Sharon in AZ

Lots of people wearing orange. The piano lounge that I go to for trivia is next to Mix, it’s sort of an open area between the two. Trivia has been held there but it’s called Mix in the program. I’ve not heard anyone playing it yet but I don’t frequent it unless it’s trivia. Back in the day it was more closed off and Mix was the Sports Bar. Even the shops area nearby is more open than the last time I was onboard. But that was 22 years ago so lots of changes since then. But I still love this ship and the smallness. You can actually look up and down the corridor from your cabin and see all the elevators.

View from breakfast in the MDR. Happy Birthday to Jim @Cruzin Terri and Martha @sailingdutchy!!

Good morning and Happy Tuesday from the beautiful Volendam! Happy Birthday Holland America Line! 🎈 🍾 🥂 ⛴ Tonight is the Orange Party in honor of the anniversary. The menu hasn’t been posted yet so I don’t know if they are planning anything special in the MDR. Today is also my DD’s 42nd birthday. I can’t text her today (she doesn’t have an iPhone) so will email her instead. Have a great day everyone!

Bon Voyage!! ⛴⛴⛴

Happy 150th Birthday!!!

Good evening everyone! Had a wonderful day on Grand Turk. What a lovely island. I would love to return. I’ve been to many Caribbean islands but this was different. Donkeys and dogs are everywhere. I have realized I can’t keep up with everything on the Daily. I’m too busy!!! Keeping up with trivia and meals and everything else really keeps one busy. Have a great evening!

Sincere condolences to @Mr. Boston and your family. I have two friends who have experienced this horrible sadness. One of them is a semi celebrity in the food world and she wrote about it in a book. It’s heartbreaking. She even chairs a national suicide prevention group. My other friend was a coworker who lost her young son. It’s so hard to read her FB sometimes. Time heals but we never forget.

I am sure that the AC problems are real. Just walking through Deck 5 to the Explorations Cafe it goes from freezing to steamy. However, the places I’m enjoying don’t have those issues. And my cabin has been fine.

Carolyn, I’m loving the Volendam. I’m not having any problems with the AC at all but will see when we go through the PC. My cabin is wonderful. I forgot how much I love this class of ships. Even though I love the Pinnacle Class this is more intimate. It’s different having the Explorations Cafe on Deck 5 but it’s really a nice area and that’s where we were when the picture was taken. I could definitely see myself spending 94 days onboard. I’ll be on for 32 and will update you as we go along. What I miss is the Dutch Cafe and the larger Guest Services area. I left my key card in my room and at lunch the MDR wouldn’t let me order wine without it so I went to GS but the line was too long, I went again afterward and it was even longer. However I think the server took pity on me and let me have a glass. In other words don’t listen to those other threads. They are nitpicking. They see a spot of rust in the shower and it’s a tragedy. I didn’t see your post in time but she mentioned you very fondly. It’s wonderful connecting with our CC family.

Had a delightful get together with the Dailyites: From the left: Debra @Dismomx5 and her DH (in the yellow shirt) Me Susan @AV8rix Laura and DH @TiogaCruiser

Good morning from the Volendam! It was sprinkling earlier. Just a quick note before I meet up with the Dailyites. MDR breakfast view. I took horrible pictures of my food last night. I’ll have to check them before I start eating next time. Have a great day everyone!

What a great itinerary! Enjoy! ⛴⛴⛴

I’m really enjoying this ship! I’m at dinner tonight, seating is at 7:45 so different than the usual 8:00. I’m going to have to train the server that I want wine first before ordering. My cabin is great but Craig wouldn’t like it, so it’s good just for me. Lots of space! There is one closet that I haven’t even used. So I’ll have to spread out a bit. I don’t mind not having a window. Looking forward to a nice sleep on this gorgeous BHB.

Thank you everyone for the screenshots!

I’m onboard and dropped off my carry to my cabin, went to the Ocean Bar for a glass of wine then a salad at the Lido. My battery is low so I’ll check back later.

My favorite gelato also!!

Welcome to the Daily Denise!

Good morning from Fort Lauderdale! I am having an Iced Coffee at the lobby bar and have about 45 minutes before I check out and head down to meet the HAL rep for the transfer to the port. She told me only 16 were on our bus. I slept great last night and feel so much better today. I will check back later, I need to go finish packing.

Thank you Leanne @leerathje! Our sailing time is listed as 5:00pm. I will be port side aft at the Seaview pool area. I didn’t ask for a zoom but am hoping I can get at the railing and wave to you all. I hope someone can take a screenshot for me. @ski ww, Fort Lauderdale isn’t under water any longer but from what I understand there are areas that have debris and damage. When I passed FLL from Miami it had a lot of standing water. My driver said cars were everywhere because people had abandoned them, some I saw were up on curbs. At lunch at the hotel yesterday the server told me that a friend had waist high water in her house and that all her kitchen appliances were destroyed. Yikes!

Thank you Leanne! I’ll be at the Lido deck, Seaview pool area, port aft but I didn’t ask for a zoom either so just look there and I’ll wave.

Good evening from Fort Lauderdale! I’m here! Gerry @ger_77, thank you for sharing that I had arrived safe and sound. I had connectivity issues while in transit so haven’t caught up with the Daily but so happy to know @Dismomx5 is here in FLL and @TiogaCruiser is almost here. Susan @AV8rix is taking a red eye tonight. We will all breathe as sigh of relief when we board tomorrow. My journey started about 2:00 pm PST yesterday and arrived in Miami at 8:30am this morning. The HAL driver, who kept in touch with me and called me at least 5 times, personally met me at baggage claim, handled my luggage for me and drove me in a huge luxury vehicle (almost a limo) to my hotel. Poor thing, he kept trying to chat and show me things but I couldn’t look very often at what he was showing me, I have a huge issue with driving, especially on freeways. I did look as we drove by the FLL airport and saw water still everywhere and in the low lying areas. Then when we got off the freeway he pointed out numerous vehicles that had been stranded during the flooding, some were up on curbs and/or backwards. He said at the worst that cars were abandoned everywhere. I was in no shape to do much after getting to the hotel, just unpacked what I needed, then went to an early lunch in the hotel and back for a 3 hour nap. After I finish this I’m going for an early dinner since I’m still feeling weary. Thank you all for your good wishes and the extraordinary help you gave @TiogaCruiser. We truly are a special group of friends. BTW, I don’t see a Sailaway thread for tomorrow. Do you know if @leerathje is planning one? Maybe I missed it through my bleary eyes. Have a great day everyone!

So my rebooked flight was canceled because the airport will be closed until 5:00am, and even then only one runway is scheduled to be usable. I didn’t have many options to choose from and decided not to take anymore chances on FLL so now I’m on a red eye to Miami. I’m not the only person scrambling for flights. I’ve been in contact with another HAL rep and they have forwarded my flight details to the Miami reps. I don’t like taking an overnight flight but I want to arrive early enough to rest up before embarkation on Saturday. I can always take a nap. I’m hoping @TiogaCruiser and her DH can get rerouted. They probably haven’t landed in Houston yet.

Jane, I’m glad you are feeling better. It sounds like your new cabin might be even better since you’ll be further away from the elevator and the high traffic area of that outside doorway. I’ll definitely introduce you to Susan @AV8rix and @Dismomx5 .

Good morning and Happy Thursday! I was supposed to be boarding my flight to Fort Lauderdale right now, changing planes in Dallas, but I got a text last night at 9:15 that it had been canceled. So, after two hours of stress, I was rebooked on new flights arriving in Fort Lauderdale at midnight. I was awakened by a call an hour ago from the HAL driver telling me he knew about my flight being canceled and asking me to text him my new flight. Hopefully someone will be there to take me to the hotel. Nothing I can control. Craig thought I was crazy flying two days early but last night said it was the best thing I could have done. I will keep you all posted. Have a great day everyone!

Bon Voyage! ⛴⛴⛴