11/29 Zuiderdam Panama Canal Impressions

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for the update.

92!! -- Way too hot for me.

[Watson's aunt]

hi

 

I was on cruise before you. I never saw any Alaska items for sale. They ran out of the DAM ships t shirt. NO Xl.

s

 

 

had a great cruise no a/c or flush problems I was in 6069

 

 

Mary

[Crew News]

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.

 

You are correct on the 5191. Completely covered balcony. You will love it!!

[Crew News]

Thanks for the daily updates.

 

Are you not having breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill?

 

I have been sleeping late lately but probably will try the PG on a sea day (maybe tomorrow) and will give my impressions. Do you have ant specific questions?

Edited December 4, 2013 by Crew News

[Crew News]

If it's not too personal of a question, which stateroom are you in?

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

We are in 6166 and I don't think that is a personal question. We do have a CC sign on our door for CC members to "come on in" to visit on the balcony. At last count, more than 10 have stopped by.

[Crew News]

hi

 

I was on cruise before you. I never saw any Alaska items for sale. They ran out of the DAM ships t shirt. NO Xl.

s

had a great cruise no a/c or flush problems I was in 6069

 

Mary

 

Two 4-inch totem poles, five guide books from 2012, 5-"Alaska Cruising" jackets size "S", and several boxes of moose candy (date unknown). Someone must ave been really digging in the storage area.

[djhsolara]

We are in 6166 and I don't think that is a personal question. We do have a CC sign on our door for CC members to "come on in" to visit on the balcony. At last count, more than 10 have stopped by.

 

You are right above the suite we had in October (5190). Great location...and great balcony for the Canal.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise...sounds like you're having a great cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[Crew News]

Day #4 Curacao

 

The weather remained sunny but more muggy than Aruba as we arrived in Curacao. Watching the move from across the waterway to the dock side of the Zuiderdam was very interesting especially with folks still standing on the bridge. As the day progressed, so did the wind which alleviated some of the muggy feelings. Since I have been to Curacao before, I remained on board and enjoyed the nearly deserted ship. Cooking demos continued on board.

 

Dining:

 

Today was the first day using Room Service for breakfast. The tray arrived 8 minutes early but we were up early enough to not be surprised in our pajamas. Mimosas, "almost free" for just $2, were served on the aft Lido deck. The cheese for nachos was postioned a bit late so an afternoon snack was pushed closer to a 5:30 early dining seating. The cheese souffle and roast turkey were excellent. For the first dinner, I tried dessert, "no sugar added' chocolate chip ice cream.

 

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 is much slower than I experienced on the same ship in Alaska 2013 Internet minutes are used just waiting for a page to load. The new BB King Blues Club is getting rave reviews. The promised Panama menus have not yet been provided.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for Crew News for the update.

[TracieABD]

Hi Crew News!

Hope you and Joanie are having the best day EVER!!!

 

Thank you for keeping us posted on the Z'dam!:)

 

Tracie-Lynn

[djhsolara]

Day #4 Curacao

 

The weather remained sunny but more muggy than Aruba as we arrived in Curacao. Watching the move from across the waterway to the dock side of the Zuiderdam was very interesting especially with folks still standing on the bridge. As the day progressed, so did the wind which alleviated some of the muggy feelings. Since I have been to Curacao before, I remained on board and enjoyed the nearly deserted ship. Cooking demos continued on board.

 

Dining:

 

Today was the first day using Room Service for breakfast. The tray arrived 8 minutes early but we were up early enough to not be surprised in our pajamas. Mimosas, "almost free" for just $2, were served on the aft Lido deck. The cheese for nachos was postioned a bit late so an afternoon snack was pushed closer to a 5:30 early dining seating. The cheese souffle and roast turkey were excellent. For the first dinner, I tried dessert, "no sugar added' chocolate chip ice cream.

 

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 is much slower than I experienced on the same ship in Alaska 2013 Internet minutes are used just waiting for a page to load. The new BB King Blues Club is getting rave reviews. The promised Panama menus have not yet been provided.

 

Our cruise was our first time in Curaçao and I thought it was so neat how that bridge works. I'm amazed that they move that bridge with people still on it. There were people stuck on there well over an hour when we left there.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[hal lover]

Thanks to you and Joanie for the live from. Am really enjoying it!

