Currently on the Volendam

[rjbean4]

1 hour ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Thank you -- I am pretty much confined to a chair.  Cruising is over for us.  But I took over for Kathi (Scrapnana who is on the Amsterdam) the ships arrival in Ft Lauderdale.  Wanted to do the last ship arrival -- Volendam -- until this mess is over.  There is a group of us who watch the sail ins and sail aways.

 

I am very familiar with the Ft Lauderdale area (and other Florida areas) -- have sailed from there many times.

 

Where does Trump think they are going to get the medical personal to staff those extra Carnival ships?

 

I enjoyed talking to you here.

Oh yeah I know. I get it. I'm just trying to not read to much at a time despite wanting to see how things are going for the 4 HAL ships out there with passengers still on board. Its just hard to realize what is really going on. I am managing my 89 year old mom and she totally understands what is going on and why its important to stay home and away from crowds. We did just come back from a quick dentist appointment and where she goes is a very small office. Only staff when we arrived and in and out quick. Told us they are closing for 3 weeks when they are done today and were calling people to notify them and cancel appointments. will be contacted to reschedule at a later date. Were even dealing with a call from someone who didn't sound like a patient with them with a problem and was trying to refer them to a dental walk in. Sounds like the ADA has had a update with their recommendations again. After hearing this it could only be a matter of time that I hear from my Orthodontist regarding a appointment I have next week. Yes I have been doing treatment due to reacurring problems at 55. I was out yesterday for a appointment in the same complex and saw a sign on their door. They only want patients walking in the door and everyone else to wait in their cars. Only patients are allowed to go back to the clinical area and if a parent or guardian does come in they are going to have to wait in the waiting room area. Everything to prevent cross contamination has been removed so there goes my Otis Spunkmeyer cookie. After I  was back home did call to check in with them and they are trying to stay open as long as they can and will call if they close.

 

I'm just letting people know that the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami area is not a part of the state I would want to be in right now as unfortunately those 2 counties have reported the highest number of confirmed cases in the state. A lot of people get Ft. Lauderdale and Port Everglades confused. They don't know that Port Everglades is also Ft. Lauderdale. Last I found with a update before noon that there are 62 new cases so far today and the state total is now up to 390. there are 46 cases here in the Tampa Bay area and the state is monitoring 970 people.  Was also on the news last night a interview with the first person in our area along with someone who had been traveling with them that had been confirmed with the virus are now testing negative and on day 12 of their quarantine. What has also been concerning is what is going on with the beaches. Tampa announced closings effective yesterday and Clearwater will close at sunrise on Monday. People are wondering why not sooner but  sounded like they wanted to give businesses a little time to reduce their food supplies via sales so that less would be wasted because of going bad. Another problem with a closure is the Hard Rock Casino because its on Indian land. If they refuse to continue to close it sounded like other actions would take place to force them to close. This is disgraceful on their part as since I am also a Hard Rock pin trader and collector I have seen a very high number of other cafes, hotels and casinos close. I don't go out there any more anyways.

 

I don't know what Trump has in mind regarding the Carnival ships but did hear this. It has been approved for people in the medical field to cross state borders to help other states so when being a licensed provider in one state and go to another to help is being voided and maybe he has something up his sleeve with the ships. We would find out if this actually happens and hope it doesn't.

 

Yeah as we hear of things being here on CC is one way to pass it on so others know. As my mom has always said if HAL doesn't go there we don't go. Even though my dad flew commercially for NWA for 31 years and he did so much more than just fly I have been fortunate that at my age to have done the traveling I have. One reason why those of us with ties to NWA these days preach "Red Tails FOREVER!!"

Edited March 19, 2020 by rjbean4

[rjbean4]

44 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

She might, but the entry "chain" into PE, which includes the pilot's arrival one mile east of the sea buoy, is set by the PE harbormaster and is strictly adhered to. 0500 inside the port at her berth means a 0415 arrival east of that sea buoy

Just wait and see what happens. Following her on Marine Traffic too.

 

Are you hearing any updates on the other three ships. Have heard Massdam has been denied disembarkation in Honolulu. Only resupply and fuel. Same situation with Zaandam in Valparasio. Amsterdam has sped up to arrive earlier to Freemantle. 

[rjbean4]

Oh and this isn't good as I just found on Flight Aware that Quantas has stopped all international flights.

[seaoma]

13 minutes ago, rjbean4 said:

Oh and this isn't good as I just found on Flight Aware that Quantas has stopped all international flights.

 

It's not till late March, so I'm thinking it's going to be closer to the end of the month.

[iflyrc5]

1 hour ago, rjbean4 said:

Yeah I just checked and found her. They are going to go by were the two groups of ships are now hanging out. Wonder if they will be close enough to see them. With where they are now wonder if she could arrive to Port Everglades earlier than the time I found being 0500 tomorrow morning. 

