The Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday April 27th, 2023

[StLouisCruisers]

King's Day (Netherlands and ship)

Today is National Tell A Story Day, Babe Ruth Day, and Morse Code Day
 

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. - Havelock Ellis

Meal Suggestion for today - Beef and Blue Cheese Penne with Pesto
Drink of the Day - Sauza Blue
Wine of the Day - Frenchmans Hill Estate Syrah Waiheke Island Rock Earth 2014
Destination of the Day - Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores Portugal

Today in History:
1810 Ludwig van Beethoven composes his famous piano piece "Für Elise"

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

Victoria BC, Vancouver Island, BC Canada 11:00 - 23:00
 

Koningsdam

At Sea Destination Victoria BC, Vancouver Island, BC Canada eta 4-30
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

At Sea Destination Victoria, British Columbia eta 4-29 
 

Nieuw Statendam

Palermo, Sicily Italy 08:00 - 19:00
 

Noordam

At Sea Destination Vancouver, BC Canada eta 5-02
 

Oosterdam

Tunis, La Goulette, Tunisia 07:00 - 23:00
 

Rotterdam

Edinburgh, Scotland 08:00 - 17:30
 

Volendam

At Sea destination Puerto Vallarta, Mexico eta 4-28 
 

Zaandam

At Sea Destination Quebec City, Canada eta 4-28
 

Zuiderdam

At Sea Destination Isle of Skye, Uig-Dunvegan-Armadale-Portree, Scotland eta 4-28

Eastern Hemisphere
 

Westerdam

At Sea Destination Kodiak, Alaska eta 5-02 

 

 

 

Sandi for Rich

[lvhh]

Good early Morning everyone!  Thanks for all the info. Make it a great day.

[StLouisCruisers]

Good morning friends!  It's a mild morning with cloudy skies and 53 degrees.  Rain is on the way (thunderstorms too) and a high of 70.  Thanks Rich @richwmn for our Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday.  Thanks also for your Beethoven fact from this day in history. 

 

Today everyone can enjoy National Tell a Story Day, Babe Ruth Day, and Morse Code Day.  Pick anyone you like to tell a story to but I always enjoyed doing that with the grandchildren.  Hurray for Babe Ruth who is a legend in baseball, deservedly so.  And a salute to Morse Code, a pioneering method of communication.  Samuel Morse was born on this date in 1791.  I liked the quote of the day.  The meal selection is beef and blue cheese penne with pesto.  Sounds like I'll pass and eat something I like better.  Our drink is called Sauza Blue and the wine a syrah.  No thanks to both from me.  But thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for taking care of those reports for us.  It is also King's Day in the Netherlands and on the Holland America ships.  The King in the Netherlands since 2013 is King Willem-Alexander and today is his birthday.  Consider wearing orange in his honor and hope everyone on a HAL ship has a nice party onboard.

 

Thanks in advance to Eva @superoma for the Care and Celebration lists.  That Care list has gotten way too long!  I hope all the surgeries went well and you will be out of pain and healed before you know it.  Prayers as well for all who need them.🙏  We would also like to congratulate those on the Celebration list with happy events to celebrate.  And please enjoy those cruises!  We would love to hear from all of you!🥂

 

The port of the day is Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, a lovely island.  We had that port already on August 7, 2022 so I'm copying and pasting a link to that post for you all to retrieve photos.  This is the 13th port of the day in a row so an all-time record for me.  Here's the link followed by a whole slew of photos.  Hope you don't mind!

 

 

 

Ponta Delgada, Azores is a port that I know a lot of us have been to on our transatlantics.  Our first time there was in December, 2012 on Crown Princess.  We walked to a local brewery where DH went inside and chatted with the receptionist and she arranged an off the cuff tour of the brewing and packaging departments.  There were probably only 10 employees which is a huge difference from the brewery DH worked at for over 29 years.  

