1st Timer - Zuiderdam So. Carib. Good Choice?

[Aloha Shan]

My husband and I (46 and 50) have traveled the world in forms of trekking to 5 star resorts but want to try a cruise for the first time over XMas/NYE this year but aren't 100% sure if we'll like it since we're usually less structured when we travel.

Because of dates and interest, we are considering the HAL Zuiderdam 10 night through the Panama Canal on 12/23, but are probably most concerned about passenger age.

The line/ship itself seems fine (we like "nice" but it doesn't have to be over the top), it doesn't seem to be overly "themed" or kid oriented (we don't have kids so this is fine), but at the same time, we want to be around people our age or a wide mix of ages and from what I can see HAL and specially the Panama cruises tend to be 60+?

Also, we are looking at a verandah room and want to make sure it has the plex railing and not the solid steel railing, how do I make sure of that?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[SwissMyst]

We just got off the Zuiderdam a few months ago for Alaska and liked her a lot, some of the best food we have had so far in the main dining room. We did not like the Pinnacle, but others did. So your ship choice is a good one. These are large ships so there is lots of variety in passenger groups, don't think you will feel this is too old or too young like some of the smaller ships and the longer cruises where there may be one more dominant age group.

There are only four of the metal railing verandah cabins I believe down in the lowest room prices so while you may have signed up for that lowest price cabin, chances are you will not get them but if this is what you signed up for you always have to take what you paid for. If you want to ensure a plexiglass balcony, pay a little more for your original price to get out of that lowest price category.

Your 10 day cruise will go by very quickly and you will find HAL passengers to be a very interesting group of well-traveled companions no matter what their ages. They are often lively and engaging and know the rules of the road for ship travels, are polite and love sharing travel adventures and lore, particularly to new travellers. Welcome aboard. These are known to be the quieter ships which is one reason a lot of us like them. But it you want something livelier and more raucous during the sea days, there are other similar ships to try.

The reading rooms on HAL ships are one of their signature features and their daytime enrichment lectures are very good. But they are not known for noisy swimming pool games and cutesy announcements going on all the time and pushing activities in your face or selling you things all the time.

Welcome aboard and I hope you love your first HAL cruise - the Zuiderdam and its crew are really good. This is not a hot, trendy contemporary eye-popping ship. It is low-key, a bit old country home fusty in the nicest way. It will feel like your home away from home and has a very human scale to its decor and fittings. The cabins are wonderful, with the most dreamy beds on the high seas. But it will be the staff that will win your hearts - 100% professional and charming that create this special HAL cocoon as soon as you walk on board. Bon Voyage.

[IRL_Joanie]

My husband and I (46 and 50) have traveled the world in forms of trekking to 5 star resorts but want to try a cruise for the first time over XMas/NYE this year but aren't 100% sure if we'll like it since we're usually less structured when we travel.

Because of dates and interest, we are considering the HAL Zuiderdam 10 night through the Panama Canal on 12/23, but are probably most concerned about passenger age.

The line/ship itself seems fine (we like "nice" but it doesn't have to be over the top), it doesn't seem to be overly "themed" or kid oriented (we don't have kids so this is fine), but at the same time, we want to be around people our age or a wide mix of ages and from what I can see HAL and specially the Panama cruises tend to be 60+?

Also, we are looking at a verandah room and want to make sure it has the plex railing and not the solid steel railing, how do I make sure of that?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

This is one of those questions that come up at the beginning of each new season.

Answers from another web site that cannot be mentioned here is:

Passenger ages vary somewhat by sailing, but usually they are as follows:

Carnival Cruise Line: 0 - 45 years of age
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: 25 - 55 years of age
Crystal Cruise Line: 55+ years of age
Celebrity Cruise Line: 35 - 64 years of age
Norwegian Cruise Line: 27 - 56 years of age
Holland America Cruises: 30 - 60 years of age
Princess Cruise Line: 35 to 65 years of age

As one younger passenger recently posted after a Bermuda cruise in Jukly 2010 stated in a Cruise Critic Review, "So people might complain that it is geared towards the elderly, but it was truly geared towards the more cultured on board." She further stated, "Overall- It was a really incredible trip. The ship was gorgeous, and everyone was so nice, and kind. I enjoyed all of my activities, and had few complaints. The shows every night were incredible, and although some people claim they cater to a much older crowd I saw many people my age(college) and younger loving every show. The shows required some cultured knowledge, or at least love of music. The talent in them was amazing and worth seeing every night. There were many activities for teenagers and younger kids. There were things to do all day and all night, and so you were never bored. I found this cruise to be a quality experience and would most certainly take another cruise on a DAM ship. I would recommend HAL, and this cruise for everyone and anyone."

