My husband and I honeymooned on the Zaandam over Thanksgiving. We knew that HAL is known as a cruise line for an older set but we were intrigued by the itinerary. We didn’t regret our choice for a moment.

We had a large ocean view cabin and honestly, it was perfect for us. It was large enough for us to unpack and the bed was extremely comfortable (we stayed in a very nice hotel in BA after the cruise and mourned the loss of the Zaandam bed). I guess we’re not very picky but everything the room was just right for us. Our amazing stewards, Dodt and Tsiot, did a fantastic job with two fairly untidy people and we so appreciated them for it.

I’ve sailed on several cruises before and being kind of a foodie (even if that term is overused and silly), I wasn’t expecting much from the food on the cruise. I have to say, I was very impressed, especially with the food in the dining room. Formal night meals were also phenomenal, last night my husband and I were talking about the surf and turf dinner. It was that good. We also appreciated Sebastiano, the chef, making the rounds of the dining room and chatting with everyone. It’s a nice touch. Read more