Join us, Bill and Mary Ann, on our 128 day epic journey around the world in 2009

[RuthC]

Tomorrow.....packing for most, but not for us thank goodness!!

And that sounds like a highlight of this, or any, cruise.

 

I'm enjoying your posts so very much. Thank you for letting us ride along.

[carosave]

Thanks so much for posting...and letting me live vicariously (as I hear the 5 year old in the family room...!!)

 

Until this last post, I was handling it, and now....I wanna go--and get to watch others pack while I sip wine and think, ahhh, what a life!:D

[Johnny B]

Hi Bill and MaryAnn,

We're sorry we missed you today! We went to the Specialists' party last night and then had visitor passes to the ship today - it was like old home week! We saw dozens of people from last year's WC, but although we looked and looked for you, and waited until about 2:00 for you two to come back from Target (Barbie said), we didn't get to see you.

 

The ship is beautiful, and since it's the Amsterdam's sister ship, everything was like deja vu. The champagne began being poured freely at 11:30 and I guess it continued until sailaway. BArbie and Martha tried to talk us into joining in Hong Kong and staying until Capetown, but we just don't know. I think if we miss our granddaughter's birthday again, we'll be removed from the grandparent list!

 

Anyway, Bon Voyage. Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy good old table 309. We are green with envy, even more after visiting today.

John and Diane

[jckvpa0]

I'll jump in and answer this one. There is a travel agency in Seattle that specializes in escorted groups, mostly on longer cruises. When you book through them you will receive extra benefits such as onboard cocktail parties, jackets, tote bags, perhaps a freebee shore excursion or two, shore excursions that can be purchased that are different from the ones HAL offers, sometimes a shipboard credit and a very competitive price.

 

There are several T/A's that offer escorted cruise groups including the auto club, but the one that Bill and MaryAnn are with is, IMO, a cut above the rest of them.

 

Thank You Grumpy, I really appreciate your reply !

[fann1sh]

Thank you, Bill and Mary Ann, for continuing to post. Now that "the real" world voyage is about the begin, I'm on the edge of my seat. I appreciate the daily hard work (and $ internet minutes) you expend so those like me can have a vicarious cruise!

[WCB]

Report # 17 January 18, 2009 Sunday Day at Sea

 

The weather was dreary and overcast when we woke up this morning. It pretty much fit the mood of the passengers who had to pack to go home tomorrow.......about 900 to be exact.

 

We had the whole promenade deck to ourselves while we did our 6 mile walk. The sea was fairly smooth, but the chilly wind kept most people inside. The captain mentioned that we had to maintain 22 knots in order to arrive in Los Angeles on time, which added to the chill factor. While we were walking, we saw a pod of killer whales, not far from the ship. The telltale sign is their high dorsal fins that just skimmed the surface. We did not see them dive, which is always spectacular. We also saw a few otters clinging to floating kelp, as well as two ships, the Oosterdam and an NCL ship, as they passed us heading south towards Mexico.

 

Catholic mass and interdenominational service always takes place in the Wajang Theater every day. Being it is a Sunday, the theater was filled. That's a good thing.

 

The number one activity onboard today was shopping, shopping, and more shopping. The last chance to purchase Panama souveniers, jewelry, clothing, and art enticed people to buy, buy, buy! The casino was full of hopeful gamblers. Two major football playoffs attracted many guests to the Sports Bar. You could hear the cheering from one end of the ship to the other, as they sipped the beer and munched on snacks.

 

Tonight the showtime for us late seaters was at 6:30 pm. We like that for a change, and actually attended. Elliot Maxx, the comedian was OK, but the pianist, Elliot Finkel was superb once again. We hope the switching of showtimes happens more often as the cruise progresses.

 

Dinner with our group was bittersweet since four of them, all Canadians, will be heading home. They asked if we had any space in our room for stowaways! Tomorrow, we will be moving downstairs at our favorite table # 309. Five of us have known each other for several years, while two will be newbies. Since there will only be seven of us at a table for ten, we should be able to invite others to join us occassionally. And there will be plenty of space for an officer to join us on formal evenings. Anyway, we bid our new friends farewell, and wished them a safe return home.

