MS Nieuw Statendam inaugural Eastbound Transatlantic

[Happily@Sea]

14 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

It's called "When & Where" and the time change is included on the first page

 

I think they were talking about the one you get at the beginning of the cruise that gives the cruise's main activities. It includes Gala Nights, main stage programs and other special events.that set for the whole cruise. Why not include time changes too?

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by Happily@Sea

[joekerstef]

Thanks for your updates Roy. Sorry you're finding certain aspects of NS to be disappointing. We had the captain's Q&A towards the end of my last two cruises; definitely a popular event but not standing room only. Agree that there was not nearly enough time for questions. We also had Karlijn on the last two cruises giving the same talks that you're getting. Hoping she doesn't show up on my Alaska cruise next month to tell us about the pirates of the caribbean.... 🙂

 

We've always seen any time change in the daily program as well as getting the little card at night. I feel like sometimes there was an announcement made but I want to say it was the cruise director rather than the captain telling us. 

 

We did the behind the scenes tour on Zuidy in December; very interesting tour. I am surprised they don't publicize it more although I do think in our case it was mentioned in the When and Where once. I learned that there was going to be one on our cruise during the first cruise director's coffee break which was with the lead engineer and half of the room perked up when he said that so I hustled down to the front desk as soon as the chat was over to sign us up. There was a sign advertising it on the front desk, but it wasn't exactly prominent. Surprisingly only about 16 people on the tour. Guess the $150 fee turned some people off. I would potentially do it again just to hang out on the bridge again for a spell. But the galley and backstage portions of the tour people could do for free, so I guess you really want to have to see the laundry operations, the bridge, engineering, and some of the other places pax don't normally get to go. There's some snacks, a couple of drinks, and some souvenirs including a photo with the captain involved too. Sorry you will apparently not get to go; would be neat to see how the newest dam ship operates behind the scenes.  

[wdw1972]

35 minutes ago, Happily@Sea said:

 

I think they were talking about the one you get at the beginning of the cruise that gives the cruise's main activities. It includes Gala Nights, main stage programs and other special events.that set for the whole cruise. Why not include time changes too?

 

Yes, that's the one I was referring to.  The When & Where is the daily thing left on the bed each night.  Like Ray, I would prefer knowing up front which nights the clocks will be changing - heck I'd like to see it on the itinerary online before I even get to the ship!  On this last Rotterdam cruise it was a bit much - 7 nights, 4 time changes.  We turned the clock back an hour 2 nights in a row (nights 2 & 3), then turned them forward 2 nights in a row (nights 5 & 6).  So, only nights 1, 4 & 7 were without a time change!

 

Sue/WDW1972

[Copper10-8]

1 hour ago, Happily@Sea said:

 

I think they were talking about the one you get at the beginning of the cruise that gives the cruise's main activities. It includes Gala Nights, main stage programs and other special events.that set for the whole cruise. Why not include time changes too?

 

 

 

Ooooooooooooh, got it, thanks!! Said it before, small brain/bottom feeder 😞

[rafinmd]

Ok, I am just looking at the cruise planner (which would also be a nice place for both the time changes and notice of the behind the scenes tour) and the last page is officer bios.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/planner.pdf

 

In the Captain's bio (last page) it says "holds a Commercial Pilot License" so it sounds like he still does fly, perhaps even some corporate charters when off the ship.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day NS5, Friday, April 26, 2019,  At sea, MS Nieuw Statendam

Queen Victoria is at sea from  Gran Canaria to Southampton.  QM2 is at sea from New York to Southampton

The moon is waning but a good half of it was shining brightly above the ship as I went up to the lido for my first cup of coffee.  

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/moon0426.jpg

I'm still having a bit of difficulty adapting to how much earlier the sunrise gets as we sail eastward.  I was able to walk 10 laps (3 1/3 miles) before heading up to deck 14.  I was thinking I was just in time for sunrise, but while walking the time had advanced from 7:10 to 7:07 and the sun had just passed through a narrow open space at the horizon.  It's rays did filter beautifully down into that little bit of open space.  I completed my 5 miles about 8:30.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dawn0426.jpg

A maritime tradition is for the builders to embed a coin into a new ship.  That coin on the Nieuw Statendam is on the superstructure to the forward mast and I go right past it on my way to my sunrise observation point, with the coin sitting in a little gap in the railing.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/bldrcoin.jpg

I have a new reader, a former colleague at the Social Security Administration who also employs his statistical skills to analyze betting patterns.  The casino is on deck 3 forward, near the stairs where my cabin is.  It's a smoking venue and I usually stay down on deck 2 until getting past it but I did pass through once today.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/casino.jpg

There were 2 morning talks on the World Stage, Tim Calvert with "The Admiral Graf Spree" and Brian Beck with "How to Build a Navy".  Neither struck my fancy and I skipped them.  In his noon update Captain DeBoer indicated the winds and the seas would pick up a bit in our final sea day heading to the Azores.  (It appears the change was even more than he expected).  Finally, our nearest land is in the area of our destination, 534 nautical miles to the nearest of the Azores, Fajazinha.  I had lunch in the Pinnacle Grill, the burger and the berries for desert.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/lunch.jpg

Karlijn had her talk on our first 2 ports, Praia de Vitoria and Ponta Delgada, at 3 at a packed World Stage.  We are at industrial areas at both ports with a shuttle into town.

