Live! The Grouch on Zaandam, 14 days, Round Trip Boston - Montreal 8/27/22

[whogo]

Zaandam This and That

 

1. A scooter was regularly plugged in at a elevator landing, thought that was verboten.

2. I am not a fan of the bread pudding or peanut butter silk pie.

3. Mussels, on the other hand...

4. Everything worked. Toilet flushed every time. Temperature was pleasant throughout the ship. There were no leaky pipes, no buckets catching drips. Was this really a Holland America ship?

5. We could not have asked for better weather. Brought a raincoat. Didn't wear it. Brought a jacket. Didn't wear it. Brought a sweater. Didn't wear it. I was comfortable in shirt sleeves for the whole two weeks. My experience only, others wore jackets.

6. Did not care for the performer in the piano bar or the piano/singer duo. The trio in the Ocean Bar was more my style, did not frequent the place, though. Only heard the classical cello/piano duo while passing through.

7. We spent almost no time on our balcony, although the temperature, wind, and shade were occasionally conducive. We appreciate the view through all the glass.

8. Never ordered room service, do not eat in our bedroom at home, either.

9. Cabins on deck 6 might be the handiest on Zaandam. Walk two floors up to the Lido and pools, add another deck for the Crow's nest, walk just one or two decks down for dining room and entertainment. Longer climbs from A deck or 1 or 2 are manageable after being ashore.

10. I was surprised at the healthy looking people who took an elevator to go down just one floor. I suggest you make a rule for yourself before cruising. Promise to climb up a floor and down two or up two and down three, or whatever your knees and fitness will allow.

11. Heard a woman order her second mimosa at dining room breakfast, she said that you have to start early with the beverage package. (It includes 15 drinks per day.)

12. I miss having the daily printed mini-newspapers.

13. There was a rumor that the Queen's Room would be turned into some sort of tech spot.

14. I don't know why the daily planner listed Evening Catholic Prayer instead of mass.

15. Cigarette smell is noticeable near the casino and on the starboard side of the Lido restaurant near the Seaview Bar. When the wind is wrong, the smell can extend through the whole starboard side of the restaurant.

16. The promenade deck could have held twice as many deck chairs. Have some been removed for covid or because it was not a tropical cruise? I did not spend much time on the promenade deck, it is usually a favorite hangout, also did not read as much as usual.

17. T-Mobile cell service worked great in USA and Canada. I was concerned when the phone used Bell and Telus services, but that's what T-Mobile does in Canada, “free” calls, texts, and data with Magenta 55+ plan. We managed to avoid unintended charges by the ship's expensive Cellular at Sea service. We were close enough to land to use land based services through most of the cruise on this itinerary. Even posted a few photos from the phone.

18. Paid $149 for 14 days of adequate internet onboard.

19. We received pillow chocolates on one gala/dressy night each week. Never saw a towel animal, did not miss them. We opted for no turndown service.

20. Four star included laundry was returned the same day, laundry room probably had little demand on seven day cruises.

21. We did not eat anything from Dive-In.

22. We did not eat in the Pinnacle Grill. We may try some candied clothesline bacon yet.

23. We did not take a Holland America excursion, did not find out how they handle those who do not have smart phones. Our private tours for two arranged on the dock cost about the same as HAL excursions.

24. I lost a ton of weight in the past year on a low carb diet. Diet and exercise, who knew? Switched to a see food diet for the cruise. See it and eat it. I gained four pounds. I blame the cherry tomato they added to my full English breakfast.

25. Salt grinders are an abomination.

26. Stacked presentation of food is an abomination.

27. The cruise director said they were 17% short on crew, visas were a major roadblock. I noticed no service issues.

28. Covid? Pretty much a nonissue. Staff wore masks 99.8%, one occasionally slipped below the nose. Small percentage of passengers wore them, even on crowded tenders. Mrs. Whogo heard some coughing, but that's pretty normal on cruises. Aside from the closed section of cabins on deck 6, which might have been to isolate new crew, I saw no hint of covid, noticed no extra cleaning.

29. This was like a pre-covid Holland America cruise, no big cutbacks, no appreciable service slips. Front desk staff and room stewards were better than usual. Hot food was served hot, cold food cold. The musicians were not to my taste, I'm sure others loved them. World stage shows did not appeal, dancers, BBC Earth, comedians, uh uh, would not have attended even if I was not worried about covid.

30. Two days after the cruise and we are still free of covid symptoms and do not have our usual cruise cough and cold, may consider wearing masks for air travel even if covid goes away.

 

In short, great cruise. My top four experiences?

4. Anne of Green Gables excursion

3. Quebec City

2. Driving the electric vehicle around Acadia National Park

1. Visiting our daughter and son-in-law

[BetsyS.]

45 minutes ago, whogo said:

Zaandam This and That

 

1. A scooter was regularly plugged in at a elevator landing, thought that was verboten.

2. I am not a fan of the bread pudding or peanut butter silk pie.

3. Mussels, on the other hand...

4. Everything worked. Toilet flushed every time. Temperature was pleasant throughout the ship. There were no leaky pipes, no buckets catching drips. Was this really a Holland America ship?

5. We could not have asked for better weather. Brought a raincoat. Didn't wear it. Brought a jacket. Didn't wear it. Brought a sweater. Didn't wear it. I was comfortable in shirt sleeves for the whole two weeks. My experience only, others wore jackets.

6. Did not care for the performer in the piano bar or the piano/singer duo. The trio in the Ocean Bar was more my style, did not frequent the place, though. Only heard the classical cello/piano duo while passing through.

7. We spent almost no time on our balcony, although the temperature, wind, and shade were occasionally conducive. We appreciate the view through all the glass.

8. Never ordered room service, do not eat in our bedroom at home, either.

9. Cabins on deck 6 might be the handiest on Zaandam. Walk two floors up to the Lido and pools, add another deck for the Crow's nest, walk just one or two decks down for dining room and entertainment. Longer climbs from A deck or 1 or 2 are manageable after being ashore.

10. I was surprised at the healthy looking people who took an elevator to go down just one floor. I suggest you make a rule for yourself before cruising. Promise to climb up a floor and down two or up two and down three, or whatever your knees and fitness will allow.

11. Heard a woman order her second mimosa at dining room breakfast, she said that you have to start early with the beverage package. (It includes 15 drinks per day.)

12. I miss having the daily printed mini-newspapers.

13. There was a rumor that the Queen's Room would be turned into some sort of tech spot.

14. I don't know why the daily planner listed Evening Catholic Prayer instead of mass.

15. Cigarette smell is noticeable near the casino and on the starboard side of the Lido restaurant near the Seaview Bar. When the wind is wrong, the smell can extend through the whole starboard side of the restaurant.

16. The promenade deck could have held twice as many deck chairs. Have some been removed for covid or because it was not a tropical cruise? I did not spend much time on the promenade deck, it is usually a favorite hangout, also did not read as much as usual.

17. T-Mobile cell service worked great in USA and Canada. I was concerned when the phone used Bell and Telus services, but that's what T-Mobile does in Canada, “free” calls, texts, and data with Magenta 55+ plan. We managed to avoid unintended charges by the ship's expensive Cellular at Sea service. We were close enough to land to use land based services through most of the cruise on this itinerary. Even posted a few photos from the phone.

18. Paid $149 for 14 days of adequate internet onboard.

19. We received pillow chocolates on one gala/dressy night each week. Never saw a towel animal, did not miss them. We opted for no turndown service.

20. Four star included laundry was returned the same day, laundry room probably had little demand on seven day cruises.

21. We did not eat anything from Dive-In.

22. We did not eat in the Pinnacle Grill. We may try some candied clothesline bacon yet.

23. We did not take a Holland America excursion, did not find out how they handle those who do not have smart phones. Our private tours for two arranged on the dock cost about the same as HAL excursions.

24. I lost a ton of weight in the past year on a low carb diet. Diet and exercise, who knew? Switched to a see food diet for the cruise. See it and eat it. I gained four pounds. I blame the cherry tomato they added to my full English breakfast.

25. Salt grinders are an abomination.

26. Stacked presentation of food is an abomination.

27. The cruise director said they were 17% short on crew, visas were a major roadblock. I noticed no service issues.

28. Covid? Pretty much a nonissue. Staff wore masks 99.8%, one occasionally slipped below the nose. Small percentage of passengers wore them, even on crowded tenders. Mrs. Whogo heard some coughing, but that's pretty normal on cruises. Aside from the closed section of cabins on deck 6, which might have been to isolate new crew, I saw no hint of covid, noticed no extra cleaning.

29. This was like a pre-covid Holland America cruise, no big cutbacks, no appreciable service slips. Front desk staff and room stewards were better than usual. Hot food was served hot, cold food cold. The musicians were not to my taste, I'm sure others loved them. World stage shows did not appeal, dancers, BBC Earth, comedians, uh uh, would not have attended even if I was not worried about covid.

30. Two days after the cruise and we are still free of covid symptoms and do not have our usual cruise cough and cold, may consider wearing masks for air travel even if covid goes away.

 

In short, great cruise. My top four experiences?

4. Anne of Green Gables excursion

3. Quebec City

2. Driving the electric vehicle around Acadia National Park

1. Visiting our daughter and son-in-law

I also miss the daily printed mini-newspapers. I wish HAL would bring  

them back. I enjoyed Anne of Green Gables excursion and Quebec City when I was on the (old) Rotterdam 4 years ago.  Quebec City reminded me of Paris.

Thanks for the great reports.

[rkacruiser]

10 hours ago, whogo said:

Mussels, on the other hand..

 

YES!!!!