Published January 10, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego (unless otherwise noted).

Page Two:
ZUIDERDAM Tour: Sports Deck to Observation Deck

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Forward Sports Deck facing port. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

ZUIDERDAM has eleven passenger decks, beginning at the top with the Sports Deck and continuing downward with the Observation Deck, Lido Deck, Navigation Deck, Rotterdam Deck, Upper Verandah Deck, Verandah Deck, Upper Promenade Deck, Promenade Deck, Lower Promenade Deck, and culminating with Main Deck. The majority of accommodation is located above the public rooms, enabling the incorporation of more verandahs.

Forward Sports Deck facing aft from port. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

Facing aft from the port side of Forward Sports Deck over the Observation Deck awning towards the midships pool and twin funnels. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

Sports Deck is divided into fore and aft portions. The forward area is similar to the STATENDAM, ROTTERDAM, and VOLENDAM series with its glass enclosed windscreen, large sunning area and side terraces.

Aft Sports Deck facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

Over the aft Lido from Aft Sports Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The aft continuation of Sports Deck is a new feature and is situated just behind the second funnel. It is netted in and contains a combination basketball and volleyball court as well as a panoramic view over the stern.

The Crow's Nest facing starboard from forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

Observation Deck begins with the 270 seat Crow's Nest, a popular and now traditional HAL lounge (with stunning views through full length windows on three sides) by day and disco at night.

The Crow's Nest, starboard section, facing aft. Note large lavender chair and photo-realistic painting of a rose. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

It is subdivided into three different areas, a bright blue and yellow section on the port side, a bar with dancefloor and line up of reclining seats forward, and a semi-partitioned starboard side that sports an oversized lavender upholstered gilt framed chair and a large painting of a rose. Mr. Dingemans remarked in reference to the unusual chair, "In the right setting, even gaudy things can take on a sense of beauty".

The handsome Oak Room, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

A new feature aft of the Crow's Nest on the starboard side (not unlike the meeting rooms aft of the observation lounges on P&O's ORIANA and AURORA) is the 26 seat Oak Room. The room features a faux fireplace and blond wood chairs and tables that continue aft onto the covered terraces on the open deck to either side.

Midships Observation Deck, facing forward. The octagonal skylight in foreground is situated above the Hydro Pool. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The teak-lined port Observation Deck, facing aft along the open dome. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The midships Lido Pool as seen from port Observation Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The twin funnels from starboard Observation Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

An open sunning area follows, spanning the width of the ship before continuing aft around the sliding glass dome over the midships pool via teak promenades. Here, external access from port to starboard is not easily negotiated as the funnel and aft Sports Deck housing follow immediately aft of the dome. However, it is possible to cross through the expanded childrenŐs facilities located just forward of the funnels.

The Kidzone, facing starboard. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The Kidzone (port side) and Waverunner (starboard) are enlarged versions of the Sky Rooms found on the previous ships and can accommodate 61 children. Although Holland America is not pursuing an active youth market like Disney (or even Carnival), this facility acknowledges the increasing number of children its younger clientele bring on the company's shorter seven to ten day cruises. The space can be divided into three distinct areas to cater to children of different ages and when demand is particularly high, one of the three meeting rooms on Promenade Deck can also be utilized. Just forward of the Waverunner is a small video game room and a golf simulator (for adults).

Funnels at night from the port Observation Deck promenade. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The aft starboard portion of Observation Deck in a forward-facing view. Note deck surfacing is not teak in this part of the ship. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2002.

The outer promenades continue aft via generous sunning areas to a narrow terrace overlooking the stern.

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