MS Koningsdam February 19-March 1 AND MS Zaandam March 21 to April 22

[rafinmd]

Day KDAM6, Saturday, February 25, Willemstad, Curacao

 

The Zaandam and Crystal Serenity are both at sea headed to a Sunday meeting at Port Stanley. The Crystal Symphony is at Komodo Island. On Saturdays the Carnival Inspiration is in Ensenada.

 

As I type this the Zaandam is currently showing up on Serenity's webcam:

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/serenity/serenity1.php

 

If the ship rotates to a different heading there are port and starboard view buttons at the bottom of the picture.

 

Thanks KK, Kazu, Debbie, and easyboy

 

Like the other port days this one started with a 5-lap walk on the Promenade Deck. I returned to my cabin for about a half hour; when I returned about 7 we were just approaching the dock (mega-ship pier) and the sun was straight ahead of us, emerging from the clouds about 15 minutes after sunrise.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dawn0225.jpg

 

I think this is my 4th visit to Curacao, having been here previously on the Crystal Symphony, Prinsendam, and Maasdam with my last visit about 2 years ago. We were the only cruise ship in town today although we were not quite alone. Right around dawn I saw a small ship leaving, I think it was the Scientology ship Freewinds. Also in port was a small ship I could see from deck 14, a smaller, older ship I could not identify.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/curacao.jpg

 

I did not book tours in either Curacao or Aruba and had only a general idea of what to do. I left the ship about 10 and walked towards town. Just as I approached the Queen Emma bridge the bell rang. I got on the bridge and expected I might be riding it as it opened, but there was time for me to make it to the other side before anything else happened. Soon after I stepped off the bridge started moving and a small tour boat went through. The boat passed as soon as there was space for it and the bridge returned to service right away.

 

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From the bridge it was a short walk to the floating market. Vendors from Venezuela (about 40 miles away) come to a section of the harbor and sell fish, fruits, and vegetables. Fish is displayed on the gunwales of the boat while there are permanent stands for produce with the boats acting as the stockroom.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/markets.jpg

 

From the floating market I got a good look at the mystery ship I’d spotted from deck 14. It was the MV Logos Hope which appears to be a converted ferry operated by a German Missionary agency. According to a flyer advertising a concert, they appear to be in town at least through March 5.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/logoshope.jpg

 

I walked around town a bit before crossing the small inlet by the floating market to visit the Maritime Museum. Situated in a restored old mansion it was not as good as I expected, displaying mostly ship models and very few actual artifacts. The display I liked most was one of vintage HAL mariner tiles.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/tiles.jpg

 

I stopped at McDonalds for a burger and took advantage of the free wifi to update both the antivirus and operating system on my secondary laptop. I returned to the Koningsdam about 2 for a welcome dose of air conditioning.

 

We were again at 9 at Table 57 with the same couple here as last night. This evening I went for the chilled soup, veal, and strawberry crisp. The veal was excellent but entirely too big. When I first saw it I sliced the cut right down the middle and said “I’ll eat this half, not the other”. Sometimes portions are on the small side, and sometimes they are huge. The sun was behind us and set just as we finished.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dishes25.jpg

 

There was minimal entertainment as many guests were out late (all aboard at 10:30). I went out for a while to use the port’s wifi. There was a bright red glow about 7:15 but fireworks were starting as I returned to the ship.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dusk0225.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot is not a very happy one. One of our people is still not back at table 57. Her friends think she is improving physically but still won’t get out of bed and just mopes in her room. They are also booked on the next 11 days and they are not sure how she’ll cope with going through immigration on turnaround day. They say this happens to her on most of her cruises. I sure hope when the time comes that most of us no longer enjoy cruising or whatever else we like to do we will have enough sense and courage to give it up.

 

Roy

[kazu]

Great reports and pics Roy.

 

That is a very sad parting shot indeed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As usual -- wonderful review with wonderful pictures.

I love the tiles.

[rafinmd]

Day KDAM7, Sunday, February 26, Oranjestad, Aruba

 

Thanks Krazy Kruizers and Kazu.

