Live From the Ryndam 2/25-3/6

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Code red has been lifted. i believe they are calling it code yellow. They will use caution but the library shelves have been opened and self service is back in the lido! Security guy, Mike said there were only three people confined.

Sounds like great news Judy, enjoy the rest of your cruise:)

[KSCnCA]

Yeah! Glad to read that the Ryndam status is on the up and up. Judy, David and all the rest of the current Ryndam CC'ers: have a great cruise!

[susandiego]

Hi, sldispatcher & CruisinJudy,

 

We are so enjoying your Live From reports. We disembarked on Monday, and your descriptions are helping with withdrawal. :)

 

If you should run into Joel who serves cocktails in the casino at night and by the navigation deck pool during the afternoon, please give him regards from "Miss Susan" and "Sir Brian."

 

Looking forward to reading your ongoing reports. For those not going to Copper Canyon, we cannot recommend enough having lunch at the Las Brisas Del Mar restaurant at Playa El Maviri (the beach where the bus takes you from the port, past the Bat Cave). The atmosphere at the beach felt a bit like a ghost town, and the restaurants are plenty rustic, but the fish and seafood! Skip breakfast, or better yet, go early and eat twice! :)

 

Enjoy, and congrats on the lift of code red.

 

Susan

[lka1012]

First guys, thanks for your reports, I will be on the Rydam in Dec and they help me prepare. And Susan, thanks for the non-Cooper caynon suggestion. I've been wondering what to do. While I do, one day, want to go to Cooper Caynon, I want to go as a destination, not excursion.

[sldispatcher]

February 29th – Mazatlan – Happy Leap Year!

Code Red lifted today!

You forget about all of the little touches that are affected by such a move. Fruit is on its way back to the staterooms. Dessert trays shown again in the dining rooms/newspapers/magazines/library books back at Exploration Lounge. Bar menus on tables, etc.

Brass polishing has begun.

Note to future travelers…is there a little wear and tear? Only if you really look for it. It will not affect your cruise one bit.

I escorted the ladies over to the Golden Zone. They found some great silver pieces at Cienta Lindo and Quetzal <sp>? In fact, had we had time, we could have gone to several shops in between. Taxi fare is $10 each way. Our cab driver met us at a specific time and place right on schedule to take us back to the ship. The taxis are very small…3 max per cab. Also note, it will make you feel like you are in Grenada trying to navigate the cruise ship terminal. It is horrific with van drivers trying to get your business. The terminal itself is quite nice.

We watched the sailaway from the bow of the ship off of deck 6 once I FINALLY found the “secret” passage to get there.

Dinner was at the main restaurant. AYWD is quite funny, because we are really offered the choice of two seatings…ahhahahahahha 5:15/5:30 or 7:45/8:00. sound familiar? Of note, we are requesting a particular table of 4 and that may have a lot to do with it. This dinner was agreed as relatively uninspiring for us…and may need a retooling by HAL. My dad did have the French Onion Soup and thought it was some of the best he’d ever had.

The crew is obviously relieved that code red is lifted, and seems relaxed. They’ve never been grumpy…just more relaxed. I feel greatly for the Hotel Manager as I’m sure the brunt of the code red recovery responsibility fell on his shoulders. There is so much that the staff has to do during the code red that none of the passengers ever have to see.

We went to the show tonight. I have now seen the CD for the first time and he fits the HAL mode perfectly. He is a guide, a common face, but he is not under the gun to make or break the entire cruise. My very limited impression is that HAL passengers know what they are doing and what they want. They don’t need a circus barker egging them on each day to get out there. Again, the affable cruise director seems aware of that and is letting the cruise “just happen”. HAL seems to score a 5 star rating with this aspect.

