The LAFFNVEGAS LIVE From the Statendam Panama Canal Cruise

[Himself]

I hope you had an enjoyable day in Aruba

[innlady1]

Thanks for the great report, Lisa. Hope you enjoy the beach at the Radisson. It's soooooooooo beautiful! The shops at the cruise terminal are pretty grim, too.

[localady]

Hey Lisa! My favorite part of Aruba (as well as Curacao and Bonaire) is under that fabulously clear water. ;) Hope you got a chance to check it out, some of the best snorkeling around. :D

I am sure Lisa is having a fabulous time on the Statendam, I can't imagine her ever having a bad time on a ship. But each ship has it's good and bad points, when I was on the Statendam in 2003, it was already showing it's age in my opinion. :cool:

Thanks for the reports Lisa. Enjoy the Canal and drink lots of liquids, it will probably be hot and humid as heck!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Monday Evening April 20th, 2009

 

Good Evening CCers, WOW was this ever a full day and my knees and feet are telling me it was.

 

I had written the first half of what I m going to tell you earlier when I was in Aruba but my battery went dead and I lost everything I had written. That is probably the one mistake I made when I purchased this net book and that was to buy it with the 3 cell battery. It lasts about 2 + hours if you do not connect to the internet but the minute you go to AOL and sites that have lots of graphics the battery life goes quickly. Especially on Facebook.

 

OK enough about the 3 cell battery. I want to go back and tell you about our first port stop Aruba. This was one of the reasons we chose this itinerary. I did read the thread about which Panama Canal should I chose. I will add my two cents here. Panama Canal was always a cruise we wanted to do but when I was working for the car dealership could never take that long off at one time. Tom can arrange his vacation time but so many of them would start in the middle of his work week and might actually be more than 14 days of which case he would really need to take 3 weeks off. We chose this first based on the number of days, the day of the week it started and ended, the fact that it went to Aruba and the number of Sea Days. The fact that it was the only S Class ship we had not yet been on and that Captain Frans Consen was the Captain was two huge bonuses. I know it was mentioned if I was having a good time or was it the getting acclaimated to the smaller S class ship. To be truthful it is really the getting use to being on the S Class ships but, All things being equal if the Zuiderdam or Westerdam was doing this same exact itinerary I would have chose one of them but if you would have asked Tom he would have said that NO he would have chose the Statendam because he does prefer the smaller ships and that he wanted to go on this ship to say he has now cruised on all the S Class ships. It has been since 2006 since we have been on a S Class ship and since that cruise we have taken 11 cruises of which one was the Zaandam and one was the Amsterdam but the other 9 were all Vista Class and the Eurodam. I think that chosing to cruise the Panama Canal is first more about the itinerary and number of days rather than ship.

 

OK I will now get back to what all we did today......:D

When I last left off we were I believe in the Hotel Lobby of the Crystal or at least next door to the Crystal Casino where if you have your laptop/net book you can pick up a great signal and use free wi-fi. We grabbed a taxi and asked him how much to the Radisson and he said $10 it was a very easy quick ride although it is a few miles from town. We were quite impressed with the Radisson, it reminded me a lot of the Hyatt on Maui and the Waikoloa Hilton on the Big Island. I made friends with a few of the birds in cages and had them talking to me. We decided to walk along the beach first and we wanted to also checkout some of the other resorts. First stop was the Riu Palace where let's just say they were rather stuck up and would not allow anyone to step foot in their resort unless they were hotel guests. Kinda of hard to check out a place to see if you wanted to return. Then next hotel was the Westin, there we were able to walk the grounds with no one saying a word. I must say that while of couse the beach was beautiful the hotel lobby and shops were not overly impressive and rather dark and gloomy. We did really like the Radisson and returned and went and had lunch at Gilligans where Tom had a burger and I had a Grill Grouper sandwich with Pepperjack Cheese Now I also had a drink called Mr. Holloway which was a smooth creamy icey banana drink with dark rum that was very tasty, it was so good I treated myself to a 2nd one. I was able to spend a bit of time getting my feet went in the ocean and soaked up some sun. Although the day was extremely hot and very humid. About 2 PM we grabbed a taxi and headed back to town. BTW the cost for the taxi was $10 to get there and the return taxi charged us $11 not sure what the difference was other than going to the Radisson we were in a late model small Nissan Sentra and going back to town we were in a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado which I had never heard of but was very nice for a taxi.

 

We continued shopping in town picking up a couple of items for our son and Tom also wanted a shirt. I picked up a Dutch coffee mug that said Aruba on it. We got back to the ship at about 3:50 All aboard was at 4:30. We were definitely hurting. My knees normally do not hurt but I am thinking that all the walking and the humidity that I am not use to was causing the problem. Tom thinks it is that I am just getting old.

I decided that going up to the Thermal Suite might be a good thing so I headed up there to relax and soak for about an hour, which was just enough time to feel much better and hear the extra horn blowing that Frans did as we left Aruba.

 

Tonight's dinner menu was a true Dutch Night with all the usual Dutch night entrees without the Dutch hats. We were able to finish dinner just before 7 and headed to the show lounge to see Benji Hill who is a Juggler/Comedian who is absolutely hilarious. Tom and I both laughed very hard and I had tears in my eyes from laughing. The show was really great. After the show we headed to the Ocean Bar where we each had Blue Coco Mojitos which were tasty. We enjoyed listening to the music and I was even asked to dance by one of the Dance Hosts while Tom was in the restroom ;)

 

Upon returning to our cabin we found an invitation to the VIP party in the Piano Bar tomorrow evening at 7:30 so that should be fun.

 

I guess that about catches everyone up on what is gong on with Tom and Lisa. I will say that this is an extremely relaxing itinerary and I am so thrilled we were able to do this.

 

Signing off from the Beautiful and Elegant MS Statendam.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Tuesday Morning April 21, 2009

 

Good Morning, As you will have noticed I just posted last night's report. For some reason or other I could not log into the internet last night. I had stopped at the Explorations Cafe to get an Caramel Coffee which BTW is fantastic. They make it with a blender here which I know that the Oosterdam did not have and pretty sure they did not have a blended coffee drink on the Eurodam. This is so very good!!!:)

 

Any way thought I would quick write a note and post last night's and this morning before heading to the Green House Spa for my Spa Day. I plan to spend about an hour in the Thermal Suite then at 11:45 I have an appointment for the Pick 3 treatments of 20 minutes each for $99. I plan to have 2 of the Back and Neck making that 40 minutes, then the 20 minute facial. Then go back into the Thermal Suite to relax for a while. This is my kind of day!!!;)

 

It is starting to cloud up and almost look foggy, the sun was shining brightly about 30 minutes ago. I have not checked any weather forecasts recently but before we left the forecast for the Panama Canal for the 22nd showed rain. I am hoping it clears off for us tomorrow.

Tom plans to spend the day reading and relaxing but in various areas of the ship of which I am sure one will be our verandah.

 

Signing off from

the Beautiful and Elegant MS Statendam.

[Sea King]

Monday Evening April 20th, 2009

 

After the show we headed to the Ocean Bar where we each had Blue Coco Mojitos which were tasty. We enjoyed listening to the music and I was even asked to dance by one of the Dance Hosts while Tom was in the restroom ;)

 

 

sounds like one of the real highlights of the trip:)

 

your reports are so detailed .. sure everyone is waiting for the next installment

 

don't forget to share all the details of the VIP Party

[sail7seas]

Hi Lisa.....

 

Don't leave us wondering..... :D

 

 

Did you agree to dance with the Host? ;)

 

Happy you are having such a wonderful time.

Thanks for the reports.

[Sir PMP]

'Mr. Holloway'

 

Isn't that the last name of the girl that was murdered on this island?

[sail7seas]

Natalie Halloway, maybe?

 

[MissWindyCity]

'Mr. Holloway'

 

Isn't that the last name of the girl that was murdered on this island?

 

Yes...it was Natalee Holloway.

Hard to believe a hotel in Aruba would name a drink with that last name!

Pretty tacky in my opinion!

I bet Lisa never even made the connection! :eek:

[MissWindyCity]

Hi Lisa.....

 

Don't leave us wondering..... :D

 

 

Did you agree to dance with the Host? ;)

 

Yeah Lisa, inquiring minds want to know...

Did you dance with the Host???? :D;)

 

P.S. Did you have a mojito for me???

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Afternoon,:)

 

Thought I would give you an update and information of times that we will be going the Locks tomorrow.

I just got back from a very relaxing day in the Spa. After I last posted I went up to the Spa checked in and fist spent an hour in the Thermal Suite, then went back to my locker to change for my massage and mini facial. My Therapist was Dineo from South Africa who is on her first contract and just started in February. She actually gave a very relaxing message. When I told her what Elemis Products I already used she did not try to push any on me, although I inquired about one and will buy from her in a few days. I do plan to have at least one more full massage before the end of the cruise. After the massage I spent about an hour reading in the Relaxing Room area, then moved over to the Thermal Suite. It was about 3:10 so figured I better find my way back to the cabin. I stopped to take a peak in the Lido unfortunately the Bread Pudding looked Dry (too much bread and raisins and not any pudding) so decided to go down to the Explorations Cafe to indulge in another one of those yummy Caramello Frozen Coffee drinks.:D Oh My I am really hooked on them then I also thought the Peanut Butter Cookie and Almond Energy Bar looked good. The Almond Bar was very good. Got back to the cabin and saw two notes from Tom the first was crossed out meaning he had already returned from that which was the Travel Guide talk in the Van Gogh Lounge on the Transit thru the Locks tomorrow. Then he returned saw I had not been back yet and left a note saying he was up in the Crow's Nest.

I have the times that the Statendam will be going thru the locks tomorrow. Of course they say we will be at the Cristobal Pilots Station at 5 AM We are set to enter the Gatun Locks at 7 AM and Depart at 8:30 AM of course this is Central Day Light Saving Time so would be 8 AM East Coast Time and 5 AM Pacific time.

We will arrive at the Pedro Miguel Locks at 1:30PM and depart at 2:20PM and then arrive at the Mira Flores at 2:45 PM and depart at 3:45 PM Central time. Tom said he wants to be up before 5 Am to see it all so it will be a early long day for us.

I took a sneak peak at the dinner menu for tonight and there were some very different items that I had not really seen before. We have done so many 7 days cruises that we just become accustom to what is served and the combinations. There may be on or two items different but for the most part they are pretty much the same. Tonight seems very different, offering Spaghetti, and Chicken Scallipini just to name a couple of items.

Think I will post this and read a bit before I need to get ready for dinner.

Signing off form the Beautiful and Elegant MS Statendam.

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

OK a few corrections of previous postings and please blame it on me being blonde.;) :D

The Drink at Gilligans at the Radisson was probably Mr. Howell but so it may have been a sub conscience slip on my part but I could have sworn it ended with "way"on the menu :o And Ii am positive the waitress called it holloway:eek:

Then on the controversy about the ash trays on the table near the Lido Pool Bar, Tom and I think we have it figured out. We were just board the ship and the ship got in late and we were toward the beginning of those getting to board. On those table the different offerings of sugar are in a little clear glass bowl that looks like a ash tray. I am guessing what I was were these bowls with no sugar in them.

Then the big question did I dance with the Dance Host??? No I turned him down:(, if I could slow dance, or do any time of ball room dancing I would have. Actually taking dancing lesson is on the list of things Tom and I would like to do.

 

[CaledonHockley]

does anybody know where the camera is and at what approximate time we can see the Statendam come through?

[themerle]

Thanks for the updates! I'm enjoying your posts! You said you and Tom would like to take dancing lessons....that's something that DH and I would like to do too! And, of course, the cruise that you are on! Enjoy your evening. :)

[FoxyTerrier]

 

 

Then the big question did I dance with the Dance Host??? No I turned him down:(, if I could slow dance, or do any time of ball room dancing I would have. Actually taking dancing lesson is on the list of things Tom and I would like to do.

 

 

If you do take lessons then we can see you and Tom on the new hit show "Dancing with the HAL Stars" :p

[Love Cruises]

Lisa and Tom ...

 

Thanks for all your updates ... they make me want to be back on the msSTATENDAM eventhough we just got off of her in early March.

 

Have a wonderful day tomorrow in transiting through the Canal. You will love every minute of it. It will surely be a LONG day but well worth.

 

Enjoy the Panama Rolls. The recipe for them will be in your daily program but, of course, the recipe is for a batch for all the passengers. I got a real kick out of that. Someday I will try to break it down for me to make a lesser amount.

 

Can't wait to hear what you think about the transit!!!

[durangoscots]

does anybody know where the camera is and at what approximate time we can see the Statendam come through?

 

You may want to log on and then keep an eye on the cameras .... I believe they are as we enter the locks, but am not sure. On the way out we are running over an hour late so look first at Gatun around 7:00 and keep looking until we appear .... and then about 2:45 at Miraflores and keep looking ... hopefully we will keep better time but it depends on who is ahead of us. It is really an incredible experience from this level!!!

 

Susan - returning to San Diego on the Statendam

[Susie51]

Thank you, Lisa, for continuing to post. Please give us a detailed report of the VIP party.

 

I'm glad to hear you are having a wonderfully relaxing cruise.

[sail7seas]

I just realized I didn't notice Lisa mentioning a Meet and Greet. Is there no CC group on Statendam this cruise? I know that happens sometimes.

 

[innlady1]

Natalie Halloway, maybe?

 

 

Yes, it is. Kind of cheesy to have a drink named after her dad, I think.

[savannahgirl1]

"The Drink at Gilligans at the Radisson was probably Mr. Howell"

 

See that makes sense. The bar was called Giiigans as in Gilligans island, the tv show. Mr. Howell was one of the castaways. I honestly don't think the Radisson would name a drink after the dead girls father. Just a play off the tv how.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Tuesday Evening April 21, 2009

 

Greetings from the MS Statendam

 

Well we have retired a bit earlier this evening because we knew we would be getting up early.

 

Like I mentioned earlier tonight's items on the menu were rather different for us. There was Pumpkin Soup and even a "DAM Bacon and Cabbage Soup" We finished eating early which is one of the advantages of having a table for just two I do think your service tends to be a bit quicker. After dinner I saw that the Future Cruise Consultant Leslie was not busy and since it was only 7 and the VIP Party did not start till 7:30 I decided to sit down and chat with her. Leslie is extremely friendly and what I wanted to chat with her about was actually about working for Holland America as a Cruise Consultant since it has been something I have been considering for the past 3 years and more so recently since I am currently not working. Unfortunately just like every where else there is a freeze in hiring but I figured it does not hurt to at least inquire. I did find out that just today she found out that two of Holland America Ships were going to be used as Floating Hotels in Vancouver for the Olympics next year of which one of them would be the Oosterdam. It seems that Holland American will not be offering any 7 day Mexican Riviera during those weeks. The only ship that will be doing the Mexican Riviera during that time will be the Zaandam and she will alternate that with Hawaii cruises so it will cut down on the amount of Hawaii cruises as well.

 

The VIP Party was very nice and of course Captain Frans Consen was a wonderful Host. I do so enjoy talking with him, we were able to talk a lot with him and talked about several mutual friends.....Yes, John you were one of them;) and it was all good.:D

 

We were one of the last to leave the party but decided since the lounges were not as cold this evening we would go to the Explorer's Lounge and listen to the Rosario Strings and I would have a Spanish Coffee. Hmmmm hope I can sleep tonight because I have certainly had a lot of coffee today.

 

I have to admit I have not taken as many picture during this cruise as I usually do but I am sure tomorrow will change that. I did take quite a few pictures in Aruba but plan to take a lot tomorrow.

Our Assistant Dining Room Manager told us that tomorrow night we will again change our clocks ahead one hour. I am a bit confused because I thought that Acapulco was on Central Time like Puerta Vallarta and I would guess that Costa Rica would be as well so not sure why we would change to Mountain Time already???? Oh well I guess we will just have to wait and see.

 

Tom and I were just discussing over dinner tonight that this cruise is flying by far too quickly :eek: I wish there was a rewind button we will be at the half way point very soon.

 

Well, I think I have informed you of the most recent information, I thought the info about the HAL ships in Vancouver for the Olympics was some big info.

 

Signing off from still in the Atlantic Ocean the Beautiful and Elegant MS Statendam.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

If you do take lessons then we can see you and Tom on the new hit show "Dancing with the HAL Stars" :p

 

:D Now that would be funny, I am actually kind of surprised that HAL has not done something like that on the ships with the longer itineraries like this one.

 

I just realized I didn't notice Lisa mentioning a Meet and Greet. Is there no CC group on Statendam this cruise? I know that happens sometimes.

 

 

Sail, actually this cruise and the two weeks prior were lumped in together for a Roll Call and I believe they only had an organized one the previous 2 weeks I asked on the Roll call if anything was being done for the 2nd two weeks and did not receive a reply. I know that since I booked this cruise last minute I did not want to step on any toes or i would have organized it myself. I was rather disappointed that there was no Get Together of any kind.

[wilsonzoo]

I did find out that just today she found out that two of Holland America Ships were going to be used as Floating Hotels in Vancouver for the Olympics next year of which one of them would be the Oosterdam.

 

Wow -- that's very exciting news for us Northwesterners!!! Can you find out from the cruise consultants how one would go about booking a room during the Olympics on our favorite "Miss O"?!?!