A report from the first Zaandam sailing in 790 days.

[LadyVol1]

8 minutes ago, electro said:

Where are you cruising? Hal is not providing testing for same day flights back to the US from Canada.

This is per the HAL website when you click on Canada and US cruises. I’m trying to figure this out since I have a September Koningsdam cruise that ends in Vancouver. 23 hours after the 7 AM disembarkation I have a flight to the US. I’ve called Seattle to see if they will give me a test since the website clearly indicates that Holland America will, but Seattle can’t figure it out either!

 



From https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html#testing

 

 

(Updated) If my home country requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test result for re-entry following my cruise, will Holland America Line administer and cover the cost of the test?

Vaccinated guests disembarking in Canada needing a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be responsible to arrange and cover the expense of that test. Please note, tests are not required for guests disembarking in Vancouver and returning to the U.S. via motorcoach. For all other cruises where a guest requires a COVID-19 test to return home and can provide proof of flight within 24 hours, Holland America line will provide a complimentary test.

 

 

[VacationIsGreat]

45 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

I was on one Dam ship (may have been the Zaandam but can't remember for sure) many years ago in an OV with one of those old hair dryers mounted on the bathroom wall.  We also had a handheld hair dryer in the room.  You should be fine.

Whew!!  Thank you!!  

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, VacationIsGreat said:

Whew!!  Thank you!!  

No kidding.  Those things on the wall must have been the first blow dryers invented 🤪😛.

[VacationIsGreat]

2 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

No kidding.  Those things on the wall must have been the first blow dryers invented 🤪😛.

IKR!  I would have brought my own, but really need that space in the suitcase!!  😳

[Florida_gal_50]

46 minutes ago, VacationIsGreat said:

IKR!  I would have brought my own, but really need that space in the suitcase!!  😳

I can totally relate 😀

[JessWright]

I was on the 9-day Zaandam cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Montreal, and just read all the interesting comments.  First, it was good to be back on the Zaandam, and I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.  Next, to add a few things that have not been mentioned: (1) The Lifeboat Drill has been modified.  We are to check in with a person at a certain time at your assigned lifeboat station.  Then, watch the instructions on the TV in your cabin. (I think it is channel 26) Supposedly, the TV is locked and will NOT show any other channels until you watch the instructions.  Outlets - I saw only one outlet in the cabin, other than the outlet for hairdryers in the bathroom). Thus, you either have the TV plugged in OR you use the outlet for chargers.  I could NOT find any music stations on the TV during that cruise. They may be added later.  Excursions Tickets - They are no more.  You find your ticket on the Navigator (Wallet) or show the Tour Guide your room key before boarding the bus.  No Newspapers.  I missed them a lot.  No Final paper bill on leaving the ship.  It is on the Navigator.  (My cabin was an ocean-view on the main deck - midship). The cabin had a new shower put in, although I saw tubs in other cabins towards the front of the ship.  The one Fitness Manager is James Mason - with the same name as the popular movie actor. I was in the gym each night. He is excellent, and I noticed he devoted a lot of time talking with passengers on a one-to-one basis. The Awards Program - Sadly, I was not aware, nor invited to the awards program.  I am well in the 5-star category, sans a gold medallion.  Maybe on the next cruise in November. (I don't know why I am constantly overlooked) Towel Animals - They were mainly extinct, which is okay.  However, one was there the "last night" of the cruise.   

 

I was very glad to see a number of familiar crew members, especially Ian.  He walks with a limp but gave "EXCELLENT" presentations on "The History of Holland America", and "Highlights of Canada". The auditorium was packed each time.  The presentations were excellent and informative. The Lido - I ate all my meals in the Lido, and enjoyed "most" meals, including the famous bread pudding.  Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.  Captain Smit, and his assistants did an excellent job.  That was my 47th cruise with Holland America. It is good to be back.  Now, to look forward to the 11-day cruise on the new Rotterdam to the Caribbean this November.   

