florida_mom
December 24th, 2004, 02:18 AM
Just returned from the Zuiderdam's 5 day cruise to the Bahamas and Key West. Overall, my husband and I had a relaxing and fun time and found the Z to be a good ship. We have sailed on Disney, Carnival and Royal Caribbean and I knew that Disney would probably remain my favorite cruise line, but was surprised that the Carnival Paradise was better in my opinion than the Zuiderdam.
We booked on HAL because it was going to be adults-only, no kids this time! and we wanted a cruise line that was more geared to that kind of crowd. In earlier threads I had posted to this board that through a screw up (most notably, mine) we were told after we thought we had booked, that in fact the ship was sold out. Through perseverance, we managed to find a verandah cabin available 2 weeks before the ship sailed. 2 days before the ship sailed, my 3 year old came down with the stomach flu. We almost canceled our trip until my parents and my dh's parents who were watching our boys assured us that they had raised us successfully and to go ahead on our cruise. Secure in the knowledge that my 3 year old was indeed on the upswing, we left for Ft. Lauderdale.
The boarding process was long, in my opinion, but that may have just been because I was anxious to get going. I did notice a lot of young people, a lot of familiesWe boarded the ship, and a porter was there to help us with our carry ons and to find our cabin. This was our first time with a verandah, and we were thrilled with the cabin. Plenty of closet space, a safe, a decent bathroom with a tub, and for our luggage there was plenty of room under the bed to store it.
We proceeded to the Lido and were impressed with the amount and variety of food they had available. After we ate a late lunch, we went around exploring the ship. Lots of areas tucked away for sitting and having a drink or conversation, a nice library, etc. I was not expecting the grand atrium of the Carnival or Disney ship, but this one was kind of underwhelming.
Dinner the first night was great. Our tablemates were talkative and a lot of fun. The food was delicious. The service was ... not good. Our waiter introduced himself and then brought our food and that was about it. No refilling of ice water, no napkin in the lap, no crumbing the table off before dessert, no offer of anything else to drink except by the wine steward who came around. (I did ask for tea, and of course received it, but had to ask for a refill.) I realize this sounds petty, but it's the special touches that make a cruise a memorable one, and basic things like refilling ice water are necessities.
Following dinner we started on a walk around the promenade deck. I love having a promenade deck that goes all the way around a ship. The Disney Magic had this, but the others have not and I was glad to see it on the Zuiderdam. However, no sooner had we started walking, then I felt like I was going to be sick. We made it back to our cabin and I proceeded to be sick with the stomach flu for the rest of the night and next morning. I had caught what my little 3 year old had, and wow was it a doozy! (It made me feel even more guilty about leaving him...:( )
By 8 a.m. I figured I needed to see a doctor. If this kept up, I was going to get dehydrated. My husband called the infirmary to see if they were open yet, and indeed they were. I tried to get ready to go but was completely sapped of all energy. My husband seemed concerned when I told him there was no way I was going to be able to walk to the infirmary and to see if he could go down there and get me a wheelchair. He left, and 30 minutes later he returned with a nurse! Wow! She was wonderful. She gave me a shot of phenergen (miracle stuff...) and gave me a packet of gatorade to mix in water for sipping on. (My dh had already called room service that morning to see if they had popsicles by some wild chance. No. Gatorade? No. Ginger Ale? Yes!) With instructions to take it very slowly, the nurse left. About a half hour later, room service called, or maybe it was someone from the dining room. They were concerned about my request for popsicles, gatorade and ginger ale, and wanted to know if I thought I had become sick from something I ate in the dining room last night. No, no, we assured them, this was a stomach flu.
Needless to say, we did not make it into HMC. That day was a complete blur. I remember ice chips, small sips of gatorade, and the clouds outside. I was so very, very grateful for the verandah cabin. I kept encouraging my dh to go check out what might be happening on the ship, but he stayed, read his book ont he verandah, and took care of me. :)
Over the next few days, we became very familiar with room service. They did a great job, I have to say. I ventured out on the following day, which was Nassau. We had not intended to get off the ship at Nassau anyway, having already been there before. We did see a few things around the ship, and we listened to the jazz trio that night. They were good and we enjoyed listening to them. I did actually feel well enough to eat that night we were in Nassau, and we had already made reservations for the Pinnacle Grill, so we went. I ate lightly, but savored the Filet Mignon. My husband had the 22-ounce porterhouse, which he said was excellent. The service was outstanding, and the ginger ale even tasted like it was a good vintage. ;)
Our day at sea we enjoyed reading up on deck, I checked out the spa, and that evening was formal night. I was finally feeling 75% normal, and we returned to our table mates, and had a nice time. We went to the karioke at the Queen's Lounge, then off to the casino to make a deposit, and then back to hear the comedian who was doing her X-rated bit at that time, and was good for some laughs.
