I already summed it up. Loved the ship's appearance, size, & service staff. Food not that good, but we loved the ports-of-call. DISAPPOINTED TO MISS THE EXTRA DAY AT SEA. WE WEREN'T INFORMED OF SPENDING 2 DAYS IN PT. CANAVERAL INSTEAD OF THE ONE DAY WHICH WAS LISTED ON ORIGINAL ITINERARY. WE ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE DAYS BEFOREHAND, BY A CREW MEMBER WHO CASUALLY MENTIONED IT. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THIS. ALSO, AFTER BOOKING THIS CRUISE WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK IN PT. CANAVERAL, EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE JUST 1 HR. AWAY. WE HAD TO BUY PLANE TICKETS FROM FT. LAUDERDALE TO ORLANDO! DURING THE CRUISE, WE LEARNED OTHER PASSENGERS WERE LEAVING THE SHIP AT PT. CANAVERAL. WE WERE NOT PLEASED ABOUT THIS. WE ENDED UP DISEMBARKING THE SHIP ON OUR 2ND DAY IN PT. CANAVERAL, WHERE A FAMILY MEMBER PICKED US UP & DROVE US THE 1 HR. DRIVE HOME. CUSTOMER SERVICE WHEN BOOKING SHOULD BE MORE INFORMED!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Couldn't have been more smooth & quick, greeted by friendly porters & staff. We left our Montreal hotel up on the hill at 11:10 a.m. and were in our stateroom by 12 noon. treal hotel up the hill at 11:10 a.m. and were IN our stateroom at 12 Noon.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Excellent staff on the Zaandam. These rooms were very clean. Had sailed on it in 2008 to Alaska. We love the ship itself, and the size. We'd sailed with Holland America 4 previous times on 14 night & 7 night cruises. This is the first time we were disappointed with the food, in general. Some good & some not. I normally love appetizers on past cruises. Out of many cruises over the years on various lines, it's the first time most appetizers didn't appeal to me. A couple of nights, the tenderloin was delicious. One night, my steak was dry & well done. I knew our server took the order as "medium" because when he checked on us & noticed that I hadn't touched it, he commented on it being well done. He asked if I wanted another, but no time since we'd miss the Show.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
POOL. We didn't expect the zip line or high, winding slides but that was fine. We can have a good time without them, just as when I was a child with a pool, bingo, shuffleboard, & ping pong. Holland-America is geared to an older crowd.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
They were all very good & talented. The dancers were great, but it was the productions that were just all right. The young woman from London was so talented, but we don't care for opera. Just wish music played in the Crow's Nest later at night. Too quiet. It wasn't like this when we cruised on the Zaandam before or the Maasdam 3 previous times since they were more lively. THE COMEDIAN, STEVEN SCOTT, WAS FABULOUS.
Children's Programs
No children on the ship that we saw in 2 wks. Wouldn't expect it, with a geriatric crowd, in general. It certainly would be nice to see young kids, as on other lines.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The best. So friendly, professional, & worked hard. We want to give credit to: ASEP & EJI (room stewards), RICHARD & WALTER WERE SO FRIENDLY & GAVE WONDERFUL SERVICE IN THE CROW'S NEST, When I my shoe's heel got caught in the elevator groove, Richard found it after he was off work it & gave it to me the next day at Crow's Next. LEE (a lady) in the Crow's Next was always cheerful & helpful. INDRA (waiter in dining rm.) & BUDI (Ass't waiter in dining rm.) made our mealtime delightful (even if the food wasn't always so good.) They provided absolutely excellent service. Very accommodating, friendly, & caring.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was perfect. And spotless. We were glad to sail on this again. Did so with our 2 sons to Alaska in Aug. 2008 & love the layout & size of this ship. So many windows. Not dark inside, (like some of the mega ships are now.)
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Very spacious cabin #1924 on Dolphin Deck & very clean, which Asep & Eji saw to. They certainly should be proud of themselves for providing the best service whenever we asked. Sure appreciated the good closet space.
Ship tip
This cruise was not too lively, so don't expect it with an older crowd. This cruise probably had the oldest crowd out of any cd been on. But everyone was friendly. The bars & lounges shut down early...before midnight! crowd out of any cruise. But everyone very friendly. Just wish the Crow's Nest had music until after midnight. It was usually dead before 10. The Ocean Bar had a band, but wish it had also played later. but
We spent 2 nights here in a hotel, before our cruise. Loved walking all around this city, which we'd been to before. Took a tour the day before our cruise departed.
Very clean & green. Not much to do here. Had been here before. Took a tour just to pass the time, but not with Holland America. Wouldn't care to return.
No excursion, since our family drove up to Cape Breton Island years ago, from Florida. Back then, we drove the entire Cabot Trail in our car & loved it. Such a pretty place. This trip, we just walked about the nice town & shopped. Very friendly, helpful, shopkeepers.
Our first time here. We took a private tour to quaint Peggy's Cove, not with Holland America. Then an amphibious city & waterfront tour, which wasn't with Holland America either.
Love it. Been here many times, but first time on cruise ship. Walked the Freedom Trail again ourselves, with no tour. Disappointed the terminal doesn't allow taxis to enter for pickup. Had to walk a distance to catch a taxi. Glad they could drop us back off AT the ship.
Been here before, but not on a cruise. A clean city, with some museums, etc. My husband enjoyed touring the Wisconsin Battleship which was docked near our ship. I walked around the town. Wouldn't care to stop here again.
Of course, we'd rate Excellent since we grew up just south of here on a barrier island. My husband worked K.S.C. for 24 yrs. No excursion. But the Space Center is worth touring. VERY DISAPPOINTED WE WERE IN PORT HERE 2 DAYS, INSTEAD OF 1 DAY WHICH THE ITINERARY LISTED. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. ONLY LEARNED OF THIS TWO DAYS BEFOREHAND, BY A CREW MEMBER WHO CASUALLY MENTIONED IT. NOT PLEASED THAT WE MISSED THE EXTRA DAY AT SEA.
Wow, how weird they wouldn’t let you disembark at Pt. Canaveral, but others did??
Great that otherwise you could enjoy your cruise itinerary in spite of that. Thanks for sharing
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