Zuiderdam for Kids?

[sreilly]

I am taking my kids (ages 9, 6 & 3) on the Zuiderdam in March (Eastern Carribean) and am concerned about its kid "friendliness". We are seasoned cruisers and have taken a Disney Cruise five times and one Carnival cruise, so I am not worried about general cruising-with-kids issues, rather I am worried about the Zuiderdam and its typical passengers receptiveness to families. Almost all the reviews I have read about the ship are from people traveling wihtout children, hence my concerns. I know there are better cruises for families, but this was the only cruise available to us that still had adjoining rooms in the suite class. Can anybody out there in internet land assuage my fears, or should I cancel my reservation? Help...
:confused:

[doone]

I am sailing on the Zuiderdam March 12th. We're 5 friends looking to get away for a week of sun and fun. From what I have read, the Zuiderdam is more of a "family" friendly ship. When are you sailing???

I wouldn't cancel your cruise. We sailed on the Veendam a couple of years ago with my entire family, kids included. The kids had a blast. There weren't alot of kids onboard, about 80 or so, enough so the kids had friends to hang out with, but not enough kids to take over.

I think its safe to say that this cruise will not compare to the Disney cruises you have taken, but you should have a good time.

[Mrs B]

We have done the Zuiderdam twice with our son. He had a great time! The issue seems to be parents who let their kids run wild on the ship but I honestly haven't seen that myself. They will enjoy the kids program.

[sreilly]

We're booked on the 3/19 sailing. Too bad we're not sailing the same time as your family. Thanks for the feedback.

[doone]

We'll take good care of the ship for you. You'll have a a great time.

[Tak8]

Last year, I took my 9 year old on the Zuiderdam and his best friend, also 9, and their family came along. We all had a great time. They enjoyed the kids club, although it was not open as much or offered as many diverse activities as our Disney cruise.
No one was rude to the boys and many talked to them. I think as long as your children are behaved they will be receive a friendly atmosphere. We enjoyed it enough to go again next summer.

[Orcrone]

Doone and Sreilly,

Both of you please take good care of the ship. We'll be cruising on 3/26. We'll be taking our 15 and 17 year old daughters. I think any ship will have a fair number of kids during school breaks.

When we were on the Maasdam Oct. 30 for a ten day cruise out of Norfolk there were only about 15 kids on board. However, travelers just returning from the same itinerary over Thanksgiving reported 100 kids. And a 7 day cruise will attract more.

[doone]

Ocrone, you'll have a great time, we'll take real good care of the ship for you.

When I sailed the Veendam with my entire family, it was February school vacation week, for 7 days, we had about 80 kids onboard. I believe HAL has marketed the Zuiderdam as more of a family friendly ship, so you may well have many more kids than I did on the Veendam.

Enjoy your cruise, we'll leave some bread pudding for you!!!!!

[Orcrone]

Ocrone, you'll have a great time, we'll take real good care of the ship for you.

When I sailed the Veendam with my entire family, it was February school vacation week, for 7 days, we had about 80 kids onboard. I believe HAL has marketed the Zuiderdam as more of a family friendly ship, so you may well have many more kids than I did on the Veendam.

Enjoy your cruise, we'll leave some bread pudding for you!!!!!Thanks Doone,

We're travelling during Easter week. That's spring break in Virginia. I know each locality has it's own spring break, but I still expect lots of kids. Of course, it won't be nearly as much as Carnival last year duirng spring break (600 kids out of 2600 passengers).:eek:

I'd appreciate you leaving some bread pudding. Enjoyed it quite a bit, but found that I had to have it when it was fresh. It was delicious. However, if it had been sitting there a while it was a bit dried out.

You also enjoy your cruise.

BTW, I lived in Massachusetts for 10 years. Most of the time in Marlborough, but also lived briefly in Hopkinton and Upton. Worked for Raytheon in Sudbury.

[doone]

Ocrone, you probably right, you'll have enough kids onboard for your kids to hang out with and have a great time.

I live right outside of Worcester, a small town called Millbury, I am sure you have heard of it. Small world, isn't it.

[Orcrone]

Ocrone, you probably right, you'll have enough kids onboard for your kids to hang out with and have a great time.

I live right outside of Worcester, a small town called Millbury, I am sure you have heard of it. Small world, isn't it.The girls are at an age where they entertain themselves pretty well. They'll just find a few kids to hang out with. Definitely way past the age of joining Club HAL.

I've definitely heard of Millbury. I haven't been back to Massachusetts in over 7 years, but if I'm not mistaken it's just off the Mass Tpk. I remember passing it between Worcester and I-495.

[doone]

Ocrone, your kids will be fine, I am sure they'll be others to hang out with and they'll have a wonderful time.

Yup, you are correct, right off the Mass Pike.

[JaniceB]

If you want your 3 year old to participate in a kids program, I am not sure HAL has one. I think the children have to be 5 to participate. You might want to check on this and the babysitting if you want an evening to yourselves.

[viennacruiser]

sreilly,
We are also booked on March 19..:) .but we will be leaving our kids behind:rolleyes:
I was wondering if anyone else was booked that week, I have been watching the roll call with no luck.:(
I am sure your kids will have a great time,this week is Spring break for our neck of the woods, Northern Virginia.
Where will you be on ths ship??
Nancy and Mike

[iv18-Diane]

I have Customers Traveling with Kids on the 12th.
I 'm sailing with my 15 year old daughter on 4/23. which is our Spring Break in NJ.Spring Break#2.We have a spring Break# 1 at Easter, but only a few days.

[Himself]

I was on the Zuiderdam about a year and a half ago and I thought it was very kid friendly. We had about 275 children on board on the Eastern Caribbean and about 300 on the Western Caribbean the next week

Himself

[Stevedan]

We are going on the Zuiderdam 12/23 X-mas sailing. Is there a good video game arcade on board for my kids (6, 10 and 12)? We have been on Princess and Carnival with the kids before, and hope HAL is kid friendly. Thanks.