‘At sea, every day feels like A BIRTHDAY’
First-time cruiser Amy Atkinson turned 50 on Holland America Line’s Oosterdam
Having my 50th birthday at sea meant really pushing the boat out. Seven nights, seven Mediterranean destinations and almost as many cakes (including a chocolate and whisky torte, strawberry Romanov and chocolate soufflé in The Dining Room). We popped a cork in ports from Athens to Istanbul, and I made new friends and enjoyed ready-made entertainment all week – from live music, dancing and daily quizzes to shows on the huge World Stage.
Sailing on Holland America Line’s Oosterdam was, in fact, one long party – and I wasn’t the only one on board having one; couples were celebrating anniversaries, others marking milestone birthdays, and one woman was even retracing the journey she made to meet her then fiancé 70 years ago with their children and grandchildren. Even Holland America Line itself is celebrating 150 years at sea this year.
I start my own celebrations in Athens, where we stay at a city centre hotel the night before and squeeze in a visit to the Acropolis. Having never stepped on board a cruise ship before, I spend the first few hours exploring and am amazed at the sheer size – 11 floors and corridors that seem to go on for miles. Our room has plenty of storage, a veranda with two chairs and a small table where we can relax, plus a bathroom with an actual bath (as well as a shower). There are two outdoor pools with loungers for sunbathing, and you can play basketball, shuffleboard or pickleball (whatever that is) on the top deck.
We discover the daily trivia quizzes at the Billboard Onboard bar (one of seven) and immediately sign up for a cocktailmaking masterclass with the hilariously entertaining bar staff,
Manny, Vince and Noel
(I certainly won’t be giving up the day job!).
There are also six restaurants and cafes on board, including Dive-in and Lido Market for sushi and tacos, and the Pinnacle Grill, an American-style steakhouse. You’ll find coffees, puzzles and games in the Explorations Café on the 10th-floor observation deck (a great place to watch the tugs helping the ship in and out of ports) and a restful spa on the 9th deck with a hydra pool, salon and fitness centre.
During our seven-night cruise, we have one full day at sea and when we dock, I vow to make the most of each destination. In Istanbul, we explore on our own, mastering the tram system to visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. We also sign up for a leisurely Bosphorus boat tour to the Black Sea and back, marvelling at the sight of east and west on either side of the water.
In Mykonos, we disembark near the old town and wander the pretty, narrow streets; in Crete, we take a taxi to the long, shallow beach of Agii Apostoli. There, we swim in the warm sea and tuck into cuttlefish stew and Greek salad for lunch. Our final stop is Katakolon, gateway to Olympia in the northwest Peloponnese, where you can wander the ancient site of the first Olympic games and see the first ever running track. But back to my birthday and the ship’s Orange Party, where staff encourage everyone to celebrate Holland America Line’s Dutch heritage. (I rushed out, pre-cruise, to buy a bright tangerine-coloured sundress just for the occasion!) It’s a bit like King’s Day in Amsterdam, where everyone wears something orange and wanders the canals. Here, we have the Mediterranean to admire and Manny, Vince and Noel serving up their signature orange-coloured cocktails. Soon, the Rolling Stone Lounge is a sea of orange bodies bopping the night away. I retire to bed, because the real beauty of cruising is you can do as much or as little as you want – and every day feels like a birthday (even if it’s not!).
SAIL AWAY
Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) offers a similar seven-day Malta & Aegean Jewels voyage from Rome to Athens on the Oosterdam starting at £1,379pp and departing 1 September 2024. Includes an early-booking bonus with one shore excursion and a Have It All package, with one speciality dining experience and an elite beverage package, plus gratuities and wi-fi included.