SURPRISE LIVE! - MS Zaandam - Boston to Montreal

[bebe08]

4 hours ago, rotjeknor said:

We were on the Zaandam april 24 till may 4th, Fort Lauderdale to Montreal . The ship looked very well ! Inside and out. I think the last dry dock and refurbishment was either end of 2017 or early 2018. 

We had an OV ( 1908) on this cruise and no complaints whatsoever . Fyi : the mattresses very wonderful !

Of course the bathroom still looks the same as it has always looked , but clean and everything worked.

 

We were also on the Apr 24 to May 4 sailing in a Vista suite.  Had a great cruise...only complaint was just one plug in the cabin, but we made it work!!  Would not hesitate to sail the Zaandam again for the right price and itinerary.  

[Cajuntraveler]

2 minutes ago, bebe08 said:

We were also on the Apr 24 to May 4 sailing in a Vista suite.  Had a great cruise...only complaint was just one plug in the cabin, but we made it work!!  Would not hesitate to sail the Zaandam again for the right price and itinerary.   

I'll be sure to pack a multi plug/charger.  Thanks for sharing.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Miss G, CONGRATS 🎊🍾🎉 ON YOUR WINNINGS AT THE 🎰 CASINO!!!

Have an awesome day in Halifax!

Looking forward to how it was for you and DH

Denise😊🌺

we leave tomorrow home to San Diego.

After a month here in Maui good to get back!

[*Miss G*]

We disembarked and followed the boardwalk till we got to the Marriott Harbourfront to pick up our rental car.  During tourist season they have an outlet at the port but we are in shoulder season so the Marriott it is.  Peggy’s Cove is only 28 miles away but your first hurdle is getting out of the city.  Then you take a scenic drive along winding roads and beautiful scenery until you get to the cove.  We were lucky to arrive just as all the tour busses were leaving so it was SO quiet and peaceful.

 

We were hungry by now so we stopped for the BEST lobster roll I have ever had in my life.  The lobster guy told us where to find the best French fries ever.  And then I saw they sold funnel cakes so it was game over for us.  Luckily we were sharing everything because it was like we’d gone to the fair and we weren’t leaving till we puked.  

 

See the young girl in the food truck window?  She and her husband were the sweetest people ever!

[*Miss G*]

5 hours ago, Cajuntraveler said:

Hubby and I are scheduled to be on the Zaandam on the August 24th sailing from Montreal so I am very interested in reading all Miss G's comments about the ship and ports.  It seems the ship has not been refurbished in many years.  Are the beds as outdated as the rest of the ship?  I can't imagine 7 nights on an uncomfortable mattress. Thank you Miss G for writing about your experience.  Enjoy your cruise.

 

I like soft beds so our cabin steward kindly put a foam topper on it the first night.  But the beds are definitely comfortable.  And the ship is beautiful and well kept!  I would sail on her again.

[*Miss G*]

Fries and funnel cake from Bubba’s.

 

[fatcat04]

Gratz on your winnings!! 

Mmmmm.... lobster roll. /drool Channeling my inner Homer.

This really is the "lobster cruise" as another poster coined it. Such yummy  memories. 

I'm enjoying your updates. 

[*Miss G*]

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

[*Miss G*]

[DeeniEncinitas]

Wow that lobster roll looked awesome and the fries and funnel cake! I’m full already!

Great pictures too and the weather held out for you!! Glad you had a enjoyable day.

Denise😊

[canadianbear]

Love Peggy’s Cove.  Your photos are fantastic!

[*Miss G*]

Peggy’s Cove booty:

 

[naskeag]

Thanks for your posting re:Zaandam cruise.  We(DW and DH) will be on this cruise August 31 going north from Boston to Montreal. We live north of Boston and often drive to Halifax and Quebec City.  This time we will let someone else do the driving.

 

You have shared some interesting facts about the Zaandam and your photos are very nice.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by naskeag
added words

[cat shepard]

Great pics Miss G! Thank you for sharing.

