Looking for some extreme adventure I was able to get in contact with Xadventure Outdoor near Lake Garda and booked the canyoning descend. To reach our meeting point we took the train from Verona to Peri( a quick 24 minute ride) where we met Vivian one of our guides. Canyoning around Lake is quite challenging and depending on where you start the drops are quite steep and you will not see the bottom. In some areas the rocks were very narrow but the waterfalls are beautiful. We took the challenge and opted for the “medium level”, this level consists of 6 waterfalls (the highest is 80 + feet) along with a few jumps and slides. All the necessary equipment was provided prior to our long 30-40 minute uphill walk which includes getting fastened and pulling on ropes throughout the trail.Once at the starting point we dawned our equipment and following a few jumps into water holes we started. Words can not describe the vastness and beauty of the canyon, a few places that we dropped I was unable to see the bottom and that is scary, following our first descend we got to the three waterfalls in a row, no room for error or going back but we managed. An amazing and challenging day with incredible scenery. You only live once.

For years I have wanted to experience walking through Tiananmen Square and on the Great Wall of China. Following a 12 night cruise aboard the Ovation (RCL cruise ship), this quest came to life. Disembarking the cruise ship at the port of Tianjin, a city about 60 miles south of Beijing, my journey began. Prior to my arrival, I had coordinated my Beijing trip with China Highlights (http://www.chinahighlights.com/) a travel agency I highly recommend! I did not want to engage in the standard tourist menu stops but wanted to touch on the highlights and get the feel of the city. Accompanying me were 6 terrific people + my wife. At the port exit, I met our guide, the amazing William, and off we went. With no time to waste, we headed directly to the Temple of Heaven located south of Central Beijing. The Temple is a complex of buildings where the emperors visited for annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests. The Temple grounds are vast, and the buildings were in great shape. After a very delicious lunch at a local establishment, in the late afternoon we ventured to a Chinese acrobat show. WOW!! What a show with a local acrobatic troupe, plus a very cultural pre-show auction in Chinese, and an unbelievable motorcycle act in a metal sphere. After a very delicious lunch at a local establishment, in the late afternoon we ventured to a Chinese acrobat show. WOW!! What a show with a local acrobatic troupe, plus a very cultural pre-show auction in Chinese, and an unbelievable motorcycle act in a metal sphere. Day #2; Started with a walk through Tiananmen Square. Due to our amazing guide, William, we avoided all the lines and soon were walking the massive square. I had wanted to visit Mao’s tomb; however, the tomb was closed for renovation (guess they were fixing the body!). I walked across the People’s Bridge and waved to Mao (a huge hanging picture) and then walked into the city within a city (also called The Forbidden City). This massive complex is the largest and best preserved ancient imperial architectural complex in the world; plan to have your best walking shoes on as this complex is an endless maze of building after building and then more buildings. The Chinese government is calling this complex the Palace Museum, but it is still the Forbidden City to every visitor. Another tasty lunch followed our long walk, and then it was off to the Summer Palace – another complex of buildings made famous by the infamous Lady Dragon Empress Not to let a moment slip away, my wife and I ventured away attending an interesting and delightful Kung Fu show at yet another local theater – put that on your ‘must’ list! Day #3 Traveling an hour and half north of Beijing, we arrived at the highlight of my trip – the Great Wall! We were at the Mutianyu section/location, which is quiet well preserved. Our amazing guide had us ride the chairlifts up to the wall to minimize some of the steep walking and to add some fun to the adventure. Once at the Wall, I was in awe of its massive size and endless rolling length. (Note: walking on the Wall is not flat – it is quite steep and very rolling). The one section I walked had me gasping for air. To add some more fun to the adventure, I took the toboggan chair back down (great fun and very easy – you are on a winding track). On the way back to Beijing, we stopped at the Olympic Park(Birds nest & the Cube), followed by our final stop at the long awaited Kang Fu Massage Center for a much needed foot massage. To end the evening, my wife and I walked through the scorpion-eating food market that was busy and bustling, filled with every kind of treat imaginable. My last full day in Beijing started by riding the subway. Beijing has a very extensive subway system, and due to language challenges, it does seem overwhelming. However, the system is fairly well laid out, and with a little patience and confidence, it can easily be handled. Our first stop was the Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street, followed by a long, and I mean long and very steep, stairway climb to the Drum Tower. While in the Tower, we got to see a performance of the drums. This fun experience was followed by a visit to a local family’s home in the Hutong District, riding a rickshaw through the narrow streets and lunch in another local family’s home. For our final stop, our amazing William led us by subway to the Pearl Factory, a 5-story shopping complex where you literally can shop and bargain till you drop. Totally worn out, we made our way back to the Hotel on our own by way of the subway. I was proud of myself as I braved the daunting vending machine for my subway ticket! Epilogue; Beijing is an amazing city, the air quality is lacking, the city is crowded but fairly clean, the people were wonderful and friendly, food was excellent, and although the vendors were pushy, I never once felt uneasy. Put it on your wish list and practice eating with chopsticks before you arrive!

