LIVE from the MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE ROTTERDAM VII - TRANSATLANTIC

[rkacruiser]

12 hours ago, vitagirl said:

the Ocean Bar 

 

THIS IS AN ABOMINATION!  

 

5 hours ago, sansterre said:

Thanks Vita girl - I've been trying to post these photos since getting on the ship and lost because I went the wrong way thinking I was seeing the Casino.  But yes, it is true, during the two days the Rotterdam was in Ft. Lauderdale, the Ocean Bar was repurposed into a non-smoking Casino.

I asked about the dance floor.  Response, what dance floor.

I asked about the band.  Response, the band is at the other end, down music walk.

It should be operational tonight.  

 

I repeat what I said in my previous comment!  

 

7 hours ago, Laminator said:

I can assure you those slot machines will provide HAL alot more profit in one day than the Ocean bar will give them in 7 days.

 

Well, the slogan of "Signature of Excellence" as regards for the guests' experiences must now be declared officially as extinct as the dodo bird.  

 

CCL has been accused for many years of "Carnivalizing" HAL that I have defended against for all of those years.  I will now cease that defense.  

 

From where did the decision to do this come?  Miami?  Seattle?  

 

The Ocean Bar on Rotterdam V ought to be draped in black crepe.  The Ocean Bar has been defiled.  

[Vict0riann]

Just hope they don't do it on the other  (non-Pinnacle class) ships.  Then I will stick with the smaller ones.

[NonnaGa]

Can anyone please tell me if they still offer Mass on the Rotterdam?  I truly hope that’s not gone.

[Caribbean Chris]

10 hours ago, NonnaGa said:

Can anyone please tell me if they still offer Mass on the Rotterdam?  I truly hope that’s not gone.

Yesterday (Sunday 11/07) Mass was celebrated at I a.m. in B.B. King’s on deck 2, followed by a congregation-led Interdenominational service at 9 a.m.

[Caribbean Chris]

Sansterre, thank you for posting the aft pool photo. We made a trek last evening to see the olive trees you had mentioned and were surprised to see that they were lighted in a  color-changing program. I’m not often a fan of multi-colored lighted but enjoyed seeing this against the night sky.
 

Then we had a pre-dinner drink in the Tamarind Bar and an excellent dinner in Club Orange which has exceeded our expectations.

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

17 hours ago, sansterre said:

Rotterdam at dock in Bimini.  Winds off shore at 25 mph.

It was a wild walk to the tram!

Rotterdam video.MOV

Have a great cruise.

[Reagan0712]

I got this pic of the Aft Lido pool from Deck 11 but just noticed the olive trees were included.

[Reagan0712]

17 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

The glass area folks have been asking about is part of the stairways between decks 9 and 10. It is over the water on both port and starboard. Here are photos of it on Koningsdam

 

 

 

 

The outside stairway on the Koningsdam looks larger than the one on the Rotterdam. I took this while waiting for the sun to rise.

[NonnaGa]

Caribbean Chris, Thanks for the info!  Glad to hear.

[Divi]

The Ocean Bar has been our go to spot for late afternoon Happy Hour. What other choices are there on the Rotterdam?

Thanks

[Suslor]

14 hours ago, NonnaGa said:

Can anyone please tell me if they still offer Mass on the Rotterdam?  I truly hope that’s not gone.

Mass is listed every day so far in the When and Where. 

[Reagan0712]

1 hour ago, Divi said:

The Ocean Bar has been our go to spot for late afternoon Happy Hour. What other choices are there on the Rotterdam?

Thanks

Billboard Onboard is always a fairly quiet place to get an afternoon drink. If they are still having trivia there it is done by 2:30p.

[Reagan0712]

31 minutes ago, Suslor said:

Mass is listed every day so far in the When and Where. 

Make sure to check the When and Where and don’t rely solely on the Navigator App.  I did that and missed Mass when it was moved from 5pm to 8am.  They’re not always good at updating the Navigator App to reflect changes in scheduling.

[YXU AC*SE]

On 11/7/2021 at 5:55 AM, vitagirl said:

the Ocean Bar 

 

So, is this only in the 'second part' of the Ocean Bar?   On Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam there is a bulkhead / wall that really bifurcates the space --  on the other side of the wall there was more seating, the bar itself, and service bar area.   That still remains ? 

 

Admittedly, from a service standpoint, that part of the lounge was often forgotten -- so I can see how revenue yield w/ slots might be more attractive?     I'm sure cocktail piano and adjacent dance floor space will be a wonderful contrast.    Scott.  

 

[Vict0riann]

7 minutes ago, YXU AC*SE said:

 

So, is this only in the 'second part' of the Ocean Bar?   On Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam there is a bulkhead / wall that really bifurcates the space --  on the other side of the wall there was more seating, the bar itself, and service bar area.   That still remains ? 

 

Admittedly, from a service standpoint, that part of the lounge was often forgotten -- so I can see how revenue yield w/ slots might be more attractive?     I'm sure cocktail piano and adjacent dance floor space will be a wonderful contrast.    Scott.  

 

 

I've seen other pictures that make it look like both spaces are occupied with slot machines.  So there are some right across from Sel de Mer, too...

[Caribbean Chris]

Oops, obviously a typo on my post re Mass on Rotterdam yesterday.
 

Intended to type 8 a.m. 

[sansterre]

On 11/7/2021 at 1:29 PM, Cruise Suzy said:

 

The glass area folks have been asking about is part of the stairways between decks 9 and 10. It is over the water on both port and starboard. Here are photos of it on Koningsdam

 

 

 

 

There is no glass on the stairs between 9 and 10 Aft on either side.  Here is a photo of the Starboard stairs from Deck 10.  Port stairs looked the same.  Note that they also go straight up and are not curved as in the Koningsdam (above).

[sansterre]

8 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

Sansterre, thank you for posting the aft pool photo. We made a trek last evening to see the olive trees you had mentioned and were surprised to see that they were lighted in a  color-changing program. I’m not often a fan of multi-colored lighted but enjoyed seeing this against the night sky.
 

Then we had a pre-dinner drink in the Tamarind Bar and an excellent dinner in Club Orange which has exceeded our expectations.

 

Thanks for this photo.  I'd like to see this, perhaps tonight after dinner.

I should mention that the Olive trees are not live trees, but nice looking artificial.  Many of the plants on board are artificial.  But flowers are fresh and nice to see near the office and dining rooms.

[sansterre]

Entertainment at the World Stage is offered only once and that is 9:00......too late for us as we eat at 5:30. Seems they could do the shows (2 dance shows and Origin Story of HAL) at 8:00.

Mariner medal ceremony was yesterday.  Only one medal presented.  Two Presidents Club members introduced.  Program only lasted about 10 minutes, drinks and food were available..

[kazu]

11 minutes ago, sansterre said:

Entertainment at the World Stage is offered only once and that is 9:00......too late for us as we eat at 5:30. Seems they could do the shows (2 dance shows and Origin Story of HAL) at 8:00.

Mariner medal ceremony was yesterday.  Only one medal presented.  Two Presidents Club members introduced.  Program only lasted about 10 minutes, drinks and food were available..

 

Yikes on the entertainment at 9 😱. So, anyone doing Main Dining is going to miss it, it seems.

[OC PAT]

Trying to find out if there is pickleball on the Rotterdam VII.  Have really enjoyed your reports.  Thank you for sharing.

 

[aliaschief]

7 hours ago, Divi said:

The Ocean Bar has been our go to spot for late afternoon Happy Hour. What other choices are there on the Rotterdam?

Thanks

For a quiet place for pre dinner libations we often go up to the Tamarind bar. Nice daylight views.

[Traveling Dot]

21 hours ago, NonnaGa said:

Can anyone please tell me if they still offer Mass on the Rotterdam?  I truly hope that’s not gone.

They had mass every day on the trans Atlantic crossing.  

[sansterre]

Beautiful day at Half Moon Cay today. This photo from Deck 10.

 

[sansterre]

Wine tasting yesterday with Sommelier Miquel. 

There are 3 or 4 other sommeliers on board.  In MDR2 we see Miguel occasionally, as well as two

young women who used to serve drinks but recently became sommeliers.

Usually our wonderful waiter Kerta has our wine waiting for us and fills and refills our glasses.  We have had no problems but I imagine as more passengers are on the ship next week, it will be more difficult for the waiters to keep up with the wine orders.