Zaandam Review - Day 6

[gullgeorge]

Day 6 – At Sea

 

This is the sixth of a daily review of the 11/27 sailing of the Zaandam, eastern Caribbean cruise. The daily review will be short covering the major events.

 

Note about St. Thomas (yesterday)

All passengers must clear immigration starting at 7:00am. On this cruise they started from the Main deck and worked up.

 

Update on Cabin

Cabin cleaning time in the morning ranges from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Evening cleaning is during meal. The old number cabins receive afternoon sun at Cape Canaveral and the first two days at sea. After that these rooms get some morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Room temperature is from warm to just cool. We have see maintenance at various rooms trying to fix air conditioning sewer problems.

 

Shops

Selection at the stores does not appear to be as good as on other cruise lines. This may just be this sailing or HAL. The major lack of selection is in HAL merchandise such as no picture frames. This may be a personal impression but did have a hard time finding items to buy.

 

Drinks

This has been much talked about this and I have to agree with a number of people that the drinks are weak and overpriced. One of the reasons that drinks on deck and had functions appear weak is that they are prepared ahead of time and the ice melts. Even the champagne at the receptions are warm and are flat. Also considering what they pay for alcohol and the increases in drink prices, liquor must be the highest profit margin item for the cruise line. Wine prices are also significant higher than at comparable restaurants.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hal Boutiques have gone down hill the last couple of years - they changed concessionares.

Picture frames - can be bought at the photography area - most are priced with pictures.

Do agree that drinks are on the skimmpy side and that wine is over-priced.