 

As we walked up to our deck, we saw the hallways filling up with luggage waiting to be picked up. Boy, are we happy that we don't have to go home yet!

 

And so ended the first segment of our journey!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 18 January 19, 2009 Monday Embarkation Day for 700 Passengers

 

Today is the official start of the 2009 Grand World Voyage, according to the daily newsletter. Even though the sailing from Ft. Lauderdale was the start of the world cruise for us and 200 other people, we bet we see major changes coming up. It would turn out to be a "marathon" day.

 

Since absolutely everyone on the ship had to go through custom's check today, breakfast started very early this morning. Groups of exiting passengers were called off of the ship starting at 8:30 am. They had the choice of pulling their own luggage off, having it sent straight to the airport at their home cities for a nominal charge, or claim their bags in the terminal building. We have used that express service in the past, and it is the best way to go, but only if you live in the United States.

 

We were called off by 10 am, proceeded through customs (did not have to declare any purchases yet), and had the choice of waiting two hours to re-board, or take a walk. Since we were in need of a few items, we decided to search for a store of any kind. This was also a good opportunity to phone home, so we found a bank of phones and were successful in talking to Bill's mom and sister, Lois. Was great to hear that all was well with them. Because it was a holiday, Martin Luther King, our boys were not at home, so we just left messages. It was funny, when we started to dial all the numbers from our phonecard, music began blasting away from an unknown source. Bad timing.....we could hardly hear on the phone! When we left the phone area, we saw the source of the music. It was a huge fountain by the cruise terminal that "danced" to the music of Disney tunes.

 

The sirens of a firetruck, two police cars, and an ambulance stopped us in our tracks. It appeared that there was an emergency with a passenger on a bus that had just arrived to the cruise terminal. Hope it was not serious.

 

We had gotten vague directions from the locals to find a store nearby, so when we spotted an empty shuttle with the driver sitting with her door open, we stopped to ask about shopping. She said hop in and I'll take you there! Perfect! We were lucky that the Rotterdam was the only ship docked here today. In the past, we have seen two large ships here, and it was a zoo. The driver took us about 2 miles uphill to a small shopping center with a drugstore. We did find most of what we needed, and started the walk downhill. Many smaller stores were closed today, and the traffic was lighter because of the holiday. But we did pass by a men's store that advertised Tommy Bahama shirts on sale. Hey, it sure didn't hurt to look, right? Of course, Bill found one that he did not have, and was happy that it was half off. Another good deal. And the best part was the fact that most of our walk was downhill all the way!

 

On entering the terminal building, we were pleased to see the decorations that had been added for the check-in. There were flags, balloons, and banners welcoming the new passengers. Although, we felt that the reception in 2007 was better......the ship's waiters back then were dressed in brightly colored costumes serving trays of cookies while we waited in line. Speaking of lines, there was a big one that wove back and forth like a Disneyland ride. Again, we were glad we did this two weeks ago! We later found out that our travel agency had a special check-in line for their group. Must have something to do with inside priviledges....Janet Lanterman, the former owner of our Specialists agency, and the wife of Kirk, who was the CEO of HAL, was with the group.

 

Several members of our travel agency had boarded this morning, so we looked forward to seeing them again, in particular, our agent, Debra. She has been a delight to work with, and it was great to see her again. We must have spent an hour discussing the cruise so far with her. While I was speaking to Debra, Bill began chatting with Janet Lanterman. In their conversation, Bill mentioned how much he liked the special touches on the Rotterdam as compared to the Amsterdam. Forgetting that Janet was the "Godmother" of the Amsterdam, Bill had ruffled her feathers somewhat! Oops! She was a good sport about it however. Anyway, their time was limited, so we headed for lunch in the Lido, the only place opened this afternoon. The waiters even served us champagne while we dined. This was a first.

 

While strolling around the public decks, we started running into many friends from previous cruises. It was almost like home week. We had hoped to run into John and Diane, our former tablemates who joined our travel group for a visit today. But that did not happen. The ship is just too big for chance meetings.

 

A mandatory muster drill was scheduled at 4:15 pm sharp. At least we were not standing in the hot sun today. Wonder how many of these drills we will have to do before the trip ends? Hey, as long as they are drills and not the real thing, we'll be happy!

 

The festive sailaway party began at 4:30 pm at the back pool deck. The crew had decorated with red, white, and blue banners and ribbons. Complimentary drinks of a strange punch and wine was offered to everyone. Actually, no one advertised this, but the bartenders were serving free cocktails too. The band played, and the people visited as we waited for the actual sailaway. Unfortunately, it was delayed because a passenger had to be evacuated to a hospital due to an emergency. Better it happened here, than halfway to Hawaii.

 

It was dark by the time they dropped the ropes. It was really nice to see the city of Los Angeles with her lights sparkling. It wasn't long before we left the lights behind us as we headed southwest towards Hawaii. We shall have four days at sea before we arrive to Hilo.

 

We joined our new tablemates tonight. Our table seats 10 or 12, but there will only be seven of us. Looking around the dining room, we noticed that it was sparsely occupied. Most passengers have obviously chosen the early seating. Barbie we knew from the 2007 world cruise, and Margaret and Keith we knew from the 2006 Maasdam trip and the world cruise of 2008. Two single gentlemen joined us. George we recognized from the 2007 world voyage, and Ray, who is doing his first world cruise was new to us all. Barbie actually missed dinner tonight, but promised to be there tomorrow. Like we said, it was a marathon day. Many people did not make it to dinner tonight because of jet lag and pure exhaustion! Been there, done that! Too bad Barbie missed receiving the beautiful long-stemmed dark red rose every lady got at the table. That was a real first and much appreciated.

 

We had new menus for dinner and dessert. The choices are many and the food was great as usual.

 

There was no show in the Queens Lounge this evening, but they were showing the movie, Mama Mia. Have got to see that sometime soon.

 

We had a few more nice surprises today. Regular coffee from here on out is free in the Explorations Cafe, and every morning and afternoon, trays of pastries, finger sandwiches, and teatime desserts will be set up on the end of the coffee bar counter for all to taste. That is way too tempting for us!! It is dangerously too close to our room....... We also had a notice that two more Pinnacle dinners had been added to our precruise package. Apparently, the price will not change from $20 to $25 as planned. Great!

 

Two envelopes of tour vouchers were delivered to our room. We had purchased these all through the summer last year. One surprise was that the overland trip to Beijing and the Great Wall had been cancelled, we assume due to low participation. Another sign of the state of the economy we presume. HAL's overlands can be pretty pricey.

 

The hallways on our deck were jammed solid with luggage and large packages. We were so glad to have that job behind us!!

 

Well, we're off to watch our eyelids, if you get the drift!

 

Until tomorrow......

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[kryos]

As we walked up to our deck, we saw the hallways filling up with luggage waiting to be picked up. Boy, are we happy that we don't have to go home yet!

Isn't that just the neatest feeling in the whole world!?!?!

 

On my Statendam sailing last September, we left from Vancouver, but embarked others in San Francisco and San Diego as well. Others on the ship were only doing the five-day coastal which many had tacked onto an Alaska sailing the ship had done before that. The night before we hit San Francisco, I headed up to the Lido at around 11:00 to grab a snack. All those cabins with luggage piled up outside of them! I remember thinking, wow! Those people have to get off tomorrow and I don't. I've still got 32 days on this wonderful ship!

 

It's a great feeling when you know your disembarkation is still a long way off, isn't it? :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[ColumbiaSC]

Bill and Mary Ann,

 

Have you seen the elderly gentleman who was on the 2008 Farewell World Cruise of the marvelous QE2 who sits, observes, and does fantastic needlepoint work? He was scheduled to take the WC on the Rotterdam in 2009. We often had conversations during the Farewell World Cruise. I am confident that he would be at Early Seating for dinner.

 

 

Lord Kay of Shandon

[DFD1]

Thank you so much for sharing the 14 days from Ft. Lauderdale. Great posts and great fun to read. We'll be along for the entire trip. Thanks again.

