Back from 1st cruise ever - Alaska on Zuiderdam 6/27-7/4 review

[sooper]

Had such a wonderful time ~ much credit to CC forums for all the information that helped me be as prepared as could be, thanks y'all! :) I really enjoyed our cruise - Alaska is so grand and beautiful. We have already put down the $100 future cruise credit for next year.

 

BOOKING

Researched for a few months, signed up with various cruiselines' websites and got email specials. Booked a month before the cruise with an online agency and went with the lowest quote for 3 inside cabins. A day after booking the fare dropped, and after an email to our TA he changed our cabins from category inside (NN) to obstructed outside (GG). Only guarantee cabin type was available so I was checking regularly to see what cabins we would get.

 

EMBARKATION

We gave our luggages to the handlers and proceeded to line up at noon. Brought 3 cases of water (we seldom drink sodas or alcohol) and others in line were looking at us funny! There were 5 of us adults and we finished all the water by the end of the cruise, so I was so glad to have gotten the idea from CC. The line was long and after an hour we finally stepped onto the ship.

 

CABIN

After a light lunch a Lido we were able to go to our cabin at 1:30pm. I'd done online check-in and received our cabins 11 days before the sail date, and all our 3 cabins were upgraded to oceanview category D. I felt really lucky! I'd prepared myself for small spaces but I was surprised that the cabin was not too cramped and the bathroom was perfectly fine. The bed truly was as comfortable as everyone had mentioned, but the pillows were very flimsy like they were overused. (As opposed to the pillows at the Hyatt by Canada Place - which I loved!)

 

FOOD

-Lido: was convenient, and good for quick grabs. Hit and miss on items. I find it fine to carry the plates without a tray. The ethnic food were flavorful, and sometimes too authentic (spicy). I managed to find the bread pudding and it wasn't bad.

 

-Vista: to my surprise again, as I am somewhat a picky eater, I thought the food was great, as good as any mid-range restaurants in big cities like New York or L.A. (Well, I was prepared for Apple Bee or Coco's type...) The were many choices and different everyday. We had open seating and some days we could make reservations and some only walk ins. We probably waited 20-30 minutes at most for dinner, and no wait at lunch.

Soups were generally too salty (at all restaurants on the ship). The steak was very good and tender (and I didn't even like steak too much), the lamb was good, but the pork was very tough and dry. Fish was hit or miss, some too dry and some just fine. The desserts were just passing grade. The strawberry shortcake was tough, the profiteroles only looked good, and the souffle didn't rise and was chewy like brownies. The cheese cake soft and soggy. The peach tart and the rolled cake were good, and I enjoyed the tiramisu. It was good there were different flavors of ice cream and sorbets, and they were good substitutes.

 

-Pinnacle Grill: had a nice atmosphere and decor. We didn't try the lunch (at $10 extra) but just dinner for the last night. My steak was perfect but someone else's was bloody when he asked for medium. The lamb was good. The souffle here tasted almost like the one in the Vista Dining and wasn't good. The creme brulee was very creamy and flavorful.

 

-Room Dining: we only had breakfast in the cabin sometimes, as we're not early risers. The food usually comes the the end of the time frame we chose, which was fine. The pastries were good, and the eggs were not.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

-Shows: the standard was comparable to the shows in Reno, not Vegas. I enjoyed the singing and dancing. The illusionist was good and funny.

 

-Movies: only saw one. The seats were big and comfy and the bag of popcorn was a nice touch. The AC was blasting and got very cold, so it was good to have a jacket on.

 

-Casino: there were a couple tables of blackjack open, one crap table, a pokerpro machine. We spent a few cruises on the tables...oh well. The dealers were all very nice. I think the poker machine took too much rake. My mom won a few hundred on the slots and we heard someone won $17K+ on a machine.

 

-The Exploration Cafe: nice place to read while enjoying the scenery. There were many board games avalable for check out.

 

-Rooms: There were 3 rooms available and we had a room to ourselves nightly to play cards. Cards were provided too.

 

EXCURSIONS

-Juneau: we booked a whale watching tour with Orca. Had to walk about 15 minutes to their office but got a ride back to the ship. It was very cold and exciting and we saw a few whales. There were snacks offered on the boat and the guides were nice.

 

-Skagway: we took the WhitePass train and bus tour with Chilkoot and the scenery were so beautiful and amazing. So many gorgeous lakes.

The dog camp wasn't quite what I was expecting and I felt bad that the dogs seemed skinny or tired. People were holding the puppies and they started yelping to be let go. The dog mom seemed helpless.

