K.C.

Age: 46
Number of Cruises: 5
Cruise Line: Holland America
Name of Ship: Zuiderdam
Sailing Date: August 2nd, 2003
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean

This was our first experience with Holland America Line. After reading so many negative comments prior to the sailing, obviously I was concerned as to whether I made the right decision to take this cruise over Royal Caribbean Line. I have been to Eastern Caribbean cruise with Carnival 10 years ago. Here is our experience:

Embarkation:
HAL staff were great at the airport providing a positive experience. The check in was much better than anticipated. Line was not long, everything was handled very efficiently. Direct boarding right after check in. Having filled out the information via internet prior to getting to the pier sped thing up.

Stateroom:
We got an ocean view with balcony, Rotterdam deck (7th level) towards the bow on the starboard side. Room was relatively spacious.

The toilet did not work on the first day, after being put on hold for 5 minutes, my request for repair was put in at 2pm. At 4 p.m., still not fixed, went to the front office and was told that there were a good number of staterooms with same problem! Asked for a time commitment for resolution, received none. It was fixed when we returned from dinner - 1st sitting. Certainly did not give me a good experience with a relatively new ship.

Everyone seems to have problem opening the night table drawers, they are just so tight, you have to fight with them to open and to close.

Cabin Stewart was great, doing a good job, very pleasant.

Dining:
In general the food was good, a touch better than Carnival and Royal Caribbean. However nothing really stand out that surprised us. Dining room staff was good too, did not experience any long wait, messed up order. The Chief Stewart is working as hard as the Stewarts and their assistants. Do not have any communication problem at all. They were doing a fine job. Wine Stewart was a bit disappointing. We did not receive much suggestion or recommendation. Couple of wine we had from the wine package were disappointing.

Went to the Odyssey Restaurant worth every penny (costs $20 pp). Food was great, service was excellent. To enjoy such dining experience on land can easily run up to $150 pp).
The daily afternoon tea was only 1/2 hour long and in navigator lounge. Capacity was low, either you get there early or you will not be served.

The Royal Dutch Tea and The Chocolate theme afternoon tea were good. The line up was quite unbearable. A long line up. We spent more than 30 minutes lining up.

They seems to be running out of ice cream cones (plain and waffle) everyday! By miracle, more is available next day! Should not have daily quota, have more available, does not cost a lot. It was very disappointing to people who prefers ice cream going with their cones.

Public Rooms/area:
Reviews I read about the vibration and noise the aft of the ship on 2nd level (dining) was true and evident. We had lunch in that area once and the noise was quite unbearable. Vibration when the ship going over 20 knots was noticeable.

Odor mentioned in a lot of the reviews was real. I think that had to do with the design of the ship where they have service area connecting to public corridors.

Queen's lounge can sit 170 people. The band was ok, but always playing the same songs every night, almost the same sequence too. Not really catered to ballroom or Latin dancing at all.

The lounge on 10th floor was big. The lazy boys would be good if they worked, quite a number been broken and remained in broken state during the entire cruise.

The spa and fitness centre was ok, same as the other lines.

Decor and interior design:
Everyone will have their own preference. The partition used in Lido restaurant reminded me of the corner cafe in the 50's and 60's looked old and cheap. Color coordination was not to my liking.

Entertainment:
Paul Tanner, the impressionist is very good, the ship's production was great, Bernie the comedian was super. The magician and the juggler were only so so. Other people may not agree with my view, but that is ok, we all unique.

Excursion:
Did not take any as I find, in general, they are pricy (same with every other lines)

Summary:
The cruise I was on (over 2000 clients, over 300 were kids). I did not expect that many youngsters on a HAL cruise.

Will I go back? Well, No, I will not go on Zuiderdam again. The ship in my mind been over rated and it is a 4 star at best and not 5 or 5.5 stars.

I may try another HAL ship.

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