Live From Nieuw Amsterdam Through the Panama Canal Followed by One Week in the Caribbean

[crystalspin]

5 hours ago, Crew News said:

Approximately 15 officers had their once-per-month free Specialty dinner last night in the Canaletto as it is preferred over the PG.

I feel strangely vindicated by this statement. We ate only our complimentary dinners (2) in PG on our B2B last New Years, but used up all of our leftover OBC dining in Canaletto.

 

5 hours ago, Crew News said:

Today, my Room Steward removed any minibar items expiring in the next month.  When I asked if they were headed for the trash, I was told that they would be disposed of in the crew party next week.

***

The interior of the ship feels like a refrigerator to me.  I alleviate the condition by wearing a sport jacket to dinner each evening.

Yay for the crew party.

***

Nah, I feature you a "jacket to dinner" fellow without the excuse!

[Booklady6635]

On 10/15/2023 at 11:11 AM, crystalspin said:

One thing is the ship will get StarLink! All of HAL's ships are to have it by year's end. (Currently Volendam, Zaandam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam, & Koningsdam do; Noordam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, & Rotterdam do not.) One ship reportedly had StarLink installed WHILE on a Grand Voyage, so a dry dock isn't necessary, but mostly that is the process.

At the Captain's Q&A today he indicated that the azipod that was damaged a few years ago would be reinstalled after it's refurbishment (the repair was stalled by Covid shutdown). And have been using a "borrowed" azipod for the last two years. He also indicated there would be other required mechanical maintenance and refurbishment of some guest areas. They anticipate having 900 contractors aboard during the dry dock days!

[Crew News]

3 hours ago, Booklady6635 said:

At the Captain's Q&A today he indicated that the azipod that was damaged a few years ago would be reinstalled after it's refurbishment (the repair was stalled by Covid shutdown). And have been using a "borrowed" azipod for the last two years. He also indicated there would be other required mechanical maintenance and refurbishment of some guest areas. They anticipate having 900 contractors aboard during the dry dock days!

My drydock-experienced chef contact reported that they were alerted to feed at least 2000 meals a day.  He also reported that there would be no AC during drydock which makes meal preparation very uncomfortable.. 

[Crew News]

I tried the Roasted Rack of Lamb (lamb chops) at the Canaletto last night and found them better than those served in both the PG and Tamarind.  The mint foam and bacon chips were nice additions.  My  Tiger Shrimp appetizer included five large shrimp and dessert was a 3-inch diameter piece of cheesecake.

 

The Front Desk officers were in the Canaletto for their once-a-month free Specialty Restaurant perk.  The Events Coordinator stopped by and agree to invite the Captain and Hotel General Manager to the Meet & Greet on October 22d.

 

Tidbits:

I learned that one of the drydock changes will be to convert the Billboard to a Rolling Stone venue.  Other changes are electrical and pipes.

 

The pianist now plays on the main stage.

 

HAL is converting TVs from LG to Samsung that are mounted far enough from the wall to connect passenger HDMI cables.  Unfortunately, I do not have such a cable with me to try it. 

 

I have noted only four kids so far on this cruise.

 

MDR reservations can accommodate only 50% of capacity which means that walk-in scan usually be seated faster than those with reservations.

 

Internet speed in my aft stateroom is 5.47 Mbps/0.92 without VPN.  Of course, my Adobe products, as well as a large MS Windows 11 update, are poised to download huge files.  I downloaded the Windows 11 update for 6 hours and received only 4% of it.  Gave up.  Next week the ship will be in both St Thomas and Puerto Rico where my US phone will allow me to catch up with updates.

 

Tonight is the Fresh Fish special in the Canaletto.

 

More later.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Crew News

[Essiesmom]

You are having lovely weather for your canal transit.  You are closely following Radiance of the Seas.  Did you wave to each other?  I suspect the canal is no place to have a horn conversation…

 

Miraflores Locks

 

 

[Essiesmom]

Pedro Miguel Locks

 

 

[Crew News]

13 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Pedro Miguel Locks

 

 

Thanks for the photos.  The front decks were packed earlier this morning until the heat began building. I go out to my Deck 7 aft balcony periodically for pictures.  I'll put out my New Mexico flag for the Caribbean set of locks.

 

The canal is much more interesting with a ship following or beside you through the locks.  It is a relativity thing.

Edited October 17, 2023 by Crew News

[Crew News]

For those following this thread,I have updated the MDR menus through Day 12.

 

Eurodam 2023 repositioning MDR Menus through Day 12

[WetterWashington]

22 hours ago, Crew News said:

 

HAL is converting TVs from LG to Samsung that are mounted far enough from the wall to connect passenger HDMI cables.  Unfortunately, I do not have such a cable with me to try it. 

