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Bill & Mary Ann's Quick Trip to Alaska 9-25-21 to 10-2-21

WCB

By WCB,
in Holland America Line

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madera1

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On our September 4th sailing we were given the oragami items every night in the MDR. My DH taught the waiters a coin trick and gave them the coins so they could practice! I too felt queasy the first morning but after a Dramamine had my sea legs/stomach back!

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Report # 5   Juneau, Alaska   September 27, 2021   Monday   Rain & 48 degrees   Part #1 Of 2  80  Pictures

 

We arrived to our first port of this voyage, Juneau, at about 12:45pm.  The skies were heavily overcast on the way, and it was raining lightly most of the day.  And it was cool, in the 40’s.  Good thing we packed the heavy waterproof arctic coats.  With hoods, we should not need umbrealls.

 

Our day began with a nice breakfast in the dining with Gan, our waiter from the world cruise for a couple of years now.  He is very popular here, having enough customers that we call his section “Ganville”, thanks to Linda and Dave.  Anyway, our food was perfect, and served in a timely manner, as always.  Now, we each get a carafe of coffee, so it saves the waiter time filling the cups.  Salt, pepper, sugar, and cream are on the table, but the rest of the condiments have to be ordered.

 

This morning we already received the notice about disembarkation.  So soon?   The good news is that we are eligible for Port Valet, a free service which includes our luggage to be transported from the ship to SF.  The airline luggage fee will be put on our shipboard account.  Easy peasy.

 

While we were on the veranda on whale-watch, a tray of a half dozen chocolate-covered strawberries arrived from the Guest Relations Manager, Joanne and her team.  Very sweet.  By the way a total of 7 whales were spotted, but in the distance.  There were more sea birds than anything else, and one bald eagle.

 

We docked right in town, and even though we had the offer to go off through a special door with Joanne, we opted to wait until the tour groups were off and the gangway was clear.  A few of the tours here were whale watching for $170 for 4 hours, or an all- inclusive whale watch for $360 for 4 hours.  Dog sledding was $160 for 2.25 hours, while biking and brew was $120 for 4 hours.  Want to walk on a glacier?   That was $450 via a helicopter ride for 3.25 hours.

 

About an hour after we docked, the Celebrity Millenium arrived, flipped around, and docked behind us.  There were few passengers outside watching their docking, making us wonder how many folks were on that ship.

 

First and foremost, there was a stern message on the front page of our When & Where.  Masks are required to be worn onshore, inside and outside if the streets are crowded.  That warning extended to public transportation including buses, trains, vans, airports, aircraft, and day boats.

 

For lunch, we always head for the Twisted Fish, but it looked closed today.  We went online to discover that they are closed for renovations and will not open until December of this year.  It was recommended that we visit the Hangar at the Wharf, a sister restaurant.  Sounded like a good idea to us, as we have dined there in the past. 

 

In the meantime, we headed downtown to check out the shops as well as making a quick visit to the Red Dog Saloon. For the first time ever, we found the saloon not crowded.  The Celebrity folks had not hit downtown yet.  Walking the main streets, we noticed that half of the stores were no longer there, and some had already left for the season.  The high end jewelry shops had people outside trying to lure folks inside. 

 

Our destination was to find a pharmacy for a few items we forgot.  There was a Ben Franklin nearby, and we found what we needed there.  Across the street was the long blue building that housed the native souvenir shops and a few cafes.  That was where the Hangar was located, so we went inside and had a marvelous lunch.  Good thing we split their BBQ double burger on a ciabatta roll with fries.  It was massive.  The beer was good, as was the slice of mud pie, also huge.  By the time we left, the place was full of customers.

 

Looking for some T-shirts brought us to the T-Shirt Store, of course.  Since we are here at the end of the season, much of the merchandise was on sale.  Found what we needed, then headed home.

 

Relaxing in our room, one of us worked on photos, and the other watched the football game.  The rest of the afternoon passed all too quickly, and it was time for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.  We had invited Debra, our travel agent, and her lovely daughter, Brie, to join us.  We all ordered about the same items, and chatted until 10:30pm.  It had been a long day, and for us, so it was time to turn in.  Tomorrow will be another port day, Skagway, so we need to get re-charged for that. 

 

Until then, have a good evening.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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crusinvet

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So glad to see your post. My husband and I love Alaska and have been there many times. You never know what the weather will be. The last time we were there it was raining and sleeting in Sitka (our tour was canceled ) and in Ketchikan it was sunny and beautiful. It was so clear in the misty fiords that you could see all the way to the top of the mountains. Our tour guide said he had never seen in the 20 years he's been doing that job. It was incredibly beautiful ! Have a great cruise no matter what the weather is.

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Fred321

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Great to see you guys traveling again! We'll miss you on the 2023 world. After the ship change and a lousy room assignment we decided to switch to the Volendam South America for 2023. Good luck with the new knee and stay well.

 

Rich and Peg

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Report #6 Skagway, Alaska Tuesday- September 28, 2021  Part #1 Of 3  61 Pictures

 

Another day and another port…….Skagway, a most unexpected surprise.  Since Icy Strait Point and Sitka were cancelled, we were most fortunate to have another port substituted.  That does not always happen.  We did get the credit from the port charges refunded to our shipboard account, but it was minimal.  Better than nothing we say.

 

The arrival time was supposed to be 7am, but we were here much earlier.  Compared to the city of Juneau, Skagway is completely different.  It is much more of an authentic “Gold Rush” settlement, and maintained as such after all of these years.  A blast from the past,  it is quite easy to absorb the history easily by simply walking through the streets in town, wandering in and out of the historic buildings.  This was the gateway to the gold fields, and life was tough here.

 

On past trips, we have taken several tours here.  One of the best had to be taking a bus to the Yukon, then riding the White Pass Scenic Railroad on the way back.  It had been an all day tour including lunch, but the excursions offered today were much shorter.  The prices ranged from $100 to $150 for 2 ¼ to 4 ¼ hours.  There was a zipline tour, and Brie would have done it if there was room.  However it was sold out.  The most expensive tour was a helicopter ride to a glacier for 2 hours at $370.  There were three time slots and they all sold out.  Wow.

 

The weather could not have been better.  Yes, it was chilly, but it was dry.  The surrounding mountain peaks were covered with snow, making it an excellent photo op.  The sun peaked out later in the day, giving the surrounding scenery a lot of color. While sitting on our veranda, we scanned the trees looking for eagles.  And we did see two of them, but very high up.  Perhaps we will see more of them in town.  It was going to be a perfect day for walking, and that is exactly what we did by 10:30am. 

 

At the end of the pier, there was a small kiosk that advertised information.  The young fellow inside offered us a mini newspaper full of stories, coupons, and even a city map.  That was all we needed to locate the highlights of town.  We have to say that everywhere we went, it was spotless and well kept.  The locals were friendly as could be, although, we did notice that many of the touristy vendors had left for the season.  There were a number of buildings that were empty as well with shops that had re-located elsewhere, or left for good. 

 

The first part of our hike took us down to the rushing creek, which a few weeks ago, had salmon in it.  The trail alongside the creek had signage of the local fauna and flora…..right up our alley.  It was so nice to see running water again, since the creeks out our way have all dried up. 

 

From there, we made our way to the main streets where we went to the little museum, past shops, a few cafes, and a historical house.  One of the main attractions in town is the White Pass Railway Station.  Much history is inside that building, along with a couple of engines outside.

 

We passed by the Red Onion Saloon, which in its heyday, was famous for their barmaids who danced and entertained the miners.  There was a walking tour led by some of the local ladies, who dressed in the costumes of yesteryear.  One of these tours included a breakfast in the saloon where you were able to listen to tales as told by actors of Klondike Kate and Diamond Tooth Lil back in 1898.

 

Now, the best was to come……the search for the best pizza in Alaska.  We thought the restaurant was part of a hotel, but we could not locate it.  Going up and down some side streets without luck, we decided to ask a local lady who worked in a bike shop.  As soon as we mentioned pizza, she knew immediately where to send us.  We were one block away from The Station Bar and Grill on 4th Avenue.  It had not changed since we ate here perhaps 6 or 7 years ago.  We did remember the waitress, who told us later than she and her husband were the owners for the last 19 years. 

