Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The ship stopped getting used as a trans-Atlantic liner in 1968, due to the air journey rising recognition. It turned a cruise ship then, largely crusing to the Caribbean and Alaska, but additionally sometimes occurring world excursions.
The ss Rotterdam was the largest-ever passenger ship constructed within the Netherlands. It lastly retired in 2000. The ship’s future was a bit unsure till 2010 when it obtained a brand new goal as a resort ship in Rotterdam.
Resort Ship in Rotterdam
The ship’s engines aren’t in use anymore, so it will possibly’t sail, and it’s completely docked at its beginning metropolis. It’s a nice four-star resort at this time run by the WestCord Resorts. Throughout each of my stays at ss Rotterdam, the climate wasn’t one of the best, and it was closely raining many of the weekend (how fortunate am I, proper?). So, it was undoubtedly nice to remain at ss Rotterdam due to so many attention-grabbing issues we might do at it.
Boarding the ship
Once I first arrived in entrance of ss Rotterdam, I used to be mesmerised by its measurement. It’s a large 228 metres (748 toes) lengthy ship with ten decks.
There are a couple of entrances to the ship. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to seek out your approach round as a result of employees members are standing in entrance of it. They welcomed us and helped us discover a reception desk. When boarding the ship, it felt like we had been occurring an actual cruise.
Coming into the primary deck, felt like stepping again into historical past. It’s the place a phenomenal wood staircase, sitting areas and a stunning piano, one of many company was enjoying, are. The reception space is adorned with outdated suitcases, and devoted solely to maritime journey. From step one on the ship, I used to be fascinated by its historical past and the splendorous really feel it has.
You instantly really feel the ss Rotterdam isn’t solely an lodging, however you’re turning into part of its distinctive story. Ss Rotterdam is such an integral half, not solely of maritime journey but additionally the Dutch historical past. And you may really feel that on each nook whereas on board that lovely ship.
Resort Rooms on the ss Rotterdam
As with all lodging, the ss Rotterdam gives numerous room varieties. The largest distinction from a daily resort is which you could select a room with or and not using a window.
Each occasions we stayed in a superior room on ss Rotterdam and it was spacious and really snug. As soon as inside it, the one factor which provides out you’re on a ship is small round-shaped home windows. The remainder of it’s on the usual of a 4-star resort. Our mattress was so snug I wouldn’t thoughts staying there for a bit longer. The room additionally had a sitting space with a desk which was very good for having fun with a cup of espresso within the afternoon. It additionally had a working desk, a big closet, and a separate rest room and a rest room. The room had all of the facilities you anticipate from that kind of lodging, just like the TV, protected, hair dryer, iron, kettle, tea and low.
I additionally loved the small issues which make you welcome in a resort. Like, for instance, a handwritten welcome notice and a field of chocolate.
The primary time I stayed in ss Rotterdam it was within the room with a metropolis view and one of many symbols of Rotterdam – Euromast tower. This time, our view was to the opposite aspect, so we loved the view of the Nieuwe Maas River and the ships. Each had been stunning. Nonetheless, if I had to decide on, I’d decide up the town view. You get to benefit from the stunning fashionable structure Rotterdam is residence to. At moments, it virtually felt as if I used to be in New York Metropolis.
⤷ TIP: Watch my Instagram reel for a brief video of the ss Rotterdam resort room.
Communal areas at ss Rotterdam
One thing which additionally units ss Rotterdam other than different lodges is that it nonetheless has a vibe of the cruise ship in a approach it’s organised. It’s not a spot the place you’ll come solely to spend an evening throughout your go to to Rotterdam. Fairly the opposite, it’s a spot you’ll go to the Rotterdam for. And you might simply spend numerous time on it.
Its inside, distinctive double staircase and plenty of artworks on it, just like the mosaics, statues or artwork installations are value exploring across the ship. It’s additionally residence to a number of eating places, bars and cafes.
In its foyer, it has a stunning piano and on the Saturday night of our keep, somebody was enjoying it creating a phenomenal ambiance on board.
You possibly can stroll alongside its open and closed promenades and, in case you’re visiting in the summertime months, even take pleasure in swimming on the pool on one of many decks.
The ss Rotterdam Eating places
The ss Rotterdam is residence to a few good eating places. Throughout my final keep, we each had dinner and breakfast at Lido Grill restaurant. The resort has a unbelievable view of Rotterdam and its skyscrapers. I beloved the restaurant’s romantic dinner ambiance, with candles and dimmed lights. The restaurant gives a pleasant choice of steaks and seafood choices (my favorite!).
