Live from the Amsterdam

[SharonN]

Well I was so busy yesterday I didn't have a time to log on. Guess that's a good thing! The weather in Halifax for overcast and a bit cool but not a problem for the tours I had. I first took the Harbor Hopper which was just an hour around town on the streets and in the water. It was interesting and a good overview. Then I took the afternoon tour to Peggy's Cove which was really nice. Very nice scenery on the way over and we had a great guide who made it lots of fun. She suggested we try the gingerbread in the restaurant at the cove which was really good.

 

Got back just in time for Bingo. Each day they give a question or assignment for the next day which gives you a free card for the blackout game. Yesterday we were supposed to bring them chocolate. Most people brought their pillow mints which they said was ok but they had challanged us to be more creative. There was a fudge shop at the cover so I brought them 1/2 lb of rocky road fudge. It got me 3 free cards and extra lottery tickets. Still didn't win but had fun anyway. The women I met on an earlier tour started playing too so it was nice to have someone to play with.

 

Well no one else has shown up at my dinner table for 3 days now so I think I've officially been moved to the one next door which is really working out better. The first night there was only one couple but another couple joined the last 2 nights and are all very nice. Also much closer to my age and hear/remember better (the older couple at the original table didn't and also were the type that complained a bit too much for me. Even tried to tell everyone how something should have been cooked differently). I've been going to the shows with one of the couples so that's been nice too.

 

The Captain is Edward G. van Zaane but I think his nickname is going to be Capt. Cancel and I'll explain why in a bit.

 

The CD is Jill Tasker who is doing a great job. The entertainment so far has been very good:

1st night - Welcome show like most cruises but this time they actually had each of the entertainers do a song (each of the lead singers, each band, the piano player etc) which was a nice way to introduce them.

2nd night - Cast show of Dancin' Fool which was good not great. The lead singers are very good as are most of the dancers. The secondary female singer is just ok.

3rd night - Dr. Justin Miller who put on a fantatic show. He's an unbelieveable guitar player (all sorts of music) and gave a lot of history of famous players through out the show. One of the best shows I've seen on a ship.

4th night - Commediane Julie Barr. I've seen her name on the boards before so know she is familar to some of you. she was pretty funny.

5th night - Another Cast Show called Show Some Leg. It was actually pretty good and had some fun numbers. It started with the curtains only partially drawn so all you saw were their legs. A later song had them with casts and crutches on the floor as it turned with a mirror.

 

Well now for the cancellations. Yesterday they told us we would not be stopping in Saquenay becuase of tidal conditions that would make us late into Montreal if we did. So that cancels my zodiac tour on the fiord. So now we'll be in Quebec at noon on Thu instead of Friday morning. However, now we'll leave at 3 so my all day tour of the Countryside has been cancelled and I have to figure out if I want to take any of the others. Now this morning as I was headed to the Queens Lounge for my 8 tour (after getting up early and having breakfast) they announced we would not be stopping in Sydney because of the weather. So that's another cancellation and I already had the whale watching one canceled in Gloucester. Hopefully they will credit my credit card since I'm going to have a very negative shipboard account!

 

So guess it will be a quiet sea day since there isn't much on the schedule until later this afternoon.

 

I'll check in again tomorrow.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Good Morning and thanks for checking in.

 

Haven't heard of that approach to Bingo to get more people playing - there is not way I would give up that chocolate!!!

 

Shades of when we were on the Amsterdam in Mar/Apr and had all the bad weather on our Hawaiian cruise - nearly everything that we had pre-booked was cancelled -- different captain.

[RuthC]

I'm so sorry to read of all those cancellations---bummer.

But I'm glad to read that dinner has worked out for you and you're finding people to pal around with.

And to have Justin Miller as an entertainer is lucking out to the max! If he should happen to give an afternoon performance, or give a lecture, do not miss it. He gave a series of lectures on one of my cruises that were worth going to several times.

[KAKcruiser]

Does anyone know if Justin Miller used to be part of an act with Smitty? This was years ago and a man named Justin played the guitar and told stories and a woman sang. Could this be the same person?

[kryos]

4th night - Commediane Julie Barr. I've seen her name on the boards before so know she is familar to some of you. she was pretty funny.

Hot diggity dog! Julie Barr is on the Amsterdam?!?!?! She is great. If she does a late night "adults only" comedy show, be sure to attend it. She'll have you rolling in the aisles. A bit raunchy, but not too bad. I was on the Zuiderdam with her in 2004 and really enjoyed her shows. I sure hope she's still on the Amsterdam in two weeks when I board. I'd love to see her again.

