A Quick-Trip for us, Bill & Mary Ann - Hawaii/Mexico for 21 days on the Zaandam

[sunviking90]

Thanks so much for posting your experiences on the Zaandam each day. I do have a few questions for you which I hope that you will find the time to answer. I am taking a group of 68 on the Jan 26th departure from San Diego to Hawaii. Do you know if the same Captain and Hotel Manager you have will still be onboard then? Who is your CD? Do you know which cabins are still having flooding problems?

 

I think the ladies with the flooded cabin may have been in our cabin! We got off of the Zaandam the day they embarked and our cabin and the one next door flooded that morning. 2517 and 2517. It seemed to come from a pipe in between the two cabins. I am surprised they actually put someone in these cabins. I would have hoped that they found other cabins for them. That's too bad.

[WCB]

Report # 11 Day at Sea November 6, 2012 Tuesday

 

There is still a lot of work being done on the lower promenade deck as we sail towards Ensenada, Mexico. The walking deck has been cordoned off for three days straight, due to work going on overhead. That is probably a good idea to keep people away from possible dropped tools. We have actually seen a hammer fall down from up there, narrowly missing a walker on a previous trip. More busy workers were re-doing the chair railing brackets again with jackhammer chisels and sanders. Lucky for us, we do not hear any of that noise in our room early in the morning.

 

Another Mariner medal party was held in the Explorers Lounge, followed by the special lunch in the dining room. They must have split the passengers in half somehow to accommodate the entire group. Wonder if they will have the same event on a seven day cruise? It's been so long since we have gone on a seven day cruise, if ever with HAL, so we don't know.

 

Since the sun was mostly out we thought we had better take advantage of that, and go to the aft pool for a bit. It was pleasantly warm, but the breeze has gotten cooler since yesterday. A couple of times, the ship could not avoid a large black cloud, and we actually got some rain. But it was brief. It still was so much fun watching the folks grab their stuff and go running for cover.

 

At the sandwich bar, we ordered turkey, cheese, tomato, and lettuce sandwiches on fresh rolls. There is never a line at 3pm, and always many places to sit in the Lido. Lots of people chose to sit in here to play cards or Scrabble. They can watch for sealife out the windows, eat snacks, and drink coffee or tea all afternoon while they play. It's almost better than having a veranda cabin for them.

 

Today was also election day in the USA. Except for the news coverage on FOX and CNN, the election has been almost a non event. The reason for that is that about 80% of the passengers are Canadian. The subject never comes up. The only reference to the election was the sale of special drinks in the sports bar.........a white elephant and a wonky donkey. Heaven knows what is in them, but they surely will leave you with a headache. The same can be said about the election coverage...........

 

All six of us were at dinner tonight, and it was good as usual. Something extra was on the table, which we had not noticed before tonight. They were two new drink menus advertising all cocktails, wines, and beers available to order with the dinner service. Four of our tablemates already have wine bottles to share, so we guess we are the targets at our table. We are most happy with ice water, but maybe the power of suggestion with other guests registers extra sales for the company. They are getting more inventive with these extra revenue makers every time we cruise.

 

A singer of 60's songs, Shauna Hicks, was the entertainer this evening. We stopped in for a while for a change, and found that she was pretty good. There wasn't a huge crowd, but enough people that she said it was nice not to be singing to the upholstery! Attendance at the late shows has been spotty we have heard. In fact, the more we thought about it, all of the shows on our last Panama Canal trip were before dinner around 7pm, with no show at 10pm.

 

The clocks went ahead tonight for the last time this cruise.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cruz chic]

Thanks for your latest installment:).

[DAllenTCY]

I really enjoy you daily posts...thanks for keeping us all informed. As for Saturday, there are 49 of you "lucky" folks who will be continuing on to Mexico. I hope you have a chance to enjoy your day here in San Diego.

David

[erewhon]

Thanks for the updates of your cruise.

[sunviking90]

Thank you posting your report. I've really enjoyed following along.

[Sue from Canada]

Excellent review of your sailing.

 

I've been trying to decide for months whether to cruise to Hawaii or through the Panama. I think after reading your excellent and informative reviews that I'll be booking the former - too celebrate my retirement next month.

[WCB]

Report # 12 Day at Sea November 7, 2012 Wednesday

 

When we boarded the ship back on October 27th, we requested a Times newspaper to be delivered to our room every morning. A few years ago, everyone had a paper of their choice left either outside your room or placed under your door. Now they bring it only upon request. Or they are available at the front desk or in the Lido we heard. There have been a few mornings, including this one, where the paper was absent. Our room stewards said they had placed it in our mailslot, so since it was gone, we figured it had been taken. So, early tomorrow, we are going to place an older paper out there to see if it is lifted again. And our room steward suggested that they will slip the paper under the door from now on.