 

We ordered two pilsner beers, a small salad to share, and a meat lovers 14” pizza.  It was every bit as delicious as we had remembered.  We split one gigantic scoop of an ice cream we have never tasted……. homemade sweet potato ice cream.  And it was very good, similar to spicy pumpkin ice cream.  It is going to take a whole lot of walking to burn these calories.

 

One of us was on the lookout for another Lazy One sleep T-shirt.  Never found them in Juneau, but we did see some that were similar here. But not quite the same.  Stopping at one of the only clothing/souvenir shops opened, we found just the right one and bought it.  The last chance may have been in Ketchikan, but who knows what will be opened there this late in the season.  

 

Back at the ship by 5pm, one of us worked on photos off line.  One thing that drove us nuts today was the fact that there was almost no internet or TV reception. Yes, we know that we are sandwiched between high peaks, but the internet was working early on, after we docked, as was the TV.  Something had been turned off for maintenance, we assume, but no one would admit it.  It did come back after we left at 7:45pm.

 

Dinner was in Tamarind at 8pm this evening.  The menu had changed a bit, with some new items, but some of the regular things were gone.  One such item was the fortune cookie, a favorite for one of us.  Our starters were Thai beef salad, the ramen soup, and spring rolls.  Due to a shellfish allergy, one of us got rice crackers, while the other had the shrimp crackers.  Another thing missing were the exploding finger napkins that always brought a chuckle from us when the waitresses added the hot water.  

 

Our mains were wasabi crusted tenderloin and crispy duck.   Both very good, but ample portions.  We were served two types of rice, even though we only ordered one serving.  We did taste both, saving a tiny bit of room for dessert.  One of us had the trio of sorbets, just enough, and the other had the new cheesecake plate.  Now this was very different, not resembling cheesecake as we know it.  There was a half shell of white chocolate with the tart lemon filling inside of it. A sweetened coconut mixture surrounded the shell, and our waitress suggested putting the sweet mix on top of the cheesecake filling.  It worked well, and we were happy campers. 

 

One of these nights we will have to check out the entertainment.  But tonight, we were more than ready to turn in.  Tomorrow will be another day to explore the ship, as we will be in Glacier Bay, scenic cruising.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS  Thanks for the hint about using any card in the slot for the lights.  It worked.  Also, if you are reading these reports, thanks to Ginger and Bill for your greeting card you left for us.  Too bad you did not stay on for one more 7 day cruise!  Would have been nice to visit with you all!

 

 

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Report #7 Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska Wednesday- September 29, 2021   Mostly cloudy and 46 degrees  Part #1 Of 3    63 Pictures

 

Today’s itinerary included scenic cruising in Glacier Bay, a national park consisting of 3.3 million acres, and part of a 25 million acre World Heritage Site.  In other words, it is huge.  And thanks to the National Park Services and the US Department of the Interior, we were well armed with excellent printed information of what we were to see and learn today. 

 

We have been here many times on past cruises, but we seem to appreciate this inspiring wilderness more each time we come.  With possible sightings of humpback whales, otters, harbor seals, not to mention black, brown or grizzly bears, mountain goats, and moose, what is there not to like?  We would also be treated with sightings of birds such as bald eagles, arctic terns, various gulls, puffins, guillemots, and kittewakes.  Many of these birds come here to nest and raise their young before heading south for the winter.

 

Reading the brochures, we learned that this entire bay was once completely frozen over in the form of glacial ice, and as little as 250 years ago.  Today some of Glacier Bay is over 1000 feet deep.  And after picking up the park rangers at 7am, we headed north towards Margerie Glacier, very near the Canadian border.

 

The good news was that even though the skies were overcast, we had no rain or fog.  And very little wind.  The sun even peaked out revealing some blue sky.  Yes, we felt quite lucky today.  And for taking photos, our room with the aft view from the veranda was really great.  The noise from the wake of the ship never bothered us.  We also had the option of going out on the bow on deck 5 for viewing, which one of us did during the pea soup serving.  It was far more comfortable having our own space with lounges as well.

