Join Pete and Judy on their FIRST World Cruise on the Amsterdam

[Essiesmom]

Miraflores Locks

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

The cheering throngs!!!!

 

 

A nice logo

 

News flash. Bingo cancelled two days running. News at 11

 

 

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[SilvertoGold]

[ATTACH]373163[/ATTACH]

The cheering throngs!!!!

 

[ATTACH]373164[/ATTACH]

 

A nice logo

 

News flash. Bingo cancelled two days running. News at 11

 

 

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Good heavens!! What's happening with bingo??

 

Great posts. I was wondering how you chose your cabin. Do you always book balconies and thus knew exactly what you wanted? What's the verdict with the one you have?

[jig]

I guess I've never seen the front of the ship. Cool way to capture it. Logo.

Funny thing is that Panama hats don't come from Panama.

[ScottishMaid]

Thank you for your blog which I'm really enjoying as I have friends on the ship. When we were on the Grand Asia voyage in 2013 and a segment of the world cruise in 2014 there were less than 1000 passengers, so plenty of space as the ship can take at least 1350. We would love to know how many passengers there are currently. Generally the dining room manager or assistant managers can tell you. Thanks again!

Edited January 11, 2016 by ScottishMaid

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Good heavens!! What's happening with bingo??

 

 

 

Great posts. I was wondering how you chose your cabin. Do you always book balconies and thus knew exactly what you wanted? What's the verdict with the one you have?

 

 

Book guarantee. I like aft cabins near rear elevators for quick lido access.

 

 

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[The-Inside-Cabin]

Thank you for your blog which I'm really enjoying as I have friends on the ship. When we were on the Grand Asia voyage in 2013 and a segment of the world cruise in 2014 there were less than 1000 passengers, so plenty of space as the ship can take at least 1350. We would love to know how many passengers there are currently. Generally the dining room manager or assistant managers can tell you. Thanks again!

 

 

1090 passengers from one source. Many, many singles so fewer open cabins then you may think.

 

 

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[The-Inside-Cabin]

Internet remains unusable. Still trying to find best time or spot. Wasting an hour a day trying to connect. Pathetic. And this is at anchor in Panama. None of their usual excuses wash. Money can fix this. Maybe if they charged a lot it would be better. Oh - they already do. Sigh. I am using my cell phone for this post. Will post the normal post when Internet will stay up for more than 5 minutes in a row. Aaarrrrrhg

 

Nothing worse than getting everything uploaded - press update or submit - and the screen goes blank and you have to start from scratch.

 

 

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Edited January 11, 2016 by The-Inside-Cabin

[jig]

It is pretty much the same on every HAL cruise we have been on

[Scrapnana]

I can feel your internet pain! I did a world cruise two years ago and we sometimes went days with out any connectivity. There is a better system but it must be costly. Had it on the Westerdam last April and it was almost as fast as at home. I understand some of the RCI ships have a great new wifi system (not on Liberty last October - worst wifi ever!).

 

One thing I did when there were connection issues was to combine two sea days into one post. I also put up fewer (or no) pictures for some sea days when there were problems. Upon occasion, I had to write in my blog that the pictures would follow when the connection was better so check back later.

[Lucy Jane]

Yes Internet I crappy -I've always found the best time to use it is around 3 am while everyone else is asleep. If I win the lottery I will be on the next world cruise. Have a great cruise!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Yes Internet I crappy -I've always found the best time to use it is around 3 am while everyone else is asleep. If I win the lottery I will be on the next world cruise. Have a great cruise!

 

Working pretty good at 5am.....I guess time of day is the secret...

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Day 6 Cruising the Panama Canal

 

Unlike a dedicated Panama Canal Cruise, where the transit is the main event, this time it is simply another wonder of the world amongst dozens of other wonders.

 

Nevertheless, it is still spectacular and something to see, but unlike shorter cruises, prime viewing space is easily available and you don’t have the crowding you may see on a classic Canal Cruise.

 

Clocks were advanced one hour, so we lost an hour of sleep and combined with all the excitement, late nights and early mornings of the first week of this voyage, we decided to sleep in a bit and enjoy the canal from the view available on our deck. The weather was remarkably mild and quite pleasant. We did miss the Panama rolls that were available until 8am. We will try and get up earlier on our next transit thru the Canal in May on our way back to San Diego.

 

There was also something called a "Crocodile Swim" They poured a bucket of canal water into the Sea View pool and you were required to swim the length of the pool while imitating a crocodile. We envisioned they would toss in inflatable crocodiles instead of having the guests imitate a croc, but Oh Well.... maybe they will repeat during the Canal trip in May and we can take part. Certificates were awarded.

 

The bow was open and we took advantage of the nice weather and great viewing spot. We noticed a nice big logo under the Bridge marking the 2016 Grand World Voyage. It was popular photo spot.

 

 

While passing thru the Miraflores locks you sail right next to the multi-story museum/viewing platform which was filled with people cheering our arrival. Very nice.

 

We passed thru the Queens Lounge right when Bingo was supposed to start at 4pm. There were only about 10 people present. We learned that they need at least 20 people to hold a Bingo Game and if 10 people didn't arrive in the next 15 minutes, this would make the 3rd consecutive Bingo game cancelled.

 

The casino remains dead. The only consistent action is the Texas Holdem game. We have yet to see more than 2 people playing blackjack at the same time or more than 3 people at any table game (except Texas Holdem)

 

We anchored off Fuerte Amador about 5pm, 3 hours earlier than anticipated, and they starting tendering about 6pm, with the last tender leaving at 11pm SHARP - with a lot of emphasis on SHARP. Tendering starts again at 6am tomorrow.

 

Tonight was Panama Hat night. We each received one placed at our table. A nice touch and we enjoyed wearing them for a bit. The waiters began to stack them on their heads as people left theirs behind after dinner.

 

Tonight’s Show was Harpist Shirley Dominguez who was quite good and entertaining. She played a variety of tunes, while standing and dancing, on her red electric harp.

 

 

We are planning to catch the 6:45 AM tender to start our private tour at 7:30

Edited January 11, 2016 by The-Inside-Cabin

[1of4]

Sorry to hear about your internet issues. As Scrapnana posted when we did the repositioning on Westerdam in April they were offering a trial of unlimited internet and it was great. I would have thought the Amsterdam would have been the next ship to get it. I don't "get" HAL in this instance.

 

Really enjoying your posts and thank you for your perseverance.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

All good. No tender lines at 7am Touring now

 

 

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[RuthC]

When you didn't have a panama roll all you missed was sugar, fat, and calories. No big loss. Sleeping in was so much more important. ;)

I especially appreciate that you mention who the evening entertainment is. If you said who is playing in the Piano Bar (has it been changed to Mix on this ship?), I've forgotten. Could you please post that again?

 

Thanks.

[sppunk]

When you didn't have a panama roll all you missed was sugar, fat, and calories. No big loss. Sleeping in was so much more important. ;)

I especially appreciate that you mention who the evening entertainment is. If you said who is playing in the Piano Bar (has it been changed to Mix on this ship?), I've forgotten. Could you please post that again?

 

Thanks.

 

It is Debby Bacon.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

When you didn't have a panama roll all you missed was sugar, fat, and calories. No big loss. Sleeping in was so much more important. ;)

 

I especially appreciate that you mention who the evening entertainment is. If you said who is playing in the Piano Bar (has it been changed to Mix on this ship?), I've forgotten. Could you please post that again?

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

I will investigate the piano bar and let you know. Haven't been there yet.

 

 

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[The-Inside-Cabin]

 

Interesting to see locks from this perspective. Worth the trip.

 

 

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[bonvoyagebites]

I am a bit jealous. We spent 3 days on the Amsterdam over the summer, and had a good time. And the food.... oh my, it was quite tasty.

 

Cheers! I will try to follow along.

[ScottishMaid]

The internet worked well from our cabin on the Volendam TransPacific this fall. It worked best early morning or during early dinner when less users.

 

During the Fall 2013 Grand Asia cruise they were totally rewiring the Amsterdam for internet so it was unavailable in the cabins and bad elsewhere. At the time I thought it was said this was a new type of system , certainly a new company. I had the impression they thought it would be wonderful so it was installed on the Amsterdam first. I assumed when it didn't worked out they used a different system or company to upgrade the other ships.

 

The rewiring was a major job - imagine a team of contractors on board and hallway ceiling tiles down with long coils of wire stretching out. It went on for weeks, floor by floor.

 

Thanks for the passenger number information.

[RuthC]

It is Debby Bacon.

 

I will investigate the piano bar and let you know. Haven't been there yet.

Thanks anyway, Inside; sppunk got it posted just before you did.

From what I recall in past years, Debbie Bacon does the honors on the World Cruise most of the time.

[cruz chic]

Too bad you missed the Panama rolls. They are pretty tasty. It's always fun to hear people cheering from that building when you go thru the canal. I'm enjoying your thread and blog. Thx so much.

[clueless2]

When you didn't have a panama roll all you missed was sugar, fat, and calories. No big loss. Sleeping in was so much more important. ;)

I especially appreciate that you mention who the evening entertainment is. If you said who is playing in the Piano Bar (has it been changed to Mix on this ship?), I've forgotten. Could you please post that again?

 

Thanks.

 

"Sugar, fat, and calories" A balanced diet in my book!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

 

Biodiversity museum was closed Monday. They opened special for the HAL tour. Since we wee private, this is as close as we could get

 

 

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