Retreat area on Veendam

Can someone tell me about the Retreat on Veendam? I know it is not like the Retreat with cabanas on the NA, Eurodam, etc.

The description on the Veendam deck plan says it is a private area but what does this mean? I called Ship's Services and she says there is no charge but it is "first come, first served". How does this make it private?

If that's the criterion for "private", the Culinary Arts Center is private! :)

It is not really private. It consists of a few whirl pools and sitting benches. There are some lounge chairs.

I do wish HAL would stop reusing words for very different things.

You're right, Veendam's Retreat isn't like the cabana Retreat areas on the larger ships. I don't know where on the deck plan is says private, but Veendam's retreat isn't private or reserved. The "first come first served" situation is the same as any other deck area, so you could arrive there and find all loungers taken. The center of the Retreat has soaking tubs in the center and loungers in the area around that.

I do wish HAL would stop reusing words for very different things.

 

You're right, Veendam's Retreat isn't like the cabana Retreat areas on the larger ships. I don't know where on the deck plan is says private, but Veendam's retreat isn't private or reserved. The "first come first served" situation is the same as any other deck area, so you could arrive there and find all loungers taken. The center of the Retreat has soaking tubs in the center and loungers in the area around that.

This is very frustrating and misleading! I mean, the HAL description is. If you go to look at the description of the various ships (Onboard), you can click on Ship Details. Part of the description of the Veendam includes:

"On deck, enjoy The Retreat, a private resort-style pool experience offering sophisticated poolside amenities and service." (Bold underlining is mine.)

How in the heck is first come, first served PRIVATE??? Do they mean that ONLY passengers on the ship can use it ... as opposed to the rest of the general population in the world?

This is very frustrating and misleading! I mean, the HAL description is. If you go to look at the description of the various ships (Onboard), you can click on Ship Details. Part of the description of the Veendam includes:

 

"On deck, enjoy The Retreat, a private resort-style pool experience offering sophisticated poolside amenities and service." (Bold underlining is mine.)

 

How in the heck is first come, first served PRIVATE??? Do they mean that ONLY passengers on the ship can use it ... as opposed to the rest of the general population in the world?

Well, that's a stretch of a definition, isn't it?

The problem with the website is that HAL's ships vary greatly, and I don't think they make it clear what's on which ship. For the older smaller ships, the entries under "entertainment" list venues, but not what's where. For Veendam, it lists Showroom at Sea, Casino, Ocean Bar, Mix, Pinnacle Bar, Movies in the Wajang Theater. I know what USED to be in some of these venues because I've been on Veendam. But I can't find out if they're still there.

This is very frustrating and misleading! I mean, the HAL description is. If you go to look at the description of the various ships (Onboard), you can click on Ship Details. Part of the description of the Veendam includes:

 

"On deck, enjoy The Retreat, a private resort-style pool experience offering sophisticated poolside amenities and service." (Bold underlining is mine.)

 

How in the heck is first come, first served PRIVATE??? Do they mean that ONLY passengers on the ship can use it ... as opposed to the rest of the general population in the world?

I believe they are using the "private" term to mean "secluded" (separated from other areas), not as a description of a "only for specific people" term.

There is also no aft pool on the Veendam, unless they've rebuilt it since 2011.

There is also no aft pool on the Veendam, unless they've rebuilt it since 2011.

They hadn't as of 2013. Three hot tubs on an elevated platform making views from one side of the ship to the other difficult:

Yes, that's what I remembered. I much preferred the original aft pool design, which was like the one on the Statendam.

If you want private, just charter the ship. Otherwise it’s vacation, just enjoy it [emoji847]

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If you want private, just charter the ship. Otherwise it’s vacation, just enjoy it [emoji847]

 

 

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Really?

The retreat area on Veendam is another of HAL's famous foul-ups.

They took away a perfectly nice aft pool and replaced it with a raised platform holding three or four hot tubs. That raised platform dominates the whole aft deck, cuts off major parts of the view of the sea or surroundings and, in my opinion, creates a very ordinary and uninteresting space.

There are a few tables on the port side and the other side is set aside as the smoking area...and the smoke drifts over the whole aft deck.

What they got for all of this was several additional staterooms underneath and a ship that looks like it went through a bad re-fit, which it did.

It's not private but the upside is that it's near the pizza station!

The "Retreat" is just another word for the aft pool area, only there is not a pool. As you exit from the Lido buffet, the left side of the retreat has the Retreat bar and chairs and tables which are the designated smoking area. On the right side of the deck you will find the New York pizza place and tables and chairs. In the middle area is a raised section with 4 hot tubs and a couple of large (enough to fit at least 2) loungers with cushions. The cushions are kind of dirty so I always placed towels on them before sitting there. The hot tubs are nice but kind of awkward. There are 2 rectangular shaped tubs and I could never figure which way to sit in them. The two round tubs are nice and hot. From up there you can't see anyone on the deck and they really can't see you. The rectangular shaped tubs are in need of a good scrubbing. The deck area around the raised area is just an open deck area with lounge chairs. It is not private as anyone can go there but I do think little kids are not allowed. It's ok but I really wish they had a pool there.

So where can you go to sit and get a little sunshine?

There is nothing private about Verndam aft. I t is unimaginaable to me anyone would pay to sit out there or should I add 'aditional monney. We already paid money for use of tthe ship.

What the above photo does not show is all the chaise lounges that are set upion thiss area. Very suitable for suning one's self. There are a quite a few and that is the 'first come first servced same as at most public pools. I never saw a 'battle to get a chair.' :)

Not only are those hot tubs ugly but they block all view for people sitting in that aft area.

I have to laugh at a place called The Retreat ........... when it should be called the Smoking Area.