JimnKaren

We went to Beak Restaurant. At the end of Lincoln St., it is very small. And they have a no-tipping policy. We enjoyed our meal. Great atmosphere, in an old house that also houses the public radio station!

https://beakrestaurant.com/

Jim

I generally work on 10 crosswords each day (gotta set a limit). It was always good to have something new and different on board the ship.

I get up early and picking up stuff at the front desk got to be my habit.

Jim

If you look at my signature here, you will notice that Karen and I have been on a buncha cruises. Lots of good times. I have in my dresser drawer all the cruise cards from all those cruises enclosed in a rubber band. This medallion thing doesn't fit in with that.

Jim

Thank you!

Thank you!!

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!!

This is the best "live from" ever!!!!

Thank you!

Jim

If I have to count more than my fingers and toes - I just don't count!

Jim

A lot might also depend on where the ship 'turns around'. What might you do on that day? Some places are more 'convenient' than others. Those days can be goofy sometimes. We have been on them where disembarking passengers get off before turn around passengers. Many times, the turn around passengers only get off early if they have booked a shore excursion with the cruise line.

A turn around in Civitavecchia is different than one in Barcelona. Same with USA, San Diego is much different than Ft. Lauderdale.

Jim

Thanks so far, anyone else have a comment?

Jim

We intend to be on Majestic Princess some time in the future. Karen knits. She needs good light and a space where the other knitters can sit in a reasonable spot and talk about me!! Where are the good spots for those sea days or the days when we don't arrive before noon?

Jim

And...today is the date when I went active duty in the U.S. Navy 55 years ago!

I just might cry tears of joy!

Jim

Now, if we get the stock dividends back, I'll be doubly happy.

Jim

Anytime one takes a cruise of more than 21 days, one will discover that the Holland America staff will really, really get to know you and solve whatever problems you might have! Check my signature, one does not get to that point without taking the longer cruises.

Dining room, bar staff, cabin attendants, and more! They take pride in what they do and will do almost anything to make a l-o-n-g cruise wonderful. DO NOT HESITATE. Book it!

Jim

And...if you wanna sail with Karen and Jim. Just let me know. I'll take you under my 'wing' and see that you get treated appropriately.

Jim

Oh My!!

Jim

I think that I would not want to be in the home office trying to decide things like this. Also, with 4 ships gone will there be an extra number of potential crew members? Or...might all those people have moved on to something else? And, then there is the issue of getting all those folks from point A to point B (wherever that might be and whenever that might be).

Jim

Do some looking online. See when the sun sets and rises. Those can be long days and can disturb your usual sleep cycle.

Jim

The idea of possibly testing everyone (passengers and crew) daily would mean a BIG expense. Would the cruise lines pass that along to the passengers? Would they reduce the pay to the crew? Depending on the size of the ship, possibly three or more additional crew members to do the checking and paperwork involved.

Jim

I do recall standing and facing east (?) in school at 11:00 a.m. in the 1950s.

I am a vet. I went into the US Navy in 1966 and I weighed 165. I got out in 1970 and weighed 240!! Lots of sitting on bar stools!!!

I don't regret any time that I spent in the service.

Jim

On Eurodam, soon after it was re-configured, I spoke with a crew member in the Crow's Nest asking for the location of the book exchange. She told me that Seattle was discouraging that practice, thus no area set aside for books like that! Boo! Hiss!

Jim

Many hours were spent in the libraries on the four ships that were dismissed from the HAL fleet. Although there no longer were librarians, most of the books got shelved and sorted (I spent many hours before 6 a.m. doing that on Amsterdam last year). What happened to all those books? Did they stay with the ships (sold "as-is"), even though they all had Holland America Lines stamped on them? And what about all the books that were in the book exchanges?

We were on Eurodam right after dry dock 'fixed' the Crow's nest. I was told by two employees that book exchanges were being discontinued, as HAL didn't want to get into being a library. The put lots of pretty 'coffee table-type' books up there and hoped that passengers would appreciate how pretty they were. I saw one woman turn the pages and then put it back.

The newer ships don't have "library" space. What happened to all the books?

Jim

We are booked on Nieuw Statendam 1/6/21 for 21 days. Our roll call is getting it on. Yeah, some have bailed on us, but we still have a good group going (I hope). I did speculate that if we get cancelled, maybe we would meet at someone's house for a full day of revelry. No takers.

We have the cat sitter lined up and all is ready (no luggage yet as the cat goes nutso). I cannot imagine it not happening. I am not even crossing my fingers. I need this time away!!

Jim

Don't be afraid to rent a car. We have done it several times. It is easy to take impulse side trips. Signs are easy to read, just be aware of the speedy drivers on the auto strata.

Jim

I don't own and hand-held device. I don't intend to own one.

If HAL provides some sort of 'wrist band' then I will wear it on my ankle.

Jim

We were scheduled for a Montreal to Ft. Lauderdale on Zaandam for about this date (give or take a day). We were gonna visit with some folks we met on previous cruises. We're stuck in Florida. Rats!

Jim

And...if you sit in the front row in the Cabaret Lounge, you cannot slouch as your feet would be on the stage.

Jim