 

-Ketchikan: had a float plane tour with Carlin Air and the Misty Fjords were absolutely beautiful. We landed for about 15 minutes and saw some sea otters.

 

SERVICE

-Lido: most were friendly and nice, and some were without a smile.

 

-Vista: also ranges, most were friendly and nice, had one stressed looking waiter, and one very attentive and nice waiter (Mario).

 

-Pinnacle Grill: attentive but not very warm server. She took a long time to bring the teas.

 

-Room: never saw or met our cabin steward, but had towel animals and chocolates daily, and fruit basket filled.

 

DISEMBARKATION

We opted to self disembark as we only had a luggage each. It took about 50 minutes from our allotted time to get off the ship (8:45a) to get out of Canada Place.

 

GLAD I HAD

-hand cart with cases of water bottles

-binoculars (saw a bear and bald eagle while cruising Glacier Bay, essential for whale watching)

-gloves, scarf, toe and hand warmers (for cruising Tracy Arm - some rain and wind)

-relief band (had rough seas the first few days and someone in our group relied on this daily)

[earl_m]

Glad you enjoy your cruise!

[pspercy]

had rough seas the first few days

 

Thanks for the report, this is one we're considering as a "first".

 

Interesting about the seas at first, I've read some ships are going "outside" despite what the brochures show in their little maps.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome Home.

Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

had rough seas the first few days

 

Thanks for the report, this is one we're considering as a "first".

 

Interesting about the seas at first, I've read some ships are going "outside" despite what the brochures show in their little maps.

 

Inspite on what those little maps show, all the ships that sail out of Seattle have been taking the Pacific route for years.

[GmaPajama]

Very interesting review. Thanks for taking the time to share.

[MBM54]

Inspite on what those little maps show, all the ships that sail out of Seattle have been taking the Pacific route for years.

 

I don't mean to steal this thread, but I didn't realize this. We've always sailed from Vancouver on HAL, and the ship sailed inside the passage. Do the ships take the inside route on the return? That has some of the prettiest scenery (as well as calmer waters!), and it would be a shame to miss it! We're considering the 14 day cruise on the Amsterdam next year, which leaves out of Seattle, that is why I ask!

[themerle]

Thanks for sharing your review with us!!!! Alaska's beauty cast a spell on most people.....you go once and then you have to go back! I know a have to keep going back.

[pspercy]

We're considering the 14 day cruise on the Amsterdam next year, which leaves out of Seattle, that is why I ask!

 

The map shows it going outside on the northbound part:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/FindCruises.action?destCode=A&durationCode=3&portCode=SEA&dateCode=6_2010&shipCodeSearch=AM

 

BTW, there's threads for this cruise here on CC:D

[jmps]

Thanks for posting your review.

 

Just to prevent confusion...

 

We were on the Zuiderdam on June 13th and went inside Vancouver Island. It sails from Vancouver not Seatle. I wouldn't assume that it went outside this time until the OP says so. Perhaps the winds were "right" to cause a problem even for the inside of the island.

[dandro]

sooper, glad you liked your cruise!

[pspercy]

The map shows it going outside on the northbound part:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/FindCruises.action?destCode=A&durationCode=3&portCode=SEA&dateCode=6_2010&shipCodeSearch=AM

 

BTW, there's threads for this cruise here on CC:D

 

northbound Well, southbound actually !:o

[RuthC]

We were on the Zuiderdam on June 13th and went inside Vancouver Island. It sails from Vancouver not Seatle. I wouldn't assume that it went outside this time until the OP says so. Perhaps the winds were "right" to cause a problem even for the inside of the island.

Cruises to/from Vancouver sail to the east (inside) of Vancouver Island. Cruises out of Seattle typically sail to the west (outside) of the island.

Your cruise sailed inside because of it's port---not the winds.

[Himself]

I got off the Volendam 3 days before you got on the Zuiderdam and didn't experienced rough seas except for the night Iwe pulled out of Glacier Bay and that was just for an hour or so.

[Aunty Pat]

The Seattle departures do a partial Inside Passage. They sail “outside” Vancouver Island and “inside” the Queen Charlotte Islands. Time constraints and currents are the main reason ships departing from Seattle sail west of Vancouver Island avoiding the Seymour Narrows.

Aunty Pat

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCC - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ‘07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Pending Cruises:

HAL – Westerdam, September 6, 2009

Oceania – Insignia, June 17, 2010

[diathoney]

Inspite on what those little maps show, all the ships that sail out of Seattle have been taking the Pacific route for years.

 

Zuiderdam sails from Vancouver, not Seattle. The OP mentions the Hyatt by Canada Place, which is Vancouver.