The Fleet Report and Daily for Tuesday May 14th, 2024

[richwmn]

 

Today is National Chicken Dance Day, National Decency Day, and The Stars and Stripes Forever Day
 

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain. - William James

Meal Suggestion for today - One-Pot Lemon Asparagus Pasta with Shrimp
Drink of the Day - Hpnotiq Margarita
Wine of the Day - Silver Moki Sauvignon Blanc
Destination of the Day - Kiel (Hamburg), Germany

Today in History:
1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's expedition commissioned by Thomas Jefferson sets out from St Louis for Pacific Coast

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

Glacier Bay, Alaska, Icy Strait Point, Hoonah, Alaska 07:00 - 16:00 ,18:00 - 22:00
 

Koningsdam

Skagway, Alaska 07:00 - 20:00
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

Skagway, Alaska 07:00 - 20:00
 

Nieuw Statendam

Stockholm, Sweden 08:00 - 17:00
 

Noordam

Ketchikan, Revillagigedo Island Alaska 07:00 - 15:00
 

Oosterdam

Piraeus-Athens, Greece 7:00-16:00
 

Rotterdam

Invergordon, Scotland 08:00 - 17:00
 

Volendam

Sydney NS, Nova Scotia Canada 09:30 - 17:30
 

Westerdam

Juneau, Alaska 13:00 - 21:00
 

Zaandam

At Sea Destination Vancouver, BC Canada eta 05-15
 

Zuiderdam

At Sea Destination Praia da Vitoria, Terceira Island Azores Portugal eta 05-18
 

 

 

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Fleet Report.

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.

Thanks for the Report.  Thanks for the Maps.  Thanks to all who contribute.

Cool and cloudy this morning, I wonder if we'll get rain.  Well, the new window was not installed yesterday as planned.  I got a call mid-afternoon that the guys were running late and would not make it that day, so we're re-scheduled for Wednesday.🤞

I haven't done the chicken dance in years, I think it was at a wedding.  Every day should be Decency Day.   The Stars and Stripes Forever is a great march.

Interesting quote.

The meal sounds good, so does the drink.  I hope the wine is tasty too.

I haven't been to today's port.

Prayers for many.  Cheers for all the celebrations.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

[summer slope]

Today is our 58th anniversary, and they said it wouldn't last. LOL

Hpnotiq Margarita cocktail:

 

Fun, fruity, and a beautiful shade of blue, the Hpnotiq margarita is a pure delight to sip. It is also one of the best Hpnotiq drink recipes you'll find and a brilliant way to use the alluring blue liqueur. With its blend of tropical fruit juices against a vodka and cognac base, the French liqueur is an ideal companion for your favorite tequila and creates a drink that's as captivating to look at as it is to drink.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Tequila
1 1/2 oz. Hpnotiq ligueur
3/4 oz. triple sec
1/2 oz. sour mix
1/2 oz. pineapple juice
Lime wheel, for garnish

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, pour tequila, Hpnotiq, triple sec, sour mix, and pineapple juice. Fill with ice.
Shake well.  Strain into a chilled margarita or large rocks glass filled with ice.

[JazzyV]

Today’s Care List:

Marshhawk’s DH having vascular surgery to repair/replace stent today

Nickelpenny had back surgery yesterday

RMLincoln’s DH requiring eye drops & pressure massages for drainage incision

JazzyV’s BFF with a fall and sustaining a tib-fib fracture, surgery 5/21

Kazu with a foot infection and pain

 

Victims of flooding and storms across the country

Citizens of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, hostages still held

All Dailyites going through worries and stress, whether mentioned or not

 

From the Rotation:

Tana with chronic pulmonary issues

Cruising-along’s BFF’s DIL Amber with a stroke, now in rehab

Kazu with foot infection and having foot pain

StLouisCruisers’ nephew Alex’s in-utero identical twins

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

RMLincoln’s DH with eye drainage incision still open on last evaluation

Rich back and posting the Fleet Report/Daily

 

The Daily Gardening Club posting wonderful flower pictures

All the contributors to the Fleet Report/Daily

 

Upcoming Cruises or At Sea:

 

