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rafinmd

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Day P3, Saturday, November 4, 2017, Cartagena, Spain

 

The Oosterdam is in Ft. Lauderdale. The Amsterdam is in Nha Trang.

 

I slept a little later again, until 5:45, walking 1 lap early as I got coffee and another at 7:30 as the sun was due to rise but obscured by clouds. This was my second visit to Cartagena, the first being just about a year ago on the Queen Elizabeth. That time I took a ship’s walking tour on what I remember as a rainy day.

 

Our arrival was scheduled for noon and in the morning Heather had her presentation on Cadiz, Lisbon, and Funchal at 9:30. Our arrival was actually early, pulling in soon after her talk ended. We drew the short straw on berthing this time, with the Thompson Dream and Veendam at the cruise terminal and us on the opposite side of the harbor with a shuttle into town. As we arrived the Veendam was doing some drilling with the lifeboats.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/cartarrival.jpg

 

I’ll add some photos of venues of the Prinsendam that were not included in my comparison. These are all on deck 8, between the promenade walk and dining room on deck 7 and the verandah cabins on deck 9 (Prinsendam is numbered differently with the tender landing on deck 4 and other decks above that with increasing numbers). Aft on the port side is the casino.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/casino.jpg

 

Also just forward of the aft stairs but on the starboard side is the Explorers Lounge where a classical duo, Adagio, performs nightly.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/explorers.jpg

 

The library is actually 2 rooms, forward of the casino on the port side. The oak room is small with the photos taken from doors leading in from the starboard and forward leading to the main library which runs lengthwise along the port side. Both are well stocked with books but sadly, no longer a dedicated librarian. For those familiar with HAL’s R-Class ships, the coffee bar portion of the Explorations Café is where the Future Cruise Consultant and Location Guide sit on those ships, on a midship passage between the Library and Explorers Lounge.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/oak1.jpg

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/oak2.jpg

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/library1.jpg

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/library2.jpg

 

We were cleared about 11 but it was a little after noon before I started into town. My agenda was to do some walking, a bit of shopping, and perhaps find a lunch spot with wifi. Other than the shopping I didn’t do very well. I did almost immediately pass a pharmacy and found the dental supplies that had eluded me in Civitavecchia, and also found AA batteries in a supermarket. The HAL map was pretty useless and the city was a spaghetti network of streets where I was frequently turned in a direction I hadn’t expected. Some of the streets were nice pedestrian avenues.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/cartagena1.jpg

 

There were city maps on some billboards which would have been really helpful it they had a “you are here” dot but I was never able to get a decent map and my current location at the same time. When I’d had enough I used my GPS to find my way back to the shuttle stop. On the way I did pass something I could identify, ruins of an old Roman Amphitheater. I was back at the ship around 2:30.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/roman.jpg

 

We were the last of the ships to leave port. While at my computer I happened to notice the dream on the TV bow camera and headed out to my “porch” as she left the harbor and turned west.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dream.jpg

 

About 4 I could hear some muffled toots in my cabin. I headed out to the porch and the Veendam was headed to the port entrance.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/porchview1.jpg

 

The horn salutes must have continued for a good 2 minutes, and I watched as that lovely ship (other than her stern) sailed away. I still don’t know what she’s doing in Europe right now but she seemed to be headed deeper into the Med.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/porchview2.jpg

 

All aboard here and in Malaga is 5:30. As a confirmed sailaway addict I didn’t want to be in the dining room as the ship left so I reserved Canaletto for tonight and the Pinnacle Grill for Sunday. Captain Dag’s sailaway message came at 5:33, just as I was heading up to my favorite sailaway spot. On the Crystal Symphony and Prinsendam, that’s usually on the Sun Deck forward, above the open bridge wing. I watched as Captain Dag, an unidentified First Officer, the pilot and Staff Captain Craig Ravesloot took us away from the dock. We slid SLOWLY sideways until we were in the middle of the harbor and then started moving forward. Still, we passed the breakwater before 6. . The sun fell behind a nearby hill as we left.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/readytogo.jpg

 

The first time I was on the Prinsendam there was an open deck space behind the lido which was covered by some leaky tarps. In a 2012 drydock that space was enclosed and no is used as lido seating for breakfast and lunch and becomes the Canaletto specialty restaurant in the evening.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/canaletto.jpg

 

My reservation was at 7 but they welcomed me at 6. As I watched from my table we left Cartagena behind us.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/adieucartagena.jpg

 

Dinner was very nice. For this meal I chose the Canaletto Salad, Spaghetti as the pasta, Chicken Cacciatore as the main and the Pistachio Gelato for desert.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dishe05.jpg

 

The featured entertainment was Ventriloquist and musician Kieran Powell. He was good but drowsiness came on for me suddenly after dinner.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/powell.jpg

 

My parting shot is a followup from a couple days ago, where I mentioned the transition from open lifeboats to the enclosed, virtually foolproof boats used today. I was reminded by the Thompson Dream that there are still some of those old boats with us today.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/open.jpg

 

Roy

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JR42

JR42

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Roy

The Veendam is on her 49 day Atlantic Adventurer sailing. Left Ft Lauderfdale on the 20th of October and Returning Dec 8th back in Ft Lauderdale.

Enjoying your your posting and pictures. We just left the Prinsendam in Oct.

 

Janet

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Thank you all.I think the only outstanding question right now is jacqui's about Gala night (If I've passed over somebody's question please remind me). I don't pay a lot of attention to what everyone else is wearing but my sense was that it was pretty dressy with the majority at least in jacket and tie. For myself I stopped short of carrying a tux around but had:

 

A pure black Travelsmith blazer with matching slacks.

Blue semi-dress shirt (wrist thingies but standard front buttons)

White bow tie

Cumberbund

 

I was a little dressier than average probably but not at all out of place.

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bennybear

bennybear

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I am glad the weather looks so much better. The ship looks great! I really enjoyed that picture of the flying bridge. Sadly, I too couldn’t see a couple of pictures, the dinner at Canaletto. Those life boats on Thompson look pretty scary. I wonder how old those ships are?

Thanks Roy!

Edited by bennybear
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DeeniEncinitas

DeeniEncinitas

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Great pics Roy!!! As Miss G said I also get error 404 on 3 pictures!!!

So enjoying your trip!!! Would love to see pics of your cabin if it’s alright. So far The Prinsendam is beautiful. March 25 2019 looks like will be on her and one of the stops is in Lisbon. Weather looks wonderful and enjoyed seeing The Veendam too! Thank you for taking the time on this fantastic Voyage to give all of us a glimpse into your cruise!!! I have learned a lot Roy!

Sincerely

Denise:)

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Day P4, Sunday, November 5, 2017, Malaga, Spain

 

The Oosterdam is at sea from Ft. Lauderdale to Amber Cove. The Amsterdam is in Phu My.

 

I am still somewhat off peak from the flight, and had not intended to set an alarm but had it on one IPAD and was up at 5PM. For this date and location it is still very dark at that hour. When I went back out around sunrise we were starting to tie up at the dock.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dawn1105.jpg

 

It was a very busy day for passenger ships in Malaga. When we came in we passed 2 Thompson (being rebranded to Marella, the Dream and the Celebration. Both were formerly HAL ships. The Dream sailed as the MS Westerdam in 1988-2002, and the Celebration was the Noordam in 1984-2005. Ahead of us in the center of town was the Star Pride, one of the former Seabourn triplets, now sailing for Windstar.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/starpride.jpg

 

Also in town was the ferry Fortuny which sails between Malaga and Tunisia. I walked by the ferry terminal in town and it looks like the Fortuny was due to sail at 11PM. We were joined later by the Pulmantur Horizon, a former Celebrity ship..

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/fortuny.jpg

 

This is my 3rd visit to Malaga, after visits on the Celebrity Solstice in 2012 and Allure of the Seas in 2015, On both of those visits I took tours to other towns but today just walked into town, about a 20-minute walk. The harbor on the way in was quite crowded, about half way in I passed an interesting tall ship, the Alva, and then a long line of sailing yachts.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/alva.jpg

 

For sightseeing I was thinking mostly in terms of a Roman Theater. On the way in I passed a number of people on Segway tours; I’ve done them before and would likely consider that on a return visit to Malaga. It’s great fun and I’ve posted their brochure (along with the Alcazaba) on the “Extras” page of my blog. While getting my bearings I also ran across the Malaga Cathedral.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/malagacathedral.jpg

 

The signs mostly listed the Teatro Roman and Alcazaba together and I thought they might be part of the same facility. When I got to the Alcazaba I encountered the ticket booth which also had reference to the Teatro. When I went further I needed to buy a ticket and ended up visiting the Alcazaba, but the ticket was only 60 cents. It dates back to the 11th century and was the palace during the Moorish area. Several lovely towers are sometimes now partly obscured by trees.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/alcazaba1.jpg

 

There are also stunning views from the higher levels of the complex, including one of the Cathedral’s spire.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/alcazaba2.jpg

 

Some areas look out over the harbor where there were really only good views of one of the ships in port but it was the prettiest one.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/eealc.jpg

 

Leaving the Alcazaba I discovered that if I had walked just a few steps more I’d have been at the Teatro Romano. While a ruin, it is pretty well preserved with the seating area, stage, and runways where the participants entered and left. Signs indicated (and one could see through a glass enclosed hole in the sidewalk) that there were pens where animals were kept. I assume that when animals and people were on the stage together, only one survived.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/teatro.jpg

 

While we seemed to have the prime large ship spot at the terminal, all was not what it seemed. We were the closest ship to town, but we needed to enter the terminal from the end furthest away and then return past the Horizon to the ship. The 2 Thompson ships were far from town but had shuttles that took them to the terminal exit closest to town. Making matters a bit more awkward, it was turnaround day for the Horizon, and when I returned to the ship there was a single security line including the heavily laden Horizon passengers.

 

When I walked into town I passed a Spanish navy ship docked between us and town. I watched from my “porch” as it headed out to sea around 3PM. The Horizon was just starting to take in lines as I prepared to go down to the Stuyvesant Room for the 5PM Interdenominational worship.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/navy2sea.jpg

 

There were about 20 present at the service. I had expected that I might be the defacto leader of the service but we had a gentleman who is not ordained but serves as a prison chaplain, and he did this service. I may be responsible for next Sunday.

 

Our all aboard was scheduled for 5:30. I missed Captain Dag’s sailaway message as it happened during the service and when I headed upstairs at 5:32 the gangway was already sealed off. After picking up a quick cup of coffee at the lido I headed up to the sun deck. The Dream was just ahead of us and headed out to sea.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dreamoff.jpg

 

Some of us sailaway addicts are also very fond of ship horns. As soon as the Dream hit the breakwater Captain Dag pushed a yellowish button next to a digital display on the bridge wing console, and Staff Captain Craig added a little bonus.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/tooter.jpg

 

I think sunset was after 6 but it effectively went down soon after sailaway as it passed behind another mountain.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dusk1105.jpg

 

With my jet lag I had not yet gotten up to the Crow’s Nest to hear Lee at the piano. I dropped inn on him for a little while after sunset.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/lee.jpg

 

The LaFontaine Dining room on the Prinsendam may be unique and is certainly unique in the HAL fleet. While I frequent other ships with single level dining rooms, only the Prinsendam has an annex. It’s on the starboard side, just forward of the aft stairs and right behind the ocean bar. It’s also very unusual that it serves as a passageway between ends of the ship and is never closed off.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/annex.jpg

 

I dropped by table 153 in the main section and had coffee with my tablemates before heading to the Pinnacle Grill for my dinner.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/diningroom.jpg

 

It’s a beautiful location on the port of deck 7; the one potential disadvantage there is that the entrance is right next to the Ocean Bar. For people who desire quiet 7:30 is probably a good time to arrive as the Ocean Quartet has a break from about 7:45 to 8:45.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/eepinnacle.jpg

 

This was actually my first time for dinner at Prinsendam’s Pinnacle although I’ve enjoyed lunch there a couple of times. The salad, steak, and baked Alaska were all excellent.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dishes051.jpg

 

The featured entertainment was flautist Andrea Amat. I only caught the last bit of her show after dinner.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/amat.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot is for a subset of Americans. The first Tuesday of November is election day. While federal elections are only held in even years some states and localities conduct state and local elections in the “off” years. Maryland is an even year state but where I grew up in New York there were local elections in the odd years. These local races affect peoples’ lives and are the breeding ground for future national politicians. If your jurisdiction is holding elections and you do not vote you deserve the government you get.

 

Roy

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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I’m sorry about the missing photos. I post to the blog by email, and it looks to me like the links were all good and all the photos were in the message in my sent file. Sometimes there is a lag between the time Wordpress gets a photo and the link becomes valid. You might try those broken links again and see if they work now. If not, I’d appreciate it if somebody could post the last segment of the file names (like dishes04.jpg), and I’ll try to track it down.

 

Ok, I did find the problem with the Canaletto meal. This should be the correct link:

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dishes05.jpg

 

Roy

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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Great reports and pics Roy.

 

Smiling at your posting of the unique dining room. That little forward dining room (annex) is my location of choice :)

 

 

Nice to hear that their were some toots. Love the sound of the P'dam's horn.

 

Glad you got to see Malaga. It is one of faourite places - lots to see there and such a nice ambience.

 

Good luck with the leading the service next week!

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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Thank you all.

 

Day P5, Monday, November 6, 2017, Cadiz, Spain

 

The Oosterdam is in Amber Cove. The Amsterdam is at sea from Phu My to Singapore.

