Holland America Zuiderdam Western Caribbean Cruise Review – Day 7: November 14, 2025

Day 7 is here and just like that, we’ve reached the end of this 7-day western Caribbean adventure aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam. Over the past week we made our way from Miami to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, hopped over to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, almost didn’t make our stop in Georgetown, Grand Cayman due to swells, and wrapped things up in Cozumel, Mexico.

Today we’re at sea heading back to where it all started, Port Miami, and as always the final day report is where I recap the whole experience. I like to break it all down in one place so you get the good, the bad, and the downright ugly if there was any. But before we get into all that, we need to talk about a few things.

Cake Me Away – A Sugar-Fueled Slice of Heaven

First, it’s Holland America’s best-kept onboard traditions — Cake Me Away. If you’ve never sailed HAL before, this is a once-per-cruise insulin spiking spectacle where the pastry team basically says, “Diet? Never heard of her,” and rolls out a massive, over-the-top buffet of cakes from 11:30am to 2pm in the Lido.

And when I say massive, I mean massive. Cake after cake after cake, each one calling your name.

Here’s just some of what was on today’s lineup:

It’s a dessert lover’s dream… and your dentist’s nightmare, but who’s counting? HAL knows how to do a proper pastry event, and this is absolutely one of those “don’t miss it, don’t sleep in, and don’t pretend you’re just having one slice” moments.

I naturally sampled several because, you know… research purposes.

Dinner at Pinnacle Grill

For the last night of the cruise, I headed back to Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s steakhouse. If you’ve been following along you’ll remember that on Day 5 this restaurant transformed into Morimoto at Sea which ended up being, well, not the finest hour for the culinary team. Between waiting forty-five minutes between courses, a bland entrée, missing items, and a kitchen that seemed completely overwhelmed by the one-night concept, the experience missed the mark. I said in that report that Morimoto at Sea needs a serious reboot and that Pinnacle Grill is best left as what it does well… a steakhouse!

So here I was!  I walked in around 8 and was seated immediately in a cozy corner booth. Sarah, the host who ended up being my server for the evening, handed me the menu, took my drink order, came back for my dinner order and I could tell something felt different. Everything was overly attentive.

I started with the shrimp cocktail, which came with three large chilled shrimp and a classic cocktail sauce. Next up was a wedge salad topped with blue cheese, bacon, and tomatoes. Both were great and exactly what I expected.

For my entrée I veered away from beef since I’ve had my fair share this week and ordered the sea bass. It arrived perfectly cooked, flaky and flavorful, but with the skin still on, which I didn’t expect. Totally my mistake for not asking, but now I know for the next three weeks when I’m on Rotterdam.

Dessert was a massive cheese plate piled high with assorted cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, figs, apricots and crostini. It was so big I was unable to finish it, but it was great paired it with a glass of port.

When I finished dinner, Sarah came over and said something I wasn’t expecting at all. She told me the team was aware of my Morimoto at Sea experience and wanted to apologize personally. They were comping my entire dinner. I told her that really wasn’t necessary, but I appreciated it a lot. On the way out, Cade, the ship’s food and beverage director, also apologized and thanked me for the detailed feedback I provided in my review. He said he would be sharing it with the team and will work on fixing the things I brought up.  This all was something unexpected and very much appreciated, and the reason Sarah was so focused on taking care of me all night made perfect sense. Thank you, Sarah!

Now that dinner is out of the way, let’s talk about the cruise as a whole and dive into the final recap.

Embarkation at Port Miami

Embarkation was about as smooth as you’re going to get these days — and given that there were eight ships in port, that’s saying something. I opted to take the Brightline train from Boca Raton to Miami to avoid the traffic nightmare on I-95, arriving at the terminal around the time the boarding window in my email told me to. Once the Uber dropped me at Terminal D, I braced myself for chaos — but got almost the opposite.

Security was virtually no line, check‐in was quick, the staff uses biometric screening with tablets and in just a few minutes, and I was heading onto the ship. The process took way less time than expected and was 100% flawless.

The muster drill was the usual post-COVID routine — watch the safety video, head to your assigned station for a quick check-in, and you’re done. No life jackets, no herding everyone out on deck like the old days, just a simple “show up so we know you know where to go” situation. Although, we did get a brief in-person briefing from a crew member at the muster station who just took a few minutes to go over the important stuff, but it was quick and painless.

