Zuiderdam Tips

[Kiwis@Sea]

Hi there

In July we are going on our first cruise ship adventure on the Zuiderdam from Vancouver to Alaska. Just wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions to offer. One thing we'd like to ask is about tipping and onboard costs - how much is included and how much extra should we budget for? and is payment expected in US dollars?

Looking forward to lots of advice.

Thanks in advance!

[COLandlocked]

We just returned from the ZUI. Meals and tipping are included. Everything goes on your onboard account and is charge to your credit card or preferred payment method.

Extras:
-Drinks (Soda and alcholic)
-Pictures by ship photographer
-Pinnacle Grill (speciality dining room, $20 per person and well worth it in my opinion)
-Spa treatments
-Gift shop items ("DAM" tee shirts)
-Extra tips for someone who made your trip extra special (not required at all)

As this was our first cruise too, my suggestion is to just enjoy it. We had the absolute best time and am I trying hard to figure out when I can cruise again.

Feel free to ask any more questions!

[WNYCRUISER]

[quote=COLandlocked]We just returned from the ZUI. Meals and tipping are included. Everything goes on your onboard account and is charge to your credit card or preferred payment method..quote]

Unless things have drastically changed in two months, TIPS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR CRUISE FARE!!!!

It may be possible, I suppose, if one were part of a group, and all of the arrangements were worked out, possibly they could be included, but as a rule they are not.

Your cruise fare gets you your room, meals in the Main Dining Room, meals in the LIDO Buffet, shows, etc. This all gets paid in advance. The easiest way for your on board charges, is they take your credit card info at the pier, and all charges you make on the ship are in turn charged to your charge card.

Examples of items that are/can be charged to your onboard account:

TIPS - tips in the amount of 10.00 pp/pd are added to your onboard account. If you are inclined to tip someone "extra" for special service, that is entirely up to you, and usually done in cash (US)

SHORE EXCURSIONS (unless you book them in advance)

DRINKS - alcohol, soda, bottled water (water from the tap is acceptable to many)

SHIP PHOTOGRAPHS

PINNACLE DINING

PURCHASES MADE IN THE SHOPS ON BOARD

SPECIALTY COFFEE

BINGO

I'm sure there are more. Read a little more about the ship, and you will have to gauge for yourself, based on your habits, how much you might spend on board. If you are on a 7 day cruise for 2 people, this works out to 140.00 in tips, and I have read where some people have spent as little as 20.00 over that amount, and some that have spent thousands over that amount (couldn't control themseves at the jewelry counter).

Take a look at the above list and ask yourself, are you big soda or alcohol drinkers? Will you take shore excursions, and if so will you book them in advance? You get the idea. Many find it easier to pay for as much as possible before the cruise (excursions, etc.)

Besides, it's a cruise, and you shouldn't worry about any of this until you get back home!!!!!!!!!

[cruisequeen10]

What sailing are you on. I am on the July 8 sailing.

[shonuf]

Tipping is not included in your cruise fare, but is added to your on-board account at the rate of $10 per person, per day, as a previous poster stated. That does not include a tip for the waiters in the Pinnacle if you choose to dine there, so a separate tip is in order. Also not included are tips for room service.

[Kiwis@Sea]

Thanks so much for your replies to my newbie questions.

This tipping thing is a bit new since we never tip here in NZ and its been a while since I have been in the US.

Oh, and dress code ... do I need to bring a suit/tie combo?

[RuthC]

Oh, and dress code ... do I need to bring a suit/tie combo?
Only if you're a man! Who didn't rent a tux.
There's a dress code each night; formal, informal, casual.

For men, formal nights mean tux/dinner jacket, or suit w/tie. The fall-back attire is sport jacket, again w/tie.
Informal nights are the sport jacket with or without the tie.

[Kiwis@Sea]

Oh dear ... a tux! My usual work attire is casual trouser and shirt - no tie. And a sports jacket - my usual sport is cycling so does that mean my flourescent top is ok? Looks like I need to pack more clothes for this trip!

[Kiwis@Sea]

(cruisequeen10 might be able to help here)

Vancouver - after the cruise we have a few days in your fine city - what are the insiders suggestions for things to do, places to eat?

[Scrumpy]

We enjoyed the aquarium in Vancouver. There is a beautiful park with horse-drawn carriage rides, too. I can't remember the name of it, but someone else may help you out with that. IIRC, the aquarium is IN or very near the park... There is great shopping in Vancouver and lots of excellent restaurants with many kinds of cuisine. Depending on your hotel location, there may be a lot to do within walking distance. I think you will love it; it's a beautiful city.

About tips, a couple of dollars upon room service delivery is fine. More if you if you order a lot of food. I'm married to a Kiwi and tipping is an adjustment; I totally understand, so I wanted to be more specific on the amounts. Also, the room service people are sometimes quick to run out the door, so it helps to have the cash ready - in US dollars.

If you don't want to pack formalwear, you can rent a tux and it's delivered to the ship. You will need to have proper measurements done before you order. The site is something obvious like cruiseformalwear.com or similar. They also have shoes, shirts and other accessories. Also, the onboard laundry service might help you bring fewer clothes. I believe it's $12 and the bag is a reasonable size, but not large by any stretch.

Your personal costs will vary a lot, but if you have a specialty coffee, a few cocktails, a few sodas and inexpensive wine with dinner, I'd allow another $50 or so a day just for beverages - and that may be conservative. Somewhere on this list, there are price lists for alcohol and I'm sure someone knows the cost of soda. If you have a mini-bar in your room, you will pay for whatever you use. I think there's candy in there. Photos are pretty expensive. Spa treatments cost a little more than most land-based spas in the US, but they have specials when the ship is in port and they are good deals (if you don't have excursions in port or catch the first or last appointments that don't interfere with your plans). Shopping onboard is a mixed bag. They had very inexpensive pashminas on our cruise, cheap or fairly reasonable t-shirts, etc. but some of the other items were higher than on land.

I recommend binoculars. I am not sure if all cabin categories have binoculars, but I believe at least some people onboard get them. I don't know why I think this and could very well be wrong; even if supplied, I don't know what kind of quality they'd be. It's been several years since we did Alaska. Hopefully someone will address this for you.

Have a great time! That's a wonderful cruise and a fabulous ship. I think you'll enjoy it.
Scrumpy

[cruisequeen10]

The aquarium in Vancouver is in Stanley Park. Beautiful park and very big. If you want to walk around the whole thing, it is called the seawall and is approx 7 miles. A beautiful long walk. It takes you from the entrance to the park around and under the Lions Gate Bridge (where the ships pass under) to Third Beach, Second Beach and finally English Bay. Or you can start at English Bay and go the other way. There is a "free bus" that can take you around the whole park as well. Gastown and Chinatown are close to Canada Place (where the ships dock). There are a lot of things to see in Vancouver. We have a "trolley" bus that will take you to several "tourist" spots and it is a hop off and hop off bus. Lots of hotels in the downtown section and also lots of shopping. If you would like help with things to see and hotels, just let me know.

[mim100]

and if you like markets, there's Granville Market ( sp? ) ...a fun way to spend some time, it's inside and quite large ( two floors )...

[Cruzin Chris]

Some people do not want to dress formal on a cruise. HAL makes things very nice for those who want to stay casual the entire cruise. You can have the same food served in the dining room at the buffet and stay casual if you like. They still set the tables like the dining room (tablecloths, nice china, glasses etc) and you have table service as well. They have offered this on my last two HAL cruises so am assuming it is still an option.

[catamaran]

We were on the Zui twice, once in 03 and in 04 and we liked it.
We also just returned from a 10 day on the Volendam.

Cappuccino and espresso are free in th dining room, but cost in the
specialty coffee shops.
As far as formal nights are concerned, suit and tie are ok nowadays.
You can also eat in the Lido, with table service, but informal.

Enjoy.