Zuiderdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,028 reviews

Experienced cruiser. First time on a 'Dam ' ship

Review for Alaska Cruise on Zuiderdam
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Pauline Shirrefs
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
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Cabin

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Sail Date: Jun 2014

We had spent 2 weeks on train and bus travelling in Canada. We used the cruise as a restorative time. I've cruised several times before, but always with the Princess line. This ship is apparently up for a refit next year, so I was told. Most of the cabin staff, cleaning staff, table service staff wore cheap looking, ill fitting uniforms. One of the men supervising the safety drill had the hem of his jacket hanging down ! Staff on the front desk were efficient, knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful. Didn't see any shows / entertainment because our meal times clashed with them, and we didn't stay up late. We ate with a group from our tour, so went with the time that was booked. Spent time in the Crow's Nest bar. Great views, noisy ( but I think our group was mainly responsible for that !! ) Loved happy hour. If anything let the ship down, it was the diningroom experience. The food was mostly good, tasty, but often ill presented. The supervisor Mateus was well dressed, charming, funny and we all enjoyed his company. Someone in the background must have told the waiters that speed was of the essence. Some nights better than others, but menus were often dumped in front of us, likewise the meals, plates sitting cockeyed on the cutlery. Courses were forgotten, served two at a time, plates snatched off the table. Waiters were funny, engaging, always pleasant, badly dressed. Our experience of the buffet was good. Food good, seats comfortable, staff pleasant. Ship needed quite a bit of maintenance, - door handles loose, doors hard to open - we noticed relatively small things, but they add up to a negative impression. LOVED the cruise of Glacier Bay. Blessed with the weather. Never thought I would see such sights in all my life. Just wonderful !

Bottom line - we were fed, watered, slept well, comfortable, but a lot of aspects of the ship lacked finesse !

Cabin Review

Cabin was good, clean, bed comfortable, bathroom good, shower good, toiletries provided. Décor was bland. Cabin service excellent, and we tipped our stewards. Lovely to have a verandah, but a bit cool to spend time on it, but it gave GREAT view of glaciers in Glacier Bay.

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