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

[Florida_gal_50]

19 minutes ago, whogo said:

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

For years I heard how good it was.  Had it several years ago at a place that had really good reviews where I live.  It was meh.  Certainly not worth the calories.

[whogo]

Sunday, September 4, 2022. Quebec City

 

Spent a lot of time in the piano bar on our Noordam Australia cruise, thought that Diane Fast was as good as it gets. Checked out the piano bar last night, did not take two minutes for me to know it is not for me, much too loud and I am not blaming the drunk acting rowdy women in the corner. With the smoky casino next door, I will avoid deck 5 all together. How far does the sound carry? Let's see the cello/piano classical duo next door in the Explorer's Lounge compete with that.

 

We were off the ship after breakfast, Mrs. Whogo wanted to see Maison de la litterature, a library in a former church noted for its modern, glaringly white interior. Fun walk to get there through old Quebec, a couple of new streets, plus a walk through the lobby of the amazing Chateau Frontenac. I recall staying there as a boy and exploring the topmost floor under the slanted roof. Imagine the maintenance involved in keeping the plumbing, HVAC and all else in top working order.

 

The Maison de la litterature? Mrs. Whogo expected more from the library. It was just a library in a former church with a modern, glaringly white interior.

 

She and I split up. I took a ride down the funicular, CA$4.00, cash only, immediately paid another CA$4.00 to ride back up. Solo ride down, a couple boarded with me for the ride up. Then another, then another. Six unmasked potential virus carriers, each of them breathing in the little carriage. Wish me luck.

 

Took a nice long walk up and down steps the entire length of the boardwalk then circled around the citadel past the Parliament building and down Rue Saint-Louis to the Frontenac and then down the stairs through the old city and back to the ship. My phone reported that I climbed 38 floors and took 13, 338 steps since arising this morning. The sun came out after I was back onboard, but without a hat under overcast skies I still burned my part. Doesn't sound bad, but at this stage of my life my part is five or six inches wide.

 

Returned to our cabin to find a fancy gift of four meringues. Well, Mrs. Whogo returned to a fancy gift of four meringues, I returned minutes later to a fancy gift of three meringues. With compliments of Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, I will wait until I am home to address his thank you note.

 

Also received an invitation (as their most loyal mariner guests, ha!) to a complimentary James Suckling's Great Wines of the Pacific Northwest. Is something missing in that sentence? How do you invite someone to a wine? Wine tasting, maybe? Might stop in tomorrow at 2:00 just to find out.

 

Oh, happy day, they were carving leg of lamb in the Lido, I had three delicious slices along with some broccoli and cauliflower, great lunch.

 

The next door neighbors are seeing how often they can slam the doors to their cabin, balcony and bathroom. I will pay them back tonight at 2:00 when I set the clock ahead an hour.

 

Lost at afternoon trivia in the Crow's Nest, but viewed Montmorency Falls at great distance as we sailed past. Taller than Niagara Falls, the falls would be thoroughly impressive up close.

 

At 5:25 PM I received a Navigator app reminder that afternoon tea starts at 3:00 PM. There are bugs in the app and they are getting worse. Last night's reminders were less than 10 minutes late.

 

Lost again at travel trivia at 6:00. Tonight's dress suggestion is dressy. It is Canada night again, might walk through the Lido to look at the poutine.

[rkacruiser]

35 minutes ago, whogo said:

Spent a lot of time in the piano bar on our Noordam Australia cruise, thought that Diane Fast was as good as it gets.

 

Absolutely!  Ms. Fast held forth to overflowing crowds at the Piano bar during my Baltic cruise followed by the Viking Passage Cruise on the Eurodam.  I attended her performance that first night.  Not many guests were in attendance and those of us became a "family", which I enjoyed when I attended on other nights.  After a few nights of absence, when I appeared, when she saw me, she said "where in the world have you been?!)  

[rkacruiser]

21 hours ago, whogo said:

First stop the Basilica Notre Dame,

 

Stunning is the only proper word to describe the Basilica.  

