Holland America Zuiderdam Western Caribbean Cruise Review – Day 1: November 8, 2025

Fresh off nine days aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, I’ve traded British formality for Dutch charm and am back aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam. This one feels a bit nostalgic — I first sailed this ship way back in December 2013 for a Panama Canal cruise. And before anyone tells you a Panama Canal cruise is “boring,” let me stop you right there. Whether you do a full or partial transit, it’s an engineering marvel that’s fascinating from start to finish. Watching the locks in action and the ship rise and fall is one of those “bucket list” cruise experiences everyone should do at least once. I’ve done it several times now, and it never gets old.

This time around, I’m sailing on a 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary with stops in Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios (yes, it’s open again after the recent hurricane — though Falmouth and Montego Bay remain closed until mid-December), Georgetown in Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Both Queen Elizabeth and Zuiderdam share some DNA. They come from Carnival Corporation’s original “Vista-class” design — not to be confused with Carnival Cruise Line’s newer Vista-class ships. Zuiderdam was actually the first ship ever built in this class, the template that Fincantieri used to construct another 14 sister ships across Holland America, P&O, Costa, and Cunard. Carnival got a lot of mileage out of this blueprint, with the final ship in the series — Cunard’s Queen Anne — entering service in 2024. That’s over two decades of continuous evolution built on the same bones that started right here with Zuiderdam.

Launched in December 2002, Zuiderdam accommodates 2,272 passengers with a crew of 842. For this winter Caribbean season, she’s sailing from PortMiami, using Carnival’s Terminal D — the same one used by Queen Elizabeth. Most of Holland America’s other Caribbean sailings, like those aboard Rotterdam (which I’ll be on next week), operate out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

After this sailing, Zuiderdam will head to dry dock in the Bahamas from November 22 through December 6 for some scheduled maintenance — and a rather unique project. The ship’s laundry facilities are getting all new equipment, which sounds routine until you realize the only way to get the massive washers and dryers in and out is by cutting a giant hole in the side of the ship. That’s right — they’ll literally be cutting open Zuiderdam to give her a laundry room upgrade. Hopefully, Holland America shares some photos because that’s not something you see every day!

Before we dive into embarkation, it’s worth noting that Zuiderdam may not have the flash of newer ships like Rotterdam or Nieuw Statendam, she’s got that classic Holland America feel — elegant, cozy, and just the right size. Many longtime HAL fans still consider her one of the most beloved ships in the fleet.

Embarkation at PortMiami

As I mentioned, embarkation for this cruise was in PortMiami — which means, for my sanity and to avoid the eternal headache that is I-95, I took the Brightline train from Boca Raton to Miami on Saturday morning. A few days before the cruise, Holland America sent out an email asking everyone to stick to their assigned embarkation times because PortMiami was going to be at full capacity (aka: a living Hell) with eight ships in port that day. Anyone who’s sailed out of Miami before knows that even on a “light” day, the port is a complete and total disaster. The infrastructure and roads going in, out, and around the port simply can’t handle the number of passengers boarding these massive ships.

So instead of hopping on an early train and getting caught in the chaos, I opted for the 12 p.m. Brightline, which takes about an hour from Boca to Miami and would put me at the terminal right around my scheduled arrival time.

Everything was smooth sailing — or, in this case, smooth railing — until we hit Pompano Beach. If you’re from Florida, you already know that Brightline has a bit of a reputation when it comes to accidents. None of them are the train’s fault, of course, but rather caused by people who think railroad crossing arms are merely a suggestion or that their car can somehow outrun a high-speed train.

A bit north of Atlantic Avenue, we suddenly heard the horn blaring nonstop, followed by the train braking hard and coming to a full stop. Turns out, one of these Darwin Award hopefuls in a small red car decided to sneak under the crossing arms and “beat the train.” Spoiler alert: they didn’t. The train clipped the car, though thankfully there were no injuries to anyone onboard or the driver — who should have their license permanently revoked for sheer stupidity.

We sat there for about ten minutes waiting for clearance to move, and all I could think was: “Oh great, I’m going to miss the cruise.” Fortunately, since there were no injuries or serious damage, we were able to continue after a short delay and arrived in Miami only a few minutes behind schedule.

From the Brightline station, it was a quick ten-minute Uber ride to the port. Given how many ships were in port, I was bracing myself for chaos, but surprisingly, everything went incredibly smoothly.

Security? Walked right through — no line at all.

Check-in? Even better.

Holland America uses biometric facial screening for embarkation. You simply stand in front of an iPad, align your face with the guide on the screen, and scan your passport. The entire process takes less than 90 seconds. Once cleared, you’re good to go — straight onto the ship.

Unlike some cruise lines where you have to wait until the afternoon for your room to be ready, Holland America has staterooms open as soon as you board. Your keycard is waiting in a sealed envelope outside your door.

All things considered, aside from the brief Brightline delay, this was one of the smoothest embarkations I’ve ever had out of Miami. No crowds, no waiting, no stress — just a seamless experience start to finish.

As for the muster drill, Holland America uses the electronic muster system that most cruise lines have now adopted (except Disney, of course, where contributor Jason is currently sailing on the Disney Magic out of San Juan and reported yesterday about his “old school” muster drill experience).

Here, it’s easy: you go to your assigned muster station, have your keycard scanned, listen to a short in-person safety briefing from a crew member, then return to your stateroom to watch the safety video on your TV. That’s it — no standing on deck in the sun, no squeezing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 people. Easy peasy.

Verandah Stateroom 5105 on Holland America’s Zuiderdam

For this cruise, I’m spending the week in Verandah Stateroom 5105, located midship on Deck 5 — which, in my opinion, is just about the perfect spot. The “heart of the ship” (Atrium, Guest Services, shops, etc.) is down on Decks 1, 2 and 3, and the Lido with the pools and buffet is up on Deck 9. So really, you don’t even need to bother with the elevators; everything is just a few flights of stairs away in either direction.

Now, this particular stateroom is not officially classified as an obstructed balcony cabin, although some of the more nitpicky cruisers out there might argue otherwise. The tops of the lifeboats on Deck 4 are visible from the balcony — and yes, when you’re sitting out there, you’ll notice them. Whether that counts as an “obstructed view” is up for debate. For me, it’s not. You’ve still got a perfectly clear view straight out to the horizon; you just can’t look directly down at the ocean because the lifeboat blocks that angle. Not exactly a dealbreaker in my book.

As for the room itself, it’s a comfortable size. There are two twin beds that combine to make a king, plus a pull-out sofa bed that allows the cabin to sleep up to three people. Now, whether anyone actually finds sleeping on a sofa bed “comfortable” is another discussion entirely — but it’s an option. Holland America added a nice touch here: a curtain that can be drawn across the room to separate the main bed area from the sofa bed, giving whoever’s stuck there at least a little privacy.

Across from the bed is a large flat-screen TV, and tucked under the small desk/vanity area is a stocked mini-bar with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water available for purchase.

When it comes to outlets and charging options, Zuiderdam has actually been modernized quite a bit — which is impressive for a ship that’s over 20 years old. Unlike the Queen Elizabeth I was just on, where there wasn’t a single USB port in the entire stateroom, here you’ll find two USB ports and both US and UK outlets at the vanity desk and one USB plug on each side of the bed (huge plus!)

The only one who gets left out is whoever’s sleeping on the sofa bed — no USB port over there, so plan accordingly.

Storage space is another win. There are three closets: two large wardrobes and one with shelves, plus a safe, extra blankets, bathrobes, and even an umbrella. There’s more than enough space for clothes and belongings for three people — new ships these days barely have enough room for clothes for one person, yet alone three.

Now for the bathroom. It’s… fine. Functional, but definitely showing its age. It has a tub/shower combo with a curtain, and while the curtain does tend to get a little too friendly at times, the water pressure is absolutely fantastic — honestly, better than at home. After dealing with the miserable trickle that passed for a shower on Queen Elizabeth last week, this feels downright luxurious. The bathroom storage space is a bit limited, but everything’s clean and well-maintained.

One small gripe I always have with Holland America: they don’t include a toilet brush in the bathrooms. It’s a minor thing, but I’ll never understand why every stateroom doesn’t just have one.

Out on the balcony, space is a little tight but perfectly fine for two. There are two chairs and a small table, just right for morning coffee or evening sail-away cocktails.

Overall, the stateroom is exactly what you’d expect from a ship built in 2002 — a little dated in décor but extremely well kept. Everything works, everything’s clean, and those upgraded USB ports are a big plus. I didn’t even have to break out my power brick this time, which is saying something.

Sail Way from Miami

Zuiderdam was scheduled to depart PortMiami at 4 p.m., and right on schedule, we were the first ship out of the eight in port that day. That alone deserves a round of applause, because when there are that many ships in town, things can back up quickly.

Since we had to head down to the turning basin to spin around before exiting the channel, it made for a perfect picture taking of the ships in port:

• Brilliant Lady, which I was on just two weeks ago (you can read that trip report here).
• Carnival Horizon, a ship I’ve spent a good number of weeks on and know like the back of my hand.
• The brand-new Celebrity Xcel.
• The slightly younger-than-Zuiderdam Norwegian Jewel.
• Her much newer and much larger sister, Norwegian Encore.
• The over-the-top Icon of the Seas (still makes me cringe thinking about all the kids running wild on that thing).
• And last but not least, the newest member of the MSC fleet, MSC World America — which I also happened to sail on for her maiden voyage back in April.

Up on the Lido Deck, the sail-away party was underway. The cruise and entertainment director introduced key members of the ship’s crew, including the most important team of all — food and beverage!

What immediately stood out to me was the crowd itself. Normally, Holland America attracts a 65-and-over demographic, which makes sense given their longer itineraries, relaxed pace, and focus on the journey rather than flashy bells and whistles. But this cruise? Noticibly different.

There were kids (seriously, why aren’t you in school?), young couples, middle-aged travelers, and of course, the loyal Holland America regulars. The crowd definitely skews younger than a typical HAL sailing.

Mariner Society Reception

Upon embarkation, there was an envelope waiting in my stateroom — an invitation to the Mariner Society Reception. I glanced at it and had to do a double-take. Day 1? Usually, these events are held mid-cruise, but I’ve been told they’ve been hosting them on embarkation day aboard Zuiderdam lately.

For those not familiar, the Mariner Society is Holland America Line’s loyalty program — and one of the more generous ones. You earn one point for each day you sail, double points if you’re in a suite or penthouse, and one point for every $300 in onboard spending (excluding casino play). Over time, those points add up to status levels that come with some very nice perks:

The reception itself was held on one side of the Lido Pool. Servers passed through with trays of complimentary wine and champagne, making sure no glass stayed empty for long. It’s a casual, friendly event where longtime Holland America guests can mingle, catch up, and swap cruise stories — and in typical HAL fashion, the staff made sure everyone felt appreciated.

What was missing, though, was a little surprising. There was no speech by the captain or a senior officer. In every other Mariner Reception I’ve attended, the captain has at least made a brief visit to thank the loyal cruisers personally. It’s a small touch, that I missed this time around.

But any disappointment disappeared the moment I looked across the pool area and spotted a very familiar face. Fred and his wife, Cookie! I’ve now run into this couple three times on Holland America ships. We first met a few years ago aboard the Rotterdam, and since then, we just keep crossing paths.

We all laughed, probably louder than we should have, with a collective “WTF — AGAIN?!” moment. We spent the next hour catching up, reminiscing about past cruises, and making plans to grab a few smoked old fashioneds later in the week. They’re a great couple and the kind of friendly, familiar faces that make cruising feel like coming home.

It really is a small world after all!

Dinner in the Main Dining Room

Holland America Line is one cruise line where I don’t shy away from the main dining room. My followers already know that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with MDRs in general — I love to hate the food that comes out of them. Let’s face it, on most cruise lines the main dining room has become more of an afterthought. The current trend is to push guests toward specialty dining and make those venues the stars of the show.

But not on Holland America. Here, the main dining room still delivers a solid experience — a great selection of dishes, generous portions, and consistently good food. The service is unhurried, the atmosphere relaxed, and it still feels like a proper dining event rather than a factory of plates moving through the room.

Their Lido Marketplace buffet deserves an honorable mention too. It’s one of the best buffets at sea, with most items cooked to order and served by the staff (rather than a self-serve setup). Menus rotate daily, and everything feels a notch above your typical cruise buffet. On embarkation day, the Lido hosts a Welcome Aboard Steak Dinner, which is always a hit and helps take pressure off the main dining room on that busy first night.

I debated whether to head to the Lido or the dining room, but my conversation with Fred and Cookie ran long — in the best way possible — and by the time we wrapped up, the Lido had closed. So, MDR it was.

Holland America offers both traditional early and late seatings as well as Anytime Dining. There’s also a special section for guests who purchase the Club Orange package, which includes perks like a complimentary stateroom upgrade within the same category, priority embarkation and debarkation, a dedicated Club Orange restaurant on Pinnacle-class ships with exclusive menu items, or a private section of the main dining room with Club Orange-only dishes on non-Pinnacle ships.

I have Anytime Dining, so I walked right up and was seated at a table for one immediately. My dining team came over, introduced themselves, and took my drink order. As we chatted, we realized we’d actually met on another ship — yet another “small world” moment on this trip.

Once my cocktail arrived, it was time to order. My server leaned in and asked, “Do you like chicken?” I said, “Of course — who doesn’t?” He smiled and said, “Let me bring you the Peruvian Chicken. It’s really good. It’s a Club Orange item, not on the regular menu, but I’ll get it for you.” I wasn’t about to say no to that!

I ordered that along with a tomato and mozzarella salad, jerked oxtail croquette, and a strawberry sundae for dessert. Everything — including that off-menu chicken — was delicious. The service was excellent, unhurried, and just what I’ve come to expect from Holland America’s dining team.

After dinner, I stopped by the Ocean Bar for a couple of cocktails before calling it a night. As I headed back to my stateroom, Zuiderdam was on her way to our first port of call — Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island paradise in the Bahamas.

We’re expected to arrive at 8 a.m. for a perfect beach day. More on that tomorrow — and as always, thanks for following along.

Daily Schedule

Personal Day-By-Day Zuiderdam Cruise Review: