Zuiderdam Cruise pics from 11 Sep to 27 Sep B2Bs

[petermccue]

Finally got some of them up...

http://homepage.mac.com/petermccue/PhotoAlbum2.html

[Ziggy7]

Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing, I was reliving my cruise on her hehehehe Thanks again!

[Pudgesmom]

PeterMcCue-

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing with us.

Are you related to the famous Quarter Horse sire?

Pudge (the Quarter Horse)'smom:rolleyes:
Beth

[petermccue]

LOL... Actually, I write (when I have time) books on older QHs. I have a particular admiration for Peter McCue, so I use him as a 'nom de plume' on the net.

V

[NancyC]

Thanks for the pics. You stir up my excitement again as I am booked on the Z Nov. 6 Eastern Caribbean. :D

[NancyC]

Can you answer some questions about the Z? I read on one board about the lack of a/c very recently in and around cabin #7XXX. My cabin will be in this locale. :confused:

[doone]

GREAT pictures, thanks for sharing them with us. Can't wait to board the Zuiderdam in March!!!!!!

[petermccue]

The only problems with AC we had were on the first day while we were in port when it was kinda anemic all over the ship. I think that was as much folks getting on as much as anything else.

We also had issues with the AC near the lido pool doors, but once again, that was because those doors are always open seems like so the lido buffet seating area was a bit warm during busy hours.

Mother's cabin was 7084 and she didn't have any problems with her AC working well. I didn't notice any problems in the hallway around her either.

V

[CHRIS3169]

Great pictures!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you,
Chris

[robertmartha]

tell me about the tour at Costa Maya - thinking about this for our trip in August (yes August - I'm a planner!!!!). DId you book a tour through HAL - they offer 2 - 1 w/lunch the other w/out
thanks

GREAT PICTURES!

[petermccue]

The Costa Maya tour was Chacchoben Ruins tour that we did book through the ship. It was the four hour tour, with no snack provided.

It was actually closer to five hours, as it was about an hour trip to the ruins, with the tour guide giving a very informative talk about the countryside and the local people's life and lifestyle. Then at the ruins themselves, they had some restrooms (very clean if small) and a small snack bar. About an hour and a half to two hours at the site .. once again with a very informative tour guide who was pretty knowledgable. (I studied some archaelogy in college so I have a bit more knowledge of it than most Americans and I didn't catch him out on a thing, and he had quite a lot of information I had never heard). At the beginning of the tour someone from the site took our pictures with one of the pyramids in the background (totally voluntary.. if you didn't want to buy the picture (for $10 US) they were happy to let you go past) and offered the pictures to you at the end of the tour for $10. Nice shots and cheaper than shipboard, that's for sure.

After the tour there was the opportunity to grab something from the snack bar and they also offered soft drinks on the buses. Then an hour or so back.

All in all, one of the better bus tours I've taken .. a little push for a tip at the end, but nothing real bad. We probably overtipped, but it was a VERY nice tour guide, I thought.

They also offered the opportunity to get your name and an important date in Mayan Glyphs along with a rather spiffy looking codex style book on the Mayan calendar for $25. I didn't get that, as I have a couple of textbooks on glyphs somewhere in my stacks of books. Your name and stuff were on bark paper such as the Mayan's used, and the codex was on glossy paper with plaster boards.. a very nice souvenier for most folks.

I enjoyed it and didn't think I got gouged by taking it through HAL, which is always a good thing!

On the other hand, Costa Maya itself left me unimpressed, perhaps because there was a large crowd in the pool acting very much like Spring Break and the beach wasn't open (they were still cleaning it from Ivan)... since I'm about 15 years past my spring break days, I wasn't interested in reliving those days again!

V

[viennacruiser]

Great pictures...so looking forward to my cruise in March 05:)
How did you manage that behind the scenes tour??:D
Nancy

[petermccue]

Well, we were offered that because we were stuck on the ship two extra days because of Hurricane Jeanne. It was offered the first extra day.

I'd say about 200-300 folks showed up to take it, it was quite interesting.

V

[tomandanna]

We will be taking our First ever cruise on the Zuiderdam in April 05, Thanks for the pictures, they will ease my wife's mind.Tom

[Golfgrl1911]

GREAT PICS Pete!! Loved how you formatted them. We boarded the afternoon that you all got off! Did you enjoy the 2 extra days? I would have given my eye teeth to have had that happen to me!! Chef Nancy:)

[Golfgrl1911]

We will be taking our First ever cruise on the Zuiderdam in April 05, Thanks for the pictures, they will ease my wife's mind.Tom
Tom...not to worry you all will have a fabulous time.....I promise!! She's a beautiful ship!! Chef Nancy