Venture to the Caribbean with Bill & Mary Ann on the Nieuw Statendam & Nieuw Amsterdam 12-18-21 to 4-26-22

[WCB]

Report #95  Roseau, Dominica   Tuesday-March 22, 2022   Partly Cloudy With Some Sun   80 Degrees    Part #1 Of 3..........85 Pictures

 

Twelve years ago, we made our first stop in Roseau, Dominica, while on a Grand South America Voyage.  Docking in a different area at the time, we had taken a tour that took us up high into the mountains to see the rain forest, lakes, and waterfalls.  Then in 2020, we stopped here again, but in a different port area.  At that time, we took off for a walk on our own, following the ship’s map.  Yes, they used to give us area maps back then….using real paper.  So, we had planned to take the path through town and into the park, where we had walked two years ago. But, it was not to be.  Why?  Covid.

 

Here’s a bit of info on Dominica.  It is considered the Eden of the Caribbean, due to the fact it is covered with rain forest, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and lakes.  Their main economy is tied to agriculture with every fruit and veggie grown here.  The volcanic island is 29 miles long and  16 miles wide.  There are about 73,000 residents, 3000 of which are the original Carib Indians, who live in a village on the eastern side of the island.  The warlike Caribs originally came from the Amazon, Venezuela, and Colombia, so they resemble South Americans.  These days they are farmers and fishermen, while the ladies create weavings by hand and sell them to tourists.

 

Famous dishes here are manicou (opossum) and agouti, a large rodent.  Think we will pass on those, thanks.  The government banned the mountain chicken dish, which was a large frog.  Seems there was a disease problem, however, it still appears on some menus.  Hmmm, will pass on that too.  The local drink is a spiced rum with anisette called a nanny.  That might be OK.  Other specialties include titiree, fish balls, or sousse, which are pickled pig’s feet.  Goat meat, mozzarella & blue cheese tarts, blood pudding, and saddle of lamb round out their menus. You can wash it down with the best tropical juices you will ever find anywhere.  Hungry yet?

 

Shortly after the ship was cleared, another announcement was made that the local government would not grant “free-flow” today, due to Covid rules.  We did suspect that this might be the case here, so we wonder why this port was substituted for Grenada, where they recently lifted the ban of independent tourists?   Oh well, we have seen the city and the surrounds, so we felt we were not missing too much.

 

Did we mention that this is the first visit for the N. Statendam to Dominica?  A maiden port we think it is called.  It is possible there was some sort of special commemorative plack gifted to the ship.  Will ask tomorrow.

 

We stayed onboard until 11:30am, watching the activity ashore from our veranda, as the ship was docked portside.  Many folks were squeezing into vans and open-air trucks like cattle.  Seriously, how can that be considered social distancing?  As for us, we were allowed to go across the bridge from the pier, and stay within a block of the waterfront.  Access to the hillside town was blocked by barricades on both ends of the street.  And the rest was fenced off, making us realize we were corralled just like cattle again.  The one street that was opened for traffic was manned by guards who stopped anyone on foot.  Of course, the waterfront was lined with many tents with vendors selling souvenirs. 

 

Sometimes the best way to find out about local rules and regulations is by asking someone.  Near the end of the blocked street, a very nice guard came over to us, probably to warn us not to escape.  So we asked her about what was going on with the Covid situation on the island.  She confirmed that everyone that lived here was vaccinated, and the numbers of infection were low.  She mentioned a number of 300 cases, but we do not know the time frame for that number.  Then she added that absolutely no passengers had been allowed free-flow here since 2020.  Even the guests on the 4 mast sailing vessel, the Wind Star, which was docked further up town, were not allowed to roam round.  They had been corralled also.  Apologizing, she said they hope things change soon, as we informed her many of the other islands were opening up.   She agreed that by doing this, they were losing money.  Another vendor also repeated the same story.  It has been  a long two years for them as well.

 

We had not intended to buy anything, but there was one stand that offered handcrafted jewelry made out of cloth.  We had seen this the first time while in West Africa, and found the pieces interesting in a different way.  Priced right, one set found its way into my bag.  Other items sold here were spices, batik clothing, lacquered and woven boxes, and  wooden trivets to name a few.  Many of the cruisers were having fun buying things, especially the ones that did not take a tour. 

