Holland America Line ms Veendam

Page 35

The Showroom at Sea

Overview

The main showroom for Veendam on decks 7 and 8 was bathed in red and gold tones, an appealing setting for evening entertainment and other events. Best seats were those on the lower level, down front; this was also where the sound mix was least problematic. The balcony was a different matter: With low backs and configured in wavy rows, these seats were not comfortable for extended periods (though most or all shows were under an hour) and other than the front rows, most balcony seats didn’t have clear sightlines to the stage. Further, the sound system—with vocals particularly over-miked—was especially poor in the balcony.

Shows & Performances

Geared to an audience in their 60s and up, we found the conservative evening entertainment on Veendam to be overdue for an overhaul. A tribute to show tunes one evening trotted out standards ranging from “If They Could See Me Now” to “Send in the Clowns,” each rendered in increasingly dramatic fashion. Highlight of the uninspired Bob Mackie tribute was a review of songs from “Hair,” and it was all downhill from there. Stitched together with one incredibly lame joke after another, the show was—in a word—embarrassing. We felt sorry for the several performers and musicians worth listening to; we just wished they had fresher material and staging to work with.