 

We kept an eye out for the whales, hoping to see some in the beginning of the entrance to the bay.  Not sure anyone saw them.  We did begin to see some floating ice and bergie bits, realizing we were getting closer to glaciers.  There were many birds to film at this point.  By 10am, we had reached the Tarr Inlet, and Margerie Glacier at the end of the finger.  The most photographed glacier here, Margerie is one mile wide, with an ice face of 250 feet above the waterline.  The base is 100 feet under sea level. 

 

The Captain spent quite a bit of time turning the ship for all to see.  Hoping for the thunderous sound of the cracking of calving, we did not see or hear it.  This glacier moves up to 7 feet a day, even though it is thought to be in the process of retreating.  This is true for some of the glaciers, but on the other hand, some are growing.

 

Dutch pea soup was being served on the outside decks at 10:30am. We had promised our morning waiter, Gan , that we would hunt him down on deck 5 forward.  One of us did go there, but they had already run out of soup, and Gan had to go back to the kitchen for more.  Never did see him or have the soup.  Will have to tease him about that tomorrow. 

 

Some folks told the rangers that they spotted a mountain goat, but even with our high-power binoculars, we never saw any goats.   

 

After 12pm, we arrived at nearby Johns Hopkins Glacier, much smaller, and covered with a lot more dirty ice.  The Captain did not linger here very long.  The next sighting was Lamplugh Glacier, another dirty ice floe.

 

From there, we headed south towards the exit.  We began to see streaks in the water, but at a distance.  It turned out to be dozens of sea otters.  You could see their heads on one end, and their flippers at the opposite end.   They can be up to 6 feet long.  We are either sailing in their feeding grounds, or they were attracted to the ship.  The rangers said that they are capable of diving 200 feet to search for shell fish.

 

As the ship was leaving the bay, we spotted hundreds of otters, but most at a distance.  The best of these photos will be posted later.

 

At 2pm, the rangers gave two talks in the Mainstage about the wonders and native voices of Glacier Bay.  At 4pm, the ship slowed while the rangers were picked up to go back to their headquarters.  They had done a fabulous job today.

 

By 3pm, it began raining lightly, so it was time for lunch for us in the Lido.  Needed to keep it light, since we had dinner reservations in the Tamarind tonight at 8pm.  The Captain announced that tomorrow the weather in Ketchikan may produce heavy rains, but hopefully, will clear up in the early afternoon.  Hope he is right.

 

Dinner was really good with similar starters as last evening.  This time we added an order of the baby back ribs, and they were tender and juicy coated with a BBQ sauce.  Entrees were the wasabi steak and Sechuan sp? shrimp……both delicious.  Had to try the cheesecake that does not look like cheesecake.  Sure was good. 

 

By the way, the credited port charges for Icy Strait Point was $4.24 each.  Same amount as the previous cruise.

 

Until tomorrow……….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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HAL4NOW

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7 minutes ago, WCB said:

By the way, the credited port charges for Icy Strait Point was $4.24 each.  Same amount as the previous cruise.

We were able to dock at Icy Strait Point last week. We only missed Sitka. Maybe the port fees for Skagway are the same as those for Icy Strait Point and they cancelled each other out.

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Report # 8   Ketchikan, Alaska   September 30, 2021   Thursday   Raining and 46 degrees

 

Although our arrival time was set at 9am, the Nieuw Amsterdam arrived to Ketchikan well before that.  As we neared civilization, we passed by an NCL vessel, the Encore.  It was docked far from town, compared to where we were headed.  Never noticed a ship this far out before now.

 

Slowly, we found our slip directly across from all of the shops in downtown.  It was raining, but not as heavily as we had been warned.  People were walking with hats or hoods, not using umbrellas.  And if Captain Jeroen is correct, the skies may clear in the afternoon.  Hope he is right.

 

After having a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, we decided to wait until the mad rush to get off was over.   And having dozens of photos to process, this was as good of a time than any to do this in our room.  Just as we arrived back, the phone was ringing.  It was Ray from the front desk, offering to escort us off of the ship, since the gangway was jammed.  We thanked him, but  said we would prefer to wait.  This was the first time ever that we have been given that consideration directly from the staff.  Of course, we understand we may be the  only President Club members onboard at the moment.  Nevertheless, we appreciated the offer.

