BTimmer's Almost Live from the Rotterdam 11/21/21-12/1/21

[Happily@Sea]

13 hours ago, Btimmer said:

The residual smoke smell in the casino is so bad we go out of our way to avoid it.  It's definitely been very busy on both the cruises we have taken in the past month.

 

I completely avoid the section of deck that the casino is in, using adjacent decks to get where I'm going. Do not appreciate the stink.

[Btimmer]

As promised, here are a few pictures from snorkeling at Bonaire.  The location we were at had lots of flora but the fish weren't as colorful.  Due to limited bandwidth, I'll not upload movies.  I might do so when I get home.

 

 

 

[MisterBill99]

28 minutes ago, Geerts said:

What a difference, for example, with the other Rotterdam Cpt Werner Timmers. CptVan Dreumel you have to improve on this as Cpt of the flagship.

 

That is disappointing. My wife loves Captain Timmers, and was disappointed when we read that he had left the ship. There are people who say "I don't care who the captain is, I just want them to command the ship and get us to the ports" (often said to people who are fans of Captain Kate on Celebrity), but having a friendly captain does add something to the cruise.

[Geerts]

Correct. I dont expect tbe Cpt to be an Italian entertainer (like you have on some cruiselines) and his priority must indeed go to voyage safety but on this trip Cpt Van Dreumel is really really cold. We arent on a train or in a trainstation but on a leisure ship. During 2 days he didnt make an announcement because the ship was is port till 23 h. He could easily have made one at 9 am… no he didnt.  If  I was the fleet master of HAL i would include a communication training every time the officers go to the simulator training centre in Rotterdam… 

[Rick-n-MeMe]

We are also on this sailing and agree about the captain.  It does make it a bit more fun when the captain is personable and having fun!    

 

We dined in Club Orange all but one night when we were in Tamarind.  We grew to love Club Orange, especially after changing seating areas and getting a different waiter. He was on top of things and our service was not as slow.      

 

As far as the casino and smoke….so sad that HAL has made this brand new ship’s casino a smoking area.  The smell is often so bad in that the BB King Blues Club area is smoked filled…yes, even with a mask on.  The smoke travels into the lovely shops and hallways, etc.  

 

We are on our last day and have loved the cruise despite some small issues here and there.  Wish we were staying onboard for the next cruise, but alas, we are going home.  We hope to write a longer review of sorts later.  

                

[Linguist208]

On 11/25/2021 at 11:04 AM, wjslam said:

Also, it itsfor 1 device, so choose carefully before you connect. We chose Android phone and used hotspot to connect Surface and DW phone. It appears that additional lines for full voyage /full internet are $119.95 ea. YMMV

If internet is for "one device," but we are both paying for the internet in our "Have It All" packages, doesn't that mean we EACH get "one device"?

[Btimmer]

30 minutes ago, Linguist208 said:

If internet is for "one device," but we are both paying for the internet in our "Have It All" packages, doesn't that mean we EACH get "one device"?

Each of you can have one device connected.  If either starts to use a second device, the first device is logged out.  It's been nice to have two separate connections so I don't have to manage a portable router to be able to share a connection.

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, Geerts said:

Correct. I dont expect tbe Cpt to be an Italian entertainer (like you have on some cruiselines) and his priority must indeed go to voyage safety but on this trip Cpt Van Dreumel is really really cold. We arent on a train or in a trainstation but on a leisure ship. During 2 days he didnt make an announcement because the ship was is port till 23 h. He could easily have made one at 9 am… no he didnt.  If  I was the fleet master of HAL i would include a communication training every time the officers go to the simulator training centre in Rotterdam… 

He was quite personable during the Ask The Captain session.

 

We also learned that the couple left behind in Bonaire are okay.  They lost track of time while at the beach.

[Btimmer]

In addition to the casino smoke, the loud noise of the Rolling Stone Rock Room is beyond offensive to us even with the doors separating it from Billboard and BBKing are closed.

[BoatsandTrains]

Enjoy your final day!   One quick question - does the fitness center have a rowing machine (aka “erg”)?

[MisterBill99]

 

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We also learned that the couple left behind in Bonaire are okay.  They lost track of time while at the beach.

 

Thanks for this info. There's a guy on a HAL group on social media who keeps telling people not to take private excursions. He claims that someone has missed the ship on every cruise he's sailed on, and it's because their private excursion got back late. I called BS on both claims, both people missing the ship on every cruise and it being due to an excursion. People are much more likely to be at the beach, shopping or at Señor Frogs. This explanation confirms that.

[MisterBill99]

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

In addition to the casino smoke, the loud noise of the Rolling Stone Rock Room is beyond offensive to us even with the doors separating it from Billboard and BBKing are closed.

 

Are there doors enclosing the RSRR? On Koningsdam, it's right across the hall from Billboard Onboard, and both are completely open. There is a door between the section they're in and BB Kings. I agree that RSRR is loud, usually sitting in Billboard makes it tolerable. BBK is also very loud.

[Btimmer]

35 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

Are there doors enclosing the RSRR? On Koningsdam, it's right across the hall from Billboard Onboard, and both are completely open. There is a door between the section they're in and BB Kings. I agree that RSRR is loud, usually sitting in Billboard makes it tolerable. BBK is also very loud.

It's the same configuration on the Rotterdam.  And yes there are doors separating the RSRR from BBKing, but it was still distracting.

[Btimmer]

44 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

 

Thanks for this info. There's a guy on a HAL group on social media who keeps telling people not to take private excursions. He claims that someone has missed the ship on every cruise he's sailed on, and it's because their private excursion got back late. I called BS on both claims, both people missing the ship on every cruise and it being due to an excursion. People are much more likely to be at the beach, shopping or at Señor Frogs. This explanation confirms that.

I concur.  We are 5 star and Bonaire was only the second time passengers were left behind.    The last time was over 20 years ago in Victoria,BC coming back from Alaska.  The Captain  said onboard was 8pm.  We left exactly on time as a taxi came rolling up and people came running waving their arms.  The ship continued on to Seattle.

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

 

Thanks for this info. There's a guy on a HAL group on social media who keeps telling people not to take private excursions. He claims that someone has missed the ship on every cruise he's sailed on, and it's because their private excursion got back late. I called BS on both claims, both people missing the ship on every cruise and it being due to an excursion. People are much more likely to be at the beach, shopping or at Señor Frogs. This explanation confirms that.

As a further follow up, I spoke with the staff member who passed the passports to the port agent and she has been in contact with the party.  They totally spaced out on the time and didn't return to the pier until 5pm or 2 hours late.

 

The Captain further explained that circumstances will dictate how long the ship will wait.  He gave an example of waiting 2 hours in a Russian port for a 94 year old passenger who lost his passport.  There would have been few options for that passenger.  Bonaire is an easy (but not necessarily inexpensive) port to get out of.  The moral remains:  pay close attention to and adhere to the onboard times.

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, BoatsandTrains said:

Enjoy your final day!   One quick question - does the fitness center have a rowing machine (aka “erg”)?

Yes, two of them per my wife.

[MisterBill99]

10 hours ago, jeh10641 said:

Good to know about the Menorah lighting. Looking forward to seeing and participating (a little bit).

 

See you there!

[rkacruiser]

8 hours ago, Geerts said:

, the excellent Cantare singers (at the level of Il Divo)

 

That's the best news related to entertainment on a HAL ship that I have read in a long time.  Probably a different group of gentlemen, but this was a group that performed during the Nieuw Amsterdam's dedication and was still aboard when I sailed on one of her early sailings.  I have never enjoyed a performance on a ship more than I did that one!  

[MisterBill99]

20 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

The Captain further explained that circumstances will dictate how long the ship will wait.  

 

It also depends on whether it will make the ship late for their next port.

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

On Koningsdam, it's right across the hall from Billboard Onboard, and both are completely open

 

On Nieuw Statendam, the group in one venue would play until time for the group in the venue across the corridor to begin their set.  Never a conflict of music; walking down the corridor to the Queen's Room for BB King, I  found no conflict of sounds.  If such exists, maybe the volume needs to be turned down a notch or more.

 

8 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

but having a friendly captain does add something to the cruise.

 

The most disappointing HAL cruise I have experienced was a 21 day b2b on the Noordam when Captain Robert Jan Kan was at the helm.  One saw him only when he had to be seen for Mariner events.  His Voice from the Bridge became so predictable that I could spout what he was going to say each day except for the navigation/weather information.  Attempted to speak with him one day when I saw him, not a rude encounter, but not "glad to speak with you briefly", either.  The Hotel Director was the same type of personality.  And, such an attitude impacted the crew.  Service, etc., during that cruise was the most disappointing that I have experienced on a HAL ship.  Sharing my thoughts with other Mariners who were on that b2b, they agreed.  

 

Whomever is in the Senior Leadership positions on a ship makes a significant impact on the cruise experience for the guests.  

[swin26]

42 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

The Captain further explained that circumstances will dictate how long the ship will wait.  He gave an example of waiting 2 hours in a Russian port for a 94 year old passenger who lost his passport.

We were on that cruise!!  His family members had gone through and then he realized he didn’t have his passport- it fell out of his pants on a tour bus.  Russia wouldn’t let his family members go back to him and he couldn’t leave Russia to get back on the ship. Luckily the tour company found his passport and he was able to get back on the ship.  The ship did wait for him. 

[iflyrc5]

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

Yes, two of them per my wife.

Are they requiring masks be worn when working out in the gym?

[Btimmer]

28 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Are they requiring masks be worn when working out in the gym?

Per my wife most aren't wearing them.  

[MisterBill99]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

On Nieuw Statendam, the group in one venue would play until time for the group in the venue across the corridor to begin their set.  Never a conflict of music; walking down the corridor to the Queen's Room for BB King, I  found no conflict of sounds.  If such exists, maybe the volume needs to be turned down a notch or more.

 

Whomever is in the Senior Leadership positions on a ship makes a significant impact on the cruise experience for the guests.  

 

Right, Billboard Onboard and RSRR alternate sets. Both do not play at the same time. As you said, maybe there is a volume issue that needs to be adjusted if BB King sound is coming in, or RSRR sound going out. Or maybe those doors are being kept open when they should be closed.

 

As for senior leadership and the guest experience, one thing you do not mention is that with an excellent leader like Captain Kate, their attitude rubs off on the entire crew. I've read that everyone seems happy on her ships. Yeah, everyone here will say that HAL has the best service, but I'm just repeating what I have heard. And when was the last time you saw a HAL captain greeting passengers or saying goodbye to the at the gangway? Other Celebrity captains are also very friendly, around the ship, always willing to talk to passengers. It just seems to be their culture.

Edited December 1, 2021 by MisterBill99

[Btimmer]

5 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

 

Right, Billboard Onboard and RSRR alternate sets. Both do not play at the same time. As you said, maybe there is a volume issue that needs to be adjusted if BB King sound is coming in, or RSRR sound going out. Or maybe those doors are being kept open when they should be closed.

 

As for senior leadership and the guest experience, one thing you do not mention is that with an excellent leader like Captain Kate, their attitude rubs off on the entire crew. I've read that everyone seems happy on her ships. Yeah, everyone here will say that HAL has the best service, but I'm just repeating what I have heard. And when was the last time you saw a HAL captain greeting passengers or saying goodbye to the at the gangway? Other Celebrity captains are also very friendly, around the ship, always willing to talk to passengers. It just seems to be their culture.

Last night in the BBKing venue with the comedy sets, noise was a big distraction even with the doors closed.  Flip Schulz was really good.

 

Re Captains, I agree.  Captain Johnny on the RCCL Harmony of the Seas was all over the mega ship and very visible and approachable.