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VEENDAM REFITTED: MIX Bars

JimVrhovac

By JimVrhovac,
in Holland America Line

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RuthC

RuthC

Posted
Posted

Scottjeanne, you've added a lot of info that helps to paint a mental picture of what the Mix area looks like. Thank you so very much.

 

I know I won't truly "get it" until I see it in person, or watch a slow video that pans the entire area, but every little piece of info does a lot to piece together the description.

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Pipers mom

Pipers mom

Posted
Posted

Jim - thank you for posting this. My husband will be very pleased that there is draft beer available.

 

We will be on the Noordam in September. Is the Noordam one of the ships that has Mix on it?

 

thanks

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RuthC

RuthC

Posted
Posted
Is the Noordam one of the ships that has Mix on it?

So far' date=' the only ship with The Mix is the Veendam. The only other ships that have been scheduled to get it are the remaining S-class ships (Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam), and the Rotterdam. [/color']

Those plans have been changed somewhat, though. It's not known at this time whether or not The Mix is still in the blueprints for the upcoming drydock.

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innlady1

innlady1

Posted
Posted
There is a guitar player on the area most forward by the shops and a piano type bar area in the area toward the stern. Both were pretty good. There hours of playing were in the review.

 

Their sounds did not interfere with each other.

 

This area seems to be well patronized. The table games were a hit and were being used from early am to late at night.

 

We think it is a welcome addition and it will be well liked.

 

Ruth & Jim

 

Jim,

 

Did you happen to get a photo of the Piano Bar area?

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innlady1

innlady1

Posted
Posted
I was a big fan of the MIX area. The piano bar has bar stools all around the piano. Dave the piano player was fantastic. He played every night from 9 pm until close-ususally around 1:30. We outlasted the Crow's nest crowd who came down to join us as well as the cast from the shows.

 

The guitar player-very poor, was in an area around the corner, by the spirit and ale bar. There are three bars in the area-one that is shown with the beer taps, one for martinis and one for champagne. The piano is in the champagne area. The seating on this side is banquets and small cigarette tables and low slung chairs. The other side has the game tables (which are fabulous and free). They have games, google earth, and other interactive activities.

 

This area was closed each night for a private party from 5 to 6:30. It was the officer's reception party for a small group of passengers. Each of us was invited one night for cocktails and hors d'ouevres with the officers.

 

It was a great addition to the Veendam.

 

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the description of the Piano Bar area! What is Dave's last name?

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Copper10-8 "Live from...." Rare

Copper10-8

Posted
Posted
We were supporting some grunts from a hilltp firebase and did a good job for them in the 60's and they had a pallet of Budweiser delivered to our firebase by chopper.

 

I will never forget that great taste of 100 degree plus Budweiser..... It was fantastic..

 

I still drink it today.

 

Jim (without Ruth)

 

That's a darn good reason to like that Clydesdale 'stuff', Sir!

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RuthC

RuthC

Posted
Posted
What is Dave's last name?

I'm interested in knowing that, too. But Sheila, I do know for a fact that it is not the same Dave who was on the Noordam in January.

That one's over on the E-dam now.

And making at least as much noise as ever. :rolleyes:

I heard that on the recent E-dam crossing he was so loud that the Casino folks complained. In retaliation, he played louder just to make them mad.

What a jerk.

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mudscraper

mudscraper

Posted
Posted
We were supporting some grunts from a hilltp firebase and did a good job for them in the 60's and they had a pallet of Budweiser delivered to our firebase by chopper.

 

I will never forget that great taste of 100 degree plus Budweiser..... It was fantastic..

 

I still drink it today.

 

Jim (without Ruth)

My dad always laughed that he had the COLDEST beer in the Phillipines during WW2. He was an X-Ray Tech and the liquid chemicals they used to process the pics were ice cold.

 

 

Rich

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jan can

jan can

Posted
Posted

The draft beer taps were never up and working by the time we'd reached Vancouver. I'd expect the cost would be the same as a bottle, $4.75 + 15%.

 

The captain's party kind of interferred with our 5 p.m. drink in the casino. The sweet, young lady serving in Mix got to know our taste for the Half Moon Pale ale and would bring it to us it the casino if I asked before the party got started. She had been travelling for 3 months and desperately wanted her next 6 months to be up so she could go home to family.

 

In Vancouver I saw them loading on cases of an Alaskan Brew.

 

The electronic game tables were fun. They're obviously a beta version. As an example, if you played checkers it wouldn't let you not jump a player if you wanted to play strategically. If you turned "rules off" to you could play strategically then you didn't get crowned when you got to the other side. We tested it everyway but upside down. One table was broken by the end of the first week. Still a great idea once Microsoft gets it perfected.

 

What I wondered was why there was no "drink of the day". The lady at the Front Office thought it was unusual too.

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scottjeanne

scottjeanne

Posted
Posted

Dave's last name is Guidice, but he will be going by David James (his middle name) in the future as it is easier to remember. His website is www.davidguidice.com. He is great-not too loud. The acoustics seem to be well though out. There was the classical quartetin the Explorations lounge, the three piece band in the Ocean's bar and Dave all playing at the same time on the same deck. There was never any cross over sound.

 

He could play anything by ear. He gauged the crowd and played accordingly. The beginning of the cruise, the crowd was older. He played Sinatra, Martin, 4 Seasons, Frankie Valle etc. When a different crowd joined us in San Diego, he played Billy Joel, Journey, Styxx. Cold Play, Elton John and the like. Even the concert pianist from the main stage who was trained at Juiliard came to hear him play and asked him to show him some chord sequences. He is that good.

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Sillyjilly

Sillyjilly

Posted
Posted
We were supporting some grunts from a hilltp firebase and did a good job for them in the 60's and they had a pallet of Budweiser delivered to our firebase by chopper.

 

I will never forget that great taste of 100 degree plus Budweiser..... It was fantastic..

 

I still drink it today.

 

Jim (without Ruth)

 

God Bless you! Thanks for your service!! It is greatly appreciated!

 

BUT, Coor's lite is the best. :D:D:D

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Cruiser809e8r09

Cruiser809e8r09

Posted
Posted
I thought a lot of you would be interested in the types of beer on tap so I took that picture so I would not have to answer a lot of question. They missed my favorite though Budweiser. I know what you are thinking but it is stil my favorite.

 

Thanks Jim. This Canuck is happy to see any draught beer appear on the 'Dam ships. :D

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bepsf

bepsf

Posted
Posted
Oooooh - maybe I won't show hubby the pictures after all. He'll be too disapointed.

 

Thanks for the reply Ruth!:)

 

Nothing to be disappointed about - Noordam and the other Vistas have a very nice entertainment area w/ Piano Bar' date=' Sports Bar, Casino and Disco.[/size']

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  • 5 months later...
Boatdrill

Boatdrill

Posted
Posted
more paino bar mix pics...hope they help ...its a fun gathering place, and worked really well by not overpowering the surrounding entertainment...HAL did a great job with the design

 

I agree, that area is fun. My only regret is that the large store (certainly not a "shop" or "boutique" any more) is across from Mix and the piano bar, and has very bright, glaring lights, that intrude on the atmosphere of the piano bar and Mix. If you go to Mix, bring your sunglasses :)

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