holland-zaandam1

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Ron and Connie Tyrie
Email: rtyrie@hitter.net
Age: 44
Occupation: manager
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Zaandam
SailingDate: May 6, 2000
Itinerary: Eastern Caribean
Cabin: 2574/K
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 65
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 75
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 May 2000
Time: 23:36:24
Remote Name: cit-p3-181.hitter.net
Remote User:

Comments

Hi all

My wife and I just returned from the inaugural Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Zaandam (May
6-13). Here is our report for those who are curious.

Check in and boarding was the usual HAL efficient process. We actually boarded a bit early (despite one
of our party forgetting their passport) and were able to tour the ship and eat a relaxed lunch before the
lifeboat drill.

The ship was absolutely beautiful. The descriptions posted at HAL's web site are an understatement
from my personal impressions. You had to really look close to find any flaws. The few ones that stick in
my mind are the centerpiece pipe organ that is supposed to automatically play each 15 minutes. The
front desk said that the organ would play from the keyboard, but not from the music roll. After a couple
of days, one of the passengers volunteered and would play the organ each day at noon. The volume
was very low key (I guess I should have expected that they wouldn't want to disrupt business at the desk
and shops). The other minor annoyance was the ladies room near the Mondriaan Lounge (main show
theatre). It appeared to spend most of the cruise out of order. The ladies would have to go up stairs to
use facilities.

The ship continues the HAL tradition of spotless and clean. The hotel and food service staff were
absolute fanatics about keeping the public areas pristine.

This ship has the lowest level of vibration and noise during the cruise that I have experienced so far. I
opted for an inside cabin this cruise and was embarrassed to oversleep on the first morning in Nassau.
The cabin was roomy with more storage space that we equired. The cabin (2574 K class) was
configured with two twin beds which the steward (Sapri Ali) quickly configured into a large queen bed. He
also removed the hassock and soft drinks at our request (thanks for that hint r.t.c!). The temperature
control was electronic with an led display that dimmed when the lights were turned down (nice touch
eh!). Water pressure and temperature were ideal. CNN and TNT were available in room 24/7 so I got to
keep track of the news and NBA playoffs. One unexpected touch was the lack of PA announcements in
the cabin areas. Other HAL cruises I've been on would blare out superfluous announcements in every
cabin hawking shows and shop sales. Not so on the Zaandam. The only non-emergency
announcements made in the cabins was when passengers had not cleared imigration and were making
everyone wait to get off the ship. Very nice for those of us who like afternoon naps now and then.

The food and dining service were superb. This was the first full capacity two seating cruise so the first
dinner ran late (glad I had first seating). The meals were typical for HAL, with no one at our table
disappointed. All food was served at the correct temperature. Our wait staff was a little slow at
remembering our drink preferences, but by the third day, no one had to ask for anything. The pastry
quality and variety was better on the Zaandam than on my previous two HAL cruises. Breakfast and
Lunch at the Lido were excellent as usual. A big plus were the separate counters for omelets and Lunch
sandwiches, which served to reduce the lines. The BBQ served on Tuesday evening (San Juan) was
delicious. Along with the usual ribs, steaks, chicken, they served grilled prawns (big shrimp) and salmon.
I had extra salmon and skipped the desert.

Entertainment variety was the usual cruise ship blend. Better that expected were the orchestra (great
sound guys!), the comedian and juggler. The dance team is newly assembled for this ship and are very
energetic and talented. The steel drum band came to this ship from the Westerdam, and continue to
surpass other bands I've heard. They are the only band I've heard that plays at just the right volume.
This ship has their music piped throughout the lido pool area so they don't have to play deafening levels
to allow the other side of the pool to hear. They also gave a classical concert that is not to be missed.
The in-room and theatre movies were relatively recent - they are on par with satellite and cable PPV
fare.

The ports of call were Nassau, San Juan, St John and St Thomas USVI, and Half Moon Cay (Little San
Salvador). All of these are what you chose to make of them. I took bread from the restaurant (hint - bring
your own ziplock bags) to Trunk Bay in St John and Half Moon Cay, and was surrounded by of fish
almost immediately. This attracted quite a few people to watch. One lady asked what type of fish they
were. I couldn't resist and told here I thought they were piranhas and that I was just about out of bread
so maybe we should head for the beach. She called BS on me when she saw my grin. HAL continues to
improve Half Moon Cay. The facilities are first rate and are not to be missed.

Each passenger was given an inaugural plate and certificate. The plates are Deft china made in Holland,
and quite lovely.

The cruise staff was very active and pleasant. We took advantage of many of the passenger
participation events and were thoroughly entertained and pleased. The staff and ships entertainers
mingled with the passengers and were very receptive to suggestions and comments.

Disembarkation was just as efficient as arrival. Our party had driven to Ft Lauderdale so we waited in the
Lido restaurant with coffee and tea. We were loaded and driving home by 9:40 AM.

Cudos and a tip of the hat to HAL and the crew and staff of the Zaandam! A perfect voyage from start to
finish.

