Onboard the Zaandam

[jhannah]

Embarkation was a breeze, and we enjoyed lunch in the Lido. The ship is in good shape. Our S suite is spectacular! The Neptune Lounge is wonderful. Still exploring the ship, but wanted to stop and post a quick "we're here" before lifeboat drill. I will try to post more later, but since I haven't purchased an Internet package I will limit my online time. We have early upper dinner seating, so I'm anxious to see how it works for us.

 

I would say "wish you were here" but I don't want you to think I'd rub it in or anything like that. ;)

[ekerr19]

Jim - Thanks for posting! I wish we were there too! You're not rubbing it in - enjoy!!!

 

Thanks for checking in! :D

[dakrewser]

Just be sure to give us your honest opinion of the awful food and terrible service! :rolleyes:

 

 

And I do, in deed, wish I was there....

[Vic The Parrot]

Same goes for me.....

 

It's nice to hear Zaandam is in great condition.

Only a year and a half to go til it's our turn!

 

Hawaii bound, on the "Voyage of the Spammed"

 

 

Enjoy the cruise, Jim!

We're looking forward to hearing all about it.

 

 

:)

[jhannah]

We had a wonderful dinner last night. Fine dining companions. Two ladies traveling alone, two sisters-in-law who are both widowed, and a couple from Vancouver. Dave, the food was horrifically ..... good! I had an excellent linguine tossed in a garlic cream sauce with proscuitto and olives. Very tasty! RuthC, I have had lots of chocolate in your honor!

 

Rough seas through the night. The ship TV reported 8-12 foot waves. But the Zaandam is riding well. Just enough motion o' de ocean to help me sleep like a baby!

 

Lots of activities for today, so I'll bow out for now.

[ekerr19]

We had a wonderful dinner last night. Fine dining companions. Two ladies traveling alone, two sisters-in-law who are both widowed, and a couple from Vancouver. Dave, the food was horrifically ..... good! I had an excellent linguine tossed in a garlic cream sauce with proscuitto and olives. Very tasty! RuthC, I have had lots of chocolate in your honor!

 

Rough seas through the night. The ship TV reported 8-12 foot waves. But the Zaandam is riding well. Just enough motion o' de ocean to help me sleep like a baby!

 

Lots of activities for today, so I'll bow out for now.

 

Jim -

 

Glad to hear the dinner was "horrifically" good, LOL!!! It's always such a treat to have good tablemates isn't it?

 

Keep the reports coming if you can - I look forward to hearing more!

[Ine]

If I remember well you will be sailing to Amsterdam this summer.

 

The city closest to Amsterdam which you will pass along the North Sea Channel is.......Zaandam!!

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[fsdj1097]

Thanks for the report on the Zaandam. We will board her the 21st in Vancouver. Can hardly wait.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Sam

[JaniceB]

Jim,

 

Thanks for reporting live from the Zaandam. I do wish I were there. The Zaandam is a wonderful ship. If you see Adolfo at the aft lido pool, casino bar or Crow's Nest, say hi to him from me. He is a great bartender.

 

Enjoy your cruise and looking forward to more of your posts from the Zaandam.

 

Janice

[amenuensis]

Keep posting I'm riveted. We all just plunked down the final payment on our July 30 15-person Family Reunion cruise on the Zaandam. No detail too small, we're all interested!

[KBC]

Jim, thank you so much for your great updates.

 

We have 7019 and 7021 reserved on the Zaandam 11th December. I am assuming these are REALLY handy for quick access to the coffee machine in the Neptune Lounge???

 

Have a wonderful trip and keep the reports coming - it's soooo exciting.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Jim, I am so glad you are having a great time (we are too:p ) Unfortunately it all goes by too quickly:(

 

Continue having a great time,:D

[RuthC]

Oo, Jim thanks for your posts. I've never sailed the Zaandam, but will rectify that little oversight next year. I want to hear all about her.

 

Now, about that honor...:D Keep it up!

[jhannah]

All is well. Much calmer seas last night and today. Partly cloudy to sunny and cool. Formal night was last night, followed by the Zaandam singers and dancers in "Up On the Roof." I've seen that same-named show before, but this was different. Excellent, IMO.

 

Ine, we will be sailing round trip from Amsterdam in August on the Prinsendam.

 

Peter Bos is our captain. From the first I heard his voice I just knew I'd sailed with him. But even though he's been on the Rotterdam a good bit (even sailed the last voyage of the ss Rotterdam) he'd never sailed her on the Canada/New England run. In talking with him, turns out he is on HAL's Prinsendam promotional video. That's why I knew his voice! Great guy.

 

I had a nice chat today with Mama Lou. For those who don't know who she is, she basically lives on the Zaandam. She's been onboard for 4 years now, but she told me she does go home every now and then. She says it's $300 per month cheaper than an assisted living facility. She's all over the ship with her little 3-wheeled walker that's filled with stuffed critters and all sorts of things. Very charming lady. She told me a somewhat sad story of what led her to "escape" to a ship ... but not knowing how public her story is I won't share it on this forum. Those of you who will be sailing the Zaandam will surely meet her if you haven't already.

 

Interesting game of Seaquest (scavenger hunt) this morning. Men were stripping off their trousers and women their bras as items the ACD called for! Amazing!

 

The Explorations Cafe is outstanding. The mix of Internet center, games, audio listening, library and snack cafe really works well, IMO.

 

One of our tablemates won the free cruise on Bingo yesterday. Lucky duck! Oh well ... it's nice to at least know someone who wins.

 

KBC you'll be in a great spot. We're in 7010 and are just 2 cabins forward of the Neptune Lounge.

 

That's about it for now. Tomorrow is Astoria, Oregon.

[KBC]

Jim,

 

Would you be kind enough to confirm something for me in relation to the actual location of the Neptune Lounge.

 

Which suites would be nearest to the entrance/s of the lounge. I assumed it was where the inside staterooms are currently shown on the deck plan, however from what you say, it is perhaps a little further forward than I thought???

 

We are very happy with our choice of suites, I am simply curious.

 

Many thanks, and have a wonderful time :)

[Time2sail]

We are enjoying your posts; thanks for taking the time to share. Please tell Mama Lou that she is an inspiration and to keep on cruising.:)

 

How do you like the early upper dining time and location? That is what we requested and have for our cruise.

[arzz]

How is the internet working on the Zaandam? -- we have been on her twice this year -- we use our own laptop so we can compose off line and then just zap out the e-mails. Internet was quick and efficient in December and VERY sluggish in March -- cost us lots of time and minutes just to send out a daily e-mail.

 

I am curious.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Jim,

Great to hear you are having a great cruise. Thanks for the very interesting post. :)

 

Bill

[jhannah]

We are now in Vancouver. We were called for disembarkation at 8:20 a.m. Found our luggage quickly and were outta' there in no time.

 

I haven't posted in a while because either the ship's Internet was down or it was so slow I didn't want to sit there and get charged for minutes waiting an inordinate amount of time. They really need to speed that operation up. Arzz, connect is still sluggish, based on my experience.

 

KBC, the Neptune Lounge door was right across from 7018-20, I believe. 7019-21 on the starboard side. Yes, it's a bit forward since there are regular veranda cabins behind the suites.

 

We had a nice day in Astoria. Weather held out and we enjoyed the city tour and Fort Clatsop. We were on school busses, which surprised me a bit. Our driver and guide were very nice, but seemed a little disorganized.

 

The final dinner was below par with the prior nights. Nothing drastic, but I did notice an observable decline in service that last evening. Speed to some degree, but more so in things like having to be asked 3 times for a Coke and forgetting after-dinner hot tea that had been delivered like clockwork the other evenings. Again I emphasize, nothing drastic or horrible. Strange, too, because the dining room had lots of empty chairs. That used to happen under the "old" tipping system because folks would not show up that last night so they could more easily stiff the stewards. But I was surprised at the number who didn't show up the last evening.

 

The Zaandam is a fine ship, and I would sail her again any time. Sure wish I could have stayed on and visited Alaska again. But I need to get back to work and pay for our August sailing.

 

If you have any other specific questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

[KBC]

Jim

 

Thank you for taking the time to check out my question. You are indeed a gentleman.

 

Try and ease yourself back to work gently.....

[arzz]

Thanks for addressing my question on the speed of the internet.

 

Great to read your postings -- thank you for taking time from your own vacation to write and post

[Peggy Sue]

Jim,

 

Thanks for the update .. loved reading about your experiences .. we board the zaandam in 2 short weeks!!!! 5/28 .. our first time to Alaska! We'll be in 7016. Who was in the Neptune Lounge?

 

Thanks again .. and welcome home!

Peggy

[gailwins]

Was very pleased to hear your report from the Zaandam. I am in the process of booking a Panama Canal 10 day cruise and had a few doubts. We have been on the ship twice - the first time she had been out for a year and was in wonderful condition. We had S730 and loved it. The following year we booked the same cabin and the ship looked very run down. I was quite dissapointed. Now I hear they have upgraded her and you say it is lovely. After the Zuiderdam and the new Westerdam I hope we won't be dissapointed. My husband wants to do the Panama Canal so we have to book her. Has anyone done this trip? Love top hear your comments.

[Tracyr]

Jim, can you tell me what happened to the Zaandam in Astoria, how come she was so late leaving? I was on the Spirit (would have rather been on the Zaandam 100 times over, but thats a whole nether story) We were sapposed to dock at 2 when you left, but Zaandam was so late, we didn't even get to go ashore. Just curious, glad you had a great cruise.

[cruising 4 fun]

We just got back from a l7 day Panama Canal cruise on the Zaandam. It was a great cruise and the weather was beautiful. All the upgrading has been done and the beds are just wonderful along with the flat screen TV's etc. We went to alot of countries and met alot of really nice people. Nice to see how the other half lives and thankful we live where we do. All the guides were very qualified and it was just a great trip. The Panama Canal was awesome and took one day to transit. On the ship the service in the dining room, bars, room steward etc was exceptional. Our dining team and bar team in the Ocean Bar were great. We did get off in LA instead of going on to Vancover. This was our l6th cruise and for some reason we have never been on one bad cruise. We have never had a complaint about any of the staff being rude or food bad. Have fun booking your next one.