Zaandam Marks 25 Years Of Service With Unforgettable Alaska, South Pacific, And Australia Cruises

Published on August 8, 2025 |

By: TTW News Desk

Holland America Line’s treasured Zaandam marked its metallic jubilee this year, a quarter-century of unforgettable cruising. Delivered connected April 6, 2000, nan 61,396-ton vessel became a charming ambassador for nan region, created by nan Fincantieri gait successful Marghera, Italy, and launched a twelvemonth aft her sister, nan Volendam. This graceful oversea queen has spent a life weaving a tapestry of memories, carrying guests from nan sunlit Caribbean to nan glaciers of Alaska and beyond, earning a religious pursuing for her blend of effortless comfortableness and scenic grace.

Zaandam’s maiden play began pinch a expansive Atlantic floor plan and continued pinch nan jubilant christening astatine Port Everglades connected May 4, attended by TV stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, nan ship’s bright-eyed godmothers. That sparkling time group nan reside for nan happy voyage ahead; fewer foresaw nan heavy affection nan vessel would cultivate complete nan decades.

The Early Years: Caribbean Cruises and Iconic Voyages

When nan Zaandam first entered service, it group sail for nan Caribbean, inaugurating a seamless year-round schedule that paired alternating seven-night loops done nan Eastern and Western chains. Its way book quickly filled pinch calls astatine nan Bahamas, Puerto Rico, nan U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, and Jamaica, crafting nan sought-after blend of sunlit shoreline and tantalizing larboard escapade that vacationers craved. Passengers enjoyed lazy days unhurried by nan committedness of rum cocktails and nighttime excursions beneath tropical stars.

Word dispersed fast, and nan vessel translated that easy Caribbean entreaty into a estimation for elegant, effortless travel. With freely staterooms, world-flavor cuisine, and quiet lounges shaded by thenar trees, nan Zaandam turned casual guests into loyal devotees. Each year, nan smiling faces returning to its decks grew, eager for nan adjacent committedness of cobalt water, nan adjacent sunset gilding nan horizon, nan adjacent beautifully folded towel animal waiting connected nan pillow.

A Shift to Iconic Long-Distance Voyages

Having precocious completed nan legendary Amazon Explorer, nan Zaandam now turns its stern to nan sparkling waters of Alaska. The existent bid of round-trip sailings from Vancouver lazily quizzes nan sky, pausing astatine Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, past gliding into nan marble solitude of Glacier Bay, tracing nan spine of nan Inside Passage, and venturing into nan glacial fjords of Tracy Arm. Each seven-night escapade marries nan ship’s serene vibe pinch nature’s melodramatic choreography: calving ice, shimmering fjords, and skies that slow move from cobalt to soft midnight sun.

If you’re dreaming of a genuine, legendary cruise, people your almanac for respective upcoming sailings aboard Zaandam. Beginning precocious September 2025, nan vessel will embark connected a sweeping 51-night “Tales of nan South Pacific” voyage that will lead you done a twinkling drawstring of islands, rubbing Hawaii, nan sapphire lagoons of French Polynesia, nan rising cliffs of Tonga, nan gentle hit of American Samoa, and nan emerald heights of Fiji.

This lavish routing underscores Holland America Line’s passion for curating journeys that linger successful memory, weaving itineraries that link continents and lead to immoderate of nan planet’s astir distant and breathtaking shores.

New Year, New Destinations: Grand Australia and New Zealand Cruise

Turning nan almanac to 2026, nan Zaandam will shake hands nan caller twelvemonth pinch different standout voyage: a 93-night “Grand Australia and New Zealand” escapade that departs early January and ranks among nan longest successful nan fleet’s history. The vessel will sail round-trip from San Diego, sweeping you connected a complete circumnavigation of Australia pinch must-see calls astatine Sydney’s shimmering harbour, Melbourne’s cultured waterfront, and nan coral wonders of nan Great Barrier Reef.

Travelers connected this voyage will travel from Australia to New Zealand, past onward to Hawaii and crossed respective shimmering South Pacific islands, stitching together 1 singular canvas crossed nan Pacific Rim. Scheduled for 2026, this cautiously crafted itinerary melds rich | taste encounters, breathtaking scenery, and nan hallmarks of luxury cruising, making it 1 of nan season’s astir coveted sailings.

Refurbishments and Enhancements

Years of thoughtful refurbishments person kept nan Zaandam firmly successful nan apical tier of Holland America’s fleet. Most recently, nan vessel completed a planned drydock successful Freeport, Bahamas, earlier successful nan season, wherever attraction and upgrade activity were cautiously scripted to time off nan alloy successful superb condition. Each drydock rhythm builds connected nan last, aiming to present an impeccable onboard acquisition to each guest.

During nan drydock, enhancements breathed caller life into some staterooms and communal spaces, from nan soft curves of nan corridors to nan refreshed lounges and eating rooms, each now offset by refined fabrics and nan latest successful comfort. Such investments echo Holland America Line’s unwavering committedness to support its ships successful sparkling shape, truthful each traveler enjoys a gracious, first-class ambiance from embarkation to nan last farewell.

(Source: Holland America Line, Fincantieri Shipyard, Freeport Bahamas Shipyard, Port Everglades, U.S. Department of Transportation)