LIVE from the Koningsdam Holiday Sailing - Dec. 17th - Jan 7th - exploring my first Pinnacle Class ship 🤞

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Sea42 said:

I'm looking forward to your report on Rudi's. We haven't been on the newer ships and I'm looking forward to trying it.

 

I’ve really enjoyed the pop ups that we had on the P’dam and the Rotterdam (the old one) so I’m really looking forward to this tonight.

 

Hope I haven’t set my expectations too high.  🤞 I figure it SHOULD be better than the pop ups 🤞 

 

Oh gee, Miguel just came and was looking over my shoulder and asked if I had a question about Sel de Mer.  I said no - I’m going there tonight - he is a beverage server there in the evening - YAY.  He told me to ask for one of Melvin’s tables if possible.  

[Seasick Sailor]

Jacqui we were in transit this morning. We got a small ticket that said "In Transit" and you bypass everything. We were allowed on at 11.

[kazu]

10 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Jacqui we were in transit this morning. We got a small ticket that said "In Transit" and you bypass everything. We were allowed on at 11.

 

Thanks.  I haven’t received a ticket - at least not yet.  I mentioned it to the person at guest services and she said nothing.  I’ve always had and in transit ticket on any other cruise I have been on so that’s why I asked.

 

 

[kazu]

47 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

Thanks so much Jacqui.  We really enjoyed getting dressed for dinner and having portraits taken on the old formal nights.  Best travel souvenir ever!

 

Here are a few from the archive 😁

 

 

 

They were (and still are ) so sweet ♥️ 

[kazu]

2 hours ago, XBGuy said:

 

 

This is where the sea lions hang out sunning themselves,

 

 

After docking you should be able to walk to the end of your ship and

get lots of pictures.

 

Thanks back on board and trying to figure out the spot and will head out again to take a look.  I was looking when I came back but didn’t see any.  

[kazu]

Here it tonight’s MDR menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Club Orange special is short ribs.  Last night’s was a veal chop - it was very good

 

[kazu]

And before I forget, here is the Lido menu

 

lunch:

 

 

 

 

 

And the dinner menu:

 

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

4 hours ago, 1of4 said:

Thanks so much Jacqui.  We really enjoyed getting dressed for dinner and having portraits taken on the old formal nights.  Best travel souvenir ever!

 

Here are a few from the archive 😁

 

 

 

Love the kilt on your boy! Smart lookin' kids!

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Yes, definitely request Melvin. He was my server twice last week at sel de mer. I never cared for the pop ups but the stand alone is excellent IMO.  In your photo I did not see the very large Mexican flag that used to be at Ensenada. Is it still there? 

[shipfriend_max]

9 hours ago, kazu said:

haven’t seen them but I might not be there the right time.  What time are they normally served and I will try to look for you.

usually during evening hours, that’s how I recall it from Koningsdam.

[san diego spartan]

On 12/17/2022 at 4:23 PM, Cruise NH said:

@kazudid they have a verifly line in San Diego?  I know it's not required but others report it can speed processing...if there's a separate line of course.

 

Thanks

No that has been eliminated. 

[san diego spartan]

On 12/19/2022 at 2:05 AM, ski ww said:

$20 for lobster tail & I see jumbo shrimp cocktail is back, it wasn't on our July cruise. 

The $20 was for a 12 Oz tail and worth it.  Other nights $15 for 2 tails that were 5 Oz each.

 

We had the jumbo shrimp cocktail the night it was offered and thought it didn't have much taste.

[san diego spartan]

23 hours ago, shipfriend_max said:

@kazu great live report, thanks!

No tea time anymore? I do not find it in the daily program and it’s usually held every afternoon in the main dining room.

On our December 10th cruise afternoon tea was on sea days at 3pm

[3rdGenCunarder]

19 hours ago, 1of4 said:

Thanks so much Jacqui.  We really enjoyed getting dressed for dinner and having portraits taken on the old formal nights.  Best travel souvenir ever!

 

Here are a few from the archive 😁

 

 

 

I love to see families get all dressed up and pose for portraits. These are lovely!

[lazey1]

@kazuJacqui thank you so much for taking us along on your voyage. You are making everything so real that I can almost feel the ship rocking me gently to sleep.

Jane

[kazu]

Good morning from the Koningsdam in San Diego.  A little behind.  I was a bit of a grumpy gus and I don’t like to post when I am in that mood 😉 

 

17 hours ago, SJSULIBRARIAN said:

Yes, definitely request Melvin. He was my server twice last week at sel de mer. I never cared for the pop ups but the stand alone is excellent IMO.  In your photo I did not see the very large Mexican flag that used to be at Ensenada. Is it still there? 

 

Didn’t get Melvin sorry to say.  My waiter was ok though.

 

I didn’t see the big flag in Ensenada that I had read about.

 

12 hours ago, shipfriend_max said:

usually during evening hours, that’s how I recall it from Koningsdam.

 

Thanks - I will have a look for you.  I don’t remember seeing it but I wasn’t looking for it 😉 and it is often packed there.

 

11 hours ago, san diego spartan said:

The $20 was for a 12 Oz tail and worth it.  Other nights $15 for 2 tails that were 5 Oz each.

 

We had the jumbo shrimp cocktail the night it was offered and thought it didn't have much taste.

 

I felt the same about the shrimp at least last week.  We’ll see how it is this week.

 

 

[kazu]

Well you can colour me stupid.  You would think I had never done a turnaround day before or is it that I have done enough that I didn’t read the letter carefully?

 

 

It clearly said to used the in transit card.  The catch?  There wasn’t one in my envelope.  Got one from the front desk.  LOL.

[kazu]

The lovely ladies of Ensenada

 

 

 

 

There is a shuttle that you can take for $4 round trip that takes you downtown.  they also sell a number of tours at a quite reasonable cost..

 

Unfortunately, the shuttle does not take you to the true downtown as it used to be (chatting with passengers that do this itinerary frequently).  It takes you to this spot 

 

 

where there is some typical touristy things and you then walk to the downtown area from there.  There is a lot of construction right now so you really have to watch your step.

 

A fellow passenger told me where to find the seals - said just wait and listen and then go to see them.  So, I waited - but - unfortunately the ship was bunkering on that side and I guess it scared them away?  No seals in the spot in any case.  Pretty sure there will be other opportunities 🤞 

 

 

[boze9999]

25 minutes ago, kazu said:

Well you can colour me stupid.  You would think I had never done a turnaround day before or is it that I have done enough that I didn’t read the letter carefully?

 

 

It clearly said to used the in transit card.  The catch?  There wasn’t one in my envelope.  Got one from the front desk.  LOL.

Did CBP come on board the ship or did you have to disembark as in transit, wait for zero count and wait to  get back on ? 

[kazu]

Had dinner at Sel de Mer last night so fair warning - food porn follows.

 

There was an amuse bouche and a pre-dinner drink served.  The drink was good and enjoyable the amuse bouche was supposed to have some salmon in it.  The pastry was too thick and dry (overcooked I think?) for the bit of salmon in it IMO..

 

 

Then of course came the lovely bread with the delish tapenades 

 

 

Decided to try something different from my usual appetizers and had the calamari.  The calamari inside was delish but the breading was thick and crusty.

 

 

I was going to have the dover sole (have had it before and it’s good) but my waiter really recommended the fresh fish (and yes he said it was fresh) so I followed his recommendation (unfortunately) and had the fresh fish.  It was seared so that the outside was crusty and dry.  The fish inside was ok.  I could only eat a bit of it though with the funny nearly burnt taste on the outside.  The cauliflower was very good.

 

 

The champagne shaped glass is the complimentary glass.

 

 

And always the tree comes after - yum

 

 

 

 

Love the tea pots in Rudi’s

 

 

And my dessert was scrumptious.  

 

 

And once you cut it open and start to eat …

 

 

I guess how little of the fish I ate was taken note of.  It just wasn’t to my liking.  I told them no worries - I should have ordered the sole which is lighter.  Well, I was told I could order it in CO.  I said no, not necessary and he said Club Orange already knows you can have it.  Wow!

 

[kazu]

26 minutes ago, boze9999 said:

Did CBP come on board the ship or did you have to disembark as in transit, wait for zero count and wait to  get back on ? 

 

We had to get off and have the ship brought to a zero count.  It’s the reason I was a Grumpy Gus this morning.  

 

Should I tell my grumpy gus story? Let’s just say it wasn’t a smooth process and a painful one.  LOL. (Full sarcasm intended.)

 

I have learned one trick for next time that’s for sure.

 

the couple next to me that were on the previous B2B said that last time Customs came on board.  They were surprised we had to go off today so I guess it varies.

 

[kazu]

Here is today’s Daily.  Tree lighting tonight - that should be nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Here is tonight’s MDR menu (lunch menu is the same ol’ same ol’)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChinaShrek]

I just got on the ship and I am on for a week. Rooms were not ready when I got on the ship at 11:40am. I entered an elevator with a group of passengers and we were told we had to go to the Lido to eat lunch. So, I did. Rooms were ready at 12:15. Not a big deal but I thought I would mention it.

[kazu]

And here is the Lido dinner menu:

 

 

 

 

And the lunch menu: