Oosterdam - Dancing With The Stars - 6/30-7/7

[tapdancemom]

Wednesday - Juneau

 

Stopped keeping notes today so will be writing the rest of this by memory. Gary and I took advantage of the perk of having breakfast in The Pinnacle Grill this morning. It was quiet and the service excellent. We started with muffins and coffe and Gary moved on to a bacon and egg combo and I had the Muesli again followed by a Southwestern omlette, which was really good. The coffee here was much better than anywhere else, except Neptune lounge, on the ship.

 

After breakfast we got off the ship and took a ride up the mountain on the tram. So foggy, couldn't see much from the top. Gary hiked up a trail while I stayed and made some phone calls to my daughter and sister. Then I started thinking, he went up alone and what if he ran into a bear. He was back soon, whew! Safe and no bears.

 

There was an injured eagle that we saw. Poor thing will never be released into the wild. Missing one eye and has a deformed beak.

 

There was a film on Alaska that we checked out and there was a delightful family that sang and played music, and shared stories throughout the film.

 

Back down the mountain, bought some postcards to mail later. Can't remember where we had lunch when we got aboard again. Gary had a helicopter flight and glacier walk scheduled for the afternoon, meeting at 2:15 and lasting several hours. I decided to take a nap. Well it wasn't too long before he was back in the cabin. the excursion was cancelled, too foggy for the flight. Both earlier times were cancelled too. Very disappointing.

 

The show that evening was Simply Broadway, with the singers, sadly no dancers. As I mentioned before not real thrilled with the singers on this cruise except Jesse, he was definitely the strongest. We decided to go to the Indonesian Crew show at eleven. Our waiter Andy was in the "Monkey Dance". Our tablemates had gone to this show on another cruise and raved about it. The MC was humorous and made it fun but some of the numbers were WAY TOO LONG.

 

I think we headed back to the casino as usual for a bit then off to our cabin.

[debjo]

For tapdancemom...

Carson Kresley wasn't on our DWTS cruise...we only had four people from the show: Mark Ballas, Chelsie Hightower, Shawn Johnson, and Joey Fatone. (If you haven't read my review, go to this link http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1873895 or search for JUST BACK..VEENDAM 6/22 .) You were very fortunate to have five people from the show. The only ones that participated in the fashion show on our cruise were Chelsie Hightower and the ladies from the show's dance troupe. The MC was someone closely connected with the show's costumes, but someone we didn't recognize and most likely worked behind the scenes.

 

Sorry to read that some of your ALASKA cruise was hampered by fog, as was our CANADIAN cruise. When we went to Alaska during the month of May, just two weeks after the "cruise season" opened there...we were blessed with gorgeous sunny weather. We thoroughly enjoyed Mt. Roberts Tram and the views from up there were spectacular. We, also flew up to the glaciers on a helicopter, but went dog sledding instead of hiking. I'm sorry that your helicopter excursion was cancelled because of the fog...guess you'll just have to try another Alaskan cruise during a different time of the year!

 

You are lucky that Shawn was able to dance. I'm sure she probably was "holding back", from what she shared on our cruise, it seems that her knee problem (dislocation) might be something that happens now and again.

 

Before our cruise, we'd read about the INDONESIAN SHOW and looked forward to it. Sadly, we didn't seem to have one on our Canadian cruise...and I don't think we missed it, as we devoured the ship's daily paper each night and again each morning.

 

Thank you so much for sharing tidbits from your cruise...we're not only reliving our DWTS Canadian cruise, but also remembering the great time we had in Alaska six years ago, as well as our "treat" to the Neptune Suite and all it's amenities from our Westerdam cruise in 2006. You've got three of our favorite cruises all wrapped up on one!

 

Debjo

[cruz chic]

Thanks for the latest instalment. Looking forward to the rest.

[Typhoon1]

Looking forward to the next update.

[tapdancemom]

Thursday - Sitka

 

Happy 4th of July! was the greeting this morning in the Pinnacle grill for breakfast. Again quiet and relaxed. Gary had the eggs benedict again and I the Spanish omlette. We also had muffins, fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice.

