7-night Alaska Inside Passage Cruise (Roundtrip Vancouver)
Vacation Offer ID # 438385
Contact a Holland Specialist
1-866-563-1101
Sail Date: 5/15/2010
Length: 7 Nights
Ship: Zuiderdam
Price: From $1,099.00
Available Addons: Pre or post cruise hotel stay. Optional roundtrip airfare. Optional shore excursions.
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A pre or post cruise hotel stay - Exclusive complimentary amenities at over 600+ of the world's finest hotels and resorts. Ask about personalized private shore excursions - Contact your cruise specialist for more details!
Itinerary
| Destination | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, B.C.Wcities destination guide and download available | 5/15/2010 -- | 5/15/2010 5:00 PM |
| At Sea | 5/16/2010 -- | 5/16/2010 -- |
| Tracy Arm | 5/17/2010 8:00 AM | 5/17/2010 12:00 PM |
| Juneau | 5/17/2010 2:00 PM | 5/17/2010 10:00 PM |
| Skagway | 5/18/2010 7:00 AM | 5/18/2010 9:00 PM |
| Glacier Bay | 5/19/2010 7:00 AM | 5/19/2010 4:00 PM |
| Ketchikan | 5/20/2010 10:00 AM | 5/20/2010 6:00 PM |
| At Sea | 5/21/2010 -- | 5/21/2010 -- |
| Vancouver, B.C.Wcities destination guide and download available | 5/22/2010 7:00 AM | 5/22/2010 -- |
F - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: Call for price Get a Quote
K - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,099.00 Get a Quote
J - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,129.00 Get a Quote
I - Large or Standard Inside Stateroom
From Price: $1,199.00 Get a Quote
DD - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,409.00 Get a Quote
D - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,449.00 Get a Quote
C - Large Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,479.00 Get a Quote
VF - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,499.00 Get a Quote
VE - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,549.00 Get a Quote
VD - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,599.00 Get a Quote
VC - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,649.00 Get a Quote
VB - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,699.00 Get a Quote
VA - Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom
From Price: $1,749.00 Get a Quote
SS - Superior Verandah Suite
From Price: $1,849.00 Get a Quote
SZ - Superior Verandah Suite
From Price: $2,049.00 Get a Quote
SC - Deluxe Verandah Suite
From Price: $2,099.00 Get a Quote
SB - Deluxe Verandah Suite
From Price: $2,299.00 Get a Quote
SA - Deluxe Verandah Suite
From Price: $2,499.00 Get a Quote
Ship Overview
The ms Zuiderdam (pronounced ZI-der-dam) began her inaugural season in 2002 as the first of the new Vista Class - forward-looking ships in both design and spirit. Zuiderdam trumpets the arrival of a new age in cruising. She offers more staterooms with private verandahs, more dining choices and more ways to relax and rejuvenate in The Greenhouse Spa and Salon, the largest and most luxurious spa in Holland America's fleet.
Tour the Ship
Vista Dining Room
Lido Pool
Explorer's Lounge
Vista Lounge
Sports Bar
Aft Pool
Atrium
Pinnacle Grill
Piano Bar
Neptune Lounge
Lido Bar
Greenhouse Hydro Pool
| Ship Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Year Built | 2002 |
| Year Refurbished | 2005 |
| Year Entered Present Fleet | 2002 |
| Previous Name | N/A |
| Country of Registry | Netherlands |
| Tonnage (GRT) | 82305 |
| Passengers | 1,916 |
| Max Passengers | 2695 |
| Passenger Decks | 11 |
| Number of Crew | 817 |
| Officers Nationality | Dutch/European |
| Cruise Staff Nationality | Indonesian/Filipino |
| Staterooms | |
|---|---|
| Total Staterooms | 958 |
| Suites with balcony | 0 |
| Suites without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview without a balcony | 0 |
| Oceanview with balcony | 0 |
| Accommodations inside | 28 |
Select a deck to view the deckplan.
Sports Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Observation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Lido Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Navigation Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Rotterdam Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Upper Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Verandah Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Upper Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Lower Promenade Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Main Deck
The deck plans are color-coded by category of stateroom, and the category letter precedes the stateroom number in each room. All staterooms are equipped with television, telephone, and multi-channel music.
Important Note: Not all staterooms within each category have the same furniture configuration and/or facilities. Appropriate symbols with the rooms on the deck plans describe differences from the stateroom descriptions.
Stateroom Key
- Large Outside Stateroom - F
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - K
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - J
- Large or Standard Inside Stateroom - I
- Large Outside Stateroom - DD
- Large Outside Stateroom - D
- Large Outside Stateroom - C
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VF
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VE
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VD
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VC
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VB
- Deluxe Verandah Outside Stateroom - VA
- Superior Verandah Suite - SS
- Superior Verandah Suite - SZ
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SC
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SB
- Deluxe Verandah Suite - SA
Activities & Services
- SOAR above the sea in two glass elevators on the outside of the ship, providing panoramic views for miles.
- GAZE at the ever-changing sea. Eighty-five percent of Zuiderdam's staterooms have ocean views; sixty-seven percent have verandahs.
- DINE on more than 50 Signature Cuisine dishes developed by our Corporate Executive Chef.
- LINGER in port a bit longer thanks to the increased operating efficiencies of Azipod propulsion.
- SIP a cappuccino and enjoy a quiet moment in the coffee bar.
- DANCE under the stars in the Crow's Nest observation lounge and nightclub.
Click HERE for information about Holland America's "As You Wish" Dining.
| Tipping Policy | Additonal for all guests. |
| Onboard Ambiance | Elegant |
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining 
Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value The beautiful Amsterdam
Alaska - 7/2009
After hosting a Personal Enrichment Series Food & Wine group for Signature onboard the
She is beautiful and with less than 1400 passengers there was never a space issue.
The ship was very clean and no matter where you looked someone was cleaning something.
I did have a talk with the Hotel Manager and he mentioned that the crew is a very cohesive group and people love to work onboard the ship. I spoke with one waiter who actually is extending his contract. I have never heard that one before. The crew was happy and it really showed when they interacted with the passengers.
I did get an outside cabin. Very spacious and very well taken care of. I was not looking forward to having a connecting door to the neighbors because of the noise. I must say that we never even heard them and they were three teenagers! Sound control is great on the ship.
Beds were phenomenal. Never slept so well on a cruise!! They use pillow top Sealy mattresses.
In the whole week I saw my cabin steward twice, but yet our stateroom was always clean! They do not use any of those housekeeping carts anymore. On other cruises they stand around the hallways at their carts waiting for passengers to leave their staterooms. Not on HAL. I do not know where they hide, but it was a pleasure to walk in the hallways without it being an obstacle course.
The food was very good at the buffet, the restaurant and of course at the Pinnacle Grill. What I liked about the buffet is that it was not self-serve. There were cooks behind the counter serving the food to you. That kept the place much cleaner then when passengers get their own food.
And guess what, the crew actually helped people to their tables if they noticed that the passenger needed help with their plates (unlike some other cruises I have done this year).
I saw no signs of the cruise line trying to save money! HAL is as good as they have always been. And if they are saving money this year it happens behind the screens and does not affect the passengers!
Overall this experience reminded me again why HAL is still my favorite (mass?) premium cruise line!!! The service can't be beat and the whole atmosphere still reminds you that you are cruising and not that you in a big floating hotel.
Oh, and the average age was a lot lower then what most people think it is!!!!
Pros: Crew and atmosphere
Cons: It was only a 7-night cruise
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
4/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment 
Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Transatlantic cruising
Venice to New York - 4/2008
Excellent food - Happy staff!
Ship was very well maintained. The crew goes out of their way to assist you in all areas of the ship. Very extensive library and wifi in many areas of the ship, however, a little slow and expensive. Outside deluxe stateroom was comfortable and we made more room to move about by turning the queen bed in to twins.
Pros: Food, Staff, Library, Spa
Cons: No cons
Reviewer Recommended? y
Reviewer Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Never Disappoints
- /
We use Holland America a lot, and the Oosterdam in particular. Even with some technical difficulties aboard, the staff more than compensates for this shortcoming with their willingness to accommodate each guest.
I have sailed on the Oosterdam 4 times in the last 18 months hosting groups. Like all ships, things go wrong from time to time, whether they be mechanical or schedule related. What sets Holland America apart, and the Oosterdam, is the willingness of the crew to step up and do what it takes to make things right.
I find the accommodations to be among the best around. The food has gotten increasingly better over the years, and the service is excellent. I am not an entertainment person, but can say with confidence that the dealers in the casino are very friendly.
We think HAL offers the best bang-for-the-buck in the cruise industry.
Pros: Holland America stands up for their product and do what it takes to make customers happy.
Cons: The ship is in somewhat rough shape, but is due to drydock in April and all of this should be repaired.
Reviewer Recommended? y
Ratings
5/5Reviewer Scorecard
StaffDining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value Thanksgiving at Sea
Panama Canal - 11/2008
This partial Panama Canal crossing and Southern Caribbean was a most relaxing way to spend Thanksgiving at sea!
About Us
Jim (66) and I (61) have taken 24 cruises, mostly on HAL. We cruise with HAL largely because of the excellent service, but also to enjoy their generously appointed cabins. We love lazy sea days and usually sleep late and close the Casino at night.
Overview
This was our tenth cruise on our favorite ship; our first 10-day and our first Panama Canal. We hadn't been on a cruise since March, and this one was well-deserved. As the ship itself is our destination, we won't have any comments about shore excursions.
Service, as always, was exemplary. Captain van den Berg found us the calmest waters and even docked ahead of schedule a time or two. Hotel Manager Mark Pells runs a fine hotel, and all services ran smoothly. Mr. Pells graciously attended our CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet, offering not only his insight into the itinerary at hand, but also provided lovely hors d' oeuvres, Bloody Marys and Mimosas. He is probably the most accessible Hotel Manager we've ever met, and it is clear that he is well respected by his dedicated and professional crew. Most notable staff/crew:
Captain Dirk van den Berg
Hotel Manager Mark Pells
Cruise Director Jesse "Yessie" Higley
Concierges Kate and Bong
DR Manager Mr. Sanjay Nariani
DR Supervisor Arpad Plavecz
DR Supervisor Mr. Leo
We found a few nice surprises! The physical changes to the ship are beautiful. At first I balked at the demise of our beautiful Oak Room, but once I experienced the Explorations Cafe, it grew on me. This combination library/internet center/coffee bar is beautifully designed to flow easily into what's left of the Crow's Nest. Every time I visited, it seemed to be better utilized than the old locations were. There is a sliding wooden panel which is pulled closed to separate it from the Crow's Nest when in use for private functions. The old Internet Center is now a screening room; the old library is now Mirebella, an upscale gem boutique; the Windstar Cafe is now the new Pinnacle Lounge, a beautiful bar and comfortable seating area attended by the amiable Mark the Shark.
Embarkation
I think HAL has the very best embarkation procedure of all. There are very short waits for check-in, and we were aboard in about 15 minutes.
Cabin
We were upgraded from SS8099 to SA7061, a Deluxe Suite directly across from the Concierges in the Neptune Lounge. This is the best location we have ever had, and we did not hear any noise from the Lounge entrance at all.
This suite was outstanding! Huge (510 total square feet ), comfortable room, spacious veranda with two chairs and ottomans and a little dining table and 4 small chairs. Plenty for two. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub, separate shower and double sink with two corner medicine cabinets and storage shelf below. A generous variety of Elemis products was provided, and refilled daily as needed. There was also an umbrella, laundry basket (service is free in full suites) and 2 fluffy cotton robes and slippers. The dressing room had a built-in dressing table with 3 drawers, hair dryer and lighted magnifying makeup mirror (1X/5X), 3 closets with mirrored doors and a safe (3 more closets are in the hall by the door). In the sitting area were a large couch, two occasional chairs and coffee table, desk with flat screen TV, cooler with loaded minibar and CD/DVD player, binoculars, data port, 2 telephones with voice mail and wake-up service, and a wall of mirrors behind the bed, making the room look much larger. Our cabin steward Muc served us well, working around our odd sleeping habits and provided plenty of ice and towels on request.
We found the usual bottle of champagne from Captain van den Berg and Hotel Manager Mark Pells, a packet from the Concierges with a list of the services they provide, our custom-printed letterhead, post cards & pen.
We have stayed in this Cat suite many times, so were not surprised by the clean, well-kept and recently upgraded condition. The only change since our last cruise was the flat screen TV. Everything else seemed 'like home'.
Dining
As You Wish Dining is here to stay. Although there is overwhelming support for Traditional (fixed) seating, HAL is holding on tightly to this more flexible dining plan.
AYWD allows you to appear at the Vista Dining Room at any time and be seated either alone or with other passengers. I personally do not care to repeat the same cruisetalk with new tablemates every night. I like having my iced tea or pretend wine waiting for me when I'm seated, refills without asking, or having my plate removed without waiting for everyone else to finish the course.