 

This morning, the shore excursions were on the TV.  They were mostly scenic tours to the mountains, or a boat ride to snorkel somewhere.  There are few beaches here, and if there is one, it would be black or brown sand.  Diving is the real draw here, as it is considered in the top 10 dive spots in the world.  Whale-watching gives a 90% sighting, since there are resident sperm, humpback, and minke whales, as well as dolphins and orcas.  The prime time for that is November through February.  Hiking or 4 wheel drive trips take people up the Morne Diablotin at 4,747 feet.  And Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has 17,000  acres of lush land – considered the crown jewel of Dominica. 

 

So our one hour walk was very short today, but at least we were able to connect with some locals.  Then it was back to the room to process photos and do some research.  At least we had a bird’s eye view of the city’s waterfront.  And the sun was on the opposite side, so we did not bake all afternoon.

 

The ship left around 5pm, but only after two buses arrived late.  Guess they were HAL tours, or they might have been left behind. 

 

There was not a lot of great choices in the dining room for dinner tonight,  so we made reservations in the Tamarind.  No problem for 8pm.  Actually this was the busiest we have seen this venue since we have been onboard.  Our meal was perfect, with most of the same items we always order.  We skipped dessert again, which would have been a bit too much tonight.  Three courses was plenty.

 

Now we are headed for St. Kitts, not one of our favorite stops.  There will be no rush to get off of the ship, especially if several other ships are in port, like the last few times.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[WCB]

Hi Bob,

Yes we are invited to dinner any evening we wish in Club Orange as President's Club members.  We have not gone there, but our friends did and said the service and the food were excellent.  It is the same menu as the dining room, with an added specialty every night.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[rkacruiser]

Dominica:  first visited in 1986 and have visited the island at least once since.  If one likes rain forest experiences, this island, as well as St. Lucia's, are the best that I have experienced in the Caribbean.  Lush, beautiful, with roads into them that are Third World quality.  (Although, in my most recent visits to both islands--which have been in recent years--the infrastructure has improved, there are actual guard rails along parts of the roads in Dominica.)  St. Lucia is prosperous in comparison to Dominica.  Hurricane after hurricane has hit this island and has made it difficult for the nation to  get much traction into the 21st Century.  

 

10 hours ago, WCB said:

We had not intended to buy anything, but there was one stand that offered handcrafted jewelry made out of cloth.  We had seen this the first time while in West Africa, and found the pieces interesting in a different way.  Priced right, one set found its way into my bag.

 

I have always tried to buy something from a local vendor when I was there.  Music, as WCB mentioned, is a staple where tourists are present.  No interest in jewelry for me, but, I still enjoy a CD of island music that I bought from a gentleman who was performing in that area where WCB was visiting.  

[JamesEM]

I have enjoyed your posts and photos.

[WCB]

 

Report #96  Basseterre, Saint Kitts  Wednesday-March 23, 2022  Mostly Sunny With Clouds  83 Degrees    Part #1 Of 3..........85 Pictures

 

Here we are back in Basseterre, St. Kitts today. All 65 square miles of her.  We were docked by 9am, but not the first ship here.  Celebrity’s Constellation was already tied up.  That vessel is smaller than us with 2170 passengers and a gross tonnage of 90,940.  Launched in 2001, she is almost as old as the now gone Amsterdam.    Following up in the rear, was the much larger Enchanted Princess with a capacity of 3660 guests at 144,650 gross tons.  She was completed in 2019, but did her maiden voyage in 2021.  And perhaps due to the fact they hold many more passengers, two gangways were set up for them.  

 

Club Orange breakfast was different this morning, because someone new at the kiosk gave our table to another couple.  The manager apologized profusely, then seated us at a high table next to the one we always use.  Not a big deal, as long as we got the high top with the higher chairs.  Sure makes a difference with the sore back and knee.  Even our waiters promised to save our table from here on out.  Waiting for a few minutes, they bussed the next table and reset it.  We were in no rush to get off today anyway.

 

There were no regulations on leaving the ship here, but we did need our vaccination cards and masks in hand, in case we needed them in the stores.  Going off at 11:30am, we found that Port Zante was flooded with cruise ship passengers.  Not many of these folks were wearing masks, but the locals sure were.  We would not be surprised if the baby monkeys wore masks.  There is something not right with these small babies being dressed like little kids wearing diapers- all to make money with the photos. 

 

Anyway, Port Zante is a manmade commercial district with many stores big and small.  They offer jewelry, liquor and cigars, souvenirs, restaurants, a food court, and bars.  There is also a local craft market, a post office, and the old Pelican  Mall.  The National Museum is under renovation.  Since every shop was filled to capacity, we decided to come back after our walk.

