Zaandam to Alaska, August 18-25, 2006

[middle-aged mom]

Hello all:

Just got back this morning from our first family cruise ever. :) Luckily, we only live a 15-minute drive away from HAL's Terminal 30 facility in Seattle. We're in the post-cruise process of unpacking and re-acclimating to life lived at our usual pace. I still feel like I'm on the ship as I sit here at my computer terminal to write this.

I tell you, cruising is exhausting! :p There aren't enough hours in the day to do all the activities that are available! I was disoriented the first few days, until I could figure out how to pace myself and find my way around the ship. My husband is glad he has the weekend ahead so he can catch up on some sleep! It wasn't the night life that did us in, but the early morning excursions in our ports of call! Getting up at 6 am on vacation!Yikes!:eek: We did some great excursions, and I will describe them later.

We're all feeling a little weary right now (in a good way), so I'll keep this first posting short. Mostly I want to give credit where credit is due.

Zaandam, August 18-25, 2006

Captain Werner Timmers
Hotel Manager Cees Tesselaar
Cruise Director Carey Bolton

Our cabins: S7022 and S7026, portside and right across from the Neptune Lounge. Lovely!:)

Our fine and friendly cabin steward: Deni, who saw to it that we never lacked for anything we needed. A maestro of the towel animal creations. Our youngest daughter ran to give Deni a big hug everytime she saw him.

Our Neptune Lounge concierge extraordinaire: Alma Arnejo. She is lovely, gracious, efficient, kind, patient, good-humored, helpful, and very professional.

Our table: 106 on the lower floor of the Rotterdam, a rectangular table for six by the window. Good table.:)

Our wonderful dining room stewards: Punto and Didith, lively, fun, and very talented at making paper bunnies and mice out of napkins. Also good at toothpick table tricks. Punto will be going home to Indonesia for a month in September so he can be with his wife when their first child, a daughter, is born.

Our superb Head Dining Steward: Asep Saepulsah, who personally made sure that my older daughter, who has numerous food sensitivities, was accommodated each dinner in the Rotterdam dining room. This kind gentleman is very professional and capable, and being a father himself, knew exactly how to address and captivate our youngest daughter.

The Club HAL staff : Thank you to Triana, the Club HAL director, and to Nicole and Tricia, who worked with the 3-7 age group, the one my daughter attended. Thank you, ladies, for your patience, kindness, cheerfulness, conscientious concern for the children in your care, and indefatigable energy. How do you do it?

I'm going to stop here for tonight, and continue this tomorrow morning. I will conclude by saying that Zaandam is a tightly run ship, with a crew that works well together. I have observed this past week that life on a cruise ship is heavily choreographed and organized. It has to be.

Any questions, run them by me, and I'll see what I can do!

ps Just want to add that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting two CC'ers and their familes from our roll call, Eastonce and Snorkelmom. It made the cruise all the nicer, to be able to spend some time with two such friendly ladies, and to encounter their smiling faces throughout the ship.

[Copper10-8]

Hey Mam; welcome home, thanks for the review and great to hear you had an outstanding time on Zaandam:) ! Didn't even know you guys were on a cruise! Looking forward to hearing some more of you family's adventures in the great white north!

[SeaGypsy1]

Welcome home!

Sounds like you had fun. So far so good, well written review, looking for more. Your good.:)

[RuthC]

Welcome home, M-a M! It's hard to get back to real life---but not impossible. You'll see.
Loved reading about the great staff/crew, and am looking forward to reading the rest of your report when you get around to it.

[middle-aged mom]

OK, well maybe I'll write a little more; it helps me to relive the cruise.:)

I've got a nice glass of wine here at my elbow to go along with the swinging "motion of the ocean" I'm still experiencing. Makes me feel like I'm at the Piano Bar, listening to Romeo, who, btw, actually finished his contract with this voyage, and is returning to the Phillippines.

Things we enjoyed about the cruise:

My mom really enjoyed being away from my father for a few days.:D They've been married almost 50 years, and she loved not having to worry about what he wanted to do, and whether or not was he comfortable. She just had a lovely, lovely time. We hung out together in the Thermal Suite over at the Greenhouse Spa, and felt really decadent.:)

My husband liked being able to pop across the hall to the Neptune Lounge, which is a wireless hot spot, and check his email. He and my oldest daughter participated in several of the onboard games/competitions organized by the cruise activities staff. They won more than 50 "dam dollars" that they could use to redeem for HAL "stuff" at the end of the cruise. The two of them really had fun creating their floating masterpiece for the shipbuilding competition. They had to build a craft that would float successfully in one of the hot tubs on the Lido while carrying a cargo of 12 coke cans.

My husband, oldest daughter, and I participated in the Culinary Class conducted by Marcus Jenni, the Executive Chef onboard Zaandam. That was fun! There were twelve in the class, and we split into four groups of three each. One group prepared "lemon fresh herb coolers", another group made "shrimp, jicama, and mango salad", a third did "ginger-sesame chicken with bok choy and mushrooms". and the final group concocted the dessert, "Pistachio pavlovas with oranges and blood orange sorbet." Then we got to enjoy our combined efforts. The culinary center is located in the Wajang theater, and as we were feasting, a steady stream of passengers was coming in to view that afternoon's movie, which was scheduled to start right after the cooking class. We were displayed like actors on a stage in front view of all of them. They seemed to enjoy watching us eat.:o

We all loved sitting in the Explorer's Lounge in the evening, listening to Elegance Strings, a chamber trio comprised of three talented young ladies from the Ukraine. We would sit at a nearby table and play cards while listening to the lovely classical music, or watching our graceful hostess Jean create magic of her own as she prepared lovely glasses of flaming Spanish coffee.

Tomorrow, I'll talk about Alaska and our excursions. We were fortunate enough to be able to go dog-sledding on Mendenhall glacier. It was the first time in two weeks that the weather had cooperated enough to enable this excursion to take place. Apparently, the glacier was fogged in for two weeks! We also did an independent excursion in Sitka, by boat, which my daughters would have enjoyed more if they hadn't felt rather seasick part of the time. We did see a tremendous amount of wildlife, however. Our final expedition was a trek to watch a couple of black bear hunt for salmon at Traitor's Cove near Ketchikan.

Even though I could just go on and on, I'd better stop before I bore everybody to death. :o

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Wow, sounds like you had a wonderful time, I am so glad:) Alaska is really a beautiful place to cruise, before we ever cruised there I was sure I would hate it till we tried it. I cannot wait till next year when we return.

Sounds like the Zaandam was great as well, which is good because she will be our home for 10 days over Thanksgiving:D

Thanks again for reporting in, I know how hard it is when you first get home. Also that feeling that you are still on the ship you may feel for a few days. The only cure is to go on frequent cruises we now no longer get that sensation when we return home.

[Tinknock50]

Sounds like you had a great cruise.....and no you aren't boring me!

Glad there is a great string group in the Explorers. That is one of the special things I enjoy on a cruise.

I have a feeling on your next cruise you will be doing more relaxation.:)

[RuthC]

Boring me to death? Don't talk foolish! I'm lovin' it. :D I want to hear everything you have to say about Alaska and about the Zaandam.

