ksmaxey

Perhaps everyone that like the dining room needs to go to their cabin and order room service .  . .

Tyler Bryce was amazing last cruise!   enjoy

Last week on the NS there was one waiter in Club Orange who was incredibly slow.  There were two that were pretty awesome.  

22 hours ago, sambamama said:

Why would they need two Asian restaurants???  This seems like a nonsensical decision. Honestly, I just don't understand most all of the new HAL management decisions. No libraries, getting rid of Lincoln Center- the best idea they had in a long time, now two Asian restaurants?? It isn't like HAL has 5 restaurants to begin with. I wouldn't be spending extra money to go to two Asian restaurants. So many other choices to pick from. I think a classic continental restaurant or a seafood restaurant would be a better choice. 

I think it reflects demand.  The Tamarind is filled each night.  On board the NS right now and not only is there an Asian distant lands but during lunch there is another station that should be sweets that has an Asian menu with lines waiting for food. 

On the Nieuw Statendam now.  Rudi's has few tables occupied every time we have walked by.  Cellar Master dinner was scheduled in the Canaletto.  No way we are paying 95+ pp  eat in the Lido.  (realizing the food is quite different but the atmosphere is not.) 

I spoke with the F&B manager about it because we love the cellar master dinner, just not in the lido space.  HIA has the pinnacle way too booked to host there.  I asked about Rudi's and he said that the licensing has significant restrictions and they cannot do a pop up in that space.

Christmas music playing this morning 

television has been reset twice today.  right now the only thing that works is power and volume.  can’t even watch live tv.  front desk says the problem is fleet wide 

here is a picture of the starlink antennas around the lido pool dome

I attended the coffee chat with the executive chef a few days ago and he said that they would begin transitioning menus from Mediterranean to Caribbean on this part of the cruise after Ponta Delgada

We LOVE the cellar master dinners.  We HATE the environment of the Canaletto.   We are not going to pay that kind of $ to sit in a fish bowl with the noise of the Lido for such a great meal.  Rudi's is nearly empty every night and would have been a much better location for the cellar master meal and we would have jumped on it there.

2 hours ago, flcraigs5 said:

Can you tell me if the Statendam has the free style coke machines for the soda package?

Yes there is one by the Lido Pool bar

17 minutes ago, oakridger said:

 

I took it to mean that two crew told @ksmaxey that the decorations were shipped from Ft. Lauderdale to the ship in Italy.  

 

~Nancy

yes.  the decorations were in Florida and were shipped so we would have decorations 

Our aggravation with the TV continues.  It keeps locking us out and needing to be reset.  That seems to be a software issue and not a hardware issue.  The crew continues to be amazing.  The ship looks great and HAL shipped Christmas decorations from FLL to Italy for our cruise, (per two crew)

On 11/26/2023 at 12:27 PM, OlsSalt said:

Egg white frittata offered in both MDR and room service is very tasty, with small additions of vegetables and feta cheese.

goat cheese that is delicious

We fly out Friday afternoon.  Just got upgraded on our Ita flight from BOS > FCO.  

My wife, Janice, and I will be joining you on this cruise.  So looking forward to it

29 minutes ago, tompeter said:

When is dry dock?

Tomorrow - November 9th

The only place I have ever seen one was in the butler pantry in a pinnacle suite

16 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Caviar Exclusives is a Dutch company.  

But who knows the source of the actual product!

 

https://www.caviarexclusives.com/kaviaar

translating the web site it appears that all it is farmed and comes from China.

 

hat is why the first tests of controlled breeding were carried out in the middle of the 20th century. Farmed caviar has been marketed for about twenty years, with increasing success. Since April 1, 1998, the CITES convention has restricted the fishing of endangered species. The main exporting country of caviar is China. 

It is now the Chinese who provide exceptional caviar, which is highly sought after by connoisseurs and gourmets.

This Chinese caviar comes from semi-breeding sturgeons, which are bred in the freshwater of the Armoer River. 

We asked our PCC when were considering booking our next cruise and had it posted within 24 hours.  I do think there is a 1 year time period to use it. 

16 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Yes. As discussed here frequently, do the upgrade first thing when you board, before you get any drinks.

In January they were not allowing an onboard upgrade to Elite. They were pushing pay the difference.

We counted 6 ambulances/ squads leaving the different ships on Saturday morning with passengers.  Rotterdam was first.  Harmony had 2.

As part of the covid crew we were picked up in our rooms and taken to A deck in an out of service elevator.  We were met by the public health officer who noted our cabin (she was not wearing a mask) and escorted off and out of the fence.  Honestly it was easier and faster than going through the cruise terminal.  No customs or immigration and within 20 minutes we were in an uber.

Interestingly all the Covid passengers were sent through the groups lined up for airport transfers.  Once off the ship who you come in contact with isn't a problem!

On 2/4/2023 at 7:49 AM, Ipeeinthepools said:

I think these are Covid bags

yes they are

I just saw an ambulance leaving where we are docked.  Probably the medical disembarkation of the critically ill patient that they were seeking blood for

Rotterdam was early and is completely docked now