 

Turning left, we followed Bay Road that led us past the supermarket, bakeries, downtown, and the ferry terminal.  There is a long stretch of beach, although the sand is dirty, many people were up this way. Just as we were across from some shops, a local lady partially slipped through one of those street grates over the deep gutters.  Lucky some people caught her and helped her up.  We always knew these grates might not be secured when you walk on them.  Now we know. 

 

We also saw some passengers collecting stones or shells on the trash-littered beach along the road.  We would not touch anything here, as it is reported the waters are polluted.  That’s about when we ran into Howard, who was out for a walk like us.  He claimed to have seen a cruise ship lady fall flat on her face, breaking her front teeth.  Good grief!  How awful, but then, you have to be careful with every step.  Howard said this lady fell through a grate too.  These things can happen in a heartbeat, teaching us to slow down and  watch every step we take. 

 

Making it to the war memorial,  we turned around to walk back.  The cars, vans, and buses fly by where we walk up here, so when the sidewalks ran out, we also ended this hike.  The locals are not the most patient drivers either.  If there is a blockage, which there were many, they get very irritated to the point of having “potty mouth”.  Never heard such cursing coming from a guy on a bicycle, no less, because the cars were not moving quick enough for him. 

 

We went past the old clock & fountain, which is called the Circus.  From there we made our way to the Independence Square, which houses another fountain, dedicated to the freedom of the slaves.  Across the street was the Co-Cathedral, and it happened to be open today.  Going inside we discovered that the real name of this church is The Immaculate Conception.   It is Roman Catholic, and since we heard the voices of many kids nearby, we assumed there was a Catholic school nearby.  We did spot some young girls walking downtown dressed in the pleated plaid skirts and white shirts.  Boy, does that bring back memories of Catholic school for both of us.

 

Back at Port Zante,  we stopped in a small jewelry and souvenir shop that advertised free pearl earrings.  This time Bill asked.  Of course we did have to look at their tanzanite items, but only briefly.  Already have one at home.  The final visit was to Diamonds International for their monkey charm.  Still no pressure to buy, because they did have many interested customers in the store.   Or they were simply being polite.  So after a two hour walk, we got back to the ship by 1:30pm. 

 

Docked directly across from the Enchanted Princess, it was entertaining watching them as they were watching us on or verandas.  One good thing, we were in the shade, while they were in the sun.  There were a lot of clouds today, but no rain.  We did have a job to do today. It was exchanging two bottles of sparkling wine for a 12 pack of diet soda.  Then Jonah had the doctor’s letter delivered to our room that states I cannot get the PCR Covid test, as it might turn up positive for at least three months after infection.  The virus was first discovered in late January, so I probably would test positive for some time to come.  The antigen test is OK….go figure.

 

Lunch was a salad in the Lido, then some relaxing time on the veranda.  Before we knew it, the Enchanted Princess was getting ready to leave.  Around 6pm, their captain sounded the horn, which was the beginning of the Love Boat theme.  Always brings a smile to our faces hearing that.  Then he did the normal 3 toots before leaving. 

 

All aboard for us was 5:30pm, so we expected to leave right behind Princess.  But we didn’t.  It turned out to be 7:30pm before we left the pier.  No explanation, as there was no sail away announcement either.  Usually leaving during the dinner service, many captains will not interrupt with his talk.  Captain Eric is one of them.  Whatever the reason for the delay, we will still have plenty of time to reach the next port of St. Thomas. 

 

Farewell to St. Kitts, as we finish our final stop here.

 

Dinner was a little confused this evening, as we ordered Rudi’s chicken with stuffing, but were given the alternate chicken dinner.  Totally different.  Perhaps our waiter heard our order differently, or the assistant read it wrong.  Whatever, when asked if it was not hot enough, we said, it was, but it was the wrong entrée.  They brought the right ones in a few minutes, and both meals were tasty and hot.  The serving was ample, so we skipped dessert.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Sea Viewer]

23 minutes ago, WCB said:

We would not be surprised if the baby monkeys wore masks.  There is something not right with these small babies being dressed like little kids wearing diapers- all to make money with the photos. 

I so agree with this, even though it is a longstanding practice I have never had my photo taken. The monkeys do seem to be well looked after, and I  realize that it is a way to make a living for some people but it has always bothered me. However I'm sure there are some things that I do when I travel that bother other people. 

