We were on the ill-fated cruise which we boarded in Buenos Aires on March 7th, before the Coronavirus pandemic really began, but because we knew of its existence, extra care was taken to ensure our safety. ...

Sail Date March 2020

Herbs Mom

8 Reviews Written

19 Helpful Votes

Top Notch small ship! Great Itinerary!!!

Zaandam

South America

We chose this cruise because of the itinerary to the Antarctic. We flew down to Buenos Aires a day early so we could enjoy a little of the city before. Embarkation was fairly smooth - we arrived early and our ...

11 photos

Sail Date January 2020

Qila

1 Review Written

3 Helpful Votes

Cruising is not our thing, but this part of the world is beautiful

Zaandam

South America

We (Married couple in our 30's, no kids) choose this cruise because of the itinerary, because of Antarctica. Because we really wanted to see penguins in the region where they belong. And this was the only affordable ...

Sail Date December 2019

AKJonesy

8 Reviews Written

40 Helpful Votes

Great itinerary and good ship

Zaandam

Antarctica

We've been on a number of cruises with HAL and sailed on 6 different ships. I wasn't too thrilled about being on Zaandam due to it's smaller size but understand that the larger ships don't go to Antarctica. ...

Sail Date December 2019

EZ Wash

4 Reviews Written

41 Helpful Votes

Amazing Sights, not So Amazing Banging Noise

Zaandam

South America

Chose this cruise on a whim, as we saw an advertisement from a consolidator, contacted our agent to see what she could do, and then jumped. It gave me bragging rights, whatever that means, to say I was on all seven ...

Sail Date December 2019

drostep

1 Review Written

2 Helpful Votes

34 day South America, Inca and Panama Canal discovery cruise

Zaandam

South America

I wanted to write this review because I saw a number of poor ratings for Holland America and since we had a good experience, I thought it would be fair to write a good one. This was our first cruise with HAL and we ...

Sail Date March 2019

P. D. Taylor

1 Review Written

7 Helpful Votes

How can HAL much such a friendly ship such a poor cruise experience?

Zaandam

South America

The ship was badly affected by what can only be described as the Holland America cost cutting strategy. This was evident everywhere on the ship and throughout the 34 day cruise. The main restaurant should be the ...

Sail Date March 2019

Haligonex

1 Review Written

1 Helpful Vote

Nice ship and crew, poor port visits

Zaandam

South America

Tried to put new adventure into the cruise life but the main reason was to sail Cspe Horn and see Ushuaua. And..... weather canceled so we went to some backwater ports of little interstate not history. Sad. Do ...

Sail Date March 2019

Crawleypal

1 Review Written

7 Helpful Votes

Experience on ship

Zaandam

South America

This was a tailor made holiday to Brazil and ended with the cruise from Bueno Aries to Santiago. The facilities were fine. Food in buffet was excellant but in restaurant I was underwhelmed. Tendering was a ...

Sail Date March 2019

Arun Jain

1 Review Written

10 Helpful Votes

Exceeding expectations

Zaandam

South America

We were keen to visit Antarctica but did not cherish the idea of being tossed around in the Drake passage aboard a small vessel. We therefore chose HAL Zaandam although it did mean no setting foot on Antarctica. ...

9 photos

Sail Date January 2019

BritExile

1 Review Written

3 Helpful Votes

Customary HAL excellence on board, with good to dreadful for land activities

Zaandam

South America

This was a long planned bucket list trip to see South America and especially Patagonia. The on-board service was absolutely excellent with HAL's customary exemplary service in the bar, restaurants and cabin, and ...

Sail Date December 2018

TheChicagoDude

4 Reviews Written

30 Helpful Votes

Buenos Aires to Santiago and HAL is Off the Rails

Zaandam

South America

Our ninth cruise with HAL. It's likely going to be our last with the awful experience we're having on this cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago. Currently enroute from Stanley, Falkland Islands and the problems ...

