Zuiderdam Oct 30

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medicaldevices

Guest
Alright, I made it. This is brian1968 from cruise critics. I cant get that user name to get accepted yet.

There will be five of us on this cruise Brian (me), Carol, Nelson, Linda and John.

I'm the young, 36, single one of the five. Carol and Nelson are my parents and Linda and John are friends they met on a past cruise. This will be our second cruise with all five of us. Carol and Nelson have been on 40-50 cruises and Linda and John have been on a lot as well, I've been 11.

Soooo, we get to Ft. Lauderdale on the 29th. Four are from Florida and I'll be coming in from Dallas...
 
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beej

Guest
Hi Zuider Addicts and welcome again Brian. Welcome aboard Carol, Nelson, Linda and John. Glad our number is growing. It was kind of scary here for awhile. Brian, boy am I jealous of your parents and all those cruises. Up until a year agao Carolyn and I did 4-6 weeks in Hawaii and then with luck another week or so on land. Lucky for us she could only take 2.5 weeks last Nov, and we discovered cruising. Oh joy. Okay young un, we get to FL on the 29th also. We are booked at the Sleep Inn unless Priceline comes through, but that looks doubtful.

Hope all our Floridians are safe.

Back later Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
Welcome aboard Brian and friends!! I'm glad to sailing with such a great group of people! Here is the latest roll call.

Brian
Carol & Nelson
Linda & John
Elaine & Roy
Barb & Carolyn
Ed & Nancy
Joe & Erin
Sandy & Steve

Brian..have you sailed the ZUD before? If so, do you know a good spot to meet our fellow @'s at?
 
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brian1968

Guest
This is my first time on Holland America. I've only been on Carnival cruises to date. So, I do not know the layout of the ship.

How about we start with meeting at the piano bar or sports bar on the lower promenade deck? If we come up with something better between now and then, we can change.
 
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beej

Guest
Hi again,

Elaine from fitness to twinkle toes dancer, I don't even want to look at you. This is sheer envy talking.

Brian, There is also the Ocean Bar on the Promenade deck. Having nerver sailed HAL, it is all up for grabs. Guess we just get a concensus, unless someone knows the layout. I'm sure in 5+ weeks we will figure it out.
 
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organicbeauty23

Guest
Greetings to all our fellow Zuider's and welcome to the new members of our expanding group. When would everyone like to meet? We are still hoping to be in FLL by Thursday or Friday. Again, we are flying standby, so it may be a bit of a last minute decision as to when we will arrive. Joe will be able to go with me, so I won't have to travel alone. (small sigh of relief) As for you Brian, you won't be the youngest of the group. I am 32, and Joe is 48. We should have a good mix in the age group. Again, this is my first cruise. I can hardly wait. Looking forward to meeting all.

Erin
 
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beej

Guest
Erin, so glad that Joe has gotten the time so that he can fly with you. That does make the stand-by easier... We are expanding, and that is a great. The age expanse is good; on our last cruise there were at least 70 listed on our rollcall ranging from our newly weds in their 20's to Jim and Grandma Moses here. Actually I was the oldest until Jim arrived, bless him. We all had a ball together, won the best dressed horse in the horse racing game and created general havoc all over the place. They did make me promise not to start food fights in the dining room and not to eat with fingers. It almost lasted until the 2 Bill's at our table decided we shouldn't be good. ( nowe didn't actually toss food around, but we sure had them scared). No I do not promise to be good, I said I was only 12.5 really. No wonder my DH doesn't travel.

Piano bar looks good to meet in. Before or after muster?

Time to make the donuts Soooo So long for now :wave Barb
 
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nmassey

Guest
Barb, you sound like a hoot. What dining time are you doing? I've never actually had a food fight. (I was a sheltered child). It might be fun. We're 8:30 which is really too late but my dear Ed looked at the deck plans and said there was no bathroom shown outside the upper dining room so we have to be in the lower and the first seating is just entirely too early. I'd love to eat 7:30 or 8:00 but we'll live with it.
 
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beej

Guest
Hi Nancy and all you Zuider Addicts out there. Nancy, I don't have a clue to what we have. Our TA told us to take the guarantee outside so we did, and I think she put us in for late early. She also left the company for another job closer to her home so God and HAL only knows. It will be a surprise. We can always slip in at 8:30, though. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I will try to be alittle dignified , though.

How does the Piano Bar before muster, say around 3-3:30 sound, 3 without lifejacket, 3:30 with I guess. What do I know? Everyone ring in with an opinion, I'm new to this!

Back later. Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
Meeting in the Piano bar at 3 sounds like a great plan to me. We are hoping to arrive early afternoon and explore the ship anyway.

I'm also in my 30's Erin...and I to have an old husband too...LOL...I'm 36 and he's 47. I wouldn't trade him for the world..In fact tomorrow is out wedding anniversary and this cruise is part of our celebration.

BTW, Barb, I went shopping this week and got the perfect dress and I didn't have shoes to match so I had to go shopping again the next day and found the perfect pair!!!! We are eating in the Pinnacle Grill the first night. Otherwise, we have early dining on the lower level, which is at 6:00 or somewhere right around there. I'm hoping to be in the casino by 8:30!!!

Now I have to find the perfect scarf for my formal night dress...and maybe some other cute accessories and I am good to go!

It's getting closer....
 
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beej

Guest
Good Morning All, Okay, Brian, is the Piano Bar at three going to be the plan?

Elaine, I know that we also asked for early seating, but since we are guarantee, we still don't have a cabin or a time. I shopped, also and got 2 more formal outfits: 3 piece, fly-away pants, top, and jacket on both. One is black with silver embroidary and beads down the leg, the other is ecru. Sears on sail, and I nearly fell over for a total of $130.00 for all 6 pices. I think other than a tee or top, this is the first thing I have ever been able to get in Sears in the clothing section, so I did good. Time to stop with the formal now and concentrate on everything else.

Have a good week-end all

Till we sail Barb
 
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organicbeauty23

Guest
Can anyone tell me what deck the piano bar is on? I went to the HAL website and pulled up the deck plans and could not find it. I most likely overlooked it. They showed a photo of it, so I know it exists. Is 3:00 the the game plan? Joe and I are scheduled for the late seating for dinner. We requested a large table, so if any of you have that seating we may get to dine together. It shows that all of the early reservations are gone. I am also still shopping, much to Joe's dismay. He has said that he may not take many clothes. I guess that means more room for mine!!!! Let us know about the piano bar and meeting time.

Erin
 
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brian1968

Guest
It is on the lower promenade deck.

It looks like that's the place to meet. I guess the next question would be how is everyone going to know who is who? Barb, are you bringing a sign???
 
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beej

Guest
Hi everyone Our thoughts are with our Zuider Floridians. Be safe in this crazt weather.

Brian, I don't know how we will know each other. A Balloon may be easier to bing or get than a sign. Anybody else have any other ideas? We still have time to think of something unique.

Erin, go to Travelocity, click on cruises. They have a section for ship deck plans that is much easier to read than HAL's. The Piano Bar is right next to the Sports Bar. You can't miss it on those deck plans. Tell Joe there is a sea law that says you have to have something new on a ship, expecially on your first cruise. I just bought a new piece of luggage that is really a garment bag in a suitcase setup. Several people have gotten this and raved. You pack it and then take the whole thing out and hang it in your closet. Lots of pockets, plus it holds 12 or more hangers. When it comes I will give a review of it and whether it is staying or going back.

Till we sail in 34 days, YEAH! Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
How about cruise @ddicts pins? Don't they have them somewhere on this site...I'll look under the gear section and get back with you.
 
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organicbeauty23

Guest
beej Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> . ---- Tell Joe there is a sea law
> that says you have to have something new on a
> ship, expecially on your first cruise. -----
>
> Till we sail in 34 days, YEAH! Barb


Not to worry Barb,

I am trying to convince Erin that there is also a sea law stating that something onboard should NOT be new also. ........<<<GGG>>> at least ONE item anyway..... guess that would be me.....


Joe
 
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beej

Guest
Good Monday Morning Zuider Addicts, Hope all is okay with our Floridians. The damage looks really bad. Know that you are in our prayers.

Hey Joe,Since we are all on this board together, Erin has the not so new group covered under the law of the sea. You don't count, but I am right there for her covering this section of the law. When it pays to say I am over 60, I tell it like it is. Okay Erin, I've got your back. You go girl! Keep that shopping going. Just remember, save a little for St Thomas: jewelry, designer bags. Joe, we'll hold you up and fan you as you get that "Oh, Lawdy, Miss Clawdy, she's got big bags again, or should we just bring the smelling salts as the "vapors" overcome you? :grin

Elaine, the pins sound good,but they probably couldn't be seen from afar. Then again, we could get right up close and personal with alot of strangers. Brian, this is your big chance LOL Just remember there may be a hubby lurking in the background. Now in my case, DH has to babysit the cats. Oh, I forgot, the Peter Pan syndrome kicked in or I had a senior moment and forgot that I am over. What was that number? No not the big one!

Enough fallderall, time for another cuppa and some news. Will be back later Carolyn sends a :wave

Till we sail Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
Hi Barb...as soon as I hit 'send' on that message I thought what a stupid idea that was! I should never type a message after a few cocktails...I know better!!!
 
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beej

Guest
ine, no way stupid. Actually, if you could get into the logo shop you would see flags and all. I can't get in. As for cocktails, I can't wait for that frozen thingee in hand as we sail away, like a mango tango. You even get your fruit group for the day. Now that's the way to eat fruit.

Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
I haven't been able to get into the logo shop either, Barb. I'll keep trying. We should have a flag for a group photo anyway.

Not only are you getting your daily dose of fruit, you are saving time by multi-tasking...Ta-da!
 
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