Live from the Zuiderdam - August 24 to August 31- Maine and Canada

[Rubyfisch]

Hey everyone! We are getting ready to head out on Zuiderdam tomorrow for a one-way trip to Quebec City.

 

We did basically the same cruise in May on Volendam and the exact same cruise last August on Zuiderdam, so feel free check out those reviews as well.

[FlorenceItaly]

Fabulous!  Thank you for posting LIVE.  We are on the Zuiderdam in November for 14 days from Boston - Ft. Lauderdale.  I am curious if the Mariner's reception is on first evening PLUS the daily happy hour times and offer(for example 50% off).  If you are a casino player I am interested in anything you want to share.  Have a wonderful cruise.  You are on one of my favorite itineraries!

Thanks again.

[Rubyfisch]

Here is our itinerary:

 

[Rubyfisch]

6 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Fabulous!  Thank you for posting LIVE.  We are on the Zuiderdam in November for 14 days from Boston - Ft. Lauderdale.  I am curious if the Mariner's reception is on first evening PLUS the daily happy hour times and offer(for example 50% off).  If you are a casino player I am interested in anything you want to share.  Have a wonderful cruise.  You are on one of my favorite itineraries!

Thanks again.

I'll post whatever I can on these questions - I'm not a casino person, so can't help you there, but I'll let you know if I hear anything from others on the trip.

[Rubyfisch]

I definitely need to finish up some work stuff and haven't started packing, but I have more than 23 whole hours until our Uber gets here, so it will be fine ....

[Rubyfisch]

So we booked this cruise onboard last year, and got the HIA early booking bonus, with the upgraded drink package and wifi, and gratuities. And a rather large amount of onboard credit. We used the shore excursion credit to book a hiking tour in Bar Harbor, but the excursion was cancelled maybe two weeks ago. We switched to an excursion in Quebec, and have one booked in Sydney as well. And a private walking tour in Charlottetown.

 

This is our first time with HIA, so I'll let everyone know my thoughts. On our first two cruises with Holland, we just did the non-alcoholic package and the middle tier of Wi-Fi.

[Crazy For Cats]

Thanks for starting a live from thread.  We will be joining you tomorrow and returning home on the 8/31 cruise.  

[Ken the cruiser]

Looking forward to following along on your adventures on the Zuiderdam. Thanks for taking the time to share them with us! 😁

[Rubyfisch]

1 hour ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Thanks for starting a live from thread.  We will be joining you tomorrow and returning home on the 8/31 cruise.  

Feel free to join in if you have thoughts to add!

[Homala]

2 hours ago, Rubyfisch said:

And a private walking tour in Charlottetown.

By any chance is this the food and walking tour?  If so, we did that last year and loved it!  Great food and interesting commentary on all the stops along the way. Have a wonderful time!

[Rubyfisch]

3 minutes ago, Homala said:

By any chance is this the food and walking tour?  If so, we did that last year and loved it!  Great food and interesting commentary on all the stops along the way. Have a wonderful time!

No - this is just a plain walking tour.

[Crazy For Cats]

In Charlottetown, if you go downtown the chocolate store has really good chocolate covered potato chips.  I’m drawing a blank on the name but I do remember how to get there!

[1960Travel]

We are sailing Canada New England also on Zuiderdam, next May, very curious to follow along...thank you.  

[Rubyfisch]

6 minutes ago, 1960Travel said:

We are sailing Canada New England also on Zuiderdam, next May, very curious to follow along...thank you.  

It's a wonderful part of the world to visit - and I think Zuiderdam is the perfect sized ship. We had a great time on Volendam, but we both agreed we much preferred Zuiderdam.

[Crazy For Cats]

6 minutes ago, Rubyfisch said:

It's a wonderful part of the world to visit - and I think Zuiderdam is the perfect sized ship. We had a great time on Volendam, but we both agreed we much preferred Zuiderdam.

I agree.  We’ve done this itinerary several times except we went to Montreal.  This is our first overnight in Quebec. It’s especially nice for us since Boston is our home port.

[Rubyfisch]

2 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

I agree.  We’ve done this itinerary several times except we went to Montreal.  This is our first overnight in Quebec. It’s especially nice for us since Boston is our home port.

On Volendam, we went through to Montreal. On the plus side, ending in Montreal is way easier to get home from and the sail away from Quebec City is really lovely. As a downside, you end up with a really short day in Quebec as it is a fairly late arrival and fairly early sail away.

[Rubyfisch]

She's getting closer ....

 

[wombatKY]

57 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

In Charlottetown, if you go downtown the chocolate store has really good chocolate covered potato chips.  I’m drawing a blank on the name but I do remember how to get there!

 

Is it Anne of Green Gables Chocolates?

[Crazy For Cats]

1 minute ago, wombatKY said:

 

Is it Anne of Green Gables Chocolates?

Yes it is.  I also like their chocolate covered ginger.  

[cunnorl]

I am currently on Zuiderdam on the VOV . Great ship and outstanding crew! 
  Have a wonderful cruise! 

[Boston proper]

We're on this cruise as well, and also the returning 8/31 cruise.  We're just outside of Boston, so very convenient.  Looking forward to our first HAL cruise!  Thank you for doing the Live - it's a big commitment of your time.

[Rubyfisch]

I have started making progress on packing ... We have moved to the piles on the bed stage ...

[Rubyfisch]

More or less packed. Luggage tag origami complete (because no, universal luggage tag holders are not, in fact universal...). Last load of laundry just finished. Progress!

[Rubyfisch]

On to more important things - we are going to Pinnacle Grill for the first time tomorrow night. Which would you recommend between the following and why:

 

• The crab cakes or the mushroom soup
• The salmon or the halibut 
• The asparagus or the spinach or the beets 
• The key lime pie or the chocolate souffle

 

Inquiring minds want to know ....

[Cruise Suzy]

I really like the crab cakes - hate mushrooms.

Don't eat much fish, especially at the Pinnacle

None of the vegetables - spinach is very "crunchy" and I don't like beets. DH loves the spinach - has it every cruise

Order both desserts and share - or if you are really hungry, ask for each to have both