Thoughts .. experience doing a TransAtlantic on either New Statendam -Rotterdam?

[FlaMariner]

11 hours ago, Bxc53 said:

Does anyone have comments on informational  presentations on the sea days?  

 

I recall presentations about the Bermuda Triangle, the Sargasso Sea, the making of Rum/Bacardi, pirates, City at Sea (about operating the ship), ship navigation, astronomy/star gazing, Spanish history, Azores history, cooking demo with the chef and the cruise director, even a financial retirement presentation from a retired professor (no sales pitch)....And more, I'm sure, that I cannot recall.  This was all since the unpleasantness.  

 

The presenter is usually a college professor, military guy or a ship's officer or the Captain himself (in particular, the Captain was involved in the Navigation presentation).  Seems like most are at 10am in the World Stage but other venues and other times. 

[FlaMariner]

11 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

We are really hoping to make the stop in the Azores, not so much for breaking up the sea days, but because we hear it's beautiful and really want to visit.

 

It is a beautiful island...Ponta Delgado was our stop.....we took a tour that included waterfalls, churches, a great pastry, fish market, walked on hot volcanic ground, made tea out of boiling water coming out of the ground, ate lunch that was cooked in a pot in the volcanic ground, great cheese, tea plantation tour, friendly folks.....and that was only half the island....Hope we make it back again for the other half.

[FlaMariner]

2 hours ago, Nodakboiler said:

Our issue was missing the chance to load up on good chocolate for the trip home!

 

Good point....

 

On our Westbound TA's (heading home) Her Majesty enjoys grocery shopping.....smoked paprika (and other spices I can't keep up with), wine, olive oil, wine, cheese, wine, tea, wine and chocolate come to mind......also, wine. 

 

(well, maybe I enjoy grocery shopping also...we bring back wine..LOL)

 

[liamur14]

Where do you stock up ?

[Nodakboiler]

A grocery store in Madeira mall.

[FlaMariner]

12 minutes ago, liamur14 said:

Where do you stock up ?

 

In Spain:  (Malaga, Cartagena) spices, olive oil and wine

In Ponta Delgado: tea (a the tea plantation), cheese, 

All over Europe:  wine, chocolate

 

We find the local grocery store....and ask the tour guide what they buy.

[Bxc53]

40 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

I recall presentations about the Bermuda Triangle, the Sargasso Sea, the making of Rum/Bacardi, pirates, City at Sea (about operating the ship), ship navigation, astronomy/star gazing, Spanish history, Azores history, cooking demo with the chef and the cruise director, even a financial retirement presentation from a retired professor (no sales pitch)....And more, I'm sure, that I cannot recall.  This was all since the unpleasantness.  

 

The presenter is usually a college professor, military guy or a ship's officer or the Captain himself (in particular, the Captain was involved in the Navigation presentation).  Seems like most are at 10am in the World Stage but other venues and other times. 

Thanks very much! Just what I was hoping for. Not that I look spend all the cruise in lectures, but I aways enjoy learning something new and it makes a great counterpoint to more festive activities. 

[Catlover54]

42 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

Good point....

 

On our Westbound TA's (heading home) Her Majesty enjoys grocery shopping.....smoked paprika (and other spices I can't keep up with), wine, olive oil, wine, cheese, wine, tea, wine and chocolate come to mind......also, wine. 

 

(well, maybe I enjoy grocery shopping also...we bring back wine..LOL)

 

 

(Relative newbie here):

 

Is it correct that wine you buy in ports cannot be drunk anywhere on the ship, not even if you pay a big corkage fee, unless it is one bottle from a ship's winery tour?

If so, do you bring a special wine caddy (a protected wine suitcase you can check) to fly your wine home?

It would be fun  (for a fee, of course) to be able to drink local wines while one is in the local area where one is traveling, e.g., and drink it with the local cheese and other goodies brought back to the ship  (but not a requirement for us -- I was overall pleased with the Rotterdam's wine list on the one cruise I have done on her so far).

Thanks to everyone for providing so much information and detail about your experiences!

[kazu]

20 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

 

(Relative newbie here):

 

Is it correct that wine you buy in ports cannot be drunk anywhere on the ship, not even if you pay a big corkage fee, unless it is one bottle from a ship's winery tour?

 

No, not true.  If you pay the corkage you can drink your wine.  Corkage fee is not that big - $20 USD.  We happily paid it for some wines we couldn’t get here at home or on the ship.  

 

If you are on a ship’s winery tour, you are permitted to bring one bottle of wine back without paying corkage.  Any other bottles have corkage charged (unless you have the ship store it until it’s time to disembark).

 

 

20 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

If so, do you bring a special wine caddy (a protected wine suitcase you can check) to fly your wine home?

 

I’ve brought wine/liquor home a couple of times.  I have a soft special gizmo I can put them in which has a vacuum seal (in case of breakage) as well as bubble wrap on the inside.  I no longer bother and just enjoy the wine while I am there.  It’s not worth the hassle or the worry of it being in a suitcase for me.

