Live From Nieuw Statendam Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2021

[Crew News]

The fourth cruise day began with great weather and bright sun.  The CC Meet & Greet happened with attendance far less than those on the list.  With the change of clocks, some might have overslept.  In the end, we had a good exchange of information and the ability to put CC names with faces.  We extended the event an extra 30 minutes in hopes that lots of amazing cookies would be eaten.  Sadly, a few dozen were left over forcing me to take a plateful back to my stateroom.

I chatted with the Tamarind Manager and she called the Maitre'd who said he was well aware of my menu search and would provide any menus when they arrived.  That call confirmed that all of my inquiries are in progress.

At my Club Orange dinner, I tried a new tactic to obtain Indian menus and asked my waiter to see the Indian Menu so that I could take a photo tto compare to my current Indian menu  version.  Half way through my dinner, my waiter appeared with a bowl of rice and a bowl of highly curried Indian vegetables for a photo.  I reassured my waiter that I wanted a photo of the menu.  With my meal finished, I walked to the entrance where the Host asked if I had taken my photo and when I answered, "No," he assured me that they no longer had an Indian menu but did provide me the latest Vegetarian menu.  Returning with with my tablet , I showed the Host my Indian menus.  Another Host looked on the podium laptop, found the Indian menus, with colored images and emailed them to me.  Excellent customer service in emailing me.  Since the ship did not know about Indian menus, it is certain they have never offered them.  

I have verified that the Vegetarian menu has not changed (I checked line by line) so what is posted is current.  

Tidbits:

• Passenger capacity for 12/26 is awaiting confirmation from Guest Services.  
• Straws are available upon request.
• 11-Day MDR menus are not yet on board.  Note that 10-day menus are the same as 11-Day with Day 09 removed.
• I am on the trail of the Half Moon Cay Butler menu to complete all of my menu updates. for this cruising season.
• The latest Club Orange Breakfast menu has been posted.
• Five CC members will gather at the Tamarind for dinner tonight.  Hopefully, more will join us.

Edited December 9, 2021 by Crew News

[jimgev]

7 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Returning with with my tablet , I showed the Host my Indian menus.  Another Host looked on the podium laptop, found the Indian menus, with colored images and emailed them to me.  Excellent customer service in emailing me.  Since the ship did not know about Indian menus, it is certain they have never offered them.  

I am a fan of Inian cuisine, having been to India a number of times. I am now confused. Is there an actual Indian food menu that one can order from?

[Crew News]

15 minutes ago, jimgev said:

I am a fan of Inian cuisine, having been to India a number of times. I am now confused. Is there an actual Indian food menu that one can order from?

There was not one on this ship but the dishes were available and one was made for me to photograph.  The menus that I was given looks like the information that the ship can use to create menus.  The previous Indian menus that I had included many of the dishes on what I was emailed.

 

With kitchen tours on hold, I have been unable to talk directly to the chefs from whom I used to gather so much information.

[canadarocks]

1 hour ago, Crew News said:

I chatted with the Tamarind Manager and she called the Maitre'd who said he was well aware of my menu search and would provide any menus when they arrived.  That call confirmed that all of my inquiries are in progress

• 11-Day MDR menus are not yet on board.  Note that 10-day menus are the same as 11-Day with Day 09 removed.

Thanks again Roger. Fingers crossed. 🙂 

[jayhawk66]

My wife and I were on the 11/28 - 12/5 cruise with you. I noticed some vibration while dining in the main dining room. We have a deck 5 stern facing veranda booked on the April 17:transatlantic. I know that you are in one as well on this cruise. Are you feeling much vibration in your stateroom?

[Crew News]

4 minutes ago, jayhawk66 said:

My wife and I were on the 11/28 - 12/5 cruise with you. I noticed some vibration while dining in the main dining room. We have a deck 5 stern facing veranda booked on the April 17:transatlantic. I know that you are in one as well on this cruise. Are you feeling much vibration in your stateroom?

I have not felt any vibration but I sail exclusively in aft staterooms and might be immune.  The big attraction for me is the lack of wind while the ship is moving which allows lots of balcony time. 

[scubacruiserx2]

42 minutes ago, jayhawk66 said:

My wife and I were on the 11/28 - 12/5 cruise with you. I noticed some vibration while dining in the main dining room. We have a deck 5 stern facing veranda booked on the April 17:transatlantic. I know that you are in one as well on this cruise. Are you feeling much vibration in your stateroom?

 

We're not Roger but we did sail in aft VS verandah # 5200 on the NS . We did notice more vibration and creaking on the sea than any any of our previous 10 aft facing verandahs . Additionally we saw shims in the door frame to try to minimize the noise . We did hear water running in the walls 24/7 . About 0530 in the morning the music from Sea View Pool would wake me up and we did make several requests to  the Club Orange concierge ( i.e . the front desk ) to reduce the volume but unfortunately they never did .

