zelker

Have not been there before but doing research on a private tour for our upcoming cruise and have run across several posts here and on TA that mention taxis. You might want to try Jorje Ramirez Morales (a taxi driver I found on the Costa Rica boards and also on TA) and see if he's available to take you and can suggest which one to do. That's who I've been emailing about a tour when we go. jorjel.cr@hotmail.com

Any of these cruises will be a wonderful experience. You can catch another itinerary on your next trip there.

So true, Ruth. And Alaska cruises are like eating potato chips ... ;)

Why not grab a taxi when you get off the ship and have them wait for you while you do the tram?

Have been to Alaska three times (twice on HAL, once on RCCL) and our first one was that Westerdam itinerary. Fabulous!! Anyway, if it were me, I'd choose Sitka and Victoria over Hubbard Glacier ... both are wonderful ports with lots of things to do that all ages will enjoy. Glacier Bay is a must, especially for your first Alaska cruise and you'll have a full day there so to me, doing two glaciers in 7 days is overkill and I suspect kids will get bored with two glacier days. Oh, and you'll cruise the Inside Passage on the RT Seattle cruise, too. And finally, air in/out of Seattle is usually much less expensive than in/out Vancouver and Anchorage, at least from the US.

Whichever one you choose, you will LOVE LOVE LOVE Alaska! :D

I just discovered the change from 10% to 5% while scanning the Captain's Club Exclusive Offers and am extremely disappointed. We are not that far away from Elite and our main reason for obtaining that level was for that 10% discount (and even more so since the rates on the Galapagos cruise just continue to go up). I no longer feel motivated to book X for that almost non-existant perk and will now spread our vacation dollars to the other line we enjoy or another line we want to try. IMHO, you shot yourself in the foot with this move, X. :mad:

We were originally booked in a SY suite before upgrading to the Neptune Suite. We did change our clocks the night before Costa Rica.

That's encouraging as we're in an SY too and are hopeful they'll make us a good upgrade offer. (is it rude to ask how much of an upcharge it was? :o)

Re: clocks - does that mean you changed the clock so you matched CR time when you got off the ship?

Forgot to ask - did you need insect repellant in Panama and Costa Rica?

Well got off the Zuiderdam today after 10 wonderful days. There was 3 couples in our group and we each had been offered an upgrade to a Neptune Suite which we each took. We had rooms, 7084, 7082 & 7080. None of us experienced any AC problems of plumbing issues, nor did I hear of any other passengers complaining of issues. Our rooms were very nice and I enjoyed the extra room and large balcony. All three rooms were on the port side, aft of the mid ship elevators. I found the ship to be in good order and the staff was constantly cleaning, polishing, and maintaining the ship. The bathroom was smaller than other premium suites I have sailed in on other lines and the fixtures somewhat dated but everything was functional. We had plenty of storage space & closet space. The free laundry service was a nice perk that we took advantage of on several occasions. Overall it was a very good cruise, liked the ship and staff.

Glad you had an enjoyable cruise. We'll be taking the same one in a few weeks - our first time to the canal area and Costa Rica so really loved reading your posts and seeing your pictures! We have booked the Gatun Lake and Expansion excursion too so I was glad to read that you enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.

May I ask what cabin category you were in before they offered you the upgrade to the Neptune Suites? Also, when you were in Costa Rica, did the ship stay on ship time or go to local time?

Thanks!

Barb

Just three more sailaways for ZUDM then I get my turn... Can't wait...

Which got me to counting and it's only two more Zuidy sailaways and then it's OUR TURN!!! :D (beat ya!! :p ... but promise she'll be in good shape when we bring her back for you)

Having just watched the Broncos make it to the AFC final next week, I just wanted to confirm that we will be able to watch the game on board the ship. (Priorities, right?)

GO BRONCOS!!!

(sorry, couldn't resist :p)

We don't like to do a big meal on the last night if we're flying home the next day, which we typically do. On our upcoming cruise, the last day is a sea day so I'm hoping we can book a late lunch in the PG that day and do a really light dinner.

Our last cruise with HAL (Alaska, 14 nighter on Amsterdam) our bags did not arrive to our stateroom until while we were at dinner. I had on capris and DH was in nice golf shorts and a polo shirt. When we got to the dining room, we told them that he didn't have any slacks to change into and they were fine with it. I'd say it's always the luck of the draw, both on whether you'll have your luggage pre-dinner and/or whether they will care the first night. YMMV.

Your photos are lovely. What camera do you shoot?

BTW, the Spanish weren't too far off in naming it Parque de la Palomas ... pigeons and doves are in the same bird family (Columbidae) but obviously the experience would have been way more pleasant had you found it full of doves. ;) I do like the pigeon holes in the wall, though.

I do not believe it was staged, but you have to realize that these people make part of their living from entertaining tourists so there is some elements of theater in what they present. My understanding is that these people fled from Nicaragua and settled in the park in Panama. The village seems genuine - it did not strike me as phony but of course they have lots of contact with the outside world and like everyone incorporate those aspects they find desirable - so you get an older man, with no shoes and wearing only a loin cloth driving a genuine dugout canoe with a very modern outboard - modern technology beats paddles any day.

