BTimmer's Almost Live Downunder 2022 - (10/2/22 to 12/6/22 on the Westerdam)

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

We've passed our covid tests and the Verifly APP says we're ready to sail.  I guess I should finish packing. . .

That's always a nice feeling when you have that test DONE!

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, oakridger said:

Aw come on Tim…..what’s the rush?  😁

Yup, we have all day tomorrow!  Fortunately, we've done this many times, so packing is pretty easy.  Plus we limit ourselves to one roll on and a backpack. The biggest issue is which t-shirts to bring.

[Btimmer]

Here's my roll on packed. 47 pounds.

[Btimmer]

It's the last night before our departure.  We're packed.  We passed our Covid tests.  Verifly is loaded and we've got boarding passes on our phone and paper copies as well.  We enjoyed time earlier today with the grandkids. I've spoken by telephone with close cruise friends who aren't able to make the trip, and they will be following along.  It seems sort of surreal that our departure is imminent after planning for such a long time amid many changes in the itinerary for this first cruise on the last HAL ship we've not previously sailed on.  And for the first cruise on the Westerdam to be 64 days is nice as well.  Our general plans are to do a lot of snorkeling.

 

Tomorrow's weather is projected to be spectacular.  Our Meet & Greet participants are planning for a sail away party near the 9th Floor aft Lido pool area at 3pm. We'll be competing with HAL's sail away party. We'll then gather the next day at 1pm in the Billboard Onboard area.  As the host, I'm expecting around 100 people there. 

 

Again, if you have questions about the ship, protocols, ports, itinerary, and anything cruising related, please post your question in this thread.  I'll try to answer your question as honestly as possible.

 

Here's to "red skies at night, sailor's delight!". My next post should be from onboard.

[erewhon]

Best wishes for a fabulous cruise. 

We are trying to remember on which ship we met you.

 

[travelnap]

Bon Voyage, have a great cruise.

[Beejay4016]

Have a wonderful cruise. I'll certainly be following your posts as we are sailing on her next April from Yokohama to Seattle. Sixty four days? Wow, that's what I call a cruise.

[Btimmer]

We're onboard and we have another inside cabin postage stamp sized room. But it will work for us.  Verifly was definitely worth it!!!

Our luggage even beat us! It took around 40 minutes to board.

we passed this group with Verifly.

 

 

 

 

We'll get this fixed

 

First meal

[Btimmer]

And with a long toot of the horn, we're off.

 

 

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

And with a long toot of the horn, we're off.

 

Bon Voyage!  Good wishes for a safe and pleasant cruise!  

[Mtn2Sea]

Bon Voyage!!  Hope you have a great trip.

Edited October 2, 2022 by Mtn2Sea

[erewhon]

Pleased that you are safely on board the Westerdam.

Checked my cruise diaries, we met you board the Maasdam, 2016,   Circumnavigation of Australia, the Master was Captain Ane Jan Smit.  The planned visit to Kangaroo Island was cancelled due to rough weather   During the day in Brisbane we  noticed that the ship was flying our New Zealand flag instead of the Australian flag. 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by erewhon

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, erewhon said:

Pleased that you are safely on board the Westerdam.

Checked my cruise diaries, we met you board the Maasdam, 2016,   Circumnavigation of Australia, the Master was Captain Ane Jan Smit.  The planned visit to Kangaroo Island was cancelled due to rough weather   During the day in Brisbane we  noticed that the ship was flying our New Zealand flag instead of the Australian flag. 

 

That was a terrific cruise!  We're hoping to make Kangaroo island this voyage.

[Btimmer]

We are moved into our postage sized stateroom.  There are only two small drawers in the nightstand.  But magnetic hooks are saving the day.

 

We had a small Cruise Critic sailaway party in the aft Lido pool area followed by a Mariner Reception where a small group of Cruise Critic members enjoyed conversation and drinks.

 

This cruise has an official pastor for the interdenominational service.  This is a change from the past 5 years or so.

 

The Origins EXC talk was the evening entertainment.  And last we gain an hour tonight.

 

It's been a great start to the cruise.

 

[Btimmer]

We turned around and are back near Port Angeles for a helicopter medical evacuation.

 

 

We'll likely be late to Honolulu.

[canadianbear]

Oh no…medivac already.  

[cruisinteach2]

11 hours ago, Btimmer said:

This cruise has an official pastor for the interdenominational service.  This is a change from the past 5 years or so.

 

Glad to hear HAL is bringing back interdenominational pastors onboard for longer cruises!

[SLC1954]

I wondered what was going on when I checked the location of my favorite ships.  Thanks for the update. Looks like you are on your way again.

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, cruisinteach2 said:

Glad to hear HAL is bringing back interdenominational pastors onboard for longer cruises!

 

I am as well pleased with this news.  Whomever is employed, I hope, will be worthy of their position.  Most have been, but, there was a couple employed for a Christmas/New Year's cruise when I sailed the Prinsendam who were dreadful.  Attendance for their services began well; dwindled; dwindled; my traveling companion and I stopped attending.  They performed a nice Communion Service, but, for each service, even on Christmas Eve, with no message at any of the services?  

[oakridger]

The cruise to Alaska last week on Nieuw Amsterdam didn’t have a catholic priest but on this cruise to San Diego then FLL I see mass being offered. I’m assuming that a priest does the mass. (I’m not catholic but I thought only priests offer mass 🤷‍♀️) Today is a sea day and it was at 8am.             ~Nancy 

[Btimmer]

15 minutes ago, oakridger said:

The cruise to Alaska last week on Nieuw Amsterdam didn’t have a catholic priest but on this cruise to San Diego then FLL I see mass being offered. I’m assuming that a priest does the mass. (I’m not catholic but I thought only priests offer mass 🤷‍♀️) Today is a sea day and it was at 8am.             ~Nancy 

We were on a HAL cruise this past year and a Catholic layman led their service until a priest joined the ship.

[Radbooks]

Tim,

 

Any word on possible changes to some of the South Sea islands? I saw a note on FB that said that Carnival is having to changes stops. I can't remember if you are going to those... Isle of Pine and Mare.

[Btimmer]

Just now, Radbooks said:

Tim,

 

Any word on possible changes to some of the South Sea islands? I saw a note on FB that said that Carnival is having to changes stops. I can't remember if you are going to those... Isle of Pine and Mare.

I've not heard of any changes other than possibly a delayed arrival into Honolulu due to our 12 hour delay because of the medical helicopter evacuation earlier today.  If I hear anything, I'll post it here. We're not going to Isle of Pine and Mare.  That being said, with many of these remote islands being just now being reopened to cruise ships, changes can be expected.

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Good to see the Seattle Mariners t-shirt. Off to the play-offs finally!

[Btimmer]

It was a quiet night and we're cruising along at around 22 miles an hour.  It's pretty overcast with moderate swells.

 

My daily blog is current and can be found at:  HTTPS://timmer2022du.blogspot.com

 

Yesterday's meet and greet was well attended and a lot of connections were made after seeing just screen names these past many months.