Live! The Grouch on Zaandam, 14 days, Round Trip Boston - Montreal 8/27/22

[whogo]

I can upload photos!Who can figure out this one?

[whogo]

August 30, 2022 – Sydney

Opened the balcony door today to the smell of sea air and pine. O Canada!

 

I have not had much luck with Lido breakfasts. My eggs grew cold as I waited for toast and bacon and a yolk was broken. May try congee tomorrow or eat in the dining room.

 

Whogo hints: (1) Check deck chair pads for wetness before sitting down. (2) Close the lid on the toilet before fiddling with your dopp kit in the little bathroom.

 

The ladies at the information booth on the pier were as helpful as can be and pleasant to boot. Armed with a good map, I headed up past the sights, might have been three miles total. Hot, humid, and sunny, even more precancerous coloring.

 

Mrs. Whogo and I have apparently been cruising all wrong. The thing to do is buy a t-shirt in one port and wear it in the next. Numerous passengers wore Bar Harbor shirts in Halifax and they are wearing Halifax shirts in Sydney. Ports are questioning whether having cruise ships visit is a boon or bust. The complaint is that cruise ships are polluters and the passengers don't spend enough ashore. The massive number of t-shirts I have seen puts paid to argument number two. I contributed to the local economy, too. I bought a new toothbrush (see hint (2) above) and two postcards. I am becoming a shopaholic.

 

I usually start these blogs by warning that I am unlikely to meet the captain, won't attend mass, won't visit the spa, casino, or shops and I am not interested in acupuncture, footprint analysis, crystal healing, aroma therapy, or chiropractics. We have never been suite passengers and do not merit the Neptune Lounge or Club Orange. I do, however, enjoy ambling down the serene hallway past the Neptune suites and the Neptune Lounge. Today a suite passenger left his suite and nodded to me, nodded to me as I was a Neptune suite passenger and merited a nod. I have been walking on air ever since, even added a little swagger to my step.

 

Clif runs an excellent afternoon trivia contest, even if we lost by a point today. Good questions, good presentation. What country became the third to attain the atom bomb in 1952? Which Asian countries does the equator pass through?

 

I was surprised to see a couple of crew member's heads pop up over our balcony, they were raised by a big cherry picker on the dock. The smell of sea air and pine on the balcony has been replaced by the smell of paint. I can't reach to see if it is still wet. Maybe if I lean just a little farther...

 

[ew101]

Enjoying the report.  Speaking of retro- is there any dancing aboard, you know the old kind- ballroom- a few of the older ships still, hopefully, have a dance floor and combo in Oceans?    And a new thing- I missed a memo that large, shared indoor tables are safe.  How many tables for two are available?  What about outdoor dining?  Can you take meals of any sort poolside?  Some of the lines have poolside food outlets- Carnival has four these days.  

[NiceAunt]

Whogo, I love your style of writing!!!

[sansterre]

2 hours ago, NiceAunt said:

Whogo, I love your style of writing!!!

Me too, great sense of humor.  Keep it up!

[whogo]

ew101, the Ocean Bar Band plays regularly. Does not seem like ballroom dance music to me, but I'm no dancer or musician. Maybe you can waltz, foxtrot and cha cha to it. The band is listed tonight at 8, 9, 10 and 11.

 

There are not many tables for two. We have managed to be seated at one after a five or ten minute wait any time we have asked. Dining later makes it easier. The two of us sometimes take a table for four for two in the Lido. Rumor has it that there are 1200+ passengers on this ship that holds 1400+.

[whogo]

August 31, 2022, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

 

UK got the bomb in 1952, the equator passes through Indonesia and the Maldives.

 

The garden artwork above depicts sunflowers and the plants behind are sunflowers in support or Ukraine.

 

Excellent dinner companions again last night. Fellow cruisers must dine early or in the buffet or alternate restaurants, there are many empty tables in the dining room after 7:00, nice time for us to enjoy the peace and quiet. I had the seared black pepper duck breast (served cold in cubes, who would have guessed) and the baby back ribs with espresso-barbeque sauce. I won, ribs were delicious. Holland America does not know what a hot fudge sundae is. The hot fudge should be thick and... oh... I don't know... hot.

 

Did not lose at trivia last night, did not play, lingered too long at dinner.

