FIRST TIMER HERE (Zuiderdam Feb 05)

[Whiskeyman]

HI all I haved read some of the reviews, really informative!
I have a couple questions for the experts out there in cruiseville.
I am taking my wife on a cruise in Feb for our 25th Annivesary..... Thank You
I don't know how in the world she's put up with me this long either.
Anyways, I am getting an (S) Suite on the Zuiderdam.
Now I dont really want to hear anything bad about the ship or anything this will bum me and her out.:( I want this to be the trip shes been waiting for for the last 25 years, we never really had a honeymoon.
We always talked about going one day and now we have the time to do it.
OKay to the questions
1. If your in a suite do you have to pay the $20 per person to eat there.?..one place I read you didn't have to.
2. I know about the tipping deal 10 bucks a day per person, added up at the end of the trip. Now I like tipping people who do a great job, any harm in tipping the waiter or Whoever cleans the room a couple bucks a day?
3. How much are drinks?
4. How much cash sould I bring? (ABOUT)
5. Any romantic ideas are welcome...I want this to be the time of her life!!
6. HAL knows about the anniversary...What should I expect, if anything?
I don't see spell check here so I apoliogize for any errors in my spelling..;)


PS thanks Scott and Melody for the great pics...Very nice
Email me if you like Thanks all

[WindyCity]

Hi,

1. Yes, you still pay $20/pp to eat in the Pinnacle Grill
2. No harm in tipping extra. You may want to save it until the last nite and give an envelope with a thank you card and extra tip.
3. Drink prices vary, they have specials of the day - will be listed in your daily program.
4. Hubby and I bring about $100 in singles and fives for tipping for room service or porters, money for cab fares, if needed and also, since we like the casino, our daily limit multiplied by how many days we sail. Everything else goes on the sign and sail card which we back with a credit card.
5. Check out the "gift order" on HAL's site. You may want to order a "Renewal of Vows" package.
6. HAL will probably decorate the door of your cabin and also, have an anniversary cake one night at dinner. It's a small cake and the waiters will sing. We liked it and asked them to sing in their native language. When our waiter and assistant started, all of a sudden, other waiters, wine stewards, area supervisor came over and joined in - there must have been around 12 of them singing! Was very nice & special.

Hope this helps answer your questions.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I think Windy City has answered your questions really well and sadly have nothing exciting to add. I just want to wish you Congratulations on your 25th and I know it will be a spectacular way to celebrate.:D

[Whiskeyman]

Thanks:)

[Keith B.]

Just to make the anniverary last all week you can do like I do on all our honeymoon anniversary cruises. November 6th will be our third this year.

Each night I put something out for my love, a card one night, tiny box of mints from Victoria Secret another, little stuffed animal, etc. Each cruise gives me a chance to pay her back for everything she does for me at home between cruises.

[Peggy Sue]

We sailed on the zuiderdam May 03..our first HAL cruise.. Through fate, and a good TA, we ended up in a S suite. You will LOVE the suite life.. It is so relaxing and the Neptune lounge is a great place to grab coffee, snacks etc.

You may want to consider calling ship services and ordering a dozen roses..we had them in our cabin and there were so beautiful..fully opened during the cruise, and we hated to say good by to them on the final morning.

Zuiderdam has some wonderful tables for two..upper dining room, along the rail. We had one of these tables. Very romantic ..

We had plenty of opportunity to meet people at cocktail parties, lounges etc. .. but we loved our "just the two of us time"!!

I see the renewal vow has been suggested. I also seem to recall others here posting about having a vow renewal done at the little church on half moon cay.

You will have a fantastic time..

Pinnacle Grill - you can call ship services and reserve for the first night at $10. per person. The room is beautiful and very elegant..very romantic!

Congratulations ... enjoy your cruise!!

[stever]

For a romantic idea, rent a car on one of the islands, have the ship pack you a picnic lunch (wine, fruit, cheese) drive around until you find the perfect spot (either a private beach or a moutain top view of all the islands) , surprise her with some little trinket ( something with meaning, not a expensive new 2ct diamond ring), sit and talk about all the good and rough times, and tell her she is the best thing that ever happened to you.

[LoveLifeAtSea]

stever and Keith B .......... I sure hope your wives appreciate the romantics in you!!! AND, how much you apparently love your wives!

[Ziggy7]

Congratulations Whiskeyman & Mrs. Whiskeyman !
We did the renewel of vows (for our 28 yrs.) package on Half Moon Key, it was simple yet wonderful! They even served us cavier and champange and rang the little church bell on the island. We are not drinkers so they had OJ for us too :) They did not decorate our cabin door, but they presented us with a cake one night at dinner, big enough for all six at our table and sang to us, we also recieved a Aniversay card signed by the captain and Head cabin guy, sorry cant remember his position right now :) Also one night we recieved chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate covered pineapple chunks in both white and dark chocolate from the ship staff, we also recieved a special vip coupon for Diamonds International for a special price to upgrade our wedding diamonds from the Head shopping guy. We didnt use that sorry to say but we thought they were a little pricey, just our opinion though :)
Whatever you choose to do I'm sure your wife will have the time of her life :) We did and you sound like your in the right mind set to have a wonderful time! :)

[Whiskeyman]

Everyone has had fantastic suggestions and I will keep them all in mind.
Thank you all!

