SURPRISE LIVE! - MS Zaandam - Boston to Montreal

[kazu]

Just now, *Miss G* said:

 

Yes!  It is Wines Around the World for $25!!  You are good.

 

Wines around the World is usually a fun event - at least, the ones I have been to.  There’s usually some good Riojas, some New Zealand/Australian wines, Chilean & some Italian and California IIRC.

 

I like it because if I find one I like, I can drink it and don’t need to worry about the ones I don’t 😉 

 

I don’t care for the regular wine tastings due to the reds involved which cause me too much grief 😉   I much prefer this.

[*Miss G*]

Awww.  So sorry to hear about the sharks on that poor man, @DeeniEncinitas.  Stay out of the water!

[*Miss G*]

DAY TWO - BAR HARBOR, MAINE

 

I wake as we enter Bar Harbor.  It is 6:00 am and I am hearing activity below.  It turns out the tender platform is directly below us.  Well isn’t that handy!  I don’t mind the noise because I am a fairly early riser. 

 

It is dark so I turn on the passage lights to see into the closet.  It makes me laugh because it also turns on the lights above our bed.  And here’s me trying to be quiet so I don’t wake my husband.  😂

 

There are a good many children on board.  Mostly toddlers but we’ve seen pre-teens and teens as well.  Some were playing basketball and tennis on the Sports Deck yesterday.  The Sports Deck is immediately above the Lido dining room so there is a lot of thumping going on when you’re having something to eat.

 

We don’t go for tender tickets as there is no rush to go ashore.  They call Open Tender at 11:10 am.

 

See that window above the tender platform?  That’s us.

 

[*Miss G*]

We board the tender and head into town.  Bad move.  Really bad move.  Although we are the only ship in port it is Sunday on a long weekend and there are 5 Tourist Coaches and myriad day-trippers all visiting the area along with us.  Sidewalks, shops, and restaurants are packed.  There is a 30 minute wait at Geddy’s so my husband orders a take-away lobster roll from the bar.  I didn’t have any but he said it was good.  Then we beat a hasty retreat back to the ship.  I don’t do crowds.

 

[sapper1]

18 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

No refitted tubs or USB ports.  The only plug in the entire room is above the desk.  I brought a multi-port charger for just that purpose.  Here is a pic.

 

Thank you for confirming my suspicions and also for the excellent suggestion re the multi port charger. What a great idea. 

[*Miss G*]

12 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

Awww.  So sorry to hear about the sharks on that poor man, @DeeniEncinitas.  Stay out of the water!

 

OMG.  I was sure I wrong “sharks AND that poor man!”  Not ON that poor man.  That is so funny but I feel so bad.  😂  Even though I am laughing.  No really.  I feel bad for him.  lol

[*Miss G*]

2 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

OMG.  I was sure I wrong “sharks AND that poor man!”  Not ON that poor man.  That is so funny but I feel so bad.  😂  Even though I am laughing.  No really.  I feel bad for him.  lol

 

Argh!  ‘Wrote”!  Not “wrong”!  What is going on with my auto-correct?!!!

[IllinoisGirl1978]

3 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Argh!  ‘Wrote”!  Not “wrong”!  What is going on with my auto-correct?!!!

 

It’s an iFail! Oh smart phones aren’t always smart.

[*Miss G*]

Tonight is Gala Night.  Last night the Pinnacle Grill was packed so it will be interesting to see whether Gala Night impacts business or not.  I know we are packing up to leave because it is super noisy down below.  The fog has rolled back in and Captain Smit has just announced that it will be a foggy ride to Halifax.

 

Speaking of Halifax... I almost hit “Buy” on a $170 tour to Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, and Mahone Bay.  But then I remembered I knew how to drive.  I booked a car at Hertz for $32 instead.  A 7-hour bus tour, with at least half that time spent on the bus, didn’t bear thinking about.  We will drive ourselves to Peggy’s Cove, and if I want to stop I will.  The backup plan will be one of the museums if it’s foggy.  Far too dangerous to drive in fog.  Plus maybe a visit to Garrison Brew Pub if there’s time.  They have great flights.

[SilvertoGold]

Loved the Wines around the World.  Really so much better than the typical Wine tasting and not a huge crush of pax anytime we've done it.  One hour to try what you like and make notes from a comprehensive list from the 3 Cellars wine packages.

 

That hair dryer!  I used to have to wrap a facecloth around the handle so I could hold it for more that 20 seconds at a time.  Looks to me as if the Zaandam has been left out of many updates, just as the Noordam has.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2019 by SilvertoGold

[Krazy Kruizers]

Didn't have "wines around the world" on our 21 day cruise.

 

We dud have the premium wine tasting in the PG for $35 -- again tasted only 4 wines -- waste of money.

[Krazy Kruizers]

49 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

Tonight is Gala Night.  Last night the Pinnacle Grill was packed so it will be interesting to see whether Gala Night impacts business or not.  I know we are packing up to leave because it is super noisy down below.  The fog has rolled back in and Captain Smit has just announced that it will be a foggy ride to Halifax.

 

Speaking of Halifax... I almost hit “Buy” on a $170 tour to Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, and Mahone Bay.  But then I remembered I knew how to drive.  I booked a car at Hertz for $32 instead.  A 7-hour bus tour, with at least half that time spent on the bus, didn’t bear thinking about.  We will drive ourselves to Peggy’s Cove, and if I want to stop I will.  The backup plan will be one of the museums if it’s foggy.  Far too dangerous to drive in fog.  Plus maybe a visit to Garrison Brew Pub if there’s time.  They have great flights.

