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View Full Version : 11/13 - Zuiderdam update


DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 10:29 AM
From Knitlady037 (Claire)....

Hi everyone. Will try to answer some questions. We did sail under code red. The first two days very little was available in the way of services. No robes or laundry bags in rooms. No books or dvd's released from library. If anyone is boarding soon I would suggest bringing your own. Casino was open of course with gloves and wipes available. Purell is everywhere, but getting some people to use it is like misson impossible. I guess some people never learn. The first morning here a woman was involved in a brightstar emergency. I don't know whether she was injured or was sick but she was taken from the Lido pool area on a stretcher. She was airlifted along with her husband, to Guantanamo around 5pm that day. I heard someone say they heard from her and she was home and OK. People are sick again, but they don't know if it's the virus or seasickness so they are taking the code red precautions again. Went on a ship sponsored shore excursion today in Aruba. Tomorrow we are in Curacao and doing another ship excursion. Formal night was Tuesday. I think there will only be one more. Most people were dressed in formal attire, but saw more than expected casually dressed people, even in dining room. Even though they are constantly working on the ship, it still does not look like it was in drydock recently. When we boarded the ship it smelled of smoke and there was and still is very little hot water. At times the toilets do not flush. we've had our shower worked on a few times to try and get the hot water working correctly. Works one day and not the next. We missed our stop in Half Moon Cay. Very disappointed about that, but probably would have missed it even if we sailed on time due to the hurricane. Have only eaten in Dining room one night, formal night, and food and service was good. The late seating is very empty. Most people are doing AYW dining. I think the wait is a little long for that. I met Hunky Dory and he always remembers my name and has a smile on his face. The room stewards are very overworked so we try to make as little work for them as possible. Our steward has 29 rooms to service. I only found this out when I asked him. He didn't tell me this on his own.

Another update. At 3 am this morning 7 alarm bells rang then the Captain announced there was a fire in the engine room. A little while later he came back to announce that the fire was under control and no further action was necessary. I also have some video of the kitchen tour that I'll upload to utube when I get home. Still in code red this morning.

BalconyBumz
November 13th, 2008, 10:32 AM
This is beginning to sound like a cruise from hell. :mad:

Cruising-along
November 13th, 2008, 10:36 AM
I feel so sorry for everyone going through this. Thank you for getting these updates to us. I know you're sailing the Zuiderdam in a couple weeks, I join everyone else in hoping these problems are well in the past by then.

DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 10:38 AM
This is beginning to sound like a cruise from hell. :mad:

I don't think so... she is very positive in her updates.

DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 10:39 AM
This is beginning to sound like a cruise from hell. :mad:

Sorry duplicate

BalconyBumz
November 13th, 2008, 10:42 AM
That's great she's positive. It sounds like the cruise from hell to ME! I personally wouldn't be very happy and I'm sure there are many that aren't. Glad she's positive and happy, but it sounds like the cruise from hell to me. :eek:

DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 10:49 AM
That's great she's positive. It sounds like the cruise from hell to ME! I personally wouldn't be very happy and I'm sure there are many that aren't. Glad she's positive and happy, but it sounds like the cruise from hell to me. :eek:

Why would it be a cruise from hell? Because you have to wash your hands? Because you are served your food? I would rather be safe then sorry personally... a cruise it what YOU make of it, not how others make it for you... JMHO

jbhcw
November 13th, 2008, 10:57 AM
We have friends on this sailing, so thinking of them and everyone else too. The Zuiderdam so far is my favorite HAL ship. I'm really hoping everyone is making do, washing hands and having a good if not great cruise despite the Code Red:)

BalconyBumz
November 13th, 2008, 11:20 AM
I definitely feel so sorry and bad for these people. I'm sure we'll hear about it when they get back. I would so be bummed if this happened to us on one of our cruises. We've been lucky thus far. :mad:

DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 11:28 AM
I definitely feel so sorry and bad for these people. I'm sure we'll hear about it when they get back. I would so be bummed if this happened to us on one of our cruises. We've been lucky thus far. :mad:

You keep using an angry smiley... is that in error or are you really that mad about this?

BalconyBumz
November 13th, 2008, 11:33 AM
No, it's a sad sad smile for these poor people on this cruise. I feel so bad for them. :( I guess I should have used this one instead of the red one for sad not mad. I'm so glad it isn't me on that cruise. It will be interesting to hear from some of them on these boards when they come back.

