Zaandam for families?

[kwonder]

I am organizing a large family group, 22 people ranging in age from 76 (my parents) to 6 (my niece)... 6 young adults (20-26)...

we would like a ship that is not too large, and we want a ship the whole group will enjoy.

the adults in the group have done 2 cruises on the Regent Seven Seas, and loved it. but, those ships would have been no fun for the under 30's in our group...
looking for anyone who has been on the Zaandam, especially in Alaska who can provide perspective on whether this ship suits family groups

[cferro514]

I was looking at your group. I do not think the 20-26 year old singles will have a great time on a HAL ship. You should consult with a Travel Agent.

[RuthC]

I agree that consulting a travel agent is a good idea. I don't agree that the Zaandam is necessarily not a good idea.

Alaska is the one area where I firmly believe the itinerary is more important than the ship. The cruise is only seven days, and while in port there is much to see/do. Even "sea" days in Alaska are filled with scenery; it's easy to spend an entire day sitting out on deck watching, and enjoying the clean, fresh air.
This is one area where it's important to get to bed at a decent hour so you can get up early and get going again! Nightlife takes a back seat.

The Zaandam is a beautiful ship, and there are activities during the day, and music/shows/dancing at night. I think a multi-generation family could have a great time on it.

[kakalina]

I personally think the Vista class ships are more suited to families than the smaller ships of the line.