 

We began our trek around 10:30am, and even though it was still raining, it was a light rain.  As we got off of the ship, we could hear the cheering coming from the Lumberjack Show.  There were a couple of tours there today, one with the show only for 1 ½ hours for $36.  Another combo tour included the show with a crab feast elsewhere for $145 for 4 hours.  Samples of other options included the Saxman Village and Totem Poles for $65 for 2 ½ hours, or a wildlife cruise, cannery and village for $110 for 2 hours.  More expensive excursions were a boat ride to Misty Fjords for $210 for 5 hours, or the zip line for $190.  We have done several of these tours in the past, but recommend the wildlife tour.  Today might not be as pleasant with the rain coming down.

 

The first place we headed for was Creek Street across the red bridge.  There is a lot of history here that is somewhat colorful and bawdy.  But or main objective was to look for the salmon run up the creek.  The tide was in and the waters deep, but we did see dozens of carcasses along the banks.  Gulls were thick on the surface, and there were a few seals gorging on some tired and battered salmon.  Now we are not certain which type of salmon these were, but the security officer in Skagway said he thought the run was coho.  They were not large enough to be king salmon.

 

Not sure one of us was going to be able to make the climb here today, but we took it a little at a time.  This included photo stops and visiting the small shops along the way.  One such store sold, among other nice items, jewelry made with real leaves of maple and aspen.  The leaves are dipped in nickel, then coated with a gold look alike substance.  We bought a set of aspen leaves, since they were reasonably priced.

 

Continuing up the creek trail, passing the brightly painted houses, we read the history posted on the outside walls.  By the time we reached the series of stairs, the crowd had thinned.  The new knee got a good workout as we reached the end of the trail.  The creek was running the fullest and fastest this time, so we knew there would be many more salmon where the creek widened.  Happy to make it this far, we crossed the road to find the more shallow sides of the creek had hundreds of salmon resting out of the current.  At the end of their life cycle, they really get battered and beaten up to get to their spawning grounds.  Once they have laid their eggs and fertilized them, the fish die.  We have heard from locals that during this time of year, they never go walking at night, because the bears come in to clean up the carcasses.  

 

The Deer Mountain Hatchery is located up here.  As we crossed the bridge in that direction, we paused to photograph the hordes of salmon in the creek.  They were so thick in numbers that they turn the color of the water to gray.  Their backs become white, and that is the best way to spot them.  While there, a couple of people asked if we knew how to get to the hatchery.  They happened to be from the NCL ship, and they explained how they had a free shuttle that brought them to downtown.  Recently, the powers to be in Ketchikan stated that only one cruise ship could be in the slips in town.  Guess we got lucky to dock there, as it took more time for the NCL folks to get around. 

 

The hatchery was closed to the public, as it has been for several years now.  We did have the park up there all to ourselves, as well as the totem museum across the creek.  Too bad it was so wet, and we could not sit on the benches.  Making our way back to Creek Street, we navigated the descent slowly.  On one of the landings, a fellow cruiser accidently dropped her mask in the creek.  Not to worry though, because we did notice that the visitor’s center and cafes gave out new masks if needed. 

 

One thing we noticed was the presence of the American and Alaskan flags.  They were flying proudly on most every street, making us happy to see.  The Alaskans are true patriots, and not afraid to show it.  The foot traffic had increased by now, and the rain had let up.  We were actually starting to see some sun as well.  Guess the Captain was right….the afternoon might be just fine.

 

It was getting to be close to lunchtime, so we headed to a restaurant we knew had good food and beer.  Directly across from the ship is a large souvenir store with the Alaskan Crab Co. on the third floor.  Except………a note was posted on the elevator stating that they were closed for the season.  Disappointed, we decided to head towards the visitor’s center, and see what we could find in that direction.