On the first night, when there is only one Showroom show, seating in AYWD is difficult to coordinate, so the wait may be longer than other nights. After that, the wait should be no more than a few minutes.
Don't misunderstand - we had excellent service by all dining room attendants, but, except for the Supervisors, they were different every night. If you 'click' with a waiter at the beginning, you can make a standing reservation at his table for a certain time every night. We tried to ask for Hunky Dory's table, but he was so popular he was completely booked.
Ship Facilities
I have reviewed this ship many times before, so I will not write about everything...
Internet Café: I have no idea how I managed to use up 100 minutes of internet in 3 days. I frequently have many windows open, and even though I logged out of one, the others may have stayed connected. What I need is a [complimentary] unlimited plan.
Staff
The Officers, Staff and Crew on this ship offer the highest level of service we have ever seen. They are professional, yet personable, and easily accessible. These lovely people served us well:
Captain
Dirk van den Berg
Hotel Manager
Mark Pells
Cruise Director
Jesse "Yessie" Higley
Beverage Manager
Mr. Daniele Palazzetti
Concierges
Kate and Bong
Cabin Attendant
Muz (Moose)
Pinnacle Lounge
Mark the Shark
Pinnacle Grill
Melissa
Panama Tour Guide
Richard Ditrich
DR Manager
Mr. Sanjay Nariani
DR Supervisor
Arpad Plavecz
DR Supervisor
Mr. Leo
DR Waiter
Hunky Dory
DR Waiter
Sugi
Excursions
This is my stock advice. I print it with every review. If you haven't already booked online, when you arrive at your cabin you will find a Shore Excursions brochure listing the various activities available shoreside. You may fill out the order form at your leisure and deposit it in the Express Drop Box at the Shore Excursions Desk. Please keep in mind that the most popular trips sell out very fast. If you are traveling with friends and want to go together, put all the tickets on one room card. One time we ordered separately and one couple got the tickets and one couple didn't.
Travelogue
Wednesday, Embarkation Day
We were gifted a bottle of champagne each from the Hotel Manager and our travel agent, and a beautiful flower arrangement from the Hotel Manager. The Concierges will have the wines replaced by the non-alcoholic version. The chocolate covered strawberries did not have a gift card, so I'm assuming they're from the Concierges.
Jim napped after the Safety Drill while I checked out the SailAway Party. The Signature Shops offered complimentary liquor tasting, and the Greenhouse Spa and Internet Center offered introductory specials.
In the Vista Dining Room we experienced our first As You Wish Dining. We were seated at a table for 4 with a couple from Canada, and enjoyed lively conversation and excellent service from the staff. We enjoyed low-limit gaming at the Casino for awhile, and retired early.
Thursday, Half Moon Cay
We somehow managed to sleep until 1:30. We met Hunky Dory just as he was closing his end of the Bistro, and enjoyed a nice lunch, topping it off with our favorite bread pudding. Meanwhile, on the island, LaNette and Ernest were married. I'm sorry I missed the wedding, but understand it was beautiful.
Concierge Kate helped me verify the cabin numbers and arranged to have the housekeeping department deliver them. I was having a problem with a flaky T-Zone (allergic reaction to something) and squeezed in a facial before dinner.
We met up with our friends at the Lido pool, and unsuccessfully tried to agree on a dinnertime. I tried to get a reservation for 6 at 7:30, but they said I'd have to get there at 7:30 and stand in line, or wait until 9:00 for a rez. We finally decided on dinner at 7:30, so we met our friends at the Vista Dining Room. They had been there for 30 minutes waiting for a table for 4, not 6. We were seated immediately and enjoyed wonderful service by Dwi. Mr Arpad, Mr. Sanjay and Mr. Leo visited our table and made certain we were taken care of properly.
Paul Tanner's show was SRO, and we were lucky to be able to stand up against the wall in the balcony. What a great singer! We migrated to the casino where Jim started off at the Hold'em table, and I checked out my favorite spot at the Craps table. I was able to win enough for the facial & Elemis product, and Jimmy had a fabulous time! One trip to the Lido for my Midnight Mango Mousse, and back to the cabin to write.
Friday, At Sea
For the first of four time changes our wakeup call was on time, but cabin the clock was still behind. There is no public color printer on board, so I'd planned to print the Meet 'n' Greet name tags in B&W. Facial update: 90% of the flakes gone - still have flaky eyelids, so I tried the eye masque. The two gifted bottles of champagne were to be changed for the non-alcoholic version, but we received sparkling cider instead. It's going back tomorrow - yuck!
I couldn't print the name tags at all... my Word proggie is newer than the one in the Explorer's Lounge, so no go. The M&G was great! We were in a private section on the port side of the Crow's Nest. It was originally set up with a table for cookies and coffee, but Beverage Manager Mr. Daniela pulled it all out and they served champagne, Mimosas, Bloody Marys and juice, and walked around with trays of pastries, all courtesy of the Hotel Manager Mark Pells. Mark filled us in on the itinerary and answered a few questions, then introduced the Panama Tour Guide Richard Ditrich, and Cruise Director Jesse. It was a great meeting, and we're trying to organize a cabin crawl for the next sea day.
The Shops featured designer watches, tanzanite and diamonds, and Jesse hosted the first ever (for me) Zuiderdam Pub Crawl... five bars, five drinks, starting at Northern Lights and finishing at the pool party.
We met our friends for dinner and were seated at a lovely table hosted by Silvana, the emerald jewelry designer at Merabella. Showtime featured "Stage and Screen" with the Zuiderdam singers and dancers.
Back at the Casino, there was NO action at the craps table, but Jim enjoyed a poker game.
Saturday, Aruba
Captain van den Berg was able to pull into port one hour early, so our day got off to an early start. We grabbed a great lunch in the Lido and headed to the pier. We found a cab (they are only allowed to carry 5 pax, so one of us stayed behind) and took a tour of the island. We drove by beaches (all beaches in Aruba are public), time shares, hotels, golf clubs, million dollar homes and older neighborhoods. We stopped by the California Lighthouse for a photo op and returned to the shopping area. Our shopping trip was cut short by a little rain, so we went back to the ship, had a snack in the Neptune Lounge and took a nap before dinner.
Dinner was very good, and we stayed at the table until the very last minute. We 'dropped' Jim off at the Hold'em table, and even though there was action at 'my' table, we went up to check out the Caribbean Party at the Lido Pool. The band was outstanding, and the deck was packed. I even pulled Mr. Leo aside for a little dance... such fun! I left my friends and returned to the craps table for probably my biggest win ever! I've never been able to tip a black chip before... feels good! Jim wasn't done yet, so I returned to the cabin to write.
Sunday, Curaçao
Not being satisfied with the shopping by the pier, I walked into town to find 'stuff'. It's a 15-minute walk on cobblestones and through a construction area, so I wouldn't recommend it for wheelchairs. There was a local festival along the waterfront where I had an opportunity to purchase a genuine Arawack Indian Coach Purse, but declined. I did find two or three things of interest and a pin for my lanyard. The whole round-trip was about 3 miles, and I was whipped! After a quick lunch in the Lido, I took a nap.
The Captain and Hotel Manager threw us a beautiful cocktail party, complete with music and a beautiful view from the Crow's Nest. Dinner was followed, of course, by a trip to the Casino, where we stayed until they kicked us out. What fun!
Monday, At Sea
This busy day started off with the Mariners' Award Ceremony where we received our copper medallions. There were also some silvers and a platinum award. Cocktails and elaborate hors d'oeuvres were served, after which we proceeded to the Vista Dining Room for a lovely luncheon. There are so many Mariners now, that the luncheon is divided into two separate seatings on different days.
We played our first Bingo game (for $100K) but didn't even come close. We walked around the ship a little, took a nap, Jim went down to qualify for the Blackjack tournament, and took our time getting ready for dinner. We made it an early night, because we have to be out on deck at 6:00 am to watch the ship enter the canal.
Tuesday, Panama Canal / Cristobal
Early morning ... we went down to Deck 4 where the Hotel Manager opened the bow and served Panama Rolls (yum) and offered Mimosas, Champagne and juices. Even though it was drizzling, we enjoyed Richard's history lesson over the PA while we entered the locks. We skipped breakfast and took a nap. Around noon we awoke to find the ship anchored in beautiful Gatun Lake. Due to the rain during the last month, the landscape was lush and rainforesty. We went to the Lido for lunch, and viewed the re-entry from our table. Instead of Colon, we stopped on the dock at Cristobal, which seemed to go on forever. There were many booths with local handicrafts and a great band playing American hits in the local steel drum fashion. The half-naked native Panamanians kind of surprised me, but I guess it's part of the culture.
Dinner for six at the Pinnacle offered the usual steaks and planked seafood, and we were most pleased by the signature desserts. Ask for Melissa... the service is sublime! The casino, unfortunately, took my nightly allowance.
Wednesday, Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Even though this was a new port for us, we stayed aboard. We joined the Hole in One Golf Tournament and Team Trivia Challenge, then later unsuccessfully tried to win the Bingo jackpot. We missed Greg Scott's violin show, which I heard was excellent.
Thursday, Thanksgiving Day At Sea
This was by far our BEST sea day ever! We spent a lazy morning getting ready for the sumptuous feast in the Pinnacle hosted by Hotel Manager Mark Pells. He served a lovely Champagne Luncheon with a special dessert - ice cream in a crunchy shell, fresh strawberries and blueberries topped with strawberry sauce... divine!
I qualified for the BlackJack Tournament, but didn't win... had fun, though, and won some nifty ship stuff.
Our last formal night, we were seated at a table for six, and enjoyed a traditional turkey dinner with an extra plate of grilled salmon for the table.
Friday, At Sea
We actually got some serious sun out on deck, did the golf/bingo/trivia thing, and finally got to see Elaine, the Future Cruise Consultant (boy, what a BUSY lady!) to book our next cruise. Jim played in the Texas Hold'em Tournament while I picked up an amber pendant and a few other things at the shops.
Our friends wanted to have dinner in the Lido, which was not nearly as special as the dining room. The food was the same as in the dining room, but although the service was faster, it was too casual for me. I missed the linen tablecloths, and the room just didn't 'feel' special.
I spent the next hour tracking down my favorites to give them their 'above and beyond' tips, and take the last few photos of my vacation family. We missed the Zuiderdam Superstar finals AND the Farewell Variety show.
While Jim went back to the poker table (surprise!) I went up to pack, which always takes longer than you think it will. It was easily 2:00 before the bags were out.
Saturday, Debarkation Day
We had Pink/1 tags, and should have been first off after the wheelchair pax, but at 8:15 we went down to get in line. There were hundreds of people there, but the elevator left us at the head of the line, so we stayed there. Someone came through and asked everybody ELSE to step aside so they could proceed, and it looked like the Red Sea parting. I think we got off at about 9:00 and found a porter right away who went all the way to the far corner to find our bags, and had us through Customs in about 5 minutes.
Once outside, they told us about the taxi strike, and a very aggressive East Indian van driver offered us a ride for $11 each, so we jumped in. At the airport, he left our bags at the curb, but not at the end of the curbside checkin line that already had 50+ people in it. We got another porter to take the bags inside, and the line there was even longer. I told him my flight was at 10:05, so he took the luggage to the head of the line for luggage tags and found the biggest one was 4 pounds overweight, so he had to charge me for that, and another charge for the 5th bag. I gave him $35 and he sent them through.
He then took us to the front of the Security line (jumping about 100 people) and we had to run to the gate. I paid for priority boarding, so we got right on the half-boarded plane, picked very good seats (first come, first served on Southwest) and departed on time. Whew! If it hadn't been for this wonderful porter, we never would have made that flight.
After we got to Jacksonville, we were so tired we checked back into the hotel and slept for 3 hours. Once on the road, the construction backed us up for about 1½ hours, but we finally got home at about 8:00. We left the puppy at Doggy Sleepover Camp for one more night and made an admirable attempt at unpacking and laundry, but honestly we (I) took 2 days to finish.
Regarding the debarkation, it's annoying when SO many things go wrong. I'm just grateful it happened at the end of the cruise instead of the beginning. Since it was too late to mention this fiasco on our comment cards, I emailed this info to Mark, hoping they can make some adjustments to make certain the early fliers GET OFF EARLY!
Final Thoughts
HAL's ms Zuiderdam, whenever she's in the Caribbean, is our ship of choice. We enjoy seeing our 'family' and spending time in her beautiful public areas and generous private accommodations. The passenger mix is right for us... no uncontrolled children, no trouble finding a chaise at the pool, no pressure to drink all day. It's harder to sail the Zuiderdam now that she's not in the Caribbean in the summer, but we can be patient. One day we may even bite the bullet and actually try an Alaskan cruise.
See you around someday, maybe, on some *dam ship!
© 2008-2009 Candy Brock http://CandyBrock.com
Pros: Exemplary service, generous accomodations, beautiful ship
Cons: None
Reviewer Recommended? Y
Proud members of:
Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Signature Travel Network and Certified Travel Counselor(CTC)
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