Live and Happy from Eurodam October 6 to 30

[Vict0riann]

We had a very nice dinner in Canaletto last night, with some new and interesting dishes, but something disagreed with me, so I decided to play it safe and not take our tour to Ostia Antica.  Pat went, and should be returning any time now.  I slept the morning away, and feel much better.  I think we are going to refrain from the specialty restaurants from here on - I don’t want an upset on our way home.  The ship has been absolutely silent all day, of course I might have slept through the noon one, but I didn’t hear anything.  Perhaps this evening there will be some news.  Evidently the FCC is also isolating, I suppose they all work pretty closely.  
 

Food porn to follow…

[Vict0riann]

I can’t remember if I posted the Canaletto menu…

 

We’ve tried a lot of the small plates, this time we added the veal meatballs to the antipasto, beef carpaccio and the mozzarella.  Then just two large plates, the spaghetti all’ astice ($18 for lots of lobster) and the braised beef short ribs.  Then Pat and I shared an orange blossom ricotta tart.  Think I overdid things?  
 

 

 

 

 

[bennybear]

So glad I found you!  Thanks for taking me along! 

[Vict0riann]

Feeling much better this evening - we are going to go to Tamarind.

 

Captain Smit departed for his leave this afternoon and our new Captain Pieter Bos  (not sure I’m spelling that correctly) made the announcement just now that everyone is back on board and we will be able to leave at 7:30 instead of 8:30, on our way to Livorno.   Tomorrow around 150 of the staff will be taking a tour to Pisa, there was a lottery and many are happy to be able to get off the ship.  Pat’s tour to Ostia was interesting,he said, PLFs were checked and temperatures were taken.

 

There was a beautiful sunset this evening, and the sea was a millpond.  The smoke from a ship anchored off the port was going straight up into the sky.  

[TiogaCruiser]

11 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Feeling much better this evening - we are going to go to Tamarind.

 

Captain Smit departed for his leave this afternoon and our new Captain Pieter Bos  (not sure I’m spelling that correctly) made the announcement just now that everyone is back on board and we will be able to leave at 7:30 instead of 8:30, on our way to Livorno.   Tomorrow around 150 of the staff will be taking a tour to Pisa, there was a lottery and many are happy to be able to get off the ship.  Pat’s tour to Ostia was interesting,he said, PLFs were checked and temperatures were taken.

 

Huh? Pieter Bos? (My favorite captain)

Did he return from retirement?

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2513208-captain-peter-bos-retiring-in-march/

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by TiogaCruiser

[Vict0riann]

3 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Huh? Pieter Bos? (My favorite captain)

Did he return from retirement?

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2513208-captain-peter-bos-retiring-in-march/

 

Of course you are correct!  This is Captain Pieter Bun or maybe Ban? Just got the first letter…  I sometimes have a difficult time making out what the staff are saying, behind their masks.  And now they are wearing N95’s and many are double masking.  But slowly, those that were isolating are re-appearing, so it’s just a matter of time, I think, until the CD is back.

 

We had notices today that we will have an antigen test tomorrow, and we have the option of also requesting a PCR test for our return to Canada.  The cruise is nearing an end for us.🥲

[Alphen]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Of course you are correct!  This is Captain Pieter Bun or maybe Ban? Just got the first letter…  I sometimes have a difficult time making out what the staff are saying, behind their masks.  And now they are wearing N95’s and many are double masking.  But slowly, those that were isolating are re-appearing, so it’s just a matter of time, I think, until the CD is back.

 

We had notices today that we will have an antigen test tomorrow, and we have the option of also requesting a PCR test for our return to Canada.  The cruise is nearing an end for us.🥲

Not on board, but from Captain Albert's Blog with an updated schedule for the HAL Captains; 

Eurodam:

Captain Peter Bant: 18 oct 2021 until the end of the year.

[Vict0riann]

1 hour ago, Alphen said:

Not on board, but from Captain Albert's Blog with an updated schedule for the HAL Captains; 

Eurodam:

Captain Peter Bant: 18 oct 2021 until the end of the year.

Thank you, I have been waiting for a bio to appear on the Meet the Officers on the TV, but nothing has shown up so far.  

[sailingdutchy]

On 10/26/2021 at 12:00 PM, Rooanna said:

Ann,

 

Enjoying this wonderful LIVE review/blog.  Loved the food tour you did in Zadar, Croatia and would like to know the name of the tour company/tour for future reference.  Glad you are having a fantastic time.

