St Pete Cruiser

That was a difficult maneuver this morning to back in past the Silver Nova. Zaandam does not have the azipods either. Very capable bridge team.

Sorry, I don't know why it posted as a download. 20240104_084805.heic

Good morning everyone from the Zaandam in Ft Lauderdale, pier 26. We had a medical disembark at Nassau last night on our return from Half Moon Cay. That caused us to arrive about 3 hours late. Trouble for the early flights, so they gave everyone wifi. We are taking Amtrak to Tampa at 12 noon, so we are sitting in the Crow's Nest allowing those in a hurry off first. Zaandam still pleases and we leave both happy and sadly as I'm not sure if and when we will return.

We had to pass by Celebrity when we left and now, because we were late, back in past the new Silver Nova.20240104_084805.heic20240104_084807.heic20240104_084816.heic

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Here we come! 20240104_082146.heic

Good morning from the Zaandam. We are approaching the Florida coast on a beautiful sunny day. The high rise buildings lining the coast are clearly visible. Should be a nice arrival!

The Zaandam will be late arriving into Ft Lauderdale as we are medically disembarking a crew member in Nassau as I post this. Expecting to dock about 9am.

We will arrive early tomorrow after all the hoopla for the World Cruise is over. There is a couple who boarded in Montreal in September and who are staying until February, nearly 6 months! 20240102_140803.heic

Good morning everyone. An exciting day for those beginning Grand Voyages! Best wishes for a healthy and happy Voyage! Today is our last day on the Zaandam. Half Moon Cay awaits as the tenders are already in full operation. We picked up a man last night on a disabled sailboat about 9pm in Bahamian waters. Our good deed for the day! Enjoy your day! 20240103_071509.heic 20240103_071514.heic 20240103_072027.heic 20240103_072306.heic

Greetings everyone from our next to last day aboard the Zaandam at sea, now just north of the Windward Passage. It was a sunny and warm morning until we passed by the eastern tip of Cuba and then we hit rain and much cooler conditions. I was looking forward to the deck chairs on the Promenade deck, but it became too wet and cool, so we are up at the Lido with the roof closed. We attended the City on the Sea, which is very good. The champagne went to a couple who have just completed nearly 200 days aboard Zaandam in the last 15 months. Last night was a new comic with a good show. Tonight, The Knights return to the World Stage. It has been wonderful to return to a ship so much like those I grew to love, all the S class and R class. The Zaandam is, for the most part, looking very good. The hotel and guest services managers assured me that Holland America Line will resume some of what they quit doing now that the ships are sailing full and at higher fares. We did have lobster for the gold Gala dinner again. They brought out the after dinner mint/date cart and it was hosted by a dining room staff person even if without the old bell captain uniform. Stage shows with singers and dancers will return. Enjoy your day all. My best to the Volendam and Zuiderdam Grand cruisers about to leave. Cheers to a great years start. 20240101_093248.heic

Zaandam currently has Cello and piano Duo playing late afternoons into the early evenings

Happy New Year everyone from the Zaandam in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We are the only ship again in Port, a treat. I was last here in 2018 on the Veendam's Cuba cruise. Remember those? We did Havana and Ceinfuegos. This is our last "city port" as we finish Wednesday with Half Moon Cay. Last night, the New Years Eve extravaganza was superb: A. Classic Duo Beethoven Cello Concerto. B. Happy Hour Crow's Nest with new friends C. Gala Gold New Years Eve dinner in the MDR with Handara and Agusteyar, our regular servers. I had shrimp cocktail, escargot, 2 lobsters (I don't eat red meat), strawberries in Grand Mariner. D. Tenna Torren singing classy songs including LA Vie enRose.20231231_210657.heic E. Ocean Bar band played with soloist at Lido poolside until midnight countdown. Complimentary champagne and the horn tooted repeatedly with the roof open at midnight. Most officers were present. MOST of the guests were well dressed and many in their glitzy best! Some excellent dancers, some just having fun and a good time was had by all. I wore my little Prinsendam pin on my jacket lapel and had so many wonderful comments from guests and crew. Holland America Line knows how to do New Years Eve! 20231231_235956.heic 20231231_235735.heic 20231231_085816.heic

Greetings everyone from Orangestad, Aruba, aboard the Zaandam. We are docked behind the Star Pride today which is beginning a 7 day cruise to Panama City. Another sunny and very warm day with a northeast breeze to help keep it bearable. The water is truly spectacular. Mike Robinson is our comic entertainer tonight. All aboard is 7:30, with a sea day tomorrow. New Years Eve will be a first at sea for us. One of my pet peeves happened just minutes ago when a guest told me how he has been cruising at a casino rate of just paying port taxes. Says he limits himself to $50 a day. Grrrr. Color me green with envy. 20231230_070417.heic 20231230_070428.heic 20231230_105213.heic 20231230_104841.heic

Greetings everyone from Willemstad, Curacao aboard the good ship Zaandam. We arrived yesterday evening rather than earlier this morning to repair the second stern thruster. The dive team has been working on it and the plan is to leave by 11pm tonight for nearby Aruba. Hotel General Manager Darren had a nice Q&A in the World Stage yesterday. His first ship nearly 20 years ago was, in fact, the Zaandam and he seems pleased to be back onboard. He credits us for our repeated favorable comments and now high bookings for the two remaining R class ships for Holland America/Carnival keeping these beauties in the fleet. After 10 days of our 16 day cruise, I confess that I still love them as well. Zaandam is nearly sold out for most of the next several months. 20231228_204800.heic 20231228_191444.heic 20231228_224010.heic 20231228_224930.heic

The remaining R class have the best forward access. Deck 8 at either edge of the gym even provide views down the side of the ship. Deck 6 has the full width forward view. Also Deck 10 above Crow's Nest is open.

It has been a nice and sunny day here in Port of Spain, Trinidad with the Zaandam. Hot and humid, but I think it almost always is. We had an almost private tour of The Red House, their 1903 Parliament House which has been beautifully restored since I was here on the Veendam's South America Voyage in 2017. We are headed to Curacao next, due to arrive by 8pm tomorrow. The second stern thruster is being repaired there. Remember, the Zaandam and Volendam do not have Azipods.

Good morning everyone from the Good Ship Zaandam in Scarborough, Tobago 🇹🇹. We had a very warm Christmas Day in Barbados yesterday. Today should be a repeat.

Merry Christmas from the Zaandam in Barbados. We wish everyone peace and good health, the same as the Captain said in his message for Christmas Eve. Wonderful crew show last night.

Zaandam should be leaving in about 10 to 20 minutes from St Maarten. The Wind Surf, which was part of the Holland America fleet prior to 2007, is here with us.

Greetings from Cruz Bay, St John, USVI. The good ship Zaandam tendered us ashore today at our first port call. It is picture perfect day here, sunny and 80F, with a gentle breeze. The Seabourn Quest is also here, arriving about 3 hours after us. I know the Prinsendam use to tender here, but not sure if the other Holland America Line ships have. Sadly, the production shows that were on for the Grand South America have left. Otherwise, the Zaandam is pleasing us. Our oceanview room, 1912, does not have the retrofit bathroom with new shower. We understand the Main Deck, 2, does have the new showers. Annette, future travel, told me at the Mariners happy hour, that they will retrofit the remaining ones in 2025.

Thank you. That was us.

Three long. Zaandam has a good horn.

Yes