 

We decided that since the clocks went ahead an hour last night, many folks chose to sleep in this morning. Because of that, the dining room had no line at all, even at 9am. Seated next to the same ladies that we ate lunch with that had the flooded cabin, we couldn't help but notice that even though they ordered before us, they had not gotten anything. We were already starting our entree, when they called their waiter over and asked where their food was. They had ordered half-sized entrees with special toast along with banana pancakes to share. This was too complicated we think, so the order never got turned into the kitchen. They told us that this was a common thing for them to have delayed service. They finally got served when Franciscus, one of the head waiters, saw to it that their food was delivered promptly. In hind sight, they would be better off to order the entrees as they appear on the menu, eat what they wish, and leave the rest. Yes, we know it is wasteful, but at least you are not stuck in the dining room until lunch time. Another problem we see is that one waiter takes your order, while an assistant delivers it. Sometimes the small items show up late or never, such as catsup. We have been tempted to bring our own bottle to breakfast with us. Luckily, this does not happen often, especially while on a longer cruise.

 

The weather was forever changing today. Around noon, we tried the back deck and found it to be cloudy, windy, and downright chilly to sit back there. Later on around 2pm, the sun was back, although still windy. Better than nothing, we chose to stay, relax, and read a book. The pool remained too cold for swimming.

 

For those who have asked, the cruise director is Michael Headla. Captain Andre and the hotel manager, Edwin Brunink will not be sailing on the Zaandam in January according to a reliable source. There are a total of four formals on this cruise of 14 days. And lastly, we had no local entertainers from Hawaii on this particular voyage. Grand Voyages do have these special native shows however.

 

A dessert extravaganza was held in the Lido pool area at 10:30pm this evening. A buffet of all of the special rich and creamy desserts were displayed on several tables surrounding the pool. It really only looks inviting before people start attacking it, and that's why they open the doors for photo-taking at 10:15pm. We thought about going after dinner, but we ran into Teddy and Colin, who had just finished eating in the Pinnacle Grill Restaurant. After their huge meal in there, they were on their way outside to walk off a few thousand calories. We chatted for long enough to miss the photo op, so it was off to bed for us.

 

Another day and 3/4, and we will be in Mexico, but very briefly.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[erewhon]

Thanks for the day 12 report.

[WCB]

Report # 13 Day At Sea November 8, 2012 Thursday

 

By the length of the line for breakfast once again this morning, we realized that this cruise is coming to an end. We spotted many new guests that have probably never tried the dining room for breakfast, and want to try it for these last two days. The same goes for the casino, ship shops, fine art, the photo gallery, the spa, and bingo. They all have specials going on.

 

The big news of the day is that we got new drapes in our room. There were four workers going down our hallway installing blackout curtains with sheer vertical satin-striped drapes in front. Great idea, because the blackout curtains will help protect the delicate sheers from the sun's damage.

 

A new Explorations speaker joined us by the name of Dan Benedict. He has been giving lectures on the stars, and actually has hosted star gazing on the upper deck 9 and 10 in the late evening. Since we are late eaters, we seem to miss the late night activites such as this. The best star gazing we have witnessed was actually by accident. While in Richards Bay, South Africa, we had an unexpected overnight stay there, replacing the missed port in Madagascar. So we booked an evening tour to a game reserve for a safari, dinner, and a local native show. That was where we were led to a village, walking in the complete darkness to get there. Looking up, we were in awe at how close the millions of stars appeared, like we could reach up and touch them. No kidding. Never saw anything like that ever again. You would think being out at sea would present the same opportunity, but most nights, there are clouds.

 

Hoping to catch some sun, we went to the aft deck to find very few people out there. It was no wonder, since the apparent winds were logged in at 45 knots. If you laid low in the lounges, it wasn't too bad......a little chilly, but the sun was still warm when it came out between the clouds. When we saw one of the lounges flip into the swimming pool and sink to the bottom, we thought it may be a good time to go and have lunch.

 

Cheeseburgers worked out OK. Usually the hamburgers are cooked to almost cremated. However, today they were not cooked well enough. No, we did not get ill, but it taught us to be a little more careful next time. The pizza has been good at the grill. They serve three types every day.....pepperoni, four cheese, and a surprise one. That is whatever was left over from yesterday that can go on top of a pizza. The chefs do get creative.