1 photo

Sail Date December 2018

Cockneycruiser

3 Reviews Written

7 Helpful Votes

Brilliant itinerary, cleanliness a problem

Zaandam

South America

We booked this cruise whilst onboard Volendam in Alaska in Oct 2016, from start to finish this cruise Itinerary was great, Antarctica was amazing and the captain did a fantastic job in making sure we got to see ...

Sail Date January 2018

oceanpark

1 Review Written

7 Helpful Votes

Disappointing

Zaandam

South America

We were on this cruise for the 14 day portion. After sailing many times with Celebrity, we did our first trip with Hal two years ago and enjoyed it. We decided to do this trip with Hal based on our previous ...

Sail Date March 2018

Viaroma48

1 Review Written

10 Helpful Votes

Very disappointing

Zaandam

South America

I chose this cruise because of the itinerary mainly but also because of the size of the Zaandam. I had not liked the big ships I cruised on before and the Zaandam is a pleasant size indeed. We were three women ...

Sail Date December 2017

poinsettiaplate

5 Reviews Written

41 Helpful Votes

Amazing Journey on a Surprisingly Nice Ship

Zaandam

South America

After fourteen years of cruising with HAL and being a 4 Star Mariner, I stopped choosing them in 2014 after my sister and I together and separately had several rather disastrous experiences – ratty ships, bad ...

Sail Date January 2018

hwgunny

1 Review Written

8 Helpful Votes

Holland America

Zaandam

South America

This has taken much too long to complete because of the lack of response from Holland America subsequent to the cruise. But it is too important not to complete it, so that potential customers know what they are ...

1 photo

Sail Date January 2017

Travelling Learners

1 Review Written

78 Helpful Votes

"cannot believe the complaints"

Zaandam

South America

I have never written a review related to my vacations, Be it cruises, or stays at hotels, etc. I have read reviews though, and found that in most cases they never represent experiences as accurately as they most ...

Sail Date March 2017

Caseyman

1 Review Written

4 Helpful Votes

Wonderful Experience of a Lifetime.

Zaandam

South America

After having sailed the Mediterranean last year we wanted to explore a part of the world that would be oh so unique. With HAL doing away with the South Pacific cruises of the last 3 years we decided to book this ...

Sail Date March 2017

mkhall

1 Review Written

6 Helpful Votes

HA is definitely loosing its first class rating. Sinking to Carnival's level

Zaandam

South America

After returning from a Panama Canal on the Maasdam, sorting thru upcoming cruises the 32 day explore South America Passage and Inca Discovery was of great interest. Fortunately for future travelers, the Zaandam is ...

Sail Date March 2017

dejadestin

1 Review Written

5 Helpful Votes

South America March 7-21 2017

Zaandam

South America

I wanted to go to South America and wanted to see Penquins. The cruise was extraordinary. Even though we missed one port due to weather I still got to see the penquins in Falkland Islands.It was awesome. I visited 4 ...

Sail Date March 2017

jono mono

9 Reviews Written

52 Helpful Votes

Down south

Zaandam

South America

Choose this cruise as they were going where i wanted to see !! Getting on the ship in Buenos Aires was a nightmare as all computers crashed. Once on board we did'nt sale until the following evening ,just as ...

Sail Date February 2017

rfurth

1 Review Written

5 Helpful Votes

Ship Board

Zaandam

South America

Wanted to see South America and enjoy life aboard the Zaandam. Trouble first started at the Casino where I was supposed to get $75 of free play. It took 3 days and a lot of fighting with the casino manager to get ...

Sail Date January 2017

aatkinson

1 Review Written

7 Helpful Votes

Antarctica

Zaandam

South America

We chose this cruise to sail through Antarctica. Having been on several HAL cruises we were not concerned with quality. We were convinced that the quality would be the same on this ship as it had been on our ...

3 photos

Sail Date January 2017

Leblanc

1 Review Written

2 Helpful Votes

One in a Life Time!

Zaandam

South America

It was our first cruise and it lasted 3 weeks. We took this cruise mainly to see Antarctica and it was the highlight of our trip. The glaciers, the icebergs, the whales, the penguins, the seals, the dolphins, etc. ...

5 photos

Sail Date January 2017