We are on the Volendam.  At the Captains noon announcements he said we would be going by the anchored ships at about 8pm and will be about 4 miles away.  It will be dark but we may be able to see them

[rjbean4]

48 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

We are on the Volendam.  At the Captains noon announcements he said we would be going by the anchored ships at about 8pm and will be about 4 miles away.  It will be dark but we may be able to see them

At the moment there are 10 ships including the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam and Veendam siting just west of where out islands are for Norwegian and RCI at what is called the Grand Bahama Bank Anchorage based on the AIS for these ships. They will be off to your port side and they might be lit up enough to see. Then there is 4 sitting at what is called the Great Isaac Anchorage that will be further west. If you are able to  pull up Marine Traffic you will see them. Certainly a sight to see and something no one thought would ever happen. We have a group here at the anchorage  west of the Skyway Bridge for Port Tampa Bay also and includes 3 Celebrity ships that normally sail from Port Everglades in addition to ships that are docked here next to downtown Tampa. Miami, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville have ships docked too as well as ports outside of Florida. Fortunately Florida ports are still open. Good Luck and safe, healthy travels home.

Edited March 19, 2020 by rjbean4

[rjbean4]

24 minutes ago, rjbean4 said:

At the moment there are 10 ships including the Nieuw Statendam, Zuiderdam and Veendam siting just west of where out islands are for Norwegian and RCI at what is called the Grand Bahama Bank Anchorage based on the AIS for these ships. They will be off to your port side and they might be lit up enough to see. Then there is 4 sitting at what is called the Great Isaac Anchorage that will be further west. If you are able to  pull up Marine Traffic you will see them. Certainly a sight to see and something no one thought would ever happen. We have a group here at the anchorage  west of the Skyway Bridge for Port Tampa Bay also and includes 3 Celebrity ships that normally sail from Port Everglades in addition to ships that are docked here next to downtown Tampa. Miami, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville have ships docked too as well as ports outside of Florida. Fortunately Florida ports are still open. Good Luck and safe, healthy travels home.

Forgot to mention that Nieuw Amsterdam is a part of the Grand Bahama Bank Anchorage group too.

[iflyrc5]

Capt announced a few minutes ago that we would pass the anchorage about 9pm tonight

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks rjbean4

 

We are also fortunate to have traveled as much as we did besides all the cruises we have taken before we could no longer travel.

 

I read about the Maasdam and Zaandam not be allowed to dock and Amsterdam speeding up to Fremantle.

[rjbean4]

33 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Capt announced a few minutes ago that we would pass the anchorage about 9pm tonight

Yeah just checked to see where you were. The Grand Bahama Bank anchorage will be the first group and the biggest. From east to west based on Marine Traffic its the Nieuw Statendam, Celebrity Reflection, Mariner of the seas, Oasis of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Navigator of the seas, Nieuw Amsterdam,  Zuiderdam and Veendam. The 2nd anchorage at  the Great Isaac Anchorage is Sky Princess, Island Princess and Independence of the Seas. Looks like now just 3 ships are there as the Crown Princess had also been there but they are now doing 11.8 knots further west so they could be going somewhere. 

[rjbean4]

22 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Thanks rjbean4

 

We are also fortunate to have traveled as much as we did besides all the cruises we have taken before we could no longer travel.

You're welcome. I know too that our travels are going to slow down and in a way have. We usually have cruised twice a year. We have been at sea on board the ships of HAL for the Holidays for 32 years now. We are booked booked 20-21. Last time we were on land for Christmas was 1987. We have also done a cruise  usually the July-October range involving Alsaka, trans canal or somewhere in Europe and the Mediterranean. Last year we had two booked for October to do one of the other. Eurodam to Hawaii and Nieuw Amsterdam trans canal. Either way had to fly to San Diego. We ended up canceling both of them but was more for financial reasons. Mom said then we would make up for it this summer but I know that is not going to happen. Not with what is going on now. If we do anything it will be to Minnesota, which is where we are from to see family and a babtism event due to a adoption. Kind of ironic too that a week ago Monday one of our great friends form the Netherlands booked her flight to come to us in June. Then everything started to blow up last Wednesday night. She is not making any changes at this time as that is still 3 months from now. In light of everything going on I am able to find things to do to keep myself busy here at home. One thing I miss though is that we have no family here where we are in FL. They are all in Minnesota. Despite being in FL as long as we have I have always said that I am not a Floridian and just live here. Still have my Midwestern accent. "Uf da" and "yeah you betch ya!"

[Krazy Kruizers]

There was a time when we did 4 and 5 cruises a year -- no short or 7 day cruises.  But as DH's health went down hill fast a heart attack and 2 unsuccessful operations we had to slow down.  We were so thankful that we made it all over Europe, Egypt, South America, etc., when we did.

 

Now it is my health that took a turn for the worse a couple of years ago.

 

These have certainly not been the golden years for us.