[electro]

17 hours ago, LadyVol1 said:

This is per the HAL website when you click on Canada and US cruises. I’m trying to figure this out since I have a September Koningsdam cruise that ends in Vancouver. 23 hours after the 7 AM disembarkation I have a flight to the US. I’ve called Seattle to see if they will give me a test since the website clearly indicates that Holland America will, but Seattle can’t figure it out either!

 



From https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html#testing

 

 

(Updated) If my home country requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test result for re-entry following my cruise, will Holland America Line administer and cover the cost of the test?

Vaccinated guests disembarking in Canada needing a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be responsible to arrange and cover the expense of that test. Please note, tests are not required for guests disembarking in Vancouver and returning to the U.S. via motorcoach. For all other cruises where a guest requires a COVID-19 test to return home and can provide proof of flight within 24 hours, Holland America line will provide a complimentary test.

 

 

This is from a letter received from HAL, I got one for Vancouver and one for Montreal. They both say the same thing, Unless they change it before your cruise, you will be on your on for testing.

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please be advised that due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret that we are unable to provide disembarkation testing in Vancouver, British Columbia for guests who require a negative COVID-19 test for their onward travels. For guests flying home on the day of disembarkation, we recommend utilizing the testing facilities at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). For more information regarding locations, pricing, and reservations, please visit: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/travel-planning/takecare/covid-19-testing. For additional information about testing locations in and around Vancouver, please visit https://*****/3KD1rig.

[Florida_gal_50]

9 hours ago, JessWright said:

I was on the 9-day Zaandam cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Montreal, and just read all the interesting comments.  First, it was good to be back on the Zaandam, and I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.  Next, to add a few things that have not been mentioned: (1) The Lifeboat Drill has been modified.  We are to check in with a person at a certain time at your assigned lifeboat station.  Then, watch the instructions on the TV in your cabin. (I think it is channel 26) Supposedly, the TV is locked and will NOT show any other channels until you watch the instructions.  Outlets - I saw only one outlet in the cabin, other than the outlet for hairdryers in the bathroom). Thus, you either have the TV plugged in OR you use the outlet for chargers.  I could NOT find any music stations on the TV during that cruise. They may be added later.  Excursions Tickets - They are no more.  You find your ticket on the Navigator (Wallet) or show the Tour Guide your room key before boarding the bus.  No Newspapers.  I missed them a lot.  No Final paper bill on leaving the ship.  It is on the Navigator.  (My cabin was an ocean-view on the main deck - midship). The cabin had a new shower put in, although I saw tubs in other cabins towards the front of the ship.  The one Fitness Manager is James Mason - with the same name as the popular movie actor. I was in the gym each night. He is excellent, and I noticed he devoted a lot of time talking with passengers on a one-to-one basis. The Awards Program - Sadly, I was not aware, nor invited to the awards program.  I am well in the 5-star category, sans a gold medallion.  Maybe on the next cruise in November. (I don't know why I am constantly overlooked) Towel Animals - They were mainly extinct, which is okay.  However, one was there the "last night" of the cruise.   

 

I was very glad to see a number of familiar crew members, especially Ian.  He walks with a limp but gave "EXCELLENT" presentations on "The History of Holland America", and "Highlights of Canada". The auditorium was packed each time.  The presentations were excellent and informative. The Lido - I ate all my meals in the Lido, and enjoyed "most" meals, including the famous bread pudding.  Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.  Captain Smit, and his assistants did an excellent job.  That was my 47th cruise with Holland America. It is good to be back.  Now, to look forward to the 11-day cruise on the new Rotterdam to the Caribbean this November.   

Thank you for your impressions.  It was my experience that the changes you mentioned here have been in effect for several months.  There hasn’t been shorex tickets since my cruise in November.  There is no Mariner lunch.  I did get invited ti a cocktail party as a 5 star, drinks only no food.  Towel animals and chocolates only on gala nights.  My cruises were on the koningsdam.

[LadyVol1]

1 hour ago, electro said:

This is from a letter received from HAL, I got one for Vancouver and one for Montreal. They both say the same thing, Unless they change it before your cruise, you will be on your on for testing.

