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View Full Version : Zuiderdam Sept. 11-18 eastern carribean


Brianc1215
September 19th, 2004, 06:08 PM
I am only going to post my own views about this cruise, since I believe everyone is entitled to there own opinion. I did read comments by Lois, who I happened to talk to breifly on a stairway on the ship, when I overheard her talking about this web site.

This was my wife and I's first cruise, actually it was our honeymoon. We stayed in cabin 7110 with our own balcony. The service was absolutely outstanding for us. Our cabin steward was also lucky who I felt must of been spying on us to see when we exited the room, because it was immaculate when we came back. The chocolates on the pillows was a nice touch.

We were on the 6:15pm sitting in the lower vista dining room. Our head waiter (gus) seemed too quiet, but seemed to smile a lot, and always called me sir. Newman was the assist. waiter who I feel should be promoted, he was outstanding, then Walter our wine steward, was outsanding as well. All three of them, we became good friends with them. Walter liked to make roses with napkins and do magic tricks at our table as he sold us wine. We didn't really see our maitre'd to much, but that didn't matter much to us.

The Lido deck, we made quite a few friends as well that all remembered our names, or at least tried there hardest too. I think we gained so many friendships there because my wife is a fillipina, and a good majority of the crew was also fillipino.

We thought the entertainment was better then we have ever seen anywhere. We live at the border of Hollywood, CA and see a lot of entertainment. The Zuiderdam cast, especially the 2nd night called "under the boardwalk" was the best I've ever seen, Joel Mason and James Ceilen were also super outstanding. Edge-the juggeler was good to, but we dont feel he should've been the whole show, since he didn't compare to the rest of the performers. Dane Butcher our cruise director was excellent as well.

We kind of got hooked on Bingo there spending 80-100 bucks on it. When you play for a free cruise or the snowball at the end valued at 5,400.00 for one game was too hard to pass up, losing when we only needed one or two numbers was tough. but it was fun.

Friday night, I played in a game show called whats my line, where 5 panelist had to guess what my line of work was, they werent able to figure it out. This was in the vista lounge.

When we first entered our stateroom, there was a bottle of french champagne from the captain for our honeymoon. Thursday night we were invited to a honeymoon party with a lot of other couples who were renewing their vows and other honeymooners as well as the captain and hotel manager.

The one and only part of the whole cruise that we felt that was unsatisfactory was the shorter stay in Tortola because of tropical storm Jeanne. We had the baths tour booked, so by leaving tortola early, we never saw tortola because our tour of virgin gorda was 4 hours. I would've cancelled the baths if I had earlier warning. The next two ports were cancelled-St. Thomas and San Juan- we went to St. Maartin instead, but I felt we couldve had time for another port-maybe a half day, instead of spending 2 days going real slow back to Florida. This was the only part I felt they could've done better on.

The ship is beutifull, the service was excellent, the food was great, the entertainment was very outstanding and we really, really enjoyed ourselves. I just got back having 200 pictures printed from my digital camera.

I would definitley recommend this ship again and again, as long as it's not hurricane season.

Lois R
September 19th, 2004, 06:22 PM
Hi Brian:) I am glad you both had a wonderful time....and I wish I could remember when we met:eek: they say the mind is the first thing to go......;)

Cameron-by-the-Sea
September 19th, 2004, 06:32 PM
Thank you for posting your comments. It sounds like your cruise was everything you hoped for. :) What a wonderful way to start your marriage. Best Wishes!

Spot
September 19th, 2004, 07:05 PM
Congratulations on your marriage!

Thank you for posting your review, it was nice to read how a first time cruiser views the ship.
Make certain you post the photos (those you can share :)) online so we can all appreciate your cruise.

Slinkiecat
September 19th, 2004, 07:59 PM
I loved reading your review, and I suspect that there will be a lot of abbreviated cruises in the Caribbean this season due to all the storms. We hope ours goes smoothly next month too, although we will not be so lucky as to meet Lois R on our ship.

With your good experience, I assume you will be hooked on cruising too and before long you and your bride will be planning an anniversary celebration on a cruise.

Slinkie

Brianc1215
September 20th, 2004, 06:35 PM
Thanks for all the replys and the support for my marriage, I will start a website and post our photos, then post the website on this page, I dont know another way to post them, I just had 200 photos developed for 60 dollars printed from digital camera card. And Lois, we actually only spoke very briefly on a stairway near our stateroom, because I overheard you talking about cruisecritic.com, and I butted in like a nosey person, I heard that from my wife for an hour about butting in. I know it was you Lois because I recognize you from your photo on this website.

Lois R
September 20th, 2004, 06:46 PM
Brian:) please tell your wife you weren't butting in!...(I would have remembered if you were)..maybe;) ....
That is part of what I love about cruising...meeting people who love to TALK CRUISING.....
I must say I met TONS of first time cruisers and lots of newlyweds too......

Tell your wife hello from everyone:D ...we can all butt in back;) ...JUST KIDDING....honest!

Krazy Kruizers
September 20th, 2004, 06:58 PM
Does sound like you enjoyed your cruise & your honeymoon - congratulations.

Come back to HAL when there won't be so many storms in the Caribbean _ January???

Little Feet
September 24th, 2004, 10:02 PM
We joined your cruise quite last minute....it was all we could think of to avoid the threat of evacuation from Florida at the start of our land vacation. Our travel agent got us on the Zuiderdam just 1 1/2 days before sailing. We were lucky to get a nice verandah cabin....but we were not prepared for the activities that required "dinner clothes". If you saw the couple that had no formal attire (but ate anyway in the dining room on 2 formal nights)....that was us. I did talk to the maitre 'd and explained that as evacuees we had no appropriate outfits. He said not to worry about it.....I hope this does not bring up that dreaded "dress code" debate.... but....it does illustrate that folks do not "dress down" out of a lack of respect. To those that stared at us with a frown....get a life! I hope you never have to evacuate with less than you need to be "acceptable"!

We enjoyed the "mystery cruise" and were thankful that we were safe and pampered! The food was excellent, the service could not have been better, and the time passed too quickly. It was our third cruise on the Zuiderdam and I would recommend it to anyone!

Little Feet