[KenM]

I am really enjoying your postings.

HA should not charge you to post since you will undoubtedly add future business for them....:)

We are looking at taking this kind of a cruise but I am not sure that I could be on a ship for that duration.....

[WCB]

Report # 19 January 20, 2009 Tuesday Day at Sea

 

Today's weather does not look promising at all. We woke up to heavy swells and windy, cold temperatures.

 

Coverage of the inauguration of President-elect Obama was shown in the Queens Lounge, Sports Bar, and Wajang Theater, as well as the comfort of our own cabins. We are sure to see this event replayed on CNN for several days to come. Speaking of CNN, many of us would love to have the option of watching FOX news too. We know it can be done, since the Regent ships have both.

 

We were pleasantly surprised to find a new and expanded breakfast menu in La Fountaine dining room this morning. Many items that had previously been offered as specials are now on the menu daily. Even the pats of butter are in the shape of flowerettes, and the jams and jellies are in tiny jars.

 

At 10am, we met our Cruise Critic members at the first meeting in the Crow's Nest. Dorothy and George, who we met in 2007, are the group's leaders, with Lyle and Margorie handling the events for the group. Many of us know each other already, so we each took a turn with introductions for the sake of the newcomers. We were all familiar with our internet names, so it was nice to put faces to the titles.

 

Then we all had a huge surprise........Captain Olav appeared to welcome our group to the Rotterdam. Following his appearance was Henk, the hotel manager, his wife Crystal, the guest relations manager, and Bruce, the cruise director. Henk and Bruce gave an informative talk concerning our wellbeing while onboard the ship. They said they wanted our input for any complaints or compliments from here on out. They do not want us to wait until the end of this trip if we have problems with the food or the service provided. And to make it easier to do this, they have decided to start a new desk for the culinary manager to be available for guest interactions throughout this voyage. Considering the blast they experienced from last year's world cruise, they must have learned that to let any standards fall below HAL's promise of excellence would not be tolerated on this cruise. Yes, they really do read those surveys!!

 

Our meeting lasted for two hours while we visited with friends from previous cruises. Many of them, including us, have kept in touch via the internet. There will be organized lunches on days at sea, as well as more meetings when new passengers arrive on upcoming segments. We think this Cruise Critic group will be successful, thanks to the work of Dorothy, George, Lyle, and Margorie.

 

The day evaporated while we caught up on internet work. Good news....it seems to be working much better since we left Los Angeles. Perhaps they tweaked the bandwidth??

 

On our way back to our cabin late this afternoon, we noticed the casino was full of cigarette smoke. Looks as if the ban for smoking after 10:30 pm has expired. Some of the passengers have received a questionnaire regarding the smoking policy. For example, would you book a cruise if it was smoke-free or would you prefer putting limits on the smoking areas? It is a difficult dilemma for HAL to dictate, without insulting someone.

 

Here was the funniest activity for the day.....a slot clinic to learn about your favorite slot machines! We thought all you need to do is put your money in the slot, and eventually lose it!! Not exactly brain surgery there......

 

Dinnertime was more relaxed this evening as we got to know our new guests. And the food continues to please most everyone.

 

The entertainer in the Queens Lounge was Rick Starr, an impersonator we think. We learned something interesting regarding entertainers at the Cruise Critic meeting today. Bruce said that most of the entertainers do not want a full description of their act printed in the daily newsletter. They feel that they may be type-casted, and the passengers would not go to their performances. Bruce may be very right about that.

 

We received more gifts tonight.....two more HAL canvas bags (yes, two this time) and two log books with excellent world maps added to the back of the book. Their timing was perfect this year, since last year we received the diaries towards the end of the cruise!

 

Two more days at sea until Hawaii.....

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 20 January 21, 2009 Wednesday Day at Sea

 

The clocks went back again last night, and it was nice to get the extra sleep. Only when we woke up this morning, the weather was cool, windy, with heavy clouds and a little sun. There were few people outside walking the promenade, and those that did wore jackets and sweaters. The ship was pitching quite a bit, making the walking difficult.

