"LIVE" from the Westerdam / 3-09-08

[sdear]

I think Radio should cruise monthly....it's like being on a cruise(almost) following his threads :D :D

[NoNoNanette]

This has been just GREAT, dude! You're the ULTIMATE "Live From" poster! :D

[Jumbiecruiser]

Loving this thread. A great job with the photos too.

[gebo]

Westerdam suite is scheduled/reserved for Nov/Dec. This is dream fodder! Thank you.

[hylasgirl]

Radio... Sorry, what I meant to say is if you COULD see if Joel Mason and Julie Barr would be on the ship through December? They are both so much fun, and we are sailing on the Westerdam on the 14th of December.

 

Thanks so much for the reports! Love the pictures!

[CrystalWater]

I think Radio should cruise monthly....it's like being on a cruise(almost) following his threads :D :D

 

No way, I think he should cruise weekly so we can go on a cruise every week! :D

[Radio]

I just returned from the Joel mason show, and it was GREAT. . . He is a great entertainer. He said to be sure to catch Julie Barr's Late Night show tomorrow night. . . I will have to take a nap so I can stay up for it !

 

 

Tomorrow we have the Galley Tour, Cruise Critic Meeting, Acrobatic Duo- ILIA & VALERIE, and much more. I forgot to mention that CD Jason Venner is a very very funny guy ! He is a great cruise Director.

 

Here are a few pics from the Westerdam today. . .

 

Thanks for tuning in !

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

Westerdam Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

The Bridge view from by cabin. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Balcony

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Balcony2

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFT Pool just before sail away

 

 

 

 

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[Suitegurl]

Radio - What an incredible travelog you are giving us. I feel like I am on the cruise with you. I have a favor if you can. Would you please try to get a photo of the aft balconies. There has been so many threads about Deck 5 and if it is or isn't covered since the "aft lift" :rolleyes: . After viewing all your photos, I know that if anyone can capture it you can! If you can get a shot looking down from the Lido it would be fun to see! Thanks for whatever you are able to capture. We will be sailing her in April and can't wait! I will continue to follow your posts and live vicariously thru your words and pictures until it is MY turn!

[msweeble1]

Is it okay for someone else to answer? I don't want to be rude. :p

Yes, you can still use cash in the casino. In fact, say you put $20 into a machine and played it down to $10, then decided to cash out. You could upload the balance to your room key and avoid all those coins. Then you have the option of going to the cashier and cashing out from your card. The cashier will swipe it and hand over your money. Or you can keep the money on your key card and use it on another machine.

I was a little skeptical when I first started using it on the Westerdam a couple weeks ago, but once I got the hang of it, I was happy to have this new system.

You can also charge money to your onboard account, and you don't get charged 3 percent. But be warned, it adds up. :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Thank you so much . That answered all my questions.

 

Debbie

[gphelps99]

Thank you for posting your photos and travel notes. We take our first HAL cruise in May on the Westerdam, can't get enough info!!! Great quality! Have a wonderful cruise, I'll be checking out your entries as you go.:)

[tayl]

Radio, Excellent pictures and reviews for that "dam" ship! Thanks for taking time out to do this.;)

[RevNeal]

Thanks for the nice comments, RevNeal. . . I corrected them. They should show now.

 

Excellent! Thank you so much.

That aft pool deck photos is very good.

[RevNeal]

AND ... your Westerdam Bridge photo (CC21.jpg) is SUPERB. Very VERY well done. The reflection of the bow in the windows is FANTASTIC.

 

The only thing I enjoy more than taking good photos is LOOKING AT good photos. These are EXCELLENT.

[Lurker1]

No way, I think he should cruise weekly so we can go on a cruise every week! :D

 

I agree! Otherwise we'll have the "post-cruise blues" when Radio is done, (that is until DW and I are board the W'Dam on April 22).

Great job, Radio. Keep up the good work. :)

[Luv2Cruise74]

Hello... I remember when the Hyatt was built. It's a beautiful hotel!

 

Radio, What kind of camera are you using? The pictures are awesome! Crystal clear!

[Sea Island Lady]

I have already taken that photo. . .I will try to post it for you soon.

 

My connection is a little slow (95kbps WiFi) . . . Ouch !

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

:) Thank you, Radio! Hope the weather continues to be great for the remainder of your cruise. :)

[Radio]

Hello everyone !

 

The dining for me has been very good. I have the new As You Wish Dining program that just started recently on Westerdam. Since I am unable to compare it with previous HAL dining, I will say that it appears very much like conventional dining, except you can show up for dinner at your leisure. The food choices so far have been very good. You can ask for the same waiter (If you choose), or ask to be seated near the window etc. . .

If you come to the Dining Room, and no tables are available, then they will give you a pager and you will be notified when your table is ready. There seems to always be “Live” Entertainment in the Explorer Lounge nearby. The Vista Dining room service has been superb. The waiters seem to try very hard to make sure your experience is pleasurable.

