Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Lines / Holland America Line Cruise Reviews

Holland America Line ms Zuiderdam Ship Review

Alysia Murillo

Aft Pool With San Francisco Backdrop
Aft Pool With San Francisco Backdrop

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.

Greenhouse Spa - Thalassotherapy
Greenhouse Spa - Thalassotherapy

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!

Verandah Suite - Bed Area
Deluxe Verandah Suite - Bed Area

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!

Atrium's Crystal Seahorse
Atrium - Crystal Seahorse

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.

More from my site

  • Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Caribbean Cruise ReviewHolland America Nieuw Amsterdam Caribbean Cruise Review
  • Holland America Line Bermuda Cruise ReviewHolland America Line Bermuda Cruise Review
  • Holland America Line Alaska Cruise ReviewHolland America Line Alaska Cruise Review
  • Golden Princess Ship ReviewGolden Princess Ship Review

Holland America Line Cruise Reviews, Ship Reviews Holland America Line Cruise Reviews, Ship Reviews

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter