My Zuiderdam review

[VOLEYMOM]

Just returned from a wonderful cruise on the Zuiderdam. We are frequent cruisers and this was my fourth in a little over a year. Two on Princess, one on Celebrity and now Holland America. I will give my opinion with these 3 in mind. Was a little concerned due to some not so kindly previous posters. We are a couple in our early 50's and traveled with our 2 kids, and daughter's boyfriend all in their 20's. We flew into Ft. Lauderdale a day early from California and stayed at the Amerisuites. It was okay nothing great, we usually try to stay at the Embassy Suites but it was fully booked. Junior Olympics for boys waterpolo and girls swimming in town so many hotels including ours fully booked.

We took our time thinking we might miss some of the crowds and arrived at the dock a little after 1:00 p.m. Big mistake, unfortunately the computers went down and the line was out the door. We did not get on the ship until almost 3:00. We went directly to our room, main deck all the way forward. Outside cabin 1007. Our room was great, very nice with a lot of storage and the location was fine. Our room steward was wonderful, kept our room perfect and was always there if we needed anything. We were suppose to meet fellow cruisers at 2:30 so missed out on our meeting. I think Joe Dog is posting his review also, and was sorry to miss out on our meeting.

The ship was easy to navigate, although I did feel the ship was a little closed in. I missed the open atrium with the big staircase. Also we felt the ship was warm. Our room took a while to cool off, for some reason the electricity turned off right after we got to our rooms, including the air conditioning. It stayed off for a while and I think it really takes a while to get everything cooled down again. Were we miserable, no, just a little warm. The Lido was frequently warm also. We felt this ship could use a little help with the cool air. Also did not care for the pool in the middle. We like to hang out by the music and I usually try to stay more in the shade as I burn easily, but we found that the middle pool was to hot and humid. The top does not retract all the way, plus people would smoke in there and if you are not a smoker it was rather annoying. So we just moved to the back pool, I lathered up frequently with the sun screen and we enjoyed the back pool. It was very nice looking over the wake, service from the waiters was great. Never lacking a drink if we needed one.

We have been to the ports many times so did not do many tours. We rented bikes on Key West and I wobbled my way around, very hot but fun. We went to Paradise Beach in Cozumel, great place to just kick back and relax. We all had a massage and ate and drank. We all wished we had more time there, don't really understand why we were there so early and left so early. Grand Cayman we did go to Sting Ray City again. We booked with Sotos and it was nice. We had never been to Half Moon Key and we all agreed it was our favorite place. We rented a cabana and loved every minute. We were so lucky on this cruise. It was warm but not miserable, wonderful weather with just a little bit of rain. Seas were calm and most of the time you could hardly feel the ship moving.

Now my opinion of the food and our dining experience. I know this is a touchy subject with many so this is just my opinion. We give Holland America an A+ in their Lido resturant. We loved the stations and almost everything we ate was great. I loved the salad bar and the pasta bar. They had wonderful prime rib when we arrived on the ship, they roasted chicken, had ice cream every day and bread pudding. YUM. Wonderful fresh squeezed orange juice, what more could you ask for. We ate our breakfast and lunches here everyday. Our dinner was at 8:00. We had a table to for just us which was a little disappointing since I had requested a large table but we liked our window location so did not ask to be moved. Our waiters were Raden and Albert who did an excellent job. I give the dinning room food a B+ or A-. We had some excellent dinners and some not so good. The beef and fish dinners were on excellent, chicken sometimes so so. I love salads and desserts and they were just okay. Soups were very good. I would rate Celebrity ahead of both Holland America and Princess in food. On my last Celebrity cruise my waiter found out I loved Shrimp Coctails and I had one given to me every night. Our jumbo shrimp coctail on this cruise was probably the worst one I have ever had. The shrimp was limp and warm. We did not even finish it. Dining room service was slow. Be prepared to eat at a slower pace. The waiters do a great job, I think it really is the kitchen that is a little slower. It really did not bother us at all, after a long day in the sun it was nice to just sit back and take our time at a meal. We were always done in plenty of time to see the shows We did bring wine from home and I preordered some bottles from Holland America. We tipped out wine steward ahead of time and he was fantastic. Did not even charge us the uncorking fee, and kept our wine glasses filled.

