Cruise from hell

Zuiderdam Cruise Review to Caribbean

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 128

Overall rating:

1 out of 5
Verified Review
Zuiderdam

10 Night Panama Canal Sunfarer (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 05, 2016

Ship: Zuiderdam

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 6175

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Last year I did the same cruise and enjoyed it tremendously but this year everything went wrong. The norovirus attacked many passenger. My mother spend 2 days in her cabin cause of diarrhea. My son Michael vomited twice on the dinner table and I was held in my room because of diarrhea. Yes some precautions were taken but not enough. Our balcony was filthy and so we took pictures to show. People were allowed to smoke in their balconys and in the casino. There were no designated areas for smoking as on other cruise lines. We did not go to Costa Rica because of bad weather but we couldn't get of  at Grand Cayman because it was too dangerous for the wheelchair to be transfer to the shuttles and then to shore.  Will never travel Holland America again.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5
The cabin is suppose to be handicap accessible but the door does not open automatically. The door handle is very hard and anyone in a wheelchair has difficult opening and entering the room. The balcony was dirty and was never cleaned. We had cigarette boxes which were thrown from other balconies. The mat on our recliner was also very soiled and we took pictures of it.

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

1 out of 5

Oranjestad, Aruba

1 out of 5

Willemstad, Curacao

1 out of 5

Enter Panama Canal At Cristobal

5 out of 5

Cruise Gatun Lake (Inside Panama Canal)

5 out of 5

Cruise Gatun Lake (Inside Panama Canal)

5 out of 5

Cruise Gatun Lake And Panama Canal

5 out of 5

Exit Panama Canal At Cristobal

5 out of 5

Colon, Panama

5 out of 5

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica Did not visit port

we did not go there
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3 Comments

gmacruzer    8 years ago

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience but don't blame it on Holland America. They do everything they can to keep you safe. They watch the weather carefully and take no risks. Any other cruise ship would have done the same.

Rrouse    8 years ago

What do you mean by no disignated smoking areas? 

Could smoking only be done on the balcony and casino?

maybe holland America is not a cruise line for non smokers as you said all others are strictly geared for non smokers

SvetlanaS    8 years ago

Really? You'll rather risk your health just to go to the island? What you'll put in your review if the wheelchair will slide into the water?!!! Norovirus can be escaped really easy wash your hands, do not touch your face and use hand sanitiser before any meals or snacks.

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