Maybe live from the Nieuw Amsterdam's fourth Alaska cruise, 2021

[Copper10-8]

6 hours ago, zelker said:

Have been cruising since 2004 and have never been asked to remove door decorations.  Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

You haven't lived until you've seen the door decorations on a HAL RSVP cruise 😉 And they were never removed until the charter was completed! It depends on when USPH might show up to conduct an inspection

[dobiemom]

3 hours ago, Boytjie said:

Moontree Sushi and Tapas. 
It was pretty good. 

Thanks! 😋

[atexsix]

12 hours ago, idiebabe said:

Have a wonderful Cruise!  🥂

I still love that dog 🙂

 

Have a fun cruise!  We're 3 weeks behind you now.

[Boytjie]

Day 1 on the NADM. 

 

The trip back to the airport to drop off the rental car wasn’t so bad. The Lyft driver took Pacific Highway (SR99) which runs underground and had almost no traffic; I5 North was quite busy.  
 

We arrived at 1:35 pm (our boarding time was 1:40 pm). There were quite a few people at the terminal. We got to the health checkpoint at 1:53 pm,; the security checkpoint (X-rays) at 1:59 pm and were at the final checkpoint by 2:03 pm. From there we walked right on to the ship. 
 

We had two bottles of wine but nothing was said about it. (I wonder if they will charge corkage if we take it to dinner?). 

We dropped our bags off and after checking in at our muster station, headed to the Lido. First order of business was to upgrade our drink package. Three beverage servers could not figure it out; the senior one said he’d take care of it, it will be processed in a few minutes. 

 

While having lunch in the Lido I checked my statement and we were each charged $495! A trip to the Front Desk fixed that (each charged $70 + tips for the Elite package. 

After yummy Asian dishes we headed outside for the sailaway.

After we were well underway we decided to unpack before going to the Gallery Bar for the LGBT meet and greet. We hung out with a couple of guys while a second group formed but there was no intermingling. It would have been nice if someone on staff was there to greet and encourage all to intermingle. 

After a shower we were off to dinner. There was a short wait for a table for two, they seated us at a 4-top by the window.  

 

Service was rather slow, especially for wine. I had the crab cocktail and Richard the corn and bacon soup and both of us had the chicken, ham parmesan croquette (yum!). Richard had the rainbow trout and I had the rock fish. Both were very good. I was planning on getting the lemon cake but Richard pointed out that it was sugarless and I hate artificial sweeteners. He had the Alaskan berry tart and I ordered the cheesecake. The waiter brought us the lemon cake too - which was actually the better dessert!

 

We went to the Explorations cafe for decaf coffees and then Richard hit the bed. I wandered through the casino, fed the slots a few bucks and more than doubled it, so I walked away. 
 

The first day has been good. The staff are very friendly and seem genuinely happy to have us here. The passengers also seem to be in a good mood. 

The ship looks good and it was nice to be back on a dam ship where I know the layout so well! Our previous two cruises were on the Celebrity Summit. 

 

I have tried to post a few pictures but it will not upload. Will try again. 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Boytjie

[Boytjie]

Another attempt loading pictures:

Someone arriving at the BHB in style. 
Our bouquet from Pike Place Market. 
Elevator carpet pic. 
Obligatory sunset pic. 
The croquette!

The (sugar free) lemon cake. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Boytjie

[alibabacruisers]

Thank you so much for sharing your trip report!  Please have a wonderfully safe and fun cruise!

[Lido deck main]

Thanks for pictures, love the flowers.  Sounds like a good first day.

[erewhon]

Thanks for your update and photos, beautiful flowers.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

4 hours ago, Boytjie said:

Day 1 on the NADM. 

 

The trip back to the airport to drop off the rental car wasn’t so bad. The Lyft driver took Pacific Highway (SR99) which runs underground and had almost no traffic; I5 North was quite busy.  
 

We arrived at 1:35 pm (our boarding time was 1:40 pm). There were quite a few people at the terminal. We got to the health checkpoint at 1:53 pm,; the security checkpoint (X-rays) at 1:59 pm and were at the final checkpoint by 2:03 pm. From there we walked right on to the ship. 
 

We had two bottles of wine but nothing was said about it. (I wonder if they will charge corkage if we take it to dinner?). 

We dropped our bags off and after checking in at our muster station, headed to the Lido. First order of business was to upgrade our drink package. Three beverage servers could not figure it out; the senior one said he’d take care of it, it will be processed in a few minutes. 

 

While having lunch in the Lido I checked my statement and we were each charged $495! A trip to the Front Desk fixed that (each charged $70 + tips for the Elite package. 

After yummy Asian dishes we headed outside for the sailaway.

