Land & Sea - Live from Barcelona & the Oosterdam Transatlantic - November 5th, 2022

[kazu]

1 hour ago, VMax1700 said:

Did you, or anyone, try to bring on flowers?

 

You’re darn right I did 😉 

Only question was insects and I said none.    Heck they had been in the van for 7 hours (I had a baggie and water)

They are in my cabin 👍 

[AncientWanderer]

Gosh,  Maderia looks so beautiful.  We've done Spanish Farewell a couple of times, but there was no stop in Maderia.  I'd love to visit there.  Maybe more lovely photos to come?!  😊

[kazu]

Sorry we’ve been having internet issues and CC has not been exactly the best 😡. 

It seems to be working a bit better 🤞. So here we go….

This is Jeremy (fantastic guy) dressed up as he won the employee of the month 

 

 

and this is Eric and if I have anything to do with it, he will be the next one.

 

 

they are both at the Sea View Bar part of the time and fantastic.

 

11 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

Gosh,  Maderia looks so beautiful.  We've done Spanish Farewell a couple of times, but there was no stop in Maderia.  I'd love to visit there.  Maybe more lovely photos to come?!  😊

 

There will be - it’s taking a long time to upload pics right now - so just hang in -  I haven’t jumped off my balcony (yet) - and trying.

oodles of pics and even food porn now - so hang in - if I can it will get there.  😉 

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Love all the pictures, keep 'em coming.

Thanks.

[sailingdutchy]

@kazu Thanks for showing some of your favorite crew members .

Have you been a couple of times to the Pinnacle and are Rudy , Erwin , Agung and Nino still there ? 

If they are please say hello from Tony and Martha . We met Rudy for the first time on the Prinsendam , wonderful person and love to have him looking after us , he is a lot of fun ! 

 

BTW you missed out on seeing Rifki on your cruise (Prinsendam's Canaletto manager who now is a Dining room Manager on the Oosterdam ) he just went home last month for his break.

 

Have a great crossing ! Best Wishes ! 

 

Tony 

 

 

[1of4]

2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

Did you, or anyone, try to bring on flowers?

I know pre-Covid people brought flowers onboard.  Just remember you also have to have a vase or something to put them in.

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

You’re darn right I did 😉 

Only question was insects and I said none.    Heck they had been in the van for 7 hours (I had a baggie and water)

They are in my cabin 👍 

Great!  Enjoy them.

So rumours of fleet wide ban on bringing cut flowers onboard are not true? 

[VMax1700]

21 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

I know pre-Covid people brought flowers onboard.  Just remember you also have to have a vase or something to put them in.

Room steward will always find one for you.

[kazu]

44 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

I know pre-Covid people brought flowers onboard.  Just remember you also have to have a vase or something to put them in.

 

I just ask for one 😉 

 

 

23 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Great!  Enjoy them.

So rumours of fleet wide ban on bringing cut flowers onboard are not true? 

 

From what I read, it only seemed to be one ship - what they were concerned about were insects.  I told her where I bough them, carried them in my hands and since the wheel chair sets off the alarms, I go the “pat down”.

 

22 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Room steward will always find one for you.

 

Absolutely 😉 They were in my ice bucket but since we couldn’t change the room we had booked before Jose passed, I asked the concierge.  Haven’t asked much nor used the lounge so I don’t think it was too much 😉 

[kazu]

3rd attempt to upload photos.  Only some would work still but something is better than nothing, I guess.

 

Pics from our Meet and Greet a couple of days ago thanks to Tina (0106)

 

 

A pretty good turn out but the Captain’s Corner was nicer as it was 😉 

 

 

We had several Guess the Number of Posts contests but only one pic of the 3 winners getting their prizes, uploaded.  BlackJack2 (Betsy) picking hers up.

 

[kazu]

Some pics of beautiful Lisbon from the Sea View Pool.  See the ship in the distance?  That’s where we have always docked in the past - right at Alfama.

 

 

There were too many ships in port so we were docked at an industrial port which meant a shuttle ride into town.  Cost was $14.50 round trip charged to your on board account.

 

 

Only a couple I’m afraid as the other wouldn’t load.  I am up very early when few are using the internet so I think it’s a CC problem?  I stayed on board (that ramp was dangerous and I knew there was a lot of walking on my tour 😉) & the rest of the group went to Obidos & Batalha & Alcobaca.

They said it was fantastic and hopefully I will get some pics later to share with you.  🤞 

 

And a couple leaving Lisbon - it was very pretty but sadly, the best pics didn’t upload.  

 

 

[kazu]

Not sure what is going on - the pics were there when I posted and now I don’t see them?

Hopefully that’s my issue and the pics are there for everyone?

Our 2nd Gala night was the same day as our Meet and Greet (sea day - day before Madeira) and Maurice was dapper as always in his tux:

 

Then he got out his James Bond glasses and we started to have some fun:


Maurice:

 

 

my sis:

 

 

my BIL & other sis:

 

 

[kazu]

Yesterday was Madeira - our last port before we cross the pond. 

 

Yes, they have food trucks in Madeira

 

 

There are terraces everywhere 

 

 

and poinsettia trees.  

 

 

Up close

 

 

Lots of pics of this beautiful island that I will share internet permitting 🤞 

 

 

 

But first…breakfast 😉 

[VMax1700]

Good morning Jacqui.

How is your ankle behaving?  Can you move around unaided yet?

So sad that you missed Lisbon, but next time......

[LouChamp]

Beautiful family, pictures and posts.  Thank you so much for sharing. Smooth sailing!

[cat shepard]

Thank you for persevering, Jacqui! I love that Tina @0106 captured you in a couple of pictures!

[0106]

Enjoying our first transatlantic crossing.  
I think we have already established a routine for our days.  I run upstairs for coffee and tea when I wake up and bring it back to the cabin for us to drink on the verandah.  (This is why I love aft cabins on deck 8.) Later, a light breakfast in the Lido.  My DH seems determined to try every offering.  I have been enjoying the smoked salmon and the Asian options available at Distant Lands.  Time for our walk on the promenade.  Read, puzzles.  Light lunch, love the salads.  Had Dive In once,  like that vegetarian option.  Read, puzzles,nap.  Dinner at a fixed table for 2  in MDR.  Our waiters, Lukemon and Fendra are excellent.  Quickly learned are preferences (extra vegetables) and our going out of the way to make us happy.  Socialize at Sea View Bar after dinner, I agree with Jacqui that the servers there are the best. 
 

Enjoyed my first Slot Pull yesterday.  Fun way for some of the roll call members to reconnect again.  We all came out $1 ahead!

 

We are traveling for 3 weeks with a carryon so for the first time I used the laundry onboard.  Took 48 hours.  Amazed at what I could get in the bag… 1 tshirt, 2 pair of jeans, 3 pair of yoga pants, 2 pair athletic shorts, 2 short sleeve dress shirts and 2 long sleeve dress shirts for $30.  
 

Internet is horrible.  ( I don’t think it’s CC). Unable to load any pictures even though it’s 6 am.  Happy to try to find answers to any questions you may have about the ship.

[kazu]

On 11/12/2022 at 10:06 AM, VMax1700 said:

Good morning Jacqui.

How is your ankle behaving?  Can you move around unaided yet?

So sad that you missed Lisbon, but next time......

 

Not yet, Colin.  I was trying last night hanging onto the wheel chair - big mistake.  Rocking and rolling and the wheel chair overturned and I went down.  I think I will stick to the chair until we hit smoother seas 😉 

 

Not sure about pics but Tina (0106) just joined me at the Sea View Bar and attended the Cooking Demo with the head chef.  He’s funny and very entertaining.   And they served the Dutch Pea Soup after to everyone there.

 

His is not made like the one on the Alaskan cruises - much more meat.

 

And at the Question and Answer - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COLD SOUPS???  they were cut out by Corporate.  But, wait, …..since we want cold soups - there will a couple offered at the Lido -  one tomorrow - go to the dessert spot and wink, wink and the server will wink back and reach under the table and VOILA.  COLD SOUP TOMORROW.  👍 👍 

[kazu]

Guest lecturer is very good and yes, we have one on board.  Can’t upload his profile right now “sigh”. Or pics but once I can, I will.

His name is Mike West and yes, we have a Bridge Instructor on board - Drew Skip Wilson

 

 

[*Miss G*]

Thanks for the continued posts despite the erratic internet access!  It sounds like you are now enjoying the lovely relaxing days at sea.  How are the temperatures?  Is it still a bit balmy?

[1of4]

6 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Not yet, Colin.  I was trying last night hanging onto the wheel chair - big mistake.  Rocking and rolling and the wheel chair overturned and I went down.  I think I will stick to the chair until we hit smoother seas 😉 

I’m really sorry to read this Jacqui.  Please if/when you try it again use the walker (brakes) and not the wheelchair.

[0106]

@*Miss G* The weather is beautiful. Low 70s but there is a bit of motion in the ocean.

 

The chief chef was very amusing.  Shh…the cold soup is our secret.

 

Mike West is an extremely interesting lecturer.  Here is a bit of his bio: A retired career US naval officer who spent the majority of his career at sea.  In an unusual career, Mike served in all shipboard departments, to include being both the chief engineer of a large Navy ship and the commanding officer (captain) of a destroyer. He also taught and coached rowing at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis for several years. He is nationally published in the subject of naval and maritime history. Mike has been speaking on Holland America ships for almost five years and relishes the prospect of sharing his love of ships with others on the Big Blue Ships. 

 

Unfortunately, on the one sea day he isn’t lecturing it will be a repeat of the EXC lecture I heard on the Zuiderdam in February on Marconi.

[madera1]

Just read your reports as haven’t been on the internet much last week while in Cabo on vacation. Your photos are wonderful. So sorry about your injury and other family issues that have complicated your trip but glad you have trooped ahead. Glad that HAL helped you arrange the distribution of your husband’s ashes at sea.Enjoy the remaining days at sea. Looking forward to meeting you on the Konningsdam.

[kazu]

OMG - slow but I can get one whole pic downloaded.

profile on our speaker

 

[kazu]

18 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Thanks for the continued posts despite the erratic internet access!  It sounds like you are now enjoying the lovely relaxing days at sea.  How are the temperatures?  Is it still a bit balmy?

 

Very nice weather so far.  Mornings are cooler (not cold) and it warms up fast 😉 

 

13 hours ago, 1of4 said:

I’m really sorry to read this Jacqui.  Please if/when you try it again use the walker (brakes) and not the wheelchair.

 

Yes Mom 😉 

 

5 hours ago, madera1 said:

Just read your reports as haven’t been on the internet much last week while in Cabo on vacation. Your photos are wonderful. So sorry about your injury and other family issues that have complicated your trip but glad you have trooped ahead. Glad that HAL helped you arrange the distribution of your husband’s ashes at sea.Enjoy the remaining days at sea. Looking forward to meeting you on the Konningsdam.

 

Totally confess I have been having 2nd thoughts about cruising solo after this accident.  Imagining if I was alone 😬 But, on the other hand, I never had an accident before in all my years of travelling and cruising.