 

Sounds wonderful.

[DeeniEncinitas]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Argh!  ‘Wrote”!  Not “wrong”!  What is going on with my auto-correct?!!!

😊 No worries Miss G !!!! 

Have a great time I’m ready to go to the brew pub👍👍

I hope the fog won’t be an issue too!

Denise🌺😊

[Krazy Kruizers]

3 hours ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

Finally got caught up Miss G! A lot happening here at our condo in Maui🙄

Ill let you know at the end! Happy your on board and I agree how hot it was in the room and everywhere!! Thought I was going to have hot flashes the whole time on board LOL! What I am so surprised with is the old Hoover hair dryer!!!!! Jacqui is right I remember how hot the Handel got on it! I stay with the one in the drawer! Last time we were on her to Hawaii was in 2010!  Have a wonderful trip! I also would be enjoying our dinners in PG! My DH said he is surprised that she has not really been refurbished still have the old TVs!

Our condo is in Kaanapali and right next door is a wonderful park for barbecues and snorkeling and diving!!!

last 28 years we always go there do a lot of snorkeling and swim over to our place.

we are on 24 hour watch now!

Shark attack killed a 65 year old man 60 yards off shore yesterday there!! 😞 so sad! Helicopters are scanning shore line

seadoos in water signs up and no one in water! This is from Black Rock at the Sheraton going north past our place and the park! We were out in the water yesterday before breakfast!!

just now from balcony 2 more seadoos going by!

Anyway sorry for me explaining stuff here.

 

Denise🌺🌺😊

 

Very sad for that CA man.  You sure did have some excitement.

[Krazy Kruizers]

*Miss G*

 

Just got caught up with all your wonderful reports and pictures.

[ew101]

15 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

No refitted tubs or USB ports.  The only plug in the entire room is above the desk.  I brought a multi-port charger for just that purpose.  Here is a pic.

Bring a $5 Euro to USA plug adapter- most cell phone chargers are happy on 220V/50Hz - read the fine print on the back 

We have done this trip and will again -walk off the ship in every port to find yummy local brews and lobster rolls

The $399 fare, porthole and nice couch for reading  make "steerage" pleasant - the money saved goes toward the next cruise  🙂 

Quote

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by ew101

[*Miss G*]

I tried that hair dryer last night!  Holy smokes.  My hand got hotter than my hair.  Thanks for the tip about wrapping a facecloth around it!  I will do that tonight.

 

 

DAY THREE - HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

 

Clocks went forward by one hour.

 

Last night we hit the casino and I won $280!!  I had only spent $30 to get there so I took the money and ran.

 

We have arrived in Halifax and are currently waiting to be cleared by Canada Customs & Immigration before we can get off the ship.  Aaand... as I was writing this the ship was cleared.

 

So here is the process for entering Canada when arriving from the US by ship:  

Upon boarding there is a declaration card to fill out, along with the attached instructions.  If you are good to go you won’t get a call for CBSA to have a little chat with you.  Once they clear the ship you can disembark without any further processing.

 

I am currently waiting for my husband to get ready.  He is on “Me Time” and is driving me nuts.

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by *Miss G*

[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations on your winnings!!

 

Enjoy your day in Halifax.

[Cajuntraveler]

Hubby and I are scheduled to be on the Zaandam on the August 24th sailing from Montreal so I am very interested in reading all Miss G's comments about the ship and ports.  It seems the ship has not been refurbished in many years.  Are the beds as outdated as the rest of the ship?  I can't imagine 7 nights on an uncomfortable mattress. Thank you Miss G for writing about your experience.  Enjoy your cruise.

[rotjeknor]

34 minutes ago, Cajuntraveler said:

Hubby and I are scheduled to be on the Zaandam on the August 24th sailing from Montreal so I am very interested in reading all Miss G's comments about the ship and ports.  It seems the ship has not been refurbished in many years.  Are the beds as outdated as the rest of the ship?  I can't imagine 7 nights on an uncomfortable mattress. Thank you Miss G for writing about your experience.  Enjoy your cruise.

We were on the Zaandam april 24 till may 4th, Fort Lauderdale to Montreal . The ship looked very well ! Inside and out. I think the last dry dock and refurbishment was either end of 2017 or early 2018. 

We had an OV ( 1908) on this cruise and no complaints whatsoever . Fyi : the mattresses very wonderful !

Of course the bathroom still looks the same as it has always looked , but clean and everything worked.

 

[barbbob]

Miss G thanks for keeping us updated.  I have found it very informative, as we will be on the June 8th sailing.  How's the room and the weather?  Hopefully better than expected.  Are you taking any tours?  Still eating in the Pinnacle? We are enjoying your posts. Have a great trip

[Live4cruises]

We are booked on this ship and route next April.  From my research, it appears balcony and above were refurbed in 2018.

[barbbob]

That is great to hear I hope to find that to be true.  We are booked on this same ship in Oct for South American  34 days so this is a trial run for us to determine if we can spend 34 days on this ship. 

[Cajuntraveler]

Thank you Rotjeknor!  I was getting concerned about the comfort of the ship.  We are in a Vista Suite.  Thanks for sharing your experience.

[puppycanducruise]

Well, I'm caught up again.

Congrats on winning in the casino. 

Wines around the World is the best.  Lots of wine and lots of munchies.

Enjoy Halifax.