Information about the Zuiderdam please

[Lois R]

:) Hello...ok, now that I have booked...would you all give me some info on the ship?
Good spots....for an adult beverage......I know there are 3 or 4 lounges....which are favorites for ya'll.... hopefully I can get some opinions;) .
I was reading some of the other threads...so I am waiting for lots of different voices!
The Specialty restaurant...since I sail solo I doubt I will be eating there...unless I meet some folks who want to go together...but I love eating in the dining room:D .
Do they offer Trivia during the day? That is one of my favorite activities!
I have heard HAL does offer "Single's get-togethers"..anyone been to that before? What can you tell me about it?
Those are a few questions...to start with:)

[Lois R]

come on folks:D :D ....help..I am trying to get excited about this cruise....;)

[tinmanswife]

Lois R...DH & I were on the Z in May for our anniversary. We hadn't cruised for over 20 years, so we would have loved the ship no matter what! There seemed to be many cozy places for drinks. We got into the habit of meeting our new Cruise Critic friends for drinks @ the Ocean Bar every evening before dinner (we all had different tables/times). I'm sure you will love the Zuiderdam. One of the Cruise Critic members was on her first solo cruise, and she seemed to enjoy herself, even with us old married people! We weren't thrilled with our tablemates, and one evening we ate with her at her table...(she had been seated with 5 other singles)...because she knew 2 were eating at the Pinnacle that night. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[PoohUnderstands]

Will try to answer your specific questions. Yes, they play trivia. On our western cruise I saw it on the daily bulletin at least 2-3 times I think.

Yes, they also had some single get-togethers too.

[Lois R]

Good morning..thanks for the replies:)

[thulewx]

Lois - I sailed on the Z for 3 weeks about 18 months ago and loved it. Pre-dinner, I'd usually go to the Ocean Bar - it's a little weird in set up - there's the bar area with stools in a separate room from the main lounge area with band and dnace floor. I preferred the bar area for conversation and meeting people.
Another place that's good for pre-dinner is the observation lounge up top. They also have a group playing music there post dinner many evenings and occasionally karaoke and daytime trivia contests are usually held there. Later, I would normally go to the Piano Bar when the pianist is playing - lots of camaraderie there with occasional sing-alongs - it's tucked in next to the casino - a lot of people miss it completely. The disco can be fun but it's a little hit-n-miss - some nights a big crowd, other nights dead.
Daytime, I preferred the pool bar near the covered pool with the polar bear statues (it opens first of all bars :p ). It's nice on sea day mornings for people watching.

[kryos]

[QUOTE}The Specialty restaurant...since I sail solo I doubt I will be eating there...unless I meet some folks who want to go together...but I love eating in the dining room:[/QUOTE]
Shame you're sailing 9-11 ... if you had been just one week before, we could have gotten together onboard. I'm sailing solo as well and we could have explored all this stuff together since it's my first time on the Zuiderdam as well.

Regardless, though ... I'm sure we'll both have a fantastic time!

Blue skies!

--rita

[doone]

Lois, if you possibly can, please try the Pinnacle Grill. Its excellent and I think you really would enjoy it.

Give the Crowe's Nest a try, I love it there for before dinner drinks and appetizers, I think you will also. There are many lovely lounges which I think you will also enjoy.

I am looking forward to reading your review as I sail the Zuiderdam with my friends in March. First time with the Vista Style ships, I have always enjoyed the S style HAL ships, hope I like the Vista!!!!!!!!!

[Lois R]

Hi:) thanks for the replies....I will have to write some of the stuff down!

Crowes Nest....hmmmm....sounds good. Actually, I am a member of AAA...need to stop by there and pick up a HAL book:D ...can see everything up close and personal that way;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Ocean Bar on Vista class ships.

This setup is different than on the other HAL ships.

The smoking section of the Ocean bar is where the var itself is located.

Across the atrium is the other section, non-smoking, where the band and dance floor is.

:)