Ron and Connie Tyrie rtyrie@hitter.net

Name: Hugh & Joan Daley
Email: hdaley@gte.net
Age: 57/55
Occupation: Chaplain/RN
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Holland-Zaandam
SailingDate: May 27, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 2638/H
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 85
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 85
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 10 Jun 2000
Time: 19:22:16
Remote Name: 1cust58.tnt1.marion.oh.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

We are now back from 7 glorious days in the Western Caribbean. I’ll not burden the site with a lengthy
discussion other than to describe our first day aboard, the ports of call, and the disembarkation. We arrived
at the pier side after spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale. We chose to fly in a day early just to ensure we
wouldn’t have airline delays on the day of sailing. Our approach to the Zaandam was most impressive for
the ship looked so magnificent. There is something about the beauty of a new ship which pleases the eye.
Arrival at the HAL terminal was not stressful at all. There were adequate baggage handlers to take care of
our pieces. The check-in was also well conducted with a friendly staff person. The waiting was not too long
which suited me just fine. Lord, how I hate waiting in line. We then were directed to the waiting area where
soft drinks were available. We also had the opportunity to order our wine for the evening at 10% discount.
We selected a nice Rhone we would enjoy for our first two dinners.

Also the duty-free shop offered many
items including reduced liquor and cigars. The friendly staff (non-HAL employees) would take your order
which could then be picked-up after 3:00 p.m. At first appearance it would seem the items were less
expensive. However, all that glitters is not gold. Most of the items could be purchased aboard ship for a
lesser price. I don’t feel we were hustled for I never asked if the duty-free items were less expensive than
aboard ship. Live and learn. After about an hour or so wait our number was finally called and we proceed to
board the Zaandam. As would be expected, the greeting was warm and friendly with many smiles by the
staff. We were personally escorted to our cabin. Everything was, naturally, spic, span, and shinned. Our
cabin (an outside, window) was prepared and comfortable demanding an immediate exploration. There was
ice in the ice bucket. The bathroom was well stocked with towels and incidentals. On the bureau we had a
variety of soft drinks as well as bottled water. The price was $1.35 per can of soda and $3.35 for the bottled
water. The latter was about a 250ml. bottle. This was my first shock for I cannot imagine what sort of magic
water could this be that costs $13.00 a gallon?

It was now exploration time and we set off to find every area
of the ship. First impressions are always lasting impressions and we were very impressed. We headed to the
Lido deck for lunch. Our expectations were well met. Our meal was excellent although everyone else
seemed to join us for lunch and the lines were a bit long. We both agreed good times lay ahead. The Lido
deck included two swimming pools as well as two Jacuzzis. We noted an abundance of deck chairs which
were soon filled once we set sail. We explored all of the areas on this deck as well as the 9th deck. The
fitness center was very impressive with many treadmills and equipment in excellent working order, as
expected. My thoughts turned to working out here. I’m still thinking about it. Returning to our room in order
to perform our paperwork we found our luggage had arrived. It was interesting to note that in the handling
process our baggage had reproduced for we had one bag extra. The error was quickly corrected.

Our cabin
steward, Ishmol, introduced himself at this time. My comments on this likable, hard working man can only be
outstanding. He was kind, courteous and efficient. As noted elsewhere on the ‘net, HAL utilizes Indonesian
staff for deck hands, room stewards, etc. The ship’s officers are English and Dutch. My wife and I reflected
on this and did feel it gave an appearance of racism. Zaandam’s departure was delayed slightly due to the
late arrival of a plane carrying more than a few passengers. But this wasn’t too inconvenient and permitted
us to explore our new home. The public areas of the Z were just so beautiful. The artwork was impressive as
were the many flower arrays. Before sailing we endured the expected boat drill. Thanks to the maturity of
most of the passengers the drill went smoothly without too much disruption. At 6:00 it was dinner time. It was
casual dress for the first night out. For us it was a somewhat anxious time to meet our tablemates. One
never knows who we will be dining with for the next week. Our anxiety was lessened once introductions were
made and we attempted to be comfortable with one another. Our table setting was just splendid with so
many utensils the uninitiated could be confused. (I place myself in the latter). Our table steward was prompt
in introducing himself as did he supervisor. Our wine was awaiting just as had been promised. Our wine
steward presented the wine properly. We drank only 1/2 the bottle, leaving the remainder for the next
evening.

The dinner selections were inviting and tempting. I chose vine ripened tomato with fresh
mozzarella, Penn Cove mussels, Prime Rib, and a fudge Sunday for desert. All of our dinners were
outstanding throughout the cruise. The portions were more than adequate. On our last formal dinner on
Thursday I ordered both lobster tail and Chateaubriand. Following dinner we found our way to the casino.
My wife reported to her station (dime slots) while I went to my favorite haunt at the craps table. This was the
beginning of a 7-day relationship which would yield fun and profit. A word needs to be said about the
shipboard craps. If you have no interest in this area, please feel free to skip on ahead. If you are a “bones
thrower”, then read on. Unlike the casino games in the US, a player can only lay single odds. This does give
the house (or should we say ship?) a slightly higher percentage. Be that as it may, I had a great deal of fun
in the casino. Afterall, it was the one area of the Z where everyone knew my name. At 8:00 we proceeded to
the theater for the evening’s entertainment. The first night out featured a comedian who was very good
without being risqué. Of course the traditional Captain’s Welcome and introduction of the ship’s officers
followed. As noted above, they were all Dutch and British. The one exception was the employee of the
moonth who was Indonesian/ former were in starched white uniforms while the latter was attired in tan work
clothes. The racial contrast was striking.

