I now understand negative reviews

[Mary Ann 2]

Any night that we went to a lounge, there were people there and live music. I wouldn't say that the place was jumping, but it wasn't dead either. One night they had a late adult comedy show that was very good. The food was good - the dessert chef was very good. Some meals were much better than others, but on average, the food was above average. Many of their soups were spectacular and some of the desserts were to die for.

 

I don't think that you need fear anything that happened to us - it could all have happened on any line or ship - just a string of bad events. We have sailed HAL, Princess, and Celebrity and consider them all good lines, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, but all a wonderful place to spend a vacation!

[idiebabe]

Thanks for the info, Maryann. I agree that nothing is perfect. I've been on 11 cruises and one cruise the wait staff wasn't as good as all the others but we still had a great time.

 

I saw so much negative on this ship. Glad to hear the food is good, the comedy show, etc.

 

Thanks again for the info.

 

Eileen

[darnapar]

Maryann you took some great pictures.

[Giorgi-one]

Why would anyone think there is a difference between flash photography and non-flash photography?

[blndee77]

Why would anyone think there is a difference between flash photography and non-flash photography?

Flash photography can startle performers? No-flash they wouldn't notice it?

 

I have been many places that allowed photography but not with a flash for that reason.

[Mary Ann 2]

blndee77 was exactly right - on our last Princess cruise, they actually explained that there was no flash photograpy for that reason, but taking pictures without flash was okay

 

that's why we would think it was okay!! And the point really was how they handled the whole situation anyway!!

[E.J.'sMOM]

Hi, MaryAnn,

 

I was looking through the message board and saw your message. It was great meeting you and your husband on the cruise. I was sorry to hear about your problems...we had a great times. E.J.'s trying to convince me we can go on another before school starts! I received the strawberries the day after I fell on the Lido deck...a welcome treat!

 

Your pictures are beautiful. Have a great summer...school days will be here before we know it!

 

Micky

[cusyl]

I think they don't want you photographing the shows because of copyright laws, or don't want someone to copy their costumes or steal their material.

We've had a couple incidents where we were videotaping a Disney on Ice show and they almost took our camera. It's a definite no no. Also, when we were in Florence Italy a lady in the gallery took a flash picture of a work of art and the guards escorted her out the door.

 

I know it's disappointing when you have these things happen on a cruise, but hope you made the best of it and didn't let it ruin your cruise.

[Orcrone]

I think they don't want you photographing the shows because of copyright laws, or don't want someone to copy their costumes or steal their material.

We've had a couple incidents where we were videotaping a Disney on Ice show and they almost took our camera. It's a definite no no. Also, when we were in Florence Italy a lady in the gallery took a flash picture of a work of art and the guards escorted her out the door.

 

I know it's disappointing when you have these things happen on a cruise, but hope you made the best of it and didn't let it ruin your cruise.

Cusyl,

 

I agree with what you say about copyrighted material. But this is not Broadway. I don't think anyone is on board to steal material from the show. With this in mind the crew should have assumed that this was a passenger taking pictures for his own benefit and handled the situation much better. Asking him to please refrain from taking pictures would have been the proper way to handle it.

[gliles]

I would think that flash photography would be distracting to the audience if nothing else. I always assumed that was one reason to not allow it.

[blndee77]

I think they don't want you photographing the shows because of copyright laws, or don't want someone to copy their costumes or steal their material.

We've had a couple incidents where we were videotaping a Disney on Ice show and they almost took our camera. It's a definite no no. Also, when we were in Florence Italy a lady in the gallery took a flash picture of a work of art and the guards escorted her out the door.

 

I know it's disappointing when you have these things happen on a cruise, but hope you made the best of it and didn't let it ruin your cruise.

Video is understandable because you could take a video of an accident on stage or something like that where there is proof in court that the cruise line did something wrong. (I have heard that is why some doctors don't let couples video ultrasounds and childbirths because of malpractice suits).

 

As for works of art and antiques in Europe and elsewhere, flashes and sunlight are known to deteriorate the piece. So you can often take non-flash photos. I have many photos from the Louvre in Paris including one of the Mona Lisa. All ok to take without a flash.

[iamirish]

I would encourage anyone who has genuine problems to go to the front desk and leave a written message for the hotel manager.

 

When I cruised on the Ryndam last December, I had a problem with the air conditioning in my room (cabin 384). I made the mistake of first talking to the front desk personnel and then to the Guest Relations Manager. She acted like I was bothering her. She was of NO help whatsoever in resolving the problem that my air conditioning was not working. I was stuck in a very hot room for the balance of my cruise!!

 

It will be a long time before I cruise on HAL again.

 

Tom

[Ellya]

 

I'm thinking of booking on the Zuiderdam but I have read so much negative on the ship. Although I've been on 11 cruises I have never sailed HAL. My husband and I are 51 but we enjoy having a good time which includes staying up late. I have read that there is no nightlife on the ship that after 10:00 everyone goes to bed.

 

A few questions for those who sailed: Is that true? Are the lounges and casino quiet? Also, do they have adult comedy shows at midnight, etc. Also, how is the food?

 

 

Eileen

 

We just returned yesterday from a 7 day cruise on the Zuiderdam. Although this was our first cruise, I will say that we were on the go from early in the morning to late at night. We usually collapsed between midnight and 1 a.m. There is a 10:30 show every night in the main show lounge, there is dancing of some sort in both the Crow's Nest and the Northern Lights nightclub area. The casino was open late every day. Some of the first nights the nightclub was kind of quiet, but it seemed to get more popular as the week went on. There was a late night (11:45) adult comedy show one night and adult kareoke another night. Frankly, after long busy days in ports we were too tired to stay up as late as we wanted to for some of the late night activities! So, I think you will find plenty to do at all hours.

 

The food was very good with lots of dining choices. The dining room is open breakfast, lunch and dinner for sit down multi-course meals. The Lido buffet offers casual dining, but still excellent food (I had a salmon dinner there that was very excellent). There is also a poolside grill for outdoor casual dining which is open for "off hour" meals. There were also some special occasion meals like a BBQ by the Lido pool.