rkacruiser Posted May 30, 2022 #151 Share Posted May 30, 2022 Very interesting report; thank you for posting it and the pictures. The tea at the Chateau was certainly not a "Tea". Your Tea in Montreal appears much better. Was clotted cream and Strawberry Jam served with the scones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ready2go11 Posted May 30, 2022 Author #152 Share Posted May 30, 2022 Yes, tea at the Ritz came with a tray of clotted cream, a fruit rose jelly (i am not a fan of rose in food but it was faint) and strawberry jam. The scones were good and the pastries at the top of the tower were very tasty and intricate as to layers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted May 30, 2022 #153 Share Posted May 30, 2022 38 minutes ago, Ready2go11 said: Yes, tea at the Ritz came with a tray of clotted cream, a fruit rose jelly (i am not a fan of rose in food but it was faint) and strawberry jam. The scones were good and the pastries at the top of the tower were very tasty and intricate as to layers. Thank you for responding. A fruit rose jelly? That was different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhsocal Posted May 31, 2022 #154 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Was room service available that last morning? seem to recall reading on some cruise it was not a choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocksteady27 Posted May 31, 2022 #155 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Thank you for the live report, I’ve been following along. Question - is luggage direct an option? We found it very helpful on our last sailing out of FLL. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 31, 2022 #156 Share Posted May 31, 2022 On 5/22/2022 at 1:50 PM, Florida_gal_50 said: No kidding. Those things on the wall must have been the first blow dryers invented 🤪😛. Fair point, but at least those bad boys can be modified if needed............. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 31, 2022 #157 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Thanks for those who took the time, effort and $$ to post a review of Zaandam's first voyage with paying customers in two years. I think we can all remember Zaandam's (with the former Rotterdam VI) entry into Pt. Everglades with Covid patients on April 2nd, 2020 as her last voyage with pax prior to the one we're discussing here. For what it's worth, Zaandam gained her "Mix" bar concept during her October 2013 dry-dock. That was accomplished by reconfiguring her existing piano and casino bars. What is interesting is that she was supposed to lose Mix during her Sep/Oct 2020 dry-dock in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where it was scheduled to be gutted and turned into a smaller version of "Billboard Onboard." That obviously did not happen as it seems minds were changed up in Seattle. WA. or perhaps, it was mrely postponed We just had Ian as CD on Zuiderdam in April and he is scheduled to work HAL's first Grand World Voyage in three years in 2024 back again on Zuidy. He is a very experienced and smooth working CD. Looking fwd to sailing Zaandam in two months from Boston to Montrealto celebrate our wedding anniversary 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 31, 2022 #158 Share Posted May 31, 2022 On 5/14/2022 at 7:42 AM, StLouisCruisers said: That top speed of 26 knots seemed rather high to me so I looked up this information from a Holland America fact sheet. FAST FACT SHEET — ms ZAANDAM Gross Tonnage: 61,396 grt.(One registered ton equals 100 cubic feet) Length: 780 feet Beam: 105.8 feet Maximum speed: 23 knots (maximum) Ship’s Registry: The Netherlands Passenger capacity: 1,432 Crew: 607 Dedicated: May 2000 by actresses Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen Maybe it just feels faster. LOL😄 You are correct of course! Zaandam and her sister Volendam have a "service speed" of 22.5 knots. The fastest she has ever done was 23.2 knots during sea / technical trials in the Adriatic back in early 2000 when she was brand spankin' new. And that's directly from the mouth of an officer who was onboard during those 2000 sea trials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ready2go11 Posted May 31, 2022 Author #159 Share Posted May 31, 2022 10 hours ago, jhsocal said: Was room service available that last morning? seem to recall reading on some cruise it was not a choice. I do not believe it was available. We did not try to call to order but we also did not receive the door hanger order form on the last night like we had every other night (and they rook the extras we did not use on the last full day so we had none available either) 9 hours ago, rocksteady27 said: Thank you for the live report, I’ve been following along. Question - is luggage direct an option? We found it very helpful on our last sailing out of FLL. Thanks! Luggage direct was not listed as an option on any notices we received. I recall on past cruises, they usually sent us a paper about the service mid way through the trip. There was no mention of it this time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prescottbob Posted May 31, 2022 #160 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Thanks for the reports. I've re-read the postings and viewed pictures you provided, and it appears the cabins electrical outlet configurations, TV and DVD players have not changed from pre-Covid days. Is this correct? With that in mind, does the CS desk still handle DVD loaner movies? Non-grounded power strips available? Breakfast in MDR with specials now a thing of the past? Afternoon wine tastings and "sip and savor" pre-dinner gatherings also no mas? I was just curious. I apologize if you have already answered some of these queries & I missed your responses. Thanks again. Be well. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ready2go11 Posted May 31, 2022 Author #161 Share Posted May 31, 2022 59 minutes ago, prescottbob said: Thanks for the reports. I've re-read the postings and viewed pictures you provided, and it appears the cabins electrical outlet configurations, TV and DVD players have not changed from pre-Covid days. Is this correct? With that in mind, does the CS desk still handle DVD loaner movies? Non-grounded power strips available? Breakfast in MDR with specials now a thing of the past? Afternoon wine tastings and "sip and savor" pre-dinner gatherings also no mas? Bob, Correct that electrical outlet, TV and DVD configuration has not changed. We did not ask if they had any DVDs at CS, but never saw any notice that any were available. It is possible they may have some. Although we did not personally ask for a power strip, we spoke to someone else who did borrow one from customer service for a breathing machine. There were no specials at breakfast and I was disappointed they did not offer the Sunday brunch (with a special menu) that I have seen posters on other ships mention. I am only 3 star (if all goes as planned will achieve 4 stars later this year!) so there may have been 4 and/or 5 star gatherings like a wine tasting available. There were no sip and savor, in say the Ocean Bar, before dinner though like pre-only Covid. The only Mariner event we were invited to was a champagne welcome in the Crow’s Nest on day 2 and no food was served. There were no lunches, brunches or ceremonies to celebrate milestones either. Based on other postings on CC, that seems to vary from ship to ship, with most not conducting them. Although we had the drink package and made our own “happy hours” with pre-dinner drinks at the mix bar, there were sponsored happy hours on board that were more crowded. They sometimes offered peanuts at these events, but we never saw the appetizers (maybe we were not in the right place at the right time) they used to serve during happy hour. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted May 31, 2022 #162 Share Posted May 31, 2022 I find Hal breakfast menu extensive. I can't imagine what more they could offer as a special. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted May 31, 2022 #163 Share Posted May 31, 2022 5 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said: I find Hal breakfast menu extensive. I can't imagine what more they could offer as a special. Do not recall the Breakfast menu when the Specials were offered, but, the Specials were creative breakfast entrees. 21 hours ago, Copper10-8 said: We just had Ian as CD on Zuiderdam in April and he is scheduled to work HAL's first Grand World Voyage in three years in 2024 back again on Zuidy. He is a very experienced and smooth working CD. Do you mean 2023 rather than 2024? Ian is an excellent CD and his travel experience when he is giving a presentation or the narration of a scenic area in which the ship is sailing is informative and entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted May 31, 2022 #164 Share Posted May 31, 2022 1 minute ago, rkacruiser said: Do not recall the Breakfast menu when the Specials were offered, but, the Specials were creative breakfast entrees. Do you mean 2023 rather than 2024? Ian is an excellent CD and his travel experience when he is giving a presentation or the narration of a scenic area in which the ship is sailing is informative and entertaining. I think the breakfast menu was much more limited but I won’t swear to that. There is a chance I may sail on Princess next spring. Their breakfast menu leaves a lot to be desired. It very poor in my opinion so I would really miss hal for that and several other reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 31, 2022 #165 Share Posted May 31, 2022 4 minutes ago, rkacruiser said: Do not recall the Breakfast menu when the Specials were offered, but, the Specials were creative breakfast entrees. Do you mean 2023 rather than 2024? Ian is an excellent CD and his travel experience when he is giving a presentation or the narration of a scenic area in which the ship is sailing is informative and entertaining. Yes, next year so 2023; my error, thanx! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted May 31, 2022 #166 Share Posted May 31, 2022 3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said: I think the breakfast menu was much more limited but I won’t swear to that. There is a chance I may sail on Princess next spring. Their breakfast menu leaves a lot to be desired. It very poor in my opinion so I would really miss hal for that and several other reasons. HAL's Breakfast menu is more extensive than Princess', but Princess's menu has a daily special on their menu and Baked Apple slices. (HAL lacks that.) Those slices were once "a whole Baked Apple". (A Baked Apple is a treat for me because it is something I would not make for myself.) What is really missing anymore is a Steward presenting a tray of breakfast pastries without the guest having to ask. When I do, a get a plate of pastries someone, I guess the Steward, has chosen for me. One morning on one cruise, even that was not available. I complained to the Steward and someone went to the Lido Restaurant