This famous landmark built between the 12th–17th centuries should be on your list when visiting Dubrovnik. The wall surrounds the old town and is a well preserved. To reach the top of the walls there are a number of steep steps to climb and navigate, however, once on top the views at every corner are worth it and. The walls are about a mile and half is length and it will take you around 2 hrs at an easy pace. During my walk I was able to explore Dubrovnik from a completely new angle. Upon climbing the highest point of Dubrovnik’s Old Town(the rounded Minceta Fortress), I got to enjoy the city’s red roofs, along the southern section of the city’s walls(facing the ocean) you will get to enjoy a view of the many sailing boats and the kayakers as they pass below. Towards the end of the walk(depending on were you start You will also see Buza beach – a rocky spot beneath the city walls – this is a unique hidden place for swimming and sunbathing. Due the heat I decided to forgo a visit to Lovrijenac Fortress which is located across the city walls and rises up on a 37 meters high cliff( you city wall ticket gets you into both places). Put the wall on your list and try avoiding the walk between 11-3pm On another Dubrovnik visit I wanted to get away from the tourist crowd, I walked of the cruise ship and took the local bus to the last stop. Walked down and through the PILE gate followed the main street and out at the other end which is the old city pier. There I found the ferry for the 20 minute ride to Lokrum Island, a small island about 1/1/2 miles in length with plenty fun sights and where no cars are permitted. It is home to a small botanical garden and many peacocks because the island was once the holiday home of Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand of Habsburg. This island is not a tourist trap, once at the island you follow the many paths , I got to a place called the “Dead Sea”(you though it was only in the middle east) jumped in for a dip and then strolled through the Benedictine Ruins which are located in the center of the island. There you will get a chance to sit on a replica of the throne in “Game of Thrones”, this replica is located inside the ruins and you are allowed to sit on it and dream away. For the brave I took the challenge walked up to Fort Royal( did it twice/yes dumb idea about 400 steps).. not much of a fort left but what an awesome view To cool off I jumped back into the sea from various points, there are many swimming areas or you can just jump in, swim wear is optional. This is a great place to spend the day and enjoy Dubnovnik away from the crowds. Put Lokrum island on your list.

I have always dreamed of going to French Polynesia, so after many months of planning, the details were finally in place: Hawaii, Tasmania, mainland Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, and finally Bora Bora. 1st stop: Honolulu. Having never been to Hawaii, I did not know what to expect. The Honolulu traffic and parking was awful (glad I did not rent a car), sticker shock prices for almost everything; but the weather is nothing short of great, and the scenery and beaches are lovely. Day#1: Wanting to see the island and not wanting to drive, I joined Hawaii Outdoor Guides (http://hawaiioutdoorguides.com/) for their small group (8 people) Complete Island Tour. I got to see the entire island with stops throughout and was fortunate to get up close to a Monk Seal sunning on the beach… This tour is the only way to relax and enjoy the island without having to deal with traffic and parking. Also, great guide and commentary throughout. Day #2: Took bus #23 to the last stop Sea Life Park, got off, crossed the highway and was on the lovely deserted Makapuu Beach, grabbed a bite at the local food truck there and enjoyed the view. Due to the hot sun, my wife and I decided to forgo the walk to Makapuu Lighthouse; however, from this point, there is much to take in. The hike to the lighthouse will be about 40 minutes, and the first ¼ mile is along the highway. Day #3: Strolled the famous Waikiki Beach, tried a little surfing and then decided to pay for an over-water view of the island; we hopped on the Na Hoku II catamaran (https://nahoku2.com/) located on Waikiki Beach. This outfit takes passengers out to sea to view Honolulu and Diamond Head from the water. We spent about an hour and a half sailing, got to see whales, and the skipper stopped the catamaran so everyone could jump into the ocean.. This is a definite excursion that people should take. Day #4: Boarded our flight to Launceston, Tasmania.