 

I took a page from the last time I had been to Malaga, 2 years ago on the Allure of the Seas. At that time we left at 8PM for Fort Lauderdale and I started the next day at midnight, walking as we went through the straits of Gibralter. With our 6PM departure this time I decreed Monday to begin at 10PM Sunday and walked 1 ½ miles as we went through the straits. There was a bright moon both years.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/moonovergibralter.jpg

 

Gibralter looked much the same in the darkness but the Moroccan shore was much more brightly lit. I can’t believe it’s changed that much in 2 years; perhaps some of the lights are turned off towards midnight.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/morocco.jpg

 

Sunrise has been getting later and later and with our 7AM arrival for my first ever visit to Cadiz we had been docked for a while before it was evident. We had the city to ourselves today but there were a number of ferries in the area.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dawn1106.jpg

 

I had no plans for the day and headed out for a walk around 10. There was a line at the visitor kiosk and I decided not to wait for a map, likely a mistake. The ship’s map was more useful than in Cartagena and I found my way to the sea where there was a walk atop an old wall.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/cadizwall.jpg

 

I continued along the wall passing an old church, Carmen Santa Teresa, from 1743.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/teresa.jpg

I turned inland when passing botanical gardens, looking for a tower shown on the Holland America map. I was quickly lost in a maze of streets, wandering until I reached the Cathedral.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/cathedral.jpg

 

Nearby was the Teatro Romano, but I never found the entrance. The visitor information kiosk nearby was useless, apparently all they did was sell tickets. I did pass some glassed in ruins which had been a 5th century burial site. I used my GPS to find my way back to the ship. There was good wifi in the terminal. I was back just in time to get a good turkey lunch in the lido.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/digsite.jpg

 

While we were the only ship here on a port call, I could see a Thompson funnel a couple of miles away. A bit later a Pullmatur ship (Sovereign or Monarch) entered the same area. I presume it was a shipyard. I know the Crystal Symphony recently underwent a major drydock somewhere near of Lisbon; I’m wondering if this might be the place.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/shipyard.jpg

 

All aboard was 4:30. We had one of the strangest sailaways ever. I had lost track of time and surprised when I heard an announcement asking 2 passengers to make themselves known. As I headed up to my sailaway spot Captain Dag confirmed we were waiting on a couple of people but should be underway by 5. From the stairs I heard a “hurry up” blast on the ship’s horns. At the sun deck, the pilot and officers were prepared for departure.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/attheready.jpg

 

I watched as the security officer went out and searched the area around the terminal. The crew started securing the gangway around 4:45 when a delivery truck rushed up and a guy got out and carried 3 boxes onto the ship. About the time he left security staff got off and handed some documents (could have retrieved passports from the safe), and left them with the port agent. Right about 5 the gangway was brought in and the lines started to come in. We were about 3 feet from the dock when some of the officers made sweeping “come here” waves. The thrusters were reversed and the gangway came back out.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/runners.jpg

 

It was about 5:15 when the aft started to swing out until we were far enough out to swing the bow around. We had one of the junior officers at the controls with Captains Dag and Craig keeping a close eye on things. I had to go down before we had fully turned in order not to be late for dinner.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/watching.jpg

 

We had the usual 6 (the one holdover from the prior cruise has become permanent at the other table). One of the group seems to be consistently late. For me this evening it was the blueberry soup, veal tenderloin, and strawberry crisp.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/dishes06.jpg

 

The featured entertainment was Mime and Magician Ruben Vilagrand with a funny combination of pantomime and magic. We gained an hour but I decided to use it for extra sleep.

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/vilagrand.jpg

 

Today’s parting shot–If I ever see 3 feet of water between my ship and the dock again, I want it to be from on deck.

 

Roy

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rafinmd "Live from...." Rare

rafinmd

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One comment I haven't responded to (not sure I was supposed to) was about Linda Minnikin. While she seems omnipresent on the Prinsendam, that isn't really true. I've sailed the Prinsendam 4 times and sailed with Linda 3. She was on my first cruise on the Prinsendam and on this one. I had someone on Christina on my 2013 Amazon Explorer and Mark Brignone (now with Viking) in 2015. The other time I had Linda was on the Veendam Boston to Canada in 2013.

 

Roy

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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One comment I haven't responded to (not sure I was supposed to) was about Linda Minnikin. While she seems omnipresent on the Prinsendam, that isn't really true. I've sailed the Prinsendam 4 times and sailed with Linda 3. She was on my first cruise on the Prinsendam and on this one. I had someone on Christina on my 2013 Amazon Explorer and Mark Brignone (now with Viking) in 2015. The other time I had Linda was on the Veendam Boston to Canada in 2013.

 

Roy

 

We have only had her once on 3 sailings on the P'dam Roy. Is she still doing her "tootle lee doo"?

 

30 days of it was a bit too much for me ;):halo:

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