LAFFNVEGAS "LIVE" from the Nieuw Amsterdam, First HAL Ship to Sail!!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

Seth Wayne has been live on FB walking around Sitka! It is another beautiful day!

Thanks for sharing

[RGEDad]

16 hours ago, atexsix said:

I would have gone with room service 😃Those pizzas take FOREVER!!

One of the very best things about HAL is after a long hard, hard day of cruising, and eating, and music walks is to go up late at night and get a custom pizza made with exactly with want on each side, getting it cooked exactly how we want (Extra Super Crispy) and munching it out on our porch/veranda. It may take a while - but then - we somehow manage to fit in into our extremely tight cruise schedule...

One of the first things I check on when booking is if the ship has a Pizza place. All of the HAL ship that I have been on (to date) have them - so far - but I am concerned about one that that is booked where I could not find it on the deck layout...we shall see.

[atexsix]

11 minutes ago, RGEDad said:

One of the very best things about HAL is after a long hard, hard day of cruising, and eating, and music walks is to go up late at night and get a custom pizza made with exactly with want on each side, getting it cooked exactly how we want (Extra Super Crispy) and munching it out on our porch/veranda. It may take a while - but then - we somehow manage to fit in into our extremely tight cruise schedule...

One of the first things I check on when booking is if the ship has a Pizza place. All of the HAL ship that I have been on (to date) have them - so far - but I am concerned about one that that is booked where I could not find it on the deck layout...we shall see.

So that was why, I was competing with the late night crowd.

[Sharon in AZ]

2 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

Since my flight is the next day, my ship (RCI) won't allow me to purchase an airport transfer unless my flight is that day.  I say silly and why would they care when I fly once I am off the ship..

Because your flight is not the same day. Airport transfers upon disembarkation are only for flights leaving the same day. 

[dudeonthephone]

9 hours ago, 12cruise2 said:

Hi, Lisa

 

Another question we thought of--what about in-room movie availability?  On the older, smaller ships we could get a DVD to play on the TV.  I know the NA is a newer ship with newer TV and possibly on-demand, or?

Thank you so very much for all your insights and info; I feel like we're there with you when I read this thread; wish we were.

 

The newer ships have an excellent interactive TV system in all cabins. Programming seems to be added throughout the sailing and I remember counting about 135 movies listed by the end of the week. There was no charge for any content when I last sailed, unlike on-demand programming on some lines.

 

Here's a blurb from HAL:

 

Each room includes a flat-screen TV with interactive menu of programming including; on-demand movies, music stations, as well as both live and pre-recorded television. Additionally, guests can access ship information, dining options, an onboard activities schedule, shore excursions, and port information through this interactive media console. There are no external inputs available such as A/V or HDMI.

[Copper10-8]

Just a heads up! Nieuw Amsterdam and the "two Jeroens" - Just learned that Capt. Jeroen van Donselaar handed over the keys to the bridge 😉 to Captain Jeroen Baaijens yesterday and the latter is now in command. He (JvD) is now on his way home to a well deserved vacation

[Copper10-8]

30 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

Just a heads up! Nieuw Amsterdam and the "two Jeroens" - Just learned that Capt. Jeroen van Donselaar handed over the keys to the bridge 😉 to Captain Jeroen Baaijens yesterday and the latter is now in command. He (JvD) is now on his way home to a well deserved vacation

 

That would be Baijens with only one "a" 😔

Edited July 28, 2021 by Copper10-8

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, dudeonthephone said:

The newer ships have an excellent interactive TV system in all cabins. Programming seems to be added throughout the sailing and I remember counting about 135 movies listed by the end of the week.

 

The on demand movie options are overwhelming. One could spend their entire cruise watching movies without repeating any, I think.  

[Cruising-along]

2 hours ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Because your flight is not the same day. Airport transfers upon disembarkation are only for flights leaving the same day. 

We have gotten airport transfers on disembarkation with HAL and didn't fly out until the next day.  It works very well when you have an airport hotel and fly out the next day.  Never had a problem, and I'm glad HAL does it. 

[aliaschief]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

The on demand movie options are overwhelming. One could spend their entire cruise watching movies without repeating any, I think.  

Your right but I can do that at home for only a few bucks per month! 
 

How you been doing? Great I hope?

[rkacruiser]

2 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

How you been doing? Great I hope?

 

You must not have read a previous post that I made in answer to your question.  (Here is another example when a PM service would be most appreciated.)

 

The Golden Years are not all that they are cracked up to be.  This was a statement made when I asked an elderly cruiser whom I met as to how she was doing.  It applies to me in 2021.  I am OK.  My health is good.  But, my body is telling me that "you aren't going to be walking along the Great Wall of China again".  

 

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

5 hours ago, just_cruising_along said:

I see that the CDC color coded site has changed the Nieuw Amsterdam to orange, from green, meaning the CDC is monitoring for COVID. Just curious if you have heard any news about this on board?  

 

According to the CDC orange status means the ship has reported cases of COVID-19 but is below the threshold for CDC investigation.  

 

CDC Cruise Ship Color Status

Have not heard a word, none that I am aware of.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Afternoon, the MS Nieuw Amsterdam is sailing out of Sitka. I am hoping WiFi holds up so I can write a long detailed report later tonight. I just wanted to check in before getting ready for early dinner.

It’s been a ver full day again between Bears and Whales we have covered the gambit of large mammals in Sitka.

We truly had sunny beautiful weather here in Sitka today.

I will return later for today’s highlights and pictures.

 

[arbaublitz]

6 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Good morning from Sitka, still no WiFi on the ship this morning and cell service would also not work not till we got to town did we have 4G LTE Verizon.

we are in town at the Sitka Welcome Center waiting to take our tour Sea Otter Quest and Fortress of the Bear 😃Been waiting to take this tour for years. Or at least get to Fortress of the Bear.

Hint for Future cruises you will need to shut off you phone and reboot for some reason in each port. I had to do that in Juneau as well as Sitka, it still did not work in ICP. We are hearing everyone saying they needed to reboot their phone.

Beautiful day here in Sitka but very cool if not in the sun.

They are requiring us to wear face masks off the ship.

 

Hi! We are taking the same excursion on the Aug. 7th sailing.  Did you have to wear masks on the boat to see the otters?

[atexsix]

1 minute ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Good Afternoon, the MS Nieuw Amsterdam is sailing out of Sitka. I am hoping WiFi holds up so I can write a long detailed report later tonight. I just wanted to check in before getting ready for early dinner.

It’s been a ver full day again between Bears and Whales we have covered the gambit of large mammals in Sitka.

We truly had sunny beautiful weather here in Sitka today.

I will return later for today’s highlights and pictures.

 

It feels like you've been gone a couple of weeks, why I don't know.  I guess because so much is going on down here.  

 

At least you have round two to look forward to 🙂

[Boytjie]

2 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

That would be Baijens with only one "a" 😔

All those vowels... so confusing!

[travelnap]

18 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

We truly had sunny beautiful weather here in Sitka today.

I will return later for today’s highlights and pictures.

 

Thanks Lisa for all your pictures and reporting for us land lubbers who wish we were in your shoes right now.  I hope you are taking enough time for you and Tom to also enjoy your trip instead of just answering everyone's questions.

[aliaschief]

44 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

You must not have read a previous post that I made in answer to your question.  (Here is another example when a PM service would be most appreciated.)

 

The Golden Years are not all that they are cracked up to be.  This was a statement made when I asked an elderly cruiser whom I met as to how she was doing.  It applies to me in 2021.  I am OK.  My health is good.  But, my body is telling me that "you aren't going to be walking along the Great Wall of China again".  

 

 

Still active mobility but aka not as quickly but getting older is still the best alternative. Every day of my Golden Years is appreciated and precious. Take advantage of the moment! Enjoy living!

[Sharon in AZ]

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

We have gotten airport transfers on disembarkation with HAL and didn't fly out until the next day.  It works very well when you have an airport hotel and fly out the next day.  Never had a problem, and I'm glad HAL does it. 

Yes we have had that option when we book the hotel through HAL, which we have done many times.  However, I believe the OP booked their own hotel.

[Sir PMP]

2 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

That would be Baijens with only one "a" 😔

Is Mabel with him?

[Copper10-8]

2 minutes ago, Sir PMP said:

Is Mabel with him?

 

No spouses allowed onboard as of yet!

[Copper10-8]

31 minutes ago, Boytjie said:

All those vowels... so confusing!

 

"Alex, I''ll take a vowel, no make that dental appointments for $50."

[Cruising-along]

deleted...

Edited July 29, 2021 by Cruising-along

[just_cruising_along]

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Have not heard a word, none that I am aware of.

All of this is so new.  Thanks for responding.  I have enjoyed reading about your trip and appreciate you taking time out of your vacation to get back to folks.  

[Cruising-along]

7 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

 

hey thanks as I am glad I stumbled across this.

Since my flight is the next day, my ship (RCI) won't allow me to purchase an airport transfer unless my flight is that day.  I say silly and why would they care when I fly once I am off the ship..

 

so good to know. I fly in a day early and will grab a cab too.  In fact given covid, it might even be better to take a cab with so many less folks than a bus.

 

41 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Yes we have had that option when we book the hotel through HAL, which we have done many times.  However, I believe the OP booked their own hotel.

Oceansaway17 said it was a RCI ship.  We've had no problem with HAL, we didn't book our hotel through HAL, but did book air so they should know when our flight is.