[Navybikermom]

I am also on this leg and have enjoyed your posts. Our roll call is meeting at the Ocean Bar at 4 pm on Monday. Please join us so we can see the face behind these hilarious posts!

[PasadenaDave]

I saw your ship today.  We arrived last night.  We sail Thursday.  My fourth time to Quebec City, but no skiing this trip.  Hop on Hop Off bus was fun.  Now two full days, a partial day boarding and one partial on day of sailing.  I love Quebec City, Europe in North America 

[Dr.Dobro]

In Littleton, N.H. there's a restaurant called "Vulgar Display of Poutine."

 

[catlet]

On the Halifax boardwalk there is a Smoke's Poutinerie about a 10 minute walk from the Pier if you really want to try it.

[whogo]

Monday, September 5, 2022. At sea.

 

[albingirl]

I was interested in your remark about your neighbors and the slamming doors. We seem to always be near people who rise at 5 AM and slam the door on their way out, presumably to Lido.  I know the doors are loud if you don't hold them but just to let them swing close causes a very loud noise. Otherwise, love your review....

[Tampa Girl]

On 8/28/2022 at 11:31 AM, REOVA said:

AH the COVID ship (Reading "Cabin Fever" right now. A interesting perspective from our experience on a different ship at the beginning of the pandemic, even with their creative liberties included). We had over 200 cases a few weeks aqo on the VoV so mask up. It will hide your grouchy snarl as well when they ask you to sanitize  🤣 Probably more cases were onboard but many people rather spread the "love" than get tested and quarantine for 6 days. (We elected the later). Glenn Michael used to be the HAL piano payer and has moved up over the many years. He did treat everyone to a sing along one night when the piano player was out. Fernanda was our Music Trivia host and it was funny to hear her pronounce the songs and artists from the 60's and 70's, as if they were from a fairy tale (long ago and far far away). We only had to show our card at deck 3 and watch safety video on TV, are they back to full muster? Speaking of TVs, supposedly the new TVs were on the dock waiting for installation (Supply chain delay) so you may get a choice of more than 4 channels now. Enjoy and safe travels.

 

Sorry, off topic:  Did HAL require removal of the Covid partner to quarantine in a separate cabin, and did the high number of cases affect admission to any ports?  (We are  booked on the '23 VOV.)

[AryMay]

5 hours ago, whogo said:

Monday, September 5, 2022. At sea.

 

 

I laughed when I read that "Adult Coloring" (at 11 am) is still being offered as a cruise activity.

 

This was listed for our Eurodam Alaska cruise in May. On that ship the activity was held in the Digital Workshop so I just assumed it would be some sort of digital art class. I had attended something similar when HAL had their partnership with Microsoft and enjoyed the class. I decided to give it a try.

 

First surprise was that the "Digital Workshop" was just a room with tables and chairs...no computers or anything that could remotely be considered digital. Next surprise was the staff overseeing the activity did nothing more than point to a stack of color book pages and a bucket of colored pencils when I arrived. And that was it!

 

I stuck around and finished my "art work" (and could at least enjoy listening to the classical group playing next door at the Lincoln Center Stage) but decided there are much better ways to spend time on a cruise ship!!! 

 

My finished art work. (Could have used a few more shades of green for the trees!) 🙂

[whogo]

Monday, September 5, 2022. Labor Day at sea

 

No Labor Day observance announced on the ship, I marched by myself up and down the halls while singing “The Internationale” off key. Off key is the only way I sing, I have never hit the right note in my life.

 

The dining room was crowded last night at 7:20, we were not late enough, earlier diners were still finishing their meals. This is a dressier crowd than last week, no t-shirts, no ball caps, passengers are nicely turned out. We were between a couple of French speaking tables, the racket from the English speakers behind me was alcohol related.

 

Good lord, those big chest protector sized I.D. holders are for Roads Scholars. If you think the cruise ship excursion colored numbered dork dots are bad... I thought Roads Scholars was classier than that, looks like something to keep grade schoolers together on a field trip. Saw the scholars all lined up against a wall outside the Frontenac's lobby and some counting his charges.

