MS Veendam, Bermuda, May 14-21, 2016

[rafinmd]

Thank you all. SJSULIBRARIAN, the Veendam is still in great shape. I think the most maligned ship in the fleet but I've had one great cruise and another starting off well. The only place I've found the magnets work is the bathroom door. They seem to stick but be very weak on the cabin door.

 

I've just posted the first 2 On Locations (Keith, think Reflections) and yesterday's lunch and dinner menus to the appropriate tabs at http://solocabinchallenge.wordpress.com

 

Roy

Edited May 15, 2016 by rafinmd

[the2ofus]

Roy, I am so glad you are doing this day-by-day commentary. My Dear Sis and I had to cancel just a short time ago. Hopefully, we can re-schedule for next year. In the meantime, I will live vicariously, enjoying the cruise through your reporting. Thank you.

Jane

[Vict0riann]

Bon voyage, Roy. Have a great cruise.:)

[rafinmd]

Thank you Vict0riann, and Jane, sad you couldn't join us. I do hope you make it this year, I doubt the Veendam will be around too many more years.

 

When I went out a little after 5 the outer doors were closed off for winds, although they didn’t seem too bad. They opened about 6 and the winds were not bad at first but did strengthen and I stopped walking after 4 ½ miles, walking 2 additional laps as I got breakfast and lunch. While the sun was “up” I never really saw it, and the wind was a bit chilly and I walked with a light jacket. I do like to look at the port mementos on the stairwells and was happy to see one from home, the port of Baltimore.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/baltimiore.jpg

 

The morning was very busy with the afternoon less so. The interdenominational service was at 9. While there is a Priest on board, most of HAL’s Priests do not seem to do those services (one who posts on Cruise Critic is a welcome exception), and all that was officially supplied was books and a room. One of the singers, Cameron, stepped into the void and while not actually leading a service provided some structure and order to our activities. While Christ said “where 2 or more are gathered in my name I am with you”, a little bit of order really does help and Cameron was a gem.

 

It wasn’t listed in the program but Sarah said she would have a “Good Morning Veendam” but it was also at 9. I caught just the last couple of minutes after the worship service. It looks like it is usually her and location guide Jeremy, with I assume at least occasionally some guests.

 

The Cruise Critic meet and greet was at 10 in the crows nest with probably about 20 people. The organizers got us light refreshments, ran a trivia quiz and made us little souvenir tiles. A good time was had for the whole hour.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/meetgreet.jpg

 

I’m not sure if this is the norm but Captain Noel’s “noon” update came about 12:45 We do have some motion of the ocean but it is quite modest. He indicated the transit through the reefs into Hamilton will take about 2 hours, sometimes with very little water under the keel but we will be docked by 1PM.

 

It was not really a good afternoon. After lunch I noticed a blister on the bottom of a toe, and had very reduced activity for the rest of the day. I did stop by the future cruise desk and buy some credits but still don’t know a lot more about the segments of the 2017 Grand Asia cruise.

 

On the first Gala night I was surprised to find nobody else at table 68. I was joined by some people from anytime dining. I went for the rack of lamb, very nice.

 

At the Captain’s toast the employee of the month was introduced, this time a Quartermaster. The evening show was “Classica”. Apparently, HAL is using a new company for it’s shows and I was quite impressed. There are 4 singers and 6 dancers, evenly split between male and female. All are quite talented individually but they really work together to strengthen the overall performance and the whole is much more than the sum of it’s parts. I have always found the entertainment teams on the Prinsendam head and shoulders above the teams on the R & S class ships but this was a game changer, I thought a Prinsendam quality show.

 

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After the show I dropped in at the Mix where pianist Jeff was doing name that tune. I was a couple minutes but was able to join in a team. I knew several answers that the rest did not, and we did not win but were among the better teams. We were high enough in the standings to be given little Bermuda pins. I thought Jeff was quite good but no match for Debby Bacon or Barry from Boston,

 

I think I will be taking it relatively easy for a couple of days. It’s amazing how something as tiny as a blister can slow one down.

 

Roy

[1ANGELCAT]

Roy, I'm glad to see there was a Captain's toast as on my past 2 sailings (Westy last November and Koningsdam Premier ) there were none. I always liked seeing the staff introductions.

Enjoy Bermuda, it's one of my favorite places.

Have a Dark and Stormy for me[emoji3]

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Topsham]

Roy,

 

Well, it is shaping up to be a nice day.

