Zaandam Questions

[tkwbear]

I am going on a cruise out of Port Canaveral next February. I have a few questions:

1) On the Main Deck stern, there appears to be a very small deck - is it normally accessible to passengers? I'm looking at one of the G cabins back there. Are there any lounge chairs out there? If it's just a smoker's stop I will look elsewhere.

2) How does this ship compare to other HAL ships?

3) Is Dover Sole still served?

4) What is the best way to get from the Orlando airport to Port Canaveral? I usually prefer to rent a car, but would consider other transportation.

[Arubalisa]

If you do not receive any responses, try bumping this up on Sunday. There are a few CC'ers who are aboard the Zaandam right now. I know for a fact that they were flying into MCO. Could fill you in on transfers.

[arzz]

Last time we were on the Zaandam (March 2003) we took HAL's airport transfers and it worked very well. We will be doing so again on Saturday with hopes that it will do just as well for us as last time. The bus ride takes about 50 minutes but there is always waiting time to load the buses and sometimes they stop at several airlines before leaving the airport.

We arrive the night before and stay at an airport hotel that provides free airport transportation on arrival and again the following morning to and from the airport. This time we have a "two for breakfast" package at the airport Renaissance, last time we stayed at one of the Amerisuites. We buy our own hotel as that is much less expensive than using an HAL hotel package, and we only pay for the HAL airport to pier transfers.

Hope this helps!

[tkwbear]

Thanks - I'm still trying to decide whether to rent a car or not.

[Keith B.]

We sailed the Zaandam 6-13 November 2004. My review is posted if you care to read it.
As for your questions: 1. Main Deck Stern, Yes there are a few lounge chairs there. We actually didn't see it until Thursday night when we decided to really explore the ship. Not an easy place to get to unless your cabin is there and you decide to walk out that door. We found it by walking down the stairs from the Lido Deck. We didn't see anybody back there at that time.
2. I actually like HAL and the Zaandam is a dine "Dam" ship. However I was somewhat dissapointed with the service in the dining room. Again see my review for more info.
3. Not being a fish eater I can not tell you if Dover Sole is available.
4. We rent cars because my DW can not handle buses, taxi, planes or any other public transportation except cruise ships and trains. Easy 45 minute drive from Orlando. But honestly, if you don't need a car I reccomend limo or bus. It's much more convenient. Waiting for the shuttle to take you to/from the rental lot, waiting on line to drop off or pick-up a car takes almost as long as the drive. Also if you don't want to pay $5.50+ gal be sure to gas up before you turn in the car. Not a problem at the port but finding a gas station near Orlando airport is a pain in the butt and more time.
Hope this helps.

[tkwbear]

Keith,

Thanks for the great info. Dover Sole is usually served on Dutch night, but some posters say that is no longer offered. They give it a fancier name - Gebakken Zeetong, though my spelling may be off slightly.

I could not find your review, but found many other posts by you. Where is it?

[arzz]

Just off Zaandam -- no Dutch night, no Dover sole. There was one international type of night that had several of the traditional Dutch goodies but no Dover sole and no Dutch hats -- the tiles came to us on the last night aboard instead of on Dutch night. Pea soup was there, and a couple of the Indonesian dishes and a few others -- but no sole.

This, however, was no where near enough to ruin what was for us an almost perfect cruise! We have cruised many times on many lines, this was our second time on the Zaandam and I am happy to report that familiarity did not breed apathy or disappointment for us. This time aboard was as good if not better than the last! As usual, cannot wait until my next cuise which may, alas, be as far away as next October, but it will be back on the Zaandam!

[RevNeal]

1) On the Main Deck stern, there appears to be a very small deck - is it normally accessible to passengers? I'm looking at one of the G cabins back there. Are there any lounge chairs out there? If it's just a smoker's stop I will look elsewhere.

Yes, on the Zaandam passengers can actually access the main deck aft observation deck. I took photos from there while we were leaving the Panama Canal through the Gatun locks. It was shaded from the sun.

Be warned, however ... there is a great deal of LOUD engineering noise on that deck. And, I didn't see any deck chairs.

[sheephugs]

Reverend Neal, certainly you can save their sole!;)

[tkwbear]

Thanks for all the good feedback. I changed the cabin today to avoid the noise.