Live and life from Nieuw Amsterdam's third Alaska sailing

[aliaschief]

It’s the beginning of cruising post pandemic (which is still going on by the way) so there are many changes whether dictated by CDC or by the cruise line in an abundance of caution or just plain common sense.

 

It’s premature to judge or critique what is happening now during the restarts. However, if one can’t wait there are plenty of options available throughout the industry.

 

Entertainment IMO has never been a Hal strongpoint but Dueling Pianos, BB King, Rolling Stone and classical are popular venues.

 

As time heals all, hopefully main Stage variety will increase.

 

 

 

 

[Himself]

6 hours ago, aliaschief said:

It’s the beginning of cruising post pandemic (which is still going on by the way) so there are many changes whether dictated by CDC or by the cruise line in an abundance of caution or just plain common sense.

 

It’s premature to judge or critique what is happening now during the restarts. However, if one can’t wait there are plenty of options available throughout the industry.

 

Entertainment IMO has never been a Hal strongpoint but Dueling Pianos, BB King, Rolling Stone and classical are popular venues.

 

As time heals all, hopefully main Stage variety will increase.

 

 

 

 

Here is hoping...!

[Traveling Dot]

14 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

You are preaching to the choir! Better off writing to Bill Prince, HAL's vice president of entertainment, c/o Holland America Line, 450 Third Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119, or better still, to his boss, HAL's president, Gustavo "Gus" Antorcha and voice your displeasure with the underusing of the main stage

 

I also would like to have the full production cast with four vocalists and up to eight dancers back! The shows, prior to the full cast of singers and dancers being cut, had really improved (yes, subjective) two-three years prior. And yes, the circular stages on the now three Pinnacles have a lot of "technical stuff" that is not being used. Having said all that, the Step One Co. dancers do an excellent job in the mean time! 

I will write to Mr. Prince and Gus and give my opinion of the stage entertainment.  Maybe it would help if more passengers also wrote to them.  A squeaky wheel gets heard.  So let's do some squeaking. 🤔

[VMax1700]

48 minutes ago, Traveling Dot said:

I will write to Mr. Prince and Gus and give my opinion of the stage entertainment.  Maybe it would help if more passengers also wrote to them.  A squeaky wheel gets heard.

Not everyone enjoys stage shows etc.  Personally, I wouldn't cross the road to go to one.

[rkacruiser]

18 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Entertainment IMO has never been a Hal strongpoint but Dueling Pianos, BB King, Rolling Stone and classical are popular venues.

 

 

There have been "flashes in the past" of strong entertainment.  Some of the individual piano bar entertainers, i.e, Diane Fast and Barry of Boston, have packed those lounges.  I experienced a Country and Western Show on the Westerdam that was the best I have even seen on the stage of such a well technically equipped stage of a modern HAL vessel.  

 

Music Walk is a winner.  If room could be found for a Rolling Stone Rock Room group that had a less repetitive play list (which I experienced on Nieuw Statendam) that kind of a group might rival what is offered in BB King's venue.  

 

9 hours ago, Traveling Dot said:

I will write to Mr. Prince and Gus and give my opinion of the stage entertainment.  Maybe it would help if more passengers also wrote to them.  A squeaky wheel gets heard.  So let's do some squeaking. 🤔

 

How many years have I "squeaked"?  Prince needs to retire.  He needed to retire a decade or more ago.  Regardless of the Senior Vice-Presidents of "this and that" and the Presidents of HAL who have retired or left the Company, he remains.  And, why is this?  

 

[Copper10-8]

Friday - August 13, 2021 - Sea Day (heading back to Seattle)

 

So, after departing Ketchikan on Thursday PM, Nieuw A sailed southbound Tongass Narrows to Clarence Strait. The strait was named by George Vancouver in honor of Prince William, later King William IV, Duke of Clarence. Capt. Baijens and his navigators then took us to Dixon Entrance, part of the maritime boundary between the U.S. and Canada, from where we reached Hecate Strait, the wide but shallow body of water between the Haida Gwaii Islands and the British Columbia mainland. From there, it was the open (Canadian) waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. A sound is a large sea or ocean inlet, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord; or a narrow sea or ocean channel between two bodies of land. All this maneuvering took place during the night time hours.

 

Friday morning found us following the west coast line of Vancouver Island while heading south which Nieuw A did for most of the remainder of daytime Friday. The weather was still nice and the Pacific Ocean following and calm

 

Friday was Pinnacle Grill day for us with breakfast, lunch and (anniversary) dinner in that specialty restaurant. We both had the classic eggs benedict and big kudos to Putu from Bali who took great care of us during the week and to PG manager Willy from Romania who runs a tight and efficient ship in there. Btw, in Bali 

the first name of the first child (boy) is always either Wayan, Putu, or Gede; the second child is either Made, Kadek or Nengah, the third child is Nyoman or Komang, while the fourth child is Ketut, so Putu called me Ketut for the week 😉 

 

10:30 AM was the scheduled time for the Mariners reception/medal ceremony inside the Ocean Bar. That is, the reception is now only for those mariners being the recipients of a medal as well as for those 4 and 5-star mariners with the highest number of days with HAL. On our voyage alone this week, there were 160 four and five-star mariners. That reception/ceremony used to be followed by the mariner luncheon however, that event has been suspended completely while the Covid-19 rules/precautions are in effect. The mariner tiles are now delivered to your stateroom in the PM. 