 

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please be advised that due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret that we are unable to provide disembarkation testing in Vancouver, British Columbia for guests who require a negative COVID-19 test for their onward travels. For guests flying home on the day of disembarkation, we recommend utilizing the testing facilities at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). For more information regarding locations, pricing, and reservations, please visit: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/travel-planning/takecare/covid-19-testing. For additional information about testing locations in and around Vancouver, please visit https://*****/3KD1rig.

Thank you very much. The Holland America website was updated May 19, 2022 but they don’t indicate what was updated. I was hoping the complimentary test section was what was updated.🤷‍♀️

[rkacruiser]

20 hours ago, JessWright said:

The Awards Program - Sadly, I was not aware, nor invited to the awards program.  I am well in the 5-star category, sans a gold medallion.  Maybe on the next cruise in November. (I don't know why I am constantly overlooked) 

 

You aren't the first and, sadly, for whatever reason, you won't be the last.  I attended a reception to which I had received an invitation.  The Front Office person checking Mariners in told me that I was not on the guest list.  Standing nearby, the Dining Room Manager, with whom I have sailed, vouched for me and I was admitted.  HAL's Front Office on the ships is not the most efficient business outfit that has ever existed.  How many of us have experienced the infamous "Night Auditor"?  

 

20 hours ago, JessWright said:

, especially Ian.  He walks with a limp but gave "EXCELLENT" presentations on "The History of Holland America", and "Highlights of Canada".

 

Ian is no "spring chicken".  For those cruisers who have the opportunity to benefit from his knowledge and expertise, please, be most appreciative.  

[janmcn]

On 5/22/2022 at 7:55 AM, Ready2go11 said:

Yes. An earlier post showed some of the walls of books in and around the Explorations Cafe. There were several walls of shelves. on travel, fiction and non fiction. 

Hooray!!! Thank you for your helpful posts!

[surfone]

we just booked a b2b on this ship,   June 11th.   Any recommendations on an excursion for Quebec, Montreal and Sydney?  Been to the other ports.  This last minute booking is something we've never done before.  We have never been on a smaller ship like this,  I support the Carnival Pride is the smallest we sailed,  and RCL Enchantment of the seas.  What's the casino like on this ship? 

[rover16]

On 14 May aboard the Noordam HAL provided free COVID testing on board who needed it for 15 May travels. They also provided free testing in Vancouver on the 15th at the PanPacific for those flying on the 16th.

[rocksteady27]

9 hours ago, surfone said:

we just booked a b2b on this ship,   June 11th.   Any recommendations on an excursion for Quebec, Montreal and Sydney?  Been to the other ports.  This last minute booking is something we've never done before.  We have never been on a smaller ship like this,  I support the Carnival Pride is the smallest we sailed,  and RCL Enchantment of the seas.  What's the casino like on this ship? 

We will be on this ship for the July 2nd sailing - please report back on the excursions and casinos. I hope others can chime in for your trip!

[scoochy12]

The Mariner Society Rewards says on board welcome lunch. What day is that?

[TiogaCruiser]

It used to be on boarding day.

[Sir PMP]

11 hours ago, scoochy12 said:

The Mariner Society Rewards says on board welcome lunch. What day is that?

On disembarkation day.

[rkacruiser]

9 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

On disembarkation day.

 

????  What are you thinking of?  That is incorrect.  There is a Mariner Society Lunch held, usually, on the last day at sea.

 

21 hours ago, scoochy12 said:

The Mariner Society Rewards says on board welcome lunch. What day is that?

 

If it can be held, this lunch will be offered in a one hour time period early during embarkation.  I recall a 12:00-1:00 P. M. time frame.

 

You may or may not receive an invitation for a Mariner Reception in one of the Lounges sometime during the afternoon of Embarkation Day.  

[Sir PMP]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

????  What are you thinking of?  That is incorrect.  There is a Mariner Society Lunch held, usually, on the last day at sea.

 

 

If it can be held, this lunch will be offered in a one hour time period early during embarkation.  I recall a 12:00-1:00 P. M. time frame.

 

You may or may not receive an invitation for a Mariner Reception in one of the Lounges sometime during the afternoon of Embarkation Day.  

The fact that it said: 'Welcome on board', should explain it all..

[Ready2go11]

On the last CD they held a third and final coffee chat with Cruise Director EN and the hotel general manager Florin Dragomir (who said he really is from Transylvania!). 
 

what I learned from this talk….

 

During the pandemic, It cost $1.5 million a month to maintain each ship. The Zaandam and Volendam shared staff, and the group of workers checked for leaks in the dark with flashlights because they had only emergency lights they were in Corfu for months with no sure leave allowed. He said it was very eerie to be inside the ship even during the day.

 

Mr. Dragomir stated that crew is a challenge and it is very difficult to recruit especially since every cruise line was restarting at the same time. The visa process can take up to six months just to get an appointment for an application, and then additional months to go through the process. They acknowledged that they were short staffed and they had been trying to recruit from countries other than the Philippines and Indonesia where most of the crew have traditionally come from. I was not surprised for him to say that about 50% of the crew are new to passenger ships. It was clear that many weight staff and bartenders needed additional training and experience, that will shortly come with time. 
 

Since this was the Zaandam’s first sailing post COVID, Mr. Dragomir noted that there were HAL corporate people on board to help. They have been able to help with what they learned from the relaunches of other ships in the fleet.

 

in response to a question from the audience he stated that he learned of the decision to not offer testing at embarkation to fly to the US at the same time passengers did via the email. He said he had been working very hard to have a testing option right off the ship at the Boston terminal (at a cost but convenient) but it was not yet in place for Montreal (but working on it). 
 

Zaandam, as an older ship, does have some maintenance challenges. One woman in the audience noted that she had had to change cabins three times.  Mr Dragomir apologized and said they were hard at work on a few isolated instances of trouble. My perception was that the ship was in pretty good shape after the refurbishment, as interior and exteriors were painted and carpets were new. As noted in a prior post (and in my HAL post sailing survey) I do wish they would have changed out the televisions in the state rooms and the cabins are still short of electrical outlets for charging, particularly by the bed. I recall there being one outlet in the bathroom, a plug-in at the base of the lamp near the balcony door, and one outlet by the vanity area. 

I think the crew did a very good job given the resource issues. Things smoothed out as the cruise went on and I understand that HAL is facing the same challenges that every business is, including mine. Patience and understanding will provide every passenger with a more enjoyable experience!  

[Ready2go11]

On our last day there were many activities on board including on deck for a cause and an EXC talk, presented by Cruise Director Ian. He said it was the first time this talk had been given and he had been practicing and included a lot of tidbits of information on all things Canada. It was very interesting. Other activities included a line dancing class a towel folding class and we did take advantage of our final opportunity for afternoon tea.  By now, the comments we had been leaving on board in the Navigator app has gotten back to crewmembers and our service greatly improved as we were recognized and called by name. 
 

For dinner that evening, we went to Canaletto and shared a variety of appetizers including the house salad, charcuterie plate, and  the eggplant.  The main entrées we shared were the short ribs with gnocchi and the Bronzino. Dessert was Affogato, a cheese plate and the gelato trio. It was the fastest experience we have ever had at Canaletto. It is possible that this was due to extra servers and wait staff helping oit. because the pinnacle Grill was closed for that evening. All of the food was very good except dessert was a little disappointing. The gelato from prior cruises was simply ice cream that they had been serving at the Lido all week and my Affogato was the smallest I have ever been served.

 

The show that evening was another dance company presentation so we skipped that.

 

I did include two photos below from Sydney that I can’t remember if I posted before. The giant fiddle does not look so giant next to our ship!  We did enjoy a shop just off the ship that sold Scottish products. My sister bought a purse and I purchased a flask and cup set that was adorable. The prices there were very reasonable. 

[Ready2go11]

On our actual last day, (the prior post should’ve said last sea day), we were in Quebec. We had booked the château Frontenac tea and walk of old Quebec but it did not leave until a little after 1pm so we chose to get off the ship and explore the old city on our own and then return to the ship for the excursion. The old city is very close to where you walk off the ship,  which was fantastic. It does contain a lot of hills but it was so charming. I was very impressed with how clean the streets were. 
 

