Fodor’s Expert Review
Ship Overview
The...anada, USA
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Launched in 2002 and refurbished in 2021, Zuiderdam was the first in Holland America Line’s Vista Class. The four Vista ships are named after the four main compass directions—Zuiderdam’s prefix means south. The company has a long-distinguished history as a shipping, cargo, and passenger line making transatlantic crossings since 1873. By choosing Zuiderdam, you can get a taste of this bygone era of travel; the ship has been designated Holland America’s world cruiser until at least 2024. Its Grand World Voyage itineraries circumnavigate the globe.Read More
It is far easier to list where the ship doesn’t go than where it does. Zuiderdam does not sail the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. Otherwise, most coastlines that a large cruise ship can go, it’s scheduled to venture there through 2024. It even cruises by the polar icecaps of Svalbard, between mainland Norway and the North Pole. This ship has some serious sea legs.
Zuiderdam’s capacity of 1964 means it is at the smaller end of large mainstream ships. A world cruiser needs to balance having enough amenities, dining options, and entertainment to satisfy a guest on board for months, with a ship small enough to meet the restrictions of some ports.
Holland America has a loyal fanbase and their Grand World Voyage itineraries are popular with retirees who are at leisure to explore. It is so popular in fact, the 2023 trips are nearly sold out. Though you can opt to do just a segment, anywhere from 7 to 73 days, there are passengers who do the entire 128-day itinerary. Some do back-to-back Grand World Voyages.
Zuiderdam is classic in style and has Holland America’s signature elements. History and tradition are important to this cruise line and there are nods to its nautical roots everywhere. Black and white photos of their old steamers and passengers in tuxedos, fur coats, and pearls adorn the corridors. The scheme of navy blue, white, and brass emphasizes the naval theme.
The Crow’s Nest/Explorations Café is another design signature across all ships. Just shy of the top deck, the lounge and its panoramic windows are perfect for scenic days at sea. Or get a cabana at The Retreat, a private area on the highest deck. Each cabana has two loungers, a bistro table, food service from Dive-In or the room service menu, and ocean vistas. Access is $55 on a port day, $85 when at sea.
Entertainment centers around live music and The Music Walk, four venues in a row on deck 2, showcases a variety of talent, from world class soloists and quartets in partnership with the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts, to rock and roll, country, and funk at Rolling Stone Lounge.
Anyone who has already sailed with Holland America will be familiar with Zuiderdam’s dining, as there is not much deviation between ships. Zuiderdam has the core restaurants. For complimentary dining, there is Lido Market buffet, one main dining room, a poolside burger grill, plus room service. They have just two specialty dining restaurants, Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto, which are available across the entire fleet. It does not have Rudi’s Sel de Mer (French) or Tamarind (pan-Asian), however, on the world voyage, the menu is offered as a pop-up on special nights.
Zuiderdam is not an action-packed vessel, nor is it for passionate foodies, but it does strike a chord with its key demographic, age 50 and up. For passengers on long trips, the ship becomes their home and the staff like family. Service is friendly, bubbly, attentive, and not so stuffy or formal. There are enough gentle activities and social events should the mood strike, in between parking yourself with a book, mahjong, a deck of cards, knitting, afternoon tea, hair appointment, a few spins at the casino slot machines, or time in the pool. The midship pool has a retractable roof so it can be enjoyed in any weather.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
What to expect on board
Staterooms & Cabins
Zuiderdam has a total of 983 staterooms, of which only 161 are Inside (170-200 square feet). There are 165 oceanview (174-180 square feet), 495 verandah (212-359 square feet), 100 signature suites (373-384 square feet), 60 neptune (500-712 square feet), and two pinnacle suites (1,318 square feet).
The staterooms are nothing to write home about, but they are serviceable, and their classic style will feel familiar for veteran cruisers. The palette is neutral and bland. Expect off-white walls, beige wood veneer, gray furniture, cream-colored bathrooms, and one or two innocuous framed prints of Dutch landscapes or tulips. Every cabin has a minibar, desk, TV, and a good amount of closet and shelf space, unless you come with five suitcases. Bedsides have USB plugs, and extra electrical outlets have been added to the desk to accommodate CPAP machines.
Depending on the room, the extra beds come in the form of a sofa bed, Pullman bed, or both. Balconies are accessible through a regular glass door, not a sliding one. It is a key lock, somewhat of a nuisance if anything were to happen to the key. Some verandah stateroom bathrooms and all signature suites have a bathtub/shower combo, so if you have issues stepping into a bathtub, do carefully select the room right for you.
Neptune suites and pinnacle suites have extra amenities and services, including free water and access to the private Neptune Lounge offering snacks, an honor system bar, comfortable sofas, and dedicated concierge desk. Those lucky few staying in one of the two pinnacle suites, enjoy jacuzzi jets in the bathtub, a coffee machine, a binocular, Bose speakers, walk-in closet, and complimentary laundry service.
There are 28 wheelchair accessible staterooms. These staterooms have extra square footage, automatic doors, a help button, and a modern roll in bathroom and shower.
