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This is “Endless Cruising Weekend” in OC, there will be thousands of what I call old timey cars. There will be a parade of cars down the boardwalk every morning. The cars will be on display in the inlet and at the convention center. My DH can’t remember what he had for breakfast but can tell you the make, model and year of every car as it passes. My family has a house in OC. Just ask if you need any info.

Morimoto’s dishes are now listed on Navigator app for the MDR.

Happy Fall! The rains of Ophelia have arrived in MD. @ottahand7 I believe they will be gone in time for you to enjoy the Ravens game tomorrow afternoon. I like the Frost quote. We need to spend less time wishing and more time acting. Don’t wish the world was a better place, act, do something to make the world better! @kazuI’m so sorry about the hydrangeas. I’m glad Ivan is feeling better. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

@kazu I believe Annie is going to Rome, not Amsterdam. You are focused on our cruise.😉

You can buy drinks if you exceed your 15 drink limit. I have had the BP on several cruises and have never exceeded 15 drinks even on sea days.

I am reluctant to sail on Carnival. Just looked at that sailing. Seems expensive for a balcony. I have heard that their TAs are very different than the usual cruises. I enjoy the service on HAL. We are not “party” people.

I know the flounder is fresh because I catch it in Assawoman Bay. My family also catches and eats rockfish (striped bass) from the bay. When we go off shore we frequent catch and eat big eye & yellow fin tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo. I like the term "locally sourced" much better than fresh.

@chengkp75 I hear you about Flash Frozen fish. I was aware that most fish from a commercial fishing vessel is flash frozen. However, I do not think of flash frozen fish as "Fresh" Maybe it is just a matter of semantics. Perhaps a better title would be LOCAL fish. I am lucky enough to live on the Chesapeake Bay and have a vacation home in Ocean City. Believe me, there is a huge difference between a piece of fresh caught flounder and a piece that has been flash frozen. Flash frozen fish can be kept in the freezer for several months and still be "good". I just don't consider it fresh. @dfishWould not want a tapeworm! Actually, FDA regulations stipulate that fish to be eaten raw, such as sushi, sashimi and ceviche, must be frozen first to kill the parasites.

On World Gratitude Day, I’d like to thank all of you for making the Daily a friendly place to start my day. I particularly appreciate those who post port pictures, the wonderful photos from the garden club and the contributions from the food & beverage department. The quote of the day always makes me think; sometimes I even do a bit of research on the author, so the Daily helps me improve my mind too! This little girl is carrying a sign with a quote from Jimi Hendrix. I think it is the perfect message on International Day of Peace. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

I love fresh fish and look forward to it being sourced at the ports, Fresh means not frozen. I found these comments from @CruiserBruce live on the Zaandam thread to be interesting; Late in our meal, one of the Executive Chef's appeared at out table. We had a nice chat, from which the following was derived. HAL is trying to acquire more "fresh" foods on their cruises where local specialties or supplies exist. For example, in Halifax we picked up salmon, and tomorrow in Charlottetown, we will pick up mussels. He said to watch the menu tomorrow night for mussels. I asked him about the definition of "fresh", and my understanding that protein needed to be frozen. He sort of deflected, but in the end pretty much agreed the salmon was frozen, but the mussels didn't have to be.

I would LOVE a HAL ship to cruise from the port of Baltimore. I think the proximity to BWI with many Southwest flights would be an advantage. I wonder if the Vista class ships would fit under the bridge? I prefer them to the Rotterdam class because we like a standard verandah cabin.

I have an iPhone. Tap Add Files. Tap Photo Library. Tap pictures you want to include. Tap add.Uploaded images will appear below the text. Tap insert. Looking forward to your photos!

