dewhit6959
December 5th, 2004, 01:44 AM
Dear Friends,
As in part 1 , I will continue with details, fact, opinion and observations of our recent holiday which ended December 1st. We are now in Norfolk, at the Marriott Waterside, on the 24th floor. We had asked for a corner room which has two large windows. We can see the river, entertainment complex and Portsmouth from one window and Nauticus and a good part of downtown Norfolk out the other. These rooms on the concierge level are not cheap, but are very comfortable. I am normally a penny pincher, but holidays are for enjoyment and there aren't any luggage racks on hearses, so I pay what is needed to insure I don't have to deal with mundane issues such as extra towels, drunks next door and children outside the door. It works. One good thing about this room is it has a perfect view of the Maasdam at rest next to the Nauticus. After a breakfast buffet in the hotel with Susan, also from cruise critic and staying nearby for the cruise,and a few errands, we repacked the Amtrak repacking and relaxed and watched the passengers slowly make their way off the Maasdam. By midmorning, the stream of ants off was replaced by numerous buses emptying their passengers. We saw a few yellow school buses pull up in the circle in front of Nauticus. I don't know if there were passengers on board the school buses or not. The wife was in the midst of a small fashion crisis, so I excused myself to wander the grounds. The Virginia School Association was in full swing that day with chorus and music teachers everywhere and gangs of school girls bunched up everywhere and boys in smaller groups with their hands deep in pockets, checking out the girls. The adult chaperones were turning circles in the midst of this crying out for wayward members. I spoke briefly with a young teacher who bemoaned the fact that the football team was transported on chartered buses to their games and ate at school board expense on the road every week, while the chorus had to hold sales every week for the past year to pay for their expenses to this once a year gathering. I gave her five dollars as she began giving me the rundown on political problems within the scool board and excused myself to find a cab for a last minute run to the store.
Holt was a part time cabbie and a fulltime artist. He looked dangerous from the rear, which is how you must judge a cabbie's appearance. He was not dangerous, just young, artistic and very tatooed. He took me to the the state run ABC store, which handles liquor sales in the state of Virginia. I moved about picking up our mixers and items while some sailors argued the merits of one half gallon of good hooch versus two half gallons of so-so hooch. The clerk wanted to know at the check out if I wanted my change in money or scratch off tickets. Next was a local market on the edge of a city housing project. Holt said it was pretty safe during the day and the prices were lower. It seemed that everyone was eating as they shopped. I wanted to bum a fig newton from one of the kids wandering the aisle, but decided against it. At the register, the check out girl asked if I had anything smaller than a twenty.
Holt gave me a slow ride back to the Marriott and mentioned that my tweed jacket looked like one he had, but didn't wear any more his since it betrayed his "artist" image at the clubs.
The fashion crisis was over on my return and the cosmetics were packed which signalled we could proceed to the ship. After making an end run around various adults and children anguishing over roommate scenarios, we were checked out and on the way. All you can see for four or five blocks is the Maasdam at the end of the street. Even though it is small for cruise ships these days, it looms over everything. The site of a ship ready for voyage should get you excited. It does me. Someone is going somewhere. Give bags, give money. Check in was very organized. A woman in a wheel chair besides us was trying to take a nap as a younger woman raised hell about oxygen cannisters. I couldn't tell who she was arguing with since she was turning in circles. We breezed thru the scanners, wands and assorted personnel. We just kept quiet, kept smiling and they kept saying "this way sir". The young man at the gangplank smiled and pointed the way and we were relieved of our carry on's and escorted to cabin 016 on the Navigation deck. This would be home for ten days. We immediately made a dash to the veranda. We just looked at each other and smiled.
There were bottles of champagne from the captain and hotel manager. There was a bottle from our agent whom I had hounded quite a bit in the two weeks preceding today. I was very concerned about air conditioning and plumbing. He was very understanding and did all he could to get answers.
The room was not cool, but not warm. It was a temperature that made you think you could have problems, but maybe not. After stuffing things into closets, drawers and cabinets, we looked over the gift certificates and I feigned surprise at each one the wife read off. She knew most of them were from me. The office had sent something and friends gave us spa gifts. The one thing I took particular notice of was the flower arrangements I had ordered. The red roses were there and magnificent.(Yellow roses are not available)The large fresh arrangement was not what I thought it should be, but that was that. Liquor orders would be brought around the next day. I still had a few mini's here and there and could hold out.