YourWorldWithBill (Nieuw Statendam to May 18) 13d Jewels of the Baltic, MISTER 67 (Enchanted Princess to May 18) 7 Night Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas, Niagarawine (Koningsdam to May 18) 7d Alaska Inside Passage, Aliaschief (Azamara Onward WC to June 9, 156d World Voyage), and StLouisCruisers (Zuiderdam to June 8 ) 28d Passage to Normandy & Baltic Jewels + Zuiderdam (June 8 to July 20) 42d Ultimate Viking Explorer & Passage

[aliaschief]

Just now, summer slope said:

Today is our 58th anniversary, and they said it wouldn't last. LOL

Hpnotiq Margarita cocktail:

 

Fun, fruity, and a beautiful shade of blue, the Hpnotiq margarita is a pure delight to sip. It is also one of the best Hpnotiq drink recipes you'll find and a brilliant way to use the alluring blue liqueur. With its blend of tropical fruit juices against a vodka and cognac base, the French liqueur is an ideal companion for your favorite tequila and creates a drink that's as captivating to look at as it is to drink.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz. Tequila
1 1/2 oz. Hpnotiq ligueur
3/4 oz. triple sec
1/2 oz. sour mix
1/2 oz. pineapple juice
Lime wheel, for garnish

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, pour tequila, Hpnotiq, triple sec, sour mix, and pineapple juice. Fill with ice.
Shake well.  Strain into a chilled margarita or large rocks glass filled with ice.

Happy Anniversary!

[puppycanducruise]

@summer slope  Happy Anniversary! 🥂

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ..

[aliaschief]

Good day from the Southern Atlantic off the West coast of Africa.

Did trivia this morning and we came in third out of four teams! With only 160 of us onboard we often have a venue to ourselves.

Attended a culture lesson in African dances. I failed!

Temperatures are rising as we go further North and the weather looks good for tonight’s dinner and dance under the skies. We have less than 30 days to go and neither one of us wants to get off.

It’s close to afternoon siesta so thanks for the reports and post. Bruce

 

[Denise T]

Happy Tuesday. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet reports. 

The meal and drink of the day sound yummy. 

Expecting some rain today but the sun is out now so all is good. Have several meetings today and a few clients to see so I will be somewhat busy, 148 days to go until my cruise. 

Thinking of all on the care list. 

Celebrating with all who are celebrating. 

Have a safe and healthy day. 

 

[AncientWanderer]

Happy Anniversary @summer slope!!!  💐

[StLouisCruisers]

Good morning friends!  I'm not sure of the temp this am.  Around 69F I believe with partly cloudy skies.  It looks like we're near Bermuda according to Rich's @richwmn maps today.  Thanks Rich for the Daily and Fleet Report this morning. 

 

Yesterday we had the best Pinnacle Grill lunch!  Photos are on my phone so I may do them separate from this post.  Then we went to early dining last night and ate a small portion of the lasagna, which was not great.  Nothing else appealed on the menu.  Good thing I wasn't hungry!  We turned our clocks ahead one hour last night.  Just before bedtime I saw the host from our Pinellas Park home rental for graduation weekend, had posted his "rebuttal" to my review.  He was a real jerk about it and mentioned "2 live roaches" in quotes, like that was ridiculous and said that guests sometimes leave the doors open for extended periods of time, as though we had done that and it was all our fault those poor roaches ended up in the house.  He claimed we tried to blackmail him into a reduced price!  What a liar!  Needless to say I didn't need to read that before bedtime, but the Zuiderdam rocked me to sleep anyway. 

 

Happy anniversary Dixie @summer slope and George!  58 years is a good amount of time, don't you think?  I'm sure many people thought some of our marriages wouldn't last, but we showed them Cheers to all celebrating special events, and to the cruisers!🚢  Prayers for all in need of them, especially Chuck and Annie @marshhawk, Pennie @Nickelpenny and Richard.  Also for DB and Alex's little babies, those in Israel and Ukraine, the hostages, and the military members in the region.  🙏  Thanks also to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for your excellent reporting.  And a big thanks to Vanessa @JazzyV for keeping the lists updated each day!

 

Port of the day is Kiel (Hamburg), Germany.  This was the port twice before on March 28, 2022, and Oct. 11, 2023.  Links are below and photos to follow.

 

 

 

Hope you all have a great day!  Stay safe and keep well!

[marshhawk]

@summer slope Happy Anniversary!

