Rotterdam/Sunfarer

[Toad]

Would love to hear from those of you that have done this cruise. Would love opinions on the ship/shore excursions etc.

I am now a happy toad again, awaiting the time when I will turn into a princess on my next cruise!

[localady]

Haved taken the trip yet, Toad. We are headed onto the Rotterdam on Dec. 2nd!! When are you headed out????

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[Toad]

Not until February 4th 2005! A long time off, but still I can't wait. Let me know about any good info you find prior to your trip! Hope it is great!

[maril]

Hi
Doing the Rotterdam over Thanksgiving in 2004. Watch for the trip report when we return.
maril

Zaandam (HAL)6/2003
SUN (NCL) 2002
Scandanavia Sun 1982
Caribe I (Commodore)1986
Mississippi Queen 1981

[PoohUnderstands]

Do you mean the partial transit of the Panama Canal trip? If so, we did it last October. It was a fantastic itinerary. I think(?) that we were the last to go to Cartagena, Columbia. I loved Cartagena. Not too thrilled with Curcaco. Liked Aruba alot. Costa Rica was a very nice day tour. Both transits in and out of Gatun Lake were awesome. If this is the right trip and you need more "input", just let me know. Loved the Rotterdam except for 1 thing. The A/C was very inconsistent throughout the ship, some places being very warm. We went into the Queen's lounge at times just to cool off!! We even lost the A/C and had minimal A/C for awhile in our cabin. May be fixed by now. Even so, the crew was fantastic and we had a great time.

[doone]

I was on the Rotterdam's Panama Canal cruise this past March. I would highly recommend this itinerary. Costa Rica and their coffee was excellent, bought some there and have since ordered more from Cafe Britt, you can't beat their coffee.

I loved all the ports we stopped at. Any specific questions on this itinerary, ask away.

[AlinaMaria]

If you are asking about the 10 day Panama Canal Cruise: it's awsome! I did it last February 22 to March 3. Look for my review here in CC under Rotterdam. If you have any questions, just let me know! You will have a great time. The Rotterdam is such a beautiful and elegant ship, a true flagship!

AlinaMaria

11/04 HAL/Zuiderdam
02/04 HAL/Rotterdam
09/03 RCI/Majesty of the Seas
04/03 RCI/Navigator of the Seas
06/02 Princess/Grand Princess
05/98 Celebrity/Mercury
07/97 Celebrity/Century
06/96 Celebrity/Century
05/95 Celebrity/Zenith
06/82 Premier/Dolphin

[sail7seas]

We also enjoyed Rotterdam's ten day partial Panama Canal Transit cruise. We were aboard just before Doone and, as always, loved Rotterdam. She is a truly beautiful ship. Built to be a world cruiser, she looks it IMO

<img src=http://domania.us/DaveEdwards/HALlogo.gif>

[Krazy Kruizers]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] Rotterdam

Another one of HAL's lovely ships.

We did a 16 day Orinoco cruise on her which included many of the ports you are going to as well as a partial transit of the canal.


Loved that ship.

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[gizmo]

I was on this cruise right after Doone.

We did not take any ship excursions. We did a private tour in Costa Rica. We stopped at a banana plantation, had a boat ride through one of the canals, and got to see a sloth up close.

We got off the ship at Colon. There is not much there except a couple of shops. I am not so sure how safe it would be to wander off on your own. Check out the Canal board.

Aruba has beautiful beaches, so we spent the day at the beach.

We did some shopping in Curacao, since we been there before. We took the Trolley Train tour once, and enjoyed it. There is also a place to do a dolphin swim that many people recommend. If you leave Curacao late there will be fireworks.

We did not do any "Canal Tours". We stayed on the ship and got to see a lot going through the canal. We lucked out since it was overcast the day we went through. Beware, it can be very hot! Costa Rica was hotter than Hades.

[catlib55]

We are going on this cruise Dec. 2nd. Can't wait. We chose this itinerary because we have never been to any of the ports, and because we love HAL.
Til we sail on Rotterdam,
Mary Ellen

[Toad]

Yes, I love HAL too, having been on them at least five times, but this time we will be bringing my parents, who are in their eighties, in great shape, but eighty all the same. We have been to Curaco and really enjoy it, but the rest of the ports will be new. Any recommmendations for excursions for either my husband and I, who are pretty active and into nature or my parents?

[Toad]

P.S.Hope that the A/C problems have been fixed as my mother HATES the heat!

[doone]

The Tortenegua(sp) canal tour is a must, that is a spectacular excursion. We saw crocadiles, turtles, sloths, all kinds of birds, this was probably the BEST excursion I have taken. Your parents will enjoy this excursion as well.

[Toad]

Thanks Doone! Hot on Cape Today! Any thoughts for Costa Rica?

[Toad]

Or is that tour in Costa Rica? If so, do you have a suggestion for Panama?

[localady]

I am also curious as to what you past cruisers did on the day you did the partial transit of the Panama Canal? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] I am not sure we will want to get off at Gatun Lake for an excursion as then we would miss the return transit. Any thought would be greatly appreciated!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[localady]

Just want to pop this to the top page as there are some questions pending [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img])) I believe the cybergods "rearranged" the board this morning [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Thanks in advance!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[localady]

Just want to pop this to the top page as there are some questions pending [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img])) I believe the cybergods "rearranged" the board this morning [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
P.S. My apologies for this second message, the cybergods appear to have also been playing games with me today! Cybergods = the sometimes evil forces that causes your computer to shut down just as you are going to post a well thought out 2 page review, not allowing you to save or retrieve it!
Thanks in advance!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Maasdam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)