 

My next 2 ships, the Zaandam and Crystal Serenity are both at Port Stanley. I hope tendering is feasible or there will be a LOT of disappointed passengers. Crystal Symphony is at sea from Komodo Island to Boracay, Philippines. On Sundays from here on the Carnival Inspiration is at sea from Ensenada to Los Angeles. Early this morning I was able to catch a picture of the Zaandam from Serenity’s webcam.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/zaandamstanley.jpg

 

As I started my 5-lap morning walk we were sailing north with Aruba on our starboard side. About lap 3 or 4 we started turning first directly towards Aruba and finally south towards the pier. We came into port about 7 and I went up to the lido deck for our arrival. Port officials here use an SUV to haul the mooring lines to their anchors. I had created a banner for the sailaway for Ft. Lauderdale and I took it up with me for both sailin and sailaway, capturing a bit of it in the photo of the mooring operation.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/sailin.jpg

 

The sun was due up about that time but hidden behind hills and clouds and I didn’t see it until after I had been in the lido to have an omelet made.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dawn0226.jpg

 

This is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday. While there is a Priest on board there are no Protestant chaplain, and the 9AM Interdenominational Service was “Congregation Led”. There were a few stories and hymns and that was about it. I had actually planned on trying to find a local church and had a couple of options, but they were not to be.

 

There was a big Carnival Celebration. The true festivities didn’t start until afternoon, but the preparations began very early. My first choice was the Methodist Church which was somewhat more than a mile south of the port. Chairs had been set up along the street pretty much blocking the sidewalks and making frequent diversions into the street necessary. When I got to the first turning point, the cross street was the starting point for the parade and getting further south was pretty futile. I retreated to the “Protestant” church closer to town. I found it but it appeared to be all locked up. I’m glad I didn’t miss what we had on the ship.

 

The Protestant Church was also near Fort Zoutman, a 1796 coastal defense installation. It is supposed to have a museum but it too was locked up tight. I returned to the Koningsdam a little before noon.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/zoutman.jpg

 

After lunch at DiveIn I spent most of the afternoon working on the computer enjoying the cool air conditioning. About 3:30 the sounds of the parade started to filter into my room. I could see a bit from deck 14 but the best views turned out to be from my sailaway spot at the very aft of the

lido deck.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/carnival.jpg

 

Lines started coming in about 4:55 and we started moving almost exactly on time at 5, leaving me just enough time to get to dinner. We were back down to 7 at table 57 missing the 2 visitors we had the previous 2 nights. I went for the Strawberry Bisque, Lamb Chops, and Pineapple Crisp. Service was exceptionally quick; we were about 6:30.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dishes26.jpg

 

The evening’s entertainment, Frozen Planet, was a bit unusual, although something I’ve seen a couple of times with symphony orchestras. It was a BBC documentary, but the music score was omitted and played live by the orchestra. The one-hour show brought back great memories of my 2016 visits to Antarctica and the Northwest Passage. Lincoln Center Stage was dark because the performers were all helping with Frozen Planet.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/frozen.jpg

 

After the show I went up to the lido for coffee. I haven’t been to BB King blues club but they were just getting started as I passed the space. In lieu of a movie the Academy Awards were screened live on the Pool big screen.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/bbking.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot is a bit of a rant. I think it’s nice that HAL provides a Priest onboard but it also leaves me feeling like a second class citizen. I come from a Crystal background where the Priest routinely presides over an interdenominational worship service on Sundays and they always do a superb job. The agency HAL uses for priests lists these ecumenical services as one of the things they offer, and I know a few of them actually provide the service but very few do. While Jesus said “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name I am there” there is also a very good reason why clergy make the experience much richer and more meaningful. Come on, HAL, you can do better.

 

Roy

[kazu]

Aww Roy, sorry that services are not available on board. I know Himself performs non denominational services and I was hopeful that this was the standard. Sounds like it is not. :(

[Krazy Kruizers]

Love your taking the time to do these daily reports complete with pictures.

Sorry to hear that there aren't any real services for some of us who do the non denominational services.

[catl331]

Yes, HIMSELF enjoys doing interdominational services. He enjoys meeting everyone as he strolls around the ship. He is setting a fine example. Thanks Father!

[rafinmd]

Day KDAM8, Monday, February 27, 2017, At sea, MS Koningsdam

 

Thank you Kazu,, Krazy Kurizers, and Carol. I have not yet sailed with Himself but he frequently sails the Vancouver-Seward run and I'm hoping against hope he'll be on the 7/29/18 Westerdam cruise. Tuesday AM it's quite windy and I had to take my morning walk indoors. I hope it gets nicer for On Deck for a Cause.

 

The Zaandam is at sea from Port Stanley to Punta Arenas. The Crystal Serenity is at sea from Port Stanley to Puerto Montt. The Crystal Symphony is at sea from Komodo Island to Boracay.

 

Walking on Sunday had left my feet quite sore and I expected to have to shorten my walk but the feet held up fine for the full 5 miles. When I started walking we were about 170 miles south of Haiti. The winds were rather brisk but were behind my back as I crossed the bow and not an issue. Sunrise was officially 7:08 but when I came around the stern there was nothing. It finally came about 2 laps later as the sun rose above the clouds.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dawn0227.jpg

 

This was the day of the Mariner Reception and Lunch for the more senior Mariners. Holland America has 2 parallel award systems, a medallion program which is primarily ceremonial with medallions awarded for 100, 300, 500, and 700 actual nights. The other program is the “Star” program which has little ceremonial value but actual benefits like free laundry, discounts, and priority embarkation and tendering. The program today was primarily focused on the medallions and there were a LOT of Bronze Medallions given out (100 days) and quite a few silver (300 days)(I should just be reaching 200 days on this cruise and should hit 300 in Alaska next year). There were none of the higher medallions awarded this time but 3 cruisers were recognized for over 2500 nights.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/topcruisers.jpg

We adjourned to the dining room where a champagne lunch was served. Captain DeVries made some appropriate comments. It was a mostly fixed menu with just 2 starters, 3 entrees, and a single desert. A small ceramic tile for the ship is given at each of these luncheons; this one also had the inscription “Inaugural Season”.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/kdamtile.jpg

 

I left before desert for a “Captain’s Chat” back at the World Stage, starting out with a video tour of the bridge. I think most questions were pretty routine but the problem that delayed our arrival to Grand Turk came up. Repairs to an exhaust gas leak in one engine were apparently made pretty routinely in Grand Turk, but the machinery involved gets extremely hot and nothing could be done until it cooled off.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/capnchat.jpg

 

The noon report was delayed until about 2:30PM. Things are proceeding well; we have a moderate swell but coming from a good direction. He mentioned that we would soon pass the Zuiderdam heading south. I intended to look for it but got distracted; when I went out on deck one of the people at the rail indicated it had passed about 15 minutes earlier.

 

I started to see the often dreaded disembarkation packets during the afternoon, although mine didn’t appear until after dinner. I would normally be sorry to be leaving, but with 30 days on Crystal and a month on the Zaandam I’m hardly disappointed. If I could stay on Koningsdam another 3 weeks and still board the Crystal Serenity March 3 I would gladly do so, but have no problem sticking with my current plans. Wednesday will be a long day. My transfer tour leaves at 8:15 and my flight is not until 10:45PM.

 

There were only 5 of us at table 57 tonight as one couple was I think at Canaletto. Most had the surf and turf while I went for the chicken.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/dishes27.jpg

 

The featured entertainment was the Koningsdam Singers and Dancers with “Off the Charts:Billboard hits rewind”. While the substance of the show was pretty standard the presentation was not. It was presented in a “Theater in the Round” format with the band scattered among the cast, some guests in chairs behind the stage so the audience almost completely circled the stage, and most of the time the 3 singers each faced different sectors of the crowd. At one point some of the dancers engaged in an impromptu dance with some of the guests seated behind the stage.

 

This is our final Gala night and after the show I started packing in earnest with all the formal wear and anything I don’t expect to used tomorrow open for packing.