After we were well underway we decided to unpack before going to the Gallery Bar for the LGBT meet and greet. We hung out with a couple of guys while a second group formed but there was no intermingling. It would have been nice if someone on staff was there to greet and encourage all to intermingle. 

After a shower we were off to dinner. There was a short wait for a table for two, they seated us at a 4-top by the window.  

 

Service was rather slow, especially for wine. I had the crab cocktail and Richard the corn and bacon soup and both of us had the chicken, ham parmesan croquette (yum!). Richard had the rainbow trout and I had the rock fish. Both were very good. I was planning on getting the lemon cake but Richard pointed out that it was sugarless and I hate artificial sweeteners. He had the Alaskan berry tart and I ordered the cheesecake. The waiter brought us the lemon cake too - which was actually the better dessert!

 

We went to the Explorations cafe for decaf coffees and then Richard hit the bed. I wandered through the casino, fed the slots a few bucks and more than doubled it, so I walked away. 
 

The first day has been good. The staff are very friendly and seem genuinely happy to have us here. The passengers also seem to be in a good mood. 

The ship looks good and it was nice to be back on a dam ship where I know the layout so well! Our previous two cruises were on the Celebrity Summit. 

 

I have tried to post a few pictures but it will not upload. Will try again. 

Thanks for sharing ..

[puppycanducruise]

Great pictures and comments, keep 'em coming.

Have a great cruise.

[cat shepard]

Your flowers and first sunset pictures are gorgeous!  Thank you again for taking us along!

[ann1bell]

Thanks so much for your report! I look forward to following along. 
 

When you boarded did you see or hear about any problems related to the pre cruise covid testing? Did there seem to be any issue with what kind of test passengers had gotten? 
 

I hope everyone had an acceptable test and boarded without complication.

 

[Boytjie]

39 minutes ago, ann1bell said:

Thanks so much for your report! I look forward to following along. 
 

When you boarded did you see or hear about any problems related to the pre cruise covid testing? Did there seem to be any issue with what kind of test passengers had gotten? 
 

I hope everyone had an acceptable test and boarded without complication.

 

I did not hear anything during boarding time. Someone I spoke to later said that they did not look at his results but they did look at his husband’s. 

[ann1bell]

Great! I will be boarding Saturday! 

[PSR]

2 hours ago, Boytjie said:

I did not hear anything during boarding time. Someone I spoke to later said that they did not look at his results but they did look at his husband’s. 

 

Thanks for the info; I think we would like to hear if you find out any more about anyone being denied boarding, especially if they DID get the testing, but their results did not come back in time.

Edited August 15, 2021 by PSR

[albingirl]

Thank you so much for sharing.  I cannot wait to cruise again.  I am living vicariously through others.

[RuthC]

Thank you so much for your report. Glad you had a good first day; may all the others follow suit. 
The flowers are gorgeous! May they last so well that on the last day you are sorry you can't bring them home. 

[Boytjie]

So we just tried the 

Mariners Cocktail and I kinda like it!

St-Germain liqueur

Soda water 

Sparkling wine

[Boytjie]

25 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Thank you so much for your report. Glad you had a good first day; may all the others follow suit. 
The flowers are gorgeous! May they last so well that on the last day you are sorry you can't bring them home. 

Looking at the boarding photosI see a few others brought them onboard too!

 

A few of the stems got bent in our dash to drop the rental off at the airport but they were repurposed in the bathroom. 
 

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Boytjie

[woodworker&knitter]

Beautiful colour to perk up the drab bathroom 

[St. Louis Sal]

18 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

You haven't lived until you've seen the door decorations on a HAL RSVP cruise 😉 And they were never removed until the charter was completed! It depends on when USPH might show up to conduct an inspection

I have done 3 Malt Shop Memories cruises on HAL. Door decorations are almost a requirement and there are prizes!  Wish I had some pictures on my laptop.

 

St Louis Sal

[St. Louis Sal]

45 minutes ago, Boytjie said:

Looking at the boarding photosI see a few others brought them onboard too!

 

A few of the stems got bent in our dash to drop the rental off at the airport but they were repurposed in the bathroom. 
 

 

Did you get those vases from your room steward?

 

St Louis Sal

[St Pete Cruiser]

Thanks for posting live from the NA.  

The welcome cocktail is new to me.  

Always nice to have a few days in port before departure.  Knowing someone there is a bonus, too.  

Watched the Eurodam on Seth's Facebook Live from Pireas, Greece, earlier today as it left on its first cruise.

[Boytjie]

31 minutes ago, St. Louis Sal said:

Did you get those vases from your room steward?

 

St Louis Sal

Yes, we asked when we met him and he showed up with it soon after. He loves the flowers. 

[giuseppes1933]

Is the tamarind restaurant open for lunch?