 

Passing the Tongass Trading Co, we continued towards another souvenir complex.  There were few people up here so finding a good restaurant was doubtful.  About ready to give up, we went around a turn and found a suitable place called the Bar Harbor Pub and Brewery.  This would be perfect.  We ordered a local beer, a trio of sliders, and a side of fries.  It was plenty for two.  Dessert would have been nice, but time was ticking by all too quickly.  All aboard was 3:30pm, and we knew not to be late.  That brought to mind a story from a few years ago where a couple of guests, loaded with shopping bags, came to the ship after the gangway was pulled.  They were denied boarding, despite jumping up and down and even crying.  In this case, their passports would have been given to the port agent, and they would need to find their own way home.  Hope they had brought their credit cards with them.

 

On the way back, after a stop in the Tongass Trading Co, where we found another Lazy One T, the rain began to come down lightly.  But just enough to create a pretty rainbow over the town.  It lasted for about 5 minutes, and was a great way to end our last port of this cruise.

 

Anyway, we had 5 minutes to spare, and headed right to our room for the sail out of the harbor.   We have really enjoyed watching from our veranda, as it has been very sheltered from the elements.  Once we got into the narrows, we did spot three whale blows, but they were gone in a flash, with no chance of a picture.  The last time we were here, we were heading towards Victoria, and saw dozens of whales. Now we will not even stop in Canada, which is too bad.

 

Tonight was the final gala evening in the dining room.  It is really a mixed bag as far as the dress code goes.  There were a few men dressed in suits, sport coats, and even tuxes.  The majority were in casual clothing, which was fine.  The ladies, for the most part, always look presentable.  With one exception.  A gal had on jeans, a windbreaker, and a baseball cap.  Really?  Each to their own, we say.  Nothing stays the same forever, does it?

 

For dinner, we ordered appetizers, Caesar salads, mains of steak and shrimp, and one duck entrée.  Desserts included a flourless chocolate cake, and an orange muffin-like cake.  The clocks went forward this evening, and although we had intended to check out the entertainment, we remembered our time to go was at 7pm.  Oh well, by the time we got this itinerary straight, the cruise was about over.

 

Tomorrow we will explore some more, going to the forward area of the ship.  And we have to visit the shops, because we still have some shipboard credit to spend.  That might be fun………

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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SightCRR

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N/A in Ketch 9/30/2021.

For info NCL built a new pier at Ward Cove which is 7 miles north of Ketch. I suspect most if not all future NCL ships will dock there. I really have enjoyed your reports and photos. I had no idea that there would be a much snow as you have seen. Take Care. 

2045292762_cam3(1).jpg.ac6df9861182fcf40240893527862de0.jpg

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Report # 9   Day at Sea   October 1, 2021   Friday   Overcast and 55 degrees   21 Pictures

 

Don’t know how it happened, but here we are on the last sea day of the trip…..Friday.  It was obviously to us that it was time to pack the luggage, since we had the two rubber mats on the end of the bed when we came back to the room after breakfast.  Hint, hint?  The good thing is that we had packed light, and it would be easy to get the job done.  And having taken advantage of the Port Valet Service, we do not have to worry about the exact weight.  We were told that it would not matter if we were a pound or so over the 50# limit with the airlines.  And even though we purchased some clothing, both pieces were still well under 50# limit.

 

At 11am, we had been invited to a Mariner Recognition Event held on one side of the Ocean Bar.  This was for the medal awardees who had achieved their next level.  About 10 guests got either silver or gold medallions, which had been delivered to their staterooms prior to this event.  They had their photos taken with Captain Baijens and Mark Pells, the Hotel General Manager.  Finally, we were invited to come up for a photo in appreciation of our loyalty as President’s Club members.  Even though it was a short and sweet ceremony with a small audience of high numbered Mariners, we appreciate the recognition.  And the photo which arrived to our room by 3pm.

 

The ship must have run out of the commemorative Delft tiles, because we got a message saying that they will be shipped to our home sometime in the future.  This is our first voyage on this particular ship, so we are glad they will be mailed.  And it is not the first time this occurred.  They had to mail tiles a few years ago as well.

