I had a great time traveling to the Panama Canal on board the Zuiderdam. I was wondering what I would think since many of the reviews focused on how old the ship was.
Well, yes, the ship is old. And, yes, a few things need to be repaired. There is rust and some mold in places and it is dated, but it didn't bother me at all. Here's why. Everyone on the ship was so nice (from the passengers to the staff) that it just wasn't a big deal. This was really a great cruise. My favorite part was how informative the staff was. I learned all sorts of things about the ship. Many of the staff learned my name or at least recognized me during the trip. All wanted to make sure I was having fun.
The captain was particularly informative, which I found quite interesting. We encountered quite a bit of windy weather (some gale force winds) and he gave regular updates about things. It actually made the trip even more interesting. Not all the entertainment was good, but there are plenty of choices so you can find something you like. It's not an "every minute is filled" kind of cruise. But, if you like to talk with people, read, walk around and enjoy some entertainment, then this could be cruise for you.
I thought the room was fine. My only complaint would be that it is close to the elevators, which we could hear. If this bothers you, pick another room. It didn't both me, but I did hear the ding, ding of the elevator's arrival. It is also aft, which is more unstable. We had LOTS of waves, so if you're worried pick a more mid-ship location. I liked being in the back, though, because I got more walking in that way (walking to the front for the gym, for example). The beds were comfortable and there was plenty of room. The balcony was very nice with plenty of room for two people. We had people on both sides of us, but hardly ever heard them.