 

Unfortunately I will not get into Hamilton to watch the arrival. :(

 

If you have a spare minute in your travels give a shout on 703 0051.

 

Stay off the scooters!!!!

 

Stephen

[Krazy Kruizers]

Love your reports.

[rafinmd]

I don't know if it will happen, but we're approaching the point where we could be picked up on Lou & Dave's camera:

 

http://portbermudawebcam.com

 

Roy

[Topsham]

Just passed Dockyard and approaching Two Rock Passage.. All's well!

[SilvertoGold]

Thank you all. SJSULIBRARIAN, the Veendam is still in great shape. I think the most maligned ship in the fleet but I've had one great cruise and another starting off well. The only place I've found the magnets work is the bathroom door. They seem to stick but be very weak on the cabin door.

 

I've just posted the first 2 On Locations (Keith, think Reflections) and yesterday's lunch and dinner menus to the appropriate tabs at http://solocabinchallenge.wordpress.com

 

Roy

 

Great posts and photos on your blog: very enjoyable reading.

 

I am unable to find the menus and On Location program under the tabs. Is this just me? Looking forward to these.

[chefestelle]

No I wasn't able to get them either. Thought it was just me!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[innlady1]

Have a wonderful time in Bermuda. ...i'm green with envy! ;-)

[rafinmd]

Thank you all. I'm sorry about the mishap with the On Location and Menu pages. I actually have subpages for those pages by ship. If you look at my other recent blog which should be identical, http://aroundamericabitbybit.wordpress.com, you will see little arrows next to the Menu and Program tabs, to get to the appropriate ship. I don't know why that didn't carry through to the new blog. For now, I've copied the menu and programs to the corresponding menu and program tabs, and you should be able to access the files there.

 

With my toe still bothering me I stayed in bed until about 5:30 and delayed my morning walk. I got up to the Lido for coffee just in time to see a faint sun coming up over the horizon.

 

This was half sea day with our arrival midday in Hamilton. I dropped in on Good Morning Veendam and a very empty (about 10 people in attendance) as Sarah and Jeremy discussed the coming day.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/goodamveendam.jpg

 

The other big event was On Deck For A Cause. In deference to mu toes I just did half the 5K walk. There were probably about 50 people although I understand more people support the walk financially. Show host Joel led the first lap and cookies and lemonade were served at the finish line. There was a speaker on the deck and I was dreading an onslaught of blaring music but it never came. As we walked Bermuda grew from a speck on the horizon to something identifiable.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/cause2.jpg

 

The approach to Bermuda starts at the far east end and runs along the north shore to the far west end and then turns into the approach to Hamilton harbor. At the end and Kings Wharf I got my first live view of my third ship in this series, the Anthem of the Seas. It was docked nose to nose with one of the older ships serving the US, the Carnival Ecstasy, quite a contrast.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/anthemvsecstasy.jpg

 

On our approach to Hamilton we passed through some narrow passages with islands quite close on either side, turning in the harbor and pulling next to the terminal with the bow facing the ferry dock. A small boar approached our bow and took the first line to shore and once we tied up at the dock I headed over to DiveIn for lunch.

 

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As I returned to my room there was a crowd on the stairs in a rush to get off the ship. We were cleared just a few minutes after I got back but did not leave the ship until about 2. It was not a very active day for me, going to the visitor center for a book of transit tickets (good for both bus and ferry), a wifi card, and a stop at the pharmacy. I spent some time at the library where I tried both the library’s wifi and the wifi I had just purchased with no success either way, very frustrating. I walked down front street and checked out one of the grocery stores and then returned to the terminal. The wifi card worked there and I stayed online in the terminal for about a half hour, taking longer than I should have.

 

There was one nice surprise when I returned to my room. The laundry I sent out this morning was on my bed waiting for me. I think I will like this 4-star mariner laundry benefit. I had stayed out too long and was 15 minutes late for dinner, this time with 2 of my table mates present. I went for the blueberry soup, steak, and Pistachio ice cream.

 

The evening entertainment was singer Patrick McMahon. To me he was showed a lot more energy than talent. He did have an interesting set where he sang “If I Were a Rich Man” in the style of a diverse group of singers.

 

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There was a 9PM deck party by the Lido pool. I went up about 9:15 and I’m not sure if I was too early or too late but there didn’t seem to be much going on.

