From Glaciers to Palm Trees - Spend 71 days with Bill & Mary Ann on the Zuiderdam - 9-7-22 to 11-17-22

[WCB]

We did not visit Margerie Glacier at all on these 7 day itineraries.  Only saw Johns Hopkins Glacier.

 

That is good news about the ArriveCan, Covid vaccination cards, and Covid testing expiring.  But if we were sailing soon, we would sure ask our travel agent and HAL to make sure.

 

There are two plugs on the desk, and we use two plug strips (no serge protectors).  It works well.  There are no other plugs in this VB room except one for a shaver in the bathroom. 

 

Due to the length of the Tales of the South Pacific, testing will still be required we were advised.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Clay Clayton]

6 hours ago, dchip said:

They are boarding on September 28 in Vancouver. The ship will be in SF on October 1.  Testing will still be required I would think. It certainly wouldn’t be right to have 600 people board without testing and make the rest of us test. 
Denise 

No, we are boarding on Oct 1st.  But not on the same ship as LewiLewi. 

[LewiLewi]

9 hours ago, WCB said:

We did not visit Margerie Glacier at all on these 7 day itineraries.  Only saw Johns Hopkins Glacier.

 

That is good news about the ArriveCan, Covid vaccination cards, and Covid testing expiring.  But if we were sailing soon, we would sure ask our travel agent and HAL to make sure.

 

There are two plugs on the desk, and we use two plug strips (no serge protectors).  It works well.  There are no other plugs in this VB room except one for a shaver in the bathroom. 

 

Due to the length of the Tales of the South Pacific, testing will still be required we were advised.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

Thank you, once again. I feel that it is a good thing that we will be tested before we board this ship. I can only hope that we will all stay well for the duration of this journey. We also intend to continue masking when out of our cabin.

[WCB]

Report #21   Ketchikan, Alaska     Monday September 26, 2022    11am-6:30pm    Rain& Drizzle All Day   Part #1 Of 5  Text Only  Pictures In Parts 2,3,4, &5

 

With the arrival time of 11am, it sure was nice to have the morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and some internet time.   However, the internet was not working as it had been.  Nothing was going out and nothing was coming in.  According to an announcement from Captain Friso, the ship had server problems and the entire system had to be shut down during the night for it to cool down.  That explains why we were having problems on our end.  Funny thing, however, upon calling the front desk and reporting it, they advised us to shut the computer down, and re-boot.  No, nothing would help, since it was non-operational, but they never want to tell you that.  Since we had to turn in our customs form, we went down to deck one to see what we could find out.  Melissa, Henk’s assistant, came over to help us and did say there was a major problem, and the IT fellow was up all night working on it.  Today he left the ship, and a new man came onboard.  Hope it gets resolved soon.

 

We arrived to the Tongass Narrows by 10am in the worst weather yet.  It was foggy and raining steadily, with little wind.  It had warmed up quite a bit from yesterday as we are further south now.  The Zuiderdam docked at the number 2 slip, right in the center of town.  The Ponant L’Austral was already tied up at dock 4.  There were no other ships here today.  It appeared that there was no end to the waves of showers, and no promise of it clearing today.  Sure wish we could send some of this rain to California.  Ketchikan gets about 156 inches of rain a year, which is massive.  If possible, they might be happy to share some of it with us. 

 

So about noontime, we bundled up, packed the umbrellas, and headed off for a hike….rain or not.  Heading towards Creek Street found us dodging deep puddles and wet streets.  On the plus side, there were  few people out and about.  Normally it is crowded going up the famous bawdy street, but not today.  The creek was running the fastest we have ever seen, but with the extra deep water, we could not see the salmon.  Even the color of the water was brown from the forest runoff.  Guess this was nature’s way of cleansing the creek of the fish carcasses.  We read somewhere that the wettest time for Ketchikan happens to be in the month of October.  They can expect 19.2 inches of rain that month, which is right around the corner.   

 

Once up at the top of Creek Street, we crossed over the road to view the upper creek.  Where there were exposed rocks with many gulls last week, the water had to be a foot deeper with only one gull.  In fact, further up the creek, we saw a small group of Canada geese.  First time we saw them here.  There is one spot where you can access the creek and a small rocky shore of gravel.  Today, it was mostly under water, and only those with waterproof boots could go there.  From there, we hiked up the road where viewing the salmon is best.  They were still there, perhaps not as thick as last week, but still fighting that current to go upcreek.  Without the sun, it was difficult to see the masses.

