POA1

I'm going to see if the Easter brunch menu is available tomorrow. If I can get a copy, I'll post it. We tried to counter-program the first night's dinner issues by going to the Tamarind bar and having some appetizers to kill time. On the Nieuw Statendam, we had the panko crusted asparagus, tuna poke, and fried lobster sushi roll. We skipped the roll tonight. That was a mistake. We needed to get to Club Orange around 8:00 PM to beat the crowds. We arrived at 7:15, and there was a backlog. We sat outside for about 12-14 minutes before being seated. (And hoo-boy, people were cranky.) More to follow in the morning. Before I leave you and sign off for night, I have to report that the Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding with warm vanilla sauce was outstanding. It had gooey bits, crispy bits, and crunchy toasted hazelnuts. I fully expected to lose the dessert round because Michelle ordered the Brownie Cheesecake, a serious contender. However, when the judges tallied their scores, the pudding won. Deepest apologies to team fruit cobbler, but it was one delectable puddin'. The rest of dinner will follow.

I could not agree more. It's why God gave me two hands.

I normally get the extra rum floater, which is covered by the EBP. Does that pass muster with the research steering committee?

It's on the research schedule for tomorrow. We'll have to try it from the Crow's Nest because that's close to the cabanas. Keep after me if I don't post about it.

For our impromptu happy hour, DW is having the Cucumber Mojito. I'm having the Morimoto DreamBrut Rosé. The sparkler is very dry. I like it. The Mojito is good, but not a traditional version of the drink.

Tonight's Club Orange dinner menu. It's the same as the MDR, but has an extra entrée, the Mac and Cheese, the seared tuna salad, and a salmon device. Huskerchick is all in on the Peruvian Chicken. I'm undecided. co_mdr_dinner_day_1-20240329.pdf

Well... It appears that you cannot use WI-FI calling on the surf plan. How will I find out about extended car warranty opportunities for the next 9 days?

Those who went to the Lido for lunch were rewarded with the Peanut Butter Silk Pie. (Not to be a curmudgeon, but the early 2000s Snicker Pie ran circles around the PB Silk.) The Lido lunch menu in PDF and clickable HQ PNG file. Because the Institute cares. lido_lunch_day_1.pdf

We're waiting for sail away up in the Retreat area. It's relatively quiet, perhaps only 20% of the people are here. After we sail, we'll unpack and dress for dinner. Pregame is at the Tamarind bar. Dinner will follow in the Club Orange dining room.

Hello. We're also on your cruise, but we have to get off before you start your second segment. Have a great trip!

Thanks, Rich! It's amazing to think that we'll have done 2 cruises and still barely get to 10% of the time of your latest journey.

We have made our Pinnacle Grill lunch reservations, upgraded to the Elite Beverage Package, watched the safety video, and checked in at the muster station. We're in cabana land, waiting on lunch from NY Pizza and Deli. Also Mai Tais from the Crow's Nest. Talk about a full day!

Rooms were not ready when we boarded, but we lucked out and ours was. Thank you Bubble of Awesome!

Up in the upper boarding area.

All I can say is that it's a darn good thing we're not flying. The baggage charges would probably exceed our cruise fare. It's a lovely day here in Fort Lauderdale, with low humidity (for us) and cool, crisp temperatures (again, for us.) The lab equipment, beakers, Bunsen burners, microscopes, mass spectrometers, and other science gizmos are all packed. The Bear is decked out in his modern HAL logo shirt. He had the throwback logo on in December. He's nestled in his designer Poohby Vuitton tote, enabling him to board the ship both stylishly and stealthily.

On behalf of the management and staff here at the National Institute of Cheer, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all of you who tuned in to our December 2023 "Live From." Thanks to you - and your somewhat questionable viewing habits - the network has chosen to renew us for another season. So... Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, Moms & Dads, Teens, Tweens, Children, Toddlers, Wee Little Shavers & All The Ships at Sea -- The National Institute of Cheer is delighted to present "Twas the Cruise Over Easter*." After an five year hiatus, we rebooted the National Institute of Cheer's "Live From" series in December of 2023. Despite the network's concerns that "the characters may no longer be relevant or relatable," the "Live From" was well-received. There was also concern about The Institute's scientific research shtick. Let's face it. Science has taken a beating over the past half decade. The network brass questioned whether it would be appropriate to stick with the schtick given the current geopolitical environment. Fortunately, we have a proven track record of bucking authority. So, addressing the network bigwigs and honchos, we said, "With all due respect big cheeses, 'Buck off! We're devoted to scientific exploration." The Institute is bringing science back. Hard. *The Committee on Naming Things really struggled with the name for this "Live From". When you're cruising near Christmas, there are many places from which to draw inspiration. Easter's well isn't quite so deep. Ultimately, we decided on "'Twas the Cruise Before Easter." Why? Well... If you've ever tried to search for a topic here, you know that it's not always easy to find what you are looking for. Kevin, from the Department of Archives, pointed out that it's relatively easy to find all the previous threads that started with 'Twas. He also made the pitch that Twas could be part of the Institute's "brand." We also considered - and rejected - Little Bunny Foo Foo Takes a HAL Cruise, and Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail & HAL. We also contemplated doing a riff of "Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hopping Down the Bunny Trail." Something along the lines of "On A HAL Ship We Will Sail, Cruising Down the Bunny Trail." In the end, "Twas" won out. The Bubble of Awesome's glass dome has been cleaned inside and out, and we're ready to take the long, stressful journey to Port Everglades soon.

Thanks for the link! We took 3 cruises on the Ryndam, so it will be interesting to read about what has changed.

The age break point on the beverage package purchase requirement is 18. Eighteen through twenty year olds have to buy a beverage package if they are traveling with an adult who does. You can have the requirement waived for 17 and under. This is for US and Canadian bookings. I'm not sure how HAL Europe handles it.

He is all a-twitter over the cakes - which are on our schedule this time.

Let's see how the Bluetooth keyboard works.

I'll probably start in the morning. Our pre-cruise really does not involve a lot, because we're already in the area. "We washed the sheets and towels," doesn't have the same storytelling value as a cross country flight, hotel stay, and a new restaurant in a new town.

Complaining is what we do bestest! 😠

Did you check the price? I have a friend on a 51 day sailing and the Signature Beverage Package was only, about $12/day for him.

The HAL secondary booking system is notoriously wonky. Call your PCC or TA and they can add it for you. The alternative is Ship Services at 800–541–1576.

No, they're the real menus. We have a friend on the Rotterdam right now. We see the Rotterdam menus because we board on Friday. The menus are exactly what they are having on the ship.