Eurodam 11-16-21 Thoughts and Impressions

[NCTribeFan]

Finally, after at least 10 cancellations and several rebookings, it was time to sail again.  It had been 23 months since my last cruise, which was a quick 5 nights on Carnival Paradise in December 2019.

 

I hadn't planned on this cruise initially.  I had used 3 FCCs to book 12 nights on Nieuw Amsterdam under the Have It All for December, but when I received a casino offer for a "free" inside cabin, I jumped on it.  It was originally due to sail 11-14 for 10 nights, but it was shortened to 8 nights due to the ship arriving from Europe and needing to do whatever was required prior to sailing from the US.  Some were disappointed that Aruba and Curacao were cut, and while I definitely would've preferred the original itinerary, I was just happy that we weren't cancelled.

 

With the sailing originally scheduled for Sunday, 11/14, I hadn't been able to find a hotel that wasn't close to $300.  Apparently, there was a music festival over that weekend.  Due to that, I was flying in that morning, which had me a bit stressed.  I've taken Southwest's early nonstop flight multiple times and have never had any problems getting to the port (even to Miami) in plenty of time.  Still, when we were switched to 11/16, I was able to book a room at a very reasonable rate and got a $55 price drop on my flight.

 

I have several Walgreens and CVS pharmacies within a short drive but was a bit unhappy to discover that none of them offered rapid Covid testing.  I ended up finding a local pharmacy about 2 miles from my house that offered them (but not on weekends).  So I made my appointment for 9 am on Monday morning.  After sitting in the car for 15 minutes waiting, the pharmacist came out and handed me the printout showing my negative results.  Headed home, ordered an Uber pickup, and was at the airport at 10:15 for my 1 pm flight.  There was not a single person checking in at the counter.  There was not a single person in line at security.  That gave me plenty of time to sit and have a beer.  Yes it was a bit early, but, hey, I was finally on vacation!!

 

The lovely 737-800 was not quite 2/3 full and we had an uneventful flight.  Thankfully, no crazy person on board wanting to fight with the attendants or other passengers.  Got my bag and headed out for the hotel shuttles.  It is SO LOUD there at FLL that I really couldn't hear the person at the hotel when I called about the shuttle.  I waited 30 minutes and saw no sign of the van.  Called again and couldn't hear, so said I'd just get an Uber, which arrived in 4 minutes.

 

Easy check-in at the hotel, the Hyatt Place on 10th.  I've stayed there several times.  Room was showing some wear but was clean and comfortable.  I had decided I wasn't going to bother with a carry-on bottle of wine, so I just hung out in my room, then went down for Happy Hour.  Chatted with a couple next to me who were sailing on Emerald Princess.  The couple of the other side of them were on Eurodam.  I saw them several times during the cruise.

 

I had "upgraded" myself to Club Orange, simply because I was wary of having a guarantee cabin, and was able to get my J cabin (1049).  My original boarding time was 1 pm, Group A but it changed to 1:20 pm, Group D.  I went down at about 11:45 and checked out and was just going to hang out in the lobby for a while.  Shuttle person came over and asked if I was going to the port.  I said I was probably just going to Uber over because my boarding time wasn't until 1:20.  She said there were others on Eurodam who were already heading over, so I decided to just go and see what happened.  After all, there were no disembarking passengers, so it seemed silly that we would have to wait until 1 to start boarding.

 

I was at the terminal by 12:15 and was in my cabin at 12.35.  I was on Lido at 1:00 having my first Dive-In burger and a beer.   I really love this cabin.  I had it on Zuiderdam.  I have 1069 on Nieuw Amsterdam in about 2-1/2 weeks.  It is so spacious.

[NCTribeFan]

No matter how many times I've sailed in the Caribbean, I still get off in the ports and do things.  But not this time.  I just wanted to be on the ship and relax.

 

It seemed we might not get to visit HMC.  After a quite long delay, we were finally cleared.  It was quite rocky getting on the tender.  It was quite overcast and rain was expected, but none materialized.  I walked down to my favorite spot, just past the bright green cabana, settled on a lounger and read.

 

The lunch was a bit of a disappointment.  I remember having some really good jerk chicken in the past.  I got rice w/beans and a thin, fairly tasteless piece of chicken.  The pineapple was good, though.  Had a beer with lunch, then headed back to the ship.

 

 

It was my birthday and when I returned to my cabin, I found this nice little surprise waiting for me.

