Overview
Bars and lounges on cruise ships are popular gathering places on all cruise ships. The Veendam cruise ship of Holland America Line has several comfortable indoor lounges that are perfect for enjoying a drink, socializing with friends, dancing, or listening to music.
The Ocean Bar seen in the photo above is a very popular spot forward on deck 8 for before or after dinner drinks. This bar opens in the mid-afternoon and has "happy hour" prices before dinner where guests can buy one drink and get the second for a dollar.
Nice deal.Â
Several of the lounges on deck 8 feature live music each evening. Guests can stroll along and listen to a variety of music such as classical, piano, guitar, or dance tunes before settling down for the evening. Or, they can enjoy a drink at each spot (or not). It's one of the fun things about cruise travel--the opportunity to experience several types of music, all within easy walking distance of their cabin. Those who want to stay up late can head up to deck 12 for the nightly disco.
In addition to the indoor bars and lounges listed below, the Veendam also has an outdoor bar by the swimming pool on the Lido Deck and the outdoor Bar at the Retreat, which is aft of the Lido Restaurant.
On a Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego, I felt it was my job to try all the bars and lounges. Let's take a pictorial tour of some of the other various Veendam drinking venues.
Crow's Nest Lounge
The Crow's Nest Lounge is forward on deck 12 on the Holland America Veendam. Its wrap-around glass windows provide spectacular sea views. Although the bar doesn't open until mid-afternoon, passengers often start gathering in the lounge in the morning, often sitting with a book all day long when the ship is at sea.
Like the Ocean Bar, the Crow's Nest Lounge also features daily happy hours. Whereas the Ocean Bar happy hour on our cruise was from 5 to 6 pm most days, the Crow's Nest had two hours with discount pricing of buy one, get the second one for $1--the first from 4 to 5 pm and again in the evening either from 10 to 11 pm or 11 pm to midnight.
Our our transit through the Panama Canal, the Crow's Nest was packed in the morning, but "good" seats opened up after the passage through the first set of locks. It was certainly a prime viewing spot for those who didn't want to stand outside in the sun and heat.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Crow's Nest Lounge Dance Floor
Although the deck 12 forward Crow's Nest is the best spot during the day time for those who like to enjoy sea views when the Veendam is at sea, it's transformed into a disco dance spot in the late evening after the last show in the main lounge.
There's usually a theme dance party with music such as -- today's top 40, the 50's and 60's, 70's, ballroom classics, Latin night, Caribbean night, the Beach Boys, rock & roll classics, love songs, or requests.
Some evenings feature the ever-popular Karaoke for those who like to show off their singing abilities (or lack thereof).
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Explorer's Lounge
The Holland America Veendam Explorer's Lounge is found mid-ship on deck 8 starboard. This small lounge outside the Pinnacle Restaurant is used during the day for small meetings and pre-dinner appetizers. On our Veendam cruise, the Explorer's Lounge had a small combo that featured classical piano and violin music from 6 pm to 11 pm most evenings.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Mix Lounge
The Holland America Veendam Mix Lounge, which is located mid-ship on deck 8 starboard, has three different sections--the Champagne Bar next to the Piano Bar, the Martini Bar, and the Spirits & Ales Bar.
Spirits & Ales Bar in Mix is open from mid-morning until closing time each day. It has a large screen television, so doubles as a sports bar. In the evenings on our cruise, many guests enjoyed a live guitarist.
Since Mix is near the shopping area and casino, it gets lots of foot traffic, so is also a good place to people watch.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Mix Window Seating
One of my favorite places on the Veendam is this quiet seating area near the Mix Lounge. Guests can enjoy the view and the daytime sun, or it's a good place to watch the sunset and changing colors of the evening sky.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Martini Bar
The Martini Bar is next to the Piano Bar and is part of Mix. Martini Samplings are held each evening on the Veendam. It's a great way to sample a smaller portion of cocktails that you have always wanted to try.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
The Piano Bar is next to the Martini Bar and features live piano music each evening after dinner. The Champagne Bar is also found next to the Piano Bar and is a part of the Mix lounge area.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
A small combo performs in the Veendam Ocean Bar every evening before and after dinner, playing popular ballroom dance music. Even if you don't dance, it's fun to watch those who do while enjoying a drink and listening to the good music.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Bars and lounges on cruise ships are popular gathering places on all cruise ships. The Veendam cruise ship of Holland America Line has several comfortable indoor lounges that are perfect for enjoying a drink, socializing with friends, dancing, or listening to music.