And regarding the PlexiGlass vs Steel Verandahs, I have this from DBA:

Per DBA:

Only ships with steel balconies are

* Zuiderdam
* Oosterdam
* Westerdam
* Noordam
* Eurodam
* Nieuw Amsterdam

The only place any of these ships have steel balconies is

* Deck 4 forward

(Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam's balconies for 10005 and 10006 are sort of a half and half and marked appropriately)

The symbol on the stateroom that denotes the steel balconies is

* a black diamond

So... if you are not on one of those ships, or in one of those locations OR have a black diamond depicted in your stateroom:

* you have a Plexiglas balcony

And for Verandah sizes I have the following (this also always comes up:))

The standard Verandah/Balcony is 6 feet deep by 9 feet wide. VA aft/stern Verandah/Balcony are deeper (how much depends on which deck, and Vista class versus Signature class). VD are 7.5 feet deep. VF and VE on Vista Class ships, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam, Verandah deck are only 4.5 feet deep. As of this time I do not have information on the Verandah/Balcony sizes of the PS, SA, SB, SC or SY categories Staterooms.

On the S Class ships the BA, BB, and BC (at least the Verandahs on the Ryndam) are 9 feet wide by 7 feet deep. 63 sq ft total. Same size approximately as the VA, VB and VC verandas on the Vista Class Ships.

Joanie

[hensghan]

Our very limited experience with holiday cruising (1 HAL & 1 RCCL) has pretty much soured us forever on these type cruises. They are simply too crowded with too many very extended families with too many small to teenage children and very elderly adults. The staff is way overworked and the facilities are extremely taxed. No, holiday cruises just aren't all that relaxing to us, but others will have different opinions, for sure.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Keep in mind that this is only a partial Panama Canal cruise. You only go through the first set of set of locks.

Once anchored in Gatun Lake, passengers who are on tours go ashore -- all others have to remain on the ship and go back through the same set of locks.

So if you have never been through locks before -- then this is a nice introduction to them.

[SwissMyst]

Our very limited experience with holiday cruising (1 HAL & 1 RCCL) has pretty much soured us forever on these type cruises. They are simply too crowded with too many very extended families with too many small to teenage children and very elderly adults. The staff is way overworked and the facilities are extremely taxed. No, holiday cruises just aren't all that relaxing to us, but others will have different opinions, for sure.

Having done a Christmas (holiday) cruise on the Oosterdam we found that people moved more in larger groups of 6-8 or so instead of the more typical 1-2 when there is not so much family cruising going on. This was most noticable in the Lido or waiting for elevators. Tables were bunched together and harder to find empty tables for two. Elevators seemed fuller again because two family groups could fill up one elevator, instead having more room with the addition only one and two individuals getting on at each stop.

it had a different feeling and I would not go out of my way to do this type of holiday cruise again, but I also would not avoid it either. Most of the time other than the Lido and the elevators, this had little impact on us. Occasionally the staff would come through one of the public areas with a group of kids in tow and they would be noisy and lively for a few moments but then it was gone.

But kids do make Christmas (holiday) so this level of activity just seemed to fit in with the extra touch Christmas (holiday) decorations. I think our cruise had about 380 young people, but it was a large ship. Never felt over-crowded and there were plenty of private spaces still.

[VermeulT]

"So people might complain that it is geared towards the elderly, but it was truly geared towards the more cultured on board."

I love this quote. I took this cruise last January and did find it to be an older crowd than our previous Maasdam Eastern Caribbean trip - however - older does not mean everything.

The 4 of us were between 38 & 48 and had a fantastic time.

[winnyd]

Hi My wife & I will be on this cruise We are 75yrs of age by then . But we won't bother you too much as we spend most of our time on the Balcony. Actually I feel a lot younger than you Guys , as I still think I'm only18. . I'm also bringing My 2 Grandchildren too on this trip. It will be the oldest ones 3rd cruise & she is still 4yrs old The other will be 2. With their parents there will 6 of us in our crowd Also us old Fogies Have had twice the experience as you have in life so our conversation will reflect that. Our TA booked us 2 balconies on Upper Promenade. (Steel )When I saw What he'd booked I changed them immediatly for the next deck up(Veranda Deck OK) for the plastic Glass type(Ex $300 bucks) But to us worth it,as we once had a steel Balcony on a Princess cruise (Stern) It was unuseable at sea because of fumes from the Funnell ,Too hot (no wind .& soot deposites on the chairs.All the different Cruise lines that I have experienced (over six) have quite a simillarity .I took a Carnival Cruise earlier this year & like you I was worried that I would be too old for it yet it was one of the best trips we have ever experienced. I even won the Hairy Chest competition. The Captain was the best yet for mingling with the public. On my last Hal cruise the Dutch Captain said" Thank you for coming on my Ship " & went back to the bridge. Hal was our first Cruise on the old Nordam . You never for get your 1st one