 

Further up, we had City Park all to ourselves, although we did see the “Duck” bus pass by full of tourists.  Doubt they disembarked to look into the creek as it was still raining.  With a quick walk around the totem museum, we headed back down via Creek Street.  Carefully, because this trail was muddy and slippery.   It was a good time for lunch, so off we went to the Alaskan Brewing Company once again.  There were about three customers dining there, which compared to last week, was a surprise.  We had to wait for a table last week…today we had our choice of sitting anywhere we wished.  Our waiter said that the rain makes a big difference, and there were only two ships here today.   The staff has one more week here, and they will close for the season.  The last ship they will see will come next week.  And the only cruise line that will still make the Alaska runs for the month of October is NCL.  We bet most of the shops and eateries will be closed by then. 

 

We ordered what we had last week…..chicken tenders and fries with three dips.  Alaskan Amber beers went well with the meal.  And finally,  a slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting was shared.  On the way back, we ducked in and out of several souvenir shops, finding very few items for sale.  No more huge clearances like we used to see.  Probably a sign of the times.

 

Got back to the ship around 4pm, where we dried off, and tried to make the internet work again.  It was a little better, but not fixed totally.   When we went to wash our hands in our bathroom, we discovered we had no cold water again.  It was back to scalding.  We had a quick response from the plumber, who admitted fixing the plumbing next door to us.  Whatever he did, it went back to normal.   Now we wonder what will break next? 

 

Dinner was in the Pinnacle Grill, with our usual tasty salads, fresh warm rolls, and one halibut, and one 7 ounce filet. Dessert was a small souffle and a bit of coffee/chocolate ice cream.  We passed on the petit fours, and coffee.  We never leave there disappointed.  By the way, the restaurant was full of guests, even at 8pm.  That was seldom the case while sailing on the Amsterdam’s world cruise.  Perhaps the grand voyages have more guests that dine earlier these days.

 

A day at sea tomorrow will be much appreciated.  The only downside is the fact the clocks went forward this evening, losing that extra hour.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Clay Clayton]

7 hours ago, WCB said:

We read somewhere that the wettest time for Ketchikan happens to be in the month of October.  They can expect 19.2 inches of rain that month, which is right around the corner.   

 

The last ship they will see will come next week.  And the only cruise line that will still make the Alaska runs for the month of October is NCL.  We bet most of the shops and eateries will be closed by then. 

 

 

 

 

We are hoping that the rain will think it’s still September next week when we are there aboard Konigsdam.  While Norwegian May cruise further into the month, Holland America will be there next week with us aboard. 

[WCB]

Report #22   Day at Sea   Tuesday   September 27, 2022   Dense fog clearing by 4pm   60 to 70 degrees   Part # 1 of 2 .............3 Pictures

 

As this seven day cruise winds down,  we thought that any chance of scenic cruising was not going to happen.  When we went to the Pinnacle for breakfast, you could not see anything outside the windows except fog….dense fog.  We could hear the foghorn blowing as well.  It’s funny – some people we know love that sound, but we think it is eerie and foreboding.  Especially when you think about why they are blowing that warning horn.  We did have hope that the fog would lift later in the afternoon, and we might have some scenic cruising of the Inside Passage.

 

The Mariner Recognition Event was held once again in the Gallery Bar at 10:30am.  There were seven bronze medals awarded, and the total amount of guests was 14.  We recall the old days, not so long ago, when there were many more people invited to these affairs.  When everyone cannot be included, you are bound to ruffle some feathers when only a select group is included.  Where does one cut off the number of days earned to qualify for an invite?  Today, there were six President’s Club members, the medal awardees, and one guest.  That speaks volumes…..  We did have a chance to visit with Henk and ask a few questions in general relating to the upcoming longer cruise.  There will be about 600 guests sailing onward, like us, with 400 more boarding in Vancouver tomorrow.  When we reach San Diego, we will have a total of 1650 for the Tales of the South Pacific.  Things have changed regarding the Covid testing, except for those boarding we think.  We will have to be tested before arriving to Hawaii.  And perhaps again in Tonga, Fiji, or Samoa of they require it there.  Sounds like we will know the details one day at a time.  Oh yes, masks will be mandatory in the beginning of the long cruise, which will begin in San Diego.  That is fine and dandy with us.