[Roadwork]

If you wife likes receiving flowers, plurge and order her the dozen roses that you can pre order through Hal. They are lovely.

[doone]

Welcome Whiskeyman. I am sailing on the Zuiderdam for my first experience on a Vista Style ship. There are 5 girls sailing, so we chose a Suite and a mini-suite. We opted for an aft corner suite, which I understand has a larger balcony and is out in the sun most, if not all, the time. We decided that this room would be the "hang out" room, so we opted for the larger balcony, with the mini-suite next door. If you decide on the suite, I'd opt for the larger balcony, IMHO.

Enjoy your cruise, which I am sure will be very special for you and the Mrs.

I agree, WindyCity answered all your questions perfectly. Any others, please ask away.

[gizmo]

Since this is your first cruise here are a couple of things to be aware of.

Have a nice breakfast on your veranda. You will have a menu, but not everything is listed, like pancakes and french toast. Just write it in the night before or if you call in the morning order it then.

Hal allows you to bring chamagne/wine on board. You can stop at Crown Liquor in Ft.Lauderdale on the way to the pier and pick up a bottle or two if you both like wine/champagne. Hal does provide a bottle of champagne and it will be in your suite when you board, but another bottle or two wouldn't hurt.

Take your wife to the Pinnacle one evening for dinner.

I am sure you are going to have a wonderfull cruise. :)

[Whiskeyman]

Yes we are getting an aft suite...So we have to walk a bit further for this and that, we're kinda young still. 43 and 40. Thanks again to you all for your suggestions, keep em coming .

[rdy2cruz]

The aft cabins are great and really romantic - the only thing I didn't take that I wish later that I did was a candle to burn at night - it would have to be in a jar since the wind blows really good back there and if all of the lights are turned off around you it would add a great touch. You can ask the taxi driver to stop by the liquor store or Publix and then carry the wine, wine coolers or champagne on board (no liquor or beer). Inthe Crows nest they have a pretty good band - the lights are low - dance a slow dance - that is a great thing! If you want a trinket I would suggest Little Switzerland in Key West - they had a lot better prices than the others suggested by the cruise line. In Cozumel on the pier there is a fabulous restaurant - Don Panchos that is great at night and it is very romantic on the patio looking at the Z and the food is outstanding. Have a great time - don't book too many things at HMC and enjoy the beach but go parasailing together.

[doone]

Be glad you didn't take a candle with you to burn in your cabin. With all the shifting of the ship that can happen at a moments notice, that candle can most definately tip over and cause a major catastrophie at sea. Please don't take candles on a ship to burn, I know they are beautiful and I love to burn candles, but I leave them at home when I sail!!!!!

[jemingway]

Whiskeyman, when in February are you going? Might make a difference considering Valentine's day.:cool:

[Whiskeyman]

Yes We'll be on board for valantines day...:)

[Jackjenson]

My gosh! I just did the math....you guys were married at 15 and 18? And they say that young love is a flash in the pan...you sure prove them wrong!


Enjoy the cruise.

[bepsf]

Romantic Suggestions:

Book main seating (late seating)
Wear a tux for formal nights - If you dont have one, rent one from the ship before you leave. Then get pictures taken and buy one for her without her knowing, get it framed and give it as a gift on your last night's dinner at the Pinnacle...
Pre-order roses for the suite from ship services.
Order "Flaming Spanish Coffees" in the Explorers Lounge after dinner in the Vista Dining Room.
Pre-order a full dinner to be served on your Verandah one night.
Enjoy cocktails and warm hors d'oervres in the Ocean Bar before dinner - if the singer takes requests, ask for "Misty", then ask your wife to dance.
Pre-order breakfasts every evening for the next day. On sea days have it delivered late...
Skip the show one evening - take her for a walk on deck instead and show her the moon and the stars...
Bring good smelling (orange or lavender) liquid soap or shampoo with you. After a long day on the beach, fill the tub and hit the jacuzzi button - instant bubbles! Put your wife in the tub and hand her a glass of Champagne! (Don't worry about the overflowing bubbles - the steward will have it all cleaned up when you're at dinner.)
Enjoy!;)

[dakrewser]

Romantic Suggestions:

You are, indeed, a hopeless romantic! But you do have some I hadn't thought off - the jacuzzi, for one! :)

-dave

[Whiskeyman]

All you guys and gals are all great!! I'm glad I posted this now.
Actually Jackjenson we were 16 and 19...our birthdays are in Nov/Dec.
We've always gotten along and hardly ever argue... We are Grandparents of a nine month old baby boy... We love him so much.... I just can't see myself with anyone but her. Kinda strange but true... My love runs deep.
Thanks again:)

[ddmw11]

There is no Zuiderdam cruise on Feb 5!!!

[super_grover]

I think the 05 means 2005 ddmw11......
I hope you have a great time, as a hopeless romantic myself I can only hope that one day the DH has a similar idea.

[peaches from georgia]

February 2005 ;)

[ddmw11]

OOPS Sorry......I was actually a little freaked because I have the feb 8 Bahama cruise booked. I thought for a minute that I might have screwed up my dates.

[Cruising Jake]

Whiskeyman, I just want to congratulate on your 25th anniversary and on your being such a romantic. Everyone has had great suggestions. The only one I can add is to buy a fabulous nightgown and take it as a wrapped present for one of her gifts.