St Pete Cruiser

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

We are off.

We are off.

Captain says we are going around the Equinox.

Glad to be back onboard Zaandam on a beautiful sunny 72F day here in Ft Lauderdale. Some pics of the "little" Zaandam.

I'm not sure, but Captain has made his initial welcome comments.

Welcome aboard Mariners Lunch. Big yachts passing one after another. More later.

Good morning everyone. I'll try to wave from the upper deck behind the Crow's Nest, port side. Since the Zaandam has been on a long itinerary, the Grand South America, it may take longer than normal to "turn around" today.

We should be onboard the Zaandam Tuesday. I'm not expecting to leave until after the Equinox leaves, so after 4 and probably later. Hoping for a really nice sailaway!

I was late to the sailaway, but was surprised to see a Disney ship leaving from Ft Lauderdale.

Thanks for sharing the Zaandams Grand South America cruise with us. We are anxious to check in tomorrow for our holiday cruise aboard.

Good Morning everyone. We survived yesterdays rain and wind quite well, even attending the Holiday Pops last night at Mahaffey Theater. St Petersburg needed the rain and we received about 2 inches. We are renting a car to drive to Ft Lauderdale early Tuesday morning to embark the good ship Zaandam for our first ever Christmas/New Years cruise. It is 16 days with a different itinerary than normal. The Prinsendam usually did a similar holiday itinerary, for those oldies among us! While the Zaandam is no Prinsendam, she is Holland America's 1 of 2 smallest ships. I won't have the ships wifi on this cruise, I will occasionally post an update for those interested. Zaandam is completing its Grand South America and some of those aboard will stay for this holiday cruise. Ft Lauderdale weather forecast for Tuesday is sunny and 70F. Our best to those who are not well today, especially some of our long time posters. May the spirit of the season lift you up.