The Zuiderdam cruise ship departs from Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Caribbean.
Check Dates &
Prices for cruises to Caribbean.
Zuiderdam is unlike any other Holland
America ship. This is a newer version actively in
search of a younger clientele. The ship is about 40 percent
larger than the Statendam-class vessel
and is the first of the new Vista Class.
"The general idea was to make Holland America younger,"
the ship's designer, Frans Dingemanns, said.
Cabins
The Zuiderdam has large, comfortable staterooms;
the standard inside and outside double rooms
are 185 sq ft. while large outsides are 194 sq ft. All
cabins feature twin beds convertible to a queen-size,
a bathtub and shower, TV, mini-bar, dataport, telephone
and multichannel music. A few have a shower only, so check
if a tub is important to you. Sixty-six percent of all
the cabins have balconies. The deluxe verandah
outsides are 254 sq ft and feature a balcony,
floor-to-ceiling windows and sitting area; superior
verandah suites are 392 sq ft. The top-level
suites - penthouse and deluxe verandah suites
- have access to a private lounge with concierge service,
as well as extra features like sofa beds, dual-sink vanities
in the bathrooms, and DVD players.
Dining
Holland Americaexpands its dining
options with the 130-seat Odyssey Restaurant.
The menu in the Odyssey is centered on Pacific Northwest
cuisine. Think salmon, premium beefsteaks, Dungeness crab
cakes, venison carpaccio and other items featuring Washington
apples and Oregon blue cheese. The wine list includes
selections from some very good regional wines, including
Chateau St. Michelle and Willamette Valley.
The Odyssey includes a bar for pre-and post-dinner drinks.
There is a $20 cover charge.
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For main dining, the two-level Vista Dining Room
features floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides of the room, and
there are two grand staircases with a bandstand featuring live music
during dinner.
The Windstar Cafe is a new addition. It's near the
main atrium with nautical motif, with blond wood and marine blue furniture.
The coffee served is Torrefazione Italia, the upscale
brand of Seattle's Best Coffee. It's open from 5am
- 11pm; there is an additional charge for fancy coffees and pastries.
Free coffee is always available in the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired
Java Corner, right outside the meeting rooms
and near the Internet Center on the Promenade
Deck.
The Lido Cafe is designed to be more efficient, with
buffets offering different items to minimize the length of the lines.
Holland America always does a great job with the buffets, and the
favorites are still here: pizza, pasta, Asian stir fry, deli sandwiches,
salad bar and, at breakfast, made-to-order omelets. And, of course,
the always popular ice cream bar. Outside the Lido Restaurant
is the poolside Terrace Grill, which serves burgers
and hot dogs.
Entertainment
A wide variety of entertainment is available, from splashy Vegas-style
revues and Broadway shows to comedians and vocalists. There's usually
a crew show and a 1950s and '60s style party.
Fitness & Recreation
The Greenhouse Spa &
Salon, affiliated with the popular spa found in 15 cities,
is new to Holland America. The menu includes a variety of innovative
treatments, and has a staff of 23, twice the number of most shipboard
spas. A new addition is the glass-enclosed, 18-by-22-foot seawater
hydrotherapy pool, which has jets to soothe sore muscles.
Treatments include a Swedish massage, $99 for 50 minutes; Silk Booster
Facial, $119 for 75 minutes; Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap, $182 for
45 minutes; and Sole Delight Foot Treatment, $55 for 45 minutes.
The adjacent fitness center has ocean views
and treadmills, stair-step machines, stationary bikes, free weights
and Cybex weight machines. Exercise classes include water and step
aerobics - spinning, pilates and yoga classes are available for a
fee of $11.
The ship has two swimming pools, one with a moveable roof and the
other in a quieter aft location. It also has a basketball court, volleyball
court and golf simulator.
Public Areas
The Zuiderdam has a three-deck-high
atrium that encircles a Waterford crystal seahorse suspended in the
center. The Vista Lounge is a Broadway-style theater
with three seating levels.
Curled around the atrium, the Ocean Bar has
several bay window booths that make you feel like you're outside on
the Promenade Deck. Up on the Observation
Deck, the Crow's Nest features potted palm
trees and recliners overlooking the bow of the ship. The semicircle
Queen's Lounge on the Lower Promenade Deck
is used for cabaret-style entertainment and recently released movies.
A cigar lounge features a special ventilation system and a tin model
of the Robert E. Lee steamboat. There's also a sports bar, nightclub,
library and shops.
Kids
In its quest to attract younger
clients, Holland America has expanded the children's and teen's facilities
on the Zuiderdam. KidZone, designed for
children from 5 - 12, is the center of the Club HAL.
Supervised activities include arts and crafts, computers, movies and
parties. The KidZone features inside and outdoor
play areas with safety matting.
WaveRunner, the teen center, has a dance floor
with sound and light systems, video game room, a big-screen TV for
movies, and a pantry with soft drinks and juices.
The Club HAL activities continue on Half Moon Cay,
the line's pristine private island. Kids engage in sandcastle building
or treasure hunts while teens can snorkel and play Frisbee.
Expert Zuiderdam reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Caribbean.
Zuiderdam cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Zuiderdam Score:
98
Cruise
Critic: Zuiderdam
The Cruise Critic gives Holland America's Zuiderdam a 3-ribbon rating.
Zuiderdam "The Wonderful Zuiderdam"
Date: September 18, 2005
Reviewer: Miami Beach 411 User, Leawood,
KS
This was our first cruise So we have no objective parameters on
which to compare cruise lines. However, let me say that any other
cruise line would have to work awfully hard to better the Holland
America experience, in general, and the Zuiderdam experience in
particular.
Prior to the cruise we had read a number of mixed reviews of the
Zuiderdam, with complaints about boarding experience, vibration,
food etc.
Our experience, overall was superb. Boarding was a breeze, and
accomplished in very short order. Besides checking ID they do an
ID photo of you, and issue a "ship card" which you show
on embarking or disembarking the ship at any port. The same card
becomes your charge card in the cashless society on board. They
loaded almost two thousand passengers with minimal waiting time.
Motion of the ship was minimal. Those stabilizers seem to work
well. Vibration was also almost unnoticeable. But one has to remember
that there is a mighty engine propelling that huge ship through
the water, so vibration cannot be totally eliminated.
The food was superb. DIning each night was a gustatory and visual
pleasure, as were all the specials, such as Dutch afternoon tea
and the dessert extravaganza. We used room service a couple of times
for breakfast, but mostly we did our deck walk early in the morning,
(three times around the promenade deck = 1 mile), and then went
to breakfast in the Lido restaurant, where there is a huge variety
of food, all of good quality, some of it prepared while you wait.
The smaller European portions, at dinner, instead of the gargantuan
American, doggy bag portions made the dining experience so much
better.
There were numerous on board activities. One we tried was a talk
on Digital photography by the photo lab staff, at which we learned
a lot.
Shore excursions are choices each person will have to make. I would
have been happy simply to remain on the ship. Nevertheless we tried
some. I would avoid the Grand Cayman tour. It just lead us from
one tourist trap to the next. On the other hand, my wife enjoyed
the "Swim with the Stingrays" experience at Half Moon
Cay, while I enjoyed riding the wave runner as a neophyte. When
we reached Costa Maya, there were two other large cruise ships,
(besides the Zuiderdam), moored there. If you like shopping at the
mall at Christmas time, then you will love the shopping experience
at Costa Maya. There are a few good local craft items. You can haggle
for all you're worth to get the lowest price.
We seemed to have no epidemics of intestinal illness aboard. All
the public restrooms and gym have hand sanitizer dispensers. HAL
exhorts passengers to wash their hands often and use the hand sanitizers
frequently. Epidemics of things like the Norwalk virus can be transferred
on hand rails etc. We took a bottle of hand sanitizer for the cabin
and some disposable hand sanitizer napkins to use ashore. We stayed
healthy.
I would say that this cruise was the best vacation of our entire
lives. The crew were outgoing, sociable and helpful. The dining
room and cabin stewards were outstanding, especially Budi, our cabin
steward and Yogi and Igede, our dining room stewards. We hardly
ever saw Budi, but each time we left the cabin he would slip in
and work his magic, leaving fresh towels. Returning after dinner
we would find the bed turned down and a fresh chocolate sitting
on a card bearing a "sleep well message" from the Captain
and crew. We attended the Indonesian Crew show late in the cruise,
and enjoyed it. They also appreciated our being there and were pleased
when we recognized individual cast members later. These people work
hard, 11 hours a day for up to 12 months at a time, before they
get leave to return home for a few months. So, the Golden Rule applies.
Treat them well, and they will treat you well.
We were pleased that the Captain, at his champagne reception recognized
the work of the crew, and even introduced, along with his officers,
the employee of the month who happened to be a "wiper"
in the engine room. At the farewell disembarkation talk, employees
were again recognized, many of them being brought in to march up
on the stage.
Disembarkation was also easy. Immigration boarded the day before
when we hit Key West. Customs was a mere formality, and consisted
merely of handing in your customs form. I saw no inspection of any
baggage.
I would give our experience five stars! Thanks HAL. Now, where
did I put that weight loss diet?
Web links
Holland
America Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Holland
America Cruises at the company's official Web site.
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