ms Zaandam

Launched in 2000, ms Zaandam is the 3rd Rotterdam (R-class) ship of Holland America, together with sister ship ms Volendam, and also ms Rotterdam (now Fred Olsen Borealis) and ms Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette).

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle-based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands. In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 61,396-ton, 1440-passenger cruise ship ms Zaandam (named after Holland's Zaandam City) boasts an atrium filled with signature sculpture. Ship's Lower Promenade Deck is wraparound. Most public spots are positioned on three decks. There are also three banks of lifts (and only two on Statendam-class ships). Zaandam's deck plan is similar to those of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, but Zaandam and sister ship Volendam lack the horsepower (and the twin funnels) of the co-flagships of the line. Uniquely, Zaandam was originally planned to serve as Holland America's bid to attract younger travellers. The vessel's godmothers are the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, known to television fans of the late-80s and early-90s from "Full House" and to moviegoers in the years since. Zaandam sports a collection of rock 'n' roll memorabilia which would do credit to Hard Rock Cafe: e.g., a guitar signed by the Rolling Stones. 

Cruise itinerary program

MS Zaandam itinerary program is based on Alaskan voyages from homeports Vancouver BC and Anchorage AK/Seward AK during the summer months. The ship also operates on South American voyages leaving from Argentina and Chile, as well as on Panama Canal repositioning cruises.

In mid-August 2020, Holland America opened bookings for two Zaandam world cruises - "Grand Africa Voyage 2021" (71-day Africa circumnavigation) and "Grand World Voyage 2022" (128-day).

• "Grand World Voyage 2022" departs from Fort Lauderdale on January 3, visits 50 call ports (27 countries, 4 continents), features overnights in 9 port cities (Tokyo, Kobe, Tianjin-Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Aqaba-Petra, Istanbul), late-night departures from 10 port cities (Hilo, Naha, Danang, Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Aqaba-Petra, Ashdod-Jerusalem, Haifa-Tel Aviv, Mykonos Island), scenic cruising (Amazon River, Kanmon Strait/Shimonoseki, Dardanelles Turkey), full transits (Panama Canal, Suez Canal), 2x equator crossings, 1x International Date Line crossing.
• "Grand Africa Voyage 2021" departs from Fort Lauderdale on October 10 and circumnavigates (clockwise) the continent. The unique itinerary visits 18 ports (plus San Juan Puerto Rico, Funchal Madeira Island, Souda-Chania Crete Island, Aqaba-Petra), with overnights in Aqaba, Mahe Seychelles, Zanzibar, Cape Town South Africa), late-night departures from Souda-Chania, Safaga, Richards Bay, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, San Juan Puerto Rico), shore excursions to Jozani Chwaka Bay NP (Tanzania's Jozani Forest on Zanzibar Island), Lokobe Strict Reserve (northwestern Madagascar), Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (Africa's oldest nature reserve), Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa (South Africa), Abuko Nature Reserve (Gambia), Foret de Bandia (safari park).
• Early Booking Benefits (for full cruise bookings only) include OBC (onboard credit per cabin), prepaid gratuities, luggage delivery.

Cabins

MS Zaandam has a total number of 716 cabins (of which 197 Suites, no Balcony, 136 Inside rooms) in 27 grades. Most ms Zaandam staterooms are 140-320-sq.foot oceanview rooms (383). 28% of ship's accommodations have private balcony views. 22 are the wheelchair-accessible rooms. The largest aboard ms Zaandam are the Pinnacle Suites (935 ft2).

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The 2-story Rotterdam Restaurant (ship's Main Dining Room), is located aft and surrounded with windows. It serves open-seating breakfast and lunch and features plenty of small tables for passengers who prefer to dine a deux. MS Zaandam also provides a 22-dish, vegetarian menu for lunch and dinner, consisting of salads, soups, entrees and appetizers. Options include dishes like Vietnamese vegetable spring rolls, portobello mushroom and chipotle quesadillas, spicy lentil and garbanzo salad. The Pinnacle Grill is ship's extra tariff restaurant. It is open for lunch ($15 service charge) and dinner ($30), and offers a Northwest menu featuring Pacific Rim salads and appetizers, grilled aged beef, salmon, chicken and desserts.

Follows the complete list of ms Zaandam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (88-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Rotterdam Restaurant (792-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m. 
• King’s Room (Rotterdam restaurant annexe, reservations-only; for private dining)
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (394-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6:00 a.m. -11 a.m., Lunch 11:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annexe; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

One of HAL's Signature of Excellence enhancements is the installation of a new demonstration kitchen in Wajang Theater. Its program is provided in conjunction with Food & Wine magazine. Often, guest chefs from restaurants around the United States are onboard to give workshops and demonstrations. If no "celebrity" chef is available, Zaandam's own chefs host the classes, some of which are free and open to all. However, the more hands-on and intimate classes have to be reserved and are not free of charge. Wajang Theatre also features a movie three times per day. The Mondriaan Lounge is the production shows' venue. It also hosts enrichment lectures and speciality acts. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry/Self-Serve Laundromats.

Follows the complete list of ms Zaandam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Promenade Deck, Walking Track (jogging is not permitted)
• Mondriaan Lounge (574-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Queen’s Room (34-seat meeting room; hosts digital workshops via Microsoft partnership, computer classes, social networks, blogging, photo editing)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Wine Tasting Bar, Gourmet Shops (bottles available for purchasing, wine sampling)
• Wajang Theatre & Culinary Arts Centre (125-seat cinema; offers culinary classes and cooking shows presented in demonstration kitchens)
• Atrium Terrace with boutiques; Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Ocean Bar (75-seat Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Casino (served by Casino Bar)
• Piano bar (84-seat)
• Hudson Room (50-seat meeting room; used as Cards Room)
• Explorations Cafe (82-seat speciality coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (87-seat lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
• Neptune Lounge (22-seat club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 2 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar
• Crow’s Nest (220-seat observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Tennis Court; Basketball Court; Shuffleboard
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)
• The Oasis (40-seat teen-only outdoor area).

Zaandam is Holland America's 3rd R-class liner, with sisterships Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette), Rotterdam (now Fred Olsen Borealis), Volendam. This vessel is named after Zaandam Holland - the main city of North Holland's Zaanstad municipality and historically important riverport town on Zaan River. Ship's inaugural cruise/maiden voyage started on May 4, 2000 (6-day Caribbean itinerary). The vessel was christened by two godmothers (1986-born twin sisters, both US actresses) - Mary-Kate Olsen (fashion designer, actress, producer) and Ashley Fuller Olsen (fashion designer, businesswoman, author, actress, producer).

Ship's interior is music-themed, featuring a huge number of musical artifacts and memorabilia - guitars signed by celebrities (Rolling Stones, Santana, E.Clapton, Queen), all kinds of musical instruments (even a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton - the 42nd US President / 1993-2001), music-themed paintings and notes on the walls. In the Atrium area is the 2-deck high Dutch pipe organ.