If I liked Zuiderdam, will I like Zaandam?

[dexter]

My wife and I cruise on Zuiderdam a month ago and now we're planning our next cruise. We liked the HAL experience and we're looking at Zaandam. We haven't cruised a "smaller" ship since our first cruise. Please compare the two ships.

[doone]

From what I hear, these two ships are very different. I haven't sailed either one as of yet, but I have sailed the Volendam, which is sister ship to the Zaandam. I am sailing the Zuiderdam in March, then the Volendam and while I expect wonderful experiences from both, the experiences will both be different. The Zaandam is smaller than the Zuiderdam, probably a more intimate ship. I am sure there are some others on the board that have sailed both and can give you a more complete analysis, but this is what I figure I will experience between the two ships, both nice, but different.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have sailed several times on the Zaandam and a couple of times on the Oosterdam - sister ship to the Zuiderdam.

Really loved the intimate feeling on the Zaandam. We really like the smaller ships better. The cabins and balconies on the Zaandam are larger.

It is much easier to get to the dining room from the bow of the ship on the Zaandam. You can walk both on port and starboard side to get there. No passing through a congested photo gallery area.

The Ocean bar is much nicer on the Zaandam. Not spread across the atrium.

[gatour]

Ahh, the Ocean Bar, my favorite place on the Zaandam.

I really like the Zaandam. On most of our recent cruises we have been sailing on much larger ships, so when we boarded had lunch by the pool. Decided to head to the spa to make massage reservations and realized it was just on the opposite end of the pool from the buffet. Had gotten used to having walk by a couple of pools to get the spa. :)

I really liked the Zaandam. First time on a cruise where I had a "normal" sized cabin, where I could completely unpack.

Also loved the service. The staff in the Ocean Bar greeted me by name after the first day.

However, my wife made a comment after the cruise that she prefers cruiseships that are between the size the Zaandam and the Adventurer of the Seas (our prior cruise to Zaandam).

[kruzkeen]

As much as I thought that the Oosterdam was a beautiful ship, the only really positive feature on it over the Zaandam would be the design of the Lido Restaurant. I much prefer the various stations as opposed to the one long line on the older ships.

For anyone who only eats breakfast and lunch in the dining room, this would not be a consideration.

[bepsf]

There are pluses and minuses to both R-Class and Vista-Class ships...

After cruising the Oosterdam (newer sister to Zuiderdam) and the Amsterdam (older sister to Zaandam), some personal observations of things that I missed about the Vista-Class...

Larger Lido Restaurant w/ more tables, stations & shorter lines
Exterior windows in the Odyssey (Marco Polo has no exterior windows)
Odyssey Bar - it's a great place for a group to meet before dinner.
Larger bathrooms in suites including separate tub and shower and two medicine cabinets (and tubs in ALL non-handicapped S Suites - not just 4/5 of them)
Rattan & Teak furniture in the midships Lido & on all verandahs.
DVD's available to borrow in the library (for free)
Entering the ship directly through the main lobby - and therefore easily finding the exit for ports and tendering.
Open Atrium for airier feeling indoors
Better arrangement of shops, and better separation of sports bar from casino.
More & better quality artwork
Better ride in rough seas & lack of vibration at the stern
Jacuzzi's & open-air bar on aft Lido
Comfy-er seating in the Vista Lounge
Relative ease to walk out onto the bow
...and my personal favorite:

the exterior Glass Elevators (!!!)
Then again, there are a few things I prefer about Amsterdam:

General arrangement of the Main Dining room w/ open well & staircases and views out 3 sides of the room (esp during lunch in Glacier Bay)
Arrangement of the Ocean Bar
Interior Windows in the Marco Polo (the atrium off the Odyssey can be noisy)
Fully tiled bathrooms in the staterooms
More storage/drawers in staterooms
Sky Room for Club HAL at the top of the aft stairwell
Lido Restaurant & Crow's Nest overhangs the side of the ship so that in the corners, one can look straight down to the water or along the side of the ship.
Lower backed recliners in the Crow's Nest are easier to see over.
Straight corridors from one end of the ship to the other - no right/left jogs.
Service & food were comparable from one ship to the other - absolutely no complaints either way (except for the spa on 'O' - didn't bother to try on 'A').

[Nasmas]

Haven't been on the Zuiderdam yet but I can tell you, the Zaandam is wonderful. Its my favorite of all. We cruised her in 2000 and I fell in love with that ship. We're trying to do all of the dam ships and the Zuiderdam is our next one.

[arzz]

Have not been on a Vista class, and not sure I wish to (do not like the large ships) -- but we loved the Zaandam -- Ocean Bar was also our favorite and they do know your name instantly -- REALLY appreciate the in cabin storage space -- it has been 18 months since we sailed her, but we are now only two months away from our Christmas cruise and can't wait!