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Thanks. I'd forgotten they were Thursday this week. Roy

Thursday, November 16, Orangestad, Aruba It was another good night and I was up just before 5:30. I went up to the lido just after 6:30 and we were barely moving, pulling quite close to our berth with the sun coming up almost directly ahead of us, just off the port bow. It seems almost every time I am in Aruba the Scientology ship Freewinds is in port and today was no exception. A little later the Jewel of the Seas pulled in behind us. I was surprised at the positioning because the Jewel was due to leave a couple of hours before us, and they typically leave that ship in the forward berth so they have a direct exit from the port. (We are in a pretty narrow channel with Oranjestad Key very close to the dock). I got coffee and a bit of a snack but real breakfast came when Club Orange opened at 8. After breakfast I headed up to the lido deck for another soak in the hot tub. Once back I took a brief trip out to the terminal. I think this is the first time I have been at the southern berth. There is a building there that looks much like the terminal at the north berth. The main terminal is quite big with lots of little shops. I was wondering if the south terminal would be similar but it wasn’t. There were signs indicating renovations under way so there may normally be some but there was just a small passage with a few chairs and restrooms. I did not venture beyond the terminal. Lunch was an eclectic combination of soup, green beans, and ice cream. I had a pretty quiet afternoon mostly in my room. Dinner in Club Orange was Caesar Salad, Jerk Lamb Shank (Port to Table selection) and Almond Fruit Cake. I had plenty of time to be back on my balcony for sunset over Oranjestad Cay just after 6. The show on the Main Stage was comedian Tom McTigue. He was not great but pretty good. While I was at the show Jewel of the Seas had left. I’m not sure if it squeezed between us and Oranjestad Cay or backed out but it was probably not an easy departure. We gained an hour overnight as we move back to Eastern Time so I was in bed at 10 rather than 9. The night got off to a scary start. About 10:30, just about as we were starting to leave the dock (I had the bow camera on) there was a “Stage 1" alert for a fire on deck 2. Fortunately, about 15 minutes later Captain van Dreumel came on the PA. The fire was actually in the Club Orange galley, but was smothered by staff present and out when the fire crew arrived. They would stay on the scene for a while to be sure the situation was fully resolved. Roy

Today's sunrise is again from yesterday, from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam a day North of Aruba: Roy

Today's sunrise is again from yesterday, from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam a day North of Aruba: Roy

Happy Thursday. Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie, and Ann. Very late this morning (actually afternoon in Aruba). I'll pass on the buttons, enjoy listening to the clarinet, and celebrate tolerance. I like the quote. I will celebrate both of the days in history. I have seen Saint Pierre and Miquelon from the deck of the Crystal Symphony but we were unable to tender that day. I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Garden Salad, Short Ribs, and Ricotta Raspberry Tart as served last night in MS Rotterdam's Club Orange: After the experience of @arzz I am glad to be far out to sea and have my car high up on parking level 4. I was in Fort Lauderdale a year ago waiting for Eurodam when Nicole came through and was mostly worried about possible flooding of my car. Roy

Wednesday, November 15, 2023, At Sea, MS Rotterdam I slept much better Tuesday night and was up about 5:30. The sun came up a little after 7. Breakfast was an omelet in Club Orange. I did feel the soak in the hot tub helped me at least somewhat Wednesday and repeated the process after lunch. This time I felt a bit more confident that the process helped. A bit later I went down to the photo shop and picked up the embarkation photo that was finally released after being promised since embarkation night. It was another early dinner in Club Orange. While not billed as such the menu appeared to be the old “Master Chef’s Dinner. I opted instead for a simple salad, “Port to Table” selection of Short Ribs. I did agree to Rudi Sodamin’s selection of Raspberry Ricotta Tart a la mode. I was back early enough that I could have caught a sunset from my balcony but it dropped below clouds while I was looking at other things. There was a Mariner Event on the Lido Pool Deck (a section of the port side) for 3-star Mariners and above. It seems to be the new preferred location for such events. Roy

I think overall very well. I didn't ask for the pepper and wasn't aware of getting it. I think generally service has been excellent. One thing that surprised me is that I'm not sure I've identified a single waiter for my table; it appears to be very much a team effort. Roy

Today's sunrise is again from yesterday, from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam, south of Cuba. Roy

Today's sunrise is again from yesterday, from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam, south of Cuba. Roy

Thank you Richm Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie, and Ann for the Hump Day report.3 Great days and I leave Eleanor Roosevelt's take on things. I have not been to today's port. Mr. King sure had staying power. I have not been to today's port, and will pass on the meal. My alternative is Garden Salad, Rack of Lamb, and Dutch Apple Pie as served last night in Rotterdam's Club Orange last night. Roy