 

We did make an attempt at sunbathing on the back deck, but all we got was goosebumps! The wind has a chill in it that cuts to the bone. The captain gave his voice from the bridge at 12:45pm as he does daily. He made us laugh when he mentioned that we were in the middle of nowhere! That is reassuring! What he meant was that we were not near any specific islands or body of land, just out on the deep blue expanses of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Speaking of the Captain, Olav van der Waard, was born in The Hague in the Netherlands. He graduated from the Maritime Academy in 1984, served as a third officer on cargo ships, until he was drawn to the idea of sailing on cruise ships. He joined HAL and has worked for them for the last 17 years, becoming Captain in 2002.

 

The popular grand voyage activites began in earnest today.....tai chi, watercolors, cooking demos, and arts and crafts. "The Brain" super team trivia is held at high noon, and again some days at 9:30 pm. We preferred it when it was around 4 pm. That time slot did not interfere with lunch or sun time.

 

The daily movies in the Wajang Theater are for the most part newly released. Except the large screen is malfunctioning now, with only the 2 small screens working. Better to wait until the next day when the same movie is shown on our stateroom TVs.

 

Empty luggage is still appearing in the hallways as people are finally getting settled, especially on decks 6 and 7. The unlimited luggage shipping can be a dangerous thing! You tend to take everything but the kitchen sink!

 

Hot hors d'oeuvres have begun to appear in the lounges at cocktail time. Since the dinner menus have had such a good variety of entrees, such as prime rib, filet mignon, lobster, pheasant, halibut, and snapper, we have to pace ourselves carefully. Did we mention the delicious key lime pie we ordered tonight? Wow...over-the-top tasty!

 

Ray, our elderly tablemate, told us a story regarding his safe in his room. He misplaced the key, so called the front desk for help. They sent a locksmith to cut the lock out, and charged him $45!! He knows the key is in his room somewhere, and we're sure he will find it eventually. Well, we learn something new everyday.

 

There have been rumors of a big star that is on the ship already. They must be the main headliner for the Grand World Voyage. Wonder who it is???

 

Let you know tomorrow,

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

I have become addicted to these posts. They are interesting and informative. I will be sailing in 2 weeks to Hawaii....I am interested in hearing about the ports and more about the rough seas.

 

I can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your trip with us!

[Boatdrill]

Report # 18 January 19, 2009 Monday Embarkation Day for 700 Passengers

 

 

On entering the terminal building, we were pleased to see the decorations that had been added for the check-in. There were flags, balloons, and banners welcoming the new passengers. Although, we felt that the reception in 2007 was better......the ship's waiters back then were dressed in brightly colored costumes serving trays of cookies while we waited in line. Speaking of lines, there was a big one that wove back and forth like a Disneyland ride.

 

So glad you're enjoying your trip.

 

The long line at check-in you noticed was due to 4 busses arriving at the same time.

 

By the way, the HAL shoreside staff who handled debark and then embark had come up from San Diego very early that morning.

They're the unsung heroes of a ship's turnaround day.

 

And as usual for a HAL embarkation, the Rotterdam had waiters serving refreshments in the terminal. Isn't it a nice touch ? Really helps to relax the passengers before they board. :)

 

The big star is Vicki Lawrence. She's getting off in Hawaii, I believe.

[Copper10-8]

Enyoying the ride! Thanks for taking the time!

[kletskop]

Thanks for the wonderful daily reviews. I look forward to them everyday.

 

Jerry

[jetwet1]

I just wanted to join eveyone in thanking you for taking the time to post.

 

This is something the wife and I would like to do at some point, heck right now would work :D

[ldog]

It is so wonderful to read about your trip everyday. We all appreciate your taking the time to do so.

[SailorSusan]

To Bill and Mary Ann (and the other world cruisers),

 

If you leave Hilo after dark tomorrow, look for the sparklers coming from shore on your port side as you leave the bay. That will be my brother and sister-in-law (who are lucky enough to live there) wishing you aloha!

