Come Sail a Way with us LIVE as the Westerdam meets the Sail a Way Gang

[Scrapnana]

Had a little visit with the future cruise lady (Alex?) today, so I would say my first HAL cruise has been a success!

[erewhon]

Yes. Going by accents, I would say there are a good number on board. Our neighbours on one side are Australian and I spoke with a mother - daughter yesterday waiting for the tender. Another family with 2 girls are from the Brisbane area.

 

Thank you for your reply.

[1of4]

Well this may be it from me until I reach home. Our unlimited Internet package ends in San Diego, not the end of the voyage. If it is not offered then I won't buy a minute plan for 4 days. The kids have done all homework assigned and I have checked our airline tickets so there is really no need.

 

DH's suitcases are packed and outside the cabin door. Carry-ons also packed so we are ready. It will be very strange with him gone. Everyone promised him that they would keep an eye on us...now how fun is thst?! :p

 

Both Club Hal and our assistant waiter told us today that 800 people are disembarking tomorrow and 180 are embarking including 18 children between 3 and 17. So that means the ship will be down 600 people.

 

I am very happy to have been able to take this incredible voyage! It has been fantastic from the start. It will be difficult to go home and back to routine.

 

To our new friends leaving tomorrow - safe journey and I look forward to sailing with you again. It has been our pleasure.

[PathfinderEss]

Had a little visit with the future cruise lady (Alex?) today, so I would say my first HAL cruise has been a success!

Good going Scrapnana, glad to hear you like your cruise and maybe signed up for another?

 

Kazu, do you remember the place where you had those giant Calamari at in Cabo?

[Vict0riann]

Probably the same for us, 1of4, as we will not buy more minutes, and just use our phone to keep in touch with family by text. It has been a great cruise, we have really enjoyed meeting everyone, and hope that all those travelling tomorrow reach home safely and promptly. Yes, we'll be looking out for you!

 

We do look forward to cruising with some or all of you again!

[dobiemom]

Another shout out to all roll call members posting on the best "Live from" thread ever! :D It really did make it feel as if we were on the ship with you. Safe travels to everyone! :)

Edited April 27, 2015 by dobiemom

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am also having a water issue. Not every day like Lizzie, but enough to make it annoying. I will be happy to share my cabin number once the cruise is over.

 

There must be other cabins as yesterday I couldn't shower at 6AM because the water was freezing. I didn't call to report it as we wanted to be able to get ready to go ashore without sharing the cabin with the plumbing gang. I tested the water at 9:30 just before I intended to place the call and it was super hot, so I am guessing someone else along the line made the call earlier.

 

I will post a photo review when I get home. We have only hot water at certain times everyday. Our door to the verandah was fixed yesterday by replacing the whole lock. It works beautifully now.

 

 

Sorry to hear that some of you are still having water problems.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Here's Old Man Winter's last fling (I hope). At this point there's no word of the storm hitting the East Coast, so Kazu, you just might be able to put the dogs in the front yard.

 

 

Sure glad that we didn't get all that snow.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had a great meet and greet this morning. The captain came and all the officers as well as our person in charge, Jody from guest relations, head chef, our hotel manager, too many to mention.

 

The captain was a riot. The sail a way gang was treated to mimosas & strawberry champagne, cupcakes that were so beautiful and pastries with custard and fruit. delicious. Captain offeree the cupcakes to 1of4''s DS and DD and when they hesitated he snatched them away. Too funny. He then presented them again and they each took one. He reminded them they had two hands and suggested they take another one or get their parents to hold them.

 

He has recognized we are the "rouwdy" bunch when he sails and we gave thumbs up to the toots. LOL

 

He will toot under the Lion's gate bridge - it is tradition he says.

 

 

 

Tom (shanni shanni) created a good bye song for us all tos ing :)

 

And Ingo arrived with our invites for our special wine tasting for the roll call :)

 

 

 

 

hope you can see some of the munchies in the pics. DH was taking some but so far, I haven't gotten his memory card to download. grrr.

 

Fabulous meet and greet - we were all treated royally and the good news is that our Captain thinks he will be on for our April 2nd sailing next year.

 

So hop on and book next year's cruise. Some of the sail a way gang are already going and some other great roll call members as well.

 

After that it was the suite luncheon (yup, busy busy day). I will post some food porn next but remember, I didn't take the pics until the meal was over. It was buffet style so hard to do pics until the meal was done.

 

 

Thank you to Mark and the Captain for the lovely drinks, the food and the company. A marvelous day!