 

[NCTribeFan]

I spent the vast majority of my time out on the Promenade deck sitting in a deck chair and reading.  Those chairs look like they're 50 years old and the cushions are pretty gross.  But there were pool towels out there so I just put one down over the cushion and relaxed.

 

There was a better selection of books up in the Crows Nest than I was expecting.  I turned in the book I'd brought with me and ended up reading another 5 novels during the sailing.  I love to read and don't do it nearly often enough these days.  I can't even tell you what I read.  When I'm on a cruise, I just like to read fluff; usually the murder mystery/detective stories.

 

I didn't spend much time in the casino during the sea days.  The slots weren't very kind to me, expect I did do OK on a couple the last day or two.  I play Roulette and didn't do very well there, either, until Sunday and Monday evenings.  Of course, the only time I'm winning is when I want to head to the 9 pm show.  I guess it's a good thing because it forces me to cash out before I've given back all my winnings!

 

I went to afternoon tea just about every day.

 

We had a little M&G on our first sea day at 2:30 in the Ocean Bar.  Some folks arrived right at 3, and I was heading to tea, so I didn't get a chance to chat with them.

 

Three of us did a mini-cabin crawl after tea one day.  Rochelle was in an aft verandah on Deck 6.  Cindy was in a suite on Deck 7.  Then down to my cabin on Deck 1.  I was a little surprised that the decor was so different.  You can see the color of the furniture in my cabin is very light.  The other two had dark cabinets.  Wonder if that's just to "lighten up" the cabin that gets no natural light.

[Andi Land]

Sounds like you had a great time. I can’t wait to get on board and have a Dive In burger myself. 

[NCTribeFan]

I had done the partial Canal on my Zuiderdam sailing in January 2017.  On that sailing, I did the excursion that took you on a small boat all the way through the canal, which was very interesting.  I think the Canal is an amazing feat of engineering.  I was front on Deck 7 (I think) until we entered the locks.  

 

Then I decided to go have breakfast in the MDR.  I'm sitting there looking at the pics I'd taken on my phone and look up to see the wall of the lock sliding past.  It was a bit surreal to look out a ship window and see a wall of rock!  I don't think my video will upload. I'll try again later.

 

I watched a few ships going through the new locks from my perch on the Promenade deck. 

 

 

 

 

Having the upside-down image issues.  Even if I rotate it before posting, it still comes out upside down.  Thought maybe it would let me rotate it once posted, but apparently not.

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by NCTribeFan

[NCTribeFan]

I was surprised to see The World docked across from us in Puerto Limon.  The gangway was open and I did see a couple of people, but not sure if they were passengers or crew.  They looked like passengers.  I didn't see anyone on any of the balconies or on the open decks. 

 

I got off the ship just to walk down to the market and buy some coffee to take back to my daughter.

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

Sounds like a wonderful cruise with lots of relaxation for you.  So glad you decided to hop on the ship.  Your cabin looks very large!  
 

Great photos.  I’ve done a full transit and a partial one and enjoyed both.   Cabin crawl sounds interesting-always nice to see what other cabins are like.  I think you’re right that your cabin was done in light colours being an inside.  

[NCTribeFan]

Food:

 

Overall, I was pleased.  I only had the Club Orange entree on one night - the duck - and quite liked it.

 

I had breakfast room service several mornings, mainly to get my "free" mimosa.

 

I had pizza one day and thought it was quite good.  I had a custom-made sandwich from the Lido one day and it was very tasty.  Lunch in MDR only one day because I had to have a Croque Madame.  It was very good, except the egg white was rather undercooked and I'm not a fan of squiggly translucent egg whites.

 

I ate at the pop-up Sel de Mer.  Unfortunately, because of the itinerary change, this was on the same night as the first Gala night.  I had the steak tartare, the Dover sole, and the souffle.  It was all quite good.

 

I ate at Tamarind one night, having the shrimp and lobster potstickers, which were absolutely delicious, and the tenderloin, which, sadly, was a bit overcooked.  I ordered medium-rare and it was definitely medium, at best.  I didn't send it back because the flavor was nice.  I didn't have dessert.

 

In the MDR, I had the salmon on the first night and it was very good.  Had sea bass the next night, which was also good, so I had fish the first three nights.  I rarely eat red meat these days but ended up having beef tenderloin three times (including the Tamarind dinner) and Prime Rib, which was tasty but a bit tough.  I think HAL needs to upgrade their steak knives!  I burned a lot of calories sawing through the meat, though!

