2024 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[cunnorl]

You are all looking great!! 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We arrived Mindelo - leaving today at 3 PM

 

Our complimentary wine and cheese sailaway is today.  

 

 

Taking a HAL tour today

 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Last night, many singers and dancers from the various venues came together on the World Stage to showcase their incredible talents.   This was billed as the Zuiderdam Variety Show.

 

Here is the lineup.

 

- Don’t Go Breaking My Heart / George & Lina - Billboard on Board
- Don’t Rain On My Parade / Rachel - Cast Singer
- Always & Forever / Tyree - Rolling Stone Lounge
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Kiana - Cast Singer
- Just the Way You Are / George - Billboard on Board
- interpretive dance to Don't Stop Me Now - Justin - Asst Cruise Director
- Anthem (from ABBA’s Chess) / Phillip - Entertainment Director
- New York, New York / Cole - Cast Singer
- Oh! Darling / Lina - Billboard on Board
- If I Can Dream (Elvis) / Bernie - Tech Manager  
- Dancin' Fool — singers & dancers
.. dancers .. Abigail & Kristen, Alexai & Ethan .. singers .. Cole, Michael, Rachel & Kiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hygge!]

Love when they do this!! Wish they would do it on other long cruises.

[boards]

On 4/30/2024 at 5:10 PM, cunnorl said:

You are all looking great!! 

I am certainly thankful for the great vision that you are giving of this wonderful cruise even when things don't go as they were planned..  It is a shame that others don't.   Thank you.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

KENTUCKY DERBY AT SEA

MAY 5, 2024

Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise

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Ben Sack reveals his masterpiece and we get our Platinum medals after the Kentucky Derby Race by the Lido Pool

We are on the final week of our Grand World Voyage.   After our return, I will continue to update the blog with reports from many of our wonderful ports.

Here are some highlights from yesterday’s sea day.

BEN SACK’s WORLD CRUISE DRAWING

Artist in residence Ben Sack has been a regular on Holland America World Cruises since 2014. He teaches a very popular drawing class and a little art history at 1 p.m. in the Rolling Stone Lounge. HERE is a link to Ben’s website, where you can learn more about his art.

One of the highlights of the cruise is when Ben reveals his 6 x 7 foot (approx) drawing that depicts all the ports we visited on this World Cruise. In the past, Ben revealed the completed drawing in the Crow’s nest, but today at 11 am, he presented the completed drawing on the World Stage. This was a much better venue as there was more room for everyone to be seated.

Ben Sack, on the World Stage, as the curtain is raised showing his completed cruise drawing in public for the first time

 

Ben explained how he created the piece and then was able to explain each port’s drawing in detail since the entire piece was enlarged and displayed on a large screen at the back of the stage.

An enlargement of his drawing was displayed behind the original, allowing Ben to point out the amazing detail of his creation

 

Ben worked on the drawing in his cabin, which was modified with one wall adapted to be a giant easel, every sea day.

This photo shows the drawing after it was completed but before it was taken down. Photo by Ben Sack, with permission.

 

The drawing will be displayed for a few hours each day in the Explorers Lounge, where guests can examine it up close.

Judy with Ben in the Explorers lounge. The detail of the drawing is incredible

 

Orders for High-Quality, signed, and numbered reproductions of the drawing are taken onboard and then shipped to your residence after the cruise.

DERBY DAY

While the 150th Anniversary of the Kentucky Debry was scheduled to run later this evening, we would have our own Derby Day from 1 to 3 pm this afternoon around the Lido Pool.

The Zuiderdam Derby was one race with five stick horses, with each horse assigned a member of the entertainment team as its jockey. Guests could “bet” on their favorite horse by visiting each horse’s “stall” which doubled as a bar for a specialty drink. Each Jockey was assigned a number, and guests received a numbered sticker after they visited the stall, signifying their support for that particular horse and jockey. After the race, guests who supported the winning horse/jockey would return to the “stall” and receive a free drink.

Jockeys from left to right – Victoria, Lauren, Justin, Jessica and Tomas

 

The horses lined up at the starting line around the pool and moved clockwise around the pool based on the throw of a large single die, moving from one to six spaces at a time. The winning horse had to hit the finish line with an exact roll, which tended to bunch everyone up before one horse hit the number and was declared the winner.

Kimberly rolled the die, and Bernie did a marvelous job calling the race. Everyone had a good time.

HAT CONTEST

After the horse race, about a dozen guests, including yours truly, paraded around the pool wearing their Derby Hats. Last year, my Horse Hat won the contest, but alas, I didn’t cut into the final three this year.

Pete and Judy in their Derby Hats

 

MARINER AWARD EVENTS

Due to the large number of guests achieving Mariner milestones, the recognition events were spread out over several days. Each event was held in the Crow’s Nest from 4 to 5 pm. The first day was for Presidents Club members and 5 stars who were not receiving a new medal. Over the next several days guests who would be receiving a medal would gather in the Crow’s Nest (about 100 guests each day). Each day was a mix of bronze, silver, gold and platinum medallions.

Henk, Judy, Pete and the Captain. We were awarded our Platinum medallion for having 804 sea days.

 

The Medallion program is separate from the Mariner Star program and based only on sea days. No special perks are associated with the medallion program. Here are the requirements for each level:

Bronze – 100 days
Silver – 300 days
Gold – 500 days
Platinum – 700 days
Presidents Club – 1400 days

Days accrued from sailing on heavily discounted cruises e.g. comped casino cruises, travel hosts, etc. don’t count.

Here are the President Club Benefits above the 5 Star level (per cruise) that I was able to piece together from various sources.

Extra OBC based on length of cruise
10 Specialty Dinners per cruise
VIP Check-in Status with Sparkling wine
Flowers, wine or beverage credit every 14 days
Captains Welcome gift (wine, flowers or equiv)
Discounted Internet Package
Free laundry and dry cleaning
Annual Holiday Gift
Special Phone number and email address to contact for help at Holland America in Seattle
Priority Tendering (similar to Suite guests)
Special Onboard events and parties
Quarterly Newsletter

WORLD STAGE

For the first time anyone can remember, we had guest entertainers repeat during the same cruise. The Fly Rights were here in January, and they are here again for two shows en route back to Fort Lauderdale.

 

MAY THE “FOURTH” BE WITH YOU

 

A special Zuiderdam Star Wars Cake was available in the Lido

[SUESEABE]

Congratulations on getting your platinum medallions! 🍾

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Congratulations on your milestone. May you have years of health and happiness for future sailings 

[Btimmer]

Welcome to the Platinum Medallion Club!

[cunnorl]

      Congratulations on your Platinum status. May you enjoy many more days of smooth sailing.

     That drawing is amazing! I cant even imagine the time and effort that went into it!

[lcand1923]

Congratulations on Platinum!!  

 

So sorry that your Derby Hat didn’t make the cut.

 

Thank you so very, very much for sharing your World Cruise experiences.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Congratulations on your platinum status - well on your way to the President's Club. As always, enjoying your descriptions of your adventures.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

The animals escaped from the ZOO! - Well, not exactly.    

 

From 7 AM to 9 AM, hundreds of towel animals were displayed around the Lido pool after being assembled by the 53-room stewards over the last several days.    The larger animals were assembled in the Laundry on C deck, and the smaller animals were assembled on the spot in the Lido the previous evening. 

 

Here are a few pictures,

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by The-Inside-Cabin

[cunnorl]

 That is amazing! They are really upping their game. Thanks for sharing.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

The 2024 World Cruise had amazing entertainers on the World Stage.  Here is a 7-minute video with short clips of almost every performance. 

 

 

 

[Hygge!]

WOW and a gigantic thank you for putting this together.  I believe the entertainment was a notch better than 2023! Safe travels home!

[BetsyS.]

It's hard to believe  that your cruise will be ending on Saturday! Time flies!

Thank you so much for all your updates, great pictures of scenery and activities,

menus, and pictures of you and your fellow passengers.

       My stepfather and I will board the Zuiderdam on July 20 out of Boston.

We went last year on the same trip and enjoyed it very much. The 2 stops in Scotland will be replaced by Dublin and Oslo. We will have connecting rooms like we did last summer and it was convenient for us.

         I wish you all the best and safe travels home. 😊

[forwardho]

Pete I just wanted to tell you that I appreciated all your detailed posts about the excursions that you took and the extra effort and time that it takes to make them. Safe travels home.

[albi]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey!  Viewing the world through your positive eyes was certainly a pleasure!  You are a wealth of information and we all appreciate you sharing it all with us!  Safe travels home!  Until the next voyage…….

[cunnorl]

Great video! Maybe a little preview for the 25??

   Thank you very much to you and Judy for taking us along on this wonderful journey. I appreciate all the time and your very upbeat attitude with all your posts and pictures.

    Safe travels home.

[mawvkysc]

Thank you! Can’t wait to see Zuiderdam in person on Saturday. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here is a link to a Video of the Crew Talent Show.   Great Performances!

 

Nine acts from the Zuiderdam Crew were featured on the World Stage in the Crew Talent Show on May 9th, 2024. After the show, the guests voted by secret ballot, and with over 600 ballots submitted

1.  Christian from guest services .. Go the Distance  (First Place)

2.  Benja & Terrapon from Thailand dance to a popular song from their homeland

3. Julius a Sommelier & HAL school teacher in the Philippines - sings Journey’s Faithfully with images of his family in the background

4.  Paramita, Rusdayani & Arti from Bali - from the dining room (Ochi, Oki & Jeni) - dance in costume to a native song -- Sekar Jagat  Dance  + one other song  - Third Place

5. Richard from the tech department - from the Philippines - sings I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing … But according to the lyrics, he sang Always by Bon Jovi

6. Alif from housekeeping - traditional song

7. Dhesery Balisi has been with HAL for 8 years .. she’s a masseuse from the spa who sings I Have Nothing  - Second Place

8. Ipsita from Security - from India .. she danced to several tunes from India

9. Filipino Castanet Dancers  - 6 women and 6 men ..  La Jota Moncadeña - Castanet Dance

 

 

Edited May 10 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We are in the World Stage waiting for the final farewell show!  
 

 

[lcand1923]

Thank you so much for taking us along on the 2024 World Cruise.

 

The time and effort you have put into your posts is most appreciated.

 

Safe Travels Home!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here is  a link to a table that shows every day of the 2024 cruise and who was on the world stage.  
 

Here is a link that shows highlight reels and table of all performers from 2016,2018 and 2020 world cruises 

 

Here is link that shows the entertainment from 2023