The room is romantic and elegant, with plenty of space between tables and a very comfortable level of ambient sound. Seating is for 657 people, both early and late seating, with smoking and non-smoking sections. The best seats are next to the windows, which offer views of the sea by day from three sides of the room. The string quartet serenading during dinner adds sublimity. Menus aboard Holland America ships have not changed much over the last few years, and that has allowed them to improve the quality and presentation.
Food is plentiful, beautifully served, and satisfying to the palate.
Besides traditional fare, there are unusual and flavorful delicacies from Indonesia and Holland such as seafood stews, chicken and pork satays, butter cake, herring and onions, and enough salmon to satisfy even the greediest gourmand. The quality of the entree depends on what you order, and the selection leans toward heavier foods such as veal, lamb, and even venison. Dutch and Indonesian dishes are excellent, as is the duckling. Sauces tend to be very rich and usually come ladled over the food, but the excellent wait staff will rearrange that, as I preferred it. Probably most disappointing were the fish dishes that should have arrived more directly from the oven.