LIVE from the Prinsendam - 24 day Med Rivieras & River Explorer - please join us

[kazu]

52 minutes ago, ski ww said:

If I can't be on the cruise reading your blog & looking at all the great pictures is the next best thing. Great work, thanks.

Allan

 

Thanks Allan.  Wish you two were here 😄 

[kazu]

Oops, I nearly forgot to post last night’s dinner menu.  YIKES.  

 

Can’t comment on dinner as we ate at Sel de Mer.  More on that later.

 

 

 

[kazu]

After this our tour was complete but our guide escorted us to the mercado as he knew we wanted to see it and then also showed us another way to the train station.

 

He made sure we knew the way before he left us.

 

It was late and we were famished from the walking so seeing all the food in the mercado didn’t help - LOL.

 

It was time to savour the favour.  We had a hard time deciphering the menu as the Spanish was a combination of Spanish and Catalunya so some words were difficult to figure out but DH managed to get the scoop.

 

The mercado:

 

 

The little spot where we decided to have a bite:

 

 

 

 

This is their version of gazpacho:

 

 

 

It looked like tomato soup but it tasted quite good.

 

prices were quite good and simple once we knew what one word was.

 

my salad Romanescu:

 

 

 

DH and Andrea’s bites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Here is our group of intrepid travellers waiting for our train at the Tarragona trains station:

 

 

 

My feeble attempts to get a couple of pics on the train as we travelled along the Mediterranean:

 

 

 

 

And, we were back in Barcelona = heading to the ship:

 

[kazu]

Greeting from Ajaccio, the birth place of Napoleon.  Here is our When and Where for today:

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

Really enjoying reading about your adventures and seeing the photos.  

[kazu]

Our next day was a sea day so there was the Mariner reception before the brunch.

 

Boy, did we need a break.  No one complained about a sea day at all 😉 

 

 

Sea day = Gala night.  Here is our captain in his day room.  We had been invited for drinks in the captain’s day room and to dine with one of the officers that night.

 

Really glad we went as 2 of our roll call members received their bronze medallion and one their gold.

 

 

 

 

 

The brunch was so so.  Got our tiles but believe it or not - it’s the one that features the Veendam and Volendam & not the Prinsendam.???  Not a Stephen Card one either.

 

Later there was the Ask the Captain session.  Quite interesting. 

 

Sea day = Gala night.  We had been invited to the Captain’s day room with others for drinks before dining with an officer.

 

Here is our Captain in his day room:

 

 

 

We ate with our HD and I was surprised to see we had Teresa as our wine steward.  I asked for her to pose for us so John and Jane could see her 😉

 

 

 

Our Gala night menu was different than the one shown for that night.  I am supposed to get it back signed so I didn’t take a pic (DAM).

 

In any case, here is the food porn from that night:

 

 

Above is our amuse bouche

 

then our appetizers below:

 

 

 

 

 

Our main courses:

 

 

 

Dessert:

 

 

Bart and I opted for the cheese plate:

 

[kazu]

So the Prinsendam has turned me into a liar.  Just got back on the ship and there was my Gala night menu signed.

 

So, here is the menu we had that night.

 

[kazu]

And, before I forget, here is tonight’s dinner menu.

 

Can’t review it as we are doing Cellar Master tonight.  (One of the reasons I came back a tad early was to clean up me, my cabin and prep as we have invitees coming over that are sitting at our Cellar Master table).

 

 

 

[kazu]

The last little bit from our Gala night with our charming HD.

 

Despite how young he looks, Bart has years of experience on ships (around 15 as an HD) and in the hotel industry before with Marriott & Walt Disney.

 

Our chef:

 

 

DR manager checking

 

And kind of nice to have had 2 of our roll call members at our table 😄 

 

[kazu]

We had a lovely evening and stayed up far too late considering we had to be ready to tender at 8 AM to get to Alghero.

 

After some troubles some days tendering last year, I had set our meeting time to be before the shore excursions should start so that we could get off easily.

 

Andrea took charge and arranged for 15 tender tickets and we were on the 1st tender (which wasn’t even 1/2 full).  

 

Tender procedures for this cruise are:  Neptune Suites can walk off - no ticket, 4 and 5* Mariners go to the Ocean Bar and other independents and shore excursions go to the Showroom.  Not sure if it will be the same for the next segment or not.

 

We weren’t meeting our guide until 10:15 so everyone had a bit of free time to explore before hand.

 

We went walking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of the port area - there are a LOT of sailing ships here - these are just a few:

 

 

 

 

The beautiful city walls and towers - more on that later:

 

 

 

Soon it was time to have a real Italian cappuccino & cafe late.  Delish!

 

[kazu]

All our group were back to our meeting place on time (Antonio was meeting us at the tender drop off) and Antonio was soon there and we were off on our cultural food walking tour.

 

We started with the walk first (have to burn some calories - LOL).

 

And we were going to walk around the old city.

 

This is a well.  It had the unique properties of fresh water and salt water flowing into it and, as a result the water was perfect for the ladies of the time to make their bread.  Salt was very expensive so this water was highly valued in olden days.

 

 

This is a unique area of Sardinia.  It is the only place in Italy where Catalan is spoken along with Italian.  Part of their heritage.  It is slowly fading out.

 

The walls here are amazing.  You can see the Catalan flag on the tower.

 

 

The decoration on the church is relatively modern.  It is tiled.  This area was never affected by the Arabs/Moors, etc.  (Moors is not the right term to use but one many are used to).

 

Walking along the walls, the views are simply amazing.

 

 

 

You just knew I HAD to take a pic of the Prinsendam, didn’t you? 😉 

 

 

This port only gets about 25 ships a year.  There is no dock and many of the larger ships can’t get here.  The harbour is not that deep.

 

Can you see the red covering on the lamp post?  You will see many of them as they are preparing for Samana Santa.  When the procession is at night they want the lighting red to represent the blood.  They’ll be removed on Easter Monday.

 

 

Nowadays people can paint their shutters any colour they want.  In the olden days they were the colours you see here - the green was for the farmers and the blue for the fishermen.  That way, they had their own advertising of what they had to offer 🙂 

 

 

The catapult is not original but the balls that you see are.  Each one ways around 100 - 200 kilos.

 

 

One of the guard towers from olden times.  There were a great many but there are not as many left now.  The city was well fortified.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Thank you very much for a wonderful read for me over my coffee this am! I loved all the pictures food and of course your writings.

Denise😊

[kazu]

Look at the views - some while we walked but most from a tall tower we climbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Seattitude]

I'm really enjoying all your photos and information.  I wish we had done this part of the cruise as well.  

 

I just downloaded a new app on my phone from HAL called Navigator.  Most of the information on it is only available once you are on board.  It looks like you can even use it like a walkytalky.  That will be so great if it works.  Have you or anyone you know used it?

 

A friend told me that there is some illness going around on board that was concerning.  Is it bad or just the norm?

 

I was wondering about the hair dryers.  I wish I could remember from being on board before.  Are they big and clumsy and where you have to continually hold down the on button?  I can't remember which cruise I was on that had those.  If they are on the Prinsendam I will bring my own.  

 

Thanks for keeping us all informed.  

[boards]

11 hours ago, kazu said:

Oops, I nearly forgot to post last night’s dinner menu.  YIKES.  

 

Can’t comment on dinner as we ate at Sel de Mer.  More on that later.

 

 

 

Are you getting copies of the menus in the above form because of the accommodations you are in on the ship?  Because I have never them in the above form.

[rafinmd]

41 minutes ago, boards said:

Are you getting copies of the menus in the above form because of the accommodations you are in on the ship?  Because I have never them in the above form.

Most of my waiters have been cooperative about giving them to me after the meal, but on the Elegant Explorer they’ve been fantastic.

 

Roy

[kazu]

5 hours ago, Seattitude said:

I'm really enjoying all your photos and information.  I wish we had done this part of the cruise as well.  

 

I just downloaded a new app on my phone from HAL called Navigator.  Most of the information on it is only available once you are on board.  It looks like you can even use it like a walkytalky.  That will be so great if it works.  Have you or anyone you know used it?

 

Thanks kindly.

 

As to the Navigator - you can use the “chat” button, but it has no “ping” so unless someone is looking, they don’t see it.

 

Myself, I just call the room and leave a message 😉 

 

5 hours ago, Seattitude said:

 

A friend told me that there is some illness going around on board that was concerning.  Is it bad or just the norm?

Illness?  What illness?  There’s been none that I am aware  of.

 

Everyone seems to be fine.  I know there is one couple unwell  but it has nothing to do with the ship but their health issues.

 

I haven’t heard a thing to be honest and the ship doesn’t fool around.  If there was even a hint of noro, they normally start the happy birthday song for washing your hands. Hasn’t happened.

 

Everything seems fine, honestly

 

I would certainly report if it were not.

 

5 hours ago, Seattitude said:

 

I was wondering about the hair dryers.  I wish I could remember from being on board before.  Are they big and clumsy and where you have to continually hold down the on button?  I can't remember which cruise I was on that had those.  If they are on the Prinsendam I will bring my own.  

 

Thanks for keeping us all informed.  

 

As to the hairdryer - no you don’t need to keep the button pushed.  Just select yhr speed and they go to work like a normal hairdryer.

 

They are a bit longer than mine at home (but I have found it that way on all the ships)

 

I’m fine with the one on board and I didn’t pack one 😉 

 

Hope this helps and looking forward to seeing you soon.

[kazu]

4 hours ago, boards said:

Are you getting copies of the menus in the above form because of the accommodations you are in on the ship?  Because I have never them in the above form.

 

I am being lazy and using the paper copies they provide.

 

The menus are available on the Navigator but I find them broken up.

 

When I didn’t have this accommodation, I had no problem getting the menus from the waiters.  

 

They are really excellent and accommodating. 😄 

 

But since they get delivered, I am taking the path of least resistance 😉 

[boards]

1 minute ago, kazu said:

 

I am being lazy and using the paper copies they provide.

 

The menus are available on the Navigator but I find them broken up.

 

When I didn’t have this accommodation, I had no problem getting the menus from the waiters.  

 

They are really excellent and accommodating. 😄 

 

But since they get delivered, I am taking the path of least resistance 😉 

Thank you

[kazu]

I am going to close off tonight with these last few pics from Alghero.   I still have a lot of Alghero to do including major food porn.

 

If pics load fast enough I can do it, but it’s highly unlikely. 😉  We’re sailing to Elba so I am at the mercy of the ship.

 

Did Cellar Master tonight and the Filipino show (always fun) so we are a tad weary.  And it’s another port day today.  But, if I can (after today I don’t know if I can - OMG on the scenery)  I will get you up to date with luck 😉 

 

Now back to Alghero,  after climbing the tower, our guide was explaining what the long thing was on his back.

 

It was the ancient musical instrument native to this land that they use.  Sounds. A lot like bagpipes but I’ll let you judge.  Here are a couple of pics of Antonio and a couple of very short videos of him playing (he fully confesses to not being a pro - LOL)

 

 

 

 

We were coming into the central square - the original one of this city and I got a tad enchanted  (as usual).  I like flowers. 😉 

 

 

 

The old walls - all of them are not left.

 

Love flowers so I couldn’t resist this shot.

 

 

 

I missed most of this procession but you can get a glimpse.

 

Note the typical streets and the old walls.  This is in the original market place of centuries ago.  People came to bring their produce and the state took so much as taxes and they were allowed to keep the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the colour of the coral that this place was famous for.  Sadly, this store is fake coral according to Antonio.  But it does show you the colour.

 

 

Here are Antonio’s little recordings when he played for us.

[tompeter]

Loved the picture of the shoes...LOL... they really are beautiful!

[kazu]

7 hours ago, tompeter said:

Loved the picture of the shoes...LOL... they really are beautiful!

 

Thanks 🙂. I was amazed they fit 😉

 

[kazu]

Good morning from Porteferrario in Italy.  Yes, we are at Elba Island where Napoleon stayed.

 

A tender port - the captain announced last night how tricky it was to get in but he needed to keep busy - LOL 😉. The Prinsendam has done it again.  We are not tendering.  We just DOCKED!!!!  A tiny dock, but we are docked.

 

Happy Easter to all 😄 

 

Now back to a bit of Alghero...

 

We stopped to wait for the procession to pass by on our walk.

 

 

This is the town’s original square:

 

 

The famous red coral that is indigenous here.  It is getting harder and harder to find as the divers have to go deeper and deeper.

 

 

Just a pretty street

 

 

And the square:

 

[kazu]

FOOD PORN Alert 😄 😄 

 

This was a walking and food tour, so, after a couple of hours, our guide thought it was time for our first bite.

 

Roll call members taking seats:

 

 

Along came this lovely plate of antipasto.  Different kinds of meat - 3 different kinds of cheese, breads, etc and red wine.

 

All the different meats were carefully explained to us and everyone, being hungry ate it all.  We thought this was our light bite.  BIG mistake.

 

 

 

Then came the main course with white wine.

 

octupus, squid & catfish (not the kind we have in Canada) and white wine:

 

 

 

A couple snaps of our happy group and the restaurant:

 

 

Our dessert :  It has cheese inside with honey on top.  Delicious, but huge.

 

It is called Ciata and is typical of Alghero:

 

 

 

 

The restaurant where we gorged :