Zuiderdam Neptune upgrade ???

[bernie5]

I am looking at a cruise in Feb 2017 and would like to know if the Zuiderdam has undergone the Neputne Suite upgrades or will by Feb 2017. Searching this site I have not been able to find out this info and I do not see the Zuiderdam on the list for drydock. Has anyone been in a Neptune Suite recently? Thanks

[joepeka]

There was a thread here about 6 months ago where someone posted a schedule of fleet wide enhancements (including the suite upgrades). Here's a link to that thread but if it's accurate, Zuiderdam will not get the suite enhancements until November of 2017 (at least, that's the "proposed" timeframe):

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2282019

 

FWIW, late 2017 would make sense given that Zuiderdam's last dry dock/maintenance period was April 2015.

Edited May 15, 2016 by joepeka

[Rangers76]

We will be on the zuiderdam in June in a Neptune and I am wondering what are the upgrades that need to be done? We were in a Neptune on the Neuiw Amsterdam last summer, what are the differences between the two Neptune suite?

[bernie5]

Thanks, that is the post and charts I kept looking for! I will confirm with PCC but think you are correct.

[bernie5]

We will be on the zuiderdam in June in a Neptune and I am wondering what are the upgrades that need to be done? We were in a Neptune on the Neuiw Amsterdam last summer, what are the differences between the two Neptune suite?

 

Here is the link to the Holland America site

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/news/NewsRelease.action?newsReleaseId=1303

 

If you search on HAL you will see pictures.

 

I have stayed in a Neptune on NA and thought it was smaller than on the Zuiderdam or Noordam---especially the aft balconies. Everything else was much the same.

[kelleherdl]

We are also on a Feb 2017 Z'dam Panama Canal cruise in a NS. After just off the Oosterdam and experienced the new entertainment venues and the new Gallery Bar and Casino configuration it is disappointing that Z'dam will not get them until late 2017. But that's how she rolls....

 

Dennis

Edited May 15, 2016 by kelleherdl

[RJ2002]

Do the Zuiderdam Neptune Suites already have the in-suite coffee/espresso machine, even though the suite upgrade drydock is not scheduled until late 2017?

[3rdGenCunarder]

Do the Zuiderdam Neptune Suites already have the in-suite coffee/espresso machine, even though the suite upgrade drydock is not scheduled until late 2017?

 

They should have them. I don't think the coffee machine was meant to be part of the major drydock upgrades. We had a coffee machine oin Oosterdam in late January, well before her drydock.

[RJ2002]

They should have them. I don't think the coffee machine was meant to be part of the major drydock upgrades. We had a coffee machine oin Oosterdam in late January, well before her drydock.

 

Thanks! :)

 

What was your impression of the machine and the quality of the product?

[kazu]

Thanks! :)

 

What was your impression of the machine and the quality of the product?

 

Had it on the Westerdam. Machine worked well and product was o.k. But it was mainly express from the ones I chose. Or I pressed a wrong button ;). But it was pretty simple to operate. Only used it when I was up earlier than the Neptune Lounge was open ;)

[RJ2002]

Had it on the Westerdam. Machine worked well and product was o.k. But it was mainly express from the ones I chose. Or I pressed a wrong button ;). But it was pretty simple to operate. Only used it when I was up earlier than the Neptune Lounge was open ;)

 

Thank you.

 

Does it use pods, or is the setup similar to the machine in the NL?

[3rdGenCunarder]

Thank you.

 

Does it use pods, or is the setup similar to the machine in the NL?

 

It uses pods. But it isn't like other pod machines, so you have to use the ones they give you. The pods are metal, but they load sideways, not right-side up like a K-cup.

 

You get two pods of each: regular coffee (might be arabica?), decaf, and espresso. There are two settings for size. The larger setting does not produce a lot of coffee. The smaller setting is for the espresso. IIRC, they provide two sizes of cups. I don't know if they hadn't sorted out the cream/milk situation, but I recall keeping a glass of milk from the Lido to put in coffee. But it was the first week for the machine, and it took a while to sort out the details.

 

The coffee was OK, but Neptune Lounge machine makes better coffee, We don't drink espresso, so I can't comment on that.

[Heartgrove]

Make sure that there is water in the machine before you use it. The first time I tried it there wasn't any water and wasted a good pod as it self-disposes the pod.

 

The coffee is, as 3rdGenCunarder, okay for before the Neptune Lounge opens.

[OlsSalt]

For us the inherent Neptune upgrades are the size of the cabin, storage and balcony along with the use Neptune Lounge and associated Pinnacle breakfast and event perks - those features are built in.

 

Superficial changes in the cabin itself would not matter that much for us, because we think is real estate itself that sets this cabin level apart.

[kazu]

Thank you.

 

Does it use pods, or is the setup similar to the machine in the NL?

 

It uses pods. Like a nexpresso machine you will find in better hotels ;)

[kazu]

For us the inherent Neptune upgrades are the size of the cabin, storage and balcony along with the use Neptune Lounge and associated Pinnacle breakfast and event perks - those features are built in.

 

Superficial changes in the cabin itself would not matter that much for us, because we think is real estate itself that sets this cabin level apart.

 

Agree on the cabin itself and the PG breakfast, etc., but.....

 

I have to confess, that we enjoyed the Bose speaker for a bit on our last cruise. DH was quite happy to sit and relax with his headphones :)

 

A much better perk for us than the coffee machine )

 

We had a different "perk"on the Westerdam - 8 complimentary bottles of water were delivered on day 2. That was very nice and very appreciated on a 33 day cruise :)

Edited August 4, 2016 by kazu

[DSLibrarian]

Do the Zuiderdam Neptune Suites already have the in-suite coffee/espresso machine, even though the suite upgrade drydock is not scheduled until late 2017?

 

Just off the Zuiderdam a month ago - in Neptune suite 7086. We had the new coffee/espresso machine. Like others have said, it is OK for a small cup of java before the Neptune Lounge opens.