Holland America Line · Premium · Rotterdam-class
MS Zaandam is one of the lower-graded ships we track: 3.4 of 10, #152 of 176. It carries 43 tons of ship per guest (median 41). Crew cover 2.2 guests each, about the fleet norm.
Passengers rate it strongest on service and weakest on entertainment — reported separately, and not part of the grade, which measures the ship itself.
Graded against every other ship we track, on one curve. The method.
On today’s fares, yes — the best sailing we can currently price scores 6.9 out of 10 for value, better than the going rate for a ship of its class.
That is a 18-night Alaska sailing departing 24 April 2027, from $2,409 per person in an interior cabin — about $134 a night. A Value Score of 5.0 means a sailing costs what genuinely comparable cruises cost: same class of ship, same region, similar length. Above 5.0 the fare beats that going rate; below it, it does not. MS Zaandam grades 3.4 of 10 on vessel class, and 3.8 of 5 from 590 traveler reviews. How the score is built.
Sister ships share a hull, so they differ only in condition. A newer sister is the same vessel, less worn.
Every fare is the line’s own price. Zero markup: the line pays us if you book through CruiseIndex, you never pay more.