CORealtor

Thanks, Amy, for your review! I'm glad you had no major issues. We will be on that cruise on February 3, and can't wait!

Deb

Posting while hubby gets his mouth off the floor:D

 

As hubby posted Ron, the COM, had the rest of the menus delivered to our stateroom last evening ( a VERY huge stack) and he did not do more than glance at them before packing them away.

 

He is at the desk right now with his jaw on the floor because he received on top of the entire 11 day, 10 day, all 3 7 day menus but also the menus for Christmas, New Years's and a couple others that we'd not even thought to ask about, like Canaletto and Lido Buffett menus:)

 

Ask and ye shall receive and boy aint that the truth.

 

He is just now beginning to scan them and is really looking forward to sharing them all with you our fellow CC members:)

 

Joanie

Wow! Thanks to you both, Joanie and Crew News, for all of the information that you share as well as the menus for the upcoming cruises. Looking forward to our 11 day in February! Again, thanks, and I will visit your website for the menus and other information. Have a Merry Christmas!

I am glad my cruise on the Veendam is before Feb. 1, 2014 , I have my suitcase packed

LOL....I want to come with YOU! Have a great time!

We had great wine service on Prinsendam in September. We bought a wine package, so that probably helped.

We also bought a wine package for our cruise in February 2014. I don't doubt our service on the Z will be great!

Day #3 Aruba

 

The pending afternoon arrival in Aruba allowed another day of sleeping late. Is that not what a vacation needs? The minimum passengers on board made for short food lines and lots of open deck chairs.

 

The temperatures hovered around 92 degrees and the high humidity kept many passengers on board. We shared the dock with the Island Princess.

 

I signed up for the sunset cruise excursion and proceeded from the Port Terminal to the dock to catch the catamaran. A group of snorklers were disembarking and all of them were quite jolly and needed help to step onto the dock. As they passed our waiting group, the snorklers were extolling the virtures of the "open bar." I grabbed a rear corner seat and readied my camera for some great sunset pictures.

 

When all 80 passengers were aboard, the captain announced the "open bar" and all of the rum punch you could drink. After leaving the dock, passengers dispersed from ther seats to find lounging spots on the front deck. The next two hours were spent about a mile off shore drinking punch and getting some good sunset pictures. We got back to the Zuiderdamn time for the last few minutes of the aft Lido deck cookout.

 

Departure from the dock at 11:00 PM had two runners but with so many folks in bed, there was no cheering by those already on board.

 

Dining:

 

Nachos were on the lunch menu after 2:00 PM when the melted cheese is placed on the buffet table. Although appetizers were cancelled, chicken wings and egg rolls still arrived at 3:00 PM.

 

The aft Lido deck was the site for a supper cookout. Only pizza was available in the Lido restaurant. Within minutes of the 8:00 PM end time, all of the food was removed and the indoor pool area was being set up for the sail-away party. I did get a chance to see the HAL Cats in action with the lead singer still a bit flat from the notes being played by the musicians.

 

With so much eating, I bypassed the desserts again.

 

Facilities:

 

AC continues to function well and still needed to be turned down or the sleeping temperatures would be similar to a refrigerator. Discussions with neighbors revealed their AC was still doing well. No flushing issues either.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

Internet connection and speed was much slower than I experienced on the same ship in Alaska 2013.

 

I was unable to learn the passenger load for the upcoming 11-day cruise.

 

I am still willing to answer any questions for my location here on Deck 6.

Thanks for the update! I can't wait to see the menus you will post to your website upon your return. On February 3, 2014, we will be in the cabin I think you were in for your Alaska cruise (5191). I hope air conditioning works as well in that cabin as it seems to be in yours.

Sounds like you are thoroughly enjoying yourself! Can't wait until February.

We've even got snow forecast here:eek: Which means the whole of the lower mainland will grind to a halt once it gets to half an inch.... yep, good time for a cruise:D.

We are supposed to get 2 feet today and tomorrow! I guess winter is here. February won't come too soon for me.

I was hoping when I saw this thread that HAL had had a change of heart about the new wine policy, since I set sail 3 days AFTER the change...boo.:mad:

Thank you Crew News and Joanie for taking the time to do your "Live" reports.

Ditto the thanks to Crew News and Joanie for doing your "live" reports! I am on the 11-day on February 3, 2014 in cabin 5191, and am VERY interested in all the information you provide!