 

I’ll take my parting shot from “On Deck For A Cause”. I very much appreciate Holland America doing this. I lost my sister in law to breast cancer about 12 years ago, and by the time I return home it will be the 19th anniversary of my surgery for prostate cancer. I’m glad Holland America is supporting this fight.

 

Roy

[SilvertoGold]

Menus and programs working! Thanks a lot.

[rafinmd]

The weather the first 2 days has been fantastic with occasional showers predicted for the last 2 days. The toe is still uncomfortable, but with a total of 8 days in Bermuda I do not need to rush around and pack things in, so Tuesday was a fairly quiet day. I returned my IPAD, which is also my alarm clock, back to Baltimore time for an extra hour of sleep.

 

I had purchased a 72-hour wifi pass and headed down to the cruise terminal about 7:30 to go on line. The system seems a bit clunky and I could not get it to recognize my credentials, and I also had no luck using the National Library’s wifi. I returned to the Veendam for breakfast and went back to the visitor center after they opened at 9 and was given the trick to get back online after shutting down. Once you get in, the system works pretty well.

 

I did not do a lot of traditional sightseeing but Bermuda has quite an extensive transportation system with 4 ferry and 11 bus routes. As I left the ship at 10:30 the weekly crew drill was just starting, and I walked down the street to the ferry terminal and boarded the pink ferry. The little As we pulled away from the dock and passed the Veendam, both of the tenders and one lifeboat were in the water, with another lifeboat hanging at the lower promenade deck in the boarding position. We looped around several little hamlets with our final stop at Hinson Island. The sign said “Private Island, no trespassing” but we left and picked up as many passengers there as at any of the other stops.

 

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The ferry returned at 11:40 and I walked up to the bus terminal and boarded the number 4 bus to Spanish Point Park at the northwest corner of the main Island. There isn’t a lot there but it’s a fairly scenic spot with views across the harbor to Kings Wharf and some picnic tables. I took my shoes off to rest my feet and hung out on the top of a picnic table and watched the Carnival Ecstacy sail into the distance. Closer to the park entrance there’s the hulk of an old drydock which served for many years but became too small for modern ships. It was sold to a German company in the early 20th century and plans to tow it to Germany for scrapping were interrupted by the wars and it now sits rusting away.

 

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http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/spanish2.jpg

 

I returned a bit too late for regular lunch so it was another visit to Dive-In. I took a final venture into Hamilton in the afternoon and checked out the grocery stores and finally had a success with the internet at the National Library with my second computer. I did not take a real planned walk but did get in enough walking in my travels to satisfy myself.

 

There were 6 of us tonight at table 68. I tried to keep my meal light (but indulged in a peach crisp for desert) as there was a barbecue on the lido deck with a steel pan player providing music a bit later and I sampled that fare as well. The evening show was a local troupe of Gombey dancers, also on the lido deck. There was also a late night comedian but I didn’t stay up.

 

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Roy

[catl331]

Glad to see you are using local transportation. Many who dock at the Navy Yd stay put and miss seeing how beautiful Bermuda is. Years ago (many) we rented mopeds but too dangerous now. Happy to hear you were able to use your computer at the library. We had no such luck! Enjoy.

[rafinmd]

Carol, the Veendam is docked right on Front Street in Hamilton so it would not be so bad if I didn't use local transportation with so much right here. I bought the 15 ride book and will use the ferry to St. George (and probably will come back to Hamilton) next week from the Breakaway.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

The forecast was occasional showers and at 6:19am there were a few light spots in the clouds but no sunrise to be seen. I left the ship about 9:30 with my priority being the Crystal Cave. When I got to the station one of Bermuda’s pink buses was loading up for St. George with the Cave about 2/3 of the way there. I visited Crystal Cave on my first visit to Bermuda (NCL Leeward, 1998) and was expecting a repeat visit. I remember then walking from the bus stop along a somewhat narrow and scary short stretch of road.

 

When I disembarked the bus there were w surprises. The first was that I simply crossed the road and a gate led the way along a quiet pedestrian path to the ticket office. The second was that I wasn’t exactly repeating what I did 18 years ago. There are now 2 caves, the original Crystal, and Fantasy Cave which closed for many years but reopened in 2001. I could have purchased a double ticket but opted for just Fantasy Cave, and a tour was about to leave.

 

The cave is one way in and out the same way, and we descended to the floor of the cave, The water in this cave is actually part of the ocean, rather than a river. The normal tidal range in Bermuda is about 5 feet, but the long narrow passages from the ocean to the cave dampen the motion and the caves have a tidal range of about 3 feet. It is not a large cave but it has most of the features typically found in caves. The tour was about a half hour and ended with a climb up 88 fairly high steps back to the surface.

 

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I returned to the bus stop about 11 and a bus was just pulling up; I had to rush a bit to catch it. It was about a 20 minute drive but while the bus leaves from the bus terminal it returns along Front Street right in front of the ship. I returned to the ship about 11:30 and got lunch about 12:30. I ate my lunch on the back deck behind the lido and walked down stairway “Oscar” (the aft exterior stairs) back to the Lower Promenade deck. As I crossed the back deck I felt about 2 drops of drizzle, the only trace in the day of the predicted rain.

 

I rested my feet a while and headed out for the afternoon. There was one other ferry I wanted to ride, a run to Somerset and back but the timing was not right. (I will try that route at 7:15 Thursday morning; if I miss it then it probably won’t happen) Instead I walked to Fort Hamilton. It is only .4 mile from the ship but is a bit of a steep climb at 170 feet or so elevation. On my walking route I passed the Methodist Church which I was somewhat surprised to see is affiliated with the United Church of Canada. The fort has stunning views of the town and is surrounded by a moat I crossed on a little bridge. I stopped at the library on the way back and settled into the Veendam about 4PM.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/fortview.jpg

 

All 8 of us were present at Table 68. I went tonight for the fruit plate and the lasagna, and one of our party had a birthday with a small cake.

 

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There was a comedy and juggling show with Bob Cates in the showroom. I passed and walked around Front Street as there is a little street festival called Harbor Night on summer Wednesday evening with vendor stalls and a lot of music.

 

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As today’s parting shot on a cruise I probably get less overall news than normal but somewhat more coverage of Canada with a daily Canadian News flyer each day. I was saddened to see that the Alberta wildfire situation seems to be taking a turn for the worse. May that situation reverse soon.

 

Roy

[Topsham]

Roy,

 

Don't worry about the rain today. The sky is just 'crying'. Sky is always sad when Veendam leaves Bermuda. :)

 

 

Stephen

[rafinmd]

Thank you Stephen. It's good Veendam has at least one more Bermuda year but I'm afraid the skys will be very sad before too long. BTW, I have learned my phone doesn't work in Bermuda For now, just sitting on a deck chair waiting for the pipers to start playing.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

My alarm was set for 6 but I was up at 5:30. I got coffee in the lido about 6 and watched for the sun to come up but it was totally cloudy. I had planned to go online in the terminal and return to my cabin for stuff for a ferry ride (primarily my ticket book) then at the last minute left prepared for the ferry. That turned out well since the wifi stopped working as soon as I got to the terminal. I found the wifi good by the ferry office. I had planned to take a 7:10 ferry but it apparently left VERY early (before 7) and there was another at 7:45. It would be almost 9 when it returned and I didn’t want to wait that long for something to eat so I bought a tasty blueberry muffin.

 

The green ferry route is essentially a commuter route with morning and afternoon runs but nothing mid-day. It serves 3 small communities, Somerset, Cavello Bay, and Rockaway. The stop at Somerset was right next to the highway but the other 2 seemed to be quite distant from any bus service. The loop took about an hour and was quite scenic.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/scenicride1.jpg

 

I was back at the ship at 9 and spent some of the morning browsing the stores and a the library I boarded the Veendam for the final time about 11AM. The weather had called for rain but it held off despite a brisk wind for our time ashore.

 

Just after 12:30 Captain Noel came on the PA and said we would be leaving soon. I spent most of the remaining time on the lower promenade deck using the last of the wifi signal and listening to a bagpipe sendoff.

 

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Almost on cue, the predicted rain started about 12:30. I watched from stairway oscar as the lines were pulled in and then got some lunch.

 

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As we left Bermuda it was somewhere between haze and mist as we sailed out of Hamilton Harbor and passed the ship I will be on next week. It was almost fog shrouded.

 

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My foot is just slightly improved. I have been soaking it most days in my tub, a luxury I will not have on my next 2 ships. For one of my last days on the Veendam I went up to the lido deck and made use of one of the hot tubs. It seems to help a lot.

 

For our second Gala night there were 6 of us at table 68. Cakes were presented in honor of the 2 couples anniversaries, although in neither case are we close to the actual anniversary date. I had the papaya fruit plate as well as the filet from the surf and turf and the tiramisu. We noticed a little motion as we got to the open ocean.

