Live From Alaska Aboard Ms Nieuw Amsterdam - May 5-19, 2024

[Crew News]

30 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Here is a photo of the electrical layout I had last year in VB5192.  Add another USB-A port on each side of the bed.  I will take a photo and identify the devices I used to make my cord maze sometime today.

Here is the promised photo:

 

[regan3]

What time is early fixed dining at?

 

Thank you. 

[Crew News]

Day 04 Seward

An early excursion departure at 7:30 AM necessitated an early rising and Room Service breakfast. 

 

The Room Service breakfast card states deliver "around" and in the last two weeks, that is typically 25 minutes early, and as a solo usually while I am in the bathroom.  I have searched for the "guest is in the bathroom" sensor that causes both Room Service and Laundry deliverers to know when to knock on my door.  There are more days left for me find the sensor and I am determined to prove that bathroom interruptions are not just happenstance.

 

With the weather forecast of 39 degrees and rain couple with my intention of spending much of my time outside, all of my cold weather clothing found its way from my closet to my body.  Many passengers were already lined up awaiting boarding the excursions buses after walking through the Seward Cruise Terminal (large warehouse).  I watched as guests were loaded into buses without considering the number of seats.  At least one bus had passengers disembarking when seats were no longer available and waiting for the next bus to be positioned.  When the bus doors closed, the driver announced that the excursion boat was only a short walk away but buses were used so that guests would not "get lost" enroute.

 

My Kenai Fjords National Park excursion boat held 200 guests, all potential competitors for rail space to take photos.  I chose a seat closest to the door to enable a quick move to the door when photo ops were available. The next row of seat were for those with disabilities and provided great viewing next to a large window.  For the duration of the excursion, boat staff had to go outside to move photo takers from blocking the view of those unable to go outside.  The boat had three "heads" with finicky door locks that caused some surprises for their occupants who had not adequately secured the doors.

 

A whale was spotted just outside the harbor and my seat next to the door gave me an ideal location to take photos.  During the excursion, I captured photos of eagles, kittiwakes, sea lions, mountain goats, some very rugged scenery.  The chicken burrito lunch was a flop in my opinion but the chips with salsa were quite good.  A downside of the excursion was traveling in the Pacific Ocean and the very rough water.  Boat personnel moved throughout distributing vomit bags.  The return trip at 30 knots in rough ocean waters included hard bounces and jerks with more bags being distributed.  This six -hour excursion with a lot of ocean travel time is not near the top of my favorite excursions list.  Buses again transported most passengers the short walking distance back to the cruise terminal.  I rushed from the Seward terminal to the ship as a cold rain, with a hint of sleet, began.

 

My evening Canaletto dinner was again in a restaurant less than half filled.  My server, Amelia, remembered me from last year and the lack of customers allowed a long conversation with her.  The Burrata salad was fresh and the Ossobuco excellent. Amelia's broad smile was good to see as I demonstrated my Ossobuco tenderness test by gently pulling meat away from the bone with my fork.  The same test I performed on the Koningsdam last week was a big failure and required knife intervention. The pistachio gelato was a big plus for me.  It must be noted that the Canaletto Manager visited each table of diners more than once.  I learned that the Canaletto kids menu featuring lasagna was in the works. I will be returning to the Canaletto two more times.

 

Next stop Anchorage.

 

 

[Crew News]

2 hours ago, regan3 said:

What time is early fixed dining at?

 

Thank you. 

5:00 PM

[0106]

1 hour ago, Crew News said:

My Kenai Fjords National Park excursion

 Thank you for your tour review of Seward. I assume this was a HAL tour.  Do you always do HAL excursions?  Would there be better options for those who prefer private tours?

Edited May 9 by 0106

[Crew News]

32 minutes ago, 0106 said:

 Thank you for your tour review of Seward. I assume this was a HAL tour.  Do you always do HAL excursions?  Would there be better options for those who prefer private tours?

This was indeed a HAL tour and I tend to stick with HAL tours for their feeling of security that does not require dealing with insurance companies in case of injuries,  Seward is not a popular travel destination and tours with photography opportunities were not available. I did see a few private tours online but none attracted me.

[Crew News]

12 hours ago, Alberta Quilter said:

Would you be able to post a picture of this setup when you get a chance, please?  I'll need to rig up something similar for my cruise; different devices but there will be two of us and two sets of devices to be charged (and only one outlet).

