HenryK

Very early in this thread there are mentions that on some HA ships on some itineraries there is a policy that allows you to stuff a laundry bag full and have it laundered for $20. Later this month we are cruising the Mediterranean on the Zuiderdam. Is it likely that such a policy would apply on this cruise?

On the Zuiderdam does the Pursor's desk exchange currency? Do they accept currencies other than $US?

I am on the Zuiderdam in August. This is my first HA cruise. I will have my iPad with me. How much is wifi access on board? I believe there are packages for 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 minutes. What is the speed of wifi access on board? If I buy a package can I access it in my stateroom or where do I access the wifi?

It seems like only the April calendar is currently available.

Thanks Lemonjelly (love the name).

Suznjune, I should have realised you are on the Zuiderdam.

I decided to check the in port details on cruisetimetables.com for my cruise. It starts in Barcelona on 13th August and leaves port on 14th August. But when I got to the calendar page for Barcelona, the 13th is omitted from the calendar! (So is the 18th and there are a number of other dates missing.) The calendar for the departures from Barcelona does list both the 13th and 14th but the site does not list the Zuiderdam as departing. In fact, the only mention of Zuiderdam being in Barcelona in August is found when you go to the cruise ships listing. I don't know how wide spread this sort of inaccuracy is on the site.

Lemonjelly, I was unaware of that site. Thank you. I found that there is one other ship due in that day: the Seven Seas Mariner. That completes my ships in port information. Suznjune, great to hear that you are in Santorini that day. We are on the Zuiderdam. There are apparently just the 2 ships in port that day. I have often seen you on these boards and would love to see you on the 12th. Small chance but it may happen.

I don't know how you got it to work, Travel To Be Free. I tried again and it won't let me past October 2014. I even tried the site's search engine with entries like "Thira 2015" but no luck.

Where do you get information about ships in port for Thira? For some reason Cruise TT, which I have used successfully for all the other ports on my 33 day cruise, does not go beyond October 2014.

Kazu, thanks again for the information. As usual, prompt and detailed.

euro cruise, thanks for the precise information. Much appreciated.

A lot of sites say to travel from Porta Nolana to Pompei Scavi you need a U3 ticket which costs 2 euro 90 (one way). But I've just accessed the Unico Campania site and it lists 2 types of fares that might be applicable:

1. Hourly (integrato) for 3 euro 20 and

2. Corsa Semplice (Aziendale - which I believe translates as corporate) for 2 euro 60. Can anyone throw some light on the ticket prices for this journey?

Thanks Lizzie68.

On Internet access, Holland America's General Information booklet says:

The ship offers a variety of pricing options to suit individual needs from pay as you go to discounted time plan packages. A one-time activation fee of US$3.95 will be applied on your first login only.

Can anyone give me any idea of internet access charges on the Zuiderdam? Is there such a thing as wifi on board (I have an iPad)?

Thanks for the informative & supportive reply, Kazu. I can't find the "sticky above the roll calls" you mentioned. How do I get there?

Hi, I’m loving this great thread.

I am a first-time HAL cruiser (sailing next August) and new to Cruise Critic. But fools rush in . . . . . . . I started the roll call for this cruise despite having little or no idea of what I should do as a Roll Call Initiator. I have welcomed those who have logged onto the roll call and I have put in some shore excursion suggestions. But where to from here? Do I organise some sort of meet and greet once on board? How do I do this? What other hints can people give me?

Oh, and if anyone would like to join or just take a look, the roll call for Zuiderman’s 33 day Best of Mediterranean is at: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2110476

Still waiting for a reply from Aegean Travel.

Ooops. Sorry for the last line of my previous post. Didn't mean to shout. Formatting went haywire.

Glittergal, the buses don't seem to have a number but apparently they are clearly marked "Tarquinia". Try this website http://www.tarquiniaturismo.it/pagina19_getting-there.htm. There are 2 companies providing buses to Tarquinia – Eusepi & Cotral. Google both these for their timetables. Eusepi is a small local company that runs two lines to Tarquinia, I line and the more frequent L line. Both lines use the same stop in Civitavecchia, One way is 1 euro 50. Apparently you can pay on the bus, at least, Eusepi buses, but I did read a couple of reviews that said it is better to buy at the tabac as bus drivers sometimes charge extra. You catch the bus at the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele at the stop across from the cathedral. From what I can work out, Eusepi buses stop at the main square just inside the town gates, Piazza Cavour and is the better one to catch. The less frequent Cotral buses drop off at nearby Barriera San Giuso.

Hope this helps. Let me know how you go and how accurate this is.

I will be in Civitavecchia in August 2015 and am planning a tour of Tarquinia, an ancient Etruscan (pre Roman) town. It can be reached by 2 regular bus services that run from the Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele just near the Civitavecchia port entrance. Fares are just 1 euro 50 one way. The town is apparently well worth seeing in itself but you can also see the Etruscan tombs and tour this major archeological site. It is open every day but Monday (guess which day of the week I am there). Anyway google Tarquinia.

Yum, sounds great!!! All 3 meals at the Pinnacle. We have our first HAL cruise coming up. We will definitely try all 3 meal times. Must you book for each of breakfast, lunch and dinner? On the Zuiderdam, must you pay for each (even breakfast) and is it $10 or $15?:p:p:p

:confused::confused::confused: I'm totally confused. Can somebody explain succinctly the prices of each of the Explorer 4 package and Signature Beverage package. Are there any entry qualifications (we are on a 33 day Mediterranean cruise on the Zuiderdam)?

From this thread I take it that the only wine covered is the house wine and that you can order only one drink at a time per card. But information on the exact cost of each package would be very helpful.

Many thanks.

I take a display folder organised with one sleeve for each port of call. In it I have put in the weeks prior to embarkation tips for each specific port. This is because I am one of those people who are not fond of ship-provided shore excursions. So, for example, for my 2015 cruise I have one sleeve for Civitavecchia. Because we have recently spent a week in Rome we do not want to do Rome again. I have researched (principally on cruisecritic.com) the alternatives to Rome and have decided to go to Tarquinia. So in my folder I have bus timetables and price lists, a print out from Google maps of the walk from the port to the bus stop, a list of sites to see in Tarquinia, etc. I would also have any printouts of pre-booked tickets (none for Tarquinia). Over a 33 day cruise this could save thousands of dollars, literally, and much time & inconvenience.:o:o

Laurino, thank you very much for this great review and stunning pictures. We are sailing in August on the Zuiderdam for the 33 days Best of Mediterranean. It has most of the port calls your cruise had. This is our first HAL cruise and our first Mediterranean cruise. We are planning to do many of the shore excursions as possible on our own, for much the same reasons you gave throughout your review. You have helped us enormously in this. Once again, thank you.

The following shore excursions for HAL's Mediterranean cruise are indicated on HAL's web site as being priced at "$150 or more". Can anyone give me more precise prices and also some idea of what you thought of these excursions? Many thanks:

From Livorno: Discover Cinque Terre

From Piraeus: Best of Athens

From Naples: The Isle of Capri