 

Showtime was early this evening at 7pm featuring the singers and dancers with a musical journey through the decades. So far we have not made it to one of these performances, but something tells us we probably have seen them before.

 

As usual, we checked out the Lido entrees for formal dinner this evening. They do not serve the exact menu that is available in the Rotterdam dining room. Surf and turf and escargot were not there. Neither was the rack of veal. Surprisingly, the Lido was full of customers who obviously chose not to dress up tonight.

 

We had company again to host our table. Party planner Amanda and Peter the Staff Captain spent the evening with the six of us. They admitted that this was the first table they hosted this year so far, mainly because hosting is reserved for longer cruises, such as this one. Tonight was also the Black and White Ball which was held in the Crows Nest at 10pm. Amanda, being the party planner, had to leave early to be ready for guests, while Peter, her significant other we believe, chose to stay with us. During the course of the evening, he admitted that he was not the best dancer in the world, so he was more than happy to maintain an interesting conversation with us until 10:45pm. Oops, guess he missed the ball, but we ended up with a wealth of information from him concerning the ins and outs of the cruising world. Among other things, we noticed there was no Baked Alaska parade in the dining room this evening. Yes, the cooks and their assistants did parade through both dining rooms, but no lighted dessert. Peter said they have stopped the traditional dessert parade due to lawsuits coming from burns and accidents. They can't even use the lighted sticks, because someone broke them in half causing eye injuries. The only flaming entrees and desserts are in the Pinnacle Grill now. And once again, we were the last to leave the dining room.

 

Tomorrow will be packing day for most, and the short port of Ensenada.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[pepsigirl64]

:D I am enjoying your posts and will continue reading along on your Mexico trip. You will be getting a new guitarist when you return to San Diego, his name is Charlie Jourdan. He sings alot of Country music, does a great Johnny Cash and his own songs. We met him a few years ago in Alaska on the Zaandam and last week we drove 6 hours to see him play in Arizona. I call myself his "stalker", I hope you go see him play, if you do, tell him that his "stalker" sent you. I think you will really enjoy it.

[WCB]

Report # 14 At Sea and Ensenada, Mexico November 9, 2012 Friday

 

For the most part of the day, we sailed northeast towards the coast of Mexico. The stop in Ensensada is mainly for one reason, and it is not especially for tourism. No, it is a mandatory visit to satisfy a visit to a foreign port prior to disembarkation day in San Diego tomorrow. Technically, it is called the Jones Act.

 

The day started off cold and stayed that way. In fact, we had a few showers that produced brief rainbows if you happened to be in the right place at the right time. The outside deck was void of passengers this morning because there was a mandatory disembarkation briefing and crew farewell held in the showlounge. But not for us and 45 other folks who happen to be sailing onwards to Mexico for seven more days.

 

Work continued on the lower promenade deck, as well as in our stateroom. We came back after breakfast to find a new room divider curtain had been hung that matches the bedskirt and new striped pillows. All that need replacing are the useless partial drapes that hang by the desk and couch. Eliminating them would be a better idea since they are just dust-catchers in our humble opinion.

 

All of the other public areas will be sanitized for inspection in San Diego, where once again, full service will be enforced for 48 hours. A similar letter we got on October 27th was delivered to our room reminding us of the importance of this procedure. We think it is a great idea, and hope they keep it up.

 

For the first time this trip, we tried lunch in the dining room. Keeping it light, we ordered the BBQ chicken salads. They were great. We'll have to do this again, because the portions are small. Small was a must today, since we will be dining in the special restaurant later this evening......a real treat.

 

Here are a few facts regarding the Zaandam, according to the Cruise Log we got today. The Zaandam has five 12 cylider diesel engines, which burn 85 gallons per mile, depending on her speed. Potable water production is 370,000 gallons per day, while potable water consumption is 174,000 gallons a day. The gross tonnage is 63,000 tons, the length is 785 feet, and she carries 1350 guests. Her max speed is 21.5 knots and carries a crew of 605. Additionally, to walk one mile, one must complete four times around the lower promenade deck. Now that is funny, since the Amsterdam is about the same length, but states that it takes 3 1/2 times around the deck for one mile. We quit counting years ago, and walk for one hour at a time. Who cares about miles? Not us.

 

At 4:30pm, we were invited to the Piano Bar for a toast to our next voyage from Michael, the cruise director. He told us there was a total of 47 lucky folks sailing onward. Our instructions included a mandatory immigrations check with only our room cards and a photo ID. No need to fill out a customs form unless we intended to mail items home from San Diego, which we will not do. Then we are free to spend some time in the city or return to the ship.

