Our anniversary cruise on the Neiuw Statendam : Is the honeymoon over ? Part 2

[KroozNut]

6 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

For us bigger isn't always better . It may just be bigger . 

 

Agree..  Vegas at sea does not appeal to us.

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was at the Nami/Tamarind but first we forgot to show the previous night's visitor on our bed . A chick in the nest .

 

 

 

Thai Beef Salad

 

 

Panko Asparagus

 

 

Seared Albacore Tuna

 

 

California Roll

 

 

Szechuan Shrimp

 

 

Wok Lobster

 

 

Passion Fruit Cloud

 

 

Trio Sorbet

 

 

Bed Frog

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 Grand Turk was the place that we really wanted to go to since we missed it with our grandson on the Nieuw Amsterdam . We were there ahead of another Carnival ship and we wanted to get to the dive shop about 3 miles away before it got busy . Up for sunrise and a diver's breakfast . The Taxi charges $ 5 p.p. one way .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After checking in we usually carry our gear across the street and wade out waist deep to a small fast boat . But the cold front was causing a North wind and waves so we and the other divers threw our gear in a pick up truck and loading some folks in the back of the open truck we gradually drove back near the cruise pier to wade out to the boat .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 Grand Turk was the place that we really wanted to go to since we missed it with our grandson on the Nieuw Amsterdam . We were there ahead of another Carnival ship and we wanted to get to the dive shop about 3 miles away before it got busy . Up for sunrise and a diver's breakfast . The Taxi charges $ 5 p.p. one way .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After checking in we usually carry our gear across the street and wade out waist deep to a small fast boat . But the cold front was causing a North wind and waves so we and the other divers threw our gear in a pick up truck and loading some folks in the back of the open truck we gradually drove back near the cruise pier to wade out to the boat .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are either of you in the last picture of the dive boat?

[oakridger]

The picture of your diver's breakfast reminded me of the room service breakfast fruit plates last fall on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Rotterdam.  It cracked me up every time I got a lonely 1/2 blueberry!!  I miss the olden days of bowls of mixed berries!!  😏

 

I almost went and got my scuba certificate many years ago but didn't because at the time I couldn't afford to go to places with warm water to dive.  The coast of Northern California is too darn cold!!  I wish I had taken the classes back then.  Same with getting a pilot license.  

 

~Nancy

Edited February 6, 2023 by oakridger

[scubacruiserx2]

11 hours ago, KroozNut said:

Are either of you in the last picture of the dive boat?

 

No. I was taking the picture and Pat was next to me as Henry was giving us some instructions before we began setting up our gear . This was only our 3rd set of dives in a couple of years the others were on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Grand Cayman and Cozumel . We didn't take our dive camera so we will show a couple of video clips from a previous visit there .

 

 

 

These are called Horse Eyed Jacks because of their large bulging eyes .

 

 

On that previous we also went to the lighthouse where we saw this donkey was grazing . They used to work helping make salt which was a big export for Grand Turk . Tourism is the main thing now after the salt ponds closed and they were turned loose and run wild now .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

9 hours ago, oakridger said:

The picture of your diver's breakfast reminded me of the room service breakfast fruit plates last fall on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Rotterdam.  It cracked me up every time I got a lonely 1/2 blueberry!!  I miss the olden days of bowls of mixed berries!!  😏

 

I almost went and got my scuba certificate many years ago but didn't because at the time I couldn't afford to go to places with warm water to dive.  The coast of Northern California is too darn cold!!  I wish I had taken the classes back then.  Same with getting a pilot license.  

 

~Nancy

 

Wow , a whole 1/2 of a blueberry ? 😉

 

Pat was certified SCUBA before I was as she was a competitive swimmer  ( indoor pools where the water was kept at 72 F for swimming ) But the Jaws movies kept her afraid of ocean diving . I took it as a PE requirement as I was going to school to be a nurse after retiring as a FF/Paramedic . I did want to a pilot / Astronaut as a kid until Jr. High . I did need SCUBA it to fly on our Air Rescue  as a Flight Medic which was the closest that I got to being a pilot . I did it later in my career when I was only 49 and could still run 8 miles in the morning before the book and practical training . Please excuse the quality of the photos as they are photos of old photos . We were doing a safety stop with some friends after a deep dive .

 

 

This day of training was about training to be an air deployable rescue SCUBA and Rescue skin diver ( no tanks or weights ) . I was the first medic who had deploy the other other flight medics and pilot trainees . You communicate to the Pilot/Co-Pilot through the intercom in your helmet and transfer the signals to the divers through a series of hand signals . I did my SCUBA/Skin deployments later with the other flight medics doing the signals for their practice .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Amber Cove with the HAL ship Nieuw Amsterdam . This is the photo that we had hoped to take with the Nieuw Statendam 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Grand Turk diving is like a hybrid version of 2 of our favorite spots . Grand Cayman and Cozumel . Grand Cayman is also British ( Drive on the left and tie up to designated dive sights marked with a floating buoy that the boat ties up to ) and Cozumel where the boats follow the divers in a current and diving occurs on the west side of the island , usually protected by the prevailing East wind like Grand Turk . But when cold fronts come in the wind from the North churns up the water reducing visibility and making reboarding the boat more difficult . 

 Thus there was reduced viz . and waves coming from the North . Most of the divers were staying on the island but there was  an older man from the ship that was in a hurry and wound up bumping his head on the tailgate . Our first dive site was Mc Donalds named for an arch that you could swim through . We saw a couple of turtles and a couple of reef sharks that followed us indicating that they were used to being fed by people . Most wild sharks swim away from people . We heard a strange sound that Henry later told us that they were used to call the sharks to feed them Lionfish hoping that when they acquired the taste for them that they would hunt the Lionfish to extinction as they are invasive with no natural predators so they are trying to create some . On the dive a couple of divers wanted photos of themselves so we accidently dipped past 90 ' a little deeper than they wanted - but still in our comfort zone . After a quick surface interval to off gas we used King to lead our next dive who had been driving the boat . We tied up to the float at The Anchor about 6' tall with a large chain still attached . King had spotted a couple of seahorses at about 90' . They were hanging on to some rope sponges in the current in the same place he saw them and they don't normally leave their territory . After the dive we rode back to the shop and had booked lunch a one of our favorite places within walking distance leaving our wet gear at the shop .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Lunch

 

 

Near the Hotel

 

 

 

 

 

Conch Fritters , Lobster , Shrimp and a local brew

 

 

 

 

 

The strong wind blew my lobster shell off of the table and a cat pounced on it

 

 

 

This is what the ocean looked like that we dove on it  

 

 

 

This is what the ocean normally looks like . It was New Year day and the dive shop was closed but we did eat lunch . Clearly much better visibility ! The water was kinda cool as spent 2 hours underwater we were a bit chilled so we used our fleece .

 

 

 

[0106]

What is the name of the dive shop you used in Grand Turk?  Thx

[scubacruiserx2]

16 minutes ago, 0106 said:

What is the name of the dive shop you used in Grand Turk?  Thx

 

We have used Blue Water Divers 4 times . A block or 2 down the road is the Grand Turk Diving Company . On Google Maps Blue Water is 5 stars and Grand Turk Diving is 4.6 stars but they were open on New Years day but we didn't bring any gear .

[scubacruiserx2]

After our late lunch we walked around a little near the port . There were a few photos and the story of how John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth in Friendship 7 in 1962 . He landed not far from Grand Turk where he spent several days and met with most of the other original Astronauts . The red and white canopy is the pattern of the parachute that slowed his capsule on reentry to the earth's atmosphere .

 

 

 

 

 

On landing he was very hot in the capsule and space suit so he blew open the side hatch .

 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/60-years-ago-john-glenn-the-first-american-to-orbit-the-earth-aboard-friendship-7

 

I walked further South for some photos of the ships and the whale which 2 people seemed to not want to share as I also wanted to take photos of the whale , hopefully without them in it .

 

 

 

 

Another shot from the pier in the foreground

 

 

A lot of people like the loud music and party atmosphere of Margaritaville but not us so much

 

 

But there was a party atmosphere and dancing as we approached the ships

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Grand Turk bye bye . We havd never seen waves on this side of the island

 

 

 

Jack's shack is where we would go instead of Margaritaville if we wanted a taste of the island within walking distance of the port and where we met the boat to go diving

 

 

 

 

The Freedom was just behind us after we left 

 

 

 

 

The only day that we could book the Pinnacle for dinner was this evening and the only time available was 8 PM . We sure hope that it's good !

Edited February 9, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[LVinTennessee]

Did anyone take the Monkey Land excursion while you were in Amber Cove? Just looking for a review. 

[scubacruiserx2]

13 hours ago, LVinTennessee said:

Did anyone take the Monkey Land excursion while you were in Amber Cove? Just looking for a review. 

 

We didn't and did not hear anything else about it .

[scubacruiserx2]

We didn't become pier runners ( thank Heavens ) but we had some gear to clean and dry . We had heard that the spa wasn't crowded at early dinner time but there were 3 other couples . The warm water sure felt good after diving . The Pinnacle didn't seem as crowded as it was described and this is where we were seated .

 

 

 

 

Sides were beets and asparagus

 

 

 

BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH LOBSTER DUMPLINGS

 

 

Tenderloin and Lobster Tail

 

 

Creme Brulee and Key Lime Pie

 

 

 

The lobster was sold as Caribbean tail - but it wasn't . We have caught and ate a lot of Spiny Lobster and this wasn't one . The size on the tail is illegal to catch or eat in Florida . All and all a good meal but this was the least favorite of the Pinnacle Grills that we have eaten in which is about 6 different ones . When we returned to our cabin this monkey was waiting for us .

 

Edited February 9, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[KroozNut]

Did you happen to try the PG lunch?

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, KroozNut said:

Did you happen to try the PG lunch?

 

Yes , we sure did on post # 60 is some photos . What part of San Diego are you from ? My Uncle Sam gave me an all expenses paid vacation there in December 1972 . NTC basic training and Hospital Corpsman school in Balboa Park Naval Hospital until May of 1973 . We visited last year and stayed 4 days on Coronado Island . Very nice , much better with my wife than in Boot Camp .

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Yes , we sure did on post # 60 is some photos . What part of San Diego are you from ? My Uncle Sam gave me an all expenses paid vacation there in December 1972 . NTC basic training and Hospital Corpsman school in Balboa Park Naval Hospital until May of 1973 . We visited last year and stayed 4 days on Coronado Island . Very nice , much better with my wife than in Boot Camp .

Thanks for refreshing my memory. I did see those pictures of your PG lunch. We are planning to do lunch at PG during our upcoming sailing on NS next month.

We currently live in N County inland SD right now (Rancho Bernardo), but I've lived here all my life, and have resided in most of the areas of SD County at one time or another. Coronado is very nice, and we try to get over there as often as we can.

Wow, as it turns out, we have a lot in common! I too am a former Hospital Corpsman from that era. Boot camp in SD 1973, HM 'A' school at Balboa Naval Hospital, then stationed there until 1975. Transferred to NTC SD clinic from '75-'77, then got out.

After that, went back to college, got my degree and received a commission in the Navy Supply Corps for another 26 years and retired.

Small world isn't it?

[scubacruiserx2]

16 hours ago, KroozNut said:

Thanks for refreshing my memory. I did see those pictures of your PG lunch. We are planning to do lunch at PG during our upcoming sailing on NS next month.

We currently live in N County inland SD right now (Rancho Bernardo), but I've lived here all my life, and have resided in most of the areas of SD County at one time or another. Coronado is very nice, and we try to get over there as often as we can.

Wow, as it turns out, we have a lot in common! I too am a former Hospital Corpsman from that era. Boot camp in SD 1973, HM 'A' school at Balboa Naval Hospital, then stationed there until 1975. Transferred to NTC SD clinic from '75-'77, then got out.

After that, went back to college, got my degree and received a commission in the Navy Supply Corps for another 26 years and retired.

Small world isn't it?

 

It's a Small World after all . Oh , don't get me started on that song ! Disney World opened on my 21st birthday 50 years ago . I had been there before Boot Camp and Disneyland was where we were bussed to on the weekend that we finished Boot Camp . I was called out to be the RCPO of the special company in Boot camp so I got to march the 50 State flag team at graduation . The day that I flew home from San Diego I thought that I recognized a flight attendant who I had played football with in High School who comped me up to first class . I picked up my 69 VW bug in Miami and drove back to San Diego so that me and some my shipmates from basic could live off base during school on Florida Street , where else ? Some good surfing but the Pacific was colder than Florida .  After HM 'A' school I was assigned to Camp Lejeune , where I did drink the water . 😋

Mustered out through the hospital in Philadelphia . I did some light factory work making artificial kidneys  until the Fire Department called - 2 years after I took their test . Because of Affirmative action I had to wait 2 years . Wrong color and I wasn't Hispanic . And after 28+ years as a FF/Paramedic in Miami Dade County , I retired - to cruise ! 😊

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Thursday , January 19th was a day at sea where we slept in until almost 8 because of our late dinner at the Pinnacle . DW wanted her coffee and ran down for coffee and picked me up a breakfast Bagel . Fried egg , American Cheese and shaved ham at the NY Deli . Thank heavens that the ham was shaved and not hairy at all .  I had been looking at the shims at the Crown Molding used to form a tight joint and remembered that I had only seen them once before - in our aft cabin on the same ship . It was really creaking and we had a drain pipe in the wall and heard water draining all night long . This room however was much quieter and a better design than the aft cabin . 

 

After a quick spa / shower session I wanted to try the Dive In since we had already tried the Pinnacle for lunch . Pat wanted the Tuna Sub from the NY Deli so we went to order a couple of beers . The NY Deli is near the Lido Pool and with 2 stories it's noisy with an echo . 

 

 

 

So we went to the Dive In area to order a beer at the aft Seaview pool . This sign struck me as funny . About 10 feet away behind the plastic leaf fence is the smoking area was stayed pretty busy .

 

 

 

 

I'm not a fan of the large sitting areas on the NS preferring the smaller areas ( Covid prevention ) on the NA . Anyhow , a pet peeve coming from a medical background is cleanliness and seeing bare feet or dirty shoes on walls , furniture and tables is a real turn off for me - yuck . 😋

 

 

We had first tried to get our beers here but were told that it was for display only .

 

 

So after getting my Heineken draft and Pat's Dark Beer we picked up our orders and headed for a cooler , quieter place place - the Candaletto .

 

 

 

 

My Backflip , grilled chicken with extra Guac .

 

 

 

Yummy , and close to the sweet spot for dessert .

 

 

 

As we were bringing our food we passed the ladies outside and both of them now had their feet on the table . Oh well .

Edited February 10, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[Iamthesea]

Like you, we prefer a quieter atmosphere.    Having not been on the ship, I am unfamiliar with the layout, dining, and times of service.  I gather that the Canaletto does not serve lunch, yet one is allowed to take food in there to eat? 

[Overhead Fred]

1 hour ago, Iamthesea said:

Like you, we prefer a quieter atmosphere.    Having not been on the ship, I am unfamiliar with the layout, dining, and times of service.  I gather that the Canaletto does not serve lunch, yet one is allowed to take food in there to eat? 

 

For breakfast and lunch the Canaletto is essentially part of the Lido and is open to anyone. It is a little quieter and I think the chairs are more comfortable (and easier to move!) than in the Lido. 

[scubacruiserx2]

We were there a little after lunch and as the area emptied a couple of workers began setting up for dinner . We had not gotten desert yet and we asked if we should go elsewhere and they said not to worry and enjoy dessert . Very nice indeed . Dinner was at Rudi's the 2nd dressy night . 🙂😊

Edited February 10, 2023 by scubacruiserx2