I don't see the ZAANDAM talked about much....Please share.

[FlorenceItaly]

I have decided that I would love to cruise HAL's 10 day Southern Caribbean/Panama Canal route. I would love to cruise it early 2005 Jan/Feb, BUT, I am afraid it will need to wait until the end of the year. In early 2005 the Rotterdam travels this itinerary, which I have heard glowing reviews about.

The Zaandam goes later in the year....Nov 11, 2005 is what I am thinking about.

Would anyone care to share about the Zaandam, and this itinerary??

I would love it if there were some other CC'ers on board...anyone thinking about this particular cruise during the Nov/Dec 2005 time frame?

 

Marie

[sammiedawg]

We did Zaandam last July Alaska, a lovely ship. No complaints of any kind. The best food of any ship we've been on.

[cruisemate]

I have also cruised the Zaandam, ishe really is a lovely ship, only 4 years old now and very well maintained.She is due for a major refit in early 2005,which will include a Neptune Lounge for Suite guests

When I cruised on there,I had a great time, lovely ship, friendly crew and great food.

The Southern Caribbean is also a nice cruise together with the Panama Canal, I am sure you wont be disappointed!

[Nasmas]

The Zaandam is my favorite ship. We cruised her in September '00, and she was almost new. She is beautiful. We're trying to do all the 'DAM ships but I wouldn't quibble if we did the Zaandam all the time. Everything was exceptional.

But, the Rotterdam sounds wonderful too. Either one will be a winner I'm sure.

[elmorejj]

We have cruised 45 days on the Zaandam and have another 17 days booked for the holidays. You can`t go wrong with this ship, great crew onboard right now. Excellent chef and great officers......jean

[FlorenceItaly]

THANKS ALL. I am DETERMINED to take a 10 day South Carib/Panama Canal cruise on HAL in Nov/Dec 2005 :). Dh has asked me to hold off booking any just yet(this would be a solo for me) since I have 3 booked in 2005 already. In March with dh/ds, April w/sis, Sept with dh and friends....LOVE to solo cruise....

 

Marie

[jtaylor303@cfl.rr.com]

We did the Zaandam repo cruise last year from Port Canaveral to Vancouver. The ship, crew & food were great. We liked her so much we are doing the 10 day Christmas cruise this year.

[elmorejj]

jtaylor, we will be on the Christmas cruise, also the week before. Glad to hear someone else is cruising the Holidays on the Z. I thought I was going to have Santa all to myself!!! Why not sign in over on the HAL roll call forum......jean

[jima53]

Will be on our first 7 day cruise in october, can't wait.

 

Jim

[RevNeal]

I'm really looking forward to boarding her in less than 2 months, now. I've been on her sister ship, the Volendam, thrice and thought she was lovely; so I'm expecting great things from the Zaandam! :D

 

I understand her theme is music. :)

[tammar]

Hi how are you. The Zaandam is my husband's favorite ship. It is intimate with what seemed like a series of small cozy living rooms. Very classy. When we were on the crew was wonderful. Great service and food. We had a mini suite with a balcony. Very spacious. Plenty of room for everything. We were sorry they pulled up to Alaska or we would have gone on her again. I'd give her 5 stars compared to all the other ships we have been on.

[auj1fan]

Well I was just sailing on her a few weeks ago. This was my first cruise ever. I really enjoyed it. The food was excellent in the Pinnacle grill and pretty good overall on the rest of the ship. There was plenty to do and everyone was really nice and helpful. I do have a friend that sailed with me and she had sailed Princess before and feels that cruise line was better. Everyone has a different opinion as we all have different expectations.

 

Kim

[idiebabe]

I'm also thinking of booking her for the Panama Canal in the Fall, 2005 and have never been on HAL. Can someone please tell me how the nightlife is on the Zaandam? From some of the other posts I've read they said it is quite dull. We're both early 50's but enjoy the lounges, casino, etc. after late seating dinner. I've read that the ship is dead by 10 p.m.?

 

I'd appreciate any feedback on this. Thank you.

[arzz]

We were on the Zaandam in March of 2003 -- had a wonderful trip and no complaints (in fact we only got off the ship once- we were content!) -- as a comparison, I was on the Grand Princess in July of 2003 and I would take the Zaandam any day over Princess! (Grand Princess was too big though I defend my decision to try a ship of that size once, I hated the anytime dining...and that applies even though we were visited by the upgrade fairy -- went from a minimum outside to a top category balcony cabin) I find that HAL has preserved at least some of what originally attracted me to cruising and that the Statendam, Zaandam size vessels are a good compromise between the friendly, old ocean liner size craft and the behemoths. Though Port Canaveral is a bit of a pain to get to from the Orlando airport, we will be on the Zaandam again this Christmas -- hope the upgrade fairy visits again....

[cmyers]

My 18year old grandaughter and I are sailing on the Zaandam In September to Alaska with another couple. I am worried that their will not be enough things to keep an 18year old occupied. Are 18 year olds allowed in the lounges? I haven't heard anything about dining menu's and a web site as to where to view them - trying to pick a day for the pinnicle restaurant. Any more information about this ship would be greatly appreciated. On our last Carnival pride cruise we discoved the 5 headed showers at the spa for free that were awesome (4 people in our cabin) but wished we new about this at the beginning of our cruise and not the end with two teenage girls and all of us trying to get ready for formal night. so again - any pass cruisers that can share any info that most people don't know about would be great.

[elmorejj]

arzz, we also will be on the Christmas sailing and the week prior. Did you get your cabin credit? If not, tell your TA to call HAL and ask for promo# 7032 for Mariners. Also, why not check the roll call forum and sign in.....jean :cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

 

We have been on the Zaandam 5 times - lovely ship. Love the idea of the middle elevators for getting around the ship. Easy to get from bow to stern and vise versa.

If you are Bill Clinton fan, don't forget to look for his autographed saxophone.

:)

[RevNeal]

idiebabe,

 

I'm sure that, compared to several other cruise lines (Like RCI or Carnival), the night life on most HAL ships is somewhat more "dull." There is a nightlife, however ... shows, lounge activities, casino games, the Disco up in the Crows Nest ... lots of stuff going on in the evenings.

 

I've never been on the Zaandam (I will be on her for the Fall Panama Canal Cruise in 49 days!) but I have been on her sister ship, the Volendam, many times, as well as on several other S- and N- class HAL ships. I've never found that HAL ships are dead by 10 pm. Indeed, some people are still eating dinner at 10 pm, and the second-seating show doesn't even begin until 10:30 pm, so the ship most definitely not dead at 10 pm! After the second-seating show there's the Ocean Lounge, the Crows Nest Disco, casino, and other functions going even after midnight. Sometimes one has to look for post-midnight functions, but they exist.