I will NEVER say NEVER AGAIN - almost live from the Westerdam - November 25th

[trixiee]

Great first day! Thanks for posting! Bon Voyage!:)

[akenned]

Really enjoyed reading about your first day. I will be sailing on the Westerdam in 13 days! :D

[RuthC]

STRYKER is in the piano bar – didn’t have a chance to catch him between the Suite reception and late dining – but we will try to check out and report.

Thank you for mentioning this! I am thrilled to see that Stryker is still on HAL, and happy to know where he is.

If you have a chance, will you please find out how long he'll be on that ship, and where he goes next? Thanks.

 

I wonder if he is still doing his Sunday evening "Old Tyme Gospel Hour"? He drew in crowds that got bigger and bigger each week. He was moved from the Piano Lounge, to the Ocean Bar, and eventually to the show Lounge to have enough seating.

[KirkNC]

Those stools are great but be sure and remember to retrieve what ever is in there at the end of the cruise :p.

[vicocala]

Jacqui, thanks for the report. I am especially interested in your experiences in the MDR after so many horror stories here at CC. I really enjoyed your sailaway and great shots were gotten of you all.

 

Have a wonderful trip!

[Murray's Pop]

 

BTW, N.A. put on a horn-blowing clinic. Westy's lost her title, me thinks!

 

Have to agree on that! Not impressed with the horn. :cool: NA did do a much better job.

[HamburgAvonLady]

Just spent 30 days on the Westerdam this past Oct. (Has almost a month gone by already ??) --- we had a wonderful time --- our SY was lovely -- our room stewards very nice and accommodating. Late seating in the Main Dining Room 99 % of the time --- Lido traffic was crazy with everyone going in every direction plus all the walkers and canes. Food was excellent BUT the coffee was very bitter according to DH. Desserts were pretty good, too.

I did a review on the CC boards -- for all who are sailing in the next few months. Hope you have a great time !!

[kazu]

Jacqui. We checked into the Embassy Suites this morning before 9AM and had a second breakfast in the lobby. I bet we were both there at the same time and didn't notice each other. I didn't realise you would be here. We'll have coffee when you get home and trade stories.

 

We missed you by THAT much:) We were probably done breakfast when you arrived:D absolutely - coffee and stories:)

[kazu]

Hopefully I got a screen shot of the sail away today.

 

 

Have a great time and don't be concerned that there were a few of the white flakes coming down today at home. Nothing serious. And by the way we're freezing here.

 

Thanks for the pics Glen - I'll check it out when I get home - I suspect I will buy again from Lou and Dave:o We had a lot of fun with PeaceLoveCruise and CruiseWhere. PeaceLoveCruise's enthusiasm is contagious:D:D Both very nice couples and our pleasure to meet!

[kazu]

Thank you for mentioning this! I am thrilled to see that Stryker is still on HAL, and happy to know where he is.

If you have a chance, will you please find out how long he'll be on that ship, and where he goes next? Thanks.

 

I wonder if he is still doing his Sunday evening "Old Tyme Gospel Hour"? He drew in crowds that got bigger and bigger each week. He was moved from the Piano Lounge, to the Ocean Bar, and eventually to the show Lounge to have enough seating.

 

Ruth - I will see what I can find out for you - might have to post when I get home or find free wifi (whichever comes first) - but I will get back to you:D

[kazu]

Following along and looking forward to your "live from". Our friends Loralu and Shelly are sailing along with you, part of the CC group!

 

Nice sail-away camera work!

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

They are having fun:D a pleasure to meet them at the M & G today;)

[kazu]

So, were you wearing a blue sweater at the sail-away? Lou and Dave did a nice job of immortalizing you all..... ;)

 

BTW, N.A. put on a horn-blowing clinic. Westy's lost her title, me thinks!

 

Yup - that was us - Lou and Dave are always kind to us - I don't know if it's the flags or that I buy pics -:D It was so fun as a lot of people were waving to us - there is a Canadian and HAL flag in one of the condos:eek::D

[Krazy Kruizers]

How did your Meet & Greet go?

[shrimpboat123]

Thanks for the pics Glen - I'll check it out when I get home - I suspect I will buy again from Lou and Dave:o We had a lot of fun with PeaceLoveCruise and CruiseWhere. PeaceLoveCruise's enthusiasm is contagious:D:D Both very nice couples and our pleasure to meet!

 

Lou & Dave's pic is probably much clearer and probably a better close up. I had a few finger problems when I went to grab the picture.

 

Be sure to absorb all the sun you can. Going down to -10C tonight.

[RuthC]

Ruth - I will see what I can find out for you - might have to post when I get home or find free wifi (whichever comes first) - but I will get back to you:D

Thanks, Jacqui. No rush at all; I'll be here when you get back.

Better you spend your time having a good time.

[kazu]

Jose and I are having fun on our sea day – he has gone to browse and listened to some lectures and I was off to play bingo and piddle around in the casino (I lost everywhere).

