LIVE from the Koningsdam Holiday Sailing - Dec. 17th - Jan 7th - exploring my first Pinnacle Class ship 🤞

[kazu]

And the dinner menu in the Lido:

 

 

 

[kazu]

We thought for minute we had a partridge in a pear tree this morning.

 

 

But nope, just a very tiny partridge in the pool 😂   (It was very tiny - I enlarged the pics to show it off.  Quite pretty.

 

 

Oh - I nearly forgot - last night one of the dessert offerings was bread pudding.  Had to take a pic for you know who 😉 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Here is Mazatlan from the ship - 

 

The main city:

 

 

 

And much more peaceful, prettier spots.

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

This ship does have the receipts for drinks that you have to sign and yes, there is a tip line.

 

Very strange as sometimes they are adamant you sign and other times, they just crumple it up.

 

Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are still flowers on the ship here and there.

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Yesterday was Cabo San Lucas.  We had a Princess ship in port with us.

 

 

It was anchored in the spot we were last time so the tenders took longer.  Luckily I was on the one from shore and got to sit at the top.

 

 

Of course I had to take the mandatory ship picture LOL.

 

From the tender:

 

 

 

 

 

And the arch (taken on tour)

 

[kazu]

I booked this cruise late so the catamaran was full for whale watching.

 

Booked the pirate ship instead and prayed they turned the music down so we wouldn’t scare the whales away.

 

They put on a bit of show heading back.  They got the children involved which was nice and put smiles on a lot of faces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Thar be whales out there!

 

First sign..

 

 

Not sure if this boat should have been so close to them?  Don’t know the rules here but in Canada they are very strict as to distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Coming back 

 

 

Look a this at the top of cliff:

 

 

Beaches galore here:

 

 

Where we tendered:

 

 

Lots of these large yachts here for sure.

 

 

Heading back to the ship - and yes, this ship had the cold towels, lemonade and water waiting for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Kazu; not sure what your friends and you have planned for Puerto Vallarta, but if you are game for a local lunch experience - not many tourists know about this place - consider having lunch at Pipi's Restaurante. They are located in Viejo (old) PV at 804 Calle Guadalupe Sanchez. You will need to take a cab outside the cruise terminal to get there and back - make sure you agree on the price before you get in!. The restaurant staff will call you one after - tell the cabbie on the ride back you want to go to the "Terminal Maritima por el barco or cruzero" (maritime terminal for the ship / cruise ship) 

 

We've gone to Pipi's for lunch at least four times in PV the last three years. There will be a gent that will come to your table to make fresh guacamole and there is usually  a 3-4 person band floating around who will be more than happy to play/sing Mexican traditional songs like "Cielito Lindo" at your table (both with a tip at your discretion of course)

 

Just a tip if y'all are so inclined

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150793-d1032796-Reviews-Pipi_s-Puerto_Vallarta.html

[kazu]

Lincoln Stage Centre is quite good.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

21 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

Kazu; not sure what your friends and you have planned for Puerto Vallarta, but if you are game for a local lunch experience - not many tourists know about this place - consider having lunch at Pipi's Restaurante. They are located in Viejo (old) PV at 804 Calle Guadalupe Sanchez. You will need to take a cab outside the cruise terminal to get there and back - make sure you agree on the price before you get in!. The restaurant staff will call you one after - tell the cabbie on the ride back you want to go to the "Terminal Maritima por el barco or cruzero" (maritime terminal for the ship / cruise ship) 

 

We've gone to Pipi's for lunch at least four times in PV the last three years. There will be a gent that will come to your table to make fresh guacamole and there is usually  a 3-4 person band floating around who will be more than happy to play/sing Mexican traditional songs like "Cielito Lindo" at your table (both with a tip at your discretion of course)

 

Just a tip if y'all are so inclined

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150793-d1032796-Reviews-Pipi_s-Puerto_Vallarta.html

 

 

Thanks John - sounds great.  Appreciate the tip 👍 

[Navybikermom]

Did I see a fruit(-ish) soup on the MDR menu? 😁

It looks tasty. Hope they have it on the Zaandam next week or thereafter!

[kazu]

5 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

We came back from an excursion in Alaska in August and every place to get food was closed.   We headed to the Neptune Lounge for a snack and the steward was removing all the food items and not replacing them until later in the day.   We discovered that HAL is a food desert at times.   We walked to every food venue on the Nieuw Amsterdam and none of them had food available.  The bars, however, were serving drinks.  We could have asked for peanuts, maybe.

 

 At least one venue needs to be open for hungry people returning from excursions!  

 

I’m not sure what time your excursion ended but if it was in the afternoon, Dive In is open until 6 pm.  Doesn’t the N Amsterdam have NY Pizza & Deli?  I thought it did - that venue goes until 11:30 pm.

 

  And, all the dining venues other than Dive In and Lido are open until 9 pm.  Lido re-opens again at 10:30.

 

There is lots of stuff open during the day - even the Lido carries a bunch of stuff in the afternoon.  If you had a Neptune Suite - then just ask the concierge if you need help finding food.

