maasdam cruise ship location

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Current location and position of MS Maasdam

View MS Maasdam current location. The position of MS Maasdam can be accurately determined by the maps of VesselFinder and MarineTraffic. So you are always well informed, where your favorite ship is currently.

MS Maasdam and Specifications

Holland America fleet

• MS Nieuw Ryndam
• MS Nieuw Statendam
• MS Koningsdam
• MS Nieuw Amsterdam
• MS Westerdam
• MS Oosterdam
• MS Zuiderdam
• MS Amsterdam
• MS Volendam
• MS Rotterdam

MS Maasdam Video

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Maasdam Overview

Escape the daily stresses of life with an extraordinary cruise on Holland America’s ms Maasdam . This elegant cruise ship is slightly smaller than most of Holland America’s ships, but offers a more spacious feel. The ship has fun spaces for you to let loose, like Mix, which is a lounge with separate areas to get beer, champagne and martinis. With mirrors, flashing lights and the excitement of a big payout, the casino gets a lot of hearts beating onboard. The dance floor at Crow’s Nest, which has great views, is the place to show your moves. And when you’re ready to unwind, the ms Maasdam has relaxing spots and one of the most comfortable beds at sea. 

• Passenger Capacity: 1,266
• Year Built: 1993
• Last Refurbished: 2016

Maasdam Cruise Destinations

Holland America Line prides itself on offering a superb variety of destinations. This cruise line visits 7 continents and over 320 ports worldwide while embarking from all types of ports, from convenient close-to-home ports to far-away exotic departure ports. You can plan a special romantic cruise to the Greek Isles or an enriching vacation in Asia. In addition, Holland America's connections with Alaskan hotels and their ownership of Half Moon Cay (their private Caribbean island) have differentiated them in Alaska and the Caribbean. 

Maasdam Departure Ports

Sail to the world’s hot spots with Holland America. This revered cruise line has sailings from cities around the world like Ft. Lauderdale, Valparaiso, Barcelona, Sydney and Montreal.  All of their departure ports are convenient to get to with major airports and public transportation. Get ready for an amazing cruise vacation with Holland America, your first step is to call us at The Cruise Web to speak with a consultant and find your perfect itinerary. 

Maasdam Deck Plans

Lower promenade deck, promenade deck, upper promenade deck, verandah deck, navigation deck, sports deck, maasdam staterooms.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Inside (IQ)

Inside (mm).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower. Ambulatory accessible have shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size.

Oceanview (CQ)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

Oceanview (D)

Oceanview (da), oceanview (dd), oceanview (e), oceanview (g).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have portholes. Ambulatory accessible, some rooms have roll-in showers with wheelchair accessible doors, some have standard doors with small step into bathroom.

Oceanview (H)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All H-category staterooms have partial sea views.

Oceanview (HH)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

Oceanview (EE)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only, wheelchair accessible doorways.

Oceanview (C)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Ambulatory accessible rooms have shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size.

Oceanview (F)

Oceanview (ff).

Oceanview (CA)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. Sliding glass doors lead onto the walk-around Lower Promenade Deck. Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only, wheelchair-accessible doorways.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, whirlpool bath & shower, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, mini-bar, refrigerator, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, whirlpool bath & shower, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, mini-bar, refrigerator, floor-to-ceiling windows. Ambulatory accessible have shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, whirlpool bath & shower, sitting area, private verandah, mini-bar, refrigerator, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, whirlpool bath & shower, sitting area, private verandah, mini-bar, refrigerator, floor-to-ceiling windows. Ambulatory accessible rooms have shower only with small step, step into bathroom, standard interior and exterior door size.

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, mini-bar, refrigerator, guest toilet, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo Gallery for Maasdam Cruise Ship

Are you a visual learner? Check out this photo gallery of the Holland America experience. Here you can see the amazing dining venues, spacious staterooms and beautiful destinations the ship sails to. 

Greenhouse Spa

Penthouse Veranda Stateroom

Top 10 Maasdam Cruises

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Enjoy Holland America's onboard entertainment, including BB King's Blues Club, an onboard theater, casino, indoor and outdoor movie screens, bars and lounges.

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Holland America Maasdam Ship Review

The expression, “What’s old is new again” popped into my head as I boarded Holland America’s Maasdam for an extended Alaska cruise. My last experience aboard the smallest ship in their fleet was way back in 2012 on a 10-night Canada New England voyage.

Since then, Maasdam underwent a huge refurbishment in 2016. I was excited and curious to see what changes were made and check out the upgraded furnishings.

Maasdam Cruise Ship Review and Photos

Fast Facts – Holland America Maasdam

Inaugural: 1993 Refurbished:   2016 Passengers: 1,258 Crew:   569 Dining Options:   Six, plus ice cream bar and complimentary room service Self-serve laundromat:   Yes, three on various decks. Wrap-around promenade: Yes. Four times around is a mile.

Welcome Aboard Holland America’s Maasdam

My First Impressions

EMBARKATION EXPERIENCE

If you ever have a chance to cruise from San Francisco (and I hope everyone does) arrive a day or two before. That said, keep in mind that San Francisco is super-expensive. I was able to get a good hotel deal across the bay in Emeryville at the Courtyard by Marriott for under $160 on the HotelTonight app. From the Courtyard to the historic port was about a 35-minute Uber ride of $40 or so plus tip.

One of the joys of small(er) ship cruising is the ease and speed of embarkation. Today was no exception. The port staff was helpful and very friendly as I made my way through the sunlit terminal. No wait to scan my luggage and maybe a one minute wait in line to check-in. I was on board the ship and in my stateroom within 20 minutes from when I arrived.

Maasdam is a much-loved older ship with very dedicated past passengers. Part of the reason could be because the ship imparts a feeling of spaciousness and comfort yet still has all the features that seasoned cruisers expect. You’ll find that Maasdam has an uncomplicated deck plan, a wide wraparound promenade and plenty of elevators so there’s rarely a wait.

The Filipino and Indonesian staff are helpful and friendly. A wide variety of evening entertainment includes magicians, comedians, singers and dancers, and two big production shows.   Often, noted entertainers board the ship in one port for a one-night-only performance and leave the ship in the next port.

There’s supervised care at Club Hal, for ages 3-17 years old. Separate age-appropriate activities and youth centers have pirate treasure hunts and arts and crafts for the younger kids to sports competitions, Wii and a teen night club for teens, all with supervision.

As on many older ships, aboard Maasdam you won’t find a million balcony staterooms. In fact, only suites have balconies. There’s an odd little class of staterooms called, Lanai saterooms. Each stateroom has a sliding glass door that leads onto the Promenade Deck instead of a balcony.

Luckily, the glass sliding doors are well-tinted so passersby can’t see inside…during the day. At night, it’s a good idea to keep the drapes closed.

Maasdam Review: My Oceanview Stateroom

Located on A Deck (the lowest deck), my stateroom was absolute midship, port side # 774. Great location, especially for going ashore. The deck for the gangway was just below. We’d have plenty of shore days on this long cruise and it’s nice to have easy access back to your stateroom after a day ashore.

There’s that old saying, “once you’ve had a balcony stateroom, you’re spoiled forever.” Well, it’s partially true. But when you are on a ship where only suites have a balcony, suddenly you don’t feel so left out. I think nearly every day I curled up in the curve of the large picture window and just watched the spectacular Alaskan scenery.

Every stateroom has a DVD/CD player and you can borrow from a huge selection of DVDs and CDs at the Front Desk. Every stateroom has a safe, too.

Another perk of being on this low deck, especially in Alaska, I was nearly at eye-level with passing sea otters, Stellar seals and oh…an occasional whale. Great stateroom location.

Another nice feature about any standard Maasdam accommodation is the long desk/vanity area. Plenty of storage and countertop space. If you were sharing this room, the divider curtain to the closet and bathroom offer privacy.

Ah…a bathtub. At one time, all staterooms on Holland America ships had bathtubs. Sadly, unless you have a suite, they’ve disappeared on the newer ships.

It took me a couple of minutes and then I remembered. On Maasdam , as on other Holland America ships, too, the hair dryer is in the dresser drawer. Also, another make-up mirror.

Dining on Maasdam

On the first night, I signed up for late dining with assigned tables at 8pm. Over the years, I’ve made up a game. I call it First Night Main Dining Room Roulette.

Basically, I follow the waiter as I’m led to the table, passing by other tables with people seated whom I think would be good tablemates. It almost never fails that when I reach my assigned table for 10, there are only four or five other passengers seated. At a table that size, even when you scooch together, conversation reverts to almost yelling to be heard over dining room clatter.

The first night here was no different than previous ventures. As the waiter sidled up to the table and reached for my chair, I said, “Excuse me,” and gently pivoted for a quick exit to the Lido Buffet. The others at the table for 10 were a family of three and I would be the odd one out. I’d try again another night.

Where to Eat

You’ll find six sit-down restaurants on Maasdam:

• The Dining Room (Main Dining Room) – Included
• Lido Buffet – Included
• Pinnacle Grill – $39pp
• Rudi’s Sel de Mer Pop-up – $49pp
• Canaletto Italian – $19pp
• Dive-In – Included
• 24-Hour Room Service – Included
• Explorations Cafe – $ for Specialty Coffee & Tea; complimentary snacks
• Pizza Bar – Included
• Ice Cream – Included

If you want to go the traditional route in The Dining Room, fixed seatings are at 5:45pm and 8:00pm. I like that there’s plenty of time for the folks in first seating to enjoy their dinner and not feel rushed.

For those who prefer their own schedule, Flexible Open Dining is available between 5:15pm and 9:00pm. With a non-fixed dining time, simply call dining reservations on board or head to The Dining Room during dining hours.

READ NEXT:  How to pack for an Alaska cruise

Here are a few of my favorite meals from Maasdam in July 2019…

And finally, salmon, salmon and more salmon. We were in Alaska, after all.

Maasdam Review: Available Accommodation Choices

With a modest selection of seven types of staterooms, choosing your accommodation isn’t too complicated.   Reminiscent from ships of yore, as I mentioned earlier, the unique Lanai staterooms have a sliding door that opens right onto the outdoor deck of the Lower Promenade. Included are two teak reclining chairs reserved only for the Lanai guests.   Tinted glass prevents passersby from seeing inside the stateroom during the day. 

• INSIDE :  Standard Inside and Spa Inside
• OCEANVIEW :  Standard Oceanview, Spa Oceanview, Porthole, Partial Oceanview and Fully Obstructed
• VISTA SUITE :  Standard Vista Suite, Spa Vista Suite
• NEPTUNE SUITE
• PINNACLE SUITE

High above on Deck 10 you’ll find the Vista, Neptune and Pinnacle Veranda Suites plus the impressive 1,273 sq. ft. Presidential Suite.   The Concierge-staffed Neptune Lounge is a secluded retreat serving complimentary beverages and light fare, accessible only to the upper level Suite guests.

Following the 2016 refurbishment, Maasdam now has Spa suites and staterooms with a choice of inside, oceanview or balcony. Spa accommodation amenities include an iPod docking station, yoga mats and a special countertop water carafe.

Interior staterooms are comfortable with good lighting and plenty of closet and storage space.   The bathrooms aren’t enormous, but definitely well designed with sufficient countertop area.

Also included in the ship-wide refurbishment are those wonderful Signature Dream Beds, soft Egyptian cotton sheets, flat panel TVs and DVD/CD players.   DVD and CD rentals are free and available at the Front Desk.

READ NEXT:   Holland America Nieuw Statendam Balcony Stateroom Review

Public Rooms

Just because Maasdam is small, doesn’t mean the ship lacks activities or public spaces. With six bars and lounges, a dedicated movie theater, full spa and fitness areas and even a library, in 21-days, I still didn’t get to spend time in every place during the cruise.

Of course there’s the usual glitzy casino that didn’t seem to ever have too many people at the tables or machines. On these longer, port intensive/cultural itineraries, that’s usually the case.

Maasdam is one of the few ships anywhere, and one of six in Holland America’s fleet, that still has a dedicated movie theater. On this cruise, not only were there movies on both port and sea days, but the enrichment lectures were also held there.

Greenhouse Spa and Salon

Entertainment

This particular Maasdam cruise was one of Holland America’s In-Depth Cruises. These voyages have a focus and theme…this one of course being Alaska. From whales and sea life to Native culture and tales of exploration and the Gold Rush, lectures were excellent and eventually, standing room only.

MainStage / World Stage Theater  had production shows throughout the cruise. Performers would join the ship at one port and leave at the next. One night would be a concert pianist and violinist, another would be a comedian, then a Holland America musical production, and so on.

Two highlights stand out in my mind and definitely worth a mention in this ship review. The first, and always my favorite, is the BBC Earth Experience. In a partnership with BBC Earth, Holland America showcases outstanding nature-themed films accompanied by live on-stage orchestration. It’s one show you simply don’t want to miss. And it’s usually a once-a-cruise event.

READ NEXT:   Holland America Eurodam Review 2019

Outdoor Areas and Pools

You won’t find breakneck-speed water slides or a brightly colored aqua park here. Instead, no matter what the weather, you can relax in a lounge chair under the sliding dome-covered pool.

Cruise Maven Loves:

• Museum-quality artwork throughout the ship.
• Filipino and Indonesian staff are always helpful, friendly and ready to assist mobility-impaired guests.
• Neptune Lounge for the Deluxe Veranda Suite and Presidential Suite guests.
• The Filipino or Indonesian Talent Show, scheduled for once every cruise.
• Holland America’s signature bread pudding and vanilla sauce, at the Lido lunch buffet. Yum!
• Canaletto, the Italian specialty restaurant in the Lido Buffet.
• The Pub Crawl! Even if you don’t drink a lot, just to tag along is worth the fee.
• Self-service launderettes.
• A moveable dome over the Lido pool so you can swim and relax even in Alaska!

What’s Onboard for Kids

I don’t think there were even five kids on this cruise. The EXC In-Depth voyages are geared for adults and so Club Hal wasn’t in operation. But for other “regular” cruises, here’s what you can expect.

Club HAL activities keep kids and teens, from 3 to 17 years old, busy at sea and port days. To participate, the little ones must be potty trained.   On port days, Club HAL is open from 8am – 4pm. Group lunch is provided with advance sign-up.

Club HAL After Hours, 10pm – 12am, is $5.00 per child per hour.   On sea days outside of Club HAL hours, in-cabin babysitting may be possible. Enquire at the front desk. Special needs children are with other kids in the same chronological age.

The HAL Kids Culinary Workshop offers hands-on cooking lessons. Located in the Culinary Arts Center, cooking techniques and food safety are emphasized. No additional fee to participate in this hour-long activity.

Maasdam Ship Review – Bottom Line

I’d have to end my Maasdam ship review by saying that for those who want a memorable cruise without a lot of blaring announcements, drink-hawking and wet t-shirt contests, Maasdam fits the bill. If you choose one of the EXC In-Depth cruises, shoreside activities cover a wider range and include several more energetic/strenous excursions.

The Main Dining Room is still very popular with its traditional main and second seatings. Holland America’s “As You Wish” dining was nice to have on longer port days. At least once every sailing, the Pinnacle Grill transforms into Rudi Sodamin’s Sel de Mer, a signature Holland America restaurant.

You’ll love this ship (and an EXC In-Depth cruise) if:

• You like smaller ships with a retro feel
• You’re most interested in a real cruise experience instead of belly-flop contests at the pool
• Traveling with older, well-traveled and unpretentious passengers
• Having only a half-dozen dining options is not a big deal
• You love to walk – the wraparound promenade is wide and has directional signs!

Maasdam isn’t for you if:

• You absolutely must have a balcony but a suite is out of your price range
• An enormous tv screen in your stateroom is a necessity
• You look forward to elaborately-themed, slightly raucous late-night pool parties
• An Atrium Bar is your favorite watering hole on larger ships

Cruise Maven’s Insider Tips

• Attend one of the many Windows-based Digital Workshops but arrive 15 minutes early to ensure you get a computer station.
• For a reservation at your desired time, book your Specialty Restaurant on embarkation day or even before your cruise.
• Try to avoid a cabin directly across from a launderette if you like an afternoon nap. But for convenience, it’s a great location.
• Some aft cabins on the lowest decks may feel some engine vibration.
• Be patient at the Lido Buffet. Your ship’s restaurant staff does the serving. Best practice to lessen the spread of illness.
• An all-vegan OR vegetarian dinner menu is available upon request.
• Watch for laundry special offers mid-way and towards the end of your cruise.

Whatever itinerary you choose, Maasdam is a great way to experience modern cruising with a bit of an old-fashioned flair on a smaller ship.

Disclosure :  I was a guest onboard Maasdam and as always, all opinions are my own. I was under no obligation to sugar-coat my review and as such, I hope you understand that cruise reviews are subjective. Just because there’s something I do or do not like, doesn’t mean you will feel the same. My goal is to present the facts and figures to help you make the best decision when you reserve your cruise.

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10 comments.

Hi Fenton and Pat, So nice to get your comment! Thank you very much for reading my Maasdam review. Your upcoming cruise sounds wonderful…especially to me since I’ve never been to “that part” of the world! Maybe next year on the Maasdam. Have a wonderful cruise and thank you very much for taking the time to write. Much appreciated. Bon Voyage! Sherry

Hi,we are a couple from New Zealand and next week are cruising on the Maasdam for our first ever cruise . We really enjoyed your review and made us more excited if thats possible,our cruise around NZ is for 14 days so roll on Jan 20. thanks again for your very informative website, Cheers from downunder. Fenton & Pat

Hi Sharon, Thank you for taking the time to write. You were doing a multigen cruise before it became the thing to do! How nice that you were able to be on the ship when it was still almost new. I hope you have photos from that cruise. And thank you for reading my Maasdam review – I hope it brought back great memories. Sherry

We sailed the western Med 20 years ago with 3 generations. It was an understated classy ship that we loved. Being around Memorial Day there were only 8 kids on-board with just a 3 year spread in ages. My daughter made great friends. Good was great.

Hi Pat, Thank you very much for reading the review and sending a note. I hope all is going well for you. I remember your Maasdam cruise a few years ago. Seems like yesterday…or eons ago. It’s really nice that some new ships are adding a wraparound promenade. Nice to hear from you. Sherry

Hi Donna, Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article and write a comment. Always appreciated. Wow! 1996 on the Maasdam. That must have been a spectacular cruise, especially with the ship being almost new. She looks really great now too after the refurbishment. Yes! I also loved the Ocean Bar. Perfect pre-dinner spot until it got dark outside. I hope you have a chance to cruise aboard Maasdam and thank you again. Sherry

Excellent, detailed review. I share your preference for a wrap-around promenade deck and self-serve laundries. Thoroughly enjoyed my previous Maasdam cruise.

Loved the photos! Looking at them was a trip back in time to when we sailed the Maasdam in 1996 to Scandinavia and Russia. Our favorite spot was the Ocean Bar where we danced every night.

Hi Jill, Thank you SO much for reading my Maasdam review and taking the time for your comment! Maasdam is a fabulous ship and quickly won my heart, too. Thank you again. Best regards, Sherry

I’ve cruised on the Maasdam twice and it is my favorite HAL ship. Your review is perfect!

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Sports deck.

Observation deck, basketball and volleyball courts

Observation Deck

Crow's Nest, Explorations Cafe (forward), Club Hal, The Loft, Game Room (aft)

Fitness Center, Spa & Salon, Therapy Pools, Thermal Suites, Hydro Pool, Lido Pool, Lido Bar, Terrace Grill, Canaletto Restaurant, Lido Restaurant, Pizzeria, The Retreat, Sea View Bar, Sea View Pool

Navigation Deck

Passenger Staterooms

Rotterdam Deck

Passenger staterooms, Concierge Lounge, Neptune Lounge

Upper Verandah Deck

Verandah deck, upper promenade deck, promenade deck.

Showroom at Sea, Meeting Rooms, Screening Room, Library, Explorations Cafe, Shopping Arcade, Atrium, Ocean Bar, Photo Gallery, Vista Dining Room (upper level)

Lower Promenade Deck

Showroom at Sea (balcony), Casino, Piano Bar, Sports Bar, Northern Lights Night Club, Lounge & Culinary Arts Center, Atrium, Pinnacle Grill, Pinnacle Bar, Explorer's Lounge, Vista Dining Room (lower level)

Showroom at Sea, Passenger Staterooms, The Atrium, Front Office, Shore Excursion Desk

Outdoor Features

Main pool area featuring a Hydro Pool (forward), Lido Pool and Bar (amidships), and Sea View Pool and Bar (aft). 

LED screen and sound system will be integrated into the ship's superstructure, providing movies and video. 

Volleyball & Basketball Court.

ships > hal > Maasdam

Named for the Maas River in the Netherlands, the ms Maasdam is the fifth ship in Holland America Line's 135-year history to bear the name. At 720-feet, the ms Maasdam is designed to carry fewer guests while providing more space for maximum comfort. Many staterooms feature commanding ocean views, and each suite has a private verandah.

Featuring an interior motif that pays homage to the historical Dutch East and West India companies of the 17th through 19th centuries, the centerpiece of this elegant ship features Luciano Vistosi's "Totem," a monumental sculpture using nearly 2,000 glimmering pieces of glass, prominently displayed in a soaring three-story atrium. Other intriguing art featured on the ms Maasdam are two abstract murals painted especially for the Rotterdam Dining Room and a collection of seven iron teapots and a charcoal brazier from Japan, which date from the end of Edo period.

Specifications

Ship Class: S Class

Launched: 1993

Refurbished: 2006 & 2009

GRT: 56,000

Length: 719 ft.

Draft: 25 ft.

Speed: 22 knots

Passengers: 1,258

Accommodations

All staterooms feature the Mariner Dream Bed with premium plush Euro-top mattress and high-quality cotton bed linens, flat-screen TVs and bathroom enhancements ranging from deluxe bathrobes to lighted, magnifying make-up mirrors.

All suites include comfortable bed duvets, fully-stocked mini-bars, VCR/DVD players with access to an extensive video/DVD library, personalized stationery and use of the exclusive concierge-staffed Neptune Lounge.

Lanai staterooms feature doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, while Spa staterooms located near the Greenhouse Spa offer exclusive amenities such as an organic cotton bathrobe and slippers, yoga mat, water fountain, special room service menus and treatments, and more.

Stateroom sizes

Interior staterooms have two lower beds convertible into one queen bed, a standing shower, ice service, nightly turn down service, and complimentary fruit upon request.

Large or standard ocean view staterooms have two lower beds convertible into one queen bed, a standing shower, ice service, nightly turn down service, and complimentary fruit upon request. Different categories of rooms contain different window arrangements, from picture windows, to portholes, or obstructed view window.

Lanai rooms have sliding doors that open onto the lower promenade deck. They have two lower beds convertible into one queen bed, glass sliding doors, and flatscreen TV and DVD player.

Vista Suites

Vista Suites, or Verandah Suites, have two lower beds convertible into one queen bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, whirlpool bath and shower, sitting area, a private verandah, mini-bar, and fresh flowers. They offer a variety of pillow types, oversized bath towels, personalized cruise stationary, and one-touch concierge service.

Neptune Suites

Neptune Suites have 2 lower beds that convert into 1 king bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, whirlpool bath and shower, a large sitting area, a private verandah, mini-bar, one sofa bed for two persons, and fresh flowers. Amenities include use of the Neptune personal concierge service, complimentary laundry, complimentary bottled water, corsages and boutounerries on the first formal night, cold hors d'oeuvres served before dinner upon request, and a cocktail party with the ship's officers. Special disembarkation service is provided, as is priority boarding for tenders and priority dinner seating requests. Guests in Neptune Suites also can access the exclusive Neptune Lounge.

Pinnacle Suite (Penthouse)

Pinnacles Suites have 1 king bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, oversized whirlpool bath and shower, a large living room, dining room, dressing room, a guest toilet, and a private verandah. Other suite features include a mini-bar, refrigerator, one sofa bed for two persons, and fresh flowers. Amenities include use of the Neptune personal concierge service, complimentary laundry, complimentary bottled water, corsages and boutounerries on the first formal night, cold hors d'oeuvres served before dinner upon request, and a cocktail party with the ship's officers. Special disembarkation service is provided, as is priority boarding for tenders and priority dinner seating requests. Guests in Neptune Suites also can access the exclusive Neptune Lounge.

Dining Venues

$=Specialty restaurant, surcharge applies

Main Dining Room

Two level Vista Dining Room. One level of the restaurant offers a flexible/open dining service from 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and the other hosts two seatings, an early seating at 5:45 p.m. and main seating at 8 p.m. Guests selecting flexible open seating may make reservations daily during a cruise up to 4 p.m. or simply walk up anytime during dining hours.

Canaletto ($)

Canaletto is your destination onboard for an intimate Italian dinner. The evening begins with the chef’s selection of antipasti with a taste of the delicious fare and personal, polished service to follow. Lunch is complimentary, but dinner is $10 per person.

Upscale pizzeria  serving signature pizzas, whole pies and slices to order. Tables and comfortable, padded chairs under a sunscreen provide an inviting place to dine al fresco. Located on Lido deck.

Lido Restaurant

Main buffet with several made-to-order stations serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Terrace Grill

Kid-friendly menus including tacos, hamburgers and hot dog on the pool deck.

Pinnacle Grill ($)

A premium dining experience with Bulgari China, Riedel stemware, and high-end sterling silver tableware. Courses include premium Double R Ranch beef and fresh seafood complimented by a Wine Spectator "Excellent" awarded wine list. A $29 per person surcharge applies. On every voyage, the Pinnacle Grill offers "An Evening at Le Cirque" for a unique taste of Sirio Maccioni’s legendary New York restaurant. The price to dine is $49.00 per adult, per evening.

Room Service

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, 24 hours a day.

Back to the top

Notable Rooms

Showroom at sea.

Main showroom features talented vocalists, dancers, illusionists, comedy acts.

The Northern Lights

A swanky Dance club.

Lounge featuring three distinct bars into one area —Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales.

Screening Room

An onboard movie cinema for catching your favorite movies at sea.

Casino 

A full feature casino with slots, cards, roulette and more.

Lounge with panoramic views offers music and dancing.

The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine

State-of-the-art demonstration kitchen offering interactive gourmet cooking lessons taught by our own Master Chefs or culinary guests. 

Explorer's Lounge

Coffees, drinks and liqueurs are served to the classical sounds of the Adagio Strings.

Explorations Café

A comfortable, coffee house environment where you can browse through an extensive library, surf the Internet and check email or simply read the morning paper.

Crow's Nest

Features sweeping 270° views during the day, and a hip, fashionable nightclub each evening.

Club HAL® - Kids

Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, ship tours, arts and crafts, charades, Uno®, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, bingo or a farewell pizza party. A colorful, expanded playroom  with art tables, big-screen TV, puzzles and games (children must be potty-trained in this area - no pull-ups).

Club HAL® - Tweens

Tweens, ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend.

The Loft and The Oasis

Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, dance lessons, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos.

Follow a special passageway upstairs from the Loft to find the private entrance to The Oasis, a secluded teens-only sun deck. There is plenty of space to relax and socialize, as well as comfortable lounge chairs and hammocks, a nine-foot high water fall, cave and wade pool to cool off from the sun, and a state-of-the-art sound system. 

After Hours

Club HAL® After Hours is available on all ships (except the ms Prinsendam) from 10:00pm - 12:00am. The fee is $5 per child, per hour. Parents must pick up their children on time or a late fee is charged. For babysitting outside of the hours offered in Club HAL, guests may check at the Front Office to schedule this service provided by staff on a voluntary basis only.

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Onboard the Maasdam

Costco Member Reviews

• Year Built: 1993
• Year Refurbished: 2016

Double Occupancy Capacity: 1258

Named for the Maas River in the Netherlands, Maasdam is the fifth ship in Holland America Line's 140-year history to bear the name. Featuring an interior motif that pays homage to the historical Dutch East and West India companies of the 17th through 19th centuries. While cruising, choose from an array of onboard activities that allow you to pursue new interests or simply relax and rejuvenate.

Member reviews become available after at least 5 are received in order to provide you with an accurate picture of this travel product.

Onboard Activities

• Inside Stateroom
• Ocean View Stateroom
• Suite Stateroom

Staterooms feature premium massage showerheads, fine linens and fresh fruit upon request.

Standard Interior Stateroom (Category: N)

• Our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed featuring a plush Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens
• Luxurious bathrobes for use during your voyage
• 100% Egyptian cotton towels
• Premium massage showerheads
• 5X magnifying make-up mirrors and salon-quality hair dryers
• Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aroma pure
• Complimentary fresh fruit on request
• Elegant ice bucket and serving tray for in-stateroom beverages
• Flat-panel TV and DVD player
• Ice service, shoeshine service and nightly turndown service

Large Interior Stateroom (Category: MM)

Large interior stateroom (category: m), large interior stateroom (category: l), large interior stateroom (category: k), large interior stateroom (category: j), large interior stateroom (category: i), standard spa interior stateroom (category: iq).

• Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed featuring a plush Euro-Top mattress and finely woven cotton linens
• Bose® Mini Soundlink II®
• Exclusive spa treatments from the nearby Greenhouse Spa and Salon

Elegant staterooms feature luxurious bedding, premium massage showerheads, a porthole or a window and fresh fruit upon request.

Large Outside Stateroom (fully obstructed view) (Category: HH)

Large Outside Stateroom (partial sea view) (Category: H)

Large outside stateroom (porthole) (category: g), large ocean-view stateroom (category: ff), large ocean-view stateroom (category: f), large ocean-view stateroom (category: ee), large ocean-view stateroom (category: e), large ocean-view stateroom (category: dd), large ocean-view stateroom (category: da), large ocean-view stateroom (category: d), large ocean-view stateroom (category: c), large spa ocean-view stateroom (category: cq), lanai ocean-view stateroom (category: ca).

• Direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck

Spacious staterooms have a private balcony, whirlpool bath (some with shower only) and more.

Vista Suite with Verandah (Category: BC)

• Premium duvet, and soft, cotton bathrobes and slippers
• Binoculars for use during voyage
• Teak-lined private verandah
• A variety of firm, medium and soft pillows
• No-host mini-bar for easy entertaining
• One-touch telephone concierge service
• Fresh flowers
• Umbrellas for your use on the cruise
• Fragrant soaps, lotions, shampoo and other bath amenities from Elemis Aromapure

Vista Suite with Verandah (Category: BB)

Vista suite with verandah (category: ba), vista suite with verandah (category: b), spa verandah suite (category: bq).

• Bose® Bluetooth-enabled Soundlink

Vista Suite with Verandah (Category: A)

Neptune suite with verandah (category: sa).

• Complimentary mimosas with in-suite breakfast
• Expanded line of Elemis bath amenities
• In-suite coffee and espresso machine
• A very special amenity exclusively for guests cruising in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, the industry-leading Neptune Lounge features a private place to relax, socialize with other suite guests and enjoy the personalized service of a concierge. The fleet-wide lounges provide worktables, large screen television, library, sofas and chairs, refreshments throughout the day and Wi-Fi for a small charge. One-Touch 24-hour Concierge Service is available when the Neptune Lounge is closed.
• Complimentary laundry, pressing and dry cleaning throughout your cruise
• Complimentary sparkling wine served in the Neptune Lounge upon embarkation
• Complimentary bottled water provided in suite at embarkation
• Gorgeous corsages and boutonnieres for the first formal night
• Cold hors d'oeuvres served before dinner each evening on request
• Priority boarding for tendered ports of call
• Special disembarkation service
• Priority dining and seating requests
• Exclusive daily breakfast service
• High tea service in suite on request

Neptune Suite with Verandah (Category: SB)

Pinnacle suite with verandah (category: ps).

• Ship Name: Maasdam
• Year Entered Present Fleet: 1993
• Ship Class: S
• Maximum Capacity: 1,621
• Number of Passenger Decks: 10
• Number of Crew: 580
• Officers' Nationality: International
• Ocean-View without Balcony: 322
• Ocean-View with Balcony: 29
• Total Inside Staterooms: 129
• Tonnage (GRT): 55,575
• Capacity Based on Double Occupancy: 1,258
• Country of Registry: Netherlands
• Total Staterooms: 629
• Suites with Balcony: 149
• Crew/Hotel Staff Nationality: International

More Holland America Line Ships

Holland America Line’s first Signature-class cruise ship, Eurodam has delighted guests since her maiden voyage. In addition to amazing evening entertainment, an array of activities allows you to pursue new interests or relax and rejuvenate. Experience onboard cooking shows and hands-on workshops. On deck enjoy two outdoor pools, along with basketball and volleyball courts.

Launched in 2016, Koningsdam carries forward all of the tradition, nautical heritage, and signature service and style for which Holland America Line is known, while raising the bar for 21st-century elegance. Pinnacle means "high point" and the debut of Koningsdam is a high point in Holland America Line history.

Nieuw Amsterdam

The second Signature-class ship, Nieuw Amsterdam celebrates the glamour and history of New York City with its inspired interior design and art collection throughout the ship ranging from antiques by traditional Dutch masters to creations by renowned contemporary artists including Andy Warhol, Richard Estes and Roy Lichtenstein. Nieuw Amsterdam guests enjoy dazzling entertainment options from their very first night on board. While cruising, experience onboard cooking shows and hands-on workshops or head out on deck to enjoy the two outdoor pools, basketball or volleyball courts.

Nieuw Statendam

Honoring Holland America Line's past while keeping its eyes on the future, Nieuw Statendam is the sixth ship in Holland America Line’s history to bear the name Statendam and features several of the innovative venues that were introduced on her sister ship, the Koningsdam.

Named for the Northern compass point, Noordam features museum-quality art such as an oil painting of the city of Utrecht painted in 1842, as well as contemporary art like the series of photographs of music greats Dizzy Gillespie and B.B. King. Noordam guests enjoy dazzling entertainment options from their very first night on board, including B.B. King’s Blues Club. Enjoy exciting activities like cooking shows and hands-on workshops that allow you to pursue new interests or simply relax and rejuvenate.

