Zuiderdam 9/25/04 - Who else?

[Chilipepa]

Hi all :)

My husband and I are on the Zuiderdam E. Caribbean 9/25/04 and this will be our first cruise. We're cruise virgins!
I like the message board forum, belong to one for the Yucatan as that's where we usually vacation, but decided to try something different this time.

Verandah Deck - main upper D.R., 2nd seating. Rob is 42 and I'm 38, no kids. We're from the San Francisco area. I decided to find out if I can drum up any enthusiasm from fellow cruisers. Can't wait!! Who else is out there?

Linda

[Sweetpea2978]

also cruising with you me 26 bof 31 DD 1 We are all very excited to be going on a cruise

[TampaMike]

I'll be on the Zuiderdam 9/18 & 9/25 sailings back to back. Traveling solo this trip for a much needed rest!

[Spot]

We are Deb and Roland (49+53), from San Antonio. This is our 2nd HAL cruise and 1st on the Zuiderdam. Upper Verandah, side aft cabin for us. Have requested late seating upper floor.

Who from this cruise has already done the document dance? We don't have ours yet and I've anxiously gone to the mailbox daily only to be disappointed.

Where is everyone staying pre and/or post cruise?

WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT THE DAYS UNTIL DEPARTURE......................

[Chilipepa]

Rob and I are the late to bed & early to rise kind of people - (except for days at sea when I plan to sleep in & recharge the ever-aging batteries.:D
Not much on dancing, though - depending on how much alcohol we've had. :rolleyes: My husband will freely admit that he's a member of the Bad Dancers Assoc.

Tampa Mike - What the heck is "Retired CD & ShorEx"?

36 more days!

Linda

[Chilipepa]

Looks like we have the same dining time also.

I didn't know any better when booking and asked for table 2-4 persons, if I keep this up on the boards for the next month I guess I'll be changing that.:)

As far as documents go, I feel guilty bc I have been reading about people being anxious & Rob and I have had ours for 2 weeks now. Does it have to do with the TA? We already got our Am Ex check for $50 too. I thought about doing what others suggested and calling to see if I can get another $50 but I don't know who to call. HAL themselves?

Anyway, Rob & I are staying at Best Western Marina Inn & Yacht Harbor 2150 Southeast 17th Street Causeway. It was recommended by a co-worker who was in the area not even for a cruise but bc a relative was in the hospital there. I got $71/nite and free shuttle to the ship, plus breakfast buffet (which sounds like more food than a muffin & cup of coffee). And supposedly they have a cheesy tiki bar at the pool. Sound fine to me. :p

[Spot]

Chilipepa - we request a table for 2 as my DH likes to eat alone but is social otherwise. We love HAL, our first was on Maasdam and it was the best cruise we have ever taken. Our destination of choice on a cruise is the ship itself.
We haven't made a decision on a pre-cruise hotel yet - this has to be done this weekend.
We will have to meet up..............we plan to be ready and waiting when the boarding commences.

[Sweetpea2978]

Hi chillipepa and spot I am starting to get real excited my question is i don't know if i have the credit or not should i call i have an inside cabin and this is my first cruise i am in the dark here.

[Spot]

Hi Sweetpea, I'm not real certain what you are asking.........if you have gotten your documents already, the credit should show up if you got one, if you haven't gotten your documents or if the credit wasn't included, do not hestitate to call or email HAL with your questions/concerns.
We still haven't gotten our documents and I'm starting to get a wee bit nervous since so many have proclaimed their good luck already. I will wait until after mail comes tomorrow and if there are no documents I will call HAL.
You are going to love, love, love cruising and with your first being on HAL you will be spoiled forever! When I hear a woman screaming and swearing when the cruise is over I will know it is you holding onto the rails for dear life not wanting the experience to be over - ha-ha-ha

Deb

[Sweetpea2978]

i am sure i will love it thanks for the information i haven't gotten my documents yet either. When i get my document and there isn't a credit on it what do i say to HAL When i call

[Spot]

Sweetpea - tell them that you were suppose to get a credit from ______ and remind them that it was not included in your documents (if you booked through a TA, you should call them and let them handle it). We booked through an online service and could not get a credit but we sure got a great deal nonetheless.
We take care of as much as possible before we depart, making excursion arrangements, ordering liquor to be waiting in our cabin, make reservations for the Pinnacle Grill, etc. I have found HAL to be very helpful when I call or email so please don't hestitate to make as many contacts as you want/need prior to the cruise.

Deb