 

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by scubacruiserx2

[DFWGUYZ]

3 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

We're not Roger but we did sail in aft VS verandah # 5200 on the NS . We did notice more vibration and creaking on the sea than any any of our previous 10 aft facing verandahs . Additionally we saw shims in the door frame to try to minimize the noise . We did hear water running in the walls 24/7 . About 0530 in the morning the music from Sea View Pool would wake me up and we did make several requests to  the Club Orange concierge ( i.e . the front desk ) to reduce the volume but unfortunately they never did .

 

 

Wow on the music! 

Edited December 10, 2021 by DFWGUYZ
.

[Crew News]

The fith day at sea began in bright sunshine for our stop at Amber Cove.  After breakfast, I took the time to catch up on my crew feedbacks via the Navigator app for those whose service and help to me had been memorable.  Unlike comment cards, the crew members mentioned see my feedback within minutes since the feedback is blasted throughout the ship.  

An interesting even occurred as I stood holding a salad bowl filled with potato chips and talking with the PG Manager, Ady, in the Lido Market, a passenger walked up, selected a chip from my bowl,  and thanked me for the sample.  Lesson:  Don't pose with food during a feeding frenzy.

The ship water supply to guests was affected by a burst water pipe according to an announcement by the Captain during the afternoon.  Water had been turned off during the night to do repairs which must not have worked thus causing the shutdown during the afternoon.  Hopefully, this repair will be sufficient to keep potable water flowing until we disembark on Sunday.  I cannot verify but duct tape has been my go to repair method.

I watched the pedicabs running at Amber Cove to save passengers the very long walk from the ship and I will be taking advantage of this when I return in January.

My day was spent without my favorite almond cookies as their popularity has skyrocketed on this cruise. I will stop promoting almond cookies on future cruises until I have disembarked.

My first attempt at organizing a CC Specialty Restaurant dinner had six of us meeting at the Tamarind Restaurant.  The opportunity to meet fellow CC members to exchange thoughts and experiences was memorable for me.  

Prior the dinner, I received emails from the Club Orange Hostess with the holiday menus that I have been seeking.  I will post links today. I did notice that when compared the Club Orange breakfast menu for other than Pinnacle-class ships do not get fresh-squeezed orange juice or mimosas.
A stop by the Front Desk found the rack of luggage tags almost 50% empty as passengers have been choosing their own disembarkation time.  

Fresh flowers were brought onboard in Fort Lauderdale last Sunday and they now adorn lots of dining table throughout the ship.

I am still working through a dwindling list of questions needing answers and hope to have all completed before I disembark.

More later.

[bluesplayer]

Thank you for all the time and effort to post menus and answer questions.  Very helpful.   Great news there are fresh flowers on the tables.  I really enjoy the arrangements.  

[Crew News]

The number of passengers for the 12/26 sailing will be 1100.

[Comptech]

9 minutes ago, Crew News said:

The number of passengers for the 12/26 sailing will be 1100.

Wow! It is going to feel like we have the whole ship to ourselves!

~42% capacity, wow, again!

Edited December 10, 2021 by Comptech

[Crew News]

10 minutes ago, Comptech said:

Wow! It is going to feel like we have the whole ship to ourselves!

~42% capacity, wow, again!

It has been two weeks of "no lines" until this morning at the Grand Dutch Cafe looking for almond cookies.  Lots of open seats in the Specialty restaurants with only a few exceptions has been the norm for my two weeks. Savor the moments for full ships will be back again.

[Crew News]

As promised from a non-bingo player

 

Holland America Line Bingo.
There are several ways to purchase bingo cards: at the Casino.  that include:

MEGA VALUE PACK:  36 bingo faces for all 4 games, 3 face 4 game bingo, and a $5 bingo scratch card (includes 3 bingo faces for all 4 games - a $29 value FREE

VALUE PACK:  30 bingo faces for all 4 games & 1 face 4 game bingo card

STANDARD PLUS PACK:  6 bingo faces for all 4 games  $39  and 1 scratch card

 

[Crew News]

I have posted the PG New Years Eve, PG Ne Years Day Brunch, and Christmas Eve menus.

 

Holland America Line Holiday Menus

[iflyrc5]

Roger - have you talked to any of the senior staff about the planned passenger load in the Feb/Mar time frame?   I am hoping that it will still be in the 50% to 60% range when we sail in Feb and Mar.

 

Also - do you know if the Capt and/or Hotel Manager will be changing by Feb?  I know that the Capt is normally a 3 month - on - off schedule.

