Holland America Line ms Veendam

Explorer’s Lounge

Located along a central traffic corridor on Deck 8, this lounge was usually empty during the day—a good place to catch up on reading when the nearby Explorations Café was busy. A few one-off events were held here, including introductory Tai Chi and Meditation sessions, along with a few seminars that ended in spa or merchandize pitches such as one on acupuncture and another dedicated to Diamonds, Watches and Exotic Gemstones.

But in the evening, the Adagio Strings—the ship’s string quarter—played classical music and light standards. An attendant manned the informal bar setup that featured coffee drinks, cognac, port, cheese and crackers. It was a very comfortable place to hang out before or after dinner in the adjacent Rotterdam Dining Room.