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Holland America Line

MS Zaandam

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Ben van Zeijl
# previous cruises: 2
Date of Trip: July 23, 2005
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage

This cruise was as a dream come true. Yes I have cruised before a/b the Costa Romantica. Comming from Rotterdam the birth place of the line, cruising with Holland America Line was a dream of many years. And it become better, this cruise was fore free. When the new ms. Westerdam came in to service local Rotterdam tv station run a series about the new Vista vessel. Included they held a quiz. And I won that quiz.

Specially choosing fore the lesser now Zaandam, I never regretted the choice. Inn luck to be able to visit 3 other HAL vessels Rotterdam, Oosterdam and the Westerdam. I found myself and my friend surrounded by elegance and charm.

The Zaandam design was based on the company flagship ms. Rotterdam. Which on here term is based on the successful Statendam class ships. Ass written I have visit the Rotterdam and was inn love white that ship. So I was wondering how the Zaandam was holding here own to the flagship.

The Zaandam is a beautiful ship elegant, comfortable and warm. She is a toned down version of the flagship. And I think more relaxed. More a people ship without the upper class mood a/b the flagship.

The Zaandam have all traditional HAL layout. The Zaandam decor is themed music. Without to become tacky the theme is well done around the ship. The saxophone of former U.S. president Bill Clinton guitars from the Rolling stones and a 3 deck hugh pipe/street organ wich to fun of the view Dutch passengers played old Dutch (seamans) songs.

My favorit lounges a/b the Zaandam where the Explores Lounge and the newly installed Exploration's Cafi. The internet, library, media center anex cofee lounge. It's a wonderfull space with huge chairs and fabulous views out to sea. The library seems to be fitted out out , mostly with english books. And a huge collection of low priced rental DVD's. The lounge was my favorite place to be after luch on a sea day ore after going ashore. To zipp a duble shot cuppachino.

The Explorer's Lounge next to the Exploration's Cafi was another favorite with there big easy chairs overlooking the sea and the great scenery of Alaska we sipped our pre dinner drink almost every night.

My most favorite activity to do a/b the Zaandam was to walk the wrap around promenade deck and standing at the rail enjoying the views and wonderful smells of Alaska's pinewoods.

The Zaandam have three restaurants.

The Rotterdam dinning room: located inn the stern of the vessel is a 2 deck elegant room. With great 3 side view. The food here is good and very well cooked. The service was great friendly and very efficient. It looks as if the crew was really enjoying themselves in there work. Compared to my first cruise where the dinning room staff where sometimes rude to passengers. On the second day the table steward begun to speak some Dutch words. And after day 2 we where greeted by many stewards in Dutch. We mostly have our breakfast, lunches and dinners here.

The only irritating steward was the wine steward. Hi was going to far by touching me and say that I was a very big man (little bit insulting) The man was not up fore his job throwing expensive wine bottles in there coolers messing red wine over the gown of one passenger. Happy after the thirty day we never saw him again.

Lido buffet: now that was a let down we where not found of the taste of the food. The choices was very good. eat here 2 maybe 3 times.

Pinnacle Grill: this is the reservation fee a la cart restaurant. Great service and great food we dinned here once and where excited. This restaurant employed the first (Dutch) European stewards since the early '70's whene HAL replaced theme with the Indonesian crew.

We where booked inn E-large outside stateroom on main deck cabin 2528. Nice cabin and great beds never havesleptd in such beds. They are wonderful. The cabin by all means was nice and pleasant room to be inn. After the beds where turned to a king size bed the walking area on both sides of the beds was small. But that was no problem. Good closet space. Bathroom good only sitting down on the toilet a tall person would be stuck between te toilet and the bathtub.

The cabin is fitted out with a radio, flatscreen tv and DVD player.

Average not good not bad specially the shows. I enjoy one show the passengers show was fun. The band in the explorer's lounge was great.

The program good and fore all something to do. Only neverdidh something because the Zaandam on here own was fore me entertaining enough.

The cruise staff nice bunch of people who where great. Only the assistant cruisee director the boy thought hi owned the DAM ship.

The ports on this cruisee: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. The cruisee also included Tracy Arms and Grand Glacier. Alaska have stolen my heart. It's difficult to describe the shear beauty of this U.S. state. The scenery, smells are so impressive. Someday I want to return fore a longer stay to explore this grand state.

We never used shore excursions we explore the ports on our own. Well interesting I never saw so much jewelery shops in my life. My favorite was the local Skagway museum. I loved this little museum about the local history. And Ketchikan my favorite port loved the very nice town specially the former red light district with the little shops.

a/b the Zaandam there where 2 pools 1 covered with a sliding dome one outside on the lido deck. Zaandam as other HAL vessels boosted a superb fitness and spa facility located on lido deck.

And the Zaandam have great kids/teenagers facility's complete with there own lounges, deck space and stafff.

A/B there family's older couples and a good deal of younger couples. There where on the cruisee 150 childrenh and never hear theme ore saw theme. Mostly where Americans, Canadians, view Brittans, Dutch and Swedes. Nice people. We made friends with the couple from Sweden and a mother and daughter from Britain. And today we occasionally mailed together.