[sail7seas]

Our cruise was our first time in Curaçao and I thought it was so neat how that bridge works. I'm amazed that they move that bridge with people still on it. There were people stuck on there well over an hour when we left there.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

They run a small ferry at no cost to the pax from shore to shore when the bridge is moved. No one should be 'stuck' there.

 

[djhsolara]

They run a small ferry at no cost to the pax from shore to shore when the bridge is moved. No one should be 'stuck' there.

 

 

There were people walking across the bridge when it was opening and they were stuck on there because they weren't off before the bridge opened the whole way. Seemed like it was a regular thing because they just sat down right on the surface of the bridge and waited. I couldn't imagine that they don't clear the bridge before it starts to open.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sapper1]

There were people walking across the bridge when it was opening and they were stuck on there because they weren't off before the bridge opened the whole way. Seemed like it was a regular thing because they just sat down right on the surface of the bridge and waited. I couldn't imagine that they don't clear the bridge before it starts to open.

 

 

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

There are alarms to warn that the bridge will be opening soon. I suspect that a number of the cruise passengers elect to go along for the ride. I may do just that myself in April. Other times we have just watched from shore so it would be something different.

[Crew News]

Day #5 At Sea

 

Another sunny day at sea. I attended a cooking class for Panama Buns. The custard and mandarin orange pastry sample made me very eager to eat my share today.

 

Dining:

 

I ate a corned beef hash breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill. Being used to the canned version, I was impressed by a freshly cooked version. A waiter carried pepper shaker offering a few grindings to all and that caused me to look for the salt and pepper on the table. None of the tables had salt or pepper. Lunch was a sampling from the salad bar, bistro, and Asian lines.

 

The roast lamb at the 5:30 Fixed Dining was as good as any I have eaten when I lived in Athens Greece.

 

I was disappointed when the supply of chocolate chip cookies vanished.

 

Unlike previous cruises, calling Room Service did get my tray picked up.

 

Facilities:

 

AC continues to function well and still needed to be turned down up at night. In daily discussions, I have yet to find anyone with AC issues in the aft staterooms. No flushing issues to report. I did note a broken strand at the base of one of my deck chairs.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

The railings in the stateroom above ours were being varnished and the crew continues to perform maintenance throughout the ship.

 

Panama Canal was amazing with a nice strong breeze to make the comfort index quite bearable. More about it tomorrow.

[rgaudet]

Thanks for the posts. I am considering this cruise in Feb. Unlikely it will be so empty then but I'm wondering how many people exactly you have on board. 10% less than full? 20%?

 

I must admit to being one of those who was getting scared to enter this ship expecting unbearable heat and raw sewage filling the bathrooms judging from the reports! :eek: thanks for adding a subjective report to the mix!

 

 

Rob

[MermaidWatcher]

There were people walking across the bridge when it was opening and they were stuck on there because they weren't off before the bridge opened the whole way. Seemed like it was a regular thing because they just sat down right on the surface of the bridge and waited. I couldn't imagine that they don't clear the bridge before it starts to open.

Douglas...Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

There are signs explaining the operation of the bridge and the warning signals. A blue flag flying at the harbormaster's station signals the approaching of a large ship requiring the full opening and about 30 minutes time, the orange flag is a smaller vessel which will pass with only a partial opening, thus less time.

When the bell sounds to signal the opening, if you are not within a short sprint of the shore, you are going for a ride. Of course, for your amusement there are usually a few on the bridge who have watched too many action movies, and take off running to jump over the open end.

[Watson's aunt]

They run a small ferry at no cost to the pax from shore to shore when the bridge is moved. No one should be 'stuck' there.

 

 

when I was there November 8 cruise 2013 I walked to bridge and it was gone. On other side of island. I was hot and tired. I asked the few people sitting there and they said they were waiting for it to come back. I saw the ferry on other side so I just walked down and the ferry picked me and others up about 5 minutes other folks waited for bridge in hot sun. As soon as the ferry empty we got on they waqs not wait for it to be filled. Ferry is about 1 -2 minute walk from bridge

 

MAry

[Crew News]

Thanks for the posts. I am considering this cruise in Feb. Unlikely it will be so empty then but I'm wondering how many people exactly you have on board. 10% less than full? 20%?

 

I must admit to being one of those who was getting scared to enter this ship expecting unbearable heat and raw sewage filling the bathrooms judging from the reports! :eek: thanks for adding a subjective report to the mix!

 

 

Rob

 

I don't know the exact numbers but I heard about 1300

[erewhon]

Thanks for the update of your cruise.

