Just back: Maadam thoughts and Photos

[Sheebah]

Photos at the bottom:

Hi everyone,

We’re back from our first Canada New England cruise, and would love to share the wonderful details. FIRST, a warm thanks to all who have posted their reviews on this ship in the past…it helped so much in our planning. Much of what I will say is what all of you SAID about the ship…like “The Maasdam is a nice size ship with very little crowding and an amazing staff.” We got a GREAT deal on this sailing on an S category suite and enjoyed the services in the Neptune Lounge very much. We highly recommend this cruise to those who enjoy relaxation (this is a slower paced, history rich cruise) and a port intensive itinerary. Hubby and I felt this was a slower paced, slightly less active cruise than any other, but we were so pampered and in love (as usual) with HAL’s service and the usual perks we enjoy like great, cozy beds, tasty coffee with dessert, and our new love…the Neptune Lounge! We wanted to take Diana, the Neptune concierge home with us. This was a real treat we may not get to enjoy again unless these cabins are as affordable in the future. Oh, that coffee machine! To die for! My poor husband is still withdrawing from daily espressos at the push of a button. This cruise was wonderful, and we'd recommend it highly and do it again.

We loved the S category, and stayed in S022. The room could have been cleaner, and was notably old, but we still loved the size, and the wonderfully comfortable beds. The balcony was enormous and fabulous…more on the cabin "incident" later...

An aside….To whomever mentioned pink curtains in the Crows Nest- they are now white! (Was it sail7seas maybe?).

We never expect a vacation to be perfect, and of course…we had a little glitch. On the 5th night….we had a major plumbing leak outside our room in a hallway "fire station" (yep, that is what the door says- fire station) that caused a major leak into the carpeted areas in our room in 2 places- near our bed, and outside our bathroom. I stepped out of bed to go to the little girls room in the middle of the night and slosh…the carpet was soaked. EW! The odor was horrible (you don’t want me to tell you what it smelled like), but the concierge and housekeeping staff compensated us with a little shipboard credit and did their very best to minimize the trauma (despite a nasty stench, blowers in the room, deodorizers, towels on the floor, you name it!). They handled the problem very well and we saw no need to do anything further. Twice, typed apology letters were delivered to our room from the guest relations manager…the first with a bottle of wine. It was a bummer, but we just stayed away from our room and hung out on shore or in the Lido because it was too hot and stinky in our room. Things happen…we knew it was nobodys fault. A pipe broke and it flooded the hall too…it was pretty stinky there too for a good 2 days.

The ship: We have only sailed on larger ships, and very much enjoyed the 1200 passenger size of this ship. We like big ships and have been on the Westerdam and Diamond Princess. We thought we’d feel the smallness of the ship in the sense that there would be less to do and see, but we really didn’t. Instead, we had fewer flights of stairs to climb to the Lido (hee hee) and a shorter walk in heels to dinner at night! The ship is a little old, but like others have said- recent improvements make it hardly noticeable. The ship is classy, easy to get around and nicely done. I love how the CD refers to it as “Beautiful and Elegant Maasdam”…it was like one of those subliminal messages in commercials.

The ONLY thing we don't care for on HAL are the very limited Lido hours. Also, while it would be nice if they also had a "healthy choice" type menu (lower fat, sodium choices), it is still possible to make healthy dining choices everywhere you eat. We just liked on our other cruises having a “healthy menu” listing what was a little more nutrition conscious that night. Not a biggie at all. The omellettes in the lido are nice, and room service is fantastic. I'm not going to complain about food on any ship.

Ports and Shore Excursions:

Quebec…I head read on the port of call board not to miss out on walking this city. It is a must do. I’m so glad we spent the morning exploring on foot. It reminded me so much of France, and it was our favorite port by far. In the afternoon, we did HAL’s shore ex and we biked 15 miles to Montmorency Falls. Very strenuous because of a major headwind and rain, but if you like very physical Shore EX, it is fun and the reward at the falls is great. Ashleigh, one of the cruise directors staff was with us (there were only 5 of us) and it was a treat to ask her questions and hang out with her. She was great fun.
I vote for 2 days in Quebec!

PEI- We loved the red earth and were surprised by it…wow, what a sight sailing into this cool little place. We went to Dalvay by the Sea for the lobster lunch. Nice, mellow tour with a GREAT guide named Tammy and a cool, but quick stop at the beach and a lighthouse on the way there. Lobster is serviced bench style (sort of) and is cold, but delish! Served with a fantastic potato salad, insanely tasty sticky date pudding that I hear is famous. The tour is rushed, but what tour isn’t.

Syndey- Walking around in this City is a waste of time. It is a very depressed city. Get to the Lake areas or our of town for best enjoyment. We did sailing on the Bras D’Or. It rained, but we still had fun. The bald eagles right by the boat were an awesome treat. This tour was great, but sort of quick and rushed. I'd have liked to shop and spend more time in Baddeck. Such a cute town.

Halifax- cool place. We hired Jonathan Duru from Your Cab for an all day tour of Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Chester with another couple we met on the boards (Hi Drifters!). This was our most relaxing day. Great for photos and not rushed at all.

Bar Harbor- our only warm and sunny day really. Neat place. We did Acadia w/lobster bake and so did 160 of our closest cruise friends! Yeep, this was really crowded folks. There were three bus loads of us on the same schedule. Not my favorite way to do things, but it was fun anyhow.

Entertainment- we didn’t do anything really. No shows because we were asleep by 10pm each night and we’re just not too into the shows.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to shoot.
Happy cruising!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbOWTRuzcNGiQ

[SanDiego Single]

Thanks for posting. I am considering this cruise for next year about this same time. I am also in love with the Neptune lounge and that coffee machine. And the snacks under the dome. Did it only rain the one day? Did you leave from Montreal and arrive in Boston? Are you from the area or how did you get to Montreal? How was that?

[Sheebah]

Thanks for posting. I am considering this cruise for next year about this same time. I am also in love with the Neptune lounge and that coffee machine. And the snacks under the dome. Did it only rain the one day? Did you leave from Montreal and arrive in Boston? Are you from the area or how did you get to Montreal? How was that?