 

As a parting shot, tonight’s were the final performances for the current cast of singers and dancers. They have been on the ship for 7 months, more than half the Koningsdam’s service time to date. They will leave the ship with me and be replaced by a new cast. This cast has been very outgoing and a real asset to the ship and they will be dearly missed. Wishing each of them great success in their next endeavors. A kind of Bon Voyage in reverse.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day KDAM9, Tuesday, February 28, 2017, At sea, MS Koningsdam

 

The Zaandam is in Punta Arenas. The Crystal Serenity is in Puerto Madryn. The Crystal Symphony is in Boracay, Philippines.

 

As my final full day on the Koningsdam started we were sailing along the northern coast of Cuba and the winds made walking on deck impossible, so I took a walk on interior corridors of the ship.

 

Much of my day was spent packing and wrapping things up, but one of the highlights of a HAL cruise is On Deck For A Cause, the 3-mile (5K) walk for international cancer research. One of the features greatly maligned about the Koningsdam was the Promenade Deck and I wanted to wait for On Deck For A Cause before commenting on it. In the last 10 days I have walked 71 laps, over 23 miles so I mostly had an opinion formed before today. The deck is definitely narrow in spots, most notably around the sides of the dining room. There are definitely some narrow spots, most notably on the sides along the dining room. There are some support pillars where the walk is 7 boards wide (about 35 inches), while between the pillars it is about 45 inches. It widens to about 6 feet crossing at the aft.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/walk2.jpg

 

One thing Carson mentioned was that all 5 of the ships in the Caribbean were doing the walk simultaneously. On most ships the walk starts on the port side; we started on the starboard side outside the Dutch Caf?. I think it was beneficial to have 3/4 of a lap to spread people out a bit before hitting the narrow stretch, but it was still pretty crowded back there on the first lap. By the second lap people had spread out a bit more and I saw no traffic issues on the last 8 laps.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/walk1.jpg

 

One other thing I think is different from other HAL ships is that the deck is an imitation teak instead of the real thing. I would like to say that is a good thing but so far I can?t. Cunard uses teak on QM2 and synthetic on QE and QV. On all real teak decks, including QM2 the surface is cleaned with large quantities of water each morning, sometimes feeling more like wading than walking. On QE/QV the surface cleans quite nicely with just a damp mop, leaving almost a dry surface. HAL has not yet adopted the simpler way of cleaning this surface; I hope they will eventually.

 

I come from Crystal where the culture is that the Promenade deck is a place for walking, not for lounging, so I don't miss the loungers. At the end of the walk there were refreshments (great cookies) and (oh yes) the weather had turned perfect by walk time. I?ll personally give the Koningsdam's Promenade deck an A-.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/walk3.jpg

 

In his midday update Captain de Vries mentioned that we were detouring close to the Cuba shore because the ocean in the direct route is not deep enough to support us. We are doing 18 knots, a little slower than needed but we should get a boost from the Gulf Stream to get us to Ft. Lauderdale on time without needing additional engines.

 

I had noticed that the Dutch Cafe offered toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, one of my favorites from the Trident Grill, Crystal's equivalent of Dive In. I thought they were not as good as Crystal's but still mighty fine.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/toasted.jpg

 

The usual 7 were at table 57 for our final dinner together. 4 are staying on for the next 11 days (out of 411 total on the ship). I went for the Lamb Shank, one of the most tender cuts of lamb I can remember

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dishes0228.jpg

 

The headline act on the World Stage was comedian George Casey. He was hilarious. I?m going to try to get this posted before calling it a night.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/casey.jpg

 

As a parting shot, Bon Voyage to the 411 continuing on for the next 11 days. For those who celebrate it have a meaningful Ash Wednesday.

 

 

My apologies. Some characters have been getting garbled. I have no idea why.

 

 

Roy

[POA1]

Great reports. Thank you!

[erewhon]

Roy, Thank you for all your reports and photos.

[Sea and Me]

What a great report, felt like I was there with you. We are considering this ship in October it would be our first Holland America cruise.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[rafinmd]

Day KDAM10, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, Disembark Koningsdam, Fly to Buenos Aires

 

The Zaandam is in Ushuaia. The Crystal Serenity is at sea from Puerto Madryn to Montevideo. The Crystal Symphony is in Romblon, Philippines.

 

Thank you Sea and Me, erewhon, and POA1.

 

I?ll start with a couple left over things from Tuesday evening. When I returned from dinner there was a little something extra on my bed, a commemorative plate for the Koningsdam?s inaugural season. It was very nice but a bit of a last minute packing challenge.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/souvenir1.jpg

 

I?ve been hearing about ?dueling pianos? on the Koningsdam and had seen back to back pianos in the Billboard Online venue but had not seen any notice of matching events. I thought I saw something about ?Piano Celebration? for 10PM but when I stopped by after packing there was nothing going on.

 

I went up to the Koningsdam?s Lido for coffee about 5:30. My GPS indicated we were 7 miles out. It looked closer but at the end of my 4-lap walk we didn?t seem a lot closer.

 

Sunrise was 6:45 AM; I went up to the lido about 6:40 but stopped to get an omelet and ended up on deck well after the sun was up. When finished I returned to my room for last minute internet checks and packing, leaving the room about 8. The schedule had me leaving between 8:15 and 8:30; my Red 2 was called at 8:25. With just one ship in port things were quite smooth.

 

My 3 bags came to a total of about 117 pounds and I decided I wasn?t leaving the terminal without a porter. I was in the general customs line, here the porters don?t seem to get special treatment but lines were short and I was on my tour bus about 8:50.

 

My tour was called ?Ft. Lauderdale Land and Sea; we had about 50 people. Leaving the port about 9:15 we drove along a section of the beach and then headed inland to the center of Fort Lauderdale. The town is sometimes known as the ?Venice of America?, crisscrossed by about 300 miles of mostly man-made waterways. We stopped at a landing overlooking one of the canals where our guide gave us about a 10-minute summary of the history of Ft. Lauderdale.

 

We returned to the beach area where we boarded the Jungle Queen tour boat for a 90 minute cruise, first sailing past mansions of the rich and famous into the heart of the city, and then into the port where we had a final look at the Koningsdam and a number of freighters at various stages of loading.

 

We returned to our bus about 12:30 and headed for the airports. We made stops at 3 Fort Lauderdale terminals and then headed South on I95. I was off at the first stop at MIA, the one serving American Airlines. With my load the walk into the terminal required a rest stop or 2 until I got to the luggage carts.

 

While it seems like most times luggage cannot be checked until a few hours before the flight that was not the case. My luggage was taken for my 10:45 flight to Buenos Aires and I was free to leave the airport for a while.

 

Miami Airport is connected to a transit hub by a short shuttle train. When I got to the hub I had to relinquish my luggage trolley and carry my remaining 27 pounds of junk on my back. Not too heavy but the pack is bigger than the contents so the load was not really well distributed. I took a bus into Coral Gables where I seem to visit the local Panera moderately frequently. After a second stop for Ice cream I headed back on a different bus line and returned to the airport about 5:30.

 

With TSA pre-check security went quickly and I have about 4 hours at the Admiral?s lounge. The flight is 9 hours and I lose 2 hours to time Zones, so I?ll be in Buenos Aires mid to late morning, staying independently at Crystal?s hotel. When I arrive at the hotel, the hard part should be over.

 

This parting shot actually dates back a few days but I wanted to save it for a transition day when I?ll be posting to both the Holland America and Crystal forums on Cruise Critic. Koningsdam?s Cruise Director Carson took part in the cast chat and back stage tour. The current cast was ending their contracts and a question came up about what happens next (while Crystal has a permanent cast with a ?swing? person covering vacations on most cruise line a cast is chosen for a run of several months and then disbands and they go their separate ways). Carson, a former member of a cruise cast, told of a defining moment for him as he decided to seek a more permanent position. He was watching an interview with Angela Lansbery (Godmother of Crystal Symphony) and she said ?even at 89 years old (and a superstar) I still have to audition for my parts! While I am sure there are some great rewards in a show business career, job security is not one of them. Thank goodness there are talented people who are willing to live with that uncertainty.

 

There will be a break in my HAL reports for a couple of weeks. I disembark Crystal Serenity March 14 and will visit Iguazu Falls in the interval between Serenity and Zaandam. I plan to post on that part of the trip on both the Crystal and HAL forums. My Crystal thread:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2457038

 

Roy

[kazu]

Thanks for the link to your crystal thread Roy :)

 

That plate is very nice.