[Ferry Watcher]

Welcome Back M-a M,

I would love to hear your thoughts about the Zaandam Children's program. Also, any thoughts that your teenage daughter might have about her experiences. Did she do the teen program? Are there any 'must do' family type excursions that you recommend?

I am thinking about booking a cruise next summer on the Zaandam with DH and kids (7, 16) and your thoughts will be helpful.

Thanks,
Ferry Watcher (Mary)

[TudorSue]

M-a-m,
DH and I are taking our first-ever cruise on Sept 8th Zaandam sailing so I am eager to learn practical tips about clothing (especially outerwear), the ship, and shore excursions. We're booked for the 7:45 PM dinner seating. Since we're coming from the east coast. I'm hoping the 3-hour time zone difference will be an asset with early morning rising! We'll be in Seattle two nights prior.

We have booked Capt Larry whalewatching in Juneau and Island Wings flightseeing in Ketchikan. I haven't made any other shore arrangements so far.

I am looking forward to your next installment, and would love to hear suggestions and any things that - in your opinion- you would not bother with. BTW, is the wireless internet free or is there a charge? Any tips about disembarking for shore excursions, especially if you're doing a private tour? Thanks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome home.

Great review.

[middle-aged mom]

I'm glad I'm not boring you, so I will just continue on......

I'm attaching a link to the photos we took on our cruise. They are a little bit mixed up, but basically, here was our itinerary:

Juneau, where we went up to Mendenhall Glacier via helicopter, and did the dog-sledding excursion.

Glacier Bay, where we had our wettest and foggiest weather

Sitka, where we spent several hours with Captain Davey Lubin of the Esther G Sea Taxi viewing wildlife

Ketchikan, where we took a floatplane to Traitor's Cove to see black bear

Victoria, where we didn't get off the boat because much as we love Victoria, we've been there before. We had our best weather of the cruise in Victoria.

http://nwsheppards.shutterfly.com

Everyone's favorite excursion by far, was the dog-sled trip on Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau. As far as our girls are concerned, it was the absolute highlight of the trip.:)

[Tinknock50]

M-a-m,
DH and I are taking our first-ever cruise on Sept 8th Zaandam sailing so I am eager to learn practical tips about clothing (especially outerwear), the ship, and shore excursions. We're booked for the 7:45 PM dinner seating. Since we're coming from the east coast. I'm hoping the 3-hour time zone difference will be an asset with early morning rising! We'll be in Seattle two nights prior.

We have booked Capt Larry whalewatching in Juneau and Island Wings flightseeing in Ketchikan. I haven't made any other shore arrangements so far.

I am looking forward to your next installment, and would love to hear suggestions and any things that - in your opinion- you would not bother with. BTW, is the wireless internet free or is there a charge? Any tips about disembarking for shore excursions, especially if you're doing a private tour? Thanks.

Hi Tudorsue,

See you in a couple of weeks when we board the Zaandam!:)

If I recall generally ship tours are taken ashore first. Then everyone else can go ashore. If your tour time is close to the early tender times I would explain to whoever is in charge and they will help you get on an early one.

[middle-aged mom]

Thanks for the kind comments and interest. I will try to answer your questions.

My teen daughter did not do the Club HAL teen program. She is 17, and preferred to do activities with us (her sister, parents, and grandmother.) Believe it or not! My youngest daughter did some of the Club HAL programs, but also spent more time with us. We had three days of shore excursions, so that was one reason our 7-year-old didn't spend as much time in Club HAL. When she was there, she had a good time. I was impressed by the caliber of the young women working there. They are all from Canada or the U.S.

There were 140 youngsters on our cruise, and there were 5 Club HAL counsellors on staff. Not all the children onboard participated in Club HAL. The program is very organized, well-structured, and there is a diversity of activities. The children who did use Club HAL a lot were obviously having a good time.

There was never a crowd in the Club HAL area, which is not very large. If all the kids onboard had participated in Club HAL, it would have been quite crowded in there. But many children were travelling in family groups, and tended to stay with their families. There were a lot of children who used the Lido swimming pool. Many of the teen boys used the sports courts to play volleyball or basketball, although it could get quite windy up there. I did notice a couple of bored teen boys hanging out together once or twice in the evening, but all the youngsters we encountered were well-behaved and polite, and I am unaware of any issues.

My teenaged daughter is going to post her impressions of the cruise from her perspective. So look for her entry later on in this thread.

If you look at our photo album, which I posted above, you will get some idea of weather conditions and what we wore. I would definitely recommend rain jackets, sweat shirts, possibly a turtleneck or two, and clothing which doesn't get wet quickly. The pool cover over the Lido deck was closed virtually our entire trip, and it gets pretty warm in there. So swimsuits and shorts are the most comfortable attire there. Nobody ever used the aft pool as far as I could tell; it was just too windy. We did encounter a fair amount of wind, so I always wore a jacket while out on deck.

As far as disembarking for shore excursions, in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria the Zaandam pulled right up to the pier. Makes disembarkation pretty simple. We just got off when we wanted to.

We tendered in Sitka. If you can get be ready to board the first tenders around 7 am in Sitka, you will not have any problem. Later on, I think it can get busy. We had an independent excursion in Sitka, and were on the first tender out, no delays. We were suite passengers however, so that might have made a difference, I don't know. Nobody was checking for tender tickets, however. I guess the security staff figured that if anyone wanted to get off the boat that early, they were welcome to do so!

The wireless internet connection is not free. There are packages for sale. My husband bought the 100 minute package for a total of $43.95.

I hope that I have answered your questions satisfactorily?

Karin

[TudorSue]

Tinknock50-
Hi Sean. Can't believe the time is almost here! My goal is to be packed by Labor Day.

M-a-m-
Thanks for your helpful answers and photos. I have to check our raingear wardrobe. Here in the NY metro area we have winter ski-type jackets, but not dedicated rain gear--other than city-style raincoats. I don't think my trenchcoat is quite the ticket ;).

[middle-aged mom]

Hi there!

This is Middle Aged Mom's Young and Beautiful Daughter here... the 17 year old, not the 7 year old.

Sooo, I've been asked to give MY opinion of the cruise, always a dangerous thing (asking my opinion, that is, not cruising.) First, I would like to point out that my mother glossed over the whole whale-watching boat ride admirably. I wasn't just a little queasy; I was horribly sea sick. Terribly sea sick. I was leaning-over-the-side-of-the-boat-wishing-I-was-dead sea sick. I do NOT recommend whale-watching for anyone who is prone to sea sickness. It was the definite low point of the trip.

The best experience, for everyone, I think, not just me, was the dog sledding. I love dogs, that probably had something to do with it, but even those impartial to the canine breed would have fun flying over the bumps (quite literally, in fact - I flew off the back of the sled on the first bump before I learned to hang on properly.) A warning for those with sensitive noses: several hundred dogs do produce a most remarkable, and not always pleasant, odor. However, as soon as the sled pulled away from the dog camp, the scent disappeared.

