Just a ramble....

[diann744]

My sister, bro-in-law and I were on the waiting list for the Black Sea cruise leaving out of Athens on September 26th. Eight countries, with add-ons on either end; a perfect cap for a year filled with medical issues we’re not nearly old enough to be saddled with.

 

Even though we were numbers one and two on the wait list, with one week to sail date, only one cabin came available. As close as my twin and I are, sharing a room with her and her hubby was not part of the plan and so we tearfully said goodbye to Istanbul and Dubrovnik and looked to closer opportunities.

 

As luck would have it, HAL extended many invitations, via both e-mail and snail mail, leading us to conclude (as we’d always suspected) that they really like us a whole lot and desperately want us to travel with them. (Tongue firmly in cheek, if you haven’t already figured that out.)

 

So we booked a four-day repositioning coastal cruise from Vancouver to LA (home.) Bro-in-law opted out, saving me that pesky single supplement, and sis and I left our homes, many hours before sunrise, to begin the painful travel day to Vancouver.

 

At LAX before 7:00 am. Lost two lighters going through security (boo, hiss – smokers!) Spent $8.50 for a book I’ve already read twice and don’t remember at all. First adult beverage before my alarm would usually wake me for work – so far, so good.

 

I’m a third time cruiser, all on Hal. South America on the Amsterdam two years ago and the Mexican Riviera last year on the Ryndam. South America boarding was easy but San Diego was a nightmare so I was scared. We had no plan for getting to the pier, and were just winging it. We walked out thru the terminal, dragging luggage and jonesing for a smoke (yikes, smokers!,) saw a desk marked “Holland America – Statendam.” Since we’d booked no transfers, we meekly asked if they had any suggestions on how we could get to the ship and a minute later were relieved of our luggage and happily ensconced on a comfortable tour bus winding our way thru the city to the pier. What we expected to be a horrific travel day found us happily enjoying our fourth or fifth drink of the day, before noon, on the Lido Deck.

 

But now for the part that truly made the cruise. Only a few minutes on board and we spotted a familiar face. Lido Leo from the Amsterdam, I was sure. Sure -- but nevertheless wrong. It was Good-Looking Jeffrey from the Ryndam. (That’s how he’d introduced himself and who am I to argue?) Jeffrey had been the shining star of our Mexico cruise, making sure that our experience in the Ocean Bar, where we passed most of our afternoons, was top flight. His lovely wife, whose name might be Rachel (hey, it was a year ago and we were drinking heavily,) did the same for us in the Casino Bar.

 

We spent a few minutes getting reacquainted and Jeffrey provided a short list of others we knew who had switched over to the Statendam. His lovely wife, whatever she be named, was working in the Explorer’s Lounge but since even I can manage without e-mail for four days, we didn’t run into her.

 

While waiting for the call saying our rooms were ready, we ducked around the crew members trying to keep everyone corralled on the increasingly noisy Lido Deck and slipped away to our beloved Ocean Bar. Within minutes, an attractive gentleman came by to introduce himself as one of the ship’s dance hosts. “Yes, John, we remember you from the Amsterdam South America cruise two years ago.” By now we were really starting to feel loved.

 

Next stop – Casino Bar. (Please don’t think that all we do is drink; occasionally we have to visit the Ladies Room as well.) Here we found yet another familiar face, Nestor, who had taken such good care of us in the Crow’s Nest last year. Ah, it’s good to be home.

 

The next day, Jeffrey visited us in the Ocean Bar and brought us goldfish, remembering that we didn’t care for peanuts. I’m sure he also had a word with the waitress there because her already perfect service seemed to get even better. He really made our day when he pointed out dolphins frolicking along side the ship. We later saw whales as well but discounted his often spirited cries of, “look, it’s a bear!” We may drink, but not to that level of gullibility. (Although we may have looked the first few times.)

 

There were new shining stars as well. With only three nights in the dining room (one was for the Pinnacle, after all,) we really didn’t get to know our wait staff all that well but certainly couldn’t conjure up a complaint if we tried. The room steward was a bit less helpful than he might have been but I probably only feel that way because HAL has spoiled me so shamelessly in the past. (But yes, we still tipped him.)

 

Joy in the Casino Bar and Lady in the Ocean were seemingly everywhere, handing off a glass of white wine before we had time to ask. On our last night, we had already figured out the additional tips we would be giving when we sat down at the bar in the Crow’s Nest and Larry, who had only seen us once before, whipped out an ashtray (death to smokers!) and casually asked, “two glasses of chardonnay, room 380?” Eminently tippable.

 

So, only four days, but what a ride. We were lucky to get two art auctions, something we dearly love, even though we have no more wall space and don’t even want to win anything, much less buy it. My only pseudo-complaint is that there was no formal night. I had assumed there would be one and packed two appropriate outfits, one of which I wore to the Pinnacle and the other I wore just because I felt like it.

 

Oh wait, another complaint – it was extremely difficult to get off the ship after four days knowing it still had a month to go and having spoken with so many people who were cruising all the way to Auckland. But I guess I can only blame myself and the vocational error that led me to work in nonprofit rather than something that would leave me able to devote whole calendar pages to vacation.

 

Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. I lurked on these boards for months before my first cruise and although I was excited, I couldn’t quite understand the exuberance you all seemed to show about cruising. I mean, I’ve done many land based vacations and they were great; I fully expected the cruise to be great, but come on, how great can it be?

 

BTW, this morning I booked us onto the 15 day Circle Hawaii cruise on December 21st. Think I’m hooked?

[kakalina]

Sounds like you had a marvelous time. You will love the RT Hawaii we leave for it yet once again in just 24 short days. Hooray! Thanks for posting your "rambles".

[hammybee]

I don't think I have enjoyed the ride as much as I have this one. The rapid cadence left me breathless.

 

Keep us posted on futher adverntures.

[SDHALFAN]

 

Next stop – Casino Bar. (Please don’t think that all we do is drink; occasionally we have to visit the Ladies Room as well.) Here we found yet another familiar face, Nestor, who had taken such good care of us in the Crow’s Nest last year. Ah, it’s good to be home...............

 

BTW, this morning I booked us onto the 15 day Circle Hawaii cruise on December 21st. Think I’m hooked?

 

 

Hi Diann,

 

First of all, yes you are definitely "hooked" so welcome to the world of cruise addicts. I can think of much worse ways to spend my time and money.

 

Nestor - what a sweetheart the man is. He was on the Amsterdam over this past Holiday cruise. Did you ever get a chance to hear him sing? He was one of the featured singers during the Christmas Eve Carol Service show and he has a great voice.

 

You are going to love that Hawaii cruise, especially over the holidays.

 

Loved your "ramblings".

 

Valerie:)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Diann, you win the prize:D !!! This is the most fun, amazingly written "review" I think I've ever read on this board .... and I've read my share!

 

I almost felt I was there with you and what fun you would have been:) .

 

The only downer in the reading was the longing it created for my drinking days gone by. I realize how much I'm missing since I reached my life's quota a couple of decades ago:o .

 

I sure hope you'll come back and tell us about your Hawaii cruise! I know I'll be looking for it.

 

Now you just watch out for those bears! They start jumping out of the water it can get pretty darned scarey!!!

 

Thank you for the Saturday night smile:) .

[tjcox9]

Makes me wonder if we really saw those pink dolphins in the Amazon..........:p

[seafun]

:) Thanks for the great narrative! I'm in that most-horrible of weeks -- the one right before a cruise -- leaving Friday 10/13 for the Volendam's meanderings through the Caribbean, and your stories cheered me up considerably. I find I don't want to do any thing this week -- certainly not go to work, I'm not cleaning house, I'm grudgingly doing laundry so I have something to wear, and it's still too soon to pack!

Where's the fast forward button on the Remote of Life?!?!

[thomasale]

:) Thanks for the great narrative! I'm in that most-horrible of weeks -- the one right before a cruise -- leaving Friday 10/13 for the Volendam's meanderings through the Caribbean, and your stories cheered me up considerably. I find I don't want to do any thing this week -- certainly not go to work, I'm not cleaning house, I'm grudgingly doing laundry so I have something to wear, and it's still too soon to pack!

Where's the fast forward button on the Remote of Life?!?!

 

Believe me the fast forward button will be activated next Saturday I am sure!!

 

It was an enjoyable read and I am glad I took the time to do it...thanks for the review or shall I say recap of events

[wandb]

Seafun; I just have to disagree---the most horrible of weeks is the one right AFTER the cruise, the week you live in a fog of questions (in between piles of laundry that you do in a daze):

 

What?! You mean it's all OVER???

All that planning and I'm back home again???

Wait!!! I didn't get to __________________!

Surely we signed up for a longer cruise than this, didn't we????

Are you sure the cruise line didn't "drop" a day or two???

Etc., etc., etc.!!!

 

I'm finally at the end of that week, coming out of the fog, busy on the boards, and planning our next cruise---the Baltic/Scandinavia area I hope.

 

Any suggestions any of you have will surely help me more quickly get over the depression of realizing that the last cruise (Bermuda) is over.

 

Great memories of the past, great expectations for the future!!! B.

[diann744]

Thanks everyone for your enthusiast responses! The trip was wonderful, as I think I conveyed. I’m actively looking forward to Hawaii (80 days but who’s counting?)

 

I did think of one other thing that happened on the last cruise that was a bit of a turning point in my life. As a drinker, smoker and crossword puzzle fiend, I feel I have quite enough vices to last me the rest of my lifetime. Sis, who shares said vices, has recently acquired another – Sudoku. She has been trying for months to turn me on to this infuriating numbers puzzle but I have resisted with the determination of one already over committed on the vice front.

