It's not a secret that all of us dream of an unforgettable rest. That means we should bring something new in our life, change the situation. Holland America can help you! Needless to say that traveling by ship helps you  get into another world. Every Holland America ship lives its own interesting life. Holland America Line leads the cruise industry premium niche by offering virtually unlimited cruise and cruisetour options that span the globe and satisfy every traveler's appetite for exploration. Holland America Line does everything to make a special atmosphere on its ships. It cares about comfort and cosiness. That is why traveling on these ships does your holiday unforgettable.

Holland America cruise ships are: • Amsterdam • Maasdam • Noordam • Oosterdam • Prinsendam • Rotterdam • Ryndam • Statendam • Veendam • Volendam • Westerdam • Zaandam • Zuiderdam Holland America may now be a U.S.-based cruise line but it continues to maintain strong ties with its Netherlands heritage. Holland America ships -- since the 1890's and continuing today -- bear the suffix "dam". Most of the names are inspired for actual dams that traverse the rivers of the Netherlands. In other cases, such as with its Vista class of ships, the names represent points of the compass (Oosterdam is East, Westerdam is West, Noordam is North, etc.). Many of the names are in their fourth, fifth or sixth incarnations. The Oosterdam is the second in the line's Vista class of ships, the largest in Holland America's history. The third Vista-class ship, the Westerdam, was launched in April 2004, and a fourth, to be named the Noordam, is scheduled for January 2006. We won't go into details and tell you about all ships.

We'll give you a demonstration example. Let's acquaint ourselves with a very interesting life of Oosterdam! Its destinations are Alaska/British Columbia, Caribbean - Eastern, Mexican Riviera. Oosterdam (that's "oh" as opposed to "ooh") is a big, beautiful vessel where all the bells and whistles of a 21st century cruise ship meet this once oh-so-staid company's impressive 130-year maritime history - and everyone wins. Highlights include the four elegant exterior glass elevators which look out over the sea, a newly formatted, easy-to-read ship newspaper and program, and the beautiful signature Crow's Nest placed forward on Deck 10. Other innovative features are rapidly catching on with repeat passengers and first-timers alike. Among these include a revamped Lido, the creation of a nightclub (so loud, late-night music doesn't scare away Crow's Nesters), and a slightly different pattern of public rooms. The Lido on the Oosterdam offers that proverbial something for everyone: Breakfast options include full breakfast, continental and omelet stations. Then at lunch, passengers can choose from salads, Asian specialties, pasta and pizza, deli fixings for sandwiches, a traditional buffet line, a grill and a Taco/Fajita bar. Undoubtedly it wouldn't be Holland America without the complimentary ice cream and yogurt bar. Casual dining is offered nightly in the Lido and seems to be very well attended. Passengers choose their salads and starters from a buffet and then order an entree, which is brought to the linen-covered table of your choice. All cabins offer hair dryers, television sets with CNN and a number of films, nice toiletries and good service. All also feature in-room computer data ports. Oosterdam's entertainment is varied: from big production features two nights during the week to individual performers ranging from comics to illusionists. The Vista class ships are not the only news from the line of late.

Holland America Cruise Lines has started a program of up scaling their cruise ships, cruise line image and passenger cruise experience. This plan is called the Signature of Excellence program and will quickly be experienced by passengers on all Holland America cruise ships. Premium cruising aboard Holland America's fleet will be improved by modern facilities and public areas. Included are stateroom amenities, luxury beds and bed linens. Every Holland America cruise ship will have the Neptune Lounge, Pinnacle Grill, the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, and a Culinary Arts Center. So far, Holland America has finished the program on six of their premium cruise ships - Prinsendam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Westerdam, and Zaandam. While Holland America offers many consistent features across the fleet, its 13 ships do offer varied onboard ambiances. First up - and garnering the lion's share of hype - is the company's ultra-contemporary Vista class of vessels. The first in the 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Vista class of ships was the Zuiderdam, which entered service in 2003. The Oosterdam debuted in 2003, followed by Westerdam April 2004. Highlights of the Vista class include ocean views in 85 percent of the staterooms, and verandahs in 65 percent of the staterooms.

Almost as contemporary are the 60,000-ton, 1,440-passenger sister ships Zaandam and Volendam. The ships debuted in 1999 and 2000, sandwiched in between the launch of the line's Rotterdam and Statendam classes of ships. The Rotterdam class consists of the line's two flagships, the 1,316-passenger Rotterdam and the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam, built in 1997 and 2000, respectively. (Both ships are 780 feet long and approximately 60,000 tons.) As flagships, the Rotterdam and Amsterdam were designed to show off Holland America at its best, and most opulent. The Statendam class of Holland America cruise ships includes the Statendam, the Maasdam, the Ryndam and Veendam, which entered service from 1993 - 1996. The Statendam class ships feature two-level dining rooms, large atriums, and a Java Cafe and Internet cafe. Holland America purchased the 793-passenger Prinsendam in 2002. The Prinsendam's promenade deck, with its unobstructed views, is one of the nicest on the seas.

Summing it up, we want to say that Holland America cruise ships are individual. Every ship has its own style, its own character. So you should reach the right correlation and choose "your" ship. In this case you'll get a harmonious and unforgettable rest.