There were 4 at table 232 for our second gala night.  I chose the daily Caesar Salad, the Rack of Lamb, and the Forest Berry Tart with ice cream.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dishes26.jpg

The featured entertainment was Step 1 dance company with "Stages".  It was again crowded and I got only a tiny plastic platform to sit on and stayed only for a couple of songs.  We lost another hour moving to Azores time.  The wind had picked up but I stepped onto deck briefly as the sun was getting down to the horizon.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dusk0426.jpg

My parting shot will be a happy birthday  wish to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

Roy

 

[Caribbean Chris]

I noted your comment, Roy, about the “we have attempted to contact you but have not been able to reach you” card. We received two of those head-scratchers on different matters from Guest Services during our recent 7-day cruise on the N.Statendam.

 

No previous phone calls, no phone messages...and we were in our stateroom all afternoon when the second one arrived. We chuckled about how difficult we are to locate.

 

Somebody at guest services must think this system is efficient and business-like, but seemed a bit wasteful to print and deliver a formal message with that testy tone vs making a one-minute phone call.

 

 

[rafinmd]

6 minutes ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I noted your comment, Roy, about the “we have attempted to contact you but have not been able to reach you” card. We received two of those head-scratchers on different matters from Guest Services during our recent 7-day cruise on the N.Statendam.

 

No previous phone calls, no phone messages...and we were in our stateroom all afternoon when the second one arrived. We chuckled about how difficult we are to locate.

 

Somebody at guest services must think this system is efficient and business-like, but seemed a bit wasteful to print and deliver a formal message with that testy tone vs making a one-minute phone call.

 

 

Yes, I think that comment was the one that really sent me off  on a tantrum.

 

Roy

[Happily@Sea]

3 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Ok, I am just looking at the cruise planner (which would also be a nice place for both the time changes and notice of the behind the scenes tour) and the last page is officer bios.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/planner.pdf

 

In the Captain's bio (last page) it says "holds a Commercial Pilot License" so it sounds like he still does fly, perhaps even some corporate charters when off the ship.

 

Roy

 

That's the handout wdw1972 and I were talking about for listing the time change - I didn't remember what they called it. I think it's the perfect place for a known time change.

[joekerstef]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Ok, I am just looking at the cruise planner (which would also be a nice place for both the time changes and notice of the behind the scenes tour) and the last page is officer bios.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/planner.pdf

 

In the Captain's bio (last page) it says "holds a Commercial Pilot License" so it sounds like he still does fly, perhaps even some corporate charters when off the ship.

 

Roy

Oh wow, when did they start doing this? We didn't have one in December. Very handy for planning ahead purposes, like when to schedule dinners in a specialty restaurant and whatnot. 

[rafinmd]

4 minutes ago, joekerstef said:

Oh wow, when did they start doing this? We didn't have one in December. Very handy for planning ahead purposes, like when to schedule dinners in a specialty restaurant and whatnot. 

I don't know exactly when but I THINK likely within the last month.  I especially like the staff bio page.

 

Roy

[Copper10-8]

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I don't know exactly when but I THINK likely within the last month.  I especially like the staff bio page.

 

Roy

 

Wasn't there yet for most of March

[Happily@Sea]

4 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Wasn't there yet for most of March

Maybe it depends on the ship. Prinsendam Dec, Oosterdam and Rotterdam - both Jan, had the pictures/bios with the 'cruise planner' on the back. That's how I knew about them. 

 

I don't remember one on Maasdam last June.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Happily@Sea

[Krazy Kruizers]

7 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Ok, I am just looking at the cruise planner (which would also be a nice place for both the time changes and notice of the behind the scenes tour) and the last page is officer bios.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/planner.pdf

 

In the Captain's bio (last page) it says "holds a Commercial Pilot License" so it sounds like he still does fly, perhaps even some corporate charters when off the ship.

 

Roy

 

I like the idea that you have pictures and bios of the major staff.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoyed your Friday sea day report.  Too bad that your ship tour was cancelled.  Don't like how they handle things on this ship.

 

Love the moon, sunrise and sunset pictures.

 

That hamburger in the Pinnacle certainly is large.