On other nights we were entertained by an outstanding signer and
impressionist, a juggler, and a verntriquolist. Our fist call was Cozumel. While I went off to SCUBA dive for
the first time in my life, my wife swam with the dolphins. Both of our tours were well conducted and fun. I am
now taking SCUBA lessons for open water certification. Our next port of call was Georgetown, Grand
Caymans. For this visit we chose to go to Sting Ray City. What a ball!!! It was well worth the money to go out
to this sand bar, approximately 2 miles from shore and encounter these wonderful creatures. After Grand
Caymans we sailed to Occo Rios, Jamaica. We tied up at a pier which normally serves some sort of quarry.
The starboard view left much to be desired. This was a bad day for me. For breakfast that morning I chose a
soft cook egg. Unfortunately, the breakfast chef’s idea of a soft cook egg and my idea of a soft cook egg
were different. Not wishing to send it back I ate it and within thirty minutes had stomach cramps followed by
nausea. I remained in our state room after we walked into Occo Rios. I skipped lunch and dinner that day
but did make it to the show.

Mention should be made of Occo Rios. From our point of view it left a lot to be
desired. Actually, we hated it. The Jamaicans awaiting our outside the front gate were very aggressive. We
took a bus from inside the gate and walked back to the ship. Every shop had the same sort of “tourist trap”
junk hawked by very assertive people. A cab driver even attempted to sell me funny cigarettes. Our trip to
Dunn’s Falls was canceled due to a severe thunderstorm. Our tablemates were very disappointed with the
Falls. We all agreed that we could do without this port of call. We sailed on to Half-Moon Cay in the
Bahamas. This is the island owned by HAL and it was one of the most beautiful spots we had ever seen.
The beach is pristine and the water crystal clear. For a tour we selected the glass bottom boat which proved
to be worth the price. (Sorry, I cannot recall the exact amount we paid).We sailed over several reefs and
saw some beautiful fish. Returning to shore we found a hammock on the beach and went snorkeling. We
made our way to the barbecue pavilion for an excellent lunch. We could spend more than just one day at
Half-Moon Cay. However, there was one negative incident at Half-Moon Cay. While we were eating there
were two teenage girls sitting at the end of the table. Several, for lack of better term, young bus boys were
flirting with the girls. They had agreed to meet somewhere over the dunes to smoke cigarettes. Normally,
such adolescent behavior would go unnoticed by me. Nonetheless, being a father of a daughter, this did
bother me. Our last night at sea, albeit sad, was very exciting. Dinner was wonderful and the closing
entertainment was superb. The vacation was drawing neigh, yet we were well entertained. We made many
new friends and held wonderful memories. Overall, we must say that sailing on HAL has been a great
experience. The Zandaam is a beautiful ship offering just that little bit extra that makes the cruise special.
For the middle aged and beyond, you can experience a wonderful time. My advise is to avoid the soft
cooked eggs, stay on the ship in Occo Rios, and keep an eye on your teenage daughters.

Name: Helen Lanford
Email: hlanford@yahoo.com
Age: 51
Occupation: Marketing Executive
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Zaandam
SailingDate: 5/27/00
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 321
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 87
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 70
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 87
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jul 2000
Time: 13:13:25
Remote Name: 1cust187.tnt8.lax3.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

Holland America has a great reputation for its shore excursions and they lived up to that expectation.
There excursions were very professionally and efficiently handled - varied and highly enjoyable
experiences. We did something at every port. We were also able to book scuba diving from the boat,
unlike other cruise lines who sometimes won't handle this due to liability.

While we had heard that their cuisine was not up to par, we had no problems in the main dining room,
nor in their fine dining restaurant. However the buffet were not organized well - one day, only half the
buffet line was open, but on the other side was an omelette station that no one even knew was open.
Also, iced tea is served in teeny little glasses! Lots of waiters running around, but not seemingly
organized. On another day, after returning exhausted from a shore excursion, only the grill was open
on the pool deck, and there were huge lines! They kept running out of french fries and condiments -
and when the passenger ahead of me in line mentioned to a waiter who was filling up the cutlery tray
with forks & knives that there were no french fries left, the waiter asked the passenger if he'd told the
cooks? The passenger replied why didn't the waiter report it to the cooks? I walked over to the cooks
and told them. They should anticipate returning hungry shore excursion people better.

The decor and furnishings were the best and most luxurious I've seen on a cruise ship, although the
huge pipe organ in the middle of the grand staircase puzzled me as it was never played. The leather
lounge chairs in the Crow's Nest were wonderful! Not a better spot to look out over the ocean, prop
up your feet, read a good book and get a cocktail, too.

Our main complaint was that service in the lounges was spotty - sometimes we got served very well,
and other times we barely got noticed. Entertainment marks are the lowest of the three different
cruise lines we've been on. The singer-impersonator was plain awful - so off-key and unoriginal.
While the juggler and ventroliquist were great, the lounge acts plain sucked, except for the piano bar.

