Live From Eurodam: New Years Eve Cruise

[Huddler]

Live Aboard the MS Eurodam somewhere off Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas. Well, we made it to the ship yesterday safe and sound after a little trepidation that our plane would be delayed due to weather and crowds and we would miss the ship. Of course, that’s what airport bars and travel insurance are for! Especially airport bars! The airport itself was a mad house the day after christmas. It took a few minutes to find a place to park and I was considering actually holding a sign up offering to sell my parking spot to the highest bidder! Plus, it was colder than Hillary Clinton at a Monica Lewinski book signing. We have curb-side check in at the Nashville airport so I waited in line in the cold for 30 minutes to check my bags, one of which was over the 50 pound weight limit by a measly 17.8 pounds. I bribed, ur, I mean, tipped the skycap in advance of him weighing the bag and viola, he pushed the bag right through as if it was light as a feather! Funny how that whole tipping thing works the world over!

 

The flight to Ft Liquordale was right on time even with the crowds. The plane was full, as is the cruise itself. I sat by a man from Dallas and his 18 year old daughter who were going to Florida for a huge soccer tournament. Several of the other players were onboard as well so the scenary for the flight was very, very nice! Not to say a 46 year old man would ogle and lear at young nubile hardbodies surrounding him on all sides. No! Of course not, although my loving wife did say that she didn’t care where I got my appetite, as long as I ate at home. Lets just say by the end of the flight I was famished! And I will say that female soccer players tend to actually only take up their seat and not half of mine from years of gluttony like so many Americans do these days. Besides, I was busy using my new Toshiba laptop to watch the movie “Seabisquit” during the 2 hour flight. This machine really rocks! 17” widescreen with some incredible Harmon Karden speakers! It exceeded all my expectations as far as sound and picture quality for viewing DVD’s on a laptop!

 

Our plane arrived right on time, got the luggage, walked right outside and caught a Taxi. We had to swing by a drugstore to pick up a few last minute items: you know, like, sunscreen, magazines, sunglasses, and a couple bottles of coke to go with the 1.75 ML bottle of Crown Royal that I had secreted in my luggage! As I have always said, one never wants to run out of Crown Royal whilst cruising the Carribean! At least the Canadians got one thing right! After the quick pit stop, the very nice Haitian cabbie drove us over to Port Everglades. The cab ride took about 10 minutes at most as the airport is very close to the port. I lived in Ft Lauderdale every summer of my life and it was amazing to see how things have changed! Several ships were docked at Port Everglades including our ship, Eurodam, Crown Princess, Independence of the Seas, Costa Something or Other, and the new HUGE cruise ship Oasis of the Seas! That cheeky beast is MASSIVE! I probably wouldn’t want to sail on a ship that holds over 6000 passengers, but that monster is quite impressive!

 

There were no lines as it was 1:45 pm or so before we actually got to the cruise terminal. We walk straight in, filed out a form, had a picture taken for the computer system, got our cards, and got on the “dam” ship, Eurdodam that is. Easy peasy Japanesy! Folks, embarkation just doesn’t get any easier than that and I have been through a couple dozen of them. This is my first cruise on Holland America and if there is such a thing as love at first sight, this is it! No, not love in the sense that you feel being surrounded by young barely legal soccer players on an airplane for a 2 hour flight from the frozen tundra to paradise. But a more meaningful feeling you get when you have found your soulmate! My first impressions is that I am REALLY crushing on this ship and the product that Holland America is offering. The ship is A LOT bigger than I thought but it is absolutely beautiful. Of course, it is new and very well maintained, but it is classy and classic and stylish and cozy all at the same time. We went immediately to our Veranda cabin 4172 as the rooms were ready when we boarded. It doesn’t face aft but it is almost the last cabin aft that has a side(starboard) view. WAY WAY WAY back! Again, this ship is larger than I thought and it is a hike approximately the length of the Appalachian Trail to get all the way aft to our room. The room itself is very typical of a veranda cabin that we have stayed in on other lines such as Oceania. It was well appointed with the same basic amenities to which we have become accustomed. But is new and fresh and just feels nice.

 

After we set down all our carry on stuff on the room, we went up straight up to the Lido deck for some lunch. I had a salad, some fruit, and some rotiessere chicken. It was all delicious! The food has been fantastic so far! For the 2 and ½ months leading up to this cruise, I have been on a very stringent diet. ... Anyway, Ive taken off about 25-30 pounds and feel great. That said, I will NOT be dieting on the cruise. After lunch, I had a bowl of chocolate ice cream! Yummy! Then met my BIL, who is flew in with his wife from Dallas to be on this cruise with us, at the Sea View Bar and started pounding Crown and Cokes! Did I mention that I like to drink Crown Royal? Yummy! They pour a nice drink here too so rumors of weak cocktails onboard are unfounded.

 

We met a group from our Cruise Critic Roll Call for a few minutes at the Sea View Bar. All nice folks indeed but the time was short! Then we went to the safety drill for a couple minutes. You no longer have to wear the life jackets to the muster, thank God! Of course, I was cutting up with all those around me during the safety lecture. I kept getting some stern looks from the drill instructor, ur, I mean safety talk guy. Oh well, if this ship goes down I will screaming like a little school girl with her hair on fire and wont remember a dam thing that dude said anyway so whats it matter?

 

Much to my wifes chagrin, I have already met about half of the 3000 people onboard. My gregarious nature requires me to get into everybodys business. And it seems that everybody on this Dam ship is from New York! I love New York. And I REALLY like New Yorkers…once you get them away from the city. In my opinion, people don’t work well in groups of 9 million. Living in an ant farm of people like that makes people harsh and cold and callous. But, get them away from that environment where they don’t think you are there to screw them, mug them, or cheat them and they are my all time favorite group of people. With one caveat: what the heck have they done to our language? Slowly, our provincial broques and dialects are disappearing, particurlarly with younger people. But not with New Yorkers. Their accents are still thick as thieves and very pronounced. Being the humanitarian that I am, I approached the cruise director and told him I would willing to teach a free class to all the New Yorkers on board on the art of speaking English! Being a lifelong southerner, I obviously speak the Queens English, and I don’t mean Queens New York! Actually, there is a sort of an incongruity between the words I use and the way that I speak them so these guys arent sure if Iwould more likely be a travel companion with Jed Clampett or Hunter S Thompson!

 

Last night we hung out at a couple bars and didn’t feel like doing a formal dinner type thing so we ate at the BBQ out on the Lido deck. I ate like a fat kid in a candy store! Ribs, Kabobs, chicken, pasta, and then a dessert menu was just sick. These chocolate cream puff things were too die for! So, I tried to kill myself via a food coma by seeing how many I could actually eat at one sitting! Yes, that diet is just a distant memory now! Then we just hung out on my veranda with my BIL and SIL and sipped cocktails and wine until the wee hours. Good times indeed!

 

I ordered room service this morning for between 6 and 6:30 and it came right at 6:05. Hot, fresh and good! I sipped coffee while eating chocolate crossiants and an omlette on my veranda as the sun came up over some tropical paradise. It doesn’t get better than that ladies and gentlemen! Then I went to the fantastic gym and hit the elliptical machine for a solid hour. Great views, plenty of treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, nautilus type gear are in there. And then over to the Explorers Lounge on the 11th floor which is my favorite part of the ship to hang out and drink more coffee. That where the library and computer lab are located. Its very quite there with a great view!

 

We are now about go get off and go over to Half Moon Cay. I have had one issue that I took to the front desk that hasn’t been resolved yet but wont post anything about until I see how its handled. More later…

[janmcn]

Glad you're liking the HAL ships so far! We're on the E'dam in Aug. for the first time, so I'm reading your reviews with great interest. We love the HAL ships...all of them! Enjoy your travels...I'm along for the ride...

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for taking the time to post a "Live" review from the Eurodam.

 

Hope you try the Silk Den for cocktails and Tamarind -- especially for dinner.

[IRL_Joanie]

What more can I say about this live review than...LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!!! Your sense of humor promises to keep me laughing the entire time!!

 

I just have to remember NOT to have any food or liquids near me as I read!!

 

I know I do not have to tell you to Have a HAL of a DAM time!! Because it is obvious, you already are!!!

 

Joanie

[Sow There]

What more can I say about this live review than...LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!!! Your sense of humor promises to keep me laughing the entire time!!

 

I just have to remember NOT to have any food or liquids near me as I read!!

 

I know I do not have to tell you to Have a HAL of a DAM time!! Because it is obvious, you already are!!!

 

Joanie

My problem is that I didn't see your warning. I was drinking a beer when I read it and...well...let's say it wasn't very comfortable!

[MightyQuinn]

Now that's how to grab an audience! Great intro Huddler, but what's up since? I'm hangin here for more details. Are you still on-board Eurodam? Did your issue get resolved? Did you score in the casino? Come back & confess all. We're waiting. :D:D

[MightyQuinn]

Now that's how to grab an audience! Great intro Huddler, but what's up since? I'm hangin here for more details. Are you still on-board Eurodam? Did your issue get resolved? Did you score in the casino? Come back & confess all. We're waiting. :D:D

[VermeulT]

Huddler - LOVE your review... keep it coming.

[VermeulT]

Huddler - LOVE your review... keep it coming.

[IRL_Joanie]

I, and all others here at CC are worried about you now. It has been 8 days since your post and nothing since... Please let us know you made it how safely Please.

 

Joanie

[IRL_Joanie]

I, and all others here at CC are worried about you now. It has been 8 days since your post and nothing since... Please let us know you made it how safely Please.

 

Joanie