 

On the cruise, however, I was a captive audience and she twisted my arm (not hard to do, obviously,) until I was forced to succumb and began putting numbers in boxes. So I tried for days to complete these ridiculous things in pen only to finally admit defeat and borrow the first pencil I’ve used in years. Difficult, because the only time I ever recall my father raising his voice was when I was 12 years old or so and he caught me doing a crossword puzzle with one. “Do it or don’t do it but commit either way.” (Dad was not fond of pencils.)

 

Oh goody, another vice to add to the list. (Mom! – Christy made me try heroin!) It’s all her fault.

 

Kakalina – Please post about your Hawaiian adventure so I know what to expect. I’ve never been so I want to hear everything.

 

Hammybee – Thanks, glad you enjoyed. I know I did!

 

Sdhalfan – No, I never heard Nestor sing. Didn’t know he did. We had a cabin steward on the Amsterdam who would hang at the end of the hallway and sing in such a quiet voice that you had to be listening for him. But what a voice! He was the star of the Indonesian Crew Show that cruise. If I’m lucky enough to meet Nestor again, I’ll ask for a serenade.

 

Heather – You’re not really missing anything having put your drinking days behind you. Oh who am I kidding, yes you are – in the evenings anyway, but your mornings are surely more pleasant than mine. What was it Sinatra said? “I feel sorry for people who don’t drink; when they get up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re gonna feel all day.”

 

Tjoc9 – Pink dolphins in the Amazon? Can’t swear to that but they’re plaid going around the horn.

 

Seafun – Forget the laundry. With five days left before sailing, concentrate on bringing what’s clean, washing the rest onboard and buying whatever’s missing. It ain’t about the clothes. The Caribbean has never been on my list of places to go so please post when you’re home; I’m open to having my mind changed.

 

Gotta run – there’s a Sudoku I haven’t finshed!

[christy744]

Hello fellow boarders.

 

I am the afore-mentioned twin sister of the OP. Notice our last names (744) are the same. Actually, I’m 9 years older than she is but she’s late for everything and that includes her birth, which explains the discrepancy in our ages.

 

Despite her inclination to be late, somehow on this cruise we managed to get up every morning in time for the hot breakfast even though we closed the Crow’s Nest disco every night. I credit the early morning wake-ups to being on the lower promenade deck where the healthy early morning people (you know who you are) would walk and greet each other outside our window each morning beginning at 6:30. Hmm, bacon and potato pancakes! On previous cruises, we’d miss even the continental breakfast and have to wait until the taco bar on the Lido deck opened to get some much-needed food. Fortunately, we never needed to wait that long for a drink.

 

What always blows me away on HAL is that the crew will ask your name on the first day and then never forget it. This was especially endearing on this Vancouver to L.A. trip since we were short-timers, staying on only 4 nights of what was essentially a 35 day cruise. We were treated like royalty, albeit royalty with a very short reign.

 

Yes, I did cajole my dear sister into doing her first ever Sudoku puzzle but that’s because HAL told us they had two (count-‘em—TWO) different crossword puzzles for the entire 35 day itinerary and yet they provided a new Sudoku puzzle every day! This from a ship lounge/library sponsored by the New York Times, famous for their crossword puzzles! So she’s hooked and there’s no Sudoku rehab facility on HAL (not yet anyway—but I think they’ll have to eventually get rid of the Oasis and put one in) but what she failed to mention was that I was the one who provided not only her first pencil in years, but one with a red cone-head eraser top. (Add that to your packing lists.)

 

I wish everyone many happy sailings.

 

Christy

[HeatherInFlorida]

Diann and Christy, you both are too funny:D !!! I have to tell you that what I think I'm jealous of more than the drinking is your obvious fantastic relationship as sisters and the humor and fun you can share together.

 

With 2 brothers, I never had that. Lucky you!

 

Diann, in defense of not drinking I have to tell you that the joy of not drinking (for me) is waking up at 6:30 a.m. feeling absolutely fantastic and knowing I will feel like that all day. I don't miss the fog.

 

And the good news is I can sit with a group of people drinking and the fumes seem to have a profound effect on my mood ... so in a way I get a virtual "high".:D

[ardfinnantoo]

loved your posts. thanks for the info on the crossword puzzles. i might have to start the sudoku also and would never have thought to bring a pencil as i am a pen person also. keep the reports coming.

lynda

[haras]

What a great review! Thanks so much for sharing. Both you and your sister have a great talent for writing. Please don't forget to post a review of your hawaii cruise. I'm from LA as well, and I'm almost positive I'll do a roundtrip hawaii sometime in the future.

 

Happy travels!

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Hello, Sisters 744:

 

Thanks for injecting a much needed chuckle into this reader's Monday. I think I will nickname you "zip" and "zest".:) And Christy, your little sister might be late for everything, but I notice that she joined CC four months before you did, and has almost four times as many posts. You will need to visit us more often to catch up;)

 

Thanks, you two!

 

Karin

[christy744]

Dear Heather, Haras, Middle Aged Mom and Ardinnantoo:

 

Glad you enjoyed our posts ALMOST as much as we enjoyed our cruise. Will keep you "post"-on our next adventure and hope all of you will do the same on yours.

 

Christy and Di