Return to the Zuiderdam? Refurbed??

[dippy]

Hello:

 

I have sailed the Zuiderdam 1.5 years ago and I am thinking of sailing it once again during March Break.

 

The ship went through a dry dock later that year. Can someone provide info on the extent of this refurb and if the ship continues to show the signs of wear and tear as it did when I sailed?

 

Thanks for your assistance!

 

:) Dippy

[cruisecop2006]

Just sailed 11-04-06 and found the ship to be very dated and worn.Food was the worst i have had on a cruise,And the service was not great. I would rethink if its not an awsome deal...

[Atomica]

We must have been on a different ship...

 

Sailed Sept 23rd and found the ship to be in excellent shape. Food was very good, and the service was exceptional. I can only remember one patch of carpeting that looked worn (and by worn, I mean slightly discolored), and that was at the top of the midships staircase. Other than that, there was always cleaning, polishing, varnishing etc. going on at all times.

 

One thing to note though is that contrary to HAL's SOE checklist, not all the enhancements have been made: we had the old bedding, but did see some rooms that had the new sheets so my guess is that they're slowly changing all the cabins over.

[DCT61]

Worn? I took my first cruise with HA on the Zuiderdam a couple weeks ago. Aside from some scratchs on the leather panels in the elevators and some staining on the carpet in the cabin passageways, I thought the ship was beautiful and in excellent shape. I had read the reports on this board about the condition of the Zuiderdam before we left and was concerned. But I was very impressed with the ship and would not hesitate to sail on her again.

[Candy]

Believe me... I know this ship! I sailed her last week and she is in excellent shape! Corridors have been repaired and most of the SOE bedding is complete. The only thing I noticed (after we got home) was that we did not yet have a flat-screen TV in our cabin... but we didn't watch it anyway, so it went unnoticed.

 

The service on Zuidy is incomparable! Food was very good to excellent, and the casino? OUTSTANDING !

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess <-- planning my 8th Zuidy cruise

[bweppner]

Believe me... I know this ship! I sailed her last week and she is in excellent shape! Corridors have been repaired and most of the SOE bedding is complete. The only thing I noticed (after we got home) was that we did not yet have a flat-screen TV in our cabin... but we didn't watch it anyway, so it went unnoticed.

 

The service on Zuidy is incomparable! Food was very good to excellent, and the casino? OUTSTANDING !

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess <-- planning my 8th Zuidy cruise

 

Thank you - good to know. We're leaving for our first HAL cruise next week.

Cruised Carnival for our first time last year. We like some of it, but disliked most of it. Sadly, we won't be back.

(We're a little skittish, but looking forward to it.)

[dippy]

Believe me... I know this ship! I sailed her last week and she is in excellent shape! Corridors have been repaired and most of the SOE bedding is complete. The only thing I noticed (after we got home) was that we did not yet have a flat-screen TV in our cabin... but we didn't watch it anyway, so it went unnoticed.

 

The service on Zuidy is incomparable! Food was very good to excellent, and the casino? OUTSTANDING !

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess <-- planning my 8th Zuidy cruise

 

Candy, so good to hear from you. I enjoyed travelling on this ship prior to the dry dock - refurb that took place later that year. Do you know exactly what they did to the ship. Those scratches and cuts in the leather etc where there when my family and I were on the ship. Have they not repaired these things? If not, do you know why?

Take Care,

DiPpy

[Shelli]

We were on the Zuiderdam on the 10/28 sailing. We thought the ship was immaculate and beautiful, and noticed almost no wear and tear at all (except for the scratches in some elevators... some of which appeared to be <gasp> vandalism). The new bedding was very luxurious and comfortable. I would rate service very good, but not excellent (except for our wonderful cabin steward), and I would rate food from good to very good. But hey, I didn't have to cook it, so there are some points right off the bat! :)

[Jen&Rich]

We were on her October of last year and getting back on in 8 days!!!!!:D The service we found tobe FANTASTIC, food very good to excellent, and the overall condition very nice. Going from Carnival to HAL might seem overwhelming at first (ina good way) not as many people specially kids and drunken idiots running the halls. Hope you have a fab time on this beautiful ship!

[Mlascheid]

I was also on the 11/4 sailing of the Zuiderdam and found the complete opposite of what cruisecop2006 found....we felt the service throughout the ship to be very, very good. There was never a time that we came in contact with a crew member that we were not greeted with a smile and a good morning/afternoon/evening. Any requests were immediately taken care of and met with a warm smile. I can't say enough about the filipino/indonesian crew...they are truly lovely. As for the ship...we felt it was in very good condition with the exception, as others have stated, of scratches on the elevator walls. Food was very good to excellent in dining rooms and Lido. Room service for breakfast was very good...on time and hot. We loved our first cruise on the Zuiderdam and can't wait to plan another one! I hope we don't have to wait too long!!!!

[Mlascheid]

I was also on the 11/4 sailing of the Zuiderdam and found the complete opposite of what cruisecop2006 found....we felt the service throughout the ship to be very, very good. There was never a time that we came in contact with a crew member that we were not greeted with a smile and a good morning/afternoon/evening. Any requests were immediately taken care of and met with a warm smile. I can't say enough about the filipino/indonesian crew...they are truly lovely. As for the ship...we felt it was in very good condition with the exception, as others have stated, of scratches on the elevator walls. Food was very good to excellent in dining rooms and Lido. Room service for breakfast was very good...on time and hot. We loved our first cruise on the Zuiderdam and can't wait to plan another one! I hope we don't have to wait too long!!!!

 

Sorry for the double post:o

[robsta]

Hello:

 

I have sailed the Zuiderdam 1.5 years ago and I am thinking of sailing it once again during March Break.

 

The ship went through a dry dock later that year. Can someone provide info on the extent of this refurb and if the ship continues to show the signs of wear and tear as it did when I sailed?

 

Thanks for your assistance!

 

:) Dippy

 

Dippy,

 

The Zuiderdam is in good shape. We were on the 10/22 sailing. We had a great time. The new bedding is AWESOME. The best sleep I have ever had on a cruise ship.

 

It was our third time on the Zuiderdam -- As with any ship that has cruised for more than a year, there are a few signs of wear here and there, but nothing that is extreme or a hinderance to your cruise experience.

 

In my opinion, the Dining Room food is still a not Five Star. Three and a half. Although, we had the best waiter that we had ever had. Assistant left a little to be desired.

 

We sailed the Z in April of 05, so on this most recent sailing you could see signs of improvement. I don't believe that you would be disappointed sailing her. :)

[jagmanss1]

Thank you - good to know. We're leaving for our first HAL cruise next week.

Cruised Carnival for our first time last year. We like some of it, but disliked most of it. Sadly, we won't be back.

(We're a little skittish, but looking forward to it.)

 

bwerppner - We are on the same sailing and have A Roll call going if you would like to join here it is.... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=8348955#post8348955......

[E91]

My wife and I have (had) a special spot for the soon to be scrapped SS-Norway (x-SS France). This was our favorite ship. Our family had travelled her as the France, and we travelled her as the Norway. I sailed on her with my dad as my college graduation gift. This was right before her upper decks were added. I again sailed her with my wife on our honeymoon in 1993; enjoyed the new upper deck cabin with floor to ceiling windows. We went again for our 10th Anniversary and enjoyed a stern add-on suite with wrap around balcony. We were booked as were many others for a 2004 cruise which unfortunately never came to pass. The Norway is/was the last of its kind. We were not into a new build but were forced to after the explosion in Miami. We booked the Zuiderdam for our 2004 trip. It was a new, refreshing, and enjoyable experience (aft corner suite). We still did/do miss the Norway and could put up with her issues as she was a classic vessel. We would pay a fortune to get to experience her again. Long story short, after our trip on the Zuiderdam, we decided to try some other lines - actually all other lines save for the ultra-expensive (short cruises on all that I won't bother to mention - longer on others). We had the nicest time, best food, and best cabin on Costa's Costa Atlantica in 2005. It was an aft Grand Suite. The mattress, however was horrible. We tried Princess last year - Car. Princess; aft suite April of this year. Fantastic cabin; horrible food and service. We are back on the Zuiderdam this December and looking forward to it. Aft corner Verandah Suite again - obviously our favorite location. Trying Celeb in April with our son - always wanted to try that line. Point of this long email - a few scratches in the elevator are nothing. People are spoiled. Coming from a 40+ year old ship to some of the new builds. No comparison. While fabulous, my wife and I would rather be back on the Norway. It was a real ship rather than a floating hotel. Mind you we aren't even 40 yet and miss her grand old style.

[Tinknock50]

E91,

Enjoyed your fond look back at the Norway. Sorry I didn't sail her while I had the chance.

[E91]

She was one of a kind but soon to be gone.

 

E91,

Enjoyed your fond look back at the Norway. Sorry I didn't sail her while I had the chance.

[dippy]

Thanks for all your responses to date. The Zuiderdam was in good shape, not great, when I sailed her. What I experienced was mostly cosmetic problems and the breaking up of the hallway floors.

 

We are about to book on Monday and I am curious as to the specific changes and repairs that took place during Dry Dock? I can't believe they went through dry dock and didn't repair the vandalism in the elevators as per a poster's reply.

 

Any info on the dry dock session would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Dippy!

[Candy]

During December's drydock the elevator wallcoverings were replaced with a more durable material. Unfortunately, some of these have been vandalized. We just left Zuidy and found her to be in excellent shape in every way.

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[dippy]

During December's drydock the elevator wallcoverings were replaced with a more durable material. Unfortunately, some of these have been vandalized. We just left Zuidy and found her to be in excellent shape in every way.

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

 

Thanks Candy!

 

Does anyone know why the maintenance department wouldn't have such vandalism repaired immediately? Is it this way on other HAL ships? Simply, is it systemic?

 

I'm sure that once again, my family will have a wonderful time.

[Candy]

Instead of staring at the scratches on the elevator walls, look at your reflection in one of the two back corners of the interior elevators... you've dropped 20 pounds!

 

Candy the ZuiderPrincess <-- saves that treat for later in the cruise

[missygirl]

I was also on the 11/4 sailing of the Zuiderdam and found the complete opposite of what cruisecop2006 found....we felt the service throughout the ship to be very, very good. There was never a time that we came in contact with a crew member that we were not greeted with a smile and a good morning/afternoon/evening. Any requests were immediately taken care of and met with a warm smile. I can't say enough about the filipino/indonesian crew...they are truly lovely. As for the ship...we felt it was in very good condition with the exception, as others have stated, of scratches on the elevator walls. Food was very good to excellent in dining rooms and Lido. Room service for breakfast was very good...on time and hot. We loved our first cruise on the Zuiderdam and can't wait to plan another one! I hope we don't have to wait too long!!!![/quote

 

I agree with you word for word, we were on the Zuiderdam Nov. 11-18 and it sounds like we enjoyed it the same. Like you said "the service throughout the ship was very good" I think that I can say that we had some of the most excellent service of any cruise that we have been on. So many friendly, smiling faces made it a joy to be with them. Can't wait to travel with HAL again.

 

Missygirl

[Mlascheid]

missygirl....

 

Glad you had a good time on your cruise. I think the service on Zuiderdam was probably the best we've had on our 12 cruises on Celebrity, Carnival, HAL and Princess. I enjoyed all of our cruises, but feel that HAL service is superior to the rest. Looking forward to our next HAL cruise. The friendliness of the filipino/indonesian crew is unmatched.

[dippy]

Thank you everyone for your insight into this ship. Since I last sailed, 1.5 years ago, the ship went into to drydock. Does anyone know what they did during the drydock session?