Fun Time on The Zuiderdam 6-18-05

[Tschm]

Just return home today from a very fun week. I was expecting the worst and hoping for the best. Iam not sure why people say it is not a good ship. Loved the inside colors ( it is a cruise ship what do some people expect). We had 12 rooms on the verandah deck ( cabin 5036 & up) we open all the balcony doors to have a great and very long balcony.

 

Loved Burt Reynold, he remembered all 37 of our names everyday.

 

The one thing I found that was not wonderful were the blended drinks, I love the Princess Rum Runners and I thought the drinks on the Zuiderdam were poor.They don't even like to blend them I had to ask for it to be blended.

 

And Costa Maya, why do they even go there. We took the bus ( $3.00 pp) to Tapas, If you like dirt and not good conditions then go for it. I found it was not what I had read about on this board. The bus had no air and I thought I was going to have heat stroke, so we walked back to the ship by way of the beach. You should have seen the trash on the shore line. I thought the beaches were not pretty at all.

 

If you want a beautiful beach go to Rum Point, WONDERFUL....We did Native Way to Stingray City And some Snorkeling then to Rum Point for Lunch. We will be back there. I have done Capt. Marvins but Native Way was a lot more fun.

 

If you need transportation in Fort Lauderdale, we used Ace Tours, we paid $5.00 per person plus tip. They were always there on time and have very nice Bus/vans 1-877-438-2645 when you have 35 people it nice to just have your bus waiting for you at the airport.

 

Key West don't use Dream Catcher Chartrs, it was a lot of money and to small of of boat. They put 50 people on this small boat that should hold about 30. Not good food. It was a all day watersports Package.It was $89.00 per person

 

Also we stayed at Pier 66 on Friday night before the cruise. We got the Marina rooms for $144.00 a night. One minute we were in the pool and the next we were running for cover from the what I called a small Hurricane. It was fun.

 

We were on the ship by 11:15. getting off and on the ship was very easy and fast, Princess could take some lessons for Holland American.

 

Thanks for all the info I have received on ths board. My 35 people think Iam great, and it all because of the great information I have found here.

[cruznon]

Gla d to hear you enjoyed the Zuiderdam. I look forward to boarding soon. I think I will love the bright colors!How was HMC?

[Tschm]

We loved HMC, we had the cabana and it was worth the money. The humidity made it feel so very hot-used the air conditioner all day. The water and the beach were beautiful. No excursions.

[doone]

Welcome back, I agree with you, I was skeptical as well when I was going to sail her with 4 of my friends, some of whom had never cruised. Well, we had such a good time on that ship, we're all talking about doing another cruise in a couple of year to celebrate our 50th birthday's.

 

I am still puzzled why some didn't like it. Granted, the color scheme isn't what I would have chosen, but didn't bother me. Service was great, food was great, we just had a great time, like yourself. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

[Tarkus]

...I am still puzzled why some didn't like it. Granted, the color scheme isn't what I would have chosen, but didn't bother me. Service was great, food was great, we just had a great time, like yourself. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

I can only speak for myself... I'm on record as saying I too liked the color scheme, but would describe service as okay (cabin steward was marginal, dining room staff were average, crew was excellent), food was exceptional in the lido and unremarkable in the dining room (discounting some truly bad desserts)... but my biggest complaint was the ship basically only giving you two entertainment options after 11pm: the casino or the disco (the exception being the late-night adult comedy on the second formal night). hence my ambivalent review, and no great rush to rebook...

 

that said, i'm glad you were more impressed - perhaps hal read some of the less-than-glowing remarks and acted on them?