 

We did make a stop at the Gallery Bar to pick up some cans of water for our room.  Then we strolled through the Shops to see what was being promoted.  Usually with the final Alaska cruise, they are selling everything associated with it.  Today, we only saw some t-shirts with the 75 year sailing Alaska HAL T shirts at 75% off.  Their inventory seemed to be minimal for this area, so there is less to sell.  There were a lot of folks in these shops, so we did not linger.  Even with masks on, there was no social distancing.

 

By the time we got back to the room, we had two more Delft tiles, and later, we received the two full size photos of us with Henk and the Captain.   Worked on the computer, but we are still finding the connection poor.  It took hours to send one email.  We had to take a mile walk on the promenade deck to get some exercise and fresh air, even if it was foggy air.  The decks had been hosed down, so we were careful walking.  Only a few folks were doing the same as us.  We asked Henk about jogging, which was prohibited on the Amsterdam.  But here, jogging is OK since there are no rooms beneath the deck, only public areas.  Oh yes, we saw the “doggie” spot set up, so we do have a dog onboard, although we have not seen it.

 

Lunch for us was at 2pm with the delivery of room service.  We had been spending most of the afternoon on the veranda, on the watch for whales, orcas, eagles, or porpoise.  And it was cool, especially with the fog, which was thinning out by now.  Eventually it lifted, and we were able to see both shorelines of the Inside Passage.  According to the map on TV and a handy local Alaska map we got in Skagway, we were able to chart our course.  It appeared that we were entering the Queen Charlotte Strait near 4pm.  At that point, we spotted hundreds, if not thousands of Dall porpoise jumping, trying to keep up with the ship.  Everywhere we looked, we saw signs of this huge pod.  Now we were really on the lookout for more animal sightings.  We were not disappointed as we saw some eagles high up in the conifers, then we spotted a pod of orcas near the shoreline.  They breached one at a time, blew their spouts, and dove.  There must have been 4 or 5 of them.  It was one of those “if you snooze, you lose” sightings since it happened so fast, then they were gone as the Captain did not slow down at all. 

 

According to the map, it appears we were not far from Vancouver, so we expect the speed of the ship to be 8 knots or so.  The good thing is that sailing in this passage, we escape the rolling swells of the open Pacific Ocean, like we experienced last night. 

 

Dinner was in the dining room with the special Culinary Council meal.  We had made reservations for the Pinnacle Grill tonight, but we wanted to order the prime rib dinner, which in the past, has been excellent.  So for starters, we had the crispy shrimp salad, and the prime rib, medium rare, and one, an outside cut.  Our plates arrived hot as could be with the most delicious, tender prime rib ever.  We were happy campers.  We added the smallest dessert of a torte and a sliver of rum cake, then we were full happy campers.  The attendance in the dining room tonight was spotty, because most will be leaving tomorrow.  We are sure the Lido was quite busy tonight.

 

Tomorrow the breakfast will be super early at 6:30am.  We plan on doing the same hike in Vancouver that we did the last two weeks, even if it is raining.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[Clay Clayton]

On 9/25/2022 at 10:34 PM, WCB said:

.Really like "King Crab to Poi" - great sense of humor there.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

For those who would like to follow our other blog, here is the link:

 

"Treasures of Cruising the World" with Bill & Mary Ann.

From King Crab to Poi is live! 😂

[WCB]

Report #23  September 28, 2022 Vancouver, British Columbia  7am-5pm  Cloudy With Sprinkles 62 Degrees   Part #1 Of 4.......Text Only...... Pictures In Parts 2&3

 

Six thirty am, is too early to get up for breakfast, but that it the normal time for both the Dining Room and the Pinnacle Grill on the day most disembark.  We knew to arrive a bit before that time, because there was a line to enter the PG.  We were lucky to get the last table at the window as the other were already promised.  OK, from here on out, we asked for this table every morning, and the answer was yes, we will try our best.   And we did have the nicest view of our arrival to Canada Place, where we began the Alaska runs three weeks ago.  The time has flown by.  Shortly after we docked, the Ruby Princess sailed into the opposite dock.  It’s incredible watching how easily these mega ships can be maneuvered into snug places, thanks to an experienced team.