Holland America Line’s first Vista-class cruise ship, Oosterdam has delighted guests since her maiden voyage. Guests now have more world-class entertainment options than ever before. Live music has always been the heart and soul of evenings aboard Holland America Line, and now Oosterdam features the full Music Walk experience with three exciting venues. Lincoln Center Stage features world-class musicians performing chamber music. Billboard Onboard, rocks the house with 50 years of chart-topping hits. The already popular B.B. King’s Blues Club, brings the best of Memphis blues to sea. Feel free to enjoy exciting activities, pursue new interests or simply relax and rejuvenate.

In honor of some of the most memorable ships in Holland America Line's history, their third Pinnacle-class ship (and new flagship) will be named Rotterdam. This new addition to the fleet will fill your journey with a rhythm all its own, putting music front and center, creating the soundtrack to the discoveries you make every day. At the heart of it all is Music Walk®: an exclusive collection of five venues featuring live music and electrifying performances from accomplished musicians, dancers and artists every night. Rotterdam hits all the right notes: exquisite dining experiences, enhanced staterooms and suites, the finest service at sea and craftsmanship that reflects nearly 150 years of seafaring expertise. The result is a ship that moves you — from the start of your first day to the end of each perfect night. Ship images are an artist rendering.

The beautiful garden theme of Volendam is reflected in an artful floral motif throughout the ship's spacious public rooms and elegant staterooms. Flowers are found in abundance in floral fabrics and tapestries, as well as huge vases of fresh floral arrangements. Guests aboard Volendam enjoy wide teak decks, elegant dining rooms and spacious staterooms — many with private verandahs.

The theme of Westerdam's art collection is Dutch heritage in the New World. Art ranges from paintings of historic Dutch ships, a huge Indian silver-overlaid wood palace doorway, a bone tobacco pipe, to a collection of 5,000-year-old pre-Columbian carved figures and Contemporary pieces include an original Andy Warhol portrait.

Designed to carry fewer guests while providing more space for maximum comfort, Zaandam is a prize in the mid-size ship category. On the musically themed Zaandam, you'll find musical instruments such as Bill Clinton's saxophone and signed guitars from Queen, Iggy Pop, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones throughout the ship. In her soaring three-story atrium: a Baroque-style Dutch pipe organ, inspired by the traditional barrel organs still found on the streets of The Netherlands.

Guests aboard Zuiderdam, the first in the Vista-class series, enjoy a spectacular art and antique collection, wide teak decks, elegant dining rooms and spacious staterooms. At the heart of Zuiderdam, suspended in a three-story atrium, is a Waterford Crystal Seahorse. Other notable pieces include a painting of Queen Beatrix by pop culture artist and icon, Andy Warhol, medallions by Frank Lloyd Wright, and a massive floral painting by Charles Ben.

The Costco Travel Rating assigned to each hotel is only intended as a guideline. The rating is based on information that has been compiled by Costco Travel buyers and might differ from other references.

Property offers the ultimate in elegance and sophistication, with highly personalized service and hospitality.

Property offers upscale design and decor, superior dining venues, manicured grounds, and a high level of service and hospitality.

Property offers above-average accommodations, service, comfort, facilities and grounds.

Property offers basic accommodations, decor, facilities and grounds.

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An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.

A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.

A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.

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Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.

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• hollandamerica-maasdam-interiorslide1.jpg
• hollandamerica-maasdam-interiorslide2.jpg

Holland America Maasdam

Named for the Maas River in Holland, the MS Maasdam is the cruise line’s third vessel bearing this description. But much like when a river’s compared to a vast ocean, the MS Maasdam presents a smaller, more intimate experience, with a length of 720 feet and accommodations for 1,158 passengers. Debuting in 1993, this ship features a teak-deck and two-tiered dining room and has received recognition in the Signature of Excellence Program twice, with the last being in 2011. 2006 saw the ship go through a retrofitting, which involved adding the Culinary Arts Center, new dining options, and changes to cabins. As is the case with most Holland America ships, the MS Maasdam centers around an art collection, with the theme here being homage to the Dutch East and West India Companies. Luciano Vitstosi’s Totem sculpture is the centerpiece, while other striking works of art include two murals and a collection of iron teapots and a brazier from Japan. Currently, the ship makes Caribbean, Panama Canal, Canadian, and European itineraries throughout the year.

Accommodations

Maasdam Facts

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Ship Images

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• Current Position

What sets Maasdam apart from other ships of its size and age is its consistent focus on mature (though not aged) exploits, from the highly-lauded Explorations Cafe, featuring such erudite entertainment as interactive touch screen maps and crossword puzzles, to the classic menu of traditional activities, such as ballroom dancing, high tea, and an iPod-guided tour of onboard antiques.

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About Maasdam

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• 6 Lower Prom.
• 7 Promenade
• 8 Upper Prom.
• 10 Navigation

Ship Location, Ship Information, Ship Facts, Ship Features

Most modern cruise ships need to be dry docked for inspection, maintenance and class surveys every five years and once they reach 15 years of age they need to be dry docked at least twice within a five-year period. Dry docks typically last up to 14 days at a cost of up to $2 million per day and involve regular maintenance including hull cleaning, exterior painting of the structure, inspection of pipes, restoration of exterior deck flooring, and installation of enhanced HVAC filter systems

External Website - www.hollandamerica.com

• All staterooms, showrooms, and most indoor areas are designated non-smoking. Guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs (Effective in January 2017 smoking will not be allowed on verandahs)
• Electronic cigarette smoking is permitted inside staterooms
• Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas that MAY include: casino (active slots only - Oosterdam and Eurodam casinos are non-smoking)
• Smoking allowed outside at Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side.
• On ms Prinsendam, ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam, smoking allowed on the port side. Smoking is never on both sides.
• Smoking allowed in the Sun Bar on ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam.
• Allowed on Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow's Nest on starboard side on ms Maasdam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Zaandam, ms Rotterdam and ms Amsterdam, aft of Crow's Nest starboard side.
• Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship
• Only allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas.
• 1 Retractable Roof Pools

• 2 Whirlpools (hot tubs)
• No Rock Climbing Wall
• No Flow Rider
• No Ice Rink
• No Waterslide
• No Water Park
• No Ropes Course
• No Mini Golf
• No Golf Simulator
• Sports Court
• Jogging Track

• No Cigar Lounge
• Video Arcade

• Show Lounge
• Fitness Center

• No Bridge Viewing Area
• No Outdoor Movie Screen
• No Teen Lounge
• Passenger Promenade Deck
• Sea Viewing Lounge on upper deck
• No Adult Only Outside Lounge Area

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Cruise Ships:

Cruise Lines:

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• Holland America

Cruise line Holland America

• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• San Diego (California)

ms Zaandam current position

ms Zaandam current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 47.10324 N / -125.33942 W) cruising at speed of 18.5 kn (34 km/h | 21 mph) en route to Victoria BC. The AIS position was reported 22 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of ms Zaandam

ms Zaandam current cruise is 7 days, one-way from San Diego to Vancouver , themed as "Food & Wine". Prices start from USD 349 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 20 Apr, 2024 and ends on 27 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Zaandam

•   Itineraries
•   Review
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ms Zaandam Itineraries

Ms zaandam review, review of ms zaandam.

The 2000-built MS Zaandam cruise ship is the 3rd Rotterdam/R-class Holland America liner, with sistership ms Volendam (fleetmate), and also ms Rotterdam (now Fred Olsen Borealis)  and  ms Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette) .

The vessel (IMO number 9156527) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 246442000) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 1500-passenger ship Zaandam (named after Holland's Zaandam City ) boasts an atrium filled with signature sculpture. The Lower Promenade Deck is wraparound. Most public spots are positioned on three decks. There are also three banks of lifts (and only two on Statendam-class ships). Zaandam's deck plan is similar to those of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, but Zaandam and sister ship Volendam lack the horsepower (and the twin funnels) of the co-flagships of the line. Uniquely, Zaandam was originally planned to serve as Holland America's bid to attract younger travelers. The vessel's godmothers are the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, known to television fans of the late-80s and early-90s from "Full House" and to moviegoers in the years since. Zaandam sports a collection of rock 'n' roll memorabilia which would do credit to Hard Rock Cafe: e.g., a guitar signed by the Rolling Stones.

Decks and Cabins

MS Zaandam staterooms (716 total, in 26 grades) include 197 Suites, no Balconies, 383 Oceanviews, 136 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 175-255 ft2 / 16-24 m2). Around 30% of all accommodations have step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are 22. The largest accommodations are the Pinnacle Suites (940 ft2 / 87 m2, with terrace sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2).

