Zuiderdam to the ABCs Dec. 10-20

[ottahand7]

Fort Lauderdale – spent two nights at the Renaissance which was located near the port.   We travel early because of trying to avoid midwest travel snafus.  We headed to Total Wine and bought wine to supplement what I brought along in Wine Diapers (thanks CC for the recommendation on these).  We took a 3 hour tour on the Jungle Queen and had a great dinner at the Boathouse watching moonrise. 

 

Onboard – It was effortless getting into the check in area.    We were there early and the line started moving inside at 10 am.   Up to the Priority waiting area in no time.  The Zuiderdam had just returned from dry dock and the computer system was down.  We all understand that that means when trying to get a thousand plus passengers aboard.   We started boarding somewhat after 12 and the line looked like the gangway of Southwest Airlines only 4 times as long.  We passed through manual Passport inspection and onto the ship where we were manually checked against the manifest.   One good thing about being early was that our 10 bottles of wine made it on uninspected and charged.  

Up to our beautiful cabin 7072.   It was spotless.   We headed to the Neptune Lounge and were quickly able to try to secure a PG dinner reservation, a Retreat cabana and get our SBP upgraded.  Since the system was down all of this was done by notes in the computer and they would get back to us later.   All worked out albeit slowly.   She was able to upgrade our beverage package in the Lounge and we went over to the Pinnacle Bar and asked the bartenders to put stickers on our cards.  We were recommended to go to Guest Services to get new keys which SO tried but he had no luck because of the system being down.  All liquor transactions were done with paper.  

 

We had dinner in the PG and the food and service was excellent.   I had the dry-aged Delmonico and my SO had the clothesline bacon and Mac & Cheese and mushroom soup for his dinner.  Another plus was that they did not charge us corkage for our carried on wine.  We headed to the Casino which had just opened.  New machines and I didn’t smell any smoke.  Maybe a smoke free night.   A great start to a badly needed trip.

[Cruiser785]

Wish I could say our first day had been as positive...perhaps today will be better?

[canadianbear]

Lovely itinerary.  We have friends on your cruise & wish we were there too!  Enjoy.

[cat shepard]

Bon Voyage! Have a great trip.

[puppycanducruise]

Have a great cruise.

[ottahand7]

A brief update.   Food and service has been excellent.  As someone mentioned the AC has been pitiful.   We had lunch in the Lido in the Canaletto space and regretted sitting there.   Many thanks to CC member Snit for setting up a well-attended meet and greet.  It was nice to meet new people.  

[kazu]

58 minutes ago, ottahand7 said:

A brief update.   Food and service has been excellent.  As someone mentioned the AC has been pitiful.   We had lunch in the Lido in the Canaletto space and regretted sitting there.   Many thanks to CC member Snit for setting up a well-attended meet and greet.  It was nice to meet new people.  

 

Glad to hear you are happy with the food and service.  And your Meet and Greet went well.  Kudos to Snit.

 

Sorry about the A/C though.  Hope it is fixed soon.

 

Enjoying your reports 🙂 

 

[erewhon]

Thank you for your report.

Enjoy the remainder of the cruise.

[canadarocks]

Can you please tell me what the hours are for both early and late traditional dining? Thanks!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for checking in.

 

Sorry to hear that the computers were down on embarkation day.  Hope they are working now.

 

Keep up the review.

[ottahand7]

8 hours ago, canadarocks said:

Can you please tell me what the hours are for both early and late traditional dining? Thanks!

Early is 5:30.  I don't know what the late seating would be.  

 

AC problems seem to be continuing.  Perhaps they are working on it.   I got back to our cabin after breakfast ind it was sweltering but within 15 minutes it is getting cool again.   Thankfully it worked for sleeping.  Pinnacle Grill is freezing cold.   

