Zuiderdam Live May 6-17 B2B Coastal and Inside Passage

[cruz chic]

Well we got our disembarkation package this morning.

 

We bought a transfer package from HAL to Seatac airport. The Ships Services told me our luggage would go directly to the bus, we would be on a HAL bus to Seattle, and would see our luggage next in Seattle.

 

NOT. Paperwork shows that they put us on Quick Shuttle, we will need to collect our baggage in the terminal and haul it to Quick Shuttle. Quick Shuttle makes several stops between Vancouver and Seattle which means Customs doesn't seal the bus for the border and we add about 1- 1/2 hours to the trip.

 

I took everything down to the NL and told them this is NOT OK. If we had wanted to take Quick Shuttle we would have booked them for about 30% less than we paid HAL.

 

We aren't happy....

 

Sorry to hear that. Hope you can get some resolution. Good luck!

[DaveOKC]

Well we got our disembarkation package this morning.

 

We bought a transfer package from HAL to Seatac airport. The Ships Services told me our luggage would go directly to the bus, we would be on a HAL bus to Seattle, and would see our luggage next in Seattle.

 

NOT. Paperwork shows that they put us on Quick Shuttle, we will need to collect our baggage in the terminal and haul it to Quick Shuttle. Quick Shuttle makes several stops between Vancouver and Seattle which means Customs doesn't seal the bus for the border and we add about 1- 1/2 hours to the trip.

 

I took everything down to the NL and told them this is NOT OK. If we had wanted to take Quick Shuttle we would have booked them for about 30% less than we paid HAL.

 

We aren't happy....

Sorry to hear how HAL is handling this. Will this cause you problems with making you flight home?

 

If HAL is going to sell Quick Shuttle's program, they should tell us that. We like Quick Shuttle, but as you stated, we can easily book it for ourselves at a much cheaper cost.

 

DaveOKC

[frankc98376]

NL just called to apologize- Quick Shuttle info was incorrect. we will indeed be on a HAL coach non stop to Seatac.

 

We booked 15 night March 2015 TA Fort Lauderdale to Rome this morning. Couldn't bear the thought of logging and seeing no reservations on our account :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well we got our disembarkation package this morning.

 

We bought a transfer package from HAL to Seatac airport. The Ships Services told me our luggage would go directly to the bus, we would be on a HAL bus to Seattle, and would see our luggage next in Seattle.

 

NOT. Paperwork shows that they put us on Quick Shuttle, we will need to collect our baggage in the terminal and haul it to Quick Shuttle. Quick Shuttle makes several stops between Vancouver and Seattle which means Customs doesn't seal the bus for the border and we add about 1- 1/2 hours to the trip.

 

I took everything down to the NL and told them this is NOT OK. If we had wanted to take Quick Shuttle we would have booked them for about 30% less than we paid HAL.

 

We aren't happy....

 

 

I have heard that HAL does that quite often in May and September when they do not get enough people signed up for HAL's shuttles.

Sorry that this has happened to you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

NL just called to apologize- Quick Shuttle info was incorrect. we will indeed be on a HAL coach non stop to Seatac.

 

We booked 15 night March 2015 TA Fort Lauderdale to Rome this morning. Couldn't bear the thought of logging and seeing no reservations on our account :D

 

 

 

Well -- ignore what I just typed.

Glad you got everything straightened out.

[DaveOKC]

NL just called to apologize- Quick Shuttle info was incorrect. we will indeed be on a HAL coach non stop to Seatac.

 

We booked 15 night March 2015 TA Fort Lauderdale to Rome this morning. Couldn't bear the thought of logging and seeing no reservations on our account :D

 

Frank - how did the price compare to HAL's price online?

 

I like to just purchase the Future Cruise Deposit onboard and then wait for 1-3 weeks afterwards to get an email from HAL offering to basically double the OBC. I just got it today (we departed the Volendam on May 7)! So now I have $200 per person OBC for my upcoming 11 day cruise. Plus the $100 stockholders OBC will give us $500 for the cabin.

 

DaveOKC

[frankc98376]

Frank - how did the price compare to HAL's price online?

 

I like to just purchase the Future Cruise Deposit onboard and then wait for 1-3 weeks afterwards to get an email from HAL offering to basically double the OBC. I just got it today (we departed the Volendam on May 7)! So now I have $200 per person OBC for my upcoming 11 day cruise. Plus the $100 stockholders OBC will give us $500 for the cabin.

 

DaveOKC

 

We got the bonus OBC for booking on board

[frankc98376]

I have heard that HAL does that quite often in May and September when they do not get enough people signed up for HAL's shuttles.

Sorry that this has happened to you.

 

There were several in the NL unhappy about it this morning including guests in one of the PS. Possibly someone in Seattle changed their mind.

 

If they are going to do this they need to put it in up front when it is booked.

[sapper1]

good to hear about the PG - glad it was great.

 

Love the giving the SBC a good run for it's money. Way to go:D

 

The Pinnacle Grill has been wonderful on this ship. We did the Cirque as well and, while we found it to be very good, we just don't see the increased value for the difference in price. I think we will just book an extra Pinnacle dinner on future cruises instead of trying the Cirque.

 

I just picked up a shore data signal so am able to get in some free internet. Well, free in that it is covered under my plan and not the ship's internet. We are currently cruising down the coast of BC. Packing is 90% finished. We are ready to go home. A month is a long time to be away.

[Stratheden]

NL just called to apologize- Quick Shuttle info was incorrect. we will indeed be on a HAL coach non stop to Seatac.

 

We booked 15 night March 2015 TA Fort Lauderdale to Rome this morning. Couldn't bear the thought of logging and seeing no reservations on our account :D

 

Is that on the Zuiderdam pre dry dock cruise?

[frankc98376]

Is that on the Zuiderdam pre dry dock cruise?

 

It is

[Stratheden]

I'm on the post dry dock cruise. We shall have to compare notes. :D

[frankc98376]

It is

 

Itinerary:

 

Day Date Itinerary Arrival Departure

MON 16MAR15 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 4:00pm

TUE 17MAR15 Sea Day

WED 18MAR15 Sea Day

THU 19MAR15 Sea Day

FRI 20MAR15 Sea Day

SAT 21MAR15 Sea Day

SUN 22MAR15 Sea Day

MON 23MAR15 Sea Day

TUE 24MAR15 Sea Day

WED 25MAR15 Funchal (Madeira), Portugal 8:00am 5:00pm

THU 26MAR15 Sea Day

FRI 27MAR15 Cadiz (Seville), Spain 8:00am 6:00pm

SAT 28MAR15 Malaga, Spain 8:00am 6:00pm

SUN 29MAR15 Cartagena, Spain 8:00am 4:00pm

MON 30MAR15 Sea Day

TUE 31MAR15 Debark Ship Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

[kluv2cruz]

14,500 cruise ship guests debarking and embarking in Vancouver Saturday. I hope it goes smoothly!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[sapper1]

14,500 cruise ship guests debarking and embarking in Vancouver Saturday. I hope it goes smoothly!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

That is why I am checking into the Pan Pacific overnight. The airport will be a madhouse. We will fly home Sunday when things are quieter.

[tigger-ttfn]

This was the most unusual LIVE posting I've ever read. Was hoping for a report on where you where and what you saw so we could follow along and enjoy the sites. Oh Well

[Lizzie68]

This was the most unusual LIVE posting I've ever read. Was hoping for a report on where you where and what you saw so we could follow along and enjoy the sites. Oh Well

 

I believe it was earlier reported that the internet onboard was a challenge and extremely expensive. I am grateful for what they paid to post, so no complaints here.

Edited May 17, 2014 by Marco's Tia

[sapper1]

We all were awakened abruptly at 4AM by the emergency alarm and a fire in the hydro pool area was reported. They were able to extinquish the fire quickly but there was no getting back to sleep. The fire was caused by an overheated light fixture.

[POA1]

Thanks for the reports, all!

[Watson's aunt]

I am looking at an empty bowl on the desk that earlier contained chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies- I was forced to eat them :D

 

 

 

Thank you for your reports.. The cookies are reward for your posting. But don't expect them when yyyyou get home.

 

Mary

[frankc98376]

Safely home after a VERY long day- Vancouver was indeed a mess this morning. Bus to Seattle held up till 10:15 waiting for Amsterdam pax- evidently something happened to their luggage unloading equipment. We didn't post many pictures as the Internet was not very cooperative at times.

So here is a brief overview:

 

Zuiderdam:

She is in fine shape and well taken care of. Will be interesting to see what is done next year in dry dock. Evidently Spa cabins will definitely be added behind Crows Nest- a few mentioned possibility of more aft cabins (I'm guessing by shrinking the aft balconies- looking more like Noordam).

Captain and Senior Officers all very approachable and warm- easy to see why the crew loves the ship so much.

 

Crew:

Warm, caring, professional.... the best. Can't say enough about how great everyone was- most we spoke to msaidthat the would try very hard to return to Zuiderdam for their next contract.

 

AGI and Code Red: (and a correction from earlier)

The bout of AGI and Code Red could not have been handled better. Hotel Director Frank Ulbricht and his crew were absolute rock stars in my book. They worked around the clock cleaning, serving passengers; always with smiles and wonderful attitudes. I can't imagine how worn out they must have been. They went over the top to make up for any inconveniences-huge cudos to all!!!

I heard some complain about no hot tubs, spa pool, etc but personally I was very happy without them knowing that it cut the chances of me being sick for several days.

 

Food:

Ah, the food.... We ate in the PG most nights and mornings. Over 10 nights we tried pretty much everything on the menu and really had no complaints- everything was exactly as we expected it to be. We missed the Caviar but will definite order it next cruise.

The service was impeccable and we felt like the PG staff became extended family. Very sad leaving them after breakfast this morning.

We ate in Canaletto one night and wrote about it earlier. Just didn't do it for us. The "shared plate" menu may be good in the Med or Europe but from everyone we spoke to that ate there doesn't seem to be a good fit on this side of the globe.

 

The Ports:

We pretty much walked around the ports as we have visited them before and know which shops we wanted to hit.

 

We did the train in Skagway for the first time and was fascinating. Quite a bit of wildlife on the way up.

 

Juneau we hit our favorite little place- The Flight Deck (near the float planes)- great "diner" type food and amazing fries.

 

Hit our favorite candy store in Ketchikan- Ketchicandies...mmmmm

We needed to pick up some cold stuff as we both picked up colds coming up from San Diego. We ran into some of our crew and they told us about the free Walmart shuttle. Found the shuttle at Discovery Center and headed about 10 minutes out to Walmart. Also got to see a lot of the city we would never had seen.

 

We grabbed a cab back as there were a lot of crew waiting to return and we didn't want to take up the limited shuttle space.

 

Glacier Bay was well... Glacier Bay. Breathtaking, spectacular, amazing. I'm sure anyone that has been there knows what I mean :)

 

Off to unpacking and laundry and gasp... feeding ourselves.

 

Need to post the count down to our next cruise next March. Looking forward to seeing our new "old" friends and meeting new ones.

Edited May 18, 2014 by frankc98376

[POA1]

Awesome job Frank! Thank you.

[frankc98376]

This was the most unusual LIVE posting I've ever read. Was hoping for a report on where you where and what you saw so we could follow along and enjoy the sites. Oh Well

 

Sorry I disappointed you. I tried to give a summary of the good, bad, and indifferent.

 

The first leg had horrible internet service with minutes disappearing into thin air.

Second was unlimited but service was spotty- all of my pictures were too large for the size constraints here.

 

I won't spend so much much money and time next time.

 

For those that wanted to hear about the more "colorful" parts-

 

We met a couple that are former porn stars in a bar one evening. I know many will say that they invented the colorful past for the cruise. It is true however- several commented to her that she was very familiar. Show would just smile and say "I get that a lot". We ended meeting several times for drinks- great people. I won't get into the conversations here.....

(BTW- I was one of those that recognized them) :o

 

A young woman sat down at our table in the Lido one afternoon and announced "I washed my underwear in the sink this morning". No one at the table had a snappy comeback.

 

A large man in his 30's sat down at a bar, looked at us, and said "I left my meds at home, but my doctor said I should be OK for a week".... we moved to a different bar...

[cruz chic]

I enjoyed your live from. Thx so much.

[Susie51]

Thank you for taking your time and money to share with us.