 

Arrived Charlottetown about 7:00 AM, hope the skies remain overcast. Saw an ambulance leave the ship followed by family members and a crewman wheeling luggage, someone's cruise did not go well. Haven't seen any evidence of covid, no coughing, no crew members in hazmat suits, no closed off sections of cabins.

 

First dining room breakfast of the voyage was perfect. Six waiters were lined up ready to take diners to the their tables. There were few diners. I took a table for one. Full English breakfast is a gut buster, two eggs, beans, fried bread, tomato, mushrooms, English bacon, banger, and I added a couple of slices of toast. Delicious. I may not overeat again until lunch. All that food and it was served on such a big plate that it looked like a small serving. There is a lesson for dieters there.

 

Accompanied Mrs. Whogo to the lido for her breakfast, did not eat anything. Honest. I am one of the few that uses the automatic hand washers, stick your hands in and feel the spray of water do their job, kind of like a car wash for human appendages. The counter turned over to 126,607 on the digital read out as I did so. The clock on the hand washer is set to eastern standard time, one hour off our current time, no one reset it. I worry what other essential tasks the Zaandam is overlooking.

 

This is the gable cruise, from the House of Seven in Salem last Friday to Anne of Green today. We left the ship on a level gangway from A deck, one deck below deck 1, at 9:15. Booked a four hour tour from outside the port building for just the two of us with registered guide Sonya (Sonia? Sonja?) of Pauley Tours. Excellent tour, Mrs. Whogo had to see Green Gables, author Lucy Maud Montgomery's cousins' house and the model for the fictional Anne of Green Gables stories. Well run place, the house is well preserved and decorated in period pieces and agreeing with the stories as much as possible. Good information from the guide in the house, a child was doing a scavenger hunt and looking for a sock stretcher. Nobody offered me a scavenger hunt booklet. [Insert sad faced emoji here.] Viewed the author's grave later at 25 mph.

 

We were well schooled in oyster farming, mussel farming, and lobster fishing, our guide had worked on a lobster boat. We checked out the sandstone cliffs and arch in the national park and plenty more great Prince Edward Island scenery. Great day, although the sun came out.

 

Tide rose, the gangway to A deck was now a bit uphill. Used the Lido auto hand washer again. The counter turned over to 112608 as I did so. Strip loin, cauliflower, carrots and broccoli for me.

 

The Captain Michiel Willems, whom I have not seen, am unlikely to see, and more unlikely to meet, announced that we would reroute to avoid endangered right whales and 10 knot speed limit, would sail around the south coast of Prince Edward Island and under Confederation Bridge, a first time experience for Zaandam. Pretty nifty, hope to be on deck for the experience. Hope the captain has figured the clearance correctly, has not mixed up feet and meters or done something stupid like I would do.

 

Wild Prince Edward Island Mussels drew us to the Lido for dinner. We feasted. We won. Those who chose the garlic or tomato sauce over the white wine sauce lost. Fog closed in, could not see the ends of the bridge. Made the inaugural passage under Confederation Bridge to the narration of our cruise director, and await the delivery of a certificate of achievement suitable for framing for having done so.

 

Animal trivia was painful. I understood the quizmaster's accent, others did not. Sixteen questions were repeated ad nauseum and then she asked if anyone needed a repeat. She repeated questions 1.. 2... 3... 4... and I left before I burst a vessel. I have no patience. Mrs. Whogo stayed. How many arms does a starfish have? Well, between five and forty, but five is the correct answer that would earn a point. What bird does not fly? I thought of ostrich, emu, rhea, kiwi and penguin. Ostrich or penguin earned you a point. Heaven help me. It is still a great cruise.

 

My smart watch keeps track of my walks. When I return to my starting point, somehow it always shows that I have walked down about 90 feet less than I walked up. Someday those missing feet will catch up to me and I will come crashing down from 10,000 feet.

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by whogo

[rkacruiser]

7 minutes ago, whogo said:

Wild Prince Edward Island Mussels drew us to the Lido for dinner. We feasted. We won. Those who chose the garlic or tomato sauce over the white wine sauce lost.

 

You ate well.  Garlic or Tomato Sauce for those Mussels?  Sacrilege!  A cold LaBatt's or two makes them even better.  

[whogo]

We are headed west to Quebec City, arriving Friday. I was told to set my watch back an hour at 2:00 AM. I stayed up to set my watch back to 1:00 AM, but then 2:00 AM rolled around again. Set my watch back again. Mrs. Whogo set me straight, sort of. I quit adjusting my watch, but have no idea what time it is. Checked the automated hand washing stations in the Lido, but it turns out that each of the six shows a different time. I'll just sit in the corner with a blanket over my head until it safe to come out.

[whogo]

September 1, 2022, Sea day en route to Quebec City. Happy birthday Betsy.

 

Phone beeped, cell phone connected, correct time established, we were off Gaspé Peninsula at 7:14 EDT. I climbed out from under my blanket. Resisted the urge to put duct tape over the incorrect time readings on the automatic hand washers.

 

Big crowd when the dining room opened this morning at 8:00, table for one and full English breakfast for me. Read on my phone while waiting, never imagined I would be one to do so. Breakfast delivered, colleague sent for grape jelly, returned with strawberry and apricot, I accepted the strawberry and he returned with sugar free grape jelly. No thanks, I will stay with the strawberry. Great meal.

 

Just mentioned no sign of covid, but the fire door for the aft port section of deck six is closed, might be reserved to quarantine new crew members, I saw a couple of them board yesterday. Must be great to fly to Sydney, Nova Scotia from the Philippines or Indonesia, think how long they spent in airports and airplanes. Still haven't heard any covid coughing. As for me, I am afraid to clear my throat for fear of setting off a panic. Mrs. Whogo said there has been coughing in the World Stage, I have not been there.

 

I kept Mrs. Whogo company as she breakfasted in the Lido. Whale ho! I saw the spout of a whale. Numerous other sightings, apparently they are right whales and they don't show off by leaping out of the water or flipping their tails up to dive. Pretty cool nonetheless. We are traveling at the mandated 10 knots and trying not to kill them.

 

Returned to the cabin. Our Mariner's tiles were delivered with an image of the Zaandam, appropriately. Our room stewards are doing a great job and the leader of the pair, Wibi (pronounce weebee) has the best name ever. Excellent cabin, by the way, plenty of storage space, I like having a bunch of drawers and plenty of closet space to hang clothes. We could have brought even more stuff. Bed is comfortable, lighting is good, only two 110 AC outlets, plus the shaver outlet in the bathroom and just found the one USB outlet on the lamp above the refrigerator cabinet next to the couch. The ride has been smooth, I credit it to our massive upgrade to a room a couple of cabins midship of what we had purchased.

 

As long as I am gushing, I will praise the front desk guest service woman who straightened out my phone and computer frustrations in less than two minutes.

 

Spent some time reading on our balcony, a rarity for me to find it pleasant, shady, and not windy. Finished Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Lasted another fifteen minutes before being driven inside by loud talkers next door.

 

I have wondered how I come back from a cruise a few pounds lighter despite eating to excess. My phone reported that I climbed forty floors yesterday, haven't stepped into an elevator yet. That might explain it, don't remember doing anything special, although when heading to the other end of the ship I will occasionally walk up a floor or two to amble the heady air of the suite deck before descending two or three decks. I have not been mistaken for a suite passenger again, but have not seen anyone leave their suite either. But then, why would anyone leave a luxurious suite anyway? They would have to rub elbows with us common folk.

 

I have not seen Holland America postcards or stationery in my cabin for ages, postcards are not available at guest services, either. In a continuation of previous cruise nightmares, my laundry is returned without a gold sticker and about half my laundered undershorts come back inside out.

 

Wibi turned in a maintenance request for our cabin and florescent tubes were replaced today. I tightened a couple of loose screws in the cabin myself, didn't that crooked privacy tag holder annoy anyone else?

 

Lost big at afternoon trivia. First golfer to win $100,000 in a season? Anyone? Clif continues to run an excellent game. Tallest mountain that is not part of a mountain range?

 

Gala/Dressy dinner was sparsely attended with passengers better dressed than last time, lots of jackets on men, saw no polo shirts or t-shirts. Escargot, jumbo shrimp cocktail, tangerine duck breast and chocolate souffle for me, will take their word for it that there was horseradish in the cocktail sauce and tangerine on the duck. Good meal, mighty quiet with so few diners.

