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SD2 Fall '10 Transatlantic Crossing

ctbjr1309

By ctbjr1309,
in SeaDream Yacht Club

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ctbjr1309

ctbjr1309

Posted
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Here's the link to the SD II TA crossing: http://seadream2010.webs.com/

 

No pics yet.

 

I'm wondering if they will show any pics of the cabin interiors after dry dock? It would be great to see what's been updated.

 

Cabins look just the same. No discernible change whatsoever. Incidentally, we're not leaving Lisbon until some time tomorrow. 11 meter waves ......

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rolltide1

rolltide1

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Cabins look just the same. No discernible change whatsoever. Incidentally, we're not leaving Lisbon until some time tomorrow. 11 meter waves ......

 

Do you really mean it? 11 meter = 36 foot waves? I am getting queasy just thinking about this. I hope things calm down soon so that you can enjoy your trip.

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frequent traveler

frequent traveler

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just back from the first night dinner.

 

had a major scare getting to the ship as hotel "lost my luggage". turns out they sent it on to the ship without telling me. Was a bit scary wnen I went to claim it and it wasn't there and valet could not locate. Turns our they had sent it to SD went another passenger and all turned out ok in the end when bags were located. How one boarded SD without any passenger id is another story. The other was located by another passenger at the dock!

 

and yes, we are not leaving lisbon until tomorrow morning at 8 due to wave activity

Things have changed here at SD. First time i have ever boarded and not have been greeted by the captain. And none of my preferences were in my cabin - no bottled sparkling water nor a cheese plate tonight. No ginger ale in the fridge. however, a note to the cabin stewardess quickly remedied most of the omissions.

 

It was a bit discombulating - i haven't had to ask for basics in a while. So now i know, don't take things for granted, even as a repeat customer. remember to complete your profile.

 

wi fi will be operational sometime in december or january. but not yet.

 

really good to see Peter,Jamie, and Clint again. A lot of new faces on board. more about them tomorrow.

 

internet in cabin is fine though.

 

we are staying tied at the pier. 83 passengers. I actually ate in the dining room tonight. First time in 28 nights I've eaten in the dining room and not on deck but its just too cold to eat outide. tonight, I had two different soups - broccoli with blue cheese; then spicy lentiil. Entree was beef and dessert was grand marnier souffle.

 

hopefully we are off to better weather tomorrow.

 

FT

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vandrefalk

vandrefalk

Posted
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Turns out the hotel´s network must be a security risk as DJ´s DH can´t log on to our mutual employer´s network either this morning. Glad I didnºt try to access any banking accounts or other sensitive accounts from the lobby computers. But if you get any emails saying i am stuck in a foreign airport needing money, please ignore!

 

 

Oh, boy, am I with you on that one, FT!! Turns out my problem may have been a Facebook issue rather than straight email hacking, but you never know!

 

11 meter waves????? We need pictures of that! Hope it calms down and you all have a wonderful, safe voyage. We will be with you in spirit!!

 

Vandrefalk

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CDreamer

CDreamer

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Okay...the Splendor saga didn't bother me too much, but after that video I think I'll be canceling my next cruises. :eek:

 

DON'T YOU DARE CANCEL, fpebbles!! ;)

 

Jim, yikes - did you have to post that link? Pass the Bonine please!! :eek::p:eek:

 

CDreamer

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frequent traveler

frequent traveler

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more on yesterday's activities. while i didn't attend - the concert in the salon after dinner was "an evening with John Barrowman"

 

I did christen the spa (no changes noticed except the new La Prairie menu) with an exceptional massage. Squeezed in between the lifeboat drill (which I attended in my usual fashion setting style of SD robe and slippers) and cocktail hour, the very skilled Ae untied knots in my hamstrings and released the tension in my shoulders- very difficult to roll off the table and stumble down to change for cocktail hour. Did get sticker shock contemplating a facial -$200 for La Prairie products. Don't remember it being quite the same under old line. Guess I will keep the lines and wrinkles I've got.

 

Chef this voyage is new- at least to this traveler. Eric (or Erik, will get correct spelling later when I see menu - not posted last night) from Austria was very helpful during boarding buffet. I love the caviar buffet and a selection of local/regional delicacies was also available.

i also failed to mention the wonderful spinach ravioli appetizer enjoyed by several at the table. sd now also posts the total calorie and carb content of the wellness menu and notes gluten free items (I don't remember this - perhaps they did on my previous sailings).

 

another first last night - about froze myself. was thinking that yacht had gone a redo on climate control in dry dock but realized that duh, previous sailings had all been in warmer cliimate.

 

Daniel was running around with the camera last night, so pictures will be posted sometime assume. today's program is packed. with the stretch & tai, the steps for charity walk, our first lecture from Jon Bowermaster, 20 yrs writing and traveling for National Geographic Society. Daily passaround will be Bruschetta with Goat Cheese and Chorizo as well as Tortilla Omelet.

 

Oh yes, Ketel One has been restored as a bar pour, greatly exciting certain passengers.

 

we have yoga this afternoon, with team trivia being geography, then the "slower pace" steps for charity "cocktail trail" and the captain's cocktail reception tonight.

 

so much to do, so little time. we leave lisbon shortly.

 

FT

 

p.s. and i am not checking jim's link until after we arrive in puerto rico. shame on you mr. avery! :eek:

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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No harm intended, I assure you. The waves video is all in the spirit of Education. ;) When I was young and foolish and ran away to sea, one of my first Captain gigs was on an oilfield supply ship similar to the first ship in the video. Yes, I had to work in seas just like that. Have been in much worse on QE2 in the North Atlantic (20+ meter waves) but rest assured, the good Captains at SeaDream would never put you in such conditions.:eek: It is a pretty cool video though. Cammiem, all it takes in conditions like that is another V/T and bed rest.:D. FT, keep those cards & letters coming.:D

J

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Archipelago

Archipelago

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Our QE2 voyage on the 15th of december 2000 was similar to that in the video. When the ship moves from front to back like that the Captain said that the ship was in "parody" . The QE2 was a transatlantic ocean liner and did wonderful... not like that small vessel in the video . They lowered the speed so as not to loosen any bolts or anything . I can still see the waves splashing up on the high deck next to the lido area and we all just laughed :)

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vandrefalk

vandrefalk

Posted
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http://myshippassion.com/video/en-un-mar-picado

Hi Vandrefalk. Check out this link to see some waves.:eek:

 

Jim, you are not a nice man. . . not only does it remind me of "The Perfect Storm", but of the mini-typhoon I went through on the Norwegian Dream years ago. I was in the casino and kept hearing this wierd noise -- turned out to be the screws on the stern as it came out of the water after every wave :eek:

 

I know the wonderful masters of SD would never put us through that!!

Vandrefalk

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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Jim, you are not a nice man. . . not only does it remind me of "The Perfect Storm", but of the mini-typhoon I went through on the Norwegian Dream years ago. I was in the casino and kept hearing this wierd noise -- turned out to be the screws on the stern as it came out of the water after every wave :eek:

 

I know the wonderful masters of SD would never put us through that!!

Vandrefalk

 

Hi Karen:

You must be a good sailor to be in the casino when it was that rough.:eek:

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ctbjr1309

ctbjr1309

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Hi there. We are alive and well but have been without internet or phone service for over 24 hours. It is back but very slow and spotty still. Just now passing Madeira which is scheduled to be the last land we will see until reaching Puerto Rico.

 

Weather today was cloudy at first, then loads of sun and now back to sun. Seas are very smooth and have been just fine since leaving Lisbon. It was a tad swelly yesterday morning (we left at 8 AM, so I'm told) but no complaints from any passengers about motion issues.

 

DJ and FT are taking notes and will be posting relatively soon, I'm sure.

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frequent traveler

frequent traveler

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Pics are up now.

 

Good to know all is well and they're on their way.

 

The caption for the bottom photo (under "Lisbon-Portugal") is incorrect - is that Jeff, SD1's CAD (who was on our Greece-Croatia cruise), on board?

 

CDreamer

 

yes, jeff is on board as the club director (basically a sales position), daniel is our activities director.

 

bear with me folks - not sure if everything will post. internet is fading in and out. this is a cut and paste from word from yesterday (thursday). more will follow later about today.

 

Made the steps for charity walk in the morning –after buying a jacket in the boutique, and also completed the afternoon walk. Can’t believe I’m wearing a jacket on SD!. However, wave action died down. DJ reminded me we were going “with the waves” – all I know is there were no “slapping noises”. It wasn’t particularly warm or sunny. I didn’t park in my usual pool side deck chair today but stayed upstairs.

 

Werner served me breakfast. I passed on Eggs Bennie today, but saw several orders go by. I passed on the special – a Provencal Omelet and stayed with a boring poached eggs and extra crispy bacon. Werner made sure the bacon was extra crispy and kept the cappuccinos coming. Managed to limit myself to two bites of bananas brulee.

 

At lunch the tomato basil soup was fantastic. I believe the soups on this voyage are being made with less salt. Also had the first day mussels and a spinach salad.

 

Hit a dead spot so internet was down this afternoon, meant I napped when I thought I was going to check in with the office. Oh well!.

 

June made the rounds cleaning sunglasses upstairs this afternoon and Zoltan brought me a plate of cookies, so much for my resolve!

 

Had a bit of an accident with the new jacket – hit some unmarked grey paint outside the bridge on the abutment when I went to watch the sunset (and yes, it truly was unmarked, I didn’t miss the sign for those that know me). Here’s where SD gets it right. When I went to the concierge desk, Chela said they would take to the cleaners, Jeff rushed it down right away and not much later, Peter shows up at my door with a new jacket. I don’t know if this is standard on other lines, but I’m not tempted to find out.

 

New wait staff at dinner, I forgot to mention. Eanes from Croatia and Nicolas from Argentina. Fantastic service. There was a bit of a glitch with my steak (its hard to get it rare enough for me) and of course they made it right.

 

Here’s where SD got it wrong though – they “chose” to make an adjustment to the antenna taking the internet access down. No advance warning to those of us paying for access or having work commitments. No thought given to doing it in the middle of the day. Yes, it had to be done, but with a little bit of thought, the inconvenience could have been minimized.

 

walked behind the captain on the morning walk, he was not on the gangway to greet us due to a dental emergency and pain medication from the yacht's doctor (who looks all of 12, gosh does this mean I am really old!).

 

one of the tenders has new Volvo Penta engine -- will do 32 knots. Wow. new deck on back of deck 6. new carpet - same pattern in cabins and halls. (would not have recognized). And the air conditioning/vents have been completely overhauled. so it wasn't just me and being in Lisbon!

 

dinner last night was the lobster, mushroom veloute soup with truffle soup, steak tartare appetizer and SD Chocolate noir dessert (at least mine was).

 

had eggs bennie for breakfast.

 

 

off to cocktails tonight. more later. Disney Jen has written pages and pages but they can't get port to internet in room to work at all. will trade internet access in my room for candid pictures taken today (no alcohol involved -i actually have walked almost 5 miles today, but overhead shots are extremely unflattering!) :eek:- negotations underway. :cool:

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frequent traveler

frequent traveler

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Um. I have officially decided that my arse will NOT be on an SD TA in 2011.

 

*Off to hurl because I am now seasick.*

 

Thanks, Avery.:eek:

 

my 4th crossing on SD and we have never had rough seas, including this one. SD builds in more than enough time for the Captains go around bad weather. We stayed in Lisbon overnight to avoid bad seas and are still on track. I've had much worse in the Caribbean.

 

this one is smooth, and I haven't heard of anyone who is taking medicine, much less sick. Captain terje is even manoevering around bursts of rain.

 

I may be ticked about the internet issue and the choices made to advance the "wifi network" when the upgrade was working just fine in May, but not the flexibility given to the Captains to accomodate the weather.

FT

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DisneyJen "Live from...." Rare

DisneyJen

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Sipping on a glass of champagne (Montaudon) before heading out for dinner.

 

All is definitely well on SD2 ... except of course for the internet issue which sent quite a few in our group who had business to attend to (never mind CC business) twitching. Hopefully those issue are now resolved and we will see an increase in speed ... of the internet as well as postings.

 

I do indeed have several pages (last DJ's DH counted it was over 12) of notes/observations. Bottom line ... we are having a very wonderful time with 86 passengers and 88 crew!

 

Lots of firsts for us this time ... even though this is our fifth SD voyage.

 

The crew is taking excellent care of all of us ... as always.

 

Time to run for dinner ... more to come ... I promise!

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