 

Day One at Sea.  – Hot weather – woke up at 6 and it was already 78 degrees and windy.   Meet and Greet in the Billboard from our CC Roll Call hosted by Snit.     I am recovering from the worst bout of influenza I have ever had (I did get my shot) and want plain old R&R so we will be heading to our cabana.  Our trip to the cabana was exciting to say the least.  All the furniture in the center portion were lashed together and all of ours were pushed to the back.  We stuck it out for 45 minutes and decided what seemed like steady 35 mph winds were just too much.  Maybe I can have some pictures tomorrow. 

Dinner at the PG again last night.  SO took photos so they will come soon.   Lobster Bisque and Crab legs for me (portion size was huge) and he had the tuna app, mushroom soup and a filet with lobster dumplings.    Service and food was excellent. 

I don’t know where I missed this on CC but the Casino is smoke free.  I guess that has a positive effect on casino use as it was crowded last night.  No show to report on but the band in BB King is excellent with people dancing to the music.   Looking forward to another restful day at sea tomorrow. 

  

My photo is “what is wrong with this picture?”

[cat shepard]

Hope your AC issue is fixed - fast.

 

Your comment about the winds reminds me of my first cruise. We were off the North Carolina Coast and one of the crew was lashing furniture together, and he jokingly pretended to lash my friend to one of the loungers. Great photo op.

 

The placement of several things in the tub area are puzzling. I guess they would be ok, when using the tub, but.... stooping over to use the shampoo dispenser might be a bit awkward.

[ottahand7]

AC is working great, almost too well in the public areas today.  Can't speak for everyone's cabins.   

 

Photos from last night's PG dinner.  Still no cabana photos the wind is horrible.   

 

Lobster Bisque,  Sesame Crusted Tuna, Tenderloin with Lobster Dumplings, Crab legs 

[ottahand7]

Day 2 – at sea.   Not really much to comment about other than high winds.  Just crossing by the forward elevators by the Lido pool is uncomfortable and bad for one’s hair.  ATK is well attended each session.  It seems that the cruise director on the rotation is with it.  There appears to be a lot of Trivia and other game activity throughout the day.   We had lunch in the MDR – Fish and Chips.  More batter than fish – I usually am happy with HA food but this was just plain bad.   Probably will stick with the Lido for lunch.   We ordered room service from the MDR for dinner.  Guest chef dinner, tough prime rib,  crab cakes were all crumbs but SO’s Udon dish was excellent.  His Sushi basically all rice.   Lots of activity in the Gallery  after dinner with Team Trivia, ruined our after dinner cocktails in the Gallery Bar waiting for the Ravens – Jets game to start, the very loud mike was transmitted into the bar – I can’t imagine that would be a hard fix.  Trivia even included some sound effects by the contestants.   Very happy to be able to get Thursday Night Football and the Ravens won!  Bonaire tomorrow.  

[Sea42]

On the Eurodam I did not like the low placement of the shampoo dispensers. Water runs down your arm, washing away some of the shampoo. Kind of wasteful.

[ottahand7]

Day 3 – Slow paced beautiful Bonaire.   We have been several times so we opted to use our non-windy cabana for the day.   Forgot to share yesterday that we did the tropical drink mixology class in the Gallery bar.   Our bartenders did a great job with the drinks and keeping us entertained.  A non-remarkable restful day other than a beer tap explosion at the Pinnacle Bar.  Getting the badly needed R&R and have finally put the flu behind me.   We dined on the balcony with MDR room service.   Food was meh.   SO’s Caesar was about the equivalent of one big Romaine leaf.  Romaine recall must be hitting the ships too.  I had the roast chicken and it was a small piece of breast with a wing bone.  We were hungry when we returned to the cabin at 10:45 and ordered room service and the room service chicken was a beautiful ½ chicken on couscous.   Quesadillas were thick and tasty.    Service was fast.  One thing we have noted is that unless we specifically ask for water and rolls and butter they don’t come any longer with the MDR requested room service.  

 

[cat shepard]

Beautiful sunset!

