Playin Pickleball

3 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Look again. There is a post of pictures of 5048, with two pictures showing one chair other than the desk chair.

 

I would guess as those are handicap cabins, perhaps they are making sure there is enough room wor a wheelchair to move around.

DOH! You're 100% correct. I've been looking at so many pictures today I forgot what I already knew. Thank you.

I searched on Halfacts and this forum for pictures of V5048 or V5051 but didn't find any.

Does anyone know if those rooms have a couch or semi-love seat in there? Looking to book a cruise on that ship and while we love the big verandah we're wondering if there's somewhere inside to sit besides the bed and desk chair?

TIA.

Just finished a b2b on Zuiderdam thru the canal and it's simply amazing. My friends and I watched this video before the trip and it provided a great overview of the making of the canal. Definitely worth watching. 

15 hours ago, zelker said:

Do the tv's in the Vista suites (specifically looking at Nieuw Statendam) swivel so that you can watch it when sitting on the "couch" or are they fixed to the wall so that you can only see it straight on from the bed?

 

Thx.

We're on the Zuiderdam in a Signature Suite and it's fixed to the wall.

3 hours ago, 0106 said:

Thanks so much for responding to my question about the variety of food.  I have never been a fan of buffets but they make me even more nervous because of COVID.  Seems I read that most (all?) food is served to you at the buffet which is something of a comfort.  I was more concerned about the choices in the main dining room at dinner.  I have enjoyed your pictures of the food in the specialty restaurants.  

I second the notion that the serving at the buffet feels safe and the variety of food is terrific. In the MDR, the breakfast and lunch menus are the same everyday. There is an incredible variety of delicious breakfast choices. There aren't as many choices at lunch time, but they are all quite good.  The MDR dinner menus seem to rotate, so there have been some repeats. But there are always good choices on them for meat and non-meat eaters. The chefs have a particularly deft hand with all the fish they have been serving and the variety of fish has been impressive.

We got them when we boarded the Zuiderdam 1/2/2022

2 hours ago, syesmar said:

@NMCruiser123does Zuiderdam have an aft and/or bow camera channel on the TV?

All the Best!

They do but the picture quality is awful. I remember them being much clearer and high quality on the Eurodam a few years ago.

I'm surprised they're referencing that it's because of the canal too. I thought the general protocol was to test us every couple of days regardless of where we're going.

Boarded Zuiderdam today at 12:30pm. Heading to Panama Canal. Really smooth boarding and considering we had a 2:40 boarding time, we were delighted to be able to get on early. We had already taken our covid test, so we were sent directly to a check in desk. Quick trip thru security then another check in of sorts (pictures of us with our passports) and into the waiting room. However, before our butts made contact with the seat, we were invited onto the ship.

There was a relatively big line for people needing to be Covid tested. But it must not have taken too long because we are still scheduled to leave on time at 5pm.

It's a gorgeous day in San Diego and sail away is going to be very pretty.

Question:

Is there a website my friends can use to follow the ship's progress in real time? 

That HAL shuttle sounds amazing. Do you know if it's available to folks staying at a different hotel? If so, may I ask how to get in touch with them?

Good info.

34 minutes ago, wesport said:

We will have both iPhones and new iPads. Hoping one of them will work. Seems like the phone is the better way to go. 

Maybe. But there was a post very recently where the poster had used his phone and was "on hold' for 5 hours. I suggested maybe he hang up and try again because maybe he wasn't really on hold any more but had been disconnected. He re-did it thru his laptop and got right thru. However, his may have just been a fluke that morning or he wasn't using an I-phone.  

You'll do fine, I'm sure. It's a very good system they have.

I don't know whether the ship has distilled water but you can bring your own. But it has to sealed and packed in checked luggage with the device it is used in.  Found this in the FAQ (https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.health-safety.prohibited-items.html  I added search item Distilled Water):

Purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic containers) for use in conjunction with medical device(s) are allowed in checked luggage and must be packed with the device(s). ..... Limitations apply. Allowances are subject to change without notice and remain subject to situational assessments by both security and the vessel.

20 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

excellent news on newly produced kits.  Hoping emed not too backed up.

Sure wish there was a competitive company so we would have more than one choice and perhaps a company located in USA too.

I was impressed with how responsive eMed was. They must have a lot of people working the phones/computers because the longest wait in the queue was 15 minutes. We did our tests this morning for our Sunday cruise on the Zuiderdam.

Tech note, if when you choose Start Test you don't get an immediate status letting you know where you are in the queue, be sure that all your ad-blockers and video-blockers are off and all of your camera security is set to allow. See my previous post about all our technical issues that were all on our side not eMed's side.

We had issues with taking the test this morning, but it was all on our end so I thought I'd share in case that saves anyone some trouble.

I used my Chromebook and had a 3 minutes wait and video worked (when I slipped the on/off switch to on, duh!) and the test went without a hitch.

My husband was using his Windows 10 machine that has Norton on it. He also has ad blockers and video disabling software. 

Problem #1: when we started the test, we never got to the queue. So he turned off all the ad blockers and video disabling software. That got us to the queue.

Problem #2:  eMed couldn't access video. So hubby made sure the camera was on in Windows.

Problem #3: Tried again. Norton denied access to the camera. So he told Norton to allow camera for eMed.

Problem #4: Norton still denied access but now it was to Google Chrome. Husband told Norton to allow video camera for Chrome. Then everything worked fine.

The good news is: if you start the test and have a technical problem, eMed gets you right back in when you reconnect. No waiting in a queue.

All in all it was a very good system. And fortunately, we're both negative so Zuiderdam, here we come.

3 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

1/16 for us .

1/2 for us.

I don't know the answer to your question, but have a question. Have you tried hanging up and calling again? Telecom systems sometimes fail and maybe you're not even really on hold anymore. I have a vested interest in your question because we'll be in the same boat (pun intended) next weekend.

We'll be boarding Zuiderdam on the Sunday you come back to port. Looking forward to any updates you care to share along the way. Wondering if they'll make all the ports that are listed for your trip. Should be fun no matter what!

1 minute ago, dfish said:

From the Health and Protocols FAQ:

 

Exceptions may apply for fully vaccinated asymptomatic guests that have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90 days prior to embarkation, and are fully recovered. Guests will need to provide a letter of recovery from their doctor and, laboratory test results that are not older than 90 days.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

Dfish: thank you very much for showing me this.

Has anyone who is fully vaccinated gotten Covid-19, recovered from it, but then months later tested positive and had trouble boarding their ship?

Just read today that it's quite possible to have a positive Covid-19 test months after recovery. Since cruises require a negative test, does anyone know if they would take a doctor's certification that you were vaccinated when you got it but have fully recovered from it?

Here's a link to article that talks about why some people still have a positive test result months after recovery. 

https://wi.mit.edu/news/new-research-reveals-why-some-patients-may-test-positive-covid-19-long-after-recovery

Heartgrove:

New to cruising and intrigued by your comment that VA Cabins 6080 and 6089 are good choices on Vista-class ships. We're looking at cruising with friends in 2022 on Zuiderdam (b2b Panama Canal).  Do you know if those cabins you mention have the bigger balcony and are plexiglass?

Whoops, I just noticed I posted the HAL FB post but someone else already had. I thought I had looked at all replies. Sorry for the repeat post.

New update just a little while ago from Holland America Line on Facebook:

Quoted from Facebook

UPDATE - March 27, 9:45AM PT/12:45PM ET:
Zaandam is currently off the coast of Panama and rendezvoused with sister ship Rotterdam at 7:30 p.m. local time yesterday, March 26. We received approval from Panamanian authorities to conduct ship-to-ship operations at anchor between the two vessels. Medical supplies and additional medical staff were transferred to Zaandam.

Today we announced a plan to transfer groups of healthy Zaandam guests to Rotterdam, with strict protocols for this process developed in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only those who have not been ill will be moved, and health screenings will be conducted before transferring. Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over 70. Once aboard Rotterdam, all guests will continue to remain in their staterooms until disembarkation. Any guests who are currently ill, or in isolation as a close contact, and all crew will remain on Zaandam.

While the onward plan for both ships is still being finalized, we continue to work with the Panamanian authorities on approval to transit the Panama Canal for sailing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Yesterday a number of patients with respiratory symptoms were tested for COVID-19 and two individuals tested positive. Out of an abundance of caution, on March 22 when Zaandam first saw a number of guests reporting to the medical center with influenza-like illness symptoms, we took immediate protective measures, including asking all guests to self-isolate in their staterooms and implementing all other appropriate precautions that have been developed in coordination with the CDC. All guests and crew received face masks yesterday and were provided with instructions on when and how to wear them.

Currently, 53 guests (4%) and 85 crew (14%) have reported to Zaandam’s medical center with influenza-like illness symptoms. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board. On Zaandam there are four doctors and four nurses. On Rotterdam there are two doctors and four nurses.

Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.

Complimentary telephone counseling services from our care partner, Empathia, have been made available to guests and crew if they would like extra support during this time. For those with family members on board, they can call the following numbers for information: 877-425-2231 or 206-626-7398.

Zaandam was sailing a South America cruise that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was originally scheduled to end at San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Due to global health concerns, Holland America Line made the decision to suspend its global cruise operations for 30 days and end its current cruises in progress as quickly as possible so guests could return home. No one has been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Thank you all for this up-to-date info, especially the part about the Rotterdam not facing the canal anymore. It is incredibly tense sitting here at home wondering what is going on for those folks (pax and crew) and the Zaandam. Did the transfer of goods/supplies take place? Was the fear of transferring passengers unfounded? Such brave souls one and all. I can't even imagine what everyone on board both ships is going through.