[*Miss G*]

Back to Boston.  We found a lovely gourmet grocery store in the Seaport area called Cardullos.  In there we picked up two bottles of wine.  I so wish I had picked up one or two more bottles of the Jordan because it was fabulous.  Tonight the wine attendant has set aside one of the last bottles of 2014 Silverado for us.  I have a vague recollection of having it before so I hope I enjoy it.  He recommended and opened a bottle of Argentinian wine from Cellar Master #2 but it was awful.  He disappeared so we had a quiet word with the PG Manager and he was lovely about returning it for no charge.  But, besides that, he is the nicest PG Manager we have ever had the pleasure to meet.

 

So speaking of the Pinnacle Grill... last night did not seem to be as packed as the first night.  It may have something to do with it being a Gala Night.  For those who are curious, I saw about 3 men in jeans and one woman in jeans.  After that came the men in collared shirts and trousers; most of the men in collared shirts and jackets; and there also quite a number of men in tuxes or suits and tie.  The women, as always, were dressed quite lovely, but only a few in long gowns.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

We haven’t had this yet.  We bought it as our boarding celebration bubbly but there was no cooler or ice or anything in our room so we had to wait for the room steward to bring a wine bucket with ice.  It arrived yesterday.  I think we will just hang onto it and take it to the PG for our last night.

 

[*Miss G*]

The tenders in Bar Harbor from our window:

 

[canadianbear]

5 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

The tenders in Bar Harbor from our window:

 

Oh no....when we were there it was extremely foggy but cleared up within hours.  Love that port.  

[jbhcw]

loving your pics and reports!!  We took a private tour to Peggy's Cove...a refuge from Afghanistan was our driver..he did a great job getting us there and back... I remember it because we tipped him well...and I think he was overwhelmed....I would love to do another New England cruise some day!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Doesn't look like a good day in Bar Harbor.

[SilvertoGold]

Miss G 

 

So glad you have a great Pinnacle Manager.  Does he have a name?

We found nothing very good in reds in Cellar #2.  Disappointing! Lots of good whites, though.  Such an unbalanced set of offerings in these packages!  I agree, bring on what you like and pay the corkage for the extras. Your champagne will be great for the Pinnacle!

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by SilvertoGold

[cruisingxpert]

No rush but have you been able to find out if they have any Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon by Mondavi on the ship?

 

Great pics.  Too bad about Bar Harbor.  Such a lovely place when the sun shines.

[Cajuntraveler]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I like soft beds so our cabin steward kindly put a foam topper on it the first night.  But the beds are definitely comfortable.  And the ship is beautiful and well kept!  I would sail on her again.

Thank you Miss G.  I just made the final payment for my August cruise and was having second thoughts based on some reviews of the ship, so I appreciate the good comments that I've read on this feed.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

We disembarked and followed the boardwalk till we got to the Marriott Harbourfront to pick up our rental car.  During tourist season they have an outlet at the port but we are in shoulder season so the Marriott it is.  Peggy’s Cove is only 28 miles away but your first hurdle is getting out of the city.  Then you take a scenic drive along winding roads and beautiful scenery until you get to the cove.  We were lucky to arrive just as all the tour busses were leaving so it was SO quiet and peaceful.

 

We were hungry by now so we stopped for the BEST lobster roll I have ever had in my life.  The lobster guy told us where to find the best French fries ever.  And then I saw they sold funnel cakes so it was game over for us.  Luckily we were sharing everything because it was like we’d gone to the fair and we weren’t leaving till we puked.  

 

See the young girl in the food truck window?  She and her husband were the sweetest people ever!

 

I KNOW that truck.  They’ve been around for a while and they do have good lobster rolls 😄 

 

It’s a family business.  

 

Next time, FYI or anyone else’s there are tons of coves in Nova Scotia (and New Brunswick) that are as gorgeous if not more so than Peggy’s Cove.  They are just not as well known and have far less tourists.  

 

They are all beautiful though 😄