taszmom Posted August 18, 2004 #1 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Past Zuiderdam crusiers : Looking for some comments/feedback on things that you now know that you wish you knew before you boarded the ship : Things you wish you had packed, excursions you wish you had booked before the cruise, items you would have purchased before sailing, activities or entertainment you wish you hadn't missed, things you would have done differently, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imsulin Posted August 18, 2004 #2 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I would have sat in one of the chairs in the very front of the Queen's Lounge instead of the nasty 45-degree booth in the back while I tried to enjoy "The Pianist" last year! Great movie....bad seating! I wish I would have discovered the coffee bar (can't remember the name) sooner than Day 3. It was really excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paticakes Posted August 18, 2004 #3 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I wouldn't go to any of the tour briefings or shopping talks. They run them on TV about 15 times a day so you eventually catch most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceanlov1 Posted August 18, 2004 #4 Share Posted August 18, 2004 if your going eastern, go to the baths in tortola..........its so beautiful. go to the pinnacle the 1st night for $10 per person. get to half moon cay early so you can enjoy the entire day at the beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taszmom Posted August 19, 2004 Author #5 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Great Info...keep it coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted August 19, 2004 #6 Share Posted August 19, 2004 The coffee bar is Windstar Cafe and has the greatest coffees (and sweets to enjoy with them). Some folks wish they brought an extension cord as there was only one plug in some of the cabins. Others wished they brought bath salts or bubblebath to use in their tubs....be careful to not use too much if you turn on jacuzzi jets. Could be bubbles all over the place. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevNeal Posted August 19, 2004 #7 Share Posted August 19, 2004 if your going eastern, go to the baths in tortola And don't forget to use soap while you're at the baths. :D ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localady Posted August 19, 2004 #8 Share Posted August 19, 2004 I would recommend you also consider missing the "Art" sales. When I had first started cruising I got roped into a few, and there are much better ways to spend your days at sea ( and cheaper:eek: ) IMHO. Additionally don't miss the wonderful fresh squeezed Orange juice in the Lido every morning. It's not available through room service or in the main dining room. Also a HAL specialty is their bread pudding, it is delicious and can be found near the desserts every lunch time in the Lido. Have a great trip!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxxy Posted August 19, 2004 #9 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Had a great time. Key West Catamaran Sail was a fun but definitely not what was portrayed. Small Hobby type boats, limited involvement for some (of all people he had me doing the most strenuous - steering). Booked my own at Royal Dolphin Swim in Cozumel, it was a trip of a lifetime. Caught taxi very easily, got there early and had the white sand beaches all to ourselves. There is a groomed beach and beutiful restaurant/bar right in the Chakanaab Park. Did the Land/Turtle/Stingray combo in Caymen. Probably could have done same on my own and saved money and just see what I want (don't miss the Stingrays though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfishe Posted August 19, 2004 #10 Share Posted August 19, 2004 loved the Tulum ruins excursion...and booked it through the ship thank goodness as the tour was late in returning. Bought a soda card from ships services before boarding - it was in the room upon arrival. Loved to eat breakfast in the dining room ! lunch too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 19, 2004 #11 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Good morning:) Localady, they don't offer fresh orange juice for breakfast in the dining room?:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted August 19, 2004 #12 Share Posted August 19, 2004 The fresh orange is served in the Lido not the dining room. The machine that squeezes the oranges is located in the Lido. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 19, 2004 #13 Share Posted August 19, 2004 ok, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allen.crawford Posted August 19, 2004 #14 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Go to the shopping talks and sit up close. We have gotten a lot of free stuff by going - we particularly like the $24 shirt that changes colour when exposed to ultra-violet light. We dine late, but like to grab a shrimp cocktail from the lido dining room before going to dinner to tied us over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted August 19, 2004 #15 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Besides the extension cord - take a power bar. Lots of film or digital cards - extra batteries. A big appetite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the2ofus Posted August 19, 2004 #16 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Take a small night light to plug into the electrical outlet in the bathroom. Those bathrooms are DARK at night and the light switch is outside the door so when you turn it on it blasts the sleeping area with light before you get the door closed. Not good if your spouse is a light sleeper. (No pun intended) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekerr19 Posted August 19, 2004 #17 Share Posted August 19, 2004 And don't forget to use soap while you're at the baths. :D ;) Would that be liquid Dial or Lifeboy? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekerr19 Posted August 19, 2004 #18 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Take a small night light to plug into the electrical outlet in the bathroom. Those bathrooms are DARK at night and the light switch is outside the door so when you turn it on it blasts the sleeping area with light before you get the door closed. Not good if your spouse is a light sleeper. (No pun intended) This is a great idea! I never thought of it - but will take one next time. Our kids are always turning on the light - it wakes us up all the time. Also, in Key West, don't forget to try some of the Conch fritters - they are heavenly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CINCY40 Posted August 19, 2004 #19 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Both DH and I like to know the time if we wake up at night and there are no lighted clocks in the suite. We bring a small electric one with a lighted dial. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CINCY40 Posted August 19, 2004 #20 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Both DH and I like to know the time if we wake up at night and there are no lighted clocks in the suite. We bring a small electric one with a lighted dial. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakrewser Posted August 19, 2004 #21 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Take a small night light to plug into the electrical outlet in the bathroom. Those bathrooms are DARK at night WE do keep a nightlight and a battery-powered clock radio (small) in our suitcase whenever we travel. While most hotels do have clocks (but not all, and not HAL cabins!) very few have night lights.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clopaw Posted August 19, 2004 #22 Share Posted August 19, 2004 We dine late, but like to grab a shrimp cocktail from the lido dining room before going to dinner to tied us over. So, we can just walk into the lido dining room during early dinner and help ourselves to whatever is there? They have shrimp cocktail everynight? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookwise Posted August 19, 2004 #23 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Now I know there are things you can ask for that I didn't know about before. You can ask to have the mini bar contents removed so you can put in your own stuff. (We always refill water bottles for use on excursions. ) You can ask for an oscillating fan so you can't hear the elevator dings. You can ask for an egg crate mattress pad for your bed if you don't find your bed comfy. It's these little things that make a good experience even better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgi-one Posted August 19, 2004 #24 Share Posted August 19, 2004 As I remember, there is no electrical outlet in the bathroom. Only outlet is for electric shaver. Am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinjudy Posted August 19, 2004 #25 Share Posted August 19, 2004 The night lights plug into the shaver outlet, except the last one I bought had the different sized prongs and didn't fit, but that might have been on Infinity. I think it was Ryndam where I forgot and left it on the ship and had to buy a new one. It was the new one I had trouble with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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