Reviews & Ratings for the Zaandam

On November 26, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard executed a critical medevac of a 32-year-old man due to a medical emergency aboard the cruise ship 'Zaandam', located approximately 50 nautical miles offshore from Oahu. The incident began on November 25 at 10 a.m., when the ship's senior physician alerted the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu about the patient's troubling stroke-like symptoms while the 'Zaandam' was sailing nearly 330 nautical miles northeast of the Hawaiian island. In response, watchstanders coordinated with the duty flight surgeon, who deemed a medevac absolutely necessary. Early in the morning on November 26 at 3:15 a.m., an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, along with an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, rendezvoused with the 'Zaandam' around 50 nautical miles east of Kaneohe. The helicopter crew swiftly hoisted the patient, along with a nurse dispatched from the cruise ship, ensuring that in-flight care was available. The Coast Guard helicopter successfully transported the man to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he was reported to be in stable condition. This operation underscores the Coast Guard's commitment to maritime safety and swift emergency response. For more details and to see the operation in action, check out the full report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3979508/coast-guard-medevacs-ailing-man-from-cruise-ship-50-miles-off-oahu/

Peter Dolan, a prominent businessman from Limerick, tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 last week after falling ill during a cruise aboard the Zaandam. Dolan, who owned Creation Travel, a travel agency specializing in trips to Portugal, was enjoying a holiday with his wife, Caroline O’Connor, when they encountered an outbreak on the ship. As the situation escalated, the Zaandam, carrying 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members, was forced to dock prematurely in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dolan was subsequently hospitalized at North West Medical Center in Margate, Florida, where he sadly passed away. His family is currently making arrangements to repatriate his remains to Ireland, reflecting on the loss of a beloved member of their community.

In a heartbreaking development, a crew member of the cruise ship 'Zaandam' has succumbed to COVID-19 on April 8. Broward County Coroner Craig Mallak confirmed that Wiwit Widarto, a 50-year-old from Indonesia, passed away after being hospitalized for several days due to complications from the virus. This grim news marks the fourth COVID-19 related death linked to the 'Zaandam', which had docked in Fort Lauderdale just six days prior to his passing. The ship, which spent two weeks at sea after being denied entry at South American ports, has been a focal point of the pandemic. Tragically, four elderly passengers lost their lives before the vessel reached Fort Lauderdale, with three having tested positive for the virus, while the fourth succumbed to a viral infection. In total, around 1,200 passengers disembarked from the 'Zaandam' and its sister ship, the 'Rotterdam'. However, 29 passengers suffering from mild symptoms remained aboard. These individuals are now scheduled to return home on April 9 via chartered flights, bringing an end to a tumultuous chapter for those connected to the 'Zaandam'.