Zuiderdam Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,028 reviews

Zuiderdam - Alaska

Review for Alaska Cruise on Zuiderdam
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mslindy
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: May 2011
Cabin: Signature Superior Verandah Suite

Our problems were are follows, Some big some small but all added up to an unpleasant experience.1. Stateroom 8062 has a big dip in the floor and uneven carpet. Dad has a walker and Mom is unsteady on her feet. For a cabin of this price it was not acceptable. The floor had not been fixed properly. 2. I called the accessibility line BEFORE the cruise and asked for a stool to be put in the shower for cabin 8062. This did not happen and it was halfway through the cruise before we got the stool and parents were able to shower safely.3. For the shore excursion in Skagway I requested assistance (wheelchair) for Dad we were told to be in their cabin 8062 fifteen minutes before the meeting time for the excursion. This would be 10:35 We were all waiting in the cabin from 10am on. Nobody came. At 10:30 I called and asked when they would be coming. There was no clue, no record. We rushed Dad off as best as we could. It was not pleasant for any of us. But we did make the excursion without the help.I was particularly upset as I had asked on ship FOUR TIMES if this was going to go smoothly, I asked the front desk twice, the information line once and Dad asked his "service line" once. Still it did not work. He refused to go on the next excursion because of the stress involved in the first one. So they were out their money on that. Dad is 92 Mom is 90, this was to be the cruise of a lifetime... NOT !4. Lido - We tried eating in the dining room for breakfast and lunch but the hours were to narrow and the line ups too long for Dad so we ended up at the Lido. I would seat them at a table and then go and order lunch for them. Husband would do the beverages and I would do the entrees. Without trays this was a nightmare. I was rushed off my feet and it would take a lot of effort to get everyone situated with their meal. I went to the front desk and expressed these concerns. The Lido Manager came and introduced himself to us and two waiters as well. They were to help us with the meals. I never saw them again, they were always off when we went for a meal. The Lido Manager did help me once when I went by him with 5 plates and he got a waiter to get Mom and Dad other things they needed which was a help. But the 7 days was exhausting. The last day when my husband and I went to the Mariners brunch they went to the Lido on their own. They ended up having cookies for brunch. There was no help until the end when someone brought them tea and coffee. Why are there no trays!Also on the Lido the signage is horrible. The wrong sign for the food, or no sign at all. Having a seafood allergy it makes it difficult when the sign says seafood but the waiter says chicken. It is a best guess thing and I am sure wastes food as you may try something mysterious and not like it.5. For me personally my nightmare was the Surf and Turf dinner. I love the fillet and ordered the Turf part of the dinner, two portions of steak. I have done this on every HAL ship we have been on because I am allergic to shellfish and this works well. This time however the steak must have been put on a plate that had already had lobster on it. My mouth blistered, I was extremely itchy all over and threw up all night. We had antihistamines with us and they worked once I could keep them down, NOT a pleasant experience and dangerous one at that !There was some good points, the scenery, our waiter at dinner, the Matre De our waiters, the room stewards were excellent. I felt sorry for room steward as he was yelled at in the hallway in public by the Assistant Room Manager. He was very upset and maybe he deserved that, but not publicly, very unprofessional.

Cabin Review

Signature Superior Verandah Suite

Cabin SY

Cabins in need of an overhaul, looks worn out, and in most cases is.

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