 

 

I was on the NA last month for a B2B, I had both an HDMI cable and a Samsung cell phone with me.
The Samsung TV that was in our cabin (deck10) is the same series as I have at home.
Unlike that TV I could not connect to it with my phone, using HDMI, WiFi Direct or Samsung Smart things.
The phone couldn't detect the TV on either WiFi or Samsung Smart function.

Without a different remote I couldn't even try to access switching the TV's input from Ethernet to HDMI.

My best guess (I'm a retired Geek) is that HAL is running a custom software and not the standard Samsung software.

I could detect as many as 6 Samsung TV's (at a time) via Bluetooth.
----------
I have no idea about the hydro-dynamics of the NA, but I have spent time about both US and Canadian Navy vessels, honestly a 13/14 degree roll would be a yawn. But those a not cruise ships with many (many) decks above the water-line.
I've watched the ships inclinometer reach nearly 30 on those ships,

[billbunger]

CRAZY CRUISE

 

We just left the Panama Canal a while ago nice ride through.

We have out run a hurricane, missed civil unrest and now have been informed we are heading to Fort Lauderdale and skipping Cartagena. One of the aziopods has mechanical issues and it has to be repaired this work will also disrupt our Caribbean part of the cruise and there will be delays. They are sending us compensation information shortly. 

 

Ship happens.  Will try to update later. 

 

 

[canadarocks]

Wow that sucks. Sorry for all onboard and those joining in Fort Lauderdale. 

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, canadarocks said:

Wow that sucks. Sorry for all onboard and those joining in Fort Lauderdale. 

Those boarding in FLL getting $450 non-refundable OBC p/p plus 25% of fare in FCC.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Crew News

[canadarocks]

So sorry Roger. Hope you can still enjoy yourself through this one and the next. 

[Crew News]

2 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

So sorry Roger. Hope you can still enjoy yourself through this one and the next. 

Looks like another new watch for me and FCC for Alaska in May.

[Lebaron094]

22 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Looks like another new watch for me and FCC for Alaska in May.

What are the delay details?

[Crew News]

4 minutes ago, Lebaron094 said:

What are the delay details?

I just posted this on my roll call for next weeks cruise:

 

Received announcement and letter from Captain:

 

Overnight Saturday and Sunday in port making repairs.  Shopping shuttle available to local mall.  May come and go at will during Saturday and Sunday

 

New Schedule:

Monday at sea

Tuesday Nassau, Bahamas

Wednesday at sea

Thursday Grand Turk

Friday Half Moon Cay

Saturday FLL

 

$450 p/p OBC non refundable.  

25% of fare p/p in Future Cruise Credit

Shops and Casino closed while in port.

Missed shore excursions refunded

[billbunger]

We have been offered $450.00 non refundable onboard credit that can’t be used in the casino or redeemed for cash. Can be used in bars (we have HIA) boutiques, photo gallery, spa treatments and shore excursions. We already have had two excursions cancelled because of the other ship that has happened so far. 
 

The second part of the offer is a 25% FCC of the cruise fare for the seven day portion of the October 21 - 28 cruise. It needs to be used within a year of today’s date. We can’t cruise in the next year,  that is why we booked a February 2025 cruise. We have some enquiring to do tomorrow to see about extending that date. We would most likely use that for cancellation insurance. I’m not all that confident they will move on that. 

[Essiesmom]

Sorry, I am late in posting the Gatun Locks pictures

 

 

[Brentt_M]

The email I received from HAL is only offering $250 obc.

[Cyberhwk]

7 minutes ago, Brentt_M said:

The email I received from HAL is only offering $250 obc.

 

Here too.  Probably based on cabin class would be my guess.

[Brentt_M]

3 minutes ago, Cyberhwk said:

 

Here too.  Probably based on cabin class would be my guess.

Not sure about that as I have a suite.

[Cyberhwk]

Huh.  I don't know then.

[likeadisguise]

The people on the collector are probably getting the OBC given to the people on just the canal transit criise plus the OBC being given to guests embarking for the 7 day voyage.

[Brentt_M]

21 minutes ago, likeadisguise said:

The people on the collector are probably getting the OBC given to the people on just the canal transit criise plus the OBC being given to guests embarking for the 7 day voyage.

Makes sense as their cruise was impacted on both segments

[Crew News]

3 minutes ago, Brentt_M said:

Makes sense as their cruise was impacted on both segments

The 21-28 October was not a collector cruise as I received OBC for both.

 

Looks like this will need to be worked out by the day shift tomorrow. I received the $450 to my account but no refund of port fees for missed port.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Crew News