Ms Oosterdam Almost Live Nov 16-27

[cruz chic]

Thx for your effort on this thread. I appreciate it.

[Crew News]

Since I have included a daily report on this thread, this report will cover things not previously mentioned.

 

For this cruise, I set several goals for myself: update all of my website menus, eat at least two bags of popcorn and two chocolate chip cookies each day, eat Steak Diane, spend $1800 of OBC, learn the Casino rules for using OBC, visit interesting locations, get good photographs, and meet new friends.

 

Thanks to the Neptune Lounge Conceirages, Lawrence and Krista, the Lido Restaurant Manager, Rehbot, and the Main Dining Room Manager, Andres, I was able to accumulate all of the ship's menus and have added them to my website.

 

i successfully had both popcorn and chocolate chip cookies delivered by Room Service. Of course I did spend several opening movie theater minutes to obtain some bags of popcorn before realizing that I had no wish to see the current movie. One late movie caused me to fall asleep for the first 30 minutes before awakening and heading back to our stateroom with my two bags of popcorn.

 

Joanie met with the PG chefs and we enjoyed Steak Daine at the PG with CC friends.

 

Spending $1800 in OBC was successful thanks to a very slow internet connection, excursions, souvenirs, and Casino policies of paying cash for cash-out.

 

Joanie and I opened separate Casino accounts and limited our losses to only $80 while receiving a cash-out of the difference in the amount transferred from our OBC account.

 

The Casino Host explained the rules to open accounts with an amount charged to our stateroom and the cash-out policies. We learned that passengers can receive a cash withdrawal from their credit card on file but a 3% surcharge was to be applied. There was no surcharge to cashing-out a passenger account.

 

I was able to walk inside an active volcano in St Lucia, ride in a luxury Land Rover through creeks in Martinique, visit the beach in Neves, learn about butterflies in Marigot, St Maarten, take the Sky Drive to overlook St Maarten, and visit sites in Barbados. Visiting a banana plantation taught me that green bananas are actually ripe and bananas are a grass, not a tree fruit. At a combination coconut and cocoa plantation, I coconut and cocoa beans in both the raw and processed state while learning how both were readied for market. The Oosterdam kitchen tour was another chance to see how many improvements have been made since my 2008 visit.

 

My laptop has over 1000 photographs awaiting my converting them from RAW files to more traditional formats for website posting.

 

Joanie and I made a number of new friends on board. Special thanks to John and Sharon for dinner in the PG.

 

Based on the above, my cruise was a great success.

 

Random Thoughts:

Joanie and I thought we each a $50 Beverage Card that turned out to be a single $100 card in Joanie's name. This required a plan to change possession of the card when a purchase was to be made. Bar Service personnel helped me spend up to the last twenty cents by selling me some LED-flashing glasses at closing time on the night before docking in FLL.

There was no problem changing our Explor4 PG and Canaletto reservations.

 

My standing order of chicken wings for 3:00 PM each day brought wings with the wing tip and one side of the edible portion of the wing. I could not discover what happened to the meatier side of the standard chicken wing.

Our MDR waiter, Kadek, happened to be doing double-duty as our appetizer deliverer each day and made an Origami animal/insect for Joanie each day during his 3:00 PM delivery. He also took the opportunity to ask if I would be using my table each evening.

 

As noted earlier in the thread, I took my infrared thermometer to check food and room temperatures during the cruise. In my measurements of Room Service Breakfast items, I noted the beverages had elevated temperatures. In previous cruises, breakfast was delivered on an open rolling cart. This cruise I noticed delivery was made in a sealed cart that maintained the warm food temperatures but caused chilled items to raise in temperature. My curtains open/close evaluation revealed a six-degree temperature difference. I plan on taking my thermometer on future cruises.

 

Windows 10 classes were very informative and helped me to expand my working knowledge of some of the new features. Evening classes were also available.

 

Central elevators had the current day of the week mats.

Bigelow tea is now the tea brand served in the Lido Restaurant. Both pre-made and to-order sandwiches were available in the Lido Restaurant Bistro line. My choice of trying the soup de jour for lunch each day was a very pleasant surprise. All were quite tasty. The salmon served the MDR was outstanding as was the Zuppe de Pesci served in the Canaletto. Of course Steak Diane remains at the top of my PG dining list. The Lido Restaurant tomato sauce-free double pepperoni pizza was savored by Joanie.

 

Lido Restaurant servers were taking water and iced tea orders as soon as passengers took a seat at a table in their area of responsibility.

 

Ship's photographers were less intrusive in each port as we walked down the gangway. I didn't see a single pirate costume.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Embarkation: This process was quick and check-in used pictures from our cruise last May. Luggage arrived in the stateroom before 1:30 PM. Safety Drill had all present at our Station for the first time in many years.

Facilities: With the exception of three frayed cushions on my verandah, the general state of the ship was very good. Room A/C worked perfectly. Laundry turned-in at evening turn-down time was returned the next afternoon. Screening Room seats were amazing and the popcorn plentiful at the movies I attended. Movies on stateroom TVs were looped on the same channel allowing passengers to catch any portions missed at the following showing.

 

Food: Food was good with the PG and Canaletto standing above the MDR in quality. I was disappointed by the lack of chocolate chip cookies at the Dessert Station in the Lido Restaurant. Fortunately, I always had a few extra on my coffee table. No strawberries were available. Room Service Breakfast was delivered at the first exact minute requested on the Breakfast Card each day with hot food still at a proper serving temperature. The bran muffins were delicious. The salad bars maintained their high standards of cleanliness and availability of veggies. The PG had new plates.

 

Crew: In all cases the crew were very professional with kudos to our Room Steward, Jon. Except fpr MDR and Lido Restuarant management, ship's officers IMHO appeared to be aloof and not very visible around the ship. This was quite evident at the Neptune Suites Reception that was hosted by the Conceirages, Lawrence and Krista.

 

Beverage: Joanie renewed her friendship with JJ, Beverage Manager, as well as a number of servers with whom we have sailed on previous cruises.

Entertainment: The two Adagio Strings guys, piano and violin, were amazing and were not limited to sleep-inducing classical music. Gypsy music was very popular. The comedian/magician was hilarious and kept the audience laughing during his time on stage.

 

Shops: With a missed call at Half Moon Cay, sale merchandise was moved to two of the meeting rooms forward of the Shop. I did not hear any announcements nor did many other passengers as evident by nobody shopping.

 

Disembarkation: With only one ship in port, departing the ship and catching a taxi to the Embassy Suites was fast. We were in our room before 11:00 AM. Of note was a table in the hotel lobby with a bunting, "Topless Travel."

 

Next live report from the Ms Nieuw Amsterdam on the Apr 25th Pacific Coastal en-route to Alaska.

[cruisun]

Fantastic and informative upbeat review. Really enjoyed it!!!

[IRL_Joanie]

Uh, Only 1 correction on hubby's review........ We did not have Gypsy music, we had an amazing husband and wife duo called Bacchanal, he on steel drums and she sang. Beautiful and well attended as they performed:)

 

Joanie

[POA1]

Thanks to both of you for the reports! See you in April.

[DaveOKC]

Thanks again for all the great information and especially your post on our Roll Call board.

 

One question - I am a bit confused on how the casino cashout worked. On our last cruise we charged our slot machine play to the cabin each night and if we ended up ahead we cashed out. The casino charges were deduced from our OBC (in fact we had about $15 left in OBC and this was credited to our charge card).

 

Is this basically how it worked for you?

[Crew News]

Thanks again for all the great information and especially your post on our Roll Call board.

 

One question - I am a bit confused on how the casino cashout worked. On our last cruise we charged our slot machine play to the cabin each night and if we ended up ahead we cashed out. The casino charges were deduced from our OBC (in fact we had about $15 left in OBC and this was credited to our charge card).

 

Is this basically how it worked for you?

 

If I can help subsequent passengers in their planning or a better cruise experience, I am glad to do share information.

 

As far as the Casino is concerned, the Casino allows you to authorize a charge up to $500 to your stateroom account in a single Casino transaction. This amount is entered in a slot machine and is immediately charged to your stateroom account.

 

You can cash out at any time, be that after one minute or xx days. I opted to cash out after just a few minutes. The Front Desk only knows that you spent $500 for something on board and the Casino only pays out in $$ the amount that you have left in your Casino authorization. Joanie was not as lucky as I and cashed out $320 after authorizing a stateroom charge of another $400 to our stateroom account. A total of $900 was charged to our stateroom and coincidentally was the amount of OBC that we had not yet spent on our cruise account

 

FWIW you can get cash at the Front Desk as a charge to your stateroom but you will pay a surcharge. A charge to your stateroom via a Casino authorization does not incur a surcharge.

