Live and Happy from Eurodam October 6 to 30

[Florida_gal_50]

8 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

 

I think the testing requirements are mostly a function of the countries visited and not the ship you are on.  You would probably get a better idea asking on one of the ships currently in the area, possibly Koningsdam (especially if your cruise visits Mexico) or more likely Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

Roy

That is a wonderful idea but it's hard to get anyone to answer.  I've posted on one of the Koningsdam roll calls about testing of Canadians and no one has bothered to answer.  If I go on my cruise next month I will be letting Canadians know what is going on.  It's the right thing to do.

 

@Vict0riannthank you for the testing info.  It much appreciated.  I'm enjoying your thread very much.  Very informative.

[kazu]

7 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

.  I plan to go to the Front Desk and check that we can arrange our PCR tests for the day before we disembark in Barcelona

 

Let us know how you make out, please?

 

I’m concerned that it will still be a requirement to enter Canada next spring and since we can’t fly out the same day (too much stress as it is too early) we’ll wait a day and fly the next.  Hoping we won’t need to get a second test in Amsterdam as it looks like we have to go to the airport. 

 

I have hope because of your thread 😉 

[VMax1700]

@Florida_gal_50

Here is the notification that we received on Eurodam in Europe.  As you can see they offer the opportunity to request a PCR test.  A PCR test was also verbally offered to us depending on where we were flying to.  I think they have it covered!

[Vict0riann]

2 hours ago, LambKnuckles said:

I've read through your thread and have LOVED every post and comment and photo!!

 

Does HAL use american dollars as the norm?  Or are those Euros on menus?

 

I read one menu so quickly, and after seeing the photo of Sticky Buns, I thought it said Sticky Buns with Caviar...  🤢  But reread it and it was Steamed Buns with Caviar...  my bad!!!

 

Bless all of you who contributed!!  THANK YOU!!!

Thank you, Lambie!

[Florida_gal_50]

3 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

@Florida_gal_50

Here is the notification that we received on Eurodam in Europe.  As you can see they offer the opportunity to request a PCR test.  A PCR test was also verbally offered to us depending on where we were flying to.  I think they have it covered!

Thank you so much!  I hope it's the same on all ships, not just those that sail in Europe.   Some days I want to just throw in the towel on my cruise because of all the other issues surrounding getting to go.  It just seems to be a bit much some days. This does give me hope.

[VMax1700]

@Vict0riann

What is happening in Trieste?  Eurodam is still moored and I thought she was due to sail at 8pm

[VMax1700]

This evening I offer some land based food porn.  Actually can you call Venice 'land based'??

We are staying in Hotel Santa Chiara in Pza Roma tonight and had a late lunch/early dinner in Restaurant Poveledo, just past the railway station, on Lista Spagna.

Good food, great service.

 

We shared bruschetta and lasagne as a first course and then I had Sole in lemon and wine sauce as a main.

[Vict0riann]

It’s after 9 now, and we are still waiting for passengers.  Angelique, in the dining room said she thought it was because of the protests going on.

 

my one disappointment today was the lack of an embarkation lunch.  At noon I looked on my Navigator,and the menu was there, but when we went down to the dining room we were told no lunch today, go to Lido.  At the Lido at least there was Prosecco flowing, and we pretty much had a liquid lunch, and a nap after.  
 

I shouldn’t complain - we had breakfast in the Pinnacle, with a mimosa.  Tony and Martha have a fast friend in Tudor, the manager, and he invited us today.  It was almost empty, and we had a pleasant time.  
 

The pictures are from breakfast.

 

 

 

sorry, upside down, need Jacqui’s help.  

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

The lunch menu that didn’t happen…

 

 

 

[kazu]

 

5 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

 

The pictures are from breakfast.

 

 

 

sorry, upside down, need Jacqui’s help.  

 

 

Happy to help, Ann

 

 

 

[VMax1700]

When we were checking in to the hotel there was a  couple checking out  who had Eurodam luggage labels.  I asked them what time their checkin was and they said 4.20pm!  I suggested that they not wait until then and go earlier.  But if people were scheduled for 4.20 check in and then testing etc plus drive to Trieste, it makes sense that some are still in transit.

This has been very poorly thought out by HAL  

[VMax1700]

18 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

because of the protests going on.

Italian TV is currently showing video of water cannon being fired at protesters.

[kazu]

30 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

When we were checking in to the hotel there was a  couple checking out  who had Eurodam luggage labels.  I asked them what time their checkin was and they said 4.20pm!  I suggested that they not wait until then and go earlier.  But if people were scheduled for 4.20 check in and then testing etc plus drive to Trieste, it makes sense that some are still in transit.

This has been very poorly thought out by HAL  

 

What a shame 😔 

 

20 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Italian TV is currently showing video of water cannon being fired at protesters.

 

Yikes 😱. I pity the passengers trying to board.  What a mess 😔. I’m glad Ann decided to stay on the ship.

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

When we were checking in to the hotel there was a  couple checking out  who had Eurodam luggage labels.  I asked them what time their checkin was and they said 4.20pm!  I suggested that they not wait until then and go earlier.  But if people were scheduled for 4.20 check in and then testing etc plus drive to Trieste, it makes sense that some are still in transit.

This has been very poorly thought out by HAL  

You’d think this was their first cruise ever 🙄.  That is ridiculous.

[Vict0riann]

I don’t think we sailed until nearly midnight.  We sat on Tony’s aft verandah waiting for busses before dinner, and the busses seemed to be coming in in convoys, with a motorcycle leading them, about 5 at a time.  We also heard one explosion, Tony said he had heard others earlier.  What an experience for those joining the ship! 
 