Williebill
November 13th, 2008, 11:37 AM
I joined in with them on their roll call and I know how excited all of them were; I hate their cruise had to start off the way it did.

BalconyBumz
November 13th, 2008, 11:44 AM
I joined in with them on their roll call and I know how excited all of them were; I hate their cruise had to start off the way it did.

I know, it must be very disappointing to many of them. It's beyond their control and stuff like this happens, but still, it takes the wind out of your sail on a cruise I'm sure, and not being able to be as free and normal as you would. Plus the fact worrying the whole time you are going to get it. Isn't the Z Princess, Candy, on this cruise?

DMorris
November 13th, 2008, 12:03 PM
I know, it must be very disappointing to many of them. It's beyond their control and stuff like this happens, but still, it takes the wind out of your sail on a cruise I'm sure, and not being able to be as free and normal as you would. Plus the fact worrying the whole time you are going to get it. Isn't the Z Princess, Candy, on this cruise?

No she is on the next sailing... 11/19

Krazy Kruizers
November 13th, 2008, 12:10 PM
Thanks for the update.

Gee -- all those things usually happen when we cruise.

Can't believe that I am missing out on all this.

debnjoe1438
November 13th, 2008, 06:33 PM
Fire in the engine room is more scary to me the a virus. I certinally hope all is well with everyone, and thing get better soon. I'm thinking of booking a cruise in Jan on the zuiderdam, however even though I know a fire can happen anywhere, I'm glad I haven't booked yet. Oh well, I suppose all one can do is say a prayer and hope for the best.:confused:

Candy
November 13th, 2008, 08:06 PM
I know, it must be very disappointing to many of them. It's beyond their control and stuff like this happens, but still, it takes the wind out of your sail on a cruise I'm sure, and not being able to be as free and normal as you would. Plus the fact worrying the whole time you are going to get it. Isn't the Z Princess, Candy, on this cruise?

We're on the 11/19 cruise, and are packing extra Purell, wipes, alcohol pads, etc. to prepare for the worst. We wash our hands a lot anyway, and the hot tubs, hydropool, etc. closings will be a necessary precaution. It will be inconvenient and frustrating at times, but I don't care. we'll just nap more. I love cruising and I love this ship, and the only thing that would tick me off is if the cruise was cancelled.

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

Jen&Joe
November 13th, 2008, 11:55 PM
Having just come off of the Z I can say that for us it wasn't the cruise from hell despite the fact we were under a code red. Your trip is what you make of it and for us the fact that we had to be a bit more diligent with the purell and have someone serve us everything in the Lido was not a deal breaker. But the cancelled chocolate extravaganza.....:cool:

Candy
November 14th, 2008, 12:23 AM
From Knitlady037 (Claire)....

...snip... I met Hunky Dory and he always remembers my name and has a smile on his face...

Did I read right? Is Hunky Dory aboard? THE Hunky Dory? I surely hope so... if anyone can make a slow Bistro line go fast, it's him!

Candy

DMorris
November 14th, 2008, 07:45 AM
Should we be worried about the fires? This is the 2nd fire I am reading about on the Z. 1st one was on the TA cruise that just got back and the 2nd was this current cruise.

Krazy Kruizers
November 14th, 2008, 07:52 AM
We have been on several ships with fires. It does concern me. But I just listen to the PA system. One time we were all ordered back to our cabins and wait further instructions. While the captain came on every few minutes, I just took time to empty the safe and grab our medical bag while DH got the life jackets out and we put them as we listened to the announcements.

DMorris
November 14th, 2008, 07:57 AM
I am just hoping it is the last of the fires on the Z... that is 2 fires in about 2 weeks... :(

ceeceecruiser
November 14th, 2008, 10:53 AM
Did I read right? Is Hunky Dory aboard? THE Hunky Dory? I surely hope so... if anyone can make a slow Bistro line go fast, it's him!

Candy

Just came off the TA on the Zuiderdam and Hunky Dory is definitely there and putting a positive spin on everything and remembering everyone's name. He also works in the main dining room in the evening. We were at Table #18 and he was serving the tables just behind us.

Cynthia

still cruzin
November 14th, 2008, 01:28 PM
Were both fires in the engine room?

DMorris
November 14th, 2008, 01:42 PM
Most recent was the engine room on 11/9/08 sailing. I swore I read the 10/23 TA sailing had one, but now can't find it. Found that the 9/29 Med sailing also had a fire, but it it was in the crew's quarters.