The Ocean Bar seen in the photo above is a very popular spot forward on deck 8 for before or after dinner drinks. This bar opens in the mid-afternoon and has "happy hour" prices before dinner where guests can buy one drink and get the second for a dollar.
Nice deal.Â
Several of the lounges on deck 8 feature live music each evening. Guests can stroll along and listen to a variety of music such as classical, piano, guitar, or dance tunes before settling down for the evening. Or, they can enjoy a drink at each spot (or not). It's one of the fun things about cruise travel--the opportunity to experience several types of music, all within easy walking distance of their cabin. Those who want to stay up late can head up to deck 12 for the nightly disco.
In addition to the indoor bars and lounges listed below, the Veendam also has an outdoor bar by the swimming pool on the Lido Deck and the outdoor Bar at the Retreat, which is aft of the Lido Restaurant.
On a Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego, I felt it was my job to try all the bars and lounges. Let's take a pictorial tour of some of the other various Veendam drinking venues.
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance Floor
Crow's Nest Lounge
The Crow's Nest Lounge is forward on deck 12 on the Holland America Veendam. Its wrap-around glass windows provide spectacular sea views. Although the bar doesn't open until mid-afternoon, passengers often start gathering in the lounge in the morning, often sitting with a book all day long when the ship is at sea.
Like the Ocean Bar, the Crow's Nest Lounge also features daily happy hours. Whereas the Ocean Bar happy hour on our cruise was from 5 to 6 pm most days, the Crow's Nest had two hours with discount pricing of buy one, get the second one for $1--the first from 4 to 5 pm and again in the evening either from 10 to 11 pm or 11 pm to midnight.
Our our transit through the Panama Canal, the Crow's Nest was packed in the morning, but "good" seats opened up after the passage through the first set of locks. It was certainly a prime viewing spot for those who didn't want to stand outside in the sun and heat.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance Floor
Crow's Nest Lounge Dance Floor
Although the deck 12 forward Crow's Nest is the best spot during the day time for those who like to enjoy sea views when the Veendam is at sea, it's transformed into a disco dance spot in the late evening after the last show in the main lounge.
There's usually a theme dance party with music such as -- today's top 40, the 50's and 60's, 70's, ballroom classics, Latin night, Caribbean night, the Beach Boys, rock & roll classics, love songs, or requests.
Some evenings feature the ever-popular Karaoke for those who like to show off their singing abilities (or lack thereof).
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance Floor
Explorer's Lounge
The Holland America Veendam Explorer's Lounge is found mid-ship on deck 8 starboard. This small lounge outside the Pinnacle Restaurant is used during the day for small meetings and pre-dinner appetizers. On our Veendam cruise, the Explorer's Lounge had a small combo that featured classical piano and violin music from 6 pm to 11 pm most evenings.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
Mix Lounge
The Holland America Veendam Mix Lounge, which is located mid-ship on deck 8 starboard, has three different sections--the Champagne Bar next to the Piano Bar, the Martini Bar, and the Spirits & Ales Bar.
Spirits & Ales Bar in Mix is open from mid-morning until closing time each day. It has a large screen television, so doubles as a sports bar. In the evenings on our cruise, many guests enjoyed a live guitarist.
Since Mix is near the shopping area and casino, it gets lots of foot traffic, so is also a good place to people watch.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance FloorÂ
Mix Window Seating
One of my favorite places on the Veendam is this quiet seating area near the Mix Lounge. Guests can enjoy the view and the daytime sun, or it's a good place to watch the sunset and changing colors of the evening sky.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance FloorÂ
Martini Bar
The Martini Bar is next to the Piano Bar and is part of Mix. Martini Samplings are held each evening on the Veendam. It's a great way to sample a smaller portion of cocktails that you have always wanted to try.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Piano Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance FloorÂ
The Piano Bar is next to the Martini Bar and features live piano music each evening after dinner. The Champagne Bar is also found next to the Piano Bar and is a part of the Mix lounge area.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Ocean Bar Dance Floor
A small combo performs in the Veendam Ocean Bar every evening before and after dinner, playing popular ballroom dance music. Even if you don't dance, it's fun to watch those who do while enjoying a drink and listening to the good music.
More on the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Overview of the Veendam Bars and Lounges
- Crow's Nest
- Crow's Nest Dance Floor
- Explorer's Lounge
- Mix
- Mix Window Seating
- Martini Bar
- Piano Bar
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