 

Another day, another time change. Up early, couldn't wait for the dining room to open at 8:00, ordered my first bowl ever of congee in the Lido. Confessed my inexperience to the servers and their eyes lit up at the opportunity to make a convert to the Indonesian national breakfast. Plain congee is a rice porridge, the staff kept offering and I kept accepting ingredients. Chicken? Sure. Seaweed? Why not? Fried garlic? Tiny little brown bits. Garlic for breakfast? No thanks. Fried tofu? Yes, please. Hard boiled egg? Okay. Fried garlic? Can't turn it down a second time.

 

Took a seat at a table for one. Stirred it all in as directed. Congee tasted fine. The waitresses eyes lit up. “Ah, congee. It's what we have for breakfast in Indonesia. Do you like spicy? We put chili oil on it. May I get you some chili oil?

 

Sure, why not? I add half the little ramekin, felt the warmth in my mouth, added the rest, spicy, but not enough to burn or make my forehead sweat. Congee is a fine breakfast, but won't replace bacon and eggs in my life.

 

It's cool today, 55 degrees F, won't get much warmer.

 

I took part in Clif's introduction to tai chi next to the pool under the magrodome. He is a good teacher, not a tai chi master, although he's done martial arts for thirty years. I have done some tai chi, each of the seven moves he taught was new to me. Fun way to spend 45 minutes, one time only on this cruise.

 

Excellent tacos in the Lido for lunch, custom built by staff under my guidance, with guacamole, fish, a little lettuce and mango salsa. The captain announced in his noon update that we were sailing at 10 knots in the endangered northern right whale area, will pass under Confederation Bridge in the dark at 5:15 AM. Second time for the Zaandam under the bridge, I'll brag to the assembled multitude that I was aboard for the first passage.

 

Mrs. Whogo won the Essy drawing, four packages, a pendant, earrings, anchor necklace, wheelhouse necklace, all worth well under $100. She can upgrade each item for $10 to $95.

 

Busy afternoon planned for me.

 

1:00 beer tasting

2:00 wine tasting

3:00 afternoon tea

4:00 Cruise Critic meet up

5:00 Sail with Seth cocktail party

 

The beers to be tasted were Dos Equis, Hoegarden, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Lagunitas IPA. Nothing there worth my time or $15, left before 1:00, saved myself some time.

 

I am not a wine drinker. I like beer, would rather drink a mediocre American lager than a fine wine, don't have the patience for another winery tour and only attended my first wine tasting so I could report here. There was a bit of thrill, though. I checked in at the Club Orange location, my loyalty status qualified me for the 'free' tasting, walked in as if I had paid more for my cabin, although those in the know greeted the cellar master by name. My name was on page two without the orange highlight.

 

Tables were all set up with four glasses of wine already poured plus a cheese and fruit plate, no crackers. Holland America does not do crackers. I thought everything would move right along. Nope. The cellar master dinged his glass with his fork twenty times more than he needed to, spent fifteen minutes telling about his home country of the Philippines, spoke about wine growing areas, found out where everyone was from (Argentina, 1; Canada, 3; USA 25), introduced three assistants and asked for applause for each. I thought of leaving, discretely but rudely checked my phone instead, yeah, I was that guy. We took our first sniff and sip of wine at 2:15, a Riesling with “crisp apple aromas and flavors with subtle mineral notes.” Table mates nodded in agreement with this assessment. I thought of the cartoon where the patron complains, “Waiter, this wine has an oaky, smoky flavor with hints of cherries and chocolate. Bring me a bottle that tastes like wine.”

 

Sipped the same wine again after a taste of edam cheese and again table mates nodded with the cellar master's description. So it went with three more wines. The final presenter regretted that he could not offer the bleu cheese that the Cabernet sauvignon called for and had us taste it with cheddar. The cellar master paraded through the tables with a chunk of cheddar on his fork to show us which cheese to taste with this wine, perhaps he did the same with the other three cheeses, if so, this reporter missed it. Two sips of each of the four wines and I snuck out. I remain a beer drinker.