[ottahand7]

Day 4 – Prosperous Curacao.  In port with a Princess ship and the Volendam.   The Volendam came in went under the blue bridge turned and came into its’ berth facing the sea right near the fort.   When we headed to breakfast all of the fire doors were closed throughout the ship.  Something about a magnet problem is what we overheard an engineer.  

Our Captain Wouter van Hoogdalem and the officers for the last 2 days have met passengers coming off the ship.  Captain stayed for about an hour greeting passengers.  Much busier in town today than when we were here in February.  It was very hot and the casino was handing out $10 free play vouchers and it was nice to go in and use the free play and cool off.   Back on board in time for lunch in the Lido and then to the cabana.  We had dinner on our balcony with MDR room service.   Food was OK.   The steward wasn’t.  His shirt was filthy.  Gravy stain on the collar and inside the collar it was so filthy it was shocking.    I do not know who his supervisor is to let anyone out of the galley looking like that.    We had a discussion with our Pinnacle Grill waiter about laundry and they get three shirts per week otherwise they have to go to the laundry and wash them themselves.  He said everyone is so tired that going to the laundry is a burden.   He told his tricks for looking spiffy all the time such as having his tailor in Honduras make him exact replicas to he doesn’t have to go the laundry for a few shirts.   He said Disney allows wait staff 5 per week.  

 

[ottahand7]

[cat shepard]

Great pics! Love the one of the ship & the bridge. From that perspective it looks like it would have been a tight squeeze!

[3rdGenCunarder]

Just now, cat shepard said:

Great pics! Love the one of the ship & the bridge. From that perspective it looks like it would have been a tight squeeze!

 

Zuiderdam will fit into that berth. We were docked there a few years ago. But she didn't turn around as Volendam did, so we had to back out. I got a great view of the bridge opening from my aft balcony!

 

[canadianbear]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Zuiderdam will fit into that berth. We were docked there a few years ago. But she didn't turn around as Volendam did, so we had to back out. I got a great view of the bridge opening from my aft balcony!

 

Us too-a few years ago Zuiderdam docked there and was so convenient.  

[ottahand7]

Aruba – Quiet Sunday ashore.  Having been to Aruba several times we got off and walked around town for a while.  Growth is very evident in Aruba.  The town was decorated beautifully for Christmas.  Nothing evident on our ship yet.  We had originally planned on going to the Marriott Stellaris and use their beach for the day but it was pretty hot so we hung out in the cabana and did some reading.  It really helps that I have a book I am loving, Indianapolis, the story of the US ship that carried the atomic bomb to Tinian and was sunk by a Japanese suicide submarine. 

We had a nice afternoon catching some football and then a nice dinner in the PG.  We were joined in port by a Norwegian ship and sailed away at 10 PM.  

[canadianbear]

Love following along on your cruise!  It’s an itinerary we have done before and love the ABC Islands.  Great photos.  

[ottahand7]

Day 5 – At Sea with wind and rough seas.   Trying to use the cabana was problematic.  The wind was so strong it was hard to push the door open.  I ended up pushing a chair up against the wall and stuck it out for an hour.  Anyone booking one of these on ship should do a good review of the predicted wind speeds.    We had dinner in the Canaletto and it will be our last.  We have had fairly good luck in the room but it has fallen off the cliff such that it will be our last.   As usual the hard to mess up seafood soup was hot and loaded with fish, langostines and scallops.  My veal meatballs were very cold pass #1.  After I sent them back they were warm but had the texture and look more of tuna than veal.  SO’s strip loin was good he said.  My Osso Bucco were rather tough but the sauce was true Osso Bucco.   I don’t know why they don’t make an effort to reduce the noise and clatter at that end of the Lido.    We did a signature cocktail tasting earlier in the day in the Gallery Bar.   All three were very tasty and had distinct flavors.   Our bartenders were informative about the process of making craft cocktails.