Live from Alaska on Ms Zuiderdam - April 2022

[albingirl]

5 hours ago, chefestelle said:

Thank you! I've been eyeing the Dover Sole since so many people rave about it!

It really is something else again.  Of course, as a fish lover I rarely eat anything else.  They do it right in Rudy's.

[Crew News]

Tibits from yesterday (fell asleep early while watching the news):

 

Glacier Bay was raining and dreary which will give me lots of Photoshop practice adding color to gray landscapes.

 

There is still no sign for the bread pudding behind the ice cream station.

 

There was no Alaskan beer on this cruise but hopefully the next will have on tap as well as bottle.  Still selling beer from the Panama Canal repositioning cruise.

 

The Rudi's Sel de Mer popup has escargot.  My Dover Sole was filleted tableside by my waiter with the skill of a surgeon.

 

When Decks 2 and 3 are used for the gangway, wear a jacket or pass by quickly.  Rally cold and breezy.

 

Received my tile but the name on the accompanying card was for my next door neighbor.

 

I am still canvassing the restaurants for cooking oil types.  One chef commented that it comes in a large container marked, "Cooking Oil."  The MDR assured me that a request the day before dinner will ensure that no canola or soybean oil is used in a special preparation.

 

The Assistant Maitre'd was back at work and played a different song on his ukulele after the last dinner service.  Contrary to what others have told me, Henrick does play more than one song.

 

New 7-Day Indian menus sometime today.

 

If I have not answered all questions, please post them again and I will ensure that I get answers.

 

Today is a seafood feast at Silverking Lodge.  It is actually a crab boil with lots of components served on newspaper.  The excursion also stops to feed eagles, one of whom passed just inches from my head enroute to a morsel the last time I was on this excursion.  The clouds have lifted and no rain is forecasted for the rest of the day.  FWIW overcast skies make the sky into a giant diffuser that necessitates just a touch of saturation/brightness to make some great photos. 

 

More later.

[57redbird]

23 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Tibits from yesterday (fell asleep early while watching the news):

 

Glacier Bay was raining and dreary which will give me lots of Photoshop practice adding color to gray landscapes.

 

There is still no sign for the bread pudding behind the ice cream station.

 

There was no Alaskan beer on this cruise but hopefully the next will have on tap as well as bottle.  Still selling beer from the Panama Canal repositioning cruise.

 

The Rudi's Sel de Mer popup has escargot.  My Dover Sole was filleted tableside by my waiter with the skill of a surgeon.

 

When Decks 2 and 3 are used for the gangway, wear a jacket or pass by quickly.  Rally cold and breezy.

 

Received my tile but the name on the accompanying card was for my next door neighbor.

 

I am still canvassing the restaurants for cooking oil types.  One chef commented that it comes in a large container marked, "Cooking Oil."  The MDR assured me that a request the day before dinner will ensure that no canola or soybean oil is used in a special preparation.

 

The Assistant Maitre'd was back at work and played a different song on his ukulele after the last dinner service.  Contrary to what others have told me, Henrick does play more than one song.

 

New 7-Day Indian menus sometime today.

 

If I have not answered all questions, please post them again and I will ensure that I get answers.

 

Today is a seafood feast at Silverking Lodge.  It is actually a crab boil with lots of components served on newspaper.  The excursion also stops to feed eagles, one of whom passed just inches from my head enroute to a morsel the last time I was on this excursion.  The clouds have lifted and no rain is forecasted for the rest of the day.  FWIW overcast skies make the sky into a giant diffuser that necessitates just a touch of saturation/brightness to make some great photos. 

 

More later.

I am still canvassing the restaurants for cooking oil types.  One chef commented that it comes in a large container marked, "Cooking Oil."  The MDR assured me that a request the day before dinner will ensure that no canola or soybean oil is used in a special preparation.

Thank you!!!

[BeachBum47]

2 hours ago, Boatdrill said:

Yes !   Years I ago I took my well-travelled elderly mom on the Westerdam to Alaska. 

The private verandah was perfect for her to see the glaciers and scenery without having to

leave the room.   

Aww what a precious photo!! Thank you so much. I will definitely get a balcony for her. 

