Intro: I wanted to share how our trip on the Zuiderdam, which sailed Nov. 9th to Nov. 20th from Ft, Lauderdale, FL, was an overall positive and memorable experience for us. We typically plan a year in advance, but this go around, we waited till my husband had an all clear on his health status (one-month prior), and so I must say...it became a very special trip for us. We typically cruise with Oceania (Riviera), but chose this sailing on HAL for the itinerary, which turned out to be perfect for us.

General: The Zuiderdam excels in service, even tough it isn't new, and there were spots of rust that needed to be covered up, but this was balanced with orchids at every table in the Lido, flowers as well in the MDR, and beautiful arrangements throughout the ship itself. What made the greatest impression for us was the genuine attention to our needs from every level of staff. An example: we walked up to the main reception desk to simply check the status of our account, and as we approached, we were immediately invited to come forward for assistance...this anticipation of needs, and desire to find solutions for passengers needs/issues was exemplary. This extended to our cabin stewards, the dining room staff, and all officers and personnel that we met as we walked about the ship. The passenger-centered ambience made a difference, perhaps it can be summed up as, the ship has heart! She wasn't as beautiful and new as the Riviera (2002 vs 2012), but she has something special going for her.

Embarkation: Was similar to a Disney World experience, but smiling faces abounded and we survived...it took a good 45 minutes. *Note: I appreciated going in through Port Everglades, as the security seemed top notch. Read more