 

Before the ceremony started, we had the chance to chat with Joanne, the Guest Relations Manager.  We had some questions about the Covid procedures.  She told us that on this size of a ship, they are required to hold 60 staterooms back in case several guests test positive or actually are sick with the virus.  In addition, there are 68 guests going on the following repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal to Ft. Lauderdale.    They had to be tested yesterday to be able to continue on the next 21 day cruise.  Hoping that this will be the method of operation when we join the Nieuw Statendam in December, Joanne said she would get that exact info from HAL.  If the answer did not arrive before they closed for the weekend, she will email it to us.  We have to say, Joanne has gone the long mile to make sure our trip was perfect.  She succeeded.

 

We decided to take a walk to see the part of the ship we had not seen yet.  So we took a ride up the elevator to the Crow’s Nest, which did not resemble the same area we know on the now sold or leased Amsterdam.  Instead of a bar, there is the Explorations Café, along with the shore excursion desk, a sitting area, a tiny library, and a game corner.  No music or dancing up here in the evenings anymore.

 

The Mainstage is another place we never saw.  With show time for us late diners being at 7pm, we managed to miss every performance.  Oh well, we are certain to see these shows on another ship in the future.  The Music Walk and Casino were also spots we missed.  Popular venues for many, we never did seek out this entertainment. 

 

The Dufry Shop is one place we needed to do some shopping.  It sure was busy today, since it was the last chance to part with your money.  We had fun doing just that, except it was shipboard credit….even better.  What we did not spend, we got back in cash at the front desk.  The amount could have been credited back to our credit card on file as well.  And while we were there, they printed our final statement for us.  No invoices are given at the end of the cruise anymore. You do have the option to check out your account on the interactive TV in your room.  And while we are on the subject of the TV, the ones they have on these newer vessels are wonderful.  Compared to the old and sad TV’s on the Amsterdam, these big flat screens have so many more options for viewing, you never need to repeat anything.

 

Time for lunch, we went to the Lido for salads and a made to order pizza.  We really like the pizza here, because the crust is thin, and cooked crispy on the bottom. At this time of day, only the salad, sandwich, and dessert stations are open.  But there are no lines anywhere.  The waiters still serve beverages too.

 

There was a bottle of Veuve Cliquot waiting for us to drink in our room, so that is what we did.  Usually we do not drink wine, but this is a nice champagne, not a sparkling wine.  A very nice gift.

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill, which was fairly busy for the last night.  We were seated at “our” table by the window, and served by an excellent waiter.  We tend to stick to what we know best, and that was a Caesar and wedge salad.  The clothesline bacon goes perfectly when cut up and used as a salad topping.  Entrees were the 7 ounce filet mignons with a side of French fries.  The plates are heated, so your food stays warm until you are done.  Saving a bit of room, we added desserts of a chocolate soufflé and one Almost Baked Alaska.  Before we left, several of the staff stopped by our table to bid us farewell.  Many of them had remembered us from the Amsterdam.  We cannot say enough nice things about the service and food in this venue.  Highly recommended.

 

Back in our room, we added the last of the stuff to our luggage, then rolled it outside the door for pick up between 9pm and midnight.  We must add here that these rooms are so insulated, we never heard any noise from surrounding cabins or even the hallway.  Nor did we hear the luggage hitting the walls as they were gathered.  With using the Port Valet, we will not see our luggage until we reach the San Francisco airport.  Hopefully……

 

We will follow up with our final comments after we get home.  It has been a pleasure sharing our adventures with you all!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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SilvertoGold

SilvertoGold

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13 hours ago, bcummin said:

Joanne Valerio was our Guest Relations Manager on the Volendam in 2018 in and around Japan.  She was absolutely wonderful.  Glad to hear that she is back on a ship.

Barbara

Not sure if this is that Joanne, but on the Westerdam she was so professional, so pleasant, so liking her job.  We were very impressed:  this isn't what we had experienced with many past GRMs.  Her assistant, Mitch, was a lovely lady, who had the best boss/trainer in Joanne. We spoke to them both daily and they were a great team.  Sometimes everything comes together and you experience a really memorable cruise because of the officers like these two.

