oakridger

It's not listed as always available but each day there is a salmon, chicken/steak and pasta dish as well as the Rustic Homemade Lasagna listed since I've been onboard on September 25th. (Nieuw Amsterdam and currently Rotterdam). The Lido buffet here on Rotterdam seems to have Beechers Mac and Cheese some nights from what I recall.

No wine is allowed without paying a corkage fee. You can carry on a "reasonable" number of bottles but all must pay corkage. Per HAL website.

Hi, thanks Maryell! I’m disappointed I didn’t get to spend more time with you and Marge. It’s been a wild couple of days on Rotterdam! Captain just announced we have a serious medical emergency and now will divert to Grand Turk at 2am and stay until tomorrow afternoon. We’ll miss St. Marten then. So glad I’m very flexible regarding traveling!! Still enjoying it. Hope to cross paths again sometime! ~Nancy

And now Rotterdam is stopping in Grand Turk at 2am tomorrow morning for a medical emergency and so we’ll stay there until 2pm tomorrow. Good thing we’re all very flexible on board the Rotterdam these days! ~Nancy

Yes, I had to use it in the last couple months and they were very accommodating. On turn around day on the back to back yesterday they brought all the people who needed them wheelchairs and nice men to push us off and on after immigration check. I just tell them when I arrive and you may need to wait a little if they have a lot of requests but as they told me….”we won’t leave you behind”!

Yes, I actually saw it happening from my veranda on deck 5! That picture is nothing like what their vessel/raft looked like! Can't believe everything on the internet!!! 😏 The article posted above by @Petunia1950 was pretty concise and the video is the real deal!! ~Nancy

No toot from Rotterdam. Maybe too late for noise ordinance?

@HamOpJust to clarify, there were 14 people rescued. What good fortune with the whole chain of events. It was just getting dark so if we had passed them maybe 15 minutes later no one would have seen them at all!!

Yes, the Rotterdam was delayed, but actually less than about 2 hours. A very happy ending for 14 VERY lucky people. If interested, you can read the thread I started earlier. Rotterdam had been scheduled to start debarkation tomorrow late morning then depart at 9pm. Always with the caveat "subject to change". ~Nancy

Yes, Rich, they were even hard to see with the spotlights on them. The swells are pretty big and when they were in the trough, I couldn't see them for a few seconds. A couple times I thought they had been swamped. I didn't see at that time that it wasn't a real boat. I saw one guy fall in the water and my heart sank but his people got him back into the raft quickly. Oh yes, they are very lucky!!

On Rotterdam there are 12 oz cans of water included with the package. (pop top) I have had doubles and was not charged for the second shot, just two as part of the package.

People on the ship cheered and clapped when they got on. After they were onboard, there was all kinds of chunks of Styrofoam debris floating by then they let their "boat" loose as we started to move forward. Their boat was just a bunch of huge styrofoam pieces held together with a few wood planks! There was a makeshift mast but no sail and some tarps on the floor part.

After they were safely onboard the Captain thanked "the person who spotted them" as well as the medical and hotel crew. He first reported 13 but changed it to 13 males and 1 female. I estimated 10 when they were up close. They were waving and yelling in what I believe was Spanish.

The first announcement was at about 5:45 pm and they were onboard at about 7:10pm. Captain asked to not take any pictures so I didn't but I'll bet someone did.

I started another thread for this topic so I will post details as I saw them there. VERY scary and ended well! Whew! ~Nancy

Oops, just saw that someone reported this on the Rotterdam sailing into Hurricane thread. Captain updated to 14 people after the initial count of 13

We just rescued 13 males and one female off a thrown together "boat". Capatin said all are medically healthy and we may transfer them to a Coast Guard boat later. Whew are they some lucky people! More to follow. I'm going to go cry and have a drink first! ~Nancy

Msolberg, That’s a good sign! Thanks for the info. ~Nancy

I love those eclipse pictures!

Thanks Roy! I've only posted a few times on the Daily but read it sporadically. I follow your blog also so know your whereabouts! Captain on the Rotterdam didn't mention what's happening with your ship in his announcement at about 12:30 today, but clearly the port is closed to all ships tomorrow. Glad you're safely ensconced in a dry hotel. ~Nancy

Yes, @breakironis correct. Captain did say they tried to arrange an alternate Florida port for Wednesday but obviously weren't able to. People with flights out using FlighEase will be rebooked. Everyone on the ship is getting free internet to use if they don't already have it. We'll keep you informed of any further announcements.

Yes, @breakironis correct. Captain did say they tried to arrange an alternate Florida port for Wednesday but obviously weren't able to. People with flights out using FlighEase will be rebooked. Everyone on the ship is getting free internet to use if they don't already have it. We'll keep you informed of any further announcements. ~Nancy

I'm on the Rotterdam now, ending the first segment of a B2B. Captain said earlier he is adjusting our path toward Florida to have the smoothest ride possible. He said he'll keep us updated. I'll post here whenever I hear anything more tomorrow. Fingers crossed for everyone impacted! ~Nancy

I hope Florida catches a break this time with Nicole! I'm arriving at Port Everglades on Wednesday on the Rotterdam and leaving that afternoon on Rotterdam for an 11 day Southeastern Caribbean cruise. The captain announced earlier that he is adjusting our path toward Florida tomorrow in order to get the smoothest ride he can. He did say everything is up to change so of course he'll keep us informed. I hope both ships get out of port in time to make a beeline out of the path of the storm! I'll report anything else we hear from the captain tomorrow. ~Nancy

I made a 3x5 fluorescent colored card that says "I'll Be Right Back" on it. Waiters get a kick out of it, and it's worked every time so far for me!! I use it at the bar too. I'm on Rotterdam right now and have seen people heading toward my table while i'm up getting something and they look at it then keep walking. Can't post a picture of it right now ~ Nancy