 

Hope the above helps.

[tassietravellers]

Thank you to both of you, a great review and such helpful information. June 2016 cant come quick enough ;-)

[WeLoveCruising]

Thank you again for the details. We board the Oosterdam in 13 days, but who's counting? Me, that's who! :)

 

I scoured all of your posts and the documents you uploaded on your website, I really appreciate you taking the time to do it.

[DaveOKC]

If I can help subsequent passengers in their planning or a better cruise experience, I am glad to do share information.

 

As far as the Casino is concerned, the Casino allows you to authorize a charge up to $500 to your stateroom account in a single Casino transaction. This amount is entered in a slot machine and is immediately charged to your stateroom account.

 

You can cash out at any time, be that after one minute or xx days. I opted to cash out after just a few minutes. The Front Desk only knows that you spent $500 for something on board and the Casino only pays out in $$ the amount that you have left in your Casino authorization. Joanie was not as lucky as I and cashed out $320 after authorizing a stateroom charge of another $400 to our stateroom account. A total of $900 was charged to our stateroom and coincidentally was the amount of OBC that we had not yet spent on our cruise account

 

FWIW you can get cash at the Front Desk as a charge to your stateroom but you will pay a surcharge. A charge to your stateroom via a Casino authorization does not incur a surcharge.

 

Hope the above helps.

 

Thanks for the explanation. Basically thats how we do it, but on lower amounts per day. I just wanted to be certain, as we have extra OBC, even after 5 ship excursions, daily service charge and wine package - good problem to have! Since we already have free Pinnacle and Can. dinners, 100 minutes of slow Internet and $100 in beverage cards, its a bit hard to find things that we normally spend money on. I am sure my DW will find things to do at the Spa!

[Zeno]

For this cruise, I set several goals for myself: update all of my website menus, eat at least two bags of popcorn and two chocolate chip cookies each day, eat Steak Diane, spend $1800 of OBC, learn the Casino rules for using OBC, visit interesting locations, get good photographs, and meet new friends.

 

 

 

First - I enjoyed your report immensely! Especially since we will be on the Oosterdam in Jan 2016

I loved your goals! And being a popcorn addict I was glad to hear that popcorn may be ordered from Room Service

A question - what is your website - I am desperate to see those menus!

Happy Sailing!

 

Well DUH ! I just found the website and menus....

Edited December 5, 2015 by Zeno

[Crew News]

First - I enjoyed your report immensely! Especially since we will be on the Oosterdam in Jan 2016

I loved your goals! And being a popcorn addict I was glad to hear that popcorn may be ordered from Room Service

A question - what is your website - I am desperate to see those menus!

Happy Sailing!

 

Well DUH ! I just found the website and menus....

 

By setting goals for a cruise, the minor stuff becomes immaterial.

 

The popcorn bags are equivalent to two handfuls, so order at least three. When you order, make sure they don't sell you the "Movie Special" (popcorn, peanuts, and soda for $10).

 

It is important to note that the the 10-day Caribbean menus should be the same as the 11-day by removing Day 09.

 

Before your cruise, I will have my ships tour available.

 

Feel free to ask questions and I will be glad to help.

[kazu]

Internet remains slow as molasses. Tonight is "smoke-free" night in the Casino from 6:00 PM to Close. "Gala Attire" night in the MDR.

 

Windows 10 classes are going full bore. I will try to attend the OneNote class today.

 

FWIW my infrared thermometer is the one used in the chocolate bomb dessert video made popular on CC earlier this year. Operates with a lasar aiming beam.

 

Our wireless doorbell is a big hit with the staff.

 

The Concierge confirmed the popcorn availability but it is served in the small bags so will order at least five for my popcorn fix. When I announced this at our M&G today, the popcorn lovers realized they no longer had to sneak popcorn from the theater.

 

Joanie and I will be dining at the Canaletto tonight and trying my new LED photo light for food pictures.

 

More later.

 

 

I am curious about your wireless doorbell.

 

I got one for O cruise as we knew we would be on the balcony but DH was concerned it was too loud and would bother our next door neighbours so we didn't use it.

 

Have you had any feedback in that regard?