[JamesEM]

On my last visit to St. Kitts some of the passengers that had their photos taken with the monkeys wound up with fleas.

[WCB]

Report #97    Charlotte, Amalie, U. S. Virgin Islands   Thursday-March 24, 2022    Rainy And Cloudy  78 Degrees   Part #1 Of 4..........76 Pictures

 

It’s too bad this is our last visit to St. Thomas on our cruise.  We like it here, even more so today, since we were the only cruise ship in town.  Unreal…..but nice.  Considered America’s paradise, the US Virgin Islands are located just 1000 miles away from southern Florida.  There are three main islands that belong to the US Virgin Islands, and they are St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.  Back on March 31, 1917, President Teddy Roosevelt purchased the islands for $25 million dollars, which these days, would be a mere drop in the bucket.  For comparison,  updating Veteran’s Drive, a major thoroughfare, cost $42 million dollars a few years ago. 

 

The N. Statendam arrived to the empty pier before 8am.  Docking was easy as the ship nosed in to the closest slip to town and the Havensight Mall.  It appeared that the weather was a mixed bag with cloudy skies that turned to frequent passing showers.  A good sign of the rain was the appearance of a double rainbow as we sailed into the port. 

 

Finishing up computer work, we stayed on the ship until 11am.  By then, another crew drill had taken place, which is done often while in port.    We had the best view of the “world cruising gypsies” in their yachts, catamarans, and sailboats that were moored in the bay.  Regardless of the showers, many were busy at work maintaining their beautiful abodes.  Also interesting was watching the many small zodiacs with the sailing folks coming to shore probably for necessary shopping like we do at home.  No doubt, they are getting the price hikes here like the rest of the USA. 

 

Our walk took us through the Yacht Haven Grande where we took pictures of the huge tarpon and smaller fish near the sushi café.  There was no wind, so the water was much clearer than usual.  Going all the way to the end of The Shops, we exited out a shortcut to Veteran’s Drive.  The showers held off until we reached the Legislature Building.  Good thing we had brought the umbrellas.  No one else had them that we saw, except locals.  Bet we put them up and down at least a dozen times by the time we reached the bus depot and ferry landing. 

 

On the hike back, we crossed the busy street at a crosswalk with a signal.  You don’t want to jay walk here, or you chance being the target of an aggressive driver.  And there are many.  At least we can say, there was no foul language from irate drivers heard here today.  That is when the sky decided to open up and poured pretty good.  With the sudden rain came a strong wind, so we ducked into the nearest store.  They were selling souvenirs, but also jewelry.  We weren’t in there for two minutes, when a sales lady approached and offered help with anything we wished.  Of course, we were just looking until the rain let up, but she did not take that as a “no” thanks.  You know the drill is sizing you up according to the jewelry you are wearing.  Today one of us had on small light blue pair of larimar earrings.  Within seconds, she had a matching pendant in her hand to show me. Tempting, I already have one at home.  Can’t blame her for trying.  The rain stopped and we left.

 

Making our way down a side alley, we found Dronningers Gade, the main street.  This is where Diamonds International is located, and that’s where we got a little charm that was a tiny purse for high-end shopping.  Perfect for St. Thomas, since they are famous for the duty free bargains here.  Across the road and near the post office, we saw the iconic 1829 Hotel, which appeared to be closed down.  Heading towards the Vendor’s Plaza, we walked through the Emancipation Garden, where slaves had been bought and sold.  This garden is a monument to the freeing of the slaves in 1848.  Strangely, the pedestal where a bronze bust of a slave blowing a conch shell was missing….sawed off.  We wonder if that was a result of controversial statues being removed statewide?  Surrounding the garden were two more monuments – one a bust of King Christian of Denmark, and the other a scaled-down version of the US Liberty Bell.   Running around this garden were chickens, some with little babies.   Guess we can call them spring chickens! 

 

A quick pass through the Vendor’s Plaza took us back to Veteran’s Drive and the way back.  It still rained a bit, and we were offered rides back to the ship in what they call  safari buses.  Those are the heavy duty pickup trucks with the extra- long beds with four rows of bench seating.  We never panic when the rain starts…it’s only water.  For us, that’s part of the fun.

 

Taking the shortcut back to Yacht Haven Grande, we skipped going to Havensight Mall.  Those 60 shops are so small, we would not go inside any of them.  Since masks are not required so much on the ship anymore, the passengers seem to think they are not needed once ashore.  Not true.  Signs were posted everywhere to wear masks inside, social distance, and wash hands/sanitize.  Since our next test is tomorrow, we do not want to take any chances. 

 

Back at the ship by 2pm, we stayed on the veranda and enjoyed room snacks.  The dinner menu did not appeal to us in the dining room, so we made reservations in the Pinnacle Grill.  Always nice to be good and hungry for that special meal.  Also, while we were here, we traded 2 more bottles of the gifted bubbly wine for diet soda.  With the addition of another delivery for President’s Club for the following cruise, we should have enough to see us through to the end.  Can’t believe that is around the corner. 

 

Checking our shipboard account, we discovered that a credit had been given for the loss of the internet while we were in Barbados.  That was a nice gesture.

 

All aboard was 4:30pm, but Captain Eric came on early and delivered his short talk.  We actually left at 4:30pm, and on the way out into the bay, another tail-end of a rainbow appeared.  A very fitting way to remember our final visit to St. Thomas.

 

Dinner was nice as always in the Pinnacle Grill.  We ordered the same dinners with wedge salads, clothesline bacon, 7 ounce filet mignons with onion rings and a baked potato.  Starting with the warm baked bread and spreads, we were totally full.  No dessert tonight.  Not even the candies, as we seldom eat them. 

 

Looking forward to a day at sea tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

 

[Overhead Fred]

Mitzi and I also walked into town with Mr. Tablecloth as our specific destination. She bought a Christmas tablecloth there many years ago a thought it was time shop for something new. We got a runner and matching placemats & napkins with a summer flower motif. We also picked up a tablecloth set with a spring flower design. They were all microfiber and only set us back $100 total.

 

We rode one of the open air taxis back to Have sight - $4 each.

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, Overhead Fred said:

Mr. Tablecloth

 

I remember this store!  I purchased a dining tablecloth and matching napkins for my Mother as a gift during one of my early cruises.  That was my family's holiday tablecloth for a long time.  What was it's cost?  No memory, but, it didn't cost a great deal and it was a quality material.  

[WCB]

Report # 98   Day at Sea   Friday - March 25, 2022   Mostly sunny & 78 degrees   Part #1 Of 1 ......0 Pictures

 

Today was one that was full of events.  Some expected, and some not.  Club Orange breakfast had to be cut short, since we had an appointment for another Covid test from 9 to 9:30am in a different room on deck one.  Assuming the amount of in transit guests was smaller, we were surprised to learn that there were 260 going forward.  More or less. 

 

Once again, we lined up in the lower atrium right behind a single lady.  She turned around and asked us to save her place, then went up to the officer placing hand stickers on the folks.  After a brief exchange, she walked past us saying she was sent to her room, and would be tested there.  We found out why, when she left the room coughing deeply.  Oh boy, our suggestion for each other was DON’T BREATHE, as we were standing in her spot.  We sure hope she was just coming down with a cold, and not Covid.  And to top this off, we had been warned to wear masks here, but many were not complying.  One of the staff members had to pass out masks to these folks waiting in line.  The antigen test was done quickly, and the whole process only took ½ hour.

 

Back to our room, we waited for a call that never came. Passed again, thank goodness.  Then we headed out to another Mariner Recognition Event held in the Billboard Onboard  at 11am.  Howard joined us as we sipped mimosas, orange juice, and soda.  We did notice that one guest had ordered a Bloody Mary, but paid for it.  Just a few years ago, we were allowed to order whatever we wished.  No more sadly.  There were 30 guests at the most at this event.  Some were getting medallions, and the rest of the crowd were announced with no mention of their days.  Everyone was invited to have their photo taken with the Captain and Hotel Director.  Somewhere in the middle of the awards, our group was announced, and we went up for photos.  Today Jonah handed the mike to Otto, who will be taking her place after April 17th.  He did things a bit differently, which was fine.  Howard was first, then we went next. 

 

During this event, a lady sitting near us was coughing so much, she had to leave her seat.  More than likely, she will be going home in two days.  We are not saying she could be ill with the virus, but if she was….it was possibly being transmitted to everyone around her.  We would not be surprised if the virus has re-appeared once again. 