We went to most of the shows, missing the comedian and I think the early show with the magician. Loved the Elton John impersonater. He really put on a great show. Thought all the shows were enjoyable. I am always impressed with how well they can sing and dance on a moving ship. Hit the casino, I like to donate, my husband, son and daughter did great on black jack. Winning more than they donated!

I guess a few people got the dreaded virus so they sent around a letter asking you to stay in cabin if sick, they then would not let you serve yourself in the Lido resturant. Luckily we all were fine no problems and I feel the ship did everything they could to prevent further illness. We noticed when we got on the ship they had set up dispensers with hand sanitation lotion which you could use if you wanted. I feel frequent hand washing is the key.

All in all a wonderful cruise, and would not hesitate to cruise on Holland America again. Everyone works so hard to please you. Was everything perfect? Of course not but nothing ever is. I will admit my favorite line is Celebrity I feel just a step above of both Princess and Holland America. Love the champage when you get onboard and the cool washcloths when you get back on after a hot port. Still very much enjoyed this cruise. Any questions just ask and I'll try and answer them.

[Lois R]

Hi:) ...really good review! I will be sailing her on 9-11...first time on HAL..thanks for your thoughts.....I love Celebrity as well....but the price for this one was too good to pass up.....hope I have a good time too. Sounds like your week was very good overall!

 

Thanks for the tips about the a/c....hmmm.....did I hear about this problem from some other folks too?

[TylerRose]

Thanks so much for your review. We're off next week and hope to have similar seas!

[loudbmw]

Thanks for the review - your fellow cruisers on the 8/21 Zuiderdam want to know if the ship was on island time or stayed on Eastern Daylight Time at Grand Cayman (will they make private 9:15am Stringray City Tours)

 

Thanks,

 

Lou

[sail7seas]

Thanks for your review. We just booked to return to Zuiderdam for our fifth cruise aboard her. I agree with you that the Vista Ship style Lido is great.

[jstducky]

lou... i was on the zuiderdam's w. carib sailing on 7/10... the ship changes to local time.. so when your itinerary says you arrive at Grand Cayman at 8:00 am, that is 8:00 am Central Time or local time, not Eastern Time. you actually change your clock back an hour between key west and cozumel.

 

so if you have a 9:15 am private excursion, you'll make it without any problems. i had a 9:30 private excursion and we were on land by 8:20 am

[Sharcruiser]

Just got off the July 24th Cruise. Grand Cayman was on Wednesday and we were Central time. The boat is scheduled to dock at 8:00a.m. but I know it docked earlier. You have to wait until they get clearance before they can start the tender process. We did tender into Grand Cayman and they let the people who had booked tours through the cruiseship tender first. They used four small tender boats which hold 100 people and then one large boat that held 250 people. You also have priorty tendering if you are in an S category room. We had a tour at 11:00a.m. that morning and we went to get our tender ticket at 9:30a.m. and were on Grand Cayman about 10:10a.m. Alot of people go have breakfast first so it is quite busy around 9:30a.m. There also is only one tender dock and when we were there, there were two other cruiseships all tendering. If you get to the Queens Lounge where they give out the tender tickets early, you should have no problem.

[VOLEYMOM]

Forgot to mention how great Holland America was in tendering. I give them another A+. On Grand Cayman we went to Queens Lounge as we had an early morning tour. Walked in, received our tender tickets and we were on the Island in record time. Very, very quick, they really have it together when it comes to tendering.

[chefajax]

Hi to All...

 

Voleymom....

Thanks for the review. As you went on Princess, was it the Grand class?, if so, you mentioned a more closed-in feeling on the HAL ship? How do you compare the two?