 

On a side note, the satellite TV was shut off, and would stay that way all day until we left near 6pm.  Except for the intransit guests, the shipboards accounts are erased from the system, then start up new, we understand.  One of the requirements for the new guests is to watch the safety video on your stateroom TV.  You MUST watch it to completion before the TV will advance to the main menu.  If you do not do this, Ian will come on the speakers, more than once, begging the folks to do it.  That has occurred with every sailing so far.  Along with checking in at the muster station, the requirement is satisfied in place of a live muster drill.  Do we miss those drills?  Nope!

 

The skies were heavily overcast this morning, but it was far from cold with temps in the high 50’s.  We hung around until 9:30am before we exited the ship.  Right before leaving, we heard Captain Friso give a nice pep talk to his entire team for doing a great job for the Alaskan season.  It turned out to be a big success with so many loyal guests coming back to cruising, despite the lingering Covid scares.  We are all learning how to live with it, more or less.

 

Taking umbrellas just in case, we breezed through the crew exit, showing our intransit cards.  The officials asked if we had our passports with us, and we said yes.  We did keep our masks on, which was required in the terminal, until we got outside and away from any crowds.  This time of day, fewer people are out and about.  Later on, it was a different story.  Following the seawall, we ran into Chantel, the future cruise consultant, and Captain Friso.  They were out for a long walk to get some exercise and fresh air, like us.  Nice to see them dressed like everyday tourists enjoying the scenery.  We chatted for a few minutes, then they were off to hike to the Lions Gate Bridge through Stanley Park.  

 

There are no lack of nice benches along the way, donated by locals.  While sitting watching the traffic crossing the famous bridge, a young sea gull landed quite close to us.  It begged for a handout, but there was no way, since signs indicated that there was a $500 fine for feeding the wildlife.  Guess the gull cannot read.

 

As we headed back, the sun even peeked out, but not for long.  It would take us about an hour of slow deliberate walking to reach our destination of lunch.  By now, the streets were full of people.  Right near Canada Place, an elderly couple approached us and asked if we were on the ship.  We said yes, and they offered us their Ho-Ho bus tickets, which were good for the entire day.  Apparently, they thought the idea was a good one to make it to several stops, but soon found out they were exhausted.  You really have to be in good shape to accomplish the hop on-hop off stops, which equates to being a little on the younger side.  Thanking them, we said we had a short time before we had to board the ship, and that’s when they said they were on the Ruby, and she was not leaving until 9:30pm.  Our all aboard was 5pm. 

 

There was a surprise waiting for us when we arrived to the Steamworks Brewing Company.  At the entrance, we were stopped and advised that their internet was down, and they were not taking any new guests.  They got to be kidding?  One of the waitresses recommended something else up the street to other people in line, and they left.  We stayed wondering what to do.  Either wait the ½ hour to possibly be seated, or go back to the ship.  Going back was not a good option, because the terminal would be more crowded.  As we waited in the parking lot for 10 minutes, another waitress came and got us, and seated us where we always sit.  Glad we stayed, the pizza and beers never tasted so good.  We did linger until 2:45pm before heading back. 

 

This would be our fourth time going through customs, and we did not know what to expect.  Going through the x-ray check should have been simple, but leaving reading glasses in a back pocket is not an option.  Oddly enough, my new knee did not set off their equipment, go figure?  Showing the intransit cards, we were directed around the roped off customs kiosks, and went directly to officials at their stations.  No other guests were in line there.  They scanned our passports, asking for nothing more.  No printed slips were given this time.  Rounding the corner, all of the check points were gone.  No checking ArriveCan, Verifly, Covid vaccine cards, and whatever else they needed.  With no more stopping, we walked directly back to the gangway and boarded the ship.  Guess that Canada has indeed dropped their requirements for now.

 

Relaxing on the veranda, we watched as the Zuiderdam left the port around 5:45pm in a light drizzle.  Dinner was in the dining room, and our waiters have not been moved to other stations.  As expected, the upper dining room was not full of customers, as there was an advertised steak dinner in the Lido tonight.  And we are sailing with about 1000 guests now, not 1750.  There will be a bit more elbow space.   And by the way, masks are required in most public places on the ship.

 

Looking forward to two days at sea on our way to San Francisco, our original home town.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

@WCB

We watched the Zuiderdam leave last night in the drizzle from Ambleside park.   I told my husband we had to watch it sail away, in person, since we had to cancel the 50 day cruise.  
 

