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Volendam outbound from Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 2024

Volendam outbound from Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 2024 · Photo: Gordon Leggett, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

About Volendam

Volendam is a Holland America Line cruise ship of the R class, in service since 1999. She measures 61,214 gross tons and carries 1,432 guests with a crew of 647. She sails World cruises, Canada and New England, Transatlantic itineraries. We rate her 3.8 out of 5.

Volendam is one of Holland America's two remaining R-class ships, a smaller vessel of about 61,200 gross tons carrying some 1,430 guests. Delivered in October 1999 and the third Holland America ship of the name, she began sailing in November 1999. Her interiors follow a botanical theme, and the line uses her for long voyages: in 2027 she sails a 129-day Grand World Voyage from Fort Lauderdale, then a summer of Canada and New England cruises from Boston and Montreal. Refits in 2006, 2014 and 2019 were followed in October 2024 by a three-week, US$8 million dry dock in the Bahamas that updated cabins and turned the Explorations Café into a library and game room.

Ship facts

Guests
1,432
Crew 647 · 1:2.2
Entered service
1999
Refitted 2024
Length
238 m
Longer than 62% of 575 ships
Decks
10

Volendam is bigger than 50% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 67%. At 42.7 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.

Cabins
4/5, fleet average 4.1
Dining
4/5, fleet average 4.0
Entertainment
3/5, fleet average 3.0
Service
4/5, fleet average 4.0
Pools & decks
4/5, fleet average 4.0
Value
4/5, fleet average 4.0

Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Holland America Line fleet average across 11 rated ships in service.

Sister ships: R class

Volendam is one of 2 R class ships. Zaandam (2000) is in service.

ShipYearRating
Volendam this ship19993.8/5
Zaandam20003.8/5

Deck plans & cabin locations

Open dedicated deck-plan page

Official plan · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.

Explore the deck plans

What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.

Use the exact sailing edition and confirm cabin category, view, connecting doors, accessibility and refit configuration with Holland America. Date gaps between published editions are preserved; a gap is not covered by either diagram. Spatial cautions are not verified noise reports.

Compare the decks

Official plan · bow to the right

Check Deck 7 beneath the Lido deck
Deck 9Above your cabin
Deck 8Your cabin deck
Deck 7Below your cabin
Tap any diagram to open the full-screen zoom viewer.Full ship PDF

Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates

  • Deck 2 where cabins overlap on Decks 1 and 3

    Compare central Deck 2 accommodation

    Start with a room that has accommodation immediately above and below, away from lift lobbies, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Also check the outdoor promenade footprint on Deck 3 above; accommodation overlap does not remove all footfall exposure.

    Why we flag this

    The selected ship-specific plan shows accommodation across these decks, with some public or service spaces requiring an exact footprint check. This is a conditional shortlist, not a guarantee of quiet. Check the source plan.

  • Deck 7 below occupied Deck 8 areas

    Check Deck 7 beneath the Lido deck

    Match the exact room to pools, whirlpools, buffet/dining, outdoor seating and wellness footprints above. Ask about hours and early setup where the spaces overlap.

    Why we flag this

    The selected ship diagrams place Lido public areas above portions of the accommodation deck. This flags a vertical relationship, not every room on the deck or a confirmed disturbance report. Check the source plan.

  • Deck 6 above occupied Deck 5 areas

    Check Deck 6 over public venues

    Compare the cabin to entertainment, theatre, dining, bar, gallery and public circulation footprints below. Confirm category-specific view restrictions and any room symbols separately with the operator.

    Why we flag this

    The official plan places major public facilities beneath portions of this accommodation deck and includes the complete category and room-symbol legend in the PDF. This is layout-based advice, not measured noise data. Check the source plan.

Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Official ship-specific Holland America PDF. Each published guest deck is shown with the original cabin identifiers; use the full PDF for category, accessibility and room-symbol keys.. Reviewed 2026-10-22.

Read the full cabins-to-avoid guide

Photos

1 photo

Where she sails

Quick answers

Which cruise line operates Volendam?

Volendam is operated by Holland America Line and belongs to its R class.

What are Volendam's sister ships?

Volendam is one of 2 R class ships. Zaandam (2000) is in service.

How big is Volendam?

Volendam measures 61,214 gross tons and 238 metres in length, with 10 decks.

How does Volendam compare in size with other cruise ships?

Volendam is bigger than 50% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 67%. At 42.7 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.

How crowded does Volendam feel?

Volendam has a passenger space ratio of 42.7: 61,214 gross tons for 1,432 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Volendam feels comfortable for her size.

How many passengers does Volendam carry?

Volendam carries 1,432 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 647 (about 2.2 guests per crew member).

When did Volendam enter service?

Volendam entered service in 1999 and was last refurbished in 2024.

Where does Volendam sail?

Volendam sails World cruises, Canada and New England and Transatlantic itineraries.

Where can I find the deck plans for Volendam?

Holland America Line publishes the deck plans for Volendam; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).

How is Volendam rated?

Cruise Frog rates Volendam 3.8 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on cabins (4/5) and lowest on entertainment (3/5).

Which cabins are good choices on Volendam?

For the “Official plan” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Deck 2 where cabins overlap on Decks 1 and 3: Start with a room that has accommodation immediately above and below, away from lift lobbies, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Also check the outdoor promenade footprint on Deck 3 above; accommodation overlap does not remove all footfall exposure. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.

Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on Volendam?

For the “Official plan” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Deck 7 below occupied Deck 8 areas: Match the exact room to pools, whirlpools, buffet/dining, outdoor seating and wellness footprints above. Ask about hours and early setup where the spaces overlap. Deck 6 above occupied Deck 5 areas: Compare the cabin to entertainment, theatre, dining, bar, gallery and public circulation footprints below. Confirm category-specific view restrictions and any room symbols separately with the operator. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.

How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?

Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.

Where can I find Volendam deck plans?

Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.

Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?

Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Official plan”, reviewed 2026-10-22. Use the exact sailing edition and confirm cabin category, view, connecting doors, accessibility and refit configuration with Holland America. Date gaps between published editions are preserved; a gap is not covered by either diagram. Spatial cautions are not verified noise reports.

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