Live from Nieuw Statendam Premier Voyage, December 2018

[Happily@Sea]

I'm following along, I will be on the road to Ft Lauderdale - just after she arrives. I will be leaving on EE 2 days later. I have also been following Cpt Albert and looking forward to yours - and the others - reports. 

 

Have a great cruise - we will miss you at sailaways.  All my flights to Europe [since 1997] have been red-eyes and sleep fatigued the first day.

[Dismomx5]

I'm along for the ride, too. Looking forward to your updates, and the blog, too, Tim. Thank you for sharing your experiences with those of us stuck in the Great White North

[beachbunny6]

Thank you so much for starting this thread!  Thanks, too, to all of you who are planning to contribute.  I cannot wait to follow along on your voyage on this beautiful new ship.  I will be boarding her to sail with those of you who are continuing on the 4-day after her arrival here in Ft. Lauderdale.  I am planning to arrive the day before so I can be there for her arrival in Port Everglades, with all the escorts and water cannons bringing her in for the first time.  It is a ceremony that is really impressive and I cannot wait!  

 

Bon Voyage to you all.  Safe travels and smooth seas on your journey.  See you on the 19th!

~Barbara~

[Vict0riann]

4 hours ago, cat shepard said:

 

 

Thank you! It appears that you will indeed have some special events. I bet there will be great pics taken at the Orange Party!

 

 

I've been looking for an orange wig!

 

3 hours ago, OVgirl said:

If anyone is down on Main deck, would appreciate pictures of stateroom 1125. Thanks. Maybe also for the site that cannot be named.

 

We are having a cabin crawl, and I'm hoping everyone will agree to having some photos taken for that site.  I'm not sure if 1125 is on the list.

 

 

[Vict0riann]

31 minutes ago, beachbunny6 said:

Thank you so much for starting this thread!  Thanks, too, to all of you who are planning to contribute.  I cannot wait to follow along on your voyage on this beautiful new ship.  I will be boarding her to sail with those of you who are continuing on the 4-day after her arrival here in Ft. Lauderdale.  I am planning to arrive the day before so I can be there for her arrival in Port Everglades, with all the escorts and water cannons bringing her in for the first time.  It is a ceremony that is really impressive and I cannot wait!  

 

Bon Voyage to you all.  Safe travels and smooth seas on your journey.  See you on the 19th!

~Barbara~

 

With thanks to everyone who has been sending Bon Voyage wishes our way, I wanted to mention that we will be arriving in Fort Lauderdale at midnight.  I'm not sure what that means as far as a welcoming ceremony!  Here is our itinerary:

 

 

It may mean that the water cannons, etc., will be applied on your cruise, beachbunny!

[POA1]

8 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

With thanks to everyone who has been sending Bon Voyage wishes our way, I wanted to mention that we will be arriving in Fort Lauderdale at midnight.  I'm not sure what that means as far as a welcoming ceremony!  

I'd be happy to welcome you, but we'll be at sea on the way to Bonaire.  Hopefully they'll do something for you with the fireboats/tugs - although it's kind of late on a school night.

[Vict0riann]

4 minutes ago, POA1 said:

I'd be happy to welcome you, but we'll be at sea on the way to Bonaire.  Hopefully they'll do something for you with the fireboats/tugs - although it's kind of late on a school night.

 

I have a feeling everyone will be asleep, except all the workers, who will be busy doing all the things that have to be done for the next cruise and Christmas.

 

Enjoy Bonaire, will you be away for Christmas again?

[POA1]

1 minute ago, Vict0riann said:

 

I have a feeling everyone will be asleep, except all the workers, who will be busy doing all the things that have to be done for the next cruise and Christmas.

 

Enjoy Bonaire, will you be away for Christmas again? 

Yes.  Our last December cruise was in 2016 and we got home Christmas Eve. We get home on Boxing Day this year.

[beachbunny6]

41 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

With thanks to everyone who has been sending Bon Voyage wishes our way, I wanted to mention that we will be arriving in Fort Lauderdale at midnight.  I'm not sure what that means as far as a welcoming ceremony!  Here is our itinerary:

 

 

It may mean that the water cannons, etc., will be applied on your cruise, beachbunny!

That would be really fun!  Or, it may mean that no one really knows.  I have checked the PE port schedule, and was a bit worried yesterday because they are not showing NS arriving and departing until 12/23.  However, that is because I started my Query on the 19th.  I just rechecked, and they are showing you all arriving on the 18th at 07:00 and docking at T26, with departure at 16:00 and not returning on the 19th.  Nieuw Amsterdam is assigned to T26 on the 19th.   That is not good because our 4-day is still scheduled to begin on the 19th, when NS will no longer be scheduled in port.  I know these things do happen, because I was watching the new Celebrity Edge's schedule, and it was a little wonky sometimes.  So, I will not panic at this time.