We had breakfast on the identical restaurant, which become a comfortable and shiny place the following morning. A wonderful thing about it’s in case you’re a bit undecided about having breakfast whenever you’re reserving a room, it’s potential to resolve on having breakfast within the morning and simply present up on the restaurant.
⤷ TIP: My tip right here is to have breakfast on ss Rotterdam. It’s actually scrumptious and because the boat is a bit dislocated from the town centre and different eating places, it is useful to go for having breakfast on board.
Breakfast was nice, and there have been many various meals choices to select from. You possibly can have scrambled eggs freshly ready for you by the chef. There have been additionally quite a few bread, cheese, fruit, greens and jam choices. I beloved the yummy juices and the nice espresso, they served, too. We completed our breakfast in Dutch model with some hagelslag.
⤷ TIP: Even in case you’re not the ss Rotterdam resort visitor, you possibly can have lunch or dinner at its restaurant. Take a look at all of the ss Rotterdam restaurant choices right here and you should definitely guide a desk, particularly in case you’re visiting over the weekend.
Youngsters actions on ss Rotterdam
Ss Rotterdam is a superb child-friendly resort in Rotterdam, as effectively. Not solely as a result of staying on a historic ship is tremendous enjoyable by itself, but additionally due to the quite a few enjoyable issues for teenagers to do there.
They will play in a playroom on the primary desk. Very conveniently, a pleasant cafe is situated simply across the nook, so the dad and mom can take pleasure in a cup of espresso whereas the youngsters are enjoying.
A number of particular excursions and scavenger hunts are additionally organised for kids on ss Rotterdam.
⤷ TIP: Further actions for teenagers are organised on ss Rotterdam in the course of the faculty holidays. So, you should definitely test them out in case you’re visiting throughout that point.
Tour of ss Rotterdam
Being a historic ship, ss Rotterdam shouldn’t be solely a resort at this time, however some elements of it are used for music and theatre performances, occasions and conferences. Nonetheless, part of it’s used as a museum, and it may very well be visited on a guided tour.
There are a couple of tour choices to select from that are organised each day between 10 am and 5 pm. We went on a Rotterdam Full Tour, which mixes the audio tour, a guided go to to the engine room and an intensive tour across the ship. In every room was an educator telling you the story of that individual space. We obtained to see the theatre room (Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin are simply among the stars performing there), specifically themed cafes and dance room, and essentially the most luxurious areas of the ship. It was so attention-grabbing listening to the tales instructed by individuals so captivated with this historic ship.
The go to to the bridge was particularly good as a result of we had been greeted by the identical educator who confirmed us round 5 years in the past after we visited the final time (so we had slightly reunion and took the ‘then and now’ photographs). We obtained an opportunity to apply sending a message utilizing the Morse code, seeing the captain’s room and realized about navigating such a large ship.
Helpful Ideas for visiting ss Rotterdam
Easy methods to get to ss Rotterdam
The ship is situated a bit outdoors the town centre, some half-hour strolling from the Erasmus Bridge. Nonetheless, it’s also possible to use the metro and a bus to get there. We used Rotterdam Welcome Playing cards throughout our keep, which allowed us to journey totally free with public transport. A very helpful app for navigating public transport within the Netherlands is 9292, though Google Maps works effectively, too.
In case you’re coming by automobile, you possibly can park it at a big parking area in entrance of the ship.
Coming to the ss Rotterdam with the water taxi
Probably the most entertaining and quickest option to get to ss Rotterdam is by water taxi. It stops proper behind ss Rotterdam, and you’ll board on to the ship from the water taxi platform. You possibly can see all of the stops and the right way to contact the water taxi on their web site right here. A single experience worth is 5 euros for adults and a couple of,50 euros for teenagers.
When to go to ss Rotterdam
Any time of the 12 months is a superb time to go to ss Rotterdam. I visited in September and December, and though the climate wasn’t one of the best on both of those visits, I nonetheless loved it to the fullest. In case you’d wish to take pleasure in sunbathing and the outside swimming pool, plan your go to in summer time. Nonetheless, in case you’d wish to get a little bit of the vacation ambiance, go to in December.
Being such an vital a part of Dutch historical past, ss Rotterdam is far more than solely a resort. It’s one of the vital Rotterdam sights. I hope this ss Rotterdam resort assessment gives you extra information about it and enable you to plan your go to to this fascinating resort ship in Rotterdam.
Learn extra in regards to the issues to do in Rotterdam:
Rotterdam with children: Youngster-friendly weekend in Rotterdam
The Dice Homes in Rotterdam
Rotterdam: Metropolis of road artwork & fashionable fashionable structure
Cowl photograph by Manel & Sean on Unsplash