[erewhon]

Crew News,

 

Did you obtain the recipe for the Panama Buns, while at the cooking class?

 

If so, would you kindly share the recipe when you return home?

[Linda&Vern]

Crew News - Thank you for your helpful info. We did this cruise in 2010, and yesterday found ourselves booking it again for February 2014. (Long story, the Z won by process of elimination.) I eagerly await your final notes now that I have a "personal" interest in this ship and itinerary.

[Crew News]

Day #6 Panama Canal

 

The evening before stopping at the Panama Canal, I was going to set my alarm to watch the arrival at 5:30. I retreated and opted for 5:00. As the alarm buzzed, I leaped from bed to gaze out of the verandah door to see a few blinking lights in the pitch darkness. When I checked the On Location brochure, I noted that sunrise was at 6:30 AM. I squandered one hour of possible sleep.

 

As the sky brightened, I counted at least 20 ships from our aft-wrap stateroom. As the Princess ship lined up behind us, we began our tug-escorted funneling towards the canal. The on-board narrator reported that those ships were probably waiting until their canal transit payments had been recorded in the Bank of Panama.

 

Approaching the canal, we saw the construction of the new locks to our left. The new large Italian-made steel doors were pending preparations for their deployment

 

The electric trains connected via chains to the port side of the Zuiderdam giving our port side verandah a perfect view of the canal activities. A large container ship entered the first lock to our left and we could watch it rise with its rudder nearly as high as our deck six stateroom. As we watched the doors close behind our ship, we could watch the Island Princess begin connecting to their trains in the left lane.

 

Our chamber filled with water as the Island Princess entered hers. The Zuiderdam rose high enough that I could look down at the Island Princess’ bridge. I looked at the Princess’ Lido-deck huge TV and it was showing us on our Zuiderdam verandah. We continued through two more locks with the container ship to our left and the Island Princess following in the lock behind the container ship. Transiting the three locks took about one hour before entering Gaton Lake.

 

The ship turned left after exiting the lock and move approximately one-half mile to the tendering area for those going on shore excursions. I counted five empty container ships while we were tendering. After tendering passengers off of the ship, we headed back to transit the locks.

 

The locks were now operating on both directions. We were followed by a large container chip in our lane. As the water was pumped from our first lock, our Deck 6 stateroom appeared lower than the bottom of the following ship. Seeing something so huge just a few yards from our verandah and so much higher than we were was amazing. Proceeding through the three locks with a ship so close was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

 

We then docked a few miles away to await the return of the shore excursion passengers. These folks encountered traffic issues and delayed the ship’s departure about 45 minutes.

 

My two hours photographing and videoing the transit of the locks earned me a good sunburn to include those toes exposed from my sandals. Direct sun on the stateroom windows affected the temperature in the stateroom. This was corrected by closing the curtains.

 

Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill revealed some new information. The PG will eliminate table-side service in two weeks when a new PG menu is introduced. The current Hotel Director was a PG waiter just seven years ago.

 

Dining:

 

Room Service for breakfast was on time and as requested. I performed a Panama Buns supply mission to the Lido deck. The buns were not identified but my previous cooking class made me uniquely qualified to select them from the large tray of miscellaneous pastries.

 

The lamb skewers for lunch were tasty but the lack of chocolate chip cookies was discouraging.

 

This was my second evening at the Pinnacle Grill with the very friendly and efficient waiters. The beef skewers were cooked exactly as requested. The chocolate volcano cake is still a good ending to a PG meal.

 

Facilities:

 

The AC was severely tested with the temperatures in the high 90’s but it continued to work well.

 

Another broken stitch was noted on another deck chair as well as three new surface-rust spots on my verandah ceiling. Despite increased usage from nearly non-stop eating, toilet facilities continue with rapid response to a button push.

 

Both the computer and AC annual maintenance teams are leaving the ship in Costa Rica.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

Some first-time HAL passengers that we have met are taking advantage of the on-board early booking option. HAL PCCs will have a number of new clients.

 

The Culinary Operations Manager has promised copies of the three 7-day Caribbean menus (Eastern, Southern, and Western) as well as 10- and 11-day menus. He was surprised that they are not available online.

 

Michael, guitar player in the Crow’s Nest, is married to one of the two PG Grill female waiters.

[Crew News]

Crew News,

 

Did you obtain the recipe for the Panama Buns, while at the cooking class?

 

If so, would you kindly share the recipe when you return home?

 

I will post later today.