zuiderdam Nightlife!

[louben]

We are travelling on the Zuiderdam at the end of March and decided on this cruise because of the fantastic itinerary. However, we are in our late thirties and still like to party and do hope that there will be a few like-minded people with us. Can anyone advise if there is anything going on after 11pm and also their experience of the nightclub/disco/karaoke. :) :D

[cruisinbulldog]

Nightlife on HAL is a frame of mind IMO.. I first traveled with HAL in my early forties, and have always been a " party person".. There is always a party if you make one..

What I come to love about HAL is it can be as quiet as you like or I was always able to make a party if I wanted one.. Sometimes you have to lite a fire..:D

In my experience the nightclubs will stay open as long as there are paxs partying..

Bulldog

[wwinfl91]

My guess based on 8 previous HAL cruises is that you will be disappointed with the late night activities on any HAL cruise. We started cruising on HAL in 1997 when we were 50 or so and found by 11 PM or so most of the bars and nightclubs were empty. The casino and casino bar does a pretty good late night business but the other bars will usually empty out pretty early.

There may be a late night crowd on HAL and you may find it on your cruise but don't expect it. As said by the earlier poster the bars will stay open if there are paying passengers and the bands and disk jockey will still play music if there is someone there to listen.

You don't mention your other cruise experiences but don't expect an RCL, Princess or Carnival sort of late night crowd or you will probably be disappointed.

Have a great cruise no matter what.

[penguinchick24]

I'm 26 and was on the Zuiderdam this past December and on the Westerdam in December '07. While HAL definitely does not have the same nightlife that other lines have, there is still plenty to do at night. I would highly recommend going to the Northern Lights Nightclub. The party there starts at around 11pm every night. While it may not be very crowded, you will not be the only ones there. I was there on both of my HAL cruises until 2 or 3am every single night and had a blast! Currently the DJ is DJ Matt, he's the best I have ever experienced when it comes to getting younger people there and a party going! I believe he will be on vacation come March, but if not, go down and tell him that Melissa said that that was where the party would be! He will take good care of you. Enjoy your cruise!

[louben]

thanks - really appreciate your comments! We have sailed on Costa, RCL and NCL and to be honest haven't done any partying on any of these cruises, as our kids were too small to leave then and they didn't fancy a babysitter or kidsclub. The only time we were out late was at the karaoke bar on the Norwegian Star and that was probably only until 11:30 when my son fell off to sleep. Last year we sailed on the Costa Atlantica from Guadeloupe, which was completely fully of French only a handful of English speaking guests aboard. Consequently there was absolutely nothing going on after 11pm.

We knew that we would be taking a chance with this cruise as far as demographics goes, but really wanted to do the itinerary. We are hoping that there may well be others who wish to stay out a bit late and hopefully have a bit of a boogie in the nightclub!

[HALFans]

Check the Crow's Nest too.

Often there will be a small 'die-hard' group who'll manage to close it down every night. Normally not the "boogie 'til you drop crowd", but a fun group nevertheless.

As other posters have mentioned, the Northern Lights will be a good venue late in the evenings.

Keep in mind, this nightclub is only on the Vista (which the Zuiderdam is) and Signature (Eurodam) class HAL ships. When you have the opportunity to try one of the wonderful smaller ships, it won't be there.

Happy Sails!

[49holding]

I hope you won't be dissapointed with the late nite life on the Zuiderdamn after ..Maybe you will be just like the rest of us and be totally exhausted come 12am or 1am...Just off the Zuiderdamn and spent most of my nites in the casino, after leaving the casino which usually was anywhere from 11:30p to 1Am I would walk by and check out the northern lights disco, and ocean bar....dead. The disco had a couple of people...staff . There was Karoke idol contest on the Zuiderdam...with 2 prelims and a final..didn't make it to those, was ahead in the casino.. You could ask the CD or even the DJ..he basically functions as the assisitant CD early in the cruise if they could schedule an 20's/30's get together ....then with them form an late nite allegiance..

Let us know how your cruise goes.....

PS and you're right this itinerary is fabulous!!! better than RCL"s and Princess partial transisits