any new Zaandam reviews?

[Bohrski]

I read a lot of ship reviews of almost every other ship but the Zaandam. I'll be taking my very first cruise ever to Alaska in June and would love to read more recent reviews of this ship. If anyone has recently been aboard her could you share your story? I have a C category on the lower promenade and would love to hear from anyone who has been in these cabins too. I am counting the days (hours?). I have read everything I can find online and feel that my TA really did me a favor sending me to HAL.

[marshacher]

You will love the Zaandam. We were on her for 10 days to the Panama Canal in January. Can't say enough good things. The food was excellent - especially in the dining room at night. We were 8 at our table and no one ever said a negative thing, not just in taste but presentation also.

All service on the ship was outstanding. The cabins are beautiful. We were on the Verandah Deck. The size of cabin, balcony and bathroom were wonderful. Size of the ship was perfect - around 1400 or less passengers.

PR was great. My DH was sick with a stomach something and they quarantined him for 24 hours. They sterilized the room, called him at least half a dozen times to inquire about him and if they could send something to eat, and best part of all - they refunded him 1 day's passage ($228.00)because he got sick on their ship. And no charge for the infirmary. Never heard of such a thing. :)

This was our 3rd HAL cruise and we're booked on a 4th in Dec. Would not do any other cruise line.

[revrick3]

Bohrski, we also are going in to Alaska in June, which week. I have been looking for others on cruise first week in June but only found one. I have heard only good things about ship. This is our first time with HA and I am excited about the trip.

[AAL]

We were on the Zaandam for ten days in March. It is a beautiful ship, the food was great everywhere -- dining room, Lido, and Pinnacle -- and the service was excellent. We were in a category E cabin on the main deck which was quite spacious. I think the promenade deck would be very nice for Alaska. The ship is a very nice size; it doesn't feel crowded and you can get all over the ship quickly and easily. I think you will have a wonderful cruise.

[Robin7]

I have a C category on the lower promenade and would love to hear from anyone who has been in these cabins too.

We're booked on the Zaandam (July 28. This will be our eighth cruise, six of them on HAL. You will absolutely be hooked on cruising, I promise!

My only concern would be the location of your stateroom on the Lower Promenade deck. Maybe it won't matter to you, but WE would be very unhappy to have an outside stateroom on that deck as it is the place where all the walkers/runners do their exercise. As we've walked the Lower Promenade on various ships, we've commented how it would make us crazy to have people start pounding/chatting/noise-making in the mornings and wake us up. Plus, people can see right into your cabin if you don't keep the curtains closed. I don't know if that would bother you, but wanted to make you aware it might be an issue.

I hope you have a wonderful cruise, and I, too, wish there were more Zaandam reviews. I went back 48 pages and there weren't very many!!!!

Robin

[Robin7]

We were on the Zaandam for ten days in March. We were in a category E cabin on the main deck which was quite spacious.

We're also booked into an E cabin, although it's on Dolphin deck. Since you were just on the Zaandam, I was wondering if you could tell me a couple of things: Is the TV wall-mounted or is it on the desk and does it have a DVD player? Thanks!

Robin

[AAL]

The TV is mounted on the wall above the desk, next to the closet. The TV sits on a triangular shelf and the DVD player is underneath it. The Explorations cafe has a huge selection of DVDs to check out.

It's a very comfortable stateroom. There is a lot of closet space -- enough for 4 people to stow clothes for ten days.

[Bohrski]

Thank you all for your help. I have read that people can not see in unless the lights are on. I really do not care about that anyway since at night I'll have the curtains closed. I like the idea of being near a door to the outside since I can not afford a balcony. I like the idea of having some light too. I hear such wonderful things about the ship and Alaska that I do not think I'll be in the room that much but when I am I can look out and see it all. I get up at 5 AM here at home and probably will when on vacation - I am probably the one out there walking in the morning! I promise to be quiet. Still love to hear more Zaandam stories!!

[Robin7]

I am probably the one out there walking in the morning! I promise to be quiet.

Yeah, I wish we could afford a verandah, too, but since my husband's company is footing the cost of this trip, I can't complain!

Happy walking! We like to walk the promenade a couple of times a day--after lunch and before dinner. We get up early every day at home and drive our steward CRAZY on cruises by not leaving the stateroom until lunch usually. Although Alaska is different than Mexico and the Caribbean in that there's more to see from the ship rather than having to wait until a port so we've actually been known to drag ourselves out early on Alaskan cruises.

I can't wait for July!!!!

Robin

[raadsel]

We were on the Zaandam for ten days in March. It is a beautiful ship, the food was great everywhere -- dining room, Lido, and Pinnacle -- and the service was excellent. We were in a category E cabin on the main deck which was quite spacious. I think the promenade deck would be very nice for Alaska. The ship is a very nice size; it doesn't feel crowded and you can get all over the ship quickly and easily. I think you will have a wonderful cruise.

I'm headed to Alaska in August and will be in an E on the main deck, mine will be near the aft elevators. We're having a family reunion, of sorts, and most others in my group will have E cabins that sleep 4. Do you have any idea of the layout of those cabins?

Thanks for the report on the Zaandam.

[Kreative03]

It feels as though I 'just' got off the Zaandam, but alas it's been over a week since I disembarked :)

Took a 10 day southern caribbean (panama canal) cruise and would be happy to offer insight on just about any aspect. Realize however that anything can and will change between now and your cruise in June.

Spent most days enjoying the ship's amenities and nights around the casino and up in the 'disco'

As an experienced HAL cruiser I can also offer comparisons to past experiences, although never spent time in Alaska.

