Sporadic Snippets from the Rotterdam 2/20-27

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

What do you mean by 'professional entertainers'?  I'm sure that the dancers are paid, therefore they are professional.

Ha Ha.

 

Singers, magicians, piano player, etc., etc., etc

[retired dude]

instead of having a live orchestra in the showroom, they now use canned music, mediocre dancers in the "shows"....They took the $ that used to go towards nice shows and used it to pay the rock club and bb king bands......For us it is a bonus as we hang in those two venues every night and really enjoy them alot....

[Oceansaway17]

19 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

I am on Deck 7 forward and did not get our elephant until Tuesday and still no chocolates. Maybe tonite.

well I usually only eat the dark chocolates and they do not come very often so no big deal for me if they don't come at all.  but I would be disappointed in not getting elephant towel.  I like to line them all up and at the end take a group photo.  If one disappears, I nicely ask for it to return again.   room steward just smiles and says OK.

[jeh10641]

17 hours ago, jimmy2x said:

I am also following along with interest. We will be on her for  b to b next year right about this time. Am hopeful that by then things will be back to normal. Managed to get a cabin on the 6th deck on the stern. Makes for some long walks, but the balcony is much larger and the view is great. 

Thanks for your Navy service. The exercise will allow for MORE food.

[jeh10641]

3 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Regarding the laundry, I've searched high & low for the tags that others have mentioned. They are nowhere to be seen on any of our returned items. We've had shirts, slacks, socks, underwear and pajamas laundered. No tags at all.

 

Ate at Canaletto last evening. Wednesday their special is veal liver, which I love. (I know many others, like DS and DD, can't stand the thought.) DH ordered it as well along with the Langoustine-Tomato soup. I had the hazelnut tart and he had the ricotta tart. We had a late breakfast and early dinner, so I just had bread pudding for lunch. Priorities, you know.

I bought the laundry package, preboarding (about $77.00) for our 11-night Rotterdam on 12/01/21. Never saw a "tag" and sent out several times. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED so you do not need to bring a lot of clothing.

[jimmy2x]

15 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

Thanks for your Navy service. The exercise will allow for MORE food.

There is that😆. Actually retired from the Navy in 1987. Seems like a very long time ago. One thing for sure is that the chow is much better on HAL. 

[VMax1700]

36 minutes ago, retired dude said:

pay the rock club and bb king bands.

money well spent!

We have no interest in watching mediocre 'entertainers' that would be on the main stage.

[jeh10641]

On our Rotterdam cruise, we saw only one Mainstage Show, a group of four male singers called Acapella. Live singing, recorded music background. Really good. Spent most of our entertainment hours at B.B. King's, Lincoln Center and Rolling Stone. Even better!

18 hours ago, jimmy2x said:

I am also following along with interest. We will be on her for  b to b next year right about this time. Am hopeful that by then things will be back to normal. Managed to get a cabin on the 6th deck on the stern. Makes for some long walks, but the balcony is much larger and the view is great. 

Thanks for your Navy service. The exercise will allow for MORE food.

[Cruise Suzy]

@RuthC  Mystery solved: DH found and removed the tags that were on the garments on hangers. Why he didn't mention it when he knew I was searching is another mystery! I found one on an item returned this evening - you are right - they are scratchy!

[Cruise Suzy]

Something I don't recall others mentioning is that the format of the When & Where has changed. It is now on a piece of paper about 6" wide by about 18" long.  This is folded into thirds lengthwise, so a 6" by 6" square is the result. The paper is a bit stiffer than what most onboard flyers are, but not nearly as stiff as the old format, which we got in November on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Not saying it's better or worse, just different.

 

Today just as we left Willemstad, Curacao at 5PM, it began to sprinkle and then rain. The Explorer of the Seas was to leave at 9PM, so I'm sure some of those passengers got wet.

 

Had a Cannonball Burger for lunch, DH added fries.  For the MDR evening meal I had the corn and crabmeat fritters, veal tenderloin and almond fruit cake. DH again indulged in the jumbo shrimp cocktail and had the lasagna and carrot cake. The lasagna is really enough for two or more people.

 

PEV has little white trucks, Aruba has little red trucks and Curacao has none - the men walk to/from their stations.

 

Two more "At Sea" days and then another cruise ends.

[rkacruiser]

14 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Only entertainment is Dance Company

 

Much disappointment for me as to how the programming for the World Stage has been.  No doubt that the theater has great capabilities.  Some one in Seattle has determined that modern Dance is the best use for that theater.  

 

If that gentleman remains the same as it has been for many, many years:  our opinion of great entertainment differs.  Live music--canned music--more live music--a Country Western show on the Westerdam that was most enjoyable and never to be viewed by me again--more canned music, etc.  If there has been a really good "hit" in the entertainment area recently, it has been Cantare.  If anyone deserved a "pink slip" because of the pandemic when RIF's were taking place in Seattle, this one did!  

[Cruise Suzy]

From our Koningsdam cruise in 2019, I remembered going up to the Sky View Deck via the elevator. It had a protected area with loungers and towels. One could look down into the Retreat cabanas. Today when I got on a forward elevator, it only went to 12 even though the directory listed Sky View on 14. I asked at the Explorations Cafe and was told I would have to take the stairs. When I returned to the elevator lobby, I noticed there was an "Up" button as well as a "Down" button on the port side, but just a "Down" button on the starboard side. I tried the "Up" button and was taken to the Sky View Deck. No one was up there - great view - and very peaceful. On my way down, I stopped at 12 and told the bartenders there indeed was elevator service to 14. They never had noticed the "Up" button on the port side.

 

Moral of story: Look next to all elevators for buttons to take you to the uppermost deck.

