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Live from Eurodam, Canada/New England, Sept. 22

sppunk

By sppunk,
in Holland America Line

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sail7seas

sail7seas

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GREAT, GREAT, GREAT,

 

Love your thread and the photo from PEI is beautiful.

You couldn't have been more mean to show us the empty mussel shells. Hope they were as delicious as usual. We never miss a chance for mussels in Charlottetown. We order by the Bucket...... not just a plate for us!!! :) But I must admit I never thought to actually count how many we were served. :eek:

 

Love your 'overheard' comments....... indeed, I am sure that gray haired man must have stood out from oh so many others!@! :D

 

Thanks for sharing with us and have fun.

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sppunk

sppunk

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Greetings from Sydney. I haven't found the opera house I've heard so much about, but I promise to keep looking for you guys.

 

When I left you yesterday, we were about to leave Lobster on the Wharf (we HIGHLY recommended this joint fwiw) after eating mussels and head to the Lido mussel bake. I took one for the team and again ate a giant bowl of mussels. Pretty sure these were brought on in PEI; they were actually, surprisingly great.

 

For dinner, guess what I had? More PEI mussels. If PEI mussels had stock, I'd be a rich, rich man.

 

Today we decided to take it easy and stick close to "home." The better half will celebrate a birthday on board soon and we have a lot of onboard credit to spend thanks to last year's Veendam experience, so she got her first-of-two massages and we walked around this tiny town. Not much here as the place has gone through the ringers due to industries failing/leaving. They are fighting hard to rekindle Sydney though, and I sincerely hope they succeed in doing so. It always pains me to see a former booming region so down on its luck. But there is nothing here and wifi doesn't work at the terminal. Pro tip: Tim Horton's is always eager to rescue (where we are now).

 

There is a ginormous fiddle here. I also saw a quite a few sticks during our walk.

 

Which begs the question: Is this where the term "fiddlesticks" originated? Sydney should totally claim it — they could use it as a selling point to would-be tourists. (Dear Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, I'll wait patiently for my royalties check).

 

To date, this cruise has been a tremendous hit. Eurodam provides IMO HAL's best vacation. She is spotless, well maintained, innovative and loved by the crew. We will miss her next Wednesday morning when we get thrown off onto 12th Avenue in NYC. Tamarind Monday was spectacular. The Vietnamese lamb (extra spicy please) melts in your mouth. The service is personal and refined. HAL's best specialty restaurant, bar none.

 

Oh! The B.B. King Blues Club — that thing is HOPPING. Always standing-room only and quite good. A big addition to Eurodam.

 

Have a trip on her soon? I'm already jealous.

 

This afternoon there is a Poutine Bar at the Lido during sail away. I will be taking advantage of this, to show solidarity to my Canadian brethren of course.

 

Tonight the Cape Breton Fiddlers perform. I doubt we make it but I'll try to find out how it went. A Weng-Weng (or two, but who's counting?) in the piano bar is in the near future, too.

 

We have made great friends - our age from right outside Rotterdam and we shut the ship down nightly. Great times.

 

Tomorrow we sail into Halifax, mirroring the path many of our ancestors made generations ago. Our arrival will be under extremely different circumstances, for that I am thankful. Our plan? Brewery tours, walking around and getting lost, visiting the awesome Farmers' Market. More on this and much more later.

 

That's all for now from the blue-hulled Musseldam.

 

Observed comment of the day

"I think I hurt my ankle. One of the side-effects of my medication is pulled tendons, and I think that's what happened."

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sail7seas

sail7seas

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<snip>

 

To date, this cruise has been a tremendous hit. Eurodam provides IMO HAL's best vacation. She is spotless, well maintained, innovative and loved by the crew. We will miss her next Wednesday morning when we get thrown off onto 12th Avenue in NYC. Tamarind Monday was spectacular. The Vietnamese lamb (extra spicy please) melts in your mouth. The service is personal and refined. HAL's best specialty restaurant, bar none.

 

Oh! The B.B. King Blues Club — that thing is HOPPING. Always standing-room only and quite good. A big addition to Eurodam.

 

Have a trip on her soon? I'm already jealous.

 

This afternoon there is a Poutine Bar at the Lido during sail away. I will be taking advantage of this, to show solidarity to my Canadian brethren of course.

 

Tonight the Cape Breton Fiddlers perform. I doubt we make it but I'll try to find out how it went. A Weng-Weng (or two, but who's counting?) in the piano bar is in the near future, too.

 

We have made great friends - our age from right outside Rotterdam and we shut the ship down nightly. Great times.

 

Tomorrow we sail into Halifax, mirroring the path many of our ancestors made generations ago. Our arrival will be under extremely different circumstances, for that I am thankful. Our plan? Brewery tours, walking around and getting lost, visiting the awesome Farmers' Market. More on this and much more later.

 

That's all for now from the blue-hulled Musseldam.

 

Observed comment of the day

"I think I hurt my ankle. One of the side-effects of my medication is pulled tendons, and I think that's what happened."

 

 

We so agree about Eurodam. We have enjoyed some wonderful cruises on her. :)

 

 

If you happen to be up at sail in tomorrow for Halifax, be on deck. Halifax always sends out some bagpipers to welcome the ship.

As many times as we have seen them in their plaids and heard their piping, I always enjoy it. Such a nice welcome. They will also 'pipe' you away when you sail out late afternoon.

 

Have fun...... (and have a steamed whole lobster in Halifax if you can.) It's a real treat. :)

 

Happy Birthday to your DW and thanks to you both for taking us along with you.

 

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sppunk

sppunk

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Greetings from Halifax.

 

A bit of HAL news to start off: This is the last trip for Eurodam's current hotel director/hotel manager Stan Kuppens. He is leaving to begin work on the Pinnacle Class ships. Wednesday the crew made a farewell video for him. We can't see it of course but were told by reliable sources it was a big undertaking and went very successful. I have a feeling he will be missed on the Eurodam.

 

Yesterday's Poutine Bar was well received. Fresh fries served with your choice of toppings (sausage, ground beef, fajita steak, chicken, tofu) and gravy. It was a nice little snack. It led to a nice nap too.

 

We hit pretty gnarly weather leaving Sydney, so much the captain came all systems (in staterooms too) and ordered all decks and private balconies closed. Winds of 60+ and seas around 20-24' can cause suck actions I suppose. Thankfully for those without sea legs the worst lasted only two or so hours. Being a young, American male I "broke the rules" and admired the weather from my Upper Promenade VD balcony. I was getting heavy spray - and our cabin is an aft VD!

 

Last night during dinner reminded me why we love cruising. And no, it wasn't the food (though the veggie curry and banana ice cream were both very good). There is a solo diner next to us and we overheard her talking with a waiter about her travels. She has 500+ days on HAL but does other extensive land tours. She told a story of how she and a coworker went to Thailand - her coworker didn't want to originally go so this woman paid her way, meals and lodging included. Turns out the trip was when the tsunami hit and the next thing the lady knows is her and her friend are holding onto tree branches for survival. Her friends' tree branch didn't hold unfortunately and she was never found. I don't post this to be depressing, but to show how cruising can bring out the most extraordinary stories you'll ever hear. This lady told the story with more grace you can imagine.

 

Early this morning a Bright Star announcement was heard - thoughts and prayers to that individual and his/her family.

 

We walked to the Citadel and took a tour with a really good with a college student, then walked down to the Maritime Museum and then to Alexander Keith's and Garrison's. I love beer!

 

The sun finally came out today too and the temps approached 70, a vast difference than we've seen this far.

 

Tomorrow we are in Bar Harbor. Hopefully tendering goes quickly so we can make our trip up to Cadillac Mountain. I'm not hopeful that happens.

 

That's all for now from the blue-hulled Eurodam.

 

Observed comment of the day

At least four people in the Explorations Lounge as we experienced heavy seas: "I promise it isn't the drinks causing me to walk this way."

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sppunk

sppunk

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Good morning from a sun-drenched Bar Harbor!

 

53tnwg.jpg

 

We have a tour schedules with National Park Tours - but have to be there by 9:30. We've been warned the immigration and tender operation is a cluster here so I'll check in later with full details.

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sail7seas

sail7seas

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<snip>

 

 

A bit of HAL news to start off: This is the last trip for Eurodam's current hotel director/hotel manager Stan Kuppens. He is leaving to begin work on the Pinnacle Class ships. Wednesday the crew made a farewell video for him. We can't see it of course but were told by reliable sources it was a big undertaking and went very successful. I have a feeling he will be missed on the Eurodam.

 

<snip>

 

 

The very excellent Hotel Director, Stan Kuppens, has been the 'take out' Hotel Manager/Director for all HAL ships since Noordam, which entered the fleet in 2006. :) He does it so well and most certainly will do the same for Pinnacle Class!!

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sppunk

sppunk

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Good afternoon from Bar Harbor.

 

First thing first: I mentioned yesterday about a Blue Star call. I just read a story that the Canadian authorities are investigating this death. Details here: http://blog.halifaxshippingnews.ca/2013/09/hrp-investigating-death-aboard-eurodam.html?spref=tw&m=1

 

Yesterday we were serenaded by the bagpipers as we left Halifax. Let me say something I've always felt: bagpipes are very unnecessary. Only are the fitting in a Scottish celebration and only for a minute at a time. 25 straight minutes makes me wish for bad things.

 

Last night's dinner featured rack of lamb. I can honestly say it was the best I have ever eaten.

 

Bar Harbor is the first US port on this cruise, this immigration is necessary for everyone. US citizens reported to Deck 2's midship elevator bank (then through Northern Lights) while all non-US citizens (including all Canadians) went to the meeting rooms on Deck 3. Pinnacle and Neptune guests and 4- and 5-star Mariners were called first around 8 a.m. Then we're HAL excursions, from A to V. Then decks were called staring at 11 and ending with 1. We were on deck4, only a 3 star Mariner and on a private excursion. We were called at 9:10 a.m., the after went straight to pick up tender tickets. After a 5 minute wait our number was called. Ultimate we stepped on Bar Harbor's tender dock at 9:45 a.m., just enough time to make our Acadia tour. Overall it went efficient - returning was easy as well, no more than a 10 minute wait.

 

Instead of describing Acadia National Park, I'm going to shut up and let a few iPhone pictures do the talking.

 

image.jpg

 

image.jpg

 

image.jpg

 

After our tour we wandered and then found lunch.

 

The obligatory food porn, courtesy West Side Cafe:

 

2ljp79d.jpg

 

Also, my faithful readers, I need your help. Cruising to Norway, which should we pick? Rotterdam from Rotterdam or Ryndam from Dover? We are leaning toward Rotterdam ...

 

A nap is now in order, so that's all for now.

 

Tomorrow we'll be in our home-away-from-home, Boston. We are going to take our new Dutch friends out and give then our own little tour of the city. Should be a great day.

 

More then from the blue-hulled Mainedam.

 

Observed comment of the day

Lady speaking with the assistant dining room manager as he was making the rounds: "I wish I could pack you up in my suitcase and take you home."

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mamaofami

mamaofami

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I love your pictures, especially the ones of the PEI mussels. I would take that New England/Canada cruise again just for the wonderful mussels and lobster I had in most of the ports.

 

Took a trip to Ocean Grove, the Jersey Shore, and had the very best lobster role I've ever had. It was filled with huge pieces of lobster, lettuce and tomato and bacon on a grilled hamburger roll. I didn't like the taste of the bacon with it, but New Jersey is looking up.:)

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sppunk

sppunk

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Good morning from Boston, home of my AL East champion Red Sox!

 

We were awaken at 5:30 a.m. with a fire alarm, reporting smoke from a Deck 10 electrical compartment. Every 5 or so minutes the captain came on updating the situation - calmly and professionally - until they found the smoke. In the end a belt was rubbing against a motor, causing heat and smoke to be blown into the electrical compartment.

 

A great communication job staved off what could've been a terrorizing morning. In the end it was only a bit of sleep interruption.

 

More later.

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