'Twas the Cruise During Christmas - Zuiderdam 2018

[baggal]

I love all your posts and reports - but especially the Helen Roper reference!

[kazu]

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

I sent our laundry out before we went to dinner last night. It was back when we returned from breakfast. The hanging items came back in a garment sleeve, which is a new thing for us. 

 

 

We had those on the P'dam in May-June this year, Brian.

 

It was the first time I had seen them as well.  Kind of liked it as it helps protect things 😉 

[kazu]

2 hours ago, POA1 said:

  I am happy to report that it's an honest to goodness fig, along with grapes, peach chutney, and a carrot and celery stick.

 

Yay, no prunes.  You must be in 7th heaven 😉 😄 

[Copper10-8]

4 hours ago, POA1 said:

We went to the Ocean Bar for pre-dinner cocktails last night. Michelle had another one of the Christmas themed drinks, but we forgot to take a photo. That means it doesn't count and she has to repeat it. 

 

There's a solo pianist in the Ocean Bar and there were a fair number of couples dancing. 

 

After dinner, we caught the last two BB King sets. The vocalists, Tempest and Herschel are excellent and the band is tight.

 

Drink service was excellent all around. As a whiskey drinker, I'm always looking for a nice pour. I've managed to cultivate a few relationships, so all is well. One of the holiday drinks is a Jingle Bell Julep made with Makers Mark. That'll be my assignment. 

 

Aahh; you have Miss Tempest Barnes as the female BB vocalist! She is excellent! Have you heard her sing "Proud Mary" yet? Enjoy!

[POA1]

27 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Aahh; you have Miss Tempest Barnes as the female BB vocalist! She is excellent! Have you heard her sing "Proud Mary" yet? Enjoy!

 

She hasn't done Proud Mary that we've heard yet, but she did a couple of other Tina Turner songs. She did "Simply the Best" and we both commented that she has the range, intonation and moves to rock Tina Turner numbers. 

[keeponcruising]

Thanks for all your posts.  I have a question.  There was talk that only alcoholic beverages count towards the 15 drink a day max on the beverage plans and non-alcoholic beverages don't count.  Can you verify this?

 

Thanks and enjoy your cruise!

[POA1]

10 minutes ago, keeponcruising said:

Thanks for all your posts.  I have a question.  There was talk that only alcoholic beverages count towards the 15 drink a day max on the beverage plans and non-alcoholic beverages don't count.  Can you verify this? 

 

Thanks and enjoy your cruise!

 

I am happy to verify that only your alcoholic beverages count toward your 15 beverage limit.  You're basically getting the Quench Package + 15 alcoholic beverages. I realize that the Beverage Package description I scanned and posted still says 15 total beverages, but in practice, they're only counting the alcohol.

[POA1]

The When & Where from Half Moon Cay - Day 2 of our cruise. It's an Evernote link, but you know the drill.

 

https://www.evernote.com/l/AFhvgrCJprpGHq6xOcdV_3E3FNZDqRiMHH0/

Edited December 18, 2018 by POA1
Fixed bad URL

[Cruise Suzy]

3 minutes ago, POA1 said:

The When & Where from Half Moon Cay - Day 2 of our cruise. It's an Evernote link, but you know the drill.

 

https://www.evernote.com/l/AFjCh0KmVZNFeIM9f8JI99VzzLFOZRCeDps/

 

That URL takes me to Day 1.

[POA1]

4 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

That URL takes me to Day 1.

 

Awesome catch! I was within the edit time window, so I could fix it. Thanks!

[Cruise Suzy]

1 minute ago, POA1 said:

Awesome catch! I was within the edit time window, so I could fix it. Thanks!

 

Thanks to you for doing this! 

[POA1]

No one noticed the life ring in the Grand Turk intro post?  Or do you fear Oprah's minions?

 

[POA1]

1 minute ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Thanks to you for doing this! 

 

No... No. Thank YOU!

[Copper10-8]

2 minutes ago, POA1 said:

No one noticed the life ring in the Grand Turk intro post?  Or do you fear Oprah's minions?

 

 

That's pure artistry! I, for one, am impressed...............with those Bermudas

[keeponcruising]

11 minutes ago, POA1 said:

No one noticed the life ring in the Grand Turk intro post?  Or do you fear Oprah's minions?

