kucherov

I second the question.  It is also our first time there and would like hear opinions about the port...excursions etc.

We were on the Zuiderdam doing a partial transit Feb 2017. Same cruise???

We did it in 2018...must have been the other Tom and Jane...have a great cruise.

We were on the Zuiderdam doing a partial transit Feb 2017. Same cruise???

same except we did it in 2018....with the other Tom and Jane....have a great cruise.

Thanks everyone. Looking forward to another great cruise!

 

Tom

I remember a Tom and Jane from a partial transit of the canal on the Zuiderdam...what are the odds?

We had a wonderful 6 hour tour with Oldcar Tours in Havana...much much much less money than the equivalent ship's tour.

Another outstanding company is Oldcar tours. We did a six hour tour in a 55 Buick roadmaster with guide for 240 cucs. About a tenth of the cost of a similar ship's excursion (NCL). Unless you fear the treasury department is going to spend the time to track you down and grill you about your time in Cuba, I would stay away from any ship's excursion. And take Euros to exchange.

The coffee maker in the room..is it kcups or the filter pods? planning bring more along just want to right one

pods.

0n that cruise also and was equally confused...I decided to just wait and see.

Did the southern caribbean partial transit on the Zuiderdam. It was a great cruise, but the highlight was Cartagena Colombia where we segwayed the old city with Cesar. The canal is amazing also.

Just got off the Incredible Sun to Cuba cruise. Embarkation and debarkation was a breeze. Our cabin (1207) was great. Located on the 11th deck it was close to everything. The all inclusive was great. Just walk up to the bar and order your drink. For that matter just ask any of the waiters for a drink and they will get it for you. Food was good, service great, room attendant superb and no negatives. Ask a question and I will try to answer. The Tropicana Show in Havana was the highlight and highly recommend.

 

 

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We are doing this cruise in July and are looking at an excursion to one of the nighttime shows in Havana, however we're concerned about a lot of dead time waiting and crowding at the venues. What was your experience? Stephen and Holly.

I will be on the Sun to Cuba in July. Was curious about where the Sun docks in Key West...Mallory or Navy?

we are also cruising to cuba and had the same question...we figure as in most cases just go with your gut...whatever you might tip for a similar experience elsewhere...in CUC's since they are all we will carry onshore.

On the Zuiderdam in February this year and she was in great shape. It usually takes a few cruises to work out the kinks after dry dock, and please take negative reviews with a grain of salt. Any ship that spends her entire life at sea, i.e. quick turnarounds, is going to need daily maintenance for problems that arise. All I ever noticed was some daily touch up painting that keeps the maintenance crew busy when there's nothing else for them to do. I can't imagine anyone on my cruise faulting the ship in any way.

When we docked in Cartagena, the dozen or so HAL excursion buses were lined up to haul people off to quick picture taking stops and crowded shopping tours. The DW and I were off to a private tour (just the two of us) of the old city on segways. Not necessarily cheaper, but not riding around on a bus or walking in the famous Colombian heat. And a great tour.

Just off the Zuiderdam and the PG was a disaster. We looked at finished plates for twenty minutes between courses. I have to assume they had severe staffing problems. In contrast, the MDR was loud and crowded with great service that prompted a large tip for our server. The food was comparable in both, at least to my uneducated palate. I suppose on a different cruise my reviews could be reversed. It was a great cruise with a couple of blips, like any other cruise.

just off the feb 7th to 18th partial transit on the zuiderdam...loved the ship...the old world elegance...the spotless condition of all public spaces...the food was fine...we are not foodies....the service was superb with the exception of the pinnacle grill which seemed woefully understaffed. the cabin seemed small at first...a b-level veranda...(we were just on seabourn last nov which has huge cabins and beautiful bathrooms)...but it provided us with a loveseat and table for room service and a large interactive tv. the shows were typical cruise shows...singers and dancers and a comedian and a magician. but the zuiderdam made up for that with a fabulous steel band and an exceptional classical quintet..imho. the lincoln center stage was the gem that set this ship and cruise apart for us. this ship has aged well...i would book a cruise on the zuiderdam in a heartbeat...and probably will.

bon voyage....wait a minute....I'm going too!

Hi RMT1948...Holly packs, I watch...I think the things she uses are packing cubes...she swears by them.

On our February stop in Cartagena, we decided to do the segway tour of the old city. Something new for us and a way to ease the strain of walking in the heat or being stuck on a bus. Dora sounds good too, but segway is on my bucket list along with the canal.

On a recent seabourn cruise, for reasons pertaining to excursion exclusions, I maintained anonymity concerning my diabetes which I control with insulin injections. I simply kept the needles and packed them out. No harm done and no-one was the wiser.

As we will be first time cruisers in November and as we have chosen Seabourn for our first venture on the seas I am sure you can all imagine the delight we are having in reading all the wonderful remarks about being very well looked. Thank you all Seabourn afficiandos!

Maureen and Jon

what is your embarkation date?...we are also first timers on seabourn sailing nov. 23...stephen and holly.