 

The second time we were there we went on a ship's tour of Crater Lakes outside the city because our cruising friends only take ship tours.  That was on Royal Princess in April 2015.  Our final time was on the 2018 Grand Med and Africa voyage on the Prinsendam.  That time we just walked around the town enjoying the ambiance of Ponta Delgada.  Here are the pictures of those visits.

 

Arriving at the Mel Abreu brewery in Ponta Delgada, which makes the Especial beer.

 

When you open the doors at the entrance you are met with these stairs to reception.  Certainly different!

 

After explaining he was a former major US brewery Engineering manager and was interested in seeing their operations, we were instantly escorted into the brewing area.  I mean literally 5 minutes later!

 

Some of the ingredients that make up beer.

 

 

This was Jimmy who was giving us the tour.

 

Talk about a fresh sample of beer!

 

Next up was the packaging side of the operation which was across the street.  Norberto took over the tour at this point.

 

 

The bottles go around the machine and are filled.

 

After checking out all the kegs and shipping area, we went to the break room for a taste of some of their products.  Since I don't drink beer, I had one of the soft drinks they bottled here, Kima.

 

Here are some Crater Lake pics from 2015 next.

 

In 2015 we headed out of town to see the countryside with our Myrtle Beach cruise friends.  Up the mountainside we drove in our tour bus.  

 

 

Next stop was the town of Sete Cidades.  We visited St. Nicholas Church.

 

 

 

The Blue Lake and the Green Lake

 

Fog kept rolling in, then out again.

 

Here is Santiago Lake

 

Heading back to Ponta Delgado for some wine and cheese.

 

 

 

A hotel across from the ship set up this wine and cheese display for us to try.  Of course only Portuguese wines and cheeses.

 

I have many photos of the town itself but perhaps someone else would like to add some.

 

Have a wonderful Thursday Dailyites!  Be safe out there.

 

[RedneckBob]

Morse Code Day. Anyone guess what this says?

 

[summer slope]

Family is heading home today.  It was such an enjoyable time.  Kitty is not doing well, I'm hoping it is because of the added people in the home.

 

Sauza Blue Cocktail:

 

Ingredients
1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
1 part DeKuyper® Blue Curacao Liqueur
1 part Lemon-Lime Soda
1 part Sweet and Sour Mix

Instructions
Combine ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass.

 

[seagarsmoker]

Thanks for the Daily Report and I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by seagarsmoker

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.  Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Report.

 

The roofs are covered in frost this morning, it's -2°C (28°F).  Brrrr. 

 

Happy King's Day!  I like reading stories.  I tried learning Morse Code years ago when I got my amateur radio operator's licence, but I wasn't successful.

Interesting quote.

I'll pass on the meal, the drink sounds good, I hope the wine is tasty and not expensive.

Thanks for the pictures of today's port.

 

Prayers for everyone.

Have a wonderful day.

[Mr. Boston]

Good morning everyone.  Thanks for the daily report, recipes and lists.  Hooray for storytelling, Babe Ruth and Morse Code. Long live the king of the Netherlands!  I’d try today’s dish but would skip the drink, I don’t generally like drinks that use sour mix.  I haven’t been to today’s port but it sure looks nice.  Prayers for everyone on our prayer list, I hope everyone’s procedures go smoothly today.  Cheers to those of you celebrating happy events!

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Good morning friends!  It's a mild morning with cloudy skies and 53 degrees.  Rain is on the way (thunderstorms too) and a high of 70.  Thanks Rich @richwmn for our Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday.  Thanks also for your Beethoven fact from this day in history. 

 

Today everyone can enjoy National Tell a Story Day, Babe Ruth Day, and Morse Code Day.  Pick anyone you like to tell a story to but I always enjoyed doing that with the grandchildren.  Hurray for Babe Ruth who is a legend in baseball, deservedly so.  And a salute to Morse Code, a pioneering method of communication.  Samuel Morse was born on this date in 1791.  I liked the quote of the day.  The meal selection is beef and blue cheese penne with pesto.  Sounds like I'll pass and eat something I like better.  Our drink is called Sauza Blue and the wine a syrah.  No thanks to both from me.  But thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for taking care of those reports for us.  It is also King's Day in the Netherlands and on the Holland America ships.  The King in the Netherlands since 2013 is King Willem-Alexander and today is his birthday.  Consider wearing orange in his honor and hope everyone on a HAL ship has a nice party onboard.