The show…well, it is new according to the daily program. And as on the previous cruise, I’m simply amazed at how much energy the HAL singers and dancers have to exude each night in order for the show to go on. What they are asked to do in such a tight space with such complicated moves is nearly miraculous in my sight. If they got paid by the amount of volts they produce, they would be millionaires each night. Of note, the two lead male singers on this cruise have different strengths. The dark haired fellow will be on a broadway stage…it’s just a matter of time. The blonde haired fellow not only has quite a bit of singing, but is the best dancer of the whole cast. Watch how much energy he puts forth if you are cruising soon.

This cruise continues to delight.

The weather has been great. Puerto Vallarta was “warm” at 80 degrees, but the rest has been cool mornings and moderate afternoons in the low 70’s. PERFECT.

Now it is off to the Sea of Cortez and the whole reason I booked this trip.

There has been quite a bit of expectation management for the Copper Canyon tour. We are not going on that tour, but I’m sure many will.

Questions?

David

[rochelle_s]

David,

Are you going to share the secrets of finding the secret passage for those of us cruising in the near future on the Ryndam? Would love to know how to get there.

 

Rochelle

[ltsally]

Me too! Me too! I wanna know the secret passage!!:rolleyes:

 

Really enjoying your reports, David. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this; it's helping to fuel my anticipation for our sailaway, now just 3.5 weeks away!

 

Would like to know a little more about the silver expedition, if you have a chance. What sorts of pieces/prices? This is 'the good stuff,' i take it, not the typical nickel silver....

 

Thanks again for keeping us in the loop!

[DougH]

Info on the 'secret pasage" would be appreciated. I remember having a hard time finding it on the Statendam years ago and ran into an officer coming up the stairs as I was exploring on the first day. Asked him, and he gave me directions. As he was walking away I realized I had just asked the Captain :)

 

What sort of "expectation management for the Copper Canyon tour" are you receiving? I'm booked on it, decided I'd regret it later if I missed the chance even if it it is quite expensive.

[Steve Q]

David, thanks so much for the outstanding review. It has been one of my favorites.

 

While I understand you have not attended all of the shows, do you know who have been the entertainers?

[hunzabunz]

David,

 

Glad to hear about everything. Was wondering if there was any kind of Kararoke on the ship for some fun and entertainment. This CD seems to be a real drag. We'll be on the ship 3/16 sailing and our group will make bingo unforgetable for the staff.

 

Nan

[Copper10-8]

I think so, too (pot stirrers). I seem to recall they were disgruntled about something last year and swore off HAL at that time.

 

This is the same guy that came up with the bunk info last week that HAL crew gets shipped home as soon as they come down with Noro

[sldispatcher]

Saturday March 1 – Topolobampo

Very foggy on the arrival. I was not up to the Copper Canyon guests leave the ship, but the number must have been between 300 and 400.

We piddled around on the pier and bought some locally made jewelry. It is obvious that this small town wants HAL to return and put on a nice effort. There were even local dancers and musicians late in the afternoon.

For some reason, I felt this area could easily be a Half Moon Cay #2 somewhere in the vicinity…would just need the white sand, clear water…and cabanas, of course!

Good lunch, great dinner. Will be hard for you to choose this night! The Key Lime pie was tart, my mother looooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeedddddddddd the opera cake. All of the main dishes were quite good.

Lots of external cleaning/painting today as service recovery is now complete and more mundane functions are taking place.

We went to the show tonight and saw a funny fellow by the name of Billy Fellows. I tried the frozen mudslide here and it was very good. Earlier in the day, my wife had the Ultimate Strawberry Lemonade. The edge still goes to the classic Mojito.

We stayed up to see the buses return. A very nice touch from HAL: hot towels for the returning guests along with a reception line 12 – 15 deep on 2 sides of officers, dining staff, activities staff, waiters, cabin stewards, chefs clapping as the passengers returned.

The last passenger was on by 10:45 and we left by 10:55.

Off to Loreto!

[sldispatcher]

Wife says Mazatlan was more upscale...better displays.

 

Loreto was better for bargaining and authentic..more on that report later.

 

Secret passage. Take deck 6 promenade to front...two sets of stairs behind glass walls. Take the one on the starboard side of the ship and you will arrive on the bow!

[MissPoovey]

If you get the chance, walk by suite 7 on the navigator deck and peek in if its open, or just listen for a few seconds and tell me if you hear lots of noise.

We have booked this room in july for 7 days in Alaska.

I'm alittle worried because its under the spa and lido... sound can carry during nap time, lol

Dont go to any trouble though, we will enjoy our cruise no matter. We are die hard nappers, but we will just turn on the tv if there is noise above.

Thank you for your reports and enjoy yourselves...as you seem to be doing.

Wish we were there now... you are envyed!

Thanks again!

[rochelle_s]

David,

 

Thanks for sharing the secret......will definately find my way now....and thanks also for all the other wonderful information you have been sharing.

 

Keep enjoying your cruise!

 

Rochelle

[sldispatcher]

March 2 – Loreto

Very slow and scenic approach to this tendered port. Worth getting up for.

We were one of the first to tender to port after a Lido breakfast. The small “harbor” area had a flock of very hungry pelicans that were worth watching all day! If all you do is tender over to watch the pelicans, you’ll be happy.

It’s a 4 block walk along a nice, but cobblestone type sidewalk. Wear comfortable shoes! Then a turn up a few blocks into the city center. Many small shops where you will haggle for everything..but not in a bad way. Don’t accept the first price and always be prepared to counter offer. The shops furtherest away from the ocean seemed to have the best deals.

There is a bar/hotel on the south side of the city center that is worth taking a picture of on the inside. It was gorgeous.

Hopefully, Diamonds International et al will never find Loreto. It needs to stay as it is now. All of the shopkeepers had some command of the English language. All were very cordial.

A “whip around” of the Santa Anna winds blew up very rough surf right before 330pm. Whoever was left to tender back to the ship must have had a very rough trip.

We sailed away amongst schools of dolphins and a few passing whales.

**Comment: I wish HAL would have a day of Scenic cruising here. The landscape is equivalent to putting a lake on the moon. Just not enough daylight left to see it!

For those looking for a few other details, this ship does not have the corner storage space in the bathroom mirror…be prepared for that. Also be prepared for more overhead announcements. There have been 2 or 3 a day announcing different activities onboard the ship. Nothing intrusive, just more than I remember.

One of the announcements was for an onboard cooking class that I have had 2 cancel on me so far for lack of participation. If it were me, I’d change the themes to more about cooking theory (i.e. making different sauces, etc.) than cooking a meal. I keep waiting for HAL to team up with Top Chef program or with the Food Network and start kicking it up a notch, so to speak. At any rate, I am again very pleased with the variety and number of uses for the Wajang Theater.

I did attend a flower class with my mother, but unfortunately, it was very basic without the educational part that would have been helpful…my mother is a champion flower decorator and holds office in the National Garden Club Federation. It struck me how there are so many ladies in the country who participate in flower shows..what a great group that would be to come in and do a “Flower Power” cruise. Real teaching, real theory….wonder if anyone would be attracted to that? Turns out that Disney turned over their Spring Flower show to the Garden Club there because they did it so well…..

But I am way off topic….

Dinner was fine tonight. We chose NOT to make reservations and roll the dice. We waited at least 20 seconds before a table was assigned…whew! Waiter was very, very nice. Ari.

No full show tonight, only an encore presentation of a John Denver tribute.

Dessert Extravaganza looked very nice, but we did not partake of any treats…only looked.

Other notes for those following along:

Chicken Brochette on this night…..appetizer…don’t miss it!

The Casino machines are a waste of time….Don’t bother

Avoid the small shopping area anytime there is a “raffle”

Spa deals were available daily. DO NOT book the first day for later days.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

David

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for checking in.

 

I also mentioned about the Casino having been done over when she was in dry dock and the slots are POOR.

[Gsel]

David, one question for you. We had a wonderful waiter on the Noordam last year and his name was Ari. Hopefully this is the same person. Would it be worth asking for one of his tables? We are really enjoying your posts, thanks so much.

Barbara

[DougH]

Loreto sounds very nice but since I'm on the Copper Canyon trip I'm not sure if I'll be getting up early the next morning! Great reports, keep it up.

 

Doug

[REBCRUISER]

Enjoy your comments. What advice would you give on the use of Dollars, Pesos and credit cards for your purchases, meals, etc. on land? Should we wait for Puerto Vallarta to hit an ATM to get Pesos? And a delicate one: what about the availability of toilets ashore, and does one need coins for tips there, like in parts of Europe?

Thanks,

Roland

[sldispatcher]

March 3, 2008 – La Paz

Before I forget, this class vessel does not have the curtain between the bed and sitting area like the Amsterdam…certainly miss that!

We got as far as the flea market on the pier today. Walk off after the second offer from the silver vendors. They will chase you down to give the “special” price. I do feel a little sorry for them as I’m sure most are just trying to get some food money…but I do enjoy the soft bargaining that takes place.

The bus trip to La Paz is about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the ship says a shuttle will only run every 45 minutes or so. No thank you.

The water here in the harbor is a magnificent turquoise color. Again, somewhere around here Half Moon Cay #2 is just waiting to burst forth! Not much in the way of shade as it is very arid countryside. The cacti look as though they struggle!

I had some fairly decent nachos from the poolside grill for lunch. DW went up and sunned over deck 12 in a nice quiet spot as the wind was relentless today at over 21 knots average.

The juggling act was canceled this evening due to the rather moderate seas we encountered after leaving La Paz. They are going to do a Newlywed/Not so Newlywed game instead.

Dinner was average to good. The waiter was very nice and entertaining. Denny.

Still no hints of GI bug running rampant on the ship. They’ve taken down some of the antibacterial stations around the ship. I’d just as soon they leave them up full time.

The air is nice and crisp this evening. Parents went back to that moneytrap, the casino. I haven’t heard yet if they hit anything.

Tomorrow is Cabo San Lucas. I am hoping that the whales will be around the ship…and we can just sit on the balcony and enjoy.

In the dining room tonight was a bacon and cheddar soup that I thought was really good. The Thai Spring Roll was everyone’s favorite at the table. Prime rib was so-so. Mother’s pork was good. If I had to do it over again, I’d probably go with the chicken cordon bleu.

I would say overall, the ship is now gotten over code red syndrome and will be welcome site for a few folks in 3 days! Hang in there, she is coming to get you!

David

[sldispatcher]

David, one question for you. We had a wonderful waiter on the Noordam last year and his name was Ari. Hopefully this is the same person. Would it be worth asking for one of his tables? We are really enjoying your posts, thanks so much.

Barbara

 

Yes, it would be good. Also Denny was very good tonight.

[sldispatcher]

Enjoy your comments. What advice would you give on the use of Dollars, Pesos and credit cards for your purchases, meals, etc. on land? Should we wait for Puerto Vallarta to hit an ATM to get Pesos? And a delicate one: what about the availability of toilets ashore, and does one need coins for tips there, like in parts of Europe?

Thanks,

Roland

 

Local vendors all want dollars. Will take Pesos. Credit cards are widely accepted even in shops in Loreto you wouldn't think could take them.

 

Toilets...not certain. I do know that in Mazatlan, the silver shops all had nice restrooms, softdrinks, liquor, and water.

[KSCnCA]

David,

Thank you so much for your posts. It helps make the wait bearable. Sounds like you are a glass half full kind of guy - I appreciate that!

[Gsel]

David, Since we are leaving tomorrow for San Diego and will board the Ryndam on Thursday just wanted to thank you for all of your posts and keeping the anticipation going for us. It seems you have been giving us the good along with the bad in a honest and clear way and it has been greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for taking time from your vacation.

Barbara