Cruise ships · Holland America
Zaandam
Holland America · R Class (Rotterdam Class)
What it's like
- A mid-size ship: you'll feel more movement than on the giants when the sea is rough.
- Lots of room per guest, so pool decks and lines feel calmer than on most ships.
- Refreshed recently (2025), so it has many of the line's newest features.
- A kids' club for families, plus adults-only space for a quieter escape.
Highlights: Traditional mid-sized classic ocean liners with a retractable glass magrodome roof over the Lido pool, extensive worldwide itineraries, and a museum-like antique art collection.
At a glance
- Size
- 61,396 gross tons (Mid-size)
- Guests (two per cabin)
- 1,432
- Space per guest
- 42.9 gross tons per guest (the middle half of ships: 37–42)
- Built
- 2000
- Last major refurbishment
- 2025
- Cabins
- 716 (136 interior, 383 ocean view, 147 balcony, 50 suites)
- Included restaurants
- 4
- Specialty restaurants (extra charge)
- 3
- Bars and lounges
- 6
- Casino
- Yes
- Kids' club
- Yes
- Adults-only area
- Yes
- Spa
- Yes
Where it sails
- From Boston · Canada & New England · May–Oct · 7 nights
- From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) · Southern Caribbean · South America · Nov–Apr · 14–28 nights
- From San Diego · Hawaii · 14–35 nights
Routes and seasons, not live availability. We look up real sailings and prices for you.
Where to book your cabin
What's above and around the cabins on the decks where location matters most, read by our team from Holland America's official deck plan. Look up your cabin number.
Already booked Zaandam? Check your cabin and get a free report.
Deck 1 (Dolphin): the lowest cabin deck
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800–1824 (port, even), 1801–1825 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Cabins above; a crew or service area below | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 1826 (port, even), 1827 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 1828–1830 (port, even), 1829–1831 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 1832–1894 (port, even), 1833–1881 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | Cabins above; a crew or service area below | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 1896–1900 (port, even), 1883–1885 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 1902–1926 (port, even), 1887–1915 (starboard, odd) | Aft-midship | Cabins above; a crew or service area below | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 1928–1932 (port, even), 1917–1921 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 1934–1964 (port, even), 1923–1955 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Cabins above; a crew or service area below | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
Deck 2 (Main): between cabin decks 1 and 3
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500–2506 (port, even), 2501–2507 (starboard, odd) | Very forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 2508–2510 (port, even), 2509–2511 (starboard, odd) | Very forward | Cabins above; a crew or service area below | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 2512–2536 (port, even), 2513–2539 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 2538 (port, even), 2541 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Cabins below; a crew or service area above | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 2540–2544 (port, even), 2543–2547 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 2546–2548 (port, even), 2549–2551 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators; cabins above and below | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 2550–2570 (port, even), 2553–2573 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | Cabins below; a crew or service area above | Mostly quiet; possible early-morning work |
| 2572–2618 (port, even), 2575–2621 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 2620 (port, even), 2623 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 2622–2624 (port, even), 2625–2627 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators; cabins above and below | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 2626–2650 (port, even), 2629–2655 (starboard, odd) | Aft-midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 2652–2654 (port, even), 2657–2659 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 2656 (port, even), 2661 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators; cabins above and below | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 2658–2694 (port, even), 2663–2701 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Cabins above and below | Quiet; some engine vibration this far aft |
| 2696–2704 (port, even), 2703–2709 (starboard, odd) | Very aft | Cabins above; crew or open space below | Some engine vibration |
| 2706 (port, even), 2711 (starboard, odd) | Very aft | The open aft deck above; cabins below | Some deck noise above by day; vibration |
Deck 3 (Lower Promenade): under the Promenade deck
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3300–3326 (port, even), 3301–3325 (starboard, odd) | Forward | The World Stage (the main theater) above | Show sound above into the late evening |
| 3328–3330 (port, even), 3327–3329 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 3332–3364 (port, even), 3331–3363 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Wajang Theater (cinema) and shore-excursion desk above | Film sound above in the evening |
| 3366–3370 (port, even), 3365 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 3372–3394 (port, even), 3367–3389 (starboard, odd) | Aft-midship | Crew and service areas above (the plan doesn't label them; likely the galley) | Possible early-morning and late-evening work above |
| 3396–3398 (port, even), 3391–3393 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 3400–3430 (port, even), 3395–3431 (starboard, odd) | Aft | The lower level of the main Dining Room above | Meal-time noise above; some vibration |
Deck 6 (Verandah): over the Upper Promenade deck
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6100–6116 (port, even), 6101–6111 (starboard, odd) | Forward | The balcony of the World Stage (the main theater) below | Show sound below in the evening |
| 6118 (port, even) | Forward | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6113 (starboard, odd) | Forward | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6120 (port, even) | Forward | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6115 (starboard, odd) | Forward | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6122 (port, even), 6117 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6124 (port, even), 6119 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6126 (port, even), 6121 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6128 (port, even), 6123 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6130 (port, even) | Forward | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6125 (starboard, odd) | Forward | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6132–6136 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6127 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6134–6138 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6129 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6140 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6131–6133 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6142 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6135–6137 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6144 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6139 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6146 (port, even) | Forward-midship | Shops and the atrium below | Daytime shop traffic below |
| 6141 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Ocean Bar (live music) below | Bar music below into the night |
| 6148 (port, even), 6143 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6150 (port, even), 6145 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6152 (port, even), 6147 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6154 (port, even), 6149 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6156 (port, even), 6151 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6158–6160 (port, even), 6153 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6155 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6162–6166 (port, even), 6157–6163 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6168 (port, even) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6170 (port, even), 6165 (starboard, odd) | Midship | The Casino and the Mix bars below | Casino and bar noise below late into the night |
| 6172–6178 (port, even), 6167–6173 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6180–6202 (port, even), 6175–6197 (starboard, odd) | Aft-midship | The Hudson Room, game room and shops below | Mostly quiet; some evening events |
| 6204–6210 (port, even), 6199–6205 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 6212–6228 (port, even), 6207–6225 (starboard, odd) | Aft | The art studio and King's Room below | Mostly quiet |
Deck 7: under Lido deck 8
| Cabins | Where | What's above (deck 8) and around | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7001–7006 | Forward | Fitness Center, spa and salon | Early-morning gym noise |
| 7008–7035 | Forward-midship | Dive-In, Lido Pool, Lido Bar; Neptune Lounge (suite guests) on deck 7 | Pool-deck noise by day, chairs at dawn |
| 7036–7057 | Midship | Canaletto, middle elevators, the start of the Lido Market | Meal-time noise above |
| 7058–7072 | Midship-aft | Lido Market (the buffet); aft elevators | Early-morning setup noise and meal-time bustle |
| 7073–7088 | Aft | Sea View Bar and Sea View Pool | Pool and bar noise by day; some vibration |
General tips for any ship
- For the least motion, choose a cabin low and in the middle of the ship (midship), near the central elevators.
- For quiet, avoid cabins directly under the pool deck, buffet, theater or nightclub, and right beside the elevators or service areas.
- Cabins at the very front feel the most pitching in rough seas; cabins at the very back can feel some vibration from the engines.
- Some balcony cabins have partly blocked views (lifeboats, for example); the deck plan marks them, so check before you book.
For the exact layout, see the official deck plan for Zaandam on Holland America's website ↗.
Sister ships
Built to the same design (R Class (Rotterdam Class)), so they feel very similar on board:
Ship facts from our research, checked 2026-09-17. Spot something out of date? Let us know and we'll fix it.