zuiderdam review part 3 :)

[super_grover]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone :)

After a night that was reported by cruise veterans to be the worst they had experienced concerning the rockyness of the boat and much use of anti-sea sickness meds by the parents we soldiered on.

So our first full day on the cruise began early. Went to the lido for breakfast and met hunky dory (who actually couldn't remember my name but I hardly ever went to his station so you can't really blame him) abd then were to meet up with the family in the Queen's lounge at 9 to get tender tickets. I had pre-booked the horseback riding excursion through the online booking a while back and I asked about priority tender tickets but they said that I was just supposed to make sure that I was at the meeting point 15 minutes before my excursion left.

There will be a pink envelope in your room when you get back from dinner with all your holland america excursion info in it so don't worry if it isnt there when you check in or first get in your room.

Got to the Queen's lounge and those already there said that there were so few people that we could just walk right onto the tenders without tickets. As we made our way to A deck we heard either Pete (assistant cruise director) or Dane (cruise director) make an announcement about how "now would be an excellent time to head over to half moon cay, as lines for the tender are quite short".

We walked right onto the tender and went over to HMC. Tendering wasn't bad at all. Got to the island, walked briskly past the photographers and went to the information booth to ask about our clamshell. There is a place to get the polls right as you get onto the beach but if you want a clamshell further down there is another little office down by the cabanas. Got the clam shell. went swimming. my horseback riding started at 11 so I headed over around 1030 as we had a bit of a walk. Note:If you want to walk to where the horses are it is possible but a long way along the beach. If you look hard you can see the horses in the water from the cabana area.

Got to the excursion desk, signed a waver and found out that there was a problem with two of the horses and they would be taking 16 not 18 people on the excursion. They offered a spot on the stingray adventure instead. Now, I realise that the shore people can only do so much but personally I could have made their life alot easier if they had offered 100$ at the casino and something at the spa. Eventually they decided that only passengers who had pre-booked would be able to go on the excursion which I think was as good a way as any to decide.

Because of all the delays and the fact that there was only 1 person actually getting people on horses we weren't on horses until around 12. This would have been quite stressful if you had actually believed the 1.25 estimated time of the excursion and booked something else afterwards.

A aprox. 20 minute trail ride followed some walking around in the little pen as others got their mounts. The trail ride was neat and the guides were totally willing to stop for people to take pictures. That said, cameras are kinda hard to deal with while you are riding a horse. If you can convince someone to walk down and take pictures of you it's a much better plan.

We were split into 3 groups for the water portion of the ride. Basically just hold onto the handle on the water pad or the horses' mane (it doesn't hurt them, I promise) and have fun.

Mom went to the BBQ around 1 but there was practically no food left (no buns, only burgers for meat, no salads, etc). Grandma had stubbed her toe so she was in the infirmery. The nurses are great, definately cheery and willing to take care of anyone.

Went back to the ship and saw BBQ food sitting out in the sun at the tender dock (uncooked burgers, buns, salads etc) so basically my advice about the BBQ is get there early or eat on the boat.

Went to the lido for a late lunch and watched the parasailors. They come pretty close to the boat, it was fun.

Left HMC around 4. Once again, can't remember what I had for dinner...they should have the menus online, that would be helpful :p

The show was "under the boardwalk" (I am pretty sure) which was pretty good. Those who expect broadway should go to New York but its a good way to spend an hour or so.

Spent some time in the casino and got addicted to this game where you try to push over a pile of quarters.

Went to bed, bottom bunk this time. yipee!

 

That's it for day 2 :) questions welcome as always, especially about HMC or the horseback riding. Pictures soon as well.

[stefhef]

On the same cruise, we got to the Queen's Lounge later and we waited almost half an hour for a tender. Pre-booked clamshells and picked them up at the sports hut. Had a great time on a Hobie that we rented there! Almost missed lunch (last ones there) but it is worth missing. But HMC is great!

[super_grover]

Indeed there appeared to be quite a rush that started around 9:45 am and continued throughout the day with the tenders. Get there early (before 9:30) or be prepared to wait :)

[Oceanwench]

super grover,

 

sorry if i missed this in a previous post -- do you recall who was the entertainer in the piano bar?

[super_grover]

oh jeez.....you know, I don't really, we didnt spend much time there. But I have vague memories of "Kory"..maybe?? There were a few others from here on the cruise, they might know :)

[stefhef]

Yes, it was Kory and he was terrific! He plays and sings beautifully and is a lot of fun. He had quite a crowd in there. His repertoire spans the decades.

We had a good time there one night, naming the tune and artist.

[super_grover]

The one night we tried to go we couldn't even get in the door, if that is any indication :)

[cruzingqueen]

It was rocky that night? Dang! I quit drinking because I thought I had too much! My room was all the way forward too!

 

Great job on the review! I probably saw you on board because the day at HMC, I didn't even get off and in the afternoon, I was laying out at the aft pool watching the parasailers also.

[Oceanwench]

Thanks for the information on the piano bar.

On our last cruise, in Nov. on the Oosterdam, we spent almost every night in the piano bar. It was a lot of fun --- can't believe we didn't discover it on a previous sailing!

 

We had a guy named Steve, and he was great -- funny, too. We got to know many of the regulars, and we always had a laugh when someone came in and said, "Sing 'Piano Man.'"

That happened a half-dozen times a night.

 

I look forward to spending time in the piano bar on the Zui in May!

[spcl4cs_gal]

Grover you mentioned that you can walk over to the horseback riding excursion if you wanted to...am I to assume that HAL also has gators that can take you over as well?

[super_grover]

Gators? I'm not sure...Those on the excursion got a ride in an open air truck type deal and those going to the BBQ could also take advantage of these trucks but as far as I know the people at the stables had all walked over.

Although I am sure that if you asked you could just jump on a truck with the excursion people or ask one of the guys driving to the BBQ to take you over to the stables. It is a bit of a rough ride through the sand.

[spcl4cs_gal]

The gators are those open-air truck thingys... :)