Bit of a blog - HAL Oosterdam - South America & Antarctica - Dec/Jan 2023/24

[TravelBluebird]

Two questions—do you have a schedule of classes in the fitness center (I’m looking for aerobics//zumba type of classes), and is non-alcoholic beer available?

[NorbertsNiece]

3 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Two questions—do you have a schedule of classes in the fitness center (I’m looking for aerobics//zumba type of classes), and is non-alcoholic beer available?

 

I've been on a walkabout for you....

Here's the fitness schedule for this cruise, T'ai Chi isn't listed :

 

 

 

 

The only bar I could find open right now is the Ocean Bar. They have Heineken 0_0

 

 

 

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Edited December 17, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

We had a super lunch in the Lido market then a short walkabout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

1430 due to poor weather the shuttle service to the terminal has been temporarily suspended.

 

I've been to request an appointment with the Guest Services Manager so if you've any ship specific questions please let me know asap.

[0106]

6 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

 

The only bar I could find open right now is the Ocean Bar

Did you check the bars by the pools.  Previously, the Lido bar by the covered pool opened by 9 and the Seaview Bar by the outdoor pool opened by 10.  Weirdly, I did not see either bar listed on the Daily you posted

[0106]

Just now, NorbertsNiece said:

I've been to request an appointment with the Guest Services Manager so if you've any ship specific questions please let me know asap.

If I have a minor problem, I use the “let us know” feature on the Navigator app.  I have always received a quick response. I hope you have a satisfactory meeting with the Guest Services manager

[NorbertsNiece]

8 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Did you check the bars by the pools.  Previously, the Lido bar by the covered pool opened by 9 and the Seaview Bar by the outdoor pool opened by 10.  Weirdly, I did not see either bar listed on the Daily you posted

I was using the daily to see open bars..... posted menu of Lido bar earlier...... no 0% listed 🤷‍♀️

[NorbertsNiece]

7 minutes ago, 0106 said:

If I have a minor problem, I use the “let us know” feature on the Navigator app.  I have always received a quick response. I hope you have a satisfactory meeting with the Guest Services manager

It's not to do with any issues, just fact finding 😃

[NorbertsNiece]

Will be heading for the sailaway party shortly. Struggling with WiFi a bit.

 

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Edited December 17, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

6 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Day 2/23

Good morning and thanks for following.

 

I usually post chronologically but am interrupting with a Captain's announcement at 0820.

 

There was a storm over night in Buenos Aires where we are berthed. Power in the city interrupted. Terminal operations affected. Trees down. Containers stack collapsed. No one allowed ashore. Excursions affected.

 

 

That's a Storm...

[0106]

4 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

no 0% listed

Just ask.  Most bars have 0% beer.

 

5 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

It's not to do with any issues

I'm glad you don't have any issues!  Be sure to check out the "Coffee Chats" on sea days.  Very informative and a wonderful opportunity to ask questions of the heads of various departments.  I always enjoy the Food & Beverage manager and the Head Chef the most.  My DH likes to hear from the Engine and Environmental departments.

[Sea42]

36 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Here's the fitness schedule for this cruise, T'ai Chi isn't listed :

It's disappointing that they list the spa sales pitches on the fitness schedule

[NorbertsNiece]

The central lifts also have a set of external view lifts. Very cool. 

 

Link to a little video here

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

I've been on a walkabout for you....

Here's the fitness schedule for this cruise, T'ai Chi isn't listed :

 

Thank you so much!! 💕

The classes are a little sedate for me, so I’ll bring some classes on my iPad and hope there is room to do them in my room (which may be amusing since I’m right above the photos area—thud thud thud on their roof)!

 

And Heineken 0.0 is perfect! 

[NorbertsNiece]

@TravelBluebird they have it at the Lido bar too 😃 🍻

[TravelBluebird]

Just now, NorbertsNiece said:

@TravelBluebird they have it at the Lido bar too 😃 🍻

 

Thanks very much for checking! Russ doesn’t drink at all and I drink very little, and sometimes its nice to have something non-sweet that is non-alchoholic!  Our other go-to drink besides non-alcoholic beers are Nohitos!

[NorbertsNiece]

A little walkabout.

Pics from the sailaway party where I made an idiot of myself doing the YMCA and failing at the macarena.

Found the Dive In; the meat is GF but only the burger bun is, the hot dog bun isn't and neither were the canapés. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Dinner and sailaway from Buenos Aires. Love the Delft HAL plates. Never been offered such an assortment of sweeteners before!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 17, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Am trying really hard to be consistent in my blogging but am prone to forget what I prepared pre cruise but like a stuck record I have to churn it out regardless.

 

So.

 

Buenos Aires, city and capital of Argentina. The city is situated on the shore of the Río de la Plata, 150 miles (240 km) from the Atlantic Ocean. Buenos Aires is one of Latin America’s most important ports and most populous cities, as well as the national centre of commerce, industry, politics, culture, and technology. According to tradition, Spanish colonizer Pedro de Mendoza established the first settlement there, which he named Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire (“Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air”). Buenos Aires locals are referred to as porteños (“people of the port”) because so many of the city’s inhabitants historically arrived by boat from Europe. 

 

And 2 days of our routes around the city.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Tomorrow we are in Montevideo, Uruguay and have booked an excursion through HAL.

 

Montevideo, principal city and capital of Uruguay. It lies on the north shore of the Río de la Plata estuary. Montevideo was founded in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, governor of Buenos Aires, to counteract the Portuguese advance into the area from Brazil. During its early years, Montevideo was mostly a Spanish garrison town. Trade expanded toward the end of the colonial period, and Montevideo’s merchants played an important part in securing Uruguayan independence. 

 

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Info from HAL:

 

ARRIVE: 08:00

ALL ABOARD: 19:00

Easy Montevideo

 

Duration 4 Hours

Departs 09:45

 

See the Legislative Palace -- a beautiful, ornate marble structure that has a place among the three most beautiful Parliament buildings in the world -- and visit the Mercado Agricola, a renovated old market hall that nowadays functions as a farmers’ market. You’ll gain an insight into the culinary customs of Uruguay as you mingle with the locals here.

 

Keep an eye out for the Battle y Ordoñez Park's famous soccer stadium and the Carrasco residential area. On your way back to the port, you will pass the city's many beautiful beaches and visit Independence Plaza, ringed by Government House and the historic Solis, where the mighty and iconic Carlos Gardel used to tango.

 

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We will also see the Graf Spee monument; she was the German pocket battleship that was scuttled by her captain on 17th December 1938.

[NorbertsNiece]

We've been for a walk around the promenade deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oakridger]

I looked at HAL online about an hour ago for this itinerary or the opposite direction.  I "almost" booked it but can't go until January 2026!  I need to be patient.  In the meantime, I'll be reading what you have time to post.  @NorbertsNiece Please enjoy yourself and don't feel pressure to produce something on a schedule for us!  We will wait until you are ready! 🙂

 

~Nancy

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 3 Montevideo 

 

Good morning and thanks for following.

 

We're not tied up yet. We sailed by what appeared to be a boat graveyard on the way in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

In town with us :

 

Montevideo : Costa Fascinosa

Punta del Este : Norwegian Star

Ushuaia : Oceania Marina

Punta Arenas : Regent Seven Seas Splendor

Edited December 18, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Current location and our route here