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Zaandam, as are all ships of Holland America, is designed to provide comfortable accommodation on longer cruises. Even though Zaandam generally may find herself serving the 7-day cruise market in the Caribbean and Alaska, that basic tenant remains. Guests booking inside accommodation on Zaandam will find they give up nothing except a window. Stateroom sizes and amenities are on par with the more expensive, ocean view cabins. All inside cabins provide twin beds able to be joined to form a single large bed. (Larger than a queen, but not quite a king.) Vertically adjustable lamps built into the headboard provide adequate illumination for late night reading with little disturbance for the slumbering cabin mate. By adjusting the lamp to shine up and back against the wall, it does double duty as a beacon, guiding late night partygoers to the chocolate awaiting them atop their pillows. A small nightstand sits beside each side of the bed. All cabins, including the lowliest inside, contain at least one sofa forming the seating area. A thoughtful touch is the cocktail table that can be raised to become a height suitable to dine. The fruit basket is replenished daily. The vanity area is of decent size, and able to accommodate the typical “junk” accumulated over the course of a cruise, while still providing almost enough space for a woman to use for whatever it is they do before it. Somewhat disappointing is the small 13-inch television and not the 20-inch size now typical of many ships. Although there is a bridge cam capable of being transmitted to all cabins, it is used sparingly, and passengers residing in interior cabins can not rely on being able to obtain access. On ships of other lines that do provide 24-hour coverage, the bridge cam almost becomes a reasonable replacement for an actual window. It’s a shame HAL doesn’t follow suit! Closet and drawer space is satisfactory for storing clothing for cruise lengths of up to several weeks in duration. Privacy curtains can be drawn, sectioning off the sleeping, sitting and entry areas. Bathrooms sport a full tub and shower with mat, protecting against slips. The sink spans the width of the bath, with a small cabinet provided for toiletries. Things are a bit tight here, although a shelf is provided below the sink for overflow items. Holland America has resisted the trend of other lines by continuing to provide individual bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Here, there are none of those impossible to open paper containers, or the easily defiled volume dispensers that are showing up on other lines. |
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