ScottishMaid

Hi, Both you and Writer on Deck mention that the visit to Quepos was a first for Holland America. I'm not sure who on the ship is telling you that. We went to Quepos on the Maasdam on September 18, 2018 and took a tour to Manuel Antonio Park, as shown by our photos. We went to Golfito the previous day. Thanks for your informative commentary.

We did the 14 day Statendam cruise including Homer in 2015. That cruise was running all summer and we did a 14 day cruise in 2017, I believe on the Amsterdam. From Cruise Mapper I see Oceania, Seabourn and Hanseatic have small ships going a few times. I think there are very few possible shore excursions and that would greatly annoy guests and give negative feedback. The bigger Westerdam has a 28 day cruise and so will have more guests used to doing their own thing in the many ports on that cruise. Homer is a very pretty town if the weather is good but there would be little to do if a windy or very rainy day, especially given the very exposed pier and Spit area.

Our travel agent has requested a particular table by number that I want. She sent a message to the ship. Note if we get it that she works with a big agency well known to HAL and that we are high Mariners.

I looked at my Maps app and Felison Cruise Terminal is very close but not clear if there is a connector road. Personally I'd get to the hotel and investigate the evening prior then have the hotel organize a taxi if necessary. Enjoy your cruise!

In 2016 we used AirportsTaxiTransfers.com from Schiphol to Ijmuiden. It was 47 Euros and you go around Amsterdam by fairly quiet roads so quick. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Ijmuiden Seaport Beach, 91 Euros in 2016. We could see the Prinsendam from our hotel room close by.

Thanks Alphen and Tim. All makes sense as we watched the divers working when at Halifax. I was confused as it looked like there was wood but that's probably a pallet. We were on deck 6 not the bow. I wonder where they will unload since they've been there 6 weeks or more.

Hi Tim, Can you solve a mystery? What are the objects on the left hand side of the bow? We watched them being loaded by crane onto the bow back in August. I'm surprised they are still there.

Who is your cruise and travel director?

Bon voyage! Looking forward to your posts and photos as we thought about taking this cruise. Florin was on the Maasdam with us. I have a photo with him as we left the ship in Auckland immediately before Covid. After that no one was allowed off the ship until San Diego. Too bad for the Australians and NZ who were supposed to leave in Papeete. He was also the Maasdam hotel manager on the Maasdam summer 2019 to Japan and fall 2018 to Easter Island.

I'm very happy to read that Dr Kam is lecturing. He was our lecturer on the Maasdam in 2019 and his wife's waving from the back was always a feature of the lecture. Is he teaching Tai Chi also? I enjoyed that.

The Zaandam has exactly the same, installed on the rail over the pool cover. The Captain at the Q&A told us the ship had Starlink and where to go to look for the antennas.

Yes Francois left 29th July with the implication he will be back for the GSA. I made a mistake in the name of the Guest Relation Manager. She was Joanne and left 23rd August for a very short break before returning. They are both very efficient and approachable. I really enjoy your style of writing and followed your Zuiderdam travels. Enjoying your comments now as we were on the ship 29 July to 3rd September. Thank you for writing.

Sorry we threw out the printed programs and the activities are no longer on the navigator app. I do realize that because we are 5 star mariners we had a welcome drink party in the Crow's Nest, a complimentary wine tasting and also a medal ceremony event on both cruises which enlivened some days.

We were on the 23rd August sailing and also the 29 July 25 day sailing which had a lecturer on board. The 23rd August had only 3 sea days and 7 port days so not worth HAL providing a lecturer. We also love sitting with a good book on the promenade deck. Do you have any idea what type of "more" he wanted?

We were on the Zaandam to Greenland and Iceland in August. You should have Francois as hotel manager, if you remember him from the Maasdam. Also Gloria as Guest Relations Manager. The ship is clean and well maintained and the crew obviously picked as some of the most experienced. Even on our 25 day longer itinerary but not a Grand Voyage we had various things reminiscent of the old HAL such as the classical duo playing several sets each day to a packed Explorers Lounge, an onboard florist and beautiful decorations, a Sunday Brunch with the tasting menu, a crew talent show with the showroom packed, many deck games and more. We got Covid despite being very careful. The ship follows the CDC rules which of course means no testing now. After a couple of weeks many people were coughing. We thought it was just the usual ship cough but I guess not. Have a great cruise and we wish we were with you but will follow along, Jill and Joe

We frequently use the chat feature on the Navigator app to tell each other where we are on the ship or to ask the other when they want to go to lunch, for example. Also when we were with our son and family and babysitting our grandson they were able to communicate with us while they were in the Pinnacle.

Re Foghorn and Radar: the Captain told us that the radar can detect an object which turns out to be a seagull on the water. Re Starlink: the Captain told us that the 8 poles sticking up by the retractable Lido roof are part of the system. They are interesting. An EXC talk, maybe City by the Sea, said that the time for a signal from the ship to the satellite then land receiver and back takes 0.6 seconds. The Captain was Michael Willems when we left on 3rd September. He said he is NOT staying on for the Grand South America on October 7th. Thanks for your reports!

We tendered at Cornerbrook in early August because a large container ship was unloading that day.

On the recent 25 night Zaandam cruise to Greenland and Iceland we had a lecturer, Jim Jacobs. Also there were several relevant EXC talks narrated by the Cruise Director. One I remember was about the fishing industry in New England and Eastern Canada. On the last day we had the EXC talk City at Sea followed by lots of crew entering the showroom. There were efforts to make this cruise like the old days on the smaller ships or like a Grand Cruise. For example there was a florist onboard and really beautiful flower arrangements in the public areas, we had the Sunday Brunch with the small tastings, the classical duo were talented and attracted a large audience, there was a crew talent show and other touches I forget. The staff were high caliber and the ship well organized.

Thanks! We will be following in your footsteps. Glad our trip is on the Zaandam. I prefer it since no lanai cabins means more places to sit on Deck 3. I noticed the Volendam trip too. Jill

Hi Tim and Angela, Enjoying your blog as usual. We are about to do Boston to Greenland and Iceland and back. Could you send your blog links from last year? Thanks! Jill and Joe

We did this last year on the NA. There were 500 passengers to Vancouver and 600 on the 7 day cruise. More crew than passengers. In the lido several of the crew would descend to remove our plates before we had finished the last morsel. Great service. Please let us know how many are on the ship this year. Have a great time!

We were on the Koningsdam the week before the Christmas sailing along with 2900 passengers. It was disappointing that we never got to try the Royal Dutch Cafe or the pizza place as there were no tables available to sit and enjoy the food. The Lido pool area was totally packed and so very loud. The Lido was packed too and there were long lines for the dining room. We were so glad to have a verandah and be able to order in lunch on the sea days. Breakfast in the dining room worked as long as we were there 15 minutes before opening. We ate dinner in the Pinnacle, Tamarind and Sel de Mer on sea days - luckily 5 star. In the future I will pay attention not only to avoiding around holidays and probably 7 day cruises, but also to what special fares are being offered, such as Kids Sail Free on our cruise.

Looking on the HAL website I see that once I make a dummy booking a cheaper fare is available without Have It All. But the deposit on that fare is non refundable and there isn't a low price guarantee.

It was on a Maasdam itinerary just before Covid. I think Singapore to Sydney.