 

 

[FlaMariner]

37 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

Is it correct that wine you buy in ports cannot be drunk anywhere on the ship, not even if you pay a big corkage fee, unless it is one bottle from a ship's winery tour?

If so, do you bring a special wine caddy (a protected wine suitcase you can check) to fly your wine home?

 

So the wine is confiscated at the gangway (great service as we do not have to worry with it in the stateroom....we consume HAL wine onboard) and the room steward brings it to us the last night of the cruise.

 

We just take it with us (usually 6 bottles) off the ship and we usually take Amtrak or car so no fear of breakage in the luggage. 

[Catlover54]

33 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

No, not true.  If you pay the corkage you can drink your wine.  Corkage fee is not that big - $20 USD.  We happily paid it for some wines we couldn’t get here at home or on the ship.  

 

If you are on a ship’s winery tour, you are permitted to bring one bottle of wine back without paying corkage.  Any other bottles have corkage charged (unless you have the ship store it until it’s time to disembark).

 

 

 

I’ve brought wine/liquor home a couple of times.  I have a soft special gizmo I can put them in which has a vacuum seal (in case of breakage) as well as bubble wrap on the inside.  I no longer bother and just enjoy the wine while I am there.  It’s not worth the hassle or the worry of it being in a suitcase for me.

 

 

 

Thanks! Good to know that you can drink local wine you buy if you pay corkage.  How do the logistics work getting it on and to your room, e.g., when there is a line of tired people trying to get back on the ship, do you declare your wine to the guy scanning your cabin card, or are you sent somewhere on the side where they count how many bottles you have and make a record of it before letting you on?  Or do they take the wine and promise to bring it back that night once they get the charges onto your account? 

Can you do the same $20 corkage for other liquors (e.g., local brandies or local rum), or only wine?

[kazu]

2 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

 

Thanks! Good to know that you can drink local wine you buy if you pay corkage.  How do the logistics work getting it on and to your room, e.g., when there is a line of tired people trying to get back on the ship, do you declare your wine to the guy scanning your cabin card, or are you sent somewhere on the side where they count how many bottles you have and make a record of it before letting you on?  Or do they take the wine and promise to bring it back that night once they get the charges onto your account? 

Can you do the same $20 corkage for other liquors (e.g., local brandies or local rum), or only wine?

 

There is usually a wine/liquor table set up.  Once you go through security, you go there, (the guy at security may yell wine 😉) and they give you a sticker for your bottle to show you paid corkage and have you sign a slip for the corkage charge.  Then you just take your bottle with you.

No liquor, brandies, etc permitted.  If you bring it on, it will be taken.  Wine is the only thing permitted with corkage fee.

Know Before you go has it all under alcohol and beverages.

[81Zoomie]

We have heard about excellent lecturers and lecture series on other lines and TAs.  Many of our friends mention interesting historians, scientists, artists, and naturalists that give lectures on the many sea days. Does HAL offer these enrichment lectures by experts on transatlantic/pacific cruises?  I’m not referring to the teleprompter talks the cruise director gives on some HAL cruises.

[oakridger]

7 minutes ago, 81Zoomie said:

excellent lecturers and lecture series on other lines and TAs.  Many of our friends mention interesting historians, scientists, artists, and naturalists that give lectures on the many sea days.

 

I'm familiar with Crystal (resurrected as of today!) and their excellent enrichment speakers but what other lines are you referring to?  On mainstream and premium lines?  I'm very interested in those kinds of on-board offerings.

 

Thanks,

~Nancy

 

[81Zoomie]

4 minutes ago, oakridger said:

 

I'm familiar with Crystal (resurrected as of today!) and their excellent enrichment speakers but what other lines are you referring to?  On mainstream and premium lines?  I'm very interested in those kinds of on-board offerings.

 

Thanks,

~Nancy

 

We have heard about the lecture series on Celebrity and Viking.

[kazu]

We had fabulous lecturers on the Prinsendam transatlantics with excellent port guides.  On the Westerdam doing the Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruise our Hawaiian speaker was excellent.  Packed house.

 

Since covid, things have changed a bit IMO.  Our Oosterdam transatlantic did have good presentations by the Captain and the officers.  They were so good that they had to open the show room to broad cast them there as well.

 

I’ll see what the next TA offers - Rotterdam in October and I’ll be reporting.

[oakridger]

@kazu I'll be experiencing my first transatlantic on Zuiderdam next May, so I'm interested in what is currently happening when you are on Rotterdam.  I'm hoping for some interesting talks.  I've traveled transpacific 4 times and do love those sea days!!

 

~Nancy

[kazu]

5 minutes ago, oakridger said:

@kazu I'll be experiencing my first transatlantic on Zuiderdam next May, so I'm interested in what is currently happening when you are on Rotterdam.  I'm hoping for some interesting talks.  I've traveled transpacific 4 times and do love those sea days!!

 

~Nancy

 

I’ll be doing a live thread, most likely, Nancy.