 

As reported, lunch was in the PG (shredded chicken salad & Tomato broth with lemon grass soup/Pinnacle burger while the afternoon was once again a time for relaxing (Maria watched a major chick flic by the name of "Emma" and I read a good book). We then did some light packing after our luggage tags (Lime 1) were delivered.

 

As stated, this was our anniversary dinner in the Pinnacle Grill with Maria having the crab cakes, while I had a Julius C. salad (no fish please) while we both had a petite filet mignon with bearnaise and a side of mashed potatoes. For dessert, one of the talented pastry chefs had made us a nice anniversary cake. 

 

To our surprise, the main entertainment on this last night of the cruise was a third! show by the talented Step One dancers by the name of "In Tandem." It wound up being another topper in our book and it even included Carlos and Charise, the two outstanding vocalists from the B.B. King All-Star band, a welcomed touch.

 

After this show at 9:00 PM, the only thing that remained was to pack our suitcases, tag them, not forgetting to leave Saturday's clothing out of them because disembarking dressed in a bath towel would be slightly embarrassing, and to place those bad boys in the corridor outside our cabin.

 

Nieuw A meanwhile, had entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca and was rounding the tip of Vancouver Island with Washington state coast on the starboard side headed for a rendezvous with the Puget Sound pilot off Port Angeles. 

[Caribbean Chris]

Very interesting tidbit about Balinese names for boys!
 

Sound like you saved the best for last. What a wonderful day. Thank you so much for all the enjoyable photos and info which has been keeping me going until we sail again.

[kam-ky]

On 8/15/2021 at 11:29 AM, aliaschief said:

Just a quick post for future cruisers. We took a cab from the ship to Marriott Waterfront yesterday. Porter insisted we use a metered cab. Cost $11.80 +tip. Marriott also has a shuttle to Pier 91 for $10.00 per person.

Was the Marriott shuttle for HAL-arranged pre-cruise hotel guests, or walk-ups?  Thanks!

[aliaschief]

7 hours ago, kam-ky said:

Was the Marriott shuttle for HAL-arranged pre-cruise hotel guests, or walk-ups?  Thanks!

We saw the hotel had a subcontracted shuttle and arranged through the Marriott Concierge. Only about ten or twelve of us and we lucked out and got the last two spots.

 

It was $10.00 per person. Upon our disembarking we took a metered cab from Pier 91 back to Marriott for $8.70 plus tip. So metered cab is cheaper and just as efficient. 

[rkacruiser]

14 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

Friday - August 13, 2021 - Sea Day (heading back to Seattle)

 

Thanks for another interesting, informative post.  Pictures are great.  What this Dance Company now seems to be offering appears better than what I witnessed on Nieuw Statendam during her Inaugural Season.  

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Thanks for your description of your Anniversary Day on the Nieuw Amsterdam and your entire commentary of your cruise. 

 

I did not like the Step One group on prior pandemic HAL cruises, but based on your comments, will give them another chance when I am on the NA is a couple of weeks.

[Copper10-8]

Saturday - August 14, 2021 - Seattle (Disembarkation Day)

 

After picking up the Puget Sound pilot around 0130 (early) Saturday morning off Port Angeles, still in the Strait of John with the pistol, Nieuw A entered the (Puget) Sound some time later. Escorted by the Port of Seattle Police 'Harbor-1' patrol boat, we would arrive outside Smith Cove around 0600 still under somewhat overcast skies and made the approach to Nieuw A's 2021 summer home on Saturdays, Pier 91 West where longshoremen and staff were awaiting our arrival. Crossing right behind us, but going to her downtown Seattle's Bell Street Cruise Terminal / Pier 66 berth, was NCL's Norwegian Encore, also returning from Alaska. 

 

Just like the Alaskan ports, Seattle's Pier 91 has an individual (port employee) who, upon arrival of the various cruise ships) is in contact with the ship's bridge via portable radio, and whose job it is to "talk" Nieuw A to her final position alongside her assigned berth. The big multi-level shoreside gangway at Pier 91 can retract and extend "in and out" and just a little bit sideways, but the operators of that gangway prefer the ship's gangway break to be lined up correctly. That "talking" and lining up is usually done by the ship's SECO (security officer) standing in the open gangway break and/or, in Alaskan ports by the CLAA port agents or, here in Seattle, by the individual described. The captain and staff captain, joined upon arrival by the pilot, are unable to see the gangway break from the bridge wing. The distance the ship needs to come ahead or aft is given to the bridge in meters, not in feet. At times, the ship will "overshoot" her final gangway position and will then need to come aft. This is accomplished by heaving (putting pressure on, or taking it off) the first mooring line, called the spring line, forward or aft, using the big winches on both mooring decks.