 

[StLouisCruisers]

On May 23, 2017 we were headed towards the Kiel Canal after visiting Hamburg the day before on the Elegant Explorer, Prinsendam.  Hamburg was a beautiful city and we had a great time there just looking around.  We approached the lock we had to go through to get into the Kiel Canal.

 

 

 

People sat on the benches and waved to us.  This would continue on along the canal.

 

Leaving the locks.

 

Some of our "fans".  These people had a Welcome flag, a Prinsendam flag and a U.S. flag.

 

 

Some people would stop at a pullover, wave to the Prinsendam, then hop in their cars and drive along further to stop and wave some more.  It was really fun keeping an eye out for them that afternoon.  I made a comfy spot in the window sill of our room so I wouldn't miss anything.  

 

The window wasn't clean enough for good photos though, so I'd run outside once in a while to take some pictures.

 

 

More new friends!

 

 

 

 

I'll never forget our journey down the Kiel Canal.  Not that many cruise ships are able to navigate that busy waterway.

 

Photos of Hamburg will be next!

 

 

[grapau27]

Good afternoon.

It is raining and 55°F here.

3 interesting days and good quote.

Today's food and wine sound lovely.

We have been to Hamburg a couple of times and enjoyed the Christmas market.

We were there on 1st April 2024 but it was raining heavily so we stopped on our ship P&O Iona.

Prayers for good health to those who are unwell.

I wish everyone a happy day.

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Hamburg was a nice place to visit in 2017, too.  We did some scenic cruising along the Elbe River as we approached Hamburg.  Somehow they even found the wherewithal to make a beach on the river.

 

Nearing the city center 

 

This SUV atop two shipping containers caught my eye.  How did it get up there?  Crane?

 

 

The Louisiana Star would appear to be a long way from home.  I'm guessing it's not really from the Bayou.  

 

A unique building with a whole lot of people enjoying the balcony.  

 

On Sundays like this everyone must spend their day together with family and friends.

 

We were docked there overnight so on Monday we went for a walk around town and stopped at a botanical garden in Hamburg.

 

I noticed a fancy doorway on a church (for my door people).

 

We continued on and saw an actor taping a scene

 

The impressive Town Hall.

 

Next we came upon Alster Lakes in the middle of the city

 

The botanical garden was quite large but the flowering plants were fairly ordinary.  I've seen some great botanical parks in my travels so this one wouldn't compare.  However, it was nice to find a calming spot to stroll.

 

 

There were a couple of greenhouses as well.

 

This greenhouse had a more desert landscape.

 

 

Going back to the ship we passed by the bridge of love.

 

We came right by the Philharmonic building which is where all the people were standing on the balcony the day before.

 

 

Our little home

 

A few hours later we were visited by an oompah band!

 

 

 

 

Where else would you rather be?  Nowhere!

 

[AncientWanderer]

Good morning everyone. It’s early here. We have a morning appointment with our project manager for upcoming master bath remodel, so thoughts about that project are waking me up. I don’t think I’ll be doing a chicken dance today!

 

Getting caught up here, those on the Care List are in our prayers.  I see there are a few serious procedures taking place.  Prayers all go well.

 

Wishing everyone a best possible day.  Many thanks go to the Daily team and all contributors.

[grapau27]

3 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Hamburg was a nice place to visit in 2017, too.  We did some scenic cruising along the Elbe River as we approached Hamburg.  Somehow they even found the wherewithal to make a beach on the river.

 

Nearing the city center 

 

This SUV atop two shipping containers caught my eye.  How did it get up there?  Crane?

 

 

The Louisiana Star would appear to be a long way from home.  I'm guessing it's not really from the Bayou.  

 

A unique building with a whole lot of people enjoying the balcony.  

 

On Sundays like this everyone must spend their day together with family and friends.

 

We were docked there overnight so on Monday we went for a walk around town and stopped at a botanical garden in Hamburg.

 

I noticed a fancy doorway on a church (for my door people).

 

We continued on and saw an actor taping a scene

 

The impressive Town Hall.

 

Next we came upon Alster Lakes in the middle of the city

 

The botanical garden was quite large but the flowering plants were fairly ordinary.  I've seen some great botanical parks in my travels so this one wouldn't compare.  However, it was nice to find a calming spot to stroll.