 

Thanks in advance to Eva @superoma for the Care and Celebration lists.  That Care list has gotten way too long!  I hope all the surgeries went well and you will be out of pain and healed before you know it.  Prayers as well for all who need them.🙏  We would also like to congratulate those on the Celebration list with happy events to celebrate.  And please enjoy those cruises!  We would love to hear from all of you!🥂

 

The port of the day is Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, a lovely island.  We had that port already on August 7, 2022 so I'm copying and pasting a link to that post for you all to retrieve photos.  This is the 13th port of the day in a row so an all-time record for me.  Here's the link followed by a whole slew of photos.  Hope you don't mind!

 

 

 

Ponta Delgada, Azores is a port that I know a lot of us have been to on our transatlantics.  Our first time there was in December, 2012 on Crown Princess.  We walked to a local brewery where DH went inside and chatted with the receptionist and she arranged an off the cuff tour of the brewing and packaging departments.  There were probably only 10 employees which is a huge difference from the brewery DH worked at for over 29 years.  

 

The second time we were there we went on a ship's tour of Crater Lakes outside the city because our cruising friends only take ship tours.  That was on Royal Princess in April 2015.  Our final time was on the 2018 Grand Med and Africa voyage on the Prinsendam.  That time we just walked around the town enjoying the ambiance of Ponta Delgada.  Here are the pictures of those visits.

 

Arriving at the Mel Abreu brewery in Ponta Delgada, which makes the Especial beer.

 

When you open the doors at the entrance you are met with these stairs to reception.  Certainly different!

 

After explaining he was a former major US brewery Engineering manager and was interested in seeing their operations, we were instantly escorted into the brewing area.  I mean literally 5 minutes later!

 

Some of the ingredients that make up beer.

 

 

This was Jimmy who was giving us the tour.

 

Talk about a fresh sample of beer!

 

Next up was the packaging side of the operation which was across the street.  Norberto took over the tour at this point.

 

 

The bottles go around the machine and are filled.

 

After checking out all the kegs and shipping area, we went to the break room for a taste of some of their products.  Since I don't drink beer, I had one of the soft drinks they bottled here, Kima.

 

Here are some Crater Lake pics from 2015 next.

 

In 2015 we headed out of town to see the countryside with our Myrtle Beach cruise friends.  Up the mountainside we drove in our tour bus.  

 

 

Next stop was the town of Sete Cidades.  We visited St. Nicholas Church.

 

 

 

The Blue Lake and the Green Lake

 

Fog kept rolling in, then out again.

 

Here is Santiago Lake

 

Heading back to Ponta Delgado for some wine and cheese.

 

 

 

A hotel across from the ship set up this wine and cheese display for us to try.  Of course only Portuguese wines and cheeses.

 

I have many photos of the town itself but perhaps someone else would like to add some.

 

Have a wonderful Thursday Dailyites!  Be safe out there.

 

Excellent photos Sandi @StLouisCruisers

[grapau27]

Good afternoon.

Happy 75th anniversary Israel independence.

It is currently 14°C and cloudy here.

Thank you for today's daily reports Sandi @StLouisCruisers.

3 good days.

Not sure about today's food and drink.

Great photos Sandi from a port we have not been to.

Prayers 🙏 for any Dailyite who is unwell.

A big shout-out for all sailing or due to sail.

Graham.

Edited April 27, 2023 by grapau27

[Denise T]

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for the Daily and Fleet reports. 

It is raining here and will be raining for the next several days. Allergies have been a mess for the past couple of days. 

