Aegean Myth

The 1993-built Aegean Myth cruise ship (fka "MS Maasdam") is the 2nd Statendam (S-class) ship of Holland America, together with MS Statendam (CMV Vasco da Gama), MS Ryndam (CMV Ida Pfeiffer) and Veendam.

IMPORTANT: in July 2020, Carnival Corporation (via Holland America Line) sold 4 liners. MS Amsterdam and MS Rotterdam were sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (to be renamed "MS Bolette" and "MS Borealis"). MS Maasdam and MS Veendam were sold to an undisclosed buyer. In late-August was revealed the new shipowner's name - Seajets Ferries (Greece). The Greek ferry company operates the fastest ferries in the Cyclades Islands and starts a cruise shipping division with all 3 liners - Aegean Myth (HAL Maasdam), Aegean Majesty (HAL Veendam) and Oceana (P&O UK). For the cruise vessels was contracted Optimum ShipManagement Services SA (Piraeus-based company) that also manages the Celestyal Cruises fleet.

All scheduled for the 4 ships cruises were cancelled or assumed by other HAL ships.

• A total of 32x Holland America Maasdam ship cruises were cancelled (October 7, 2020, through September 27, 2021), including 64-43-31-day Transpacific repositioning (San Diego to Sydney NSW), 33-day Australia Circumnavigation roundtrip from Sydney (2021 Nov 19 through Dec 22), 13-day Southern Australian Holiday (Dec 2021), 20-40-day repositioning (Sydney to Singapore), 20-day Indian Ocean Explorer roundtrip from Singapore (Malaysia-Thailand-Sri Lanka-Maldives / 2021 Jan 24-Feb 13), Transpacific repositioning crossings (19-day Singapore to Sydney, 43-day Singapore to San Diego, 24-36-day Sydney to San Diego), 10-12-day Mexico Sea Of Cortez roundtrips from San Diego, 4-day Alaska repositioning (San Diego to Vancouver), and Alaskan voyages roundtrip from Vancouver BC (14-day Great Alaskan Explorer and 7-day Alaskan Inside Passage, 2021 May 3 through Sept 27).

Following the vessel's acquisition, Seajets Aegean Myth was initially docked/moored at Port Aigio (Egio) Greece, located approx 40 km (24 mi) to the east from Patras.

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle-based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands. In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 55,575-ton, 1,264-passenger cruise ship ms Maasdam deserves hats off for resisting some of the more thorough trends of the behemoth vessels (no surfing wave simulators or rock-climbing walls here) while stepping ahead on other fronts. Case in point is the vessel's state-of-the-art, New York Times-branded Explorations Coffee, there is also a combination of library and a digital fun room for the over 50 set (think touch-screen interactive computer maps, over-sized crossword puzzles). Maasdam cruise ship's latest refit, in April 2011, was part of HAL's 560 million dollars Signature of Excellence initiative which was focused on modernizing its oldest vessels. Together with new carpets, upholstery and soft goods, Maasdam gained 3 main amenities: a dinner-only Italian restaurant, 2 new kinds of cabin rooms, and the Mix Lounge, a 3-in-1 bar central with each venue offering a particular type of drink and flowing into the others. The new additions - particularly the alternative dining venues and bar places - help up Maasdam's "hip factor" with no detracting from any of the cruise's classic charm.

Cruise itinerary program

MS Maasdam itinerary program is based on Carribean cruises from Fort Lauderdale FL, Canada sailings from Quebec and Boston MA, as well as Europe voyages (Mediterranean), with Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Cabins

MS Maasdam has a total of 631 cabins (of which 149 Suites, no Balcony, 130 Inside, 32 Spa rooms) in 26 grades. Most ms Maasdam staterooms are 175-255-sq.foot oceanview rooms (352). Almost 25% of ship's accommodations have private balcony views. There are a total of 631 staterooms in 32 categories. 18 are the wheelchair accessible rooms. The largest aboard ms Maasdam are the Pinnacle Suites (935 ft2). There are also Spa cabins (8) and Spa suites (8).

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Maasdam's restaurants include the Rotterdam Dining Room, the Lido buffet, and the intimate Pinnacle Grill. There is also a casual poolside option for hot dogs and burgers, a coffee bar, and complimentary room service round-the-clock (from hot breakfast choices to dinner selections). The Lido buffet is efficient and has great sea views through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The buffet serves continental breakfast from 6:30 a.m., full breakfast (7-11 a.m.); lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.); and dinner (6-7:30 p.m.) Hours are adjusted during embarkation/debarkation and on port days. There are extended hours for ice cream, sandwiches or late-night offerings. Tea and coffee are available at the Lido at all times. The lines are manageable, even at peak times, with lots of available tables.

Follows the complete list of ms Maasdam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (64-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Rotterdam Restaurant (792-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (375-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6:00 a.m. -11 a.m., Lunch 11:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annexe; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

By day there are trivia games, Bridge, Bingo, Sudoku, movies, cooking demos and mixology classes. Poolside bands play various music on sail-aways and sea days. The New York Times-sponsored Explorations Cafe is ship's active hub throughout the day and evening. It holds more than 2,000 books plus a host of periodicals and DVD library. There are write-on/wipe-off crossword puzzle tables, touch-screen interactive maps and a cubby of puzzles and games. An adjacent card room and computer/Internet stations are also available. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of ms Maasdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Promenade Deck, Walking Track (jogging is not permitted)
• The Showroom at Sea (600-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Queen’s Room (42-seat meeting room, hosts digital workshops via Microsoft partnership, computer classes, social networks, blogging, photo editing)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Wine Tasting Bar, Gourmet Shops (bottles available for purchasing, wine sampling)
• Wajang Theatre & Culinary Arts Centre (210-seat cinema; offers culinary classes and cooking shows presented in demonstration kitchens)
• Atrium Terrace with boutiques; Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Ocean Bar (121-seat Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Hudson Room (60-seat meeting room; used as Cards Room)
• Half Moon Room (90-seat meeting room)
• MIX Lounge (has 3 parts, with live music and trivia games)
• Explorations Cafe (85-seat speciality coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (61-seat lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
• Neptune Lounge (24-seat club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 2 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar
• Crow’s Nest (291-seat observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Tennis Court; Basketball Court; Shuffleboard
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)
• The Oasis (40-seat teen-only outdoor area).