Accommodations: Verandah Stateroom 5105

For this cruise, I spent the week in Verandah Stateroom 5105 on Deck 5, which turned out to be a perfect location – four decks down from the Lido and just two and three decks from the bars, lounges, shopping, and restaurants on Deck 2 and 3. This cabin can accommodate up to three guests thanks to the sofa that converts into an additional bed, though for one or two people it would not feel cramped.

The layout is classic Holland America — not flashy, just well-designed and functional the way a stateroom should be. It had a good amount of closet space, and plenty of nooks for packing cubes, shoes, and the inevitable pile of “stuff” that accumulates as the days go on.

The room includes all the expected amenities: a stocked mini-bar, a vanity / desk area, a flat-screen TV with on-demand movies and a few live TV channels, and that small sofa that turns into a twin bed. Power outlets and USB ports are located at the desk and bedside, which is something older ships sometimes lack — so having both made charging all the gadgets a breeze.  As I mentioned in my report from the Queen Elizabeth last week, there were NO USB ports at all in the room, which today is hard to even fathom.

The bathroom is… functional over fancy, with a shower/tub combo (yes, a tub!), amazingly strong water pressure, and a shower curtain that loved to become your best friend. Décor is clean and updated; nothing felt worn, dated, or in need of attention.

The verandah was a bit on the narrow side with two chairs and a small table.  While not billed as an obstructed view, you do see the top of the lifeboats and cannot view directly down the side of the ship from the verandah.  If you don’t want to knock your knees against the glass, the chairs to need to be turned a bit sideways.

Noise? Well, I didn’t hear anything from my neighbors, other than those who love to have their balcony doors slam instead of being polite and closing them softly.  I also didn’t have any noise coming in to the room from above me, which is always a plus.

Dining on Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam

Holland America has always taken dining seriously, and Zuiderdam lived up to — and in some cases exceeded my expectations — throughout this 7-day cruise. I ate in every venue onboard, so here’s the rundown.

• Main Dining Room — ★★★★☆  The Main Dining Room continues to be one of Holland America’s strongest assets. Breakfast, the occasional sea-day brunch, and nightly dinner were all consistently excellent. The service team is polished, attentive, and exactly what other cruise lines should aspire to. The food? Fantastic — especially at dinner. I’m notoriously picky about Main Dining Rooms and often avoid them altogether on other cruise lines, but on HAL I look forward to going. That should tell you everything.  HAL’s MDR remains one of the line’s standouts, delivering consistently good meals night after night.
• Lido Market — ★★★★☆  I love a buffet where I don’t have to serve myself. At the Lido Market, most items are served for you, keeping things clean, organized, and far less chaotic than the free-for-all setups on some ships. Breakfast has all the classics: made-to-order omelets, pastries, fresh fruit, and the usual spread. Lunch rotates daily with new dishes, a carving station, sushi, made-to-order salads, and a ton of variety.  The only weak link? The pizza. Some days it was great, other days… well, let’s just say it wouldn’t win any awards.
• Canaletto — ★★★★☆ For a $25 (+18%) specialty restaurant carved out of the Lido, Canaletto delivers classic Italian comfort dishes in nice size portions at a terrific value. Between the service, portion sizes, and price point, it’s hard to walk away anything other than full and happy.
• Pinnacle Grill — ★★★★★  Pinnacle Grill continues to be one of the best steakhouses at sea, period. From perfectly cooked steaks and seafood to professional, attentive service, this venue delivers the kind of dining experience that elevates the whole cruise. And yes — the candied clothesline bacon is still as irresistible as ever.  HAL knows how to do steakhouse right, and Pinnacle Grill remains a must-do venue every time I sail with them.
• Morimoto at Sea — ★☆☆☆☆  Morimoto at Sea — which takes over Pinnacle Grill one night each cruise — was, frankly, a mess. Between long waits (45 minutes between appetizer and entrée), uninspired dishes, and a kitchen clearly struggling with a menu outside its comfort zone, the entire experience fell flat. It would have been two stars if not for the service breakdown, but it earned a single star. I’m hoping Rotterdam executes this better when I board her tomorrow. On Zuiderdam, though, it was a disappointment from start to finish.
• Dive-In — ★★★☆☆ Dive-In is Holland America’s poolside burger spot — and let me make this perfectly clear: the burgers here absolutely blow Carnival’s Guy’s Burgers out of the water. Freshly cooked, thick patties, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches — everything consistently hit the spot. The only thing to be aware of is that wait times can run long during peak periods, but when the result is a legitimately good burger, you can’t complain.

