Holland America Volendam Ship Review: Small Ship, Big Experience

I have sailed every Holland America ship except the Zaandam. So when I tell you the Volendam surprised me, that means something.

Not because it is new. It is not. Not because it is packed with amenities. It is not that, either. The ship surprised me because in a landscape where bigger supposedly means better, the Volendam reminded me what cruising felt like before square footage became the primary selling point.

First Impressions

The Volendam is just under 800 feet long and carries 1,400 guests across nine decks, ten if you count the forward sun deck.

On embarkation, you find yourself on deck three, which opens into an atrium that is more an understated foyer than a grand entrance. If you are expecting the soaring multi-deck atriums found on newer ships, reset those expectations at the gangway.

Deck four handles guest services, deck five is the main artery connecting the casino to the Ocean Bar, and deck eight is the Lido.

Three decks cover almost everything you need, and you can walk the length of the ship in a couple of minutes. After navigating ships where you need a map just to find the main dining room, that simplicity was welcome.

The hallways are lined with framed photos of past Holland America ships. It is a small detail but a telling one: This is a line that knows its roots.

The Stateroom

My oceanview stateroom, cabin 1921, sat on the aft end of deck one. For a ship launched in 1999, last upgraded in 2024, it has held up well.

The bed was comfortable, the shower had a glass door instead of a curtain, and the water pressure was good with Elemis bath products in the shower and sink.

Storage was the real standout. Three large closets, multiple drawers, room under the bed for luggage, and additional drawers at the foot of each bed. These ships were designed for longer voyages and the storage reflects that.

No living out of a suitcase here!

The furnishings are worn the way an older ship’s furnishings should be: Lived in, not neglected. The TV ran smaller than what you’ll find on newer HAL ships, and there was a slight vibration at the stern during docking. At sea the cabin was quiet.

The natural light through the oceanview window was better than expected given how low in the ship’s structure it was located, giving you a mix of waterline and horizon that made for good sunrise and sunset photos.

If you are stepping off a Pinnacle-class ship (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, or Rotterdam), temper your expectations on the finishes.

Dining

Lido Market

I tended to do most breakfasts and lunches in the Lido Market, and it earned that loyalty quickly. The salad bar stood out because the staff builds it for you to order rather than serving yourself. I ordered it nearly every day.

The seared tuna was consistently fresh, and I worked my way through the rest of the buffet offerings throughout the week. Lasagna, steak… I tried it all. And the late-night pizza was a major hit.

Then there was the bread pudding with vanilla sauce. I had three bowls one afternoon. I am not proud of it, but I’m not sorry either. If you sail the Volendam and skip the bread pudding, you have made a serious mistake.

Main Dining Room

The main dining room on the Volendam spans two decks, which gives it a sense of scale you would not expect on a ship this size. It is an elegant space and a reminder that Holland America has always taken dining seriously regardless of the ship.

I ate there twice during the segment. The french onion soup was a solid starter, the steak was cooked to order, and the lobster pretty decent.

Nothing blew me away but everything was done correctly, which is its own kind of consistency. What stood out more than the food was the service. The team checked in regularly, coming out specifically to ask if the steak was cooked to my liking.

Pinnacle Grill

The Pinnacle Grill is Holland America’s signature steakhouse and a fixture across the fleet. On the Volendam it sits on deck four and is worth the supplement for a special night. Because it does not have ocean views on this class of ship, windows instead look out onto deck four. But don’t worry, not a lot of people use deck four!

I ordered the steak with a side lobster and the size of the crustacean was almost embarrassing. It was nearly the size of a football! The server extracted it from the shell without being asked, which I appreciated more than I let on. That would have been a challenge!

But the real standout was the clothesline candied bacon. If you have sailed Holland America before you already know. If you have not, order it. I have been getting it for years across multiple HAL ships and it never misses the mark.

It is the kind of thing where you half-jokingly consider ordering it for dessert and then realize there is no reason not to.

Canaletto

Canaletto is Holland America’s Italian venue and it’s tucked within a section of lido buffet, which gives it a different feel than a standalone restaurant but works well in practice.

We went on the final night and the food came in waves. We started with antipasto for the table.

I followed with ordering the meatballs. The chicken parmesan came next and was a solid finish to the meal.

If I had one note it is that the portions are generous to the point where pacing yourself early matters. As with any Italian restaurant worth its salt, the meal was topped off with homemade tiramisu.

Dive In

The Dive In is Holland America’s poolside burger spot and a good option for that gap between lunch and dinner when you need something to munch on but you’re not ready to commit to a full-blown sit-down meal.

The lettuce wrap burger was the move. The lettuce replaces the bun entirely and it works better than it sounds. The hotdog was also genuinely good and worth ordering.

However, I’d skip the cheese fries, where the topping’s watery consistency gave a goopy pool collecting at the bottom of the box. Everything else on the menu made up for that (perhaps a sign I did not need to eat the fries!)

Pools and Lido Deck

Deck eight runs the length of the ship’s outdoor area and has two pool areas worth knowing about. The main Lido pool sits midship and is the social hub during sea days, with the Dive In nearby and plenty of lounge seating in the area.

READ MORE: Taking a Segment of World Cruise

The aft pool is a quieter alternative if you want the water without the crowd. On a ship of 1,400 guests neither pool ever felt overwhelmed, which is a luxury you do not always get at sea. There’s also a retractable dome over the lido pool that can close during inclement weather.

The Lido deck overall never the chaotic scene you find on larger ships during a sea day, which fit the overall tone of the Volendam perfectly.

The Crow’s Nest

If there is one space on the Volendam that deserves a special shout-out, it is the Crow’s Nest on deck nine forward. This was hands down my favorite spot on the ship.

With gorgeous 270-degree views from the front of the ship, you see nothing but water and horizon in every direction. During scenic cruising it is unmatched.

The space doubled as a trivia venue during the day, had a coffee bar and a full bar for the evenings, and was consistently quiet enough at night to get work done without feeling like you were hiding from the rest of the ship.

If you are a remote worker like myself, or just someone who appreciates a good view with a drink in hand without being out in the weather, find a spot early and make it yours. As an added bonus, the Starlink internet service seemed to be blazing up there!

Entertainment

There’s a very “something for everyone” feel when it comes to entertainment on the Volendam. The highlight of most evenings for me was the live band in the Ocean Bar on deck five, which played to a good-sized crowd until around midnight. The nearby Piano Bar served as a natural next stop when the Ocean Bar wound down for the night.

World Voyages and similar long cruises are different from your typical sailings in that there aren’t a lot of big, splashy, jukebox musicals. Although make no mistake, they are still there.

Instead, the World Stage theater hosted an ever-rotating variety of performers. During my time on board, there was electric violinist and a magician. This spot also played host to enrichment talks and other programming, especially on sea days.

Casino

What the smallish casino lacked in square footage it made up for in energy, especially late at night when the Ocean Bar crowd made their way over.

The table games like blackjack, roulette, and craps stayed busy throughout the segment and the slots had a good mix of machines. Newer games like Buffalo Gold, Dragon Link and Super Flaming Hot Pots were joined by classics like the one I can never resist: Wheel of Fortune (which also lets me down!).

I donated my fair share to the cause, which was promptly claimed by the woman next to me who hit $500 and $576 on back to back nights!

The spa, basketball and pickleball courts were also extremely popular on sea days.

The Crew

The crew is where Holland America has always separated itself from the competition, and the Volendam was no exception.

The ship is predominantly staffed by Filipino and Indonesian crew members who bring a level of warmth and genuine hospitality that is hard to replicate.

What stood out most was the small things. Crew members remembered your name after meeting you once. Remembered your order. The person polishing the staircases in the morning greeted you like a long-lost friend.

Who Is This Ship For?

As cruise ships get bigger, it can be increasingly difficult to feel connected to the sea or the people around you. Those looking for bells and whistles don’t mind, but others (like me) sometimes miss the low-key joy of quiet moments spent staring at the ocean while contemplating everything and nothing.

That latter group is who Volendam is meant for.

Those wanting Broadway shows and ziplines won’t find their needs met here. But folks who value conversation and community over bells and whistles will find themselves feeling right at home aboard Volendam.

The passengers ranged from their 30s to their 90s, and Holland America’s reputation as it’s only for old people did not hold up for a single day onboard. Some of these passengers ran circles around me in the heat of Southeast Asia. Not to mention kicking my butt in pickleball!

Book it for a segment and you will leave looking at longer voyages. That is probably the most honest thing I can tell you, and the highest compliment I could possibly pay this ship and her crew.

READ MORE: A World Cruise Segment Changed My Mind