Live from the Westerdam-March 29th

[sail7seas]

Bring a book ashore with you.

You may find you cannot get back aboard until the ship goes down to 'zero' guests. We had to wait a little while in the terminal in FLL before we were permitted to reboard.

 

We went off on our own though..... didn't have to 'meet up' with any group or anything.

 

[marle7]

Bring a book ashore with you.

You may find you cannot get back aboard until the ship goes down to 'zero' guests. We had to wait a little while in the terminal in FLL before we were permitted to reboard.

 

We went off on our own though..... didn't have to 'meet up' with any group or anything.

 

 

we will! We were told that the ship must go to zero guests onboard first. But since we aren't going off until around 10, it hopefully shouldn't be too long of a wait!

[MRF777]

I'm on my way to the Westerdam, I hope you left me some food. haha. I'm glad you had a good time.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have enjoyed reading your reports.

Hey -- we get anther week of reports!!

Know about that "capsule" shower. We really like it.

[scopewest]

Great information, thanks for sharing your trip with us!

[legalslave]

Thank you so much for sharing the info. All of us future Westy cruisers have a better idea now as to what to expect. May I ask you a favor? Ok, I'll ask--would it be possible for you to find out who the entertainers will be on the Alaska 5/17 sailing? I know that much of the time they change the entertainers when the ship has a new itinerary.

 

 

Thanks again for sharing and hope your second week is as wonderful as your first. The PH Suite--sigh--I can only dream!

 

Diane

[Susie51]

Mom wants to know what movies will be shown in a lounge and on which days. Thanks for checking. I imagine they would be the same. Do you know if there will be a church service for Easter Sunday?

 

Thank you for continuing to post. I appreciate the time and money you spend entertaining us.

[marle7]

Mom wants to know what movies will be shown in a lounge and on which days. Thanks for checking. I imagine they would be the same. Do you know if there will be a church service for Easter Sunday?

 

Thank you for continuing to post. I appreciate the time and money you spend entertaining us.

 

I'm pretty sure there is a list of them here somewhere. I'll check all the paper that I seem to have lying around!

 

I know there is a priest on board this week, because there has been a Mass everyday, so I imagine there will be at least a Mass for Easter, and I know there is a Seder dinner this week as well. I am not sure if there will be a non demoninational service or not though.

[marle7]

Sorry I haven’t posted for a couple of days, but we’ve been busy!

 

Turnaround day in Ft. Lauderdale was fairly painless. At 9:45 all of the B2B people met in the Vista lounge and about 15 minutes later we were all escorted off the ship so we could clear US immigration. I’m not really sure why we did this as Immigration really didn’t look at our passports at all, but just kept waving people through the line. We were able to re-board the ship immediately after that so there was no waiting around in the terminal.

 

It’s rather nice to have the ship to yourself for an hour or so before everyone starts to board, and even nicer that you can go back to your cabin if you like.

 

We had friends boarding, so we went to the Neptune lounge around noon to see if they were on board yet and they were, so we gathered them up and went to our stateroom with them.

 

We sat at the aft pool for a while and watched the new cruisers come on board. It was pretty apparent within an hour, that the demographics of this week were going to be very different from the previous week. There were a lot more kids and younger families on board, being spring break.

 

There were a few kids in the aft pool until the bar manager came along and told them it was an adults only pool and they would have to go to the midship pool if they wanted to swim.

 

Although we had done lifeboat drill the week before, we were required to participate again, so off we trooped to our stations in time. This drill took quite a bit longer than last week, and Captain Harris was beginning to sound a bit testy, as he asked people for the third time to stop talking and remain quiet so we could get through the drill.

 

Once it was over, we headed back to our room as we had invited some people for sail away. The Neptune lounge provided some great nibbles and we had champagne as we watched Ft. Lauderdale slip away again.

 

The next day was Half Moon Cay, and this time we had rented the Grand Cabana. Besides our friends we had invited a few others to join us, so we were 11 in the cabana. We asked for and received, Robbi as our butler again. We also had a bartender and our own chef.

 

What a way to spend the day. We sprang for it, because this week is our anniversary and we decided to treat ourselves. We were delighted to be able to share it with a few people from our roll call and I think everyone had a great time. It has a hot tub for 8, an inside and outside area so you could have sun or shade as you wished, a bar, and men and women’s washrooms and change rooms. It does have a slide, and as has been reported on CC before, we did have to spend a fair amount of time, chasing people off the slide that were not part of the cabana. There is a sign, but it isn’t all that easy to see and well, some people just don’t read I guess.

 

I suggested that perhaps they put a chain up across the bottom of the stairs leading into the water that could be unlatched and relatched by the people using the cabana. Usually that sort of thing makes people realize that oh hey, maybe that’s off limits!

 

The weather was absolutely perfect and we were the only ship at HMC this week so the beach didn’t seem to be too crowded.

 

The food for the Grand Cabana is preset when you buy the package and as usual, there was more food than anyone could ever eat. Hot dogs and burgers, steaks, ribs, chicken. Salads, beans and corn. Brownies and cookies for dessert.

 

Yesterday was a sea day, and once again, we are experiencing some very calm seas, although it was a bit breezy. We spent the day playing in various casino tournaments, where this time although both my husband and I made it to the finals, he did not win, and I came in third. I got another hat and t-shirt and a pen. I gave the hat to one of the other finalists who was disappointed not to win anything, as only the top three scores receive any prizes. I think she liked it!

 

We took our friends to the Pinnacle Grill last night and the food and service was once again, very good. By now, the manager knows to put us in Robbi’s section and he takes very good care of us.

 

We will be going there again on Friday, after our renewal of vows ceremony.

 

Last night was also formal night, and I have to say that if people dressed, a lot of people changed back into shorts or casual after dinner. Again, just different demographics this week. Also, while there may be a lot of kids on board, I haven't really noticed them to be a problem or a nusiance, but then, I haven't been around the pool either.

 

This morning, we are headed towards Aruba, and we expect to arrive at noon. We don’t leave again until almost midnight, so there is plenty of time in port today. My husband and our friend are diving today, so we women are going shopping. Aruba is one of my favourite ports to shop in.

 

More from the high seas, later!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Marlene, How is the 2nd half of the B2B going? Does it feel like a whole new cruise or a continuation? :)

[marle7]

Marlene, How is the 2nd half of the B2B going? Does it feel like a whole new cruise or a continuation? :)

 

Lisa, in some ways, it feels like a whole new cruise, partly because of the different itinerary and partly because the demographics are different. In other ways, it feels like we are truly at home and comfortable now, as we know the various routines and staff are getting to know us and we, them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have been waiting for your report.

Glad you are enjoying yourselves.

Really enjoy your reports.

[Susie51]

Thank you for your reports the Grand Cabana sounds wonderful. I'm glad you are having good cruise and the turn around went smoothly.

[chiapet]

I, too, have appreciated you sharing your "super suite" B2B cruise ... thank you!!!

[jmdpsca]

We are on the Westerdam, 4/19, Ft. Lauderdale thru the Panama to San Diego. What if you did not have the Cabana, (ALL SOLD OUT-ON WAITLIST) what would you do?? We currently have booked a snokel excusion with HAL.

Also in Aruba, what have you done, I know shopping is first on the list....

I believe the entertainment will change as this is a reposition cruise...could you find out if any of the current entertainers will be on our cruise...

We are in our 50=mid 60's, and this cruise is sold out...any suggestions...

 

I thank you for all details, I'm a chef, and love the Pinnacle Grill...look forward to see if Robbie will be on the ship.

 

Thanks again for a great review...

[marle7]

We are on the Westerdam, 4/19, Ft. Lauderdale thru the Panama to San Diego. What if you did not have the Cabana, (ALL SOLD OUT-ON WAITLIST) what would you do?? We currently have booked a snokel excusion with HAL.

Also in Aruba, what have you done, I know shopping is first on the list....

I believe the entertainment will change as this is a reposition cruise...could you find out if any of the current entertainers will be on our cruise...

We are in our 50=mid 60's, and this cruise is sold out...any suggestions...

 

I thank you for all details, I'm a chef, and love the Pinnacle Grill...look forward to see if Robbie will be on the ship.

 

Thanks again for a great review...

 

I understand that voyage is sold out! If we hadn't had the cabana, we would have just walked down the beach a bit and found chairs likely. My husband did the aquatrax tour at HMC but thought it was pretty tame.

 

I can try to find out the entertainment coming up.

 

If you are a chef, you would probably like the Chef's Table event. See Ashley, the party planner, or Fernando the cellar master to sign up.

 

Not a lot to report on the last two days as we had been to both Aruba and Curacao before. The boys went diving and we did a little shopping in Aruba. Our friends hadn't been to either island before, so mostly we just walked around.

 

Our friends did the Chef's Table last night, while we dined with the couple in the other Penthouse, ensuite. They had arranged for the Pinnacle Grill to send dinner up. The company was great, the food a little on the cool side, but still it was a terrific way to spend an evening.

 

Today is our 10th anniversary. We are at sea, which of course means a slot tournament later, although the blackjack tournament is being held tomorrow.

 

We are doing the renewal of vows ceremony tonight at 7:30 in the Piano bar, so I'll report back on how that went.

 

It is also Good Friday and there seems to be a few church services on the daily program, so I imagine there will be one on Sunday as well.

[marle7]

A note appros of nothing really. On formal nights, the people in suites seem to get corsages to wear, and we will receive one tonight again, since it is not only formal night, but the renewal of vows ceremony. (hmm, wonder if that means we'll get two):D. I haven't worn mine at all because I'm not about to stick pins through a crepe or silk dress. I wonder if HAL would consider giving the ladies a wrist corsage instead.

[orangearmy]

Hi Marlene. We are really enjoying your reports from the Westerdam and are so happy to hear that you are having a good time. We will be on her for the re-positioning cruise through the Panama Canal and are getting so excited. I was hoping that you could possibly find out if Andreas is staying on for the re-positioning or is done before that cruise. We enjoyed his company on the Westerdam last year and hope he is still there. Thank and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hi Marle

Happy Anniversary!!

Know what you mean about the corsages and our crepe tops, etc. on for formal might.

[RuthC]

I haven't worn mine at all because I'm not about to stick pins through a crepe or silk dress. I wonder if HAL would consider giving the ladies a wrist corsage instead.

Is it possible to pin it to your purse? If it's a fabric purse, and the right size/shape, that might work.

[Susie51]

Happy Anniversary! Enjoy the evening!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Happy Anniversary :)

Enjoy your Renewal of Vows for our 30 year Anniversary. Ours was very special and we were so thrilled to have good friends cruising with us (our Maid of Honor from our wedding and others) Plus it was special to have Captain Mercer performing it and James Deering there as well. HAL has a way of making them very special.

[usha]

Marle, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!:D

[jmdpsca]

Happy 10th Anniversary, and Congradulations! Have a wonderful day, thanks for your reply...Jan

[marle7]

Is it possible to pin it to your purse? If it's a fabric purse, and the right size/shape, that might work.

 

I wish. My evening bag is leather though so I can't pin anything to it.

 

Thank you all for your good wishes. I'll have a full report on the ceremony etc tomorrow.