Zuiderdam’s Fellow Passengers

Holland America has always attracted a very specific demographic — seasoned cruisers, retirees, world travelers, and folks who prefer a more refined, relaxed onboard experience rather than the bells-and-whistles you’ll find on megaships. Traditionally, the average age on a HAL sailing hovers somewhere in the “speed limit 65” range, with plenty of loyal Mariners.

But this cruise? It skewed noticeably younger. I’d put the average age around 55, which is practically a youth movement for Holland America. There were a handful of families onboard and a few kids sprinkled around, but let’s be honest: if you’re a kid on HAL, you’re probably going to be bored out of your mind. There are no waterslides, no giant splash pads, no laser tag, no ice rinks — none of the things children gravitate toward on other lines. HAL is built for adults who want good food, great service, quiet spaces, and zero chaos. And for most of the year, that’s exactly what you get.

One of the things I love most about Holland America is that you don’t have kids running up and down hallways, cannonballing into the pool, or screaming in the buffet line. (The holidays are the exception — the ships do get more family-heavy then.) That adult-centric vibe is part of what makes HAL special and why so many stay loyal to the brand.

And speaking of loyalty, It’s like a floating reunion every time I sail with HAL. Just last night I bumped into yet another couple I met on a previous voyage, besides running into Fred and Cookie on the first day!

If you enjoy a calmer, more classic cruise experience without the chaos of a floating theme park, HAL’s crowd — and this week’s mix — is exactly the type that makes their ships so enjoyable.

Entertainment on Zuiderdam

If you’ve sailed Holland America before, you already know that entertainment isn’t exactly the line’s strongest selling point — and Zuiderdam fits that mold perfectly. HAL leans more toward “low-key enrichment” than “Broadway at sea,” so don’t come onboard expecting jaw-dropping production shows or anything close to what Royal Caribbean or Virgin Voyages put out. The production shows here are… fine. Basic. But nothing you’re going to run back to your stateroom raving about.

You’ll get the usual rotating lineup: a stand-up comedian who performs a couple of times during the week, a once-per-cruise cooking demo, and a band playing in the Rolling Stone Rock Room. Sadly, there’s no B.B. King’s Blues Club on Zuiderdam — which is disappointing because on other HAL ships that have it, that venue is always packed and always a highlight. I’m already looking forward to it on Rotterdam this Sunday.

At Billboard Onboard, HAL’s non-dueling piano bar has now been reduced from two pianists to just one… and if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I was never a huge fan even when there were two.

But here’s something longtime HAL loyalists will absolutely love — classical music is back. Classical musicians perform sets at various venues, and it’s one of those touches that makes HAL feel, well, HAL.

Of course, the schedule is filled with the standards you’d expect across Carnival Corporation brands: Bingo, Deal or No Deal, trivia, arts and crafts sessions, and all the low-key time fillers.  The daily program is never empty — there’s always something going on — but the wildest you’re going to get is the always fun Orange Party which I talked about in yesterday’s report.

If you want a cruise where the focus is food, relaxation, and great service rather than big flashy entertainment, Zuiderdam, and Holland America in general, fits the bill.

Zuiderdam Service and Ship Upkeep

Zuiderdam may be one of Holland America’s older ships, but she’s aging far better than most of us do — and certainly better than some other ships I’ve been on recently. Is she showing her age? Of course. She’s not fresh out of the shipyard and she’s not pretending to be. But nothing onboard screams, “Oh wow… this ship is old.” Instead, it’s more like, “She’s been around, but she still cleans up nicely.”

When I last sailed Zuiderdam back in 2013, she was full of wild, multi-colored furniture and patterns that looked like someone let a box of Crayola crayons design the décor. Thankfully, all that is long gone. Those over-the-top pieces have been swapped out for more modern, neutral, toned-down styles that feel much more in line with HAL’s current aesthetic. Some carpets are showing a bit of wear — and let’s be honest, whoever chose certain carpet patterns clearly wasn’t thinking about stain-hiding abilities — but overall, she looks incredibly well maintained for her age.

Zuiderdam heads into drydock on November 22 and will reemerge December 6 with some behind-the-scenes upgrades. The big project? All-new laundry equipment. The original laundry machines from 2002 are finally being replaced, and in order to do that, HAL actually has to cut a hole in the side of the ship to get the old ones out and the new ones in. Now that’s a fun visual. Other than that, she’ll get a good pressure wash, fresh paint, and some soft-good replacements. No huge structural changes or guest-facing overhauls this time around — just the usual technical TLC to keep her going.