[NCTribeFan]

Entertainment:

 

I'm not a big fan of the production shows and I've been reading how people here think HAL has really taken a step back with their shows.  I enjoyed both of the "dance" shows.  As I've said before, I've always felt that the vocalists in these production shows have been the weak point.  I'd much rather have good dancers out there doing their thing than have OK vocalists trying to also dance and have dancers trying to be backup singers.

 

The last show, with the piano bar folks, was something I wouldn't bother seeing again.

 

I did not go to any comedy shows.  I did not attend any talks or demonstrations.

 

The BB King All Stars were good but not as good as on Zuiderdam or Koningsdam.

 

I only heard the Lincoln Center group once.  That was before dinner the first night.  They seemed to be playing while I was at dinner rather than before or after (I usually went to dinner around 7 pm).

 

I did not like that the piano bar is right next to the casino.  I didn't think either of them were very good singers.  I really wish that there was a wall between the pianos and the casino.

 

As for music, may I just complain yet again about having bad pop music BLARING in all locations at all times.  I hate this.  I so wanted to be able to go sit up in the Tamarind bar during the day when it should have been a nice, quiet place to sit and relax.  But noooooooooooooo.  Music blasting away.  It's the main reason I was out on the Promenade all the time.  It's the only place I found without the music.

 

Don't get me wrong.  I happen to love music.  I do not like what should be background music assailing my brain everywhere I go.  I've come close to walking out of grocery stores, leaving my cart in the middle of an aisle, just to try to escape the totally unnecessary music being blasted.  Please, just stop.

 

So, my entertainment was usually just hanging out in the casino after dinner.  I had a favorite bar server (Va) who took good care of me.

[NCTribeFan]

I visited the spa one afternoon and had a facial and massage.  The massage was very good.  I thought she was a bit rough with the facial.  The scrub was a bit vigorous for my again skin.  It was quite red for about 24 hours, but is looking good now.

 

Another complaint of mine is that a solo is expected to pay more for a spa pass that 1/2 of a couple would.  I already get to pay for two people for the cabin.  If a couple pays $299 for a spa pass, an individual should pay $150 NOT $199.  It's just wrong.

 

I had asked about a day pass on that first afternoon and was told they probably wouldn't be selling any but I could check back later.  I didn't bother.  I was getting plenty of relaxation sitting out on deck and reading.

[DaveOKC]

5 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

I visited the spa one afternoon and had a facial and massage.  The massage was very good.  I thought she was a bit rough with the facial.  The scrub was a bit vigorous for my again skin.  It was quite red for about 24 hours, but is looking good now.

 

Another complaint of mine is that a solo is expected to pay more for a spa pass that 1/2 of a couple would.  I already get to pay for two people for the cabin.  If a couple pays $299 for a spa pass, an individual should pay $150 NOT $199.  It's just wrong.

 

I had asked about a day pass on that first afternoon and was told they probably wouldn't be selling any but I could check back later.  I didn't bother.  I was getting plenty of relaxation sitting out on deck and reading.

I suspect that the pricing of $199 for a Single and $299 for a Couple is more of a marketing way to get another person signed up ("look honey, its only $100 more for the two of us").  

[NCTribeFan]

I didn't want to leave.  I never want to leave.  I am definitely not one of those people who says "oh, it was a nice vacation but I'm ready to get home."  Not me.  If I had the means, I wouldn't even have a permanent residence.  I'd just travel the world and go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted.

 

But that's not my reality.  So I cruise when I can.  I'm cramming several cruises in over the next 12 months and I will still be working, at least part time.

 

Next up is Nieuw Amsterdam for 12 nights on 12/11.  Then 6 nights on Carnival Pride on 1/30/22.  Five nights on Celebrity Summit (first time on X) on 4/11/22; B2B Alaska on Zuiderdam 6/1 and 6/8; then the biggie (rescheduled twice) B2B2B on Carnival Pride RT Rome; Rome to Lisbon; Lisbon to Tampa.  Sadly my OZ/NZ quasi B2B for this coming February isn't happening.  I have two FCCs on MSC that I haven't re-booked and I have a Cruise Next Certificate on NCL that I need to book something by mid April.

 

Oh, and I have a land vaca in May as well.  Need to do one of those every few years, just to change things up a little. 😁

[NCTribeFan]

Here are a few more random pics.

 

 

 

 

[syesmar]

Thanks so much @NCTribeFanfor taking the time to share your adventures! Sounds like a wonderful cruise. I’m curious what demonstrations were offered on your sailing? Thanks!

[NCTribeFan]

I brought home the dailies, so let me dig them out and have a look.

[NCTribeFan]

First night in the Mainstage @ 9 p.m. was the EXC Talk: Origin Story Holland American Line's first 150 years

 

First sea day - Coffee Chat at 9 a.m. in BB King's; in the Mainstage @ 11 a.m. EXC Talk: The Deep Blue

 

Second sea day - Coffee Chat at 9 a.m. in BB King's; Port to Table Cooking Show: Seafood Catch of the Day in BB King's Blues Club @ 10 a.m.; Port Profiles: Panama Canal in Mainstage @ 11 a.m.

 

Third sea day - Coffee Chat at 9 a.m. in BB King's; Ask the Captain at 10 a.m. in Mainstage; Origin Story again in Mainstage at 11

 

Fourth sea day - Coffee Chat at 9 a.m. in BB King's; Port to Table Cooking Show: Jerk Smoke & Spice in BB King's Blues Club @ 10 a.m.; EXC Talk: Unexpected Heroes in Mainstage at 11; BBC Earth - Seven Worlds, One Planet in Concert in Mainstage at 2 p.m.

 

I think that's all of them.

[SusieKIslandGirl]

1 hour ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

 

Don't get me wrong.  I happen to love music.  I do not like what should be background music assailing my brain everywhere I go.  I've come close to walking out of grocery stores, leaving my cart in the middle of an aisle, just to try to escape the totally unnecessary music being blasted.  Please, just stop.

 

 

I so agree. We got off the Eurodam on the 14th. I've mentioned before that our favorite place to eat breakfast and lunch is outside near the SeaView pool. I don't need loud music at 7 am. And I have walked out of stores before because of the music. Funny to watch the stunned look on a clerk's face when you tell them the music is too loud and you're leaving. Background music it's not!

[FlaMariner]

1 hour ago, NCTribeFan said:

First night in the Mainstage @ 9 p.m. was the EXC Talk: Origin Story Holland American Line's first 150 years

 

Just a shout out for this event....ORIGIN STORY We saw this on our Rotterdam TA and it was very good...especially if you are into the history and lore of Holland America Line....Glad they have started promoting their heritage more as it is a selling point for some...

 

Great review of the Eurodam NCTribeFan.....enjoyed reading it all.

[NCTribeFan]

I heard others say the same and thought I probably should've gone.  If they're still doing it in a couple of weeks when I'm on NA, I'll go.

 

Disembarkation - since I had Club Orange, I got Black 1 tags in my cabin on Tuesday.  Being the day before Thanksgiving, I was a mildly concerned with having an 11:05 flight.  I've done that flight before but didn't know what travel might be like yesterday.  The only other nonstop FLL-RDU is at about 7 pm.  I've done that one when I've sailed from Miami.

 

I was up before 6 (I woke by 6 almost every morning despite the fact that I was staying up about 2 hours later than usual every night).  Got dressed and went up for breakfast.  Had an omelet and a cup of tea and tried to finish the last novel.  Took another cuppa back to the cabin and packed up the remaining items into my carryon.  At about 7:50, I decided to go ahead and see if I could disembark.  Instructions said "independent" travelers could begin disembarking at 8.  When I went up to Deck 2, they were calling Black 1, 2, & 3 but Black had NOT been called on the PA announcements.  No worries.  I headed out, found my bag, and was through immigrations in a few minutes.  Requested an Uber, which arrived in about 6 minutes.  I was at the airport and at my gate at 9, so 2 hours to wait until we left.  I think I have this same flight home in December, which will be on 12/23.  Hopefully, things will go as smoothly although I won't have CO, so won't get priority tags.

 

I did have an offer from the casino.  I'm definitely not a big spender but I did spend probably a couple of hours in the casino every day playing slots and Roulette.  No free cabin but several hundred in casino play if I book by a certain date.  I just don't think I can squeeze another cruise in, especially since I have those 2 FCCs for MSC that I need to rebook.  I'll contact the casino group and see whether they'll give me something on my already booked sailings, based on my play on Eurodam.  Probably not, but it never hurts to ask!

 

I just did the eMed rapid test.  I had purchased the 3-pack of tests a couple of weeks ago.  I need to visit my daughter and grandbaby tomorrow and just wanted to be sure I didn't pick up the virus.  It was pretty easy although I had to give up using my phone since I couldn't get it to not fall over and you need both hands to accomplish the testing.  My laptop speakers are fairly fried, so it was hard to hear/understand the proctor, but we got it done.  Negative, thankfully.  I'll do that test before NA, now that I've done a "practice" run.

