Rare Btimmer Posted September 24, 2023 #1 Share Posted September 24, 2023 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from Btimmer! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! Please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" Btimmer was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. In two weeks we're off again on the Zaandam to do the Grand South America cruise. Most of my "to do" items are done. I'll be posting updates here along with pictures and doing one of my regular daily written blogs (link to come later). Feel free to ask questions and I'll try to answer. This will be our first "Grand" HAL cruise and we've seen much of the destination ports except for Rio and we've been on the Zaandam to Antarctica previously. We're looking forward to a nice cruise. 19 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted September 24, 2023 #2 Share Posted September 24, 2023 I was waiting to see you back cruising and posting your blog! Thank you ahead of time for all your time and effort to keep us readers entertained and educated! Have a wonderful "Grand" time! ~Nancy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellencruise Posted September 24, 2023 #3 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Looking forward to reading your posts and “cruising along with you” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ken the cruiser Posted September 24, 2023 #4 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Your itinerary looks awesome! As we're looking to book some longer cruises again with HAL, it will be fun to follow along to see what entertainment options are made available on their longer cruises. It will also be interesting to hear what it's like cruising around the Antarctica peninsula and through the Drake Passage in early November. I remember the high was 32 degrees and calm when we were there on the Zaandam back in January 2019! Here's hoping you have an awesome cruise!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottishMaid Posted September 24, 2023 #5 Share Posted September 24, 2023 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 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnvip Posted September 24, 2023 #6 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Looking forward to hearing more - sounds like a fabulous itinerary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare The-Inside-Cabin Posted September 24, 2023 #7 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Have a great cruise - I'm looking forward to your reports! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD@SEA Posted September 24, 2023 #8 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Have a wonderful cruise - certainly a bucket list cruise... If you have time would you post your to do list pre cruise - Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'teach Posted September 24, 2023 #9 Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) . We were with you on the Volendam that got stuck on the sandbar in the Amazon. Looking forward to your reports! Hopefully no sandbars this time! Edited September 24, 2023 by cruisin'teach 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted September 25, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted September 25, 2023 10 hours ago, RICHARD@SEA said: Have a wonderful cruise - certainly a bucket list cruise... If you have time would you post your to do list pre cruise - Cheers Here's a typical list. I customize it for each trip we take. If it's a motorcycle trip, I add more motorcycle oriented items. Many of these items on this list are very unique to my (our) needs. As we travel very frequently, I have a pretty good mental check list and the paper one is just a backup. We pretty much just travel with a backpack and a small rolling suitcase. For the GSA, we'll likely bring unfilled larger rolling suitcases so we have room for souvenirs. Done Number To Do xx 1 Stop Mail (sometimes we don't) xx 2 Stop Paper XX 3 Get $500US Money; 255 Euros & Pounds NA 4 Pay Property Taxes xx 5 Travel folder with shore excursion data & printed itinerary spreadsheets & cruise documents xx 6 Check on VISA requirements xx 7 Small Camera and Batteries xx 8 Large zoom Camera & batteries xx 9 Small tripod xx 10 Kindle Fire & cable xx 11 Laptop & cable xx 12 Finish online check in & complete any online ship purchases NA 13 Arrange for ride to airport xx 14 DJI Action Camera, Battery, & Cord 15 Download books onto Fire 16 Water Off 17 Water Heater Off xx 18 Battery Tender on Wing xx 19 Battery Tender on ST xx 20 Battery Tender on WR xx 21 Locks on Garage Doors xx 22 Power off on Upper Garage Door xx 23 Passport xx 24 Wallet xx 25 Vest xx 26 Tape xx 27 Portable battery for phone xx 28 Extra SD cards xx 29 1 110v power cords xx 30 CPAP xx 31 Handi Floss xx 32 Utility bags (2 chargers) na 33 Binoculars xx 34 Stickers xx 35 Business cards xx 36 List for airline flights na 37 Call Chase Bank na 38 Call BofA xx 39 Online Schwab NA 40 Call Citibank NA 41 Wire money to Schwab xx 42 Mow Lawn na 43 Blow off Roof 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alphen Posted September 25, 2023 #11 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Will follow you on both your blog and over here, looking forward to your travel review, hope you have an enjoyable cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosaic Posted September 25, 2023 #12 Share Posted September 25, 2023 So we are doing the Zaandam to the Amazon in February. Does your trip show any excursions for Devils Island or Macapa??? For our trip HAL shows none.... Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alphen Posted September 25, 2023 #13 Share Posted September 25, 2023 2 minutes ago, Mosaic said: So we are doing the Zaandam to the Amazon in February. Does your trip show any excursions for Devils Island or Macapa??? For our trip HAL shows none.... Thanks! Devils island has a fixed walking route, no excursions! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD@SEA Posted September 25, 2023 #14 Share Posted September 25, 2023 Thanks Btimmer...just comparing..I should go out & buy a motorcycle!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted September 26, 2023 #15 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Looking forward to your reports. Have a great cruise - Grand Voyage 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SUESEABE Posted September 27, 2023 #16 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Have a wonderful cruise! Looking forward to following along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfish Posted September 27, 2023 #17 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ipeeinthepools Posted September 27, 2023 #18 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Have a great cruise. Looking forward to your reports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WriterOnDeck Posted September 27, 2023 #19 Share Posted September 27, 2023 (edited) On 9/24/2023 at 12:49 PM, ScottishMaid said: 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 I'm on the Zaandam now, staying on for the Grand SA/A cruise, and the hotel manager and guest relations managers have changed since you were on board, just FYI. Edited September 27, 2023 by WriterOnDeck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WriterOnDeck Posted September 27, 2023 #20 Share Posted September 27, 2023 See you when you board, Tim! You'll love the grand cruise experience. I'll try to keep up with your thread, and will blogging myself as usual at http://www.WriterOnDeck.com. Nice pre-cruise checklist. (Although it makes me glad I sold my house and car, as my list is considerably shorter now.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelnap Posted September 27, 2023 #21 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Have a great cruise. Will enjoy following along with your travels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottishMaid Posted September 27, 2023 #22 Share Posted September 27, 2023 8 minutes ago, WriterOnDeck said: I'm on the Zaandam now, staying on for the Grand SA/A cruise, and the hotel manager and guest relations managers have changed since you were on board, just FYI. 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted October 5, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Today we made it to FLL and have a nice room at the Rodeway Inn & Suites for the next 3 days. Dinner tonight at the 84 Sports bar was amazing. Greater detail is in my blog at https://timmer2023gsa.blogspot.com 11 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunnorl Posted October 5, 2023 #24 Share Posted October 5, 2023 I was booked for this trip and was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately I had to cancel due to an unexpected surgery. I will be following along and enjoying the trip thru your eyes. Enjoy! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted October 7, 2023 Author #25 Share Posted October 7, 2023 (edited) We're now 2.5 hours behind the scheduled departure. The engine vibrations are pulsing through the ship so departure must be soon. We had our swiftest embarkation ever! It was under 5 minutes. I'll write about it in tonight's blog. Our Hotel General Manager is our favorite from many cruise days on the Volendam. Our C&T Director is also a favorite. Its been blazing hot today and I definitely prefer my view from the air conditioned comfort of the Crow's Nest. The ship was having problems with the internet (shocking I know), so I don't know when my updates will start after I lose cell service (which is spectacular). our hotel general manager Edited October 7, 2023 by Btimmer 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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