 

The Cruise Critic meet up was a bust. Blew my nose three blasts with a red bandana without anyone giving the countersign, met no one. The pianist and singer in the Ocean Bar would have made conversation difficult anyway.

 

5:00 Sail with Seth, well... er... Signing up to sail with Seth offered a few amenities that seemed worth the small expense. Holland America and Seth ended their relationship and a short cocktail gathering with the cruise director was one of the replacements. I had a Corona beer, Mrs. Whogo most of a glass of wine and we had a delightful chat with fellow cruisers Denise and Neil and short chat with Glenn Michael, will also receive a photo of the two of us, the photographer took a number of shots. Too much going on on this lazy sea day, we're off to trivia in a moment.

[Happily@Sea]

21 minutes ago, whogo said:

Monday, September 5, 2022. Labor Day at sea

 

No Labor Day observance announced on the ship, I marched by myself up and down the halls while singing “The Internationale” off key. Off key is the only way I sing, I have never hit the right note in my life.

 

The dining room was crowded last night at 7:20, we were not late enough, earlier diners were still finishing their meals. This is a dressier crowd than last week, no t-shirts, no ball caps, passengers are nicely turned out. We were between a couple of French speaking tables, the racket from the English speakers behind me was alcohol related.

 

Good lord, those big chest protector sized I.D. holders are for Roads Scholars. If you think the cruise ship excursion colored numbered dork dots are bad... I thought Roads Scholars was classier than that, looks like something to keep grade schoolers together on a field trip. Saw the scholars all lined up against a wall outside the Frontenac's lobby and some counting his charges.

 

Another day, another time change. Up early, couldn't wait for the dining room to open at 8:00, ordered my first bowl ever of congee in the Lido. Confessed my inexperience to the servers and their eyes lit up at the opportunity to make a convert to the Indonesian national breakfast. Plain congee is a rice porridge, the staff kept offering and I kept accepting ingredients. Chicken? Sure. Seaweed? Why not? Fried garlic? Tiny little brown bits. Garlic for breakfast? No thanks. Fried tofu? Yes, please. Hard boiled egg? Okay. Fried garlic? Can't turn it down a second time.

 

Took a seat at a table for one. Stirred it all in as directed. Congee tasted fine. The waitresses eyes lit up. “Ah, congee. It's what we have for breakfast in Indonesia. Do you like spicy? We put chili oil on it. May I get you some chili oil?

 

Sure, why not? I add half the little ramekin, felt the warmth in my mouth, added the rest, spicy, but not enough to burn or make my forehead sweat. Congee is a fine breakfast, but won't replace bacon and eggs in my life.

 

It's cool today, 55 degrees F, won't get much warmer.

 

I took part in Clif's introduction to tai chi next to the pool under the magrodome. He is a good teacher, not a tai chi master, although he's done martial arts for thirty years. I have done some tai chi, each of the seven moves he taught was new to me. Fun way to spend 45 minutes, one time only on this cruise.

 

Excellent tacos in the Lido for lunch, custom built by staff under my guidance, with guacamole, fish, a little lettuce and mango salsa. The captain announced in his noon update that we were sailing at 10 knots in the endangered northern right whale area, will pass under Confederation Bridge in the dark at 5:15 AM. Second time for the Zaandam under the bridge, I'll brag to the assembled multitude that I was aboard for the first passage.

 

Mrs. Whogo won the Essy drawing, four packages, a pendant, earrings, anchor necklace, wheelhouse necklace, all worth well under $100. She can upgrade each item for $10 to $95.

 

Busy afternoon planned for me.

 

1:00 beer tasting

2:00 wine tasting

3:00 afternoon tea

4:00 Cruise Critic meet up

5:00 Sail with Seth cocktail party

 

The beers to be tasted were Dos Equis, Hoegarden, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Lagunitas IPA. Nothing there worth my time or $15, left before 1:00, saved myself some time.