[WCB]

Report #21 January 22, 2009 Thursday Day at Sea

 

It was a tad bit warmer today, but not a lot, as we started our third day at sea after leaving Los Angeles. There were even occassional showers, which cooled us off even more. We are truly in the middle of nowhere. We have seen absolutely no sea life or birds. Just water everywhere you look. It has not been a smooth ride, either. We have not stopped rolling or pitching since we left California!

 

We have been having a little trouble with the room stewards getting our room cleaned before noon. A few days agao, they cleaned it around 3 pm. On every other trip, our room steward kept an eye out when you closed your door, like to go to breakfast. Then they would sneek in and bingo....your room was done. We don't even see our fellows anywhere, which makes us think that they have 30 rooms or so. We are sure it will be better as the stewards get to know our routines.

 

Well, the mystery entertainer turned out to be Vicki Lawrence. You remember her from the Carol Burnett Show in the 70's? She will perform this evening, and we will definitely be there.

 

Sports of call games are in full swing. They included quoits, volleyball, and ping-pong. The way this ship is rolling, we doubt they will have many takers. The assistant cruise directors do not give dam dollars anymore for the morning and afternoon walks. Too many people cheated, you know the ones we called "flash in the pan" or in one door and out the other!

 

The Captains Champagne Welcome Reception was held in the Queens Lounge on this, the first formal night of the Grand Voyage. The second-seating guests barely filled the lower section of the lounge. We have found the best seats in the house...... against the wall on the port side, where the waiters spoil us with hot hors d'oeuvres and double drinks of our choice. Martha, a friend from the last two world cruises, joined us. The Captain gave his welcome speech, and introduced his officers. The affair lasted one hour, and by 7:55, we were invited to leave, so the first seating guests could come in and see the show. They had already lined up past the front desk by then!

 

Formal dinner had many choices like escargots,caviar (Barb was in heaven), lobster, filet mignon, and oriental duck, which was delicious. The French onion soup was the best we have ever tasted. Tom, the dining room manager, and Bernie, the master chef visited each table to get our reactions. He had a huge smile when we complimented his cooking.

 

Joining us this evening, was the first officer and his wife.He gifted us white and red wines, as they usually do. A strange thing occurred half way into dinner with our two single gentlemen. George, the professor, began speaking to the officer's wife in German. However, Ray, who was in the middle of them, must have been insulted. He asked them to stop, but George continued. At that point, Ray bolted from the dining room, with our friend Barbie running after him. She knew what had happened, and talked Ray into coming back and sitting next to Bill. That worked, but it sure made the rest of the evening a little stressed. George was oblivious to what he did, but the officer's wife was quite embarrassed. Ellen, our host, also joined us, and continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.

 

We did attend Vicki Lawrence's performance. It was titled "A Two Woman Show". The first half, she was herself, describing how she began her career by being a look-alike for Carol Burnett. In between jokes, she sang her one and only hit song, The Night That the Lights Went Out in Georgia. Then she disappeared behind the curtains, and came out dressed as Mama, her character from "Mama's Family", which ran for 5 years in the mid 80's. She was hilarious as she answered made-up sensitive questions like a feisty old Dear Abby. The audience's reaction was mixed where we were sitting (in the balcony). Some laughed, some clapped, and some did neither. Guess it's hard to please everybody!

 

We had two more gifts on our bed tonight......leather key cards with the first port and money conversion card inside of them. But we were missing our formal candy of Leonidas truffles in the little gold boxes. Where did they go???

 

One more day at sea, then Hawaii!!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Hi to all!

 

Your wonderful messages are an inspiration for us! Thank you so much!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

PS Will look for those sparklers!

[cccole]

Since I brew my coffee and then look for your post I have decided to grind coffee beans from the region you are in. I have my coconut beans from a store in Honolulu ready to grind on Monday!!!!! I am thoroughly enjoying your voyage.

 

When you get a chance....when you are on a voyage this long does the crew change? Will everyone from top to bottom remain the same? Just curious!

 

Aloha, Cherie

[ldog]

Soooo how's the weather in Hawaii?

[DFD1]

Aloha ! We're freezing our buns off here. How are things in beautiful Hawaii?