As for service? This is where Holland America continues to shine. The crew on Zuiderdam, just like on every HAL ship I’ve sailed, goes above and beyond in ways that elevate the experience. Nothing is too much trouble, everyone is warm and professional, and the consistency of that service — across dining rooms, bars, housekeeping, everywhere — is one of the reasons HAL loyalists keep coming back again and again. Zuiderdam may be older, but the service onboard makes her feel like a premium experience from start to finish.

Debarkation at Port Miami

Debarkation morning — the day nobody wants but everyone eventually has to face. Holland America keeps it simple with the usual two options: self-debark or checked luggage. If you choose the traditional route, you pack up on the last night, leave your luggage outside your stateroom before the designated cutoff time, and the crew whisks it away. The next morning, once your group is called, you head into the terminal, look for your color-coded luggage section, grab your bags, and proceed through immigration. Easy enough, especially if you don’t want to drag your closet around the ship at 7 in the morning.

But I went with self-debark, because I booked an early train.  For this sailing, self-debark was advertised to begin at 7:30am. I wandered down around 7:10am and there was already a line. The process actually started at 7:25am, and once the line started moving, it moved fast.

From the moment my keycard was scanned for the final time to the moment I was standing on the curb ordering an Uber — nine minutes. That’s it. The facial recognition system in the terminal had zero line, and it instantly gave me the “cleared” message for immigration. Honestly, debarkation couldn’t have been smoother.

Of course, the part that wasn’t smooth was everything that happened outside the terminal. Port Miami’s traffic situation continues to be a complete disaster — roadways that were clearly designed for about a quarter of the people who use them. My wait for the Uber took longer than the entire debarkation process. But once I finally got a ride, I made it to MiamiCentral with plenty of time to spare for my 8:45am Brightline train back to Boca.

A fast exit, a smooth immigration process, and a quick hop onto Brightline — honestly, it was the perfect end to the cruise.

Final Thoughts

My week aboard Zuiderdam was the perfect reminder of why Holland America Line remains my favorite cruise line. It’s the consistency for me — the kind of cruise where nothing blindsides you, everything runs the way it should. Good food? Absolutely. Excellent service? Every single day. Reasonable prices? Still one of the best values in mainstream cruising. Add in the fact that I always seem to bump into friends, familiar crew members, and people I’ve sailed with on other “dam” ships, and it really does feel like coming home at sea.

If HAL has one drawback, it’s this: they don’t sail from Florida year-round. Their presence here is tied to the winter Caribbean season, which means I can’t hop aboard a dam ship whenever the mood strikes — trust me, if they were here 12 months a year, I’d be on them 12 months a year. So when they are in town, I book ’em without hesitation.

Up next, I’ll be boarding Rotterdam on November 16th for a 21-day Caribbean run, and it’s a good one. Here’s the itinerary:

Holland America Line – Rotterdam

Dates: November 16–December 7, 2025
Homeport: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Ship Facts: 2021 build • Pinnacle Class • 99,500 GT • ~2,668 passengers

Three weeks aboard HAL’s flagship Rotterdam with a rare overnight in Aruba, Thanksgiving at sea, and a casino tournament on the second leg. This one’s going to be special and hopefully I win something!

Date	Port	Country
Nov 16	Boarding Day – Port Everglades	USA
Nov 17	Half Moon Cay	The Bahamas
Nov 18	At Sea	–
Nov 19	At Sea	–
Nov 20	Philipsburg	St. Maarten
Nov 21	Castries	Saint Lucia
Nov 22	Scarborough	Trinidad & Tobago
Nov 23	Bridgetown	Barbados
Nov 24	Pointe-à-Pitre	Guadeloupe
Nov 25	San Juan	Puerto Rico
Nov 26	At Sea	–
Nov 27	At Sea (Thanksgiving)	–
Nov 28	Fort Lauderdale (Turnaround)	USA
Nov 29	At Sea	–
Nov 30	At Sea	–
Dec 1	Willemstad	Curaçao
Dec 2–3	Oranjestad (Overnight)	Aruba
Dec 4	At Sea	–
Dec 5	At Sea	–
Dec 6	Half Moon Cay	The Bahamas
Dec 7	Return to Port Everglades	USA

And I’m not done yet — I’ll wrap up 2025 just a few days later onboard Explora Journeys’ Explora I from December 12–29. Then it’s on to 2026, where you can bet Holland America will show up on the schedule again starting in January.

As always, thanks for sailing along with me this week — see you on Rotterdam!

Daily Schedule

Personal Day-By-Day Zuiderdam Cruise Review: