Review: Holland America Line - Zuiderdam - [August 13 , 2005]

[Net Reviews]

Review By:

Reviewer Comments:

Holland America Line Zuiderdam, Western Caribbean, August 13-20, 2005

Traveled solo this time - hubby had chores.

12th cruise overall, 4th on HAL, 3rd on Vista Class ship, 2nd on
Zuiderdam

I usually write my reviews as more of a day-to-day diary of sorts, but
this time, I think I'll just hit the big points rather than getting
into a play-by-play. So, here we go.

Pre-Cruise: Flew into FLL on Friday with no delays. Picked up the free
shuttle to Amerisuites which I had booked on Priceline for $70. Not
sure why so many on rave about this place. It was okay, but I found
it to be kind of on the dingy side, and the location was awful if you
didn't have some kind of transportation. It was only one night, so no
biggie. Ate a light lunch at the Mexican place next door which was
excellent and CHEAP! Some friends from the area picked me up for dinner
out in the neighborhood of Riverwalk - a Cajun/Creole restaurant called
Creolina. Not bad, though they were a little too timid with seasonings
for me.

Embarkation: Free shuttle to the port, compliments of Amerisuites.
Arrived about noon. I booked a Category C (highest level outside cabin)
guarantee and still had no cabin assignment before leaving home, so
needed to get that from one of the porters before leaving the baggage
drop area. Finally tracked the guy down that had the list and,
YIPPEE! Once again, HAL came through with a balcony cabin. Moderate
wait for check-in. Line moved quickly and was probably on line to board
within 40 minutes or so. Wish they had a line to bypass "welcome
aboard" photo, because I didn't want one.

Welcome Aboard Buffet: Chaotic. Food was typical welcome aboard fare -
nothing stands out that I can remember at this point in time. Tough
finding a table. Finally asked two elderly women if I could join them -
they were already well on their way to a very happy cruise...

Cabin: Plenty of storage for one person. I didn't even need one of
the closets at all, so stowed one of my suitcases there. I noticed a
slight difference between Zuiderdam and Oosterdam - on the O, there was a
large storage bin over the loveseat which was a pretty handy place to
throw some bulky stuff. Again, since it was just me, storage space was
a non-issue. Verandah furniture was in good shape. It's faux rattan -
one arm chair with ottoman, one smaller chair and a small table. Cabin
itself could have used some maintenance - switch plate over vanity area
was falling off making it a challenge to both plug something in and to
turn on vanity light. That whole area is incredibly dark - no wonder
they added make-up mirrors, because there's no way to see what
you're doing otherwise. I think they mounted the TV in the wrong
place so that it blocks a lot of the natural light - of course, not a
consideration at night. Cabin steward was just okay. A few days, my
trash wasn't emptied and my ice wasn't replenished. There was some
soap residue on my shower head that I kept accidentally touching when I
went to adjust the height/position. Towels were on the tattered side -
can't they afford new towels that don't have big stringy threads
hanging from them? Also, I have to laugh because of Bill's (?)
unfortunate HAL cruise where he complained of his closet of a cabin and
them missing his anniversary and birthday. He also mentioned finding
someone else's underwear under his bed...I found some too, but it was
behind my life jacket. It was clean and folded, so it certainly
didn't freak me out, but I had to chuckle when I found it.

Dining Room: I know it was bound to happen at some point. I finally got
stuck with a really, really bad table. Even the location was awful -
stuck in a dark corner, next to two closets and a service station. I
did hit it off with one of my tablemates, but she never came back to
the dining room. We did meet up during the week and became good friends
- in fact, we're planning to cruise together in March! The next few
nights, the table kind of fell apart, not that it was ever together. No
one was interested in talking - just a really unfriendly group. On the
fourth night, I was the only one to show up at our table for 8. I asked
the head waiter if I could change tables and he actually gave me a
really hard time about it, which I could not believe! Did he really
expect me to sit alone for the rest of the week? I was astounded. Next
morning, I went to the dining room for breakfast and met a woman, also
traveling alone, who invited me to join her table of solo passengers -
they had an extra seat! Same seating. So, I showed up for dinner, told
the head waiter I'd be moving to table #___ and he, again, started
arguing with me that I really needed to stay at my assigned table. I
told him too bad, I was moving. I just don't get why he was being
such a hard a __ about it. It was nothing against my waiter, who I
thought was great. Anyway, two nights at the second table and then the
last night I ate dinner in the Lido because I wanted to hit the
farewell show (main (late) seating show was before dinner at 6:30 and
early seating show was after dinner at 8:30 - 8:30 was my dining room
time).

I did not hit the Odyssey restaurant on this trip.

