penguinscott Posted November 18, 2014 #1 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Thinking of booking a cruise for next month on Zuiderdam. Has anyone sailed on her in the past few months? I'd love some info beyond the recent reviews. Who is her current CD (or is there an easy way to find out)? Any issues we should be aware of? Offering any happy hour specials? How is the quality of the burger bar? Tips, things we should know? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted November 18, 2014 #2 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) Thinking of booking a cruise for next month on Zuiderdam. Has anyone sailed on her in the past few months? I'd love some info beyond the recent reviews. Who is her current CD (or is there an easy way to find out)? Any issues we should be aware of? Offering any happy hour specials? How is the quality of the burger bar? Tips, things we should know? We were on her two weeks ago. CD was Hamish Davis - nice fellow. Happy hour specials 4-5 PM in Crows Nest and one other bar. Second drink a $1. The new Dive In burger bar was great! Try the cheese covered fries. Burgers very good quality. Did not note any negative issues - other than late in getting luggage delivered to cabins. Tip - Internet cost is different. 75 cents per minute OR $9.99 for 30 minutes OR unlimited usage for a set fee (on our 11 day I think it was $149). Wi-fi access was weaker the further we got from North America. Great speed at times, poor at other times. Great crew - everyone very positive and helpful. Best HAL crew we have encountered in 15 trips. I am sure you will enjoy this ship. If you are going on a partial Panama Canal cruise - be sure to view the lock operations from the aft as well as the bow. I thought that the aft view was better, being very close to the gates. We did not care for Cartagena at all. Its a short stop (which caused problems in everyone getting back on at 12:30 PM) and the city was not all that much to see (plus the street vendors were in your face everywhere you went - even on ship tours). DaveOKC Edited November 18, 2014 by DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguinscott Posted November 18, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Excellent tips. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongerob Posted November 19, 2014 #4 Share Posted November 19, 2014 We were also on Zuiderdam a couple of weeks ago. I agree with DaveOKC that the crew was great. However I did hear a few complaints about weak A/C in some cabins and there were some problems with public restrooms. It seemed to me that many were out of service frequently. Say hi to Roger at the Ocean Bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ2002 Posted November 19, 2014 #5 Share Posted November 19, 2014 We were on the Zuiderdam last may (more than a few months ago) and had a great cruise. Thought the ship was in top shape. Staff was wonderful and food was very good. Interesting to see that Hamish is still onboard. He was the CD back in May. Hopefully he's had a vacation. :) One warning.... you may tire of the way he closes his PA announcements. ;) We thought the Dive Inn was good as well, though on the occasion we dined there at lunch, our hamburger buns were cold, as if they'd just been removed from the refrigerator. Hopefully that was just a one-off. Don't think you'd be disappointed in Zuiderdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senorjim Posted November 19, 2014 #6 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Just disembarked Zuiderdam on November 17. Partial Panama 10 day cruise. Our cabin 4152 had air conditioning problems that could not be resolved. Could not get the temperature below 77F. First world problems. We were offered to be moved to 5113 and given an OBC but the verandah was much smaller. The guest relations manager, Andres worked hard to make us comfortable. We kept our original cabin and were given an inside cabin 4158 across the hall for sleeping. We often entertained our travel mates on our verandah before dinner so this worked well. Near the end of the cruise we received a letter of apology with a much more generous OBC. I believe we were treated fairly. The CD Hamish was a lot of fun and I think he was perfect for the type of itinerary. The unlimited internet was $149 for the duration of the cruise. I don't think the speed was much better than other cruises but I appreciated not watching the minutes tick away every time I logged on and off. Login was quick and easy. I hope they roll this out fleet wide. Laundry service was fast. Always next day. Jim Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen of DaNile Posted November 19, 2014 #7 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Many thanks to all for posting their recent experiences on Zuiderdam. We board in 30 days so it makes it even more exciting to hear of positive experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie51 Posted November 19, 2014 #8 Share Posted November 19, 2014 The Unlimited internet price is much better than the old pricing system. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted November 19, 2014 #9 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Want to add one tip: keep your drapes closed as much as possible to help the air conditioning out. It was not bad in our cabin, but we could feel the difference in the hot and humid climates. Of course, this would not help the other posters who did not have air conditioning at all - so sorry to hear that. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanaBnana Posted November 19, 2014 #10 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Is the $149 Zuiderdam unlimited Internet price per device, per passenger or per cabin? Does Mariner status garner a discount on this package? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senorjim Posted November 19, 2014 #11 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) Internet is for multiple devices. One can be logged in at a time. We are 4 star so no discount for us. Not sure how it works for 5 star Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited November 19, 2014 by senorjim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankc98376 Posted November 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) She is a wonderful ship with a GREAT crew! You will be very happy you chose her! If you have dinner in PG I recommend Norman or Yudi. Yudi is a character. WHOHOO!!! Edited November 19, 2014 by frankc98376 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp56 Posted November 19, 2014 #13 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) "Woo Hoo Hamish" is wonderful CD. The "Woo Hoos" are an acquired taste (he tends to be a bit more circumspect when he's announcing from the bridge LOL) He was very personable and approachable around the ship. His good cheer is totally infectious. I'd "woo hoo" with him anytime. Great guy. Edited November 19, 2014 by shrimp56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retdon Posted November 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Totally agree with all posters. We were on 10/17 on 10 day canal and loved everything about the ship. The food was great, crew was one of the best HAL has, even though we do like the Noordam. Capt. Thomas is fantastic and liked by everyone. We were in 6074 and had no AC problems but the afternoon sun can be very hot in the tropics, good suggestion to keep drapes partially closed if sun coming in. Ship was spotless, there was some worn spots on furniture but you really had to look hard to see them. Service was excellent. We would sail her again. Hope the Maasdam is the same, we are spoiled by the Z. Don't miss the Caribbean BBQ on aft pool deck, get there early they ran out of ribs which were delish. Unlimited Margaritas were soooo good. Escargo was excellent, if you like it. Everything we ate was very good, cheese plate is really nice. Lobster, had 2 instead of steak and it was excellent. Any questions I have the Daily Activity. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp56 Posted November 19, 2014 #15 Share Posted November 19, 2014 She is a wonderful ship with a GREAT crew! You will be very happy you chose her! If you have dinner in PG I recommend Norman or Yudi. Yudi is a character. WHOHOO!!! Yudi ROCKS! No stuffiness, just fabulous good-humoured service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguinscott Posted November 23, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Thanx, all. Some good tips and now very excited (oh, like I wasn't already!) to set sail on her. Um...unlimited Margaritas??? Where, when and how much!?:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted November 23, 2014 #17 Share Posted November 23, 2014 You had me at "unlimited margaritas" . . . please elaborate! :D We are on the Feb 13th sailing, I hope the ship is still in good shape then! Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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