Live from Nieuw Statendam Premier Voyage, December 2018

[SeaBands]

On 12/10/2018 at 12:14 AM, scluvsrain said:

I remember on past cruises when the end of the cruise reminder for books to be turned back on went out, the librarian would arrive at their desk the next morning to find stacks of books piled high on the desk and the book drop bin also full with books on the floor beneath. 

 

Orlando also reiterated that it was $2 million not $2.5 million. My notes from his talk also confirm that. 

 

I looked in at the Crows Nest yesterday and saw no shelf or place for book exchange. 

 

On an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT note - hint hint - we had a comedian/magician last night named Neil Austen and while he was quite silly, the audience was laughing throughout his set, at least at the early show. I enjoyed it. 

I bet the figure includes new book purchases that update the libraries. Can't believe that many books get stolen

[SeaBands]

On 12/10/2018 at 12:14 AM, scluvsrain said:

I remember on past cruises when the end of the cruise reminder for books to be turned back on went out, the librarian would arrive at their desk the next morning to find stacks of books piled high on the desk and the book drop bin also full with books on the floor beneath. 

 

Orlando also reiterated that it was $2 million not $2.5 million. My notes from his talk also confirm that. 

 

I looked in at the Crows Nest yesterday and saw no shelf or place for book exchange. 

 

On an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT note - hint hint - we had a comedian/magician last night named Neil Austen and while he was quite silly, the audience was laughing throughout his set, at least at the early show. I enjoyed it. 

I bet the figure includes new book purchases that update the libraries. Can't believe that many books get stolen.

[Vict0riann]

22 minutes ago, SeaBands said:

what was the brown stuff next to the sole?

That's the roe I think you are looking at.  The waiter always asks if you want it.  

[Vict0riann]

2 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

 

I saw Happy Hour listed for 4 PM at the Billboard and Lincoln Stage Center on a couple of Where and Whens.  Did look at all real closely.

Right, KK, almost every day it has been in the Billboard area.  And there is also a happy hour in the Blend from 9 to 10, just Chateau Ste. Michelle wines I think.

 

we did have a shock at HH.  Our “special occasion “ drink is a Kir Royale, $8.50, but for every day , just a Prosecco - $6.50, or white wine - $6.  (iIRC). So the first time we celebrated with a kir royale- $8.50 +$2, right.  The next night we downgraded to a Prosecco - the next day in checking the account I noticed the amount seemed wrong, so at HH we asked the waiter, and were told Prosecco is $10.50, we asked about the white wine - $10.... so now kir royale is the cheap drink.  (There are none of the old books of drink lists out - perhaps they will bring them on board in Fort Lauderdale.)

[Vict0riann]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

The name of the drink is short for "advocatenborrel", or "lawyer's drink", where "borrel", as you know  is Dutch for a small alcoholic beverage consumed slowly during a social gathering. According to the 1882 edition of the "Woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal" (Dictionary for the Dutch language), it is "zoo genoemd als een goed smeersel voor de keel, en dus bijzonder dienstig geacht voor een advocaat, die in 't openbaar het woord moet voeren" ("it is so named as a good lubricant for the throat, and thus considered especially useful for a lawyer, who must speak in public")

 

It certainly is a good lubricant!😊

[kazu]

3 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Right, KK, almost every day it has been in the Billboard area.  And there is also a happy hour in the Blend from 9 to 10, just Chateau Ste. Michelle wines I think.

 

we did have a shock at HH.  Our “special occasion “ drink is a Kir Royale, $8.50, but for every day , just a Prosecco - $6.50, or white wine - $6.  (iIRC). So the first time we celebrated with a kir royale- $8.50 +$2, right.  The next night we downgraded to a Prosecco - the next day in checking the account I noticed the amount seemed wrong, so at HH we asked the waiter, and were told Prosecco is $10.50, we asked about the white wine - $10.... so now kir royale is the cheap drink.  (There are none of the old books of drink lists out - perhaps they will bring them on board in Fort Lauderdale.)

 

Sounds like drink prices are going up?  

[Vict0riann]

6 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Sounds like drink prices are going up?  

Except for the kir royale!😎

[Cruising-along]

19 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Estancia is the one they ran out of - I forget the name of the replacement.

We have found that when they run out of our chosen wine they substitute a better/more expensive wine.  Was this the case for you?  Good PR I think.

[Vict0riann]

5 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

We have found that when they run out of our chosen wine they substitute a better/more expensive wine.  Was this the case for you?  Good PR I think.

Well, we didn’t know the replacement wine, but the steward said it was better than the Estancia, and it was very nice.

[dfish]

1 hour ago, SeaBands said:

what was the brown stuff next to the sole?

Others are probably right when they say it is the roe.  I didn't have the brown stuff with mine.

[NCnurse]

9 minutes ago, SeaBands said:

I bet the figure includes new book purchases that update the libraries. Can't believe that many books get stolen.

 Noticed yesterday that people are leaving books for sharing on the regular library shelves.  Took one for the trip home.  There were also times noted in the When & Where for book exchange.

[catl331]

19 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

I figured it was because you were at the aft, it was all metal.  But it may be your magnetic personality!😀🧲

Could also be the strength of the magnets being used. "Rare earth" magnets will stick where weak ones won't.