The Casual Lido Dining is very good as well. You can serve yourself, at the Sushi Bar, or Italian stations; or you can place your order at the Bistro Station, where you choose your own Appetizer, Soup, and Roll Selection (The waiter carries it to you table), and then you choose from the Menu (you can view Menu choice samples)

The Maitre D asks for your Cabin #, and then your meal will be served in a few moments. (Most Dining Room Menu choices are available with Lido dining)

You are also able to have Room Service from the entire Menu delivered to your cabin if you choose.

I had a slight problem with the Explorations Café on Embarkation day. I purchased a coffee card, which is nice and allows you to choose any size coffee beverage (10 purchases) for any type of coffee product (Cappuccino, Espresso, Blended drinks, like Frappucino, and Café Americano (Coffee)) However, when I ordered an Americano, I asked for cream (Half & Half), I was told there was NO cream available, He suggested that there was 3 types of condiments available (Milk, 2% Milk, and Skim Milk) What? No cream? No Half and Half? He suggested that I may be able to get some down at the Signature Coffee Bar on Deck 2. Hmmm. . . I checked down there and received the same response. So I went to the Lido Deck, and used some cream from up there. The Food and Bvg Mgr happened to be up at the Lido Coffee station, and apologized for any inconvenience, and assured me that there will always be cream and half and half going forward. (The Explorations and Signature Café really do have GREAT coffee!)

I have seen several discussions about the TV programming on Westerdam. There are no Pay per view choices, but there are 2 channels of free movies every day (2 different movies per channel) There is also a DVD player in each cabin where you can bring your own DVD’s, or rent them up in the Explorations Café ($3/day).

Here is the list of what is available for viewing.

26 On Board / Air / Art / Info / Safety /Costa, CCL, Seabourn, HAL ads

27 CNN

28 Shore Excursion Channel

29 ESPN

30 Discovery Channel

31 TNT

32 Cartoon Network

33 Explorations / Ship Life/ Oceanographic Documentaries

34 Movies 1 (Juno / Elizabeth the Golden Age etc. . . )

35 Movies 2 (Bee Movie /Beowulf / Dan in Real Life etc. . . )

36 Occasional Video

37 Film Festival (Grease / Tootsie / Jerry McGuire / Rocky etc. . .)

38 Port Lecture / Shopping Videos

39 Turner Classic Movies

40 Navigation Display

41 Music Channel 1

42 Music Channel 2 ( TV Guide)

43 Music Channel 3 (AFT Cam)

44 Music Channel 4 (Bridge Cam)

45 Occasional Video

There are lots of Activities scheduled for the day, but it should also be a sunny warm day for the pool ! I will post again later.

Thanks for tuning in.

Here is our current location, and some pics from this morning. . .

Radio

 

Postion of Westerdam on the way to Grand Cayman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lido Pool Seating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lido Pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lido Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunny AFT Pool deck

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

Here are a few more pics. . .

 

Radio

 

Chair saving ? ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFT Balconies

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFT Balconies 2

 

 

 

 

 

More Pics later !

 

 

.

[bobmagg]

Radio,

 

And when do we get to see a picture of you???

 

Bob

[1010Transistor]

Hey does the glass door to your balcony a sliding one or a regular one?

[ILoveScotland]

Radio, your photos are just great and are bringing back lots of good memories. I didn't take many pictures on our cruise so am going to send a link to this thread to several family members so they can see just how gorgeous the ship is.

 

Now, the favor I'm asking. DH and I will be on the Westerdam's sister ship the Zuiderdam next January. We're in SY5001 which is all the way forward on the starboard side of the ship. It has a balcony on the side but a window looking out to a forward deck.

 

If you get a chance in your roaming around the ship could you go out to the forward deck on the Verandah Deck and take some photos of what that window looks like and even a sneak peak around the corner at the balcony if that's possible and not too intrusive.

 

That would be just great. And if you don't want to post the picture here you could send it to me at bdglass at charter dot net.

 

Thank you so much!

 

Beth

[ILoveScotland]

Hey does the glass door to your balcony a sliding one or a regular one?

 

I can answer that one. The doors open out toward the balcony. No sliding doors which I would have preferred.

[bburf42]

Radio, thank you so much for the wonderful pics and comments about the ship! I'll be aboard the Westerdam in May for my very first cruise so you're helping build my anticipation!:D :D

 

Ilovescotland - I'll be in cabin 5002 (a mirror image of 5001) so I'll be sure to post pics for you when I get back but there is a current thread somewhere with good pics & a review of that specific cabin & balcony.

 

Thanks again!

bburf42

[1010Transistor]

Everything at Turks & Caicos looks so fabulous! I'm going next time! Except of course for the prison-kinda scary. Nice pics!

[Radio]

Everything at Turks & Caicos looks so fabulous! I'm going next time! Except of course for the prison-kinda scary. Nice pics!

 

Ha ha. . It was only scary back in the 1700's :eek:

 

 

 

Radio < Dad :)