Our final full day had us at Key West. Because it was a US port, every singe passenger had to go for an immigration check starting at 7:15 a.m. whether you were getting of the ship or not. This was our first time off the ship! We're from Florida, so we have been to Key West before, but it was nice to just walk around and take in a few things. We returned to the ship for our final meal which again was very tasty but the service was poor (I had to ask 3 times to have my water refilled.) We went to see the entertainment which was an impressionist. This was sort of low-key entertainment, and funny but not what you might expect for the main entertainment of the night.
Disembarkation was disorganized. They do let you stay in your cabin until they call your number. However, ours was called last because we had no plane to catch. By this time we were up in the Lido getting that last cup of coffee. They call our number, and as we're finishing up, Rebecca, the cruise director comes on and scares us with the imposing of fines and the confiscation of our luggage if all passengers do not come immediately. Well, this fills my heart with panic! We're on deck 9! Debarkation is on deck 2! Will we make it before our luggage is confiscated?? Well, we get down there and there is a line snaking the entire length of the cruise ship, twice. Plus, there are people sitting in the lounges looking at the people in line like they are crazy for waiting in line. Meanwhile, Rebecca's loud and now annoying voice continues to warn all passengers of the doom that awaits them if they do not come immediately! Several passengers complain to HAL personnel about the process, and are told to write the company. We leave, and begin the 4 hour ride home.
Overall, we really did enjoy ourselves. The ship is beautiful and the food is very good. The entertainment that we typically listen to -- small jazz ensembles, stand-up comedians, was fine. The service was just not good, which is too bad for everyone because it will effect everthing--the passengers' experiences, the personnel's tips, and ultimately HAL. We're glad we went, and we did have ample opportunity to relax, which was our purpose in going.
We booked on HAL because it was going to be adults-only, no kids this time! and we wanted a cruise line that was more geared to that kind of crowd. In earlier threads I had posted to this board that through a screw up (most notably, mine) we were told after we thought we had booked, that in fact the ship was sold out. Through perseverance, we managed to find a verandah cabin available 2 weeks before the ship sailed. 2 days before the ship sailed, my 3 year old came down with the stomach flu. We almost canceled our trip until my parents and my dh's parents who were watching our boys assured us that they had raised us successfully and to go ahead on our cruise. Secure in the knowledge that my 3 year old was indeed on the upswing, we left for Ft. Lauderdale.
The boarding process was long, in my opinion, but that may have just been because I was anxious to get going. I did notice a lot of young people, a lot of familiesWe boarded the ship, and a porter was there to help us with our carry ons and to find our cabin. This was our first time with a verandah, and we were thrilled with the cabin. Plenty of closet space, a safe, a decent bathroom with a tub, and for our luggage there was plenty of room under the bed to store it.
We proceeded to the Lido and were impressed with the amount and variety of food they had available. After we ate a late lunch, we went around exploring the ship. Lots of areas tucked away for sitting and having a drink or conversation, a nice library, etc. I was not expecting the grand atrium of the Carnival or Disney ship, but this one was kind of underwhelming.
Dinner the first night was great. Our tablemates were talkative and a lot of fun. The food was delicious. The service was ... not good. Our waiter introduced himself and then brought our food and that was about it. No refilling of ice water, no napkin in the lap, no crumbing the table off before dessert, no offer of anything else to drink except by the wine steward who came around. (I did ask for tea, and of course received it, but had to ask for a refill.) I realize this sounds petty, but it's the special touches that make a cruise a memorable one, and basic things like refilling ice water are necessities.
