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

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Jacqui, thanks for the updates. To add another check against traveling with assistance-we were just informed that Bob’s Limo here in Rome wants an additional 69 Euros for our transfer to the port in order to add a walker. Have no idea why they would need a bigger vehicle. It fits in the car at home just fine.

Looking forward to seeing you in May.

 

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for the pictures of Madeira, so beautiful.  Post more anytime.

[kazu]

9 hours ago, 4966and556 said:

My ex in laws took us along on most of the cruises I've been on so that we could help them getting through airports.  After a few years they needed wheelchair assistance.  My ex mother in law insisted that assistance was needed from the first airport until they reached their cabin on the ship.  They always flew through Pearson in Toronto.  I don't remember too many issues other than ex mother in law's temper. She could really cause one heck of a fuss when the mood struck her.  

 

Pearson was fine and they were great.  My only issue there was the plane - it doesn’t have the gateway you can take a wheel chair to the entrance - a ramp outside you have to climb.  Not Pearson’s fault.

 

It was Miami that was so horrible.  

 

1 hour ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Jacqui, thanks for the updates. To add another check against traveling with assistance-we were just informed that Bob’s Limo here in Rome wants an additional 69 Euros for our transfer to the port in order to add a walker. Have no idea why they would need a bigger vehicle. It fits in the car at home just fine.

Looking forward to seeing you in May.

 

 

Wow!  That’s nuts IMO.  When I e’d Daniel re Madeira I said I would forego the tour (I had missed most of the tours I had arranged) if the wheel chair was too much trouble - not at all.  And there was no extra charge.  Daniel and his team were very solicitous and helpful.  

 

More pics coming shortly.  Coffee and Daily first 😉 

[kazu]

I took Jose (my bear) on my cruise and my cabin stewards included him in all of my towel animals after the first one.  Here are some of them.

 

 

I thought it was very sweet

 

 

My sister who wheeled me back to my cabin just went “ahhhhh”

 

 

When there were no towel animals, the stewards always had Jose on the pillow you see the towel guy with the chocolate sitting on here.

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Back to Madeira:

 

Taken in the van as it was so neat.

 

 

 

 

Stopped for lunch and Daniel recommended this spot and their fish sandwich that can only be had here.  My note book is in my missing suitcase but IIRC it is blackened scabbard cod (I think it was cod).  It’s only available in Madeira.

 

 

The sandwich was huge and cheap and good.  Everyone at our table had it and loved it.  Can’t get this pic straightened no matter what I do - sorry.

 

 

I made one mistake.  Asked my sister if she wanted to share a shrimp (their type) and calamari skewer.  She said sure.  We didn’t realize that a) the sandwich would be so big and b) what we were going to get 😱 

 

 

The plate got passed around and believe it or not, most of it got eaten.  Some took a shrimp - some wanted to try a potato, sweet potato, etc.

There was little left on it as we kept passing it, thankfully.  LOL.

 

Pretty spot and gorgeous aloe vera

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Madeira is just exquisite.

 

 

 

Waterfalls are numerous and different.  Some are just trickles

 

 

 

And some come raging down much faster

 

 

 

 

See these brave / foolish people? Whether they are brave or foolish depends on your perspective.

 

 

they are at the fall you saw previously.  They start at the top of the mountain.

 

 

 

And rope themselves down in the water fall.  I swear with all the stuff they were taking off - it probably takes them longer to get dressed and changed after than the activity.  Daniel agreed and said there have been serious falls and deaths doing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Farewell to pretty Madeira.

 

 

It is gorgeous at night due to so houses on the terraced hills.

 

 

Sorry taken from my wheel chair as best I could 

 

 

 

[kazu]

From Lisbon - I couldn’t go but the rest did.  They visited Alcobaca Monastery (first Gothic building in Portugal built in 1187) & the monastery of Batalha (Dominican convent built in 1386).  Both are UNESCO sites.  There was more on the itinerary and it was thoroughly enjoyed.  Lilianna was excellent (Lisbon Explorer - private tour).  But, here are a few pics:

 

 

You can see from the cobblestones below it wouldn’t have been easy for a wheel chair 😉 It was a walking and driving tour and I knew it (I booked it).

 

 

 

 

[grapau27]

22 hours ago, kazu said:

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 😉 

Thank you for your interesting thread Jacqui.

Pleased you are now home safely.

Looking forward to seeing more of your scenery pictures and food pictures.

Hopefully your foot recovery goes well.

Graham x

 

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, puppycanducruise said:

Thanks for the pictures of Madeira, so beautiful.  Post more anytime.

Madeira is lovely Melanie.

We have fortunately been there several times on cruises.

Edited November 21, 2022 by grapau27

[0106]

Jacqui’s fish sandwich looks deliciously. I saw these black scabbard  fish being cleaned in the market in Madeira.

