BTimmer's Almost Live from the Nieuw Amsterdam - Sea to FLL 10/2-23/21

[Sushicat]

22 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Here are the requested menus.

Pinnacle Grill

 

Tamarind

 

What was in your backyard that set off your Ring?  🦊?

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, Sushicat said:

What was in your backyard that set off your Ring?  🦊?

I don't know.  The camera faces a common driveway with lots of traffic.

[510picker]

I enjoy following your postings, both on here and your blog. We will be boarding the NA in November and your information gives me an idea of what we are in store for. 

[Btimmer]

Today at Puerto Vallarta, it was emotional see the Noordam berthed knowing it would not go back into service until March, 2022.  As we backed out of our berth, some of its crew waved goodbye along with some of ours.  Below are a few pictures.  It's the first time I've seen this ship.

[Btimmer]

3 minutes ago, 510picker said:

I enjoy following your postings, both on here and your blog. We will be boarding the NA in November and your information gives me an idea of what we are in store for. 

Thanks. We're totally enjoying it.  It's good to be back at sea.

[Btimmer]

Today in Puerto Vallarta we took a HAL shore excursion to visit San Sebastián del Öste which was an hour an forty minute bus ride from the ship.  We stopped for lunch at a distillery for lunch and samples. The owner's dog loved his rock and beaconed us to throw it which we obliged.  
 

The town is a former mining town and totally different than PV.  We walked around the town, toured the church, met someone driving a pickup with Washington state plates.  On the sign picture, note the date it opened.  That had to be tough.  
 

Two people were late getting back to the bus and we made it back just before the gangway was raised.  It was a good day.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Btimmer

[bcummin]

Beautiful photos.

Did you feel safe on the excursion?  Notice any security?

The reason I ask, is because I remember a problem a few years ago.  One cruise ship  excursion from Puerta Vallarta was attacked by bandits.

Glad your tour was so good.

Barbara

[57redbird]

The restaurant at San Sebastian isn't new but it must have new owners...we ate there in 2017, I think, under the old name.

[Btimmer]

This is the 4th time I've tried to post this!
It's very frustrating!

 

We visited Manzanillo, Mexico, our last Mexican port today.  Here's the sunrise that greeted us:

 

We took a HAL excursion out to two small towns and an Archeological museum which was pretty nice.

 

 

There was a cute chihuahua there but he had a viscous snarl when approach to pet him:

 

 

There's a huge sailfish sculpture in the port area.

 

Here's our ship ready to depart:

 

Our pilot got off just after we backed away from the pier and headed out to sea.

 

We received notice that we would be again Antigen tested for Covid.  Our appointment is Saturday.

 

Its 1,000ish nautical miles to the Panama  Canal.  We transit northbound on Sunday.  Stay tuned.  It continues to be a great cruise for us.

[leerathje]

On 10/11/2021 at 4:36 PM, Btimmer said:

Today in Puerto Vallarta we took a HAL shore excursion to visit San Sebastián del Öste which was an hour an forty minute bus ride from the ship.  We stopped for lunch at a distillery for lunch and samples. The owner's dog loved his rock and beaconed us to throw it which we obliged.  
 

The town is a former mining town and totally different than PV.  We walked around the town, toured the church, met someone driving a pickup with Washington state plates.  On the sign picture, note the date it opened.  That had to be tough.  
 

Two people were late getting back to the bus and we made it back just before the gangway was raised.  It was a good day.

 

We were on a Mexican Riviera cruise in March of 2020, and were on this same excursion.  We thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

L.

