southern_yarddog Posted April 3, 2005 #1 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Hi all yall, Just back from a wonderful western carribean cruise on the Ms. Zaandam. Thought we was going to have some bad weather but with alot of praying it turned out to be wonderful weather. The seas never got over 12 feet and most of the time stayed flat. The A/C stayed working the whole time as well as the toilets so no problem there. there was 380 kids one the ship this week. average age on the ship was about 45. Alot of younger people this time. Can't tell you about shore excusions. we booked all of ours private. Food- Was excellent as always. Service- can't complain although they did forget to give our anniversary cake to us the night of our anniversary. Tenders back to the ship from Grand Cayman was like tring to to jump on a moving roller coaster.:eek: . Very dangerous that day. Few people got hurt and some passed out of heat exhaustion. embarking and disembarking was great. nothing bad to say about that. ok....here is something we all was talking about before We left for the cruise. Dressing for formal night.:mad: people was in the dining room with flip flops and mini-skirts. tee shirts and shorts. Kids running a muck. Grown people dressed like they were at Denny's. I don't mind how peolpe dress any other time but this is one night I would really like to see people dressed like they should be. Maybe the other CCers will add more. My DW and I are going to take a bath now and hit the sack. Yall all have a wonderful night and God Bless.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekerr19 Posted April 3, 2005 #2 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Welcome Home! Wow, you posted promptly... you must be exhausted! Glad to hear you had a good time - we were on the Volendam 3/20 - 3/30 and also noticed some very casual attire (way more than usual) on formal nights... perhaps a new trend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liv2cruise4ever Posted April 3, 2005 #3 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Welcome Home! Wow, you posted promptly... you must be exhausted! Glad to hear you had a good time - we were on the Volendam 3/20 - 3/30 and also noticed some very casual attire (way more than usual) on formal nights... perhaps a new trend? I hope not. We will be on the Zui in Dec. and I for one am going to purchase a tuxedo. I for one, would be more than happy to get "dressed up" every night! This is just my opinion, thats all. In fact, I have purchased a ROV package and hope that this is not on a formal nite. Just so that we can get "decked out" again....:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localady Posted April 3, 2005 #4 Share Posted April 3, 2005 We were on the Zaandam the week before and there were more people dressed well than there had been in Alaska on the Ryndam last summer. Many of the kids looked fabulous in their dress duds, they made us parents proud!!! :D Funny how dress compliance varies cruise to cruise.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy7 Posted April 3, 2005 #5 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Welcome Home southern_yarddog !!!! Thanks for taking the time to share with us! I'm glad you had a good time, sorry about the ruff seas and tendering! Shame on those who refuse to follow the rules! Glad you didnt let it spoil your cruise :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brego Posted April 3, 2005 #6 Share Posted April 3, 2005 ZIggy, we too just returned from the 3/26 sailing on the Zaandam (due to traffic problems we didn't get home until 4:30 a.m.!). I concur with your review of the cruise and wanted to add that we too were very suprised to see how inappropriately many passengers dressed for dinner - shorts and tee shirts on informal night. We have three childeren, two of whom are teenagers, and dressing for dinner and the ambiance this creates is one of the high points of the cruise for me. We have sailed on HAL many times and never saw this many people ignore the dress code. My children had a fabulous time! The children's programs have been expanded and provided a wonderful experience for my children. I was suprised with some of the behavior I saw exibited by some of the kids. However, my observation was that it had less to do with the number or children on board and more to do with parental influence. Several times I saw children running, yelling, and playing hide and seek in the library, etc. while their parents looked on. Despite these minor annoyances, it was a wonderful cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern_yarddog Posted April 3, 2005 Author #7 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Hi again, I forgot to tell everyone about the oasis and the loft. My 2 teens ( 1 being 17 and the other 13 ) Had a wonderful time there and made many new friends. The ship had alot of teen activities that kept them busy the whole day. The days we got off on the islands were just wonderful and when we got back on the ship the kids just went right back to playing in the oasis. So all that was very well planned. Brego, I was wondering about your kids. Just wanting to know if my 2 got to meet yours. My daughter is 17 and her name is Tiffany and my son is 13 and his name is Ross. Funny to think that we might have walked right by each other and never got to meet. Well, I am glad you cruise went well also and sorry we all didn't get to meet. To all thats going on the Ms. Zaandam in the future I wish you all wonderful weather and a great time.