Short workday for me. Tomorrow, I have a dental appointment. 

Have a safe and healthy day!

[smitty34877]

Good morning. It is 51 and cloudy with showers possible. We are driving to the City for DH’s consultation with the surgeon. It is only six miles from here but traffic will be heavy so we are leaving soon.

We have not been to the port and will pass on the recipe. All three days should be celebrated.

I hope @kazu and @bennybear are doing well this morning. I was glad to read that @dobiemom actually slept for six hours!

Have a great day everyone.

 

[kazu]

Thanks for our Thursday Daily, Sandi.

 

Happy Kings Day to all our friends in the Netherlands and those on board HAL today.  Really enjoyed it when we were on the P’dam (before the creation of the Orange party).  They really knew how to celebrate it properly 🙂 

 

Great collection of days - all worthy of celebrating.  I do like that quote by Ellis.  There’s a lot of truth to it.

 

The meal sounds good  - looking forward to hearing about it.  Love today’s port.  Been there and happily going back in October. Doing something different his time for our visit I chartered a boat (not one of those rubber things) for our roll call to go whale watching. 

 

 

It’s a dreary day outside -  temps are up and down like a yo you 😠 and an ouchy day inside - LOL.    Thanks all for the good wishes yesterday.  I really appreciated them.

 

 

Sadly, I still have the snow tires on the car.  Dealership says they don’t have my wheel lock kit - but have some spare wheel locks and if one fits, I can have it.  So, I just have to get there ‘sigh’.  Hopefully they do as the tire place hasn’t been able to get the extractor yet.  Fortunately I do the bulk of my driving with my left hand (I do have permission to drive), so I’ll take the old road where the speed limit is not high and go slow and easy.  Once we get the tires off - they are all getting regular lugs on them.  

 

 

After that, I think a rest will be in order.  LOL.

 

@summer slope I hope all that is wrong with your kitty is all the company and you see improvement with them gone 🤞 

 

Prayers for those on the Care list & for those that need them and a toast 🥂 to those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list.

 

 

Have a good Thursday, everyone !!!

 

 

[cat shepard]

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D!  Another lovely morning here in the neighborhood 

 

Eva, thank you for keeping track of us. You have done Vanessa & Roy proud! 
Zumba, Bindi, walks, yard work & a bit of prep for Saturday dinner with my friends. My turn to host. My deep purple creeping Lobelia seeds are starting to sprout. I hope they flower - the color is striking. 
 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support. @bennybear, Brenda hope all went well yesterday. @kazu, Jacqui glad you are one step closer to your goal. Hope the pain subsides quickly. 
 

Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone!

 

************

Frenchman's Hill Estate Syrah Waiheke Island Rock Earth 2014

Another elusive New Zealand wine. I would love a taste, because I have never tasted “angry red berries” before. Not sure if either of the distributors I found ship to me, but since the price is outside my budget, I did not investigate further. Online prices started at $67.94.

Cameron Douglas’ review

 

A bouquet that smells complete, a distinctive aromatic presence of dark almost broody even angry red berries - cherries and raspberry, dark plums and spices, a haunting almost steely core, dried herb and sweet tobacco. Complex and seductive. On the palate - fruity, ripe, toasty, rich, powerful and a bold statement of Syrah. Pepper and black olive, raspberry and black currant, ripe plum and clove-sweet oak. Young, still developing, but also drinkable today. Cellar upon purchase with best drinking from 2022 through 2028.

96 Points

[1ANGELCAT]

Good morning all. Well, TT is supposed to be going to the vet today for his surgery but big brother Houdini knocked the cage off the table and he ran and is hiding somewhere in the house. It’s never easy. 
Blessings and prayers to all on our lists.

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone.

 

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes my way.  I had a wonderful day.  Lunch at Zinc Cafe was great.  I had honey chipotle chicken tartine and DS Mary Jo had Swiss onion soup and Mediterranean lettuce wraps.  All of our selections were divine.   

 

Today I am going up to Lake City so DS Sue can clean my teeth.  I will be her last patient of her career.  Once she finishes with me, she is retired.  We are then going out to dinner to celebrate.  Tomorrow she packs all day and Saturday she loads up the truck and moves down for good.  

 

Today's meal sounds good to me, but is a bit starchy with the penne.  I only found one recipe that was exact according to the title.  There are other pages with the recipe on them, but it is the same recipe.  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/beef-and-blue-cheese-penne-with-pesto/

 

 

This one does not include the pesto.  You make a white sauce to go over the penne and slice the steak on top.  Greens are on the side.   https://www.girlgonegourmet.com/blue-cheese-pasta-with-steak/

 

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

[0106]

Thank you to all who make the Daily a wonderful way to start my day!

 

I will celebrate Babe Ruth who was born in Baltimore. There is a wonderful museum in his childhood home about 3 blocks from Orioles Park at Camden Yards.  Speaking of baseball, how about them Os…16-8.  Took Boston in the series yesterday.

Looking forward to whale watching in Ponta Delgada with @kazu in October.  We’ll be sure to post some pictures for you.

 

Positive thoughts to those who are healing.  Cheers to those who are celebrating and cruising.

Edited April 27, 2023 by 0106

[GTVCRUISER]

Good Morning 🙂 from San Diego 

[mamaofami]

Good morning everyone. Love today’s quote. DH feels a little better today so hoping he continues to improve.

I have tons of paper work to get through today.

Stay safe everyone,

Carol

[Ichiban Nekko]

Good Morning Daily-it’s! Did I actually make it to Page 1? Wow.

 

Starting the day with reading the Daily is such a pleasure. Such a positive, supportive group of people who brighten each and every day Thank you all.

 

Special thoughts going out to all on the Cares list. Let’s hope it starts contracting.

 

@0106  How ‘bout them Os?!!! Let’s hope that April’s momentum carries through the season.

 

best wishes everyone,

-Cat

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Good afternoon.

Happy 75th anniversary Israel independence.

It is currently 14°C and cloudy here.

Thank you for today's daily reports Sandi @StLouisCruisers.

3 good days.

Not sure about today's food and drink.

Great photos Sandi from a port we have not been to.

Prayers 🙏 for any Dailyite who is unwell.

A big shout-out for all sailing or due to sail.

Graham.

Thanks for the additional info Graham, formerly known as the UK guy ( too me ).

 

Today is National Story Telling Day and my story today involves Graham’s family, the British people. Though it is not a story about cruising hope y’all will enjoy. 

I call it the British Invasion.

 

Some 57 years and eight months and 22 days ago I was starting a new school year in High School. To my surprise the High School had gotten an exchange teacher from England to teach us kids British History. The teachers name was Professor Robert Griffith from Stoke on Trent, England. Now I thought was an unusual name for a town but I guess no different from the name of a town near where I grew up, Lick Skillet, Alabama. Prof. Griffith was an instant hit; looked like a young Peter Sellers with a Beatles haircut. The girls went crazy! In fact years later I found out he married one of his students. Now, it was a couple weeks week attending British History class. I was not feeling well. Prof. Griffith starting teaching the class and called on me first. He asked,

”RedneckBob, can you tell the class what you have learned about Tudors.” I Replied, “Well I have a Math Tudor and English Tudor, but not a History tudor”. That did not go over well. Then Mr. Griffith asked, “Are you not feeling well and will you need a lift to get to the second floor.”  I replied, “Are going to carry me to the second floor, I don’t think so.” Then the Professor asked, “If you are not feeling well is your Flat near hear”  “No, I don’t have any flat tires, I can drive home myself.” 
It took a couple of weeks to translate what Prof. Griffith was saying. He was one of best teachers I ever had,

 

Now the rest of the story. The following is true!!! 

After the first week of teaching British History Prof. Griffith spent his first weekend in town. He had not bought a car yet so he relied on public transportation. When he arrived for our Monday morning class he told this story of what happened to him over the weekend. On Saturday morning he was reading the local paper and in the movie section he saw a movie he wanted to see. It was Dr. Zivargo. But it was at a Drive In theater. Mr. Griffith did not know what this was and asked his neighbor does the City Bus drops you off at the Drive In not realizing you needed a car to watch the movie. So I guess understanding British and English language works both ways!

Edited April 27, 2023 by RedneckBob

[superoma]

“I’m late I’m late for a very important date”

 

Thur April 27 care and celebration list

 

Roy recovering from pneumonia and getting stronger

Jodiesme1 mother and Her DH with Covid in Guatemala 

Too many shooting victims

Mamaofami’s dh with pneumonia and still struggling 

Citizens of Ukraine

Praying for continued healing for cruising sister

Lazey1 getting colitis flair under control before cruise

Marshhawks difficult decision for Irving 

Cruising sister toe issues needing to clear before cruise

Cruzn single stepson with melanoma and other issues

Bennybear recuperating

Kazu recuperating

Cruzn single recuperating 

 

From the rotation:

 

Smitty34877’s DH’s GI Surgery

Dobiemom’s sleeping issues

Grapau27 needing hip surgery for arthritis 

Luvteaching’s DH in rehab

 

Celebrations

 

Rafinmd’s good report from the Oncologist, Podiatrist and Pulmonologist

Vict0riann’s week in Ireland

Cruzn single stepson with successful non cancerous tumour removal

NextOne not needing any procedures, July cruise is on!

Luvteaching DH making progress on mobility

Dobiemom extending her sleeping to 6+ hours

Fleet week in Fort Lauderdale

 

Many Dailyites cruising or with upcoming cruises

 

 3 days Lobsternight anniversary cruise and vow renewal (Nieuw Amsterdam 4/30 to 5/7)

5 days for HAL4NOW (Koningsdam 5/1 to 5/6)

5 days Cruising-along (Koningsdam 5/1 to 5/6)

6 days Lazey1 (Volendam 5/2 to 5/10)

6 days Sharon in az (volendam 5/2 to 5/10)(5/10 to 5/17) 

 

 

 Cruising

 

aliaschief & DWAliaschief (Eurodam to 4/28) 

Kplady (Grand Princess to 4/28), 

Sailingdutchy (Rotterdam to 4/29), 

Oceansaway17 (Vision of the Seas to 5/1)

Lady Hudson (Anthem of the Seas to 5/1)

St Pete Cruiser (Noordam to 5/2), 

TiogaCruiser (Volendam to 5/2), 

Overhead Fred’s Anniversary cruise (Rotterdam to 5/6), AV8rix (Volendam to 5/6), 

Dismomx5 (Volendam to 5/6), 

USN59-79 (Westerdam to 5/7), 

Cat in My Lap, Gail&Marty, Richwmn and HorizonChaser1957 (Zuiderdam to 5/12), 

Sharon in AZ (Volendam to 5/17) at sea

Jazzyv cruise (celebrity apex) and vacation to 5/28

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, RedneckBob said:

Morse Code Day. Anyone guess what this says?

 

It says, Thanks for the Fleet Update and General Info SLC!

[AncientWanderer]

Good morning everyone and Happy King’s Day, especially to those celebrating on BHBs.

Good collection of days — very true quote.

 

@dfishDebbie, give our congratulations to Sue on her retirement.   Talking to her, it sounded like she was sooooo ready.  Happy day for both of you.  (And thanks for the recipes.  They look good!)

 

Today I’m getting outside to do some serious weeding.  With so much rain this year, there are many mystery weeds.

 

Saying prayers for our friends on the care list, with many thanks to our contributors here —dog and cat lovers alike.  Have a great Thursday.

 

 

 

[1ANGELCAT]

Success, finally found him under a bed in a storage room. On our way to the vet now.Athena other cats were running interference for him.