My desktop photo as promised with Amazon links to some items shown below:

 

Magnetic Hooks

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085DKDDT1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Power Strip (no surge protection) - far left with charging block (not listed below)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08119B7WN/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Outlet Extender - There is European version if needed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHYP9GBQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Foldable Charger - for phone , earbuds, and smartwatch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJZFQZF7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

As posted, truly a cord maze but the maze is not covering my desktop

 

Edited May 10 by Crew News

[canadianbear]

We purchased magnetic hooks for our 35 day South Pacific cruise-they worked great.  

[Crew News]

Just now, canadianbear said:

We purchased magnetic hooks for our 35 day South Pacific cruise-they worked great.  

I have had these for my last three cruises and finally discovered them in my emergency kit. What a game changer!!  It is remarkable how many hings can be hung on the ship walls.

[canadianbear]

5 minutes ago, Crew News said:

I have had these for my last three cruises and finally discovered them in my emergency kit. What a game changer!!  It is remarkable how many hings can be hung on the ship walls.

Exactly!!!  We’ve never really needed them before but I figured with such a long cruise we’d need them & I loved having them.  Worked like a charm. 

[Alberta Quilter]

1 hour ago, Crew News said:

My desktop photo as promised with Amazon links to some items shown below:

 

Magnetic Hooks

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085DKDDT1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

Power Strip (no surge protection) - far left with charging block (not listed below)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08119B7WN/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Outlet Extender - There is European version if needed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BHYP9GBQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Foldable Charger - for phone , earbuds, and smartwatch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJZFQZF7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

As posted, truly a cord maze but the maze is not covering my desktop

 

Thank you for posting the pic. That's helpful.  I'll be on the Volendam with one outlet to handle the CPAPs and devices for two people.  I have the magnetic hooks for the extension cable to run to the CPAP machines at the bedside table.  I also have a USB hub that allows for six devices to be plugged in.  I just have to check to make sure I requested an extension cord/power bar from HAL...

[oaktreerb]

@Crew News Can you give us a description of the disembarking process in Anchorage?  Was there any priority for getting off the ship?  Were the busses that took people out of the port area prompt or did people have to wait?  We’ll be in Anchorage on June 26-27 on the Westerdam and our port time on the 26th was pushed back to 11 a.m. and some of us have rental cars and other plans we made for earlier in the day (when we expected to arrive around 8 a.m.)   

 

Sorry about the Kenai Fjords weather and rough seas.  Have you done that excursion before?  We did it several years ago on a beautiful, sunny day.  It was amazing.  We’ve  booked it again for June but I will watch the weather reports in case we want to cancel.   HAL gave us very few excursion options for Seward which is such a wonderful tourist area.

Edited May 10 by oaktreerb

[zestyzorra]

Hello, I was wondering if you could share pictures of the current Morimoto menu? The sample one online seems much smaller than what I've seen on YouTube (missing the ribs and tacos two ways). I saw on your website the menu pictures from February but I was wondering if they are still the same as of the current Alaska season? TIA!

 

Also, this will be my first ever HAL cruise. Is smoking allowed in the casino?

 

Thanks!

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, Alberta Quilter said:

Thank you for posting the pic. That's helpful.  I'll be on the Volendam with one outlet to handle the CPAPs and devices for two people.  I have the magnetic hooks for the extension cable to run to the CPAP machines at the bedside table.  I also have a USB hub that allows for six devices to be plugged in.  I just have to check to make sure I requested an extension cord/power bar from HAL...

My stateroom, VS6214, last summer on the Volendam, had extra outlets where the TV used to be in addition to what is above the desktop.. 

 

 

[BaileyMJ]

1 hour ago, oaktreerb said:

@Crew News Can you give us a description of the disembarking process in Anchorage?  Was there any priority for getting off the ship?  Were the busses that took people out of the port area prompt or did people have to wait?  We’ll be in Anchorage on June 26-27 on the Westerdam and our port time on the 26th was pushed back to 11 a.m. and some of us have rental cars and other plans we made for earlier in the day (when we expected to arrive around 8 a.m.)   

 

Today was our Anchorage port - I had no tour and was planning to pick up a Avis Rental Car from Avis - see below the procedure more important for returning back on the ship.  Anchorage was our 2nd port day yesterday for Seward they never made an announcement when the gangway was open so today I probably others made our way to deck 1 which had the gangway at a little past 8am and it was long line and CD finally asked do do not congregate in public areas but since so many where on the line no one left - well past 8:30am and line moved - please note absolutely again no announcement made that gangway was open!   There is no passenger terminal at Anchorage port and it is locked down - no can not walk in or out and absolutely no taxi etc - you walk from ship to waiting shuttle buses which then proceed to center of town Egan Convention Center and maybe a mall - its a good location - Avis Rental Car is maybe 4/5 blocks - short walk - but caution you can have a reservation but they may not have a car!

 

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, zestyzorra said:

Hello, I was wondering if you could share pictures of the current Morimoto menu? The sample one online seems much smaller than what I've seen on YouTube (missing the ribs and tacos two ways). I saw on your website the menu pictures from February but I was wondering if they are still the same as of the current Alaska season? TIA!

 

Also, this will be my first ever HAL cruise. Is smoking allowed in the casino?

 

Thanks!

No smoking in the Nieuw Amsterdam Casino but other ships Casinos may have a small area for smoking.

 

There are two Morimoto menus.  One for the Nieuw Amsterdam and another for the rest of the HAL fleet (pop-up).  I will have both posted soon.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, zestyzorra said:

Hello, I was wondering if you could share pictures of the current Morimoto menu? The sample one online seems much smaller than what I've seen on YouTube (missing the ribs and tacos two ways). I saw on your website the menu pictures from February but I was wondering if they are still the same as of the current Alaska season? TIA!

 

Also, this will be my first ever HAL cruise. Is smoking allowed in the casino?

 

Thanks!

As requested:

 

Morimoto Sushi 2024

 

Morimoto By Sea Pop-up (All ships except Nieuw Amsterdam) 2024

 

Morimoto By Sea - (Only Nieuw Amsterdam) 2024

[Crew News]

2 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

Sorry about the Kenai Fjords weather and rough seas.  Have you done that excursion before?  We did it several years ago on a beautiful, sunny day.  It was amazing.  We’ve  booked it again for June but I will watch the weather reports in case we want to cancel.   HAL gave us very few excursion options for Seward which is such a wonderful tourist area.

Seward was an add-on from the initial itinerary with only a few excursion options with photo opportunities.  My last pass through Seward was enroute to Denali and no stops in the Seward vicinity.

 

The weather in the northern Pacific Ocean is always bumpy in the Spring so I did not have high expectations.  The fog and rain definitely detracted from photo opportunities but does give me a Photoshop challenge to make the photos somewhat presentable.  It is my experience that Alaska has much better wildlife viewing opportunities in other ports.

[zestyzorra]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

No smoking in the Nieuw Amsterdam Casino but other ships Casinos may have a small area for smoking.

 

There are two Morimoto menus.  One for the Nieuw Amsterdam and another for the rest of the HAL fleet (pop-up).  I will have both posted soon.

Thank you so much!! Have a great cruise 🛳 😎 

[Alberta Quilter]

9 hours ago, Crew News said:

My stateroom, VS6214, last summer on the Volendam, had extra outlets where the TV used to be in addition to what is above the desktop.. 

 

Thanks.  Unfortunately, I’ll be in an OV.  But richwmn showed a pic of the extra European outlets behind the TV that can be used if I use a converter so that may help.

[@gentperry]

Looks like both the NA and KDAM (our ship) are in Juneau on Monday. The weather's not looking great but we'll make the best of it. We're renting a car to do our own exploring. We had hoped to get some hiking in (Perseverance Trail in particular) but don't want to get washed off a mountain side! Anyone having any suggestions for wildlife viewing that won't be too hindered by the rain? Thanks!

[regan3]

What was updated/refreshed/replaced during the dry dock in December?

[POA1]

On 5/5/2024 at 1:04 PM, Crew News said:

Surprisingly, the cookies from both the Grand Dutch Cafe and Lido Market were from the same recipe with the higher chocolate chip rate being those from the Lido. 

This is the kind of precise, scientific observation that the science-loving public craves!

 

All kidding aside, you have the best trip reports. Thank you.

 

Edited May 10 by POA1

[BaileyMJ]

Good Morning May 10th Sailing to Kodiak

 

I still haven’t gotten a sunrise picture but the morning at sea is still a wonderful experience- very windy but so far no rain.  
 

 

Another interesting day for leaving the ship in Kodiak.

 

 

No tour today - never cleared the waitlist for the wild life cruise.  My weather forecasts rain so this just means I must return to Kodiak.

[BaileyMJ]