JonSchick

Saguenay has been an unexpected highlight of this trip so far.  The town is small but the setting beautiful and we enjoyed a walk in the national park around an hour's drive along the fyord.  And nearly everywhere looks good on a lovely sunny day!

.... And the chaos continues.  We ordered room service breakfast for the first time this morning.  All nicely presented and looks good although shame they forgot to provide tea bags to go with the hot water!  There's something about consistently getting things right that needs to be worked on on the Zaandam at present; I'm wondering if they are very short staffed and trying hard to make the best of it.

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

We went to the Cantare show tonight, Lynn left early it was too loud for her. I stayed for most of it, I liked the set list but not necessarily the arrangements. Several people left mid show, I left during the final number (I  don't know if they had an encore) I do know I could still hear them clearly as I approached Pinnacle Grill. 

Lynn was feeling a little peckish at around 2100 hrs no food anywhere, that's just not cool. 🤔

The ship does seem to go to sleep early compared to any other cruise I've been on (food and entertainment).  I did go to the Lido around 10pm tonight though to get a hot drink and there was some food up there - I suspect largely for the staff and performers but anybody has access to it.  Pizzas, pasta, some sandwiches, fruit, cheese and a small selection of hot dishes. Couldn't fit anything in after the gala meal though, which was one of the best meals we've had on the cruise. 

Pinnacle Grill tomorrow as part of our HIA fare so will be interesting to see how that compares.  Family who went tonight liked what they ate although service was a bit chaotic (food came without ordered accompaniments which they then had to wait for).

One quick improvement in the MDR is to ask for a plate of fresh fruit or cheese for dessert - quite a nice option if the sweet stuff doesn't appeal, and the consensus from those who had it on our 6 person table tonight was that the Panna Cotta was memorably bad!  French people eating with us did not think it could actually be called a Panna Cotta.

My other half and I would agree about the MDR.  For example tonight's goat cheese salad starter came with no goats cheese at all, until she requested it.  And that's when she noticed the lettuce was gritty and not properly washed.  We've generally eaten quite well in there, occasionally very well, but it's not consistent, nothing is in the slightest bit memorable, vegetables are served as a tiny garnish rather than as core component of the meal, and the service is often slow.  In terms of food, this cruise is definitely a major step down from our previous Cunard experience, ditto P&O (although there is much else about the ship that I prefer to P&O).  It's uninspired safe choices that aren't done with any great finesse.  Not terrible, but not great either.

I can add the immigration museum was time very well spent - it needs about 90 minutes and is very nicely done.  Also had best dinner on the boat so far - by getting the lobster, which was presented very nicely with excellent accompaniments.  As mentioned above though, it's all gone a bit rock and roll tonight so quite thankful we're on Dolphin Deck!  Cabin 1822 is very comfortable, very quiet, and located close to front stairwell/elevators (no noise issues being near those either).

38 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

It's unfortunate that nothing seems to live up to your expectations. I hope that things improve for you.

Thanks but I wouldn't say that nothing has been good... I really like the ship (not a crowded floating apartment block) which is the perfect size in my view and in very good shape for it's age.  The crew are also absolutely lovely. 

Food and entertainment has been a little patchy and not as good as previous experience on P&O or Cunard (the latter I think is roughly the British equivalent of HAL).  In fact the enrichment programme generally has been very low key.  No lecture programme or guest speakers for example.  

Food wise, no complaints about the lido actually as I wouldn't expect a gourmet experience from a buffet serving in excess of 1,000 people.  But the other dining has not yet quite lived up to expectations given I'd previously heard HAL were renowned for good food. 

I hope my comments have been balanced as it really isn't all bad!

Just now, OlsSalt said:

Start polling for other people's Pinnacle Grill favorites - another menu to pick through carefully. 

 

Indulgent as it is, we love the Hanger Bacon as a starter, and after that it almost does not matter what else we order.  It is fun food, and that is what the evening is supposed to be about. 

The Almost Baked Alaska with Curry Garcia ice cream is not a bad way to put and end to a meal that at least won't leave you hungry. 

Cherry Garcia always was one of my Ben and Jerry's favourites so this may well be on the shortlist!  Best ice cream so far on this trip has been from a van called "Gelato Fiasco" in Portland Maine - some of the best gelato I've ever tasted.  

11 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

Around 6PM there was some classical music being played in the Explorer's Lounge and it sounded like a piano and Cello or Violin. It sounded beautiful. I was sitting in a comfy chair looking out the window on deck 5 near the Mix Bar and could hear the live classical music. 

Yes there's been a classical piano/cello duo today, playing a nice Bach/Beethoven combination plus another set of Broadway and pop songs.

Just seen comedian Buddy Fitzpatrick who did a good set - a cut above the very old fashioned comedians you get on some UK cruise ships and looking forward to his second set next week.  The theatre was half empty at 9pm but I suspect probably much fuller for the earlier show.

Canaletto tonight.  Nice change of pace from the MDR and delightful service.  Food was fine but nothing special - maybe we didn't choose wisely.  Overall ok when included in the HIA package but I don't think it's worth the (or indeed any) surcharge over the main restaurant.  I wouldn't go back if I had to pay and do have higher hopes for the Pinnacle Grill next week.

34 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

How do folks dress for dinner on HAL?  If her DH doesn't want to dress, should they just have dinner in the buffet?

As long as he is happy not to wear shorts or t shirts to dinner I think he'd be fine in the main dining room.  Chinos and a short sleeve shirt are fine, and quite a few people didn't bother dressing up yesterday even though it was a dressy night.

Nice post lunch period listening to Beethoven Cello Concerto as we head out of St John.  Hoping tomorrow's weather in Halifax isn't as bad as it looks like it's going to be.... Dive In didn't have any Beyond Burgers so to the Lido for lunch; salad and panini were unremarkable but fine.  

11 minutes ago, oakridger said:

 

.....And yet @Blackduck59 and his wife very much enjoyed the dance show!!

 

 

These two fresh comments about the same show give examples of how subjective so many things are on a cruise!!

🤷‍♀️

 

You're right - plenty of people seemed to enjoy it (although we could see and hear there were a number of complaints tonight at the restaurant reception area while we were eating).  Based on experience with other lines though, I'd say don't choose Zaandam, if really good entertainment is one of your key criteria, based on tonight it's just not as good as some of the competition.

We'll we've finished dinner in the MDR and frankly tonight was chaotic by the time we entered around 20:00 after waiting to get in for the best part of half an hour.  The crab starter dish was good (when they brought the right food having got the orders wrong first time around) and then it all went downhill.  The beef main was overly salted with little other discernable flavour.  The chocolate lava dessert was over cooked so the lava had totally solidified.  The dance show was one of the worst I've experienced on any cruise line; piped music, over reliance on background video effects and choreography I've seen bettered by 16 year olds doing their GCSE dance qualifications back home in the UK.  The band currently playing in the Ocean Bar could do with singers who can sing.  Sorry, I know this is a moany post.  Love the ship and the friendly crew but tonight has been mediocre at best.

Legal Seafoods is generally a good bet in Boston.  We've just eaten there too (but in Copley, near our hotel in the Back Bay area).  If you are staying more than overnight before boarding a cruise, our dinner last night was much more memorable though - Giacamo's in the North End...a great, characterful, cash only and very good value Italian place.  No reservations though and you need to be prepared to wait in line.

I think Imaging Resource will be my first stop for reviews but looks like the video work with Chris and Jordan is moving to a new home at Peta Pixel.

So a consistent view and I think my decision is made!  I have an OM-1 (digital) and will be taking 12-40/2.8, 40-150/4 and a couple of compact fast prime lenses (25/1.8 and 50/0.95).  The zooms and camera are more weather resistant than me, and this lot should cover most bases whilst remaining relatively compact.  I'm looking forward to the trip, on HAL Zaandam.

2 hours ago, pierces said:

I just took a quick look at the Lightroom metadata for our New England cruises, and both showed a 2:1 count between the wide-normal zoom and the short to medium telephoto zoom. I never felt the need for anything longer than 300mm.

 

Here are links to both galleries if you want to take a look at what made up those counts:

 

2018 New England & Canada (pptphoto.com)

 

2015 Fall Colors (pptphoto.com)

 

Dave

 

Good to know and thanks for sharing the links to your photos - looking forward to the trip in the summer and mind made up - I'll travel light!  

Thanks - I've reposted there too now I know it exists!  Cheers, Jon

I'm a keen photographer but also like to minimise the amount of kit I'm carrying, especially when long haul / Transatlantic flights are involved....

My question for photographers who've done New England/Canada cruises is what kind of focal lengths did you find most useful?  Do you see much wildlife on these routes (even whales?) which mean a longer telephoto lens would be helpful, or did you find that moderate wide angle to typical telezoom is more than enough?

In full frame terms I have 2 good zoom lenses that would cover the equivalent of 24-90mm and 80-300mm between them, and another that goes to the equivalent of 600mm which I'm thinking of leaving at home unless there's lots of obvious reasons to bring it along.  I'll have a small fast prime lens for low light and portraits, and some filters too (polariser, ND grad).

Any thoughts?  Planning what kit to take is always part of the pre holiday planning fun!

Cheers,

Jon

I'm a keen photographer but also like to minimise the amount of kit I'm carrying, especially when long haul / Transatlantic flights are involved....

My question for photographers who've done New England/Canada cruises is what kind of focal lengths did you find most useful?  Do you see much wildlife on these routes (even whales?) which mean a longer telephoto lens would be helpful, or did you find that moderate wide angle to typical telezoom is more than enough?

In full frame terms I have 2 good zoom lenses that would cover the equivalent of 24-90mm and 80-300mm between them, and another that goes to the equivalent of 600mm which I'm thinking of leaving at home unless there's lots of obvious reasons to bring it along.  I'll have a small fast prime lens for low light and portraits, and some filters too (polariser, ND grad).

Any thoughts?  Planning what kit to take is always part of the pre holiday planning fun!

Cheers,

Jon

I did the SPB two day tour in St Petersburg. I suspect Alla is similar. Absolutely superb. Short journeys on a comfortable minibus with lots of stops and a couple of boat trips. We got to see a lot more than fellow passengers who went on a coach tour offered by the cruise line (including going in to places they simply drove past). We even got to go on the subway and visit a local farmers market as well as getting into an empty Hermitage museum half an hour before its official opening time.

Sorry I can't help with the other ports but I'm sure you'll have a great memorable holiday!

The D Lux (Typ 109) is a good suggestion and the Panasonic LX100 is the same camera in more cost effective form so worth seeking out. I'd go for the Panasonic/Lumix as you would pay a very high Leica tax now for what is an aging model. There is no difference in sensor, lens or functionality between the two cameras although some Leica users are convinced the JPEGs are different (they aren't).

From a Pentax perspective...

I have the K-1. Actually, I have two. I have tried to get my wife to carry one, she refuses. Too heavy.

I have the K01 mirrorless. An ok camera, if you can find one used, pair it with a midrange zoom and it could be a good alternative.

I have the Pentax/Ricoh WG-3 and WG-5, weatherproof waterproof do everything pocket cameras. Until I get into low light situations calling for high ISO (e.g., church interiors) it is often a tossup between shots on the WG-5 and those on the way bigger way heavier way more expensive K-1. Assuming no cropping, no large-scale prints.

 

But back to my wife, given that she won't buy into my Pentax choices, her camera of choice is a small Leica D-Lux point-and-shoot with exceptional degrees of control for a camera of this type. And it has an electronic viewfinder you can use in lieu of holding the camera like an iPhone or iPad out in front of you. Image quality is excellent.

I'd avoid ships tours in St Petersburg. You need to be in a smaller group and have decent time in some of the amazing sights that require more than a quick photo stop. The SPB two day tour we did was outstanding and I think Alla tours do something very similar. I'd choose one of those unless you have serious mobility problems.