SURPRISE LIVE! - MS Zaandam - Boston to Montreal

[Vict0riann]

Sorry to hear of the sad loss of your family member.  

 

On another note, I have been trying for a few days now to post, and CC won't let me,  when I click on "submit reply", "saving" comes up and then it goes back to "submit reply", over and over.  Hope it works today.  

 

Ooh, it worked!  

Edited May 31, 2019 by Vict0riann

[puppycanducruise]

Thank you for sharing your cruise with us.

So sorry to hear of a death in the family, my deepest sympathy.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Sorry to hear you lost a family member. I hope being on the sea will help you feel better.

 

[*Miss G*]

Thank you everyone.  It’s the circle of life and the only way outta here.

 

DAY SEVEN - QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC

 

It was a beautiful day for a strenuous walk up and down mountains.  We were the only ship in port but we were far outnumbered by the masses of students on school outings.  I had purchased some breakables on our travels so we headed to the post office for some bubble wrap.  I usually pack some but forgot.

 

Then we hit Mary’s Popcorn for some Quebec Mix, stopped for a cool-down beverage to kill our thirst, then headed back to the ship.

 

There is currently a lot of construction going on in old town.  They’ve even replaced all the steps on Break Neck Stairs!  I feel bad for those whose first time it is in this beautiful city, but it’s nice that there’s a lot of upkeep.  At least they’ve finished restoration of the monument and Chateau Frontenac so we got to see them without shrouds!  

 

When we got back to our room the luggage mats were out.  Always a sad reminder.  Tonight we will hit the casino to cash in our winnings (Yes! Winnings!!) so we have some cash for the “Thank You” envelopes.

 

I also have to say that they do a fabulous job on the laundry on this ship.  It went out last night and was back by this morning.  I also see that the mini-bar guy has been in to replenish the water we drank.

 

I think all that’s left is the crying!  😭

 

[*Miss G*]

5 hours ago, cruisingxpert said:

We got notice yesterday that the ship is docking at Terminal 3 so that's a good thing for all of us.

 

Terminal 3.  Darn.  I was hoping it would be T1.  We still haven’t been told so maybe it will change.  I always have hope!

[*Miss G*]

On 5/30/2019 at 9:15 AM, lunedemiel17 said:

Looks like you had a nice temperature

 

 

Hi lunedemiel.  Just showing you what your font looks like on my iPad.  I didn’t realize there were actually words there until I looked closely!  I almost skipped by.  Yes, it was a lovely day there!

 

[sevenseasnomad]

My condolences to you on your family member who died.  May you find comfort in your memories.

 

Thanks so much for your thread.  I've enjoyed it so much and am anticipating next year aboard Zaandam.  Your pictures make me glad I'm doing B2B Boston to Boston, so I can sample each port twice.  Safe travels home.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry about the loss of a family member.

 

Wonderful reports.  Love the pictures.

 

Can't believe that your cruise is over.

 

Have a safe trip home.

[lunedemiel17]

Hello Miss G,  sorry for your lost  😔.

 Thank you for your wonderful review and pictures.   In two weeks we're are going to be onboard .

Enjoy the rest of your trip. 😄

[erewhon]

Sending sincere condolences to you and your family.

Your comment to always be kind to one another is so very important.

[hoophome]

Thanks so much for doing this and glad you enjoyed your trip.  I am on the June 8 sailing with family, including my 80 year old mother, who has had some health issues in the last year and no longer walks as well as she did a year ago and is too proud to use any kind of assistance.  She struggles with stairs now and her stamina for walking is about 15 minutes.  I  have never only done these ports and thus not familiar with them.   I am concerned some of the ports may be more than she can handle even to make it worthwhile for her to  get off the boat to get to some kind of transportation, or the towns and shopping at the port.  Are there any ports in particular you can think of that she may do better/worse than the others?  Thanks in advance!!

[3rdGenCunarder]

26 minutes ago, hoophome said:

Thanks so much for doing this and glad you enjoyed your trip.  I am on the June 8 sailing with family, including my 80 year old mother, who has had some health issues in the last year and no longer walks as well as she did a year ago and is too proud to use any kind of assistance.  She struggles with stairs now and her stamina for walking is about 15 minutes.  I  have never only done these ports and thus not familiar with them.   I am concerned some of the ports may be more than she can handle even to make it worthwhile for her to  get off the boat to get to some kind of transportation, or the towns and shopping at the port.  Are there any ports in particular you can think of that she may do better/worse than the others?  Thanks in advance!!

 

If your mother wants to do a little souvenir shopping, the port in Halifax has nice shops, not all just tourist junk. It looks like you will be at Pier 22, which has the building with the shops. And from there, it's just a short walk to see the farmer's market. Another block or so takes you to a wide boardwalk with spots where she can find a bench to sit and look at the harbor. I know she can see the harbor from the ship, but it's nice to sit closer to the water if the weather is good. If you want to see more of Halifax without too much exertion, there's a HoHo bus that leaves right from the terminal building. Halifax is probably the best port for someone with limited mobility, unless you want to do a ship's tour that's mostly on a bus. 