Our Meet and Greet was today and so nice to have some officers there – Cruise Director (Jason who is great), hotel manager, beverage manager and of course our events planner.

Everyone had fun and many thanks to Kelly (PeaceLoveCruise) who took this on when the original planner dropped off the cruise. She did a great job.

Gift exchange – although I am not a fan – was actually fun and many people participated. I lucked out getting Kelly’s Colorado memorabilia.

Well you know, I have to say that some things are pretty shabby on this ship. The laundry basket (you know the wicker basket that they deliver the laundry in) looks like it has seen better days. Oh my, oh my =- I hope that doesn’t ruin our cruise!

The grouting on the floor of our bathroom has a couple of gaps – other than that – I really haven’t seen too much.

Breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill today – I think dh is going to go on the hunt to see if they have the fresh squeezed oj or not. I thought it tasted like fresh squeezed that had separated – he thought not. Probably we will bet a toonie and find out!

Lunch in the lido was surprisingly good. We actually ate there rather than take it back to the room. Met another lovely couple and had a lot of fun. Not hectic, not too busy and quite decent food.

I have only inspected 10% of the carpets so far on the ship – but so far can’t find too much that is threadbare – there are no days of the week in the elevators though and I do miss that.

A little comment on the stewards – PeaceLoveCruise had done very nice invitations to the Meet and Greet – I offered to help her deliver them yesterday – she was a little concerned after the sail a way as she had not been able to find them and didn’t know where she had put them. I told her no worries – just let me know. When I got back to my room – my invitation was there – mystery solved – she had left them on her counter area – her steward saw them and delivered them without being asked. Now that is service IMO!

Entertainment – the Westerdam is very planning forward thinking on planning big entertainment. People on the roll call who were on last week’s b2b reported that the entertainment was the best they had ever seen. Jason, the Cruise Director announced at our M & G that the Westie has hired the Recycled Percussionists (I think I have the name right?) who are a huge lead group in Las Vegas on a 5 week trial run. He has urged us all to come. There will be stuff to help play along and ear plugs for those who cannot handle it. As he said it is definitely not Holland America 101. Sounds like they are very forward thinking on this ship. BTW – Dancing with the Stars that they are doing on a trial basis will include the stars and the dance partners! As well as the judges.

Jason, our cruise director commented on cruise critic and how much they appreciate us – also how impressed that a few people talking has grown into over 2,000,000 members. They like it that cc members are educated and not surprised.

Btw – I haven’t found announcement intrusive – but perhaps I am too easy going? Short, sweet and I think they know we know how to read!

Tonight is formal night so I have to attempt to make myself beautiful (lost cause but I have to at least make an effort) so I had better sign off shortly.

 

Smooth Seas all!

[xjust4fun]

Hi Jacqui, just saw your post, wishing you and Jose a Bon Voyage, fair Winds and Smooth Seas. I'm sure you will love the Westy, we were on the ship last year on our South Pacific cruise and we loved it. Will look forward to reading your blog and seeing what you think of your 7 day cruise as we have never done one. We were thinking of trying one while we are in Florida this winter.

 

Diane.

[JamesEM]

Thanks for keeping us posted.

[erewhon]

Thanks for posting updates of your cruise.

 

Am pleased to know that Stryker is still with HAL.

[Bescotti]

I was also on the recent 30 day Hawaii and French Polynesia cruise on the Westerdam and loved it. Jason was the best CD I've come across and he ensured we had some great entertainment acts on board. Mario the DJ also was a lot of fund as was Stryker.

 

At one of the coffee mornings we found out that in dry dock the floors of the elevators were changed and the daily mats no longer fit - not as necessary on a 7 day cruise as on a 30 day one where it is very easy to lose track of the days.

 

Hope you enjoy the Westerdam as much as I did - the crew is one of the main factors as to why it was such a standout for me and it sounds as though you are already seeing examples of this too.

 

Happy cruising

Bev

[luvcruisn']

Bev: Just wanted to say I loved your blog from your latest trip on the Westerdam. I met you on the Antarctica cruise in 2011. Marnie.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks Kazu for checking in.

That is wonderful that the steward took on the repsonsibility of delivering the invitations himself. Not many stewards would do that.

Only comment I have -- I do love your review -- but it is very hard for me to read the fine print (old eyes).

[Bescotti]

Bev: Just wanted to say I loved your blog from your latest trip on the Westerdam. I met you on the Antarctica cruise in 2011. Marnie.

 

Thanks Marnie - I remember what a full day of sightseeing we did in BA before that Antarctic cruise too, which still rates as my favourite destination. Bev

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the update, hope you have a great formal night.

[shrimpboat123]

Thanks Kazu for checking in.

That is wonderful that the steward took on the repsonsibility of delivering the invitations himself. Not many stewards would do that.

Only comment I have -- I do love your review -- but it is very hard for me to read the fine print (old eyes).

 

KK, try holding the CTRL key and hit the + key once or twice. It should magnify the print.