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

WCB

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Posted

Report # 10   Debarkation Day   Seattle, Washington   October 2, 2021  Saturday    Overcast & foggy & 48 degrees

 

Well here we are on the final day of our adventure.  It would begin early at 5am, like it or not.  Around 5:30am, the Nieuw Amsterdam was nearing Seattle, and we were docked by 7am.  Provision loading began immediately, as well as luggage being offloaded.  Turning a ship around is a massive piece of work for the crew, and they seem do it with ease.

 

We had been assigned to group BBBB that got off at 7:45am.  So we needed to be in the dining room as soon as they opened at 6:30am.  Expecting it to be crowded, we were among the four customers Gan and Widana had this early.  Knowing we had a short time, our food was delivered quickly.  So our order was the usual Greek yogurt, a bowl of fresh berries (the best we have ever seen), and granola.  Then we had eggs, bacon, ham, and English muffins.  Gan served us sausages just in case we did not have enough to eat.  Heaven forbid, who knows when we will have our next meal???

 

We could tell that our room stewards were using any opportunity to service the room, even if it was a little at a time.  Fresh linens and toweling were already in the drawers under the bed, and the mini bar set up was in a bag behind the window drapes.  Spending a small amount of time catching up on reports and photos, our group BBBB was announced for debarking.  Time to say goodbye.

 

There was no waiting at the gangway on deck two, and all we needed were our room key cards to exit.  An agent checked our passports as we left the building.  Since we had no luggage to pick up, we headed directly towards the waiting buses.  This time we had been given a voucher with the prepaid transfer group BBBB number on it to pass off to a staff member.  Then we boarded our bus, and were off for the airport by 8am.  Although our flight was scheduled for 12:59pm, we would have plenty of time for unexpected delays.

 

Probably because today was Saturday, the traffic was light, and we arrived at the airport by 8:30am.  Instead of being dropped off at the original bus loading area, we were taken to the main entrance.  It was a short walk to the security line, and since we already had our boarding passes, we could bypass that line.

 

However, at the security check, there was a zigzag line that went on forever.  We had gotten more than halfway there, when the security folks shut off the line, and directed us to another area.  Guess what?  That line was just as crowded, and we did the drill all over again.  When we went through security at SFO, we did not have to take our shoes off.  But here, there was a sign stating that only applied if you were 75 or older.  It also said we did not have to take our light jackets off.  Wrong, or partially wrong.  One of us is not 75 yet, so I reluctantly pulled off the shoes, when the agent said, oh you could “fudge it” and leave your shoes on.  Too late, they were off, as was the jacket.  Wish we had gotten the TSA free sign on our boarding passes, but it did not happen on this trip. So I knew I would be stopped with the knee setting off the buzzer.  That prompted an agent to do a pat down, but around my ankle.  Saying nothing that it was my new knee, she said I was fine to go.  Oh well, who said flying was fun?

 

Locating our terminal, we settled down to a small table, plugged in the computer, and caught up on photos and reports.  Sure passed the time quickly.  The flight was on time, and the actual air time was 1 hour 40 minutes.  We landed before 3pm, and located the baggage carousel shortly after.

 

Our driver was waiting at the carousel, but there were no bags coming out.  We told him that on our flight up to Seattle, the two pieces of luggage had been pulled off and were sitting at the wall.  Lo and behold, we went to look, and there they were with two other suitcases.  Guess these days, folks fly with only carryon luggage to avoid the charges.  Instead of following him to the parking garage, he offered to retrieve the SUV, and pick up us outside.  Totally fine with us, we waited about 15 minutes.

 

The ride home was quick, since there  was little traffic…..even in downtown SF.  Saturday afternoon was a good day to come home.  Chatting with the driver about the world affairs made the hour plus ride go by ever faster.  We were home before 5pm.

 

First thing that was asked?  What’s for dinner?  Have not had to think about that for seven days, and boy, it was nice.  Anyway, something simple was the answer.  Bet we sleep like babies tonight!

 

Will do a follow-up tomorrow with our impressions of this trip.  Thanks for tagging along……….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

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oakridger

oakridger

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Posted (edited)

Thanks for the great review as always!  Welcome home. About getting stopped at security with your new knee…. I have two titanium hips and several times when I got  stopped they have not checked my hip area but my ankle also!!  Go figure?  I stopped explaining that it was my hip that was setting off the scanner. 🙄

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