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Holland America Line

MS Zaandam

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Reviewed by: Allen Whipple
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: February 3, 2001
Itinerary: Nowhere

I took this cruise to Nowhere (in this case, Canada) to have a look at the new ZAANDAM. Most of the passengers were from the Pacific Northwest, as the ship left from and returned to Seattle in 3 days, and many did not leave the ship. Ports were Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, with several excursions laid on, though I contented myself with walking about both cities, which I know fairly well.

Public rooms to the Holland-America formula: not too big, quietly decorated with antiques and ship models in strategic places. Particularly noteworthy are the large and glorious paintings by Stephen Card of former ships of the Line, which hang on landings in the forward (of 3) staircase. The ship is very warm and comfortable. There is a generous walk-around promenade, and if you're adventuresome you can figure out how to get from the forward Lower Promenade Deck up two flights of hidden stairs to the decks overlooking the bow, or onto the bow itself -- it's legal, but not (obviously) encouraged.

The dining room, like most of this class of ship, is very well done, not too big or too small, with enough height and padding that conversation is easy (I was at the "Captain's table" --not that he appears on such a cruise as this, a table for 8 directly under the dome and entirely pleasant) and even close to the service areas there is not much noise.

Always considering that this was a very short cruise -- practically for low-fare Day Trippers -- we were treated very well, service was very much up to standard, food was not particularly interesting but good. At one dinner my steward asked, "How is your fish" (which he had recommended) and I replied, "good, but rather small." In a minute I had another portion. Steaks were uneven, the smaller the better. The Wine Steward was the one standout disappointment, as he did not even offer bottles or half-bottles but wine by the glass -- and I thought having to sign a bill every night was a bit much (probably because of that he didn't get tipped, as did all our waiters). Despite the shortness of the cruise our table was a group of seasoned cruisers who liked not dressing up but whose manners and conversation were first-rate, and who might very well have liked to share a bottle of wine amongst themselves.

To begin with, these cabins -- I had a lowish-grade verandah cabin -- are long and narrow (long, that is, because the ship is quite broad and the cabins run across the ship; narrow because they're packed into the ship's length). Aside from that -- which took some getting used to, particularly in opening closet doors -- the cabin was very well fitted out. Fixtures (drawers, closets, the way things worked) very good. Bathroom had the best fixtures, most sensible and variable, I've ever seen on a ship. Furniture not very comfortable. Deck partitions (between verandahs) very-unprivate, and level of noise between cabins unacceptable. The couple next door had a VERY good time.

Saw one quite good magic/comedy show. My impression is that in trying a little less hard to imitate Las Vegas (which is impossible anyway) the cruise lines do better. Less seems to be more.

I was on my own ashore, because I could drive to the ports in a couple of hours from home. The tours were mostly half-day motor coach affairs, and not (I imagine) terribly memorable.

What a question! Why not ask, "Would they come if you asked them?" Dining on board ship, in the traditional way, with (usually) strangers whom you meet every night on your best behavior, is often one of the best parts of a cruise but it can also be an ordeal. You have to try to remember names, turn to your left and your right, etc. But when it's a congenial group it's fun, and this group was. Most of the passengers (not just at my table) were between 40 and 65, had cruised before and liked the ship. It was easy, relaxing, very comfortable -- if not stimulating. And remember we spent half a day (literally) boarding the ship and three days later much less time (Holland-America did a good job with disembarkation).