VMax1700

One of the onboard photographers (Nieuw Statendam) said 'no problem'. He also said you just want head and shoulders so no problem. He was unsure of the price but was thinking around $10 for the photo and $5 for each print. I think you would want to take a printed copy of the passport photo requirements to show the photographer as you would have no comeback if the photos were not accepted. Though you would have a couple of nice portraits of yourself!

I will try and find a photographer onboard and ask them. May not be the same for all ships though.

Sorry, I think I was still in the horizontal position when we passed! So here is a wave now......👋

I promised a report on the functionality of the TV ports so here is the news! First a bit of background. Many cruisers ask about fitting peripherals to the stateroom TV and as most of the TV's are fitted flush to the wall, I was pleased when I saw stateroom 4045 available to book at a good price for this cruise. I had photographed 4045 on Koningsdam a few years ago (halfacts) and knew that the rear panel of the tv would be accessible via the articulating wall mount. I also knew that Koningsdam had Samsung TV so bought one of our Samsung remote controls from home and a few cables (usb/hdmi/pen drive etc) and a list of codes to access the Samsung Engineer Menu on the tv. So my first set back was that on Nieuw Statendam they have LG televisions 🙄so all plans were off! Anyway onto to testing the functions. I inserted a pen drive/usb and a message was shown onscreen to say 'USB drive detected' but nothing else happened. I tried disconnecting the LAN cable and removing the power supply for a reset, but when I powered up again, still nothing. So, a quick 'WhatsApp' message to a friend who I was meeting in Dun Laoghaire "Please get me a LG remote control!". To Be Continued........

Update from a few moments ago is that we will be using both ship's tenders and local ferry ships. Tendering will still end at 2.00 am tomorrow morning and restart at 7.00 am (for safety reasons),

What is too high? If demand falls then it is too high, but if the cruise lines keep filling the tours and creating demand, then the price is pitched at a good market level. The cruise that I am on currently has had waiting lists for tours for months and even extra capacity did not clear the waiting lists.

Maui and its inhabitants need time to recover and rebuild. The last thing they need right now is a load of tourists arriving and demanding service and attention. I can just see the complaints. "I want my money back as the ruined houses I wanted to see have been demolished". "Honey will you ask the hotel management to stop permitting that smell of burning to get into our room, it's upsetting my spa treatment". etc

"Poor grammar and punctuation" said one reader. "Why use generic sources as quotes" said another source! Most prestigious, on June 4, was the 16-deck MS Queen Victoria, making its first call at the port under Stena Line’s ownership. I didn't realise that Carnival Corportation had sold Queen Victoria! 😁 To my mind that is a very ambiguous sentence. But then modern journalism is copy and paste. (Stena Lines owns Hollyhead port).

Happy to report that laundry was returned this morning!

That comment was posted with one person in mind! Guess who? 😉

Then it is a tender port using ship's tenders. Doubt they will run 24 hours probably finish around 1 or 2 am and start again at 7am. They could finish earlier than 1am as the methods of returning from Dublin city to Dun Laoghaire will be limited to taxis.

We did a half day tour of Barcelona with drop off at the cruise port by Spain Day Tours. Perhaps they would do the reverse? email them and ask.

Hi Ann, We found the volume just about perfect. Also no vibrations or resonances. Apart from the opening sequence of Blue Danube there was nothing that really called for piano. Even Rolling Stone Rock Room and BBKings seem to have reduced the volumes slightly. Best wishes to you and Pat.

Also currently on Nieuw Statendam. Sent laundry out the evening of 15th August and still not returned as evening of 17th draws to a close. Never taken this long before. Should I be worried? or does it prove that again we overpacked!🙄

The Lido European Themed Dinner was very good. My selection was: Dutch Pea Soup, Mussels, Bitterballen, Fish Pie, Bossche Bol Proffertjes finshed with dutch cheeses and byo crackers 😉

Day 9 Thursday Portree Menus m9-day9-_lido_lunch_north_europe_2023.pdf lido_european_themed_dinner.pdf m9-day9-_mdr_north_europe_2023 (1).pdf

Yes it was the third appearance by Chas Burnett. I believe that there is some illness around the entertainers. Cantare are not performing and BBKing band is down one member, the bassist. Last night the keyboard player instead played bass and tonight it was the trumpet player playing keyboards and trumpet while the keyboard player covered again for the bassist.

Day 9 Portree Isle of Skye Daily Program

That does make sense as we were in the World Stage that night and there was a lot of anchor chain movement.

A few people have been surprised by the Captains most recent announcement regarding South Queensferry (Edinburgh) tomorrow and Saturday. First, we are using ships tenders and not the larger local tender service. Secondly, although we are overnighting at South Queensferry (many cruisers are going to the Tatoo in Edinburgh) the tender service will not operate between 2am and 7 am on Saturday morning. Thirdly, he expects that the tender service may be affected by tidal and sea conditions when moored. I would think a few uneasy cruisers today.

I really enjoyed it. For the 9.30 performance the venue was about 75% full. It was an attentive and appreciative audience. Perhaps many who had not previously attended the small venue. I know that I very rarely went to the old version as it was quite crowded but not great for background hubub. The World Stage background was black with only the Lincoln Centre Present logo showing. If I was to suggest an improvement (in my eyes) it would be to have three cameras on the artistes, one left of stage, one right of stage and one central, with the images shown on the wrap round screens. We were sitting to right of stage and could view the strings but only the back of head of guitar and woodwind. Minor problem I know.

Very good, A full sound from only 5 instruments. To me the guitar was surplus to requirements but perhaps there will be more guitar pickin in the Americana set 😉

The title of the thread is misleading! Yes the aft section is closed for staff only, but the rest of Deck 11 is accessible to use running track or fitness equipment or anything else you care to do. Also to say that the aft of deck 11 is the only place to is the only place on the aft of the ship were you have an unobstructed view from port to starboard-side to take pictures is stretching it a bit. The complete Sea Pool area of deck 9 extends much further than Deck 11. Although you may have to negotiate a lot of people, it does have better views. Also deck 11 is so windy that it tends to be the least inhabited place on the ship.

IF we are currently onboard and wish to book another cruise with some family members are we able to get the Onboard booking deal for the additional rooms or is it limited to just the room for those on the current sailing? We will need 4 rooms (maybe 5) and it would be very nice if we could all benefit!

What is the difference between a tip and a gratuity?? OP, the daily gratuity will be billed to your onboard account. They are not mandatory. You are free (though not guilt free) to adjust or remove them. (This will start another debate, but even HAL say that you may do it). If you remove or adjust the daily gratuity then any cash tips that you hand out onboard will be pooled for all staff. Drinks have an 18% gratuity automatically added so no necessity to tip additionally. If you have a drinks package then the drinks tips are included. You do have the option of pre paying the daily gratuity through your HAL account or your TA.