We went to our favourite spot to watch the ships sail under the Lions Gate bridge & past Stanley Park.  I’ll attach a couple of photos I took.  
 

Have a wonderful trip to the South Pacific!  

[Florida_gal_50]

Beautiful pictures @canadianbear

[WCB]

 

Report # 24   Thursday September 29, 2022   Day at Sea   Overcast, but clearing later   60 to 70 degrees   Part 1 of 1............0 Pictures

 

After the Zuiderdam left Vancouver yesterday, we passed Victoria, another wonderful place to stop (not on this trip, sadly).  The Captain said that the Canadian pilot got off at midnight, then we sailed the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the way to the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.  It was there, that we started to feel the motion of the ocean, as the ship began to rock and roll…..not bad, just noticeable.  It stayed that way all day.  But the temperature eventually improved when the clouds broke up, revealing the sun and partly blue skies.  We are going to miss viewing the scenery of the Inside Passage, since all we see now is water everywhere we look.

 

At the Pinnacle Grill this morning, we had a window table waiting for us, but by 8:06 am, all of the window seats and tables for two were occupied.  This is mostly a new group of guests who know it is first come, first served here.

 

Since we turned in early last night, we worked on the blog this morning.  Before noon, we took our mile walk on the promenade deck, where we heard people calling…..hey you two.  Turned out to be fellow world cruise friends Sandy and Jack.  So nice to see them, we all agreed it was like finding family onboard.  We shall have to catch up with ship and people news, as they were on their way to the very first team trivia event at noon.  They were meeting two friends, and creating their team for the game.  We used to play on the longer voyages, but in time it became a blood sport, and we quit.  We are sure to recognize more familiar faces when the ship takes on the passengers in San Diego.  Among them will be Denise and Howie, great friends from home and other cruises.  You may know them from Cruise Critic as dchip.  And they are as much fun as you might have expected.

 

We ended up with room service lunch at 2pm.  Soups, salad, and a shared sandwich.  And don’t forget the apples and cookies.  Their salads from room service are made quite nicely, and our orders have been complete.  They have a good team working that venue, and we have not had a wait beyond 30 minutes.

 

Did we mention the mandatory signs are up for mask wearing?  For some reason. We did not receive a printed notice about this, but everyone we have seen so far, is wearing them.  We assume that both public decks 2 and 3 require masking, as well as the Mainstage and casino.  We bet this will last until we reach Hawaii….a sign that this virus is not over yet, darn.

 

The When and Where pamphlet has changed to The Daily Program.  No longer a tri-fold paper, it is a single fold brochure with a little more detail.  There are now symbols indicating if an event is hosted and also the duration of that event.  These symbols are faces of a clock with 30, 45, and 60 minute time slots.  Every activity that has a charge attached is labeled “Promotion”.   The special presentations, performances, and the Music Walk are listed largely on one page…..easy to locate.  The Dining options are listed on the back page as well as Drinks and Services.  We find it much better than the old format.

 

Dinner was in the dining room, which we found not crowded once again.  These days the majority of folks dine early, many of those in the Lido.  Of course, for these five days, we are down to 1000 guests.  When we get to San Diego, and the real start of the Tales of the South Pacific, we will lose 400 passengers, and gain 1050 more or less. 

 

We were happy campers to see spring rolls on the menu as appetizers.  One of us could make a complete meal of these.  We added Caesar salads, and one cod entrée and a rigatoni dish.  Desserts were a very dark chocolatey torte (way too sweet) with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, and one blueberry frozen yogurt. 

 

And another new addition is having a Latin crooner, Daniel Bouchet, entertain in the Mainstage this evening.  We did not have that  option on the 7 day cruises.

 

Another nice day at sea is expected tomorrow, and according to Captain Friso, the swells should be subsiding.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[dchip]

We can’t wait to join you. We will wave as we fly over the Zuiderdam tomorrow in San Francisco as we fly to San Diego!

Cheers,

Denise and Howie, too

[CruisingGrandmaW]

Hi Mary Ann& Bill

Love your blog etc.  Have followed you since the 2019 Amsterdam B2B 28 Inca/51 Tales of Pacific.

 

When we sailed the 51 Days you were about 3 cabins forward from us.  We often saw you taking pictures from our Verandah.  While we've never met in person - seeing your interaction etc on ship - we can tell you are wonderful people.

