Ruthenium

I don’t know if it’ll be that long but he’s had contracts extended in the past

Not to worry about your experience in NS Billboard Onboard — my son Gabriel will be in the Nieuw Statendam’s Billboard Onboard starting at the beginning of Feb and he has perfect pitch LOL — there was a recent nice comment about his singing in BO on the Eurodam in this forum. (He doesn’t yet know who his partner will be though.)

My son has been on the Eurodam playing in Billboard Online — we went over New Year’s and everybody was singing along (we tried to film him and kept breaking into (less tuneful) song ourselves!)

We were on the Euro over New Year’s Eve — wonder if our paths crossed!

We just got off the Eurodam — lovely ship (my 3rd HAL ship). The sushi bar area in the Tamarind is also a nice no-cover a la carte venue within Tamarind.

Gabe and Stephen leave the 24th but Stephen said two friends of his are replacing them and they’re very good. (We just finished a week with G and S and they were great - « Bohemian Rhapsody » got a standing ovation last night!)

By the way, the Billboard pianists on the Eurodam usually do one request set a night and have an all-request show one day, so be thinking of your favorite songs...

LOL -- I'm a musician too -- and I know everybody's got their opinions, not a problem, this mom won't come after you...it's subjective and I've been on enough cruises to know that not every musician in every venue is wonderful. (I've winced...)

My son is one of the two Billboard Onboard singer-pianists on the Eurodam for the next few months -- and from what he says, he and his fellow pianist get along really well and are happy to take requests on music from various decades. He's a pretty wonderful singer (with perfect pitch, so your ears will appreciate it) and his performing partner has many skills as well. People DO sing along and "it's nice," he says, and they try to do a lot of call and response!

Just got off the Volendam, Deck 1. Had a lighted magnifying makeup mirror on the dresser plus another, unlighted, in a bag in a drawer

I traveled solo on the Zaandam and loved curling up in the library with a latte and an adventure memoir — I found it cozy. I ate in the Lido Grill most of the time and met many people. My son’s in the Ocean Bar Band so I’d hang out there solo in the evenings, too, chatting with others. and went to shows. Some excursions I did on my own.

My son’s in the Ocean Bar Band — they play a wide variety of songs, from Great American Songbook classics like “As Time Goes By” to hits from all the decades until today, plus some interesting songs in other languages and crowd favorites. They definitely create sets for both ballroom and pop dancers. My husband and I just finished a 16-day Zaandam Caribbean cruise and I’ve never danced so much (and I’m not much of a dancer LOL). They also played for the New Year’s Eve party and had a crowd dancing for hours on the Lido Deck!

I’m so sorry to hear about the incident. My son is on the cruise, playing piano and singing in the Ocean Bar Band, and even though he’s a young guy, I’m heartened that he goes onshore with his mates. It sounds as if you were strong and wise through the incident, though; kudos for that!

Funny that they’d show “Death on the Nile” a few days before going down the Ne but then I did notice there was a book on the Titanic in the library….

You’ve had as challenging a time being able to GO to Casablanca as Rick and Ilsa had leaving it! Best of luck and smooth seas!

Congratulations!! I hope you really enjoy every minute of the rest of the trip!

I was just on the zaandam and I am pretty sure that my room (not a suite) has both types of hair dryers…the other kind in a drawer or in the closet. Not to worry.

I didn’t cancel — getting to be with and see my son perform on the Zaandam was a no-lose option for me! We couldn’t stop at Sydney or PEI so we went directly toward the St Lawrence. Our stops were in Quebec: Baie Comeau and Saguenay. Baie Comeau was small but had a brewpub with the best stout I’ve EVER had https://microbrasserie.stpancrace.com/fr/ and Saguenay greeted us with people in 19th c garb, including children who danced for us, and samples of blueberry juice and sticks of freshly made maple taffy. I loved the Musée de Fjord, with its aquarium. lovely place. Appreciated the hop on bus there - distances are far. (And was surprised not to feel seasick for more than a few mild minutes once…used wristbands and generic dramamine in advance. Despite the nearby hurricane it was smooth sailing — reminded me of when I lived in N Cal) IMG_5347.MOV

Should I be concerned about rocky seas? I'm on the Zaandam leaving Boston Saturday, 9/24, for Montreal...stopping in Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Quebec... I'm more concerned about getting seasick than port visits (my son is a musician on the ship and my main reason for going) but want good info on both ports and sea conditions. It's my first cruise (assuming the Staten Island Ferry doesn't count)...all advice gratefully received.

Thanks -- I got the 90% refund insurance. And I noticed there's ANOTHER storm, Gaston, coming right behind it in the North Atlantic.

I'm supposed to be hopping onto the Zaandam in Boston on Sept 24, heading to Montreal. It's my first cruise so I wonder how to find out if it'll be rocky, if we'll be skipping ports, and how to decide whether to cancel (if necessary--I have insurance). How can I best stay informed?

Is the whole lobster a dining room entree/ is there a surcharge? I’m on the same route in 2 weeks and am looking forward to lots of seafood. Appreciate your comments!

My son is in the Ocean Bar band so yes, that’s on the Zandaam!

Thanks for giving such a vivid, entertaining description of your experience on the Zaandam! My son Gabriel is a singer/pianist on the ship and you're giving me a bit of insight into day to day life onboard! I'm toying with the idea of going on either a Canadian cruise or a longer cruise if he extends his contract. (It'd be my first real cruise.) Have you felt seasick at all? Any advice on best food options you've found? I so look forward to following your posts on this and other cruises you might take on the Z!