There are two arrival terminals at the Barcelona airport: if you are arriving into Terminal 1 (T1), you will not be able to walk straight to the train station; you will need to take a Green shuttle bus from outside the terminal. Just follow the signs down the stairs, pass the information booth, cross the street; once outside, look to the left for the station. If you come into terminal T2, follow the signs and walk on the overpass to the train station. At the train station you can buy the T-10 ticket from the booth or the machines; quite easy to do. The T-10 ticket allows you to get 10 rides and can be shared by passengers (example; two people can use the same ticket – ticket will count down). At Passeig de Gràcia (abbreviated as Pg de Gràcia), you will need to change to the Metro. Depending on where you are going just look for your respevtive line, if you are going to the crusie port it is a tade tricky, but follow the signs and look for the ‘Green Line.” Once at the metro station, take the (Green Line, L3) directly to Drassanes stop. Upon exiting Drassanes station (to your left you will also be at the end of Las Rambles Street), you will see the statue of Columbus directly in front of you. At the other side of this statue, you will see the Barcelona Pier. You will have to cross the street and head towards the water; start looking to the right for the cruise signs. It is a tad tricky, but you will notice the T-3 Port Bus. The port bus will stop at every cruise terminal, so you don’t have to worry about getting on the ‘right’ T-3 Port Bus. You buy the ticket upon boarding the bus, and the trip will cost you 2 euro per person (cannot use the T-10). If you want to go back into Barcelona, consider buying a round trip ticket which will cost 3 euro and can be used later in the day. ******* During disembarkation day, BE AWARE that the taxi queue is very long, so if you have time before your flight, just reverse the route, or book a taxi in advance.

This is one of my least favorite stops, but so many of the ships always stop here. In Nassau, my party rented a private boat, went snorkeling at a wonderful reef, spent some time on our own private island and it was the same cost as the ship’s excursion for our own private yacht! Yes that is me(above in the picture/dreaming I am racing in the “Americas Cup” oh I wish. Another do not miss is the ATLANTIS Hotel(see the hotel website), get off the ship and ride the water taxi over, do not take a cab over or even try walking. It will cost you to get into the hotel, but plan on spending the entire day there, very nice beach. Try and avoid all the hoopla around the port area, the horse drawn city tour is a ripoff. Shopping is not very good.

This was my 12th cruise, 4th with NCL. This was a vacation for three couples: my wife and I – in our early fifties, another couple in their late forties (first time cruisers), and a third couple (seasoned cruisers) in their early thirties. In my review below you’ll note my rating system – each category gets a star rating, with 5 being Outstanding, 4 Excellent, 3 Satisfactory, 2 Marginal, and 1 Unsatisfactory. Embarkation: Solid 4 stars NCL has online registration that includes e-tickets. You just print out the materials and have them checked at the dock outside the main building. We began our embarkation process at about 11:30 am. You go through one line outside to hand in your pre-registration, one inside for actual key card registration, and one to get on the boat after registering. The last line was a bit annoying as you had already checked in and had to wait to basically get your photo taken, regardless if you wanted your photo taken or not. However, the lines where short and moved fast, the building was air conditioned and bathrooms were readily available. There was also a Latitudes line for key card registration to facilitate repeat NCL guests – it moved fast and was a nice perk. The only negative was the total CONFUSION regarding luggage drop off and luggage tags. You are expected to turn in your luggage to a porter once you arrive at the NCL dock area. However, there are no signs, no general area marked and everyone seems to point you to a different direction. Meanwhile, you are lugging your bags all over the place and dodging people and cars – a hassle. After 10 minutes of floundering I finally found the desk (that was not manned at the time – 10:00 am) and then I had to find my room number, get the correct tags, put them on your bags and then hand them to a porter! Cabins: Solid 4 stars We had three different cabin categories assigned to our group – Inside, Outside and Balcony. Each cabin category appeared slightly larger in size. I viewed all three cabins and was impressed. The outside cabin had a nice sized picture window and the bathroom was nicely laid out. Note that you really should bring your own bar soap – they have dispensers in the sink and shower and the soap is barely usable! The shower had a door instead of a curtain, which was nice. Each room had a mini fridge that you could use to store drinks in, etc.. It did not come with the usual mini bar snacks, which was nice, as I don’t use them anyway. The closet storage space was adequate and had a room safe. The only real complaint that we had was noise and sounds from next door cabins and cabins above us. On two separate occasions the banging above my cabins was so loud that I could hardly sleep all night. The TV had two separate commercial channels, plus the on-board channel and two movie selections which where fine, although I was rarely in my room to watch. Our cabin steward was fine – nothing to rave about – just doing the basic good cleaning and a few smiles in the hallways. Dining/Food: 3 stars. Freestyle Dining: The concept is to choose from a variety of restaurants in addition to the normal dining rooms; you can eat at any time within the operating hours. There is one restaurant/snack area that is open 24hrs – the Blue Lagoon (which you have to order from a menu and wait for your food) – great hot wings and fish and chips at this place! However, this concept comes with a PRICE. Besides the two main dining rooms (which have almost the identical menus, just different styles of rooms) you have a choice of an Italian – La Trattoria (not that good and is basically the buffet area with tablecloths and chair covers sectioned off) and a Tex-Mexican style (which I did not eat at, but my fellow passengers did seem to like). The other four specialty restaurants charge a minimum of $20 per person + depending on what you order. So even though “Freestyle” means eating at your leisure, this comes with a price tag. Formal clothing is optional but on formal nights and I would say about 75% of the passengers were dressed up – not to the tux level, but nice cocktail attire. In every restaurant I visited I found passengers waiting for a table. Overall food in the main dining rooms was good. Some nights better than others, but biggest disappointment was the “FISH” dishes (with the exception of Orange Roughy), which tended to be dry and oily, yet the meat dishes were excellent. I had read a great deal about the buffets and to avoid it, but I found this not to be the case, the buffets were excellent with a great deal of variety in the stations. Each day a different vegetarian buffet was offered at one station and most days they also had a BBQ cookout on the pool deck in addition to the grill selections. To insure that my party of 6 always was seated together for dinner, we scoped out the tables in each dining room prior to the ship sail time made dining time arrangements with the maitre d’. We were given a set table and asked to arrive at a certain time every night – 6pm to ensure our table. The entire staff was accommodating and friendly. We even liked our waitress so much we demanded her for our table every night (they rotate the servers in the main dining rooms, so it is not like other ships with the same staff every night)! Public Rooms: 4 stars Simply beautiful. The ship was nicely decorated and was in tip top condition. The ship was designed with making the 6th and 7th decks the main hubs of activity, i.e. shops (located in the aft area), casino, lounges, photo, etc. The eating snack area” Blue Lagoon” located on deck 7, had great food, but its location was poor and the seating extremely tight. I was very disappointed in the duty free shop on board as the prices were high – you could get better deals on shore. Rest rooms were easily marked and elevators were plentiful and always operational. Note – internet service prices are VERY high on the ship ($.75/min with a $3.95 set up fee, packages – $55 for 100 minutes and another I cannot recall), better to pay for a few minutes on board and then find an internet café while in port. Entertainment: 2 1/2 stars with room for improvement In the evening, you will find a very good piano player at the Cagney’s Lounge and a good guitar player at the Red Lion pub. The Carousel lounge features easy listening music until about 10:00pm, when the popular adult Karaoke begins. At 11:30pm the Disco starts in the Carousel, but this was a VERY poor place for a disco – small dance floor and bad location in the middle of a traffic area. The lighting and sound are just not great – as was shown in the amount of people that actually stayed for the disco. I think one or two nights they had the disco in the Spinnaker, but it was also not that great for a nightclub – NCL is lacking in this area very badly. The Spinnaker also featured a live band on most nights AND on theme party nights (a DJ would have been better for theme night parties), but these events were not very well attended by passengers – what a waste of a lounge. The live Spinnaker band also played at the pool deck most days. Mind you, I thought the band was pretty good, but listening to them every day and night got old fast. The nighttime shows at the Stardust lounge were a major disappointment. The Stardust lounge is VERY pretty and no annoying poles everywhere, but the shows in general were 2 stars at the most. I enjoyed the Magician and the “Elton John” Piano player, but the three musical reviews were not to my taste. The Chinese acrobats where a good addition, but too far and few in between POOR dance routines. One of the other couples actually joined the Pub Crawl one night, which was a BLAST, but too bad it was only one night. Overall, the entertainment is a very weak area. Excursions/Ports: No rating The Star stops at four wonderful ports; Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. The problem rests with the length of the stops in each port. In Acapulco, your first stop, you arrive at 11:00am (12 noon Acapulco time) and depart at midnight, which is excessively long in my opinion. Your second stop is in Zihuatanejo, where you have to tender, you arrive @7:30 am (8:30 am Zih time) and leave by 1:30PM(last tender), which is WAY too short and not enough time to do anything as most shops open at about 9-10am. In Puerto Vallarta you also tender, again leaving you are short on time. Your last stop is Cabo San Lucas -another tender stop, where you arrive @8:30 am and leave by 1:30PM(last tender), which is WAY too short and not enough time to do anything! As for excursions, I usually opt to do my do my own excursions, and saving a lot of money. On this cruise I experienced three wonderful and unique excursions that I would recommend anyone who desires a bit of adventure. Activities: 3 1/2 stars A variety of daytime activities are offered throughout the cruise. From the usual trivia (offered twice a day) to the Very Expensive Bingo (I always play bingo; but on this cruise I was a shocked by the high cost of playing -$39 a pop – and the low prize money given, so I only played twice the entire cruise vice every day). The not-so-newlywed game, liars club, martini tasting, tequila seminars, etc. were all fun and well attended. The Casino was the norm, but I’m not much of a gambler. My lower rating was based on the LACK of activities during the final day at sea and the lack of consistency in each day’s events. You would have a day filled with activities all bunched together, and then you would have a lot of dead times. Art auctions where prompted daily and got a bit annoying over the loudspeaker…. Disembarkation: 5 stars GREAT ending to the cruise. Basically you leave depending on your connecting accommodations. You get a specific tag color based on your connections and deck, but you do not need to leave the ship immediately and can wait in your stateroom! The disembarkation was quite smooth – it seems that cruise ships are beginning to get the picture on this one. Overall: Despite a few negatives, this is a wonderful ship and a cruise itinerary not to be missed. I would not hesitate to recommend this ship to anybody. The entire staff from busboy to the officers seemed very friendly – everyone had a smile and was willing to help. NCL seems to be developing a niche and is promoting its Latitudes loyalty program which has some benefits (lower cost on cruises, drink specials, parties, and a few giveaways) over other lines’ frequent cruiser programs.

Me getting a beach massage in Acapulco(photo above). Acapulco was a port many thought would be trashy and not worth getting off the boat. We found that this couldn’t be further from the truth. After research on the internet I decided our beach for the day would be Pie de la Cuesta or sunset beach as it is known by the locals for its spectacular sunsets. It was just as I imagined – quiet and peaceful – horses available for riding, waves plentiful for body surfing, oil ready to soothe those aching muscles, and margaritas ready to top it all off! There was also a lagoon area for jet skiing, water skiing, and kayaking. The best part of this particular area would the the Huachinango a la Talla (grilled red snapper opened in a butterfly style with a special red sauce) with hand made tortillas and other sauces to enjoy a great lunch, usually sold by the kilogram. There are a few restaurants in the area where you can put down your towel at – such as Tres Marias club, and Club Vaymas. Getting to beach – take a cab – priced at about $30 one-way (espanol helps). Or, for the more adventurous, you can take a bus. The bus you have to take to Pie de la Cuesta is one in particular. The bus to take MUST read on its windshield ‘PIE DE LA CUESTA‘ – ‘LUCES‘ some will also read ‘PLAYA‘. There are other buses that will also read Pie de la Cuesta but will NOT read Luces – DON’T TAKE THOSE. The reason for this is that once you get to the Pie de la Cuesta area, the road divides in two. One will drive you right through Pie De La Cuesta beach (where you want to go), but the other will take you to where the locals live and there is no beach there. Once you see that the right bus, all you have to do is choose where you want to get off and yell BAJAN! that means “I’m getting off”. The bus drivers will usually stop for you if the bus is not going too fast. Acapulco Cliff Divers – we went to see this event right after debarking the ship. It takes about 1 hour to do the entire thing but it is a must-see for everyone – no need to take the cruise tour or any other tours being sold on the streets – just find a cab driver who will take you to the cliffs and pay your way in once you get there! For $3.00 you can walk about 60 steps to the mirador area (up close) but it’s usually crowded and no guarantees of being up front to enjoy the show, with one drink included. If you are interested in the evening show – highly recommended as they dive with torches – a cab will charge you $8.00 (1 to 4 persons) to $12.00 (5 to 8 persons) each way depending on the number of persons in you group if your interested in seeing the evening show and not be part of an hourly rate arrangement.

This was my 10th cruise overall and my 2nd HAL cruise. On this cruise I was traveling with a group of 31, ages ranging from 16-58 years. I selected the Zuiderdam because it met my selection criteria; i.e. new ship, reliable line (having cruised HAL before on the Zaandam, I had experienced relatively high quality and service), medium passenger load (around the 2000+/-0 is about right) and reasonable cost. Boarding: Most of my party arrived at about noon, we followed the “Mariner” signs, but the lines where no longer than the ones at the non-mariner area. My pre-printed US immigration form downloaded from the web was ready and this sped everything along, the entire process took about ½ hr. Your luggage is left at the luggage drop off with the baggage handlers – Note: there are signs clearly posted that they are salaried and tips are not necessary. For this process I give HAL overall 3 out of 5 stars, nothing great or out of the ordinary. Note that a cab ride from the Fort Lauderdale airport is about 10 minutes and the cost is about $10 per person. Cabins: My past experience with HAL was that most of the cabins are about the same square footage (unless you are in the premium ones i.e., veranda, suite etc.) and they are relatively large in size compared to other lines. However, on the Zuiderdam it appeared that room size was related to category, cabins for our group ranged from a category “N” (lowest) to an “AA”. I was in a category “G”, an outside cabin with obstructed view (you had a full floor to ceiling view of a life boat – but this was not an issue as I spent very little time in my cabin). Room size was about 185 sq ft, but the arrangement was poor. Storage cabins beneath the bed were awkward, some drawers with locks were very hard to open and the hair dryer (which automatically turned off when it got a bit hot) was in the small sitting area vs. the bathroom. Room colors were not lively and considering how new the ship was, it looked worn. I visited a category ‘N” cabin and it was SMALL! Additionally, prior to this sailing I had read about problems with the ship toilets and I did encounter a toilet leak on the first day of the cruise and another member of our party complained that her toilet did not work and that there was an awful smell the entire trip in many of the public areas. Additionally, we were on level 4 and could hear the LOUD noise from the shows and the bands until the wee hours on the morning. I will give HAL 2 out of 5 stars in this category. Food/Dining Room: Food on this ship was very good, but the dining experience was lacking. One of the big events during every cruise is dinner with all my family members present at once, at the same table (9 adults). We are aware that this is hard to coordinate and try every time to book a table with our TA, but we always go directly to the maitre d’ once on board to arrange the seating as our table has only been booked ONCE by our TA correctly. Note that we always request the earlier and less crowded seating for this reason. However, the table they seated us at was clearly for 7, not 9 adults and seating was VERY cramped throughout the cruise. Even after repeatedly voicing our request for a larger table, nothing changed, making dinner a little less than desirable. Our “solution” was to be given chairs without arms to make more room at the table. Additionally, we noticed that tables for 10 had numerous small children and some tables were even empty through out the cruise – why could they not have moved some people…?!! To add fire to the fact, the dining room had a very low ceiling and is located on the second level above the engines and also this makes for a very noisy dining room. I read about the noise and vibration prior to the cruise and it was real- not something I experienced on any previous cruise. There were times that you had to shout to be heard. Air conditioning throughout the dinning room was also very inconsistent, some areas were cold and some were hot. I also observed a number of areas, which had plastic covering taped to the ceiling. The waiter and busboy provided good service, but appeared tired and overworked. I am very mixed about giving a grade here as I thoroughly enjoyed the food and it deserved 4 stars, but the atmosphere really detracted from the experience, so I would give HAL 3 stars here. Entertainment: In the evening, you will find music at a variety of locations throughout the ship. HAL is trying to break away from the big band era and cater more to the growing baby boomer population. However, they seem to be having an identity crisis as they are trying to do too many different things to please everyone. The Disco in the Northern Lights was great, but there were only 8-9 booths to sit in, therefore people were standing everywhere. Plus it caters towards the 40 year old crowd, so the younger folks have nowhere to go. The disco/theme night was moved to the Crows’ Nest and it was a huge success because there was plenty of room and the younger crowd had the disco to themselves. The Crows Nest was a very nice but underutilized lounge. They had a piano player vice a nice band. One negative for me personally was that this was also the first cruise (and only ever to date) I have ever taken where there was NO karaoke (apparently HAL is phasing it out)! The nighttime shows at the Vista lounge were below par, I usually attend almost every show, but on this ship I walked out on three occasions. Except for the juggler and one variety show, the overall quality was terrible. 2.5 stars here, it could be 3.5 if they moved some of the activities to different lounges. Activities: Most daytime activities were well planned but the ship’s main areas of activity were decks 2 and 3 and the flow of traffic was a nightmare. It was always crowded, smelly, and you could never find anything. 2.5 stars. Excursions: I rarely take the ship excursions as I find them too expensive and can usually do my own excursions, and save quite a bit of cash. However, for this sailing I made an exception for the “America’s Cup” excursion (you cannot do this on your own as the ship reserves this company for their excursions and there is no alternative). All I can say is that this excursion was one of the best things about this cruise (you need to be stopping at St Maarten to do this), it is a MUST! Be forewarned that this was a very active excursion and if you are prone to seasickness or not in shape, look elsewhere! Note: sign up on the HAL website 2+ weeks before sailing for your excursions, this avoids the lines on the boat and also prevents from being told that the tour is “sold out”. Note: Upon docking at St Thomas, ALL passengers were required to wake up by 7AM and proceed in person to US immigration with their passport. Even though the process was painless and takes less than 3 minutes, having everybody get up at 7AM while you are on vacation for a three minute procedure even though you can’t get off the ship for another 3 hours seemed like poor planning. Every person I encountered complained about the early hour. Once again poor planning by HAL, as the ship could have easily docked at a more reasonable hour or done the process differently. Tipping: The HAL policy of “Tipping not required” just ads more confusion with all the envelopes and separate cash you have to carry. Also, if you order drinks at any of the bars, you might want to carry a few dollars for tips since HAL does not add 15%. Front desk/purser: I had to include this category since on most ships you rarely get good service and the lines are always long. The Zuiderdam was no different. The desk area was always fully staffed but the staff did not have many right answers. Some questions got the usual “I can find out” or “you need to..,” “ perhaps” All I can say is HAL needs training and work in this department. Disembarkation: This is a hassle. You have to be out of your cabin by 7AM and sit in a hallway and wait for your number to be called. You’re hungry, tired and you just spent thousands of dollars – what a way to say goodbye. O stars. Overall: I have tried to be as objective as possible in hopes of giving you an overall big picture. I want to be very clear that I had a very nice time, as cruising is always great, but this is a review. Even though this was a new ship, I was amazed at the number of problems I encountered from the awful smell, to the poor layout of the ship, to the air conditioning and small public spaces and staterooms. Additionally, the officers seemed aloof and were not up to my past HAL experience. Employees seemed overworked and did not smile often. My other HAL experience seemed to be a world away from this one. With so many problems, and so many other ships at sea, I would not recommend this ship and will probably never sail on HAL again.

This was my 8th cruise and my first HAL trip and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I booked the Zaandam for a Western Caribbean sailing. I sailed with my wife and kids, 25, 22, 20 and 15. Boarding: one of the few downers of the trip, it was a little confusing since the tickets indicated boarding would be between 3-5pm. However, when you arrive at the dock, you receive a number. Boarding starts at 1:30, they call out each number in order and when yours is called you are allowed to board. We did not get on board until about 3pm, and we arrived at the port at noon – very long time to wait to board in a small and hot terminal, a big thumbs down on this. Cabins: the best and biggest of any ship I have sailed. I received an upgrade to an outside cabin. The room had lots of storage space, a small couch, dresser and the bathroom had a small tub. The outside cabins have a very large window and not the usual small porthole. I had a chance to visit other cabins in different categories and all the cabins on this ship are very large in size (about 190sq ft.). Food: Food on this ship was nothing short of superb. Besides the excellent waiter and busboy, throughout my dinners the assistant maitre de always made it a point to check up on my table. The buffet variety was excellent and I loved the fresh cooking stations and the lines were never long. Entertainment: Average The evening music was more geared towards the 60’s and up generation, all three lounges had live big band era music, so I opted for the Crow’s Nest, as it was much more active and never crowded. The nighttime shows were very typical of most ships, and the variety and quality deserved 4 stars. Activities: Needs improvement. I think HAL needs to work on this a bit; if you are used to Carnival or even Celebrity, HAL has a long way to go. Teen activities: My son (14) gave them only one thumbs up, HAL needs work here as well, my son stated that he was bored, but the staff was nice. Tipping: Boy, it was hard to figure the HAL policy, you have different amounts for each staff member and have to decide who to tip more/less and get enough change, etc. I tipped my wine steward 20% of my total wine bill. (HAL does NOT ADD the normal 15%) I also slipped the assistant maitre d’ (this is not required but I liked service). If you order drinks at any of the bars, you might want to slip them a few dollars since HAL does not add the usual 15%. I got GREAT service and tipped well. Overall: this is a nice ship, HAL seems to want people to have a good time. They were not trying to nickel and dime you at every turn. The Filipino/Indonesian staffs were an excellent combination. The overall passenger mix was about 60% 60 and up (my wife and I are 40’s) with the rest of the passengers between 20-50 years of age. I would sail with HAL again based on my experience with this ship. Perhaps not the same boat, and maybe in the heat of summer so the average age is younger, but I’d still give HAL a second shot if the price were right.

This was my 9th cruise and my trip aboard the NCL-SUN was my 3rd NCL trip. For this cruise there were 12 of us, ages ranged from 17-58 years. Since Freestyle cruising is a new concept, I was very apprehensive about booking with NCL. One of the big events for me each cruise is dinner with all of my family members and I was very concerned about not being able to either sit together, or even eat at a specific time – I just imagined all of us standing and waiting for a table each night! But, I decided the price and time were right, so off we went. Embarkation: could not have been easier. I stood in the Latitudes line for a few minutes and within 25 minutes we were on board. Your luggage is left at the luggage drop off before you enter the terminal, so make sure your room number is clearly indicated on your NCL luggage tags. I give NCL a big thumbs UP in this area. Cabins: I always book the cheapest inside cabin, but this time I lucked out and managed to negotiate an outside with balcony as an upgrade. The cabin was large and well laid out. The room had lots of storage space, a small couch, dresser and the bathroom had a nice soap and shampoo stocked dispenser. The balcony was nice but not used often. So unless you MUST have a balcony, I would still opt for the cheapest inside and save the cash for the fun times. I did manage to view inside cabins and they appeared to be a good size. Two people in my group managed a mini-suite upgrade and those cabins were just amazing with full tubs and a separate dressing table area – huge and spacious – luxury if you can afford it. Freestyle Dining: The concept is to choose from a variety of restaurants in addition to the normal dining rooms; you can eat at any time within the operating hours. However, some of the specialty restaurants do assess an extra charge. Formal clothing is optional. Freestyle is an interesting concept but needs to be studied more. In every restaurant I visited I found passengers waiting for a table. In addition, even though the service was excellent, I found the pace to be extremely SLOW! As an example, there is no longer a wine steward; therefore in addition to their normal duties, the waiter is responsible for the wine and drinks; this was a slow process and added confusion to ordering dinner. I would suggest that passengers eat all but two meals at the no-cost main dining rooms and perhaps pick a specialty restaurant or two to try while cruising. The food at the pay restaurants is no better than the main dining rooms, just a different atmosphere. Food: Since numerous dining establishments is the main concept behind Freestyle, I have devoted a great deal of my review to the eateries. Overall food in the main dining rooms was nothing short of excellent. The variety of food at the buffet was good, but the lines were long and the quality and presentation were definitely sub par to the dining rooms. To insure that my party always was seated together for dinner, arrangements were made with the maitre d’ prior to sailing. We were given a table and were asked to arrive at a certain time each night – 6pm. The entire staff was accommodating and friendly. Le Bistro: The most talked-about restaurant. A charge of $10 per person is added. The food was excellent and well worth the visit. Once again, arrangements were made way ahead of time with the maitre d’. However, the same slow service was evident. Pacific Heights: Advertised as low-fat cooking and no charge to eat there. Arrangements were the same as the others. This restaurant gets mixed reviews with members of my family; some liked it, while others did not. Personally I did not think much of the food, but people who ordered the calzones were extremely pleased. Las Ramblas: A small tapas watering hole. No extra charge although you will be expected to order a drink. Our party just walked in and put some tables together. The tapas were OK, but the evening live entertainment is excellent. You might want to consider this place as a pre-dinner meeting place. Note: at lunch Las Ramblas serves as a soup and sandwich bar; numerous members of my party lunched there and gave it high reviews. East Meets West: Japanese food and sushi for a charge, depending on what you order. Members of my party did eat here and said it was decent. Entertainment: Almost perfect. In the evening, you will find music at a variety of locations throughout the ship. The Windjammer lounge had a piano/singer; the Dazzles lounge featured a variety of musical activities from live bands to disco, plus theme nights and little competitions (hula-hoop, twist, lip sync, etc.), and the Observation lounge had a live band and was also the location of the popular karaoke. A perk of the Observation lounge was that Latitudes Members receive 10% discount prices on drinks, a nice saving. The nighttime shows at the Stardust lounge were very typical of most ships and the variety and quality was 4 stars worth. Activities: Most daytime activities were OK, from the usual trivia to the Bingo. Nothing to write home about. Front desk/purser: I had to include this category since on most ships you rarely get good service and the lines are always long here. The SUN desk area was always fully staffed with knowledgeable and helpful personnel. Questions were always answered promptly, and I did not get the usual “I can find out” or “you need to..,” In addition I had a small billing issue and the staff member worked with me daily until it was resolved. All I can say is BRAVO NCL! Disembarkation: Great. Basically you leave when you want to depending on your connecting accommodations. You ask for a specific tag color based on your connections, however, everybody needs to be off the ship by 10am. You can wait in your staterooms until your colored tags are called, no need to be herded into public rooms. Overall: This is a wonderful ship and not to be missed. The ship is well laid out and everything seems to be centralized on two decks. The entire staff from busboy to the officers exceeded my expectations. I found walking through the well-stocked duty free shop on board to be a delight. The prices were competitive and the personnel were nothing short of wonderful. The only other negatives were the numerous kids/teens running wild and in an uncontrolled manner well past midnight; the SUN’s tendering process in ports of call is slow and gives favoritism to ship excursions (a policy that I find unfair); the non-smoking areas in the lounges is not well enforced nor well defined. Despite these few negatives, I would not hesitate to recommend this ship to anybody. Happy sailing!

This is a nice port that seems to get a lot of bad press. The port area is much improved even though the sales folk are a bit aggressive; this port offers a host of activities but the main issue is time as you have a long tender about 20-30 minutes depending on the sea state. Cave tubing is a MUST for any visitor it is a fun activity and if it is raining in the rain forest, be ready to get very wet. I always go with one of the original vender’s, “Reggie” he is funny, honest and everyone knows him. Nobody else comes close, his email is “regtour@btl.net” If you have done cave tubing and you watch your time, then venture off to Caye Caulker. To catch the Caye Caulker water taxi you will have about a 7 minute walk from the port gates. Once you get to the “swinging bridge” you can buy your ticket ($15 round trip). Be sure to watch your time as it will take about 45 minutes to get to Caye Caulker. The Caye village seemed to exemplify the Caribbean lifestyle. Bright colored buildings, quaint little restaurants, and tons of docks and fishing boats. It was very laid back. I booked a 3 hour snorkel with Sharks, Rays, and various fish for only $25.00 pp. If I had to do it again, I would just hang out in the village it was simple Beautiful and the snorkeling was not all that great. WATCH your time