What's The Truth About Zuiderdam?!

[Tatka]

Aside from a bit understaffing (in dining room and cabin steward staff) and safe not working for day (and a half ) everything was great...so I checked selecion #2. Absolutely loved our room, food in Lido and dining room, shows, pools, ping pong tables and tournament..I can go on and on! This cruise/ship left very good impression on us.

[bcc99]

As the OP, and in a sense of fairness...I have to ask. Where are the heavy words? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad and greatly relieved that most folks who are posting seem to really enjoy Zuiderdam, but I'd love to hear the points (and counterpoints) from both sides of the aisle. At very least, my unscientific little poll has proven that there are quite a few impressionable future-Zuiderdam cruisers out there reading these boards.

(I really would like to hear from the person who said they'd rather take Titanic, though. Where'd you go, Unsinkable Molly Brown? :D)

[Landlubber54]

What's the point of the last two choices? If you're looking for an opinion, shouldn't it be limited to those with first-hand experience? And "balanced"? In your last post you look like you're chumming for whiners and nitpickers.

 

If you want "balanced", read Ray's COMPREHENSIVE review that is neither gushing nor damning. It gets no better than that.:cool:

[Oceanwench]

What's the point of the last two choices? If you're looking for an opinion, shouldn't it be limited to those with first-hand experience? And "balanced"? In your last post you look like you're chumming for whiners and nitpickers.

 

If you want "balanced", read Ray's COMPREHENSIVE review that is neither gushing nor damning. It gets no better than that.:cool:

 

I totally agree! I was very impressed with Ray's review for the same reason. He struck the absolute right note and gave an fair, in-depth review.

 

As for the Zuiderdam not selling out --> I believe the 5/14 sailing did, or came very close. Just about 1,800 pax.

 

As for the size of the ship, DH is in a wheelchair and needs an accessible cabin. Vista ships have 28 or so of these cabins, so we stand a better chance of booking a cruise on one of these ships than on one of the smaller ones. DH finds the two Vista ships we've sailed on [Oosterdam was the other] very accessible. A lot of older ships are not as accessible, according to what DH has found in his research through various disability sites.

 

As for the comments on the age of the pax: My daughters and their boyfriends accompanied us on the 5/14 cruise. All in the mid-20s. They had a great time, met others their age, met older pax too. They stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m., roaming the ship and stopping in at the disco and the Crow's Nest, and anywhere else where there was music or people having fun.

They absolutely loved it! On many nights the disco was packed, they said.

 

We've sailed the Zuiderdam twice. Our first cruise onher was in November 2003. This time around we did see some wear and tear, but it was mostly cosmetic. We enjoyed the food, the crew, the pax, the entertainment ... the whole experience.

[Tarkus]

What's the point of the last two choices? If you're looking for an opinion, shouldn't it be limited to those with first-hand experience? And "balanced"? In your last post you look like you're chumming for whiners and nitpickers.

 

If you want "balanced", read Ray's COMPREHENSIVE review that is neither gushing nor damning. It gets no better than that.:cool:

speaking only for myself, i try to build forum poll questions where anybody can answer them - otherwise, people can skew the results because they want to offer an opinion to see those results. in this case, the last two choices help gauge what newbies are thinking - with the others geared to those who've actually cruised on the z.

 

heh heh... ray-barbara... the "fox news" of cruise critic (as in fair & "balanced") :p

[bcc99]

speaking only for myself, i try to build forum poll questions where anybody can answer them - otherwise, people can skew the results because they want to offer an opinion to see those results. in this case, the last two choices help gauge what newbies are thinking - with the others geared to those who've actually cruised on the z.

 

Bingo! Tarkus and I must have taken the same marketing-research class. :D And I'll agree that Ray's review is one of the best I've seen.

[Ray-Barbara]

BCC99:

 

Thanks for your kind words (and to all the others) about my review. As I said in another thread a few minutes ago:

 

"I tried to write the review in an easy-to-read format that was comprehensive, but did not go overboard on all the minute problems on the ship. I think that sometimes cruisers want to hear every little detail that is wrong with the cruise which reminds me of firetruck chasers following the trucks to a fire. When you get onboard the "Z", you need to relax and enjoy the cruise, not go around finding fault with everything. Life is too short to be critical and negative. A review should report, not criticize what is going on. I loved our cruise last week and wish I were back on board today. It sure beats having to work for a living - but that's what pays for our trips."

 

Thanks again.

[zdude]

Zuiderdam was a most excellent first cruise for me. Service, food, bevies, people, ship, captain, hotel manager, excursions-- all most excellent.

[RuthC]

What's the point of the last two choices? If you're looking for an opinion, shouldn't it be limited to those with first-hand experience?

A poster doesn't need "first-hand" experience on the Zuiderdam to know it's not the right ship for her. Having extensive first-hand experience on many, many HAL ships/cruises, and having read every post on this board about her since before she sailed has provided more than sufficient information to gauge the difference between the Zuiderdam and the other HAL ships.

Whatever the Zuiderdam is, she is not typical of the HAL tradition.

Sidebar to ImpulsivePuppy---does Neil Diamond write music? :confused:

[Landlubber54]

It's been roughly 30 years since I took marketing research classes, but I guess what's important is determining what it is that you want to get out of your survey. I shouldn't presume that the information that bcc 99 is trying to gather is necessarily the same info that I would be interested in.

 

Also, as RuthC points out, if you have experiences on other ships in the same class and/or on ships in multiple classes (or lines), you CAN get a pretty good idea of whether or not a particular ship is right for you based on what you read here at CC.:o

[pta191]

DW and I cruised for the first time last July on the Zuiderdam. We are under 40 and loved it. We would definitely cruise on Zuiderdam again.

 

pta191

[corkpopr]

We just got off the Zuiderdam Sat the 21st. This was our 16th cruise and 3rd on HAL. The other two were in 1997 and 2001 on two different ships. We have cruised five times on Celebrity and three on Princess and the rest on 4 other lines.

 

We are 55 & 53 and were with two other couples. Best cabins ever! Best Lido casual dining ever! Ship in great shape, staff service excellent except dining room, Vista lounge perfect, and the Pinnacle private dining among the best i have ever had.

 

Very nice sized piano bar but the pianist was weak. The illusionist was excellent. Plenty of quiet places to be alone during the day. Shops offered a large enough variety to please most people. Poolside food choices better than any other ship i have ever been on. The other five travelers in our group used the spa 2-4 times each for massages and loved it. I thought the gym was very good. Now of course it could be bigger and have more equipment but it was good. Movie selection was quite good as well.

 

So, now the negatives. The dining room service was adequate at best. The food in the dining room was extradinarily average almost without exception. None of us eat dessert so i cant rate that. The casino was full of all old machines outdated by current standards. I am a craps player, and was there each of the seven nights. The table was very busy almost every night. Terrible dealers, rude, bossy, and made it unpleasant when they (3 of 5) were on duty. Managers were split on their comments back to me as to concern over service levels and appropriate behavior. Oh well, everyone has to gripe about something.

 

We always bring on cabin booze and no problem from HAL and our cabin steward brought in an additional ice bucket (always filled) and proper glasses for what we were drinking.

 

As for the ports, they were all OK. We always arrange our own shore excursions as they are ususally half the price and more interesting. The other five travelers in our group did do the BVI dolphin swim from the ships tour however and were very happy.

 

I would prefer a 10 day trip with no ports as i love being at sea and never get bored when aboard!

[khfadpi]

Thank the lord....a good review. Now I can be at ease... :)

[Oceanwench]

Glad to see you posted a review ... I can definitely say you and I were on the same ship!

:)

[annbanan]

The Truth about the Zuiderdam?

 

I am taking my third trip on the Zuiderdam next Saturday.

 

That is what I think of the Zuiderdam! Need I say more? :D

 

Ann

[shmily]

We are heading out on the Z in 2 weeks. We are counting the hours and can't wait. Anyone have suggestions for things to do in Nassau? We aren't much of the shop or historic site type. We love the sea!

 

Chris & Allan

 

Z--June 11th

[CoppellCruiser]

For those about to embark on Western Caribbean cruises on the Zuiderdam I'd really like to see the daily programs and menus. I'm trying to plan my July 16 cruise and finding details on the western cruises seems harder to come by.

 

Thanks, Have a Great Cruise!

[EbayCruiser]

Haven't sailed on the Zuiderdam but plan to in September. LOVED the Oosterdam and we are planning on a wonderful cruise on the Zuiderdam!

 

My husband and I are optomists not pessimests (sp?). We expect to have a GREAT cruise no matter what! After all, we are on a cruise!

 

Love the wonderful food ... chocolate croissants (right up front), bread pudding, the stir fry buffet. Never ate in the Pinnacle but might try it this time.

 

Our last cruise to Alaska was a wonderful (restful) vacation. We took naps in the afternoon and generally really took time to rest and relax! My husband has a physical construction job and he needs downtime so a cruise is perfect!!

 

Can't wait for Half Moon Cay - we have rented a Cabana and have heard wonderful things about this island!

 

Vickie

[Candy]

Zuiderdam, until recently, has done only the Eastern itinerary, which is why there isn't much info about the Western.

 

Candy <-- will go West in August

 

...snip... I'm trying to plan my July 16 cruise and finding details on the western cruises seems harder to come by.

