35 Days to the South Pacific with The Inside Cabin - Live from the Zuiderdam

[crystalspin]

On 3/3/2022 at 12:12 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

I am posting more detailed updates on my blog with additional photos - I organize the blog for use as a reference and this is more real time and responsive.   

I read your sailaway entry -- you both look like you are having big fun! If we had not cancelled, we would have taken you up on offer of fixed late seating!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Today's menu 

 
gonna try the pot pie. 

 

[Sea42]

Hi Pete,

I'm having a bit of a problem accessing your posts on your blog. When clicking on "Next Post" from Day #1 South Pacific Here We Come, I'm brought back to the Back in the Saddle post.

Any guidance would be appreciated!

Thanks

[canadianbear]

34 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

Hi Pete,

I'm having a bit of a problem accessing your posts on your blog. When clicking on "Next Post" from Day #1 South Pacific Here We Come, I'm brought back to the Back in the Saddle post.

Any guidance would be appreciated!

Thanks

I am too but just thought it was me.  Not sure if I’m doing something wrong. 

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We arranged for a behind-the-scenes tour of the casino which started at noon. More information on the casino tour is HERE

 

I have wondered why Avalon is a port call.  The description of that tour would be a very good reason to do so!  

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We arranged for a behind-the-scenes tour of the casino which started at noon. More information on the casino tour is HERE

 

I have wondered why Avalon is a port call.  The description of that tour would be a very good reason to do so!  

[Nymich]

There is an echo in here.

[Oahucruiser]

6 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Hi Pete,

I'm having a bit of a problem accessing your posts on your blog. When clicking on "Next Post" from Day #1 South Pacific Here We Come, I'm brought back to the Back in the Saddle post.

Any guidance would be appreciated!

Thanks

Same problem for me.  I was able to follow the world cruise in 2000 but can't get additional posts this time.   Hoping to follow you in Hawaii where I live.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

9 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Today's menu 

 
gonna try the pot pie. 

 

Pot pie was very good.  
 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

4 hours ago, Oahucruiser said:

Same problem for me.  I was able to follow the world cruise in 2000 but can't get additional posts this time.   Hoping to follow you in Hawaii where I live.

If you aren't getting notified of new posts - try subscribing again - the box is at the bottom of every page.   I made a few tweaks tonight - hopefully things will be working OK.

[esther e]

17 hours ago, canadianbear said:

I am too but just thought it was me.  Not sure if I’m doing something wrong. 

Me, too

[esther e]

Got it .  Thanks.

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Thanks for all the feedback on the website performance and functionality.   I can test it out on a generic PC, tablet or phone but with all the varieties of devices it's hard to check them all.   Also, I am so use to the set up I may be missing confusing things about the interface.   

 

You can comment here or send me an email to connect@theinsidecabin.com

 

Thanks!!!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

20 hours ago, crystalspin said:

I read your sailaway entry -- you both look like you are having big fun! If we had not cancelled, we would have taken you up on offer of fixed late seating!

We are having a blast.     Things are slowly getting back toward normal. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tonight's menu.  Suggestions?   Plus my hangout spot in the crows nest early. 
 

and a early mid pacific sunrise 

 

 

 

[Navybikermom]

Jicama and mango salad, braised short ribs… 😁

[NanaJPB]

Hi Pete!

a question … do you and Judy buy a cruise-long pass for the thermal suite?  If so, can you tell me the cost for this 35-day voyage?  Thanks.

Joanna

[The-Inside-Cabin]

7 hours ago, NanaJPB said:

Hi Pete!

a question … do you and Judy buy a cruise-long pass for the thermal suite?  If so, can you tell me the cost for this 35-day voyage?  Thanks.

Joanna

We do not buy the thermal suite and never even use the free day pass we get with 5 stars.   Many people really love the thermal suites, but its not our cup of tea.   

 

I'll see if I can find out what they were charging..

[The-Inside-Cabin]

On 3/2/2022 at 12:58 PM, Cruise Junky said:

This might seem like a strange request. Can you report back if they used real crab or fake crab?  I had an “exchange” with HAL over them passing off fake crab as real and I’m curious if the practice has continued. Thanks. 

I asked the servers and then said it was real.   It was too sauced up to really figure it out on your own.  I'll take their word for it.  They are usually pretty meticulous about food content due to the risk of allergic reactions etc.

[Cruise Junky]

5 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

I asked the servers and then said it was real.   It was too sauced up to really figure it out on your own.  I'll take their word for it.  They are usually pretty meticulous about food content due to the risk of allergic reactions etc.

Thank you. I appreciate you asking. On my one HAL cruise they passed off fake crab as both Dungeness and king crab. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Tonight's final show from the current Step One Dance company was cancelled due to "Technical Issues"

 

I suspect the computer that runs the backing tracks crashed since last nights show with Strings Alive had to be modified when the screen that was supposed to play and show the backing for their first song only managed to display some Microsoft themed gibberish.   That group was able to put on their show "old school" with normal microphones and amplifiers - it was fine.   

 

Step One has no backup and no way to perform with the computer not working.