[Florida_gal_50]

Thank you for the review and the great pictures.  Fort Lauderdale is always expensive even for mediocre hotels like Embassy Suites.  I got my hotel in San Diego for $235 USD plus tax and it was WAY nicer than the Embassy and the people working there were so kind.  I wish I had as many cruises booked as you do.  That's great!

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

Just a shout out for this event....ORIGIN STORY We saw this on our Rotterdam TA and it was very good...especially if you are into the history and lore of Holland America Line....Glad they have started promoting their heritage more as it is a selling point for some...

 

Great review of the Eurodam NCTribeFan.....enjoyed reading it all.

But after you have seen that same EXC talk for your next 10 HAL cruises, and these talks replace what used to be real Production Shows/Guest Entertainers you might have some different thoughts 🙂

 

Hank

[FlaMariner]

1 minute ago, Hlitner said:

But after you have seen that same EXC talk for your next 10 HAL cruises, and these talks replace what used to be real Production Shows/Guest Entertainers you might have some different thoughts 🙂

 

The ORIGIN STORY is new so go and enjoy it....

 

It was so popular on the Rotterdam TA that they did it again later in the cruise for those that heard about the positive buzz afterwards....

 

We also had a production show, a saxophone player, two comedians, a singer and a Jersey Boys tenor group on our cruise last month....variety of all kinds so no repeats for us....Enjoyed coffee chats with the officers and captains also....

 

We love going to billboard onboard in the evenings.....they could do the same show "requests night" every night and we'd be there sittin' at the piano barstools....not to mention the rock room, BBKing and even Lincoln Center stage when they play Coldplay or Gershwin.

 

We love the entertainment on Holland America Line......that's another reason why we board those 'dam ships!   Enjoy.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, FlaMariner said:

 

The ORIGIN STORY is new so go and enjoy it....

 

It was so popular on the Rotterdam TA that they did it again later in the cruise for those that heard about the positive buzz afterwards....

 

We also had a production show, a saxophone player, two comedians, a singer and a Jersey Boys tenor group on our cruise last month....variety of all kinds so no repeats for us....Enjoyed coffee chats with the officers and captains also....

 

We love going to billboard onboard in the evenings.....they could do the same show "requests night" every night and we'd be there sittin' at the piano barstools....not to mention the rock room, BBKing and even Lincoln Center stage when they play Coldplay or Gershwin.

 

We love the entertainment on Holland America Line......that's another reason why we board those 'dam ships!   Enjoy.

I may be in the minority among HAL fans, but I just do not like HAL using lectures, documentaries, and movies to replace live evening entertainment in the theater.  I do enjoy lectures but see them as more appropriate for daytime options on sea days.  As to BBC documentaries and movies, if I want to see that stuff I can watch it in my own home.  It is not the kind of entertainment for which we are paying cruise prices.  The truth is that HAL uses these alternative "events" because it saves the cruise line money.   We cruise on many different lines and HAL is the only line that has started down this slippery slope.  

 

But if that is what most folks want then I still will wish them Bon Voyage as we spend more time on other lines.  We only have one future HAL booking (a 42 day cruise) and it may well be our last on HAL unless they change their direction in terms of entertainment and add-ons in the MDR.

 

Hank

[NCTribeFan]

Okay.  As I noted, I am not particularly interested in the production show.  Never have been.  Some have been better than others but that's not why I cruise.  I don't like the piano bars but realize lots of people love them.  I like live dance music (and I don't mean 2-step or waltz) so I enjoy the BB King's bands.

 

My evening entertainment is usually the casino and some live music.

 

I thought the timing of some of the options was a bit unfortunate.  Seems as though things were either taking place at the same time and then there were gaps with virtually nothing to do if you weren't interested in the casino or just sitting in a bar drinking.  If I was finished with dinner at 8, and wanted to go to the show at 9, I'd usually stop in the casino and then go to BB Kings for a little after.  But I think the Lincoln Stage was also happening around 9.  I could've listened to them rather than go to a show.  I should have on that last night.

 

Different people have different interests.  If HAL doesn't have the entertainment someone wants, book on a different line.  There are plenty of lines out there that there should be something that fits.  

 

[Florida_gal_50]

I couldn't even tell you which show were on my cruise.  I have no desire to sit in close proximity to people that feel masks are optional when the lights go down.  Most of the shows over the years have been high school level.

Edited November 25, 2021 by Florida_gal_50