[quack2]

3 hours ago, Crew News said:

Tibits from yesterday (fell asleep early while watching the news):

 

Glacier Bay was raining and dreary which will give me lots of Photoshop practice adding color to gray landscapes

 

 

Today is a seafood feast at Silverking Lodge.  It is actually a crab boil with lots of components served on newspaper.  The excursion also stops to feed eagles, one of whom passed just inches from my head enroute to a morsel the last time I was on this excursion.  The clouds have lifted and no rain is forecasted for the rest of the day.  FWIW overcast skies make the sky into a giant diffuser that necessitates just a touch of saturation/brightness to make some great photos. 

 

More later.

I feel your photography pain with grey skies, grey water and grey whales.  Don't know how many such whale pictures I have somewhere on my hard drives.  Waiting for that magical post-processing program that can make them at least a little bit interesting.

 

I booked the Silverking excursion for June.  Looking forward to any reviews.

[PSR]

On 5/1/2022 at 2:27 PM, Crew News said:

If you look at the second Gold Gala Night menu, just posted for Day 05, you will see escargot is on the menu.  Bon Appetite.

 

After my reply yesterday, I realized that since I am on the 14-day New Amsterdam cruise this September (with you, I believe), the Gala escargot appetizer will probably not be on day 5, as your current one is a 7-day cruise. Do you think the escargot will be on a probable Gala #2 or #3? I would guess #3, since that would be the last Gala dinner. I am assuming there are 3 Gala nights as usual on a 14-day cruise. Thanks.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, quack2 said:

I feel your photography pain with grey skies, grey water and grey whales.  Don't know how many such whale pictures I have somewhere on my hard drives.  Waiting for that magical post-processing program that can make them at least a little bit interesting.

 

I booked the Silverking excursion for June.  Looking forward to any reviews.

 

1 hour ago, quack2 said:

I feel your photography pain with grey skies, grey water and grey whales.  Don't know how many such whale pictures I have somewhere on my hard drives.  Waiting for that magical post-processing program that can make them at least a little bit interesting.

 

I booked the Silverking excursion for June.  Looking forward to any reviews. 

Silverking Lodge review: 

 

Squeezing into the van with only a few inches of clearance to the back two rows while avoiding entanglement in the hanging seatbelts was a struggle and not a good beginning to any excursion.  The 20 minute bus ride in cramped seating was uncomfortable.  Better was yet to come.

 

Much to my surprise, the long boat ride in an open vessel with everyone wearing provided ponchos to protect us from the winds has disappeared.  The new boat is fully enclosed with large sliding windows. for photographs.  The familiar stop under a large eagle nest to feed the family turned out to be feeding the family relatives as well with ten eagles eager to scoop up fish with their talons much to the delight of the 11 passengers on the 40-passenger boat.  

 

A stop to photograph harbors seals near the Navy Sonar Station was a nice change from my previous visit to the lodge.

 

Five nearby Sitka deer posed for photos as we walked up the ramp from the boat to the Silverking Lodge porch.  It is surprising how a little grain can ease the fear of humans for the very cute deer.  Kids would love the experience as much as photographers.

 

A short forest walk through dense moss-covered trees led us to the largest red cedar tree in North America, 40 feet in circumference to pose for photographs.

 

As for the seafood feast, coffee, bottled water, iced tee, and hot chocolate were offered free with the lodge staff apologizing that they did not have a liquor license to sell alcoholic beverages.  Six people sat at two 2019 -dated, newspaper-covered, round picnic tables with place settings including tongs, crab crackers, plastic forks, and napkins stacked neatly.  A small container of warm clarified butter arrived and was placed next to the aforementioned feasting tools, and the available seasonings pointed out to the anxiously awaiting feasters. With a warning to catch the corn if it tries to roll off the table, a huge strainer/pot was rapidly inverted in the center of the two tables and when lifted, the protecting newspaper was covered with a foot-tall mound of  corn, potatoes, pearl onions, Andou sausage slices, clams, mussels, shrimp, and numerous Dungeness crab leg portions.

 

After taking a pre-feast photo of the pile of seafood+, tongs began searching for favorite items, crackers crunched tough shells, shell pieces were picked away, pieces of delicious crab were dipped in butter , and passed over the lips of awaiting palates.  The cycle of tongs, cracker, pick, dip, and consume (TCPDC) was repeated many times until only a few shrimp and pearl onions were just too much for the sated feasters to  consume.  The lodge owner's daughter capped the feast with six-inch butter-rich chocolate chip cookies.

