Considering Zaandam 2024 Amazon River Cruise

[stobe1]

We are considering booking the Amazon river sailing on Zaandam next year. We are typically Carnival and Royal Caribbean type of cruisers. This would be a definite change for us due to the cruise length, itinerary and our perception of the more "senior" crowd that is likely to be present.

 

Has anyone done a HAL Amazon cruise? Is it worth the cost and length and time away from home? We are in our early 40s and enjoy night life so we would likely be the youngsters on board. Are there late night options on board or do they start last call early? Zaandam is smaller (which we are fine with since we love Carnival Fantasy class ships) but it seems to have limited bar options. Hopefully there is at least 1 late night bar open?

 

This would be our 1st HAL experience. Any advice or tips on Amazon river sailings would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Edited April 16, 2023 by stobe1

[Sir PMP]

Yes, you will be the youngest on board and you will love the cruise and the ship, we've done it 4 times as part of an 80 day S.America cruise.

[StLouisCruisers]

We did a HAL Amazon cruise last Nov.-Dec. and had all ages on the Volendam.  That included home schooled children so I doubt you'll be the youngest on board.  If you want to drink in a bar after midnight I doubt you'll find one open by that hour.  However we enjoyed listening to the Ocean Bar Band in the evenings before and/or after dinner (7:30 pm).  If you're interested in the Amazon you'll enjoy this cruise.

[oakridger]

Does the Volendam have the Rolling Stone Room now @StLouisCruisers?  Their last set usually goes to about 11:00pm on other ships.

 

~Nancy

[CruiserBruce]

54 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Does the Volendam have the Rolling Stone Room now @StLouisCruisers?  Their last set usually goes to about 11:00pm on other ships.

 

~Nancy

I seriously doubt it.

[oakridger]

Thanks @CruiserBruce.  I was confusing them with the 4 Vista Class ships that have the Rock Room instead of BB Kings now.  I found this handy chart that someone posted (it's on the website). It's going to change frequently, I'm sure.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=1378994&key=2a761c451ab098c5c3b2283f499f0b8a

 

I hope that more ships roll out the Third Avenue West soon.  It's a more low key band for dancing that is quiet enough to converse. A good option for those that find the Rock groups too loud.

 

I wonder if the Volendam isn't a good choice for the OP.  I imagine they would like the Pinnacle ships though, but they don't go to the Amazon.  There's the choice....Amazon will always be smaller ships no matter what cruise line.

 

 

~Nancy

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by oakridger

[CruiserBruce]

1 minute ago, oakridger said:

Thanks @CruiserBruce.  I was confusing them with the 4 Vista Class ships that have the Rock Room instead of BB Kings now.  I found this handy chart that someone posted (it's on the website). It's going to change frequently, I'm sure.

 

hal-ships-at-a-glance-04-03-2023 (1) (1).pdf

 

I hope that more ships roll out the Third Avenue West soon.  It's a more low key band for dancing that is quiet enough to converse. A good option for those that find the Rock groups too loud.

 

I wonder if the Volendam isn't a good choice for the OP.  I imagine they would like the Pinnacle ships though, but they don't go to the Amazon.  There's the choice....Amazon will always be smaller ships no matter what cruise line.

 

 

~Nancy

 

 

 

I think ANY cruise line is going to have an older demographic on a cruise of that length and unique itinerary. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

It will be a fun cruise.

[ski ww]

We loved our Amazon cruise, we did it on the Maasdam a smaller ship now sold. Lots of interesting things to see. Spend time on deck. Manaus is an interesting city, make sure you do an excursion to see what a rubber plantation worked. 

[Nickelpenny]

I will be on this cruise; the Amazon was never on my list of places to go but I couldn't pass the deal up.  I haven't found much info on what it will be like but I am just in my preliminary research.  I am so excited to go!!

[Sea42]

11 hours ago, stobe1 said:

We are in our early 40s and enjoy night life so we would likely be the youngsters on board. Are there late night options on board or do they start last call early? Zaandam is smaller (which we are fine with since we love Carnival Fantasy class ships) but it seems to have limited bar options. Hopefully there is at least 1 late night bar open?

I think you'll be disappointed in the late night offerings on HAL. Entertainment and bars are reported to be done by midnight.

[StLouisCruisers]

10 hours ago, oakridger said:

Does the Volendam have the Rolling Stone Room now @StLouisCruisers?  Their last set usually goes to about 11:00pm on other ships.

 

~Nancy

 

Not that I knew of or we would have gone there to check it out.  We used to go to Explorer's Lounge near the dining rooms to listen to the Classical Duo as they were called.  Two Ukrainian young women who played piano and violin. DH walked by the Lounge one time and they were sitting there talking to each other, not playing, and no one seated in the audience.  This was during a publicized "set".   He struck up a conversation with them and told them we'd be back during their next "set".   We showed up and sat down in the front row and they began to play.  They were very good and we enjoyed listening to the classical music.  DH told them if you play, they will come!  Almost every night after that we came to enjoy the music and every night more and more people came to listen.  I think their original problem was they didn't play if no one was in the room.  The Explorer's Lounge is open to the corridor leading from the dining room to the bars, casino, World Stage, etc.  They just needed to give the people what they want and that is entertainment.

[stobe1]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have scoured Youtube and CC as well as other websites and there juat isn't all that much info out there on HAL Amazon River cruises. I was hoping to find a few reviews or vlogs on Youtube, but so far nada. I found one "review" on youtube but it was more of a photo montage than anything else.

[OlsSalt]

As a rule of thumb, the smaller and older HAL ships offering these longer cruises tend to attract destination-oriented travelers; not high onboard entertainment travelers.

 

Choosing to go into the heart of the tropics, you will probably not get on-demand room chilling A/C either on the older HAL ships.  Keep looking to find your best fit.

[OlsSalt]

Have looked at MSC cruise lines - Poesia does this route - a much larger ship with 12 bars compared to only 7 on the Zaandam.

 

Could be a much livelier scene on MSC, compared to the others out there doing the Amazon: Viking, Regent, Silversea, Oceania

[Mary229]

I have done the Amazon twice, once with HAL and once on a small steamer/mail/freight ship.  HAL was much better😂.   One hint, book the round trip 28-30 day trip instead of the Grand South America segment.   It is cheaper if you don’t take the “Grand”  voyage.  Did I like it, it is fascinating but this was one of DH’s choice.  He absolutely loved it and can’t wait to sail again which is saying a lot as he is not as avid a cruiser.  
 

As to the rest of South America I prefer land based traveling.  Obviously, the Amazon is best approached by water. 

[Banditswife]

We have this cruise booked for the 2025 version.  Sailing the Amazon river & crossing the equator were our draws, since we have never done either.  

As far as the smaller ship & older passengers- we like the idea of a more laid back, more mature group.  The smaller ship may have fewer amenities, but I think/hope that service will be better than on a larger ship.  We are excited to try it.

[weeislayman]

We just completed an Amazon cruise on the Volendam.  Epic...!  Truly amazing...

There is a benefit in doing the Amazon in a boat the size of the Zaandam or the Volendam.  They get into places that bigger ships don't.

That said, no matter the ship, I am sure you will have a memorable trip.

[luv2cruisenz]

We were also on the Volendam Amazon cruise last Nov/Dec and loved it - it’s awesome to be able to see such a special part of the world. We loved walking around the lower promenade of the ship, especially at night. The moths and insects that hitched a ride on the outside deck were fascinating, they made for great photos, some were huge!

 

The itinerary is the draw card. But I do like the smaller ships as you get to know the crew a bit. We had several changes of itinerary along the way due to the changing water levels and tides, but we never missed out on anything on the original itinerary, they were just in different date order! It was all tender stops on our cruise and the conditions of the floating docks were a bit unpredictable. Devil’s Island was a bonus. 
 

We did private tours in all ports except for one HAL shore excursion. We had a guest speaker on board who gave space exploration talks during the day, and at night he talked about the night sky out on the back by the pool. The lights were turned off so we had a fantastic view of the stars, and saw many shooting stars as well. I loved that trip and would do it again.
 

There were two great, talented and friendly cover bands and live classical music which suited the mood of the cruise, if you like. It’s probably luck of the draw as far as the entertainment goes but I enjoyed the relaxed vibe. After what we’ve all been through with COVID, I think if you want to go, just go. The itinerary is well worth it.  
 

Have fun, whatever you decide 🙂

Edited April 17, 2023 by luv2cruisenz

[Cruiz'nBaers]

We were on the Zaandam for the 35 day on the Voyage of the Vikings in 2022.  While music may be finished by somewhere around 11, many nights we spent until well after midnight in the Crow’s Nest socializing with our new friends.  The bartender and staff there were very friendly and accommodating.  Other bars were also friendly and welcoming to passengers, we spent time there as well, but the Crow’s Nest was definitely our favorite.  We also had nights when we were in bed by 11 due to early morning shore excursions.  While at home, we are early to bed, 10pm most nights, but when on vacation we like to break out of the norm and experience it all.  We are in our 70’s, so while not young, still young at heart.  While there are many on HAL who are in their cabins by 10pm, there are still many out and about.  Enjoy your cruise.

Edited April 17, 2023 by Cruiz'nBaers

[trixiee]

21 hours ago, Banditswife said:

We have this cruise booked for the 2025 version.  Sailing the Amazon river & crossing the equator were our draws, since we have never done either.  

As far as the smaller ship & older passengers- we like the idea of a more laid back, more mature group.  The smaller ship may have fewer amenities, but I think/hope that service will be better than on a larger ship.  We are excited to try it.

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by trixiee
Answered my own question! :-)

[pinta1]

Did this cruise on the Volendam 2019 and had a great time.We even got stuck in the middle of the Amazon for a number of hours.we also got to see a space shot from French Guiana(European Space Agency).All in all a great cruise.

[Btimmer]

We did the Amazon River in December, 2019 on the Volendam and loved it.  We're returning this year on the Zaandam on the Grand South America voyage.  Yes, it's worth repeating.  In the evenings we usually went to the early Main Stage show and then enjoyed live music.  We love the smaller HAL ships.

[timbom]

Did they have any special vaccination requirements for this cruise??

[Btimmer]

52 minutes ago, timbom said:

Did they have any special vaccination requirements for this cruise??

The Yellow Fever vaccination was recommended but we didn't get it because of our ages and doctors' advice.  It was a non issue on our cruise.