Cruising with Holland America Line Aboard the ms Zuiderdam

ABOARD THE ZUIDERDAM – A Caribbean voyage to the Panama Canal aboard the MS Zuiderdam is an opportunity to take a look at one of Holland America Line’s freshest refurbishing’s and renovations of one of their popular mid-size ships. Dennis Cox tells us this story in beautiful photos.

While the Zuiderdam is a Vista class ship carrying up to 1,900 passengers and 788 officers and crew, it is similar in many respects to the 2,137 passenger Signature class MS Eurodam which I wrote about previously ( www.AllThingsCruise.com/ hal-in-the-baltic-an-inland-sea-of-raiders-and-traders/ ). The most notable difference is one fewer specialty restaurant on the Zuiderdam, the Asian-style Tamarind. Of special note, in my opinion, is that the ship’s Dive In grill by the Lido Pool also has the same world’s greatest crispy French Fries as on the Eurodam. Love those fries, HAL.

Originally launched in 2002, the Zuiderdam has been undergoing substantial interior updating and additions since October of this year. Additional improvements, including refurbished stairways, will continue through March. Exterior refurbishing by ten sailors working discretely onboard is also expected to continue through March. The ship will then transition to the Baltics for five cruises during the coming summer.

Story and Photos by Dennis Cox