MS Zaandam
Holland America Cruise Line
MS Zaandam is one of Holland America's 11 active ships and first entered service in 2000 with its most recent renovation in 2025. In terms of size, it comes in at 61,396 gross tons, 778 feet in length, and 9 passenger decks. On board, it supports up to 1,432 guests and approximately 615 crew members. The ship had an estimated build cost of $300 million and is flagged in Netherlands.
MS Zaandam
Ship Stats
Year Built
2000
Last Renovated
2025
Tonnage
61,396 GT
Length
778 ft
Capacity
1,432
Crew
615
Cost
$300 million
Decks
9
Rotterdam Class Class
Rotterdam Class Class groups ships with similar design and onboard features within Holland America. The first ship introduced in this class was MS Volendam (1999), followed by MS Zaandam (2000).
MS Zaandam Ship Age
MS Zaandam entered service in 2000. Across Holland America's active fleet, the average build year is 2008 and across all major active cruise lines the average ship launch year is 2011. Ranked newest-to-oldest, this ship is 10 of 11 (newest ship = rank 1).
Timeline order: newest to oldest
- MS Zaandam
Current ship
MS Zaandam Renovations
Latest recorded dry dock / major renovation date: 2025.
Renovation details
In February 2025, the Zaandam emerged from a two-week dry dock with a rebuilt Greenhouse Spa & Salon, featuring a new thermal suite and infrared sauna. The Neptune Lounge was refreshed with new flooring and an expanded catering area, and the Photo Gallery was updated with a high-tech facial recognition digital system. The ship’s library also received a modern facelift with an updated collection and new seating.
MS Zaandam Ship Size
Length and tonnage across Holland America's fleet
MS Zaandam measures 778 feet (237 m) (vs Holland America fleet average of 922 ft) and has gross tonnage of 61,396 GT (vs fleet average of 84,029 GT). It ranks 11 of 11 by length and 10 of 11 by tonnage in Holland America's active fleet.
Passenger Capacity & Crew Size
MS Zaandam vs Holland America fleet averages
MS Zaandam carries 1,432 passengers (vs Holland America average of 2,157) and has 615 crew members onboard (vs fleet average of 863). That puts this ship at a passenger-to-staff ratio of 2.33:1 compared with Holland America's overall 2.50:1 average.
Passenger Capacity
1,432
passengers
Crew Members
615
staff members
Passenger to Crew Ratio
2.33 : 1
Holland America Avg
2.50 : 1
MS Zaandam
Venues & Experiences
Explore dining, bars, activities, and onboard experiences available on MS Zaandam.
Deck 5cafeExplorations Cafe
Decks 4 & 5main dining roomThe Dining Room
Deck 8specialtyCanaletto
Deck 4specialtyPinnacle Grill
Deck Plans
The MS Zaandam has a total of 10 passenger decks. The lowest level available to guests is Deck 1. The highest passenger deck is Deck 10. Click below to access deck plans for the MS Zaandam. The resulting page will provide a floor plan and summary of all things to do offered on that level of the ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
MS Zaandam quick answers covering size, capacity, deck plans, and what to expect onboard.
You will find the MS Zaandam Casino on Deck 5 of the ship.
You will find the MS Zaandam buffet on Deck 8 of the ship.
In February 2025, the Zaandam emerged from a two-week dry dock with a rebuilt Greenhouse Spa & Salon, featuring a new thermal suite and infrared sauna. The Neptune Lounge was refreshed with new flooring and an expanded catering area, and the Photo Gallery was updated with a high-tech facial recognition digital system. The ship’s library also received a modern facelift with an updated collection and new seating.
The ship belongs to the Holland America class of ships known as the Rotterdam Class class.
The ship features 5 restaurants, 7 bars, 17 activities, 0 shows and 8 other venues for your enjoyment. You can click on our ship deck plans or details pages for a full list of activities, sorted by feature type.
The MS Zaandam has a total of 10 passenger decks. The lowest deck is Level 1. The upper most passenger deck is Level 10.
We're often asked how many passengers are on the MS Zaandam. The ship's capacity is 1,432. When comparing the occupancy to the average Holland America passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 2,157 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Holland America ships.
The MS Zaandam was built in 2000. Holland America includes 11 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 1999 while the newest ship was built in 2021. The average Holland America ship is 18 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2006
Each of Holland America's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the MS Zaandam is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.
From end to end, the MS Zaandam length equals 778 feet (237 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 11 active vessels in Holland America fleet, measuring 922 feet (281 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.