BTimmer's Almost Live from the Rotterdam 11/21/21-12/1/21

[Btimmer]

7 hours ago, woodinville cruisers said:

Have a great trip.

I'm glad you get to do the snorkeling tours.

Did you get to watch "My Octopus Teacher" yet?

 

I've got it queued up.

 

For the snorkeling tours, I found some with no age restrictions and one that we are doing independently on Half Moon Cay.

Edited November 16, 2021 by Btimmer

[iflyrc5]

On 11/15/2021 at 5:05 PM, Btimmer said:

The rain is precisely why I started investigating where we could go that's warm and sunny.  Plus we love to snorkel, and we've never been to Bonaire or the Dominican Republic. 

In Bonaire you need to take a snorkeling trip on the Woodwind with Dee and her team

 

[Btimmer]

9 hours ago, woodinville cruisers said:

Have a great trip.

I'm glad you get to do the snorkeling tours.

Did you get to watch "My Octopus Teacher" yet?

 

We watched "My Octopus Teacher" this afternoon.  It was terrific!!  Thanks for the recommendation.

[woodinville cruisers]

I thought that the photography was amazing.

[dchip]

4 hours ago, woodinville cruisers said:

I thought that the photography was amazing.

I’m a photographer and I thought the photography was the best underwater video I have ever seen. It is a wonderful documentary!!!

[Btimmer]

23 minutes ago, dchip said:

I’m a photographer and I thought the photography was the best underwater video I have ever seen. It is a wonderful documentary!!!

I totally concur.  Many of the kelp forest scenes are simply stunning!

[nimiq]

Following 

[vicd1969]

On 11/16/2021 at 6:55 PM, iflyrc5 said:

In Bonaire you need to take a snorkeling trip on the Woodwind with Dee and her team

 

It may be better due to fewer tourists post-pandemic, but her trips usually deservedly sell out.

[bobpatj]

Sailing on Rotterdam in January, so enjoy all the posts and reviews about this new ship.  

[Seasick Sailor]

On 11/15/2021 at 8:56 PM, TexasTrini said:

@Btimmer Thank you for doing this! It's kind of you to give us information on the Rotterdam. We'll be sailing with her December 11 and I'm craving info on the ship. Could you please post a few days worth of the daily activities schedule from "When and Where"?

 

You mean Dec 12?

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Try the pretzel's after 9pm at New York Deli. Deck 10

[TexasTrini]

6 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

You mean Dec 12?

D'oh! Yes, I meant the 12th. 

[Btimmer]

On 11/15/2021 at 6:56 PM, TexasTrini said:

@Btimmer Thank you for doing this! It's kind of you to give us information on the Rotterdam. We'll be sailing with her December 11 and I'm craving info on the ship. Could you please post a few days worth of the daily activities schedule from "When and Where"?

Yes I can, however, we have very few sea days on this cruise.

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

Try the pretzel's after 9pm at New York Deli. Deck 10

Thanks for the tip.  My wife loves pretzels.  I miss sailing with you guys. 

[Btimmer]

We just completed our Binax At Home testing (negative).  We will take a red eye flight tonight to FLL.  Overnight we learned that our boarding time was moved up to 1pm for group D.  
 

We're now humming the Peter, Paul, and Mary & John Denver song "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

[Btimmer]

We're on board and already loving it.  There's something about the fresh smells of a new ship!  I'm positioned in the Crow's Nest for the sailaway.

 

Our inside stateroom is about the same size as we just had on the NIeuw Amsterdam, but the bed is turned 90° counterclockwise which provides more room.  The shower is huge, and we have lots of drawers.

 

The Celebrity Edge is positioned in front of us and will likely need to depart before we can.

 

Below are a few pictures.

 

 

Nieuw Statendam - sister ship

Edited November 21, 2021 by Btimmer

[SilvertoGold]

On 11/19/2021 at 10:32 AM, Btimmer said:

We just completed our Binax At Home testing (negative).  We will take a red eye flight tonight to FLL.  Overnight we learned that our boarding time was moved up to 1pm for group D.  
 

We're now humming the Peter, Paul, and Mary & John Denver song "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

Phenomenally good photos of your cabin! Thanks you for reporting in!

 

Have I missed your post with your blog address?

 

 

[canadianbear]

Welcome on board and have a great cruise!  Your inside cabin looks great-thanks for the photos.  Enjoy!

[Btimmer]

My blog link is:  https://timmer2021rotterdamcruise.blogspot.com/

 

The ship is sailing with 1472, guests or about 50% capacity and the library is back!

 

Here's some more pictures of the library and misc. artwork:

 

[MisterBill99]

How many people are on the ship for this sailing? How strict were the terminal employees about your check-in time? Were they making people wait outside if they showed up early?

 

And don't mess up the ship for those of us on the next sailing! 😁

Edited November 22, 2021 by MisterBill99

[Btimmer]

1472 passengers.  They weren't strict at all when we arrived about 1/2 hour early. Check in was smooth and efficient.

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks for the blog address and the photos.  I appreciate the photos of your cabin, as this is a new-to-me layout.  Looking good.  enjoy!

[jeh10641]

Btimmer,

Thanks "neighbor" for the Inside Cabin photos. We are booked 12/01/21 in an Inside Cabin, 1146, so the heads up was good.

 

Jim

[Btimmer]

Here are some outside views from our inside cabin.  Modern televisions make it seem real.
 

 

 

[sevenseasnomad]

Btimmer, Thanks for the wonderful photographs and commentary.  We will board Dec. 22 for 11-day Christmas/New Year's and are, of course, counting the days.  I have a few questions and will thank you in advance for taking time to let us share in your cruise experience.  At what time did embarkation begin?  Was MDR open for lunch that day?  Will there be an Orange Party?  If not, has that event gone by the wayside, or will HAL reinstate it at some point in the future?  I don't want to pack my orange party clothes if there's no Orange Party!  How is the entertainment?