-L-

[AAL]

We had an "E" quad on the main deck of the Zaandam and this was the layout: one sofa that made up into a twin bed (it doesn't fold out); one bunk that pulls down from the ceiling above the bed area; and two twin beds. The twin beds were initially set up against each wall (with the bunk above one). We asked to have the beds made into a queen -- it was a little awkward with the bunk, but it worked.

There is a lot of closet space -- all four of us were able to stow ten days of clothes and stash the suitcases under the bed.

Our stateroom was near the aft elevators and it was a very handy location -- right up the elevators to the Lido or the dining room. There is a small aft deck on the main deck, with stairs up to the promenade deck, also very handy. The Zaandam is a very nice size -- everything is easy to get to.

Have a great cruise!

[raadsel]

We had an "E" quad on the main deck of the Zaandam and this was the layout: one sofa that made up into a twin bed (it doesn't fold out); one bunk that pulls down from the ceiling above the bed area; and two twin beds. The twin beds were initially set up against each wall (with the bunk above one). We asked to have the beds made into a queen -- it was a little awkward with the bunk, but it worked.

There is a lot of closet space -- all four of us were able to stow ten days of clothes and stash the suitcases under the bed.

Our stateroom was near the aft elevators and it was a very handy location -- right up the elevators to the Lido or the dining room. There is a small aft deck on the main deck, with stairs up to the promenade deck, also very handy. The Zaandam is a very nice size -- everything is easy to get to.

Have a great cruise!
I can see where it might be awkward having the bed as a queen and using the bunk; then again I can see my parents trying to do that. They will have two of my youngest sister's children at times, though my older sister will also be able to take them in her room. I suppose that will keep the cruise interesting for their cabin steward. ;) I'll be in a triple with my DS and DD. I've heard the Aft deck is a great place to get away, that it's normally pretty quiet. Thanks for your help.

[mimi6]

Our group of 4 has two E rooms on the main deck for our trip to Alaska in June. Thanks for all the good information. Every time I talk to anyone about our trip, I mention information I learned on these boards.

[AAL]

The aft deck on the Lido deck was one of my favorite places on the Zaandam. (Of course, it was warm and sunny -- that might have made a difference!)

Raadsel, how old are the kids in your group? My teens really enjoyed the youth program (even though they were the only ones in it, because our cruise was before spring break). The youth staff is really nice -- as is all the staff.

Things you might want to pack are a travel alarm clock and either an extension cord or a power strip, if you have cameras and other electronics that will need to be charged. I only found one outlet in the stateroom. And definitely bring binoculars!

[raadsel]

The aft deck on the Lido deck was one of my favorite places on the Zaandam. (Of course, it was warm and sunny -- that might have made a difference!)

Raadsel, how old are the kids in your group? My teens really enjoyed the youth program (even though they were the only ones in it, because our cruise was before spring break). The youth staff is really nice -- as is all the staff.

Things you might want to pack are a travel alarm clock and either an extension cord or a power strip, if you have cameras and other electronics that will need to be charged. I only found one outlet in the stateroom. And definitely bring binoculars!

Thanks for the advice. I've got the binoculars, alarm clock, and power strip ready to go. ;) Now if I just didn't have over 4 months to wait!

My DD is 17 and she'll have a couple of cousins close to her age (16 and 14, also girls), I'm sure they will have a lot of fun up in the Loft and Oasis. I've been glad to hear such good reviews. My son is 21, so too old, though I think he'll have fun just relaxing -- he's always been the quiet type. It will be interesting to see how many teens will be onboard since we'll be the last week of August. It's possible those 3 teens may be the only ones using the youth facilities, though our group will also have three kids for Club HAL.

[Bohrski]

So, no more info on lower prom deck Cat C cabins? When moving from the cabin to the pool I am assuming you are expected to be covered - wearing shorts and Tshirt maybe? Can one go through the corridors of decks other than your own in order to get from one place to another? It looks like you have to walk through the Lido restaurant to get to the outside pool? Are the deck chairs on the lower promenade vey busy as opposed to the pool area? I suppose I will be gaping at the views most of the time - hope someone comes and makes sure I eat and get some sleep!! Thanks for the help.

[RuthC]

When moving from the cabin to the pool I am assuming you are expected to be covered - wearing shorts and Tshirt maybe?
Yes, you should cover up anytime outside your cabin that's away from the immediate area of the pool(s).
Can one go through the corridors of decks other than your own in order to get from one place to another?
Sure you can. It always makes me feel like I'm trespassing or something, but it is a public area.
It looks like you have to walk through the Lido restaurant to get to the outside pool?
If by that you mean from the Lido pool, or anywhere forward on the Lido Deck, that's correct.
Are the deck chairs on the lower promenade vey busy as opposed to the pool area?
Not in my experience---and that includes a Caribbean cruise. You know---the kind where everyone wants to be outside.

[AAL]

You can go forward and/or aft along the corridors on every passenger deck except Deck 4; the only way to access the lower level of the dining room is via the aft stairs or elevator, because there is no way for passengers to get around or through the galley. Other than that, it's possible to take whatever corridor and elevator/stairs combination is most convenient -- so if you don't want to walk through the Lido to get to the aft pool deck (the outside pool), you can take the aft elevator to Deck 8. (Yes, they do request that swimsuits be covered.)

The Zaandam has a lot of inside and outside viewing spaces -- even going through the Panama canal locks, we were able to find good spots. The dining areas have good views, and the food is so good that you probably won't miss a meal -- but with 18 hours of daylight, you may have trouble remembering to sleep!

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

:) I just posted a Zaandam review...
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=327489