The boat has 10 passenger decks , of which 5 are with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as a separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The 2-story Rotterdam Restaurant (ship's Main Dining Room), is located aft and surrounded with windows. It serves open-seating breakfast and lunch and features plenty of small tables for passengers who prefer to dine a deux. MS Zaandam also provides a 22-dish, vegetarian menu for lunch and dinner, consisting of salads, soups, entrees and appetizers. Options include dishes like Vietnamese vegetable spring rolls, portobello mushroom and chipotle quesadillas, spicy lentil and garbanzo salad. The Pinnacle Grill is the ship's specialty restaurant. It is open for lunch ($15 service charge) and dinner ($30), and offers a Northwest menu featuring Pacific Rim salads and appetizers, grilled aged beef, salmon, chicken and desserts.

Follows the complete list of ms Zaandam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (88-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Rotterdam Restaurant (792-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15-9 pm. 
• King’s Room (Rotterdam restaurant annex, reservations-only; for private dining)
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (394-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6-11 am, Lunch 11:30-2 pm, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30-8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

One of HAL's Signature of Excellence enhancements is the installation of a new demonstration kitchen in Wajang Theater. Its program is provided in conjunction with Food & Wine magazine. Often, guest chefs from restaurants around the United States are onboard to give workshops and demonstrations. If no "celebrity" chef is available, Zaandam's own chefs host the classes, some of which are free and open to all. However, the more hands-on and intimate classes have to be reserved and are not free of charge. Wajang Theatre also features a movie three times per day. The Mondriaan Lounge is the production shows' venue. It also hosts enrichment lectures and speciality acts. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry/Self-Serve Laundromats.

Follows the complete list of ms Zaandam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Promenade Deck, Walking Track (jogging is not permitted)
• Mondriaan Lounge (574-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Queen’s Room (34-seat meeting room; hosts digital workshops via Microsoft partnership, computer classes, social networks, blogging, photo editing)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Wine Tasting Bar, Gourmet Shops (bottles available for purchasing, wine sampling)
• Wajang Theatre & Culinary Arts Centre (125-seat cinema; offers culinary classes and cooking shows presented in demonstration kitchens)
• Atrium Terrace with boutiques; Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Ocean Bar (75-seat Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Casino (served by Casino Bar)
• Piano bar (84-seat)
• Hudson Room (50-seat meeting room; used as Cards Room)
• Explorations Cafe (82-seat specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (87-seat lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
• Neptune Lounge (22-seat club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 2 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar
• Crow’s Nest (220-seat observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Tennis Court; Basketball Court; Shuffleboard
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)
• The Oasis (40-seat teen-only outdoor area).

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Zaandam itinerary program is based on Alaskan voyages from homeports Vancouver BC  and Anchorage AK / Seward AK during the summer months. The ship also operates on South American voyages leaving from Argentina and Chile, as well as on Panama Canal repositioning cruises.

In mid-August 2020, HAL opened bookings for two Zaandam world cruises - "Grand Africa Voyage 2021" (71-day Africa circumnavigation) and "Grand World Voyage 2022" (128-day).

• "Grand World Voyage 2022" departs from Fort Lauderdale on January 3, visits 50 call ports (27 countries, 4 continents), features overnights in 9 port cities (Tokyo, Kobe, Tianjin-Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Aqaba-Petra, Istanbul), late-night departures from 10 port cities (Hilo, Naha, Danang, Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Aqaba-Petra, Ashdod-Jerusalem, Haifa-Tel Aviv, Mykonos Island), scenic cruising (Amazon River, Kanmon Strait/Shimonoseki, Dardanelles Turkey), full transits (Panama Canal, Suez Canal), 2x equator crossings, 1x International Date Line crossing.
• "Grand Africa Voyage 2021" departs from Fort Lauderdale on October 10 and circumnavigates (clockwise) the continent. The unique itinerary visits 18 ports (plus San Juan Puerto Rico, Funchal Madeira Island, Souda-Chania Crete Island, Aqaba-Petra), with overnights in Aqaba, Mahe Seychelles, Zanzibar, Cape Town South Africa), late-night departures from Souda-Chania, Safaga, Richards Bay, Cape Town, Walvis Bay, San Juan Puerto Rico), shore excursions to Jozani Chwaka Bay NP (Tanzania's Jozani Forest on Zanzibar Island), Lokobe Strict Reserve (northwestern Madagascar), Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (Africa's oldest nature reserve), Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa (South Africa), Abuko Nature Reserve (Gambia), Foret de Bandia (safari park).
• Early Booking Benefits (for full cruise bookings only) include OBC (onboard credit per cabin), prepaid gratuities, luggage delivery.

However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, HAL's Zaandam ship was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru May 2022). "Grand World Voyage 2022" (129-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale/Jan 3-May 12) was canceled. Operations restarted on May 12, 2022 (with Canada and New England voyages between Boston and Montreal), followed by 14-day Caribbean roundtrips (from Fort Lauderdale).

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ms Zaandam Wiki

Zaandam is HAL-Holland America's 3rd R-class liner, with sisterships Amsterdam (now Fred Olsen Bolette) , Rotterdam (now Fred Olsen Borealis) , Volendam . This vessel is named after Zaandam Holland - the main city of North Holland's Zaanstad municipality and historically important riverport town on Zaan River. Ship's inaugural cruise/maiden voyage started on May 4, 2000 (6-day Caribbean itinerary). The vessel was christened by two godmothers (1986-born twin sisters, both US actresses) - Mary-Kate Olsen (fashion designer, actress, producer) and Ashley Fuller Olsen (fashion designer, businesswoman, author, actress, producer).

Ship's interior is music-themed, featuring a huge number of musical artefacts and memorabilia - guitars signed by celebrities (Rolling Stones, Santana, E.Clapton, Queen), all kinds of musical instruments (even a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton - the 42nd US President / 1993-2001), music-themed paintings and notes on the walls. In the Atrium area is the 2-deck high Dutch pipe organ.

In late-January 2021, HAL opened for booking three World Cruises leaving roundtrip from Florida USA - two on Zaandam (Africa Voyage 2022 and World Voyage 2022) and one on Volendam (South America and Antarctica 2023).

Early-booking promo bonuses include prepaid gratuities, unlimited luggage delivery (to/from Fort Lauderdale only, Suites-only), welcome gifts (1x bottle of sparkling wine), 1x complimentary shore excursion, Signature Internet Package (4000 minutes pp), in-cabin minibar drinks (4x bottles/suites-only), complimentary laundry-dry cleaning-pressing (Suites-only). Guests who paid in full by June 1st (the voyage's year) also received 3% discount pricing on the fare.

Holland America Zaandam 2023 Grand World Voyage

MS Zaandam's 127-day cruise departs on January 3, 2023, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale with a westbound route. The itinerary visits 30 countries (a total of 61 ports) in the regions of the Caribbean (Caymans, Costa Rica, Panama), South Pacific (French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Tonga, Australia-New Zealand), Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Reunion), Around Africa (Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Senegal, Morocco), Atlantic and Northern Europe (Baltic, UK-Ireland).

The voyage offers 8 overnight port stays - in Panama City (Port Fuerte Amador), Papeete (Tahiti), Australia (Sydney NSW, Hobart Tasmania, Adelaide, Fremantle), Cape Town (South Africa), Amsterdam (Holland).

Holland America Zaandam 2022 Grand World Voyage (canceled)

The 129-day westbound itinerary visite 27 countries and a total of 48 ports (9 overnight port stays) in the regions of South America (also Brazil Amazon), Caribbean, North Pacific, Asia (including Japan, China, Singapore), Arabian Gulf, Europe (Mediterranean).

However, this voyage was canceled as the ship's pause was extended through May 2022.

Priced started from USD 22500 per person with double occupancy.

Full "Grand World Voyage 2022" early bookings (made by June 1, 2021) received up to USD 6760 pp in OBC (onboard credit) ranging from $500 (oceanview cabins) to $2000 (Pinnacle Suite).

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Maasdam (IV)

1952 – 2000, also known as stefan batory and stefan.

After the Second World War, many nations were faced with virtual bankruptcy. The shipping industry had suffered greatly in the conflict, with thousands of merchant ships from both sides sunk by bombs, torpedoes or mines. When the war was finally over, the difficult task of rebuilding the financial situation was imminent. For this, new ships were needed, but in many cases there were simply no funds, labour or material to build them. It would take a few years before the shipping lines had healed their wounds to some extent.

The Netherlands, however, was somewhat of an exception. The pride of the nation’s merchant fleet, the Nederlandsch-Americaansche Stoomvart-Maatschappij, abbreviated NASM and commonly known as the Holland America Line (HAL), was back in service on the North Atlantic as early as June 1946 when the new passenger-cargo liner Westerdam’s maiden voyage became the company’s first postwar passenger sailing from Rotterdam to New York. Westerdam had quite a remarkable history already, and she was something of a symbol of Holland’s survival of World War II. Laid down in September 1939, her construction had been stopped with the outbreak of war. For six years, the unfinished ship went through delays, interferences, sabotage and was even sunk three times! But in spite of all this, she survived.

