The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday December 26th, 2022

[rafinmd]

Today is Kwanzaa (lasts through January 1), National Boxing Day, and National Homeowners Day
 

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. Francesca Reigler - Artist

Meal Suggestion for today - Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup
Drink of the Day - Bees Knees
Wine of the Day - Quinta do Portal 2019 Mural Reserva Red (Douro) Portugal
Destination of the Day - Bordeaux, France
 

Eurodam

Cozumel, Quintana Roo Mexico, Riviera Maya 11:00 - 23:00
 

Koningsdam

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera 08:00 - 21:00
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

San Juan, Puerto Rico 13:00 - 23:00
 

Nieuw Statendam

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 16:00
 

Oosterdam

At Sea Destination Port Stanley, East Falkland Island eta 12/27
 

Rotterdam

At Sea Destination Half Moon Cay eta 12/27
 

Volendam

At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 12/27
 

Zaandam

St Johns Antigua 08:00 - 17:00
 

Zuiderdam

Grand Cayman Island, George Town Harbour 08:00 - 16:00

Eastern Hemisphere
 

Noordam

Tauranga, Rotorua, New Zealand 10:00 - 20:00
 

Westerdam

Cruising Fiordland Natl Park

 

 

Roy for Rich

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Fleet Report.

[RedneckBob]

Thanks for the Fleet update and general info. Boy, you posted this early. I guess we are on the same time schedule!

 

Halfacts left off a very important National Day for me. I will give y’all some hints.

 

”HAL never has cold soups. HAL always overcooks my meats. Why can’t HAL ever get us to port on time. Why is the shows always three minutes late.”

 

Can you guess the Day. It’s National Whiners Day!  So can I have some cheese with that whine. Oh, forget it, HAL never has the cheese I like. Just pass me the grey poupon 😀

[grapau27]

Good morning from a sunny but cool 39°F North East England.

Thank you for today's daily reports Roy.

Happy Boxing Day or shopping day here in England.

We have owned our current house for 40 years.

Excellent quote.

Food sounds good.

Bordeaux France is a nice port.

It is good if you dock in the city area but usually it is Le Verdon about 60 miles away.

Today is Pauline's late mam and dad's 70th wedding anniversary.

Love to all my Dailyite friends and hope you all have a great day.

Graham.

[rafinmd]

31 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Good morning from a sunny but cool 39°F North East England.

Thank you for today's daily reports Roy.

Happy Boxing Day or shopping day here in England.

We have owned our current house for 40 years.

Excellent quote.

Food sounds good.

Bordeaux France is a nice port.

It is good if you dock in the city area but usually it is Le Verdon about 60 miles away.

Today is Pauline's late mam and dad's 70th wedding anniversary.

Love to all my Dailyite friends and hope you all have a great day.

Graham.

The term I've heard in the US is "Return Day", returning or exchanging unwanted gifts.  Other traditions I've heard in places is where bosses change roles with workers, and where people give gifts to people who serve them like postmen or trash collectors.

 

Roy

[grapau27]

13 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

The term I've heard in the US is "Return Day", returning or exchanging unwanted gifts.  Other traditions I've heard in places is where bosses change roles with workers, and where people give gifts to people who serve them like postmen or trash collectors.

 

Roy

Today it is usually the Boxing day sales in the shops for retailers to sell off cheaply primarily left over Christmas stock.

During Queen Victoria's reign 1837-1901 the term Boxing Day was introduced.

Edited December 26, 2022 by grapau27

[cat shepard]

Thank you Roy for posting our Report & Daily! Rich, thank you for preparing it. 
I am sitting at Logan Airport waiting to board my plane home. It was a really busy trip, but so happy I could celebrate the holiday with the family. 
 

I should pick Bindi up by 1 p.m., and then head home. Though it won’t be as warm as usual back home, it will definitely be warmer than New Hampshire!

 

Wrapping up our Christmas memes….

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support.  Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone!

 

**********

Quinta do Portal 2019 Mural Reserva  (Douro) Portugal

This Portuguese red wine sounds great, and I would definitely like to taste it. Ratings range from very good - excellent, and it is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $13.99.

 

Winemaker Notes

Made with a very carefully winemaking, using gravity and precise techniques. Concentrated ruby color with aromas of ripe black fruit and some floral notes in perfect harmony with some toast from the oak. Expressive on the palate, with fine acidity and a pleasant fruity aftertaste. The final is long and complex and will develop further with more time in bottle.

WE92 Wine Enthusiast

Still young, this ripe and densely fruity wine is set for some fine aging. With its structured black fruits that are striated with minerality and cut by juicy acidity, it is dense and has a vibrant texture. Drink from 2022. Best Buys

[grapau27]

3 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

Thank you Roy for posting our Report & Daily! Rich, thank you for preparing it. 
I am sitting at Logan Airport waiting to board my plane home. It was a really busy trip, but so happy I could celebrate the holiday with the family. 
 

I should pick Bindi up by 1 p.m., and then head home. Though it won’t be as warm as usual back home, it will definitely be warmer than New Hampshire!

 

Wrapping up our Christmas memes….

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support.  Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone!

 

**********

Quinta do Portal 2019 Mural Reserva  (Douro) Portugal

This Portuguese red wine sounds great, and I would definitely like to taste it. Ratings range from very good - excellent, and it is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $13.99.

 

Winemaker Notes

Made with a very carefully winemaking, using gravity and precise techniques. Concentrated ruby color with aromas of ripe black fruit and some floral notes in perfect harmony with some toast from the oak. Expressive on the palate, with fine acidity and a pleasant fruity aftertaste. The final is long and complex and will develop further with more time in bottle.

WE92 Wine Enthusiast

Still young, this ripe and densely fruity wine is set for some fine aging. With its structured black fruits that are striated with minerality and cut by juicy acidity, it is dense and has a vibrant texture. Drink from 2022. Best Buys

Great memes and winemaker notes.

I hope you have a nice journey home.

Graham.

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.  Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Report.

 

We celebrate Boxing Day in Canada with big sales in the stores.  Unsold Christmas cards, wrapping paper, etc have their prices reduced.  But I'm staying home because I don't need anything else.

Boxing Day is considered a holiday in Ontario with many businesses closed.  Businesses that are open pay employees time and a half to work today.

We've got lots of snow.  Jim measured the snow in the driveway when he got the snowblower out yesterday and we had about 80cm (31in) of snow at the garage door.  More snow in the forecast for today.

 

Love the quote.

I'll pass on the meal but would love the drink and the wine.

I haven't been to today's port, but would love to.

 

Prayers for everyone.  I hope there are lots of celebrations.

Stay safe.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ..

[summer slope]

Bees Knees cocktail:

 

Ingredients
2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Garnish: lemon twist

Steps
Add gin, lemon juice and honey syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

[richwmn]

Good morning from Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island. Thanks to Roy @rafinmd for posting the daily each day. I'm glad to see it continuing.

Tenders will be starting shortly.

It has been a very good cruise so far, but still a lot more to come.

Happy Boxing Day everyone.

 

Rich

[ottahand7]

Good morning from chilly Fort Lauderdale as it is 50 degrees.  It is warmer than when we walked over for Thai and Sushi yesterday when it was 46.   I wore my winter jacket and scarf.  We sat in the hotel lounge most of yesterday and I needed that jacket for the first couple of hours until it filled up with people and then it warmed up. Our hotel is a base for Southwest crews and there were many.  The hotel served a Christmas dinner for the Southwest crews, our offers were sandwiches.  They deserved a nice hot dinner and some beautiful cheesecake.   

 

Our room was very musty when we first got here so lots of coughing on my part.  Once we got the heat cranked up the mustiness seemed to abate. 

 

Our port in Grand Cayman was cancelled and rescheduled to Jamaica which the country has declared a national emergency due to crime including sexual assault at all inclusive resorts.  I wish they would cancel and have a sea day.  At least the restaurants and casino would be open.  I am sure it will be a full ship in spite of being in port.

 

Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @rafinmd.  A great quote.  Nothing to box up here.  We exchanged gifts at home before hitting the road.  I will pass on today's dish, will the cocktail looks great @summer slopeand today's wine looks like a winner, thanks @cat shepard. I have been to Bordeaux once when we took a land trip south from Paris.  We didn't spend much time in Bordeaux proper but stayed near Paulliac. Bordeaux was the site of one of our rental car misadventures.  We couldn't figure out how to put the car in reverse so we headed back to the train station to get instructions.  We turned one corner too early on a dead end street.  Even through the language barrier a nice young family out for a stroll were able to help us out of the pinch.

 

Prayers for all on the care list and for the people of Ukraine.  So happy DB spent Christmas at home and is continuing to improve.  The blizzard I am sure has delayed his home PT.  Have a wonderful day!  Nancy

 

 

 

[mamaofami]

12 minutes ago, ottahand7 said:

Good morning from chilly Fort Lauderdale as it is 50 degrees.  It is warmer than when we walked over for Thai and Sushi yesterday when it was 46.   I wore my winter jacket and scarf.  We sat in the hotel lounge most of yesterday and I needed that jacket for the first couple of hours until it filled up with people and then it warmed up. Our hotel is a base for Southwest crews and there were many.  The hotel served a Christmas dinner for the Southwest crews, our offers were sandwiches.  They deserved a nice hot dinner and some beautiful cheesecake.   

 

Our room was very musty when we first got here so lots of coughing on my part.  Once we got the heat cranked up the mustiness seemed to abate. 

 

Our port in Grand Cayman was cancelled and rescheduled to Jamaica which the country has declared a national emergency due to crime including sexual assault at all inclusive resorts.  I wish they would cancel and have a sea day.  At least the restaurants and casino would be open.  I am sure it will be a full ship in spite of being in port.

 

Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @rafinmd.  A great quote.  Nothing to box up here.  We exchanged gifts at home before hitting the road.  I will pass on today's dish, will the cocktail looks great @summer slopeand today's wine looks like a winner, thanks @cat shepard. I have been to Bordeaux once when we took a land trip south from Paris.  We didn't spend much time in Bordeaux proper but stayed near Paulliac. Bordeaux was the site of one of our rental car misadventures.  We couldn't figure out how to put the car in reverse so we headed back to the train station to get instructions.  We turned one corner too early on a dead end street.  Even through the language barrier a nice young family out for a stroll were able to help us out of the pinch.

 

Prayers for all on the care list and for the people of Ukraine.  So happy DB spent Christmas at home and is continuing to improve.  The blizzard I am sure has delayed his home PT.  Have a wonderful day!  Nancy

 

 

 

Jamaica has had a crime issue for many years. I recall several crew members being robbed on a bus that had to stop because of a log in the street blocking it. Best to remain on the ship and be safe.

[mamaofami]

Good morning everyone. 15 degrees right now with a high for today ofm29. I’m planning a stay in my pjs day. Enough already of this cold.

Stay safe everyone.

Carol

[RedneckBob]

39 minutes ago, summer slope said:

Bees Knees cocktail:

 

Ingredients
2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Garnish: lemon twist

Steps
Add gin, lemon juice and honey syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

I guess you could call this a buzz worthy drink 🤪

[Heartgrove]

Thank you Rich, double-thank you Roy, thank you Debbie, thank you Cat Shepard, and thank you Dixie for your daily contribution! And thank you all for being here!

 

Stay Safe!

 

- Jack

[aliaschief]

Good morning! Real short as we are packing up and heading home.

We had a wonderful and memorable Christmas with family and grandchildren. Son and family from California will be following us home to spend a few more days.

Now time to repack the “house” minus some food and wine.

Have a great day and thanks Roy for all you do in keeping the Daily a daily event.

Edited December 26, 2022 by aliaschief

[kochleffel]

Happy Boxing Day, second day of Christmas, first day of Kwanzaa, and eighth (last) day of Hanukkah. It's also "Christmas Day Observed" for government offices and banks.

 

My office is closed, which is handy since I'm headed for Washington, D.C. (well, Arlington) as soon as I can get ready, which is not going to be right away since clothes that I need are still in the dryer.

 

Squash! I have a honeynut squash but will not be cooking it, or anything, today. In general I would like the cocktail even though it would remind me of homemade cough medicine, but shaking anything with ice doesn't feel very attractive despite the heat wave we're having. Yesterday the thermometer fell up to 19° and will reach 22° today.  Washington will be warmer, 47° on Wednesday.

 

The loss of life from the storm west of here is at least 17 souls. Yesterday Erie County requested help from volunteers with snowmobiles, sometimes to rescue the rescuers themselves.

 

 

 

[kochleffel]

And on a happier note:

[marshhawk]

Good Monday Morning, aka the Day after Christmas, the Last day of Hanukkah, and go back to work day.  Well for me, the rest of the world is not.  DH has the day off, but i get to work tonight.

 

Any plumbers here?  DH is still sleeping and I noticed that while the water from the sinks comes out clean, when flushing,  the toilet fills with sort of tannish water.  I'm concerned.  Should I wake up the DH?  It has been very cold here, and if there is a break between us and the street, then we wont notice until we get a thaw, and see the street get wet from the flow in our yard.  Yes that has happened before.

 

I;m thinking, yes I should wake the DH.  Oh well, another weird start to the day.

 

[4966and556]

Happy Boxing Day to my fellow Canadians!   My daughter and her SO are coming for our Christmas meal today.  I need to bake some brownies and make the cranberry sauce this morning.  I also need sweep and wash the floors and clean out the kitty litter boxes. Supper will be turkey pieces (nobody likes the white meat, so I just buy thighs and drumsticks) stuffing, scalloped potatoes, carrots and cranberry sauce.  A large assortment of cookies for dessert.  I also need to take a home made fruit cake out of the freezer. A friend of mine makes them and my husband loves them. IF I have the energy, I might make shortbread cookies.  The first attempt was a recipe that I got off the internet that didn't work out very well.  It turned out as dry as sawdust. 

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone!

 

What a wonderful day it was yesterday.  The meal was great and the company more than wonderful.  It was so nice to have a holiday in my own home without having to drive hundreds of miles.  I hope all my Daily family had a wonderful day yesterday.

 

Homeowners day is for Sue and me.   We were able to pay cash for this house when we put the proceeds of our homes together.  We feel so fortunate to be here.  

 

Now, who knew that there were more things you could do with butternut squash?   I doubt we'll be making it as we need to eat up some of the leftovers in the fridge before we add more to it.  But, it would be good on a cold winter's night.  

 

This cozy white bean and butternut squash soup with kale is full of garlic, herbs, flavorful stock, and good-for-you veggies. Drizzled with olive or garlic oil, a hunk of sourdough tucked alongside to sop up any leftover broth, this is a perfect cozy fall/winter meal to make all season long. Gluten free and vegan-friendly.  https://www.forkknifeswoon.com/tuscan-white-bean-and-butternut-squash-soup/

 

 

Butternut Squash, Kale and White Bean Soup uses seasonal ingredients to create a comforting 1-pot meal. Ready in just 40 minutes, this warming + nourishing soup will become an instant favorite.  https://dishingouthealth.com/kale-and-white-bean-soup/

 

 

Butternut squash soup is a classic fall soup, but dealing with a whole squash is cumbersome and difficult so use pre-cut butternut squash instead which makes this an easy soup to make. The squash is roasted first to bring out its sweetness and is combined with other veggies and creamy cannellini beans which gives the butternut squash soup a wonderful velvety texture.  https://www.girlgonegourmet.com/creamy-butternut-squash-and-white-bean-soup/

 

 

The soup does look good, so I'm filing this away for a mid January meal.  

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day.  If you are traveling, be safe.

 

 

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Good morning friends!  Yesterday was so busy I didn't have a minute to think about checking in here.  This morning some of the family hasn't gotten up and come downstairs yet, but it should happen  shortly.  It was great getting together with all the kids and grandkids, and even the boyfriend and girlfriend of two of the grandkids.  There's plenty of food left for today, and we're expecting some flurries today here in Cincinnati.  I'll get back to the Daily and read all the posts soon but wanted to get this link out there.  Bordeaux is a great place to visit.  Last time it was here on the Daily was July 11, 2021.  Photos attached since they were already posted that time.

 

 

In 2019 we visited Bordeaux, and visited it prior to that in Sept. 2018 on Prinsendam as well.  Loved it there!  Both visits were overnights.  One of my favorite sites there was Place de la Bourse.  

 

as the Prinsendam really that pointed on the bow?  Not that I remember but it sure looks that way here.

 

The wide esplanade along the water.

 

On our walk around Bordeaux in 2019 we passed by the Saint Louis Cathedral (appropriate) and they were working on cleaning the very dirty exterior.  First photo shows a section they had cleaned already and the covered scaffolding.  Second photo show the dirty back side of the church.

 

 

Reminds me of cleaning our cement driveway and sidewalks recently.  😄  The interior of the church was very quiet unlike the noisy power washing going on outside.  Quite pretty too.

 

 

We next found a busy pedestrian street called Rue Sainte Catherine.  

 

view from our table for 2 in the dining room that evening.  Not bad.

 

Next morning I poked my head into this bakery for a quick photo.  Can't beat a French bakery!

 

 

 

Scene across the street from the ship as we prepared to leave in 2019.

 

The locals who came to see us leave.

 

We recently showed photos of the lifting bridge in Bordeaux, Pont Jacques Chabon-Delmas.

 

From our 2018 visit to Bordeaux

 

An arched opening into the city called Porte Cailhau.

 

 

And the arch after walking through and turning back.

 

This church is Saint Pierre.

 

But it pales in comparison to the church we saw next, Bordeaux Cathedral otherwise known as Cathedral of St. Andrew.  

 

 

It's huge!

 

Not so busy this day.

 

 

Unique art statuary 

 

[marshhawk]

It must have been a rust pocket, every thing else runs clear,  so I went around the house and ran all the water, all's good.

 

@4966and556I am glad I'm not the only one who loves fruitcake.  But I dont like booze in my fruitcake, so I guess i'm a Claxton girl, just a spot of whipped cream cheese and yummy!

 

It's sad that the two foods i love (and they are not good for me) at Christmas, the stores put out around Halloween, and take away the week between Christmas and New Years.  Egg nog, and fruit cake.  To me Christmas and the tree and the trimmings last at least until New Years Day.  Now they don't.  These items are off the shelf,  and no where to be seen in the stores.  I am expecting on my next trip to the store there will be a rush of New Years items, and in a week, it will all be about Valentines day.  

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2022 by marshhawk