Tenders on the Zuiderdam

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loopy

Guest
My husband and I are planning our 2nd cruise for 2/06. Our first was on the Carnival Conquest.

I actually have a few questions...

Do you tender at any of the ports? Not a big deal if you do just curious.

We didn't really care for the food on Carnival. It tasted mass produced and had tons of seafood. That might be great for a lot of people but we aren't seafood eaters. We are probably more the meat and potatoes type. My husband thought the food in the dining room was too fu-fu. (sorry..not sure how you spell that). We appreciate good food but we came home dying for some good mexican food. We are in Texas and it is hard to go 7 days without Mexican food. Of course, I don't expect to see mexican food on the menu but our TA thought the Zuiderdam would be a better choice with their Lido Restaurant choices.

We are also looking at a balcony room and our TA quoted us a price on the Upper Promenade Deck. Is this okay? Should we try to go a little higher? It looks like this might be where the muster stations are and I'm not sure if I like that. We had a really nice balcony suite on Carnival and it was on a higher deck so we were a little spoiled on that cruise. I thought I would get a quote for a balcony room on at least the Verandah Deck or should I even care? We probably spend a little more time in the room than the average person. We are early 30's but not big sun bathers and we don't party too much.

We are also looking at Princess ships but I think we like some of the things on the HAL better.
 
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Calgon1

Guest
Tenders - You will only have to tender at Half Moon Cay. All other ports are dockside.

Food - Menu is varried and rather extensive. They offer (at least) one seafood, one pasta, one vegetarian, one fowl, one beef and one ('comfort-food') each seating. Looking at a couple menus from our cruise last month ...

Entre'es -
- - - - -
Rigatoni with Asparagus and Fresh Mozzarella
Steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs
Home Style Roast Turkey
Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb
Sweet & Sour Tofu
Filet Mignon
- - - - -
Fettuccini Frutti di Mare
Sesame Crusted Tuna Steak
Roast Leg of Lamb with Minted Gravy
Roast Beef with Horseradish Crust
Braised Oso Buco
Vegetarian Jambalya
Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast
- - - - -

Mexican Food? Not to worry. On Lido Deck is the Terrace Grill. They have a Tex-Mex bar set up from 11:30am till 5:00pm daily. Spanish rice, Fajita Chicken, Beef Taco mix, tortillas, taco shells, nacho chips, melted cheese, shredded cheese, sauteed onions, raw onions, diced tomatos, etc.

Balcony Room - May I ask why? If you're claustorphobic, I can see it. Otherwise, Get an inside cabin, and use the money saved for more fun things like Frozen Thingies, souvineers, shore excursions, etc. Seriously, If it's for the view, you have the same, if not better view, from all the upper decks. At night, you can't see anything anyway. And you'll be sitting at the same table, eating the same wonderful meals, watching the same exciting shows, visiting the same exotic ports-of-call as the people in the higher priced cabins.

Whoops. I got on my soapbox. To get back to your question. Upper Promenade. These are mostly "obstructed views" (of the ocean), but great views of the tenders/lifeboats. Go higher? The higher you go, the more prone to the motion of the ocean you are. Your choice.

If you're set on a verandah cabin, opt for one of the Deluxe Verandah Suites, corner, aft. These have the largest verandahs:

Even numbers on port (left), odd on starboard (right).

Navigation - 8128, 8135
Rotterdam - 7132, 7133
Upper Verandah - 6158, 6156, 6167, 6169
Verandah - 5186, 5187
Promenade - 4180, 4185

Two other good choices are:
Rotterdam - 7088, 7087 (just forward of the aft section, at the bulge)

Hope this helps. Check my website for more information and my review of the Zuiderdam, April 30th-May 7th. ANd, once you're on-baord, say, "Hi" to Honkey-Dorey for me.
 
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sail7seas

Guest
The corner aft "S" Suites mentioned above have HUGE verandas. I mean HUGE. You can run a cocktail party for 50 out there if you wished. BUT, bear in mind the cabin itself is considerably smaller than those "S" Suites along the port/starboard sides of the ship. And, ALL of the "S" Suites are smaller than than their counterparts on all but the Vista Ships. The "S" suites on Vista ships have better bathrooms, horrible drawer space (vs. the "S" on other ships which have fabulous drawer space); the closet space is excellent on both styles of the cabin.

If you wished a compromise as to price and comfort/size, you might consider an "SS" Cabin.
We, personally, could never book an Inside. I have to be able to see daylight. I would be miserble with an Inside Cabin but can understand why others think them fine. That's just a personal choice.

From what you have written, I think you could be happy with a veranda cabin on Verandah Deck and up.

As to Mexican food, HAL is one of the few lines that still have a 'late night' buffet. Each night has a different theme and one of those is Tex-Mex so you can look for that in Lido. (The daily program states daily whether it will be Italian, Tex Mex or whatever.....)
 
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loopy

Guest
Thanks for all the answers. We have to do a balcony...no exceptions. I like to see the light of day as well and we really appreciate being able to walk out on it at our own leisure or the middle of the night if we wake up. We probably spend more time in the room than the average cruiser. No..now get those dirty thoughts out of your heads!

I will talk with our TA about pricing the Verendah deck. It didn't look like the lifeboats ran as far back or forward as the cabin she quoted. We were quoted on a VD balcony. But I still want to check my options.

Thanks again.
 
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rns91294

Guest
There were late night buffets? I was just on the April 30-May 7 sailing, and I don't recall late night buffets. Although, I was at the late shows too.
 
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sail7seas

Guest
Every HAL ships has late night buffets. They begin between 11:15 - 11:30......Your daily program tells the time and the 'theme' for that night.

That is, unless they discontinued them during the last month, which I seriously doubt.

We have not been to one in at least our last 35+ cruises, but I think they should continue to offer it for those who like it. I've been told that very few people actually eat very much but if they want something, they should be able to have it. IMO
 
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rns91294

Guest
As far as I can remember, they didn't have much of any food late at night. Even the dessert exttravanganze was at 3 in the afternoon. They did have themes every day which they incorporated in to Bingo and the days activities, but no food that I can remember. Luckily, I saved my daily programing, so when I go home from work, I will double check.
 
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CruisinTex

Guest
loopy,
We're also in Texas and DH is a Tex-Mex aholic. That man can (and often does) eat Tex Mex for lunch five days a week, and for breakfast 2-3 times a week. He loves the Tex-Mex buffet on HAL ships. He loads up one plate with chips, queso, guac & salsa, and another with fajita fixin's and heads back to our balcony. Heck, the man Tex-Mex'd himself through the Panama Canal a few years ago! Not to worry about Tex-Mex. It's there - just be sure to check your Daily Program each day to see what hours it's set up, since the hours sometimes change. They call it the Taco Bar, even though there's lots more than tacos.

I'm the meat & potatoes type, like you. You can get a steak and baked potatoe in the main dining room every night, and the steaks are really good!
 
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sail7seas

Guest
And if you want a really great steak, make reservations for dinner at Pinnacle (the alternative restaurant). There is a $20 pp charge but it so way worth far more than that. Their steaks are very good. IMO (If you book for the night you board, the charge is only $10 pp).
 


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