Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2021

7 6 INTERIOR V IEW the Grand Dutch Café, Exploration Central. You wouldn’t see these on other ships, they are distinct to Holland America for being uniquely European and luxuriously intriguing. “When our passengers come back for our cruises, they have an expectation based on their previous experiences with us. We are known for our amazing crew, food, music and art, so we don’t really feel like it’s necessary to put in amusement park features to entertain our clientele.” Nguyen highlights some hidden gems that she believes really embody this trilogy of food, music and art. “Notes is a whisky-tasting corner that invites intimate experiences and conversation,” she says. “It features a tower of whisky and a small circular bar that seats six. It’s the kind of timeless, elegant ‘wow’ that you will remember forever, both in the design and in the conversations you will have in this gem of a space.” Despite this, Rotterdam will feature new products that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. “In the staterooms that I designed, I specified a new product on the market made of 100 per cent wool with natural colouring,” says Nguyen. “It is completely recyclable and during its production, no harmful chemicals enter the environment – that’s huge! There are tens of thousands of metres of carpet on each ship so that is a massive proportion of material that can make a positive environmental impact. I’m so proud to be able to design things that have sustainability at their heart.” Now that the ship’s launch is just around the corner, Nguyen is excited to see guests enjoying the onboard experience. “I think they’re going to get the best combination of things that are really important to them: cuisine, entertainment, music, variety and a wealth of ‘wow’ moments in the art, textures and interior spaces,” she says. “This ship has all of the makings to create really great memories – what more could you want?” CFI THE NEW LOOK OF LUXURY Nguyen designed the staterooms with lightness, brightness and neutral colours at the heart. Moving away from rich, dark colours, the cabins feature large windows and a layering of textures and patterns in the furnishings that aim to create a clean, fresh and spa-like feeling. Design note: