Live from the Volendam - please join the Merry Widows on their cruise 😊

[Mary229]

10 minutes ago, Iamthesea said:

 

Two of my favorites for salad.  I hope the salad bar is still good.   Oceania had pitiful salad fixings.

It is my go to at lunch.  Hint: if available add some goodies from both the taco bar and the Asian stir fry station.   I spend as long assembling as I do eating 😉

[AV8rix]

On 5/1/2024 at 3:06 PM, kazu said:

Look what arrived today.

 

 

 

Does this mean there has been too much time spent in the casino?  😂 

Y'know, I really like when the casino sends the selection you are showing or sometimes the selection of the after-dinner treats of the PG.  But I HATE the platter of the six chocolate-dipped strawberries.  JMO, but they are too messy to eat.  I always give those to my housekeeping stewards. But that's just me.

[grannyshell]

I got the hard sell at the spa on Nieuw Statendam in the past. Very very pushy. Arguing with your massage therapist isn't a nice way to end a relaxing massage.

[terrydtx]

6 hours ago, canadianbear said:

That’s so strange about the escargot @kazu 

 Ours  have been great on our November & February cruises. Wonder what they are doing wrong on your ship.  I sure hope the chef figures it out.  

I also hope they figure it out by August. I really like Escargot and they have been great on other HAL cruises.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

 

Two of my favorites for salad.  I hope the salad bar is still good.   Oceania had pitiful salad fixings.

 

Salad bar is very, very good. Lots of fixings.  Very popular on the ship for good reason.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, AV8rix said:

Y'know, I really like when the casino sends the selection you are showing or sometimes the selection of the after-dinner treats of the PG.  But I HATE the platter of the six chocolate-dipped strawberries.  JMO, but they are too messy to eat.  I always give those to my housekeeping stewards. But that's just me.

 

I hate those chocolate covered strawberries too.  They go mushy in a day no matter what you do with them.

 

We haven’t eaten any of the selection yet but debating - a couple of things look tempting.  neither of us are chocolaholics 😉 

[kazu]

We are in Quebec and it is C-C-COLD.  That evil polar arctic wind has followed us the whole way.  The whole forecast I looked at before packing has been wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

We’re Canadian and know what spring is like.  This has NOT been even the beginning of spring.  Praying for warmer weather tomorrow as I booked a lovely private tour for the two of us.

 

My foot and legs are in recovery mode (pre-cruise) so for once I put my thinking cap on and we are going on a bike tour.  We’re not riding them - we are in the ‘cart’ and our guide rides the bike.

 

I asked him today if he had blankets or if we should bring them from the ship 😂. He does.  Weather permitting - we’re doing it.  Hopefully it warms up as the day goes on.  It’s been the absolutely worse weather of any cruise I have ever done.

 

Talked to a crew member this morning and he said that there are 3 weeks that this one can have miserable weather.  ironically, this one last year had good weather.  Kazu just picked the wrong time LOL.  But we are still making the best of it 😉 

 

 

 

[Iamthesea]

16 hours ago, Mary229 said:

It is my go to at lunch.  Hint: if available add some goodies from both the taco bar and the Asian stir fry station.   I spend as long assembling as I do eating 😉

 

Mine, also!  I have never put any Asian ingredients on my salad.  What a great idea!  Another good idea that I learned here is to go to the roast beef section and top your salad with a slice.  My main go to is Mexican.  I also like to add that rice mixture in the salad section (not sure what it is called) and also love most salad additions like beets, raw veggies, nuts, and cheese.

[grannyshell]

Those 2 stations are my go-to options...salad and stir fry, which to me is the best food on the ship. Cooked to order, fresh, healthy and hot as hades! Love it.

[trickylibrarian]

We'll be on her next Saturday and hope the weather is improved.  Going to pack

for the cold.  Enjoying this thread a lot,  

[kazu]

4 hours ago, grannyshell said:

Those 2 stations are my go-to options...salad and stir fry, which to me is the best food on the ship. Cooked to order, fresh, healthy and hot as hades! Love it.

 

Deb has really enjoyed the stir fries & “Chinese” type variations.  Very good.  I had a salad today and it was well done.  He was constantly asking me if I would like the other things on the bar.  

 

 

 

Oops - looks like CC saved this pic I posted (or thought had posted last night).  It’s the Hotel Frontenac at night.  Took the pic through the Sea View Pool though since it was way too cold to go to the unprotected part of the deck or the Sports deck for clear shot.  

 

[kazu]

Just getting ready to sail away from Quebec.  Had a great tour and lots of pics I am waiting to sync so until that happens I think I will be in catch up mode (story of my life).

 

Last night so luggage has to be finished, etc.  

 

By the way, we were able to use our Mariner drink cards today for Pinot Grigio.  No problem at all 👍 

[CGinMTL]

Thanks for taking us along.

Tomorrow we will be onboard

.

Ship is leaving Montreal at 7 pm instead of 3 pm 

[cunnorl]

Thanks for taking us along. Really enjoyed all your posts. Safe travels home!

[BetsyS.]

My cruise on Zuiderdam is not until July, but I just got an email from HAL telling me how great the spa is - blah, blah, blah. They said I should book now!

 In the past, I have never received any ads about the spa until after I was onboard the ship.

         I won't be booking any spa appointments because of the fiasco. 

Jacqui - Thanks for letting us know what happened at the spa. It's good to be informed about it before boarding the ship. I appreciate it.

 

[Haljo1935]

Have really enjoyed your Live and appreciate you finding room to bring us all along!

Safe travels home.

[SUESEABE]

Thanks. Enjoyed following 'the merry widows'. Hope you have a smooth journey home.

[BetsyS.]

Jacqui - Thanks for taking the time on your vacation to post all the updates, great pictures of scenery and food, menus, etc.   I enjoyed them very much. I wish you and Deb safe travels home.

[Dismomx5]

Thanks for the ride, Jacqui. I've enjoyed the information that you shared, but am happy to not be on the cold decks. 🙂 Safe travels home!

[Cruisercl]

@kazu thanks so much for the live review! 

Enjoyed it.

Happy for you your trip was fun....😊

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for taking us along.  Looking forward to your next adventure.

[lcand1923]

 

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise.  Sorry the temperatures were not better.

 

Safe Travels Home!

[travelnap]

Jacqui, Thanks for taking us all along with you for this voyage.  Hope you have a safe trip home.

[1of4]

Safe travels home. I just checked, your high there today will be 14. It will feel balmy!

[kazu]

15 hours ago, BetsyS. said:

Jacqui - Thanks for taking the time on your vacation to post all the updates, great pictures of scenery and food, menus, etc.   I enjoyed them very much. I wish you and Deb safe travels home.

 

12 hours ago, Dismomx5 said:

Thanks for the ride, Jacqui. I've enjoyed the information that you shared, but am happy to not be on the cold decks. 🙂 Safe travels home!

 

7 hours ago, Cruisercl said:

@kazu thanks so much for the live review! 

Enjoyed it.

Happy for you your trip was fun....😊

 

5 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Thanks for taking us along.  Looking forward to your next adventure.

 

5 hours ago, lcand1923 said:

 

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise.  Sorry the temperatures were not better.

 

Safe Travels Home!

 

4 hours ago, travelnap said:

Jacqui, Thanks for taking us all along with you for this voyage.  Hope you have a safe trip home.

 

1 hour ago, 1of4 said:

Safe travels home. I just checked, your high there today will be 14. It will feel balmy!

 

Thanks everyone - there’s more to add but it will have to wait until I get home.

 

We’re sitting in Montreal airport waiting for our boarding time.