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From onboard Rotterdam

garydm

By garydm,
in Holland America Line

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TAD2005

TAD2005

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I spoke to a Hotel Manager on one of the "Ask the manager" sessions about the TV's on the smaller ships, specifically the Rotterdam.   He said that the problem was not the larger TV's being installed, that's the easy part.   The issue is that the interactive, on-demand programming cannot be delivered to the TV's by the old, analog coaxial cables.   The new TV's on the Vista Class and larger ships are fed by Ethernet cable, which would have to be run to every cabin on the ship.   Plus, the source for all of the programming would be totally replaced with a very large video server that would hold all of the on-demand content, plus live stream the live channels.  This would be a major upgrade, and I assume HAL feels that it is not warranted for the smaller ships.

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seattleslew

seattleslew

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Oh Craig!  We just got off the Rottie after the Thanksgiving cruise from FLL to SAN and LOVED our room 3437!  I think it was the best room on the ship because of its location.  Yes, it's a handicapped room and plenty big enough, but if you're feeling lazy or if the sun is too hot on 8, you can open your door, go 10 feet to the Promenade set of double doors and you're out on your own private verandah aft area on the Promenade, overlooking the wake.  Some pax did find it and read there all day long, but it was mostly exclusively ours.  About 16 loungers, no tables.  Great for private happy hours!  And so convenient to Lido!  Out your door, left 30 feet and into the aft elevators up one floor to MDR and up to 8 for food and sun.  By the way, there is no swimming pool up there.  It's a very dated kids' pool about 12" deep, and very much in the way of the loungers.  We never saw all the loungers filled, but still the pool is just a 1990's afterthought.  

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garydm

garydm

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We did the Resort Beach trip excursion yesterday in Puerto Vallarta.  It went to the Hyatt which has a nice beach.  We had what we thought was a wonderful lunch but my brother and I subsequently became a bit ill.  Problem seems to be resolving itself.  Our wives had no issues.

 

Sitting in Neptune Lounge enjoying great service from the concierges.  Awaiting the 49ers game!

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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Ladies in Neptune did a nice spread of dips for the football games yesterday.  They are the best.

Missed dinner in MDR due to games so went to the Lido as they showed fried chicken as an entree.  I envisioned something akin to KFC with maybe mashed potatoes and gravy.  What you got were 3 overcooked chicken nuggets.

 

Also tried the Dive In once again and asked for a Free Dive which is shown as served between lettuce leaves-I was thinking In N Out Double Double protein style-a diabetics dream. What you get is a patty on some shredded lettuce-no sauce.  I inquired and was told we don’t do it that way here.

 

46565FF6-8C85-4515-9BB6-D0AFC97F5EE2.jpeg.8f7bf9cb5805be3e97f684116c0ee9f0.jpeg

 

 

Sorry about the orientation.  
 

Weather is very warm and welcome.  Nice cruise.

 

gary

 

 

 

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garydm

garydm

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Rough seas this afternoon on departing Huatulco.  Captain came on with appreciated announcement during dinner that things would settle down and they have.

 

Huatulco was hot and has grown since last here.  Only in port for less than six hours.

 

Had dinner in MDR and I had the always available steak which was very good and cooked perfectly.  Brother found his Chile relleno too spicy but that comes with the territory!  Koes, Alex and Yohannes treat us well.

 

Really appreciate HAL having all the playoff games on.

 

In Guatemala tomorrow and visited Antigua on an earlier trip so will probably stay on board.

 

gary

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gadgetlady

gadgetlady

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So glad I stumbled upon this thread!  We are doing FLL - SAN in late February.  I have a huge favor to ask - could you find out what kind of decaffeinated tea (tea bags) they have on board?  Some places only have chamomile when there are so many other great options out there!  Brand and what they have that's decaf would be wonderful to know in advance.

 

Oh - also - my mom is asking what they charge at the bar for a can of coke.  I guess she's debating whether to get a beverage package or just pay-as-you-go.

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garydm

garydm

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I have been getting the chamomile but I just checked the Neptune and there are half a dozen caffeine free Harney and Sons.  They are excellent.

 

Sodas are $2.50 plus 18% SC.  Unless you consume a lot I would opt for by the can.  I have bought Diet Coke in each port and taken it aboard.  Always $1 per can.

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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Off the coast of Nicaragua with 50 knot crosswinds per the TV.  Rockin and rollin.  Captain delayed departure from Corinto several hours due to the wind.  Glad he did. He really keeps us informed in a succinct manner.  Churning along at 22 knots which probably exacerbates the vibration issue when coupled with the wind.

 

Walked by Billboard and it was packed.  Very loud.

 

Service continues to be superb.  Example-sent laundry out at 2pm and back before 8 pm.
 

On to Costa Rica.

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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Docked at puerto caldera today about 10 miles south of Puntarenas which had a Princess ship there.  We had a free shuttle into town as there is nothing for tourists at our port.  It was very hot and fairly dirty so we walked around a bit and returned in our nice air conditioned bus for the trip back.  We did a rather disappointing tour here last trip so did not this time.

 

Captain made up almost all the lost time from our delayed departure from Corinto. There was salt all over the verandah and railing from last night’s windy seas.  Cabin stewards made it all go away.

 

life is good.

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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Docked at puerto caldera today about 10 miles south of Puntarenas which had a Princess ship there.  We had a free shuttle into town as there is nothing for tourists at our port.  It was very hot and fairly dirty so we walked around a bit and returned in our nice air conditioned bus for the trip back.  We did a rather disappointing tour here last trip so did not this time.

 

Captain made up almost all the lost time from our delayed departure from Corinto. There was salt all over the verandah and railing from last night’s windy seas.  Cabin stewards made it all go away.

 

life is good.

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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At sea today and have made the left turn towards the canal.  As I understand it we are going to anchor off the west coast to take on fuel because Aruba does not have enough.  Temperature is a pleasant 82 degrees.

 

Something I had not seen before.  In the MDR during dinner two couples broke out their phones and made multiple FaceTime calls with the speakers on and yelling into the phones.  Like there were not hundreds of people around them who were trying to have nice dinners.

 

We sail thru the canal tomorrow, always the highlight of this cruise.

 

Gary

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garydm

garydm

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I think the 18 came from the corkage fee thought!

Internet is very slow which means I think I will post some pictures when I get home.

Had the filet mignon tonight and it was very good. Servers a bit strained tonight.

Have not yet linked up with the fuel barge/ship.
 

GRy

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