 

Thanks,

Barb S.  

hi Barb our group really enjoyed the itinerary and also the guide of the Pag Cheese Factory Tour and the visit to the Degarra Winery . The spread that Pag put on was delicious with lots so cheese and wine , olives and prosciutto . The guide is Sime Botica , he has some good humour is very good in his English , explains the area very well and the area that this is in is very interesting . You can reach Sime at simebotica (at ) gmail ( dot ) com . 
 

Tony , sailingdutchy 😁😁

[sailingdutchy]

On 10/26/2021 at 1:27 PM, Vict0riann said:

I can’t remember if I posted the Canaletto menu…

 

We’ve tried a lot of the small plates, this time we added the veal meatballs to the antipasto, beef carpaccio and the mozzarella.  Then just two large plates, the spaghetti all’ astice ($18 for lots of lobster) and the braised beef short ribs.  Then Pat and I shared an orange blossom ricotta tart.  Think I overdid things?  
 

 

 

 

 

we have been to the Canaletto a couple of times this cruise and I thought the the menu has improved a lot from a couple of years ago .

 

Tony I 

 

[Vict0riann]

Last night was again the Tamarind for dinner, we are now concentrating on the dishes we enjoy the most, the lobster tempura sushi roll, the sashimi dishes, and  Pats favourite is always a curry.  After dinner we were in good time to go to the late show, the Step One dancers “In Tandem” with the male singer from the BBKings group.  It was energetic, to say the least, and I have not figured out how they do all the special effects.  I imagine they are projected, somehow, but how do they keep the dancers from casting shadows on them?

 

Today was another “sea day” for us.  We did not book a ship’s tour in Livorno, and without one, we were not allowed off the ship.  So we watched what was going on in this busy industrial port, and wandered around the ship.   I finished the book Martha gave me yesterday.  The staff had their tour to Pisa.  We went to happy hour in the Ocean Bar, and discovered Ronnie whom we had met on the Zaandam a few years ago, and who was also with Tony and Martha on the Westerdam, wandering in the South China Sea.  
 

We had dinner in the Pinnacle at 7.  So food porn to follow!  After dinner, we started to go to our end of the ship, passing by a performance in the Lincoln Centre Stage.  The lounge was almost empty, so we took the opportunity to sit at the back and enjoy.  There are four musicians, two violins, a cello and a piano.  One of the violinists also sings.  I imagine it was not crowded because so many of the tours were all day ones, and busses were returning until past 7:30.  Those people must have been worn out!

 

it will almost be a relief to be out of Italy tomorrow and into France, there appear to be no restrictions at all around disembarking.  Cannes is a tender port, I think we will not be in a rush to go ashore, we don’t have anything specific planned.  

[Vict0riann]

Pinnacle dinner:

 

shrimp cocktail

 

 

crab cakes (spicier than I remember them)

 

 

mushroom soup

 

 

petite tenderloin

 

 

tenderloin and lobster dumplings

 

 

halibut

 

 

key lime pie

 

 

The Lincoln Centre Stage group

 

 

 

[bennybear]

29 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Pinnacle dinner:

 

shrimp cocktail

 

 

crab cakes (spicier than I remember them)

 

 

mushroom soup

 

 

petite tenderloin

 

 

tenderloin and lobster dumplings

 

 

halibut

 

 

key lime pie

 

 

The Lincoln Centre Stage group

 

 

 

Yum! 

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Pinnacle dinner:

Very nice Ann. You made excellent choices.

Why no pics of what Pat ordered? 😉😋

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Pinnacle dinner:

 

shrimp cocktail

 

 

crab cakes (spicier than I remember them)

 

 

mushroom soup

 

 

petite tenderloin

 

 

tenderloin and lobster dumplings

 

 

halibut

 

 

key lime pie

 

 

The Lincoln Centre Stage group

 

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing your cruise and Pinnacle dinner with us . Our last Pinnacle dinner was on the Zuiderdam in December 0f 2019 . They had some cheese bread that we loved !

[aussiecruiser66]

I have been following this thread with great interest, especially to see how HAL have handled things with the restrictions in so many Mediterranean countries. Just wondering, was there was a deal with a HAL promotion that included all of your meals in the specialty restaurants?? Vict0riann hasn't mentioned any/many meals in the MDR.  We are 4 star Mariners therefore receive the 50% discount in the specialty restaurants, but with the recently added 18% gratuity, it would soon mount up.