 

 The good thing is that I am retired and can leave home to drive over to Ft. Lauderdale any time, so it's all good.    The bad thing is that all of you who are not staying aboard for a B2B have no clue when you are actually arriving at PE and when you can return home.    I promise to keep watch and let you know when the schedule updates and corrects.  Meanwhile, as I said before, BON VOYAGE!  Don't Worry, Keep Sailing!

~Barbara~

[sailingdutchy]

The Nieuw Statendam just past by the Piazza  San Marco in Venetia a few minutes ago to start her "Shakedown Cruise " with all the " bigwigs" on board . Hope they save some wine for us ! 

Tony 

[Vict0riann]

Talking about "bigwigs", I have to apologize to my fellow Canadians - I left off an "e" in my thread title - and I don't think Trudeau will be sailing with us!

[wdw1972]

Thanks so much for the "live" report - it'll be great to see all your photos & food porn as I'm eagerly awaiting the 10-night sailing in January!  Love the Koningsdam, and expect to love this ship as well.  Bon Voyage, and good luck with the flights!

 

Sue/WDW1972

[Vict0riann]

1 hour ago, sailingdutchy said:

The Nieuw Statendam just past by the Piazza  San Marco in Venetia a few minutes ago to start her "Shakedown Cruise " with all the " bigwigs" on board . Hope they save some wine for us ! 

Tony 

 

And this is the NS in the Giudecca Canal, leaving Venice, all shiny and bright.

 

(Also compliments of surfgram.)

Edited December 1, 2018 by Vict0riann

[kazu]

4 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

And this is the NS in the Giudecca Canal, leaving Venice, all shiny and bright.

 

(Also compliments of surfgram.)

 

Nice shot Anne, are you getting excited?  You'll have fun with your great roll call, I'm sure. 🙂 

[rkacruiser]

Have a wonderful Maiden Voyage!

 

I'll be boarding Nieuw Statendam on January 6th for 14 days and am looking forward to learning some "insiders tips" about this new Class of vessel for me.

 

Following Captain Albert's Blog, I think the photos of much of the art installed is interesting and, I think, attractive.  I wonder what my reaction will be when I view it in person?

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Have a wonderful Maiden Voyage!

 

I'll be boarding Nieuw Statendam on January 6th for 14 days and am looking forward to learning some "insiders tips" about this new Class of vessel for me.

 

Following Captain Albert's Blog, I think the photos of much of the art installed is interesting and, I think, attractive.  I wonder what my reaction will be when I view it in person?

I'm not particularly an art person, but when we sailing the inaugural (Christening) cruise of the Koningsdam, the art was very different.  I found it quite beautiful, colorful, and at times challenging.  But art is so subjective I'll leave it to you for determining your reactions in person. 

[Krazy Kruizers]

4 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

 

And this is the NS in the Giudecca Canal, leaving Venice, all shiny and bright.

 

(Also compliments of surfgram.)

 

 

Great picture!!

[Vict0riann]

Bear will be travelling along with us.  He resides with NCNurse and her DH.  He is competing with POA's Poohby to be the best-dressed bear on Cruise Critic!

 

[bennybear]

Have a blast!  I will enjoy following along!

[ski ww]

I see your all ready for Club Orange. 

[kazu]

8 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Bear will be travelling along with us.  He resides with NCNurse and her DH.  He is competing with POA's Poohby to be the best-dressed bear on Cruise Critic!

 

 

How cute!  Hope they are taking him to the Orange party 😉 

 

Those Tshirts will make it easy for people to be wearing orange for sure 😄 

[puppycanducruise]

Love that Bear.  Orange seems to be his colour.  Hope he has fun.

[0bnxshs]

Looking forward to sitting back and enjoying this special cruise through all my friends eyes!  Thanks Ann and Sherita for doing the blog here and thanks to Tim for his blog as well.  I now know just how much work can go into doing one of these. 

 

We'll be on NS in January and so have a special interest in comparisons to Koningsdam.  Hope all have a safe trip to Rome and enjoy this most special of cruises!

Edited December 2, 2018 by 0bnxshs

[Vict0riann]

We are on our way!  Sitting at the airport much too early waiting for our flight to Toronto.  I didn’t sleep much, and leapt out of bed at 3:30.  I made myself a cup of instant coffee in the microwave, but in the airport coffee shop we  shared a muffin and had more coffee.  So I’m ready for a long day.  

 

Bon voyage to to all my fellow travellers.  

[1ANGELCAT]

Have a good flight Ann,

The weather for our ports looks fantastic. For Malaga, it’s 72degrees😀