This will come as a SURPRISE to some, I just booked the ZUIDERDAM for next year!

[FlorenceItaly]

Yep, you read that right! I just returned home from my first Celebrity cruise on Friday, and had a wonderful experience. I came home saying it was my first choice of cruiselines now, but of course, like them all. In my experience their service was much better than I received on HAL in June and August of this year.

I was looking to book a suite on the Mille, and thus started some "looking around"...I somehow got over to the Zuiderdam, and the price comparison for the suites were a much better value on the Zuiderdam. I was looking at this cruise for my dh and I, and another couple. They have cruised once, on Carnival, with a second Carnival coming up in May. To make a long story short, we both ended up in regular balcony cabins on the Z!! I was so wanting that suite, but the three of them are not cruise snobs like myself, LOL...Oh well. I know HAL has some service issues, especially in the dining room area, but I am hoping that will be resolved by next year. We are on the Dec 3 sailing.

Marie

[HeatherInFlorida]

Marie, very exciting! And I think we should all keep open minds as we book our cruises. Personally, I like Celebrity better at this point (just back from the Oosterdam), but will most definitely cruise HAL again.

I have to say, though, that we were in a BA Verandah and Pudgesmom had an SS which they were kind enough to invite us to before dinner one night. The SS would be the absolute perfect cabin for us. There's nothing "snobby" about it, but it's just larger enough (both cabin and verandah) that I would have paid the extra $600 if I could talk DH into it:D . He, too, was very impressed.

[ekerr19]

I agree with the all the things Heather has mentioned, and would like to add that in my opinion the Zui is a completely different atmosphere and cruise experience (perhaps this is why so many great deals are to be found on this ship).

We enjoyed the Maasdam so much more than the Zui - I would probably sail Vista class again (I've heard only positives about the Westerdam), but would not choose the Zui again - no matter how great the pricing.

Just my own opinion and experience - but, I really hope you have a wonderful time! :)

[FlorenceItaly]

about what I am reading about the Zuiderdam. My cruise is over a year away, so I can still make a change, but now that another couple is involved it is not as easy as it just being my husband and I.

Marie

[bepsf]

Marie--

So many people have also gone on the Zuiderdam and had great vacations - I'd be inclined to go with an open mind and enjoy both the wacky decor and the company of your friends.

(and check on that upgrade to an SS)

I mean - how bad can it be???
;)

[Ziggy7]

Yay for you Marie, I think you will have a good time :) Remember the best experience on board is your own!
Congrats on your future booking :)

[Sierrachik]

about what I am reading about the Zuiderdam. My cruise is over a year away, so I can still make a change, but now that another couple is involved it is not as easy as it just being my husband and I.Hi Marie,

I think everyone that books the Zuiderdam and reads all the comments does become very apprehensive at some point. I know I did, however, I decided I was going to enjoy the cruise in spite of what everyone said about it. We had a FABULOUS cruise!

I didn't find the decor of the ship outrageous at all. It certainly is colorful and from what I read, very different than other HAL ships but it is not bad at all. Besides the colors, red and purple (which seemed to be more of a blue) are wealth colors in Feng Shui :) They certainly worked for me in the casino :)

Did we have issues as some have? Some might say we did....The service in the dining room was perhaps a bit slower than what I'm used to when I dine out normally, but I was on vacation, I wasn't going anywhere, and if I had been going to the show, I had plenty of time to get there. Besides, it just gave us more time to spend with our wonderful tablemates! Was there a vibration in the dining room? Yes, we were on a ship for heaven's sake :) (I do realize others may have felt it worse in other areas of the ship, so I'm speaking from my perspective only). Was it warmer in some areas than others? Yes, however, that can somewhat subjective...I go half the winter in Maine without wearing a jacket so it I tend to run on the warm side anyway. Many people might have found it chilly. If I found it too warm in some areas I moved to another area that was not as warm.

By no means am I minimizing what have others experienced, I am only speaking from my point of view. With regard to the comment about the ship appearing run down, we didn't see that at all. However, nothing remains unblemished when it has a crew of 900 and about 100,000 guests in the course of a year. While we were on board, the crew was constantly painting, cleaning and yes, making a few repairs if it became necessary. Part of the tile floor in the Lido dining room was replaced.

Many of the negative comments come from things that are subjective, food, service, temperature, etc. Other negative comments come from things that are beyond the control of the ship's crew or HAL, and while I'm sorry they had to experience those issues, it is reasonable to say that the crew or HAL is not responsible for it.

Most things in life are what one makes them. Enjoy yourself and enjoy the Zuiderdam, after all, you'll be on vacation! :)

[FlorenceItaly]

I really DO appreciate it. For now, we are staying with the Z. The cabins are on hold, and plans should be finalized today, and who knows I just may go for the SS!

Marie

[grannynurse]

It's good to hear from you. I'm happy for you and you new plans for the "Z".
Are ther any long cruises on your horizon, I know we talked about it before.
We're looking at next year for an Asia pacific, probably early in 2006.
We still here in BA, looking forward to New Year's on the Zaandam.
GN

[Golfgrl1911]

Marie,

I agree with Sierra! And Brian! Go for the SS! Don't be afraid either. We had origionally booked a category "VD" and were given so much money in shipboard credits (due to hurricane Jeanne) that we immediately upgraded to an SS. We couldn't have been happier! So we bought another on for the same ship (Z) and the same room (8059) for Sept. 2005! The ship was wonderful! Now please remember that 800 folks cancelled for our particular cruise on Sept. 25th so it seemed that we had the whole ship to ourselves but I was on vacation where all I had to worry about was what choice to have for dinner. To me that's what cruising is all about. No worries. My friendly advise is to DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!! Don't worry and have a great time!! Chef Nancy:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have also read all the good and bad reports the last couple of years concerning the Zuiderdam. And we have booked back-to-back cruises on her as well.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Marie, don't be put off. You really can't go wrong because nothing is perfect. But I would seriously think about the SS if you can manage it. Really a huge difference. The BA we were in was "ok", but it is cramped. Plenty of room for storage, IMHO, but walking past each other was difficult. Only one person can walk past the bed and closet area at a time.

As to the DR, the vibration was negligible. And it wasn't constant ... more like a little shudder. And we were in 18' seas at some points so.........

Don't be concerned ... remember to read all the good as well as the bad. As I say, I don't think there's a ship on this earth that's going to be all things to all people:)

[sail7seas]

I've posted any number of times that we have totally enjoyed five cruises on Zuiderdam and will gladly return to her anytime. We've had great times on that ship. For the most part, we were very lucky I suppose because we had few to no complaints about our dining room service.

Nothing is perfect but IMO Zuiderdam is darn good.

[Tinknock50]

Yep, you read that right! I just returned home from my first Celebrity cruise on Friday, and had a wonderful experience. I came home saying it was my first choice of cruiselines now, but of course, like them all. In my experience their service was much better than I received on HAL in June and August of this year.

I was looking to book a suite on the Mille, and thus started some "looking around"...I somehow got over to the Zuiderdam, and the price comparison for the suites were a much better value on the Zuiderdam. I was looking at this cruise for my dh and I, and another couple. They have cruised once, on Carnival, with a second Carnival coming up in May. To make a long story short, we both ended up in regular balcony cabins on the Z!! I was so wanting that suite, but the three of them are not cruise snobs like myself, LOL...Oh well. I know HAL has some service issues, especially in the dining room area, but I am hoping that will be resolved by next year. We are on the Dec 3 sailing.

Marie
It's ok, Marie. You are allowed to have 2 favorite cruiselines :)

Enjoy!

[Tatka]

Marie,

I think you will like this cruise.:) I think deep down X is my first line but besides couple of inconveniences we had GREAT time on Zuiderdam. After reading so many bad reviews we were worried about it but found most of them not true. (Well..at least sewage and A/C problems)

We loved our room...Even though it was INSIDE it was so nice and big for 3 of us..and bedding!!!

Ship is beautiful and very interesting.

Have a great cruise.

(After we all have a GREAT cruise on Mercury in April of course;) )

our pictures from Zui cruise:

http://community.webshots.com/user/tatka1971

[FlorenceItaly]

I am now becoming more excited about this cruise, partly due to my wonderful TA!! She was able to make our sailing a "group", and thus each couple will receive dining at the Pinnacle one evening, 3 bottles of wine to each couple with dinner, and a soda fountain package per person....Our friends are not wine drinkers, so I guess dh and I will just have to manage to drink all 6 bottles throughout the week(not a problem)!!

GN - No cruise plans for 2006 yet. If I do any longer cruises it will have to be solo, most likely. I did enjoy my 12 night Celebrity cruise except for missing dh like crazy(my internet bill was big). Please keep me posted on what you all are doing.

Tatka - I am VERY much looking forward to my Mercury sailing!

Marie

[kelmac]

Marie,

I'm a big Celebrity fan, with HAL coming in a close second! We are doing the Volendam for New Years, the Mercury in March (Celebrity cruise number eight) and to keep things equal, we are doing a BtoB, pairing the Century with the Zuiderdam in June. Can't get too excited about Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL..., anymore.

Enjoy!
Kel