[Florida_gal_50]

12 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Roger - have you talked to any of the senior staff about the planned passenger load in the Feb/Mar time frame?   I am hoping that it will still be in the 50% to 60% range when we sail in Feb and Mar.

 

Also - do you know if the Capt and/or Hotel Manager will be changing by Feb?  I know that the Capt is normally a 3 month - on - off schedule.

When I was on the Koningsdam in November 7-21 they thought they would be at 100% capacity at Christmas.  Even I knew that wouldn't happen.  I would have very little faith in any projections from HAL on that front.  I'd love for it to be 50-60% as well.

[Crew News]

11 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Roger - have you talked to any of the senior staff about the planned passenger load in the Feb/Mar time frame?   I am hoping that it will still be in the 50% to 60% range when we sail in Feb and Mar.

 

Also - do you know if the Capt and/or Hotel Manager will be changing by Feb?  I know that the Capt is normally a 3 month - on - off schedule.

I spoke with the Hotel General Manager for only a few minutes.  The balance of my information this cruise is from Guest Services and some amazing Culinary folk.

 

The mandatory quarantining of incoming crew takes up passenger staterooms so I would not be shocked to hear longer contracts for senior crew.

 

I will pose your question.

[Florida_gal_50]

Roger, I can't believe someone would walk by and take a chip from a dish you were holding.  Good thing you didn't a plate.  There is seriously something wrong with people like that.

[Alberta Quilter]

4 hours ago, Crew News said:

An interesting even occurred as I stood holding a salad bowl filled with potato chips and talking with the PG Manager, Ady, in the Lido Market, a passenger walked up, selected a chip from my bowl,  and thanked me for the sample.  Lesson:  Don't pose with food during a feeding frenzy.

 

 

OMG! That is so gross!  I can't imagine walking up to a stranger and snitching something from a plate or bowl in their hands!  I'm not saying it didn't happen, just that even in non Covid times, I can't imagine someone would have the gall to do that.  

[Crew News]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Roger, I can't believe someone would walk by and take a chip from a dish you were holding.  Good thing you didn't a plate.  There is seriously something wrong with people like that.

The PG Manager covered my bowl with a napkin after that.  My orange shirt looked nothing like a crew member nor was I wearing a crew mask. 

 

Life is filled with interesting happenings and this event ranks pretty high  for me.  My large green salad bowl must have been similar to a sample platter the passenger had seen before. 

 

In hindsight, I'm glad I made it back to my stateroom with the plate of cookies left from the Meet & Greet.

[Crew News]

9 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Roger, I can't believe someone would walk by and take a chip from a dish you were holding.  Good thing you didn't a plate.  There is seriously something wrong with people like that.

duplicate

Edited December 10, 2021 by Crew News

[Florida_gal_50]

5 minutes ago, Crew News said:

The PG Manager covered my bowl with a napkin after that.  My orange shirt looked nothing like a crew member nor was I wearing a crew mask. 

 

Life is filled with interesting happenings and this event ranks pretty high  for me.  My large green salad bowl must have been similar to a sample platter the passenger had seen before. 

 

In hindsight, I'm glad I made it back to my stateroom with the plate of cookies left from the Meet & Greet.

I'm just amazed.  Why would ANYONE think that is a sample?  Even so why would others want to stick their hands in a common bowl?  I'm not a tiny person and I like my food but I can't imagine sticking my hands in someone's food or making a run for chocolate chip cookies.  You'd think people have never seen food before.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Florida_gal_50

[Crew News]

2 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I'm just amazed.  Why would ANYONE think that is a sample?  Even so why would others want to stick their hands in a common bowl?  I'm not a tiny person and I like my food but I can't imagine sticking my hands in someone's food or making a run for chocolate chip cookies.  You'd think people have never seen food before.

It was a potato chip in a bowl heaped with my daily ration of chips that the PG Manager had just gone behind the scenes to fill.  Age might have played a part in the event.

 

As far as food is concerned, with no waiting lines (except for almond cookies in the Grand Dutch Cafe), it is easy to make multiple trips to the Lido Market Buffet stations. and treat it like giant charcuterie board (thanks QVC for the new term in my vocabulary) by many passengers with a nibble of this and a nibble of that.

 

I have seen every few passengers taking food into the elevators for in-room consumption and I haven't seen a single Room Service tray in the hallways. There is much to be said about many open tables in the Lido Market.

[cat shepard]

I have been so focused on the info and details provided by your other threads, that I have totally missed your sense of humor.

 

I have not missed it in this thread. I really appreciate it as much as the wealth of info you provide. 
 

And if all goes as planned, I will be thinking of you when I fly over Denali next September. Thank you Roger! Enjoy the rest of your cruise.