I liked the intimacy of this ship - the smaller number of passengers -but I'm not sure the no-tipping
policy really works, as it produced some inconsistencies in their overall service. And that Lido Buffet
really needs to be organized better. Add some better lounge and main showroom acts, and this
would be a really competitively valued cruise!

Name: Tom & Mary Milano
Email: tmilano@n-jcenter.com
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired restauranteur
NumberOfCruises: 17
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Zaandam
SailingDate: August 5, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: E1862
FoodDiningRoom: 75
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 78
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Aug 2000
Time: 05:37:31
Remote Name: 216-53-149-117.ppp.mpinet.net
Remote User:

Comments

Tom & Mary Milano Zaandam (Holland American) Western Caribbean August 5, 2000

Upon our return from our April 1st cruise aboard HAL's Ryndam, we wrote a very comprehensive
review that was posted on many of the web review sites. Being the Zaandam is very similar to the
Ryndam, and wanting to avoid being repetitious, we will restrict our review to telling you how the
ships differ, and the highlights and the negatives of our cruise. URL for our Ryndam review:
http://www.sealetter.com/Jun-00/rynd700.html

As you read our review, please remember that our perspective might be very different from yours.
The very things we consider negative might seem trivial and non-consequential to you, and
something that we feel very positive about you might consider to be unimportant and insignificant.
When you read words like awful and disappointing, don't assume it means anything other than we
didn't like it personally. You may not think it awful and you may not be disappointed, in fact you
may even like it. It's a matter of every ones taste being different. In order for you to better judge if
your tastes are similar to ours, we are giving you the URL to an article we wrote, "Why We Love
Cruising," which we believe will give you some idea of our likes and dislikes..

http://www.cruisereviews.com/LoveCruising.htm

We are aware that HAL has a very loyal following and some of our remarks may not sit well with
those folks, but we feel that we wouldn't be fulfilling our obligation to the readers of this review if we
didn't tell it as we experienced it and how we perceive the changes that have taken place. Please
remember, it's our opinion, which doesn't mean it's right, its just our opinion. If you have any
questions concerning any part of this review, please e-mail us for clarification and if we can, we will
be happy to answer any questions you might have.

PASSIONATE CRUISERS: After taking our first cruise aboard Celebrity's Zenith, a little over four
years ago, we became totally addicted to cruising and it has become a very important part of our
lives. We are in our mid-seventies and in all of our 27 years of retirement and many land vacations
all over the world, we have never enjoyed ourselves as much as we do as when we cruise. Mary & I
can't think of more romantic, intimate way of spending quality time with the one you love than when
on a cruise. We cruise as often as we can, and with God's grace we hope we have many more
cruises in our future. If you haven't experienced a cruise vacation with the one you love, we
suggest you try it.

We have made 17 cruises in four years and 9 in the last 19 months. ( Mary & I affectionately refer
to our cruises as "Honeymoons.") We have booked cruises aboard the ‘Enchantment of the Seas'
for October 1st, an 11 day cruise aboard the ‘Splendour of the Seas' for Nov. 27th, ‘The Explorer
of the Seas' for Feb. 10th, 2001 and Celebrity's Millennium for March 25th, 2001. After having
sailed with most of the major lines that make Ft. Lauderdale and Miami their home ports, we have
concluded that the Celebrity and Royal Caribbean lines fulfill our expectations on a more
consistent basis than any of the cruise lines we have sailed with. We had high hopes that HAL
might be another until our August 5th cruise. Our Zaandam cruise was a very disappointing
experience. .

THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED CRUISE: Our agent Gari called and said that HAL had issued a
FLASH SALE to their top agencies for a August 5th Western Caribbean cruise aboard their new
ship the ‘Zaandam.' We had read a lot about this new ship and jumped at the chance to get what
turned out to be a very good deal. We had Gari book us an outside cabin, ROS. When we were
checked in the HAL terminal, we got our cabin assignment and were pleased to learn that we had
received a four category upgrade. We were assigned Cabin # E1862.

WE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE: We should have known better than to have booked a cruise during
school vacations, but because of HAL's reputation of having a much older clientele, and our own
observance of this on two previous cruises with them, we never gave it a thought that it was school
vacation time. When we were waiting in the HAL terminal we thought it rather strange to see so
many young children but we didn't feel the full impact of their presence until our first day at sea.
When we went to the pool area, we looked for a Jacuzzi to soak in for awhile before going to the
pool for a dip but we soon realized this was an impossible dream. When we entered the pool deck
the Jacuzzi and the pool were inundated with unattended children, most being under the age of 10.
It was mass bedlam. A lot of screaming and squealing as only little ones with their high pitched
voices can do. Right next to the sign that said no diving, they were diving and splashing and having
a glorious time. It wasn't very long before some of the older boys were catapulting the younger
boys high into the air so they could swan dive into the pool. We made a rough head count and
there were over 60 children in the pool at one time. We have nothing against children having a
good time but it shouldn't be at the expense of everyone on board. We thought the conditions
might be better at the aft pool but we found it to be the same. Most cruise lines have rules and
regulations and have Jacuzzis that are for adults only. This was not the case with HAL. The
childrens wading pool was empty but every Jacuzzi was filled with children. None of the crew made
an attempt to stop the diving or restrict the children from using the Jacuzzis. That was the end of
our spending time around the pool; we never were able to use a Jacuzzi or either pool area during
our entire cruise. Very disappointing.

SOME DISCONTINUED SERVICES: DISCONTINUED THAI COOKING STATION: While we are
talking about the pool area, let us tell you of a few changes that HAL has instituted on the
Zaandam. On the Ryndam and other Hal ships they featured a Thai chef, in a separate cooking
station on the pool deck. He prepared a number of Thai lunch dishes and explained the various
dishes and made suggestions. It was a very popular spot. It was our favorite place for lunch. HAL
has seen fit to discontinue the separate cooking station and instead have a few Thai items in the
Bain Marie area where they have embellishments for the Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. The
discontinuing of the Thai cooking station was a major disappointment for both of us.

DISCONTINUED SEPARATE PIZZA STATION: HAL has also discontinued the separate cooking
station for Pizza. As on the Ryndam and other Hal ships they have a great venue where you can
have a choice of a number of different kinds of excellent Pizzas. This was an extremely popular
area. HAL has eliminated this area entirely and instead have a counter stand of some 3 ½ - 4 ft.
near the Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, that has a couple of overhead heat lamps over an area that
has two Pizzas and a serving ladle that you help yourself. The Pizzas are replenished by the
counterman that are serving the Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, in between taking care of people at
their busy counter. You no longer have a choice of what kind of Pizza you want. Whatever the
counterman put there is what you get. On one occasion, when Mary & I decided to have Pizza, the
two choices were either Pineapple Pizza or Artichoke Pizza. Yes, you heard right Pineapple Pizza. I
like when people are creative, but Hawaiian Pizza? Not for this Italian. Needless to say we didn't
have Pizza. Another disappointment.

DISCONTINUED ROSARIO STRING QUARTET: The Rosario String Quartets have been a HAL
cruise line feature for many years. These very accomplished groups added a touch of elegance to
wherever they performed. It was always a special treat when they played in the dining room and
when they played during afternoon tea in the Explorer lounge. In the evening as they played their
favorite classical renditions in the Explorer Lounge, they were joined by a loyal group of followers.
They were as much a part of these rooms as the tables and chairs and fixtures. In the Rotterdam
dining room HAL has replaced them with a piano player and in the Explorer lounge a female Harpist
has taken their place. The Rosario Strings will be sorely missed, especially by the HAL faithful.
Another disappointment and another example of HAL cutting back.

FOOD:- DINING ROOM AND MARCO POLO RESTAURANT: Whereas we were very pleased with
the food aboard the Ryndam, we found the food served in the main dining room of the Zaandasm
to be very mediocre at best. The very first night when our waiter Toko took our order, I ordered the
Snapper. Toko said, "Mr. Milano that's a very light dish." I thought he meant light as compared to
heavy, but what I soon found out was that he meant it wasn't very good. And he was right, it was
terrible. Of course he offered to bring me whatever I wanted but by then my appetite had left me. If I
can't get what I want cooked properly the first time around I no longer have very much interest in
the meal. After the first night I could see food was going to be a problem so I told our waiter Toko
that I would order what Mary & I would like but if he knew that it wasn't very good, he should tell us.
We struck out most every night and had to settle for our second or third choice. The result was, we
not only didn't get what we wanted but what we got wasn't very good. We don't think the kitchen
should get two chances to get it right. We found the soups very thin, the meat not of top quality
and the entree and dessert selections very limited. The food was a big disappointment, especially
after having such a good dining experience aboard the Ryndam.

MARCO POLO: BOTH GOOD AND BAD Saturday night, Gotko the Maitre`di, came to our table and
handed us an invitation to have dinner with the Captain. We were surprised because we weren't
long time HAL customers. In fact, this cruise was only the third time we had sailed with HAL and
unexplainably have twice been invited to have dinner with the Captain. I thanked Gotko and told
him we were happy to accept.

The Captains dinner was held in the Marco Polo alternative dining room. The Marco Polo is truly an
elegant dining room. The table settings and appointments are outstanding, everything you would
expect of a fine restaurant. We were a party of five couples and the Captain, Nico Corbin and his
wife. Both he and his wife were very personable and the conversation was very lively and
enjoyable. We were surprised to learn that Captain Corbin was the youngest captain in the HAL
fleet. Both the food and the presentation could not have been any better. The food was superb
and the service was impeccable. In all, it was a very pleasant evening.

MARCO POLO--THE SECOND TIME Not knowing we were going to be invited to have dinner with
the Captain at the Marco Polo, soon after boarding we made dinner reservations for Thursday
evening. After having such a wonderful dinner with the Captain, we were eagerly looking forward to
another great dining experience. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way. Everything went well until
the main course was served. We had both ordered Lamb. It was completely undercooked, to the
point of being raw and inedible. When we finally got the waiters attention, he offered to take it back
to the kitchen and bring us something else but by that time our appetite had disappeared. As we
have said before, we don't think the kitchen should have two chances to get it right. I'm sure this
sort of thing will be corrected but it was a disappointment. So much for consistency.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ZAANDAM AND THE RYNDAM::

THE OCEAN BAR is a very warm, attractive room. A four piece combo, N'Joy, supplies the dance
music. A cute little fellow Johnny, (Mary's term for him) is the Hor D'oeuvre man and Mylene is one
of the waitresses. Johnny is set up and ready to serve hot Hor D'oeuvres at 5:15 for the first
seating and 7:15 for the second seating. Hot Hor D`oeuvres are also served in the Crows Nest and
The Sea View Lounge at these same times. A slight improvement over the Ryndam.

THE CROWS NEST: The bar position and dance area have been changed and it has opened the
entire room. The dance area is much larger and more spacious. They have a row of leather
recliners with foot rests along the full width of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bow of
the ship. This area affords you a spectacular view, especially when there is a sunset.. We visited
the Crows Nest every evening before dinner and enjoyed having a cocktail and some hot Hor
D'oeuvres and of course a dance or two. The Wilson Palomo quartet lived up to their billing.
Johnny plays piano/keyboard and his wife is the vocalist. They played the songs of yesterday and
today, the kind of music Mary & I love to dance to. They played all our favorites. Billie is the
personable Maitre`di of the room and Ernie, Jason and Emma are the very pleasant servers.
Emmas husband is the bartender in the Ocean Bar.

THE SEA VIEW LOUNGE formerly THE PIANO BAR LOUNGE. Whereas the former Piano bar was
an enclosed room, the Sea View Lounge is located along a deck walkway, similar to the Explorer
Lounge. It is a very attractive area, and somewhat larger, but it doesn't have the feeling of intimacy
of the former Piano Bar. When we sailed the Ryndam, every time we passed in the vicinity of the
PIANO BAR we would hear the entire room singing along with the talented piano player, having a
glorious time. Whereas on the Zaandam, of the many times each evening we passed by the Sea
View, not once did we ever hear any of the guests join in the singing. Some will view the new Sea
View lounge as an improvement because of its accessability to the deck walkway, but we think the
HAL faithful will miss the fun times they had in the former Piano bar.

THE MONDRIAAN SHOWROOM In our opinion, we think the Mondriaan showroom was
unspectacular in every respect. The only word I can think of to adequately describe the
appearance of this showroom, is garish. The color combinations of the settee and chairs are
purple, orange and bright red. The carpet is another tone of red and the curtain is made of what
appears to be, a silver lame. It may not appear garish to anyone who thinks Carnival is a great
cruise line but for anyone who has cruised the major lines, we think they would agree with us. It
would be interesting to hear what the long time members of the Hal family think of it.

A suggestion; When you go to the showroom make sure you don't sit in the single chairs. If you do
you will find that the upholstery on the seat is so thin that you will have a difficult time making it
through the show. If you can, pick a love seat settee, and you will find that they are a little better
than the board like single chairs.

On every cruise ship that we have sailed, an announcement is always made before a show that
children must be accompanied by their parents and that children are not to sit in the first two rows.
HAL doesn't do this. As it was in the pool area, the children came front and center in the
showroom. Before the show small kids would be chasing each other all over the showroom. On a
number of nights the two front rows were occupied by unattended children, many under 12 yrs of
age. And as children are prone to do, there was a constant jostling for seats and of getting up and
sitting down. Constant movement up front across the entire showroom. with nary a parent to be
seen. As the cruise progressed they became bolder and more offensive. We finally gave up and
didn't even bother to go to the showroom. This was another major disappointment, especially for
Mary.

THE ROTTERDAM DINING ROOM: The Rotterdam dining room on the Zaandam is a duplicate of
the Ryndam with one major difference. Mary & I, and I'm sure many of you, were enthralled with the
Murano Glass ceiling of the Ryndam. We didn't expect that that type ceiling would be duplicated
aboard the Zaandam, but we thought that HAL would treat that area in a special way, being this
was the newest ship in their fleet. Instead, the ceiling in this area was nice but very ordinary. The
kind of ceiling you see in the dining room or lounge of every ship. The very common twinkling lights
against a blue background. This may sound picayune or trivial but after seeing the Murano Glass
ceiling of the Ryndam dining room, this was also a disappointment.

THE CENTERPIECE OF THE ZAANDAM--THE ORGAN: We were excited when we heard that a
gigantic pipe organ was the centerpiece of the Zaandam. We envisioned a magnificent instrument,
it's cylindrical pipes extending three decks high, spewing forth the beautiful tones that only an
organ can produce. Maybe, similar in appearance to that magnificent organ that graced the Roxy
theater in New York. Instead what we saw was a huge three story monument that appeared to be
made of plaster of paris. You wouldn't realize it was supposed to be an organ till you walked down
the stairway three flights and noticed the keyboard jotting out from one side. The keyboard of this
three story organ was the size of a keyboard on a spinet piano. No pull stops or multiple keyboards
or foot pedals, as you see on all large organs. My little Yamaha spinet organ has a more intricate
keyboard than this three story monster. We can't for the life of us imagine how a design committee
could ever have selected this peculiarity to be the featured centerpiece for the companies newest
ship. If it wasn't for the fact that Hal is a very respected cruise line, steeped in a tradition of
elegance, it would be laughable. But instead it's really sad that such a bad decision was made in
choosing this totally inappropriate creation to be the main feature of their newest ship, the pride of
their fleet.

