Review of Nieuw Amsterdam, Mediterranean Glamor

[JamesEM]

Thanks for sharing, great photos.

[floatie]

“A pot on the stove? “ (incredulously) “I thought that the USA was the most advanced country, but now…”

 

Take it from someone who has lived there... it is not, not so in sooo many ways. :rolleyes:

[We_like_to_cruise]

Well this review is certainly taking longer than we thought!

 

First we had no electricity thanks to Sandy (fortunately only a few trees down and no other damage), then the photo-hosting website we were using seems to have lost our photos (but they are back) and then the Nor'easter. :eek:

 

So, where were we...

 

 

Although not originally scheduled as such, today turns out to be another tender port. It may have been because we are coincidentally here when the Monaco Yacht Show is being held, or maybe not. (I was never consulted. ;))

 

The city is very walkable, except for the fact that it is so mountainous. And we are at the bottom of the mountain. The section called Monaco–Ville is where many of the tourist attractions are located. From the sea-level port to Monaco-Ville is like walking up a 10 story building. You don’t want to do that on your vacation do you? Well, neither did we!

 

So, consulting our handy Toms (Sheridan) Port Guide, as mentioned earlier, we walk through parking garages on ground level and take assorted elevators and escalators all the way to the top. Sometimes we have to walk from one side of a parking garage to another, but it is not uphill! (Some of these might be difficult to find without a good set of instructions.)

 

Exiting the last set of elevators we find ourselves in front of Le Musee Oceanographique, the famous aquarium once headed by Jacques Cousteau.

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

Further along we stop in at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, site of the fairy-tale wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier III:

 

 

 

 

 

And view the tombs of Princess Grace and Prince Ranier III:

 

 

 

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

We wander through some beautiful gardens overlooking an aquatic parking lot:

 

 

 

until we reach the Palais du Prince. Since the flag is flying, the current reigning member of the Grimaldi family, Prince Albert II, is in the palace.

 

 

 

There is a changing of the guard ceremony at noon, but we are much too early and decide not to wait.

[We_like_to_cruise]

We head back down to Port Hercule, site of the Monaco Yacht Show:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

And continue walking all the way around the harbor until we reach the Monte Carlo Casino:

 

 

 

 

Ahh, the smell of money in the air. :D

 

We expect to see Bond, James Bond, (Sean Connery of course) at every turn.

 

A number of very expensive cars are parked on display in front of the Hotel de Paris across from the casino. It is amusing to watch all of the tourists who get pictures taken next to other peoples vehicles. Ok, yes we admit, we did too. (But not in this picture.)

 

 

 

 

Spending most of the day in Monaco, we are on a long line to wait for a tender. But, they come and go very frequently, and we only wait for 15 minutes or so. A cool wash-cloth and a glass of cold lemonade provided by the ship staff helps keep us comfortable.

 

Then our tender takes us back to the ship. So long, Monte Carlo:

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

Late this afternoon we make our mandatory donation for some family souvenirs in the ships shops before attending the disembarkation ( :( ) lecture in the Showroom at Sea.

 

 

The lecture was well attended, no doubt due to a smart move by HAL to bribe us by providing free champagne. It seems pretty straightforward and we are intrigued by the discovery that it is considered a silent, ie., no announcements, disembarkation. And we can stay in our cabin until our allocated time.

 

How many times have we dragged our carry-ons to some lounge to sit and wait for our number to be called? Well, every other time except this one! We will see how this all works out tomorrow.

 

After the talk, a large number of the ships' crew, including cabin stewards, entertainers, bartenders, chefs, etc., gather on the stage to perform "We are Family." A feel good moment :D

[GeorgesGal]

WLTCruise, Just noticed a lizzard in your last photo of post #81. Look at the rock formation at the top of the shot - head facing left with body extending along the top of the hill to the right!

 

Great review and fabulous photos!

 

Donna

[We_like_to_cruise]

WLTCruise' date=' Just noticed a lizzard in your last photo of post #81. <snip>Donna[/quote']

 

That is one big reptile. :D

[We_like_to_cruise]

Before heading back to dress for an early dinner, I am on a quest.

This ship displays millions of dollars worth of sculpture and artwork:

 

This Lido Pool sculpture has the word "water" engraved in dozens of languages.

Even the elevators look like a piece of art:

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

We passed this Roy Lichtenstein many times:

 

 

At some point in the cruise it was mentioned that there was an Andy Warhol print on display and I was determined to find it.

 

After being shot down at the Front Desk and the library, it is suggested I inquire at the Art Auction gallery. Duh, why didn't I think of that. A helpful gentleman walks me to the piece - right across from the Front Desk :p

 

 

 

 

 

 

That makes sense, keeping it in a high traffic area!

[holacanada]

Hello We_like_to_cruise !

 

I've stayed at Hotel de Paris twice while in Monaco. OUUUUUUUUUH !

I also had the opportunity to visit privately the cenacle at the cathedral (where Grace and Rainier are buried). It's tough to ask for the permission for taking pictures in this sacred area.

 

Your pictures are superbs !

It remind's me a lot of souvenirs from that time (1997 and 1999) !

 

Thank You !

 

Have a very gooooood cruise !

 

 

Holacanada on Westerdam in 29 days 9 hours and eleven minutes.

Edited November 8, 2012 by holacanada

[We_like_to_cruise]

Tonight's dinner is at the Pinnacle Grill.

 

 

 

 

The other day, one of our dining companions recommended we ask for a table “under the chandelier.” Yes, he was right: it was very romantic and a little more secluded.

 

The china and tableware and linens are grand:

 

 

 

Service is very good and we enjoy an amuse bouche of steak tartare along with a nice glass of wine. Our jumbo shrimp cocktail lives up to its billing:

 

 

 

 

Alright, this is the worst thing that happened on our cruise. As my entree is presented, the server proudly proclaims: “Boneless Rib Eye.”

 

Ooops.

 

I ordered Bone IN Ribeye.

 

My plate is carried off to the kitchen presumably to have the bone inserted.

 

The maître‘d hurries over, profusely apologetic and provides me with a gratis glass of wine for my troubles. I insist DW start eating while her food is hot (and I nibble a little). Look at the size of that porterhouse!

 

 

Hey, sometimes people make mistakes. Obviously it did not “RUIN MY CRUISE.” Considering we traveled halfway across the world, visited three countries and left our home and family for 10 days, we consider ourselves lucky that this was the WORST thing that happened to us. :rolleyes:

 

 

We felt our dinner at the Pinnacle Grill was the best meal we had on the ship. Despite the blunder, the food was prepared well and portions were huge. As always, we find room for some dessert (triple creme brulee):

 

 

With full bellies we go back to our cabin to pack - sad we are leaving tomorrow.

[We_like_to_cruise]

I've stayed at Hotel de Paris twice while in Monaco. OUUUUUUUUUH !

 

Wow, that's great. The hotel looks like it is very luxurious. :D

 

 

I also had the opportunity to visit privately the cenacle at the cathedral (where Grace and Rainier are buried). It's tough to ask for the permission for taking pictures in this sacred area.

 

Very interesting, thanks. So, the photographs we took - were they of marble markers/headstones and the actual crypts are elsewhere?

[keeponcruising]

This has to be one of the best reviews I have ever seen:)

[hpf]

Thanks for the great review and photos. I just realized i have been reading and viewing this thread for over an hour now, you have certainly kept my interest.

I don't know how I had missed reading this befor now. Congratulations on your renewal of your vows. Hope you cruise Hal again so we get to read all about it.

Helen

[JamesEM]

Thanks for the great review and pics, after seeing that steak I could feel my left ventical slamming shut.

[gambee]

Loved your pictures, specially the ones in Monaco. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I have a serious addiction to picture reviews and you gave me a good dose of one.

 

I would love to do a Europe cruise, maybe in 2014 :).