 

With all that, Nieuw A was safely alongside by 0645 with the jet-way (gangway) connected to Deck 3 starboard side. The Marshaling Area on A-Deck was then opened for luggage and stores off loading (later Saturday afternoon on-loading) and around 0700 the Deck 2 gangway, which serves primarily as a crew gangway, was hooked up.

 

The first group of pax off were the independents who had their own luggage with them and they were flowing off at 0715. We were sitting in the Pinnacle Grill at 0730 for our last breakfast onboard. We also had a reservation around 0900 hrs. with Seattle Express to provide us with transportation to Sea-Tac International Airport. So, after that breakfast, we said our goodbyes to Neptune Concierges Hector and Grazella and then made our way to Deck 3 to disembark for the final time and say bye bye to Nieuw A.

 

Our bags were waiting for us in the luggage hall of the terminal and going through the CBP checkpoint, with a friendly agent, was a formality. Walking across the north parking lot of Smith Cove, our wait for the airport rental car like shuttle van was about ten minutes before it arrived. The approx. 30-min drive to Sea-Tac was uneventful. 

 

The check-in at Alaska AL was a different story after one of their baggage belts broke down while waiting in two separate lines for 30+ minutes. The third line did not present any issues and neither did the TSA security checkpoint (Gotta love that TSA pre-check line! Take the app and get yourself that Known Traveler Number!). 

 

Once seated onboard Alaska AL Flt. 1436, an Airbus A321-253N, everyone was ready go with the doors secured and armed and the flight attendants seated, unfortunately, a fellow passenger seated about six-eight rows behind us suffered a medical episode, which required initially a call for any doctor, nurse or EMT to respond to the row in question, followed by a response from firefighter-paramedics from the very nearby Port of Seattle Fire Dept. airport ARFF station. Fortunately, after approx. 15 minutes, the patient left the aircraft under his own power, followed closely by the medics and a worried wife, no doubt to be checked out at a local hospital in order to obtain clearance to fly again.

 

This medical episode, the replacing by Alaska AL maintenance of the used oxygen bottle, plus an unrelated incident (that had to be cleaned up by what looked to be a HazMat team) near the rear galley of the aircraft shortly after, caused flt. 1436 an hour and fifteen minute delay in seeking the wild blue yonder. But take off, we eventually did for a two hour flight southbound down the left coast and LAX where we went wheels down on runway 24 right. A 30 min. cabbie ride took us to the homestead where a feline by the name of "Stiv" (initially like a true cat completely ignoring us) as well as Maria's mum were waiting!

 

Thanks for riding along with us on this third voyage of Nieuw Amsterdam under Covid-19 conditions. We had a great time!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Copper10-8

[oakridger]

I loved your posts John!  Thank you.

 

~Nancy

 

 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Thank you for sharing! I learned something new about the origin of the duck tour vehicle. ☺️

[travelnap]

Copper John, Thank you for taking us all along on your voyage, all the way back home for you.  Hope you two had a great trip for your anniversary.

[jayhawk66]

Thank you for taking us along and for your very knowledgeable posts of the geography and ships procedures! I’m looking forward to following you on your next cruising adventure!

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

John, thank you for sharing your cruise with us.  Alaska is a favorite destination.

 

Lenda

[rkacruiser]

18 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

hanks for riding along with us on this third voyage of Nieuw Amsterdam under Covid-19 conditions. We had a great time!

 

 

Enjoyed the ride!  Thanks!  Copper 10-8, you really need to seriously consider writing a book (or more) of your experiences.  Others who have been employed at sea, thinking just as an example of Captain Hans Mateboer, have written very interesting books.  Captain Hans even has written books that appeal to young people.  

[LawDog61]

So, what is copper’s next great adventure?

[aliaschief]

Copper 10-8.  Jon and Maria our deepest condolences on the loss of your brother-in-law. Our thoughts  and prayers are with you and your family during this ever ending pandemic tragedy. Another victim. 

 

Bruce & Susan

[Copper10-8]

On 8/24/2021 at 7:36 PM, aliaschief said:

Copper 10-8.  Jon and Maria our deepest condolences on the loss of your brother-in-law. Our thoughts  and prayers are with you and your family during this ever ending pandemic tragedy. Another victim. 

 

Bruce & Susan

 

Thank you very much Bruce & Sue! My brother-in-law Tom was THE reason I came to, and am living here in the U.S., as opposed to still in The Netherlands. He's in a better place now, back with the love of HIS life, my sister Anneke!

[Dismomx5]

My condolences to the family. May the many happy memories be a blessing to you all.

[Overhead Fred]

@Copper10-8 Very sorry for your loss

[erewhon]

Dear John,

We send our sincere condolences to you and your family, may precious memories be of comfort at  this very sad time.

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Our condolences to you, Maria, and the rest of your family.  Hope the good memories of both Tom and your sister, Anneke, help ease the pain.

 

Lenda