HELP - ZAANDAM & VEENDAM VS. VOLENDAM

[Pilot70D]

First - Merry Christmas as well as a safe and prosperous New Year to all CC'ers out there. May your cruises be frequent and your seas always be smooth.

We just returned from the December 6th Volendam cruise and we need help in selecting our next HAL cruise.

We really loved the Volendam but her sailings in 2005 don't mesh with our schedule as well as this year's did. The War Department upon discovering this muttered a few dire threats and then told me that those lumps of coal which will undoubtably fill my strocking tonight are nothing compared to the lumps that will be on my head I didn't come up with next year's cruise pronto. Therein lies my dilemma.

I have found two perfectly acceptible cruises itenerary wise, one on the Zaandam and one on the Veendam. We however have never been on any HAL ship other than the Volendam. Now is the time for all you experienced HAL cruisers help out and save me from a fate worse than death.

How DO the Zaandam and/or the Veendam compare to the Volendam?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Don B.

[Pincus]

To start, the Zaandam is a sister ship to the Volendam. Where the Volendam's theme is floral, the Zaandam's theme is musical, each of these ships carries about 1800 passengers, I think.

The Veendam is an older ship, part of HAL's S class series, with sister ships, Statendam, Maasdam, and Ryndam. These ships carry around 1200 passengers.

Both are part of HAL's truly classic and elegant series....

[gizmo]

The Zaandam is a sister ship of the Volendam. The only difference is the decor. The atrium has a big ugly organ :eek: , disliked by many, but this should not stop you from booking the ship.

The Veendam has some minor differences. The layout of the ship is very similiar and cabin sizes are the same.
Beside decor, the biggest differences I can think of are:
Veendam does not have the center elevators and staircase.
Veendam's Aft pool is on the Navigation Deck.
Veendam has no bar at the Aft pool.


I have sailed on both the Volendam and Veendam. I liked both ships very much.

[Stevesan]

Volendam and Zaandam are sister ships, identical except for decor. If you liked Volendam, you'll like Zaandam

Veendam, Maasdam, Statendam and Ryndam (referred to as S class) are older and smaller then the previous two.

You can view the physical differences (size, deck plans, etc) between the ships on HAL's web site. Just click on "Fleet" and select your ship:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/home.htm

The smaller ships aren't necessarily inferior. Although the S class ships are older, HAL's staff and crew do a good job of maintenance.

[xeena]

we sailed the Veendam last Dec and the Westerdam last week.....i loved both ships, but really prefer the smaller size of the Veendam. I would go for the Veendam !! the placements of the elevators or aft pool did not affect our cruise in the least...more passengers impact the experience more IMHO.

Whichever you book, you are sure to have a great time !

[RuthC]

The Veendam (and her sisters) has a Piano Bar :) ; the Volendam and Zaandam (as well as the Amsterdam and Rotterdam) have a Piano Lounge :( .

There is a dance floor in the Piano Lounge, but you cannot sit at the piano. Totally different atmosphere.

[Jareen]

One thing not mentioned is that the Zaandam is going to be completly updated to SOE in January. This was one of the reason we went with her instead of the Volendam.

[JDee]

The differences in the passenger capacities is rather insignificant. Veendam 1258, Voldendam/Zaandam 1440, per HAL's brochures.

If you are happy with both iteneraries, beleive Zaandam would be a better choice. I liked the additional elavators & stairwells.....plus a few other things like the Pinnacle restaurant, which is not yet available on the Veendam...

Happy cruising.......

[Himself]

The Zaandam is a sister ship to the Volendam. You will find that there is a huge pipe organ in the Atrium but basically she is twin the The Volendam.
The Veendam is a very nice ship. I don't think you will go wrong with either one. A little background. HAL was supposed to build three "S" Class ships:
the STATENDAM, the MAASDAM & the RYNDAM. They went over so well that they built a fourth which came on line in June 1996. That ship was the VEENDAM.
I would hope that HAL in the future would build more on the size of the Volendam.
Zaandam or Veendam--I don't see how you could go wrong with either.
Himself

[boards]

So there is not a speciality restaurant on the Veendam. I thought they had one.

[JDee]

So there is not a speciality restaurant on the Veendam. I thought they had one.The Voldendam & Zaandam had the space in the Marco Polo Restaurant and changed the name to Pinnacle Grill. Plus of course, changed the china & other table settings. (I think it used to be called Marco Polo)

The Veendam class did not have that former restaurant space, so those ships will not get a Pinnacle until after some shipyard changes. I don't keep up with the shipyard changes and have no idea when that will happen. Those shipyard changes would also have to include a kitchen, otherwise its a long way to the main kitchen. From reading on these boards, looks like the Ryndam had some extensive changes adding a coffee cafe/internet, etc., in the old library & game room spaces. Not sure if they got a Pinnacle....

Happy Holidays.....

[jima53]

Zaandam carries closer to 1400 not 1800 passengers and the organ is not ugly if you bother to take the time to look it over.


JIm

[Stakeout]

Zaandam same-same as the Volendam... been on her 2x this year in Feb..sail again on 12/28 11 day New Year's cruise... just got off the Volendam 11/6 cruise... both have 1440 pass capacities... the 1800 pass you are talking about are the new Vista class ships..Westerdam Oosterdam Zuiderdam .. too big for us by the way as we've been on the Zuiderdam when it first came out.. nice pretty ship just that we like the smaller size ones better...

the Veendam is an older ship .. been on it 4x in the past .. haven't sailed it for five years

Zaandam's itineraries will be changing from 7 day Eastern-Western as they are now to 10 day Panama Canal next fall.. and will be leaving from 'Ft Liquordale' rather than the current Port Canaveral..

as far as 'ug-lee' .. remember 'ug-lee' is in the eye of the beholder... we think they are all pretty ships in their own way.. even the 'old Westerdam', one of our favorites

[gophercruiser]

The Veendam has a "Pinnacle" rest. as well as a "Neptune" lounge for the suites.

[Pilot70D]

Thanks to all you expreienced HAL CC'ers who graciously took the time to reply to my enquiry during this holiday season.

The War Department after looking and looking and looking at the ships, the iteneraries, the cabins, the replies here, the alignment of Jupiter and Mars, etc. said that she thought she would enjoy the Veendam 14 day cruise leaving in late November. We then called our wonderful & ever helpful TA (Burbunny) and booked the cruise.

Anyone know how we avoid those dreaded 'Cruise Cravings' until late November???

Thanks again and everyone have a happy & prosperous New Year.

[Esme]

The Voldendam & Zaandam had the space in the Marco Polo Restaurant and changed the name to Pinnacle Grill. Plus of course, changed the china & other table settings. (I think it used to be called Marco Polo)

The Veendam class did not have that former restaurant space, so those ships will not get a Pinnacle until after some shipyard changes. I don't keep up with the shipyard changes and have no idea when that will happen. Those shipyard changes would also have to include a kitchen, otherwise its a long way to the main kitchen. From reading on these boards, looks like the Ryndam had some extensive changes adding a coffee cafe/internet, etc., in the old library & game room spaces. Not sure if they got a Pinnacle....

Happy Holidays.....


The Veendam does have a Pinnacle grille, located in the space where the former King's room was, just off the starboard side of the upper level dining room. Part of the Explorer's Lounge was taken for the grille also. I also believe the Ryndam has a Pinnacle in the same location as the Veendam.

[Stevesan]

Anyone know how we avoid those dreaded 'Cruise Cravings' until late November???

That's easy - just book another interim cruise!:)

Meantime, come on over to the Holland America Roll Call board. We have a Looong thread going for Veendam's Nov 26 odyssey. Welcome aboard.

BTW - good choice. It's a great itinerary, and rumor has it it may be Veendam's last 14 dayer.

[doone]

I have sailed both the Volendam and the Veendam, both are great ships, but you will find the Veendam a tad bit smaller than the Volendam, not enough to make a huge difference, IMHO. If you loved the Volendam, you will be just as happy with either the Zaandam or Veendam.