 

I am not a wine drinker. I like beer, would rather drink a mediocre American lager than a fine wine, don't have the patience for another winery tour and only attended my first wine tasting so I could report here. There was a bit of thrill, though. I checked in at the Club Orange location, my loyalty status qualified me for the 'free' tasting, walked in as if I had paid more for my cabin, although those in the know greeted the cellar master by name. My name was on page two without the orange highlight.

 

Tables were all set up with four glasses of wine already poured plus a cheese and fruit plate, no crackers. Holland America does not do crackers. I thought everything would move right along. Nope. The cellar master dinged his glass with his fork twenty times more than he needed to, spent fifteen minutes telling about his home country of the Philippines, spoke about wine growing areas, found out where everyone was from (Argentina, 1; Canada, 3; USA 25), introduced three assistants and asked for applause for each. I thought of leaving, discretely but rudely checked my phone instead, yeah, I was that guy. We took our first sniff and sip of wine at 2:15, a Riesling with “crisp apple aromas and flavors with subtle mineral notes.” Table mates nodded in agreement with this assessment. I thought of the cartoon where the patron complains, “Waiter, this wine has an oaky, smoky flavor with hints of cherries and chocolate. Bring me a bottle that tastes like wine.”

 

Sipped the same wine again after a taste of edam cheese and again table mates nodded with the cellar master's description. So it went with three more wines. The final presenter regretted that he could not offer the bleu cheese that the Cabernet sauvignon called for and had us taste it with cheddar. The cellar master paraded through the tables with a chunk of cheddar on his fork to show us which cheese to taste with this wine, perhaps he did the same with the other three cheeses, if so, this reporter missed it. Two sips of each of the four wines and I snuck out. I remain a beer drinker.

 

The Cruise Critic meet up was a bust. Blew my nose three blasts with a red bandana without anyone giving the countersign, met no one. The pianist and singer in the Ocean Bar would have made conversation difficult anyway.

 

5:00 Sail with Seth, well... er... Signing up to sail with Seth offered a few amenities that seemed worth the small expense. Holland America and Seth ended their relationship and a short cocktail gathering with the cruise director was one of the replacements. I had a Corona beer, Mrs. Whogo most of a glass of wine and we had a delightful chat with fellow cruisers Denise and Neil and short chat with Glenn Michael, will also receive a photo of the two of us, the photographer took a number of shots. Too much going on on this lazy sea day, we're off to trivia in a moment.

 

If those Road Scholar ID tags are the ones they've had for years. they have some very handy pockets in them, to keep stuff secure and no need to carry much of anything else.  If they have changed - then they are just big. 😄

[Navybikermom]

37 minutes ago, whogo said:

Monday, September 5, 2022. Labor Day at sea

 

No Labor Day observance announced on the ship, I marched by myself up and down the halls while singing “The Internationale” off key. Off key is the only way I sing, I have never hit the right note in my life.

 

The dining room was crowded last night at 7:20, we were not late enough, earlier diners were still finishing their meals. This is a dressier crowd than last week, no t-shirts, no ball caps, passengers are nicely turned out. We were between a couple of French speaking tables, the racket from the English speakers behind me was alcohol related.

 

Good lord, those big chest protector sized I.D. holders are for Roads Scholars. If you think the cruise ship excursion colored numbered dork dots are bad... I thought Roads Scholars was classier than that, looks like something to keep grade schoolers together on a field trip. Saw the scholars all lined up against a wall outside the Frontenac's lobby and some counting his charges.

 

Another day, another time change. Up early, couldn't wait for the dining room to open at 8:00, ordered my first bowl ever of congee in the Lido. Confessed my inexperience to the servers and their eyes lit up at the opportunity to make a convert to the Indonesian national breakfast. Plain congee is a rice porridge, the staff kept offering and I kept accepting ingredients. Chicken? Sure. Seaweed? Why not? Fried garlic? Tiny little brown bits. Garlic for breakfast? No thanks. Fried tofu? Yes, please. Hard boiled egg? Okay. Fried garlic? Can't turn it down a second time.

 

Took a seat at a table for one. Stirred it all in as directed. Congee tasted fine. The waitresses eyes lit up. “Ah, congee. It's what we have for breakfast in Indonesia. Do you like spicy? We put chili oil on it. May I get you some chili oil?