 

At this gathering,tasty hors d'oeuvres were served along with red and white wine, champagne, a fruit juice drink with or without rum. And this evening, we will take advantage of the complimentary dinner in the Pinnacle Grill Restaurant for booking back-to-back voyages. Yep, we are treated pretty well here.

 

The Zaandam arrived to the port of Ensenada around 7:30pm or so. Since we have never been here, it came as quite a surprise to see how large the city is. Despite the fact that it was dark, street lights lit up the hillsides and waterline for miles. There was only one tour offered here. It was a bus ride to a nearby village for a local dance performance with a drink. We're not sure how many people did that, because the buses loaded on the hidden side of the terminal building.

 

Dinnertime for us was 8pm. It was very quiet in there with only three tables full of people. We both ordered the arugula salad with warm bacon dressing. Following that, came bone-in ribeye steaks, cooked perfectly and seasoned properly. What a difference that makes. Of course, the meat is prime....the best you can order, so you know it will be delicious. Saving a little room for dessert, we ordered one strawberry cheesecake, and one baked Alaska without the flaming cherries. That was the only way to have only the Jerry Garcia cherry ice cream. Our server happened to be a sweet girl we recognized from the Amsterdam. She readily remembered us too, so she was happy to grant our every wish. We have to admit that the wait staff on this ship has been among the best we have had.

 

The ship was here until almost midnight, so we took a walk down the gangplank to the small terminal building just to see what was there. It was just what we expected....souveniers and stuff. We did not need more stuff, but a small Ensenada shotglass was in order.

 

Shortly before midnight, the ship pushed away and headed towards San Diego.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the update, you would think we could do away with the Jones Act after a hundred years :rolleyes:

[lindaler]

How different the same cruise can be for those who are in the high cabins and those on deck two. We were on the same cruise but saw a lot of differences. I wrote a review as we went and will be posting it soon. We observed the problems on deck two and spoke to those near us who also experienced problems. Having whole sections of about 30 cabins without flushing toilets for four to six hours several days is not what we would call normal. When you wake in the morning you don't want to have to make a mad search for working restrooms. We too experienced water coming down our door jam into the bathroom and had workers in our room until 3am fixing it. While there were problems with the ship, we can't say enough good about how hard the crew worked to get those problems fixed. Friends who had rooms on deck three were totally diappointed in all of the repairs that went on the full time with stripping of paint, workers painting, welding and varnishing outside their windows. We were just glad we had gotten an upgrade to deck two where our windows were not blocked. We were at the last dinner at the 8 seating and almost every table in our section was full for the international dinner. Also since the dinning room breakfast ran from 8am to 9:30am, we went to breakfast about 8:15 and never experienced more than five people ahead of us. I guess rising early beats the line.

At the Mariner lunch Tuesday there was two that had 1400 days. Amazing.

[WCB]

Report # 15 San Diego and Embarkation Day November 10, 2012 Saturday Part One

 

The customs and immigrations check began quite early this morning with all of the non-US citizens having to go to the showlounge for their clearance and declaration forms to be turned in. Shortly thereafter, groups were called off the ship. By 9:40am, all the US citizens who were going home were called off according to their group numbers, where they cleared customs in the terminal building. Even though most of the 47 of us continuing onward had been advised that we needed to clear in the terminal building, we found that we, as US citizens, did not have to leave the ship if we so desired. This was opposite of what we had to do in Florida after the world cruise ended, and we continued on the Panama cruise. We had no choice but to be led as a group, clear customs, then wait until the ship was cleared of all passengers, before we were allowed back onboard. It was so much easier today. We simply showed our drivers licenses along with our keycard, and we were free to spend the day in San Diego.

 

The forecast had called for a 60% chance of rain, but lucky for us, it was chilly and partly cloudy, but no rain. It did drizzle last night in Ensenada, so we did expect it here in San Diego as well. From the puddles we saw on rooftops, they must have had rain last night also. What a difference from two weeks ago, when the temps reached over 80 degrees. Guess fall has finally arrived.

 

It was a perfect day for walking the waterfront, past the USS Midway, the largest serving Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century. It is now a museum with 27 restored aircraft and 60 exhibits of shiplife as a sailor. With tomorrow being Veterans Day, there will be major activity happening here, closing it to the public.

 

The shoreline walkway led us to Seaport Village, which houses 50 diverse shops, 17 eateries, and outdoor entertainment. Since it was still early, there were not too many folks out and about yet. Several large hotels are nearby, as well as the convention center. We are sure this is a popular place for the tourists to frequent.