We found two new masks on the bed when we returned to our room later, also two new dam cocktail coupons.  So thank you, Colin, for yours, we will toast you sometime on this cruise. 

[Vict0riann]

Evidently there was great confusion yesterday, with the police directing our busses all over Trieste and difficulty entering the port.  One of the tour busses was held up for over an hour, and there have been complaints.  Free drinks are now flowing around the Lido pool.  Poor Captain had to give his safety spiel this morning, and getting everyone to check in at their muster station went on until very late.  Pika said at lunch that she slept until 11 today, and I’m sure she needed it.  And Cesare, the Italian chef, said they were feeding people until all hours.  
 

I understand there was mention of the Eurodam on the Italian news last night.  We just have to hope the protests don’t progress to the other Italian ports we will be visiting.  
 

Captain Smit said our visit to Zadar, Croatia, will not be affected by our late departure, and we will get there at a stately 9 knots an hour.  I believe the new Captain  boarded yesterday, and will have to isolate for 10 days before appearing. Also chopsticks were boarded yesterday.  I had been threatening to “borrow” some from Tamarind….

 

I will get more bits of news, I hope, at the M&G this afternoon.  We are now 1200 on board, and there is a big difference in the crowds. 

[Vict0riann]

I think there were about 40 at the M&G, there was a “quiz” - what time did you get on board?  I think about 2 got on before 6, the rest got later and later, until 3 or 4 boarded after 10:30!  It was a nice meeting, well-organized, even a song.  
 

This evening’s menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Florida_gal_50]

7 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Evidently there was great confusion yesterday, with the police directing our busses all over Trieste and difficulty entering the port.  One of the tour busses was held up for over an hour, and there have been complaints.  Free drinks are now flowing around the Lido pool.  Poor Captain had to give his safety spiel this morning, and getting everyone to check in at their muster station went on until very late.  Pika said at lunch that she slept until 11 today, and I’m sure she needed it.  And Cesare, the Italian chef, said they were feeding people until all hours.  
 

I understand there was mention of the Eurodam on the Italian news last night.  We just have to hope the protests don’t progress to the other Italian ports we will be visiting.  
 

Captain Smit said our visit to Zadar, Croatia, will not be affected by our late departure, and we will get there at a stately 9 knots an hour.  I believe the new Captain  boarded yesterday, and will have to isolate for 10 days before appearing. Also chopsticks were boarded yesterday.  I had been threatening to “borrow” some from Tamarind….

 

I will get more bits of news, I hope, at the M&G this afternoon.  We are now 1200 on board, and there is a big difference in the crowds. 

I'm having a hard time being sympathetic with HAL.  They brought a lot of this on themselves.

[VMax1700]

59 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I'm having a hard time being sympathetic with HAL.  They brought a lot of this on themselves.

I really have to agree with you.  I believe that HAL decided to use Porto Marghera without totally examining the safety elements of the ship arriving and departing Marghera.  The first embarkation at Marghera on September 12th was the one and only.  That departure featured a lot of manoeuvering to access the lagoon.  

The departure on 6th October was not notified to pax until at the Venice Cruise terminal to check in.   This departure was rearranged to Trieste on the basis of bad weather due in Venice, but the weather in Trieste was just as bad if not worse, than what had been expected in Venice, leading to a greatly delayed departure and a cancelled port of call (Katakolon).

The current departure (October 18th) was moved from the previously planned Marghera to Trieste much earlier and the reason given was quite pathetic.

HAL should man up and say that they screwed up and apologise to their customers.

A few free drinks is not the answer.

[Vict0riann]

I’m not sure what the problems were with Porto Marghera, but ships in the past made it out from the Venice port, probably larger than Eurodam.  I was disappointed that we were docked at the industrial port in Trieste.  There was only space for two ships at the cruise port, and I suppose they were both occupied.  They were when we visited Trieste on the previous day.  If we had been able to dock there I don’t think there would have been the same problem, there were no picketers at the cruise port.  Some people, I’m not sure if it was everyone, were taken to the cruise port and dropped off, then they waited to be bussed to to ship. But they did get water and snacks…

[Vict0riann]

We had a very nice dinner in the MDR last night with J&J.   We all pretty much thought alike with the escargots, and the filet mignon, only Jane had the lamb.  Plates were cleaned, the portions seem a little smaller than in the past, which is Avery good thing.  There was a selection of desserts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

This morning there was an impressive moon set, but the sunrise was on the other side of the ship, so I didn’t get it.  We were up early, as we were arriving in Zadar, Croatia at 6 am, and leaving at 2:30.  We were taking one of Tony’s Tantalising and Tasty Tours, along with Tony and Martha and 8 other roll call friends, at 8 a.m.  The first stop was about an hour and a half away, a very interesting cheese factory on the island of Pag.  It included a tour, fully garbed in protective clothing, hair nets, booties, etc., and then an elaborate tasting of about ten of their cheeses, sheep, goat, cow, and blends, along with three different wines.  Then we returned to Zadar to a winery and tasted 5 different wines, with, you guessed it, cheeses and hams.  So one was cheese with wine and the other was wine with cheese.  Bread was served in bags.

 

The first tasting.

 

 

 

the second

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

A few more photos from our day.  The scenes are on the way to Pag, a salt flats area, and your intrepid travellers at the cheese factory.

 

Moonset

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Awww - you two look so cute 🙂 and properly dressed 😉 

 

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

 

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

I am loving your cruise and photos and whole vacation!  

 

Thank you for taking us along and those others who add their stories, too!!

 

I don't think we heard much lately, about the Italian cruise industry, over here, or at least in Texas...  so hearing about the problems you're experiencing is interesting, too!  But you all sound as if you're making lemonade from those lemons and still enjoying the whole voyage!!