Hi there...
It rained in Quebec all afternoon, in PEI, in Boston and in Sydney. It rained a lot, and I hear it rains all the time on this itin!
We are from Central California so we flew through Las Vegas, then Philadelphia to Montreal..quite a long haul, but worth it for the experience.
Montreal is GREAT. Wish we'd had more time there!
Have a great time.

[middle-aged mom]

Sheebah, thanks for posting! Good review! You handled the plumbing/flooding situation very well, I must say. How would you compare this HAL cruise to your previous one in the Caribbean?

Karin

ps Just viewed your pictures, outstanding! Thank you!

[dr28326]

Sheeba, I can't open the pics from Maasdam. I would love to see them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the wonderful report.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Also was not able to open the photos!!

[doone]

I was able to open the pictures, thanks so much for sharing them, they were spectacular. I saw where you did the Ducktour in Boston, how cool is that. And the cow parade. My friends sister is an artist and she did a cow, not sure which one was hers, but I thought they were great. Too bad the weather wasn't better while in Boston, its a spectacular place.

Looks like you really enjoyed your cruise to New England. And how about those lobsters, YUMMY!!!!

[Sheebah]

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbOWTRuzcNGiQ

[Sheebah]

Sheebah, thanks for posting! Good review! You handled the plumbing/flooding situation very well, I must say. How would you compare this HAL cruise to your previous one in the Caribbean?

Karin

ps Just viewed your pictures, outstanding! Thank you!

Hi Karen!
Wow...comparing the two: Well, the ships while sized differently had a ton in common. The layouts were generally the same, and decor wasn't real different. Both were wonderful, but in the future, I'll probaby lean toward the warm and sunny, Caribbean type vacation because I love water activities and LOVE Half Moon Cay and the Eastern Carib itinerary.
The Canada/NE itinerary was much more mellow than the Caribbean and forced us to relax a ton more than we did in the Caribbean. We didn't even touch a bathing suit on this trip, while in the Carib, it was go, go, go with water activities. The Carib is all about sun and fun, this was all history and taking in the view.
Food, service and the ships were totally similar and a non factor in comparing the two for the most part.

[rocks]

AND review! Thanks for sharing!
VERY important question.....
Is Shy back to work yet? He told me he would be back at the end of Aug. I sure hope everything is OK for him and his family.
rocks

[NapTown Jim]

Thanks for the review and especially for the pics! We had a blast when we took this cruise back in May. We must have lucked out with the weather. Except for Bah Hahbah, the weather was pretty good if a little cool. We can't wait to do this one again! Your photos are only wheting my appetite to try to book this again sooner rather than later.

We are from Central California so we flew through Las Vegas, then Philadelphia to Montreal..quite a long haul, but worth it for the experience.
Montreal is GREAT. Wish we'd had more time there!
Have a great time.

What airline did you fly? Montreal shouldn't be that hard to get to. We flew American and had only one stop at Chicago both ways from Indianapolis. I agree. Montreal c'est trez magnifique! :) That city along with Quebec is on our must visit again list.

I think you mentioned it...but if they dump Sydney for a second day at Quebec that would make this itenerary rock!!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Great review and pictures:) I really enjoyed you pictures, looks like you had a great time. I want to return and do that cruise again. Hopefully in 2008, we are already booked full of plans for 2007.:o

Thanks again!

[middle-aged mom]

Hi Karen!
Wow...comparing the two: Well, the ships while sized differently had a ton in common. The layouts were generally the same, and decor wasn't real different. Both were wonderful, but in the future, I'll probaby lean toward the warm and sunny, Caribbean type vacation because I love water activities and LOVE Half Moon Cay and the Eastern Carib itinerary.
The Canada/NE itinerary was much more mellow than the Caribbean and forced us to relax a ton more than we did in the Caribbean. We didn't even touch a bathing suit on this trip, while in the Carib, it was go, go, go with water activities. The Carib is all about sun and fun, this was all history and taking in the view.
Food, service and the ships were totally similar and a non factor in comparing the two for the most part.

Thank you, Sheebah; you have taken two very different cruises on HAL within the last year, and I wondered if the product differed dramatically from one cruise to the next. It sounds like HAL is consistent in the essentials, which is good to know. Thanks for responding.:)

Karin

[Sheebah]

AND review! Thanks for sharing!
VERY important question.....
Is Shy back to work yet? He told me he would be back at the end of Aug. I sure hope everything is OK for him and his family.
rocks

Hey Rocks...I looked for Shy, but did not see him. I wish I had asked if he was there, but I think if he was there...I would notice because he is like a celebrity!
There were some friendly little people in the Lido singing Zippity Doo dah....loved them.

[Sheebah]

Thank you, Sheebah; you have taken two very different cruises on HAL within the last year, and I wondered if the product differed dramatically from one cruise to the next. It sounds like HAL is consistent in the essentials, which is good to know. Thanks for responding.:)

Karin

Karin...yep, exactly. They are real similar from what I have experienced. We are adding #3 to the list with a cruies to Mexico on the O in December...so we'll see if it rings true then as well. It is comforting to know that you will have the same warm staff, the same cooshy beds, similar menus, and predictable service to rely on. In addition, I have to praise HAL for their strict consistency with being on time to ports. On both of my Princess cruises, there were major issues with that. It didn't ruin our cruise experience with Princess, but now that I've seen HAL do pretty well with this (with exception to a customs - type delay of one little tiny hour in Tortola), you can see that they operate a "tight ship"...pun intended.

[Sheebah]

Great review and pictures:) I really enjoyed you pictures, looks like you had a great time. I want to return and do that cruise again. Hopefully in 2008, we are already booked full of plans for 2007.:o

Thanks again!

Thank you LaffnVegas! I have enjoyed your photos so much as well...it was a great itinerary. I just loved the port intensive trip...hard to get bored, but still easy to relax in my opinion.
Enjoy your upcoming trips...nothing beats the feeling of having a few booked trips to look forward to, right?

[Sheebah]

Thanks for the review and especially for the pics! We had a blast when we took this cruise back in May. We must have lucked out with the weather. Except for Bah Hahbah, the weather was pretty good if a little cool. We can't wait to do this one again! Your photos are only wheting my appetite to try to book this again sooner rather than later.



What airline did you fly? Montreal shouldn't be that hard to get to. We flew American and had only one stop at Chicago both ways from Indianapolis. I agree. Montreal c'est trez magnifique! :) That city along with Quebec is on our must visit again list.

I think you mentioned it...but if they dump Sydney for a second day at Quebec that would make this itenerary rock!!

Hey NapTownJim!
We flew America West...it is our only choice flying out of Santa Barbara, California, so we flew from here to Vegas, then to Philly, then to Montreal on a red eye. We had short connections, so we did the full on running through the airport like in the movies routine...it was hilarious. Glad you agree about Quebec and Sydney....Quebec is just so quaint and clean. I think it would be neat there in the winter, all snowy and quiet. Our trip home to Boston only had one layover in Phoenix, so no biggy there...AmericaWest is just a stinky low far airline. They really don't staff appropriately anywhere, which puts the customer at a disadvantage...
Take care!!

[Sheebah]

Thanks for the review and especially for the pics! We had a blast when we took this cruise back in May. We must have lucked out with the weather. Except for Bah Hahbah, the weather was pretty good if a little cool. We can't wait to do this one again! Your photos are only wheting my appetite to try to book this again sooner rather than later.



What airline did you fly? Montreal shouldn't be that hard to get to. We flew American and had only one stop at Chicago both ways from Indianapolis. I agree. Montreal c'est trez magnifique! :) That city along with Quebec is on our must visit again list.

I think you mentioned it...but if they dump Sydney for a second day at Quebec that would make this itenerary rock!!

Hey NapTownJim!
We flew America West...it is our only choice flying out of Santa Barbara, California, so we flew from here to Vegas, then to Philly, then to Montreal on a red eye. We had short connections, so we did the full on running through the airport like in the movies routine...it was hilarious. Glad you agree about Quebec and Sydney....Quebec is just so quaint and clean. I think it would be neat there in the winter, all snowy and quiet. Our trip home to Boston only had one layover in Phoenix, so no biggy there...AmericaWest is just a stinky low far airline. They really don't staff appropriately anywhere, which puts the customer at a disadvantage...
Take care!!

[purr_30]

Hi Sheebah,

Loved your review and hope to do this cruise sometime in the future. Sydney is my hometown so I felt it was necessary to post a lil info on the why it is so "depressed". Naturally I take offense but deep down, have to agree with you. :( This is one of the main reasons I haven't been "HOME" in a few years. With that said, I feel that Cape Breton has possibly the best scenery by far that I have ever seen. :D


Sydney suffered an economic decline for several decades in the later part of the 20th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century) as local coal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal) and steel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel) industries underwent significant changes
Sydney area was part of the industrial heart of Cape Breton Island because of the steel plant in Sydney and coal mines in the adjoining towns of Glace Bay and Sydney Mines. By the late 1960s the coal and steel industries had fallen on hard times and were taken over by the federal and provincial governments. In recent years both industries have been closed. The residents of the area began to look to a variety of other economic development possibilities. Tourism, music, light manufacturing and I.T. have become the new backbone of the area's economy.

I didn't post this to get flamed but rather to inform future cruisers who will be visiting in the future.
Remember, there is ALOT more to see than Sydney.

Hope this finds everyone well.

Purr_30

PS. Mom and dad live directly across the street from the sydney port. They have the perfect view!! :D

[Copper10-8]

Thanks Sheebah for the time and effort you put in to your review! Great job! Sorry to hear about the broken pipe!:( Quebec City is a great place to visit! Lot of fun riding the funiculaire up to the Chateau Frontenac! Last time we were there in 2002, HAL was still overnighting there giving you basically an almost full two day stay there. Wish they would go back doing that again!

[giggles217]

Hi Sheebah,

We were also on your cruise and had an excellent time too. We actually met. We were the couple in front of you in the Rembrant Lounge waiting to go on the sailing excursion. Your pictures are wonderful. DH has yet to get ours all downloaded and it was so nice to see yours. You did a few more excursions than we did but we kept busy.

I would highly recommend the Maasdam and this cruise to anyone. because it was port intensive you could see something new each day or if you preferred do nothing and enjoy the ship. We particularly liked the Explorations lounge with it's relaxing chairs, great views and wonderful coffee and pastries.

We didn't have the best weather but it wasn't the worst either.

We haven't yet planned our next cruise but a repeat of this one is tops on my list.

[NapTown Jim]

I didn't post this to get flamed but rather to inform future cruisers who will be visiting in the future.
Remember, there is ALOT more to see than Sydney.


I get that you'd want to stick up for your home town....and thats cool. The thing is (as I see it anyway) that Sydney just doesn't seem to fit very well with the other ports. There's a theme of sorts with this itenerary....its a history tour of the transformation of Colonial America from a strong French presence to the British expansion which leads to the modern Canada & United States we know today. Sacrificing Sydney for a second day at Quebec would only serve to enrich this itenerary since Quebec was the heart of Nouvelle France.

[1drifter]

Hi Sheebah!
What a great review of our cruise! We enjoyed the tour with Jonathan and you & Gary in Halifax--what beautiful country & what a beautiful day.
Did you mention that the temperature did not get above 70 on the whole trip until we reached Boston? Coming from Texas where it's been 100 every day, we noticed it, and even though we thought we had packed for the weather, Art ended up shopping for a sweater in Sydney. That was after the foggy, rainy day on the Saguaney River where the temperatures stayed in the 50s all day!
Although Sydney is not an exciting stop, we enjoyed our day there because of the nice people we met. We visited both Cossit House & Jost House and found the history interesting and the guides wonderful. Andrew at the information center was also great--we were on a quest to find some Canadian tea and he gave us directions and information--we hiked in the rain across town to the supermarket. Then in the afternoon we took the cruise ship tour to Baddeck and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum which was interesting. We got a little time for shopping in Baddeck, but that was rushed and we were one of those last buses back to the ship that kept you all waiting.
In Bar Harbor we went to Island Chowder House on Cottage Street for a lobster roll and it was great! (We were glad 160 of our cruise ship friends were eating lobster elsewhere.) Our guide from Oli's Trolley recommended it, and he used to own a seafood restaurant in Bar Harbor before he retired and started doing tours. I thought the Oli's Trolley tour gave us a nice overview of Acadia Park and the town--but I would have loved more time to hike in the park. Bar Harbor was a great town to walk around in though.
Hope you enjoy your December cruise. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos--you and Gary are such great photographers.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/553767867HNcvFo

[JunPOA]

Hi Sheebah,

Thank you again for the wonderful photos and review. This will make planning for our upcoming Maasdam sailing Sept. 30th alot more enjoyable and easier to navigate (forgive the pun).:D

Anyway this Q. is for both you and othe posters familiar with the HAL NE/Canada itinerary. We have planned to stay an additional night over in Canada on our own (rent a car) post cruise on Saturady Oct. 7th -
Given the choice of Quebec or Montreal which city would you overnite in and why ? (scenery, activities are the priority)

Thank again to all. Take Care.:)
Please hope and pray for dryer weather and NO hurricanes :eek: turnig towards NE/Canda.

[JunPOA]

Hi Sheebah,

Thank you again for the wonderful photos and review. This will make planning for our upcoming Maasdam sailing Sept. 30th alot more enjoyable and easier to navigate (forgive the pun).:D

Anyway this Q. is for both you and othe posters familiar with the HAL NE/Canada itinerary. We have planned to stay an additional night over in Canada on our own (rent a car) post cruise on Saturady Oct. 7th -
Given the choice of Quebec or Montreal which city would you overnite in and why ? (scenery, activities are the priority)

Thank again to all. Take Care.:)
Please hope and pray for dryer weather and NO hurricanes :eek: turning towards NE/Canda.

[JunPOA]

Hi Sheebah,

Thank you again for the wonderful photos and review. This will make planning for our upcoming Maasdam sailing Sept. 30th alot more enjoyable and easier to navigate (forgive the pun).:D

Anyway this Q. is for both you and othe posters familiar with the HAL NE/Canada itinerary. We have planned to stay an additional night over in Canada on our own (rent a car) post cruise on Saturady Oct. 7th -
Given the choice of Quebec or Montreal which city would you overnite in and why ? (scenery, activities are the priority)

Thank again to all. Take Care.:)
Please hope and pray for dryer weather and NO hurricanes :eek: turning towards NE/Canda.

[Copper10-8]

Hi JunPoa
Hi JunPoa
Hi JunPoa;)

Montreal and Quebec City are both great places to visit and spend time in. Montreal is the bigger of the two so there are more sights to see (museums, cathedrals, the Olympic stadium, tours, nightlife, etc.). Having said that, if I only had one night, I would pick Quebec City because it has that real European feel. Have dinner in one of the resturants in the old town, sit on a terrace and have a drink, stroll the small streets. Spending the night in the Chateau Frontenac would be high on my list. One of the items to think about though is that your cruise will end in Montreal. Not sure how long the drive between Monteal and QC is. Have a great cruise!

[JunPOA]

So sorry - ayyaya, my PC must've had the hiccouphs..

[Copper10-8]

So sorry - ayyaya, my PC must've had the hiccouphs..

No sweat! Happens all the time! Ruth C has a name for it but I already forgot it (mind like a steel trap) Something about great white...........North? shark?:confused:

[JunPOA]

Officer John of LA,
Did I hear you saying you were offering to finance our overniter @ the (Le) Chateau Frontenac ? (LOL):D
Gee maybe I could get a good deal on priceline (NOT):D
Thanks for the tips on Quebec vs. Montreal. Think I am trying to fit too many activities into such a short -time (am I the only one this happends to?) . :eek:
There is a ziplione (french language calls it something like arbor a arbor it means tree to tree swinging....plus get alll those wonderful sites in @ Quebec (Montmorency Falls for ex.) not sure we can get all the must do sites + zipline-ing all in one port day.:confused:
BTW , forgive my knowledge deficit in LA geography , but was Torrence , LA an area grossley affected by "Katrina" last year? (I know its off topic)
Thanks again.

[Copper10-8]

Officer John of LA,
Did I hear you saying you were offering to finance our overniter @ the (Le) Chateau Frontenac ? (LOL)
Gee maybe I could get a good deal on priceline (NOT)
Thanks for the tips on Quebec vs. Montreal. Think I am trying to fit too many activities into such a short -time (am I the only one this happends to?) .
There is a ziplione (french language calls it something like arbor a arbor it means tree to tree swinging....plus get alll those wonderful sites in @ Quebec (Montmorency Falls for ex.) not sure we can get all the must do sites + zipline-ing all in one port day.
BTW , forgive my knowledge deficit in LA geography , but was Torrence , LA an area grossley affected by "Katrina" last year? (I know its off topic)
Thanks again.


Time for that anual hearing check-up JunPoa;) Are you talking about the funiculaire (ziplione)? It's a great way to get from lower to upper Quebec.

And, BTW, that would be L.A. as in La La land, not "laissez les bons temps rouler" Louisiana;) No hurricane here, thankfully - no earthquakes for a while either, we're overdue

[JunPOA]

John,
funiculaire- I don't know or understand what that term means John. I've read it is a mean of transport from upper/lower Quebec - is this correct?

By zipline I meant like a harness rope course where you literally swing on a wire in the harness from base to base high up in the tress. There are several establishments in both Montreal & Quebec that offer this thrilling activity. We recently did it in Maui, HI and have plans to do it this winter in Belize - its a blast! Must try.:)

I was really lookin' forward to that overnite @ that Chateau Frontenac grand hotel too....:rolleyes: that would probably cost us our next cruise !

Sorry I missed the dots in L.A. - guess I missed my vision check too.:rolleyes:

[Copper10-8]

John,
funiculaire- I don't know or understand what that term means John. I've read it is a mean of transport from upper/lower Quebec - is this correct?

By zipline I meant like a harness rope course where you literally swing on a wire in the harness from base to base high up in the tress. There are several establishments in both Montreal & Quebec that offer this thrilling activity. We recently did it in Maui, HI and have plans to do it this winter in Belize - its a blast! Must try.

I was really lookin' forward to that overnite @ that Chateau Frontenac grand hotel too.... that would probably cost us our next cruise !

Sorry I missed the dots in L.A. - guess I missed my vision check too.:rolleyes:

Read you loud and clear this time, JunPoa!:) Yes, zip lines! We're looking to do them in Puerto Vallarta in DEC. I thought maybe you were aware of a new excursion from the top of the Chateau Frontenac to the Lido deck per zip line (one-way only of course).

The funiculaire (a kind of cable car) in QC is located inside the Maison Louis-Jolliet on Rue du Petit-Champlain. It takes you to the upper section of QC on the Terrasse Dufferin, just behind the Chateau. It is supposed to be one of a kind in North America.

http://www.quebecplus.ca/portalf/feature/55/images/95.jpg

No worries, I think I left the dots out of L.A. because of the nuts

[VABeach]

Thank you so much for posting your review of the Beautiful and Elegant Maasdam. You are bringing back great memories and I just can't wait to get back on her in December!!

Glad you had an awsome trip! :D

[Sheebah]

Purr,
You are so right...I should have been more specific in my review. Thank you so much for the education on this. My husband and I wondered what had happened...even the cruise "info sheet" provided by HAL described the city as "economically depressed" or something to that effect. I thought that odd, then when we got off the ship, we were sort of sadenned when we walked around- the downtown has all the elements of a should-be sweet little port town- great old homes, easy to walk streets, a lovely waterfront. You are right about the beauty. I can't imagine our cruise without Cape Breton. The area is so gorgeous, and we had a lovely day outside the city.
Do you think that in the near future, that with enough tourism, there may be motivation to put some focus (government or otherwise) into sprucing up the area?
Forgive me for being insensitive ;-)

Hi Sheebah,

Loved your review and hope to do this cruise sometime in the future. Sydney is my hometown so I felt it was necessary to post a lil info on the why it is so "depressed". Naturally I take offense but deep down, have to agree with you. :( This is one of the main reasons I haven't been "HOME" in a few years. With that said, I feel that Cape Breton has possibly the best scenery by far that I have ever seen. :D


Sydney suffered an economic decline for several decades in the later part of the 20th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century) as local coal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal) and steel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel) industries underwent significant changes
Sydney area was part of the industrial heart of Cape Breton Island because of the steel plant in Sydney and coal mines in the adjoining towns of Glace Bay and Sydney Mines. By the late 1960s the coal and steel industries had fallen on hard times and were taken over by the federal and provincial governments. In recent years both industries have been closed. The residents of the area began to look to a variety of other economic development possibilities. Tourism, music, light manufacturing and I.T. have become the new backbone of the area's economy.

I didn't post this to get flamed but rather to inform future cruisers who will be visiting in the future.
Remember, there is ALOT more to see than Sydney.

Hope this finds everyone well.

Purr_30

PS. Mom and dad live directly across the street from the sydney port. They have the perfect view!! :D

[Sheebah]

Thanks Sheebah for the time and effort you put in to your review! Great job! Sorry to hear about the broken pipe!:( Quebec City is a great place to visit! Lot of fun riding the funiculaire up to the Chateau Frontenac! Last time we were there in 2002, HAL was still overnighting there giving you basically an almost full two day stay there. Wish they would go back doing that again!

Really?Wow, the overnight would be fantastic! Maybe they will do it again...there is certainly time. Part of me wondered if we loved Quebec so much because it was the first day of the cruise and we were on that "high" you get when a vacation starts...but looking back at photos, it is just a gorgeous place!

[Sheebah]

Hi Drifter!

Ug...did I really forget to mention the weather? I'm with you! BRRRR.....I did not pack enough in the way of winter like clothing (well, winter like if you live in California...fall like if you live where weather is normal). Art was smart to bundle up and shop. He looked pretty cozy on our tour. We loved Baddeck too...such a great place...wish we'd had more time there.

Hey...did you ever find the tea?

Hi Sheebah!
What a great review of our cruise! We enjoyed the tour with Jonathan and you & Gary in Halifax--what beautiful country & what a beautiful day.
Did you mention that the temperature did not get above 70 on the whole trip until we reached Boston? Coming from Texas where it's been 100 every day, we noticed it, and even though we thought we had packed for the weather, Art ended up shopping for a sweater in Sydney. That was after the foggy, rainy day on the Saguaney River where the temperatures stayed in the 50s all day!
Although Sydney is not an exciting stop, we enjoyed our day there because of the nice people we met. We visited both Cossit House & Jost House and found the history interesting and the guides wonderful. Andrew at the information center was also great--we were on a quest to find some Canadian tea and he gave us directions and information--we hiked in the rain across town to the supermarket. Then in the afternoon we took the cruise ship tour to Baddeck and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum which was interesting. We got a little time for shopping in Baddeck, but that was rushed and we were one of those last buses back to the ship that kept you all waiting.
In Bar Harbor we went to Island Chowder House on Cottage Street for a lobster roll and it was great! (We were glad 160 of our cruise ship friends were eating lobster elsewhere.) Our guide from Oli's Trolley recommended it, and he used to own a seafood restaurant in Bar Harbor before he retired and started doing tours. I thought the Oli's Trolley tour gave us a nice overview of Acadia Park and the town--but I would have loved more time to hike in the park. Bar Harbor was a great town to walk around in though.
Hope you enjoy your December cruise. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos--you and Gary are such great photographers.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/553767867HNcvFo

[Sheebah]

June, sorry for the late response. I would choose Quebec hands down, but like the other fella mentioned, I think its a bit of a trek from Montreal. I bet the countryside getting there is pretty though. If you like a big city feel, Montreal is nice too...there is a ton to see, and it is "tres Francaise" (pardon my spelling)... and you will get the feel of being in French Canada. Both are lovely, but I'd choose a WEEK in Quebec if given the opportunity. Maybe you can take a few extra days and do both.

Hi Sheebah,

Thank you again for the wonderful photos and review. This will make planning for our upcoming Maasdam sailing Sept. 30th alot more enjoyable and easier to navigate (forgive the pun).:D

Anyway this Q. is for both you and othe posters familiar with the HAL NE/Canada itinerary. We have planned to stay an additional night over in Canada on our own (rent a car) post cruise on Saturady Oct. 7th -
Given the choice of Quebec or Montreal which city would you overnite in and why ? (scenery, activities are the priority)

Thank again to all. Take Care.:)
Please hope and pray for dryer weather and NO hurricanes :eek: turning towards NE/Canda.

[Sheebah]

Giggles- yes, we remember you! My DH was so embarrased that morning because his pants got caught on the stairs and he went for a tumble in front of the whole crowd. Poor guy! I agree with you on the weather...it wasn't miserable, just not sunny.
What did you end up doing in the following ports? Did you mention going on the tall ship? Please, share your photos...so many of us would love if it you would share them.

Hi Sheebah,

We were also on your cruise and had an excellent time too. We actually met. We were the couple in front of you in the Rembrant Lounge waiting to go on the sailing excursion. Your pictures are wonderful. DH has yet to get ours all downloaded and it was so nice to see yours. You did a few more excursions than we did but we kept busy.

I would highly recommend the Maasdam and this cruise to anyone. because it was port intensive you could see something new each day or if you preferred do nothing and enjoy the ship. We particularly liked the Explorations lounge with it's relaxing chairs, great views and wonderful coffee and pastries.

We didn't have the best weather but it wasn't the worst either.

We haven't yet planned our next cruise but a repeat of this one is tops on my list.

[dwbias]

GREAT photos!!.....Thanks

[OceanFantasys]

Great photos.. Thanks for sharing !!

[sandydownunder]

Hi Sheebah,
Do you know which movies were screening in the Wajang Theatre on your cruise?
Sandra

[1drifter]

Hi Sheebah,
Do you know which movies were screening in the Wajang Theatre on your cruise?
Sandra

I'll try to help out with the 5 I remember:
Mission Impossible III
RV
Heart of the Game
The Inside Man
X-Men: The Last Stand

There must have been one or two more.

[Mack704]

Sheebah; Thanks for the review and the great pictures. DW and I will be on the Beautiful and Elegant Maasdam starting Oct. 17. Southern Carib. Out of Norfolk. You mentioned the limited hours of the Lido. Do you remember when exactly it's open? It will probably be the same on our cruise. Thanks.

Harvey

[JunPOA]

HI again Sheebah,
You had referenced something i your review along the lines of limited times/ hours in the Lido - can you elaborate more on that concerns. Your tip on the swaeter was good to prompting me to remind DH to make sure we pack a a good warm sweater. Thx for all this great info.

I think we decided to the Zipline in the Eastern Townships of Montreal in lieu of driving all the back to Quebec (it makes me a bit skiddish about missing our flight the next day given any driving delay back to M.). Looks like the area actually has more to offer beyond the Zipline (arbre aventure en Francais) - they also have a so-called "physical adventure games" activity course like supension bridges sort of like a me-Tarzan You Jane environment :D etc.. We'll just stay at the B&B across the road from the zipline.

Can't wait to hear from other cruisers on the Sept. 30th Maasdam.:)

Take Care

[sandydownunder]

Thanks Sheebah. I have n't seen any of those movies. We cruise in two weeks so they'll probably be on the Veendam as well. 34 days to fill in . That won't be difficult.
Sandra

[OldCodger73]

We're so close to pulling the trigger and booking the 4 May 2007 Fort Lauderdale - Montreal 15-day cruise on the Maasdan. Beside Savannah and Charleston and the usual New England stops it also has an overnight in Quebec City.

Sheebah, on a northbound cruise like that, which side of the ship would you recommend? I'm assuming the port, is that correct?

pert_30, the cruise will be in Sydney from 8AM to 5PM. How viable is renting a car there and doing the Cape Breton loop or, perhaps, Baddeck and South Gut St. Ann's and Fortress of Louisbourg?

Although the question is addressed to Sheebah and pert_30, I'd certainly appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[Sheebah]

Hi June POA- Take a sweater AND a jacket (waterproof) and a few warm pairs of pants, comfy, comfy shooes for all the walking.
As for the Lido- it varied a little. A normal day was 6am-11am for breakfast, lunch from 11-1:30 (but salads and deli until 5pm), then dinner from 5:30 or 6 until 7:30pm then late night themed food starting around 11pm. For some people, these hours are great, but we got so used to Princess 24 hour buffet concept, that we found it limiting. Here's why. My husband and I like to stop by the buffet when other things, like the dining room are NOT open. For example, an after dinner snack around 8:00pm or a mid afternoon salad around 4:00pm. We don't like the idea of having to wait until 11pm to visit the buffet....we're long asleep by then and wouldn't eat that late. Bear in mind, room service on HAL is really good, and always available and the Lido food quality is the best I've ever had on the ship. I just wish they were open "between meals". Does that help to clarify a little? Just a personal opinion thing? I am so jealous of your zipline adventure! We had a blast doing that in Cancun and PV...go for it!

HI again Sheebah,
You had referenced something i your review along the lines of limited times/ hours in the Lido - can you elaborate more on that concerns. Your tip on the swaeter was good to prompting me to remind DH to make sure we pack a a good warm sweater. Thx for all this great info.

I think we decided to the Zipline in the Eastern Townships of Montreal in lieu of driving all the back to Quebec (it makes me a bit skiddish about missing our flight the next day given any driving delay back to M.). Looks like the area actually has more to offer beyond the Zipline (arbre aventure en Francais) - they also have a so-called "physical adventure games" activity course like supension bridges sort of like a me-Tarzan You Jane environment :D etc.. We'll just stay at the B&B across the road from the zipline.

Can't wait to hear from other cruisers on the Sept. 30th Maasdam.:)

Take Care

[Sheebah]

Hi there,
On a northbound, I'd choose port...yep! But, if you are cruising the St. Lawrence River, there is beauty all around you, on both sides of the ship. I'm not sure about the itinerary you mentioned, but it sounds a bit different. From Fort Lauderdale, up the coast I'd imagine they'd have you far enough out to see that you would not see much along the way...but again...I"m not sure. I've learned that you can't go wrong with a balcony on either side of the ship. For example, we stayed on the port side on the Maasdam, and to our surprise, the ship docked on the starboard side in at least two ports - I believe PEI and maybe Sydney or Halifax (so we missed the bagpipes). I think you will be happy either way, but I'd choose port.

We're so close to pulling the trigger and booking the 4 May 2007 Fort Lauderdale - Montreal 15-day cruise on the Maasdan. Beside Savannah and Charleston and the usual New England stops it also has an overnight in Quebec City.

Sheebah, on a northbound cruise like that, which side of the ship would you recommend? I'm assuming the port, is that correct?

pert_30, the cruise will be in Sydney from 8AM to 5PM. How viable is renting a car there and doing the Cape Breton loop or, perhaps, Baddeck and South Gut St. Ann's and Fortress of Louisbourg?

Although the question is addressed to Sheebah and pert_30, I'd certainly appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[calteacher]

As you are just off the Maasdam, did you notice what type of music was playing in the public areas? and what volume? Another posting regarding changes in HA has me wondering if it also occurred on the Maasdam, or only on the Odam. Thanks.

[Sheebah]

As you are just off the Maasdam, did you notice what type of music was playing in the public areas? and what volume? Another posting regarding changes in HA has me wondering if it also occurred on the Maasdam, or only on the Odam. Thanks.

I saw that post too. There was NO music playing on Maasdam other than the live music in the evenings as you walked by the lounges...very mellow and peaceful atmosphere. With the demographic on this sailing, I'd be surprised if they played the loud music without an uproar. I'm speculating, but I believe the crowd on the O'dam is overall younger than the Maasdam, and that could be why (please...nobody get mad at me for that one!).

Maasdam is one of the quietest ships I've been on. It was very nice.

[Sheebah]

I'll try to help out with the 5 I remember:
Mission Impossible III
RV
Heart of the Game
The Inside Man
X-Men: The Last Stand

There must have been one or two more.

Thank you so much for helping me on this one! I could only remember the one we saw- Xmen. We went to the theatre once, and really enjoyed it.

[Sheebah]

PS- OldCodger- I bet pert will tell you it would be easy to rent a car in Sydney with an 8-5 stop. I think it is about an hour drive to Baddeck....and well worth it. So pretty there and along the way. 1Drifter did the Alexander Graham Bell museum and more (I dont' think they rented a car though) and said it was great. If we returned to Sydney, we'd rent a car in a heartbeat.

We're so close to pulling the trigger and booking the 4 May 2007 Fort Lauderdale - Montreal 15-day cruise on the Maasdan. Beside Savannah and Charleston and the usual New England stops it also has an overnight in Quebec City.

Sheebah, on a northbound cruise like that, which side of the ship would you recommend? I'm assuming the port, is that correct?

pert_30, the cruise will be in Sydney from 8AM to 5PM. How viable is renting a car there and doing the Cape Breton loop or, perhaps, Baddeck and South Gut St. Ann's and Fortress of Louisbourg?

Although the question is addressed to Sheebah and pert_30, I'd certainly appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[purr_30]

OldCodger73: Hello, Sorry for the late reply, Renting a car is probably your best bet. You can drive to Baddeck and do the loop back to Fortress of Louisburg. Make sure you have tons of film or memory for your cam because the drive to Baddeck is breathtaking. Do some research on the net for Kelly's mountain, you should find some incredible scenery pictures.

Another suggestion, bring some warm clothes!!!
Unfortunately, it's far from the sunny caribbean weather.:rolleyes:

Hope this helps.
You can always message me for more info if you wish.

Oh and don't forget to wave to my ma who will be probably be sitting on her front porch chatting with cruisers!!!

:D


We're so close to pulling the trigger and booking the 4 May 2007 Fort Lauderdale - Montreal 15-day cruise on the Maasdan. Beside Savannah and Charleston and the usual New England stops it also has an overnight in Quebec City.

Sheebah, on a northbound cruise like that, which side of the ship would you recommend? I'm assuming the port, is that correct?

pert_30, the cruise will be in Sydney from 8AM to 5PM. How viable is renting a car there and doing the Cape Breton loop or, perhaps, Baddeck and South Gut St. Ann's and Fortress of Louisbourg?

Although the question is addressed to Sheebah and pert_30, I'd certainly appreciate anyone else's opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[purr_30]

Hi Sheeba,

SSydney use to be a great place YEARS ago. When the mines and steel plants closed, the economy took a beating and never recovered. Mining and the steel plant was all that most folks knew how to do. When that was taken away, they had nothing. :(

I don't see changes anytime soon. As with most Governments, promises are told but nothing is fulfilled. Saddening actually to see a great piece of Nova Scotia being destroyed.

I think the Tourism industry is what keeps the island going. Without that, they wouldn't have anything. :(

For all the future cruisers to Sydney, do some research on the net about the island before you go. We have some great history in the area and some may surprise you. :) Not to mention when the winter arrives, we have the coldest corner in Canada.:p Brrrrrrr....lol

Hey, how was the port? I remember they were making it bigger but never did see the finished product.







Purr,
You are so right...I should have been more specific in my review. Thank you so much for the education on this. My husband and I wondered what had happened...even the cruise "info sheet" provided by HAL described the city as "economically depressed" or something to that effect. I thought that odd, then when we got off the ship, we were sort of sadenned when we walked around- the downtown has all the elements of a should-be sweet little port town- great old homes, easy to walk streets, a lovely waterfront. You are right about the beauty. I can't imagine our cruise without Cape Breton. The area is so gorgeous, and we had a lovely day outside the city.
Do you think that in the near future, that with enough tourism, there may be motivation to put some focus (government or otherwise) into sprucing up the area?
Forgive me for being insensitive ;-)

[Sheebah]

Hey Purr,
The port was nice. The big fiddle is really cool, and the building we passed through was beautiful. I'd love to get back to Cape Breton in the winter...sounds crazy, but I bet it would be beautiful. Do the lakes freeze?

Hi Sheeba,

SSydney use to be a great place YEARS ago. When the mines and steel plants closed, the economy took a beating and never recovered. Mining and the steel plant was all that most folks knew how to do. When that was taken away, they had nothing. :(

I don't see changes anytime soon. As with most Governments, promises are told but nothing is fulfilled. Saddening actually to see a great piece of Nova Scotia being destroyed.

I think the Tourism industry is what keeps the island going. Without that, they wouldn't have anything. :(

For all the future cruisers to Sydney, do some research on the net about the island before you go. We have some great history in the area and some may surprise you. :) Not to mention when the winter arrives, we have the coldest corner in Canada.:p Brrrrrrr....lol

Hey, how was the port? I remember they were making it bigger but never did see the finished product.

[JunPOA]

Just wondering if it logisitcally possible to drive (rent a car ) BOTH Cabot Trail & Breddick in one port day if we get off the ship as early as humanly posible and budget our time appropraitely. We'd love to see both - heck we 'd love to see as much of the area as humanly possible in one day...:D

Our preferences would be the scenery and to lesser extent the history. I also like to browse antique shops and have heard the drive to Breddick is good for this.

Sheebah or anCC folks any past expereince with doing both

Thanks alot guys (gals too). !:D

[purr_30]

I saw one of your pics with the Fiddle. Thought it looked really cool. Big, but cool..lol

EVERYTHING FREEZES in Cape Breton in the winter. Why the heck would you want to visit in the winter? I would NEVER visit in the winter unless of course they experience a very very mild winter. :p Haven't seen "real" snow in almost 8 yrs. :)

I was reading on CNN a few weeks back that they are thinking of building a Space shuttle station in Cape Breton. :confused: Not sure what the outcome of that is but, would definitely be a huge boost for the economy and the citizens of the Island.




Hey Purr,
The port was nice. The big fiddle is really cool, and the building we passed through was beautiful. I'd love to get back to Cape Breton in the winter...sounds crazy, but I bet it would be beautiful. Do the lakes freeze?

[purr_30]

JunPOA: Realistically speaking, it can be done but it would be rushed. It should be done over 2 days especially if you love antiquing. The Cabot trail alone is 186 Miles (300 Kilometers). The view atop Cape Smokey is breathtaking.

Have a great trip and take lots of film


check out this link http://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Cape_Breton/Cape_Breton_Island_the_Cabot_Trail_Scenic_Drive.ht ml (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/destinations/Cape_Breton/Cape_Breton_Island_the_Cabot_Trail_Scenic_Drive.ht ml)


Just wondering if it logisitcally possible to drive (rent a car ) BOTH Cabot Trail & Breddick in one port day if we get off the ship as early as humanly posible and budget our time appropraitely. We'd love to see both - heck we 'd love to see as much of the area as humanly possible in one day...:D

Our preferences would be the scenery and to lesser extent the history. I also like to browse antique shops and have heard the drive to Breddick is good for this.

Sheebah or anCC folks any past expereince with doing both

Thanks alot guys (gals too). !:D

[MHMarkL]

Sheebah, Thanks for the great review and excellent pictures. We will be cruising on the Maasdam September 23rd. Very much looking foward to this cruise. I am a Fire Protection Contractor by trade and it sounds like you needed one on board. Well maybe I should bring some tools with me.

[hammybee]

Sheeba,

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. You have a wonderful attitude about the pipe burst. If you have a moment, I have 2 questions about your cabin:

1) Do all the cabins in the "S" catagory have "little girl's rooms"?

2) Did the handsome fellow, pictured on the bed, come with the cabin?


Thank you again.

[Sheebah]

Sheebah, Thanks for the great review and excellent pictures. We will be cruising on the Maasdam September 23rd. Very much looking foward to this cruise. I am a Fire Protection Contractor by trade and it sounds like you needed one on board. Well maybe I should bring some tools with me.

Scfipinc- lucky dog! It sounds like you are going to catch those fall colors! I can't imagine a more beautiful cruise up there. Pack those Alaska clothes...you will need them.

Yes...we could have used a little prevention in the fire station...but hey...it all worked out and they handled it as gracefully as possible. Looking forward to your review and photos upon return.

[Sheebah]

Sheeba,

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. You have a wonderful attitude about the pipe burst. If you have a moment, I have 2 questions about your cabin:

1) Do all the cabins in the "S" catagory have "little girl's rooms"?

2) Did the handsome fellow, pictured on the bed, come with the cabin?


Thank you again.

Hee hee! You crack me up hammybee!
Yes, and yes! It took me a minute to remember how I used Little Girls room...but now I know. Come to think of it, the "dressing area" in the bathroom area in the S could be called a little girls room or powder room I suppose. Fun stuff.

Handsome fella would be JUST as happy never moving from that bed and would KILL me if I told you he watched Tom and Jerry cartoons with glee throughout our cruise. Hilarious.

[JeffCoud]

Wow, great photos! Like better than most vacation snap shots. Someone smart was behind the camera -- you or Gary? Anyhow, great job! We are going on that same cruise in just 6 days! Can't wait!

Jeff
web.mac.com/jeffcoud

[Sheebah]

Gosh, thanks Jeff!
Interesting that you wrote. I just realized it has been a full year (exactly) since this wonderful cruise.
My husband and I both love to take photos. He is far more talented, but we generally take around 1000 photos per trip- so we're bound to get some winners. Bon voyage, and I hope that the service on the "Beautiful and Elegant" Maasdam as the crew calls it, is just as spectacular as it was when we went. Enjoy the St Lawrence river, and take some photos for us!!

Wow, great photos! Like better than most vacation snap shots. Someone smart was behind the camera -- you or Gary? Anyhow, great job! We are going on that same cruise in just 6 days! Can't wait!

Jeff
web.mac.com/jeffcoud

[PinkMEB]

I enjoyed your review and your photos. We were on this trip the week prior to yours. We lucked out on the weather having only one day of rain, but unfortunately, that was in Quebec which also was our favorite port. We'll just have to return one day. Too bad you had the problem with the pipes, but those things happen and you have to have patience which you did. We agree it's a relaxing trip. Sorry you missed the shows because some of them were surprisingly good, especially Barnabas, the juggler. We almost didn't go because I don't care for juggling, but he was such a comedian - used to be an English professor. The last night which was included all the entertainers was excellent also. We really had no compaints with the Maasdam, our 2nd HAL cruise.
Pink