 

Speaking only for myself, I had more crab than at the George Inlet Lodge Crab Feast, the hospitality was best in class, boat ride was comfortable, photo ops were exceptional, seafood was delicious and plentiful, homemade cookies were almost at the HAL Pinnacle-class Grand Dutch Cafe quality level, and the cramped minivan was not very fun.  Overall Grade:  A- (only because of the minivan lack of easy entry). I recommend this tour.

[NCTribeFan]

18 hours ago, Crew News said:

I could not find a book exchange and saw only travel related hardbound books.

 

I just don't understand the removal of books.  What are they doing with the space instead? 😡

 

Oh well.  Guess I'll just have to load up my phone's Kindle.  I don't have a tablet.  I'm a fast reader so "flipping" the pages on a phone isn't a lot of fun.  But at least I'll have something to read.

[Sea42]

12 hours ago, Crew News said:

The familiar stop under a large eagle nest to feed the family turned out to be feeding the family relatives as well with ten eagles eager to scoop up fish with their talons much to the delight of the 11 passengers on the 40-passenger boat. 

 

12 hours ago, Crew News said:

It is surprising how a little grain can ease the fear of humans for the very cute deer.

Are these wild animals? Or was this a rehab type of facility? Because if they are wild it's an awful practice just to provide artificial photo ops for tourists.

It's wonderful to observe animals in nature but why can't people just enjoy and respect the animal's natural behavior?

[albingirl]

2 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

I just don't understand the removal of books.  What are they doing with the space instead? 😡

 

Oh well.  Guess I'll just have to load up my phone's Kindle.  I don't have a tablet.  I'm a fast reader so "flipping" the pages on a phone isn't a lot of fun.  But at least I'll have something to read.

There was alot of discussion on this topic in the past.  Overall, it appears that HAL thought passengers were "lifting" the books, to put it nicely.  I cannot begin to imagine people feeling inclined to do so, but that seemed to be the consensus. It's been a sore loss for many passengers who loved having a library onboard.

[NCTribeFan]

@albingirl Yes, I read a lot of those threads.  I was pleasantly surprised with the book selection on Eurodam, then 3 weeks later, on Nieuw Amsterdam, there were almost no books (but plenty of games).

 

Even if people were taking books, they could at least have the "exchange" section.  I always have a couple of paperbacks with me, and as I read them, I leave them behind.  And, with a little luck, pick up something another cruiser left behind.  I often hadn't finished the new-to-me book and took it with me for the flight home.  Then, recycled once I finished it later.

 

@Crew News I had the Dover Sole on Eurodam.  While I thought it was very good, I was maybe expecting something spectacular having read so many comments about this dish before I sailed.  Maybe my expectations were a little high.  I'm going to check with my friends who are joining me for Leg 2 and see if they want to book. 

 

Edit:  to confirm, the Sel de Mer pop-up is the same night as the 2nd Gala/Dressy?  Too bad because I like the 2nd Gala menu much more than the 1st.

Edited May 3, 2022 by NCTribeFan

[HermmyGranger]

On 5/2/2022 at 12:22 AM, BeachBum47 said:

Thank you for all this great info. I am thinking about taking my 82-year old mom on this cruise in June. In your opinion, is it a good idea to pay a little extra for a balcony cabin, rather than oceanview? I definitely don't want an inside cabin, but I was thinking it might be too cold to be outside on the balcony? My mom has always done inside cabins, whereas I usually do balcony... 

 

By the way, as a Canadian, I want to apologize for the ridiculous ArriveCAN app. It's so irritating. 🙄

We loved having our balcony. My 80-year-old mother liked being able to sit on the balcony and watch the glacier without having to go on deck.

 

[ksmaxey]

On 5/1/2022 at 8:37 PM, Crew News said:

I asked a Lido Market chef who assured me that canola oil is the only type used on the ship for frying.  The PG chef said last night they use olive oil in their unsuccessful attempts to sear scallops.  I will continue asking at other venues to get you a complete answer.

That may fully explain the issue with sear.  Olive Oil has a low smoke point

 

[Crew News]

20 hours ago, PSR said:

 

After my reply yesterday, I realized that since I am on the 14-day New Amsterdam cruise this September (with you, I believe), the Gala escargot appetizer will probably not be on day 5, as your current one is a 7-day cruise. Do you think the escargot will be on a probable Gala #2 or #3? I would guess #3, since that would be the last Gala dinner. I am assuming there are 3 Gala nights as usual on a 14-day cruise. Thanks.

There are three Gala Night menus.  The blue menu is only seen as the first menu if there will be three Gala Nights.  The escargot is on the Gold menu, served on the last Gala Night.