 

They are substituting a Polynesian Cultural Group show  at 8 pm with the movie "Aloha" at 9:30

with Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone -  Aloha (2015) - IMDb

 

I figure they will get at least 5 people to watch a 7 year old movie from 9:30 to 11:30 the day before port....I could be wrong - but expect a light turnout.   I won't be one of the 5.   I may stop by to see If I was correct about the attendance.

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

6 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Thank you. I appreciate you asking. On my one HAL cruise they passed off fake crab as both Dungeness and king crab. 

I wouldn't bet the farm on it being real crab......FWIW.   This is hardly an authoritative source, but it has the ring of truth...

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Cruise Junky]

12 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

I wouldn't bet the farm on it being real crab......FWIW.   This is hardly an authoritative source, but it has the ring of truth...

 

They admitted it after the fact and claimed it had been a supply issue. Now when I see crab on a HAL menu the hairs on my neck go up.  Enjoy Hawaii, you’re getting close ❤️

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Tonight's final show from the current Step One Dance company was cancelled due to "Technical Issues"

 

I suspect the computer that runs the backing tracks crashed since last nights show with Strings Alive had to be modified when the screen that was supposed to play and show the backing for their first song only managed to display some Microsoft themed gibberish.   That group was able to put on their show "old school" with normal microphones and amplifiers - it was fine.   

 

Step One has no backup and no way to perform with the computer not working.

 

They are substituting a Polynesian Cultural Group show  at 8 pm with the movie "Aloha" at 9:30

with Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone -  Aloha (2015) - IMDb

 

I figure they will get at least 5 people to watch a 7 year old movie from 9:30 to 11:30 the day before port....I could be wrong - but expect a light turnout.   I won't be one of the 5.   I may stop by to see If I was correct about the attendance.

 

 

Turns out it wasn't a software issue, but a mechanical track that is used to move one of the large LED screens got damaged and couldn't safely move the panel required for the show.

 

There were 23 people for the move - Maybe 100 for the Polynesian show at 8 pm - surprised by the light turnout.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Latest Blog Post from March 1st

 

Today was the first of our five sea days before we arrive in Honolulu on March 6^th.  It’s quite chilly in the eastern Pacific Ocean in March which is often a little surprising to people not familiar with this part of the ocean.  The swells in this part of the Pacific will also likely be the highest we experience the entire cruise – and sure enough, the deck motion was obvious and while not too severe, you could definitely tell you were on a ship.  If you are prone to seasickness, its always important to start taking any precautionary measures, pills or a patch or wristband etc, before the onset of any symptoms.  Once you start to feel the effects often times the remedies aren’t able to reverse the effects.

 

One of the traditions on any HAL Hawaii or South Pacific cruise is the Polyneisian Cultural Team.  This group will lead passengers in Lei Making, Hula Dancing, Ukelele Classes and a series of lectures on a variety of topics.  We were happy to see that COVID restrictions didn’t prevent them from coming onboard.

Pete and Judy with their new leis

 

Their first, and probably most popular event, was the lei-making class held at 10 AM in the BB King Lounge.  We got there about 45 minutes early to ensure we got a spot and flowers as sometimes they run out.  They brought plenty this time so I think everyone was accommodated regardless of when they arrived.

I was happy to see that they will be holding two Texas Hold’em tournaments daily - $60 buy-in for $5000 in tournament chips.  The blinds start small, 25/50 and increase every 15 minutes which makes for a nice game, although they will take 90-120 minutes depending on how things go.

My luck wasn’t with me today and I was knocked out early.

The big event today would be another COVID test for all the passengers to meet the requirements to avoid quarantine upon our arrival in Hawaii.  Testing started at noon, working its way from Deck 1 up thru Deck 8.  As we are on Deck 8 it would likely be about 3 hours until our deck was called.  Once we were tested we had to remain in our cabin for 20 minutes hoping the phone wouldn’t ring telling us we were positive.  No call in 20 minutes meant that our tests were negative.  I may have given some friends a scare as I called their room, not aware they were in their 20 minute window hoping the phone wouldn’t ring.  Everyone relaxed when they realized it wasn’t medical calling.

Our Deck was called at 2:49 PM and even with the time is took for us get from Deck 8 to the Stuyvesant room, we were done with the test by 3 PM.  After our 20 minute wait was over, we heading to the MDR to catch “Afternoon Tea” which was already in progress.  The tea service was fine, but while HAL does many things exceptionally well, no one sails on HAL for the Afternoon Tea.  If you want the best tea service on the high seas, then seek out Cunard Line – they can’t be beat in this area.

We met Gail and Marty for dinner in the Pinnacle this evening.  Gail and Marty run the Linus project on the World Cruises and are very active on Cruise Critic aka “Gail & Marty sailing away”.

The food and service in the Pinnacle was top notch – as always.  We haven’t spent much time with Gail and Marty previously and it was a real joy to get to know them better.

 

Judy, Pete, Gail and Marty

 

The evening’s entertainment was a quartet from Great Britain called – Masters of the Musical.  They were wonderful and sang a variety of popular show tunes from over the years.  They were very good and if you enjoy Broadway musicals – don’t miss them if you see them on the schedule.

Masters of the Musical