Zuiderdam has a soul
Zuiderdam Cruise Review to Caribbean
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 6
Helpful Votes: 177
11 Night Panama Canal Sunfarer (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 14, 2018
Ship: Zuiderdam
Cabin type: Balcony
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
I found this to be one of the most enjoyable cruises I have taken. Although Zuiderdam does not have all the activities available on larger ships, the crew are friendly and give a higher level of service than on some other ships. The captain and officers were friendly and approachable when we encountered them walking around the ship or during presentations explaining the workings of the ship. We sailed on Zuiderdam when it was two years old and found it very pleasant. If anything, I enjoyed it more this time. I completely agree with the staff member who said, "Zuiderdam has a soul."Embarkation
Due to a delayed arrival, we had a short wait to board the ship. However, personnel efficiently moved us from check in to a comfortable waiting area until our groups were called. We were boarding the ship at the time originally estimated.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The main dining room was overall very good. After sharing tables the first few nights with very pleasant people, we were able to have a table for two on Deck 3 where we enjoyed very attentive service. Aside from a couple disappointments, we found the food delicious, the serving sizes sometimes too large, and the choices varied from day to day. We were especially delighted by the desserts including the nightly fruit crisp offerings (which were disappointing on another ship a couple years ago). We also dined one evening in Pinnacle and found food and service worth the extra charge.
The Lido buffet was of course busy but the staff efficiently cleared tables to make sure one could find a place. The variety of foods offered; Asian, pasta, hot dishes and sandwiches, freshly made salads, plus hand scooped ice cream, made it hard to decide. Servers frequently passed through the seating area offering refills for coffee, juice and water, a level of service missing from a previous cruise on another company's larger ship.
The made to order burgers and fries from Dive In were always great. The taco bar was kept well stocked with plenty of choices.
The bars kept the drinks available throughout the day with quick service and a smile. The Bloody Mary was garnished with a skewer of stuffed olives, pepper, onion, and a shrimp. I really liked Martini Madness with three different cocktails mixed every evening by a cheerful mixologist.
I was able to find a wine I enjoyed in the dining room which I will be looking for in my local shops.
We ordered a room service breakfast on the morning we returned to port. It was delivered at the time we requested, and everything was very good.
Onboard Activities
Zuiderdam does not have all the facilities of the mega cruise ships, but there are plenty of things geared to the kind of people who choose HAL. There were sports for the younger passengers and children's programs (we saw very few children on our cruise). I enjoyed the America's Test Kitchen demonstrations, and was especially delighted by the Lincoln Center Stage concerts with different programs almost every day.
There were also movie showings throughout the day, and a popular mah jong group in one of the meeting rooms.
A priest was traveling with us and offered Mass daily, something I have not seen on other cruise lines recently.
Entertainment
I did not go to many shows because I tend to retire early after a rich dinner. The comic juggler was quite entertaining.
I much preferred the Lincoln Center Stage musical ensemble whose concerts were scheduled so I could attend before dinner.
Children's Programs
We were not traveling with children and did not require these services.
Service and Staff
Cabin stewards were inconspicuous but efficient and catered to our lazy days when we just wanted to relax in the room.
The dining room staff was also attentive as they bustled around bringing the food from the kitchen and getting rid of used dishes. Once we got an assigned table, our drinks were waiting for us when we arrived. Our servers were friendly, professional and efficient.
I also very much enjoyed the service in the buffet, with servers coming through with refills for drinks (missing from other companies' ships).
Ship Quality
Zuiderdam was dry-docked and refurbished a year ago and is in overall very good condition. One glaring exception was the doors leading out to the outside Promenade Deck, which were pitted from exposure to salty sea air. One had a broken glass pane and missing door knob. It was a glaring flaw on an otherwise well maintained ship. Staff were constantly polishing railings and brass trim, which one passenger complained about. I did not find this intrusive or objectionable.
Cabin / Stateroom
We were satisfied with the size of the cabin. There was abundant closet space, although only limited storage in the desk area. There were drawers at the foot of the bed and space to put suitcases under the beds. Two people could move about without getting in each other's way too much. The balcony was quite comfortable, with room for two lounge chairs with foot rests, and a small table. It felt less cramped than on some other ships, and I enjoyed relaxing there throughout the cruise.
The bathroom was adequate, with storage in the medicine cabinet and under the sink vanity. The shower in the bathtub required a normal step over which may be awkward to older travelers with mobility problems but was not a problem for us. There were sufficient strong grab bars to make getting in and out safe. The shower was equipped with dispensers for shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. They were pleasantly fragrant but the shower gel irritated a sensitive area and I used the bar soap instead for bathing.
Ship tip
The pool and hot tubs are best used earlier in the morning before people are up and about. There are two pools, one amidships with a retractable cover and one at the rear, each with lounges for relaxing and sunning. Each pool has adjacent hot tubs.
Thumbs up
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Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
The cruise terminals are surrounded by cargo and industrial areas but the shuttle drivers know the area well and get passengers in and out without issues. Since we live in the area we did not take any excursions or shore activities. There are various parking facilities nearby.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island) Did not visit port
We are not fans of beach days, and it was necessary to use the tenders to reach the island. We preferred to stay aboard and enjoy the amenities of the ship
We had visited this island on a previous cruise but went ashore for shopping. We found what we were looking for after a short search along the main street. There are numerous shops and the ship offers suggestions on where to shop for what they say are the best deals. Jewelry stores outnumbered the other kinds of shops.
Although we did not go ashore on this trip, we did so on a previous cruise and enjoyed seeing this colorful island with a number of different things to see and do to suit almost everyone.
This was one of our best excursions ever on any cruise! We purchased the horse drawn carriage ride through the Old City. We were met at the docks and conducted through a small zoo area with exotic birds and animals to our car for what turned out to be a private tour. The comfortable vehicle came with chilled water bottles in the armrest. The driver was careful but knew how to navigate through the congested streets. Our guide was knowledgeable and well spoken. We stopped at the huge old fort for a brief photo op and then on the the walled city where we transferred to a horse drawn carriage and a ride through the beautiful narrow streets with colorful and ornate buildings. It's a large area and busy with other taxis and people strolling about, site seers and local residents going about their daily business. The tour ended at the souvenir shop area, and we were driven back to the ship. This was a tour offered by Cruises Only and it was a great experience.
Enter Panama Canal At Cristobal
Despite the rain, many people gathered on the bow of the ship at Deck 4, an area not open to passengers on any other day. A covered seating area was set up, along with rolls, coffee and beverages. The best inside viewing area was the Crow's Nest on Deck 10 which filled early. Rain on the windows made photography difficult. Views from cabin balconies and the Promenade Deck were limited and I spent most of the transit forward on the open bow. A narrator aboard explained the history of the canal, how it worked, and what was happening throughout the passage through the locks. Traffic was heavy as we entered but traffic control kept ship moving efficiently. The actual time through the locks was about two hours. The ship moved into Gatun Lake to discharge passengers who were taking shore excursions which we opted not to do on this cruise.
Exit Panama Canal At Cristobal
Due to other activities aboard, we were part way through the locks when we started watching this part of the passage. Due to rain, we stayed in covered areas but found much to observe.
We purchased an excursion through HAL for a bus tour and folkloric dance program. We were driven through what we were told was the poorest area in Costa Rica. Once out of the town, we saw agricultural areas where the process of growing bananas was explained. There was an obligatory stop at a souvenir shop and fruit market where samples of the local produce and coffee were provided. The driver expertly navigated us around a blockage on the highway and we arrived at the location for the dance program. Colorfully costumed local dancers performed an Afro Caribbean program which itself was very enjoyable, but marred by the overly talky guide whose attempts to generate enthusiasm from the audience I found irritating. The rest room facilities were clean and modern.
Disembarkation
We always opt for early disembarkation carrying our own luggage. This has become increasingly popular as we found. The gathering point was the midships area but the line formed from the back of the ship. Those of us coming from the front found it difficult to pass through the congested area and had to wait until the long line cleared before we could leave the ship. Nevertheless, we were off the ship and through customs by the time originally announced for our group to disembark.