Two Midwesterners escape winter on the Eurodam.

[ottahand7]

I can't recall if I had posted the MDR lunch menu before. 

[bandect]

Question: when a pre cruise spa package ( ie nails or massage) is bought is the tip included in the price?

 

[ottahand7]

@bandect I know from first hand experience I prepaid my mani and pedi but they had to run the full cost plus the service charge through my account.  It is confusing because I started weeks before with a $119 credit but weeks later the charge with tip showed up the day of service. 

[ottahand7]

16 hours ago, bandect said:

 

[ottahand7]

Sorry I couldn't clear a quote from my editor.  Sunrise off Falmouth, Jamaica.  

Edited February 17 by ottahand7

[ottahand7]

Today's Daily Activities, port map and a photo of the port. 

[ottahand7]

A photo of the library on deck 3 and the toiletries section in the ship's store.  The library is a sparse, virtually no travel books or non-fiction. 

[ottahand7]

Last night's dinner in the MDR and the "yum yum" snacks waiting when we left the MDR. 

Shrimp cocktail and artichoke dip for starters.  I had the PG rib eye, huge and chewy, John had the filet special which I had forgotten to photograph.  

[Euby]

@ottahand7  Thanks for posting all of this!  I have a question.  How does HAL handle things when you are staying on the ship from one cruise to the next?

I'm going on a 15-Day cruise on the Eurodam in November.  I just noticed that it is actually a 4-day + 11-day cruise.  Do passengers that are continuing on the ship for the next 11 days need to disembark when it returns to Ft Lauderdale on day 5?  Or can we just stay on the ship as if it were another port of call?

TIA

[ottahand7]

@Euby you will have to disembark with all the guests who are staying on for leg 2.  Everyone meets in the World Stage usually at 9 and everyone proceeds off the ship in an orderly fashion.  We go into the port facility and have facial recognition.  Then you line up in an orderly fashion and as soon as everyone has been scanned you are allowed to board and return to the ship.  If you want to get off and go to Fort Lauderdale or do a tour you will be given an in transit card and you will show that when reboarding.  It will all be outlined in a letter you will get several days before the process.  We had 517 passengers that went through the process last Saturday.  If people disembark in a timely manner and everyone going through in transit it will be about an hour or so.  

 

[ottahand7]

We shopped in Falmouth today.  I bought a sweater looking sweatshirt because I am sick of my zip front sweater I need almost daily for cold areas in the ship.  All the stores have basically the same merchandise but I found a store near the closed Margaritaville that had some different clothing.  Then we went to the coffee store and tried Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee which was excellent. I bought a couple of bags for my neighbors who gather our mail and for my sister who watches our house.  There is a pharmacy in the port shopping complex which can be a good place to get OTC meds, toiletries and sunscreen. 

[ottahand7]

Good afternoon from Grand Cayman.  We had an early shore excursion.  Today's Daily Activities and port map.  

[ottahand7]

A Last night's MDR dinner photos.  John had tempura udon and sushi.  I had chicken and gnocchi.  The gnocchi were hard but the chicken perfect.  Look at the soup in John's bowl. The ship was turning into a high wind and caused it to flow to one side.  

[ottahand7]

Some photos of our shore excursion in Grand Cayman yesterday.  It was called an "Intimate" tour with an 18 passenger bus but I think HA must have found the excursion popular because there were three buses ending up at the same stops together.  I had tried to sign up originally but only one seat was available and wait listed. About three months before two seats became available.  When we stopped at a rest stop we found one of the drivers did not narrate the tour at all, just a bus ride with the passengers not knowing where they were going.  It was probably a needed HIA excursion so they just hired anyone.  Our driver was knowledgeable but had never done an east side tour so we stopped at the wrong restaurant.  The restaurant was pleasant and had a lovely sea view, good drinks(extra) and a nice fried grouper lunch.   If it wasn't for HIA we never would have booked this tour.  Itinerary was a stop at a 1700s shipwreck still visible but too far for photos, a blow hole area, lunch in the restaurant and a rum cake factory.  I enjoyed the chickens hanging around the best at that stop. I hope they send an email to review the shore excursion. 

Edited February 19 by ottahand7

[ottahand7]

Today's Daily Activities. 

[ottahand7]

Yesterday in Grand Cayman only one bar was allowed to be open on the ship, the Lido pool bar.  It is due to Cayman regulations.  It was supposedly announced but probably after we had gone ashore.  We got all cleaned up for Tamarind dinner and had hoped for a pre dinner cocktail but it was closed.  I wish it had been shared in Daily Activities with bar time listing. 

 

On previous trip to GC there was a small liquor store to the left of the tender pier.  It had a terrific selection and great prices.  Now there is a duty free new building with clothing, snacks and a much smaller and higher priced selection of liquor and wine.  Not far from the port is a nice wine store that we passed returning from our tour but it was closed on Sunday.  

 

There are lots of businesses near the port in walking distance, especially restaurants and a Dairy Queen. 

Edited February 19 by ottahand7

[Euby]

19 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

 I hope they send an email to review the shore excursion. 

I'd suggest going to the Excursions desk while you are still onboard.  Sometimes hearing from a person face to face can give them a chance to get more detailed information.  Plus it will still be fresh in your mind.

[ottahand7]

More on the bar closures in Grand Cayman.  After we had gone ashore authorities came aboard and told our Captain that we cannot have any more than one bar open.  This is the first time it has happened on a HA ship.  

I asked my friend where he enjoyed his happy hour and he said he remained in his cabin.  He said the Lido pool was an absolute zoo with extra passengers and crew who needed to try to meet the passenger's needs.  

We had a Mariner Regional Wines event yesterday at 1:45 and unlike most it was elbow to elbow.  Our cellar master Rodel did an excellent tasting event where we were not given the wine name or varietal, just distinguishing features and country.  Much more interesting. 

For those boarding the Eurodam Rodel, and his assistants Charm (Tamarind) and Josephine ( PG) are very approachable and wonderful to talk with before or during a meal.

[ottahand7]

Sunrise as we weave our way into our Belize anchorage.  We are heading ashore after the excursion people leave for an over water lunch. 

[ottahand7]

We had our final dinner in the PG last night. It was lovely and the service from Troy and Josephine our wine steward was spot on. We had lobster bisque and John had lamb chops.  I had a pork chop that was massive and cooked perfectly.  No desserts after. 

[ottahand7]

Today's Daily Activities. 

[Euby]

@ottahand7

Thanks for keeping us updated.  Is it possible for you to post the part of The Daily that has what times things are open (the back page).  TIA

[ottahand7]

Very late today we had an early shore excursion in Cozumel.  Today's Daily Activities with the back page.  

[ottahand7]

Sail in this morning.  Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity in Puerto Maya.  

 

[ottahand7]

Our shore excursion was wonderful.  We went to an all inclusive beach park to take a hands on cooking class.  Caramelized plantains with chocolate sauce.  Tilapia and vegetables in a foil packet.  Shrimp in tomato sauce sopapillas.  If you like to cook this is terrific shore excursion.  Then we had time for the pool or ocean and included cocktails.  

 

It looks like a crowd but there was a two burner station with so each couple cooked everything they would eat later. There was 6 from the Eurodam and others from the Icon and a German speaking group. 

Edited February 21 by ottahand7