Live Nieuw Amsterdam Inaugural 2016 Cruise to Alaska

[InTheWASide]

Colombia.

 

I post this in part because, as a Columbia grad, it makes me crazy when people get the country wrong But mostly because I wanted somehow to mark this thread as we're going to AK in a month. I appreciate everyone's posts about this trip! Thanks so much and hope you have an amazing journey.

 

 

Ugh. That was autocorrect and me being exceptionally tired. Thanks! That error bugs me too!

[gottagoacruzn]

No flash but elbows placed firmly on the table helps to steady the camera in low light conditions. Adjusting the ISO a bit higher also helps. I have two small, poker chip-sized clip-on LED lights that I can use if needed. They are on Amazon and are usually used for cellphone videos. A well-placed white napkin can be a great light reflector, too.

 

Hi, thanks for the info. Will have to try. My camera is a Kodak digital, also will look at the ISO.

[Crew News]

Thanks much Roger for keeping us in the loop. You said Clifford was your waiter so that should answer Frank's question. I hope the Pinnacle Grill menu still has Steak Tartare, Lobster Bisque, Shrimp Cocktail and Lamb Chops! Can't wait to see what the Wednesday night MDR menu will be. No rush but can you post it right away???? We are leaving extremely early Friday morning the 6th on a flight to Vancouver. Tell Joanie this may be the first time ever I try pizza on a cruise since she raves about it. I like thin crust. Can't wait to see you guys in a week!

 

Diane

 

I can confirm that all of the above items are on the PG menu. The 36-oz President's cut ribeye is a new addition and seems to be a big seller according to Clifford with over 100 since FLL being consumed by both large and small passengers.

 

Since uploading files is a real pain with the unpredictable internet disconnects, please send Joanie your email address and I will email the menu as soon as I have it.

 

Pizza is all thin crust.

[Crew News]

Thank you, Crew News. SO sorry to hear of your dental hiccup. Glad that you were able to get it tended to before boarding.

Where are the "huge Interactive TV's"? And what is a Suites Reception?

We're behind you a few months, taking the NA in Sept to AK from Vancouver. Neptune Suite 7033 will be our home away from home!

 

Since 7033 was occupied during our stop in Vancouver, I took pictures of 7037 and will process them for you when I get home in two weeks.

 

While wandering the corridors during the turnaround and seeing many stateroom doors open, I also got pictures of different categories of cabins as well as cabanas.

[legalslave]

I can confirm that all of the above items are on the PG menu. The 36-oz President's cut ribeye is a new addition and seems to be a big seller according to Clifford with over 100 since FLL being consumed by both large and small passengers.

 

Since uploading files is a real pain with the unpredictable internet disconnects, please send Joanie your email address and I will email the menu as soon as I have it.

 

Pizza is all thin crust.

 

Is there an extra charge for the 36 oz Ribeye? Mike always orders the ribeye. Joanie didn't get the last email I sent her so I may have a wrong email address for her. Mine is legalslaveatnebdotrrdotcom. I'm fairly sure you understand the words at and dot are replaced with the symbols.

Thank you so much for the PG report that everything I love is still in the menu.

 

See you 1 week from today!

 

Diane

[dobiemom]

Terminology is switched. They're foreign ports but not distant foreign ports. Usually that means another continent (easy way to generalize it but not 100% accurate)

 

Cartagena Columbia satisfies it. So do, I believe, all 3 of the ABC islands.

So, the passengers embarking in Ft. Lauderdale could disembark in Seattle since they went to a distant foreign port (Colombia, ABC islands). Thanks for the clarification.

 

But I'm still confused:

We went from San Diego to Victoria (non-US port) for excursions before reaching Seattle. We also boarded a number of passengers in Seattle for just the one-day cruise to Vancouver.

Can passengers embarking in San Diego disembark in Seattle because they stopped in Victoria? I didn't think Victoria was a "distant" foreign port? :confused:

 

PVSA is SO confusing! :eek:

Edited April 30, 2016 by dobiemom

[Just_a_cruiser]

So, the passengers embarking in Ft. Lauderdale could disembark in Seattle since they went to a distant foreign port (Colombia, ABC islands). Thanks for the clarification.

 

But I'm still confused:

 

Can passengers embarking in San Diego disembark in Seattle because they stopped in Victoria? I didn't think Victoria was a "distant" foreign port? :confused:

 

PVSA is SO confusing! :eek:

 

Yes, there were passangers disembarking in Seatlle from the Panama cruise. I don't think those embarking in San Diego could leave in Seattle.

[SilvertoGold]

Yes, there were passangers disembarking in Seatlle from the Panama cruise. I don't think those embarking in San Diego could leave in Seattle.

 

But the SD embarkation pax can disembark in Vancouver.

 

Can you imagine the headache all this is for the ship?!

[Crew News]

Is there an extra charge for the 36 oz Ribeye? Mike always orders the ribeye. Joanie didn't get the last email I sent her so I may have a wrong email address for her. Mine is legalslaveatnebdotrrdotcom. I'm fairly sure you understand the words at and dot are replaced with the symbols.

Thank you so much for the PG report that everything I love is still in the menu.

 

See you 1 week from today!

 

Diane

 

There is an extra $45 charge for the nearly 4" thick steak but according our waiter Clifford, it would cost more than $100 at a decent steak house.

 

I will be scanning the new PG menu tomorrow and have it posted this week while in an Alaska port where I can use my phone for a fast internet connection.

[Crew News]

But the SD embarkation pax can disembark in Vancouver.

 

Can you imagine the headache all this is for the ship?!

 

I don't know the Embarkation Point of those leaving in Seatle but it was a good number because we had a lot of new passengers boarding for just the night. Definitely a partying bunch.

 

The "distant port" definition is probably the same as Encinada, Mexico for those returning from Hawaii.

 

The Safety Drill was handled well by not requiring continuing passengers to attend in either Seattle or here in San Diego.

 

It felt strange to listen to all of the stateroom numbers being called and not being one of them.

[RuthC]

The "distant port" definition is probably the same as Encinada, Mexico for those returning from Hawaii.

No, it isn't.

Ensenada is a near foreign port.

[Just_a_cruiser]

But the SD embarkation pax can disembark in Vancouver.

 

Can you imagine the headache all this is for the ship?!

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

I don't know how they keep everyone straight.

[Putterdude]

You are currently abeam Sechelt,BC and if you look to starboard you will see me waving to you....have a great cruise.

[KAE27]

Ugh. That was autocorrect and me being exceptionally tired. Thanks! That error bugs me too!

 

You're very kind about my crankiness! ;):D

[InTheWASide]

So, the passengers embarking in Ft. Lauderdale could disembark in Seattle since they went to a distant foreign port (Colombia, ABC islands). Thanks for the clarification.

 

 

 

But I'm still confused:

 

 

 

Can passengers embarking in San Diego disembark in Seattle because they stopped in Victoria? I didn't think Victoria was a "distant" foreign port? :confused:

 

 

 

PVSA is SO confusing! :eek:

 

 

No. If boarding in San Diego you would have to stay on through Vancouver

[InTheWASide]

Yes, there were passangers disembarking in Seatlle from the Panama cruise. I don't think those embarking in San Diego could leave in Seattle.

 

 

Correct

[InTheWASide]

.

The "distant port" definition is probably the same as Encinada, Mexico for those returning from Hawaii.

.

 

 

Hawaii cruises are round trip Vancouver (which does t matter for pvsa), round trip Seattle, San Francisco or San Diego. In all of those cases it is round trip same US port so all that is needed is SOMETHING non-US (a foreign port) and it's a-ok. And that's not just Hawaii. That's for anything with a round trip US port.

 

Going from one US port to a totally different US port requires a DISTANT foreign port. Again, for ease this can be thought of as a different continent but there are some exceptions. So Panama Canal cruises between Florida and California go to Colombia or the ABC's, etc.

 

I know some people post on here and will sound certain in something they think is true but trust me when I say that from my time working for HAL, other than my generalization of the DISTANT definition I do know precisely of what k speak in this instance. It was a regular part of my job that I had to explain to others whether it be other coworkers or guests.

[Crew News]

Embarkation Day dawned at 7:00 AM for me with the sounds of port activity at the Canada Place pier. Forklift arms bouncing on the concrete and squealing brakes raised a din that prevented further sleep. We tried Room Service for the first time and were very satisfied with the food and the prompt delivery at the time we requested. Following the instructions on the small card on our breakfast tray, I notified Room Service that my tray was ready for pickup. As many CC members can attest, this has always been a wasted call and the Room Stewards end up moving the tray. After a few minutes, we received call asking about our satisfaction with the food followed by a knock on our door to pick up the tray followed a few minutes later by another crew member wanting to pick up the tray. Disembarkation Day phenomenon or huge change for HAL. We will have Room Service again tomorrow and discover the answer.

 

About 50 fellow “in-transit” passengers gathered in the Queen’s Lounge to be escorted through US Immigration. We waited about 20 minutes for US Immigration to arrive at work and were finally allowed to have our passports held near our faces to confirm our identity. Just like last year we were held in the same waiting area as new passengers and in a few minutes, efforts to keep us separated deteriorated. We remained in the area while waiting for the ship to be “zeroed out” so that we could board as more and more new passengers infiltrated our ranks. About 10:50 AM, the order to re-board the ship was given by the terminal ground team and Joanie, seated on her scooter, took the lead to move quickly down the terminal hallway to be the first to re-board the ship. Extending our stateroom cards for scanning at the end of the gangway found Security personnel unaware that we were allowed to re-board. Another five-minute wait and we made it back to our stateroom at 11:00 AM. Same issues as our first stop in Vancouver after the Pacific Coastal. It will be better next week we were assured when the passport printers are back online.

 

While reviewing my fresh pile of Invitations after re-boarding, I discovered not only my two Explor4 Specialty restaurant bookings but two more free “Collector Cruise” dinners. My MDR waiter won’t see my face again until next Thursday evening.

 

For the next 45 minutes, I took as many stateroom, cabana, and spa photographs as possible.

 

NO Safety Drill for continuing passengers. Our On Location showed that departure was to be at 4:00 PM but after calling many passengers to report to the Front Desk, the Safety Drill started at 4:15. Departure was at 5:00 and we passed under the Lionsgate Bridge at 5:30 PM.

 

My MDR waiter thought I had changed tables or was boycotting since I had eaten at my table only once during the previous five days. The soup course began with meat and veggies resting in a bowl and the chicken broth then poured from a ceramic pitcher to fill the bowl. Copying the PG Lobster Bisque? Prime rib was very good and a tasty medium rare

 

I obtained and scanned the two new Breakfast Cards for Pinnacle and Neptune Suites. All wine and bar menus are also now safely scanned and waiting my posting.

 

Tomorrow is our informal Meet & Greet in the Explorer Lounge followed by lunch in the MDR at our reserved tables.

 

More tomorrow.

Edited May 1, 2016 by Crew News

[Crew News]

Duplicate post

Edited May 1, 2016 by Crew News

[legalslave]

There is an extra $45 charge for the nearly 4" thick steak but according our waiter Clifford, it would cost more than $100 at a decent steak house.

 

I will be scanning the new PG menu tomorrow and have it posted this week while in an Alaska port where I can use my phone for a fast internet connection.

 

That is one huge piece of meat! Don't think even Mike could eat all of that but ya never know if he will decide to try it or not! I hate the boarding process in Vancouver. Lines that don't move for a very long time. I just have to keep thinking when I'm in it that all will be fine once we are through it. Is Le Cirque still on Wednesday?

 

Can you tell us who the Captain, HM and CD are?

 

Diane

Edited May 1, 2016 by legalslave

[Crew News]

That is one huge piece of meat! Don't think even Mike could eat all of that but ya never know if he will decide to try it or not! I hate the boarding process in Vancouver. Lines that don't move for a very long time. I just have to keep thinking when I'm in it that all will be fine once we are through it. Is Le Cirque still on Wednesday?

 

Can you tell us who the Captain, HM and CD are?

 

Diane

 

Le Cirque is on Thursday evening.

 

Captain: Bas von Dreumel

CD: Hamisch

HM: Simon Tanner

[frankc98376]

le cirque is on thursday evening.

 

Captain: Bas von dreumel

cd: Hamisch

hm: Simon tanner

 

whohoo!!!

[legalslave]

Le Cirque is on Thursday evening.

 

Captain: Bas von Dreumel

CD: Hamisch

HM: Simon Tanner

 

The only one I am sure I have cruised with is Hamisch and I really liked him. Was he the CD on our Noordam cruise last year?

 

Diane

[Crew News]

The only one I am sure I have cruised with is Hamisch and I really liked him. Was he the CD on our Noordam cruise last year?

 

Diane

 

Yes and he is not very talkative on this cruise. Nor is the Captain.

[erewhon]

Thanks for your updates.

 

Where will you post the new Pinnacle and Neptune breakfast cards?