 

I caught it!!

[keeponcruising]

24 minutes ago, POA1 said:

 

I am happy to verify that only your alcoholic beverages count toward your 15 beverage limit.  You're basically getting the Quench Package + 15 alcoholic beverages. I realize that the Beverage Package description I scanned and posted still says 15 total beverages, but in practice, they're only counting the alcohol.

Thank you!  And now if they would only raise the max price of the signature pkg to cover the La Marca Prosecco.  It shows as part of the pkg, but the price was listed as $10 on somewhere else.

[POA1]

On Time Delay from the MDR - Day 2's Dinner

 

Poohby Joe doesn't get to go to dinner, but out of respect for his fellow passengers, he maintains appropriate dress throughout the evening.

 

 

 

Michelle started with the Seafood Chowder. It's composed at the table, so there's Hot! Chowdah! Action!

 

 

 

 

Her father and I had chowder as our second courses.

 

Her dad had some sort of asparagus device. (I didn't get my menu copies yet, so I don't remember the dish exactly.)

 

 

I began with a Prosciutto & Caponata appetiizer.

 

 

Michelle ordered the Prime Rib for her main course.

 

 

I went Lamb Chops. (They did a nice little sear on top of the sous vide. A big improvement over a few years ago.)

 

 

My father-in-law selected Cornflake Crusted Hake, I surprisingly bold choice. I had him pegged for the prime rib.

 

 

Michelle had Red Velvet Cake for dessert.

 

 

I went with Blow Torch Puddin'. (I haven't had creme brulee in years.)

 

 

My DFIL went with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.  Nothing against the man, but that just doesn't rate a photo.

 

Agung made an origami-sg tulip for Michelle.

 

 

Everything was very good. I should really try to write more about it, but it's after 4:00 and this guy's not even reached drink one of his 15. This must be remedied.

 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by POA1

[POA1]

2 minutes ago, keeponcruising said:

Thank you!  And now if they would only raise the max price of the signature pkg to cover the La Marca Prosecco.  It shows as part of the pkg, but the price was listed as $10 on somewhere else.

 

I'm pretty sure there's a prosecco on the MDR list that's under limit. I meant to grab a wine list copy last night, but I forgot. I'll check tonight. It gives my life purpose.

[POA1]

 

I know we all feel bad for Poohby, dressing to the nines and never getting to go out. Michelle gives him the origami so he'll feel special.

Edited December 18, 2018 by POA1

[Copper10-8]

13 minutes ago, POA1 said:

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Nice shoes on Michelle! Inquiring minds would like to know what's in the shot glass with the HAL "old" logo on the top left of this pic? 

Quote

 

 

[POA1]

6 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

Nice shoes on Michelle! Inquiring minds would like to know what's in the shot glass with the HAL "old" logo on the top left of this pic? 

 

 

Both days were Jimmy Choo so far. The shot was Bailey's, Kahlua and Frangelico. I forget its name. It was layered though. 

[Copper10-8]

1 minute ago, POA1 said:

 

Both days were Jimmy Choo so far. The shot was Bailey's, Kahlua and Frangelico. I forget its name. It was layered though. 

 

Sounds like a B-52 to moi; tasty!

 

 

 

[POA1]

I exchanged a few emails with Roger Jett and his Southern Caribbean menus on the Koningsdam are quite a bit different than ours on the Zuiderdam. I don't know if if it's because we're a Christmas cruise, or if they're mixing it up for different ships. If it's the latter, it will make your meal planning tougher, but it will give nice variety to people who are cruising on multiple ships. 

[POA1]

Obligatory cabana sunset photo:

 

 

We're off to a pre- Lincoln Center nap. It's a Brahms program and we hope to be out until after the street lights go on tonight. 

[GalhardoV]

Hi. A simple and quick "thank you" for your live threads. Your Oprahdam clever joke was the reason that made this lurker come out of the shadows.

Tempest was the vocalist in a 2016 norway cruise, back when Rotterdam had BBKing at the Crow's Nest: she was able to keep the CN crowd awake and dancing well past midnight, and that is not easy aboard HAL.