Zuiderdam Good & Bad 6/25 (long)

[DRich2]

We are a family of 6 on the 6/25 Zuiderdam. 2 teens, 2 40's, 2 60's.

 

We arrived in FLL by car about 12:30 and were in a long line to check in. The line took us about 45 minutes until we got to the desk and checked in. As we boarded the boat we realized on of our party didn't get a their room card and they were turned away. We went back to the desk and they straightened it out in a reasonable time frame.

 

By the time we boarded we were able to go directly to our rooms following our escort. We were on the main deck in K class inside rooms. These rooms were the largest we have had in my six cruises (1 HAL). We were all impressed with our rooms and cabin attendents (although no towel animals).

 

We had an 8:30 dinner time and our waiter was great (Donnie Walker), but our assistant was not to be found. We were dissapointed in not being asked for drink orders other than the bar. For the first three days we were not able to get any beverages before our main entree was served. After a little complainging they were waiting for us at the table when we arrived. The 8:30 seating time was terrible for us. We were unfortunate enough to be the last table for our server in his section. We usually didn't get our entrees until about (9:50). The teens tended to miss some of their activities that were scheduled for ten if they wanted dessert. We usually finshed around 10:30 and had to rush to attend a 10:30 show. Most nights we didn't even attemp it and we headed to bed by 11:00.

 

It was my daughters 16th birthday and she appreciated the attention and singing (it seems that the two 16yo girls received extra attention from all of the male help, and they loved it).

 

Our experience with the Pinnachle grill was just bad. This was the only time on the cruise where I felt the service was poor. We had a 6:00 seating and the place was only about 40% occupied. Our orders were taken promptly but the food never seemed to come out and our waitress was nowhere to be found. We like a leisurely dinner but we were not even served our first course by 7:05 and had not heard anything from the waitress or other staff. After the arrival of appetizers we waited and waited again. To sum it up we missed the 8:30 show (entree arrived at 8:20). We immediately asked for the dessert menu (before eating the entree). Dessert shows up about 8:50. We suck it down at skip coffee and leave at 9:05. Summary horrible service, great steaks, great salmon, shrimp scampi was cold for two people. Creme Brule was incredible and the presentation of it unique and special.

 

Sorry this got so long so I will be brief with the rest:

 

Ship still has sewer smell on floor two between the dining room and Windstar. Many of the common restrooms were closed on deck two.

 

Our toilet backed up in our room. We were surprised that it was fixed two hours after reporting it.

 

Pool hours way to short.

 

The ship condition was fair to good (not nearly as bad as I was expecting).

 

Did our own excursions.

 

Overall we all had a very good time but felt that HAL really took a step backwards. I will probably look at other lines ahead of HAl for my next cruise I book.

[vicocala]

Thanks for the review. Sorry it didn't turn out quite as well as you had hoped.

 

 

I hope your experiences were the exception and not the rule and they get there act together before our trip in October. :confused:

[gizmo]

 

The 8:30 seating time was terrible for us. We were unfortunate enough to be the last table for our server in his section. We usually didn't get our entrees until about (9:50). The teens tended to miss some of their activities that were scheduled for ten if they wanted dessert. We usually finshed around 10:30 and had to rush to attend a 10:30 show. Most nights we didn't even attemp it and we headed to bed by 11:00.

 

 

Thanks for you review, I enjoyed reading it.

 

Being the last table served sure is lousy. This happened to me also. This is one area that Hal needs to take a look at and fix.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When HAL moved to the 4 dining times, that was supposed to ease the congestion in the kitchen areas - but with all the cutbacks in help - it hasn't.