Ms Zuidedam December 10-22, 2012
The Zuiderdam is a Holland America ship in the same class as the Oosterdam in which we had taken a Mexican Rivera cruise the previous year. It is about 10+ years old ship. Before this cruise began, the ship was in dry dock for 10 days getting some new carpeting and touch-ups. The dry-docking did though produce some exterior dirt that is not normal for HAL ship.
Our cabin was a Superior Veranda on deck 8 mid-ship. I really like this type room for the extra width (rather than length) that it provides. It feels very comfortable and uncrowded. There was plenty of space for in cabin breakfast room service. The veranda was nicely equipped with two chairs and footstools plus a table with 2 chairs. This cabin, and the entire ship for that matter seemed a little chilly and beyond the ability of the room thermostat to marginally control. The dry-docking did provide our cabin with a new and fresh carpet, Bed and linens were of high quality and comfortable. This room also had a double sink, and a shower separate from a tube with jacuzzi. There were minor chips and spots on the cabinets and walls which were normal wear and tear on a ship this age.
Our cabin was a Superior Veranda on deck 8 mid-ship. I really like this type room for the extra width (rather than length) that it provides. It feels very comfortable and uncrowded. There was plenty of space for in cabin breakfast room service. The veranda was nicely equipped with two chairs and footstools plus a table with 2 chairs. This cabin, and the entire ship for that matter seemed a little chilly and beyond the ability of the room thermostat to marginally control. The dry-docking did provide our cabin with a new and fresh carpet, Bed and linens were of high quality and comfortable. This room also had a double sink, and a shower separate from a tube with jacuzzi. There were minor chips and spots on the cabinets and walls which were normal wear and tear on a ship this age.