 

We've been following the CC Roll call for the upcoming Tales of Pacific; as we're doing Hawaii/Tahiti in Feb 2023.

 

As a result of following the CC Roll call; wanted to give you heads up --- many people fuming about the itinerary change.  The Captain & Henck might appreciate knowing a storm's brewing that could crash upon them in San Diego of these highly disgruntled passengers.........praying they don't run into maintenance issues or lukewarm food -- as the volcano of frustration may very well explode.

 

Maybe with Captain knowing this they can plan ahead to smooth out all the ruffled feathers.  Like a couple stiff drinks the first night for everyone....to put them in a happy mood.  😂

 

You can check with your Friends Denise & Howie about all of this; if interested.  I LOVE HAL.  My husband & I are extensive travelers/cruisers --- one must learn to go with the flow and expect "things happen".  The more often one travels - the better the chance of running into an occasional disappointment.  One must Move forward and enjoy as the positives always far out-weigh the negatives.  (Like not having to do laundry, housekeeping & cooking...HaHaHa 😂😂)

 

Continue to enjoy your cruise into the South Pacific ... those beautiful waters are beautiful warm waters are beckoning.  Here's hoping the angry wave calms before San Diego boarding & doesn't affect your wonderful cruise.

[WCB]

Canadian bear - Thanks for the neat pictures from the viewpoint in Vancouver - beautiful.

 

Cruising Grandma - We were fairly certain we heard Captain Friso say he was leaving the ship in San Diego, and the alternate captain would be taking over.  Guess he will be off the hook.  

 

Most times the reason for port changes has more to do with the countries we visit and their restrictions.  Can't blame HAL for that in our humble opinion.  Yes, we are disappointed with the cancellation of Bora Bora, but that is their rule to restrict the number of guests allowed.  Yep, a couple of stiff drinks might be an option!

 

Denise and Howie - Only a few days now.....

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[DAllenTCY]

Just a quick note to all of you who are arriving in San Diego on Monday.  Construction at the pier is extremely noisy and dusty.....except on Sundays.

 

If you have hearing aids or are asthmatic, please consider this as an advisement.

 

There is a pile driver in use very near the exit door from the terminal.

 

Sand and cement are being mixed constantly on the pier and some of the residue is airborne.

 

Conversations with you are difficult at times especially in the luggage claim area and as you exit the terminal.

 

Shoring up of the terminal is due to tidal erosion and the age of the pier.

 

It was originally built on landfill and with wooden pier pilings.  Those are being replaced with steel and concrete.

 

The estimate for completion is sometime in December 2022.

 

Thank you.

David

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WCB]

Report # 25   Friday September 30, 2022   Day at Sea   Overcast turning to sunny   55 - 65 degrees   Part 1 of 1.........8 Pictures

 

We woke up to overcast skies, low fog, and chilly temps as we continue sailing south.  The ship is still taking on those 8 to 10 foot seas, making walking a little more challenging. Especially when going higher up, like on the Lido deck. 

 

After breakfast, we did take a mile walk on the promenade deck, and there were a few folks doing the same, but not many.  The dog must be gone because his or her doggie rest area was removed.  Did we ever mention the time when we were on a special cruise many years ago with over 30 service dogs?  Now that was something else….

 

Due to the fact that this entire 5 day trip is casual, there was no Captain’s Welcome event in the Mainstage last night.  The name of the game is promoting the promotions, especially the gambling features.  The spa is opened for various treatments, and the shops are continuing their sales.  Now that we are out of Canada, we can make purchases onboard without having to declare them in Canada. 

 

We ordered room service for lunch, which has been done nicely and delivered on time.  Of course, we dine later in the afternoon, since our dinner time is 8pm.  It works for us here, as opposed to eating much earlier at home.  While enjoying our meal, we got caught up with an excellent movie that we never saw before.  It had already started, so we missed the title.  The main actor was Russell Crowe playing a British Captain on a masted sailing ship.  Starting in England, this crew must have sailed around Cape Horn, then up to the Galapagos Islands, discovering the unique wildlife there.  The story around it was riveting.  Does anyone know the title of this movie which came out in 2003?  Good trivia question…

 

Needing some exercise, we headed back outside for another walkabout.  It was early dining time already.  Hard to believe how the day evaporates so quickly.  Before we knew it, our dinner hour had arrived.  Starting with lumpia appetizers (really tasty) and Caesar salads, we had mains of chow mien (vegetarian) and rockfish.  Both different meals for us.  Tres leches flan and a scoop of chocolate chip ice cream was just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth.  Our assistant waiter asked us how long it would take to walk the Golden Gate Bridge.  You know what?  We did that walk over 55 years ago, but don’t remember it being that long of a hike.  But then, we were a bit younger, and living in the area, time was no problem.  We advised him to be prepared for a few hours at the minimum, and to bundle up.  The winds on that span can be freezing.  Captain Friso mentioned that we will be sailing under the bridge in complete fog early in the morning, but he hoped for it to clear by the time we leave around 5pm.  We shall see…….