[scluvsrain]

2 hours ago, SeaBands said:

what was the brown stuff next to the sole?

It indeed was the roe. Not the best thing I’ve ever tasted but it was okay. Would I have it again? Nope a doodle. 

[scluvsrain]

59 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

We have found that when they run out of our chosen wine they substitute a better/more expensive wine.  Was this the case for you?  Good PR I think.

They always substitute a better wine (in their opinion)!when they run out of a wine that I’ve asked for. Most of the time the new wine is just fine. Occasionally the new wine is not the same - i.e. oakey  versus not - and then that’s a problem. 

[scluvsrain]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Right, KK, almost every day it has been in the Billboard area.  And there is also a happy hour in the Blend from 9 to 10, just Chateau Ste. Michelle wines I think.

 

we did have a shock at HH.  Our “special occasion “ drink is a Kir Royale, $8.50, but for every day , just a Prosecco - $6.50, or white wine - $6.  (iIRC). So the first time we celebrated with a kir royale- $8.50 +$2, right.  The next night we downgraded to a Prosecco - the next day in checking the account I noticed the amount seemed wrong, so at HH we asked the waiter, and were told Prosecco is $10.50, we asked about the white wine - $10.... so now kir royale is the cheap drink.  (There are none of the old books of drink lists out - perhaps they will bring them on board in Fort Lauderdale.)

I found out the hard way that the inexpensive Prosecco had nearly doubled in price. With the service charge one glass is $12. Good to hear about the Kir Royale. I think I’ll switch next time. 

[hrclark]

Has there been karaoke?

[Cruising-along]

45 minutes ago, scluvsrain said:

They always substitute a better wine (in their opinion)!when they run out of a wine that I’ve asked for. Most of the time the new wine is just fine. Occasionally the new wine is not the same - i.e. oakey  versus not - and then that’s a problem. 

Yes, that would be a problem for sure.  I guess we've been lucky, we loved what they substituted on the VOV.  We got to know the Cellar Master and he knew our tastes.  But I wouldn't have been happy either with what has occasionally happened to you.

[SeaBands]

looking at the food in SeldeMer makes me want to take this ship. Also the sushi bar. We didn't like the Kdam  since all the aft cabins were Vista with the bed against the window/door and felt that the balcony cabin was smaller than on Edam or New A. What was the cost for the cellar master dinner? I don't like most of the art shown in the photos compared to other ships. Are there photos in the gangways outside the cabins? I will look at the itineraries and may book  the ship when we are on the Rotterdam in Feb. We were thinking of trying Viking or Windstar in November.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Reading through the reports -- it sounds like HAL is raising the drink prices.

 

Wonder if this will become fleet wide?

[harryw]

I apologize if this was answered already, but do the Lido Market and Explorations Cafe have made to order hot breakfast dishes?

 

Harry

[NCnurse]

1 hour ago, hrclark said:

Has there been karaoke?

Nope.  And with some lubrication, I’d be singing!

[NCnurse]

Just now, harryw said:

I apologize if this was answered already, but do the Lido Market and Explorations Cafe have made to order hot breakfast dishes?

 

Harry

Lido Market, yes!

Explorations Cafe is more like a bar cum Starbucks.  Fancy coffee drinks, alcohol and pastries.

 

[scluvsrain]

What a beautiful surprise tonight outside the Dutch Cafe!!!

[fatcat04]

5 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Right, KK, almost every day it has been in the Billboard area.  And there is also a happy hour in the Blend from 9 to 10, just Chateau Ste. Michelle wines I think.

 

we did have a shock at HH.  Our “special occasion “ drink is a Kir Royale, $8.50, but for every day , just a Prosecco - $6.50, or white wine - $6.  (iIRC). So the first time we celebrated with a kir royale- $8.50 +$2, right.  The next night we downgraded to a Prosecco - the next day in checking the account I noticed the amount seemed wrong, so at HH we asked the waiter, and were told Prosecco is $10.50, we asked about the white wine - $10.... so now kir royale is the cheap drink.  (There are none of the old books of drink lists out - perhaps they will bring them on board in Fort Lauderdale.)

I kinda anticipated this from what had been posted so far here and on The Jones' thread. Drink inflation... /sigh. Hope if this goes fleet wide they adjust the beverage packages to fit.

[scluvsrain]

3 hours ago, SeaBands said:

looking at the food in SeldeMer makes me want to take this ship. Also the sushi bar. We didn't like the Kdam  since all the aft cabins were Vista with the bed against the window/door and felt that the balcony cabin was smaller than on Edam or New A. What was the cost for the cellar master dinner? I don't like most of the art shown in the photos compared to other ships. Are there photos in the gangways outside the cabins? I will look at the itineraries and may book  the ship when we are on the Rotterdam in Feb. We were thinking of trying Viking or Windstar in November.

Cellar Master dinner $79 per person. 

 

Photos in hallways outside cabins, yes. Musical themes mostly. Very nice. 

 

Food everywhere has has been pretty phenomenal. 

 

Inate at Pinnacle again tonight. Here’s some more food porn. 

Edited December 16, 2018 by scluvsrain