This was the 14th cruise in 16 years for my DH and myself. During the cruise we were awarded our bronze medallion for 100 days on Holland America ships.
Pre-cruise we stayed at Best Western Plus, Fort Lauderdale Airport South on Stirling Road. I would probably not stay there again, due to the location not being near restaurants (except to jaywalk across a busy highway), and due to fingerprints on the desk in the room, the keys not working until I walked back to the desk to have them keyed, having to ask for towels, the waffle maker not working, etc. If you stay here - here's a tip. A cab to Port Everglades is $20 plus tip and we got there quick. The shuttle is $12 per person plus tip and didn't leave for the Zuiderdam until noon, after hotel check out time.
The Zuiderdam is over 10 years old, built in 2004. She's showing some age, but she's still got the Holland America charm. A new cruise director, Simon James, came on board the day this cruise left, on Feb. 15. He's a very upbeat, personable guy and we enjoyed being on board more because of him. And he loves the Beatles and Julie Andrews, gotta love him just for that.
I think they call it a large, it's one of the higher priced interiors if you pay full price. It's actually one of the smaller interiors, though. Our cabin was 10024, part of a group of new cabins on Observation Deck 10. Those cabins are convenient to the Crow's Nest, Lido Deck, forward sun deck (past the private cabanas), and the Explorations Cafe/Library. Number 10024 is an inside with a window! The window overlooks a narrow walkway between the port and starboard sides of the Observation Deck. Past the walkway is the cover for the Lido pool. We didn't open the curtains much because people on the walkway could see inside our room. I really liked the location. My DH didn't like it because it was a long walk to the Promenade Deck. He thought it was too high and too far forward.
The group of cabins on this deck are very small, the only storage for clothes is the closet, two smaller-than-normal drawers at the foot of the bed, and two nightstands. We always bring extra hangers, so clothing storage was not a problem. There is no dresser and no couch, but the fixtures and furniture are all new, so new the rooms aren't on the ship map. The inside cabins have a full length counter in the bathroom and a small shower, no bathtub.
Walked along the Fort Lauderdale Beach.