 

 

Great pictures.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I forgot to say that Mark Pells announced that Westerdam was #1 in the satisfaction survey among the HAL ships for the month of March. (no competition among the dam ships - LOL)

 

and now the suite luncheon, for those that like food porn, enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The buffet suite lunch is one of the things we liked on our Westerdam cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

a bit more food porn from the suite

lunchen

 

we had caviar with all the fixings, shrimp, tempura shrimp chateuabriand to name a few things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am not a fan of buffets, but this one was really, well done.

 

great meet and greet and great lunch - what more can anyone ask for.

 

so many nice roll call members. I think Lizzie said it right when she said I would be happy to sail with any of you anytime.

 

 

When we had the suite buffet, it was set up in the Pinnacle bar. We also had the caviar, and the food was a mixture of regular food and Indonesian food. Quite a display.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This has really been a great "Live" thread.

Safe travels to those who are heading for home today.

[1of4]

Well the middle unlimited Internet package cost $35 for the rest of the voyage or $16 for 24 hours. I guess you can tell I purchased it.

 

we are slowly approaching San Diego as I type. Still dark. Weather is partly cloudy with a high of 26 with the low being the current temperature of 16.

 

All aboard today is 3 PM. Muster drill at 3:15. The bow will be open for sailaway and the party is at the Seaview pool. Not sure where we will be. The only activity left for the Sailaway Gang is a tablet meeting tomorrow.

[ger_77]

It's hard to believe this great cruise is winding down. It certainly has been a fun ride for those of us tagging along with you; thank you everyone for your contributions of time and money to keep the rest of us happy. Safe travels to those departing today.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry

[rafinmd]

Had a little visit with the future cruise lady (Alex?) today, so I would say my first HAL cruise has been a success!

 

If you, or anybody else have anything to share with the future cruise list:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2197298

 

I'll be doing my final update Thursday before handing things back to Jacqui.

 

Kathi, I also hope Cunard makes you another nice offer for next year on QV Southampton to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

Roy

[1of4]

Fast and easy!

 

It took longer to log on here than it did for us to go through US Immigration just now. There were at least 6 officers and start to finish maybe 5 minutes.

 

I feel like we won the lottery!

[Susie51]

Thank you for sharing your cruise with us. Safe travels home. Will anyone who stays aboard be posting?

[1of4]

If you, or anybody else have anything to share with the future cruise list:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2197298

 

<snip>

 

Roy

 

We bought 4 FCC in anticipation of my retirement cruise in December 2016. Itineraries haven't been released yet so I am trying to be patient....:eek::)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well the middle unlimited Internet package cost $35 for the rest of the voyage or $16 for 24 hours. I guess you can tell I purchased it.

 

we are slowly approaching San Diego as I type. Still dark. Weather is partly cloudy with a high of 26 with the low being the current temperature of 16.

 

All aboard today is 3 PM. Muster drill at 3:15. The bow will be open for sailaway and the party is at the Seaview pool. Not sure where we will be. The only activity left for the Sailaway Gang is a tablet meeting tomorrow.

 

 

Glad they offered an internet package for the last few days.

Enjoy your last meeting tomorrow.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We bought 4 FCC in anticipation of my retirement cruise in December 2016. Itineraries haven't been released yet so I am trying to be patient....:eek::)

 

 

Hope you find a good cruise to celebrate your retirement.

[cruz chic]

Fast and easy!

 

It took longer to log on here than it did for us to go through US Immigration just now. There were at least 6 officers and start to finish maybe 5 minutes.

 

I feel like we won the lottery!

 

That's good to hear. So often it's a hot mess there. Usually you sit or stand and wait for an hour or more before you get to see them. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

[sapper1]

Fast and easy!

 

It took longer to log on here than it did for us to go through US Immigration just now. There were at least 6 officers and start to finish maybe 5 minutes.

 

I feel like we won the lottery!

 

It took us about ten minutes start to finish. I couldn't believe all the officers!!

Someone must have been listening. They are doing final calls now.

[Lizzie68]

Quickest clearance in San Diego every through in about 10 minutes - 8 immigration officers. It is only 8.10 and all decks done.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad immigration went smoothly.

[kazu]

Thank you for sharing your cruise with us. Safe travels home. Will anyone who stays aboard be posting?

 

 

a number of us will be staying on board, so yes we will still be posting. hadn't seen the internet package for the remaining days 1of4. thanks. I think I can cough up a few more dollars.:)

 

Waiting for the people called to show up at the lounge to be cleared. While waiting I got my pics done of the menus and the On Locations to send to the site that cannot be named. I will convert them to pdf before I send them as it is much easier to read.