I was a bit late to this wonderful Daily party. My first post was 1/23/22 and my first sentence was, “I enjoy reading the Daily but have never posted.” I was nervous because this group seemed to know each other very well; they were so supportive of each other, so positive, so caring. To my surprise I received many “Welcome to the Daily” messages that day. I immediately knew that this was an inclusive group of travelers. Now, I read the Daily with my morning coffee to start my day on a positive note. I don’t post every day; I’m not comfortable sharing many personal details; I don’t have many beautiful port pictures to contribute but when I feel I can make someone smile or contribute some insight from my background as an English teacher, I post. I love to cook and am happy to help with the meal of the day when @dfishis cruising. I hope to see you posting here again @AroundWithMAPTravels

Lemon zest is an excellent substitute for lemongrass. The recipes do look delicious. Today I would like everyone to refer to me as Squidlips Bones Swashbuckler or I may have to make you walk the plank. When my niece and I arrived at the port of Kahului, I rented a car with the intention of driving to Hana. Although it was truly beautiful, the road to Hana was the narrowest, twistiest road I have ever driven. Several times I had to back up because a large tour bus took up the entire road. We stopped at a beautiful scenic overlook to have a picnic lunch. My niece admitted she was feeling a bit car sick and I was happy to turn around and return to the port. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

Who did you use to arrange this private tour?

@CruiserBruceThank you for this wonderful thread, all of your insights and your willingness to answer our questions. Have you seen NFL football in any bars or on your TV? @Heidi13I looked at the schedule @VMax1700kindly posted. According to the schedule, there is no NFL football shown at sea, only in flight. That being said, I was on the Rotterdam last year for Super Bowl and it was shown on the big screen by the Lido pool. I am hopeful that we will be able to see the NFL games somewhere on the ship on Rotterdam TA this year. @Kate45The service you received from your room steward is unacceptable. Did you speak to anyone about it while on board? I have always had superior service from my room steward but if I had an issue, I would report it. I use the Navigator app, for the example, I needed new batteries in my TV remote. When I returned to my room they had been replaced. I use it every night to compliment at least 1 employee who has made my cruise special too.

Happy Monday! My father said yesterday’s Orioles game was the BEST baseball game he had ever attended. Very exciting, very loud crowd. We are ready to “Take October” If you are ever in Baltimore, check out Camden Yards, a beautiful ballpark. (Raven’s Stadium is nice too!) We used to sail to Bimini from Florida when it was a sleepy place. My DH enjoyed the fishing and I enjoyed the friendly locals and small town feeling. As the resorts went up and the casino arrived we started going to other Out Islands in Bahamas. Have not been back for 20 years. @dfish I remember a falafel MOD too. I love it but usually order it in Greek restaurants instead of making it at home. Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

I’ve seen people turned away from the MDR because they looked like they just came from the pool, actually wet. FYI- In the Caribbean, my DH usually wears Khakis and nice “Hawaiian” shirts on “gala” nights and it has never been a problem

Good Morning! Thank you to all who make the Daily a special place. Taking my 87 year old Mom & Dad to see the Orioles today. My Dad is like a little kid, he wants to get there early so he can get the free hat. I think he’d run the bases if they allowed it. I am so lucky to still have both of them.If we win today, we clinch a playoff spot! I hope we will be seeing highlights from the Ravens game on the Jumbotron. If not, I’ll be checking my phone. @ottahand7Cheer extra loud for me. Positive thoughts to those who need them. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

This image is copied from the Navigator app.

Thank you @dfish for the recipes! I love scallops and mushrooms but I don’t think todays recipe should be called Vegan Seared Scallops; it should be called Seared King Mushrooms. I am lucky enough to live close to Kenneth Square, PA and exotic mushrooms are available at my local farmers market. If you like mushrooms I suggest you try toGrow Your Own Mushrooms. I wonder why yesterday’s Daily has been locked? Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

@Susanmaz On the Kdam, the smoking area is by the Seaview Bar which is on the starboard side of the ship on the Lido deck. This is the smoking area on all HAL ships.

Yes, payment of CO is due at booking. Booked during the $1 deposit sale in April. Called my PCC to book. Told her I wanted Club Orange. She booked an unobstructed verandah for the $1 pp deposit. Then immediately added CO and moved me to my preferred verandah, payment for CO was due immediately. It is fully refundable. Booking CO saved me $480 on my preferred verandah.

@voyager1964 I didn’t count the number of ports. I agree with @cruisemom42, longer cruises have fewer children.

@voyager1964 Easter is March 31; there will be MANY children the week prior. Do both cruise depart the 16th? If so, select the cruise with your preferred ports. The ships are sisters. There will be children on both. Book specialty dining and excursions asap.