Following dinner we started on a walk around the promenade deck. I love having a promenade deck that goes all the way around a ship. The Disney Magic had this, but the others have not and I was glad to see it on the Zuiderdam. However, no sooner had we started walking, then I felt like I was going to be sick. We made it back to our cabin and I proceeded to be sick with the stomach flu for the rest of the night and next morning. I had caught what my little 3 year old had, and wow was it a doozy! (It made me feel even more guilty about leaving him...:( )
By 8 a.m. I figured I needed to see a doctor. If this kept up, I was going to get dehydrated. My husband called the infirmary to see if they were open yet, and indeed they were. I tried to get ready to go but was completely sapped of all energy. My husband seemed concerned when I told him there was no way I was going to be able to walk to the infirmary and to see if he could go down there and get me a wheelchair. He left, and 30 minutes later he returned with a nurse! Wow! She was wonderful. She gave me a shot of phenergen (miracle stuff...) and gave me a packet of gatorade to mix in water for sipping on. (My dh had already called room service that morning to see if they had popsicles by some wild chance. No. Gatorade? No. Ginger Ale? Yes!) With instructions to take it very slowly, the nurse left. About a half hour later, room service called, or maybe it was someone from the dining room. They were concerned about my request for popsicles, gatorade and ginger ale, and wanted to know if I thought I had become sick from something I ate in the dining room last night. No, no, we assured them, this was a stomach flu.
Needless to say, we did not make it into HMC. That day was a complete blur. I remember ice chips, small sips of gatorade, and the clouds outside. I was so very, very grateful for the verandah cabin. I kept encouraging my dh to go check out what might be happening on the ship, but he stayed, read his book ont he verandah, and took care of me. :)
Over the next few days, we became very familiar with room service. They did a great job, I have to say. I ventured out on the following day, which was Nassau. We had not intended to get off the ship at Nassau anyway, having already been there before. We did see a few things around the ship, and we listened to the jazz trio that night. They were good and we enjoyed listening to them. I did actually feel well enough to eat that night we were in Nassau, and we had already made reservations for the Pinnacle Grill, so we went. I ate lightly, but savored the Filet Mignon. My husband had the 22-ounce porterhouse, which he said was excellent. The service was outstanding, and the ginger ale even tasted like it was a good vintage. ;)
Our day at sea we enjoyed reading up on deck, I checked out the spa, and that evening was formal night. I was finally feeling 75% normal, and we returned to our table mates, and had a nice time. We went to the karioke at the Queen's Lounge, then off to the casino to make a deposit, and then back to hear the comedian who was doing her X-rated bit at that time, and was good for some laughs.
Our final full day had us at Key West. Because it was a US port, every singe passenger had to go for an immigration check starting at 7:15 a.m. whether you were getting of the ship or not. This was our first time off the ship! We're from Florida, so we have been to Key West before, but it was nice to just walk around and take in a few things. We returned to the ship for our final meal which again was very tasty but the service was poor (I had to ask 3 times to have my water refilled.) We went to see the entertainment which was an impressionist. This was sort of low-key entertainment, and funny but not what you might expect for the main entertainment of the night.
Disembarkation was disorganized. They do let you stay in your cabin until they call your number. However, ours was called last because we had no plane to catch. By this time we were up in the Lido getting that last cup of coffee. They call our number, and as we're finishing up, Rebecca, the cruise director comes on and scares us with the imposing of fines and the confiscation of our luggage if all passengers do not come immediately. Well, this fills my heart with panic! We're on deck 9! Debarkation is on deck 2! Will we make it before our luggage is confiscated?? Well, we get down there and there is a line snaking the entire length of the cruise ship, twice. Plus, there are people sitting in the lounges looking at the people in line like they are crazy for waiting in line. Meanwhile, Rebecca's loud and now annoying voice continues to warn all passengers of the doom that awaits them if they do not come immediately! Several passengers complain to HAL personnel about the process, and are told to write the company. We leave, and begin the 4 hour ride home.
Overall, we really did enjoy ourselves. The ship is beautiful and the food is very good. The entertainment that we typically listen to -- small jazz ensembles, stand-up comedians, was fine. The service was just not good, which is too bad for everyone because it will effect everthing--the passengers' experiences, the personnel's tips, and ultimately HAL. We're glad we went, and we did have ample opportunity to relax, which was our purpose in going.