Just an OK cruise
Zaandam Cruise Review to South America
14 Night South America Passage (Buenos Aires To Valparaiso)
Sail date: February 18, 2015
Ship: Zaandam
Cabin type: Balcony
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 9 years ago
Review summary
The Zaandam and crew was fine but entree choices in the main dinning room where limited and became boring toward the end of the cruise (14 days). Sea conditions where very good considering how difficult this area can be but the weather in the fjords was limiting which is the luck of the draw. Ports visited where just average but seeing Cape Horn in sunlight was worth the trip.I wouldn't recommend this trip for a new cruiser since what you see is very limited. The Norwegian fjords are much more spectacular with Alaskan glaciers far better than what we saw. If you want to see glaciers at their best try and visit Tracy Arm in Alaska.
Fellow passengers help make the trip and we really had a good group on board. Many countries where represented and we had many good dinner conversations.
Holland America needs to pay attention to the embarkation process which can only be described as FUBAR. No organization with local staff that was very poorly trained and lines that never moved. It was so bad that my luggage made it to our cabin before we did which can only be described as a new low. The whole process was a mess considering most of the information was provided with online checkin. Printing out your own paper luggage tags I think could lead to miss directed bags.
The life boat drill was a complete waste since the noise of the port made it impossible to hear anything said. When this in conducted in an active port like Buenos Aries a written statement with the information covered should be handed out as you checkin.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ports of call
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
Cruise Cockburn Channel
Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina