the zuiderdam cruise ship

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Holland America: up to 45% OFF and up to $300 OBC*

Holland America: Included Drinks, Tours, Specia...

Holland America Caribbean cruises from $399*

11 Ships in the Holland America Line fleet

Ship:  .

• Destinations
• Departure Ports
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Zuiderdam Overview

Put on your dancing shoes, because Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam provides a complete Dancing with the Stars experience. With dance lessons, competitions and meet-and-greets with the shows professional dancers and stars, you’ll be mad about ballroom. Dancing can work up an appetite, but there’s no need to fear, the ship has some of the best dining options at sea. Holland America works with a team of acclaimed chefs to come up with intricate and flavorful menus at restaurants like the Pinnacle Grill, which turns into Le Cirque for one night during your sailing. And don’t forget that you can soothe your dancing feet with a massage at the ms Zuiderdam’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon. 

• Passenger Capacity: 1,964 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2002
• Last Refurbished: 2017

Zuiderdam Cruise Destinations

Holland America Line prides itself on offering a superb variety of destinations. This cruise line visits 7 continents and over 320 ports worldwide while embarking from all types of ports, from convenient close-to-home ports to far-away exotic departure ports. You can plan a special romantic cruise to the Greek Isles or an enriching vacation in Asia. In addition, Holland America's connections with Alaskan hotels and their ownership of Half Moon Cay (their private Caribbean island) have differentiated them in Alaska and the Caribbean. 

From the changing of the seasons to clam chowder that defies reason, cruising to Canada and New England is an unforgettable vacation experience.

It’s an investment in happiness and cultural enrichment when you choose to get tropical and take a Caribbean cruise.

Eastern Caribbean

Spend some time in the sunshine and fill your nights with tropical delights in the Eastern Caribbean.

Mexican Riviera

Sail along the coast of the Mexican Riviera in style while you delve into ancient civilizations—take a cruise to Mexico.

New Foundland

Enjoy finding a new land in Newfoundland, one of Canada's most beautiful destinations with Holland America.

Northern Europe

Inspire yourself with a Northern Europe cruise highlighted by Viking legends, grand, looming fjords, and a history of royalty.

Panama Canal

Man-made and natural spectacles unite when you cruise to the unique Panama Canal.

Southern Caribbean

From snorkeling to smoothies, cultural treasures to creatures of the jungle—cruising to the Southern Caribbean is an incredible vacation option.

Western Caribbean

Diverse cultures, sunny days by the sparkling water, and thrilling excursions await you on a Western Caribbean cruise.

From the Alaska to Australia, Bahamas to Burma, and everywhere in between—choose a Grand Voyage or World cruise and see it all.

Zuiderdam Departure Ports

Sail to the world’s hot spots with Holland America. This revered cruise line has sailings from cities around the world like Ft. Lauderdale, Valparaiso, Barcelona, Sydney and Montreal.  All of their departure ports are convenient to get to with major airports and public transportation. Get ready for an amazing cruise vacation with Holland America, your first step is to call us at The Cruise Web to speak with a consultant and find your perfect itinerary. 

Cape Town, South Africa

See the beautiful sights of Cape Town, South Africa’s most visited city, which offers cruisers natural beauty, plentiful wine, historical significance and a sense of peace.

The near perfect days, beautiful scenery, pristine beaches and sparkling water offer the perfect backdrop for any dream adventure in Sydney, Australia.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

Learn about the Greek gods and the early philosophy of Socrates when you visit the incredible ruins left in Athens, Greece. At night, go out and take in the culture with the modern Athenians.

Boston is home to great sports, great food and loads of history with the Freedom Trail and Harvard.

With incredible weather, delicious fare and some stupendous attractions, you will find that Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades is one of the most attractive ports in the entire US.

In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America.

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s easy to be wowed by Quebec City as Old World Europe is mixed with North American cultures alongside breathtaking landscapes and the flowing Saint Lawrence River.

San Diego, California

Situated on the Pacific Ocean, San Diego is known for its near perfect weather, beautiful beaches and abundance of activities.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

With modern buildings and a bustling population, Rotterdam offers an interesting contrast to the more laid back feel of city’s like Amsterdam.

Ijmuiden, Netherlands

Ijmuiden offers cruisers a great spot from which to travel all over the northern part of The Netherlands, making it a popular port for cruisers seeking a more in-depth Northern European experience.

Zuiderdam Deck Plans

Lower promenade deck, promenade deck, upper promenade, verandah deck, upper verandah deck, rotterdam deck, navigation deck, observation deck, sports deck, zuiderdam staterooms.

Balcony (VC)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Balcony (VD)

Balcony (ve), balcony (vf), balcony (vh), balcony (va).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Balcony (VB)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Inside (MM)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (G)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views.

Oceanview (HH)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views. All HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

Oceanview (H)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All H-category staterooms have fully obstructed views. (Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (DD)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

Oceanview (E)

Oceanview (c).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (D)

Oceanview (f).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. (Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. fully accessible rooms have bathtub and roll-in shower. (Fully accessible rooms have bathtub and roll-in shower.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have single side approach to the bed, bathtub and roll-in shower.)

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo Gallery for Zuiderdam Cruise Ship

Are you a visual learner? Check out this photo gallery of the Holland America experience. Here you can see the amazing dining venues, spacious staterooms and beautiful destinations the ship sails to. 

Greenhouse Spa

Lido Restaurant

Duty free shopping

Top 10 Zuiderdam Cruises

• Zuiderdam 35-DAY JEWELS OF THE BALTIC & ULTIMATE VIKING EXPLORER Departing From Ijmuiden, Netherlands (May 2024)
• Zuiderdam 14-DAY JEWELS OF THE BALTIC Departing From Ijmuiden, Netherlands (May 2024)
• Zuiderdam 21-DAY ULTIMATE VIKING EXPLORER Departing From Ijmuiden, Netherlands (Jun 2024)
• Zuiderdam 42-DAY ULTIMATE VIKING EXPLORER & PASSAGE Departing From Ijmuiden, Netherlands (Jun 2024)
• Zuiderdam 21-DAY VIKING PASSAGE Departing From Ijmuiden, Netherlands (Jun 2024)
• Zuiderdam 35-DAY VOYAGE OF THE VIKINGS Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Jul 2024 - Jul 2025)
• Zuiderdam 17-DAY VOYAGE OF THE VIKINGS Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Jul 2024 - Jul 2025)
• Zuiderdam 18-DAY VOYAGE OF THE VIKINGS Departing From Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Aug 2024 - Aug 2025)
• Zuiderdam 7-DAY CANADA & NEW ENGLAND DISCOVERY Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Aug 2024 - Oct 2024)
• Zuiderdam 7-DAY CANADA & NEW ENGLAND DISCOVERY Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Aug 2024 - Oct 2024)

Learn More About Holland America Line

Accessibility

Learn about Holland America's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including hearing impairment, service animals and oxygen needs.

Savor dining aboard Holland America, including the Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Tamarind, Lido Restaurant, Master Chef's Room, main dining room, room service and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Holland America's onboard entertainment, including BB King's Blues Club, an onboard theater, casino, indoor and outdoor movie screens, bars and lounges.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Holland America's onboard activities, including culinary classes, digital workshops, regional experiences, art galleries, pools, sports courts, duty-free shopping and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Holland America's friendly staff take care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Holland America's cruising awards.

Spa & Fitness

Relax in Holland America's greenhouse spa, salon, fitness center and fitness classes. There are also Hydrotherapy pools on some Holland America ships.

Special Events

Make the most of your Holland America Line cruise with exclusive special events and signature experiences in select cities.

Explore Holland America's deluxe cruise staterooms, including Pinnacle, Neptune, Signature and Vista Suites, along with balcony, ocean-view and inside staterooms.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children aboard Holland America. Youth programs provide supervision and activities for children ages 3-17, along with babysitting programs.

Cruise Type

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Holland America Zuiderdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Holland America Zuiderdam

Activities & entertainment

• Afternoon Tea
• America's Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art and Craft Classes *
• Art Gallery *
• Basketball Court
• Beer Tasting *
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Digital Workshop Computer Classes
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Happy Hour Drink Special *
• Hot Tubs (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Martini Tasting *
• Onboard Lectures
• Solo Traveler Get-Togethers
• Team Trivia
• The Greenhouse Spa & Salon *
• Volleyball Court
• Wine Tasting *
• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Billboard Onboard
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Lincoln Center Stage
• Live Nightly Music
• Queen's Lounge & Culinary Arts Center
• Screening Room
• The Mainstage
• Explorer's Bar *
• Dining Room - American
• Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
• Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Lido Market - Casual
• Explorations Café - Coffee Bar *
• Dive-In - Fast Food
• Crow's Nest - Forward Bar *
• Canaletto Restaurant - italian *
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
• Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
• Neptune Lounge - Suite Guests
• Excellent 26
• Very Good 10
• All languages ( 61 )
• English ( 60 )
• German ( 1 )

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About Zuiderdam

Luxuriate on the spacious Zuiderdam and know why this Holland America Vista-class ship is so popular. Featuring spectacular staterooms, many with verandahs; fun activities for all age groups, fabulous casual and elegant dining options, plus a fantastic spa and fitness center, makes this comfortable ship perfect for the first-time cruiser and the most discerning traveler. Discover the many pleasures of a mid-sized cruise ship, with personalized attention and an intimate ambiance.

Enjoy a host of exciting amenities on the spectacular Zuiderdam, including fabulous restaurants, bars, nightclubs, lounges, a casino, Las Vegas-style shows, 2 swimming pools, duty-free shops and the luxury Merabella jewelry store. Watch your favorite movie and enjoy complimentary popcorn at the Movie Theatre or choose from over 1,000 DVD titles that will be delivered to your stateroom to view.

Chic specialty bars and lounges, including the signature Crow's Nest, known for its incredible views, provide the perfect spot for a drink, conversation and meeting new friends. Sharpen your computer skills at the complimentary Digital Workshop and play some basketball and volleyball at the sports deck. Kids will love the fun activities at Club HAL and teens will head to an area just for them, The Loft and The Oasis.

Melt your cares away and indulge in the many fantastic beauty and wellness treatments offered at the serene Greenhouse Spa & Salon, sure to leave you rejuvenated. Take a Pilates class at the state-of-the-art Fitness Center. Greet the day on deck with a fresh sea breeze each morning with tai chi, take a jog or stroll on the Promenade's wraparound deck or simply enjoy the view from the padded deck chairs. Sip on your morning coffee and read the papers at the relaxing Explorations Café. The day is yours on the lovely Zuiderdam.

Featuring a myriad of fabulous dining options, from casual outdoor eateries to elegant dining, Oosterdam has something to please everyone. Delicious cuisine is served at the stunning two-level Vista Dining Room with delicious multi-course dinners, including vegetarian and vegan selections from an exclusive menu. Superb cuisine awaits at the elegant Pinnacle Grill, with luxurious appointments, including Bvlgari china, Frette linens and Riedel stemware. Delicious regional Italian dishes are featured at the family-style Canaletto and a variety of made-to-order choices are offered at The Lido Restaurant, a casual eatery. Families will love the Terrace Grill, located poolside, perfect for a casual lunch of grilled favorites. Complimentary room service is offered 24/7.

Choose from a variety of staterooms, from large interior and ocean-view to luxurious Penthouse Suites. Relax in your elegantly appointed "home at sea" with comfortable furnishings, sure to please the most discerning traveler. Connecting staterooms are perfect for families. There is also an all-suite concierge deck with the private Neptune Lounge for the exclusive use of Deluxe Verandah Suite and Penthouse Verandah Suite guests.

Exciting entertainment includes Las-Vegas style performances at the Vista Show Lounge, sing-alongs at the fun Piano Bar, dancing late into the night at Northern Lights and try your luck at the fully-equipped Casino. All this and more awaits you on the incredible Zuiderdam.

Cruise to exciting worldwide destinations on the Zuiderdam.

Pinnacle Suites (Penthouse Verandah Suites)

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Neptune Suites (Deluxe Verandah Suites)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Signature Suites (Superior Verandah Suites)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Deluxe Verandah Ocean-view Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Large Ocean-view Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower

Large Ocean-view Staterooms (Partial View)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views

Large Ocean-view Staterooms (Obstructed View)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.All G-category staterooms have partial sea views All HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

Large or Standard Interior Staterooms

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Large Interior Staterooms

Large or Standard Inside Staterooms

Standard Inside Staterooms

Standard Inside Stateroom

View Deck Plan

Deck: 9 - Lido

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. This is the inspiration for our onboard Italian restaurant, Canaletto. Enjoy amazing Italian classics like braised chicken cacciatore al forno, branzino ai ferri or garlic shrimp ravioli. And for dessert: tiramisù, cannoli alla Siciliana, gelato, and more. Including pasta made fresh daily. Buon Appetito!

Pinnacle Grill

Deck: 2 - Lower Promenade

Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you’ll ever have.

Dining Room

Decks: 2 - Lower Promenade 3 - Promenade

For an elegant breakfast, leisurely lunch or unforgettable dinner, The Dining Room is your destination. Behind the scenes, our talented executive chefs have worked to bring each dish to perfection. For dinner, choose from comfort classics such as Rosemary Roasted Chicken, as well as regionally inspired cuisine and artfully prepared vegetarian fare.

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

Lido Market

Explore a world of intriguing culinary possibilities in the Lido Market. Steps from the Lido pool, this modern marketplace includes a curated selection of delicious options that you can grab on the go or have made to order: Breadboard, with freshly baked breads and pastries; Wild Harvest, offering a bountiful selection of hearty salads.

Crow's Nest Cafe

Deck: 10 - Observation

Crow's Nest Cafe.

Guest Services

Deck: 1 - Main

Guest Services.

Deck: 3 - Promenade

Pinnacle Bar

Pinnacle Bar.

Crow's Nest

Crow's Nest.

Explorers Lounge

Explorers Lounge.

Neptune Lounge

Deck: 7 - Rotterdam

Neptune Lounge.

Decks: 1 - Main 2 - Lower Promenade 3 - Promenade

World Stage

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evening, World Stage features shows from one or more sensational groups like Step One Dance Company, Cantaré, Island Magic and more.

Gallery Bar

Gallery Bar.

Decks: 3 - Promenade 2 - Lower Promenade

The Retreat

Deck: 11 - Sports

The Retreat.

Sports courts

Sports courts.

Future Cruises

Future Cruises.

BillBoard Onboard

Between nightly sets, guests are part of the show as they sing and play along with trivia questions presented on screens throughout the room.

Rolling Stone Lounge

Rolling Stone Lounge.

Portrait Studio

Portrait Studio.

Stuyvesant.

Effy Jewelry

Effy Jewelry.

Sea View Bar

Sea View Bar.

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Sea View Pool

Sea View Pool.

Photo Shop.

Sliding Dome Cover

Sliding Dome Cover.

Fitness Center

Stop by the professionally staffed Fitness Center equipped with the latest cardio and weight machines. Try one of our classes on indoor cycling, Pilates and more or work out at your own pace. You can also head out for fresh air and exercise on deck, where you'll find basketball and volleyball courts, and two refreshing pools.

Spa & Salon

During a leisurely day at sea, few places help you refresh, relax and rejuvenate like Spa & Salon. This heavenly retreat nurtures every aspect of your well-being with renowned spa rituals and healing touches. In the spa, pamper your skin with facial treatments featuring premium, naturally sourced ingredients. Nurture your body, too, with massage treatments employing time-honored, hands-on massage techniques gleaned from around the world.

Art Gallery

Art Gallery.

Art Studio.

Shore Excrusions

Shore Excrusions.

Holland America Line's youth activities program, Kids Club, offers an array of entertaining events for kids and teens ages 3-17, supervised by a full-time, professionally trained staff. They'll have an opportunity to join other kids their age for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties.

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Find a Cruise on Zuiderdam

with a cruise advisor

Launched in 2002 and last refurbished in 2017, Zuiderdam features BBC Earth in Concert and cooking demonstrations with Explorations Central. If you're looking to relax on your voyage, head to the line's signature Greenhouse Spa & Salon for a calming treatment. 

With room for 1,964 passengers and 817 crew members, the ship maintains a 1-to-2 staff-to-guest ratio. Recent passengers said everyone was friendly and attentive, from the bartenders to the room stewards.

Inside and Ocean View staterooms aboard Zuiderdam measure between 151 and 180 square feet. All cabins include sofas, coffee tables, chairs and vanities, in addition to a queen-sized bed (or two twin beds). Other amenities include Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs. Dining venues include the upscale Pinnacle Grill, traditional dining rooms and more. 

Zuiderdam   departs from ports around the world for sailings in Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, as well as world voyages. 

Pros & Cons

Friendly and attentive crew

Most activities geared toward adults

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 3.9
• Health Rating » 5.0

Zuiderdam ranks # 8 out of 11 Holland America Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 8 in Best Holland America Line
• # 56 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 72 in Best Affordable Cruises

Zuiderdam offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Zuiderdam contains 11 decks. Find out which features are available on each Zuiderdam deck.

Traveler Reviews

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• Holland America / Ship Reviews

A Review of Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam

by Prof. Cruise · Published January 26, 2022 · Updated January 27, 2022

Have you ever slept with someone for 10 nights, but you still aren’t sure how to pronounce their name?  Zoy-der-dam?  Zoo-der-dam?  Zwee-der-dam?

(I should clarify that I’m a happily married woman, but who wouldn’t get seduced by a suitor willing to cook you 12 meals a day, clean your bathroom, and smile politely as you enthusiastically sing, overly loud and off-key, Whitney at the piano bar?)

Why my Cruise on ms Zuiderdam was Significant

In addition to being the first cruise ship I’ve been unable to pronounce (just call me “Dr.,” preceded by “this is what 9+ years of post-high school education bought you”), my 10-night sailing onboard Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam was significant for many other reasons:

ms Zuiderdam Returns to Service!

This was ms Zuiderdam’s return to service sailing following the pandemic.  Arriving at the terminal 3 hours before sunrise paid off in that we scored front row seats to the ribbon cutting ceremony and the crew cheered for us as we boarded:

For a minute there I thought maybe my blog had finally taken off – I felt like a celebrity!  But it turns out they were cheering for everyone.  Oh well, you’re here reading, and you’re the only one who really matters, right?

Mr. Cruise and H Return to Cruising

This was also my husband and son’s return to cruising.  While I’d been on three post-pandemic cruises already (one of those with my mom who was also with us on the Zuiderdam), my son hadn’t been able to cruise until he was eligible to be vaccinated and my husband had to stay home so we wouldn’t get arrested for abandoning our son to cruise (which isn’t to say that it never crossed our minds during those long days of lockdowns and virtual school).  So Mr. Cruise and H were excited to be cruising again and I was excited to be back together cruising as a family!

Mr. Cruise tries Holland America

This was Mr. Cruise’s first Holland America ship.  My mom, son, and I have cruised HAL before and enjoyed rubbing in how great it was.  I guess we’ll just have to try Disney (the only non-luxury line we haven’t sailed yet) and wear Mickey ears for like 6 months after to taunt him.

We celebrated two holidays (Christmas and New Year’s) and my son’s 9 th birthday onboard. I thought we should stay on to celebrate Valentine’s Day and Easter and Halloween and Thanksgiving, but was reminded by security that we’d only paid for 10 nights.

Speaking of security…

A Security Incident

Created by yours truly. This cruise marked the first time I had something confiscated by ship security. You can read all about it in my article: What Kind if Idiot Brings a Skateboard on a Cruise Ship? Here’s a clue:

A Rare Itinerary

Our 10-night Sea of Cortez itinerary is only offered by Holland America once a year and some of our specific ports even less often than that. I fear that, in those places we visited that are not used to cruise ship passengers, I may have created an unfavorable impression with my poor attempt to haggle in Spanish, “te doy 100 pesos por eso.” “Okay ma’am, but the list price is only 20 pesos.”

Low Occupancy

This sailing had the lowest occupancy of any post-pandemic cruise I’d taken so far.  It felt like that time in high school I finally got invited to a party only to show up at the address to discover I was the only one there.  Except for the person who answered the door.  Who was my English teacher!  She felt sorry for me and invited me in for a game of scrabble over some herbal tea.  Which, let’s face it, was more my speed anyway.

An Unwelcome Stowaway

This was my first post-pandemic cruise with a noticeable Covid presence.  That probably had something to do with the low occupancy I mentioned above (we were sailing just as the Omicron wave was getting bad).  Midway through our sailing the captain came on the intercom to announce that we would not be allowed by local authorities to dock at our next scheduled port due to having too many positive Covid cases onboard among both crew and passengers.  And shortly after that we saw three of our neighbors on deck 8 get whisked away by hazmat-suited crew members (presumably to quarantine), never to be seen by us again. Covid safety protocols were also the strictest they’d been on any of my post-pandemic sailings. Our cruise was 100% vaccinated, testing was required 48 hours or less prior to boarding, and masks were required at all times indoors unless eating or drinking (that was a new one for me).

During our sailing the CDC also released their new advisory on cruising – recommending against cruising, even for those fully vaccinated. “Too late,” I shrugged before belly flopping into the hot tub.

An Insignificant Medical Event

I characterize it as an “insignificant” medical event because that’s how mom wanted it characterized, but I’ll let you be the judge. She cracked several ribs as the result of being violently shoved into a poll on a bus in La Paz when I woman lost her footing and fell into her. She only bothered to tell me about it under blood oath with a promised penalty of death if I told Mr. Cruise or H or made even a small fuss. But she was clearly in a lot of pain for the remainder of our sailing. I think the lessons here are to pack lots of Tylenol, purchase travel insurance (because flukey, unexpected injuries can happen), and abandon stoicism in favor of sympathy desserts: “I’m in a lot of pain here, can you run up to the buffet and grab me a crepe and some ice cream?” Mom’s still working on that last one, but I mastered it years ago.

We’ll get back to the crepes in a second, when I talk about what I loved about ms Zuiderdam. But first, here’s some basic information about the ship:

ms Zuiderdam: The Facts

One of four Vista-class cruise ships, ms Zuiderdam’s maiden voyage was in December of 2002, making her nearly 20 years old. That’s like 100 in cruise ship years which, as it happens, was also the average age of passengers onboard our Sea of Cortez cruise (What? I’m just stating the facts!). She did receive a facelift and a new wardrobe from Chico’s in 2017 (called a “refurbishment” in cruise lingo), so she looks a lot younger from a distance. Over video chat. With a poor connection (same with me – that’s been one huge advantage of working from home during the pandemic).

ms Zuiderdam can welcome 2,272 passengers at maximum capacity (meaning we were about 2,000 passengers short on our sailing) and employs and houses 842 crew members (800 of whom were in quarantine on our sailing). She has 15 decks, 11 of which are available to guests, (and 7 of which are currently being used for quarantining positive Covid cases). I’m kidding about all commentary in parenthesis, of course – I’m just teasing ms Zuiderdam because I’m really nervous about asking her to be my Valentine’s date.

But perhaps a better approach would be to discuss what I love about her.

What I Loved about ms Zuiderdam

Wide, wraparound promenade deck.

This isn’t a popular opinion, but I’m not that impressed by the voluptuous, exposed, and glittered up asses, I mean afts, of some of those fancy new Royal Caribbean mega ships. Honesty, they make me a little uncomfortable and bring out the protective mom in me, “Cover up that aft! You’re not leaving this dock until the hem of your shorts makes contact with your knee and your homework is done, missy!”

Call me traditional, boring even, but I’m a promenade deck gal. I fell in love with Holland America several years ago on our first sunrise walk together. And the promenade deck on ms Zuiderdam reminded me, once again, of what I love most about cruising: feeling a deep sense of connection to the earth as I breathe out all the stresses of everyday life and breathe in the smells and sounds and sights of the sea. Plus my twice daily walks helped keep my brain sharp and my endurance up as completed two full laps at .5 MPH while listening to a Christmas-themed audio book: “ The Bull Rider’s Christmas Baby .”

P.S. I’m gauging interest in “Prof. Cruise’s Book Club.” Whaddya say?

Mexican Cultural Embassador

By now, you probably have the impression that I’m not real cultured. And you’re right – as my Ancestry.com report confirmed, I’m 100% American Apple Pie. I mean yes, that’s what I ate right before sending in my spit sample, but I don’t think brushing my teeth would have changed the result much: 99% American Apple Pie, 1% Colgate. And I guess that’s why I appreciate learning about other cultures so much and really enjoyed all the programming offered by our Mexican Cultural Embassador onboard ms Zuiderdam. My 9 year-old especially loved the Mexican paper flower class. He did a great job too. You can hardly tell the difference between his paper flowers and the fresh flowers on ms Zuiderdam:

Yes you can, but we’ll talk about that after he goes to bed. For now, let’s shift our focus to the gorgeous fresh flowers all over ms Zuiderdam.

Fresh Flowers

I’ll save you the trouble, they’re real! Still, you’ll find the fresh flowers all over ms Zuiderdam too perfect and spectacular and will doubt my credibility and grope them anyway: “OMG, they  are  real!” Say it extra loud to help out the crew member dusting nearby who can check off that square on his “weird and annoying things cruise passengers do” bingo card. And then apologize because now he has to sanitize that vase for the 100th time. And then apologize again after you head back over to smell them: “Oops, forgot to smell them. Sorry about that.”

But seriously, Holland America is known for having gorgeous fresh flowers onboard and you should DEFINITELY smell them, but not before popping one of these (live and learn and prevent others from a Covid scare that really was just allergies):

Royal Delft China

I love the blue and white Royal Delft china used in the dining rooms on HAL ships. There was even a table set up on ms Zuiderdam with information on how you could purchase some for your home. Note I said “you” could purchase not “we” could purchase. Because being hastily slammed head first onto a moving belt by stressed, overworked baggage handlers as they relocated from the Zuiderdam to Seattle would be the safest phase of their new life with us. Because as soon as they finally stopped longing for steak and lobster and accepted that every night they were going to be defaced by Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese, manhandled by a 9 year-old in desperate need of a good finishing school, and then licked by a geriatric shelter dog with advanced dental disease, they would die the way all beautiful china dies, tragically in a million pieces on the cold floor. Before relocating again to the city dump.

Maybe you live in a more civilized household though. Or just enjoy them while onboard the Zuiderdam like we did.

With Holland America’s signature Music Walk, multiple specialized music venues located in close proximity, ms Zuiderdam offers the BB King Blues Club, the Lincoln Center Stage for classical selections, and Billboard Onboard for contemporary hits. With musicians this talented, you’ll find yourself saying: “I never thought I liked classical music” or “I never thought I liked blues” or “I never thought I liked that awful screeching crap young people listen to through those alien looking plastic gadgets hanging out of their ears that cause premature hearing loss.” I can just picture my 9-year-old rolling his eyes at that last one. But I almost convinced him I was cool when I took him to the “club” with me on the Zuiderdam. Until I requested a Kenny Loggins song at the piano bar followed by 20 minutes of awkward silence as the two performers frantically searched for the sheet music before finally concluding: “I guess we all have our limits.”

Seriously though, the performers on the Zuiderdam brought the house down with every performance. Try every venue at least once even if you don’t think it’s going to be your jam.

BBC Earth’s “Planet Earth II in Concert”

A partnership with BBC Earth provides Holland America cruisers with theater screenings of BBC Earth programming as well as magnificent concert events that combine live orchestra music with dramatic footage from BBC Earth. On the Zuiderdam we were treated to “Planet Earth II in Concert,” featuring some of the most incredible wildlife footage I’ve ever seen along with live music performed by the “Lincoln Center Stage” performers.

While I may have peed myself a little and traumatized my 9 year-old during some of the “predator vs prey” scenes, I highly recommend you suit up in some Depends and get to this one early for a good seat. It was a highlight of our cruise.

Stop shouting, “have some humanity” at cable news and book yourself on the Zuiderdam where you might actually find some. Of course I’m talking about the Step One Dance Company’s interactive dance/video show. What did you think I meant? Don’t you know that cruise ship’s were notorious for brawls long before Covid outbreaks?

I’d seen Humanity shortly after it debuted on select Holland America ships a few years ago and remember loving it at the time. But since then NCL’s full length Broadway shows pretty much ruined the typical cruise ship production show for me. Not that the performers aren’t talented or that I don’t enjoy them – I just wouldn’t pay big bucks to see them at a theater on land like I would Kinky Boots or Jersey Boys. But after “Humanity,” I found myself thinking, “I might actually pay to see that on land.” But then I came to my senses and decided to just book another Holland America cruise to see it again. Don’t miss it if you’re booked on the Zuiderdam! And if you’re not booked on the Zuiderdam, for the love of Humanity, what are you waiting for?

Food Quality

Let me start with a story that has nothing directly to do with cruising, but should lend this section on food quality onboard the Zuiderdam some context and credibility. A few weeks back, Mr. Cruise, who does all our household grocery shopping (yes, he’s great, but I’d leave him in a second for a cruise ship captain and he knows it), came home from Trader Joe’s with this giant box of cherry cordials all excited like he’d discovered them on an archeological dig:

After teasing him relentlessly…

“Did they card you when you bought these…to make sure you were over 90?”

“I wondered where all the great-aunts of the world did their Christmas shopping.”

“Do you have a white elephant party coming up?”

…Mr. Cruise wondered why he had never been gifted a box of these by an elderly relative and concluded that they were gross. We tried to pawn them off on our son so we could hog the good desserts and also to get him a little drunk so he’d go to bed earlier, but he didn’t like them either. So they sat up in the cupboard for a week before I discovered them in the garbage can.

Outraged, I dug them out (it doesn’t count as dumpster diving if it’s within your own home, right?) and stuck them in the kitchen junk drawer intending to eventually eat them because: Bad chocolate is better than no chocolate! And you NEVER throw away food.

Here’s photo evidence should you think I’m making this story up:

Anyway, I tell you all this to illuminate the difference between Mr. Cruise and I when it comes to food and especially cruise ship food: I’m a quantity over quality gal and will eat just about anything and he’s a quality over quantity guy and regularly throws away candy. Men are from Mars, etc.

So while I love all cruise ship food and low key hate that the crew serves you in the buffet on Holland America because I prefer hearty portions (“fill my plate like you were in charge of carb loading an NFL team”), Mr. Cruise is picky, what millennials call a “foodie.” He once spit out a bite of fish into his napkin in front of his mother-in-law on a Carnival cruise.

But guess what? He LOVED the food, both on the buffet and in the dining rooms, on ms Zuiderdam. So much so that he came home and booked us on a bucket list 16 night Australia/New Zealand cruise on Holland America for this Christmas!

I loved it too, but I eat garbage can chocolate cordials, so take that for what it’s worth. Here are some food-related things we especially enjoyed:

Buffet Desserts

The buffet desserts on ms Zuiderdam were some of the best I’ve had at sea. If you like to limit your calories to one dessert per meal (why even bother to cruise!?!), skip the ones in the display case and ask for the “special” desserts behind the counter: Hard ice cream in a giant waffle cone with a bunch of toppings and bread pudding at lunch and crepes and whatever that day’s featured item is at dinner (On crème brulée night in the main dining room, they serve the exact same dish on the buffet – I tried them both to verify. For science!).

Dining Room Breakfast Menu

Holland America has the best and most extensive breakfast menu of any line I’ve sailed (and I’ve sailed them all, minus Disney and the luxury lines). You can preview the menu HERE . I especially loved the croissant and bread pudding (I ordered one every morning as an appetizer), the passion fruit yogurt, aloo masala (they have a great selection of international offerings) and the veggie sausage (pictured with the waffles above – I’ve never seen it on another line). Mom and Mr. Cruise liked the smoked salmon omelette and my son liked all the “griddle” selections.

Dive In on Holland America ships has long been my favorite burger joint at sea mostly because I feel like the name gives me permission to launch myself head first into my food without accounting for manners or decorum. But also because they have the best options for humans who think themselves rabbits. Vegetarians I mean, not anything creepy (although I’ll admit that some find vegetarians an odd breed). I was even more excited to try it again on ms Zuiderdam because I’d read that the vegetarian options at Dive In had expanded recently with the addition of the Beyond Meat patty available as a substitute for any burger option (in addition to the two veggie options already on the menu) and the Beyond Brat for any of the hot dogs. I was also excited to see what Mr. Cruise thought of Dive In so I could pass along his perspective to my non-veggie readers.

Now normally Mr. Cruise agrees with me on just about everything because, happy wife and all that. But I could tell he genuinely loved Dive In because I kept catching him pre-lunching (sneaking a secret first lunch before we met up as a family for real lunch). And the only reason I caught him was because I was doing the same!

Among the four of us, I think we ordered everything on the menu (available HERE ) at least six times and even tried a few off menu items: “3X3 animal style please!” (we had to explain what the heck that is, but once we did, they were happy to accommodate). And we loved it all! Definitely give it a try as a first lunch, second lunch, third lunch…just Dive In!

Room Service

With the exception of a few specialty items, room service is still complimentary on Holland America and there’s a great selection. You can view the menu HERE .

Guest Services

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s…Yuan from the Guest Services desk here to save Christmas! If you read my article, “ What Kind of Idiot Brings a Skateboard on a Cruise Ship? ” (I totally understand if you didn’t read it because you’ve been following my blog for some time now and knew the answer right away), you already know the story. But I want to give an extra shout out to Guest Services, and especially Yuan, for working with ship security to make sure my son was able to open his skateboard (the only thing he asked Santa for) on Christmas morning and allowing us to check it out while in port so he could take it for a spin (or more accurately fall twice and then give up and make me carry it around all day).

If you’re booked on the Zuiderdam, be sure to say hello to Yuan from “skateboard mom.”

Friendly Crew

Yuan wasn’t the only hero crew member on the Zuiderdam. Our waiter noticed my son was in a bit of a funk one night and performed this trick for him…

He even taught him how to do it and gave him the prop. He’s still performing it for his friends and it makes them laugh every time! But while we’re on the topic of cranky kids…

Best Spots on the Zuiderdam to Hide from your Kid

What I meant to say was, “best spots on the Zuiderdam to curl up with a good book.”

The Crow’s nest is the perfect spot to read or not read because you’re too distracted looking out the large wraparound windows for the whales everyone sees but you. Speaking of not finding things, I loved the Crow’s Nest, but I have to admit that it took me 5 days of a 10 day cruise to find it.

If you can’t find it or if it’s too crowded (get there early or go at off times – it’s a popular spot among the higher IQ crowd), try the Gallery Bar as an alternative. It’s a cool spot and deserted during the day with no views to keep you from finding out if the rodeo cowboy who has lived twenty-seven carefree years as a bachelor is ready for a family .

Best Spots on the Zuiderdam to Send your Mom to Read with your Kid so you can Drink

The comfortable loungers on the Promenade deck are also a wonderful spot to read (or to send your mom to read with your kid so you can drink).

Loyalty Gift

We received these gorgeous Delft tile coasters in our cabin as a loyalty gift from the Mariner Society. I feel kind of bad that mine is currently hanging out in the kitchen junk drawer with the cherry cordials.

Three Things I Didn’t Love about the Zuiderdam

The first time I saw this ghostly woman knitting in the rafters of the main theater, I joked to my mom, “looks like some of the Halloween decorations got mixed in with the Christmas ones.” But I legit didn’t sleep for 10 nights.

Even though none of the other art on the ship prompted me to use my New Year’s horn as a ghost deterrent, scaring my fellow passengers as I blew it in advance of every blind corner, I wasn’t a fan of the Zuiderdam’s overall style and decor. While my mom would disagree, she found some of the artifacts fascinating, I found the ship drab and outdated. Did that affect my experience onboard or give me pause in sailing on the Zuiderdam again? Nope! With unlimited funds and no kid, I’d pop some Tylenol PM, retire my horn in favor of a garlic necklace, and stay onboard in perpetuity.

Cold Pools and Theater

This being my first warm-weather cruise since the pandemic (my prior three had all been to Alaska), I was looking forward to complaining about the heat and cursing my northern European skin as I lathered on 12 layers of sunscreen only to lather on 12 layers of Aloe Vera later that night despite my best efforts. I was also excited to hit the pool with my son who just learned how to swim. While the first part generally met my expectations, the pool was so. cold. It’s no coincidence that these polar bears are the only ones near it:

Instead of a spirited game of Marco Polo, we played “who can dip their toe in the furthest without freezing to death.”

The main theater, in addition to being haunted, was also so. cold. Was this an attempt at encouraging social distancing (freeze them out to avoid a super spreader event) or were the lighting and sound engineers up in the booth doing it for shits and giggles: “Check out this woman wearing socks as gloves.” (Yes, that was me.)

Pro Tip: Pack a wet suit and a wool sweater.

Overall Changes to HAL

These aren’t necessarily specific to the Zuiderdam (although some might be – I just don’t have enough recent cruises on HAL under my belt at this point to know…others please chime in in the comments), I noticed some unwelcome changes since my last cruise on Holland America. No more Opera’s Book Club (I mean, I’m ready to step up to fill this void, just say the word!), no more America’s Test Kitchen (replaced by “Port to Table” led by one of the ship’s chefs and the cruise director), and the EXC lectures were now presented by the cruise director instead of outside experts from various fields. These were some of the things I loved most about my first few cruises with HAL and I was sad to see them gone. Don’t worry though, I’ll live to cruise another day. Or days. Many, many days. And many of them still with HAL.

With an acknowledgement that change is inevitable and wanting to conclude on a positive note, I’ll leave you with this photo of my family, happily together cruising again, and a wish for a happy, healthy 2022 full of cruises!

And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points) : Explore all the Holland America menus I collected, read my full Zuiderdam cabin review , and check out my review of Brunch at Pinnacle Grill . And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

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6 Responses

• Pingbacks 1

Boarding the Zuiderdam tomorrow; someone posted this in a Facebook group and I LOVE IT! I love your humor – thanks for taking the time to post. Cheers!ua

Oh my gosh, have the most amazing time on the Zuiderdam! I’m jealous!

