No kids for us - we're DINKS. Click on our name above and have a peek at us. If you see us about, come on by and say hi. We're easy to pick out. Karen is usually the one in the really small bikini, soaking up the sun someplace quiet. If we don't meet up, have a great time and we'll review and reminisce here when we get back!
Wow, I didn't know you could post pictures of ourselves - I'm new to the site, can you tell? Karen looks amazingly like someone I used to work with. See you on board!
First thing you have to do is get a picture of you somewhere on the internet that you can link to. Our's is in our Photo Gallery on this site. We uploaded that pic then linked to it in My Profile. Once you are in My Profile/Edit Profile enter the image URL. If you need more info, get back to me here and I'll guide you further.
Hey Jturner:
Don't want to steal you from this board but we have a lengthy roll call going on over on Cruise Critic board for the May 10 cruise. We're looking for people like you for our get together on board. Read the roll call for all the details. That's the purpose of a roll call, to eventually meet on board.
Already know Dori Anvinson from that roll call.
Gerry (and Lynne)
Hey Zuiderdammers. One week to go til our sailing. I have been messaging back and forth between here and the 'Critics board. It looks like we have a meet time for the cruise.
What we've worked out is, just after we clear the breakwall of Port Everglades and into the Ocean, we meet up on the Sports Deck, outside observation deck. We'll probably watch the sailing out from there anyway. It looks like a nice high vantage point. That should be around 5:30 to 5:45. A chance for a nice meet before the earlies have to go dine. Please let's all get together for this brief moment then we can say we did and carry on with the great food and hot sun. The "Critics board guys are all going to be wearing blue and white ribbons. Look for them.
Karen and I are easy to find. Just look for the earrings and tattoos. We can be seen at:
Yea but Jay, don't forget to look for us with the blue and white ribbons in the embarkation area and during the afternoon exploring the ship. We'll be there early.
Gerry and Lynne
Good point. We will absolutely look for you. I was wrong on our arrival times. We actually land in FLL at 1100, not 1200, like I originally posted. So, we should make it to the pier well before boarding. We'll be looking. On the older crowd HAL ships we really stand out. Everyone thinks we're honeymooners. I understand this crowd tends to be a bit younger, so we may blend.
Just after we clear Port Everglades and into the Ocean, we meet up on the Sports Deck, outside observation deck, on top of the Crow's Nest. We'll probably watch the sailing out from there anyway. It looks like a nice high vantage point. That should be around 5:30 to 5:45. A chance for a nice meet before the earlies have to go dine. Please let's all get together for this brief moment then we can say we did and carry on with the great food and hot sun. The "Critics board guys are all going to be wearing blue and white ribbons. Look for them.
We went on the Zuiderdam from April 12-19. It was our first cruise. What a great time. We loved the food, ship and entertainment. We had a lot of fun. Great crew and very friendly. The only problems we had was our toilet plugged twice (nothing we did) and the front of the ship (after 3rd day) smelled like sewage. We were in room 4107 and could smell it up there, but anyone at the front of the ship really had a bad odor to deal with. They were not to happy about that. We did inform Holland America about this, but of course no response. We didn't let it get us down. Best island we stopped at was Half Moon Cay. What a wonderful place. Hope you all have a great cruise.
We sailed on march 29, and found the Zuiderdam to be just barely seaworthy. The smell of raw sewage filled the entire front of the ship. (according to reviews it's smelled like s... since it 1st set sail in Dec 2002). On our way to St. Kitts, many of the rugs in the hallways near the front heads were mysteriously wet (sewage) They put plastic on top of the rugs and tore the bathrooms apart... that made it much worse.
As also noted in other reviews this year, the ships props & stabilizers needed work, the 1000' ship was being tossed about in 10' to 15' seas, like it was the SS Minnow (Gilligan would have been thrown over the side.) The vibrations were so severe in the main dining rm that many people choose to eat (and complain) in the Lido instead. I felt sorry for the 3 different waiters I witnessed tossing plates of food on the floor, as the back of the boat would just kick out to port or starboard for no apparent reason. These guys were damn good at balancing, to only drop 3 plates!!!
According to the letter I received from Holland America, the Prop was replaced on 4/12/2003. If actually true... I would love to know how they managed that trick, since earlier reviews have stated that HAL said it couldn't be done until the ship returned to Dry Dock in Nov. A little tuff for a couple of divers to mount a several TON prop.
Our room was SS rm was very nice, and we made the best of the cruise. But the vibrations and smell, had many of the people we had met the 1st few days sick. Some are travel agents who were just beside themselves that they had just recommended this boat.
This could be a beautiful ship. But it needs more work than a new ship ever should. Makes you wonder if they had a shakedown cruise, BEFORE they started selling tickets... I doubt it, I think they just planned to fix them on the fly, and it will hurt there reputation.
If you injoy a drink or two, in the sun on a beautiful island, spend the $109.00 and take the Cat trip while at St. Kitts. It was worth every penny !!!
Zuiderdam - May 10
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