Very briefly, the best things of the ship: the amazinging accommodations the wait staff made for my food allergies, the on board shows (take a look at the pics on the slideshow above - isn't Harry Whyte ( '60s music singer) cute?!) the Neptune lounge across the hall from our room, playing shuffleboard (although I was really terrible,) and building a floating masterpiece with my dad ( arguing over the palcement of the mast was a great bonding experience.):)

Also briefly, the worst things on the Zaandam: sharing a room with my sister and my grandmother, our shower which was always FREEZING cold (my parents say THEIRS was fine...) the lack of participation in ship programs (eg., ours was the only boat in the ship contest, a let down after all the work we put into it,) and the scarcity of people my age -there were swarms of kids under 10, a number of pre-teens and young teens, and a dearth of older ones. Also, I don't enjoy being on boats for an extended period of time; a few hours is enough for me. So although a cruise ship is big, it is still a ship which bobs in the water ( my stomach lurches,) and I would have been happier on land in a hotel. But that is just a personal thing.

So that is my opinion of the cruise, and I will be happy to expand on it for anyone who wants to know my teen-age mind!

ps from mom: I guess we either cancel our Christmas family cruise or use sea-sickness meds next time. Our older daughter was the most affected by the movement of the ship. The rest of us did not experience sea sickness to this extent.

[Preacher's Kid]

I was very impressed with your review. You maintained an interesting sense of humor as well as writing an excellent review. I could just picture you hanging over the side of the boat - a lovely shade of green.;) You must be quite a good student. I'm taking my teenage son to Alaska next May as a reward for graduating from high school (it was difficult for him to stay in school - he's not much of a sit-still kid). His 19th birthday is the day we arrive in Victoria - I'm planning on taking him on a pub tour. I believe the drinking age is 19 there. Will someone please correct me if I'm wrong?

Daniel is kind of an extreme kid - he likes downhill mountain biking, paintball tournaments and drumming in an alternative rock band. He's avidly looking for a shorex that will let him ride his mountain bike down a glacier! He's always wanted to go to Alaska, so this will be our first cruise there. We're looking forward to it.

Happy sailing,
Karenlynne

[Tinknock50]

Enjoyed the "teen" review! Thanks for posting it.:)

[Tinknock50]

Karin,
Thanks for the info on early tender to Sitka. My last cruise was on Princess, and they had a similar arrangement.

[Copper10-8]

Good stuff Karin and Karin's daughter! Thanks for the review!

[BM64]

Great stuff!! Keep it coming- I usually don't get sea sick but I think sailing out of Seattle can be rough, last year on the Diamond the first day was choppy and myself and daughter were a little queasy. I wouldn't cancel the Christams cruise.

[middle-aged mom]

I'm not a very organized writer; I often have so much I want to say that words just spill out of me in a haphazard fashion. But I do want to stress that this cruise was a momentous experience for me, and probably for my family as well, but in different ways. We are very, very fortunate to be able take a vacation like this.

My mother really appreciated having a luxurious getaway with her grandchildren. All the unique and unusual Alaska experiences thrilled her. She kept saying how wonderful it was to be able to have the opportunity to see and do things she never thought she would be able to before she dies. My older daughter says that "Oma" had the hugest grin on her face when it was her turn to be "musher" on the back of the dog-sled. In Sitka, on our boat tour with Cap'n Davey Lubin, my mom sat out on the bow almost the entire trip, and it was really bouncing out there! Cap'n Davey thought my mom was just the greatest grandma.:)

Bits and pieces:

Our documents said we would have 2 formal nights, 1 informal night, and 4 casual nights. So we packed accordingly. In actuality, however, we never had an informal night, only 5 casual nights plus the 2 formal nights. I mention this in order to assist folks with their packing. A good number of people did indeed wear jeans to the dining room on casual nights. Again, I mention this only to facilitate your cruising preparations. Some people stayed in their formal attire throughout the evening, and some did not. Nobody was ostracized or turned away because of what they did or didn't wear. Regardless of attire, everyone looked neat and tidy. Nobody looked sloppy.

The Daily Program is full of excellent information. Everything you need to know about the cruise is in that program, whether it be the daily activities, Alaska history and geology, navigational information, ship information, it's all there. In addition, there is a special program put out for each port of call. We were inundated with information! We are sorry that we didn't have the chance to do probably even half the things we would have liked to!

Any problems or glitches that come up can be taken care of. The ship's crew is there to help you. Just ask! We had a few minor snafus that were quickly and expeditiously corrected.

The cruising experience on a large, mainstream cruise line is probably best suited to adults. Children can be accommodated and entertained onboard, but it is a concerted effort. Adults just naturally take to the cruising life. But children and teens have a different focus, and it is hard to cater to them in a cruise ship environment. I think Holland America has done an admirable job with its Club HAL program.

I talked with Staci Balde, the Explorations Cafe manager on Zaandam, who essentially trained all the Club HAL staff througout Holland America. She mentioned how just a few years ago, Holland America had practically no programs in place for young people, and there were never more than 50-60 teens/children on any HAL cruise, at any time of year. Club HAL now offers eight hours a day of organized youth programs during sea days, plus the after hours care from 10 pm to midnight. In addition, they also offer supervised care in port. There was something going on for the youngsters at Club HAL every single day during our cruise, and we didn't fully take advantage of all they had to offer. According to Staci, because of the Club HAL program, the numbers of families with children on HAL has risen dramatically. We had 140 children on our cruise. Of course, this applies mainly to cruises taken during the school vacation periods.

Overall, food was good, with a few weak spots. It can certainly not be classified as "exquisite" or "exceptional", but it is definitely well above average, and obviously a lot of thought has gone into the menu planning. Food presentation was very good. We enjoyed all our meals in the Rotterdam dining room, and we had a great time with our wait staff. We looked forward to our dinner experience each evening, and certainly appreciate all the planning that goes into feeding some 1500 passengers and 800 crew members. We used the Lido buffet hardly at all, due to the proximity of the Neptune Lounge for us, where refreshments were available throughout the day. The new "Chef's Night Dinner" was well received by our fellow passengers, and everyone seemed to have a good time. (Personally, I thought it was not as bad as it might have been.)

I'm only a one-time cruiser, and I found myself somewhat overwhelmed by the cruising experience. My husband looks forward to more cruises; he enjoyed himself and was intrigued with the seafaring life. However, on our next cruise I will plan far fewer excursions, and leave more time open for just relaxing. I will also make sure that when my daughter says she is "tired", she is not in reality seasick.

Thanks for letting me blab on and on. I haven't written even a quarter of what I'd like to!

[cruisinjudy]

Beautiful pictures!!

[middle-aged mom]

Beautiful pictures!!

Thanks, my husband and oldest daughter were in charge of the photo-taking:) They put together the Shutterfly album I posted above.

