Holland America Line’s Zaandam Sets Sails on ‘Amazon Explorer’ Legendary Voyage with New Onboard Enhancements

After recently completing a two-week dry dock in the Bahamas, Holland America Line’s Zaandam departed Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, on its 27-day “Amazon Explorer” Legendary Voyage with several upgrades to public areas throughout the ship.

The new enhancements include expansions to the ship’s library and activity areas, upgrades to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Photo Gallery and Photo Studio, as well as refurbishments to the Neptune Lounge.

Refreshed Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Updates to Fitness Center

Zaandam’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon received significant updates during the ship’s dry dock. The thermal suite was completely rebuilt to include a new infrared sauna, Caldarium steam room and experiential rain shower. The spa’s relaxation lounge now has a new beverage counter and new lounge seating. In the salon, guests will see new, custom manicure stations, state-of-the-art pedicure thrones, as well as new salon chairs and shampoo wash basins. Work was also completed during the dry dock making the spa and salon areas more accessible for guests with disabilities.

The Fitness Center received a new custom storage area, new bathrooms, and modernized finishes throughout the area.

Renovated Library and Updated Activity Areas

Zaandam’s Library underwent a facelift. The space was completely refurbished with a new, modern design and has an updated book collection for guests to borrow during their cruise. Several activity areas on board also received improvements. Explorations Café was transformed into a multi-use space, including new puzzle and games tables. A new Art Studio was added on board, providing guests with a dedicated space to let their creative juices flow. The Art Studio will host Zaandam’s art & craft programming, including water coloring, painting, origami, crochet and many other unique classes.

Enhanced Ways to Capture Priceless Memories

Zaandam’s dry dock included significant improvements to the ship’s Photo Studio and Photo Gallery. A new Signature Studio was added, allowing guests to have custom, private photo sessions and private photo viewings. The Photo Gallery was fully refurbished with new photo display areas where guests can view traditional prints, as well as a high-tech facial recognition digital photo system. Guests can now log into their account and see their images digitally, which will appear through facial recognition technology.

Elevated Experience in the Neptune Lounge

Zaandam’s Neptune Lounge, a private space for Neptune and Pinnacle suite guests, received new flooring in parts of the lounge, updates to the food catering area, a refreshed concierge desk with upgraded seating, and larger television for better viewing.

Following the completion of the dry dock, Zaandam will spend the next few months exploring the Amazon, sailing through the Panama Canal and visiting Mexico before heading north for Holland America’s Alaska season.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.