Live and Happy from Eurodam October 6 to 30

[Vict0riann]

Lambie, we’re enjoying every minute.  We are spending more time than usual in our cabin, I am a little nervous of crowds, and the ship is certainly more crowded on this second leg of our cruise. We went from 870 on the first segment, to 1200 on this.  The staff say they love it, and I imagine it means more in the way of tips, but we’re finding that the specialty restaurants are booked up much sooner, the Lido is more crowded, we don’t get a window table as easily, and there is a bit more waiting for drinks, etc.  I guess we are spoiled from being so few on the earlier segment.  Oh, well, we’ll put up with it to be at sea.

 

Today has been lovely here in Dubrovnik.  The skies are overcast and threatening, but the temperature is mild.  I managed to fit Pat’s jacket and mine in my handbag, along with my umbrella, Pat had to carry his, but it never rained….  We took a taxi into town from the cruise port, which we are sharing with a Viking ship, for E14, as opposed to $20 each for the ship’s shuttle.  Divided by 4, for the round trip, about E7 each, so a much better deal.  The town was not crowded, we just wandered and peeked into churches, etc., then had a coffee and shared a pizza at an outdoors cafe.  Most people were not masked outdoors.  We have been careful and mask up almost all the time, indoors or out.  Taxi drivers seem to mask up, always.
 

The Captain came on last night to remind everyone that mask wearing is required in all indoor areas, except when eating or drinking.  I wonder if that was pointed at the “new” people who just boarded, I have noticed more bare faces in the last couple of days.  There is no way I’m going to risk getting sick on my holiday!

 

Did I mention that we went to Tamarind last night?  We were so stuffed from our wines and cheeses during the day that we just ordered from the Nami Sushi menu, and I think our dinner came to $8.  Tony and Martha splurged and theirs came to $12…  Tonight we will go to Canaletto.  
 

 

[Vict0riann]

I have been forgetting to post the When and Wheres!  But here is today’s…

 

 

 

I think they’re all pretty much alike, and we haven’t attended much except the occasional Happy Hour.  I know that is bad, but we are enjoying the trip so much, eating and sleeping on a ship, yay!

 

 

[Vict0riann]

I noticed there was an afternoon tea today in the upper level of the dining room, so in the interests of science, we decided to attend.  It was a small group, only about six tables in use, and we were informed, when we asked, that there will be no more Dutch or Indonesian teas.  Waiters came around with tea, but I requested a decaffienated tea, and Pat asked for green tea.  Tony and Martha had the regular tea (PG Tips).  
 

After tea Pat went walkabout, and I went to the Front Desk to inquire about our PCR tests for return to Canada.  I was told that a form would be coming around, and we would be able to request PCR then.  I had my temperature taken, normal again.  
 

 

 

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

we’re finding that the specialty restaurants are booked up much sooner, the Lido is more crowded, we don’t get a window table as easily, and there is a bit more waiting for drinks, etc.  I guess we are spoiled from being so few on the earlier segment.  Oh, well, we’ll put up with it to be at sea.

I imagine you can see quite a difference from the previous segment.  We kept telling ourselves how spoiled we were getting.  No crowds, immediate service, easy reservations, and the elevator was there as soon as you pushed the button!  😀

[canadianbear]

@Vict0riann
I really appreciate all your posts and photos.  I’m glad you were spoiled the first part of your cruise with less people.  Smart of you for being very careful now too.    Your afternoon tea looked like  a delightful way to relax.  
 

Thanks again for taking us along.  

[puppycanducruise]

That cheese and wine tour looked fabulous.

[CAC104]

Hi Ann,  I just browsed through all your cruise pages and am glad you are having a good time.  Your port experiences are so different now after covid, and I think I would have been disappointed.  When I was in Venice, our cruise ship docked overnight and we had 2 full days to just go and explore on our own.  I sailed on HAL many years ago and thought their service and food was so good.  But back then everything on the menu did not have all the additional charges and this was before all the pay specialty restaurants, so I thought the dining room food was perfect.   Do they still have lobster night and shrimp in the buffet for lunch every day?

 

 

[Florida_gal_50]

@Vict0riannthank you for the info on the PCR test.  I really miss those indonesian teas.  I'm not a tea person but that tea really tasted lovely.

[puppycanducruise]

39 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

@Vict0riannthank you for the info on the PCR test.  I really miss those indonesian teas.  I'm not a tea person but that tea really tasted lovely.

I am a tea person.  On one cruise, I had the Jasmine Green tea at the Indonesian tea, I loved it.  Fortunately, one of the waiters was our waiter for dinner, and he made sure there was Jasmine tea for my after dinner tea.  Such great service, he got an extra big tip.🙂

[NCTribeFan]

PG Tips and scones.  Yay!  We have 4 sea days on my cruise on 11/16.  I do hope they have afternoon tea on each.

[LambKnuckles]

I'll bet you were spoiled on the first half...  I love smaller ships and fewer guests!  And, I'll bet it was more comfortable when you know everyone was wearing masks as required.  But...

 

I agree!!  Just to be on board is a TREAT!!  And worth whatever hoops you have to jump through -- and rules to follow!!!

 

7 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

I noticed there was an afternoon tea today in the upper level of the dining room, so in the interests of science, we decided to attend.  It was a small group, only about six tables in use, and we were informed, when we asked, that there will be no more Dutch or Indonesian teas.  Waiters came around with tea, but I requested a decaffienated tea, and Pat asked for green tea.  Tony and Martha had the regular tea (PG Tips).  
 

After tea Pat went walkabout, and I went to the Front Desk to inquire about our PCR tests for return to Canada.  I was told that a form would be coming around, and we would be able to request PCR then.  I had my temperature taken, normal again.  
 

 

 

 

I always LOVE Tea Time.  The selection looks great!  I'm an Earl Grey woman, but do enjoy some of the other offerings, too!

 

Thank you for the tea time photos!!!  

[erewhon]

Thanks  for all your reports, afternoon tea on a BHB sounds such a good idea.

Have you noticed if any Lady Grey tea is available?

[Vict0riann]

4 hours ago, erewhon said:

Thanks  for all your reports, afternoon tea on a BHB sounds such a good idea.

Have you noticed if any Lady Grey tea is available?

I didn’t notice  yesterday, and KD just called the dining room to check - the answer is no; next time I’m near the Pinnacle I will ask there. ..  is Lady Grey a New Zealand thing.  KD said in the South Pacific they have noni tea (just in case you are interested..)

[Vict0riann]

We are in Kerkira Corfu this morning, at anchor and I didn’t know why as we docked last time, but Zaandam, Volendam , Norwegian Jade and Marcella Discovery have taken up all the dock space.  I will try to get a picture of us three dam ships together!

[Vict0riann]

Maybe there will be tooting this evening…

 

[erewhon]

35 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

I didn’t notice  yesterday, and KD just called the dining room to check - the answer is no; next time I’m near the Pinnacle I will ask there. ..  is Lady Grey a New Zealand thing.  KD said in the South Pacific they have noni tea (just in case you are interested..)

 

Thanks for your reply.

The Lady Grey tea we buy is blended and packed by Twinings in the UK. 

Curious if any brand of Lady Grey is available on HAL.

[LambKnuckles]

5 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

I didn’t notice  yesterday, and KD just called the dining room to check - the answer is no; next time I’m near the Pinnacle I will ask there. ..  is Lady Grey a New Zealand thing.  KD said in the South Pacific they have noni tea (just in case you are interested..)

 

We, also, have Lady Grey, here in the States -- and I think it's Twinings.

[Vict0riann]

Last night we went to Canaletto with Tony  and Martha.  Not all my pictures turned out, so I guess we will have to go there again!  Anyway it was a lot of fun and we closed the joint down…. The guys had the new fish soup, which looked very interesting, while M and I shared an antipasto plate, then we all shared a few more “small plates” and just two “large plates”. The branzino, especially, was very good.
 

 

 

 

 

 

And one scoop of pistachio gelato…

 

 

 

[canadianbear]

Your Canalleto dinner looks really good.  It’s nice going with another couple to share dishes with.  I like your reasoning that you’ll have to go again, lol!

[Vict0riann]

Today in Kerkira was an easy day for us, in fact most days have been easy days.  As I said, I was wondering why the Where and When said we would tender, as we had docked last time on Koningsdam, but we could see why when we got there.  It was sad to see the two girls tied up, and very little going on.  We went ashore about 10:30 and wandered through the streets, had a coffee in an outdoor cafe, and were back on board by 1:30.  We decided on a splurge and went for our once-in-a-cruise Dive In burger.  Tony and Martha had a sandwich each, but Pat and I shared a burger, and of course, fries..

 

Today’s Where and When

 

 

 

and our tasty lunch

 

 

 

Did you notice I got a “side” of frizzled onions?  

 

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by Vict0riann

[Vict0riann]

Going back on the tender, I did get a pic of the three dam ships together, through a window, so not altogether clear.  At sailaway there was a little tooting, Tony said.  I didn’t hear it.

 

[kb4683]

3 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

 

 

 

 

 

Yumm, love those frizzled onions -- always get a side order of them, too 😍

[puppycanducruise]

Love all that food porn.

Your Canaletto dinner looks great, so does that burger.

[Dismomx5]

50 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Today in Kerkira was an easy day for us, in fact most days have been easy days.  As I said, I was wondering why the Where and When said we would tender, as we had docked last time on Koningsdam, but we could see why when we got there.  It was sad to see the two girls tied up, and very little going on.  We went ashore about 10:30 and wandered through the streets, had a coffee in an outdoor cafe, and were back on board by 1:30.  We decided on a splurge and went for our once-in-a-cruise Dive In burger.  Tony and Martha had a sandwich each, but Pat and I shared a burger, and of course, fries..

 

Today’s Where and When

 

 

 

and our tasty lunch

 

 

 

Did you notice I got a “side” of frizzled onions?  

 

 

 

45 minutes ago, kb4683 said:

 

Yumm, love those frizzled onions -- always get a side order of them, too 😍

We're not burger fans, but Dive In fries are a wonderful snack item for us.....and it looks like I will now have to add the frizzled onions. They look scrumptious!

[VMax1700]

Wow @Vict0riann that fish soup looks very interesting.  Do you remember what it was called?  Really sorry I missed that!