Ahoy there my hearties from the high seas of Alaska!
First stop – Vancouver
The flight from Gatwick to Vancouver was better than I had anticipated. I had been anticipating the worst, never having travelled on Air Transat before, however, my expectations were ‘exceedingly good’ (not that they gave us any Mr Kipling’s cakes). Ok, I admit, the flight attendants weren’t a patch on myself, Joanne ‘BJ’ Lakin or Louise ‘Coco’ Cooper in our ‘trolley dolly, hay days of Bahrain and I am sure we could show them a thing or two (like how to climb into one of the overhead lockers and pose like page 3 models), but that’s another story …. right girls!!
So I had the luxury of 3 full days to embrace Vancouver and ‘brace’ myself for the next 7 months on board the Holland America cruise line ship, The Zaandam. I have to say, I took to Vancouver like a duck to water or maybe it was the other way around, Vancouver took to me J
After getting over the jetlag thanks to a combination of Arnica and melatonin, ((Vancouver are 8 hours behind UK), I had 2 full days to enjoy the city. And enjoy I did. There is so much to see and do and I wasn’t able to do it all, however, I did make it to Stanley Park which has been voted the 2nd most beautiful park in the world and is on the same size scale as Central park in New York (thanks for your Vancouverite recommendation Rob Thompson). I also took a city bus tour and hopped on and off the bus, here there and everywhere, including Chinatown where I managed to stock up on my royal jelly and ginseng liquid vials.
The weather was fabulous in Vancouver and it was so nice to be back in my Caribbean clothing again (no I didn’t parade round in my bikini, just shorts and t-shirt). I found it incredibly easy to navigate my way round the city (who says women can’t read maps) and felt very safe here. I did get a proposition from the taxi driver who drove me from the airport to my hotel, however, I decided I wasn’t into turbans so I let that one go …
Embarkation Day, Sunday 7 July 2013
The day of reckoning arrives. The fear of the ‘unknown’ lying ahead. Part of me was dreading it. I remember how totally overwhelming it was when I joined the Disney Fantasy (DF). However, this time it was slightly different as I was responsible for finding my way to the port and boarding the ship. (On Disney, we were picked up from our hotel and escorted on a crew bus and dropped off and guided through everything). Hey but it’s not rocket science is it, I mean how hard can it be. For some reason, I am reminded of the time I offered to drive to Burley (in the New Forest) for a tango milonga and ended up practically in Portsmouth (I obviously didn’t have a sat nav). Remember that night Wynne and Ester!? It was Halloween and we never stopped laughing all the way there J Luckily, I made it to the ship before it set sail and it was all relatively straightforward.
Zaandam – First impressions
I had mentally prepared myself that this ship was going to be as opulent as the regal DF knowing that it is 13 years older (which is still young for a ship or so I am told). However, I knew I would find it difficult not to make comparisons between the 2 ships. In a way, I had to ‘pretend’ to myself that this was like starting my first contract and ‘erase’ the magic memories of Disney behind. Upon embarking, I was assigned a buddy from the spa, the assistant spa manager called Hilda from Malta. Her job was to look after me and show me round the ship and help me settle in. Hilda, at 39, is the oldest spa girl, not like all these flighty something 20 year old spa girls so I am in good company! As long as she doesn’t turn out to be another ‘little Hitler’ like Julia on the DF and is more like Bara ‘Czeckmate’ Cizkova, I will be fine.
The day of reckoning arrives. The fear of the ‘unknown’ lying ahead. Part of me was dreading it. I remember how totally overwhelming it was when I joined the Disney Fantasy (DF). However, this time it was slightly different as I was responsible for finding my way to the port and boarding the ship. (On Disney, we were picked up from our hotel and escorted on a crew bus and dropped off and guided through everything). Hey but it’s not rocket science is it, I mean how hard can it be. For some reason, I am reminded of the time I offered to drive to Burley (in the New Forest) for a tango milonga and ended up practically in Portsmouth (I obviously didn’t have a sat nav). Remember that night Wynne and Ester!? It was Halloween and we never stopped laughing all the way there J Luckily, I made it to the ship before it set sail and it was all relatively straightforward.
Zaandam – First impressions
I had mentally prepared myself that this ship was going to be as opulent as the regal DF knowing that it is 13 years older (which is still young for a ship or so I am told). However, I knew I would find it difficult not to make comparisons between the 2 ships. In a way, I had to ‘pretend’ to myself that this was like starting my first contract and ‘erase’ the magic memories of Disney behind. Upon embarking, I was assigned a buddy from the spa, the assistant spa manager called Hilda from Malta. Her job was to look after me and show me round the ship and help me settle in. Hilda, at 39, is the oldest spa girl, not like all these flighty something 20 year old spa girls so I am in good company! As long as she doesn’t turn out to be another ‘little Hitler’ like Julia on the DF and is more like Bara ‘Czeckmate’ Cizkova, I will be fine.
Not the Penthouse
Upon being shown to my cabin by Hilda, I now realise how utterly ‘spoilt’ I was on the DF in my ‘penthouse’. Suffice to say, I was seriously underwhelmed by my tiny cabin (Andy, Bara and Rob, about the same size, if not smaller, than your cabins on DF). Instead of my ‘penthouse’ double bed, I have a pair of single bunk beds with just a blanket and sheet to cover me. How I miss my John Lewis goose and duck down duvet. There are no duvets in the spa so I won’t be able to sneak one down to my room like I did on DF. I did ask my Indonesian housekeeper if he could get me one but he wasn’t able to, however he has given me a couple of extra blankets so at least I am a bit toastier.
Needless to say I don’t have the luxury of a sofa in my room either (don’t think I am going to be having ‘penthouse’ cheese/wine soirees somehow in my room this contract). I was also ‘shocked’ to discover that I don’t have a fridge as this was standard in every room on Disney. So, if I want a fridge, I have to buy one! Apparently some crew members do have them in their rooms and sell them when they leave so maybe I will get one if I get desperate. Ironically, on Disney, we weren’t allowed to bring on diary products yet we had fridges and on Holland America, you are allowed to bring on diary yet we don’t have fridges to keep it fresh.
Again, like Disney, standard operating practice is that you can’t have a kettle in your room, however, I have it on good authority that I can buy one in the local Safeway’s (yes they have a Safeway’s here) and sneak it on in either Vancouver or Seward ports where the port security, rather than the ship security isn’t as strict. At least I won’t be smuggling any cheese on board in my bra, eh Bara, and after all that, getting it confiscated during cabin inspection! Cabin inspection seems to be a lot more relaxed on this ship and I believe it only happens about once a month (so better make sure I hide the kettle).
My cabin is located on deck 1, forward, not quite the same as Disney, being in room 10309 on deck 10 in my own private corridor with laundry facilities, just a stones throw from the Captain’s and Staff Captain’s office. I don’t feel nearly so self-important!!
Food
One of the ‘perks’ on this ship is that both the spa girls and myself get to eat with the guests in ‘The Lido’ which is the casual dining restaurant (similar to Cabanas on DF). Although it is considered a privilege to be able to eat with the guests and eat the same food, I actually don’t like having to queue up with guests and eat in the same space as them. I much preferred going to eat in the Officer’s mess on DF simply because you are not ‘on show’ and can talk freely without guests overhearing your conversation. Although there is also a crew ‘living room’ and petty officer’s mess, this is mainly for the Indonesian and Philipino crew who don’t have the privilege to eat with the guests. Obviously the food isn’t as good either. On the whole, the food selection has been quite good with a variety of dishes to choose from, Asian, Italian and European food – always some beef/lamb/chicken and fish. Last night, I had pumpkin soup for starter, lamb chops, sautéed potatoes, carrots and kale cabbage followed by black forest cheesecake washed down with some jasmine tea, oh and I almost forgot the white chocolate cookies. I better be careful as I may put on an ounce! I am sure by the end of the 7 months I will be sick of the food and chomping on the bit for something more palatable. There are several other restaurants on board however I have to have permission to go to them. Apparently there is a restaurant called the ‘Pinnacle grill’ and once a month as a staff perk, I get the opportunity to eat here for free (normally there is a $20 crew charge like in Palo’s on DF).
So this is all my ‘Zaandam news’ for now. In my next instalment, I will update you on
Working in the spa
The Crew
Excursions
Dancing with the stars!
Musicians
And much more!
Upon being shown to my cabin by Hilda, I now realise how utterly ‘spoilt’ I was on the DF in my ‘penthouse’. Suffice to say, I was seriously underwhelmed by my tiny cabin (Andy, Bara and Rob, about the same size, if not smaller, than your cabins on DF). Instead of my ‘penthouse’ double bed, I have a pair of single bunk beds with just a blanket and sheet to cover me. How I miss my John Lewis goose and duck down duvet. There are no duvets in the spa so I won’t be able to sneak one down to my room like I did on DF. I did ask my Indonesian housekeeper if he could get me one but he wasn’t able to, however he has given me a couple of extra blankets so at least I am a bit toastier.
Needless to say I don’t have the luxury of a sofa in my room either (don’t think I am going to be having ‘penthouse’ cheese/wine soirees somehow in my room this contract). I was also ‘shocked’ to discover that I don’t have a fridge as this was standard in every room on Disney. So, if I want a fridge, I have to buy one! Apparently some crew members do have them in their rooms and sell them when they leave so maybe I will get one if I get desperate. Ironically, on Disney, we weren’t allowed to bring on diary products yet we had fridges and on Holland America, you are allowed to bring on diary yet we don’t have fridges to keep it fresh.
Again, like Disney, standard operating practice is that you can’t have a kettle in your room, however, I have it on good authority that I can buy one in the local Safeway’s (yes they have a Safeway’s here) and sneak it on in either Vancouver or Seward ports where the port security, rather than the ship security isn’t as strict. At least I won’t be smuggling any cheese on board in my bra, eh Bara, and after all that, getting it confiscated during cabin inspection! Cabin inspection seems to be a lot more relaxed on this ship and I believe it only happens about once a month (so better make sure I hide the kettle).
My cabin is located on deck 1, forward, not quite the same as Disney, being in room 10309 on deck 10 in my own private corridor with laundry facilities, just a stones throw from the Captain’s and Staff Captain’s office. I don’t feel nearly so self-important!!
Food
One of the ‘perks’ on this ship is that both the spa girls and myself get to eat with the guests in ‘The Lido’ which is the casual dining restaurant (similar to Cabanas on DF). Although it is considered a privilege to be able to eat with the guests and eat the same food, I actually don’t like having to queue up with guests and eat in the same space as them. I much preferred going to eat in the Officer’s mess on DF simply because you are not ‘on show’ and can talk freely without guests overhearing your conversation. Although there is also a crew ‘living room’ and petty officer’s mess, this is mainly for the Indonesian and Philipino crew who don’t have the privilege to eat with the guests. Obviously the food isn’t as good either. On the whole, the food selection has been quite good with a variety of dishes to choose from, Asian, Italian and European food – always some beef/lamb/chicken and fish. Last night, I had pumpkin soup for starter, lamb chops, sautéed potatoes, carrots and kale cabbage followed by black forest cheesecake washed down with some jasmine tea, oh and I almost forgot the white chocolate cookies. I better be careful as I may put on an ounce! I am sure by the end of the 7 months I will be sick of the food and chomping on the bit for something more palatable. There are several other restaurants on board however I have to have permission to go to them. Apparently there is a restaurant called the ‘Pinnacle grill’ and once a month as a staff perk, I get the opportunity to eat here for free (normally there is a $20 crew charge like in Palo’s on DF).
So this is all my ‘Zaandam news’ for now. In my next instalment, I will update you on
Working in the spa
The Crew
Excursions
Dancing with the stars!
Musicians
And much more!
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