 

We ate the lunch provided with no ill effects - and my wife is a very picky European eater with a propensity to get sick on anything not well prepared or lacking sanitation.

 

This was a HAL excursion as there is no other way off the ship - well organized and on time - you get dropped off in Colon to rejoin the ship so you get all the delights of the market on the dock. I have no experience with the other tours, which may be very good but in hindsight we both agreed this was a very good excursion. To add some perspective, we rarely take the ship tours and do things on our own.

 

We went in very early January and it was warm but not uncomfortable, and I come from a place where 70 F is a fine summer day. Take a cheap poncho or a light jacket as the canoe kicks up quite a bit of spray, particularly if you are near the front - If I remember correctly HAL or the tour operator was handing them out at the bus, but don't count on my recollection - we took our own.

Thanks for the great and very informative response! How long was the canoe ride and how long were you at the village? Were the villagers dressed more conservatively? I have seen pictures of the women topless and adorned with a lot of jewelry and what I believe are painted tattoos and the men the same with loin cloths and then I have seen pictures where the men are wearing what looks like a very short skirt and the women have a top to cover their breasts. Just curious if you got the true NatGeo experience. Also, did you get to walk around and see their huts or were you confined to the central area where they performed and had crafts for sale. I assume restrooms are outhouses?

I wasn't sure if you had done this via HAL or another cruise line was the reason I asked. Unfortunately we are relegated to only ship excursions or I, too, would book independently.

Thanks for volunteering to take this on.... a well used resource for sure.

A suggestion: if you haven't already checked them out, how about something similar to the ones on Celebrity? IMHO, they're extremely easy to search/navigate, even if you don't want to set it up in a spreadsheet format and it's straightforward in the format to fill out info about a cabin. People are asked not to post specific cabin questions on the thread as well which keeps it uncluttered.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=911018

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1911871 (this one was started this past fall and is based on the S Class ships)

Just a thought............

Cheers!

Barb

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip to the Embera village, if that is still offered. A nice bus ride through the country side of Panama, a terrific ride in a huge dugout canoe and a very nice time at the village. As an ex-anthropologist, I did not find it too touristy and it is organized in a supportive rather than exploitative way.

I'm very interested in the Embera Village tour and have a couple of questions. First, I read that sometimes the tour is to a "staged" village rather than to an actual village and I would hate to wind up at Disney of Embera. :rolleyes: Were you a HAL excursion and if so, what month and was it the real deal? Also, I don't do heat/humidity well (once it gets in the upper 80's and above, I melt) so that said, am I fooling myself that I could do ok on this tour? Did you eat the provided village lunch? Thanks!

johncolt -

see someone else already suggested that you join our 2/14 Roll Call. It's small but getting a little more active every day. :)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1791472

I emailed the Curacao port authority yesterday and they replied:

Mystery solved ... and YAY!! :)

I just checked and the port arrival/departure times for both ships are listed the same today as on 2/18. Based on what you guys have posted, I suspect that Roy (rafinmd) is right and that the ships will dock the way they are today! Thanks!! :D

Our guide said he thinks it will either be at Mathey or Mega and has sent me directions and a picture of what both meeting areas look like. I didn't know if the Zuidy specifically docked at one particular pier each time she was in port there but it seems that is not the case based on all your answers. I do thank you all for your best guesses! ;)

Doing Zuidy 10 Night Sunfarer next month. Does anyone know if we dock at the Mega Pier in Curacao? Thanks!

We were on the Z for Christmas week in 6056. At the start of the cruise' date=' everything seemed to be working well. On Thursday, Dec. 26, our "air handling system" and that of our area of the ship, was turned completely off for maintenance. We were forewarned by a small, easily overlooked note in our mailbox,that this would be happening from 8am to 5pm. Unfortunately for us, coming in from Half Moon Cay and wanting to get ready for our early dining was a bit steamy. Once the air came back on all was well. Guess they didn't do a great job of fixing it and we "sweated with the oldies" for not.[/quote']

 

We have a cabin booked in what might be "that area of the ship", as you describe it, next month. Do you know which cabins specifically were affected? And can you clarify your last two sentences because one makes it sound like it was only an issue the one day and the last sentence makes it sound like you had continuing problems. Thanks.

Link to other thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1964378

When we first started to have to print our own luggage tags, I made plastic sleeves.

 

I just run them off on regular paper and slip them into the plastic sleeves. Punch holes into the end and attach them to the suitcases using cable ties when we are ready to leave the hotel.

 

I have used the plastic sleeves over and over and over........

Would you mind sharing how you made the plastic sleeves, please?

Do you get smoke from below out on the balcony?

The link I posted (Timetospa) is where you get from the Elemis site to actually shop. Don't know if they were offering it when you looked but at the moment they are offering buy 2, get 1 free and looks like it's free shipping above $40. if you really like the stuff - and decide to treat yourself - that seems like the best deal of all. :)