ms Amsterdam - Asia Report

[bobpatj]

ASIA EXPLORER CRUISE

 

PART 1 - THE SHIP

 

This was our third cruise on the ms Amsterdam and we now have enjoyed 83 days aboard her! All have been very special 20, 31 and 32 day cruises. Let me begin my review of this cruise by telling what made our time on the ship so enjoyable.

 

For the first time, traveled with CSI. We booked shore excursions with them and with HAL. We had a wonderful CC Roll Call group. Our leaders Ann and Jack, did a super job of organizing our first get-together, and then we continued to meet each afternoon, prior to port days. These gatherings were always well attended. Ann & Jack and their spouses got together with us, individually, for lunch in the dining room on sea days. Our Trivia team was formed from the CC group - the “Cruise Critic Elite.” There were 43 of us in our CC Roll Call!

 

We brought along our laptop, for the first time, and were surprised to learn that we could access the internet from our cabin - if our door was open! Since we were not taking the full cruise, we had to book GUAR. It was a long wait for our assignment, which came the week before sailing, Deck 3 forward “outside.” We’d never had a cabin on that deck before, but grew to like it as we were close to so many things - just steps to the Promenade deck, the Atrium, the Guest Laundry and the forward stairs & elevators.

 

Our dining room table was on Deck 5, a table for 6, but only 4 showed up the first night. These two ladies were also traveling with CSI and disembarking in Singapore. Another woman joined us the second night, so Bob and his “harem” got along fine and we had great conversations. The food was wonderful and our steward, Su, and his assistant “Wahoo” were the best. As I’d noted before, we had only two dining times, 5:45 pm and 8:00 pm, which soon “morphed” into 8:15 pm. There was much misunderstanding about Informal nights being scheduled, but after the first one, they were referred to as Informal/Smart Casual nights. From what was stated in our documents, we were expecting nine Formal nights, but there were only six. Passengers were seen in public areas in casual wear, on formal nights, which was surprising. (A passenger, in jeans, was turned away from the dining room, one night!) We ate our breakfasts and most of our lunches in the Lido. I had room service breakfast twice, and we had dinner in the Lido one night when we were taking an early evening shore excursion.

 

Besides Team Trivia, we participated in “Sports of Call,” to earn Dam Dollars, took dance lessons from Jack & Carol, on sea days, joined the “High Sea Singers,” our debut being the final act of the Guest Talent Show. Bruce Scudder was our director and we met every afternoon on sea days. It was well attended - between 50 and 60 singers! We enjoyed cocktails and dancing in the Crow’s Nest, wonderful music by Nice & Easy, or the Ocean Bar, also with great dance music by Station Band. The Moonlight Strings performed before dinner in the Explorer’s Lounge. The music in in the Rembrandt Lounge was not popular.

 

Our big social occasions were the Black & White Officers’ Ball, on our second formal night., held in the Queen’s Lounge. We had a Matsuri Happi Coat evening, to show off any Asian attire passengers bought or brought. Our 5th formal night was on Mariner Appreciation Day, with a visit from Margaret Binnendyk, the Mariner Society Director. The party was held before the two dining times around the Lido pool. Instead of the usual tile, we each received a commemorative plate! Our 6th formal night was a Red & Black Asian Ball, this dance also was held in the Queen’s Lounge. The decorations for each were wonderful.

 

Next: The Ports

[hammybee]

This is fun. I can't wait for the next installment.

[ekerr19]

Awesome!!!! I can't wait either, hammy! This is a great review. :)

[NoNoNanette]

Keep 'em coming, kiddo! I'll be onboard the Amsterdam in a few weeks! :)

 

(Thanks for taking the time and $$$ to post!)

[May4]

How kind of you, Pat, to take the time to share your Asian adventures.

 

I will stay tuned.:)

[kakalina]

Pat, I can just picture the two of you now, I am so jealous. Thanks for posting I will look forward to the rest of your story. See you in January.

[RuthC]

Hi, Pat. It's nice to see your report. It's also nice to see that you returned to a ship singing group after our last try at it! Guess it went better this time. ;)

You didn't mention who was playing in the Piano Lounge; would you, please?

Looking forward to the rest of your report. My best to Bob. :)

[kryos]

This is probably a stupid question ... but it wouldn't be my first ... what's CSI?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[RuthC]

This is probably a stupid question ... but it wouldn't be my first ... what's CSI?

Something that can't be mentioned on this board. ;)

[Grumpy1]

This is probably a stupid question ... but it wouldn't be my first ... what's CSI?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

Well.... it's not Crime Scene Investigation:D

It's Cruise Specialists, Seattle, the travel agency that was owned by the wife of the retired CEO of HAL. They do a lot of escorted groups on long cruises.