The dish the captain prepared (red mullet) in the cook off with the hotel general manager was on the MDR menu the last night of the cruise.

[1ANGELCAT]

Jacqui, I agree the fish is delicious. The last time I was there it was included at a restaurant on the tour. 
Has your luggage arrived yet?

[marshhawk]

@kazu  Years ago a friend of mine fell, her foot swelled up, we took her for xrays and they said the foot was not broken.  It was because her foot was so swollen that they could not pickup several hair lien fractures.  Have you gone for an xray since you have been home?  I know you basically just got home, but it could be that there is more going on than you know.  I am worried about you.

 

I have to admit that I let the DH sleep late this morning just so that I could sit down and enjoy your trip.

I am glad that you are home, safe and sound.  And guess who just got up?  Right when I was done.  All places look beautiful, and I can also see that with DH's vison problems and walking ability, Europe is going to be a challenge for him.

 

And thank you Dailyites who cruised and posted pictures along with @kazu!  Thank you for taking care of her! 

[AncientWanderer]

Thanks, Jacqui, for the wonderful thread, with such great photos.  Maderia looks beautiful.  I hope your foot heals quickly so you're ready for your next adventures.

[Vict0riann]

Welcome home, Jacqui.  I was going to say, too, that it would be a good idea to have your foot re-x-rayed, as something might have been missed in Spain.  Hope the bags arrive safely.

 

Madeira is amazing - and has over 800 tunnels, when Daniel took us on our tour we went through 17 of them, and thought that was a lot.  Not much use taking pictures in tunnels, though!  Thanks for your pictures, and it was great that you manage to take that tour, at least.  

[JazzyV]

Thank you Jacqui for the wonderful pictures  and taking us along with you!

[mamaofami]

Jacqui, thank you for taking us along on your adventure. N

Hoping the others are wrong and nothing is broken, but I would check it out. So many tiny bones in the foot. Welcome home 🏡 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

A bit of an update from my previous post. For some reason, if you have a shared transfer, only 2 bags are allowed but you can pay 10 E for an extra bag. It just didn’t apply for a walker. A private transfer was required.

[kazu]

On 11/21/2022 at 11:00 AM, 1ANGELCAT said:

Jacqui, I agree the fish is delicious. The last time I was there it was included at a restaurant on the tour. 
Has your luggage arrived yet?

 

Nope - no luggage - now it’s in Quebec - perplexed by that as A/C does not fly from that airport to here.  I see another call to the baggage department. Sheesh.

[kazu]

On our 2nd last or last sea day (I lost track, sorry) it was time to wheel into the Lido Pool for the big towel animal display.  Some of them were really creative.

I couldn’t get them all - I use the wheel chair and angles as my excuse but here are some pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BlackJack2]

Great cruise!!  Fantastic roll call!  Wonderful staff and crew.  A lot of the crew were on their first ever contracts.

 

The cruise was especially good with Jacqui's organization!  Thanks so much Jacqui for keeping us organized and keeping us busy with lots of roll call events!

 

We brought the Portuguese "invisible wine" to Jacqui's wine tasting.  They peel the skin off the grapes and then do three light presses, then bottle the wine.  A little fizz to the overall taste - but very refreshing and good.  Here is a picture of the bottle we brought.  Hope it loads okay - I've never posted a photo on Cruise Critic before.  

[kazu]

31 minutes ago, BlackJack2 said:

Great cruise!!  Fantastic roll call!  Wonderful staff and crew.  A lot of the crew were on their first ever contracts.

 

The cruise was especially good with Jacqui's organization!  Thanks so much Jacqui for keeping us organized and keeping us busy with lots of roll call events!

 

We brought the Portuguese "invisible wine" to Jacqui's wine tasting.  They peel the skin off the grapes and then do three light presses, then bottle the wine.  A little fizz to the overall taste - but very refreshing and good.  Here is a picture of the bottle we brought.  Hope it loads okay - I've never posted a photo on Cruise Critic before.  

 

Thanks for posting the pic, Betsy - it answered earlier questions 😉 

I really couldn’t see the bottles well from the “chair” to answer accurately earlier.  And, congrats on winning the prize at the wine tasting. 

[kazu]

You might recall the Chef promised us cold soups?

 

Well we got them.

 

A peach one (since when did anyone call out peach at the session 😉)

 

 

And a Berry one

 

 

the Berry one was pretty good but not quite as thick of the cold soups of old but kudos to the Chef for doing it 👍 

[kazu]

I confess I don’t recall ever seeing one of these on a HAL ship before.  Perhaps I was unobservant?  there were two - this one at the Sea View Pool and one at the Hydrotherapy Pool.

 

they are for wheel chair people.  They lower down so the person can get in (not as easy as it sounds) and then they are lowered into the pool.

Pretty cool.  I saw two people using them  - kudos to them and their spouses helping them 👍 

 

[kazu]

Food in the MDR was pretty dam good.