Zaandam first timer

I am not a regular cruiser but looking at this ship for a girl's group of 10- are there dining reservations? alcohol extra? any tips for a big group etc.... read this is a smaller ship-holds 1400 -still seems big to me-looking at a Canada cruise next summer-what about nightly entertainment?

My wife and I spent 34 days on the Zandaam last winter for a South America / Antarctic cruise. We loved it, but I’d say it’s more low key than super lively. Every night there was some fun performer or production show in the theater, but I don’t remember a ton of lively night club activity after that. It might be different on a shorter cruise with a younger demographic during the summer.

Recently we sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam, which has been upgraded with venues and features that are also on the Koningsdam and HA’s brand new ship Nieuw Statendam coming up this winter. We felt the vibe was much more fun, and the nightly entertainment was great. BB Kings Blues Club, Billboard Onboard (with awesome dueling pianos), and even Lincoln Center (classical) we’re all great.

You won’t be getting any of that on the Zandaam.

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Alcohol is extra unless you luck into a special that gives drinks (these specials come and go). There is usually entertainment every night with singers and dancers from the ship and others brought on board (wide range - magicians, singers, pianists, etc.).

Recently off an Alaskan cruise on Zaandam, with a group of nine of my family members. It was supposed to have been ten but my aunt had to cancel at last minute.

We opted to eat in fixed seating at early dinner hour (which was 5:30, a little early, but it did let us make it to the shows). You choose dining preferences (including linking bookings) when you fill out your booking or -- preferably! -- with your Personal Cruise Consultant on the phone.

The rest of the day (when we weren't on excursions together), we were not joined at the hip! Although we did keep in touch with messages on the doors of rooms (take a few magnets -- doors are metal), we would catch up on activities at dinner.

There are not a lot of tables for 10; although we were fixed time, we were assigned to a table in the "anytime" level. Which was fine! It had a nice view out the aft windows, and we rotated who got the view!

I checked and all the Zaandam Canada/New England sailings and they are currently offered with Explore4 -- until November 19, 2018. Ex4 is composed of Signature Beverage Package which has a daily limit of 15 beverages, and includes all beverages priced at US$9.00 or lower, including espresso drinks in the Exploration Cafe, wine by the glass, mixed drinks and liqueurs all but the very highest end, and essentially all "boat-drinks"; -- a dinner apiece in the upcharge Pinnacle Grill steak and seafood restaurant; reduced deposit on your new booking (half price); and special pricing on third/Fourth person in a stateroom.

My family stayed in five partially-obstructed oceanview rooms on the Lower Promenade deck -- handy to the promenade AKA the largest balcony on the ship. The views allow you to check the weather and usually see if you should get out there on the promenade RIGHT NOW! Our farthest aft cabin was 3380. The back 2-3 rooms did get some nighttime noise from the galley above, although not enough to disturb sleep.

Various of the group did enjoy the shows, Adagio (the classical duet), the jazz Ocean Bar Trio, and the Piano Bar player.

Thx so much. How much is EX4 package? I was hoping for more entertainment ... we can split up at meals. Not a big deal. Looking at other ships/itineraries too

The price you see on the website is with the Explore4. I've read that you can call and get a refundable-deposit price from a PCC, but I don't know how much less it will be. Be sure what you are quoted is refundable-deposit, a lot of things can happen before next summer!

My PCC's name is Sarah and her direct line is 1-800-355-3017 ex.29313

Thx so much. How much is EX4 package? I was hoping for more entertainment ... we can split up at meals. Not a big deal. Looking at other ships/itineraries too

You don’t say the age of the girl’s group but the typical Holland America passenger is retired. We are retired as well but consider ourselves young and lively. The entertainment on Holland America is mostly geared towards an older population (my husband refers to their music as the dead artist review because a lot of the songs are from singers that have passed on long ago.). If you can make your own fun and entertainment then you’ll enjoy yourselves. If you want to be entertained onboard by shows, music, etc you might want to check out another line. We sail on HAL quite a bit but for the itineraries, not the entertainment.

I should have mentioned that my family group's ages ranged from 36-79! And that everyone found something to occupy themselves. Also that the food in the main dining room (and breakfasts/lunches in the Lido) were improved from two years ago when they were not bad, but not very consistent.

We will be celebrating our 55th bdays....

I have been enjoying HAL since my early 50's! That said, the only thing going on after 10-or-so was a DJ in the Ocean Bar. On the Alaska trip, I don't even think there was a late show (or rather the late show was at 8). But so many of the port days started early, they may have adjusted for that.

Excepting the crew shows which were like, at 11pm because the performers all had to do their regular jobs first!

What are your other ships/lines choices?

I actually prefer the entertainment on the Zaandam, compared the standardized, corporatized music on the bigger ships now. Hearing "Stairway to Heaven" and Coldplay by a classical quartet is cute the first time, but they'll be playing the exact same music programmed onto their ipads on every future cruise, as with the Billboard duos. I'd rather have an Adagio duo playing the music they like or a piano guy taking requests and fitting the music to the crowd.

I don't know about it's future schedule, but my favorite Zaandam cruises are the 4-day coastal ones from Vancouver to San Diego, with a day in Santa Barbara, before all the super cruisers head down and around South America--I'm leaving on it tomorrow.

I actually prefer the setup of the Zaandam to larger ships, with an actual library still around, apart from the Crow's Nest, so my reading isn't interrupted by trivia contests or dance lessons, as it would be on larger ships. I also love the wide promenade deck on the Zaandam, for walking and resting and enduring the muster drill. Then I remember on my last cruise the Mix bar was quite lively and fun, and it had football on a sports bar by it, and then the ocean bar with life music also, so felt much more open and fun than on other ships, where you're funneled through shops and entertainment venues and the casino.

Thanks. Since I am the one in charge I am trying to research. The other ships possibly are a Norwegian and Royal Carribean. We are from the south and the big request is somewhere not hot/humid and this cruise is what my TA recommended without having to travel too far away...

Thanks. Since I am the one in charge I am trying to research. The other ships possibly are a Norwegian and Royal Carribean. We are from the south and the big request is somewhere not hot/humid and this cruise is what my TA recommended without having to travel too far away...

We cruise mainly on HA, but just took a 7 day cruise to Cuba and the western Caribbean on Norwegian. It was our first time. We had a wonderful time. We still like HA’s itineraries better, and their food is better, but the vibe in Norwegian was a lot more fun and lively.

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which ports are ya'll saying that everyone loves the most?

I hated the Norwegian Star in 2013! So shabby that it was almost amusing, and the staff and crew were sullen too (not amusing). People on CC like NCL's newer ships but I was turned off forever by that experience -- if a company can't maintain a ship better than that, they don't deserve my business.

So we went back to HAL and have remained with them for four more cruises (two on the Zaandam), but we are trying RCI the December (the price was too good!).

Can't speak to NE/Canada ports, although I grew up in the northeast.

I hated the Norwegian Star in 2013! So shabby that it was almost amusing, and the staff and crew were sullen too (not amusing). People on CC like NCL's newer ships but I was turned off forever by that experience -- if a company can't maintain a ship better than that, they don't deserve my business.

 

So we went back to HAL and have remained with them for four more cruises (two on the Zaandam), but we are trying RCI the December (the price was too good!).

 

Can't speak to NE/Canada ports, although I grew up in the northeast.

We were on the Norwegian Sun for our 7 day Cuba / Western Caribbean in September. She looked brand new, and was in better shape than the Zandaam was last Feb., before it’s refurb. It felt newer, cleaner, brighter.

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