 

There isn't much close to the pier in Sydney. That might be a good day for her to enjoy the ship. Quebec city is a challenge for walking, with uneven streets and steep slopes. So is Bar Harbor, with an uphill walk into the town. Plus, it's a tender port. If your mother is unsteady, getting on and off a tender could be tricky. Charlottetown is fairly level, and there's a little shopping area near the port if the walk into town is too far. The shopping area has Cow's Ice Cream!

 

There are always taxis around, if there's somewhere you want to go that's beyond a few blocks. 

 

 

[*Miss G*]

9 hours ago, hoophome said:

Thanks so much for doing this and glad you enjoyed your trip.  I am on the June 8 sailing with family, including my 80 year old mother, who has had some health issues in the last year and no longer walks as well as she did a year ago and is too proud to use any kind of assistance.  She struggles with stairs now and her stamina for walking is about 15 minutes.  I  have never only done these ports and thus not familiar with them.   I am concerned some of the ports may be more than she can handle even to make it worthwhile for her to  get off the boat to get to some kind of transportation, or the towns and shopping at the port.  Are there any ports in particular you can think of that she may do better/worse than the others?  Thanks in advance!!

 

Thank you so much for joining along!  @3rdGenCunarder has given you some great pointers so I will add to those.

 

BAR HARBOR:  I would stay on the ship at Bar Harbor.  The views all around while in port are lovely.  

 

HALIFAX:  As 3rdGen says, there is shopping within the terminal.  I am a scenery person so I would jump in a taxi and head to Peggy’s Cove.  We saw a good amount of taxis there so they must have a good set rate there and back.  From my perspective it would be worth it.

 

SYDNEY:  In Sydney there are some vendors and crafts within the terminal.  It would be a nice place to get off the ship and not have to wander far.

 

CHARLOTTETOWN:  Charlottetown has a good little walkable area.  If your Mom is up to it I would take a little walk around.  If she can’t make it to the little shops there are some vendors within the terminal.

 

QUEBEC CITY:  QC has a bit of a hike from the ship just to get outside the terminal.  This port is not something I would attempt if I was feeling a bit run down.

 

Have a lovely trip!

[*Miss G*]

DAY SEVEN - QUEBEC CITY (continued)

 

All aboard to make the tide and Captain Smit made an announcement.  There has been an emergency so we will experience a delay departing port.  I see an ambulance on the pier but it’s not long before we are off.

 

We head to the Sky Deck for our transition beneath the dual bridges out of QC.  WOW.  We had no more than two feet of clearance, tops, as we went under at a good pace.  I am sure Captain Smit had some concern about the rising tide.  There were gasps and shouts all around from those of us with this unique bird’s eye view.  Definitely the highlight of our trip.

 

Sadly I had forgotten my camera in the room so I posting my husband’s pics.  It’s not the perspective I wanted but then I should have brought my own camera, shouldn’t I?

 

We then made a strategic error by cancelling our Pinnacle Grill reservations and heading to the Lido for a casual dining experience.  We wanted to keep things relaxed as we still had packing to do.  The Lido choices were less than appetizing so we went to the Main Dining Room instead.  Why are we always seated within two feet of the serving station?  Probably should have chosen room service instead.  We picked at our food.  Luckily we have some nice fresh fruit in our room we can look forward to.

 

Back in our room we find our fresh fruit gone.  I seriously had polished a lovely looking plum to a nice shine in anticipation of enjoying it for dessert.  Sometimes things just don’t go your way.

 

If you look at the bottom centre of the under-bridge pic you can see the top of the ship’s antennae.

 

[CDP Cruiser]

10 hours ago, hoophome said:

Thanks so much for doing this and glad you enjoyed your trip.  I am on the June 8 sailing with family, including my 80 year old mother, who has had some health issues in the last year and no longer walks as well as she did a year ago and is too proud to use any kind of assistance.  She struggles with stairs now and her stamina for walking is about 15 minutes.  I  have never only done these ports and thus not familiar with them.   I am concerned some of the ports may be more than she can handle even to make it worthwhile for her to  get off the boat to get to some kind of transportation, or the towns and shopping at the port.  Are there any ports in particular you can think of that she may do better/worse than the others?  Thanks in advance!!

We were on the May 11th sailing from Boston Montreal. Both my in-laws are unable to walk for more than 10 minutes without having to find a place to rest (my father in law tends to lose his balance all the time (he had a brain tumour removed about 5 years) and my mother in law had severe arthritis in her 2 knees). Rather than have them stay on-board since they have never been to Sydney, we rented them both electric scooters. There was a great place right on the pier that is owned by a lovely women and her 2 kids.  

Edited June 2, 2019 by CDP Cruiser

[CDP Cruiser]

On 5/26/2019 at 9:47 AM, *Miss G* said:

No idea what this does.  Maybe it’s to turn the sound up and down in the next room because it certainly does nothing in this room.