 

The Australian government has just announced that we may be able to travel overseas within the foreseeable future, so we might be able to start booking overseas cruises again soon. Some State borders are still closed so we may be able to cruise from overseas ports before we can cruise from domestic ports. Seems ludicrous I know, but true!!!!

[Florida_gal_50]

I’m not a fan of the soup from a tea pot.  I just don’t get it.

 

@Vict0riannI’m sad that your cruise is almost over.  I have enjoyed hearing about it.  I’ve really struggled with the decision to go on mine.  You’ve given me encouragement to go for it.  If you can fly half way around the world, I can fly 1/4 of the way 😛, so thank you.  Can’t wait to hear about the rest.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Florida_gal_50

[Vict0riann]

8 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

Very nice Ann. You made excellent choices.

Why no pics of what Pat ordered? 😉😋

Haha, Colin, yes I ate everything!  
 

Actually Martha had the shrimp cocktail, soup, and 5 lobster dumplings and then a scoop of orange sorbet, Tony, Pat and I had crab cakes and Tony the halibut and then a crepe brûlée, Pat had the petite tenderloin and I the tenderloin with dumplings, and we shared the Key lime pie.  
 

I was afraid I wouldn’t get into my jeans today, but I did manage to zip them up.  It will definitely be diet time when we get home.

[Vict0riann]

6 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 

 

@Vict0riannI’m sad that your cruise is almost over.  I have enjoyed hearing about it.  I’ve really struggled with the decision to go on mine.  You’ve given me encouragement to go for it.  If you can fly half way around the world, I can fly 1/4 of the way 😛, so thank you.  Can’t wait to hear about the rest.

I hope we get home safely and then it will have been a success.  I have been afraid for so long, and was so tired of it.   It is the flying that is the risk, I think, once on the ship I feel safe, the protocols are so strict.  

[Vict0riann]

8 hours ago, aussiecruiser66 said:

I have been following this thread with great interest, especially to see how HAL have handled things with the restrictions in so many Mediterranean countries. Just wondering, was there was a deal with a HAL promotion that included all of your meals in the specialty restaurants?? Vict0riann hasn't mentioned any/many meals in the MDR.  We are 4 star Mariners therefore receive the 50% discount in the specialty restaurants, but with the recently added 18% gratuity, it would soon mount up.

 

The Australian government has just announced that we may be able to travel overseas within the foreseeable future, so we might be able to start booking overseas cruises again soon. Some State borders are still closed so we may be able to cruise from overseas ports before we can cruise from domestic ports. Seems ludicrous I know, but true!!!!

We did not have the Have It All promo on this cruise.  It is nice, with pretty well unlimited drinks, but we do have 1/2 price specialty restaurants and wine packages, so that is nice.  I think the HIA does have some dinners included.  We expected the extra costs.  Tony bought onboard credits ahead of time, to take advantage of a good foreign exchange rate.

 

happy to hear Australia may be opening up a bit!

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

I hope we get home safely and then it will have been a success.  I have been afraid for so long, and was so tired of it.   It is the flying that is the risk, I think, once on the ship I feel safe, the protocols are so strict.  

I agree, it’s the flying and the airport that is the worst for sure.  

[puppycanducruise]

Love the food porn.

Thanks.

[0bnxshs]

13 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Pinnacle dinner:

 

 

 

I see they still have that silly, enormous book for the menu of the Pinnacle Grill.

[puppycanducruise]

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

We did not have the Have It All promo on this cruise.  It is nice, with pretty well unlimited drinks, but we do have 1/2 price specialty restaurants and wine packages, so that is nice.  I think the HIA does have some dinners included.  We expected the extra costs.  Tony bought onboard credits ahead of time, to take advantage of a good foreign exchange rate.

I heard the Canadian Dollar is up against the US dollar.   Might be a good time to buy some. 

[VMax1700]

10 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 I’ve really struggled with the decision to go on mine.  You’ve given me encouragement to go for it.  If you can fly half way around the world, I can fly 1/4 of the way

I think you will find the ship to be comfortable and safe.  We did.  In fact I was more apprehensive in Venice when we walked from our hotel over the bridge towards the railway station as there were just so, so many people and because they were outside, they were not masking.  Even Marco Polo airport, of world renown for overcrowding, was comfortable and felt safe.