!2/9/06 Zuiderdam...also new to HAL

[cruisnfool]

26 cruises....ist time HAL.....54 yrs old

 

From reading these boards I had expected superior service and food as compared to RCI and Princess....I found them both to be similiar not better.

Also entertainment was good not great.

 

We had outside....brother had VA on deck 7

 

Things we liked......

beds......oh what great beds.....

bathtubs in all categorys but insides....

complimentary shoe shine service

laundry by the bag price

very friendly staff including front desk!

Great food and service (except one morning in dining room)

itinerary(reason we picked this ship)

Catholic Mass every day

Taco bar by pool

Hamburgers were good but there was always a line....

Pinnacle grill very good! For $20 ok but not sure its worth $30 but the steaks were awesome

 

things we didn't like....

food in Lido mostly same every day.....nothing special

often times the choices in the dining room seemed limited especially in the appetizer, salad and soup category

Every day we had to wait for chairs by pool......not swimming or sunbathing but many elderly just sleeping in clothes on lounges

Did not notice any deck police cleaning off chairs that were not occupied for long periods of time

Wheelchairs have given way to scooters! Be carefull some of the drivers don't have the best hearing and vision...they will run you over.

Be prepared to take stairs.......between the scooters and non stair walkers the elevators were full.

Balcony doors are doors not sliders.....makes its harder to keep the door open

No drawers at vanity/desk area.

 

All in all a great cruise. I did not notice any real signs of wear and tear. I did not not like the overall decor and thought the walkways were small and crowded. Very small and unimpressive atium.

Fairly sedate atmosphere. Pretty quiet after 11:00.

 

The only area I thik HAL exceeds from other lines is the quality of beds and friendliness of staff.

 

I would pick HAL in the future based on itinerary and price only.

[RuthC]

Balcony doors are doors not sliders.....makes its harder to keep the door open

That's because you're not supposed to keep the doors open. It screws up the air conditioning for others on the same line. :rolleyes:

[vpoopsy]

i agree with your cruisinfool. i think i'll go for a younger crowd on my next cruise. the beds were great, the service was incredible, but to hear the average age was 70, is not for me.

[SanDiego Single]

I am not in my seventies and not anywhere near it. But I have to say I prefer to sail with the older crowd. They have some great stories and make for great dinner companions. I have made some great friends who are twice my age on many of the cruises I have been on and wouldn't give that up ever. And I honestly don't feel I would have had the same experience with the "younger" crowd.

[cruisnfool]

We too like the older travelers because they are a wealth of knowledge.

 

Again....we had a great time and will sail HAL again with the right itinerary.

 

Just did not feel the experience was above and beyond what I have experienced on other lines.

 

We also like the fact that all lines have their "noteables" thats what makes moving around from line to line a great experience.