Alaska Cruise on HAL Zuiderdam

[sueart46]

Below is a copy of an email I sent to Holland America. We had a fun cruise except for what I detailed below. The ship was easy to get around, the food was great, and the entertainment was excellent.

 

 

I recently returned from a cruise on the Zuiderdam and would like to

detail some problems and concerns.

 

I use a power wheelchair and booked cabin SC6167. When I booked this

cabin, I informed the Access and Compliance office that I could not

use a bed that was more than 22 inches above the ground. That office

emailed Ships Services and verified that I would have the bed height

that I needed. When I arrived in the cabin, I was sadly surprised to

see that the bed was much higher than 22 inches. After discussing

this with the cabin steward and his supervisors, it was discovered

that when Ships Services informed the Zuiderdam of my needs, they

requested that an older mattress be used BUT DID NOT pass along the

height requirement of 22 inches. After much measuring and

discussing, the crew was able to meet my needs. HAD SHIPS SERVICES

PROPERLY INFORMED THE SHIP OF MY EXACT NEEDS, A LOT OF STRESS AND

WASTED TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED!!!!

 

I am also very disappointed with the layout of the shower and

commode in the bathroom. Every day my husband had to dry the

bathroom floor after I took my shower so that I wouldn't slip when I

used the commode. I don't think that after paying THOUSANDS OF

DOLLARS for a cruise a passenger should be required to clean

floors!!!!!

 

Finally, disembarkment was a disaster. We had purchased transfer

vouchers from the ship to LAX. Several times before we docked, I

asked guest services to verify that the bus being used would be

wheelchair accessible. I was told it would be and that I would be

leaving the ship around 8:30 AM. We left the ship when our ticket

was called, found a porter to carry our luggage and proceeded to the

area where the buses were located. No one knew what to do with us.

There were no buses with wheelchair lifts. After much confusion, and

because of the help of the porter, we were finally directed to the

taxi area and we were told that a wheelchair accessible shuttle had

been requested for us. Unfortunately, it was now about 9:30 and the

reservation for the shuttle was for 11:00. Dispatchers made some

telephone calls and eventually the shuttle arrived at 10:15. In the

confusion, a dispatcher took our vouchers so the shuttle driver

wanted to charge us for the drive. That problem was eventually

resolved after a number of phone calls.

 

Please refer these details to the pertinent departments. Thank you.

[FrancescaH]

I'm sorry you had some issues with the bed and disembarkation. Both should have been better addressed by the line before they became a problem. As for the shower, it's a roll-in shower for the wheelchairs so the floor has to be open with the center drain. There just isn't a way to contain the water otherwise. I walk very gingerly (or at least as gingerly as a woman with cerebral palsy can! ;) ) using the grab bars until I'm out of harm's way. It doesn't bother me because I know it's a necessity for others who use the cabin. Hopefully overall you enjoyed your cruise!

[sueart46]

I'm sorry you had some issues with the bed and disembarkation. Both should have been better addressed by the line before they became a problem. As for the shower, it's a roll-in shower for the wheelchairs so the floor has to be open with the center drain. There just isn't a way to contain the water otherwise. I walk very gingerly (or at least as gingerly as a woman with cerebral palsy can! ;) ) using the grab bars until I'm out of harm's way. It doesn't bother me because I know it's a necessity for others who use the cabin. Hopefully overall you enjoyed your cruise!

 

I've been in several other w/c accessible cabins, but in those the shower curtain separates the shower from the commode and the drains keep the floor outside the shower dry. In this cabin, the shower curtain encloses the commode in the shower area so everything, including the toilet paper, gets wet!! I would have thought that HAL could have come up with a better design.

[FrancescaH]

You have me there... I've never seen that! If you haven't already sent the letter you might want to expand on that paragraph better explaining as you just did to me!

[berylde]

Last May, we were in 6156SC and we found the cabin to be very "cut-up".

 

Once the scooter was in the cabin, it was hard to move around. And yet, it had a huge balcony.

 

Also, agree about the shower area. And the lounge was much too far from the cabin.

 

Would not recommend

[trvlcarib]

We enjoy all HAL has to offer but after seeing Zaandam and Zuiderdam wheelchair accessible cabins, we just don't get it! They position the toliet on an angle with no grab bars. The roll in shower was okay as was the balcony but to get to the balcony you must squeeze by the foot of the bed. There was only inches to spare on each side. I would just help my wife so she didn't rip her fingers off. I can't remember how many time my wife would say." I wonder when they design these cabins if anyone has really been in a chair?" I must say we have really been happy with Celebrity's cabins and public restrooms.