As to the casino, is it about Valley View or Casino Pauma size, with those levels of gaming or more like Harrah's Rincon? Did you bring along some Temecula wine? :)....Dennis of Escondido

[dst]

Hi Rebecca, sorry that we missed you on the cruise, we even went by your cabana to see you but no luck.....maybe on a future cruise

[rkacruiser]

Thank you for a very good review. I, too, have booked another cruise on the Zuiderdam and am glad to learn that Prime Rib is still being served at the Embarkation Lunch. I also felt that the Lido Restaurant was too warm, due, I think, to some missing doors at the forward end of the Restaurant. Warm, humid air enters there from the mid-ship foyer, when the doors to the mid-ship pool open. I mentioned that in a letter I sent to Seattle and received a reply that my suggestion of installing doors at that location would be considered. I wonder if anyone knows whether the Oosterdam and/or the Westerdam do have doors installed in that location.

[hoptoit]

Volleymom,

I understand we were the only ones that didn't make it to the cruise critic meeting! Those darn computers!

[VOLEYMOM]

Dennis, you did you guess that we took some Temecula wines. Actually we took our favorite Wilson Creek Almond Champagne aboard. We bought it 2 years ago at the winery and this year found it a lot cheaper at Costco!! YUM

Last year we sailed on the Grand Princess and also the Dawn Princess. The art work and decor of the Zuiderdam was upbeat and I felt not to "way out there". I really liked the use of colors. The only thing that I did not care for was most of the ship felt closed in. In the Shopping Area and Grand Foyer hardly any high ceilings just a very small area with the higher ceilings. It almost felt like a older ship. When I first started cruising they were more like that. Missed the big stairs and how you can look all the way up to the top floors. I also sailed on the Summit this year and that was just beautiful. Extremely beautiful atrium. Of couse that is a much larger ship. The Zuiderdam had a very small staircase from the bottom to the top. This is the only thing I really did not like about the ship everything else very nice. Oh, except who designed their main showroom. They put those stupid poles to block the views. Very annoying, still managed to get great seats to all preformances. The casino was rather small, but of couse still found many ways to lose my gambling money!!

Debi, sorry I missed you. I also went to your cabana but nobody home, we all were probably out enjoying that beautiful water or food. I do think that I saw you up on deck. The day it was raining were you on the deck in the back of the ship. We were the ones behind you trying to wait out the rain. I think it was you because on Half Moon Key I heard you give your name and they were taking you to your cabana. We were in the middle of setting up some things so couldn't stop and chat. Thought I would catch you later in the cabana. We will just all have to book another cruise! Actually I have, we are going on Celebrity to Hawaii in November. Can't wait! Looked at a new car today and then thought heck I would rather cruise!! My car can make it another year!

[chefajax]

Dennis, you did you guess that we took some Temecula wines. Actually we took our favorite Wilson Creek Almond Champagne aboard. We bought it 2 years ago at the winery and this year found it a lot cheaper at Costco!! YUM

Last year we sailed on the Grand Princess and also the Dawn Princess. The art work and decor of the Zuiderdam was upbeat and I felt not to "way out there". I really liked the use of colors. The only thing that I did not care for was most of the ship felt closed in. In the Shopping Area and Grand Foyer hardly any high ceilings just a very small area with the higher ceilings. It almost felt like a older ship. When I first started cruising they were more like that. Missed the big stairs and how you can look all the way up to the top floors. I also sailed on the Summit this year and that was just beautiful. Extremely beautiful atrium. Of couse that is a much larger ship. The Zuiderdam had a very small staircase from the bottom to the top. This is the only thing I really did not like about the ship everything else very nice. Oh, except who designed their main showroom. They put those stupid poles to block the views. Very annoying, still managed to get great seats to all preformances. The casino was rather small, but of couse still found many ways to lose my gambling money!!

Debi, sorry I missed you. I also went to your cabana but nobody home, we all were probably out enjoying that beautiful water or food. I do think that I saw you up on deck. The day it was raining were you on the deck in the back of the ship. We were the ones behind you trying to wait out the rain. I think it was you because on Half Moon Key I heard you give your name and they were taking you to your cabana. We were in the middle of setting up some things so couldn't stop and chat. Thought I would catch you later in the cabana. We will just all have to book another cruise! Actually I have, we are going on Celebrity to Hawaii in November. Can't wait! Looked at a new car today and then thought heck I would rather cruise!! My car can make it another year!

 

Thanks Voleymom....

I like that Wilson Almond champagne too and the Van Roekal Muscat (serious sweet-tooth). Perhaps I'll just have to bring a bottle or 2 of taht bubbley

[Linda-E]

Voleymom,

 

We are looking at a January cruise; cabins 1003 and 1005. Could you hear any noise from the lounge or video arcade in your cabin? Did your cabin have an upper berth and did it ever get in the way?

 

Thanks for the info,

Linda :)

[VOLEYMOM]

We did hear a little bit of noise. We figured out it was from the Piano Bar. You couldn't tell which song was being played but definitely muffled noise. Sometimes at night you could hear people walking also. We always stayed up pretty late so usually heard it while falling asleep. Never kept us awake though. We both are pretty sound sleepers. It really wasn't that bad of a location. Not much hallway noise. We had a bunk in our room but it never got in the way. It came out of the ceiling, it was almost flush with it. My kids also had a triple and used the couch that turned into a bed. They had room 1001.

[dst]

Rebecca, YES that was us. what a shame that we missed you. I tried to hold out on the rain but went to the art auction instead and bout too much art! Was that your husband who would get there early in the mornings with me....?

 

We loved HMC and would be fine staying there for an overnight. maybe we could talk to HAL about that.

 

Enjoy that cruise in Nov we are jealous

[VOLEYMOM]

Yes that was him. He is so good to get up and get us seats. I tried not to sleep in to much so he wouldn't be "solo" up there. Wasnt' that a great spot. I love looking out over the wake. The only thing I could of used was a little more shade. I'm a little crispy!! We waited out the rain and it turned out to be a really nice day. We sure had great weather.

To bad you had such a poor wine steward. Ours was fantastic. Did you get to talk to your waiters much? Ours were a little reserved. Our wine steward perfomed in the employees talent show, great voice. Sorry we missed you, maybe next time!

Rebecca

[Oink]

:) Hi Voleymom - I remember you from one of our previous cruises this year, but which one? Unfortunately I don't think we ever met in person though. Anyway, great review of the Zuiderdam. We will be doing her Eastern itinerary over Thanksgiving....can't wait! :D We also like Celebrity the best, followed closely by Princess. Our main gripe with Celebrity is they have fewer ships and not enough variety in itineraries to satisfy our cruise hunger!! We booked an aft facing balcony cabin on the Z. It should be awesome.

 

Do you recall if the casino had Let-It-Ride and Three Card Poker? Those are my favorite games. Did you bring any beverages on board with you, other than wine? We want to bring some pop and maybe beer in a rolling cooler. How do you think that will fly with HAL? Later....Oink! :)]

[Lois R]

Hi:) ...I think you sailed with my good friend Ruthann on your April Summit cruise!

 

I will be on the Z on Sept 11th.....my first time on HAL....after 3 times on Celebrity.

I will be posting a review upon my return....hoping my HAL Experience is a good one:)

[dst]

Rebecca; how funny. We actually did meet in a different way. Your husband and I became the early birds.....and kept each other company while you guys slept in :)

 

Our waiters were very reserved not sure why. Maybe over worked or just not comfortable communicating in English.

 

We had a great crusie and will definately cruise again with HAL. Just had a few things that were negative but not enough to ruin anything.

 

We shall meet again on our next journey. Maybe I can get your husband to save me a seat :)

 

Deb