[matondo]

Wonderful review! Thank you for taking the time to put it together. The pictures were breathtaking.

[We_like_to_cruise]

Well, it has been a while since I last posted, but I would like to finish up our little narrative.:)

 

This morning is disembarkation. Despite our sad feelings about having to leave the ship, the actual process is painless. After a leisurely breakfast we lounge in our room and discover this is the first time all week we have put on the television!

 

At the designated time we take our carry-ons down to the port, pick up our luggage and walk out to catch a cab. Very easy peasy.

 

Goodbye HAL Nieuw Amsterdam!!! Thanks for a wonderful week.

 

We are usually running from the ship to the airport to catch a flight home. But this time we have the whole day ahead of us in Barcelona.

 

You know the drill: I give the cabbie my paper with the hotel name and address and ask for a receipt. Many people are leaving at once and there is a bit of a traffic jam exiting the port. Our driver seems anxious to practice his English, so we have a pleasant chat.

 

La Merce, one of the biggest festivals in Spain, ends tomorrow. It is the celebration of the patron saint of Barcelona and there are numerous musical and cultural events being held throughout the city. We had been warned that the city would be very crowded and there could be transportation issues.

[We_like_to_cruise]

It takes about a half hour to reach our hotel, the Renaissance Barcelona Airport hotel. Since we have an early flight tomorrow morning we felt closer to the airport was better. And, the hotel provided free shuttle service to the airport.

 

As the cab pulls up to the hotel, the driver pulls out a laminated sheet of paper which he hands to us. He points out the fare and explains the additional surcharges for the luggage and the port pick-up and provides a receipt printed directly from the meter. Yay! We have a winner! I thank and tip the driver :D

 

At check-in we discover Bad News, Good News, Bad News.

Bad News: we cannot check-in this early

Good News: there is a free shuttle leaving in 5 minutes into Las Ramblas

Bad News: there is room for only one person on the shuttle.

 

We leave our luggage with the bellhop and make our way outside to a large coach bus. When the driver calls our last name, we both come forward, but he admonishes: “I only have one of you on the list.” We wait together on the side, and fortunately some people on “the list” are not present.

 

Whew, it would have been awkward to tell DW to go to the CC website see the pictures of the day I spent alone in Barcelona. ;)

[We_like_to_cruise]

The bus drops us off near the statue of Christopher Columbus and we walk to the Placa de Sant Jaume.

 

It turns out our timing is perfect, as the next performers are the castellers or human towers. We are very excited because this is the main thing we had hoped to see during the festival! Groups emerge from a side street, adjacent to where we are standing:

 

 

 

 

and despite how crowded the plaza is:

 

 

we follow the castellers and are able to watch near the front of the stage.

[We_like_to_cruise]

Picture this:

 

 

On the stage, eight men crouch down on hands and knees as folk music plays, and from both sides the other team-mates come, one by one, men and women, climbing one above the other, higher and higher, and as you watch the foundation members at the base start to quiver, muscles taut, sweat breaking out on their foreheads you say a silent prayer for their strength and endurance until a youngster (no more than five or six) wearing a protective helmet mounts the human tower with the fearlessness of youth, grabbing a handful of colored sash, stepping from back to shoulder to back ever higher, until at the summit, carefully checking his footing, stands upright and triumphantly raises outstretched arms as the crowd erupts in applause.

 

 

 

Oh, dear Reader, I wish you had been there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fascinating!

 

We spend a few hours watching the marvelous show.

[We_like_to_cruise]

The streets are very crowded and we decide to take the Metro to Mountjuic to visit the Catalunya National Museum of Art:

 

 

 

the gardens and the Olympic stadium:

 

 

 

 

The funicular down sounds more exciting than it actually was. :p

 

 

 

 

Next stop, Park Guell to view the city from another vantage point. Numerous 'love locks' on the fence as a declaration of love!

 

 

 

 

Luckily there were escalators going up the steep hill to the park, but the walk down was challenging. Perfect spot for an out of control skateboard. :eek: