Day 4 of 5: Settling Into the Long-Haul Cruise Life Aboard the Zaandam
We are now on Day 4 of 5 of our Pacific crossing to Hawaii, and it seems that everyone has settled into the routines of a long-haul cruise. The days are slipping by, and life at sea is beginning to feel pretty comfortable. There is something about being out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with nothing but water in every direction, that encourages you to slow down, relax, and enjoy the journey.
Of course, on a Holland America cruise, there is always something going on if you feel like getting involved. And on a longer voyage like this one, the cruise line certainly brings out a few extra treats to keep everyone entertained, educated, and perhaps even a little more cultured!
But before we get into all the activities and happenings aboard the ship, let’s take a little detour into the history of the company and the ship that is our home for this adventure.
A Little History: Holland America Line
Holland America Line has quite a history, dating all the way back to 1873, when it was established in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, under the name Netherlands-America Steamship Company.
In those early days, the company was primarily involved in transporting passengers and cargo between Europe and North America. For generations of Europeans, these ships provided an important link to a new life across the Atlantic, carrying immigrants, travellers, and goods between the two continents.
As air travel gradually took over the business of moving people across oceans, Holland America evolved into the cruise line we know today, focusing on destination-oriented travel, comfortable ships, good food, and a more traditional style of cruising.
The company is now part of Carnival Corporation, but it has retained much of its Dutch heritage and reputation for offering a more relaxed, destination-focused cruise experience.
And that is one of the things we enjoy about Holland America. It isn’t just about getting from one port to another. The journey itself is an important part of the experience, especially when you are fortunate enough to have several days at sea.
Our Home at Sea: The Zaandam
Our home for this adventure is the Zaandam, a ship that joined the Holland America fleet in 2000.
She belongs to the line’s R-class ships and has a sister ship, the Volendam. The Zaandam takes her name from a Dutch town near Amsterdam, continuing the company’s tradition of celebrating its Dutch roots.
One of the interesting things about the ship is her music-inspired décor. Throughout the public areas, you will find musical instruments and memorabilia, reflecting the ship’s connection to music. It gives the interiors a little character and makes for some interesting things to look at as you wander around.
The Zaandam is not one of the enormous floating resorts that some cruise lines operate today. She is a more traditional-sized cruise ship, which suits us just fine. There is plenty to do, enough space to find a quiet corner, and a comfortable atmosphere for a longer voyage.
And speaking of longer voyages, that brings us to some of the extras that make this cruise a little different from your typical week-long getaway.
The Extras That Come With a Longer Cruise
One of the pleasures of a longer cruise is that Holland America has the opportunity to bring additional people aboard to enrich the experience. There is more time to learn something new, try a different activity, enjoy some entertainment, or simply sit back and watch the Pacific roll by.
We currently have two guest lecturers aboard, offering a variety of presentations. Topics include the history of Hawaii, from its days as a kingdom through to becoming a state, as well as the history and significance of the Hawaiian lei.
These talks are a nice way to prepare for our upcoming Hawaiian ports. After all, it is one thing to visit a destination and take a few photographs, but understanding a little of its history and culture can make the experience that much more meaningful.
We also have bridge instructors aboard for those who enjoy the game and would like to improve their skills. And for those looking for a little spiritual nourishment along the way, additional clergy members are on board to offer guidance and opportunities for reflection.
There really is something for just about everyone.
Music, Dancing, and a Whole New Show!
The entertainment department has also received a considerable boost.
We have an additional dance band aboard, which gives us even more opportunities to enjoy some live music and dancing. And following the ship’s turnaround in San Diego, we welcomed a whole new troupe of eight singers and dancers.
But that isn’t the entire team. They are accompanied by four additional support staff, including people responsible for costumes and alterations, choreography, and troupe leadership. It takes quite a bit of work behind the scenes to make those performances look effortless on stage!
The exciting part is that the team is here to put together eight brand-new shows for us to enjoy during the voyage.
As an added bonus, two of the singers and two of the dancers were aboard with us last year. It is always nice to see familiar faces again, especially when you have enjoyed their performances before. It makes the ship feel just a little more familiar, even when the entertainment itself is all new.
We look forward to seeing what they have in store for us over the coming weeks. With eight new productions to prepare, I suspect the backstage area will be every bit as busy as the stage itself!
Keeping Active at Sea
For those who prefer a little activity rather than spending the day lounging around, we also have event team leaders aboard who are organizing pickleball and Tai Chi lessons and instruction.
Pickleball continues to be a popular pastime on cruise ships, and Tai Chi offers a rather different way to stretch, move, and find a little balance. There is no shortage of ways to keep busy if that is what you want to do.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with finding a comfortable chair, looking out at the ocean, and doing precisely nothing for a while either. That is one of the great luxuries of a sea day!
Dressy Nights, Pillow Gifts, and the Tiki Bar
The little extras are beginning to appear as well.
Our dressy-night pillow gifts are back, a small touch that adds to the occasion when we get dressed up for the evening. It is always fun to see what turns up and what little surprise Holland America has arranged for us.
Another welcome addition is the opening of the Tiki Bar on the Lido Deck. It gives us another spot to enjoy a drink and soak up the relaxed atmosphere of the voyage.
And then there are the special events. On a cruise of this length, the daily schedule becomes increasingly varied, with more functions, activities, and gatherings than you might expect on a shorter sailing.
We have a Pool Party planned for the afternoon in the midship Lido area, which should add a little more life to the proceedings. With the music, the pool, and plenty of fellow passengers enjoying themselves, it is another opportunity to get together and make the most of our time aboard.
Between the lectures, music, dancing, games, special events, and entertainment, the days certainly don’t have to be dull. Of course, the trick is deciding which activities to attend and which ones to skip. There are only so many hours in a day, after all!
Our Little Corner of the Ship
And now, let’s talk about our accommodations.
For this voyage, we booked a guaranteed outside cabin, which means Holland America selected our actual cabin assignment rather than allowing us to choose a specific room when booking.
We are on Deck 1, the Dolphin Deck, right aft, in the very last cabin at the back of the ship.
This is the first time we have booked a guarantee cabin and not received an upgrade. In the past, there has sometimes been a pleasant surprise waiting for us, but not this time!
Are we disappointed? Not really.
Our cabin is larger than a standard stateroom because it is designed to accommodate guests with mobility needs. That extra space is certainly welcome, and we have room to spread out and get comfortable.
There is, however, one little giveaway when we are approaching port.
Because we are right at the stern, we can hear the stern thrusters firing up as the ship prepares to manoeuvre into position. Those powerful thrusters help move the back of the ship sideways when docking, and from our cabin, we get a rather clear reminder that something is happening!
So, if we are lying in bed and suddenly hear those familiar sounds, we know we must be getting close to port. LOL!
It is a small price to pay for the extra room, and in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t bother us.
As with so many things in life, it is all about trade-offs.
We didn’t get the upgrade we might have hoped for, but we did get a spacious cabin, and we are perfectly happy with that. Besides, we are spending a good deal of our time enjoying the ship and all that is happening around us.
And So, the Journey Continues
As we move through Day 4 of our Pacific crossing, we are finding our rhythm aboard the Zaandam. The routines are established, the sea days are passing comfortably, and there is plenty to look forward to as we make our way toward Hawaii.
The lectures will give us a little more insight into the places we are about to visit, the new entertainment will keep our evenings interesting, and the additional activities offer plenty of choices for those days when we feel like doing something different.
And if none of that appeals, there is always the ocean, a comfortable chair, and the simple pleasure of watching the world go by.
We have one more full day of crossing ahead before Hawaii comes into view, and we are looking forward to seeing what the next chapter of this adventure brings.
Until then, we will keep enjoying life at sea, making the most of the opportunities around us, and reminding ourselves how fortunate we are to be on this journey.
More to come as our Hawaiian adventure unfolds!
