Zaandam Review
Rating by category
Additional details
I had wanted to do the South America cruise but was not willing to fly all that distance and back. I loved the length of the cruise and the experience of traversing the entire pacific coast form San Diego south and around Cape Horn.
There are always things you can find to complain about if you want. I generally prefer to focus on what is good and then I am happier. There would have been little to complain about on this cruise.
The Mexico ports were hot and steamy at this time of year but that was solved by planning swimming and snorkeling outings.
Cabin Review
Large Outside Stateroom (partial sea views)
The cabin was a little noisy being near the back especially with early docking. It didn't bother me much but it did others. I loved being able to get right outside on to the promenade especially with this cruise as there was so much to see. I never really look outside windows much so I probably could have done with an inside cabin. There is only one outlet so bring a splitter if you have many electronics to charge. For me it was fine. AS with most HAL ships there was lots of storage. I especially liked the new medicine cabinet in the bathroom. I am use dot there being only two little glass shelves.
Port Reviews
Cabo San Lucas
Went snorkeling at Lovers beach. We found a boat at the dock that would take us there and pick us up. there were many options-probably all the same.
Mazatlan
A great city to walk around. It was really steamy so maybe next time I would take a taxi tour and see the cliff divers
Puerto Vallarta
Took the city bus all the way to the malecon. The city is easy to walk around. There is a starbucks near cathedral with wifi and air conditioning. The Malecon is a great walking place along the beach with shops and restaurants. Some people swim.
Huatulco
I went snorkeling at Entrega beach. We got a taxi who came back for us in two hours. Plenty of time to snorkel on this lovely beach. The restaurants provided shade and tables and restrooms with the purchase of a limonada and the snorkeling was fantastic. I think you need to have your own gear. I did not see any places with rentals but they may have been there. The fish and coral and sponges were among the best i have seen recently.
Puerto Quetzal (Antigua)
I took the ships transfer toAntigua. It is a small picturesque colonial city and is great to walk around. It is very cobbled so sometimes the walking is difficult.
Lima
WE rented a hotel room for the night the ship was in port. The port itself is hard to get out of and in a rough part of town. WE stayed in Miraflores near the malecon and mall and about a mile from the indian markets. It was a good decision. WE paid about $80 for a hotel room and had unlimited wifi as well as access to Lima for a day and a half.
Santiago (Valparaiso)
I did tours for tips. You need to take a taxi and it is hard to tell them where to return to so you might want to take a cell picture before you leave. The walking tour was wonderful. WE rode a local bus which we needed change for and tipped the tour guide $25. IT was well worth it.
Stanley
I organized a tour with Estancia Tours to Volunteer point:
This was a once in a lifetime experience. The drive was long-2 hours each way-and it was bumpy. ti is not recommended for people with back or neck injuries. PAY ATTENTION to this warning. My core muscles were sore for days and I am in pretty good shape. The drive, however, was a wonderful experience. The drivers in the 4 wheel drive land rover type jeeps are natives who usually have other jobs and take a day off to drive when ships are in town. They are a wealth of information and local color. Did you know that if someone is bogged it means that their car got stuck in the bog? (it takes an hour to go 10 miles through the bogs to get to Volunteer Point). The cars always travel in pairs so if one gets bogged the other can pull him out.
The penguins are unbelievable. There is a colony of 2000 King Penguins but also a large colony of Gentoos and some Magellanic Penguins. WE were free to roam amongst them with the exception of some nesting sites marked by white stones. In November when we were there the Magellanic were nesting underground so I only saw one of them but the Gentoos were sitting on eggs above ground and the King juveniles were shedding their brown fuzz. The pictures are amazing even with a cell phone camera because they are right in front of you.
Nyree who runs the tour company managed to help me organize a group of 38 with little fuss or bother. She just needed the number of people and I did the rest. She got paid at Volunteer point and she never actually had a list of who was going which was good as there were some substitutions at the last minute.
Puerto Montt
Driving tour-interesting. Took way to long to get off of ship.
Punta Arenas
WE were supposed to go on a prearranged tour to the marta and magdalena islands but this was cancelled due to winds. If you arrange this tour try to get the first one in the morning. The 7:30 tour got to go before the wind picked up. WE substituted a land tour of the area and it was good but it was still second choice.
Montevideo
walked around. Everything is close. it was hot after the falklands. it was the end of a long cruise. I didn't stay ashore long.
Buenos Aires
I only got off to take a taxi to the airport-$60 for four of us-so $15 apiece for the 45 minute drive
San Diego
I arrived two nights early and stayed in the little italy district. The Best Western Bayside hotel had a shuttle to the airport and to the cruise port.. I was walking distance to most of what I would want to see. If I had gone to the zoo I would have needed a bus.