and get the pastries that I wanted. Nothing exotic was what I wanted: a Croissant, Cinnamon Roll, a Danish or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocksteady27 Posted June 1, 2022 #167 Share Posted June 1, 2022 @Ready2go11 thanks so much for getting back to me about Luggage Direct. We are on the July 2nd sailing out of Montreal. The info you have shared from this sailing has been very informative and much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prescottbob Posted June 1, 2022 #168 Share Posted June 1, 2022 5 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said: I find Hal breakfast menu extensive. I can't imagine what more they could offer as a special. Hello, Depending on the ship (pre-Covid) and, well, voyages such as the Grand Voyages, would have a “special of the day” (off menu, you needed to ask). Usually it was something creative utilizing ingredients that needed to be used, I.e. spinach and lobster in a small cup with a cooked egg on top, or small pancakes drenched in fresh fruit, etc. I also recall on the WC’s having Sunday brunches on sea days that would have a menu consisting of various small portions of various delights. Without a doubt, the regular offerings in the MDR and Lido are more than adequate. Be well. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted June 1, 2022 #169 Share Posted June 1, 2022 1 minute ago, prescottbob said: I also recall on the WC’s having Sunday brunches on sea days that would have a menu consisting of various small portions of various delights. These brunches seem to be a new creation for the world cruise since I sailed. Very popular, I understand. When I have read the menu, I understand why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted June 1, 2022 #170 Share Posted June 1, 2022 23 minutes ago, rkacruiser said: HAL's Breakfast menu is more extensive than Princess', but Princess's menu has a daily special on their menu and Baked Apple slices. (HAL lacks that.) Those slices were once "a whole Baked Apple". (A Baked Apple is a treat for me because it is something I would not make for myself.) What is really missing anymore is a Steward presenting a tray of breakfast pastries without the guest having to ask. When I do, a get a plate of pastries someone, I guess the Steward, has chosen for me. One morning on one cruise, even that was not available. I complained to the Steward and someone went to the Lido Restaurant and get the pastries that I wanted. Nothing exotic was what I wanted: a Croissant, Cinnamon Roll, a Danish or two. I think that’s the only thing hal doesn’t have on their menu. It doesn’t do much for me. I would never order it. I think they come around with pastries in club orange. I can’t remember for sure because I can’t eat them without gaining a ton of weight. When I hear about the things people eat at the Dutch cafe I don’t know how they aren’t 400 lbs. I eat pretty sensibly during the day, walk between 10,000 and 15,000 step plus go to the gym so its not like I’m sitting around all day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted June 1, 2022 #171 Share Posted June 1, 2022 16 minutes ago, prescottbob said: Hello, Depending on the ship (pre-Covid) and, well, voyages such as the Grand Voyages, would have a “special of the day” (off menu, you needed to ask). Usually it was something creative utilizing ingredients that needed to be used, I.e. spinach and lobster in a small cup with a cooked egg on top, or small pancakes drenched in fresh fruit, etc. I also recall on the WC’s having Sunday brunches on sea days that would have a menu consisting of various small portions of various delights. Without a doubt, the regular offerings in the MDR and Lido are more than adequate. Be well. Bob I’m sure you understand that the grand voyages and world cruises have much better food. More likely than not you are paying extra for that privilege. You can get a lobster Benedict at breakfast. You just have to pay for it 😛. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted June 1, 2022 #172 Share Posted June 1, 2022 16 minutes ago, rkacruiser said: These brunches seem to be a new creation for the world cruise since I sailed. Very popular, I understand. When I have read the menu, I understand why. Just reading from live threads on world cruises it seems to me it was only a year or 2 before the shut down. I don’t speak from personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prescottbob Posted June 1, 2022 #173 Share Posted June 1, 2022 29 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said: I’m sure you understand that the grand voyages and world cruises have much better food. More likely than not you are paying extra for that privilege. You can get a lobster Benedict at breakfast. You just have to pay for it 😛. Hmm… Interesting reply. Be well & safe travels. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Jersey Pat Posted June 1, 2022 #174 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Have the dining room and Pinacle been open for lunch on seas days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ready2go11 Posted June 1, 2022 Author #175 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Neither venue was open for lunch during my 9 days on the Zaandam due to staffing issues. Canelleto and Pinnacle were not open for dinner every night either. We still managed to enjoy our planned 3 nights at the speciality restaurants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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