rafinmd

I was late to the Fleet Report and Daily today. Up early to see Nieuw Amsterdam arrive but one of the things I have tried to do for environmental stewardship is leave my car parked one day each week. That's usually Sunday because I need the car most other days but can either worship online or get to the church by bus. Today was supposed to be rain all day and I doubted if I could get my walking in. The early reports were that the rain would hold off until at least 8, so I did my walking as soon as it was light enough and it worked well but I didn't finish walking until about 8:30. The walk also took me to the local grocery store so now I'm hunkered down for the day although the rain doesn't seem quite as bad as predicted. @JazzyV so sorry about BFF's dad but he is lucky to have such a supportive family. Roy

Was that by chance Ryan Baird. Funny thing at least for me about him. In the course of less than a month he was both the worst and the best location guide I experienced. This was one of my crazy strings of cruises starting with a 2017 Caribbean cruise on the Koningsdam. While people try to be professional the human factor does come into the equation. On the Caribbean his presentations seemed uninspired a I felt like he was just going through the motions. He had told us he was leaving in Aruba to join another ship. About 3 weeks later I was on the Zaandam Buenos Aires to San Diego. When I stepped off the ship at our first port there was Ryan and in that region he was fantastic with both fabulous information on the ports plus the geology of the ring of fire and everything else in the region. Awesome! Sandi, if this is the guy (I think it is) I strongly recommend his talks. Roy

I highly trust Luggage Forward's customer service and would believe what they tell you. I think also that as long as your name is on the tag HAL will figure it out from their mainfest. Roy

I was thinking the same thing but I think Volendam still has the old TV's which may not have those interactive features. I hope Naki Ataman's appearance at the coffee chat was due to his availability and not an issue with the Doctor. Roy

Unfortunate that it's happening in the afternoon but at least you can go elsewhere for a toilet if needed. It might be a more significant issue if it was the entire ship in the afternoon but either local or middle of the night should not be a big deal. Roy

Thank you for the Sunday report, Rich. I think if I ever got a pie in the face I would prefer Bavarian Cream. I won't adopt a turtle but will salute those who do. I like the Palahniuk quote. I have not been to Limassol but remember it as one of the places ships hung out during the shutdown. The meal sounds nice. My alternative is Honey Dew Melon and Papaya Gazpacho, and Grilled Lamb Chops with Apple Chutney as served on MS Prinsendam November 27, 2013. Today’s care list: RIP Irene Cara Mamaofami grandson with Covid and Carol possibly exposed Jazzyv canceling cruise due to friend’s hospitalization Safe travels for those returning home Ottahand7 Brother in rehab From the rotation: Kazu severe foot injury Crabbbi Patti dealing with Dad’s dimentia Quartzite Cruiser DH in rehab Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidneyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Celebrations and Shoutouts: New family member for Seasick Sailor Baby Ethan Welcome aboard lobsternight Nieuw Amsterdam in Everglades New furnithre for Cruisin Terri (and responding to prednizone) 7 days for Mister67 (Nieuw Amsterdam 12/4 to 12/11) 6 days for Dobiemom (Discovery Princess 12/3 to 12/10) 4 days for Lady Hudson (Enchantment OTS, 12/1 to 12/9) 1 days for SusiekIslandGirl (Island Princess 11/28 to 12/12) Welcome home Crazy for Cats Cruise Suzy, Lazey1, and HAL Lover (Rotterdam to 11/30), Ichiban Nekko and Himself (Nieuw Statendam 11/26 to 12/3) StLouisCruiser and Summer Slope (Volendam to 12/17) at sea Cunnorl (Noordam to 1/2/23), Damcruiser (Nieuw Statendam to 1/14/23), and Horizon Chaser1957 (Zaandam to 12/20; Zuiderdam 12/22 to 5/12/23) at sea Roy

And she's here" Roy

Well, this Small Business Saturday I didn't buy anything but I did recently buy a pair of Travelsmith slacks for Dressy nights. On my last cruise I discovered they had come unhemmed, so today I took them to my neighborhood tailor shop to get them ready for next time. Roy

Bon Voyage! Roy

All gone now. 3 rumbles from Harmony and 2 Love Boat toots from Sky. Roy

On the Eurodam it was 2 so it would probably be the same. Roy

Speaking of Thanksgiving we had a discussion of that over on the HAL forum. I was never a foodie. The things that drew me to Crystal were the Promenade Deck, the Enrichment and Entertainment, and of course the crew. While the menu was way above my tastes I always enjoyed the food and the way they catered to the customer, from my Trident Ham and Cheese to my tablemates on one cruise who decided on a PBJ. These were my Thanksgiving choices this year: Not really much to say about the corn. I grew up in Central New York and always preferred wax beans to green beans. They are rare here and the ones I can get are higher in sodium so they stay a special treat these days. Ham has always been a favorite of mine and there a little bit of tradition. I closed on my house the day before Thanksgiving back in 1971 and in those days stores closed early for the holiday so I grabbed what looked nice at our 7-11. Much nicer now that I don't need to eat it on a card table and folding chair. Nothing special about the Key Lime Pie but it's a favorite and it was beckoning to me in the freezer case. Roy

