HAL Zuiderdam Dec 6 to 17 11 Sunfarer Mini Review

[pamrose228]

The simple answer; those extra two hours (2:00 pm instead of 4:00 pm departure from HMC) are required for the ship's high speed run to Oranjestad, Aruba

10 cents advise: Next time; tell Guest Services you need to see the Dining Room Manager re: your daily dietary restrictions, Have them, preferably a guest services supervisor, set up an appointment for you with the DRM within 24 hrs of your arrival on board

Keep up the great work with your review :)

 

 

 

Day 6 installment I will explain how it got resolved.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[erewhon]

Enjoying your review, thank you.

[pamrose228]

Day 6

 

Sea Day

 

Well needed day of rest. Late MDR breakfast.

 

DH went to a lecture in the Crows Nest (love that space) with Darren Lewis, the Hotel Director. after the lecture he went uo to Darren and explained my dietary issues. By that evening I had a proper low sugar low carb diet and was given choices for every dinner afterwards. BS still ran higher than normal but thats to be expected on a cruise.

 

Beautiful day at the main pool, most folks I have seen all cruise long, even hard to find a chair.

 

Another delish salad on the Lido,

 

More sunbathing

 

Went to a lecture about Cartagena.

 

Dinner in the MDR tablemates all there.

 

Show on Mainstage that evening was a Dancing thru the Years show. I forgot the full name, it was good.

 

Early retire... just like the 80 somethings. Early call time tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[RJ2002]

Great pictures of Curacao! Thanks for sharing.

[pamrose228]

Great pictures of Curacao! Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Thanks the night ones are courtesy of my son who would love to be a travel photographer.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[DeeniEncinitas]

Really nice review!! I enjoy reading the different perspectives of our CCERS on their wonderful voyages! Your son has an eye for photography! Great pics he took.

Denise:)

[pamrose228]

Day 7 - Cartagena, Colombia

 

Call time 7 AM to 1 PM

 

Call time was early because we were going through the canal early the next morning. We ordered room service for breakfast for 6 am, came smack on time. I love HAL Room Service, order anything, anytime no cost.

 

I had set up a tour with Dora the Explorer several roll call people were to join us. Unfortunately Dora wasnt there but she sent Mercedes who was very good and knowledgeable. $65 pp including all admissions. We met at 7:30 and promptly left a few moments later.

First stop was La Popa, a monestary with magnificent views of the city.

Next we went to the fort, San Felipe. we walked around but due to out short call time couldn't go in. The vendors were very aggressive there and I almost took one's box of made in China beads and threw them in the air. I restrained.

 

 

We then went into the Walled City and had a walking tour of the area, went to a mock Emerald mine, bought coffee beans and learned some of the history. It was in Walled City where we went into an old church that my DH quickly slipped out and couldnt be found for 20 minutes. We were almost going to leave when he showed up and said NO BIGGIE. He's in a freaking foreign country and you have a boat to catch ....no biggie, Son and I were pretty po'd.

Back at the port which is beautiful we admired the birds, monkeys and peacocks. The store there was all made in Columbia goods. I recommend i

Lunch in the MDR by 1 pm, Sailaway was beautiful.

 

Later that evening first night of Hanukah, a candle lighting was arranged for those who want to attend (more on Hanukah at another time). At least 80 people showed up.

 

Dinner at 6 pm in the MDR (yes we were told to come late due to the holiday) Son wore his suit pants because no pants were to be found in Cartagena. Lame show with a ventriliquist, early to bed, Panama Canal next morning call at 6 am.

Edited January 9, 2018 by pamrose228

[SSKJ572]

Love your reviews. Thank you!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[pamrose228]

One important thing I forgot: At dinner in the MDR the night before the Panama Canal Transit, the Captain makes announcement that because of giant swells flooding the docks at Costa Rica port, we might have to divert. Collected sigh of disappointment from all the pax.

[pamrose228]

Day 8

 

Panama Canal Transit/Gatun Lake/Panama City

 

Call time for transit: 6 am

Call time for port 11 am to 7:00 pm

 

After a very early Room Service breakfast (5:30 am) we headed up to the Lido deck only to find out the transit would be delayed for 2 hours. Finally at 7:30 we went to Deck 4 (upper promenade) bow of ship to watch the locks. The ship in front of us was the NCL Sun, what a amazing sight and if you havent done a transit, do one.

After around an hour and a half we were finished and headed to Gatun Lake, where only people who booked an excursion with HAL could get off on a tender, everyone else had 3 hours in yucky Colon. I booked the Casco Viejo and Miraflores locks excursion. It was only $69 pp and well worth it.

 

Our tour guide, Julian, a British expat was great. He had retired to Panama City and I understand why.

 

First stop was Isla Flamenco, a beautiful island port with yachts and resort, it was there I went into a store and BINGO a beautiful perfect pair of black slacks for my son for $25, vendor gave me $25 off, SCORE!!!! Another reason to love Panama.

 

We were given a Subway sandwich and granola bar with water for lunch.

 

Next we traveled toward the Pacific,saw some beautiful architectural sights the views and the skyline of the breathtaking modern Panama City. Miami vibes were felt.

In Casco Viejo, the oldest part of Panama City, we had around 45 minutes to walk around and see the old buildings, more churches and beauty of this 500 year old city. We all met up again with our trinkets in hand, I even got a bag of local grown Panama coffee.

Off to the Miraflores Lock and Visitor center, there's a presentation there and you can watch ships enter the Pacific. BTW, the travel leaving Panama City was just as bad as the traffic we have rush hour in every major city in the US.

After a long day we headed for Colon where the ship was now docked, the Captain informed my son that we would not be going to Costa Rica (BOO!!!) I had such a great excursion booked for the entire day, instead we would be diverted to Grand Cayman (been there done that) we were on the Lido deck by 7 for dinner, the day was glorious and we all agreed would go back to Panama in a heartbeat

 

Missed the Hanukah candle lighting and was in the cabin by 10 pm. By then the Captain informed everyone the change of itinerary and instead of Costa Rica and then 2 sea days we had a sea day on Day 9 and Georgetown on Day 10.

[1884Vic]

Thank you for this review. I was supposed to be on this cruise with my parents but my dad passed away in late July. My mother decided she wanted to pass this year but we may do it again in the future. We took this cruise in 2014 and loved it so much, which is why we booked it again. Thanks for the photos. It has stirred up a lot of very nice memories.