 

Back in our room, we had two more Delft tiles gifted.  Hope our luggage is not going to be overweight.  Since we had a lot of catching up to do on the computer, we stayed “home” until it was time for lunch at 2:30pm.  The salads were good as always, but we skipped the sandwiches.  Trying to cut back.  One of us would have loved an ice cream cone, but they have not had the sugar cones available.    Like the cone as much as the ice cream.  And we do have biscotti cookies in our room, so that’s what we did.  Cookies and soda on the veranda…..perfect.  It was plenty warm outside today, as we are heading in a northwest direction at a speed of 19 knots.  At one point, we passed the Turks and Caicos on the horizon.  They are almost flat as a pancake. 

 

We received another letter for in transit details on Sunday.  Same as always, we will need to leave the ship by 9:15am.  It will be our last chance to do some shopping, since we will have to spend four to five hours in town before returning to the ship.  We think the majority of the in transit folks choose to stay onboard for the day.  They are escorted as a group to Customs and Borders controls, processed, and returned to the ship.  That might take 2 hours or less if they are lucky.

 

Around 7pm, the Captain came on the speakers with a message.  In a nutshell, the message was an update of onboard mask wearing.  Due to the discovery of some positive Covid cases with the guests and crew members, all passengers will be required to wear masks in all indoor spaces.  The exception is while eating and drinking actively, or in our staterooms.  If we needed more masks, we could ask our room stewards.  Finally, everyone was requested to report any symptoms of illness to the Medical staff.   In addition, we think we heard that some healthy guests had to vacate their cabins to make room for more isolation cabins.  That way, the ones infected could be kept together behind the closed fire doors.  Bet this group of healthy passengers were not happy campers with that request to pack everything and move. 

 

Tonight’s dress was gala attire, the final one for this trip.  We did notice that in the dining room on deck three, many more fellows were wearing either suits or jackets.  There may have been a few more tuxes as well.  The ladies were looking good too.  Our meal consisted of shrimp cocktails, Caesar salad, and the filet with grilled shrimp entrees.  The steaks were tender and tasty, but sliced half the size of a steak in the Pinnacle Grill.  Our waiter added an extra prawn to each of our plates, saying in his opinion, the steaks were too small.  Truthfully, we like the smaller portions, as we can always ask for more.  If they had rocky road ice cream, we might have ordered dessert.  Our waiter said they did not, so we bid our farewell for the evening, thanking him for such quick service.  Compared to the first gala evening a week or so ago, this one was not as crowded.  Many people like to dine in the specialty restaurants on these dress-up nights.  We always prefer to go there on casual nights…far less crowded. 

 

Presty stopped by and said we would be moving back down to our old table on deck two.  That’s fine with us, as we prefer a larger size table to the ones that seat only two. 

 

Now the big question is…….what about the port of Half Moon Cay tomorrow?  Will we go, or will we be denied by the Bahamian government?  Time will tell………..

 

Bill & Mary Ann    

[Florida_gal_50]

I had read that the nieuw statendam was back to mask wearing.  I wore mine everywhere on the koningsdam indoors for the 2 weeks I was on except when eating or drinking.  I was in the minority.  That said the occupancy is likely lower on the koningsdam.
 

Just goes to show you how ships go things differently.  When I was on the koningsdam in November and in March I was able to order my drink of choice at the high level Mariner reception.  It might have helped that I was sitting at the bar😛😉.  

Edited March 26, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[Lido deck main]

Hi Mary Ann, 

Hope you are not upset I am posting this link, as it pertains to a current outbreak on the Ruby Princess and the captain introducing masks are mandatory.  A regular HAL customer also reports that some people laughed at her choosing to wear a mask.  We are going in two weeks on the Koningsdam, we plan to wear our masks everywhere except eating and drinking, I hope people are not cruel.

 

[KAKcruiser]

Are they closing the second level dining room again?  Is it because of low occupancy?

[Navybikermom]

4 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

Are they closing the second level dining room again?  Is it because of low occupancy?

On the NA last week, the second level was closed. We were all crammed into the lower level. There were around 800 people on board. 

[Florida_gal_50]

30 minutes ago, Lido deck main said:

Hi Mary Ann, 

Hope you are not upset I am posting this link, as it pertains to a current outbreak on the Ruby Princess and the captain introducing masks are mandatory.  A regular HAL customer also reports that some people laughed at her choosing to wear a mask.  We are going in two weeks on the Koningsdam, we plan to wear our masks everywhere except eating and drinking, I hope people are not cruel.

 

I simply don’t understand why people get so upset with others for wearing masks.  You do you and I’ll do me.