Having inaugurated the company’s postwar passenger service, Westerdam was soon followed by her older sister Noordam and the larger Veendam, which had both survived wartime duties. Then, in October 1947, Holland America Line’s pride Nieuw Amsterdam made her comeback, signalling that the company was back in the game.

As the world approached the 1950s, the demand for Tourist berths on passenger liners reached unprecedented heights. In fact, the market was booming to the extent that some lines needed new ships to meet the high demand. Holland America Line was one of these companies. The so-called combi-liners, i.e. the passenger-cargo liners like Noordam class, had earlier been used for Tourist berths. But now, the demand had reached such heights that this type of ships were no longer able to keep up. As a result, HAL decided to change their plans for new tonnage.

In 1950, the cargo liner Diemerdyk had entered service, with two projected sisters to follow in her wake. However, with the current situation in mind, the plans for the two new ships were revised completely. Construction had already begun on the first of these ships in the Schiedam yards of Wilton-Fijenoord, with the planned name Dinteldyk. This was in accordance with HAL nomenclature, where cargo and passenger ships had -dyk and -dam suffixes respectively. Now, the company board instead announced that these two ships would be built as passenger liners, with the emphasis placed on Tourist class. Dinteldyk was renamed Ryndam on the stocks, and was subsequently launched as such on December 19th 1950.

On that very same date, the keel of the second ship was laid down as yard no 733.As her construction had not yet been started on when the decision was made to cancel the cargo ship plans, she was thus built from the start as a sister to Ryndam. While construction continued on her sister, Ryndam received much attention because of her revolutionary design – a design that would also be found on the ship in progress.

On April 5th 1952, the day of launch had finally arrived. Christened Maasdam by Mrs. Adriaan Gips, the new ship was the fourth HAL vessel in history to be given that name. But she was not completed yet, as she still had her fitting-out in front of her. This, however, went along at a rapid pace and after having gone through her sea trials satisfactory, the ship was officially handed over to the company on August 10th 1952, which was ahead of schedule. Subsequently, her maiden voyage, which had been scheduled for September 24th, was pushed back by a little more than one month. And so, on August 11th, Maasdam slipped her moorings and left Rotterdam for the first time. Her final destination was New York, with calls at Le Havre and Southampton along the way. This premiere sailing was a bit special though, as it also included a call at Montreal, which was arranged in recognition of ‘the ever-closening ties between Canada and the Netherlands’. On August 27th, Maasdam arrived at New York where she was greeted as the last of three new ships in 1952, the other two being the United States and the French Line’s Flandre.

As with the Ryndam a year earlier, Maasdam gained much attention because of her revolutionary design. Except for some differences in décor, the two sisters were virtually identical. For the first time on the North Atlantic run, the ships had been designed almost exclusively for Tourist Class business. There was a First Class, but this had only 39 berths, and was mainly incorporated in order to comply with the two-class requirement of the trans-Atlantic Passenger Steamship Conference. First Class was secluded on Boat Deck, while the rest of the ship was devoted to Tourist Class. There was no doubt for whom these ships had been designed, and the budget travellers were given plenty of space on these new liners. 63% of the cabins were two-berth, and although they were mainly inside cabins without sea view and only a washbasin, they were all completely air-conditioned and public facilities were ample and conveniently placed. Furthermore, there was a large number of public areas to choose from; the large Palm Court forward, a library, a card room and the Smoking Room, which was located aft. Both ships were also equipped with an outdoor swimming pool aft on the Promenade Deck, since they were also intended for cruising in the winter season.

Outwardly, there were a few ‘firsts’ as well. Ryndam and Maasdam were the first passenger ships to sport the new Holland America livery, namely a dove grey hull with a yellow band. The buff, green and white funnel colours introduced back in 1898 were retained, but the funnel design was a new one. Although they had initially been designed with a conventional funnel like that of the Noordam, Ryndam and Maasdam were ultimately fitted with a Strombos Aerofoil funnel, which had been introduced on the French liner President de Cazalet in 1950. This type of funnel was very thin, which resulted in reduced wind resistance and created a slipstream that conveniently carried away the smoke. In all, the two ships might have appeared a bit stocky, with their large superstructure placed on hulls of freighter dimensions. In addition to this, Ryndam and Maasdam were certainly not very fast ships. Their freighter engines (two cross-compound General Electric steam turbines built in 1945) gave them a service speed of only 16.5 knots. This resulted in a crossing time of eight days from Britain to New York, but on the other hand it meant a daily fuel consumption of just 53 tons.

However, this seemed to matter very little when attracting passengers. Marketed as ‘The Economy Twins’, Ryndam and Maasdam became highly popular vessels. During her first year in service, Maasdam achieved an average load factor of 85% on crossings and 96% on cruises, on which the two classes were merged into a single one. Thanks to their low running costs, the two sisters could offer passages at very affordable costs. Indeed, other shipping companies would soon adopt the economy concept, for instance Cunard who later introduced their Saxonia class in 1954.

But while Maasdam had quickly become a popular ship among the travelling public, it did not take long before she suffered her first taste of misfortune. On December 10th, after only a few months of service, she was outbound in fog from Rotterdam when she collided with the small German tanker Ellen in the Nieuw Waterweg, which links Rotterdam with the Hook of Holland. The 286-ton Ellen was sunk, and six of her crew members were tragically lost in the accident. Maasdam, on the other hand, was undamaged. A little less than two years later, on October 3rd 1954, she was outbound from New York when she hit the Transport Océaniques freighter Tofevo in heavy fog off Rhode Island. This time she did not escape unscathed, as her stem was crumpled and both ships were forced back to New York for repairs. While these were carried out, HAL faced more problems when they refused to pay for the passengers’ hotel and meal costs. Some 200 angered passengers organised a sit-down strike, and ultimately won their case. On October 27th, Maasdam returned to service.

By the mid-fifties, Ryndam and Maasdam were well established on the North Atlantic run. However, their short hulls and large superstructures could sometimes cause them to pitch heavily, and the company soon decided to try and remedy this flaw. In 1954, a new fin-like device designed by the Royal Dutch Navy was fitted on the Ryndam, but when this only turned out to make matters worse, it was soon removed. Instead, when Maasdam went through her overhaul in 1955, she became the first Holland America ship to be fitted with Denny Brown stabilisers. These greatly improved her seagoing quality, and thus the Ryndam received the following treatment the following year.

Maasdam continued her regular service into the 1960s, but by now the Tourist Class had evolved into requiring a bit more comfort than she could offer. So, in 1961 had a number of cabins amidships rebuilt to include private facilities, resulting in a slightly decreased Tourist Class capacity. At the same time, the First Class Lounge was extended, now including a special ‘Gents’ Corner’ Bar.

A further two years later, in 1963, Holland America Line extended Maasdam’s service to include the German port of Bremerhaven. Her first call there on February 15th could have gone better, though. While inbound in dense fog just off the Weser Lightship, shifting ice flows had displaced the channel buoys, and the ship struck the wreck of the British freighter Harborough. Maasdam was badly holed, and she quickly took on a twelve-degree list. As a precaution, the 500 passengers were ordered into the lifeboats, and were later picked up by the Weser pilot steamer. No passengers had been injured in the accident, but Maasdam herself had to be shepherded to the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipyard to undergo repairs. Missing two voyages, Maasdam was back in service on April 16th. By the end of the year, her final crossing that season also received much attention when on December 22nd an ice-covered Maasdam docked at New York two days behind schedule. During the crossing, she had battled 35-foot seas, snow, ice and sleet driven by 75 mph winds. Still, her 200 passengers and 18,000 sacks of mail had reached their destination in time before Christmas.

Overall, the 1960s brought many changes for the Maasdam and her sister. By the middle of that decade, aeroplane traffic had taken most of the passengers away from the North Atlantic liners. Ryndam had already set on an experimental round-the-world cruise in January 1965, and in October the same year Maasdam left Rotterdam on a similar voyage, calling at ports such as Freemantle, Wellington, Los Angeles, Acapulco, Kingston and New York. Then, in 1966, Ryndam was transferred to HAL’s German subsidiary Europa-Canada Line and employed doing student voyages from Bremerhaven to New York. She was thus taken off HAL’s Canadian run on which she had been sailing for a few years, and Maasdam was called in to fill that gap. Having occasionally ‘filled in’ on the Rotterdam-Quebec-Montreal run before, Maasdam was certainly no stranger to the Canadian waters. However, the ship’s relationship with the Holland America Line was nearing its conclusion. In January 1967, she set out on what was going to be her last round-the-world cruise, which terminated on April 3rd 1968. During the following summer season, she managed to average an 85% load factor on the Canadian run, much because of the fact that Cunard by now had withdrawn and Canadian Pacific had only two Empresses left in service. Nevertheless, in May 1968 it was surprisingly announced that Maasdam had been sold to Polish Ocean Lines (POL) for ‘better than book value’, with delivery to take place at the end of the season. And so, the ship left Montreal on her last HAL sailing on September 20th, and was paid off at Rotterdam on the 29th.

