Zaandam's claim to fame is its connection to the Olsen twins, Mary Kate and Ashley, and it boasts a unique and impressive collection of rock and roll memorabilia, though past cruisers have claimed its service (held to such a high standard on other ships in the fleet) has occasionally been inconsistent or less than stellar.
| Cruise Line | Holland America Line |
| Builder | Fincantieri |
| Entered Service | 2000 |
| Registry | Netherlands |
| Length (m) | 238 |
| Beam (m) | 32 |
| Draft (m) | 44204 |
| Tonnage | 61396 |
| Cruise Style | Premium |
| Size | Mid-Size |
| Passenger Decks | 10 |
| Cabins | 1114 |
| Total Crew | 650 |
| Max. Passengers | 1432 |
| Passenger/Crew Ratio | 1 : 0.5 (#94 of 357) |
| Passenger/Space Ratio | 1 : 42.9 (#90 of 261) |