Ship reference
Zuiderdam
Ship specifications and sources.
Quick facts
- Cruise line
- Holland America Line
- Class
- Vista
- Entered service
- 2002
- Status
- In service
About us Zuiderdam
Capacity note: the guest figures discussed below come from older published specifications. The corporate fleet table dated August 2026 gives a different count, so a current comparable capacity remains unconfirmed.
Zuiderdam began Holland America Line's Vista sequence in 2002. Built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard, it is the older sibling of Oosterdam, Westerdam and Noordam. The vessel's permanent IMO identity is 9221279. Its name is not a class label: the four Vista ships have individual service histories and later modifications, so descriptions of one should not automatically be transferred to the rest.
A confirmed return to guest operations took place on 6 December 2025 in Miami after a two-week Bahamas dry dock. The first subsequent departure was a seventeen-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyage. This establishes that the late-2025 work was completed. It is different from the Evolution transformation announced for April 2028, whose future features should not be used to describe an earlier booking.
The December improvements included eleven additional ocean-view rooms on decks one and seven. Selected bathroom work was also substantial: Verandah rooms on deck eight received full bathroom updates, while other accommodation received more limited changes. The distinction is useful when reading reviews or paying for a category upgrade. A refreshed ship does not mean that every room has exactly the same fittings or the same degree of renovation.
The Crow's Nest gained a small stage and changes to sound and lighting for intimate performances and talks. Updated dining seating, surfaces and public-area finishes formed other parts of the visit. These are confirmed alterations rather than claims that every activity, treatment or meal is included in every fare. The actual programme and the package terms still need checking for the departure selected.
Current insurance records give 82,820 gross tonnage. The original builder supplies 285.23 metres overall and a moulded beam of 32.25 metres. Old cabin totals and the published historical 1,964 double-occupancy guests are not used to calculate a new maximum after the added rooms. When comparing present and future Zuiderdam sailings, start with the applicable layout and confirmed capacity basis, then assess the itinerary and cabin details against your needs.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Year built | 2002 |
| Entered service | 2002 |
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 82,820 |
| Guests at double occupancy | — |
| Maximum guests | — |
| Crew | — |
| Cabins | — |
| Decks (total) | — |
| Length (m) | 285.23 |
| Beam (m) | 32.25 |
| Last verified refurbishment year | 2025 |
| Maximum speed (knots) | — |
| IMO | 9221279 |
| Shipyard | Fincantieri, Marghera, Italy |
| Flag | — |
| Propulsion / fuel description | — |
A dash means no independently verified value is available. Guest counts at double occupancy and maximum capacity are different measures. GT measures enclosed volume, not weight.
Other ships in the same recorded class
Shared class does not guarantee identical cabins, venues or deck layouts.
Last checked:
Sources
- Holland America — current fleet and classes — Accessed
- Fincantieri — original individual ship design — Accessed
Historical construction gross tonnage superseded here by2026/27 insurer; moulded beam specifically.
- Steamship Mutual — current insured vessel2026/27 — Accessed
82820GT individually verified on each vessel, not sister inference.
- Holland America — retrospective service dates and lower berths — Accessed
2003/2002 maiden, historical1964 double occupancy not post-refit maximum.
- Holland America — completed individual2025yard visit — Accessed
April2025completedOosterdam;6December2025guestreturnZuiderdam. FutureEvolution separately documented.
- Holland America — current future transformation dates — Accessed
Fall2027Oosterdam/April2028Zuiderdam; NOT completed current renovations.
- Carnival — currentcapacityconflict,August2026 — Accessed
1990corporatecapacity versus historical1964doubleoccupancy. Do not replace exactlowerberths with undefined/roundedcount.