Come Sail a Way with us LIVE as the Westerdam meets the Sail a Way Gang

[ger_77]

Great photos - and 1of4's children look absolutely delightful.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[summer slope]

Thank you for the information.

[Scrapnana]

Lizzie68,

 

Sorry to hear you are not feeling your best. We missed you on the tour.

 

 

 

 

Very good tour of Antigua today. Not as hot because of the altitude (notice I did not say "cool"). Visiting the school was amazing!

 

Captain just announced we are ready to sail.

[kazu]

What is the cost of the Captains and Chef's dinners? If you don't mind sharing.

 

 

 

I don't mind at all. It was $89 and worth every penny IMO and DH's. I don't think there was one person at the table who regretted spending the money;) That is the cost of the Master Chef's Table.

 

As Lizzie said, the Captain's dinner is by invitation only. There is no cost for it. You just need to get an invite. I guess when they threw their darts it landed on us :)

Edited April 21, 2015 by kazu

[kazu]

On longer cruises there is usually a Cellar Master's dinner -- $129 per person.

Again the bill is in 2 parts as I described above.

 

Interesting KK, on the Prinsendam both our Cellar Master dinners were $89 (total) per person.

[kazu]

That dessert looks wonderful.

I am curious -- were all husbands and wives seated side by side? When we have done these dinners, DH would be on one side of the table and I was on the other side of the table.

 

 

no we weren't seated side by side. DH was opposite to me and I had two companions on either side. very interesting evening.

[kazu]

It's hard to explain how oppressive the heat is on that cruise. It will get better, especially after cabo. It gets darn right chilly. I know people love the thermal suite but that's the last place I'd want to be on a hot cruise. I realize I may be alone in that thought.

 

 

the good news is that if you were going to Antigua today, It wasn't oppressive. Antigua is up higher and it is cooler. (you need to put the word cooler in context though). Our guide, Carlos hates Puerto Quetzal as it is too hot for him - he's not used to it.

 

We had such a great day today and behind on yesterday I'm not sure where to start for today!

[Himself]

DINNER WITH THE CAPTAIN

here are a couple of pics from our dinner with the captain.

 

As you can see, the silverware had HAL's logo embossed on it

 

 

and here is our wonderful host

 

and the dessert that I tried to take a picture of - the gold mesh created problems whether I took the pic with flash or not. The gold mesh was totally edible and delicious of course.

 

 

 

I hope you can make out the yummy chocolate inside the mesh.

 

The next night we received the signed menu from the Captain which I already posted. A very nice touch.

 

 

 

 

My blood sugar just jumped 200 points for looking at it!

[rkacruiser]

That dessert was the most unique creation that I have ever seen!

[kazu]

My blood sugar just jumped 200 points for looking at it!

 

 

We don't usually eat a lot of sweets at night - but this was impossible to resist - one taste and you were done for and worth every jump in the points.

 

It was delectable :)

[kazu]

I can't find a way to do a title on tapatalk, so pardon the bolding...

 

REMEMBER THE PLAQUE WE GAVE THE CAPTAIN AT OUR MEET AND GREET?

 

Kindly sent to us by PathfinderEss - it will be hanging proudly where you come on the ship for all to see next to this one. The wording is pretty much identical.

 

Edited April 21, 2015 by kazu

[kazu]

The GIG is up. Now that we have done it, I can tell you that we took a ton of supplies to the children's school Ninos con Benedicion today as part of our tour with Carlos (Guatemalan Guide). What a moving time it was. 1of4 and her DD had lovingly made them pencil cases which we filled with pencils, pens, colouring pencils, rulers, scissors, toothpaste and toothbrushes to name just a few things.

 

After they did their beautiful dancing and performances for us, it was our turn with our supplies. We kicked it off with chocolate - yes many of us had saved our pillow chocolates and the children came running. One of our innovative roll call members got her steward to give her a ton.

 

I got some ice from the concierge and between the ice and the air conditioning in the van, they didn't melt.

 

Then we started to pass out the pencil cases. It was touching when we started to pass out the pencil cases. The children were overwhelmed and some hesitant to take them in case they were going to be taken back.

 

You should have seen the looks on their faces as we emptied the bags (all 26) and they saw more stuff. Ink jets for their printers (big smile on the teacher's face), note pads of varying sizes, huge stacks of paper, over 1,000 pencils, pens, crayons, toys, silly putty, plastiscene, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

etc. The list was endless.

 

I think everyone's heart was warmed when they saw the looks on the children's faces.

 

I will post some pics but I would like to express my many thanks to those on the roll call who kindly contributed and helped those who needed it.

 

These are all Mayan children who would not get an education without this school.

 

they are a delight and so sweet and it just warmed my heart.

 

The teacher could not speak English well but my Spanish survived for the most part.

 

Even nicer, along with all of those supplies, we are doing a cabin crawl with a poker fun and the roll call agreed that 1/2 the money for the poker run could go to the school. I was delighted to go up and give them the money from "all of us" beforehand. The children were not expecting anything else.

 

It was a moving day and certainly one of my highlights.

 

 

 

 

 

I did do some videos that I would like to share as well as one of a roll call member dancing in Nicaragua but they won't download - perhaps because of the internet speed on the ship? If I can find a wifi station in Puerto Chiapas tomorrow I will try there, DH permitting.

 

I will back track a bit but this time was truly moving. I never took so many pictures in all of my life.

 

we kept this low key knowing of a problem a roll call had in Corinto in the past but I am now exuberant and happy to share with you all :)

[kazu]

CHEF MASTER TABLE

 

before I forget - we did ask about when they do it and the minimum.

 

They only do the Chef Master's table on longer cruises as there is just not time on the 7 day cruises.

 

 

Raj, our PG manager confirmed they need a minimum of 10 people to do it. So, we were pretty much guaranteed with our 7 of the Sail a Way gang booking. :)

 

There was actually a wait list for the Master Chef's Table on this cruise.

[PathfinderEss]

CHEF MASTER TABLE

 

before I forget - we did ask about when they do it and the minimum.

 

They only do the Chef Master's table on longer cruises as there is just not time on the 7 day cruises.

 

 

Raj, our PG manager confirmed they need a minimum of 10 people to do it. So, we were pretty much guaranteed with our 7 of the Sail a Way gang booking. :)

 

There was actually a wait list for the Master Chef's Table on this cruise.

 

Nice, that doesn't happen that often. On a couple of our thirty day cruises they have had several Cellar Master Dinner and we have signed up for them both. Just to good to resists. Worth every penny they charge for them. Most the time they have not been full, which I don't understand but they really never seem to advertize them.

Edited April 21, 2015 by PathfinderEss

[kazu]

CORINTO, NICARAUGA

 

Backtracking to yesterday. We had another private tour with Julio tours. Now, this is more along the lines of a kazu expectation. LOL

 

Julio had everyone's names on the vans so that everyone knew where they belonged and the air conditioning was working on them all :)

 

Today we are headed to Leon with our guide Dennis & our driver Carlos. Dennis is full of good information and makes the trip quite lively as he 'tests' people's knowledge of Spanish and helps them learn about Nicaragua.

 

Nicaragua, like Costa Rica think they are the best place to be. They have the best coffee and rum. (Guatemala may dispute the former).

 

They have the only fresh water shark in Lake Nicaragua.

 

They are one of the poorest countries but one of the richest with "the best rum, best coffee, best eco system, etc."

 

Nicaragua is multi ethnic so while Spanish is the official language, on the Pacific side Spanish is the primary language but on the Atlantic side it is English. I didn't know that Nicaragua was named for and Indian Chieftain

there so I thought I would share my small education.

 

We were travelling on the Pan American highways which stretches from Ushuai to up in the Cold North.

 

 

 

The Cathedral Basilica took 130 years to build. Some was added to it later. It is the 3rd largest cathedral in South America.

 

 

 

our walking tour continued to see lovely sights and we headed to the local market. Fortunately it was not packed as it was Sunday which meant going through was much easier. Dennis offered to purchase samplings for us and some of us (moi included) decided to go for it. They have a dish where the meat is salted for 7 days - wrapped in plaintain and turned frequently, then washed, then boiled for 7 hours. wrapped in plaintain again and then with all the fixings - it was delicious. Warning....food porn

 

 

 

to be continued

[kazu]

NICARAGUA

 

note - on tapatalk, I am getting a funny symbol and have to tap to get them to open, but they are there. just in case.

 

 

we managed to finish the plate sharing :)

 

 

 

we continued on through the market and I was impressed when our guide asked with the children can we go to the next one? since they were alive I said yes (after checking). Iguana anyone? Illegal to eat them in Costa Rica, a delicacy in Nicaragua!

 

sadly, pics will not upload now, so I will have to stop trying. will try to catch up tomorrow.

[cruz chic]

The GIG is up. Now that we have done it, I can tell you that we took a ton of supplies to the children's school Ninos con Benedicion today as part of our tour with Carlos (Guatemalan Guide). What a moving time it was. 1of4 and her DD had lovingly made them pencil cases which we filled with pencils, pens, colouring pencils, rulers, scissors, toothpaste and toothbrushes to name just a few things.

 

After they did their beautiful dancing and performances for us, it was our turn with our supplies. We kicked it off with chocolate - yes many of us had saved our pillow chocolates and the children came running. One of our innovative roll call members got her steward to give her a ton.

 

I got some ice from the concierge and between the ice and the air conditioning in the van, they didn't melt.

 

Then we started to pass out the pencil cases. It was touching when we started to pass out the pencil cases. The children were overwhelmed and some hesitant to take them in case they were going to be taken back.

 

You should have seen the looks on their faces as we emptied the bags (all 26) and they saw more stuff. Ink jets for their printers (big smile on the teacher's face), note pads of varying sizes, huge stacks of paper, over 1,000 pencils, pens, crayons, toys, silly putty, plastiscene, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

etc. The list was endless.

 

I think everyone's heart was warmed when they saw the looks on the children's faces.

 

I will post some pics but I would like to express my many thanks to those on the roll call who kindly contributed and helped those who needed it.

 

These are all Mayan children who would not get an education without this school.

 

they are a delight and so sweet and it just warmed my heart.

 

The teacher could not speak English well but my Spanish survived for the most part.

 

Even nicer, along with all of those supplies, we are doing a cabin crawl with a poker fun and the roll call agreed that 1/2 the money for the poker run could go to the school. I was delighted to go up and give them the money from "all of us" beforehand. The children were not expecting anything else.

 

It was a moving day and certainly one of my highlights.

 

 

 

 

 

I did do some videos that I would like to share as well as one of a roll call member dancing in Nicaragua but they won't download - perhaps because of the internet speed on the ship? If I can find a wifi station in Puerto Chiapas tomorrow I will try there, DH permitting.

 

I will back track a bit but this time was truly moving. I never took so many pictures in all of my life.

 

we kept this low key knowing of a problem a roll call had in Corinto in the past but I am now exuberant and happy to share with you all :)

That was a very nice thing for the roll call members to do. I'm sure they appreciated it very much.

[PathfinderEss]

Nice report and photo's Kazu.

[erewhon]

kazu,

 

What a wonderful gift from Cruise Critic members to the school, something the recipients will always remember.

Thanks for the photos, the dessert at the Captains Dinner looked too special to eat.:)

[wishful thinking]

The GIG is up. Now that we have done it, I can tell you that we took a ton of supplies to the children's school Ninos con Benedicion today as part of our tour with Carlos (Guatemalan Guide). What a moving time it was. 1of4 and her DD had lovingly made them pencil cases which we filled with pencils, pens, colouring pencils, rulers, scissors, toothpaste and toothbrushes to name just a few things.

 

After they did their beautiful dancing and performances for us, it was our turn with our supplies. We kicked it off with chocolate - yes many of us had saved our pillow chocolates and the children came running. One of our innovative roll call members got her steward to give her a ton.

 

I got some ice from the concierge and between the ice and the air conditioning in the van, they didn't melt.

 

Then we started to pass out the pencil cases. It was touching when we started to pass out the pencil cases. The children were overwhelmed and some hesitant to take them in case they were going to be taken back.

 

You should have seen the looks on their faces as we emptied the bags (all 26) and they saw more stuff. Ink jets for their printers (big smile on the teacher's face), note pads of varying sizes, huge stacks of paper, over 1,000 pencils, pens, crayons, toys, silly putty, plastiscene, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

etc. The list was endless.

 

I think everyone's heart was warmed when they saw the looks on the children's faces.

 

I will post some pics but I would like to express my many thanks to those on the roll call who kindly contributed and helped those who needed it.

 

These are all Mayan children who would not get an education without this school.

 

they are a delight and so sweet and it just warmed my heart.

 

The teacher could not speak English well but my Spanish survived for the most part.

 

Even nicer, along with all of those supplies, we are doing a cabin crawl with a poker fun and the roll call agreed that 1/2 the money for the poker run could go to the school. I was delighted to go up and give them the money from "all of us" beforehand. The children were not expecting anything else.

 

It was a moving day and certainly one of my highlights.

 

 

 

 

 

I did do some videos that I would like to share as well as one of a roll call member dancing in Nicaragua but they won't download - perhaps because of the internet speed on the ship? If I can find a wifi station in Puerto Chiapas tomorrow I will try there, DH permitting.

 

I will back track a bit but this time was truly moving. I never took so many pictures in all of my life.

 

we kept this low key knowing of a problem a roll call had in Corinto in the past but I am now exuberant and happy to share with you all :)

 

 

How uplifting to see there are still some truly caring people on this planet. Kudos to you all!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wonderful report.

The pictures are fantastic.

[summer slope]

Kazu, as a retired teacher and a demo for a company that supports schools and hospitals in other countries I am so in awe of you. What a truly wonderful person you, and the other members of your roll call, are. Thank you for your support of these children.

[ger_77]

I'm sure the supplies were greatly appreciated; we did much the same thing for our Panama Canal cruise when we stopped at the Embraer Indian Village, but on a much smaller scale(there were only 2 couples). I would love to have a picture of the pencil cases 1of4 made; I could do that next time as well.

 

Re: food porn . . . . loving it!!!

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry

Edited April 21, 2015 by ger_77

[mamaofami]

DINNER WITH THE CAPTAIN

here are a couple of pics from our dinner with the captain.

 

As you can see, the silverware had HAL's logo embossed on it

 

 

and here is our wonderful host

 

and the dessert that I tried to take a picture of - the gold mesh created problems whether I took the pic with flash or not. The gold mesh was totally edible and delicious of course.

 

 

 

I hope you can make out the yummy chocolate inside the mesh.

 

The next night we received the signed menu from the Captain which I already posted. A very nice touch.

 

That dessert looks too good to eat.

[TiogaCruiser]

Hula wonderf that your special excursion came out so well. I remember others posting about "customs" problems, including a Captain.

 

This entire thread has been so enjoyable to read, with so many CC members joining in. (And I think it's going to cause me to book this itinerary).