Good ship, but not great. Good cruise, but not great.

Item: Zaandam
Rating: 3.5
Author: nesbitdave

Zaandam Cruise Review to Alaska - Gulf of Alaska

nesbitdave

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 8

Overall rating:

3.5 out of 5

7 Night Glacier Discovery Southbound (Seward To Vancouver)

Sail date: August 27, 2017

Ship: Zaandam

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

The ship was good but certainly needs updating. The captain and staff were very organized and sailed without a hitch. The service was adequate but you did not feel pampered or special...just one of the masses on board. And my wife got sick on the ship even though she was fastidious about washing and sanitizing her hands. The entertainment was very good. The weather was a bit rainy and dreary...recommend going in June or July to Alaska.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

The Zaandam was a bit dated. We had expected a 4 star, but it was a 3 star. It needs updating on the interior. The crew was very good, as was the entertainment.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Not enough given that on an Alaska cruise could not swim or do outdoor sports.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Entertainment and classes very good. I especially liked the Microsoft computer classes, the shows and the movies. There did not seem to be an entertainment director, which would have helped passengers organize to do activities, like play bridge. The main dining room had excellent food, but the buffet was substandard. My wife is on a special diet and it took several days for the dining room to figure it out an accommodate her. On a previous Norwegian cruise they had an individual who was full time in charge of special diets. This is just one example of the ship not having enough staff in a critical area, though they had too many staff trying to get you to buy jewelry and watches.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Very good stewards and service staff, though motivation level could have been better at times.

Ship Quality

2 out of 5

Needs to be updated soon. Shows age.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5