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

[TiogaCruiser]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

The overwhelming winner in the white division was the Invisible wine - really a red but looks and tastes like a white.  Even kazu could drink it - quite cool.

Is this the one you mean?

https://www.portugalresident.com/invisible-white-from-the-red-aragonez-grape/
 

 

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Is this the one you mean?

https://www.portugalresident.com/invisible-white-from-the-red-aragonez-grape/
 

 

 

Sorry - can’t open the link.  Internet is too slow and crappy - but if it is the one where they peal the red grapes and then make the wine so it looks white - yes.

 

[kazu]

2 hours ago, bennybear said:

Glad you’re having fun!  The captain cook off sounds like a hoot!  Need more details on the invisible wine, it that it’s name? 

Safe travels!

 

That’s what they called it.  I will check but quite certain that the bottle was long gone and went in the garbage.

Internet is going spotty again but will see if I can check with our wine tasters and see if I can get some help.  I was seated so unable to really see the bottles (story of my cruise).  

[TiogaCruiser]

From the link:

 

[kazu]

12 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

From the link:

 

 

Possibly - we were told that they peel the grapes and then make the wine so it sounds somewhat different from the description?  

[kazu]

At the Ask the Hotel Manager a couple questions were asked that might be of interest:

 

How many people on board - 1450. The next cruise is completely full.

 

How many covid cases on board?  4 or 5 (sorry, my memory is short - forget which one but definitely no more than 5).

[kazu]

the ship is really moving to attend to this medical emergency - 23 knots right now.

The only other choice was Bermuda but the patient would have had to be helicoptered off and his wife would not be allowed to be with him.  It was felt he was better off in Florida so they are moving.  According to the FCC, they have spent an extra $7,000 in fuel in order to get there faster so far.

 

Rumour is we are going to be there well before 9 pm tonight - a crew member thinks maybe 4 pm?  

 

Despite the speed, the ride is not rough IMO.

[Happily@Sea]

6 hours ago, kazu said:

the ship is really moving to attend to this medical emergency - 23 knots right now.

The only other choice was Bermuda but the patient would have had to be helicoptered off and his wife would not be allowed to be with him.  It was felt he was better off in Florida so they are moving.  According to the FCC, they have spent an extra $7,000 in fuel in order to get there faster so far.

 

Rumour is we are going to be there well before 9 pm tonight - a crew member thinks maybe 4 pm?  

 

Despite the speed, the ride is not rough IMO.

 

It is now 5:30 pm - and Oosterdam is still a good distance from Miami. But probably well before 9 pm.

[ncgolferette]

Is there a ETA

[Happily@Sea]

18 minutes ago, ncgolferette said:

Is there a ETA

 

No, but she is on the marine map.

[ncgolferette]

Do you think any of the ships leaving the Port of Miami in the O’s path are aware that the Oosterdam is arriving with a medical emergency?  

[1ANGELCAT]

Just heard Miami pilot speaking to Oosterdam bridge. Pilot wil be outbound on Seabourne ship at 8:00 and then board Oosterdam for return. 

[Happily@Sea]

Seabourne has left the port and Oosterdam isn't that far away now.

[Cruise Suzy]

I think I see her - upper right???

[Cruise Suzy]

[Cruise Suzy]

Oosterdam has now "exited stage left" from the Miami Webcam view

[0106]

We are cruising into the port.

 

 

[CMDE]

A friend who is visiting her son in Miami just sent me this photo of your ship.

[St Pete Cruiser]

A rare visit to the Port of Miami by a Holland America ship.  Hope all goes well.

[JazzyV]

Looks like she's doing a U-turn.

[travelnap]

Jacqui, Thank you for taking us all along for your cruise.  Just wish you could have enjoyed it more without the injury.

[bennybear]

Thanks for bringing us along, Safe travels! 

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us.

Safe home.

[kazu]

Home after a very long day, yesterday.

 

Clarification on our Miami arrival.  We were really motoring to get their early and apparently, the earliest the pilot could accommodate us was the 9 pm time slot so the captain slowed down since we couldn’t dock any sooner than the 9 pm time frame.

 

Disembarkation was a mess to put it mildly.  Not the ship’s fault - Miami port.  The terminal was back logged and disembarkation had to be stalled. Baggage was everywhere - ie - if you were pink - it wasn’t in one location - it could be at three different spots.  It took some time to find mine.

An interesting point - HAL made it clear that the United States required proof of vaccination for non U.S. citizens.  I had mine of course but no one wanted to see it.  I was told “you’re in Florida now - only the ships need it - we don’t”.

I did use wheel chair disembarkation and I have to say - HAL does a pretty good job on it.  Once they got me off the ship, I was transferred to a port wheel chair and had an absolutely fabulous gentleman wheel me as we hunted for luggage, grab a porter, wheel me through Customs and stayed with me until I was in the taxi.  I probably over tipped (no idea how much you tip for this) but he was worth every penny.

My cab driver was fabulous too - fighting to get me a chair and help.  Once inside Miami International the fabulous turned into horrific but that’s Miami airport and based on my experience, if you are handicapped & don’t have your own wheel chair,  don’t use Miami International or be prepared for big difficulties.

I’m going to try to back track and give you a bit more on this cruise.  There’s lots of pics and food porn.  Internet on the ship was the worst I have ever seen and could only get a few posts in.  Very disappointing.

Miami airport’s wifi was nearly as bad as the ship’s.  LOL.

So my catch up will be at home and I guess it will be an “almost live” thread even though it was Live at the time 😉 

[travelnap]

Jacqui, Glad to hear that you have made it home safely.  Thank you for taking us along with you on your voyage.