RAYJO

Was on the Silhouette Feb 4-12 . Playing video poker; not doing so good, so changed to Keno on the same machine. Hit six out of six for a $1000 payoff after just a couple of tries. Nice..

Just got mine today - so its like 10 day's

Got mine yesterday 1/6/17 for Eurodam 1/28/17 cruise. 21 days out

Ray & Joann going on Eurodam Jan 28th 2017. 7 day Eastern Caribbean

After all the questions about where the dock is located, restaurants, wine,etc., the Sept 27 10 Day Canada/New England cruise aboard the Zuiderdam, never got into port. It was a tender port and the Captain decided it was too dangerous for the tenders to bring passengers aboard. I agreed. Another sea day.

There is Good Harbor Liquors on Main St. When you leave the access road to the tender dock, take a right onto Main St., and the store is less than a .1 mile away on the left.

 

There is the Liquor Locker on Main St. When you leave the access road to the tender dock, take a left onto Main St., and the store is about a ¼ mile on the left.

 

Repeat after me: Google is may friend, Google is.....

 

 

SBtS

Google is now my friend after you.

Thanks, everyone. Getting anxious to go. Even though we live in Maine, we haven't been to Bar Harbor (port stop) in over 25 years. It is a large state.

Not surfcitygirl, but politely butting in to say that we were on the same 9/7 cruise, and the tenders docked at Cruiseport Gloucester on Main Street. Look for it on Google maps and you'll see it: a good sized building surrounded by parking lots with a small dock to the side. Free Wifi, plenty of local information and maps being handed out, and a sea chanty being sung as we got off the tender. Just FYI, the shipped was anchored waaaay out - the tender ride was a long one.

Any place close by that we could by some wine, to bring back on board (and pay corkage fee of course). I don't think wine is sold in grocery stores, but I could be wrong.

We are staying at Hilton marina. Want to do online check in 24 hours before arrival. Have a tower water view king reserved. Want to get best view of port and ships. Can anyone who has stayed there recommend a specific room number to select? We know higher up the better. Just want to make sure select room with good port view. Thank you.

We were in Rm 1108, 11th floor, but it was 2 Dbls. Had beautiful view of port. Watched six ships leave port. Balcony; wine and cheese; beautiful day; priceless.

Gloucester is a weird place for a cruise ship to port IMO. It's a great fishing port but cruise ship? I'd rather spend an extra day in the Bar Harbor area.

So would I, but Gloucester is on the itinerary. Maybe I can talk to the captain.

Thanks SBtS. Will arrive in Gloucester on Sept 29. Will post where we actually get off the tenders. Will check out the Seaport Grill also.

Is this a new port stop for HAL?

Does anyone know what pier the tenders will drop us off in this port.

We are on the 10 night Colors of New England & Canada cruise departing New York City on Sept 27 2016 on the wonderful Zuiderdam. Thanks in advance.

Jacqui, would you please list us for the Zuiderdam Sept 27 2016, 10 day Colors of

Canada/NE departing from NY(Manhatten) to Quebec City. Thanks, Ray & Joann

Room was comfortable.. Elevators a little slow.

From everything I have seen it seems that I need the Water View - Tower with Double Beds. Still no response from my post on that site that cannot be mentioned.

We were at this hotel Jan 22 & 23. Had a Water View - Tower 2 Dbls ROOM 1108.

Eleventh floor. Sat on balcony with a bottle of wine and cheese and watched all 6 ships

sail out on Sat Jan 23. Our cruise left on the 24th. Priceless..

You can also go to the regular Hilton dot com and in the Corporate Rate code box try entering:

0560041604 which I believe is for Hampton Inn, Doubletree, Embassy Suites

N0041604 is for Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn

 

Also, please note that although a property might not show an MVP rate today, they are updated and can change availability and/or MVP rate from day to day. If I book at the MVP rate, I usually try to check weekly to see if the rate has changed. In the past, I have seen rate drop as much as $35 or more depending upon time of year, bookings, etc. And yes, sometimes the rate will go up as well.

 

Bottom line, keep trying and checking even after you book.

 

Good Luck

Just saved $44. Thank You

Please add Ray & Joann(RAYJO) to the Westerdam Caribbean cruise departing Jan 24 2015.

This will be our 14th DAM cruise.

B. Portland, Maine

7:00am - 3:00pm. We berthed at Portland Ocean Gateway Terminal at 50 Commercial Street (near Franklin). It is an easy walk to town. We considered a narrated tour from Portland Discovery Tours (formerly Mainly Tours). They run a Land Tour and a Sea Tour. Cost is $18 pp or $33 pp for Land and Sea. Each runs 90 minutes. We opted instead for Portland's $5 "Peak At Portland Metro Bus", Route 8A Metro, with hop-on and hop-off privileges. The METRO typically provides "Peek at Portland" bus service to larger cruise ships with 1000 or more passengers. Self-guided tour maps can be found at the Greater Portland Landmarks site.

 

The town's $5 Metro bus is a narrated route that runs through most of town. It goes past several landmarks and has stops close to the Shipyard Brewery, L.L. Bean Outlet Store, and the Museum of Art. We bought tickets at a booth inside the protected pier area. At a welcome booth we were handed a "Maine Passport" which is a coupon book with discounts at many of the stores in the downtown region (including LL Bean's factory outlet). If you dock at the Visitor's Center, come out and turn left. You'll find a ticket booth and Metro stop about a block away.

 

We took the Metro bus and got off at the L.L. Bean Outlet at 9:00am. This was a good sized store packed with clothing. (However I understand it pales in comparison to their flagship store in Freeport). We bought two "Mad Bomber" winter hats lined with rabbit fur. This turned out to be one of our best purchases on the cruise as there were very comfortable, kept us warm, and generated numerous complements at every port.

 

We walked around town, which has lots of historic buildings scattered about, and then headed for The Portland Museum of Art (a AAA Gem) which opens at 10:00 --- but it was closed. It closes on Mondays after Columbus Day. So we hopped back on the Metro bus and got off close to the Shipyard Brewery for a tour. Tours are free and run on the hour starting at 11:00am. They also have an extensive gift shop. The tour consists of a 10-minute movie, a visit to the bottling floor, and finishes with a tasting of all of their beers and a couple of sodas. Their Eli's brand Root Beer, made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, was really good. We bought a 4-pack to enjoy on the ship. The Maine Bear Cafe in town serves Eli's Root Beer on tap for under $2.

 

We enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder and a lobster roll for lunch at Gilbert's Chowder House. I recommend the clam chowder. The lobster roll, while fresh and good, was dry. We prefer our lobster rolls moistened with mayonnaise and bits of celery and onion.

 

Following lunch, we visited the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. It's interesting for about 10 minutes unless you are a real enthusiast. It's worth the $2 price of admission.

 

Ship Hint: be sure to be on the starboard side of the ship as you leave Portland. You will go right by Portland Head Light which is the oldest and among the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

I believe the LL Bean Outlet Store in Portland has been closed for some time.

Our first cruise was on the Meridian in 1994 or 95. We sailed from Boston to Bermuda.

Our 22nd cruise is in April on the Solstice, (Hawaii to Vancouver).