 

And there is always room service - I have never starved on board a ship except, ironically Princess when I lost 7 unplanned pounds.  Everyone’s experience is different 😉 

 

23 minutes ago, Navybikermom said:

Did I see a fruit(-ish) soup on the MDR menu? 😁

It looks tasty. Hope they have it on the Zaandam next week or thereafter!

 

Sure looks like it to me 👍 I might be tempted to scoot to CO after Tamarind (if I have room) to taste it 😉 

 

The chef did make a couple of us on the Oosterdam - a nice treat.

[BetsyS.]

Jacqui - Thanks for your great reports and pictures. When I first saw the 

picture of partridge in the pool, I thought it was the seagull who thinks he's 

the Captain!  Merry Christmas to you and your friends!  🥂😊

[kazu]

9 minutes ago, BetsyS. said:

Jacqui - Thanks for your great reports and pictures. When I first saw the 

picture of partridge in the pool, I thought it was the seagull who thinks he's 

the Captain!  Merry Christmas to you and your friends!  🥂😊

 

LOL Betsy, no it was a much smaller bird.  It looks bigger in the pic than it was.  I enlarged 5x.  It got trapped in the netting later and the crew rescued it and set it free.  I think maybe it’s wings were overloaded with water?
 

Merry Christmas to you and yours 🥂 

[oaktreerb]

@kazuRE:  the food desert on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Alaska.  We got back on the ship, probably around 3 pm.  The steward removing the food from the Neptune Lounge went back to the cart and gave us each a plate of rolls.  I asked the concierge why the NS didn’t have fruit in the room like in the past and she said HAL decided too much fruit was wasted but we could order fruit delivered to our room.  I told her how much I had enjoyed the grapes that had been refreshed in our room everyday on the previous cruise.  (The next afternoon she had grapes delivered to our room.). Because I was  curious about the situation we walked the whole ship looking for food.  Maybe I missed something but I’ve been on a lot of ships and went all the way to the Crows Nest looking for food.  I did “Let Us Know” but didn’t get a response.  We only had a couple of days left.  I almost always have cookies in the room but not that day!  

 

I think one station in the Lido should be open in the afternoon for a quick snack.  There weren’t even any cookies out.

 

RE:  Sel de Mer. I also ordered the Calamari and was disappointed and our waiter noticed I wasn’t eating it and offered to bring me something else.  The salad was very good!  

 

 

[Sharon in AZ]

Merry Christmas Jacqui!  I wish you Joy and Peace and Comfort. May the New Year bring you blessings. 
 

Thank you for posting the daily menus. 

[kazu]

4 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

@kazuRE:  the food desert on the Nieuw Amsterdam in Alaska.  We got back on the ship, probably around 3 pm.  The steward removing the food from the Neptune Lounge went back to the cart and gave us each a plate of rolls.  I asked the concierge why the NS didn’t have fruit in the room like in the past and she said HAL decided too much fruit was wasted but we could order fruit delivered to our room.  I told her how much I had enjoyed the grapes that had been refreshed in our room everyday on the previous cruise.  (The next afternoon she had grapes delivered to our room.). Because I was  curious about the situation we walked the whole ship looking for food.  Maybe I missed something but I’ve been on a lot of ships and went all the way to the Crows Nest looking for food.  I did “Let Us Know” but didn’t get a response.  We only had a couple of days left.  I almost always have cookies in the room but not that day!  

 

I think one station in the Lido should be open in the afternoon for a quick snack.  There weren’t even any cookies out.

 

RE:  Sel de Mer. I also ordered the Calamari and was disappointed and our waiter noticed I wasn’t eating it and offered to bring me something else.  The salad was very good!  

 

 

 

Dive in is open and the Neptune Lounge refreshes the snacks in about an hour and yes they have cookies 😉 

 

Dive In is open every day - sea day or port as is NY Deli.

 

Sorry you couldn’t find any food 😔 

I agree on the Calamari on Sel de Mer - the one in CO beat the Sel de Mer and I have no understanding of that at all.

[BetsyS.]

Jacqui - I'm glad the crew rescued the bird and that the pirates gave the kids such a fun time! 😊 Have a great week!

[ChinaShrek]

I must say the MDR service is pretty long. I know some people like longer meals but they are averaging two hours. It took about 90 minutes to get our main courses last night. I am sitting at a table with 6 people in total. It seems that other tables are eating much quicker than us. Maybe they are dining and dashing? lol. Tonight, I am excited to see the Mariachi Band!

[kazu]

Good morning from Puerto Vallarta.

 

Here is today’s Daily

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

We are “parked” in a cute little inlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s about a 3 and 1/2 mile walk into town.  I think kazu will be taking a taxi 😉 

[travelnap]

Jacqui, Thanks for taking us all along with you on your voyage.  Enjoy your cruise and enjoy the warmer weather.

[3rdGenCunarder]

17 hours ago, kazu said:

Lincoln Stage Centre is quite good.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_2040.MOV 61.76 MB · 6 downloads  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only four musicians? There used to be five.

[Sherry H]

I only remember 4