I found Yuan and telling her Hello from you made her day – she was all smiles and told mer her end of the skateboard Christmas story – she asked me to say hello to you for her 😀

Oh my gosh, this is awesome! This made my day too! Thanks so much for telling her hello for me! These connections are one of my favorite part of cruising. I hope you had an amazing time on the Zuiderdam!

1 night down, 13 to go!

[…] like Homer, Anchorage (proper), and Kodiak and this last 10-night Sea of Cortez sailing on the Zuiderdam, again visiting some very uncommon ports, this time in Mexico: La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas, and […]

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Zuiderdam Decks and Cabins

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Built in 2002, the Zuiderdam cruise ship weighs 82K tons and has 985 staterooms for up to 2364 passengers served by 817 crew . There are 11 passenger decks, 7 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 35 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Zuiderdam showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Last Drydock: Dec 2022

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PINNACLE SUITE

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Sleeps up to: 4 2 Cabins Cabin: 1000 sqft (94 m 2 ) Balcony: 318 sqft (30 m 2 )

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NEPTUNE SUITE

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Sleeps up to: 4 60 Cabins Cabin: 380 sqft (36 m 2 ) Balcony: 136 sqft (13 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

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SIGNATURE SUITE

Sleeps up to: 3 100 Cabins Cabin: 294 sqft (28 m 2 ) Balcony: 87 sqft (8 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Sleeps up to: 4 497 Cabins Cabin: 174 sqft (16 m 2 ) Balcony: 46 sqft (4 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Sleeps up to: 4 163 Cabins Cabin: 170 sqft (16 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

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ms Zuiderdam cabins and suites

Ms zuiderdam staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

ms Zuiderdam cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Holland America en-suite amenities and services.

The ms Zuiderdam cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Pinnacle Suite

Layout (floor plan), neptune suite, signature suite, balcony cabin, oceanview cabin, interior cabin, ms zuiderdam cabins review.

The list of MS Zuiderdam cabins by type includes a total of 162 Suites, 499 Balconies, 163 Oceanviews, 163 Inside cabins. The number of all cabin categories is 30. Of all cruise accommodations, 86% are with an outside view, 68% are with a step-out balcony. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 27, connecting rooms number is 136.

All MS Zuiderdam staterooms as standard amenities offer a spacious sleeping area (2 twin beds convertible to Queen-size double bed), en-suite bathroom (bathtub, shower, massage showerheads, luxury bath products, hairdryer), lounge/sitting area (sofabed, vanity table with magnifying mirror, smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand movies), DVD player (DVD library), personal stationery, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), direct-dial phone, individual air-conditioning. In all cabin grades also provided luxury bedding sets and mattresses (HAL's signature "Mariner's Dream"), cotton robes and towels, complimentary services (upon requests – shoeshine, fresh fruits, ice service).

You can see all the furniture details on the HAL Zuiderdam cabin floor plans in the table above.

All Suites and Balcony cabins feature floor-ceiling sliding doors opening to a private veranda with lounge furniture (1 table and 2 chairs /Penthouses are with additional sun loungers and small tables).

Pinnacle and Signature Suites additionally have twin beds convertible to king, bathrooms with whirlpool bathtubs, dressing room. Guests in these high-category Suite accommodations enjoy the following perks: concierge service, priority services (check-in, embarkation, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations), in-room dining (Afternoon Tea and canapes), umbrella, binoculars, Welcome Aboard gifts (flowers, fruits, champagne, bottled water), exclusive Suite Lounge access (Neptune Lounge), private breakfast service (Pinnacle Grill), complimentary services (laundry, pressing, dry cleaning).

The largest accommodations are the Penthouses/Pinnacle Suites (forward on Deck 7), which have an oversized whirlpool bathtub, guest bathroom/half bath, powder room/dressing room, separate living room (sofa bed) and dining room (with mini-bar, pantry, refrigerator, microwave).

Wheelchair-accessible cabins (ADA-certified rooms for disabled passengers) are in categories Neptune Suite (SC), Signature Suite (SY, SS), Balcony (VA, VB), Oceanview (C, D, H), Interior (I, J, K).

Holland America Zuiderdam passengers booking Suite categories enjoy the following "perks" (bonus amenities):

• Neptune suites - Nespresso coffee machine, BOSE SoundDock (multimedia iPod docking station), complimentary in-cabin breakfast (with complimentary mimosa cocktails), luxury bath products (by Elemis).
• Signature and Vista suites - binoculars (usable throughout the cruise).

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 a separate VIP dining section).

During MS Zuiderdam ship's drydock refurbishment in 2015, each Suite was upgraded with:

• (new) sofa, chairs, headboard, carpet, wall coverings, privacy curtain, drapery, bed runner, bed skirt, quartz stone top (on the vanity), vanity lighting, dresser, dressing table, nightstands
• (new) 1 USB outlet (on the bed’s headboard), bedside LED lights (for reading), electrical outlets, lighted closet rod
• (new) interactive TV system allowing complimentary movies-on-demand, access to the ship's daily scheduled activities program, checking onboard accounts, Internet, ship information (restaurants, bars, deck plans, spa services, etc)
• All suite bathrooms received a wall of designer glass tiles (backdrop to the new dressing area with a new stone top, modern taps, an undermount bath sink), new mirrors (with integrated LED lighting), stylish floor tiles, nightlight.

ms Zuiderdam cabin and suite plans are property of Holland America . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.