 

I checked my last 14-Day Alaska cruise and there were three gala Nights.

 

From my analysis, there are actually five regular menus for a 7-Day cruise plus two Gala menus (silver menu first and gold last day).  14-Day cruises repeat the 7-Day menu the second week.  That leaves one yet-to-be discovered menu for the second week.

 

FWIW there should be at east one Rudi's Sel de Mer night and that menu has escargot as an appetizer.

[Crew News]

7 hours ago, Sea42 said:

 

Are these wild animals? Or was this a rehab type of facility? Because if they are wild it's an awful practice just to provide artificial photo ops for tourists.

It's wonderful to observe animals in nature but why can't people just enjoy and respect the animal's natural behavior?

The deer are wild but they "hang out" on the lodge owner's property.  A cup of grain is poured on the ground every few weeks for a snack.  The last time I visited the lodge, there were only two but now there are eleven.  They are not fed  by the owner and you cannot approach them.  They are just not afraid if you stroll past them from a distance.

[PSR]

3 hours ago, Crew News said:

There are three Gala Night menus.  The blue menu is only seen as the first menu if there will be three Gala Nights.  The escargot is on the Gold menu, served on the last Gala Night.

 

I checked my last 14-Day Alaska cruise and there were three gala Nights.

 

From my analysis, there are actually five regular menus for a 7-Day cruise plus two Gala menus (silver menu first and gold last day).  14-Day cruises repeat the 7-Day menu the second week.  That leaves one yet-to-be discovered menu for the second week.

 

FWIW there should be at east one Rudi's Sel de Mer night and that menu has escargot as an appetizer.

 

Thanks very much for the clarifications! So the pattern for 14 days should be: Blue menu, Silver menu, Gold menu. Also, I have seen that Rudi's menu has escargot, but have read descriptions of it not being "traditional", so not sure if they would have the usual garlic butter dip. Pictures of Rudi's escargot show simple shells on a plate with no "sauce" of any kind. I have had that style before, but the butter sauce was still included on the side. Funny story: one time I was picking a snail out of it's shell and it flew off my fork onto the restaurant floor...bummer!😲

[LVSue]

Hi, Roger. LVSue here. I've been disconnected from the world for the last two years, but Rhodi and I are biting the bullet on a B2B on June 11 to Alaska (where else?). It's a ***** catching up. So I have a couple of questions: (1) do they still sell cigarettes on the ship? (2) what's your website with all your valuable info? (3) if you went to Sitka, did you have to tender?

 

Thanks for helping us get back on track, and give our love to Joanie!

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, PSR said:

 

Thanks very much for the clarifications! So the pattern for 14 days should be: Blue menu, Silver menu, Gold menu. Also, I have seen that Rudi's menu has escargot, but have read descriptions of it not being "traditional", so not sure if they would have the usual garlic butter dip. Pictures of Rudi's escargot show simple shells on a plate with no "sauce" of any kind. I have had that style before, but the butter sauce was still included on the side. Funny story: one time I was picking a snail out of it's shell and it flew off my fork onto the restaurant floor...bummer!😲

No 5-second rule for escargot?  A simple request for butter sauce should be honored.

[LVSue]

I easily found your great info. Doh! Other two questions still apply. Dining room charts?

[Crew News]

41 minutes ago, LVSue said:

Hi, Roger. LVSue here. I've been disconnected from the world for the last two years, but Rhodi and I are biting the bullet on a B2B on June 11 to Alaska (where else?). It's a ***** catching up. So I have a couple of questions: (1) do they still sell cigarettes on the ship? (2) what's your website with all your valuable info? (3) if you went to Sitka, did you have to tender?

 

Thanks for helping us get back on track, and give our love to Joanie!

Here is a link to the dining room maps that I have acquired:  MDR maps.

 

Cigarettes are still sold in the Shops but very limited brands now.

 

Although some ships still tender, Sitka now has a permanent pier outside of town with a free 15-minute shuttle to the downtown Visitors Center.  I have not been to Sitka since before the pandemic but will be there this September on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

Cruising is a lot different now with less than 50% capacity, cutbacks on little things, crew member so happy to have a job, hotel management staff is much more visible, lobster costs extra except on New Years Eve, etc.

 

Links to my website are at the bottom of this post.