Tuesday, November 14, 2023, At Sea, MS Rotterdam Monday night was not the greatest, I had frequent trips to the bathroom with cramps which for me generally signify dehydration, and was up about 5. I was up about 5 and off to the lido for coffee a little after 6:30 Sunrise is much later after losing an hour Monday night and there were clouds on the horizon, making the sunrise quite filter. My first breakfast in Club Orange was Texas French Toast. One thing that has worked very well on this ship is the laundry. There are no self service laundries but as a frequent cruiser I get free basic laundry which is supposed to be next day. I left a bag on my bed at breakfast and it was returned the same day at 1PM. I had a nice find on the deck 7 midship elevator landing. I have been on 16 Holland America ships now with 13 different names. The only name that’s been repeated is Rotterdam, and there is a model of my very first Holland America ship, SS Rotterdam 5 which I sailed in 1997 shortly before she was retired. Her replacement, Rotterdam 6 was my first ship when I returned to HAL in 2011, and now Rotterdam 7 which could be my final cruise. I also walked a section of the promenade deck near the lifeboats and got a close look at the setup. I think on her 2 sister ships there is a platform next to the boats where the crew can get easy access. On Rotterdam, the boat sits flush against the fence, a couple feet further inside the ship than on her sisters, and that is the difference which allows Rotterdam to enter the Panama Canal with passengers while her sisters cannot. I have been having an issue with a sore spot on my left foot I went up to and soaked it for a while in the hot tub. Not sure if it really helped but I think at least a little bit. The Captain’s welcome was scheduled for 7PM so I headed down to Club Orange for dinner promptly at 5. Service was very quick for my Garden Salad, Rack of Lamb, and Dutch Apple Pie. I was back on my balcony to watch the sun go down just after 6. I headed up to the lido pool about 6:40 for the Captain’s welcome taking a seat on the edge of the pool. Near 7 Captain Bas van Dreumel appeared to the right of the big screen and introduced his senior officers and then proposed a toast. I spent a bit of time on my laptop after the toast and then headed to bed a little after 9. Roy

Today's sunrise is from yesterday, taken from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam approaching Half Moon Cay: Roy

Not Cunard but this is from the closest thing to a twin to the new Queen Anne. bToday's sunrise is from yesterday, taken from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam South of Fort Lauderdale: Roy

Today's sunrise is from yesterday, taken from the aft deck of MS Rotterdam South of Fort Lauderdale: Roy

The name Seneca threw me for a loop. I had never heard of that philosopher. To me, Seneca has always been an Indian tribe in Western and Central New York and part of the Iroquois Confederacy as well as a river named for them barely a stone's throw from where I grew up. Roy

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. Three great days to celebrate and my favorite is probably Children's Day. Three more great days in history, my favorite there is the Niagara Falls power plant. I have not been to Timaru but love the Seneca quote. I like today's menu selection, but my alternative is Caesar Salad, New York Strip Loin, and Red Velvet Cake a la mode as served in Rotterdam's Club Orange last night. Roy

I have added today's dinner menu and program to their pages on the blog. Roy

Not the nicest of mornings but I have no need to be outside today. Roy

Monday, November 13, 2023, Half Moon Cay, Bahamas I was up close to 5 and caught the sunrise from the lido deck just before breakfast started around 6:30. Much of the morning was spent catching up on things not accomplished on Sunday such as unpacking and finding a place for things. We anchored off Half Moon Cay about 8:30. (I know Rotterdam is capable of dynamic positioning but I saw from the tender that we were actually using the anchor) This was my second visit to Half Moon Cay after the Koningsdam in 2017. I think then I went ashore early and things worked out very well. My plan this time was just to go ashore for the beach lunch, and it was not so easy. It seemed that everybody else wanted to go ashore about the same time. While I was in the priority lane, I still stood for about 15 minutes before a tender came, and when it did the onslaught of people seemed endless, I think over 300 people ended up on a very crowded tender for the 15 minute ride to shore. Once ashore I started off for the barbecue pavilion and the walk seemed long but I think just because of my impatience. On the way I passed the chapel. I suspect it is used on occasion for weddings. My lunch was a hot dog and corn on the cob. The island is relatively free of pests. The one thing is chickens, who at times can get aggressive but not as much as some other animals. One did take a peck at my finger. An icon of Half Moon Cay is an “I wish I could stay here forever” sign which I remember from 2017 as greeting us as we got off the tenders, but this time it was at a beach and I only saw it on the way back to the ship. On the way back I got a reasonably decent view of the anchoring Rotterdam. In the afternoon I had 2 zoom meetings, Church at 4 and Fire Department at 6, so dinner was later than I would have preferred. Between the meetings I caught a nice sunset from my balcony. My first meal in Club Orange was Caesar Salad, New York Strip Loin, and Red Velvet Cake a la mode. We lost an hour as we moved to Aruba time so I did very little after dinner. My parting shot will go back to Sunday night. While not a football fan I do honor the Ravens contributions to Baltimore and felt quite good early in the afternoon when the Ravens appeared to be on the way to an easy victory. I happened to be walking across the pool deck as the game ended and am both surprised and saddened at the final result. Roy

