New to HAL Maybe

[mattR]

Considering booking on the Zuiderdam for Dec 2004. Was wondering what are the extras charged on the ship? Dining,exercise,juice,Etc.

What are the extras included? Tote bags, Bathrobes, Fruit bowels, etc.

Will be booking a inside cabin.

Where is the best(nicest) dining area Upper/Lower??

Choseing btw HAL and RCCl Voyeger class any recomendations there?

[localady]

MattR-
What is the level of activities you hope to have available to you during your cruise??? If you want to climb the climbing wall in the morning and skate in the evening then the Voyager is for you. Another good question is how many people you feel comfortable with on a ship??? I believe even the Zuiderdam at 1700+ passengers is smaller than are the mega-ships like the Voyager. If you are looking for alot of disco/party scene at night, then possibly you'd also consider the Voyager.

If you want a calmer environment with less people, the Z would be appropriate.
On a HAL ship there would be charges for such services as spa or drinks etc. There is a charge on the Vista class ships including the Z for specialty coffees. The other charges are pretty standard.

If you want an even smaller environment you might consider one of the flagships that carry appx. 1300 pax (Amsterdam or Rotterdam). The HAL ships are generally a more refined atmosphere although I understand the Z is a bit more chic too... Generally, the rooms on HAL ships are larger than on the others.

P.S. You don't say if you are going to be travelling with kids or not, so I can't speak to kids programs.

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[mattR]

will be traveling with my wife. We are both 30. We are not into the party thing at all. We enjoy elegant service but also would enjoy some activity. Not bringing the kids with us 10th wedding aniversery. How far is it from Miami to Ft Lauderdale as we have a 1500H flight the day of disembarkation?

[Krazy Kruizers]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] mattR

For an inside cabin you will not get a fruit bowl.

There will be a canvas tote delivered to your cabin usually the evening before your first port. One bag per cabin.

Bathrobes will soon be in all cabins.

Juices are free in the morning and there are many different kinds. At lunch you can get juice in the main dining room. Same at dinner.

Ice cream is free - watch for the posted times - open long hours.

Also before the movies - free popcorn - look in the daily program for the times of the movies. You don't have to attend the movie to get the free popcorn.

Free pizza.

Tips are now added onto your account - $10 per day per person.

There is a 15% gratuity added onto all bar bills - this includes soft drinks.

There is an alternative restaurant - $20 per person. If you are interested in eating there the first night of the cruise, you can call Ship Services at 1-800-541-1576, and the price is only $10 per person. Do this about a month before the cruise. Have ready your your booking number, ship name, date of sailing, and credit card number.

We prefer the upper level of the dining room. There are fewer people here and more to see. The times for the upper level are 5:45 and 8:00.

You shouldn't have any trouble getting from Ft Lauderdale to Miami if you have a flight after 3 PM from Miami. Depending on traffic it is about a 45 minute trip to the airport.

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[elmorejj]

In the gym there is a fee for some classes, eg, pilates, yoga, and a couple of others. The fee is $11 per session. There are lots of classes that are free. If you like juice during the day, just get extras in the am and keep them in your cabin. Bottled water is available through your cabin, $2 for a liter bottle. A wine steward comes around daily to see if you have used it and then it will be replenished...the same with sodas. of course they are also available in all of the lounges, same price....jean

[teacher3410]

On the 5/22 sailing we had a fruit bowl in our inside cabin. It made a nice bedtime snack. We also had 3 totebags (1 for me and 1 for each of our children). We also had 4 bathrobes. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[localady]

I believe as part of the Signature of excellence all are to get fruit baskets, robes and silver ice holders, or so we were told in December[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[shipcafe]

Yes fruit bowls should be in all inside staterooms as of this point [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Steve
[url="http://www.shipcafe.net"]www.shipcafe.net[/url]

[GAndie]

They don't want us to get scurvy or rickets while cruising! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[darlene19]

Matt,

My husband and I are leaving for our second Zuiderdam cruise this Sat. We are close to your age (he's 31, I'm 29) and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HAL. My husband & I sound like you in that we aren't big on the party scene (discos, etc.). Our vacation is usually relaxation heavy. We do excursions (snorkeling in every port!), but love the relaxed and personal service of HAL. The food is great and we've never had a problem with bad service. We sailed Disney for our honeymoon and my husband said it would be hard to beat. I think he was PLEASANTLY surprised with HAL.

In a nutshell, while HAL conjures up images of those further down the road in life, if you like relaxation and being taken care of (at any age), it can't be beat.

[mattR]

Thank yo uall for your help!

darlene19 Hope you have a awsome cruise. Thanks for the info we enjoy non party activites (trivia, sports, games,demonstrations ect.) If you bring any of your daily activity logs home any chance you can scan one in or give a run down of the activities??

[Vic The Parrot]

The last time I sailed on a HAL ship, (1998, I think) every cabin had a bowl of fruit.

Did they drop that as well? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Man, I've been away from HAL far too
looooooooong. Guess it's time I should come back, and see what happened.

16 - HAL
10 - Cunard
4 - Home Lines
2 - NCL
2 - Royal Viking Line


"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines"

[darlene19]

Matt-will do. My best friend is a huge trivia buff too. We almost always play the games in the lounges (the last cruise she and I took together we did them all)

Vic, I think they re-instated the bowl of fruit thing. I know the one we took last Sept. didn't have it, but I called today to ask if the "Signature of Excellence" had been instituted on the Zuiderdam and the customer service rep. said yes. I specifically asked about the bowl of fruit and she said they are now in ALL staterooms (along with robes and upgraded linens [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

When we get back, I will post lots and lots.

Only 5 days left!!!

[Tatka]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by darlene19:
Matt-will do. My best friend is a huge trivia buff too. We almost always play the games in the lounges (the last cruise she and I took together we did them all)

Vic, I think they re-instated the bowl of fruit thing. I know the one we took last Sept. didn't have it, but I called today to ask if the "Signature of Excellence" had been instituted on the Zuiderdam and the customer service rep. said yes. I specifically asked about the bowl of fruit and she said they are now in ALL staterooms (along with robes and upgraded linens [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

When we get back, I will post lots and lots.

Only 5 days left!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sounds niiiice! HAL can become my second favourite line. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] after Celebrity.

We are 31 and 32 years olds with 12 years old kid.

------------------------------
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL
<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona
<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)
<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow
<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum [/list]

GO BRUINS!!!!

[Vic The Parrot]

Thanks Darlene for your feedback.

I'll be looking forward to your thoughts!
And looking forward to my next HAL trip! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

And Tatka .......


GO RED SOX! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

16 - HAL
10 - Cunard
4 - Home Lines
2 - NCL
2 - Royal Viking Line


"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines"

[mattR]

Thanks darlene19 will call and book tomorrow!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img][img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img][img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img][img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img][img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img][img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[F5Loar]

I guess by now you have decided on HAL. I see no one has menitoned the wonderful "Renewal of Vows" on board the Zuiderdam for a measly $99.
You get a package of things and the Captain will renew your vows while at sea. And I recommend since it is your 10th to go ahead and spruge for the S deluxe suites. HAL suites offer more than any other cruise line. Not the SS suites but the S.