[VMax1700]

2 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Wasn't there yet for most of March

 

It was on KDM for March 27th sailing from Port Everglades!

[VMax1700]

on the time changes thing...........

As  you need to 'lose' 4 hours between Florida and the Azores and you have only 7 nights to do it, the odds are pretty good that you can 'pick' 3 of the nights! 

You will also lose another 2 hours between Azores and Spain mainland.  

 

On our recent KDM transAtlantic, Capt Darin mentioned the 1 hour change during his 12 Noon 'address to the masses'.  

[Copper10-8]

18 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

 

It was on KDM for March 27th sailing from Port Everglades!

 

 

That must have been when they started giving them out/making them available on K-dam then 

Edited April 27, 2019 by Copper10-8

[rafinmd]

Day NS6, Saturday, April 27, 2019,  At sea, MS Nieuw Statendam

Queen Victoria is at sea from Gran Canaria to Southampton.  QM2 is at sea from New York to Southampton

The great weather we had for the first week at sea could not last but at least the only issue was wind.  The doors to the promenade deck are quite heavy anyway, I could not budge the manual door and the automatic doors were either turned off or roped off.  I went up to the jogging track on deck 11 which was sheltered.  I could see that it was not completely cloudy as the moon was visible in the middle of the sky.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/moon0427.jpg

The jogging track goes around the midship pool roof and is 12 laps to a mile.  I walked 18 laps (1 ½ miles) plus two more at noon and one lap around the promenade in the afternoon for a total of 2 miles.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/jogging.jpg

I missed a bit on the sunrise time.  It was just a little after 7:30 and when I went on deck about 7:45 it was just passing into some very low lying clouds.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dawn0427.jpg

I had a pretty quiet day mostly working in my room.  I like to be out on deck for the Captain's noon update, usually at the forward end of the jogging deck.  We are expecting to pick up the pilot for Praia de Vitoria about 8:30.  I'm having trouble what the ship designers were thinking when they designed deck 11.  There are showers and a number of huge towel return stations but neither any pools nor any towels.  I try to use the benches at my announcement spot but they are frequently wet.  A towel would be very useful and there's an easy spot to return it but no place to get it.  Go Figure.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/why.jpg

I like to take my food from the lido outside to enjoy it.  Being Koningsdag I was wearing my orange tee shirt.  It was a bit too chilly for that on the aft deck and I checked out the midship pool deck but all those tables were in use so I just kept my fleece half zipped up.

There was a special menu cover for Koningsdag and I guess a special wine list.  

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/orangemenu.jpg

I don't think most of my dinner was particularly Dutch but chose the Caesar Salad, Lamb Shank, and OMG the Dutch Apple Pie.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dishes0427.jpg

The entertainment on the World Stage was a second show by the vocal group Vox Clever.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/clever.jpg

After leaving the show the sun was settling in to some clouds lining the horizon.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/dusk0427.jpg

The Koningsdag "Orange Party" was at 9:45.  I not a party person but dropped by briefly and the turnout was quite awesome.  

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/orangeparty.jpg

There was also a special orange beer for the occasion.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/orangebeer.jpg

While the party was in the BB King Blues Club it was really too big for that venue and there was a huge spillover into the Rolling Stone Rock Club.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/overflow.jpg

As a parting shot I don't really watch a lot of news but understand there is a budding flood situation in a number of areas including Atlantic Canada and areas of the central US.  Stay safe.

Roy

 

[rafinmd]

Now docked in Praia but not yet cleared.

 

Roy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Can't believe that for several days now you have been able to get pictures of the moon, sunrise and subset.

 

That is weird about about deck 11 having showers and towel return bins for pools that aren't there.

 

Nice turnout for King's day.  Orange beer -- I will pass on that.  In fact I can't drink beer because of the yeast.

 

Have a good day in Praia.

 

Great pictures.

[whogo]

Thanks for all the great posts, Roy, it is nice of you to take us along.

 

We set a new record of 43 straight days of major flooding along the Mississippi on Friday, a second crest will arrive Tuesday, we will stay at major flooding through next weekend.

[rafinmd]

4 hours ago, whogo said:

Thanks for all the great posts, Roy, it is nice of you to take us along.

 

We set a new record of 43 straight days of major flooding along the Mississippi on Friday, a second crest will arrive Tuesday, we will stay at major flooding through next weekend.

Stay safe.

 

We are holding at Praia de Vitoria for a while waiting for the winds to subside some.  We have also called a tug.

 

Roy

[travelnap]

Roy, thanks for taking us along with you on this trip.  I look forward to seeing your pictures from your tour in the Azores.

[Krazy Kruizers]

3 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Stay safe.

 

We are holding at Praia de Vitoria for a while waiting for the winds to subside some.  We have also called a tug.

 

Roy

 

Hope you don't miss any ports because of the winds.