But that happened due to his new home. Roy

I have created 2 new "pages" in Wordpress. The first is the daily evening menus https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/rotterdam_menu/ And the other is the programs: https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/rotterdam_programs/ The first 2 menus and first 2 programs are available now; others will be added over the course of the cruise. Roy

I really don't know but so far things have been pretty good. I'm watching a movie now (of course most are on the island), and had a good zoom meeting yesterday evening. I would think we have starlink but I thought when starlink was present the social plan was no longer offered, and it was an option on the cruise, It is 5PM, On your cruise there is no ship at pier 25 so you should actually get out close to 3, and have plenty of time for dinner. If you are Catholic I should warn you that Mass is usually at 5PM as well. Roy

Sunday, November 12, 2023, Embark MS Rotterdam, Ft. Lauderdale I was up just a little before 5 and with packing (some things to go to the ship and others to stay in the car) and breakfast, I left the hotel about 7:30. I have cruised frequently out of both Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and I relate to 2 churches in South Florida. I have not actually worshiped in Fort Lauderdale, but I have frequently visited First Methodist Church of Miami, and have a continuing online relationship with them. The other church is Miramar Methodist Church. The pastor there grew up in my church and I’ve known him and his father for at least 50 years. It could easily be my South Florida church except that is virtually inaccessible without a car. Not a problem when I have used the auto train, and I arrived at there back door (construction on the road in front of them) just after 8 for the 8:30 service. I was back on the road about 10, and dropped off my bag with the porters just after 10:30. I roamed the parking garage a bit and found an ideal spot on level 4 about 11. It seemed like almost continuous action for the next half hour. Down the elevator, across the street to terminal 6, wrong line for checkin, but when the clerk saw “Priority” on my boarding pass she let me out of the general line and into the right line, quickly through security and on to a kiosk where my passport was scanned, a photo taken, and I was given a boarding pass, no need to go to a checkin counter. I was sent up an escalator and expected to be moved to a waiting lounge, but no, almost a straight line to the gangway. Usually, Holland America Rooms are ready for use immediately on boarding, but not quite this time. The elevators were a zoo, but they were manned by staff who took them directly up to the lido deck. I decided Dive-In and the pool deck might be a bit calmer than the Lido Marketplace and was almost at the order counter when the announcement came that staterooms were ready. It was 11:30 and I headed down to check out my room. It is very nice, the one down side is not much storage in the bathroom. I pulled things out of my rollaboard, set up a laptop and put a few things away. Just after noon I headed back up to the lido deck for Dive-in Naked Fries, and then headed down to my assembly station to get my card scanned. My station is in front of the shops. My big bag came about 3 and I rushed to get things out of it and temporarily stored in cabinets before heading on deck for sailaway, choosing a perch on deck 10 for the sailaway. There is a webcam at the exit to Port Everglades that follows ships out the channel to sea. A group of us on Cruise Critic get together online to watch Holland America ships as they depart. I indicated to them that I would be waving from the top deck just above the Rotterdam sign. I went up to my perch just about as we were due to leave but things were moving pretty slowly and my feet were starting to ache as I watched first Caribbean Princess, and then Celebrity Reflection leave ahead of us. Finally we started backing away from the berth and straightening out to line up for the exit channel. There is a tradition of ships blowing their horns as they head out the channel and our captain took the tradition very seriously. A fellow cruise critic member captured me as we sailed out. There was for a long time a second webcam on the Pier 66 hotel that had better angles on a number of the berths, especially Terminal 66 which HAL mostly uses now. That webcam has been down for some time now as the hotel is closed for renovation. I got a look at the hotel as we left and it does not show any signs of being anywhere near reopening. Dinner was a bit strange. I have purchased Club Orange, which includes a smaller, more intimate dining venue, but my card showed me at a table in the large dining room. It was not bad but it was also clear that I was not at a Club Orange overflow table, and I inquired as I left the dining room. Apparently , Club Orange is open seating and I had chosen fixed dining with constant tablemates and waiters, and that table was assigned to me. The Maitre’d indicated I really was eligible for the intimate dining room, and “unseated” me from my assigned table. My choices for the evening were Classic Caesar Salad, Beef Pot Roast, and Lemon Torte a la mode. After dinner I unpacked and stowed a few things and started organizing the day’s photos, calling it a night about 9. PS We are anchored now off Half Moon Cay. I will go ashore about lunch time. Roy

Thank you RIch, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. Running way behind this morning and my priority is my blog but will try to be back later. Roy

I think we barely moved for quite a while; my guess was partially to get in position to move when we had a path and perhaps to put a bit of pressure on Reflection to get on with it. Roy