 

Gary took the tender into Sitka and because I walk with a cane I decided to stay onboard. Well it was down to the Neptune Lounge for cappacino, tarts and fruit and reading my book. I was happy.

 

The main focuas of the day was the Dancing with the Stars at sea performances tonight. The first show was at 8:00 so I skipped dessert and was in the Vista Lounge by 7:15 with my book again to secure a prime seat to watch the show. It was announced that the showroom would be cleared between shows to give the second seating folks to get a chance to get a good seat. We were allowed to get back in line if we wanted to go to the 10:00 show as well. Of coarse! Gary was going with me to that one. We were able to get seats almost as good as the first show.

 

The show was fabulous! Now I am a big fan of the TV show and dance in general so I was in my element. The opening number was sharp! The three troupe guy dancers are absolutely incredible, strong, great lines, powerful and technically sound. The girls good too. I didn't take notes on all of the different routines like I thought I would, just enjoyed the experience. Shawn Johnson was wearing a knee brace and was definitely holding back a little, still adorable. Sabrina Bryan, every bit as good as I remembered from the show. A real dynamo, and right on the money as far as steps and timing. Carson, while definitely not a dancer of the same caliber as the two ladies, has personality plus. He did Move Like Jagger with Kym and Vogue with the three troupe guys and Tristan. He had the audience going wild. Kym and Tristan of course were all I expected dance wise and personality. The second show was just as high energy from the dancers and the audience was really pumped. Great shows.

[Copper10-8]

After being onboard OSDM for two weeks, the DWTS cast, troupe and support personnel; they have their "own" CD, Jason Venner, are leaving tomorrow in Seattle. They drew "full houses" for all four of their shows. Great entertainment, enjoyed by both pax and crew ! :)

[tapdancemom]

Copper 10-8, I would love to get that "CD", do you know how it can be ordered?

[tapdancemom]

Friday - Ketchikan

 

Gary and I were off the ship by 9:30 and looked into an independent excursion, not one from HAL. I got nervous though because I thought it was cutting it too close to get back the ship in time. We walked around, got a latte and shopped.

 

After boarding we went up to the Lido for the salmon bake. There was yummy salmon and mussels and headed into the buffet area as all the outside seating was taken. Gary went back for more salmon and I hit the salad section.

 

In the afternoon I visited the Digital Workshop for the Slideshow and Movie creation class. Using Windows 8 the instructor was helping us to learn to put our own slideshows together. We all got luggage tag holders and wish I had tried the workshops earlier in the week. Fun and informative.

 

Gary and I met at the MDR for the Indonesian Tea. There were several kinds of teas (I had Jasmine) and two coffee choices (Gary was happy about that since he's not much of a tea drinker). There were cookies and colorful cupcakes as well as little sandwiches.

 

This was formal night and we had dinner in the Pinnacle grill. We both had the shrimp cocktail. Gary had a Caesar salad prepared tableside. No anchovies for him though. I had the lobster bisque. Fantastic, so flavorful.

Gary and I both chose the filet mignon and prawns. I had baked Alaska, much better than the one served in the MDR. I can't remember the desert Gary ordered.

 

We skipped the DWTSAS autograph session. We had not bought the pictures. I found out later they did have Tshirts for sale and I would have bought one for my granddaughter and had it signed. Oh well.

 

Gary went to the casino while I went to the showroom for the performance of Stage And Screen by the Oosterdam singers and dancers. There was a number "You Can Keep Your Hat ON" from Moulan Rouge. Not appropriate for family audiences. That was disappointing. Again dancers - good, singers not so much.

 

Joined Gary in the casino after. They have an area designated for smoking but as long as you were on the other side it was not a problem.

[Copper10-8]

Copper 10-8, I would love to get that "CD", do you know how it can be ordered?

 

Sure, but when I saw him this morning, he was still trying to get his voice back while looking to gather up all his DWTS peeps;)