[middle-aged mom]

Woops! I realize I never really described our excursions! But I think the photos may have helped to depict what they were like. Our excursion in Juneau was the Mendenhall Glacier dog-sledding, booked through the ship. This is pretty expensive, but it was a first-class operation all the way. We were lucky that the weather was on our side. We all enjoyed the experience of a lifetime, for us. The immensity of the glacier and the mountains is almost impossible to take in. I felt like I was in a surreal environment. The dog-sledding, as we have mentioned earlier, was easily the highlight of our entire cruise.:)

In Sitka, we went with Captain Davey Lubin of the Esther G Sea Taxi. Look here (http://puffinsandwhales.com/) for his website. Unless you are prone to seasickness, I would heartily recommend this independent operator. The trip out to St. Lazaria island was bumpy, as was the whale watching area. That was where our daughter got seasick. On our tour with Cap'n Davey, we encountered numerous sea lions, otters, whales, birds of all kinds, and an extraordinary number of bald eagles. Cap'n Davey is very considerate of the needs and interests of his passengers. Unfortunately, the only way to see whales and unusual birds in the Sitka region is to venture out where the waters are a little rougher. If I had known how my daughter would react, I would probably have chosen a different excursion in Sitka. It really was a beautiful and sensational tour, however, and Cap'n Davey is very professional and quick to respond to inquiries.

In Ketchikan, we did the ship's tour entitled "Bear Watch by Floatplane". We had a gorgeous view from our floatplane to Traitor's Cove, where we saw two black bear at the fish ladder there, after a short and pleasant hike. Two park rangers were on hand to answer questions. Our guide was a college student from Wisconsin who was spending his summer working in Alaska.

Almost all the pilots, guides, bus drivers, mushers, and office help we encountered on our excursions were actually students or residents from the "lower 48", who had come up to earn some money for the summer while experiencing Alaska. I think I would recommend that you call a local operator directly in Ketchikan to book a floatplane trip or bear watch, rather than go through the ship. Budget Queen over on the Alaska board has lots of good advice, and can recommend some good independent opertors in Ketchikan. Just my two cents.

Hopefully, our photos, posted earlier in this thread, convey some of the beauty and magnificent terrain of this exceptional part of the world.

[Tinknock50]

Fantastic pictures! Thanks for putting them up.:)

"In Ketchikan, we did the ship's tour entitled "Bear Watch by Floatplane". We had a gorgeous view from our floatplane to Traitor's Cove, where we saw two black bear at the fish ladder there, after a short and pleasant hike. Two park rangers were on hand to answer questions. Our guide was a college student from Wisconsin who was spending his summer working in Alaska.

Almost all the pilots, guides, bus drivers, mushers, and office help we encountered on our excursions were actually students or residents from the "lower 48", who had come up to earn some money for the summer while experiencing Alaska. I think I would recommend that you call a local operator directly in Ketchikan to book a floatplane trip or bear watch, rather than go through the ship. Budget Queen over on the Alaska board has lots of good advice, and can recommend some good independent opertors in Ketchikan. Just my two cents."

Agree, Island Wings took me to Traitors Cove last year for less and Michelle is a great pilot. A beautiful spot but didn't see any bears that day. :(

[Tinknock50]

I was very impressed with your review. You maintained an interesting sense of humor as well as writing an excellent review. I could just picture you hanging over the side of the boat - a lovely shade of green.;) You must be quite a good student. I'm taking my teenage son to Alaska next May as a reward for graduating from high school (it was difficult for him to stay in school - he's not much of a sit-still kid). His 19th birthday is the day we arrive in Victoria - I'm planning on taking him on a pub tour. I believe the drinking age is 19 there. Will someone please correct me if I'm wrong?

Daniel is kind of an extreme kid - he likes downhill mountain biking, paintball tournaments and drumming in an alternative rock band. He's avidly looking for a shorex that will let him ride his mountain bike down a glacier! He's always wanted to go to Alaska, so this will be our first cruise there. We're looking forward to it.

Happy sailing,
Karenlynne

Your son might enjoy ziplining....it is offered in Juneau and Ketchikan.

[hammybee]

Thank you for making the time to share your cruise with us. I think you boarded with reasonable expectations and therefore had no choice but to have a better than average, first time experience. Your holiday cruise will be more relaxing, given the ports, and perhaps more conducive to your vacationing style.

I am stunned, in awe, blown away by your daughter's apparent writing skills. It's obvious that she takes after her mom- oh the horror of it all !

BTW, have you finished the laundry yet?

[codyody]

You and your family. NOW I'm ready to go.

[localady]

I am so glad you had such a wonderful trip Karin!!! :D
My DH suffers with sea sickness and found that the patch is very effective and long lasting. I have also used them and have a supply for our upcoming Trans-Atlantic.

Please thank you daughter for her wonderful review. :D I can only imagine that being that seasick put a bit of a damper on the Sitka trip for her. So glad you had the opportunity to see Sitka, I think that is my Alaskan favorite port.

[Mary Ellen]

I had to LOL at m-a m's daughter's discription of the whale-watching 'experience' out of Sitka. Been there, done that - only I was inside with a bag on my lap. I did manage to open an eye long enough to get a glimpse of what may have been a whale's fluke.


My DH suffers with sea sickness and found that the patch is very effective and long lasting. The 'patch' isn't 100% effective. I was wearing one in the above mentioned situation. :o

[Aussie Gal]

Karin,

Thanks so much for sharing not only your trip with us but also your lovely photos. Also a big thank you to Leah for adding her perspective of cruising. That poor girl, nothing is so bad as sea sickness and knowing that if only the boat would stop and one could get off, one would feel well again. It must have been a hard excursion for her!

We have not been to Alaska as yet and are planning to visit both Canada and Alaska with friends in 2008. You thoughts regarding excursions are very timely and I have printed out the ones you recommended for future reference.

I am so glad that the cruise and your family time together was so enjoyable.

Jennie

[Aussie Gal]

Karin,

Thanks so much for sharing not only your trip with us but also your lovely photos. Also a big thank you to Leah for adding her perspective of cruising. That poor girl, nothing is so bad as sea sickness and knowing that if only the boat would stop and one could get off you would feel well again. It must have been a hard excursion for her!

We have not been to Alaska as yet and are planning to visit both Canada and Alaska with friends in 2008. You thoughts regarding excursions are very timely and I have printed out the ones you recommended for future reference.

I am so glad that the cruise and your family time together was so enjoyable.

Jennie

[kakalina]

Welcome back MAM. Thanks for the interesting and informative review. Please, keep the info coming. Thanks to your daughter for her unique perspective. I really enjoyed it. We will be on the Zaandam in 65 days and are fascinated by anything you have to say about her.

[middle-aged mom]

Welcome back MAM. Thanks for the interesting and informative review. Please, keep the info coming. Thanks to your daughter for her unique perspective. I really enjoyed it. We will be on the Zaandam in 65 days and are fascinated by anything you have to say about her.

Whoa, Kakalina, it's dangerous to ask me to keep the info coming!;) Believe me, I want to talk about our cruise on Zaandam! She's a lovely ship! I've saved every single Daily Program, menu, and piece of info abut Zaandam that was placed in our cabin mailbox, or laid out on the bed for us each evening. I don't have a scanner, but I'd be happy to look up any info you need and post it here for you. My daughters and I are planning to put together a scrapbook of our Alaska cruise as a keepsake.