[Florida_gal_50]

23 minutes ago, Navybikermom said:

On the NA last week, the second level was closed. We were all crammed into the lower level. There were around 800 people on board. 

I heard it was the same on the koningsdam.  I didn’t eat in the mdr at night. 

[Essiesmom]

There is an outbreak on Queen Elizabeth in Norway, too.  Two threads going on the Cunard board.  EM

[WCB]

Greetings all,

 

We are never upset with any posters to this blog.  All the info that can be shared is appreciated.

 

The upper level of the dining room will be closed for the second 8pm seating only.  There will be about 1100 guests boarding, while there are about 1600 people now.  At our later dinner time, we have not noticed any problems with over-crowding before this.

 

We secretly get upset with non-mask wearers, now that they are required.  Still some that will not comply.  The worst scenario is riding in a crowded elevator with these clueless folks.  Our secret -  hold our breath!  We are getting good at it.....

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Florida_gal_50]

3 minutes ago, WCB said:

Greetings all,

 

We are never upset with any posters to this blog.  All the info that can be shared is appreciated.

 

The upper level of the dining room will be closed for the second 8pm seating only.  There will be about 1100 guests boarding, while there are about 1600 people now.  At our later dinner time, we have not noticed any problems with over-crowding before this.

 

We secretly get upset with non-mask wearers, now that they are required.  Still some that will not comply.  The worst scenario is riding in a crowded elevator with these clueless folks.  Our secret -  hold our breath!  We are getting good at it.....

 

Bill & Mary Ann

Yes, masks are unpleasant to wear but I’m willing to bet covid is more unpleasant.  I may be alone in this but I feel it’s also respectful to the crew to wear them.

[WCB]

Report #99  Half Moon Cay, Bahamas   Saturday-March 26, 2022    Cloudy With Partial Sun  78 Degrees   Part #1 Of 2.......80 Pictures

 

It wasn’t much more than 5 minutes past midnight, when Captain Eric came on the speakers (shipwide) with an unexpected request.  A seriously ill passenger was in need of either O negative or B positive blood for a transfusion.  This was a first that we can recall ever hearing that type of message.  And disturbing as well.  Completely scary, we sure hope the guest was OK.  Of course, we did listen for further messages, but that did not happen.  We also wondered if we would hear the sound of a helicopter, signaling a medical evacuation.  Never heard that either.  Maybe we will find out more tomorrow.

 

The N. Statendam dropped the front anchor at about 7:30am, while the engines would keep the aft in place all day.  The ship was cleared after 8am,  so there was our answer to the question as to are we going to the island today or not.  Yes, we were here to stay until the last tender at 2:30pm.  In addition, there was no announcement about cancelled tours or shut down souvenir shops.  This did occur when the Covid numbers were up.  Doing a little digging online, we discovered that the ship has gone into the orange from the green zone on the CDC scale.  Many ships have, but not enough to shut anything down.

 

At breakfast, there was no word mentioned concerning the sick guest.  We hesitated asking any of the crew, since privacy rules might be compromised.  Will just keep our ears tuned, and hope the news is positive.

 

We went down to deck A to board the tender, but had just missed the last one.  So we lined up for about 15 minutes.  Total wait time and the ride to the island took about ½ hour.  Earlier, it was heavily overcast, and it sure was cool sitting on the top of the tender boat.  The sun would get stronger as the day progressed, but still comfortable. 

 

It was far less crowded with only one ship here.  Despite that, we still wore masks, which were required while on the tender boat.  We did not remove them until we were halfway down the crescent-shaped beach.  But first, we needed to pay a visit to the Food Pavilion, which was opened for lunch already.  The counters were full of stainless steel 1/2 pans with iced salads like potato, coleslaw, and chopped fruit.  Burgers, hot dogs, and tacos were among the choices, along with all of the yummy toppings.  Individual desserts, like cupcakes, were on a center table along with a pile of fresh fruit.  But it was the apples we needed for our buddy Ted.  Picked up two that were slightly bruised, as Ted will not mind.

 

From there, we took off the flip flops and headed for a walk in the surf.  Immediately, we noticed that the fine white sand was packed more solid than we remembered.  And the dry sand appeared to have been groomed and mounded creating a ledge.  It was fine with us, since sinking in the loose sand makes your feet and legs work harder, which is good, but not for miles at a time.   We have seen a crew of workers raking and blowing leaves, keeping the area pristine, so cleaning the sand would be a reasonable guess. 