 

Sure, why not? I add half the little ramekin, felt the warmth in my mouth, added the rest, spicy, but not enough to burn or make my forehead sweat. Congee is a fine breakfast, but won't replace bacon and eggs in my life.

 

It's cool today, 55 degrees F, won't get much warmer.

 

I took part in Clif's introduction to tai chi next to the pool under the magrodome. He is a good teacher, not a tai chi master, although he's done martial arts for thirty years. I have done some tai chi, each of the seven moves he taught was new to me. Fun way to spend 45 minutes, one time only on this cruise.

 

Excellent tacos in the Lido for lunch, custom built by staff under my guidance, with guacamole, fish, a little lettuce and mango salsa. The captain announced in his noon update that we were sailing at 10 knots in the endangered northern right whale area, will pass under Confederation Bridge in the dark at 5:15 AM. Second time for the Zaandam under the bridge, I'll brag to the assembled multitude that I was aboard for the first passage.

 

Mrs. Whogo won the Essy drawing, four packages, a pendant, earrings, anchor necklace, wheelhouse necklace, all worth well under $100. She can upgrade each item for $10 to $95.

 

Busy afternoon planned for me.

 

1:00 beer tasting

2:00 wine tasting

3:00 afternoon tea

4:00 Cruise Critic meet up

5:00 Sail with Seth cocktail party

 

The beers to be tasted were Dos Equis, Hoegarden, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Lagunitas IPA. Nothing there worth my time or $15, left before 1:00, saved myself some time.

 

I am not a wine drinker. I like beer, would rather drink a mediocre American lager than a fine wine, don't have the patience for another winery tour and only attended my first wine tasting so I could report here. There was a bit of thrill, though. I checked in at the Club Orange location, my loyalty status qualified me for the 'free' tasting, walked in as if I had paid more for my cabin, although those in the know greeted the cellar master by name. My name was on page two without the orange highlight.

 

Tables were all set up with four glasses of wine already poured plus a cheese and fruit plate, no crackers. Holland America does not do crackers. I thought everything would move right along. Nope. The cellar master dinged his glass with his fork twenty times more than he needed to, spent fifteen minutes telling about his home country of the Philippines, spoke about wine growing areas, found out where everyone was from (Argentina, 1; Canada, 3; USA 25), introduced three assistants and asked for applause for each. I thought of leaving, discretely but rudely checked my phone instead, yeah, I was that guy. We took our first sniff and sip of wine at 2:15, a Riesling with “crisp apple aromas and flavors with subtle mineral notes.” Table mates nodded in agreement with this assessment. I thought of the cartoon where the patron complains, “Waiter, this wine has an oaky, smoky flavor with hints of cherries and chocolate. Bring me a bottle that tastes like wine.”

 

Sipped the same wine again after a taste of edam cheese and again table mates nodded with the cellar master's description. So it went with three more wines. The final presenter regretted that he could not offer the bleu cheese that the Cabernet sauvignon called for and had us taste it with cheddar. The cellar master paraded through the tables with a chunk of cheddar on his fork to show us which cheese to taste with this wine, perhaps he did the same with the other three cheeses, if so, this reporter missed it. Two sips of each of the four wines and I snuck out. I remain a beer drinker.

 

The Cruise Critic meet up was a bust. Blew my nose three blasts with a red bandana without anyone giving the countersign, met no one. The pianist and singer in the Ocean Bar would have made conversation difficult anyway.

 

5:00 Sail with Seth, well... er... Signing up to sail with Seth offered a few amenities that seemed worth the small expense. Holland America and Seth ended their relationship and a short cocktail gathering with the cruise director was one of the replacements. I had a Corona beer, Mrs. Whogo most of a glass of wine and we had a delightful chat with fellow cruisers Denise and Neil and short chat with Glenn Michael, will also receive a photo of the two of us, the photographer took a number of shots. Too much going on on this lazy sea day, we're off to trivia in a moment.

