Back from the Zaandam

[Janvan11]

Our family has just returned from Alaska and a wonderful trip on the Zaandam. The trip was excellent and I am willing to answer anyone's questions. My perspective is a first time HAL cruiser, with prior experience on Norwegian. Our family was consisted of seniors, 40-somethings and teens. My favorite shipboard experience was the Thermal Suite. We had an excellent time and I would be happy to share my experiences with any who have questions.:rolleyes:

[Golfette]

Thanks for your post. Two questions - Do you know whether the Zaandam has balcony cabins (not suites - just balcony cabins) and whether it sails out of any West Coast ports?

[grannynurse]

Golfette,

The zaandam has veranda cabins category A-AA, B, BB and BC. After she finishes her Alaska itineraries she will start a series of 15 day Hawaii cruises out of San Diego. There may be some Pacific coastal trips (short) in between Alaska and Hawaii itineraries in September.

The Oosterdam a slightly larger HAL ship (and newer) will do 7 day Mexico trips after Alaska season, I think also out of SD. She also has balcony cabins, a larger variety of them in fact, which are well-priced.

Also check on Ryndam, the smallest of the 3. I believe she does 10 day Mexico this fall and winter.

Hope this helps,

GN

[ciaobella]

Did your teens participate in any of the Youth Program activities? If so, what did they think about these? How did you feel about them as a parent?

 

Thanks!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcpme home. Hope you do a review.

[Pincus]

Janvan11, welcome home, glad you had a great trip.

 

Can you tell us the names of the officers, Captain through Cruise Director?

 

Thanks.

 

Pincus

['Dam' high seaser]

Golfette - On September 29th, the Zaandam will do 4 day coastal repositioning cruise to San Diego. Beginning in early October she will alternate between 15 day Circle Hawaii Cruises and 10 day Mexican Riveria Cruises. She will continue with this schedule until Spring 2007.

 

Janvan11 - What did you think of the 'Signature Master Chef's Dinner' aboard the Zaandam?:rolleyes:

 

Glad you liked your cruise! I have been sailing HAL for almost 30 years and love those 'dam' ships. My teenage daughter has the caught the bug and is hooked!:)

[Janvan11]

I have a 15 yr old son and 13 yr old daughter. They were both very fearful that there would be no other teens on board. I had called HAL about 6 weeks before sailing and was told that there were 36 other teens set to travel. This made them even more nervous, they felt that number was too low - compared to their previous cruise experience. There was a problem with the computers at embarkation and we were stuck in line for about 30 minutes. That whole time my kids kept scanning the crowd looking for others their age - I was getting nervous myself - because it was slim pickins! When we boarded the ship, we went up to check out the Loft and Oasis. Both areas are great. The first night there is a mixer and all the teens gathered at the Loft. Well, happily, both my kids found a great group of friends and had an outstanding week. There was one "counselor" that organized the activities. Their daily schedule was delivered to our cabin each evening. One of the best things they did was the Amazing Race - kind of a clue/scavenger hunt. I participated in an adult version that was so much fun. The loft has a great video jukebox that the kids loved and unlimited computer games. On lobster night, the teens had their own formal night with free mocktails. They also had a casino night and the kids won "dam" prizes. The teens did not use the Oasis waterfall due to the temperature of the water and air, however they swam a lot in the pool and jacuzzi. I would never want to go to Alaska on a ship without a roof over the pool. Bottom line - the kids had an excellent time (we didn't see much of them) and they both came home and have not stopped "texting" their new friends. :D

[Janvan11]

I was not overly impressed with this one. I felt the menu was weakest on this evening. The singing before 3 courses seemed "forced". The performers from the showroom are part of the spectacle and you watch the wait staff staring at them, trying to remember their next dance move. This makes the meal service much slower than a typical night, so you have the feeling the entire evening that the next course should have been delivered by now. I think that it would be a good night for the Pinnacle Grill instead of the dining room.:confused:

[raadsel]

I hope you'll do a review, seems like August is so far away! ;) I was curious about boarding in Seattle, what time do they start processing people to board, what is the schedule (time-wise) on board like that day? Thanks.

[johnnjodee]

Janvan11, thank you for your post. We are going on September 1 and it will be our first time on HAL and also first time to Alaska. My DW loves!!!! the sun and warm weather and it took (almost) an act of Congress to go to Alaska. Is the Thermal suite the one with the heated tile beds and different steam rooms? If so, she will be happy. Also is the pool indoors and what is the water temperature?