With that, a new chapter in Maasdam’s career began. Polish Ocean Lines was one of the Eastern bloc companies that were actually expanding on the North Atlantic. They had had plans of building a new ship for their service, but due to the financial and political situation they had to make do with used tonnage. Their choice had fallen on Maasdam, which was now being prepared to replace the ageing Batory, which had entered service back in 1936. On October 8th 1968, Maasdam was officially handed over to the Polish Ocean Lines and renamed Stefan Batory, in honour of her predecessor.

Taken in at the Gdanksa Stocznie Remontowa yard at Gdynia, Stefan Batory was to go through an extensive refit. When she re-emerged that following April, much changes had been made to her appearance. The Strombos funnel had been replaced with a streamlined one, and a new mast had been fitted above the modernised bridge. The old cargo masts had been replaced with electric cranes, and naturally she had also been painted in Polish Ocean Lines’ colours. Internally, her public rooms had been renovated, for instance turning the old Palm Court into the new Grand Lounge. Down below, the engines, boilers and electrical equipment had been carefully overhauled.

As a virtually re-born vessel, Stefan Batory left Gdynia on April 11th 1969 bound for Montreal, and calling at Copenhagen, Tilbury and Quebec on the way. During her first season, the ship averaged an impressive 93% load factor over nine voyages, much because of the great number of Polish descendants living in USA and the fact that there was not yet any direct air service between the two countries. However, Stefan Batory quickly gained a loyal non-polish following, much thanks to the good reputation of her predecessor Batory.

Following her successful premiere season for POL, the Stefan Batory was taken in to further upgrade her interiors. Much of her furnishing was replaced, and a 280-seat cinema was constructed in the forward cargo hold. With these alterations completed, the Polish Ocean Lines’ flagship could return to North Atlantic service once again.

There she stayed on, and prospered while other ships were not as fortunate. In 1971, Canadian Pacific’s Empress of Canada was withdrawn from service leaving the Soviet liner Alexandr Pushkin as Stefan Batory’s sole contender on the Canadian run. The Soviet ship was larger and faster, but did not enjoy the same popularity as the Polish flagship. This was not least evident when comparing their load factors; 92% on the Stefan Batory, compared to a mere 49% on the Soviet liner.

Continuing her successful North Atlantic service, Stefan Batory soon also became revered for her off-season cruises. In 1980 the Alexandr Pushkin was withdrawn, leaving the Polish liner as the only ship on the Canadian run. In addition, she and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 were the only two liners left in North Atlantic passenger service. It was quite a contrast to the booming years only a few decades earlier.

But by the 1980s, things started to look bleak for the veteran liner. New restrictions caused a serious decline in Polish passenger numbers, but in spite of this it was announced in 1982 that POL was planning to build a new replacement for the Stefan Batory, due to arrive in 1986. But the company was soon faced with the harsh reality, and these plans were abandoned. Instead, Stefan Batory continued her service for the company.

By 1985, the ship had made 131 Atlantic sailings and 136 cruises. After 33 years in service she sailed on, and in 1987 she became the last steam powered Atlantic liner when QE2 was refitted with diesel engines. But, that very same year it was announced that the Stefan Batory would be taken out of service in March 1988, with no ship replacing her. Stefan Batory’s service with the Polish Ocean Lines ended with a series of cruises to South America and the West Indies. She was then sold to Hellenic Polish Shipping & Trading Enterprises, Panama, retained her name and was probably intended for further cruising. However, the ship was instead laid up in Flushing Roads on June 26th, and left for Piraeus on November 1st.

There she remained, until she was again sold in 1989, this time to Erne Compagnia Maritima SA, Panama. However, they did not invest much money or interest in the ship, and by 1990 her owners were listed as the Stena subsidiary City Shipping International Inc. of Nassau. The ship was now renamed Stefan, her funnel was painted yellow and she was brought to the Swedish port of Göteborg and put to use as an accommodation ship.

In the summer of 1991, the old liner once again found herself standing in the spotlights for a brief time when an Italian-French company used her for a production, in which she was given the script name Las Delicias. In August that summer, following her short stint as an actress, the ship was once again towed to Piraeus, this time to undergo a conversion into a modern cruise liner.

But, once again fate intervened. The ambitions conversion plans were soon shelved, and not much happened to the old vessel. Spending nearly eight years in lay-up at Chalkis in Greece, the Stefan was finally sold for demolition in 2000. On March 22nd that year, she arrived at the beach of Aliaga in Turkey, and the local shipbreakers started the task of cutting her up. Before the year was over, the former Maasdam had been completely dismantled. With that, a career that had lasted for nearly half a century came to a definite end.

Specifications

• 502 feet (153.4 m) long
• 69.2 feet (21.1 m) wide
• 15,024 gross tons
• Geared steam turbines turning a single propeller
• 16.5 knot service speed
• Passenger capacity of 881 people

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1917 – 1918 / Also known as Statendam (II) / Launched for the Holland-America Line, she was requisitioned by the British for wartime use as a troopship. In that role, she was unfortunately torpedoed and sunk after only a year in service.

Nieuw Amsterdam (II)

1938 – 1974 / Although heralded as ‘The Ship of Peace’, the lovely Nieuw Amsterdam would go on to serve as a troop transport in World War II. After the war, she went back to civilian service, and enjoyed a long and prosperous career with the Holland-America Line.

United States

1952 – Present Day / The ocean greyhound to rule them all, United States was the last liner to capture the Blue Riband. However, her career was soon put on life support with government subsidies, and she was retired in 1969. Astonishingly, she survives to this day, although a sad shadow of her former self and with a very uncertain future.

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7 thoughts on “ Maasdam (IV) ”

• 7 Comments

My father came to Canada aboard this ship in 1956, emigrating from the Nederlands. He always spoke fondly of his crossing and mentioned it had a party like atmosphere.

I sailed on the Maasdam on one of its last voyages, from Montreal to L’Havre in mid July 1968, right after I graduated high school that June. For this voyage, the ship was filled with student charter groups, about 800 or so people. It took well over a week since we arrived in L’Havre towards the end of July. It was a very animated atmosophere, students from all over the U.S.A. and Canada meeting and getting to know each other. My charter group was called “Travel Study International.” There was a lot of seasickness felt by people throughout the voyage, but if you stayed in the middle of the ship it was easier to deal with. Food was “institutional cooking”, jokes were made about the Ox-Tongue served one evening at dinner. The palm court was always populated, and the last couple of nights there was a DJ playing rock music that was popular at the time. I shared a smallish cabin amidships with two other fellows, very much like the ones described in the text. We had maybe two lifeboat drills during the trip. We left Montreal and went up the St. Lawrence seaway, passing Quebec. We did not get out into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean until about the the third day. Being on the Maasdam IV was a unique and special experience for me, an eighteen year old at the time, between high school and college. All went well, it was great crossing the ocean for the first time. I would gladly love to do it once again, and I’m sure if it were on a Holland-America line ship, everything would be of exceptional quality.

We sailed on the Maasdam in August 1966. I’d be grateful if anyone can tell me where we boarded. I had a memory that we were brought out to the ship in Galway, but maybe it was Cobh. We landed in New York about six days later, I believe. I’d love to get details of that trip confirmed, find the passenger manifest, etc.

I crossed the Atlantic on the Maasdam in December, 1963. The ship developed a major list several days out which lasted most of the rest of the voyage; and then we hit a gigantic storm with hurricane force winds, finally coming in to NY harbor covered in ice inches thick. Would love to connect with anyone else from that passage,

Sealt on the maasdam in february 1967 from Rotterdam to Halfax it was a rough ride aldeway.

My wife and I sailed on the Maasdam from Montréal to Le Havre on 24 June 1968. The sailing was a bit rough because there was a storm in the North Atlantic and we got the tail of it. We were late arriving at Le Havre because of that. We have found memories of our sailing. We came back the following year on the Alexander Pushkin. That sailing was not as enjoyable as the one on the Maasdam because the atmosphere was very sovietic.

Thank you for sharing your memories of crossing the Atlantic on the Maasdam! I am curious to know about the ‘sovietic’ atmosphere on the Alexandr Pushkin; could you elaborate on this, please?