Zuiderdam October 24, 2011 Panama Canal - 11 Days of R & R

[Wet Rabbit]

My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary by taking our first HAL cruise. The 11 day cruise was timed perfectly to have a weekend before and a weekend after the cruise. We don't like to rush and get stressed out when traveling and decided to go to Ft. Lauderdale the night prior to the cruise and stay over. We have never sailed out of this port before and are hoping to find a nice hotel close to the cruise terminal. We have also never cruised outside the Eastern and Western Caribbean and are looking forward to Antilles, Aruba, Panama and, especially, Costa Rica. We are both close to 50 and understand that the average age on HAL is older than that of the ships that we have sailed, Carnival and RCCL, and look forward to getting to know those who have been a bit further done the road than we have. About 17 years ago, my wife asked a lady who was married for 50 years what her secret was. She said to travel as often as you can, even if you have to go into debt to do it. We have been traveling ever since and now I know why she gave that advice. I hope to see some posts in this thread that I can learn from and hopefully meet some fellow cruisers with like interests. See you on board.

 

[ShipMaven]

Allow me to welcome you to Cruise @ddicts...and wish you an early Silver Wedding Anniversary! What a delightful way you've chosen to celebrate.:cheer:

I've not done your itinerary on Zuiderdam but did do a very similar one on HAL Volendam. I think you'll enjoy yourselves very much - I, personally, love any itinerary that includes the Panama Canal. You'll enter as far as Gatun Lake.

I certainly agree with the advice you were given to travel! This June will mark the 61st anniversary of my first ocean voyage, so it's safe to say that I'm addicted.

There are several nice hotels close to Port Everglades. I usually stay at the Embassy Suites.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to cruise @ddicts

we have done your cruise -- 2 years ago on the zuiderdam -- it is a great introduction to the locks

you will want to be up early that day -- we started to make the approach to the locks around 5:30 am

don't forget to try the panama buns for breakfast -- they are only available on that one day

 

[Jeanie]

Welcome to our community and Happy cruising

 

[earl_m]

Welcome aboard ! We did the same cruise aboard The Jewel of the Seas a few years ago. Congrats on 25 years .
A cruise is the best way to celebrate your Annivsary. You will have agreat time!!

 

[Wet Rabbit]

Allow me to welcome you to Cruise @ddicts...and wish you an early Silver Wedding Anniversary! What a delightful way you've chosen to celebrate.:cheer:

I've not done your itinerary on Zuiderdam but did do a very similar one on HAL Volendam. I think you'll enjoy yourselves very much - I, personally, love any itinerary that includes the Panama Canal. You'll enter as far as Gatun Lake.

I certainly agree with the advice you were given to travel! This June will mark the 61st anniversary of my first ocean voyage, so it's safe to say that I'm addicted.

There are several nice hotels close to Port Everglades. I usually stay at the Embassy Suites.

Mary Ann - Thanks for the welcome and the advice about the Embassy Suite. 61 years of cruising...I pray I get to cruise as long. I bet that you have a ton of intersting travel stories.

 

[Wet Rabbit]

Welcome to cruise @ddicts

we have done your cruise -- 2 years ago on the zuiderdam -- it is a great introduction to the locks

you will want to be up early that day -- we started to make the approach to the locks around 5:30 am

don't forget to try the panama buns for breakfast -- they are only available on that one day

I booked a suite that has the curved-out balcony aft of mid-ship so that we would be able to see forward as we go through the locks while sitting on our balcony. I have seen a couple of photos online from the balcony of this suite and you can see straight forward, all the way down the side of the ship. The suite looks nice from the photos and the amenities that are included should make for a nice anniversary trip. We like to relax in our cabin and on our balcony and it looks like there is plenty of room for both with the suite.

 

[Wet Rabbit]

Welcome to cruise @ddicts

we have done your cruise -- 2 years ago on the zuiderdam -- it is a great introduction to the locks

you will want to be up early that day -- we started to make the approach to the locks around 5:30 am

don't forget to try the panama buns for breakfast -- they are only available on that one day

I forgot to thank you for the advice on the Panama Buns. We will make sure and try some.

 

[GTVCRUISER]

I will be on the Zuiderdam September 28, 2011 , Panama Canal , San Diego to Fft. Lauderdale ....I have been on 70 Cruises, this will be my first Panama Canal Cruise , I am looking forward to this one , it has been on my bucket list for a long time

 

[George C]

We are doing same ship the following month with about the same ports, please write a review. Not sure if you are a wine drinker like we are but HAL allows you to bring on all the wine you want on board, we took about 8 bottles for a 7 day cruise, great to open a bottle on balcony, if you bring it to the dinning room there is a 18 dollar corkage fee, but it still cheaper than the wine list on Hal. Have a great cruise.