DIMINISHED DRESS CODE: On formal nights, less than 10% of the passengers dressed in tux or
evening gown. The guests dressed more casually on this cruise than on any of our cruises. This
even applied to the formal night we had dinner with the captain. Of the four other men, not one
wore a tux. Now before anyone says so what, Mary & I unabashedly in the old parlance, tell you we
enjoy getting dressed up. It is a very important part of our enjoyment in cruising and if ever it
comes to the time when all the cruise lines go casual, that is when we will no longer cruise. In our
opinion the world is becoming over casual and we have no intention of being part of that trend.
Getting all dressed up for formal night and then being with a large group of people who are also
dressed for the occasion, adds something very special to the evening. Something we don't
experience very often in our every day life. It's something so special for Mary & I that we prepare
for it in advance of a cruise by having what we call, "Fashion Week." We wrote about it in an article
we wrote. You might like to read it. The URL is:

http://www.cruisereviews.com/CruiseExperience.htm

OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HAL'S TIPPING POLICY: Taken from the HAL brochure: "A long-standing
tradition is our "Tipping not required policy." You are free however, to extend monetary recognition
if you wish." Ask yourself a hypothetical question. After reading the HAL declaration on tipping, how
many new cruisers or cruisers who have a tendency to be a little tight, do you think will leave an
adequate tip to crew members. We bet your answer is the same as ours, not to many. There are
people who have a tough time getting their hands out of their pockets when it comes to tipping,
Give them an out, like the HAL statement and forget it, no tip. No one can tell us that the crew does
not get anxious wondering if they are going to be tipped or not and sometimes go overboard in
trying to insure themselves a gratuity.

On our first cruise with HAL we had a lounge waiter who after having asked us our names, would
call out to us wherever he saw us. When he saw us, no matter where it was, he would wave to us
and call out in very loud voice, "Hello Tom & Mary." I want you to know I am a very friendly and
gregarious fellow but after a few days these incidents got completely out of hand. When we were
walking near the pool and he spotted us from the other side, he would stop whatever he was doing
and wave to us and call out in a loud voice, "Hello Tom & Mary," as if he just recognized a long lost
relative. In the showroom as he was serving the front row and he spotted us a dozen rows back, he
would stop what he was doing wave to us and call out, "Hello Tom & Mary." He was over friendly to
the point of being obnoxious, pandering for a tip. We did everything we could to avoid him. The last
night after I tipped him, he disappeared like a vapor. During disembarkation, as the multitude of
people walked by the Ocean Bar heading toward the gangway, he had the nerve to stand in the
middle of the walkway hoping that people who missed tipping him the night before might be
intimidated by his presence. When we walked by he didn't even say hello. We're sure this is not the
norm but it is an example of what this kind of policy can foster. So much for the brochure
statement, "Our tipping policy ensures that the professional and gracious service you receive is
sincere." So much for sincerity.

It is our opinion, HAL's tipping policy causes a great deal of confusion, not only with their guests
but also with their crew. The last night of the cruise we're sure many of the guests play the tipping
game, "Should we or shouldn't we", while the crew members play the game "Are they or aren't
they," wondering if they are going to receive any remuneration for their efforts. When we sail with
Hal we tip what the cruise guidelines suggest or better, regardless of HAL's stated policy. It is our
opinion and our belief, that HAL's Filipino, Indonesian servers should receive the same
consideration as the crew members of any other line. We hope that HALs longtime faithful followers
aren't faithful followers because of their tipping not required policy..

WE ALMOST DIDN'T WRITE THIS REVIEW: It was Friday morning, the last day of our cruise, and
Mary & I were at the Java bar having a Coffee Lotte when I told her we had a dilemma. I told Mary
that I wasn't sure that we should write a review because most all our thoughts about this cruise
were negative. We were disappointed with so many things that I thought it might be that we were
being over critical. We were wondering if anyone else felt the way we did or was it just us. I was
feeling very uncomfortable.

As we were standing at the Java counter, playing that "should we or shouldn't we" game, we
noticed a gentleman that we had seen at the Mariners Society awards party, talking to another
gentleman. I remember him being introduced at the Mariners party and the Captain placing a
medallion around his neck for having made 50 cruises with HAL. I overheard some of the things he
was saying and before you know it I was in the conversation. I couldn't believe my ears. This very
loyal follower of Hal, who made 50 cruises with them and 50 other cruises was saying the very
same things Mary & I had talked about. It was like hearing a recording of our earlier conversation.
He was talking about the same things that troubled us, the kids, the discontinued services, the food
in the dining room, the lack of formal dress, the showroom, the atrium centerpiece and changes
that have been made that only a long time HAL cruiser would be aware of. He said he began to
notice the changes soon after Carnival took over and for all intents and purpose, this was his last
cruise with HAL. After our conversation with this long time HAL cruiser, who felt the same way we
did, our mind was clear, we knew we were going to write a review.

It is much easier and more pleasurable for us to write about a positive cruise experience than
having to tell you about many negatives such as you have read in this review. In fact, it concerns
us that this review might discourage someone from cruising, or perhaps dampen some ones spirit
who has booked the Zaandam. The only thing we can tell them is, ‘Don't let our review scare you.'
As we stated at the very beginning of this review, the very things we consider negative might seem
trivial and non-consequential to you, and something that we feel very positive about you might
consider to be unimportant and insignificant. When you read words like awful and disappointing,
don't assume it means anything other than we didn't like it. personally. You may not think it awful
and you may not be disappointed, in fact you may even like it. ‘Don't let our review scare you..'

THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL: *WE suggest, if you intend to dine at an alternative
restaurant, make your reservation the afternoon you board. The earlier the better. *We suggest
you always check your table assignment as soon as possible. *WE suggest you get $2 dollar bills
from your bank. Great for tipping servers. They won't forget you. *WE suggest. You will know by
the second day if the cabin attendant is efficient. If so, give him his full weeks tip and tell him you
would appreciate if on disembarkation you could stay in your cabin till your number is called. He
has 20 cabins to clean, yours can be the last. No problem. *WE suggest that on the first night, you
give the waiter half of his probable tip and tell him the rest is to come. You have everything to gain
and nothing to lose. It will ensure you the best he's capable of. *WE suggest you always book your
cabin on the Port side, it gives you a scenic view of the Port. *WE suggest you always have a
brochure in front of you when you book a cruise. Check if your stateroom has a symbol. If so,
check symbol legend. Read your brochure like a travel agent, from the back to the front. *WE
suggest when dancing in the Crows Nest, look over at the guitarist of the Paloma quartet and smile.
We guarantee he will smile back at you with his whole body. A very personable group. *WE suggest
if Cozumel is your favorite port, this Itinerary is not for you. On this Itinerary the last tender leaves
Cozumel for the ship at 1:30 P.M. Hardly enough time to do anything.

As is our custom, we are sending a copy of this review to Holland American headquarters in
Seattle, Washington. We believe the cruise line is entitled to know what is we have written about
them, both the good and the bad.

We welcome any comments or questions. If you e-mail us, would you please tell us on what
web-site you saw our review.

Happy cruising, Tom & Mary Milano tmilano@n-jcenter.com

Name: Peter and PatTaylor
Email: ptaylaw99@cs.com
Age: 53/59
Occupation: attorney/teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Holland-Zaandam
SailingDate: August 19-26, 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: D3427/outside lower promenade deck
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 89
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 93
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 87
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 79
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 93
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Aug 2000
Time: 18:15:07
Remote Name: spider-tq072.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I were first-time cruisers on the Zaandam voyage of August 19-26, 2000 to the
Western Caribbean. We feel we learned a lot about cruising activities and procedures during the
trip. We found it very useful to receive a daily program detailing dining hours, schedule of activities,
entertainment and special events. At the end of the voyage we particularly liked the cruise log
which contained precise times of arrival and departure at the ports of call and nautical positions
and mileage.

Our outside cabin on the lower promenade deck was cosy and compact. The bathroom contained
a bath and shower and was larger than we had anticipated. As soon as we arrived onboard on
Saturday the 19th, we rushed to join the line to make reservations at the famed Marco Polo
specialty restaurant. We made reservations for Wednesday and understood that it was only
possible to make reservations for this restaurant once, unless you were a suite passenger. When
Wednesday came, the Marco Polo did not live up to our expectations. While the presentation of the
food was good, its taste and quantity left something to be desired. The service in the Marco Polo
was slower due to a shortage of personnel. We would have preferred Italian waiters in an Italian
restaurant, which has the menus printed in Italian and English. We also thought that not ordering
wine affected the service.

We went to several evening shows and thought that they were very good. The Zaandam cast
danced and sang impressively. The shows were not too long, about 75 minutes. Some of the guest
entertainers were better than others, but the shows moved along well and Cruise Director Rod
Pierce wrapped everything up at the end with a well-delivered soliquy about future activities.

Shopping briefings, prior to ports of call, were given by Daniel. While the idea is good, one had the
feeling of being treated like children at some of these briefings. Prizes were thrown to various
members of the audience who chanted buzz words like "tequila" or "rum cakes" when Daniel let
drop a key phrase. We felt there was an over-emphasis on shopping onboard and at the ports of
call. Some of the "bargains" did not seem good value to us. Likewise the onboard photographers
lost no opportunity to take photographs at most events. The photographs were displayed on notice
boards and generally offered at prices varying between $10 to $20 each. A lot of photographs
were left over, but rather than reduce the price at the end of the cruise most were designated for
indefinite storage in Fort Lauderdale. We were told that a price reduction at the end of the cruise
would cause earlier purchasers to seek a refund. Seems like a better marketing strategy could
overcome this problem!

All the crew seemed to get along very well together. Many passengers were highly complimentary
of the show the Fillipino/Indonesian crew members put on. The late night buffets operated smoothly
and the Lido dining was well-organized and offered tasty dishes in great quantity. Numerous shore
excursions were listed as one boarded the ship, but the more popular ones filled up quickly.
Passengers should make excursion decisions as soon as they board and look at the pre-boarding
excursion information. Some of the excursions require liability waivers and passengers should
consider this before booking an excursion. The stewards do expect to be tipped although Holland
America has a "no tipping" policy.

Overall the cruise represented an excellent value and was a good introduction to the world of
cruising. We would be very happy to take another cruise on the Holland America line.

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