We had lunch at a place called a Buffay but was more like a  diner. Prices were reasonable and as you can see from my photo below contains a large portion of salad, vegetables, pork and mashed potatoes. We also enjoyed a Café Au lait at this restaurant. The shops were just opening as we were winding our way through the streets but we managed to find a very good chocolate store. It was pricey but the chocolate was very good, especially the maple covered chocolate truffles.  All in all, it felt like we were in Paris, except the people were much nicer 😀. 
 

After lunch we return to the ship to join our tour. There was a little bit of chaos as they tried to organize everyone into their respective tours. Our guide Guy was a native Québecois and obviously knew the city very well. We took a two hour walk around the old city as he shared the history which was very interesting. The tour Had stated it was a moderate effort on some uneven pavement, and it was very hilly and aggressive at times. Several members of our group who are older were complaining that it was more exertion than they expected. We had thought the highlight of the tour would be the tea afternoon tea at Château Frontenac. However we were disappointed after looking at the afternoon tea online (if booked separately) that we were only served three small treats and had only two choices of tea (oolong and green). The description of the tour needs to be modified to state it is more of a historical tour and less emphasis on the tea, as we would nit have booked if we knew tea was only a rushed half hour of the tour with very limited options. We did enjoy the funicular ride from the old city up to the top of Duferin Terrace. Note to come back down to the ship, it involved a walk down a winding steep street. 
 

A side note: at all the Canadian port where we stopped, we noticed a huge amount of dandelions everywhere. We asked our guide, Guy, and he did not know the dandelion name but stated that they were allowed to grow freely because they helped the bee population.

 

We greatly enjoyed our short time in Quebec and hope ti return one day. 
 

For our last evening dinner, we ate in the main dining room, where much of the pinnacle staff were assisting. As noted in a prior post many of them called us by name and were very attentive and mentioned our comments to management via the app. 

We did not take any other organized tours so I cannot share any experience of those. Instead we chose to make our own way at the small ports where we stopped. 

[ON cruiser]

Thank you, Ready2go11, for taking us along on the Zaandam, a ship I recall with fond memories. I have enjoyed your posts.

 

Kudos to the hotel director for meeting the passengers and offering a candid explanation of the current challenges.  

 

Wishing you safe travels home!

[seaoma]

1 minute ago, Ready2go11 said:

We had thought the highlight of the tour would be the tea afternoon tea at Château Frontenac. However we were disappointed after looking at the afternoon tea online (if booked separately) that we were only served three small treats and had only two choices of tea (oolong and green). The description of the tour needs to be modified to state it is more of a historical tour and less emphasis on the tea, as we would nit have booked if we knew tea was only a rushed half hour of the tour with very limited options.

 

Thank you for this review. I was wanting to do this also, but I was more interested in the tea than the historical tour, so now I know I can save my money for something else.

[Ready2go11]

For our last morning on board we were happy to use the dining room for breakfast. And we also enjoyed going up on deck outside the Lido to take photos as we entered Montreal (including the odd apartment building that looked like it could topple over- we later learned it was part of the World Expo in the late 60s). We were not happy to get off the ship after a very nice experience. 
 

I was glad we extended our stay in Montreal for three extra days and stayed at the Sofitel, which turned out to be a great central location for exploring many parts of the city. Given the dismal experience at the Château Frontenac for afternoon tea we did go to the Ritz in Montreal for their Sunday tea and although very pricey at $49CAD a person it had much more variety and was not rushed; however the service was disappointing. See photo below. We also enjoyed  Montréal’s bakeries, cafés and churches and enjoyed the chocolate shop where we had an extensive fondue experience. We walked all over the city during our time there and the weather was both hot one day and chilly the next, but all in all pleasant and mostly dry. 
 

From the time we started the trip in Fort Lauderdale until we flew home we walked a total of 70 miles according to my watch. We also did the equivalent of 325 flights of stairs. The day after I got home I did not move much!

 

We had been looking forward to this trip for several years and we enjoyed the itinerary, the crew and the ship. We would absolutely do this again!

 

again, please forgive any typos as I made these notes in a small screen.