dvg1027

Hi, I just looked at both views and don't see the Zuiderdam. What am I missing or isn't it there yet?

Anyone have this? Did you like it? Do you feel it was worth the money? Thanks!

We will be sailing on the Zuiderdeam on The 10-day Panama Canal cruise, leaving March 18. We have the family cabana in the Retreat. Is the Retreat a good place to be while going through the canal? Thanks!

Hi,

My husband, parents and I are going on the Zuiderdam on March 18 through the Panama Canal.

We are all 2 star Mariner's although my DH and I will hit 3 star on this cruise, although I know we don't get any additional perks until the next cruise.

I heard that they do not offer the Mariner's luncheon any more on embarkation day. Besides the Lido is there anywhere else that is available to us for lunch? Don't know if it makes a difference but we have 2 Neptune suites.

My parents are 94 and 95 years young and the Mariner's luncheon was always a nice way to start the cruise with out it being too busy.

Also, do they still offer the luncheon at the end of the cruise for Mariner's? I forget what it was called but it was a sit down dinner and usually you got a gift. On the Eurodam it was a ceramic square with the picture of the Eurodam on it. Thanks!

Hi,

My husband and I booked our Panama Canal Cruise on the Zuiderdam for next month over a year ago. About 6 weeks ago, my parents asked if we minded if they went, which of course we didn't mind at all. When the TA priced out the cruise for my parents it was $2,000 cheaper than our quote. Of course she rebooked us at the cheaper rate. The original quote included a few extras such as the beverage package but even if we pay for that on our own we are still way ahead of the game.

We were on the exact same cruise in a Neptune Suite. We were in 7055.

My other family members were in 7057-also next to the elevators and 7053. I agree with most of the thing you said. We did have one bad experience in the PG for breakfast.

The six of us ordered. 4 orders came out and they didn't serve us until the other 2 orders came out about 10 minutes later. My sisters eggs Benedict were cold by that time. She sent them back. The came back about 2 minutes later with the yolks hard boiled. They must have put them in the microwave. She sent them back again and they finally got it right the 3rd time. Then the toast came when we were almost done and my Mom 's looked fine on one side but the other side was black. We complained but by then we were all done with our meals. I told our concierge and she said she would contact the manager. He tried calling me but we were out of our suite. So he sent a plate of desserts with a note of apology. The concierge also followed up with me and asked that we go back again, which we did. Everything was back to the usual high standards the we have come to expect from the PG.

We also did a FCC for March 2016- Panama Canal. The travel consultant said that we could change our cruise and our $150 pp ship board credit would not be altered. BUT if we changed the cruise we originally selected we would forfeiture the Explorer4 benefits which are good for my husband and I.

Hmmmmm, I just went back now to look at Cruise list's remarks about the outage. Our outage was definitly on the last night of our cruise on Sat Sept 15th. This sounds like it might have been the following Thursday which was the last cruise of Alaska for the season.

Just wanted to clarifiy this.

Also, one night in the Pinnacle Grill one of the staff said that rumors were running rampant that HAL was looking to sell the Statendam and that I new one was going to be build in the next 2 years. Who knows it is a rumor.

So what if they only had cheese sandwiches, they didn't starve the Psgrs. Perhaps a glass of wine might have been offered with the sandwiches but compensation? That's absurd!

Betty

I was there. Everyone was offered a glass of Champagne. There was also, tuna fish, turkey and some kind of beef sandwiches along with fruit. It only affect those with late seating, (like my DH and me) or people from as you like seating who didn't eat yet. If you were at the Pinnacle or the Italian restaurant, (forget the name) you got whatever they could manage cold, (antipasto, salad, desserts, cold appetizers) and you weren't charged for the specialty restaurant.

The Lido buffet opened up later with some additional hot food once they got everything heated up. If you had the suites, which we had, you also had the food that was in the Neptune Lounge. Kat, the consignor, (I know it is spelled wrong, why can't I remember the correct spelling. LOL) went down to the galley, she said everyone crew and officier's who weren't needed elsewhere were making sandwiches to give the passengers something.

The Captain who was on his last week of 3 months of filling in for the regular captain and Anthony the Cruise Director kept us informed every step of the way. We couldn't let something like this bother what was otherwise a good cruise.

Should we have had some compensation besides the champagne. It would have been nice, but it was only 2 hours. It was just a shame that it was on the last night. But you can't always predict these things.

So we booked two deluxe verandah suites. I am wondering if it is even worth it getting a retreat cabana. Do you get a lot of sun just sitting out on the verandah?

Also, if we decided to get two retreat cabanas, (I called and the ones that are for 4 adults are already booked) since we are traveling together would the cruiseline put us next to each other? Thanks.

What would you say are the pluses and minuses of a retreat cabana and a lido cabana. I am trying to figure out which is best for a family of 4 adults-ages 55 to 91.

Also, does my brick and mortar TA set that up or do I. Our cruise is Oct 29. Are they probably all taken by now? Thanks.