Food: Okay. Nothing special. No Dutch night, but there was one night
where they did hand out the white Dutch hats for women, blue Dutch caps
for men. There may have been a few Dutch food options that night.
Buffet was not bad, overall. Lots of choices. I ate breakfast there all
but one morning, pretty much all lunches except in port and one dinner.
The dinner was the weakest of the meals. Pizza was good, available ice
cream was a treat - indulged once. Fresh cookies were good. Never hit
the Deli station nor did I try any of the pastas, but they looked good.
I actually didn't eat as much on this cruise as I usually do. I'm
kind of working my way more towards quality and less towards quantity,
which used to be my cruise mentality. For instance, on past HAL
cruises, I'd have a chocolate croissant to end each breakfast. This
week, I had only one. Never went back for seconds in the Lido, always
took salad and fruit, skipped most of the white carbs (potatoes, rice,
bread), ate half my dessert, etc. Didn't, in the least, feel deprived
and came home without gaining a pound, which was great. I did consume a
lot of calories at the bar, however.

Drink: I thought the prices, overall, were very fair. Opinions on this
must be based on where you call home. For me, living in the NY/NJ metro
area, the prices on board were equal to, and often less expensive than
what I'd pay at a bar at home. The first day's "drink of the
day" was the mojito - one of my all time favorite drinks. Last time I
ordered one on HAL it was awful, but I decided to give it another try.
Since that last time, they learned how to make the drink. I had several
that first day...to take advantage of that $4.75 price tag . Other
drinks of the day didn't appeal to me, so I usually stuck with my
standard - Grey Goose, chilled, served straight up in a martini glass,
with a twist. They charged about $6.50 for that. I usually pay at least
$8 at home. Wine in the dining room was typically inflated, and not all
bottles were available. I only had a few bottles over the course of the
week - I tend to buy the reasonably priced Rosemount (Australia) Shiraz
which I find to be a consistently drinkable wine. They charged about
$23 per bottle.

Entertainment: Really only hit two shows in the main lounge. Percy
Travis, a singer/comedian I found to be very entertaining. We actually
met in the casino on the first night and became friends during the
week, so even though I usually don't go for his type of
entertainment, I kind of felt obligated to show up - I was pleasantly
surprised. He was also featured as half of the farewell show, which is
the other show I attended. The two production number shows were
unchanged from either the last time I was on Zuiderdam (March 2004) or were
the same as on Oosterdam (March 2005), so didn't bother with either.
I usually don't last long at those shows anyway...I just don't
think they're that great. There was also a comedian who performed at
the welcome aboard show and a late night adult comedy show. He was also
one of the judges for the Superstar competition (HAL's version of
American Idol). I found him to be incredibly obnoxious so was glad to
have missed both his appearances. There was the crew show which I
usually attend, but missed it this time (I think I was having a good
night at the tables and didn't want to get up). I got to know a lot
of the musicians on board this week, partly due to the friendship with
Percy. So, knowing the band personally that played out on deck, and the
Piano Bar entertainer probably made me a little biased. I thought they
were fine. Lots of movies shown during the week both in the staterooms
and in the Queens Lounge (free popcorn, of course). I found the
Queen's Lounge showings to be at awkward times, so never made it.
Watched snippets of some of the movies while in my cabin prepping for
dinner, waking up, etc.

Gaming: Bingo was a bust for me this week. I think I've won maybe 4
times over the course of all my cruises that have offered Bingo. I
think I'll be playing less and less in the future. The casino, on the
other hand, is where you'll find me in the evening. It was an up and
down (and up again) week - a couple of 40 to 1 straight flush hits at
the 3-card poked table, a 30 to 1 three of a kind hit and I should have
been well into the black. Problem is, I really enjoy playing, so I sit
- and the longer you sit, the more you lose. I do budget a certain
amount to lose each day, but I still hate losing, even though I don't
expect to take any money home. Going into the last night, I was down
$300 (I keep very precise records). Ended the night up $150 for the
week. So, no great gains, but a lot of hours of fun. Dealers were
mixed. Most were very friendly, a few were very sour. One, who I became
pretty good friends with, outside of the casino, actually gave me some
excellent blackjack tips which I think help my game that last night
(although, the luck if the deal still plays a major role).

Other: Did not attend any art auctions (never have, in fact), did not
participate in any cruise director - type games. I did watch part of
the kids talent show which was adorable. Also caught some of the
Superstar competition and watched the finals on the last night. Many of
the activities, I felt, were scheduled at awkward times. I would have
been very interested in attending the wine tasting, but it was at 2:00
in the afternoon while at sea - there's no way I'm spending one of
my treasured sea days inside the dining room.

Spa: I made the mistake of buying the weekly pass for the thermal suite
and hydrotherapy pool. While both were wonderful, I should know myself
better by this point to know I wouldn't visit often enough to make it
worth it. Live and learn. I enjoyed the time that I spent - just
didn't get myself there often enough. I "won" a half-price facial
at the drawing they had the first day. I was planning to treat myself
to a service during the week anyway, so I took them up on the 50% off
deal. I got the Japanese Silk Collagen blahblahblah facial, regularly
priced at $145 for $72.50 - a more reasonable price for a
facial...close to what I spend at my local day spa. The facial was
great, in fact, as all cruise spas I've ever gotten have been. They
really book solid during the week, so I guess they can get away with
the prices they charge. Also went for a polish change on my toes, later
in the week. I thought the $17 price tag was within reason - I didn't
choke, at least.

Public Spaces on Board: Never made it to deck 3, where the shops, photo
gallery, library etc. were. I kept thinking about making a stop there,
to poke around, but just never seemed to happen. So, can't comment on
the shops - if there were deals, what they were offering, etc. I did
hit the specialty coffee shop a few times to get one of the drinks of
the day. They were good, but service was really slow, and both times
they didn't have whipped cream, which was definitely part of the
drink descriptions. It's okay...I really didn't need the whipped
cream anyway, but I thought it odd that they didn't have any
available. Spent limited time in the bars - Sports Bar was a little too
smoky for me. Piano Bar was a pleasant space. Made it to the Crows
Nest just on the first day for the Cruise Critic meet. Northern Lights
Disco was hopping until the wee hours every night. I know...kind of odd
for HAL, but this cruise had a very dynamic dynamic (huh?).

The People: On this cruise, more than on any other, it was the people I
met and the friends I made that made it so special. This was, by far,
the most active HAL cruise I've ever been on. Not only were there a
lot of families with youngsters, there were tons of teens (seemed to be
in control...except for the one that tried to cross through the casino
by hopping over the rope barriers through the pit boss area - that's
a no-no) and a lot of young couples/honeymooners. The ship was alive
(at least the casino and disco) every night, until 1:30-2:00am. There
was lots of "hooking up" as the kids would say. A very high energy
atmosphere on board. I really enjoyed the "aliveness of it all.

Ports:

Half Moon Cay: The island is very well maintained. I rented a clamshell
for $9, which I thought was a reasonable deal. Spent half the time
under cover and half laying out or in the water. BBQ was typical. I'm
never particularly impressed with what's served at the private
islands. It's okay, I guess. Just nothing special. Choices included
burgers, dogs, ribs, chicken and teriyaki mahi-mahi, plus all the sides.
Over all, I enjoyed the day. I really like private island days.

Grand Cayman: Another sea day for me. Didn't leave the ship. Enjoyed,
thoroughly the peace and quiet out on deck. When folks started
returning to the ship, I felt really put out - like, "get out of my
space"!

Costa Maya: Not really sure how I feel about this place. I'd like to
visit again, in a few years, to see how things have developed. I booked
a snorkel excursion and beach break from a private company before
leaving home. We were very late getting off the ship, so I was afraid
I'd missed my tour. I didn't, so it all worked out. I hadn't paid
for it yet - only a $5 (or thereabouts) deposit, so it's not like I
would have been out a lot of $$ if I had missed the tour. Short
open-air bus ride to the beach club/marina where we boarded the boat. I
think there were probably 12-15 passengers on board. Got to the reef
and got our gear. Masks and fins were of fine quality. Snorkels were
the lowest quality available - no splash or purge valves, so anytime
you were hit by a swell, water filled the tube. Kind of a drag having
to clear the snorkel all the time. I should have brought my own from
home, but when I'm packing, I just can't ever talk myself into it -
for one one-hour trip. Next time, I'll bring my own mask/snorkel and
use their fins. The reef was just okay. Not too many fish, but the fish
that there were beautiful. Once back on board, I was supposed to
tell them to drop me at a particular beach club for my "beach
break", but they knew no English and I don't speak Spanish, so it
was a struggle. Finally, another passenger helped us out. I would have
thought, since the excursions were purchased from the same company,
that these guys would be up on what to do - guess not. Anyway, they
dropped me at my beach (I had to jump off the boat into thigh-high
water, holding my bag over my head and walk to shore). Once at the
beach, I was well cared for. Drinks were unlimited and quite yummy. I
had pre-ordered a lobster lunch which was very tasty. There was a
shortage of beach chaises, so I had to sit at a table for the first
part of the afternoon. Beach and water were not much to speak of. Near
the shore was almost like a tidal pool - bathtub hot. Then, there was a
grassy area that you had to cut through (there were a few paths) to get
to the deeper open water. However, that put you right in the channel
where banana boat tours and jetski tours cruised through. That set-up
was not so great. Skies darkened, so I headed north to the taxi stand,
which I guess was in the middle of Mahahual. I can't say for sure if
I was actually in the town, but it was a dirt road with some buildings
on one side, stalls on the other and then the beach. Taxi back was
uneventful. Spent some time shopping at the port area, where I think
many passengers stayed the whole day. There's a huge salt water pool
and lots of bars right there. I found the shop keepers to be some of
the least aggressive I've ever experienced in Mexico. I'd ask for a
price on a silver bracelet, they'd give it to me, I'd hesitate,
shake my head, turn to leave - and they never came back with another
price! Not the kind of Mexico shopping I'm accustomed to. I
actually didn't buy a thing in Costa Maya except for a bag of
plantain chips on the beach and a 10 minute call home to check in with
my husband.

Key West: Tried booking an Orchid Tour independently from home, but
they couldn't get enough people to sign up, so it fell through. I
opted for the ship's version of the tour, which was, as it turns out,
exceptional (although HAL charged $39 for what I should have been able
to get for $25). There were only 12 of us on the tour. I knew it would
be a smaller tour - I mean, how many other orchid nuts are there
besides me, on any given cruise? We visited three gardens over the
course of two hours - three hidden gems of Key West. The guide was very
knowledgeable and accessible. I got a lot of tips on caring for my
small collection at home. While walking from garden to garden, the
guide continued her "lecture" pointing out all the amazing flora
found on the streets of Key West. After the tour, I went out to eat at
the Conch Republic Seafood Co. along the waterfront. Conch fritters, a
blackened mahi-mahi sandwich and a mojito to wash it all down - very
excellent. Afternoon was spent cruising Duval Street. Bought very few
things, but was happy to find, once again, Kino Sandals - a great place
if you've never been. I found it for the first time about 8 years
ago. It's basically a counter with the various styles available laid
out. You ask for your size from the women behind the counter and they
pull 'em out of the cardboard boxes behind them. Prices range from $7
to $10. Men's are $11. Behind the women and the stock boxes is the
actual manufacturing facility with people hard at work hand stitching
each and every pair. I think it's a truly unique and special KW
institution. Hopped on the trolley to return to the ship. Not sure why,
as we were the only ship in KW that day, but we got stuck out on the
military base, rather than being able to dock right downtown like I did
last year on Enchantment. That was a big pain, having to trolley back
and forth, so I just stayed in town until I was done for the day. And,
reentering the base was also a challenge - very high security - all
bags and I.D.s examined carefully.

Disembarkation: Since I had a 7:00pm flight, I was one of the last to
get off the ship, which was fine with me. I was sad to go. Took a
shuttle to the airport, walked over to Alamo and picked up the car I
had rented for the day (Priceline, Midsize for $20). Headed down to
Miami Beach to visit my husband's aunt (she's over 100...we're
not exactly sure how far over) and then a few blocks away, my cousin
and her family. Left MB at about 4:00. Not kidding folks...took me 31
minutes to get to the Alamo drop-off. I thought that was excellent
time. I'll tell you what...it is SO worth taking the later flights out
of FLL. The airport was dead. No line dump the car, no line at check-in
and no line at security. I was, unfortunately, at my gate by 5:00 for
my 7:00 flight. What a difference a few hours makes. When I was at the
airport in the a.m. to pick up the car, the security line extended
entirely through the roped queue area and then over the bridge into the
rental car garage. Insane. From now on, I'm going to try to get the
same kind of flight - after all the incoming cruisers are through and
the outgoing cruisers are on their way home.

Overall: As usual, a long-winded review from me. Thanks for taking the
time to read it. I had an absolutely fabulous cruise, but probably not
for anything HAL did or didn't do, but for the people I met, the
camaraderie I felt, the good time I carved out for myself. I desperately
needed this cruise for some down time, after a very stressful Spring
and July. I might not have gotten as much sleep as I would have liked
(or thought I would), but it provided the recharge I needed, just the
same. I can't remember ever being sadder that a cruise was over...I
just needed a few more days on board. There were lots of missteps on
HAL's part, over the course of the week, but as you can see, I just
didn't care. As a rule, I'm a "lemonade out of lemons" kind of
cruiser - I rarely, if ever, sweat the small stuff. I guess I could
have let the multitude of shortcomings get me down but
really...what's the point? It's a cruise for goodness sake.