 

Captain "Cancel" is on your cruise? I know he's doing the World Cruise on the Amsterdam next year. Wonder when he's gonna get his vacation?

 

Sorry about all your cancellations, but sadly, that's a fact of sea life. On my 2004 Zuiderdam Caribbean cruise, we had most of our port stops cancelled, and with the ones we did stop at, most of them had all water tours cancelled. Hurricanes in the area. We were dodging them all cruise.

 

But, hey ... you've still got that lovely boat to enjoy, so the cruise can't be all bad, right? :)

 

Blue skies ... and that's for building my anticipation of boarding the Amsterdam two weeks from now!

 

--rita

[RuthC]

Does anyone know if Justin Miller used to be part of an act with Smitty? This was years ago and a man named Justin played the guitar and told stories and a woman sang. Could this be the same person?

Same person. He played piano while she sang, and they bantered back and forth. They went their separate ways a few years ago.

[KAKcruiser]

Thanks, RuthC. They were both great. She was a good singer but he told really interesting stories. That must have been at least 10 years ago that I saw them together.

[SharonN]

And to have Justin Miller as an entertainer is lucking out to the max! If he should happen to give an afternoon performance, or give a lecture, do not miss it. He gave a series of lectures on one of my cruises that were worth going to several times.

 

Due to our unplanned seaday yesterday he did do a special lecture for us about songwriters. It was extremely interesting and definitely worth going to. There was also a woman that gave a lecture on the Acadians that was ok but I don't think she was really ready to do it yesterday. We'll see if she seems better prepared on tomorrow's planned sea day talk. They did have lots of extra activities and even sent around a printed updated schedule just after 9:00 a.m. so I managed to keep busy. Even won $40 in the casino (of course that only makes up for the $40 I'd lost earlier in the week!).

 

Last nights show was Michael Ziegfeld who is a comedian and ventriloquist. He was pretty good but I'm pretty sure I've seen him before. The Indonisian Crew Show was also last night and was the best Crew Show I've seen. The lounge was completely full which was nice for them since they obviously work hard on it.

 

Today we were in Charlottetown and surprisingly had a beautiful sunny day with just a slight cool wind. The tour I was on went to sites associated with Anne of Green Gables. Now I just have to read the book. There was some very nice scenery along the way and at least some leaf color.

 

Tonight is the Master Chef's Dinner so we'll see how that goes. Our waiter was very excited about it when he told us to make sure we were on time for it. I do find it nice to realize we still have several days left since this is a 10 day instead of a 7 day cruise. Otherwise I'd be packing!

 

Thanks!

[SharonN]

Well we're cruising towards Quebec City and are scheduled to be there about noon. The scenary is very pretty with fairly good colors on the hills. Yesterday was our official sea day so spent a quite day reading, playing bingo, and going to lectures. The last crew show called Showstoppers was last night and it was very good. The night before was magician's Drew and Angela who were just ok. I'm sure I've seen them before. The tricks are ok but the comedy was pretty lame.

 

The Master Chef's Dinner was the night before last and our table enjoyed it very much. Not as overdone as I was concerned it would be. The crew seemed to have a great time doing it. The two men from my original table showed up for it but I stayed at my adopted table. There are actually quite a few empty tables at the 8:30 and have heard from quite a few people that they don't want to eat that late so are going to the Lido. The food has been very good on this trip.

 

The Disembarkation talk is just starting but think I'll just watch it on TV later. DH used to go to that while I started packing. But we still have tomorrow for that since the cruise doesn't end until Sat. With the overnight in Quebec City I guess they had to move all that type of thing up a day.

 

Well that's about it for now. I'll try to check in one more time before I leave for home on Sat.

[newmexicoNita]

Sounds like you are having a good cruise and staying busy. You have gotten the table thing straightened out which is certainly good: nothing worse than either cranky tablemates or eating alone. As for cancellations, what a bummer!!! Enjoy the rest of your cruise. NMnita

[SharonN]

Well I only have a few minutes of internet access left so will make one last quick post. We had beautiful weather in Quebec City. Yesterday took the tour to Montmorency (probably not spelled right) Falls and the Isle of Orleans. We had a great guide and it was very enjoyable especially the Maple Sugar Farm. Today took a tour of the City which was only ok. Mostly stops to let people shop and everyone late back to the bus. Last night's show was the best of the cruise from a singer named George Solomon. I think he's back on tonight with Justin Miller, Julie Barr, and DV8 so shouldn't be a good last show. The entertainment on this cruise has been the best I've seen and most of the people I've talked to agree. Well I'd better post before it logs me off ! Thanks!