St Pete Cruiser

Thanks for the pics of the Oosterdam. I haven't been on her since 2016 when I did a 14 day cruise out of Tampa. It was the only year there was a vista class ship in Tampa. There is more storage in your verandah than there was in ours on the N Statendam. However, I do prefer the shower on the Pinnacle class. We know at least 5 people onboard with you and I expect all good reports!

Plus most of us like getting a refund as opposed to a charge for more!

The Wind Surf's tv was terrible last year. It really does need updating.

Welcome back to Florida Nieuw Statendam. Have a good winter here.

Great job of reporting and photography! I didn't know it had actually struck something hard rather than just being aground on a sand/mud bank.

We had the same menu in October on the Rotterdam TA. We thought it was really good and a nice improvement from the pre covid menu.

My source says Rudi's will stay on Pinnacle class at least until 2025. Morimoto to share Tamarind area, probably bumping the bar area on the starboard side.

Great port pics as always. Thanks for your daily postings! The car is a !968 Pontiac Catalina. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Yes, interesting for sure. I did a waitlist cruise out of Tampa about 7 years ago, knowing it was a close drive for me. You need to be ready to go and yet have no assurance of doing so. It turned out, there was no room available and was a big disappointment for us. I kept thinking, surely someone would cancel and thereby allow us to go. Remember, the cruise line can't resell a room that is paid for if there is a chance that guest will still show up right up to sailing. Anyway, if is 7x$49=$343, plus taxes &fees, and of course $16 crew appreciation, it may be closer to $100 per day for a room you don't like. You would have to assume in will be an inside, correct? If you can book a room for maybe $499 plus the extras, which is $71 a day, the $20 per day difference would be worth it for me.

I am enjoying November here in St Petersburg. Today is sunny and 75F. Nice tributes To Rosalyn Carter, so well deserved. Transgendered people are very misunderstood and abused. We met a sweet Thai trans person working on the Nieuw Statendam last year in the Lido. We asked if life aboard the ship was good to which the reply was uncertain as it was her first contract. We are looking forward to our Holiday/Christmas cruise on the Zaandam Dec 19th, 16 days to the Southern Caribbean. Our first return to an R class ship since the Volendam in 2018. Zaandam has new stage shows, not Step One, and many of the smaller ship amenities. I'll be sure to keep you posted. Enjoy your day however and wherever you can. Rolf, our waiter and his assistant on the Rotterdam at our ipper level assigned table. How could you not enjoy a well prepared meal with them catering to you? Thanks boys. You were the best.

Eurodam with the setting sun was beautiful! Nice sailaway except for being delayed. Happy Thanksgiving week!

If and when Holland America gets a new ship, it may have that ugly bow too, but I still don't like it compared to the raked bow. Here comes Eurodam.

Apex approaching! Toots?

Pleanty of people on deck for sailaway. My pic froze shortly after the toots. I see a smaller cargo ship is passing next to Apex.

Three long toots. Thanks NA

It will be dark before they all leave for sure.

Seems like a non sailaway day. Remember, the ships use to leave at 5, and then 4. Now they are trying to schedule at 3. That just isn't enough time to load all the provisions and guests IMHO. Couple that with late flights and related weather issues.

Hi Everyone. Departure toots.

Just to update all, the Oosterdam's recently completed TA had the Lincoln Stage concerts in the World Stage with good reviews. The Zaandam on its Grand South America has all new shows (not Step One) which also have had very good reviews. The live singers are back along with the dancers. We have enjoyed both LSC and Step One, but it was time for something new.

Hi Roy, I'm glad you are able to be aboard the latest Rotterdam! I think she is the nicest of the Pinnacle class ships. Continue to explore around the ship. There are several more ship models. The Crow's Nest has the Stephen Card paintings and another model, I think the one of the Rotterdam V that was in the MDR of the Rotterdam VI. Even if you have Club Orange, try at least one meal in the MDR just to experience it. The colors, the dark blue carpet with the white walls, are more attractive to me than the red and yellows of the Statendam and Koningsdam.

Thank you for sharing your Grand SA with us. Another guest onboard has raved about the new stage shows. Have you seen them? I really have enjoyed the step one shows, but it is time for some new ones.

We are booked on the Zaandam Dec 19 to Jan 4. I haven't been on Zaandam since 2016, but I liked the open deck back there, something newer ships never have. There are stairs from the promenade deck all the way up to the Lido deck. I think there are access doors onto that rear deck area. Maybe someone who is onboard or with more recent onboard memories will give you more information.

Rudi was on the N Statendam this past summer. Very personable and enjoyable. He did a cooking class in the World Stage.

The fleet is very spread out today! Nieuw Amsterdam in New Orleans; is that the first time in a long time a Holland America ship has been there? Zuiderdam has cleared the Red Sea after passing thru the Suez and being rather close to the Israel/Gaza war. I haven't read any reports or news from the Zuiderdam which is surprising since it is on its Grand Africa itinerary. Zaandam is offshore of its Antarctica portion of its Grand South America and was viewing huge icebergs today. It must be extra challenging for corporate to keep ships in such far away locales provisioned and supported.

I will say that Rudi's on the Rotterdam, same sailing as Kazu, was very well received by our friends who dined there. I asked if I could "trade" my Pinnacle meals for Rudi's and pay the difference and was politely declined. The fresh seafood on the Rotterdam in the MDR was excellent as well.