Hopefully "Live" Noordam 28 Feb - 10 Mar

[Krazy Kruizers]

Loving your review and great pictures.

One time when we were at Grand Turk we did an island tour as well -- just to see the place. We had more stops than your tour.

[ol3]

What a great review!! Wait for more…. :-)

[elycelynne]

Have you been to the piano bar to see Barry from Boston? I've heard good things about him, and when I sailed on the Noordam at the end of January I missed him by one cruise. (He was boarding on the same day that I was disembarking.)

[Mtn2Sea]

Hi,

Thanks for your posts. Could you tell us which veranda cabin you have? We will be in 5170 next week. Just wondered if the damaged window was in our cabin.

 

Hope you don't pick up the norovirus.

We are not in 5170. They called a few minutes ago & said they have the right size glass and will replace it during one of our excursions.

[Mtn2Sea]

Have you been to the piano bar to see Barry from Boston? I've heard good things about him, and when I sailed on the Noordam at the end of January I missed him by one cruise. (He was boarding on the same day that I was disembarking.)

Not yet, but we'll get there!

[Mtn2Sea]

At a little after 9:30, we headed to the Vista Lounge to begin our excursion. Today is a tender day, so we had to get our stickers and meet up with other passengers going on excursions. I’m glad we gave ourselves a few extra minutes because we encountered a long line to get our stickers. Fortunately, the excursion people kept the line moving and we got our sticker right at 9:50, the meeting time listed on our ticket. Our number was called five minutes later for us to go to midship to catch a tender. Samana has appproximately 30,000 people. Here’s a picture I took from the tender.

When we got to shore, we were greeted by some dancers.

We quickly got on a very comfortable bus to begin our tour of the area. We stopped briefly in front of this church, which is the oldest in the area. It has survived several fires that destroyed large portions of Samana. The building actually came to the island from Philadelphia (I believe in the 1800’s).

Our next stop was at a very small museum highlighting the humpback whales in the area. I had thought about a whale viewing excursion, but the reviews weren’t that great, primarily due to rough seas. As it turned out, the waters were pretty calm most of today. Here’s the museum.

 

Until later.

[Mtn2Sea]

Our next stop was Taino Park, which showed the history of the Indians in the area. The museum is pretty basic, but does a good job of demonstrating their life and eventual demise.

 

 

 

 

Our last stop was at a very nice hotel/resort. We sat on a covered porch while we ate pizza. Because it was so late, the pizza tasted good. Our view from the hotel.

 

Until later.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We did a different tour in Samana -- I like the looks of your excursion.

May consider that the next time we are there.

[Mtn2Sea]

At dinner we were given a table near the back of the dining room. Shortly after sitting down, I heard a gentleman ship between me and the back window comment that he had just spotted a whale. In just a moment I spotted the whale blowing air. A few minutes later, I could see the whale’s flipper hitting the water. Shortly thereafter, whale began jumping out of the water. All this made for an interesting dinner. Here’s the menu and pictures of our meal.

 

 

 

After dinner, we went to the show. Bernie Fields presented his Harmonica Virtuoso. He was very, very good, as evidenced by the hearty applause he received numerous times during his 40 minute presentation.

After the show, we stopped at the piano bar with the intention of just staying a few minutes to see what we thought of Barry from Boston. We stayed an hour and a half. Although I thought Jamm who we saw on the Ryndam in December had a better voice, Barry was able to engage the crowd much better. He was funny and very entertaining.

Until later.

[Mtn2Sea]

We’re at sea all day, which will provide some nice relaxation and time to do some reading. We had room service this morning and ate on the balcony.

Here’s today’s activities and the menu for today’s Mariner’s lunch.

It's now time to read a book.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoy your sea day.

The newer Mariner brunch doesn't appeal to me. Too much spice.

[Copper10-8]

Awesome review and pics! Thanks for taking the time and effort!

[Mtn2Sea]

The newer Mariner brunch doesn't appeal to me. Too much spice.

 

We chose to go to the Lido, since the menu wasn't that appealing to us.

[Lovely other]

Shame there is no vegetarian appetizer on the Mariners Brunch

[Mtn2Sea]

We’ve had a nice relaxing day at sea. I read my book most the afternoon and DW went to the first Dancing at Sea contest. We had our second formal night. Here’s the menu and photos of our meals. I had the Beef Wellington and DW had the pork.

 

 

 

After dinner, we chose not to go to the show and instead went to the Piano Bar where we stayed until 10:00. We’ll be in Bonaire tomorrow, a new port for us.

[erewhon]

Enjoying your review, great photos, Thank you.

[Copper10-8]

................. We’ll be in Bonaire tomorrow, a new port for us.

 

Main street to the left of the Queen Wilhelmina Square is a great little Gelato shop called Gio's

[TheDJs]

Enjoying reading your reviews. We join Noordam on21st March for transatlantic and really looking forward to it.

[Mtn2Sea]

We are now docked in Bonaire and the weather is beautiful. We have an excursion that shows the highlights of Bonaire, which leaves at 12:45. We had a light breakfast in the Lido since we’ll need to eat lunch early. Here’s Today’s activities.

Some photos from the ship after we docked.

 

 

Until later.

[POA1]

Main street to the left of the Queen Wilhelmina Square is a great little Gelato shop called Gio's

 

Thanks for the tip! We're here too. Also thank you for the Dutch breakfast recommendation. I had it yesterday in the Pinnacle.

[Mtn2Sea]

Main street to the left of the Queen Wilhelmina Square is a great little Gelato shop called Gio's

 

We saw Gio's from the bus window, but didn't have time to get there.:( Maybe next time! Any tips for Curacao?

[Copper10-8]

We saw Gio's from the bus window, but didn't have time to get there.:( Maybe next time! Any tips for Curacao?

 

Can't beat having a bite, something liquid and a view at Iguana's, one of the outdoor cafe's on the Punda side of Willemstad (right on the sides of the Anna Baai/Canal adjacent the Queen Emma pontoon bridge)(right in between the Emma Bridge and the Punda little ferry dock) Have a great time!

Edited March 5, 2014 by Copper10-8

[Copper10-8]

Thanks for the tip! We're here too. Also thank you for the Dutch breakfast recommendation. I had it yesterday in the Pinnacle.

 

Awesome! :)

[Mtn2Sea]

Enjoying reading your reviews. We join Noordam on21st March for transatlantic and really looking forward to it.

 

I'm envious!

[Mtn2Sea]

Our tour of Bonaire was a bus ride around the island with three or four stops.

 

 

Our tour guide was a young guy who was quite knowledgeable about his island. Most of the shoreline is rocky, with minimal beaches. Bonaire is known for its diving and snorkeling; however, some of the shoreline has been closed off because it’s too dangerous. We saw numerous people either getting ready to go diving or just coming back from a dive. Our first stop was the Cadushy Distillery, where free samples are given out of a liquor made from cactus.

 

 

On our way to our next stop, we saw an example of an early house.

 

 

We also saw several fences made with cactus.

 

 

We next stopped at an observation point, where you can see a large portion of the island. Although the weather was pleasant, it was too hazy to get decent pictures.