On a gorgeous warm fall day my colleagues and I headed to the cruise pier in San Francisco to inspect Holland America Line’s ms Zuiderdam. With eleven decks and holding a mere 1,916 guests the ms Zuiderdam isn’t large by today’s standards, but she is large enough to offer all the creature comforts you could possibly ask for.

Boasting four dining venues; the intimate reservations-only Pinnacle Grill (extra fee applies), Lido Restaurant, Terrace Grill and the Vista Dining Room, main dining room. Here we were treated to a fabulous luncheon. The staff was gracious and helpful and the meals consisted of fresh ingredients and everyone agreed it was very tasty and presented beautifully.

Aboard Holland America Line you can choose to be as active as you want. For those wanting activities the ms Zuiderdam features two swimming pools (one with a retractable roof for incremental weather), a sports courts, full walk-around promenade deck, and the Green House Spa & Salon with fitness center. The Crow’s Nest Lounge offers sweeping panoramic views and flows nicely into the Explorations Café, a coffee house environment with library, music listening stations, board games and a full coffee bar. The Culinary Arts Center is another great venue with various demonstrations and classes throughout your cruise, such as cooking lessons highlighting the destination to which you are visiting or how to fold those delightful towel animals (a fun surprise that greats you nightly). Evenings brings musical revues in the Vista Lounge Theater, Casino action, Piano Bar, movies in The Screening Room and the Northern Lights Night Club, for you to dance the night away!

Staterooms and suites aboard Holland America line are top notch. We had the pleasure of seeing one of the Deluxe Verandah Suites, room 7073. These suites offer so much more bang for your buck, the Verandah space alone was at least double than that of a standard Verandah, plus you have extra storage space, an extra vanity area next to the bathroom and a separate shower and tub. In addition to all the extra space you have access to the exclusive Neptune’s Lounge, your keycard provides entry. For those not wishing to stay in a suite, do not worry the standard Inside, Oceanview Staterooms and Verandah Staterooms are spacious, comfortable and well appointed. Plus, you get 24-hour complimentary room service in every stateroom!

Overall I would say that the ms Zuiderdam is in good condition.  There are beautiful handcrafted features throughout the ship, from the crystal seahorse donning the ceiling in the atrium to the etched-glass on the exterior elevators (which not only are pretty, but are convenient as well). The ship is spacious with ample room to find a corner and read a good book, and provides enough activities to keep you going until your heart’s content.

For information on where the ms Zuiderdam, or her sister ships ms Oosterdam and ms Westerdam are sailing next visit our Holland America Cruises page.

For additional photos of the ms Zuiderdam during our ship inspection, please visit Cruise Specialists’ Facebook page.