Welcome to the Daily and Fleet Report. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2013 combination starting with the Crystal Symphony New York to Miami and then MS Prinsendam to the Amazon and back. November 26 was part of the interlude between ships in Fort Lauderdale. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2013 combination starting with the Crystal Symphony New York to Miami and then MS Prinsendam to the Amazon and back. November 26 was part of the interlude between ships in Fort Lauderdale. Roy

I almost missed this but got here just in time for LOTS of toots. I wonder if they were celebratory or for the traffic. Did anybody see @Himself? Roy

It seems to vary by cabin on the R-class. I've had cabins where magnets stuck and others where they didn't. Not sure if it's because some walls separate watertight walls or other section borders, some that may have been replaced or what but that's been my experience. I would say most don't. Roy

Thank you for the Saturday report, Rich. I'll celebrate all 3 of the days with a special salute to small businesses. I was in Halong Bay once in 2012 on the Zaandam. I love the Sparks quote but will pass on the Onion Soup. My alternative is Chilled Pear, Cucumber, and Melon Gaspacho and Penne Frecasca my first dinner on the Prinsendam Amazon Explorer November 26, 2013. Today’s care list: Mamaofami grandson with Covid and Carol possibly exposed Jazzyv canceling cruise due to friend’s hospitalization Safe travels for those returning home Kazu severe foot injury Ottahand7 Brother in Cruisin Terri continuing autoimmune flareup From the rotation: Luvteaching DH recovering from fall Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1) and JAM37 (7/7) HAL Sailer Sister in Law with aggressive cancer therapy Cruisin Terri leak damage Celebrations and Shoutouts: Nieuw Statendam in Everglades A new Elliott Rose photo Segarsmoker starting to feel better 6 days for Lady Hudson (Enchantment OTS, 12/1 to 12/9) 2 days for SusiekIslandGirl (Island Princess 11/28 to 12/12) Bon Voyage Ichiban Nekko and Himself (Nieuw Statendam 11/26 to 12/3) Welcome home GTVCRUISER Cruise Suzy, Lazey1, and HAL Lover (Rotterdam to 11/30), StLouisCruiser and Summer Slope (Volendam to 12/17) at sea Cunnorl (Noordam to 1/2/23), Damcruiser (Nieuw Statendam to 1/14/23), and Horizon Chaser1957 (Zaandam to 12/20; Zuiderdam 12/22 to 5/1223) at sea Roy

Appears Nieuw Statendam has pilot on board. Roy

That isn't really Medicare. It's something that IMHO is mostly a scam called Medicare Advantage but it is private insurance usurping Medicare's name. They charge Medicare more than what it would likely cost if you were under real medicare, and make much of their money by restricting the physicians you can use and often requiring pre-certifcation that often results in denials of needed care. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2014 Wind Star Transatlantic. November 25 was a sea day a few days short of our disembarkation in Barbados: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2014 Wind Star Transatlantic. November 25 was a sea day a few days short of our disembarkation in Barbados: Roy

Thank you for the Black Friday report, Rich. I like all 3 of today's days although I have no real shopping goals. I love the Fitzgerald quote and have been to Vigo just once, way back in 1996 on the Crystal Symphony. I'll pass on the meal since I don't eat seafood. My alternative is my final served meal from my recent trip, Rigatoni Bolognese and Ultimate Mayer Lemon Cake as served on Amtrak's Auto Train returning from the Eurodam on November 21. Today’s care list: Jazzyv canceling cruise due to friend’s hospitalization Safe travels for those returning home Kazu severe foot injury Ottahand7 Brother in rehab with poor prognosis Bennybear skin biopsy results Cruisin Terri continuing autoimmune flareup From the rotation: Crabbbi Patti dealing with Dad’s dimentia Quartzite Cruiser DH in rehab Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and poor attitude Celebrations and Shoutouts: Aliaschief in California Kazu’s luggage returned 7 days for Lady Hudson (Enchantment OTS, 12/1 to 12/9) 3 days for SusiekIslandGirl (Island Princess 11/28 to 12/12) 1 day for Ichiban Nekko and Himself (Nieuw Statendam 11/26 to 12/3) GTVCRUISER (Koningsdam to 11/26), Cruise Suzy, Lazey1, and HAL Lover (Rotterdam to 11/30), StLouisCruiser and Summer Slope (Volendam to 12/17) at sea Cunnorl (Noordam to 1/2/23), Damcruiser (Nieuw Statendam to 1/14/23), and Horizon Chaser1957 (Zaandam to 12/20; Zuiderdam 12/22 to 5/1223) at sea Roy

Oops! Yes, 2023. Roy

Well, I'm really neither cooking or hosting (just throwing some stuff in the oven or stove top but here's mine. Not really much to say about the corn. When I grew up in Central New York Wax beans were more popular than green beans and I still prefer them. What I can get here are higher in sodium than green beans, so they're saved for special occasions. I love ham but there's also a bit of tradition behind it. I closed on my house on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 1970. At the time stores closed early on that Wednesday and the selection at the neighborhood convenience store was limited. That ham was cooked in my camping mess kit and consumed on a folding card table and chair but I still enjoyed it. There's no tradition on the Key Lime Pie but I saw it in the store yesterday and decided why not. Roy PS: Next year I'm planning an easy thanksgiving. For Canadian Thanksgiving (10/9) I'll be on QM2 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and 11/23 will be my final sea day on the Rotterdam.