[Crew News]

A few tidbits for the last cruise day:

 

The ship began rocking and rolling before bed with 35 knot winds and 12-foot seas .  It was not better in the morning.  I reminded myself that I had once packed my luggage in typhoon winds of 85-knots and 30-foot seas in a September heading for Vancouver so I persevered.

 

I called the Front Desk around 10:30 AM to inquire about COVID testing for those flying tomorrow and was reminded that I should have received a note to appear for testing, currently in progress.  No note, no problem, just appear in the Screening Room on Deck 3.  The only info needed was my room number and date of birth before having the entrance to both nostrils tickled with the narrowest of swabs.  Five hours later, I had my negative test paperwork in hand giving an address in Victoria BC?? Hopefully Alaska Airlines will not look too closely.

 

While perusing my cruise account statement, I noted that the cost of Rudi's Sel de Mer for a 5-Star Mariner (25% discount) was $33.32.  The computer and Night Auditor is always right.

 

Another observation that I have been meaning to address is the 1:30 PM "reserved" Lido Market buffet line for just crew members and the large Lido Market seating area just before the indoor pool also reserved for crew members.  It did not bother me to walk to the other side but it was a change I just recognized.  A captive audience??

 

Another noticed change - In the past 12 evenings, I have eaten five meals in the PG/Rudi's Sel de Mer and received neither a pre-appetizer amuse or a little box of chocolates when I returned from dining.  Cost savings can accrue quickly.

 

The Executive Chef and personal Assistant were visiting tables in the MDR much to my amazement.

 

The Assistant Hotel General Manager and Food & Beverage Managers are the most visible senior staff I have encountered in my many HAL cruises.  From standing coatless in windy 40-degree weather welcoming back those returning from excursions to greeting guests at the MDR entrance, these two are customer service professionals in every way.  Both have gone above and beyond to help me locate menus and find answers for this thread. 

 

Since the first day I asked for an empty salad bowl to hold a large serving of chips, my presence near the salad station causes a large green bowl to be raised in my honor.  A bag of chips is always in place behind the Late Lido Buffet line for my chip visits.  This condition is a repetition of of my two cruises in 2021 with the crew demonstrating a zest for life, the chance to interact with passengers again, and to have employment.  Definitely good vibrations.

 

On a less happy note, my two Room Stewards had only three room this cruise and only two the next.  They do remain upbeat for the future of more passengers to serve.  I was reminded that the fasting for Ramadan ended yesterday for the Indonesians and the Captain visited the crew dining area to speak to them.

 

It is important to mention that I met another bear cam connoisseur and enjoyed talking about the cast of characters.  When Otis is in his office and 747 is in the Jacuzzi, all is right with the world.  Two months until the first big salmon run.  Search for "Brooks Falls Bears" to join the bear watchers.

 

I think that I have answered all of the questions especially for ArriveCAN and when I arrive home, I will update this thread with what I have learned about disembarkation and flying out of Canada.

 

MDR and Specialty Restaurant menus are now posted for 2022 Alaskan season, 7-Day Indian menus are promised via email from the Food & Beverage Manager, and When & Where daily activities are posted.  Visit the links below.

 

And so it was May 3, 2022. 

[sandiego1]

17 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

I just don't understand the removal of books.  What are they doing with the space instead? 😡

 

Oh well.  Guess I'll just have to load up my phone's Kindle.  I don't have a tablet.  I'm a fast reader so "flipping" the pages on a phone isn't a lot of fun.  But at least I'll have something to read.

I was on the Zuiderdam in mid April. There is a small book exchange in the Crows Nest opposite the restrooms. There were 3 of 4 shelves facing the rest rooms and 3 or 4 facing the windows. The book case was maybe 2’ wide so there were probably 30 of 40 books total

[Florida_gal_50]

The price for sel de me has been lowered to $47.20 at the standalone restaurants for at least this year.  Sounds like they are doing it for the pop ups as well.

[hova]

I noticed that on the MDR menus that you posted, that there is always a "Club Orange Daily Special" on it.  Are these menu items available in the MDR, or are they only available at the Club Orange DR?

 

[oaktreerb]

2 hours ago, hova said:

I noticed that on the MDR menus that you posted, that there is always a "Club Orange Daily Special" on it.  Are these menu items available in the MDR, or are they only available at the Club Orange DR?

 

@Crew NewsGood Question.  Does everybody get the menu with Club Orange specials listed?   Zuiderdam does not have a separate dining room for CO so did the menu have a different cover than the regular menu?  Pre Covid on the Eurodam there were menus with white covers for CO and black for others.