Amsterdam world cruise crew members blog

[calisota]

Hi guys,

 

Since we are just a few days away from starting our 114 day world cruise I thought I might do a bit of blatant self promotion of my blog.

 

I am a staff member on the Amsterdam, a cashier in the casino, and I have been writing a blog of my experiences on board, both this contract and my last one. I write about both the ports that we visit and what it's like to work as a cashier on a cruise ship as well as a few insights into my somewhat disordered mind. A world cruise like this one should give me plenty to write about, both on and off the ship.

 

If you're interested in checking out the blog take a look at http://www.planettrekker.info/cruise but be warned that I write it like it is and it's not a glossy tourist brochure view of where we go. This is all my own opinions and as far as i know the company has never heard of the blog.

 

I'll try and answer any questions as best I can in the constraints of time and internet access as well as posting photos in the gallery.

 

Hopefully it's going to be a hell of a cruise.

 

Greg

[kakalina]

Greg, good to hear from you again. So you are all ready for your new assignment. I will be following your blog except for the 30 days I am on my own cruise on the Ryndam.

Really looking forward the new entries on your blog. Thanks for reminding us.

[calisota]

Greg, good to hear from you again. So you are all ready for your new assignment. I will be following your blog except for the 30 days I am on my own cruise on the Ryndam.

Really looking forward the new entries on your blog. Thanks for reminding us.

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

I've written 12,500 words so far in less than 3 weeks that I've been aboard and we haven't even started the world cruise yet! You may have a bit of catching up to do after 30 days. :)

 

Greg

[lka1012]

Look forward to hearing about the world cruise from a crew member's point of view. Enjoyed meeting you on the topless cruise.

[O2B@C]

Thanks for posting this! I'm sure a lot of CCers will be very interested in your reports of your travels, and I for one would not have known about your blog if you had not posted here. I look forward to reading it.

 

.... as far as i know the company has never heard of the blog.

 

Rumor has it that some management folks from "the company" occasionally peruse this board, so you might just have "outed" yourself. But as far as I'm concerned, you have every right to say what you honestly think to anyone who's interested, and I hope they feel the same. Happy voyage!

[PRINSENDAM]

Hi guys,

 

Since we are just a few days away from starting our 114 day world cruise I thought I might do a bit of blatant self promotion of my blog.

 

I'll try and answer any questions as best I can in the constraints of time and internet access as well as posting photos in the gallery.

 

Hopefully it's going to be a hell of a cruise.

 

Greg

 

 

Greg,

 

Do you have any idea if the ship is full or not?

 

Good cruise!

 

Stephen

[calisota]

Greg,

 

Do you have any idea if the ship is full or not?

 

We got told yesterday that the ship is so full they have people on a wait list for a wait list. There is somewhere over 1100 people doing the entire 114 days so it's impossible even to get on for just one segment.

 

Greg

[PrincessYoga]

Glad to see you back on the boards. I will be reading your blog. Thanks for posting the link again. I am going to put it in my favourites now.

[wynkys]

Greg,

 

I have really enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to your continuing reports.

Good luck and smooth sailing.

 

Wayne

[calisota]

Thanks for all the kind words, it's always nice to know that someone is reading the blog. I'm looking forward to the world cruise, plenty of opportunities to see things I haven't seen before and taking plenty of photos and, hopefully, writing plenty about it.

 

Greg

[sail7seas]

Do you anticipate you'll have much time to go ashore in various ports?

 

Looking forward to 'sailing along with you'.

 

Fair Winds and a Following Sea.......

[jjb415]

Thank you for posting the link to your blog. I'm grateful to get your perspective on the ports that you visit and the insight into your job. Good luck on the World Cruise, I'll enjoy being there with you. :)

[cruz chic]

Your blog sounds very interesting. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[PRINSENDAM]

We got told yesterday that the ship is so full they have people on a wait list for a wait list. There is somewhere over 1100 people doing the entire 114 days so it's impossible even to get on for just one segment.

 

Greg

 

 

 

 

Excellent result! The owner will be pleased!

 

Thanks.

 

Stephen

[NoNoNanette]

Hi there, Greg. :)

 

It was nice to briefly meet you on the 12/11 sailing. Have a blast on the World Cruise, man!

[SDHALFAN]

Hi guys,

 

Since we are just a few days away from starting our 114 day world cruise I thought I might do a bit of blatant self promotion of my blog.

 

If you're interested in checking out the blog take a look at http://www.planettrekker.info/cruise but be warned that I write it like it is and it's not a glossy tourist brochure view of where we go. This is all my own opinions and as far as i know the company has never heard of the blog.

 

I'll try and answer any questions as best I can in the constraints of time and internet access as well as posting photos in the gallery.

 

Hopefully it's going to be a hell of a cruise.

 

Greg

 

 

Hi Greg:

 

Thanks so much for alerting us - I will bookmark your site and follow along on your great adventure really looking forward to your thoughts and insights on the whole experience.

 

I "did" the first half of last year's GWV, mostly because HAL made me an offer I just couldn't refuse: if I booked from Fort Lauderdale to Hong Kong then they would upgrade my flight home to Business Class instead of my normal dismal coach experience. Hey, I had to book more than a year ahead of sailing but HAL came through and my flight home was as comfortable as a flight that long can be. The cruise itself was sensational and I visited places that I had only read about before and could never in my wildest dreams have imagined that I would actually get to see (Easter Island and Pitcairn Island for example).

 

I probably will never do an entire GWV because there are always places on the itinerary that I have no desire to visit, however I am "hooked" on the Grand Voyages and had so much fun in Asia last year that I am booked on the ms Amsterdam's Grand Asia Australia cruise this coming September. Maybe you will be back onboard for that cruise, after some needed shore leave, and we'll get to meet, as I shove quarters into the slot machines:D.

 

Happy New Year and have a ton of fun on your World Cruise.

 

Valerie:)

[RevNeal]

Hello, Greg! I'm looking forward to following along through your blog! I think it's great that the ship is full for the World Cruise! That's wonderful!

[calisota]

Do you anticipate you'll have much time to go ashore in various ports?

 

Looking forward to 'sailing along with you'.

 

Fair Winds and a Following Sea.......

 

Since I work in the casino and we are not allowed to be open while in port I end up with the same amount of time in the ports as the passengers. The catch is that I am not allowed off in every port as a certain number of crew must be onboard at all times for "security reasons". The assistant manager gave me the "port manning" list for the world cruise yesterday and out of the 114 days I have 11 port mannings. Luckily for me 6 of them are in overnight ports so I will still be able to get off and see them for at least one of the two days. It would have been really frustrating to have to only see Venice from the deck railing. As it stands I get one of the two days off the ship there.

 

Greg

[calisota]

Do you anticipate you'll have much time to go ashore in various ports?

 

Looking forward to 'sailing along with you'.

 

Fair Winds and a Following Sea.......

 

Since I work in the casino and we are not allowed to be open while in port I end up with the same amount of time in the ports as the passengers. The catch is that I am not allowed off in every port as a certain number of crew must be onboard at all times for "security reasons". The assistant manager gave me the "port manning" list for the world cruise yesterday and out of the 114 days I have 11 port mannings. Luckily for me 6 of them are in overnight ports so I will still be able to get off and see them for at least one of the two days. It would have been really frustrating to have to only see Venice from the deck railing. As it stands I get one of the two days off the ship there.

 

Greg

[calisota]

Do you anticipate you'll have much time to go ashore in various ports?

 

Looking forward to 'sailing along with you'.

 

Fair Winds and a Following Sea.......

 

Since I work in the casino and we are not allowed to be open while in port I end up with the same amount of time in the ports as the passengers. The catch is that I am not allowed off in every port as a certain number of crew must be onboard at all times for "security reasons". The assistant manager gave me the "port manning" list for the world cruise yesterday and out of the 114 days I have 11 port mannings. Luckily for me 6 of them are in overnight ports so I will still be able to get off and see them for at least one of the two days. It would have been really frustrating to have to only see Venice from the deck railing. As it stands I get one of the two days off the ship there.

 

Greg

[calisota]

My sincere apologies for the multiple posts, the internet connection is really dodgy today as we head through some really rough weather. My roommate is feeling really seasick at the moment and we had to bypass Cozumel meaning that I only got 3.5 hours sleep between finishing last night and having to start again this morning. :mad:

 

Greg

[kakalina]

Since I work in the casino and we are not allowed to be open while in port I end up with the same amount of time in the ports as the passengers. The catch is that I am not allowed off in every port as a certain number of crew must be onboard at all times for "security reasons". The assistant manager gave me the "port manning" list for the world cruise yesterday and out of the 114 days I have 11 port mannings. Luckily for me 6 of them are in overnight ports so I will still be able to get off and see them for at least one of the two days. It would have been really frustrating to have to only see Venice from the deck railing. As it stands I get one of the two days off the ship there.

 

Greg

 

Do you get to get off in Bora Bora?

We will be on the Ryndam with you on 1-23-08 in Bora Bora.

 

Virgil

[RuthC]

Attempting to reveal Trisha's hidden post.

Come out, come out wherever you are!

[RuthC]

One more time. :rolleyes:

[Krazy Kruizers]

We got told yesterday that the ship is so full they have people on a wait list for a wait list. There is somewhere over 1100 people doing the entire 114 days so it's impossible even to get on for just one segment.

 

Greg

 

WoW -- over 1100 people doing the entire 114 days??

This is a record for HAL.