Zaandam Tips

Read all the information left outside your door or on your bed - all worth the time to be up to date on activities etc. Request a statement the evening of the last night at sea, it gives you time to check for errors and have them corrected before the final statement is processed.

Leave notes in your room for the steward to get things you need (i.e. extra pillow, more paper)

Eat every meal you can in the dining room. The food is amazing. Especially dinner.

Don't miss 3:00 pm High Tea. Go for open dining instead of a specific seating time. Bring a couple of bags. Eat at the Canaletto Italian Restaurant at least once.

Take ship tour early on

A room with a balcony is the best way to cruise.

Go to the Lido for breakfast. Be early. Use the hand wash stations before you use the serving spoons of the trays. Go for omelettes Give a tip to a server to bring your food in your table; Go to the Rotterdam for forma dining;

Enjoyed all staff especially Lido deck. It was nice to have tacos and burgers around the pool for something different at lunch. Loved Happy Hour for drinks and appetizers.

When you first get on the ship, make sure to make a reservation for the Pinnacle Grill. It is a speciality restaurant with an added fee but is well worth the extra charge. They book up quickly, especially for popular times.

Get up Early for Short Lines

Learn your way around. SHIP IS IN DESPARATE NEED OF ONBOARD GPS< PEOPLE WERE CONSTANTLY LOST !!!

If you like wine buy the wine package

After embarkation have lunch in the dining room. Much more relaxing than fighting the crowds in the Lido

Enjoy

There is NO coin operated laundry, only valet laundryt that you have to pay extra for. The ship info said there was one aboard but we aksed and also looked and could not find one.

Bring a 3 outlet adapter for cell phone (s) Wear warm clothes by glaciers!

take extra underwear because the ship doesn't have laundry room.

When on an Alaska cruise Holland can't control the weather. Our cruise was mostly good weather.

If you like food, do not bother. We will not be cruising with Holland America ever again, mainly due to the very poor food.

Get your food reservations done for the whole time on day 1, so you get the table and your time slot.