 

Chocolate extravaganza at 9:30 on deck five with waiters offering sweet treats. Mrs. Whogo fired up for a marshmallow with pink sprinkles. There is no accounting for taste.

 

Arnold Palmer and Kilimanjaro were the trivia answers.

 

[whogo]

Quebec City 

[whogo]

September 2, 2022, Quebec City

 

Slept especially well last night. Full English breakfast again in the dining room, eggs, banger, English bacon, fried bread, toast, beans, mushroom, grilled tomato, all as good as expected, but they added a cherry tomato. I am blaming the cherry tomato, if I gain weight. What a sight Quebec is, with Château Frontenac towering over the battlements at the top of the cliff. Is this the most European looking place in the Americas?

 

Mrs. Whogo and I were off on foot, debarking on a 'jetway' from deck 2 forward and picking up a map and confirming the route with the helpful lady at the info desk in the cruise terminal. Toured the old town at the bottom of the cliff, all old looking buildings, well preserved, no modern steel or glass monstrosities to ruin the effect. Cafes were not yet open. Had a choice of the funicular or the stairs to the top of cliff, were advised to take the funicular. We took the stairs and they were not bad, we must be athletes. Great views from the top. Château Frontenac is jaw dropping amazing, well, just look at the photo. This walled part of the city is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

 

Gorgeous day despite the sun, started cool, warmed up to about 70 degrees Farenheit. We have been lucky with weather.

 

We took in the attractions, visited the basilica/cathedral, viewed city hall. Mrs. Whogo waited to buy postcards as one customer in front of her was trying to decide which of two pipes to buy and the other was trying to choose tobacco. The Anglican cathedral was covered in scaffolding, the only building so covered, all else in fine fettle.

 

We took a circuitous route (my fault) uphill and down to and through St. Louis Gate to the Parliament building, admired the fountain in front and spent an enjoyable half hour in the well planned and maintained gardens, pleased to see so many bees buzzing around the flowers.

 

Got a blast at the citadel when the 105 mm howitzer shot off the noon blank round aimed at Château Frontenac. Mrs. Whogo had enough of citadels in Halifax, I visited this star shaped citadel by myself. Thought at first that the tour guide was doing an Inspector Clouseau imitation, but his thick accent was real, doubt the Asian tourists could understand what he said. Excellent tour, excellent guide, he knew everything, shared it well. Many memorials to the WWI and WWII battles fought by the local French Canadian regiment. The biggest muzzle loaded cannon, named Rachel after a local woman who was “popular with the soldiers”, was aimed at the Zaandam (badly aimed, would have fired low). Phone said I climbed 37 floors and walked 16,000 steps before I turned it off at the citadel with a low battery. I love that the citadel was built by the British as protection against the United States of America. Hey, it has worked. Thus far.

 

I headed back to the ship through the now crowded streets, restaurants were jammed, people waited for tables.

 

Back on board, the phone went crazy with alarms, the Quebecois equivalent of an amber alert in French and English. Armed and dangerous suspect in Saint-Elzéar-de-Bonaventure. That's 200 miles away from us. We assumed the suspect did not have a missile and a grudge against cruise ships and attended afternoon tea in the dining room. Tea was poured from a pot, sweet and savory treats available, a nice, calming experience.

 

Eleven correct out of a possible seventeen was good enough for us to win at afternoon trivia. Great day in Quebec City, we will be back Sunday, the day after tomorrow.

[whogo]

My route to the citadel.

 

[rkacruiser]

21 hours ago, whogo said:

about half my laundered undershorts come back inside out.

 

That has been my experience.  What an inconvenience to have to turn them right side out!  🤣

 

9 minutes ago, whogo said:

Château Frontenac is jaw dropping amazing

 

I hope you went into the lobby.  When I was there, tours of the building were sometimes offered.  Not, however, on the date I was there.  

[lstrong]

Thank you for your entertaining and informative posts and lots of chuckles!

[whogo]

Daily Program as the printed matter is called, When and Where on the app

[sunviking90]

Really enjoying your posts!

[whogo]

September 3, 2022

 

Mussel Mania in the Lido buffet again last night, I love the little devils. There were the 'normal' black ones and also little white ones, new to this kid from the Midwest. Advertised as Canada night there, never saw the poutine bar. I missed any other Canadian connection, unless kippers, smoked salmon, and lobster mac & cheese are Canadian.

 

Did not notice until I undressed that it was a laundry tag that had been bugging my neck all day. Tore tags off three more shirts and made a mental note to check for them in the future. Regrettably, my mental notes do not all stay in long term storage.

 

Watched us dock in Montreal, lots of big, modern buildings, quite different from Quebec City. The remnants of Expo 67 are across the waterway, haven't seen them for 55 years. Habitat still looks like a bad way to put together an apartment building.

 

Breakfasts on HAL used to be a comedy of errors, everything complete and proper in yet another full English breakfast in the dining room, the head waiter pronounced the esses in Des Moines, thought of 'correcting' him to the even worse Dezz Monn Ezz.

 

Armed with a good free map from the information booth, Mrs. Whogo and I were off for a do it yourself pedestrian tour of old Montreal. First stop the Basilica Notre Dame, CA$28 admission or US$21.42 for the two of us. Neat old neo-gothic building, only one tower in scaffolding. Motioned for a man to take off his cap in church, he did so apologetically, not that it's important to me, but it's traditional. I did not bother with the 25 other cap wearing men. Surprised there was no staff member to keep things proper.

 

A bigger surprise was the credit card payment system to pay to light a candle. The biggest surprise was the 'candles' so lighted were electric. Who'd a thunk it? With a smart phone you can light a candle from anywhere in the world.

 

The ceiling is painted deep blue with gold stars, quite distinctive, looks great. Stained glass windows depict scenes from the local religious notables while other artwork abounds. Well worth the price of admission.

 

Viewed other squares and buildings and toured Château Ramazey, built in 1705 as the French governor's residence, now a museum. Small collection of interesting artifacts, couple of old toys, watches, china and the like. Mrs. Whogo liked the Inuit exhibit. Toured yet another garden there.

 

Mrs. Whogo also toured the Cartier house. I walked back on the shopping road, stepped into an e-cig shop by mistake.

 

I attended the Mariner reception in the Crow's Nest, had a couple of glasses of fizzy wine, enjoyed talking to a few other cruisers. Someone from guest services or something introduced the staff, including the female hotel general manager. Guests quit paying attention and drowned out the commercial announcement by the future cruise consultant. Apparently about 1200 are on board.

 

Attended the sail away party. Fun to see the young cruise staff try to get the old folks up and dancing to YMCA, Dancing Queen, Night Fever and that piña colada song. Disco survives on Holland America. I am used to seeing people carry their credit card sized room keys on a lanyard. A couple had supersized the motif to 6” x 6” carriers around their necks, looked like the were wearing chest protectors.

 

Thought it was time to have my first beer of the cruise, ordered a blueberry beer. Gahan Blueberry Ale Wheat Beer had a slight blueberry aroma and a lot of wheat beer flavor. Won't have a second, wheat beers are not my thing. Tight squeeze for the ship on departure, thought the captain was going to back into another pier. Of course he didn't, built up speed quickly to leave the basin and enter the current.

 

Lost at evening trivia, won at dinner with a good steak.

[whogo]

Light a candle with your phone

[whogo]

Neat Inuit trident, stab ‘em and grab ‘em

[sansterre]

"Light a candle with your phone" - truly amazing.  What will they think of next?

Thanks for all the interesting information!

[bluesplayer]

Really enjoying your thread. Thank you for all your time posting!!

Edited September 4, 2022 by bluesplayer
Update

[Burrata]

 

16 hours ago, whogo said:

 

 

 Advertised as Canada night there, never saw the poutine bar. I missed any other Canadian connection, unless kippers, smoked salmon, and lobster mac & cheese are Canadian.

@whogo You had to ask about the poutine, it was next to the hot mains of the day, not many toppings and not very good 😐

16 hours ago, whogo said:

 

 

 

A bigger surprise was the credit card payment system to pay to light a candle. The biggest surprise was the 'candles' so lighted were electric. Who'd a thunk it? With a smart phone you can light a candle from anywhere in the world.

 

 

 

I was so surprised to see CC machines to lit a candle in the basilica! maybe to help pay off the restorations due to the fire? We settled for the 4 hour candle for much less. Enjoying your report!

[albingirl]

Wonderful review!  Thanks for posting!

[whogo]

Burrata , I hope I don’t find the poutine on this leg, would hate to find that I love cheese curds over French fries