One thing I did realize from our cruise last week, is that the personnel onboard these cruiseships come and go with regularity. As crew contracts expire, staff depart to be replaced by new faces. For instance, the Whyte Brothers (the Beatles singing duo) disembarked the day we did, to return to England. Romeo, the pianist at the Piano Bar, finished his contract and has returned to the Philippines. Many of the ship's officers on our cruise were not the same ones who began the Alaska season on Zaandam. It's something to keep in mind when we read other passengers' reviews. The staff they encountered may no longer be a part of the ship's crew by the time we prepare to board.

Hammybee, yes we have done the laundry:eek: , and now my oldest daughter is already busy packing her suitcase again for her "quickie" trip to Japan where she will attend our nephew's wedding in Kobe. Thanks for your compliments on her writing style. Our older daughter is a voracious reader, and has always done well with her English studies.

Sher, I'm not sure about seasickness remedies, much as I appreciate your recommendation for the patch. I don't think seasickness is the complete issue in my daughter's case. I'm going to be completely honest here, and say that while my daughter had a nice time on our cruise, she didn't have a great time, and she really doesn't want to go on any more cruises. It's not her "cup of tea". She's done a fair amount of sailing here in the Seattle area, and has not had any seasickness problems before. (granted, sailing in a small sail boat on Lake Union is not the same as cruising on the open sea, or bouncing around in a small boat off the coast of Alaska.) Needless to say, we've been having family discussions about our upcoming cruise plans for Christmas.

Thanks, everyone, for your kind encouragement and comments.:)

[southerntraveler]

Middle aged Mom:

I am so happy to hear that the resturant staff kept a close watch with your food allergies. I am allergic to wheat and shellfish and have only been on one cruise. My allergies have held me back from another one. Do you mind saying what you are allergic to?
I feel that people are more aware of peanut allergies than others. Did you contact the cruise line before your trip? If so, how far ahead?
Thanks for you help with this!!!:)

[hammybee]

I'm going to be completely honest here, and say that while my daughter had a nice time on our cruise, she didn't have a great time, and she really doesn't want to go on any more cruises.

What a dilema. If it is any help, I think the intinerary may make a difference.
It's sun, warmth, beaches, more relaxed and a "don't worry-be happy" sort of thing as well as the opportunity to say "We swam in the Panama Canal" (Gatun Lake- a stretch, but what the heck).

The timing of your cruise was a reason why there were not as many kids on board. College kids are back in school ( perhaps a blessing given your oldest daughter's age) and many schools in the Midwest are already into week 2. There will more kids on board in December. And all it may take is, one new friend. It's fate.

[middle-aged mom]

Middle aged Mom:

I am so happy to hear that the resturant staff kept a close watch with your food allergies. I am allergic to wheat and shellfish and have only been on one cruise. My allergies have held me back from another one. Do you mind saying what you are allergic to?
I feel that people are more aware of peanut allergies than others. Did you contact the cruise line before your trip? If so, how far ahead?
Thanks for you help with this!!!:)

Hi Southern Traveler:

Where in the south are you from? (My husband was born and reared in Georgia, and most of his family are still there.)

My daughter is the one with the food allergies. HAL was simply excellent in their response. My daughter doesn't eat shellfish, beef, pork, lamb, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, wheat flour, yeast, refined sugar, pasteurized dairy products, egg yolks, or citrus fruits. We sent our travel agent a complete description of what our daughter can and cannot eat. Our travel agent in turn submitted this info via fax to HAL's Access and Compliance Department, using a Special Requirements Information (SRI) form. HAL's Access and Compliance Department notified Zaandam's kitchen and medical department. The Zaandam crew assured us that they could accommodate our daughter's dietary restrictions.

Upon boarding, we contacted Mr. Sanjay Nariani, the Maitre d'Hotel, who knew immediately who we were and what our dietary request was. He turned us over to the Head Dining Room Steward for our dining area, Mr. Asep Saepulsah. Asep personally made sure that all the food served to our daughter met her criteria. The first night he had already ordered certain dishes for her based upon her dietary needs, and every night after that, he personally went over the menu for the subsequent night with her, and made sure that she was only served what she could eat. As she couldn't eat any of the salad dressings that were offered, each evening oil and vinegar cruets were placed on our table so she could make her own salad dressings.

Now, that seems like a long list of people involved in one young girl's diet, and a long process. But the separate HAL staff and departments communicated efficiently with each other, were responsive to our request, and the final result was that my daughter was able to eat her dinners without having to worry. During the day, she either went to the Lido buffet, and picked out what she could eat, or, because we were suite passengers, she had access to the food in the Neptune Lounge, and found many items there that she could eat. She also brought a few supplementary items from home.

Speaking of food, it's dinner time here on the west coast. My husband just got back from work, and the girls have set the table, and dinner's ready!:) Hope this helps you, Southern Traveler!

Karin

[Bucky3]

Thanks to you and your daughter for your wonderful reviews and for posting those beautiful pictures. Should you decide to have your daughter try "the patch" be aware that sometimes those cause problems. Our adult daughter sometimes gets seasick, she tried the patch, and had serious sight problems. We visited the ship's Dr. and he told her to remove the patches immediately. It took a while for her sight to clear up (everything was very blurry) but fortunately she had no more problems. Now she is a seasoned cruiser and seems to get along fine at sea! Thank goodness 'cause cruising with our whole family is our favorite kind of get together. I hope your daughter will try again! Our two teenage granddaughters, 19 & 16, and our grandson, 15, all love it!

[southerntraveler]

Dear Middle aged Mom,

Thanks so much for your reply. I am from Charlotte, NC. So glad everything worked so well for your daughter. Have printed out your reply for my husband to read. You are so kind to give me such good information.
Many thanks,
Ora

[middle-aged mom]

Dear Middle aged Mom,

Thanks so much for your reply. I am from Charlotte, NC. So glad everything worked so well for your daughter. Have printed out your reply for my husband to read. You are so kind to give me such good information.
Many thanks,
Ora

You're very welcome, Ora. One last word of advice, that I forgot to mention. Keep a copy of all the paperwork used in the process. I made a copy of our initial request to our travel agent, and she in turn sent us a copy of the response from HAL. I showed these copies to our Maitre D'Hotel once we were onboard Zaandam. It helped him to identify us and our needs immediately.

(My husband was born in Savannah, and went to Emory in Atlanta. His grandparents lived near Waynesville, NC for many years.)

Karin

[Tinknock50]

Karin,

Just thought of a question. Was there free hot chocolate served outside on Glacier Bay day? If so , where was it? Never did find it on my last two Alaskan cruises on the Veendam.

[middle-aged mom]

Karin,

Just thought of a question. Was there free hot chocolate served outside on Glacier Bay day? If so , where was it? Never did find it on my last two Alaskan cruises on the Veendam.

Sean, I know that pea soup, mulled wine, and hot chocolate (both plain or spiked with various liqueurs) were available outside on decks 3,4,8,9, and 10 that day. The mulled wine was only available on deck 8 (the Lido). To be honest, we didn't partake of the hot chocolate, only the pea soup, so I don't know for certain whether the hot chocolate was free or not. I'm assuming it was, but perhaps someone else here who was also on the cruise could comment?

Karin

[eastonce]

Hi Karin,

What a wonderful and complete review of the cruise - I am relieving it all over again. Loved the pictures - Ed's picture of the whale's tail turned out much better than mine.

Leah - your comments were outstanding. I had no idea that you have food allergies. You really did very well on Captain Davey's tour even though you were miserable.

I agree with all your comments - it was a great cruise. We were so lucky weather wise which made the experience even more memorable.

Carol

[middle-aged mom]

Hi Karin,

What a wonderful and complete review of the cruise - I am relieving it all over again. Loved the pictures - Ed's picture of the whale's tail turned out much better than mine.

Leah - your comments were outstanding. I had no idea that you have food allergies. You really did very well on Captain Davey's tour even though you were miserable.

I agree with all your comments - it was a great cruise. We were so lucky weather wise which made the experience even more memorable.

Carol

Hi Carol:

After chatting with you via our CC roll call for several months, it was a privilege and a pleasure to finally meet you and your husband Bill in person, and we enjoyed getting together with you throughout the cruise. :) I'm so glad we did Cap'n Davey's "bumpy boat" tour in Sitka together! I was very impressed by the way you handled your camera and simultaneously held on to Leah as she hung over the side of the boat. My girls liked you lots.:)

You and Bill are wonderfully nice and kind people. May the two of you have many happy voyages ahead.

Karin

[Tinknock50]

Sean, I know that pea soup, mulled wine, and hot chocolate (both plain or spiked with various liqueurs) were available outside on decks 3,4,8,9, and 10 that day. The mulled wine was only available on deck 8 (the Lido). To be honest, we didn't partake of the hot chocolate, only the pea soup, so I don't know for certain whether the hot chocolate was free or not. I'm assuming it was, but perhaps someone else here who was also on the cruise could comment?

Karin

Thanks Karin,
I did buy the souvineer cup with hot chocolate last year, but it didn't appear there was any free hot chocolate. Well, I will find out in less than 2 weeks!

[eastonce]

Karin,

Thanks for the kind words. The highlight of our trip was meeting you and your family - your daughters are wonderful. Tell Jo that I will send the pictures of the dogs very soon. I just have to locate them in my files.

Carol

[reinbough]

Thanks Karin,
I did buy the souvineer cup with hot chocolate last year, but it didn't appear there was any free hot chocolate. Well, I will find out in less than 2 weeks!
Just returned from the Zaandam cruise to Alaska from Seattle this morning. OMG - what a wonderful experience...it was our first cruise, but will NOT be our last, that is for sure.

In regards to the hot chocolate question...we did get the hot chocolate on the day we were at Glacier Bay. HOWEVER, free? hhhmmm, how to say this... I guess the hot chocolate would be considered by HAL free, yet - to get it - you have to purchase the $18 souvenir cup (which we did...2 at the time). When we got the hot chocolate on the deck, I didn't ask questions - just wanted hot chocolate, and that is how it was handled. This morning, before leaving the ship, I decided that I wanted to get one more of these particular cups as a gift. It was the same $18 as the original purchase, so that is why I say that HAL must consider the hot chocolate free (as when I purchased this last cup - it was empty).

Any other questions by anyone, I will do my best to answer them... I am so beyond jealous of those that are on the Zaandam that left this afternoon - I soooo didn't want to leave the ship today - I was in denial I guess.

Ciao for now...

[Tinknock50]

Just returned from the Zaandam cruise to Alaska from Seattle this morning. OMG - what a wonderful experience...it was our first cruise, but will NOT be our last, that is for sure.

In regards to the hot chocolate question...we did get the hot chocolate on the day we were at Glacier Bay. HOWEVER, free? hhhmmm, how to say this... I guess the hot chocolate would be considered by HAL free, yet - to get it - you have to purchase the $18 souvenir cup (which we did...2 at the time). When we got the hot chocolate on the deck, I didn't ask questions - just wanted hot chocolate, and that is how it was handled. This morning, before leaving the ship, I decided that I wanted to get one more of these particular cups as a gift. It was the same $18 as the original purchase, so that is why I say that HAL must consider the hot chocolate free (as when I purchased this last cup - it was empty).

Any other questions by anyone, I will do my best to answer them... I am so beyond jealous of those that are on the Zaandam that left this afternoon - I soooo didn't want to leave the ship today - I was in denial I guess.

Ciao for now...

That was exactly the same experience I had on my Veendam Alaska last year.
It wasn't $18, but you probably got a much nicer cup than I did.

It sounds like cruisers may have to make the request to put it in a regular cup, atleast on some ships. I decided it would be nice to have the souvenir cup anyway, so I bought it. Well I will ask for the regular free cup when I leave September 8th on the Zaandam!

Your not wanting to leave the ship reminded me of myself after my first cruise. I had this vision of myself with both hands on the doorjam as crew members try to drag me out. I am protesting....."You are NOT giving MY cabin to someone else!!" LOL

[Ferry Watcher]

Hi M-a-M/Karin,
Thanks so much for answering my and other CCer's questions. I really appreciate your daughter's candid review. She has wonderful writing skills. It should come in handy this year as she writes all those college essays! (She's doing Running Start this fall?)

Some other questions:
Was there a 'kids' menu that your younger daughter could order from? Were you comfortable letting your older daughter have the run of the ship (assuming that you did)?
What type of necessary electrons did your older DD have to have with her, i.e., ipod? laptop? DVD player?

How many folks were on the dogsledding excursion with you?

I loved looking at your photos. I had my two daughters sit down to view the slide show. They both thought the photos of your trip were cool. (I think our 'sets' of daughters are 12-18 months apart in age).

Can you tell me what camera you used in those photos? I maybe running out to buy a new camera before we leave on the Westerdam this Sunday, September 10th. DH read about one just reviewed in the NYT, but I would like to check out the camera you used as well.

Thanks so much for all your advice!
Mary (Ferry Watcher)

[SanDiego Single]

I wonder what would happen if I brought my own cup and asked them to put the hot chocolate in that?

[middle-aged mom]

Hi Mary:

I think you and I must operate on similiar wave-lengths:). I was just going over our Alaska cruise memorabilia for the scrapbook we're putting together, when your email came in.:) I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

1. Yes, my oldest daughter is doing "Running Start" at a local community college this fall. She'll get college credits for the classes she takes there this year, and because she is technically still a high school senior, the state of Washington pays her tuition. (Well, actually, we tax payers do.) Thanks for your kind comments on her writing skills. She has been homeschooled all her life, and this will be the first time that she attends a "regular" school on a campus. Several of her homeschool friends will also be going to the same community college under the auspices of "Running Start". She is really looking forward to it!

2. Yes, there was a children's menu available for our youngest daughter. She was able to partake of such gourmet fare as hot dogs, french fries, and chicken nuggets. Some nights, though, she did enjoy eating from the adult menu.

3. My older daughter had limited run of the ship during the day. She had to let us know where she was going, and when. We tended to do most activities together as a family, however, and so she didn't actually spend that much time away from us. In the evening, she stayed with us. We went to all the evening shows, which she enjoyed. We also attended the line dancing in the Crow's Nest one evening, which was a lot of fun. We spent several evenings playing cards together in the Explorers' Lounge, listening to the classical music trio there. Because we were getting up pretty early in the morning in order to do excursions and view glaciers, none of us stayed up very late.

3. Believe it or not, the only electronics we took with us on our cruise were my husband's laptop, our cell phones, and our digital camera. My husband has one of those fancy Trio cell phones, that he can also use to take pictures and listen to audio books.The girls took books, art supplies, and their cruise journal to work in. That's all, truthfully! Our cabins (S7022 and S7026) had a DVD player, and we were able to check DVDs out of the Explorations Cafe, which has a large selection of movies available.

4. Regarding the dog sledding excursion: Each helicopter held six people - five passengers and the pilot. So our family group went together in one 'copter. The helicopters took off and flew to the glacier in pairs, so there were only ten passengers getting off at any one time, with ten more passengers, who were already on the glacier, getting back on for the return trip. Each mushing team consisted of the head musher and three guests. There were maybe four teams total out on the glacier at any one time. Believe me, it is very uncrowded out there! I should mention to you that the dog sledding and helicopter flightseeing excursions do not take place if weather conditions are poor, and the dog sledding is dependent on an adequate layer of snow. If the summer's hot, the snow melts, no more dog sledding. So have an alternative excursion in mind, just in case the climate conditions don't comply with your plans!

5. We are not photographers, and I know practically nothing about cameras. We used a very basic Sony Cybershot digital camera, 3.2 megapixels. Very uncomplicated. We downloaded the pictures we took onto my husband's laptop each day. The Alaskan scenery is just so beautiful, that even the most amateur photographer can take decent shots!

Mary, I wish you and your family a great trip to Alaska next summer! Bon Voyage to you and your husband as you depart on your Westerdam cruise this weekend!

Karin

[middle-aged mom]

I wonder what would happen if I brought my own cup and asked them to put the hot chocolate in that?

Worth a try!:)

[RuthC]

Some other questions:
Was there a 'kids' menu that your younger daughter could order from?

I can answer this one. Yes, there is a children's menu---and everybody can order from it!

I've been on some long cruises when I just didn't want a big dinner, but did want to join the others in the dining room. Fingers and fries hit the spot.

[middle-aged mom]

I can answer this one. Yes, there is a children's menu---and everybody can order from it!

I've been on some long cruises when I just didn't want a big dinner, but did want to join the others in the dining room. Fingers and fries hit the spot.

That's good to know, Ruth, I didn't realize anyone could order from the children's menu. I "snagged" some of the french fries from my daughter's plate; they were good!:)

[Ferry Watcher]

Karin,
Thanks for the reply. Another question: How much time did you spend on the dog sled excursion? flying ond on the ground? If a family was on a budget, was it worth the expense?

On a Seattle note, did your younger daughter by any chance participate in the First Tee Golf program at Jefferson this summer? My two daughters did.
If not, you might want to check out this great program
www.thefirstteeseattle.org (http://www.thefirstteeseattle.org)

Thanks,
Mary

[middle-aged mom]

Karin,
Thanks for the reply. Another question: How much time did you spend on the dog sled excursion? flying ond on the ground? If a family was on a budget, was it worth the expense?

On a Seattle note, did your younger daughter by any chance participate in the First Tee Golf program at Jefferson this summer? My two daughters did.
If not, you might want to check out this great program
www.thefirstteeseattle.org (http://www.thefirstteeseattle.org)

Thanks,
Mary

The dog sled excursion took less than three hours total. Helicopter flying was about 20 minutes in each direction, time on glacier was about an hour, perhaps a little longer. Rest of the time is spent driving from ship to heliport, attending safety briefing, and "gearing up", ie putting on snow boots. This excursion is quite expensive. We did it through Holland America; you might want to check out the vendors directly for a better price. We used Temsco, and they seemed to be a good operation. Two other companies that come recommended are ERA and Coastal. They all have websites with more info.


I would say that, in our case, the expense was worth it. It's a very unique experience, one that will probably never be repeated, and it was the highlight of the trip as far as our girls were concerned.

Thanks for the info on First Tee Seattle; the program does sound very good. I will need to check it out.

Karin

[raadsel]

Having just disembarked on Friday, it is fun to hear your experiences and compare notes. When we first boarded, we heard several times from the crew about the wonderful weather you had experienced.

Hot Chocolate in Glacier Bay was being served in the $18 thermos. They had no other cups with them and I didn't think, at the time, to even try to request the hot chocolate in a normal cup. My daughter loves having the thermos as a souvenir, so I have no regret. I found it interesting that they had hot chocolate at the pier in Sitka for those getting off/on the tenders and it was free (it was served in paper cups and much appreciated).

I can also echo that anyone can order from the kid's menu, we had four teen girls in our group who decided a couple of nights to have kid's items. From what I could tell, the kid's menu doesn't change during the cruise, it was always the same "around the world" menu with such staples (as mentioned) as pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, etc.

I'll try to get a review posted in the next few days as well as links to pictures.

[Ferry Watcher]

Karin,
Some more questions:
I believe you said that the informal night just didn't happen. On the casual nights, did you change out of your day clothes into 'dining room attire' type clothing? I'm debating bring along a pair of black dress pants to wear on the casual nights to stay away from jeans in the dining room. Did guys change from jeans into khakis for casual night dining? Does it matter what you wear on casual night?

On excursion days, did you eat lunch off the ship? If you do any excursion in Victoria, will you miss your last night of dining onboard?

Silly question: can you just order a glass of wine at dinner rather than a full bottle?

If you went to any evening shows, did you younger daughter accompany the family, or did she stay with her grandmother, or did you ever use the evening child care (assuming that one was offered)?

Thanks for the answers!

(P.S. The First Tee is amazing. They even have a girls only class with women instructors)

Thanks!
Mary

[middle-aged mom]

Hi Mary:

That is correct, the informal night on our cruise never materialized. We did freshen up for dinnner each casual evening, and none of us wore jeans in the dining room. However, plenty of other folks were wearing jeans on casual nights. No problem for us, just an observation, and as I mentioned before, nobody was turned away from any venue for wearing jeans. I did bring a pair of nice, comfy black slacks with different tops to wear for the casual evenings. Khakis would also be fine. The final evening, in Victoria, where we elected not to get off, we wore the informal attire we had brought along with us, even though officially it was another casual night.

We bought some delicious fish and chips off the pier in Ketchikan, right near the ship. We didn't eat at any of the local restaurants in Juneau. In Sitka, I recommend The Back Door Cafe, which is a small, informal coffee/soup and sandwich kind of place, located behind a bookstore, I think it's called the Old Harbor Bookstore. This is a local hangout, and all the food on the premises is made from scratch. Very delicious! Chairs and tables are limited and communal, meaning you may have to share a table with others (just like on the cruise ship:) ). No problem, folks were very nice.

Zaandam was docked in Victoria from 8 pm to 12 midnight, with everyone expected to be aboard at 11:30 pm. For this port of call, early seating dinner takes place as one seating, both upper and lower levels, at 5 pm. For the main seating dinner, dinner is open seating, served on the upper level only, from 7:15 to 8:00 pm. So, if you want to eat on the ship before your excursion, you can do so. The Lido is open for dinner from 5:30-7:30 pm.

Yes, you can just order a glass of wine with dinner. There is a selection of wines by the glass, or the bottle, available.

The evening shows I would describe as family-friendly, meaning there is nothing presented that is unsuitable for children, unless they might be bored by sitting still for more than an hour. Some of the dance numbers are somewhat flirty and suggestive, but nothing excessive or objectionable, at least to me. My husband stayed with our youngest daughter, however, on the show nights, as he wasn't interested, and our youngest daughter was content to stay with him in the cabin and watch a DVD we checked out from the Explorations Cafe. The same applies to the Whyte Brothers show; my mom and older daughter and I attended, my husband and younger daughter did not.

We did all go together to the magician's show which was offered one evening. We found him (Harry Maurer) to be funny and entertaining, and again, any humor that might be considered slightly risque was presented in such a way that it went right over our younger daughter's head.

And finally, there are no silly questions here, as far as I'm concerned.:) I enjoy answering your questions; it helps me relive my first cruise experience.:)

Karin

[middle-aged mom]

I'll try to get a review posted in the next few days as well as links to pictures.

Great, Raadsel! Looking forward to your impressions of both the same ship and itinerary we had. Welcome home:) Wilkommen naar huis!

Karin

[SanDiego Single]

Middle,

Thanks for taking the time to answer each of the questions posed to you. It takes a lot time to read and respond to each question. I think I can speak for all that have asked and you have answered when I say THANKS!!

[Ferry Watcher]

Karin,
I second what SanDiego Single wrote about your willingness to answer every question so throughly. I really appreciate you taking the time to do it. Thank you!

I would also like to say that I liked your compassionate response to Bluejay2 regarding their unfortunate situation in Alaska when the heavy rains washed out the roads, and HAL's poor response to those 29 stranded passenagers that HAL seemed to have lost track of. (Thread - "When passengers stick together"). Well done!

I can see where your daughter got her writing skills from!

Again, Thank you!
Mary

[Tinknock50]

Karin,
We are planning a meeting for our Roll Call group September 8th.
Could you check your daily program (if you still have them) to see when the Strings are playing in the Explorers Lounge on the first Sea day?
We'd like to plan our meeting for around then.

Thanks,

[raadsel]

Tinknock,

The Elegance Strings played the first night between 9:15 - 11:15. The were in the Explorers lounge every night in the same general time frame. I also enjoyed going and listening to them. Also, Tom Theobold was the pianist/singer in the piano bar last week; he always had a large crowd listening and appeared to be quite good.

One question you previously asked, I did not see anyplace in the Seattle airport to buy the toiletries that are now prohibited from carry ons. I did see a few (probably not all the items you would want and no choice in size or products) in the liquor/cigar/candy store on the Zaandam. Not sure that it matters but the stores on board will not open until later in the evening (maybe 8 p.m.) on the day you embark.

[middle-aged mom]

Karin,
We are planning a meeting for our Roll Call group September 8th.
Could you check your daily program (if you still have them) to see when the Strings are playing in the Explorers Lounge on the first Sea day?
We'd like to plan our meeting for around then.

Thanks,

Sean:

Are you planning on meeting Friday, September 8th, departure day, or the first sea day, Saturday, September 9th? I'm not sure from your post, so I'll give you the times for both days. I'm assuming that your cruise schedule will be the same as ours. On our cruise, the Elegance Strings played in the Explorers' Lounge, deck 5, on Friday from 9:15-11:15 pm, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30 pm. They do take a little break in the middle of their performance. What a good place to choose for a CC gathering! The Explorers' Lounge was our favorite evening "hangout" on our cruise.:)

Karin

ps Thanks, Raadsel; you and I were answering Tinknock at the same time!

[middle-aged mom]

Karin,
Again, Thank you!
Mary

Mary, you're welcome!:)

Karin

[raadsel]

Karin,

Thanks for the welcome home! I hated leaving the Zaandam, it seems like someone shortened the week. ;) OTOH, it is good to be home. I'm slowly writing an extended version of the cruise, trying to remember many of the details. As that is finished I'll narrow it down into a review that will fit better here. As for pictures, I'm working on uploading some of them now.

I will also second the idea that the Explorers Lounge is a great place for a gathering. The captain held a reception there one evening, it was beautiful setting and the Elegance Strings added to the ambiance.

[middle-aged mom]

Middle,

Thanks for taking the time to answer each of the questions posed to you.

You and everyone else is very welcome. I feel a little guilty, posting so much on this thread, but it's almost as much fun as the cruise itself!;) So I'm glad people are still reading and getting some of their questions answered. This was my first cruise, so I am definitely NOT the expert!

Karin

[SherriM]

You and everyone else is very welcome. I feel a little guilty, posting so much on this thread, but it's almost as much fun as the cruise itself!;) So I'm glad people are still reading and getting some of their questions answered. This was my first cruise, so I am definitely NOT the expert!

Karin

I felt like I must say thank you also. I saw your initial title/subject and read the entire string as we will be on the Zaandam in February but our route takes us to Hawaii. This being said - your ship observations are most appreciated.

I too enjoyed your daughters submission. I echo that she is an excellent communicator!

Thank you again for your excellent and thoughtful entries!

[Tinknock50]

Sean:

Are you planning on meeting Friday, September 8th, departure day, or the first sea day, Saturday, September 9th? I'm not sure from your post, so I'll give you the times for both days. I'm assuming that your cruise schedule will be the same as ours. On our cruise, the Elegance Strings played in the Explorers' Lounge, deck 5, on Friday from 9:15-11:15 pm, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30 pm. They do take a little break in the middle of their performance. What a good place to choose for a CC gathering! The Explorers' Lounge was our favorite evening "hangout" on our cruise.:)

Karin

ps Thanks, Raadsel; you and I were answering Tinknock at the same time!

Thanks Karin and Raadsel !
I meant Saturday....but before dinner so I guess they won't be playing then. Maybe we will meet in the Crows Nest instead with its nice view of the sea.

[Ferry Watcher]

Karin,
DH and I leave on the Westerdam this afternoon (Sunday). I'm hoping that we both love the cruise so much that we decide to take the kids next summer. If we do, the Zaandam is my ship of choice. Thanks again for your great post cruise review and answering my and other CCer's questions.

Mary
(Ferry Watcher)

[middle-aged mom]

Karin,
DH and I leave on the Westerdam this afternoon (Sunday). I'm hoping that we both love the cruise so much that we decide to take the kids next summer. If we do, the Zaandam is my ship of choice. Thanks again for your great post cruise review and answering my and other CCer's questions.

Mary
(Ferry Watcher)

Mary:

Imagine my surprise when this thread popped up again this morning! It's the cruise that keeps on giving.....;)

Bon Voyage to you and your husband! Have a wonderful time:) I hope you love the cruise, too. May you have calm seas and sunny skies (or at least dry skies....)

Karin