 

Safe travels to you and Bon Voyage :)

[Cruising-along]

I enjoyed your Koningsdam review and look forward to following along on the rest of your amazing voyage! Thanks!

 

I'm curious about the commemorative plate. We were aboard the K for 2 weeks in January and never heard of anyone receiving this. Can you share the reasons it was given out on your cruise?

[rafinmd]

I enjoyed your Koningsdam review and look forward to following along on the rest of your amazing voyage! Thanks!

 

I'm curious about the commemorative plate. We were aboard the K for 2 weeks in January and never heard of anyone receiving this. Can you share the reasons it was given out on your cruise?

I don't know what to say. The note didn't say anything about me being special and I just assumed everybody got one. You would think if there were a unique reason they would say something like "Because you're a 4-star Mariner we are pleased to present..." but there was nothing like that. My only wild stab (and I'm probably wrong) is that the note was signed by Captain de Vries and he might have had some influence in it.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

As always, I am looking forward to hearing about your adventures and especially what you think about the solo cabins. Bon Voyage!

 

I'm not sure I've really said much about that here. I did post a review of the cabin "you know where" and it is published. Essentially I was very pleased with the cabin and on a ship that has some really nice itineraries. It remains to be seen if there are enough of the cabins to make a difference in the price or it will be like Cunard or the Prinsendam where it's usually cheaper to pay nearly double for a regular cabin.

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Finally got caught up on your review.

So wonderful with great pictures.

[Cruising-along]

I don't know what to say. The note didn't say anything about me being special and I just assumed everybody got one. You would think if there were a unique reason they would say something like "Because you're a 4-star Mariner we are pleased to present..." but there was nothing like that. My only wild stab (and I'm probably wrong) is that the note was signed by Captain de Vries and he might have had some influence in it.

 

Roy

 

 

Thanks :) It's a beautiful plate!

[rafinmd]

Thanks Carolyn.

 

BTW, I'm keeping a little of the Koningsdam close while on the Serenity:

 

[kazu]

Thanks Carolyn.

 

BTW, I'm keeping a little of the Koningsdam close while on the Serenity:

 

 

 

Love it :))

[rafinmd]

Really enjoying your reviews. If I may ask a favor, we will be on this itinerary in March. I'll be watching for whenyour gala nights are and comments but would you be able to find out if there will be a Cellar Master or Master Chef dinner on your cruise? I think the Pinnacle Grill maitre d would be able to let you know. Hope I'll be able to preplan our nights in the specialty restaurants. Thanks so much.

 

 

Oops, I almost forgot about this. You probably noticed the Gala nights were the the first sea day and the sea day right after Aruba. I think I remember the Master Chef Dinner which I think was the last Gala night in the dining room. According to the dining supervisor it was discontinued about 8 months ago. The Cellar Master Dinner was in the Culinary Arts Center was the night we were in Bonaire. Here's the flyer.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/cellar.pdf

 

Roy

[Cruisergal1208]

Oops, I almost forgot about this. You probably noticed the Gala nights were the the first sea day and the sea day right after Aruba. I think I remember the Master Chef Dinner which I think was the last Gala night in the dining room. According to the dining supervisor it was discontinued about 8 months ago. The Cellar Master Dinner was in the Culinary Arts Center was the night we were in Bonaire. Here's the flyer.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/cellar.pd

 

Roy

 

Thank you so much.. Will be on the lookout for the Cellar Master Dinner info. We don't have any tours planned for the ports. Just play each stop by ear and how we are feeling that day. A group of 10 of us are renting the 2 story Beach Villa at Half Moon Cay so that should be fun.

 

I think there is a Chef Rudi Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on some of the cruises and hope they have one on ours. Thanks again for good information.

[perfect match]

Roy, I just finished reading your Koningsdam report on your blog. I enjoyed it very much, and found a lot of information I know will prove useful on our upcoming Kdam cruise. Thank you very much for sharing with us! (y)

 

Love the reminders of the Kdam hanging around with you on the Serenity! :D

Edited March 7, 2017 by perfect match

[jimbri]

I am enjoying your blogs. Thank you for sharing.