[Balliett]

I have to say that an independent trip somewhere with a long (12-15 mile) hike followed by a 3 to 5 star hotel and some car touring is my idea of an "A" vacation. Ireland and Volcano National Park in Hawaii come to mind. Our first cruise (age 30s) drove me sort of crazy because I felt passive, like I had servants and folks organizing the day for me. I quipped that I wanted to go to the boiler room and load coal or something. Now, gradually, the good stuff about a cruise has had more appeal. Less stress, more luxe. With planning, the experience is usually a "B" vacation for a good price. We are now mid-sixties, and are booked on the Panama Canal partial on the Zuiderdam in January.

[SwissMyst]

...... Our first cruise (age 30s) drove me sort of crazy because I felt passive, like I had servants and folks organizing the day for me. I quipped that I wanted to go to the boiler room and load coal or something. .....

My first long (round the world) cruise in my very early 30's, all I wanted to do was lay out on the deck in the sun and get tan from morning until the sun went down. And I did, and yes I am paying for that sun indulgence now, but all I wanted to do then was be a lazy sloth in the sun, dress up for dinner and have fun with all the other young, single passengers and cute officers. And oh yes, see some ports and send post cards back home.

[Aloha Shan]

Thanks everyone for all the great information and insight! We hope to be booking soon and look forward to our first cruise experience.

[SwissMyst]

Thanks everyone for all the great information and insight! We hope to be booking soon and look forward to our first cruise experience.


Welcome aboard and hope you come back with your trip report. Enjoy!

[greenleaves]

We are cruising from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canel. This will be our first HAL cruise. We have a balconey, but do
not know whether it has railings or plexi glass. We have to ask our TA as
we would much prefer the plexi glass.
I am still navigating my way through this site; will probably have many more questions as I become more familar with it.

[Himself]

I did this very cruise on the Zuiderdam last October and enjoyed it very much. It is a parital transit of the Canal. The ship goes into Gatun lake early in the morning and we drop off people who are going on tour. Then the ship exits the canal around noon time and goes to Cristobal Colon and we dock at the passengers that are on tour get on there.
My favorite stop on that trip is Willemstat, Curaco. I just live that town and that Island.
Have a great cruise.

[db777]

We have been on the Zuiderdam three times in the last two years. We did the Panama trip twice once at Thanksgiving 2008 and then April 2010 . We did not have but a few children on board duringThanksgiving, yet I imagine Christmas might be different...However, with that being said, the trip is great, the only issue with Late Nov, early Dec was rain at all the ports even Aruba and Curacao...April was much better...it did not rain at all, not even in the rainforest...however, since most cabins have covered verandah's it is not an issue, just take rainwear...hope you enjoy... DB777

[SwissMyst]

...... the only issue with Late Nov, early Dec was rain at all the ports even Aruba and Curacao...April was much better...it did not rain at all, not even in the rainforest...however, since most cabins have covered verandah's it is not an issue, just take rainwear...hope you enjoy... DB777

Thanks for the tip, hadn't thought of constant rain and that is exactly the time we will be doing the Panama Canal. Is it warm rain? Afternoon thundershowers or steady drizzle? All of the above will be okay too.

[db777]

In late November mainly afternoon showers in Aruba and Curacao (we did get in quite a downpour)... Costa Rica had had massive rains for 12 days prior to our arrival, we were actually the only cruise ship in 10 days... Panama Canal rain and drizzle, but you are in the Rain forest... However, might want to check weather for the end of December...I do think it might be entering dry season by then...I now take lightweight rainwear on every cruise....hope you have dry or at least relatively dry sailing...db777

[SwissMyst]

In late November mainly afternoon showers in Aruba and Curacao (we did get in quite a downpour)... Costa Rica had had massive rains for 12 days prior to our arrival, we were actually the only cruise ship in 10 days... Panama Canal rain and drizzle, but you are in the Rain forest... However, might want to check weather for the end of December...I do think it might be entering dry season by then...I now take lightweight rainwear on every cruise....hope you have dry or at least relatively dry sailing...db777

I was in Costa Rica in the raining season on a land trip which was actually quite a treat since we were in our cyclical droughts in California and noticed the locals carried umbrellas, even when hiking for their rain gear but not much else. It was so green an lush and you could almost set your clock by the heavy thundershower arrivals in the late afternoons which gave another drama dimension to the experience sitting on some wide deep verandahs in our hotel. And then, they would be over and everything smelled so fresh and new and the afternoon heat was broken.

Thanks again for the heads up. Plus it was almost impossible then to get any clothes air dry then either, and we learned to just put them on damp. But it was a glorious experience. One of the most diverse and interesting countries out there.