Are the public areas the same as on other cruises with shirt and shorts temperature or should we dress in layers indoors too? Thank you again for all your help.

 

John & Judy

<*////><

[babytraveler]

Would you let me know if the pool was chlorinated or just salt water? Thanks!

[Janvan11]

My father (78) is extremely sensitive to cold and was very reluctant to cruise to Alaska. I promised him that he could stay inside the entire trip and not get cold. The indoor areas of the ship including the pool area are indeed warm enough for shorts. My husband wore them a few times. When their was no rain they even opened the retractable roof a few feet to let in fresh air. It was completely comfortable to sit by the pool at all hours of the day. Generally the weather outside was in the 50s and even warmer on our Sitka day. I was able to get my parents off the ship in Juneau and my dad was never uncomfortably cold. On the best day of the cruise - Glacier Bay - it was sunny and clear. We were able to watch the glaciers calving from my parents balcony.

 

I would highly recommend the Thermal Suite. When you first board the ship, take a tour of the spa and gym. They will show you the Suite. During the cruise it is only accessible by a key. The suite has 5 tile loungers that are continuously warm. There is a jacuzzi that will hold about 4. There are two showers that have an additional button that is a Balinese cold mist. One is scented peppermint and the other orange. There are two steam rooms - one is regular and the other has aromatherapy. They will only sell 20 passes to the suite. We bought a couples pass for they entire cruise. If they don't sell all 20 for the week, they will offer day passes for $20. The suite is open 8am to 8pm. We tried to visit twice a day. There is soft music playing and it is so relaxing - we often dozed in the lounges. Another perk is that there is a private balcony. We used our passes to watch glacier bay when the ship was turned in the other direction. We met nice people there as well.

 

To answer the pool question, my daughter is unsure if it was choloronated or not, but she said "it didn't feel like we were swimming in salt water". I would guess the water temp would be in the low 80s. Very pleasant.

 

Boy, I wish I was back on board......:cool:

[PIGSKIN]

:) Could Someone Please Tell Me What Deck You Board On In Seattle????

[Janvan11]

Deck 2 - Main Deck near the front.

[BobMartha]

they only sell 20 passes to the thermal suite for the week?

Having only sailed on the vista's I was not aware that they sell a limited number - not that I mind..its just that its definately decision time when we board! The thermal loungers have to be one of the best experiences....

[BobMartha]

Janvan

 

sorry - what was the price for the couples pass?

[Janvan11]

That's what they say - only 20 passes. When we took the tour she said "We only have 6 left - you better hurry". I'm not sure if that was the truth or just salesmanship. There were only 2 times that the suite seemed crowded - where all the chairs were taken, so you had to use the jacuzzi or steam room. One day there were a group of 4 ladies that purchased a day pass. Most of the time there were usually 2-4 people at a time. A single weeklong pass was $99, couples were $160.00.

[LoveToTravelTwo]

Thanks for your post. Two questions - Do you know whether the Zaandam has balcony cabins (not suites - just balcony cabins) and whether it sails out of any West Coast ports?

To Golfette.

 

Are you a golfer (as your login name implies)? Husband and I are taking the Zaandam for 10 nights to the Mexican Riviera, from San Diego, on 12/11/06. Husband wants to play golf in either Cabo or Puerta Vallarta or both. I am not a golfer so he would like to find others who are also interested in playing. If you are a golfer and this cruise appeals to you, please respond. Tee times can be make in advance.

 

Thanks!

[Tinknock50]

Janvan,

 

Did you happen to notice if there was a separate handicap shower/bathroom with its own entrance in the spa/ gym area?

[Janvan11]

The ladies locker room had two showers and one restroom. I'm not sure if the showers required a step up to get in. I do think they had a bench inside.

[Mulvicruiser]

Hey JANVAN11, we were on your cruise too. We received the same sales pitch about the Thermal Suite having a limited amount of guest passes. I was sold when I saw the suite. I usually hate sales pitches but when I was shown the steam bath, hot tub and ceramic beds, I could not resist. The view was awesome too. I have a great memory of sitting in the hot tub as we were arriving into Junuea. The view on the starboard side in the Thermal Suite can't be beat. This was my first cruise and Thermal Suite was the pampering I was longing for.

[Janvan11]

We probably saw you there - my husband had bright green hawaiian swim trunks and was probably sleeping in a lounger everytime you saw him.:rolleyes: I loved looking out the front window from the hot tub... It was definitely worth the money and made our cruise even better. It was a great way for us to retreat from our family, when we could use a little quiet time...