The Zaandam is a smaller ship and can get closer to the glaciers and other sites. Lines are rare. I like the intimacy of this ship.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The easiest ever. Arrived at 1215 and was in my cabin by 1230. There were no scheduled check in times- just show up after noon and before 3:30. Cabins were ready.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food was good and service was superb. Breakfast in the MDR was not as great as on other HAL ships but was still very good. Dinner had an emphasis on Alaskan seafood.
Ocean Bar
5 out of 5
An assortment of Alaska themed cocktails with local beverages and glacial ice. They were very tasty and very potent.
Pinnacle Grill
5 out of 5
Typical steak house. The food and service is good. I never order steak though. My first choice is the scallops. The créme brûlée is wonderful and not same as the served in the Dining Room. There was a Morimoto at Sea pop up one and it was fabulous. It is truly worth the additional charge.
Rotterdam Dining Room
4 out of 5
This is the main dining room. Food and service are both good.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
I didn’t participate
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The dance programs were mediocre. The dancers were good but the music and choreography were at best blah. The performers were good. The theatre is very accessible with no stairs. There are tables to on which to put your drinks. The pianist in the Ocean Bar was good.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Excellent
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship is spotless. They are always cleaning
The deck plan on deck 4 limits access to only the aft elevators and stairs because the kitchen is on that deck. The Crow’s Nest is only accessible from the forward elevator but this is true on all HAL ships
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin had been renovated since my last cruise on the Zaandam. My only issue continues to be the lack of a wall electrical outlet by the bed. The bathroom has been renovated and has a nice shower stall.
Ship tip
This is a small ship so if you are looking to be constantly entertained, you probably will not enjoy it as much as I do.
This is not a port but fjord. I took a separate excursion on a double hull catamaran through the Tracy Arm. It pulled alongside the Zaandam and we boarded the St Joseph. It was a fabulous tour of the fjord. We then pulled back alongside the Zaandam and boarded.
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