@jeph and I were in the Ocean Bar with our yellow name tags on. He walked around a few times but must have missed you - darn it! I was also at the Sail with Seth cocktails. Sitting at the far end near Glenn. See you at the next one!

[rkacruiser]

48 minutes ago, whogo said:

Holland America does not do crackers. I thought everything would move right along. Nope. The cellar master dinged his glass with his fork twenty times more than he needed to

 

Crackers were once served and did so as recently as 2020.  (Why not know?  Oh, it's the packaging of those individual servings would probably be the response.  Well, I think I could think of an alternative.)    Some of these "cellar masters" can be insufferable stuffed shirts.  

[REOVA]

8 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

Sorry, off topic:  Did HAL require removal of the Covid partner to quarantine in a separate cabin, and did the high number of cases affect admission to any ports?  (We are  booked on the '23 VOV.)

they ran out of empty cabins so we quarantined for 6 days together even though I was negative the whole trip. The only issue in a port was Ireland did not allow those that were positive 10 days prior to port from disembarking but the ship was able to dock and others were able to get off. 

[whogo]

Second time under:

 

 

 

 

[whogo]

Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

 

Good strip loin for dinner. A number of fishing(?) boats raced around nearby, no idea what they were up to. They were too fast for fishing, especially with the sharp turns. Just a bunch of boaters goofing around?

 

Glorious sunset, Mrs. Whogo had the better view out the window, my photo did not do it justice.

 

The dining room has not learned the first rule of providing breakfast to Americans. Fill the customer's coffee cup as soon as his rear end hits the chair, unless you can offer it sooner. Instead, juice? No, thank you. Coffee, please. Second waiter, juice? No, thank you. Coffee, please. Third waiter, water? (offering to sell it in cans.) No thanks, Coffee, please. Waited a bit, picked up my cup and went searching. Head waiter, one of the guys in suits, raises an eyebrow, blank stare, has no idea what I am searching for. I ask for coffee. Blank stare for moment. He offers to bring it. I sit and wait. Someone fills my water glass. I ask for coffee, please. Finally arrives.

 

Glenn Michael announced that we were cleared to debark in Charlottetown a little after nine from deck A ahft. He translated 'ahft' to 'the back of the boat' for those of us who understand aft but not ahft.

 

The smoke detector started chirping a low battery warning, hope it is fixed before I return from shore. Took in the sights of Charlottetown, walked three miles, no hills, returned to find Wibi and Made straightening up our cabin, the smoke detector not yet fixed. Ten more minutes.

 

I passed five panhandlers in Charlottetown, three with cardboard signs, two in wheelchairs, only one of muttering, I think, in French.

[whogo]

Good news, mussels again in the Lido.

 

Daily Program:

[albingirl]

I used to love the wine tastings.  No more.....too much talking and not enough wine. Can I say boring?

[carolyn22]

Loving your report!!  I have to say those daily activities don’t look that interesting, maybe because it was a port day?

[Florida_gal_50]

I hear you on the coffee.  I hate waiting so I usually bring one with me, then they wonder why.

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, albingirl said:

I used to love the wine tastings.  No more.....too much talking and not enough wine. Can I say boring?

 

If they are a Mariner perk, they are "entertainment" for me.  More wine?  Would be nice.  Sometimes, a Wine Steward that is a "stuffed shirt" leading the "show".  But, maybe the most pleasant part of the experience for me is that I am sharing a table with other winos.  On my 2019-2020 cruise (Hi Patrick if you see this), we engaged in a good conversation and shared HH afterwards in the Ocean Bar.  I enjoyed his company.  

[Florida_gal_50]

On 9/5/2022 at 5:22 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Crackers were once served and did so as recently as 2020.  (Why not know?  Oh, it's the packaging of those individual servings would probably be the response.  Well, I think I could think of an alternative.)    Some of these "cellar masters" can be insufferable stuffed shirts.  

1) supply chain issues 🤪

2) too much waste 😛

3) too much packaging 😂

 

these 3 answers will fit anything hal does away with or that people feel the need to explain on Hal’s behalf.