[RedneckBob]

9 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Much disappointment for me as to how the programming for the World Stage has been.  No doubt that the theater has great capabilities.  Some one in Seattle has determined that modern Dance is the best use for that theater.  

 

If that gentleman remains the same as it has been for many, many years:  our opinion of great entertainment differs.  Live music--canned music--more live music--a Country Western show on the Westerdam that was most enjoyable and never to be viewed by me again--more canned music, etc.  If there has been a really good "hit" in the entertainment area recently, it has been Cantare.  If anyone deserved a "pink slip" because of the pandemic when RIF's were taking place in Seattle, this one did!  

Well said rka. Especially since I got slammed for bringing it up. Wait till you go on a long cruise and see what happens. I have been there; 30 day South Pacific cruise on Eurodam in March 2019. I really like BB King and dueling pianos but these groups run out of material over 30 days. I noticed every 5-6 days these groups would repeat the same shows which mean five times over thirty days. Thanks goodness there was no dance company in the showroom!

 

HAL should take a look a Celebrity cruises. Still has band in showroom along with top entertainers throughout their cruises plus singers and dancers that perform with digital lights 2-3 times on a 9 day cruise.

[RedneckBob]

On 2/23/2022 at 7:52 PM, Cruise Suzy said:

Sorry you didn't get chocolates. I'm in 7118 and started cruise 1 day shy of 2-star. So nothing special to warrant getting perks.

Still no chocolates. Got an appointment with the Captain to talk about this specifically 😲

[Cruise Suzy]

@RedneckBob Well, tonight's another Gala Night. Hope we both get the chocolates. If you don't get any drop by 7118 and I'll give you DH's chocolate(s). I'm sure he won't mind. He hasn't eaten the one from Monday and is unlikely to do so.

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

@RedneckBob Well, tonight's another Gala Night. Hope we both get the chocolates. If you don't get any drop by 7118 and I'll give you DH's chocolate(s). I'm sure he won't mind. He hasn't eaten the one from Monday and is unlikely to do so.

Thanks Cruise Suzy. I just talked with the Captain and he has promise me a pound box of Godiva Chocolates tonight 😀

[VegasRealtor]

2 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Thanks Cruise Suzy. I just talked with the Captain and he has promise me a pound box of Godiva Chocolates tonight 😀

We always ask the room stewards to be sure to leave us chocolate at our turn down service and they always comply!

Edited February 25, 2022 by VegasRealtor
spelling error

[retired dude]

7 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Well said rka. Especially since I got slammed for bringing it up. Wait till you go on a long cruise and see what happens. I have been there; 30 day South Pacific cruise on Eurodam in March 2019. I really like BB King and dueling pianos but these groups run out of material over 30 days. I noticed every 5-6 days these groups would repeat the same shows which mean five times over thirty days. Thanks goodness there was no dance company in the showroom!

 

HAL should take a look a Celebrity cruises. Still has band in showroom along with top entertainers throughout their cruises plus singers and dancers that perform with digital lights 2-3 times on a 9 day cruise.

we agree, sailed on the celebrity "connie" out of tampa for ten days recently and the entertainment was superb...Three very special shows in the theater including the best motown show that we have ever seen....They also had two superb music groups in the lounges every night for dancing and just plain fun.....They actually pay top notch entertainers to come onto the ship and perform.....kinda reminded us of the good old days when this was the norm....just sayin'

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, retired dude said:

we agree, sailed on the celebrity "connie" out of tampa for ten days recently and the entertainment was superb...Three very special shows in the theater including the best motown show that we have ever seen....They also had two superb music groups in the lounges every night for dancing and just plain fun.....They actually pay top notch entertainers to come onto the ship and perform.....kinda reminded us of the good old days when this was the norm....just sayin'

Ditto

[BSinPNS]

Ditto again.

[RedneckBob]

21 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Thanks Cruise Suzy. I just talked with the Captain and he has promise me a pound box of Godiva Chocolates tonight 😀

Chocolates arrived but not Godiva. Got those one half oz square razor thin chocolate. Oh well better than no chocolate.

[NCTribeFan]

I just booked Rotterdam for the April TA.  I sailed K'dam and loved the ship, so really looking forward to that.  I have over a year to read every thread I can find about her!

 

As for entertainment, count me as one who does not miss the mediocre singing from the performers in the main theatre.  IMO, it's always been the weak point.  The dance troupes on Eurodam and NA this past winter were both excellent.

 

When I sailed K'dam, there was no Rolling Stones venue, so I was in the BB Kings club most every night.  Same on Eurodam and NA.  I detest piano bars and really disliked that it was directly next to the casino, so I couldn't avoid that yowling.  I know Rotterdam has a different layout, so hopefully I won't have to listen to that when I'm upstairs in the casino.

 

Between BB Kings, Rolling Stones, and Lincoln Center Stage, I'm sure I'll find enough musical entertainment for my tastes.  And I'll have my nightly donations to the casino to keep me busy.

 

Now to go look at every photo of the ship that I can find. 😁

[Cruise Suzy]

@RedneckBob  Did you also get a bulldog to guard your dark chocolates? 

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

@RedneckBob  Did you also get a bulldog to guard your dark chocolates? 

I think it was a T Rex 🙀.

 

For those interested 20% of passengers are continuing on the next cruise (288) with another 1,000 boarding tomorrow. I see why it was a breeze boarding the ship last Sunday.

[cruzingnut]

3 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Chocolates arrived but not Godiva. Got those one half oz square razor thin chocolate. Oh well better than no chocolate.

 

I'll give you ours when we get back on tomorrow.  😎 Last week we got them every night and we don't eat them.

Linda R.