We opted to purchase the $39 per person transfers from the airport in Barcelona to the ship from Holland America upon booking the cruise. As soon as we exited the immigration area, we saw the friendly folks holding up signs for Holland America. This transfer process was fairly seamless, and we were transported from the airport to the pier for check in. For able bodied passengers who want to save between twenty five to forty dollars, and are not afraid of a little effort, I would highly recommend exchanging for Euros and taking a taxi from the airport to the pier directly.

The check in process at the pier took a couple of minutes. Our photos were taken, and we were given our ship identification card to be used as our room key, for making purchases on the Ryndam, and to present at the gangway when leaving and re-boarding the ship. We dropped our backpacks in the cabin and went to the Rotterdam Dining Room on deck 7 for the repeaters' lunch. I don't know whether it was the jet lag or just being tired, but the menu for the repeaters' lunch didn't do anything for us. We left the dining room and went to the Lido Restaurant on deck 11 for more of a variety. After lunch we went back to our cabin to unpack the suitcases, shower, and take a nap before the required lifeboat drill on deck 6. At 4pm, we went to our required lifeboat area. I can still hear the crew screaming out cabin numbers. After the lifeboat drill, we walked into the atrium on deck 6 and saw 4 bizarre game tables. Inquisitive me had to find out what this game was called. This game is Dutch Shuffleboard, also called Sjoelen. It is definitely different, and after playing it a couple of times, I can see why these games are not on all Holland America ships!

The Ryndam was built in 1994 and is one of Holland's 4 Statendam-class vessels. Art and artifacts from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries are tastefully placed throughout the ship. Our stateroom was very spacious, had plenty of closet space, a safe, bureau with sufficient drawers to handle the clothes I brought for at least 3 changes a day, queen bed with very comfortable mattress, powerful hair dryer, sofa, TV, DVD, desk and chair. The bathroom had enough shelves to handle all of our cosmetics and bathroom needs. Scented bars of soap and body lotion were provided by our cabin steward, and there was a wonderful massage type shower-head with dispensers of shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap in the bathtub. Read more