Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Photo Tour of Holland America Line's Zuiderdam: Penthouse Verandah Suite #7046

     The cruise ship ms Zuiderdam (Holland America Line) was launched in 2002 and is the first in their Vista-class series. We recently sailed to Alaska on this ship in one of the two penthouse suites (Inside Passage 7-day cruise, July 16-23, 2011). According to Holland America Line's website, the penthouse suite measures 1,150 sq.ft., including the balcony. Here is a photo tour of the ms Zuiderdam's Penthouse Suite #7046, located on the port side of the Rotterdam deck (deck 7). The pictures are presented in a roughly geographic order, starting with the entryway.

1) The penthouse suite door is decorated with a plaque bearing its name.

Welcome to ms Zuiderdam's Penthouse Verandah Suite #7046!

2) Inside the foyer: to the right is a butler's pantry with a sink, full-size fridge, microwave, toaster and coffee maker. Dishes and cutlery are hidden in the lower cabinets, as are coffee and tea, but sadly, there is no kettle to boil water for the tea. To the left is a guest bathroom.

Right: Butler's Pantry

Left: Guest Bathroom


3) Directly in front of the entrance, inside the suite, is the dining area. There is a table for six, and behind the table, sliding glass patio doors lead to the balcony. For a review and photos of the balcony, please click here.

Dining table for six, photo taken facing the entryway (door visible to the left). The patio door to the balcony is behind you, and the bedroom is visible to the right. The desk (see #4 below) is to your left from here.


4) In the dining area to the right side of the patio door is a built-in desk and a chair, with personalized HAL stationery awaiting your arrival, as well as ship information and the in-room dining menu. The desk has a window with a view of the jacuzzi on the balcony.

Desk with view of the jacuzzi. Patio door to the balcony on the left.


5) Just to the left of the entrance, inside the dining area, is a cabinet with glassware inside. Welcome aboard champagne and bottled water will be found chilling in the stand-alone ice bucket upon arrival, and fresh flowers and fresh fruit (replenished daily) are found on the cabinet.

Wine glasses inside!


6) To the far right from the entrance when you walk in, you will find the living room. Hidden inside the cabinets under the television is a surprisingly comfortable double Murphy bed, which the stateroom stewards pull down each night and pack away each morning.

Large living area with seating for eight.

Murphy bed hidden inside the cabinets under the flat-screen TV. (DVD  and VCR in the cabinet on the upper left side.)

Murphy bed made up for night time, towel animal welcomes you home!

7) To the far left from the entrance is the bedroom. Heavy double doors that latch open can be closed and provide excellent sound-proofing! To the left of the bed is a well-lit built-in vanity table with outlets for the HAL-provided hairdryer (inside the drawer).

King size bed. Floor-to-ceiling window gives a view of the balcony and the great outdoors.

Vanity table and bench - hairdryer in drawer, magnifying mirror and kleenex box on top. (Please excuse the mess!) Ensuite bathroom to the right (shower is slightly visible).


8) The main bathroom is ensuite to the bedroom. Its entrance lies just to the right of the vanity, and can be closed with a sliding pocket door. Inside this bathroom is a round shower with multiple shower heads, double sinks with ample storage space behind the mirrors, and a large jacuzzi tub with a Neptune's (?) head fountain spout mounted on the wall. The separate toilet area has a bidet and another sink. Inside this bathroom you will also find a large walk-in closet with a safe, life jackets and lots of hangers, space for suitcases and a few drawers.

Double sinks (gold varnish partially rubbed off). The shower, which is to the right of the sinks, lies almost directly in front of the entrance from the bedroom (visible in the mirror). Large sized bottles (300mL) of Elemis shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and body lotion are provided, as well as multiple bars of citrus soap. Walk-in closet is found to the right of the shower (entrance partially visible, far right of the photo).

Large jacuzzi bathtub, to the left of the double sinks, with working Neptune's head water spout mounted on the wall. This tub is quite deep and may be difficult to climb into.

Main bathroom's separate toilet area, door located to left of the jacuzzi tub. Bidet is visible in the photo, toilet is behind the door on the right, extra sink on the left.


9) The penthouse suite also has a few art works on display, including a gilt mirror in the bedroom and a statue in the living area. A living bonsai tree adds greenery to the decor.

Gilt mirror in bedroom.

Statue found between dining and living area.

Living bonsai tree next to the desk.

      We throughly enjoyed our cruise in this fantastic suite, which is more like a small apartment at sea than the standard cramped cruise quarters we are used to. Superb concierge service at the Neptune Lounge down the hall and the included unlimited laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services added to our comfort and enjoyment. Be forewarned, though - it may be hard to go back to real life after a week of being spoiled in this home-away-from-home at sea!


Related Posts:
A Balcony With a View: Penthouse Suite 7046
Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage on HAL's Zuiderdam
Shore Excursion: Gold Panning in Juneau
Shore Excursion: Supper at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake in Juneau 
Shore Excursion: White Pass Railroad in Skagway
A Taste of Tracy Arm Fjord
Cruising Alaska's Glacier Bay

5 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I happened across it by a simple Google search. My husband and I are considering "going big" on this very cruise (and ship) in May 2012. We've sailed to Alaska on the Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam in the past, all in SA suites. Your pictures and explanations were perfect!

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  2. Thanks so much for your comments! I`m glad you enjoyed the photos and reviews. You will have a great cruise on the Zuiderdam. Hope you have great weather!

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  3. Thanks for the review and pics. We have PS 4045 (the penthouse on the other side of the ship) booked for the panama canal the first week of November. Your description and excellent pics are great!

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  4. We are going to be in a ps soon and will leave a review when we get back home, can't wait.

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  5. 4/2/13 - We have just booked this same suite for May 2013 Inside Passage - going with a group of 11 so this will work perfect. We usually stay in the suites of sb or sa so this will be a step up for us but a much deserved one I must say!!! Thanks for the pictures - can't wait - this will be our 7th time to cruise Alaska - all with Holland America.....

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