 

LOL. We asked ourselves the same question!! In ever checked my in laws stateroom, which was right next door, to see if their buttons did anything...

[1of4]

48 minutes ago, CDP Cruiser said:

LOL. We asked ourselves the same question!! In ever checked my in laws stateroom, which was right next door, to see if their buttons did anything...

 

It is a disconnected radio that used to play music and you could hear the announcements in your cabin.  Some have found it provides white noise if they are bothered by a noise outside their stateroom.

[hoophome]

Thank you so much for your help on the ports.  My mother said it was useful information.  She had one other question from the rest of your trip report.  Where is that magnificent bathroom you posted photos of?

[*Miss G*]

Just now, hoophome said:

Thank you so much for your help on the ports.  My mother said it was useful information.  She had one other question from the rest of your trip report.  Where is that magnificent bathroom you posted photos of?

 

I’m so glad it was helpful, hoophome. Thank you!

 

The bathroom is located on Deck 5... just across (diagonally) from the Explorations Cafe.  Towards the aft, starboard side, behind the Explorers Lounge.  (See pic)

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great pictures.

 

Yes -- the cabin stewards always remove the fruit baskets from the cabins at dinner time on the last night of the cruise.  We just hide among our clothes what we want to save for the evening.

[*Miss G*]

10 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Great pictures.

 

Yes -- the cabin stewards always remove the fruit baskets from the cabins at dinner time on the last night of the cruise.  We just hide among our clothes what we want to save for the evening.

 

This is a good tip!  I will remember that for next time.

[*Miss G*]

DAY EIGHT - MONTREAL - DISEMBARKATION

 

Alas, it is over and they are making us get off the ship.  I awake as we glide into the industrial port of Terminal 3.  As I emerge from the shower I learn I have a lot to learn about basement OV’s.  I have been sleeping with the curtains open because I like the cool air coming through the window at night.  But while I was in the shower we docked and there are now a bunch of men looking directly into our room as they set up the gangplank on Deck 2.  I dart back into the bathroom and peek my head around till I see a break in the action.  Some might say the action was in my direction.  My husband wakes and pulls the curtains.  He says he was lying there but had a feeling of being watched so he opened his eyes. 

 

We did not order room service and absolutely are not going to fight crowds in the Lido for breakfast.  We head to the MDR instead.  The serving station is right behind me and I have no idea what my husband is saying due to the clatter.  Non-stop servers pass by within inches of my head and it is unnerving.  You would think this close proximity would warrant better coffee service.  Alas not.  My husband is finally able to flag down someone not related to beverages to request beverages.  This dining room needs a new dining room manager.

 

Breakfast over and back in our room, Lime 2 tags are called.  We grab our bags and head upstairs.  Inside the terminal we are directed to our luggage.  A very nice lady asks if we require a taxi then lead us back through the crowd to the taxi queue.  Another nice lady asks if we are staying in Montreal and then gives us a map and a tourist book.  Well isn’t that a thoughtful thing to do.  People are so nice here in Montreal.

 

We have a few minutes wait and then we are in our taxi and heading to the hotel.  The Chateau Champlain was built in 1967 specifically for Expo 67.  Yesterday my husband read some poor reviews on TripAdvisor so now we have some concerns.  Well it turns out we needn’t have worried.  The hotel has an old-world charm and is beautiful.  In fact, it’s kind of a land-based version of the ship.  They are in the middle of a mass renovation (14 floors were completely overhauled and ready for business on the day we checked out) so future guests can ignore the poor reviews.

 

We are given a one-bedroom suite and, although the renovations have not yet begun on the suites, it is sparkling clean and retains its charm.

 

[*Miss G*]

The bathroom had a bidet and a huge sparkling clean soaking tub!  Such a rare find these days.  Sorry I forgot to get a pic.

 

[1of4]

As a little girl I always looked up at those half circle windows and wondered what it looked like inside as one of my parents hurried me along.  Thanks for the pictures!  Much nicer, in my op, than the Queen Elizabeth which shoved the 4 of us in a room hardly large enough for a couple!  Then treated my two kids as if they were dirty.  

[*Miss G*]

1 hour ago, 1of4 said:

As a little girl I always looked up at those half circle windows and wondered what it looked like inside as one of my parents hurried me along.  Thanks for the pictures!  Much nicer, in my op, than the Queen Elizabeth which shoved the 4 of us in a room hardly large enough for a couple!  Then treated my two kids as if they were dirty.  

 

Did you notice the three cut-outs at the floor?  The windows were amazing.  The glass is curved so I’m sure they were a pricey commodity.

 

We went inside the Queen Elizabeth to see if we’d like to eat there and the doorman/security(?) trailed us as if we were homeless intruders.  Now I will admit that we were a little sodden because we got drenched in the rain but I like to think we were still presentable.  We didn’t pull our clothes out of a dumpster.  It left a poor impression so I understand your feelings with regard to how your children were treated.  For that reason, alone, I would not consider staying there.

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by *Miss G*