 

Many benches lined the harbor where the beautiful fishing boats and elaborate yachts are moored. We sat for a while, soaking up the sun, while watching the small ferry take people to Coronado Island, a stone's throw away from the harbor pier. Several years ago, we spent an afternoon with friends touring the city and dining on Coronado Island at the famous hotel. You really need a very long day to do it all, but today was not going to give us that opportunity. We had to be back onboard by 4pm.

 

Walking through the Hilton Hotel, we found a neat bridge that took us over the highway to Petco Park, the ballpark stadium. That led us to the Historic Gaslamp Quarter, where the streets are lined with gas lamps (now electric) dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. There are over 200 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, boutiques, art galleries, and shops. It is also the area where the Hard Rock Cafe is located, the place we enjoyed lunch just 2 weeks ago. This time we both had cheeseburgers, which proved a great choice....excellent.

 

Nearby is the Horton Plaza Mall where we strolled through Nordstroms and Macys, looking for warm sweatshirts or fleeces. That was one item we both failed to bring with us, so it was better late than never. The one day sale at Macys was a good incentive too. The stores were teaming with customers, which was good to see. We made our purchase and now we will be ready for the sailaway on the aft deck.

 

Making it back to the ship well before 4pm, it was like starting over again. There were hundreds of new people, trying to figure out how to get from one deck to another, and more importantly, where was the food? Oh it must be a long day for the staff, who were directing people all day. Also new to this cruise, were lots of kids and babies. We did expect a younger crowd, so it will be nice for a change.

 

The muster drill was held at 4:15pm sharp. Captain Andre is extremely serious in his treatment of this drill, and for good reason. He even cautioned people to keep the chatter down when instructions were to be given by the crew. Apparently he could hear us as well as we could hear him on the speakers. At least this drill went quicker than the one 2 weeks ago, when some folks chose not to participate.

 

There was a nice surprise waiting for us when we came back to our room.........gifts of flowers, chocolates, and a blue and white canvas HAL Mariner bag. All compliments from the Captain and hotel manager for a most pleasurable continuation of our cruise. How nice was that? We did not expect anything, so we were pleasantly pleased. Also, we have been invited to another wine tasting tomorrow afternoon. If the weather is not warm, perhaps we will attend this time.

 

The sailaway was close to 5pm, but already getting dark, since we had set the clocks back last week. And it was so bitterly cold at the aft pool, the entertainment had to be moved to the Lido pool area. At least the music has changed from the old time Hawaiian music to rock and roll. Much better, loud, but lots more fun. Some folks were even up and dancing, anticipating a wild and fun week ahead.

 

Four new tablemates joined us this evening. One couple were from San Diego, Carol and Larry. The other two were from Arizona by the names of Bob and Marilyn. Think we are going to get along very well for the next 7 days. There was a little bit of commotion going on at a table on the railing, right behind us. A young couple and their 2 year old little guy were trying to dine quietly. Well, not the youngster so much. He succeeded in depositing bread chunks in a wide circle all around his highchair, and doing it rather loudly. We all had to laugh, because he was so darned cute in his long-sleeve striped shirt with a button down collar. Patty and Nancy were dining in the Pinnacle Grill this evening, so they will be surprised to find a baby sitting so close by. They had mentioned that on the 4 day leg from Vancouver to San Diego, many babies were onboard, and they seemed glad that they were seated several tables away. Now we will all be within arms reach of flying mashed potatoes or whatever. Ahhh, should be a fun trip.

 

The clocks went ahead this evening for one hour, and since it is after 1am, it is time to sign off.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS A note to remember about being in San Diego - there was a 7.75% local tax on all beverages sold onboard while the ship was docked and sailing within the 20 mile area of territorial waters. This tax, although a lower rate, was also in effect while we were in Ft. Lauderdale last April. This was printed in the daily program, but could be easily missed.

[JamesEM]

WCB

 

Question, on a B-2-B cruise is your accout closed out after the first part, or are both cruises run together? Also, if your account is closed after the first cruise are any remaining on board credits brought forward automatically?

 

Thanks, Jim

[KirkNC]

Good reminder on the taxes, we usually wait until we are off shore to purchase wine packages just for that reason.

[SilvertoGold]

Mary Ann

 

Thank you for taking the time to post your day-by-day review live. Such a good read and truly welcome!!

 

Nice that they are treating the Collectors cruisers so well. The Zaandam has quite a reputation for that, as we have seen in the past.

 

We were wondering if you are now President's Club or will you attain that exalted level on the 2013 World Cruise?

 

Enjoy your time in Mexico!

