We booked this cruise on the Rotterdam back in May 2009. This was the last of of the four Vista class ships that we have sailed on, and it was clearly a cut below the other three. Perhaps we were spoiled by the Rotterdam. The seahorse in the Atrium was a bit of a joke because when the rotation put the sides towards you, it was like there was nothing there. For what it's worth, we booked a Mexican Reveria cruise on the Osterdam for November.

This was a holiday cruise and we booked a suite guarantee. When I left the day before, we had a handicapped superior verandah suite but when we checked in, we had been upgraded to a deluxe verandah suite which was amazing considering the ship was full. We had a handicapped stateroom on the back of deck six so we had no complaints.

The Zuiderdam did not feel crowded except in the Lido from time to time, and the children were not a problem. Service across the board is a cut below what it used to be. We typically find our favorite bars and get to know the bartenders. On this cruise it was the Ocean bar. Marc and Chris were friendly but not what we have been used to on HAL. More than a few cruises ago, I gave a bartender in the Crow's Nest a $100 tip. Not any more. Read more