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/papaya.jpg

 

This evening’s entertainment was the Veendam Singers and Dancers in Heat. I thought Classica was better but this was still very good. I had a little time after the show to drop in on Jeff at the Piano Bar.

 

I hope tonight’s parting shot won’t become a long term lament. I now have the voyage’s final On Location and see no evidence of what I consider a Holland America Signature. There will be no crew show. It may be a result of having so much time in port and I hope it is not a sign of things to come.

 

Roy

[Kreader]

Hi Just wanted to say glad you took up my suggestion of Jeff at the piano bar. Hope you had some fun there! Glad you got up to Fort Hamilton,I did this climb the last time I was in Bermuda! Kendra

[St Pete Cruiser]

Hi Roy,

I've not been to Bermuda, but it is on the list! I knew the Veendam docked close to the city, but your pic really shows it is right there nearly on the street!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Rob

[rafinmd]

Hi Roy,

I've not been to Bermuda, but it is on the list! I knew the Veendam docked close to the city, but your pic really shows it is right there nearly on the street!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Rob

 

Thank you Rob. After your great reports from the Zaandam I was glad to do it. Try not to put Bermuda off; as Captain Noel said several times the Veendam is the largest ship that can dock in Hamilton, so when she goes so will a great opportunity.

 

In fairness, dockyard is not that bad with an excellent ferry to Hamilton, but there's no substitute for having your hotel right in the center of the action.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Kreader, I had one final little session with Jeff last night.

 

We did gain an hour returning to Eastern time overnight so my alarm clock which had been going off at 6 in Bermuda sounded this morning at 5AM. I was actually up a little before that, and was on deck in time to see that the sun would not really “rise”. As I walked across the lido deck there was a little trace of the sun peeking through the clouds (it did clear up later in the morning).

 

I held my morning walk to 6 laps (1 ½ miles) in deference to my toe. I could still feel it but there was no real pain as I went about my daily business. The wind was pretty stiff and the temperature was around 60, feeling rather cool in the wind.

 

Sarah and Jeremy held their final “Good Morning Veendam” this morning in the Wajang theater. While these events often draw large crowds, that has not been the case this time. They held a drawing at the end with 3 prizes from the shops. While there were only about 10 people in attendance luck was not with me. At the end of the show I asked Sarah about the crew show and she said it wasn’t done because there really wasn’t an appropriate time with the ship in port for virtually half the cruise.

 

Jeremy held his talk on Boston in the Showroom at 10. I think he is one of the better Location Guides.

 

I had an hour to work on packing before the Mariner Events started. There was a reception in the showroom at noon. I’m not quite sure what the standard is for invitation; it’s my first one and I’m guessing it is 4-star mariners and above. Several medallions were awarded by the Captain and Hotel Director, starting with the Copper (100 days) up to 1 for 700+ days. When I got my medallion there was not much ceremony, being on a cruise where there are fewer high level mariners would be a bonus if getting an award,

 

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There was time for a little more packing before the 1PM Mariner Brunch. I had the gazpacho and beef and was seated just a few steps from the speaker’s podium.

 

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The afternoon was pretty quiet, mostly devoted to packing.

 

All 8 of us were present at Table 68 for our final dinner. It wasn’t called “Master Chef’s Dinner” but it had many of the features with each menu selection being associated with one of the members of HAL’s Culinary Council. At the end of the meal we had the introduction of the staff and a farewell song by the crew.

 

Sunset came about 8 with a lovely red sky. There was a single farewell variety show at 9:30 with Juggler Bob Cates, ;Comedian Kevin Jordan, and singer Patrick McMahon. After stopping briefly at the Ocean Bar for the Neptunes and the Piano Bar with Jeff I watched the first 2 acts (which I had previously missed) but skipped Patrick McMahon.

 

 

http://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/dusk0520.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot will be a sort of welcome to the HAL fleet of 2 new ships. The Koningsdam has been in service for a few weeks but was officially christened today, and I don’t think physical construction has begun on the newest ship but welcome Nieuw Statendam to the list of ships.

 

HAL version PS: Returning from dinner I was pleased to find a cruise log on my bed. I packed up my scanner in the afternoon, so I won’t scan and post it until I return to Bermuda Wednesday, I will come back here with a link at that time. I do hope HAL can be persuaded not to discontinue producing the logs.

 

Roy