Crazy For Cats

Good Morning, thanks for today’s daily fleet report. It’s a beating day here. The weather forecast includes smoke from the fires up north. I’m busy catching up on 400+ work emails. @kazu Happy Birthday! I hope everyone has a good day today.

Good Morning Everyone, thanks for today’s daily report. It’s another beautiful day and cooler than yesterday. I’m taking a break from yard work. Trimmed some bushes and doing lots of weeding, a never ending task. Today’s meal suggestion sounds good if I substitute the feta with another cheese. I hope everyone has a nice day today.

Good Afternoon Everyone, thanks for today’s daily report. It’s a beautiful warm sunny day in New England. I ran errands this morning and among them picking up treats for Zander’s birthday. Tonight we will have fried chicken thighs, with corn on the cob and potato salad. Our lunch plans were changed when the 99 was offering burgers for 6.99. I hope everyone has a good day today.

Bon Voyage!

On last weeks Zaandam cruise muster was watch the video and check in at muster station. Very quick and easy.

Good Morning, it’s the morning after disembarkation. My wake up service at home is still working, the cats wanted breakfast. We were in cabin 3334 and the location was selected by the Future Cruise Consultant on the NA. We found the location excellent. It was a few steps from the promenade deck, very close to the Ocean Bar and a short walk to mid elevators to get morning coffee. The only challenge with the room was the ac/heat. Typically the middle setting will be comfortable. On this cruise that setting could make the room too warm or feel like an ice box. My only recommendation for the room is to bring an adapter to turn the one outlet into multiple with USB ports, especially if one of you uses a CPAP. It seemed like only one of the two cabin stewards took care of us and he did an excellent job. We did three specialty dinners. I pre booked Canaletto for the first night and then booked it again once on board. We also had a dinner and lunch in the PG, service was excellent on both occasions. The other nights we ate in the lido and found that the lines could be very long at the opening bell. One night I used the taco bar for dinner since the lido selections were too fishy for me. The international section continues to be my favorite spot to grab lunch. The food was excellent and the lines usually short. The Dive In Burgers were good and on a busy day the wait wasn’t too long. The entertainment on the ship is lacking and we are not fans of the One Step productions. The in room tv service was upgraded since we sailed on the Zaandam last summer. We watched four movies during the week as our evening entertainment. This cruise was booked as an inexpensive get away and as a test on OV for retirement cruises. We booked the mid price that isn’t advertised. We did not book HIA and for us on this cruise it was the correct choice. An OV will not be a problem in the future and for the right price I’d consider an inside. On the promenade deck we noticed that some passengers like to look into the cabin, so we would close the curtains when getting dressed. Also at night light from outside leaks into the room. Putting the daytime pillows on the window sill and using a hanger to tighten the close did a reasonable job of minimizing the light. We will be doing this itinerary again in July. On this cruise we will have a balcony. Looking forward to being back on board.

Most likely.

Good Afternoon, thanks for today’s daily fleet report. We are off the ship and safely home. The dirty clothes from the cruise are washed and put away. I’ll need to figure out where to put some of the souvenirs. I have no idea what’s for lunch and dinner but suspect neither of us will cook. @StLouisCruisers I agree with others please check in with your PCP when you get home. Very scary situation. I hope everyone has a good day today.

I think it’s $800 but I could be wrong.

Mine wasn’t near the limit this cruise.

If your on board spending is less than the allowed amount you will not need to go to customs. If you qualify to be seen you will get a notice on your last full day. The disembarkation line seemed to move quickly.

In Bar Harbor it was immigration only. They want to check on anyone who shopped on board until the ship docked at Boston.

Good Morning, we has to go through customs this morning. We were required to be in the dining room at 6:45, ship docked shortly after 7, agents arrived at 7:30. No one was happy. HAL did not provide any updates or serve breakfast. Some guests had 8:15 excursions. After a quick breakfast in the lido disembarking was quick. I noticed a long line of taxis waiting for guests. Big change from last year.

It was a short wait.

Today is Bar Harbor day. It is a very brisk day and some shops aren't ready for the season. I recommend bringing a bag along with you if you plan on shopping. Some stores aren't giving out bags and others are charging a fee for a bag. On our return trip to the ship HAL had hot chocolate in the waiting area and is was hot and very good.

Immigration schedule.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Fluff knew that she was loved.

Good Morning from Bar Harbor, thanks for today's daily fleet report. I'll pass on today's meal suggestion. We will be in the Canaletto tonight for our last dinner on the Zaandam. Once immigration is finished we will get on a tender and walk around town. I forgot to mention that during yesterday's mariner event the host said that all ships eill have Starlink by the end of the year. They will keep the old system in place as a backup. Also, a change from the past. The mariner drink cards can now be used for any drink. Not just the special drink.

Today's daily program.

Good Morning, last night we skipped the main stage entertainment and watched "Dog". The current movie on demand selections are pretty good. Something new about the Mariner drink card we received. This time we could get any drink we wanted. It didn't need to be the special mariner cocktail.

I don't think we had any rough seas. The Zaandam has been good through out the cruise.

This afternoon we had lunch in the Pinnacle Grill. We both had a burger and they were cooked to perfection. Additionally the service was excellent. We also attended a 5* mariner reception. There were only 15 of us. They held this event since no one on the ship was getting a medallion.

Good Evening, we attended a 5* event this afternoon. The host shared some news for the grand voyages. They will be bringing in guest chefs, cooking demonstrations will be back, guest speakers, more activities, more Gala nights and more dressy nights. In all they are trying to bring back as much as they can to make the grand voyages Grand.

We went to the City on the Sea and thought it interesting. They brought out some of the crew at the end.

Good Morning from a very wet Zaandam. Thanks for today's daily fleet report. Only two things on today's agenda, lunch at the PG and a 5* event in the Mix. We even were called to make sure we were going to the event. I'm still working on using my CCL cash but that will disappear with lunch. I hope everyone has a good day today.