 

I call them as I see them 😉 

[Haljo1935]

35 minutes ago, oakridger said:

@kazu I'll be experiencing my first transatlantic on Zuiderdam next May, so I'm interested in what is currently happening when you are on Rotterdam.  I'm hoping for some interesting talks.  I've traveled transpacific 4 times and do love those sea days!!

 

~Nancy

I'm doing my first TA this Nov Nieuw Statendam Rome->FLL w/plans to report live. So, should be able to let you know what's offered then, too.

[Minoushka]

I did this crossing in 2019 just before pandemic.I was in ov cabin on first floor .I had 2 bathrooms .Met nice people playing CLR …great fun …got in in dec pandemic closed all inMarch 

i.m sure I got Covid in November before it became real …or anyone knew what it was ….went to pharmacy inItaly was given Zithromax ….it helped 

last day near Bahamas seas were rough but otherwise crossing was very pleasant NS is nice ship 

just came  back from 24 days Baltic Norway cruise 

nS is consistent in good food ….and service ….Jose and Clare were great fun 

[Minoushka]

Learn fro me pack all otc for colds plus vitamins and supplements ..they do come in handy 

I believe in echinacea and elderberry vit c and d to keep bugs at bay plus sore throat lozenges .

better be prepared 

[donandmelissa]

We did a TA from Ft Lauderdale to Barcelona in April on Nieuw Statendam.  We had a fantastic time.  It is a beautiful ship with a fantastic crew.  The music venues were excellent.  We blogged about the trip (the blog site is listed in our signature).  You can get a good feel for what we did by checking out the blog.  Also, there are photos of the Daily Programs for each day of the cruise.  That will give you an idea of how many formal days, what there is to do on the ship, etc.  We had so much fun that we are booked on the Rotterdam TA next April.  The ship will arrive in Rotterdam on Kings Day, so that should be quite the port experience!

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by donandmelissa
missing words

[rafinmd]

16 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

I'm familiar with Crystal (resurrected as of today!) and their excellent enrichment speakers but what other lines are you referring to?  On mainstream and premium lines?  I'm very interested in those kinds of on-board offerings.

 

Thanks,

~Nancy

 

I think Cunard comes quite close to Crystal in the quality and variety of the lectures, although they tend to have a bit ore of a British flair.  Crystal's biggest advantage over Cunard in that regard is the availability of the lecturers around the ship.

 

My favorite is actually taking QM2 in one direction and another ship in the reverse, although it doesn't look like a great mach for HAL transatlantics this year.  The closest to a possibility this year is QM2 to Southampton and/or Hamburg leaving New York October 13 and connecting with Oosterdam out of Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

 

Roy

Edited August 1, 2023 by rafinmd

[Kruising Kathy]

Nieue Statendam Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona April 2023 (12 days)

Rotterdam Fort Lauderdale thru NYC to Rotterdam to Amsterdam (30 days)

Basically no lectures except the "canned" cruise director presentations.  On 150 anniversary sailing this year, we had Bill Miller doing historic lectures on the history of cruising.  We also had a pianist from NYC who we enjoyed.  America's Test Kitchen, Microsoft lab and Lincoln Center quartet are gone, gone, gone.  Just the music walk stuff.

 

The smoke from the casino permeates the entire front of Rotterdam, including the World Stage, Music Walk, hallways, forward stairwells and the forward elevators.  I am hyper sensitive to the smoke, so I did not go to any activities in the music walk area except as required to do customs (World Stage), or shore excursion meeting point.  I wore a mask or covered my mouth/nose with hand towels from the women's bathrooms.  Even the shops were permeated with the smoke smell.  I won't be doing this ship again....

 

Free laundry was taking 48 hours to get clothes back, as virtually everyone on the ship were repeat customers.

 

 

[Ellencruise]

4 hours ago, Kruising Kathy said:

Nieue Statendam Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona April 2023 (12 days)

Rotterdam Fort Lauderdale thru NYC to Rotterdam to Amsterdam (30 days)

Basically no lectures except the "canned" cruise director presentations.  On 150 anniversary sailing this year, we had Bill Miller doing historic lectures on the history of cruising.  We also had a pianist from NYC who we enjoyed.  America's Test Kitchen, Microsoft lab and Lincoln Center quartet are gone, gone, gone.  Just the music walk stuff.

 

The smoke from the casino permeates the entire front of Rotterdam, including the World Stage, Music Walk, hallways, forward stairwells and the forward elevators.  I am hyper sensitive to the smoke, so I did not go to any activities in the music walk area except as required to do customs (World Stage), or shore excursion meeting point.  I wore a mask or covered my mouth/nose with hand towels from the women's bathrooms.  Even the shops were permeated with the smoke smell.  I won't be doing this ship again....

 

Free laundry was taking 48 hours to get clothes back, as virtually everyone on the ship were repeat customers.

 

 

On Rotterdam now. Fortunately no smoke issues to report. I am also sensitive to the odor and I haven’t noticed any.