For special requirements and assistance, Holland America recommends contacting the guest accessibility department at least 45 days prior to departure.
Crew are experienced and attentive in serving the mobility needs and age-related challenges of Zuiderdam’s older passengers. A dry dock scheduled for December 2022 will further improve accessibility in public areas and accessibility staterooms for passengers using walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters.
The World Stage (main theater) has ADA seating on the lower floor (deck 1). All other music venues are floor level and accessible.
Food & Drink
For complimentary dining, Zuiderdam only has four options: the buffet, main dining room, casual poolside burger grill, and 24-hour room service.
Occupying a quarter of deck 9, Lido Market buffet has a respectable amount of choice. As a hygiene measure, the buffet is not self-service. Staff will dish up soup, salad made-to-order, cheese, cold cuts, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, Tex Mex, hot entrees, roast, Asian wok dishes, sushi rolls, and Indian food. Save room for fruit, dessert, and ice cream. Bubbly, cheerful staff in navy and white uniforms and neat pinstripe waist aprons tend to the tables, busily serving drinks or clearing plates.
On decks 2 and 3, the complimentary restaurant, unimaginatively called The Dining Room, is the place for full-service dining. Though somewhat dated in style, there is an elegance in the simplicity. The first floor is for flexible dining with no table assignment or set time. Upstairs is traditional dining with assigned seating, which continues to be popular for Zuiderdam guests; once a passenger has their table and server who knows all their preferences, the bond is unshakeable. There’s ample choice for breakfast, from passion fruit yoghurt bowls and buckwheat pancakes, to Asian congee and a Full English. Dinner might feature chili prawns in garlic butter, spice-crusted prime rib, or grilled salmon and cilantro rice. Specials will highlight the current destination. Beyond Meat is available as a substitute for some meat dishes. Pinnacle Suite, Neptune Suite, and Club Orange guests get priority access, their own section of the restaurant, and an expanded menu.
Topping off the complimentary options are burgers, hotdogs, and fries beside the pool at Dive-In, and 24-hour room service, free except select dishes incur a surcharge.
Vista class ships are smaller and older; thus, Zuiderdam has just two specialty restaurants. The steakhouse Pinnacle Grill ($39 per person) on deck 2 curves around the atrium. Like The Dining Room, they have kept the interior uncomplicated. The palette is mainly black and white, a burst of color coming from the orange tableware. The lunch menu has items such as crab cakes, beef carpaccio, and seafood cioppino. Dinner is a fancier affair. Start with a martini made table-side before ordering a filet mignon or New York Strip; seafood lovers can opt for salmon, Alaskan halibut, seared jumbo scallops, or Maine lobster tail. Zuiderdam does not have Holland America’s Asia-inspired restaurant Tamarind or French-Mediterranean restaurant Rudi’s Sel de Mer. However, these menus are available at Pinnacle Grill as a special event, a necessary offering considering a Grand World Voyage itinerary lasts 128 days.
Italian restaurant Canaletto ($19 per person) occupies a section of the Lido Market dining room. It is excellent value since there is no limit on what you can order. Plates are designed for sharing family style. Share the likes of pastas, risotto, and lamb chops. There is a different special every day.
Holland America has a proclivity for playing it safe and not breaking the mold. When it comes to the bars and lounges on board, the four Vista Class ships are nearly identical. Ocean Bar wraps around the top floor of the three-story atrium, eye level with the rotating Waterford-crystal seahorse. Passengers gravitate here for convivial pre-dinner drinks and the evening ballroom dance hour. Ocean Bar has a sizeable circular dance floor and a Grand piano on stage.
Enjoy a digestif after a steak dinner at Pinnacle Bar. Drinks are allowed in the World Stage theater and there is even drink service before the show. Drink service at Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Rock Lounge helps fuel the sing-a-longs and line dancing.
There are three beverage packages to choose from. The basic Quench package ($17.95/day, max 15 beverages/day) covers non-alcoholic drinks including sodas, juice, smoothies, specialty coffee, and mocktails. The Signature package ($54.95 per day, max 15 beverages/day) allows wines and spirits under $11. The Elite package ($59.95/day, max 15 alcoholic beverages/day) includes drinks under $15 and finer spirits. All travelers in the same stateroom must purchase the same drink package, even if one person does not drink alcohol. If adults purchase the Signature or Elite package, underage guests in the same stateroom must purchase the Quench package.
Entertainment
The Music Walk is the focal point of Zuiderdam’s entertainment. Four venues on deck 2 showcase live music. Lincoln Center Stage partners with the renowned New York City performing arts center to bring classical music soloists and quartets to the small stage. Rows of velvet horseshoe armchairs and curved banquette seating can accommodate just 50, making for an intimate concert experience. On at sea days, there are three show times: a matinee and two evening performances.
Only three ships in Holland America’s fleet have the Rolling Stone Rock Lounge instead of B.B. King’s Blues Club: Zuiderdam, Noordam, and Oosterdam. The partnership with the iconic rock brand and authority in music is designed to bring more variety than what B.B. King’s offers. Move and groove to live rock, country, funk, classic R&B, hits, and different theme nights. There are usually three sets before a DJ takes over the party. Rolling Stone is also the venue for line dancing, the Mariner’s Society welcome reception and brunches, comedy night, and Holland America’s Orange Party, a celebration of the cruise line’s Dutch roots. In case you haven’t guessed it, you should dress in orange.
Two pianists play chart toppers and songs by request at Billboard Onboard. The 856-seat World Stage theater has productions focused on dance and singing, as well as BBC Earth in Concert, where a musical ensemble accompanies the renowned nature documentary on screen. World Stage is also the venue for informative talks led by the Cruise Travel Director.
The scheduled activities are of a gentler nature and are at a manageable pace, so you don’t feel the pull to be three places at once. There’s usually something every hour, from morning pickleball or Tai Chi, to afternoon party bridge play or mahjong. Refresh with daily afternoon tea—or something stronger at a bar—before lightning trivia and ballroom dance hour.
Holland America tries to foster a warm relationship between crew and guests. After all, on Grand World Voyages, these are your companions for anywhere between 7 to 128 days. Get to know the resident show director, entertainment director, and travel director over coffee. Scheduled lunches and meet-ups help facilitate connections for LGBTQ+, Friends of Bill W, singles and solo travelers, and Holland America super fans otherwise known as the Mariner Society. Congregation-led Mass and Shabbat Service are also on the schedule.
Spa & Fitness
The small and welcoming Greenhouse Spa & Salon has 10 treatment rooms for a range of services, from the usual massages and facials, to Medi-Spa injectables. A December 2022 dry dock will improve accessibility in some of the treatment rooms and thermal suite.
The most popular treatments are the Elemis Biotec Anti-Aging Facial, Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage, and R3 Pain Management Therapy, a massage using a combination of heat and cold to relax and relieve. Acupuncture is also in demand, helping passengers with issues such as arthritis and swelling. The pre and post treatment relaxation room has small yet important touches: It is in a private room and tea is served in mugs rather than disposable cups.
The salon is extremely popular for long-stay passengers, who routinely get their hair done as they would do on land. It’s not uncommon for people to book all their appointments at the beginning of a world cruise; schedule in your spots as early as possible to avoid disappointment. There are four hair stations, two hair stylists, and two manicurists. Men’s barber services, teeth whitening, Thermage skin tightening, Restylane dermal fillers, and DYSPORT wrinkle treatments are also available.
The Fitness Center (6 am – 9 pm) is stocked with Precor equipment. Floor to ceiling windows give a view partially obstructed by railing. A wide space in the middle serves as the studio for both free classes (stretch, abs, body conditioning) and paid classes such as yoga, body sculpt boot camp, spin, guided meditation, and Pilates. It is $20 per class or three for $39. Personal training is available, $99 per session, or as a package.
The ship has two open decks. Three rounds of the promenade equal a mile.
The Thermal Suite, which has two wet saunas, a dry sauna, and a few heated tile loungers, is small, however, it does include access to the indoor hydropool. Water is 98 F, or in other words, body temperature. Various jets further massage and soothe.
Key cruising tips
Health & Safety
Holland America frequently sanitizes all staterooms and public areas with medical-grade disinfectants, and provides hand-washing stations and sanitizer dispensers throughout their ships. The cruise line also has an air filtration system that circulates fresh air. All ships are equipped with 24/7 medical care and have onboard medical centers that offer testing and treatment.
Dress Code
Daytime dress is casual. According to the website, shorts and tasteful T-shirts are acceptable in the dining rooms. For dinner, depending on the night, the dress is either smart casual or formal. For men that means collared shirt or sweater with slacks; skirts/trousers with blouse or dresses for women.
Holland America relishes in tradition, and formal night, known as “gala night,” is taken seriously. Men are encouraged to don a dinner jacket, dark suit and tie, or tuxedo; women can wear evening gowns or cocktail dresses. There are two formal nights per week.
Pack orange attire and some wacky accessories for the Orange Party.
Junior Cruisers
Zuiderdam is not targeting families with young kids, but there is a Club HAL if kids join the grandparents on their adventure. The kids’ club is way up on deck 10. A single large room sporting an eclectic industrial feel hosts activities and free play for age groups 3-6, 7-12, and 13-17. The sports court on deck 11 is equipped for games like tennis, soccer, and basketball.
Service
Zuiderdam’s lengthy voyages attract retired passengers who are in no rush. It is not unusual for guests to stay on board continuously for months. During that time, the ship is their home and the staff become like family to them, which fosters a friendly, relaxed, and less formal rapport. Staff are adept at serving the needs of elderly guests with patience and care. Smiles are conveyed even when staff are wearing a mask. Guests are always acknowledged and greeted.
Tipping
Similar to other premium cruise lines, a “crew appreciation” and service charge is automatically added to the account. For non-suite it is $15.50 per person, per day, and for suite it is $17. Additional tips directly to staff and crew for good service are always welcome and appreciated.
An 18% service charge is added to beverages, beverage packages, dining, and spa.