 

Now here is the funny part…..what we were seeing was low tide….duh.  In all of the times we have visited here, it has always been high tide.  We have no doubt that this beach is kept clean, especially at the Pegasus Corral area, where the horses leave their calling cards.  If they wait too long, the tide comes in and drags the droppings out into the water where people are swimming or snorkeling. 

 

With the low tide, we were able to go a bit further past the coral rock outcroppings at the end of the beach.  It provided more places to sit and relax in the warmth of the sun.   People like to snorkel here because of the large rocks too.  Today, one of us could walk out deep enough to see some of the small clear fish swimming there.  They are not like the tropical fish we have seen elsewhere.

 

We left by 12:15pm, and headed for the corrals in search of Ted, the donkey.  He was tucked into a corner of the stable, but slowly came to us when we called his name.  He seemed to know if we had a bag, we might have a treat.  He was right, as he munched the apples in a minute flat.  By then, another load of guests came for their horseback ride on the land and surf.  Ted would have continued to follow us, if it were not for the confusion of trucks and people. 

 

By the time we reached the bar at Captain Morgan’s ship, the staff was loading the tractor with all of the leftover beverages.  It was just 1:15pm, but they have to stick to a time table.  Every beverage stand on the way back was in the same mode.  Not a problem, we could wait until we got back to our room for ice cold sodas.

 

We left the island by 1:45pm, without buying anything in the shops.  For some unknown reason, their items (even HAL logo ones) were pricey.  For instance, their logo koozies were $11 plus local tax.  Or a long sleeve t-shirts were up to $44.  Oh well, we have another day to think about it, since we should be back here on Monday, our final visit to this tiny island.

 

It was room snacks for lunch while we relaxed on the veranda.  The ship left around 3pm with the Captain blowing the horn three long times.  He was answered in kind by the local workers who were also on their way home to a nearby island. We should arrive to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow by 7am.

 

Dinner was back in the dining room, our last meal on the upper level.  Starting tomorrow, only the first seating will use this dining room, and it will be closed for the 8pm seating.  According to what we heard, there will be 1100 guests for the next cruise, about 500 less than what we have now.  We should be back at our table for six, but set for two.  Be nice to have Fredy, the head waiter we have come to know so well.

 

There was a movie in the World Stage at 9:30pm, which we would have liked.  It starred Clint Eastwood, one of our favorite actors.  But since tomorrow requires an early start, we decided against going.  Maybe next time.

 

By the way, we received the first new format of the When & Where daily itinerary.  It is a tri-fold paper, similar in size to the gala evening dinner menu.  All the same info fits, but on less paper we assume.  The long thin ad was still the same.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[rkacruiser]

Please let us know if you learn anything about the person needing blood.  

[Dismomx5]

2 hours ago, WCB said:

Report #99  Half Moon Cay, Bahamas   Saturday-March 26, 2022    Cloudy With Partial Sun  78 Degrees   Part #1 Of 2.......80 Pictures

 

It wasn’t much more than 5 minutes past midnight, when Captain Eric came on the speakers (shipwide) with an unexpected request.  A seriously ill passenger was in need of either O negative or B positive blood for a transfusion.  This was a first that we can recall ever hearing that type of message.  And disturbing as well.  Completely scary, we sure hope the guest was OK.  Of course, we did listen for further messages, but that did not happen.  We also wondered if we would hear the sound of a helicopter, signaling a medical evacuation.  Never heard that either.  Maybe we will find out more tomorrow.

We had that happen one time, but it was our server that was in need of the blood. (We found out the next day after he had been evacuated) At that point, I suggested DH always carry his blood donor card (O+). Unfortunately, he doesn't give blood anymore here in Canada, so his card is out of date.

[cruzingnut]

@WCB, we followed you out of Port Everglades on the Rotterdam.  See you tomorrow on HMC!
 

Linda R.

 

Edited March 27, 2022 by cruzingnut

[canadianbear]

50 minutes ago, Dismomx5 said:

We had that happen one time, but it was our server that was in need of the blood. (We found out the next day after he had been evacuated) At that point, I suggested DH always carry his blood donor card (O+). Unfortunately, he doesn't give blood anymore here in Canada, so his card is out of date.

Years ago we heard the call for blood and I realized I didn’t have my donor card with me.  I always carry it now but have a rarer one that isn’t universal.  But, you never know when it might be needed.