The cruise was a wonderful trip and the fall colors really made it special. We had some typical North Atlantic fall weather but all in all it was great. The ports were a good mix for everyone and the time in each port seems just right.We really enjoy Holland America cruise line and know the passengers are going to be a bit older which tends for a more quiet and relaxing cruise. The service and facilities on the Zuiderdam are top notch. The Zuiderdam is an older ship and is showing her age but is kept up nicely and very clean. We love the smaller ships and have been on Zuiderdam several times and will sail on her again.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Minus the traffic getting to the port and all the construction at pier 19 in Quebec City, embarkation was a breeze. going through security and check in was less than 30 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We had Anytime Dining and it was GREAT. The Maitre D (Chozin) was absolutely the best we have ever had. My wife has a bad knee from a earlier surgery and he made sure she was looked after getting to our table. He also knew what time we liked to eat and what table we ready liked and made sure we had it ever night. Our waiter and server (Roy & Denny) were always making us feel like we were the only ones there. Denny always had a smile on his face and a song for us at dinner. The Lido Deck has so much food I don't know how you could ever eat it all. The food was always very tasty and the servers were so friendly. I really enjoyed the Asian market with a different style of food from a different country daily.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Did not do any activities.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We saw a couple of shows and they were very good. The Bill Board piano players were a big hit as well as the B.B. Kings nightclub.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The reason we prefer Holland America is that all of the ships crew is so warm and friendly. They always smile and greet you like an old friend. Our cabin stewards were very, very good. They knew what time we ate breakfast and dinner and always had our room ready for us. they called us by our names from the first day and always made sure everything was perfect for us. They brought my wife fresh fruit and flowers throughout our stay.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We have been on this ship before so the layout was familiar. The ship is older and shows her age but is kept up and very clean. You will always see someone cleaning during the day as you walk around.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The room was larger than most rooms, with a double vanity and a shower plus a Jacuzzi tub. My wife thought it could have used some brighter lighting at the makeup desk. The bed was very comfortable and I didn't have any trouble sleeping on it. It also was nice with the rocking motion of the ship. We hit 2 storms and had some bad weather a couple of times during our cruise.
Ship tip
Get to know the layout of the ship before you sail. It will make it a lot easier to navigate the ship during your cruise.
Wonderful fall day and partly cloudy. This is a beautiful little town with lots of history. We didn't take any tours but walked around this charming town. St. Dunstan's Basilica Church was amazing, the intricate architecture and stone carvings were awesome. The local old homes and buildings were very nice. Had to stop by the Tim Horton's for some of the best coffee in Canada.
Rainy and windy, very typical coastal North Atlantic Fall day. We walked around town and viewed the old buildings and churches. St. George's Church was a treasure trove of history. Built in the late 1700's it had been kept up nicely. There was a narrator who gave us the history of the church and all of the historical changes it had. I noticed a Templar cross high up above a arch and was told that the first Minister was a Free Mason and that got my interest really peaking ( I'm a history nut). We ate at the Governor's Pub & Eatery and had some wonderful oysters and some soup. Can't forget the 2 pints to wash it all down.
A larger and busier place but very nice. It was very easy to navigate the local streets and there was some beautiful parks there. We found a nice little park out of the way and had some coffee and pastry's there. Ate lunch at the Henry House. This is another historical building converted into a pub. Their fish and chips were out of this world. A fine selection of beers on tap.
Not a lot around the port to see except some very expensive restaurants, taverns and souvenir shops. This is a port where you will need a tour to see anything.
Port is away from town so you have to take a shuttle($10.00). Walked the freedom trail which is pretty awesome. To think about all of the events that happened in that area during our country's beginnings is mind blowing. If you walk the freedom Trail( approx 2.5 miles) you will need some comfortable shoes and most of the day. Traffic and construction was a bit of a problem but easy to circumvent around. Faneuil Hall had lots of food options to please everyone.
I was excited to finally be able to get to the Big Apple.......WOW. I have never seen so much traffic and crowds in my life. We did a Hop On Hop Off bus tour, what a fiasco. The bus was way over crowded and in poor condition. Some seats were wet from the roof leaking during the rain and they were just giving people plastic bags to sit on. You couldn't see anything unless you were on the upper open level...did I mention it was cold ,windy and wet. The lines to get on at stops were so long, we got off to see the 911 memorial and when we got to the bus stop there was at least 50 people there waiting. Needless to say we just got a taxi to where we wanted to go. TIP.... When in NY city just take a taxi where you need to go. I figured it out and it was cheaper, easier and way faster to get around the city. I'm just saying.....
Debarkation only. Been here several times and the port is very easy to navigate. A tip for car renters.... Avoid the shuttle bus to the car rental offices (Avis). With 5 ships in port the shuttles can not handle all the people. Avoid all hassles by taking a taxi.... Very easy, low cost and gets you to the rental office a whole lot faster.
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