 

 

There were a couple of greenhouses as well.

 

This greenhouse had a more desert landscape.

 

 

Going back to the ship we passed by the bridge of love.

 

We came right by the Philharmonic building which is where all the people were standing on the balcony the day before.

 

 

Our little home

 

A few hours later we were visited by an oompah band!

 

 

 

 

Where else would you rather be?  Nowhere!

 

Very interesting photos Sandi.

[grapau27]

@summer slope Dixie and George.

Happy 58th wedding anniversary today.

[smitty34877]

@summer slope, Dixie and George, a very Happy 58th Anniversary to you both !

[cat shepard]

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich!
It rained! We had several hours of steady rain - at last. Possibly more today. The towns just North of me are under a tornado watch until early afternoon. So I suspect I need to pay attention where I go today. 
 

Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I was sorry to read that BFF’s surgery was postponed to next week. 
 

Gym, Bindi walks, chores, more deck work - weather permitting a one small repair job I didn’t get to yesterday.  Maybe some pool time. 
 

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support. 
 

Cheers to all who are celebrating. This means you @summer slope!
Happy Anniversary, Dixie & George!

 

May we each find a reason to smile today!

 

*********

Silver Moki Sauvignon Blanc

Though I did not find a great deal of written info about this New Zealand SB, it is widely available, very reasonably priced and has lots of consumer fans. Online prices start at $12.59.

Distributor’s notes

Silver moki pronounced (mow-key) is named after the moki a superb table fish found in the waters off the scenic coastline of New Zealand. This amazing value wine is a wonderfully refreshing and crisp sauvignon blanc with a hint of gooseberry and tropical fruit flavors. Quite delicious!

Edited May 14 by cat shepard

[Heartgrove]

@summer slope Happy Anniversary, Dixie and George!

[StLouisCruisers]

Here's photos from Pinnacle yesterday.

 

We forgot to photograph our starters, beefsteak tomatoes with basil pesto and a grilled prawn bruschetta. 

 

I had a filet mignon, medium with no blue cheese, please.

 

Salmon with no sauce, just melted garlic butter on the side.  Everything seems to come with a sauce!

 

For dessert, the warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and popcorn crunch.

 

DH had coffee gelato

 

 

 

And a cute flower arrangement in the Guest Services area while we waited for stewards to complete morning room cleaning.

 

 

Here's a rubber ducky I spotted sitting on a statue at the entrance to the Lido.

 

 

I'm going up to the Art Studio again today to work a bit on the Christmas stocking. 

[0106]

I will celebrate Decency Day. The mission of the organization is to inspire decency in our everyday life, in our conversations and our actions. DECENCY is all about:
Active listening
Better understanding
Compassion
 

The Key bridge has been removed from the Dali, the ship will be refloated and tugs will move it to the marine terminal in a few days.  Here is an article from the Baltimore Sun:

Cruise Industry Hopes Channel Reopens

 

Positive thoughts to those who are suffering.  Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone!

 

It is kind of dreary looking outside this morning and temps are only supposed to rise to 60F.  We are meeting DS Mary Jo for yoga this morning and then doing a walk through of the new community center building.  I checked my water classes on the schedule and they are only offering half as many and they moved them from 10:00 am to 8:00 am.  All to better serve us, I suppose.  

 

@summer slope

 

 

Today's meal looks good to me.  When I was looking it up I decided that is what we would have last night, sort of.  I swapped out the pasta for spaghetti squash and used some different veggies.  It was really good!   https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/7901398/one-pot-lemon-asparagus-pasta-with-shrimp/

 

The seasoning in this recipe is a bit different and closer to what I did last night.  I did use a ton of garlic in mine.  https://thenaturalnurturer.com/20-minute-lemony-shrimp-asparagus-pasta/

 

 

This one is similar except it uses orzo.  The type of pasta doesn't matter in this dish.  This one also makes some suggestions on things to add in like cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.  https://www.wellplated.com/lemon-shrimp-pasta/

 

 

@marshhawk Healing thoughts that Chuck's surgery goes well.

 

@Nickelpenny I hope yesterday's surgery went well.

 

@kazu Hoping the foot is doing better.

 

@smitty34877 I hope you have the help you need.  Take care of yourself!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day!