 

Another new entertainer popped up in the Mainstage, a comedian by the name of Cisco Duran.  Looks like the singers and dancers have gotten a few days off.  Good for them.  Looking forward to a stop in our home city, San Francisco, the city by the bay.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[dchip]

Welcome home. ❤️ Have a great day in the City. We can see the ship already in port. Our flight leaves Oakland at 12:15. Hoping we can see the ship from the air. We will wave. See you soon!!

Denise and Howie, too

[Essiesmom]

Mr Google says the movie is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.  EM

[whogo]

IMDB.com is a great source for all movie questions. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311113/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

 

Master and Commander was based on a book by Patrick O'Brian, who wrote a slew of novels about the main characters Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, I think my father-in-law read every one of them, two were enough for me. It is an excellent series of books, if anyone is looking for something to read. https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/patrick-obrian/

 

I thought they would film sequel after sequel of the movie.

[Fred321]

If you ever get the chance read the Jack Aubrey series of books by Patrick Brian. Just Great.

[Essiesmom]

Darn, I would bet my sister would have enjoyed them.  EM

[ECF]

I am flying to San Diego today and am scheduled to board the Zuiderdam tomorrow. I'm hoping you can tell me why masks are now required. Also, do you know how long masks will be mandatory? Thanks! (I called Holland America customer service this morning, and they knew nothing about a mandatory-mask requirement on the Zuiderdam.)

Edited October 2, 2022 by ECF

[WCB]

Report #26   Saturday October 1, 2022  San Francisco, California   6:30am-4:30pm    Cloudy Foggy 63 Degrees  Part#1 Of 3......Text Only.........Pictures In Parts 2&3

 

A good way to spend the start of a new month is a stop in San Francisco.  The feel of Halloween was in the air.  We were already docked by the time we woke up, and that was at the old Pier 35.  The Ruby Princess had taken over the new cruise terminal Pier 27, and the Seven Seas Mariner was sharing the other side of Pier 35 with us.  We have never seen so many pelicans flying quietly in loose v-formations over the murky green waters of the SF bay.  A great blue heron was perched on a pole beneath our veranda, not scared off by some curious seals six feet away.  We were so close to Pier 39 that we could hear the sea lions barking up a storm.  And that was one plus of docking in the old pier was that we were much closer to the famous icons of the city. 

 

San Francisco is a city that we are quite familiar with, since both of us were born and raised here.  Alcatraz, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the cable cars, and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges are places we have traveled and seen many times over.  We have since moved to the East Bay, a mere 35 miles from downtown, but with a whole different weather pattern.  Colder winters and hotter summers come with the territory.   And sun……lots of it, and far less fog. 

 

Unfortunately, the entire TV was shut down today, and we suspect it is due to a big problem that has not been resolved.  That’s the only way they can work on restoring it we guess.  So without access to the shore excursions, there is no info on available tours and their prices.  One of the best ways to get around has to be the Hop-On Hop-Off bus.

 

Thought we were early to arrive at the Pinnacle Grill at 7:25am, but all the window tables were already occupied.  However, most of the early birds were finished in 45 minutes, and the staff seated the second round of guests.  Perhaps that is a better time to arrive.

 

We hung around after the crew drill at 10:30am.  Passing through the same old cruise terminal/parking garage for buses, we went outside to find a gospel group blasting music promoting religion, we think.  They sang the best version of “Amazing Grace” that we have heard in a long time.  Being that today was a Saturday, the streets were full of tourists and locals, and getting more crowded by the minute.  It has been a long time that we stopped here on a weekend while visiting on a cruise. 