 

Thanks, Have a Great Cruise!

[sbmizzou]

My wife and I loved the Zueiderdam. I am 34 and my wife is 27. It was our first cruise and we thought it was great. I thought for the extra $100 for the verandah was worth it. We would have breakfast served every morning in the room and then we ate it out on the balcony. It was fantastic. The shows were entertaining. They would have to be pretty bad for me not to enjoy them. As I told my wife, it's not very often you have 10 people jumping up and down while singing in front of you so its hard not to at least just to sit back and relax. They also had a magician, an Elton John impersonator and the comedian.

 

When we first got there, my wife was a bit nervous because it looked like a bit of anolder crowd. We don't go out much when we are at home, so when we are out on vacation, we like to go dancing and have a few drinks. The first night we went to the night club on board and were disappointed by the crowd. There were a couple of young kids (late teens) in there dancing but that was about it. We went back later in the week and had a good time. It was sort of packed. It was a good time. A couple we had met there said that the last couple of nights of the cruise, the night club had picked up.

 

We were a bit bored in Tortola as there were no beaches or anything to do right where the ship was docked. We did go on the hike and beach in the morning and that was fun. I would recommend that you plan on taking a taxi to a beach. The others really enjoyed there trip to the Virgin Gorda (I think that was the name of it). If I did it again, I would go there rather than walking downtown.

[emdia43]

I sailed the Zuiderdam to the Eastern Caribbean last summer and had a wonderful time. I can't think of any criticism other than my standard one for cruiselines- where do they buy that STRONG coffee? After I booked I had some misgivings also- there is always someone who wants to instil doubts I find- I was told it would be too sedate- I was traveling with teens- was told they would find it boring compared to RCCL which is what we have been on up till then. They both made friends on the first day and were non-stop sports and teen hangouts from then on. . There were more passengers in their 30's and 40's I would say than any other group,but I find that to be so whichever ship I go on. There is a lot of walking to do but when I went I was just a few weeks out from a hip replacement and I did OK. If you go on a smaller ship you'll get messages from people telling you that was a mistake because you will feel the rocking motion too much.........Don't second guess yourself- you chose Zuiderdam for good reasons. I feel confident that you will have a terrific vacation :) :)

[iv18-Diane]

I cruised on the Zuiderdam on April 23rd. It was my best cruise in 10 cruises. I have sailed on Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess.

We are early 50's and were traveling with our 15 year old daughter.I found the Food, Service, Entertaiment to be enjoyable. We had a SS (mini-Suite) which I found to be quite roomy. It had a large Balcony with wicker furniture, not the usual plastic.A double sink in the bathroom, with a shower stall and also a Jacuzi tub.

The Hotel manager James Dearing joined us at our meet and Mingle. We were very surprised.

My table consisted of a couple our age, and 3 girls in their 30s traveling Sans husband and kids. The 3 girls had posted on my CC thread. It was funny, they ended up at our table!

I would definitaly cruise this ship again.

 

Diane G

[cheshire999]

I have hesitations about the ship, but I'm more concerned about how I'll be received by HAL--not so much the crew, but the passengers. I'm 28, and I get the feeling that I'm not really welcome...every now and then there's a passive but firm hint that people in the "younger crowd" should probably stay with another cruise line, or at least restrict ourselves to the perceived-substandard Zuiderdam. Discuss.

 

If you want Proof of life under 50 on the Zuiderdam, email me. I can't figure out how to upload pictures here.

 

Chesire999@aol.com

[stormyc]

My wife and I loved the Zueiderdam...

 

sbmizzou -

 

I enjoyed reading your comments...

 

Thank you for posting.

[Sailure]

I'm more concerned about how I'll be received by HAL--not so much the crew, but the passengers. I'm 28, and I get the feeling that I'm not really welcome....BC99

 

Don't worry about the passengers. You read alot of stuff written by people who spend all day everyday on these boards sanctimoniously preaching to other people about the ships, how you should behave, what you should wear and bragging in every post about how many times they've sailed etc, etc, etc. It's just talk and I've found from personal experience after being on ships that those people who make themselves known to the staff and crew aren't really all that well received by the staff and crew.

I was on a cruise last year on one of HAL's ships and there are some people who post on boards about how well known they are and all the things they do onboard and their special relationships with the captain, etc. etc. I had a nice long talk with some of the staff and crew, and they just roll their eyes about those people.

..so don't pay them any mind and only believe half of what they say.

MOST passengers are regular everyday people who have worked hard and saved up for a nice cruise and they'll treat you just fine. MOST passengers are NOT snobbish and act like they're better than you, have more than you do, or look down on you...and they come in all age groups.

You'll have a wonderful time. I promise.;)