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I try not to be “stuffy” about wine. Nothing wrong with a screw top bottle; they are never corked. I don’t bring glass to the pool or the beach so I thought I’d try canned wine. Also, cans are eco-friendly. They’re many available at Total Wine, most are fruity, more like a spritzer, perfect for a hot summer day. I like a rose during the summer, Amble Chase from France is particularly good, not to sweet. Daffodil Day must be for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. They always make me think of spring and are one of my favorite flowers. Wordsworth like them too. A quote from his poem “I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud” Positive thoughts to those who need them and cheers to those celebrating.

Peach daiquiri is perfect for the season! I use frozen peaches, lemonade (or limeade) and rum. I am looking forward to pictures and insights about the port of Cartagena; I will there in a little over 2 months. Thank you to everyone who posts port pictures on a regular basis.

The OP was asking specific questions about a brief holiday cruise on the Zuiderdam. There are many messages in this thread that would confuse someone who had not previously sailed HAL and does not understand the different classes of ships in the fleet. The Zuiderdam is a Vista class ship and does not have some of the amenities of the Signature and Pinnacle class ships. Based on my experience sailing the Zuiderdam this year, there are no outdoor movies and there are no pay per view movies in the cabin. Also, there is no New York Deli & Pizza bar or Tamarind restaurant.

@The-Inside-Cabin I really enjoy all of your posts! I am a pescatarian. I love good food and this sounds like a great experience. If I tell them beforehand do you think I would still enjoy the meal.

Wow! That’s over 100%. The HAL websites says the Rotterdam carries 2668 guests. Does it feel crowded? Are you able to find a seat in the Lido? Are there lines for the tenders? We will be sailing her for the first time in February. I had to convince my husband to give her a try because he prefers smaller ships. Thanks for your insights and for taking us along on your trip.

I have been to Nassau many times; we frequently have to fly through in order to get to the Out Islands of the Bahamas. My very first cruise with my husband was to Nassau, neither of us can remember the name of the cruise line. We also boarded several Windjammer cruises in Nassau. I took my niece for a quick trip one Christmas. Seeing the decorations at Atlantis reminded me of the Christmas tree at Graycliff. Best food in Nassau can be found at Arawak Cay Fish Fry. Don’t miss it if you’re on Nassau. My favorite Bahamian dish conch salad. Whole fried fish from my favorite shack “Oh Andros”

I will definitely try the second recipe, it looks great. Thanks Debbie for the wonderful recipes you provide every day. I love soba noodles because they have more protein and fiber than traditional pasta. They will not spike your blood sugar like a traditional pasta. Do you like the flavor of buckwheat pancakes? If so you would probably like these noodles made with buckwheat flour; I encourage everyone to give soba noodles a try. Here is an easy recipe I make frequently. It is very similar to today’s meal suggestion. Although it is served hot, the leftovers are great served cold the next day for lunch. https://www.thegreedybelly.com/miso-soba-noodles-recipe/ My favorite station in the Lido is Distant Lands Asia. Next time you are cruising HAL, I encourage you to just request a “taste” of the dishes they serve. You may find that you really like a dish you have never tried before.

There is no outdoor movie screen on the Zuiderdam. The TV has on demand movies but no movies I would consider “new” That is a thing of the past. There were no cooking demonstrations on the Zuiderdam during my 2 week cruise in February. You could search this site for “Where & When” the daily program of activities for a cruise with similar ports that you are considering.

We prefer fixed dining, table for 2. My DH has trouble swallowing and needs extra “sauce” on his food. DH explains his situation to the waiter on the first night and the waiter knows what to tell the chef about DH’s order. I am a vegetarian. The waiter always explains to me how some menu items can be modified to be made without meat. We don’t eat bread, we like our water glasses to always be full, we need extra napkins, I drink lemon tea after dinner. After the first night, our waiter knows our “special” requests and we don’t even need to ask.

My favorite part of the Daily are the pictures of the ports. To all who contribute them, Happy National Photography Day! I played with the next door neighbor’s dogs this morning and told the story of Little Shadow to my neighbor. I could tell she was getting upset so I quickly rushed to the end and told her Little Shadow had been found. Wonderful news @kazu! Here are her dogs.

@VTSKIandCRUISEGUYPlease let us know how it works out for you. BTW, the Iron Rooster very close to your hotel makes an excellent breakfast and lunch.

The most up to date information about bring beverages on board can be found on the Holland America frequently ask questions site. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq/know-before-you-go.html

@VTSKIandCRUISEGUYI live in Baltimore; I am not old; I usually walk about 3 miles a day. I would take @vadersprincess12 advice. Take an Uber. There is currently construction in the area. You need to remember that the Google Street view you see may be more than a year old.

@Oceansaway17 Always happy to put a smile on someone’s face! I know Fall can be warm. September and October are my favorite months in Ocean City. Some info about the name of the bay. When the British arrived at Jamestown, they encountered the Powhatan Indians. The Pequots and Narragansetts lived in New England when settlers arrived. Although these tribes have great differences, they are linked linguistically. All of these tribes speak an Algonkin language. Assawoman means “midway fishing stream” in Algonkin. I see you are from PA; Susquehanna means “muddy river” in Algonkin.

When in the Lido, watch what the crew eats. I found several delicious dishes that I wouldn’t have tried if I wasn’t standing in line next to them. I like being able to select my own salad ingredients at the Wild Harvest station and find the food at the Distant Lands Asia station particularly good too.

I took this picture of the sunset over Assawoman Bay in Ocean City last night. It is the last sunset after 8 pm until May 2, 2023. For everyone suffering in the heat, Fall is on the way. @kazu You have been in my thoughts. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I’m rooting for you every minute of every day. Wishing everyone peace, love and happiness.

Always enjoy your reports! We did a Montreal to Boston cruise on the Veendam. We were very surprised by the “protection” the ship received in Bar Harbor. They were with us from arrival to departure. Is this still occurring? If so, do you know why?

It is very important that the last line of The Great Gatsby is not taken out of context. Jay Gatsby pursued wealth , “the American Dream” with the hope of winning Daisy’s love. Nick, the novel’s narrator, says, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” I believe Nick realized that the only way to accept the past is to learn from it, find new beginnings, while acknowledging the failures that help us grow. My high school students often find the lines to mean is no matter how much wealth or success is accumulated we’ll always chase after more in an effort to have it all. Perhaps we interpret the end so differently because of our age difference.

I am very familiar with the area. I would not stay there or leave my car there. Agree that any hotel at BWI would be better, even if you need to Uber to the port.

We have an regular aft verandah on Rotterdam’s deck 8 for a southern Caribbean cruise in February. I was wondering if it will be shaded. Thank you in advice. Sending positive thoughts to all who are struggling and best wishes to all who are celebrating.

The teacher across the hall from me posts a Dad joke every day. Here are a few Presidential ones that I remember that are appropriate for the Daily. Q: Which rock group has four men who don’t sing?A: Mount Rushmore. Q: What did George Washington say to his men before crossing the Delaware?A: Get in the boat… And one on in honor of put zucchini on your neighbors porch day. Q: If you crossed a zucchini with our first president, what would you get?A: George Squashington. Happily, I’m off to the beach to play in the sand!

Google Roger Jett for copies of individual bar menus. The photo above is from his site.

Easier recipe, even if you don’t have a Chik Fil A (just make your own peach milkshake). u