[WCB]

Report # 16 Day at Sea November 11, 2012 Sunday

 

It looked to be a promising day weatherwise when we woke up this morning. The seas were rolling slightly last night, but the only thing left to rock us today were some whitecaps from the wind. Our new tablemates were getting queazy at dinner, but we felt almost nothing. Unless there is a danger for walking about the ship, we rather like the motion, especially late at night while in bed. We sleep like babies.

 

Lots of activities were happening for the newly-embarked passengers today. The most important of those included the pitch for tour sales, and shopping in the upcoming ports of Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Originally, we were to have a stop in Mazatlan, but that got cancelled a few months ago with no explanation. Instead, we will have an overnight stay in PV, with 2 days there.

 

In place of an explorations speaker, the onboard travel guide, Kainoa, will be giving talks on Mexican history. Food and entertaining, technology, and wellbeing classes continued all day long. As for us, we chilled out at the aft pool with our favorite novels to read. It was not warm enough to go in the pool, but OK for sunbathing. Hope it warms up soon. So do all of the folks with young kids who looked forward to using the pools.

 

At his PM talk, Captain Andre announced that we will not be scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena tomorrow. Why? We are not really sure of the real reason. One fact that he stated was that it will be dark when we pass that area in the wee hours of the morning. Guess slowing down today was not an option. Another excuse was that several gray and humpback whales are in that bay for the purpose of calving, and the Mexican government sometimes prohibits ships from cruising there. The Captain did say that we may get lucky and see some whales while sailing on by the area. Everyone we talked to is bummed out about the deletion, but it states in the fine print that anything can change at any given time, and that is the way it is. Period.

 

The Captain's Welcome Toast was held once again in the showlounge at 7:45pm for every guest on the ship. Now here's the funny thing.....it lasts for 15 minutes, since the early show begins at 8pm. That means over 1000 people grab a glass of champagne, wine, or juice, sit down, and listen to a 5 minute welcome with the Captain and about five of his staff members. Short and sweet, we guess, but we didn't even attempt to go. Guess we are spoiled with the real cocktail parties that happen on Grand Voyages.

 

Tonight's dress code was formal. Most everyone abides by this code, with a few exceptions. Those who wish to dine casually can eat in the Lido Restaurant. Many do. However, sometimes folks wander into the dining room on formal nights not properly dressed. That happened this evening, when two men and we think their mother, came in and sat down dressed in t-shirts and shorts. Honestly, we don't think they knew better or were being defiant. In less than 5 minutes, our head waiter, Franciscus, had a brief chat with them. With that, they got up and left the room. By 8pm, the Lido closes, so their only choice would be room service or proper clothing. They chose the latter, and came back with long sleeve shirts and a jacket. No argument, which was good, but we were happy to see someone enforce the rules.

 

Our dinners were good......rack of lamb and beef wellington. Patty and Nancy joined us, as well as Marilyn and Bob. The other couple were MIA. Hope we didn't scare them away!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cccole]

I hope the weather warms up for you. I have always wanted to go to Bahia Magdalena. Any chance you will get to slowly cruise through on your way back to San Diego? Thank you for letting us cruise with you. Cherie

[WCB]

Report # 17 Day at Sea November 12, 2012

 

Since there are so few days at sea on this cruise, special events, such as the Mariner Society Reception and Luncheon, was held today. We did not receive the invitation for this event until after dinner last night, with a reply requested that same night. A phone call to the front desk will have to do.

 

So we kept breakfast light, then joined the group in the Explorers Lounge at 11am. We had met a very nice couple at the cocktail party in the Piano Bar a few days ago, and they waved us over to share some seats with them. Gosh, the gentleman sure looks and talks like actor Robert Duvall. We doubt that he was the actor, but sometimes you never know...it's possible.

 

There were only three medals awarded and only three photos taken this time. We were all prepared to line up against the wall for a 4 star Mariner group photo, but it never happened. Guess we don't get a complimentary photo on this 21 day cruise.

 

We were escorted by a waiter to the Captains table in the lower dining room, although once again, the Captain did not join us. He did wait until 10 of us were seated at the large round table, then came over and chatted with us a bit. He mentioned that on the last cruise of 14 days, there had been 5 guests occupying the infirmary from San Diego to Hilo. They all had to be sent off the ship either to the local hospital or the Hilo airport and home. At least they all survived, which isn't always the case on longer voyages. Life carries on, no matter where you go.

 

The weather had warmed up, much to our delight. So after the champagne, mimosas, and delicious lunch of quiche and short ribs, we relaxed at the aft pool for a few hours. The backround music had changed from old Hawaiian songs to a definite Latin theme......so much better. Sunbathers were enjoying it, because every lounge was occupied. Just as we were going to ask a deck fellow to get more lounges, two nice young people gave us theirs, since they were leaving. Obviously they just consumed a bucket of beer, the special drink of the day, and we joked they could leave the leftovers for us. Good try, but no banana.

 

Finally, around 3pm, there was some commotion at the railing. Someone had spotted dolphins or porpoise jumping alongside the ship. We must have cut through a big school of these smaller fish, because they were on both sides playing in the surf created by the ship. This sighting was the most sealife we have seen in over two weeks, and much more exciting than a handful of flying fish. We're still on the lookout for those migrating whales, but unless we sail closer to the shore, we doubt we see any. We also spotted a masked booby for the first time this trip. He or she was diving for fish for it seemed like an hour. It is amazing how these creatures can survive out this far from land.

 

A good movie had been shown in the Wajang Theater yesterday, so we knew it would be shown on TV all day today. It was "The Best Exotic Matigold Hotel" about some retired British folks who took up residence in what they believed to be a newly remodeled hotel in India. Our dinnermates said it was a good movie, especially if you had been to India. Of course we have been there several times, so we truly enjoyed this movie. The same actor that starred in "Millionaire Slum Dog" was in this one, and he did a great job. But this flic was not quite as shocking about life in India as that movie was. This one was about the colors, crowding, confusion, and food that reminded us that we will miss seeing India next year, since it is not on the world cruise itinerary.

 

Dinner had a Mexican theme this evening, and we loved it. Tortilla soup, quesadillas, chicken fajitas, and chili rellanos were the dishes we ordered. Each course was delicious......spicy, slightly hot, very authentic.

 

Tomorrow, we should be in Puerto Vallarta around 10am. Our plans include a long walk to downtown and a good Mexican lunch on the river. And perhaps some stops on the way back at the hotels for some ice cold beers. And there will be no rush to get back to the ship early, because we will be staying overnight.

 

The clocks went ahead one hour tonight. We and most all the other guests hate that, but what they take away, they will give back before we get back to San Diego.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[kazu]

Great posts as always as we cruise along with you. My DH would have loved your Mexican dinner :D I don't think I will tell him that part as he may be a teensy bit jealous:)

[HALFans]

Bill and Mary Ann,

 

Thanks for taking such great care of the Zaandam for us, and getting everything whipped into shape for us to board on Saturday. ;)

 

I've really enjoyed reading your posts, and especially now as 'our turn' is coming up I can hardly wait to read the next one!

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

[pepsigirl64]

:D Have you had a chance to listen to the guitarist Charlie Jourdan?? Tell him that his "stalker" sent you. I am enjoying your posts.

[WCB]

Report # 18 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico November 13, 2012 Tuesday

 

The Zaandam arrived to the very warm port of Puerto Vallarta around 9am this morning. We made it just in time for the dining room breakfast, since they opened and closed earlier than usual. What was good about that, was there was no line this morning. Most folks who were taking tours ate in the Lido or had room service. Tablemates Marilyn and Bob said they had ordered early morning coffee,but it did not arrive in time....not even close to it. From now on, they said they will enjoy the full service dining for breakfast like we do most everyday.

 

We have a theory about why our stop here was expanded to an overnighter. We may be wrong, but when the Staff Captain ate dinner with us last week, he told us a story about the last cruise that did the Mexican Riviera, right before we boarded in San Diego. They had problems with the ship at that time, which made it necessary to do some major work on the ship while docked in Puerto Vallarta. This job entailed flying over 20 specially certified divers from all over the world, who replaced the seals on the propeller shafts, which are underwater. In order to do this, the hull had to be tented, and the water pumped out to create a dry zone. This work was supposed to have been accomplished while the ship was in drydock. That never happened, so this was the next best idea. Now we are wondering if more work was being done this time, keeping us here overnight, and cancelling Mazatlan. Guess we will never know for sure.

 

By 10am, the tour groups were beginning to form on the pier. This makes much more sense to us than making everyone wait to be stickered in the showlounge. People break their necks to be first, then race down the stairs to get the best seats on the coaches. Drives us nuts! For that reason, we have increasingly begun to do less ship tours in ports where we have visited more than once. If safety is a factor, then we stick to a tour with our travel agency, or with HAL. Anyway, once we noticed that the majority of guests were gone, we got off the ship. That was about 10:30am.

 

Our plans for the day included a leisurely stroll to downtown PV - about a 4 mile hike. Taking our time, we made a few visits inside some stores or hotels along the way just to take advantage of the air-conditioning. It didn't matter if we were looking at TVs, boom boxes, or even washing machines. And the hotel staffs welcome visitors for the mere chance that we may be checking their facilities out for a future vacation.

 

Crossing over some cement bridges, we found some creeks that were not very nice. The smell indicated that perhaps sewers ran directly into the ocean. Maybe that is why we don't see many people swimming on this stretch of pretty beach. The locals know something we do not. The nice hotels always have beautiful swimming pools,and that is where you find the people. Of course, walking the beach presents another problem - vendors. Not a problem for the willing shoppers, these locals hawk straw hats and purses, beach clothing, little parachute kites for kids, and jewelry - lots of silver trinkets. Almost free they say. Yeah, sure. Can't blame them for trying.

 

Eventually, we reached the Malecon, a nicely cemented wide pathway that follows the beachside of Banderos Bay. It was full of sand artists, juice vendors, painters of fine art pieces, and painted people posing silently like statues, much like one sees in Barcelona, Spain. The boardwalk shops offer highend jewelry shops, clothing, crafts, and cafes and bars. When you get down towards the center of town, the street is closed off to traffic, which is really nice. In fact, the locals were working on cementing another block to extend the walking street.

 

We searched for the Hard Rock Cafe, which we remembered to be located on this beachfront. But it was gone. Asking a local policeman, he said it has been gone for a while. Guess not enough spring-breakers kept it alive. Still there is Carlos OBrians, Senor Frogs, Bubba Gumps, and Cheeky Monkey to name a few. Also gone is Hooters.

 

Our favorite place for lunch is the Rivercafe, located under the bridge over the Rio Cuale. Last May, we hiked all the way here to find it was closed for a private Mothers Day function. Today, it was opened, thank goodness, and we were led to the nicest spot in the restaurant. There is a small walkway to a patio of four small tables that overlook the river. We sat at the railing and were able to watch the many different sizes of iguanas walk under us and climb the nearby tree branches. Some of these iguanas are over 4 feet long from head to tail. And guess what they eat? French fries! We spotted one diner pitching large fries down to a big fat iguana, who devoured them as fast as he could. It's no wonder that they actually beg food from the customers. There was no way we were going to part with our tortilla chips and fresh pico de gallo.

 

We both ordered a plateful of small tacos made with finely diced chicken, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream on a bed of shredded lettuce. Refried beans filled the other half of the dish. The meal was delicious and went especially well with Pacificos. Infact, it was so warm outside, we ended up drinking two each, unusual for us. What was nice was that we were in no hurry to get back to the ship, and the waiter was in no hurry to rush us out. However, by the time we left, the entire restaurant and bar was full of happy customers.

 

Time to go. Taking our sweet time, we walked back, stopping several times for water breaks (important in this heat). When we reached the Fiesta Americana Hotel, we went through the tall palapa check-in area, to the shoreside swimming pool and bar. Here we enjoyed sodas in large glasses of cubed ice. Yes, the water and ice is safe in these hotels, as we have never gotten ill from drinking here. The huge pool looked so inviting, even though the skies began to cloud up by this time of day. Sure felt like rain - humid and warm. Never did happen.

 

Back at the pier, we wandered through a courtyard of small shops that catered to the cruise ship passengers. After spending a relaxed, low-pressure day in town, we found this place to be very aggressive. Gosh, we couldn't walk past one shop without getting the sales pitch. So we probably lasted about five minutes before we headed back onboard. Maybe intimidation works for some tourists, but not for us.

 

There was a Mexican BBQ held in the Lido pool area from 5:30 to 8pm. We always walk through and check out the buffet line and the BBQ meats. They had the usual suspects........sausages, thin strips of steak, chicken, and perhaps some type of fish on the grill. It all looked good, but there was not a single table to be found. Perhaps the folks come here early, like around 4pm, and claim their tables. Then they don't move until 8pm.

 

We ended up going to the dining room and enjoyed a wonderful meal with Marilyn and Bob. We're learning a lot about retired life in Arizona as well as lots of information on time shares around the world. They own a few here and there, and spend most of their vacation time in each one. Time shares are an interesting concept, but one that never interested us. They did say they had some downfalls, such as rising yearly fees and improvement assessments. It's just easier for us to book cruises....just pay and go, and no worries about anything but what time do we eat? Ha!

 

Tomorrow will be another day here, but a shorter one since all onboard is 2:30pm. That works for us. Something tells us that we will sleep very, very good tonight.

 

Bill & Mary Ann