 

We made our way to Pier 39 where every shop, café, restaurant, and even the merry-go-round was opened.  Lots of kids of all ages were here too.  The biggest attraction for us, not counting lunch, had to be a walk to see the sea lions.  Close up, they are humongous and quite vocal….especially the biggest males.   With the multi-level seating available, quite a group of onlookers had gathered to watch the seals activities.  Actually, the pontoons were not as full of seals as there normally are.  Perhaps they were out feeding, and left the lazy ones behind.  A river of tourists was flooding the area, so we left to make a run to a CVS pharmacy.  It is located almost across the street, and had some of the supplies we needed that we did not bring with us. The only disappointment was that they did not have the Ghirardelli Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Squares we discovered a few years ago.  Now we have a shorter list for Walmart in Hilo, and may even find those special candies.

 

One could not help but see some homeless men here and there, rooting through the garbage cans in search of recyclables.  Cannot imagine the plethora of germs encountered doing this, but these folks seem to be immune, and those cans and bottles are worth even more these days.  Another thing we noticed while in CVS, were the number of items that were under lock and key.  We can understand the pain and cold meds, but the toothbrushes?   Cosmetics were always locked up, but now many everyday items were as well.  It has been reported that the fine for shop-lifting cannot be enforced unless the loss totals $900.  That’s California for you. 

 

The Hard Rock Café would have been our choice of lunch venues, but it was so crowded, we would have to wait for a table.  Not worth it, we sat on the benches outside, people watching, deciding what to do.  Much to our surprise, who should we see but Howard R., our President’s Club buddy we have known since 2005.  He and his friend Gyl were on the Nieuw Statendam this last winter/spring for almost 4 months.  At that time, he spoke of cruises that would take him to Europe during the summer, then eventually, Transatlantic back to Florida in the fall.  However, the N. Statendam was taken out for a dry docking, so he eventually landed on this ship after doing several Alaska runs.  He boarded in Vancouver, and expected to see us at the Mariner Cocktail Reception in the Crow’s Nest.   We told him we never received an invite, and he said that never should stop us.  We assumed it did not happen.  Anyway, our little family group grows……

 

Getting back onboard was easy with no customs to pass by.  Only x-rays, which got me with my new knee.  The officials were the nicest folks as I got wanded, then set free.  We both heard the officials yell, “enjoy your trip” as we continued onward. 

 

Relaxing on the veranda, we finally left the pier after 5pm.  The Ruby Princess had left first, however, the Seven SeasMariner never did leave from what we could tell.  To warm us up a bit, we ordered hot chocolate and coffee, mixing the two in our new insulated mugs.  They stayed really hot for an hour……making that mug purchase from Alaska a good one.  Even though the skies remained gray, the Golden Gate Bridge was in plain view as we sailed under her and out to sea. 

 

At dinnertime, we were regaled with a story from the Assistant Maitre’d about an attempt to walk across the famous bridge in the afternoon.  We know from experience that a lot of time is needed to accomplish this hike…time that the crew does not have.  Even if they taxi there in a group, walk across then taxi back, they never would have made the all aboard time of 4:30pm.  And of course, they never factored in the traffic situation at that time of day.  Commute traffic can stop that traffic flow in a heartbeat.  So the decision was made to take all of their pictures from the info booth at the bridge, then try to figure out how to get another taxi back.  With the help of a local lady who offered to summon a ride for them, they made it back by the skin of their teeth.  Lucky crew.

 

Dinner was a repeat of the Culinary Council from last Tuesday.  But we ordered different items of a crab cake and crispy shrimp salad.  Mains were rigatoni with unexpected Bolognese sauce, and one halibut dinner.  Both were quite good.   One tiny scoop of orange sorbet was just right for dessert.  The only thing we need to remember is to ask for the ice cream or sorbet to be frozen, not half melted.  Obviously, they are pre-scooped, but we do know they can find the frozen tubs somewhere. 

 

One lazy day at sea, and we will be in San Diego, the official beginning of the 45 day Tales of the South Pacific.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[WCB]

ECF -  Mandatory masks were required ever since we left Vancouver last Wednesday.  We will continue wearing them inside the ship until at least Honolulu.  

Those of us sailing onward from San Diego had to self test for Covid 19 this morning .  The test kits were provided by the ship.  More testing may be required as the trip ensues.

We have no idea of the current Covid cases that are onboard.  Mum is the word with the staff.  

Hope this answers your questions.

Bill & Mary Ann

[ECF]

Thank you for the information! Greatly appreciated!