 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

@BtimmerJust wanted to let you know Burien was beautiful today. The sun was out and the rain stayed away. Quick trip to Safeway before heading to the ferry dock.😊

[NCTribeFan]

Of course two people were late getting back to the bus.  I swear that's the goal of some people on big-bus ship tours. 😉

 

I would discourage everyone from approaching dogs when you're out and about.  Even those on a leash that appear to be friendly.  Unless, of course, you ask the owner first.  We all like to think that "Sparky" is a happy, friendly, parasite-and-disease-free family pet, but that is often not the case.  Last thing anyone needs is to be bitten by an unvaccinated dog in a foreign country!  But this goes for dogs in your neighborhood, too.  Even the best-trained, friendliest, well-adjusted animals can sometimes react in a totally unexpected way to strangers.  Don't put yourselves, the animals, and the owners in that position.

 

Off my soapbox now!

 

I love that sailfish sculpture.

[CruiseMGM]

Loving the narrative and pictures! Was the e-bike tour in Cabo? And was it a HAL ship tour? Looks like a lot of fun!

 

Enjoy!

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, CruiseMGM said:

Loving the narrative and pictures! Was the e-bike tour in Cabo? And was it a HAL ship tour? Looks like a lot of fun!

 

Enjoy!

Yes & Yes!  Really a lot of fun plus a chance to try ebikes before purchasing. 

[Btimmer]

It was a lazy day at sea.  Below is my best wild life photo of a brown boobie which was on the hunt.  I also saw a couple of sea turtles and a number of flying fish.

 

 

Tonight's entertainment was Lance Ringnald, a two time Olympic gymnastics champion.  He was really good!  It was his first performance in 19 months.  We've seen him previously but the repeat was terrific.

 

[Btimmer]

BTW, if you're not reading my daily blog, it's filled with much more detail but no pictures.  See with your mind.  It's found at:

https://timmer2021seatofll.blogspot.com

[canadianbear]

Really enjoying your posts, photos and reading your detailed blog.  Thanks for doing all this!

[CruiseMGM]

11 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Yes & Yes!  Really a lot of fun plus a chance to try ebikes before purchasing. 

 

Thank you! We're on the Konningsdam in December (can't wait!) and it looks like HAL doesn't offer the e-bike tour for our cruise. 😒 Too bad, it sounds like a blast! FYI, we love our e-bikes, and DH just converted his Mom's 3-wheel "trike" into an e-bike so that she can get up a few pesky hills that are a little too steep for her.

Best wishes, enjoy the rest of your cruise!

[Btimmer]

Yesterday, our second day at sea, was a difficult day to find access to the internet.   Much of my day was spent taking pictures of masked booby birds.

 

But I also captured a dolphin mid air heading away from the ship.  This picture was taken from a distance of about 1/4 mile.

 

But in the end there's nothing like a gratuitous wake picture.

 

 

we ate in the Pinnacle Grill where my main course was the extra charge Alaskan King Crab and my wife had a filet mignon with the add-on small lobster.

 

 

Again my blog has much more detail.

[wdw1972]

Tim - loving all the detail in your blog.  Thanks so much for sharing your voyage!

 

Sue/WDW1972

[Btimmer]

Here's the money shot from today.  Otherwise the photography has been sparse.  But I've met some interesting people as they walk by my photo perch.

 

[510picker]

Great shot! Your persistence has paid off with some great photos! Where exactly is your “photo perch”?

[rkacruiser]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Here's the money shot from today.  Otherwise the photography has been sparse.  But I've met some interesting people as they walk by my photo perch.

 

 

What a fantastic photo!  

[Btimmer]

2 minutes ago, 510picker said:

Great shot! Your persistence has paid off with some great photos! Where exactly is your “photo perch”?

Every day I stand for 2-4 hours at the 3rd opening from the front on Deck 3 (Promenade).  The sun is on the other side of the ship so the lighting is best here.  

[Btimmer]

Just now, rkacruiser said:

 

What a fantastic photo!  

Thank you.  I'm shooting with a Nikon P900 with an 83x optical zoom.  This photo was of the dolphin about 1/4 mile away ahead of the ship.  When I start seeing activity, I start zooming in and shooting and review the pictures later.  This one will likely be in the top 5 of this trip.