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliviaonthe beach Posted April 3, 2005 #8 Share Posted April 3, 2005 Just wanted you all to know that we are taking our children on their first cruise, Zuiderdam, 7/23, DD aged 16 and DS age 6. Daughter has plenty of formal attire from school dances and what not, but yesterday we had a GREAT time buying my son his first formal suit (with the cruise in mind of course). It may not be a tux but he will be the most handsome blonde little man on that ship! (besides my DH of course) We are trying to teach our children etiquette. It seems to be a lost art of sorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy7 Posted April 3, 2005 #9 Share Posted April 3, 2005 ZIggy, we too just returned from the 3/26 sailing on the Zaandam (due to traffic problems we didn't get home until 4:30 a.m.!). I concur with your review of the cruise and wanted to add that we too were very suprised to see how inappropriately many passengers dressed for dinner - shorts and tee shirts on informal night. We have three childeren, two of whom are teenagers, and dressing for dinner and the ambiance this creates is one of the high points of the cruise for me. We have sailed on HAL many times and never saw this many people ignore the dress code. My children had a fabulous time! The children's programs have been expanded and provided a wonderful experience for my children. I was suprised with some of the behavior I saw exibited by some of the kids. However, my observation was that it had less to do with the number or children on board and more to do with parental influence. Several times I saw children running, yelling, and playing hide and seek in the library, etc. while their parents looked on. Despite these minor annoyances, it was a wonderful cruise! Thanks for sharing with us too Brego :) Welcome home, glad you enjoyed yourself :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannynurse Posted April 3, 2005 #10 Share Posted April 3, 2005 We were on the Zaandam over the holidays and were pleasantly surprised by the attention we received. On the 2nd night I sent my salmon back as it was mushy. For the remainder of the cruise, the steward, his assisstant and the maitre D" hovered over me trying to please. I was almost embarrassed due to the attention, but really appreciated their efforts. I hope the dining room hasn't changed that much. GN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakrewser Posted April 4, 2005 #11 Share Posted April 4, 2005 Just wanted you all to know that we are taking our children on their first cruise, Zuiderdam, 7/23, DD aged 16 and DS age 6. Daughter has plenty of formal attire from school dances and what not, but yesterday we had a GREAT time buying my son his first formal suit (with the cruise in mind of course). It may not be a tux but he will be the most handsome blonde little man on that ship! (besides my DH of course) We are trying to teach our children etiquette. It seems to be a lost art of sorts. But did your DS enjoy the experience? :) The problem with etiquette as a lost art is that you have to know and practice it in order to teach it and pass it on. I've about given up and just hope for civility... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliviaonthe beach Posted April 4, 2005 #12 Share Posted April 4, 2005 dakrewser, Believe it or not my DS, although a very typical boy in every sense of the word, is very attuned to his attire. He inisisted on wearing a shirt and tie to school on Valentine's Day and on the day he was recognized as the "star of the week" and he's in Kindergarten. He actually enjoyed the trip to the mall but we did make it a quick one! I'll be sure to post a picture of him in the dining room on his first cruise formal night. It will also be his mommy's birthday! olivia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richnorto Posted April 4, 2005 #13 Share Posted April 4, 2005 We were on the Zaandam over the holidays and were pleasantly surprised by the attention we received. On the 2nd night I sent my salmon back as it was mushy. For the remainder of the cruise, the steward, his assisstant and the maitre D" hovered over me trying to please. I was almost embarrassed due to the attention, but really appreciated their efforts. I hope the dining room hasn't changed that much.GN No change as far as I could see!!! Waiters, Asst., Maitre D etc all checking on our table constantly and sooo pleasant!!! The 8:30 seating may be different from earlier ones, but our service was timely, wonderful, and the waiter (Buddy) even brought extra (unordered by us) servings of lobster for the men. Obviously, it was all eaten! We were very happy with the dining room service. Our children all dressed well - not an easy ordeal, but I have great pictures! Thank goodness I don't have to go through that with 1 of my 3 children every night!!! I'd give her away!;) LOVE the Zaandam! Laurie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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