BTimmer's Almost Live - Zuiderdam 1/2-30/22 -San Diego to Florida RT

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, CRUZIN SUSAN said:

We are scheduled to take a 45 day South Pacific cruise in October 2022 on the Zuiderdam. We saw it in port on January 2nd when we disembarked from the Koningsdam Mexican Riviera cruise.  We will be watching with interest, especially those things you liked and disliked.  The service on the Koningsdam left much to be desired.  We are hoping you will be reporting differently.

The service has been great; for the first sea day it was filled with activities and cultural items (much unlike our similar NA cruise in October).  We just had a great meal in the Pinnacle Grill.

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

For the Captain's Toast, no drinks were served.  Instead we received a drink card that could be used at any bar.

 

[zelker]

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

 

 

LOOOOOVVVVE the clothesline bacon in the PG!!!!  😋

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by zelker

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, zelker said:

LOOOOOVVVVE the clothesline bacon in the PG!!!!  😋

 

We requested a small order; and yes it was yummy.

[Btimmer]

At the Captain's Welcome, Captain Frank van der Hoven joined Ian on stage and gave a sober welcome and expressed heartfelt thanks for being able to return to sailing.  He was our Captain on the Volendam & Ian was CD on our last cruise to the Amazon and in the Caribbean we took pre-pandemic that ended 1/5/20.

 

 

He confirmed there were only 800 passengers and expressed regrets that he couldn't circulate among the guests due to Covid protocols.

[VMax1700]

18 hours ago, Btimmer said:

 

Here's the aft deck after lunch.

Only 800 pax and still there is a couple of chair hogs! 😱😭

[Sir PMP]

11 hours ago, Btimmer said:

At the Captain's Welcome, Captain Frank van der Hoven joined Ian on stage and gave a sober welcome and expressed heartfelt thanks for being able to return to sailing.  He was our Captain on the Volendam & Ian was CD on our last cruise to the Amazon and in the Caribbean we took pre-pandemic that ended 1/5/20.

 

 

He confirmed there were only 800 passengers and expressed regrets that he couldn't circulate among the guests due to Covid protocols.

yes, we had him on the Volendam to Antarctica, great captain..

[Btimmer]

This morning while waiting for clearance in Cabo, I was able to chat with the Captain.  Super personable and we reminisced about the last Volendam Amazon River cruise we were on together when the ship got stuck on a sand bar.  He leaves the ship in Florida.  We made the first tender.  Here's a unique view.

 

[MISTER 67]

We just sailed on Princess 2 times in December and are booked with Celebrity in June but I can't wait to get back on an HAL ship, most likely in first week of December as we always book a cruise for DW birthday. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Edited January 4, 2022 by MISTER 67

[OVgirl]

5 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

Only 800 pax and still there is a couple of chair hogs! 😱😭

Looks to me like they just didn't bother cleaning up after themselves.

[rkacruiser]

20 hours ago, Btimmer said:

At the Captain's Welcome, Captain Frank van der Hoven joined Ian on stage and gave a sober welcome and expressed heartfelt thanks for being able to return to sailing.  He was our Captain on the Volendam & Ian was CD on our last cruise to the Amazon and in the Caribbean we took pre-pandemic that ended 1/5/20.

 

Being on the Christmas/New Year's cruise 2019-2020 with you, the team of Captain van der Hoven and Ian as the CD helped to make our cruise more special in my memory than I expected it to be.  Ian was the "whatever the name for the position was" as the ship's narrator for the scenic areas in which the Rotterdam was sailing during my Voyage of the Vikings cruise.  Very knowledgeable, very approachable:  I am pleased to learn that he remains part of the HAL team members!  

[Btimmer]

Yesterday's main activity was humpback whale watching off a pirate ship.  Many more details are in my blog.  Here's a few pictures.

 

 

 

Arghh!

 

 

Another whale

 

lots of pelicans

True glass boats

 

 

[Btimmer]

Today on this sea day we start antigen testing for Covid prior to entering the Panama Canal.  It's also the first of the Port to Table cooking demonstrations which we've really liked.

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by Btimmer

[Hogladyrider]

@Btimmer....I subscribe to your blog but there are no updates other than the first one traveling plans to San Diego.

[Btimmer]

34 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Btimmer....I subscribe to your blog but there are no updates other than the first one traveling plans to San Diego.

Thanks, I'll check it out.  The internet out here can be sketchy.

[Btimmer]

 

Here's a few more random pictures from yesterday.

 

some protection

a hitchhiker

 

 

 

A trawler

 

no pontoons! 

 

[dchip]

The last post I can see on your blog is Day 5 December 28. Your photos on this thread are great. Thank you. 
Denise

[0106]

Thanks for this thread btrimmer.  What excursion did you take to see the whales?  That’s the type of adventure I’d like to sign up for during our Panama Canal cruise in February.  How did the Covid testing go?

[Btimmer]

32 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Thanks for this thread btrimmer.  What excursion did you take to see the whales?  That’s the type of adventure I’d like to sign up for during our Panama Canal cruise in February.  How did the Covid testing go?

We did the Pirate Ship Whale watching trip as a Hal excursion.  If you are looking to book independently, try a search using the hashtag #piratecabo or #cabopirate.

 

We just passed our Covid test.  Thanks for asking.  For this test we had to return to our room and wait for 1/2 hour. If we weren't called, we passed!  About a dozen still haven't been tested today and their names were just announced over the PA system.

 

And the sea day goes on.  Off to a Mexican craft class.  Pictures later.

[rkacruiser]

The ports on the Eastern coast of Mexico are ports I don't care for.  But, the Western ports are ones that I enjoy with Cabo being one of them!  

[Oceansaway17]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

 

Here's a few more random pictures from yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

what is that catching fish in it's mouth?  Surely not a whale?

 

[Sir PMP]

15 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

what is that catching fish in it's mouth?  Surely not a whale?

 

Passenger?

[Oceansaway17]

Just now, Sir PMP said:

Passenger?

 

 

ha ha  but seriously

[zelker]

Just now, Oceansaway17 said:

 

 

ha ha  but seriously

Looks like a seal with a fish in its mouth

[Oceansaway17]

2 minutes ago, zelker said:

Looks like a seal with a fish in its mouth

aw okay that is what I thought too 

thanks.