We began by going to the dining room and had been assigned table 46, upper deck for eight at eight. Next was the spa, which was recruiting and herding a group for a tour. We said no and the wife made some appointments with the receptionist. I went down to the front desk and asked if there would be any problems with the a.c. The girl froze. She asked if the a.c. was working now. I said I couldn't tell, but believed it was. When I asked if there had been any problems earlier, she looked back at the other girl behind the desk. The woman behind the desk came around and said to let her know immediately if we felt the a.c was not up to par. I requested a fan and they sent it shortly. I will touch on this now and let it drop. Our cabin had temperature swings. Nothing too extreme, but at the wrong times. Once we were in the islands and in shorts, the veranda doors stayed open, but getting ready in the evenings, it was a little warm. Not the problem it could have been, but there just the same. Enough said. Starboard side had toilet problems off and on, port side was ok. When I flushed, it worked. No problem. Good pressure.
I checked on the suite of friends we had met on this board. The door was unlocked and they had not yet arrived. I was tempted to hide their hor'derves (sp?-forget it)but decided I should wait to meet them formally and gauge their humor level first. Don't mess with a man's money or his food. or his dog.
The boat drill was very organized and officers were moving about and looking serious which is a good thing. Of course, there were smart ass comments to be heard. A man asked me if I got as tired of these drills as he did. I replied that ever since the Bootchabong sank under me in the Nigerian sea, I rather enjoyed the drills. He studied my poker face for a moment and never said another word to me...the entire cruise. This was our second cruise.
We returned to the cabin and met our steward. I know his name, but will keep that under wraps. He was on his second contract and wouldn't be returning. His brothers also work on ships. He was joyful, pleasant, a hard worker and informative. We told him what we would need and when and gave him a partial tip up front. He performed his duties fine. I probably held him up on occassion with my questions. After the grapes stayed for two days, he asked and we told him we didn't use grapes in any drinks, they were gone, never to be seen again. Oranges and banana's. He cleaned the blender the first day, but we told him to leave that be, we would be sterilizing it on a regular basis. The concierge was oustanding. Her name was Kathleen and she was outstanding. If I was in the restraunt/hotel business, I would hire her. She really helped us in St. Maarten, but that's another story.
As the ship headed down the river, we began meeting some of the cruise critic people I had been speaking with. CDR. Mark and Carolyn were neighbors down the hall and we all enjoyed howdies and champagne, eats and chatter.
At dinner, we met the table and were pleased. Mark and Carolyn, from Norfolk, Mathew and Vince from the area, Rob and Sheyrl, a retired couple who travelled extensively and shared their experiences when asked. We enjoyed the first meal together, staying long after the deck was cleared. Everyone chewed with their mouth closed, had an opinion and shared it, and listened to others. I even managed to eat off my plate only. (for which the wife was grateful, even if it didn't last past one night)
.......time to walk the dog........more tomorrow.........
As in part 1 , I will continue with details, fact, opinion and observations of our recent holiday which ended December 1st. We are now in Norfolk, at the Marriott Waterside, on the 24th floor. We had asked for a corner room which has two large windows. We can see the river, entertainment complex and Portsmouth from one window and Nauticus and a good part of downtown Norfolk out the other. These rooms on the concierge level are not cheap, but are very comfortable. I am normally a penny pincher, but holidays are for enjoyment and there aren't any luggage racks on hearses, so I pay what is needed to insure I don't have to deal with mundane issues such as extra towels, drunks next door and children outside the door. It works. One good thing about this room is it has a perfect view of the Maasdam at rest next to the Nauticus. After a breakfast buffet in the hotel with Susan, also from cruise critic and staying nearby for the cruise,and a few errands, we repacked the Amtrak repacking and relaxed and watched the passengers slowly make their way off the Maasdam. By midmorning, the stream of ants off was replaced by numerous buses emptying their passengers. We saw a few yellow school buses pull up in the circle in front of Nauticus. I don't know if there were passengers on board the school buses or not. The wife was in the midst of a small fashion crisis, so I excused myself to wander the grounds. The Virginia School Association was in full swing that day with chorus and music teachers everywhere and gangs of school girls bunched up everywhere and boys in smaller groups with their hands deep in pockets, checking out the girls. The adult chaperones were turning circles in the midst of this crying out for wayward members. I spoke briefly with a young teacher who bemoaned the fact that the football team was transported on chartered buses to their games and ate at school board expense on the road every week, while the chorus had to hold sales every week for the past year to pay for their expenses to this once a year gathering. I gave her five dollars as she began giving me the rundown on political problems within the scool board and excused myself to find a cab for a last minute run to the store.
Holt was a part time cabbie and a fulltime artist. He looked dangerous from the rear, which is how you must judge a cabbie's appearance. He was not dangerous, just young, artistic and very tatooed. He took me to the the state run ABC store, which handles liquor sales in the state of Virginia. I moved about picking up our mixers and items while some sailors argued the merits of one half gallon of good hooch versus two half gallons of so-so hooch. The clerk wanted to know at the check out if I wanted my change in money or scratch off tickets. Next was a local market on the edge of a city housing project. Holt said it was pretty safe during the day and the prices were lower. It seemed that everyone was eating as they shopped. I wanted to bum a fig newton from one of the kids wandering the aisle, but decided against it. At the register, the check out girl asked if I had anything smaller than a twenty.
Holt gave me a slow ride back to the Marriott and mentioned that my tweed jacket looked like one he had, but didn't wear any more his since it betrayed his "artist" image at the clubs.
The fashion crisis was over on my return and the cosmetics were packed which signalled we could proceed to the ship. After making an end run around various adults and children anguishing over roommate scenarios, we were checked out and on the way. All you can see for four or five blocks is the Maasdam at the end of the street. Even though it is small for cruise ships these days, it looms over everything. The site of a ship ready for voyage should get you excited. It does me. Someone is going somewhere. Give bags, give money. Check in was very organized. A woman in a wheel chair besides us was trying to take a nap as a younger woman raised hell about oxygen cannisters. I couldn't tell who she was arguing with since she was turning in circles. We breezed thru the scanners, wands and assorted personnel. We just kept quiet, kept smiling and they kept saying "this way sir". The young man at the gangplank smiled and pointed the way and we were relieved of our carry on's and escorted to cabin 016 on the Navigation deck. This would be home for ten days. We immediately made a dash to the veranda. We just looked at each other and smiled.
There were bottles of champagne from the captain and hotel manager. There was a bottle from our agent whom I had hounded quite a bit in the two weeks preceding today. I was very concerned about air conditioning and plumbing. He was very understanding and did all he could to get answers.
The room was not cool, but not warm. It was a temperature that made you think you could have problems, but maybe not. After stuffing things into closets, drawers and cabinets, we looked over the gift certificates and I feigned surprise at each one the wife read off. She knew most of them were from me. The office had sent something and friends gave us spa gifts. The one thing I took particular notice of was the flower arrangements I had ordered. The red roses were there and magnificent.(Yellow roses are not available)The large fresh arrangement was not what I thought it should be, but that was that. Liquor orders would be brought around the next day. I still had a few mini's here and there and could hold out.
We began by going to the dining room and had been assigned table 46, upper deck for eight at eight. Next was the spa, which was recruiting and herding a group for a tour. We said no and the wife made some appointments with the receptionist. I went down to the front desk and asked if there would be any problems with the a.c. The girl froze. She asked if the a.c. was working now. I said I couldn't tell, but believed it was. When I asked if there had been any problems earlier, she looked back at the other girl behind the desk. The woman behind the desk came around and said to let her know immediately if we felt the a.c was not up to par. I requested a fan and they sent it shortly. I will touch on this now and let it drop. Our cabin had temperature swings. Nothing too extreme, but at the wrong times. Once we were in the islands and in shorts, the veranda doors stayed open, but getting ready in the evenings, it was a little warm. Not the problem it could have been, but there just the same. Enough said. Starboard side had toilet problems off and on, port side was ok. When I flushed, it worked. No problem. Good pressure.
I checked on the suite of friends we had met on this board. The door was unlocked and they had not yet arrived. I was tempted to hide their hor'derves (sp?-forget it)but decided I should wait to meet them formally and gauge their humor level first. Don't mess with a man's money or his food. or his dog.
The boat drill was very organized and officers were moving about and looking serious which is a good thing. Of course, there were smart ass comments to be heard. A man asked me if I got as tired of these drills as he did. I replied that ever since the Bootchabong sank under me in the Nigerian sea, I rather enjoyed the drills. He studied my poker face for a moment and never said another word to me...the entire cruise. This was our second cruise.
We returned to the cabin and met our steward. I know his name, but will keep that under wraps. He was on his second contract and wouldn't be returning. His brothers also work on ships. He was joyful, pleasant, a hard worker and informative. We told him what we would need and when and gave him a partial tip up front. He performed his duties fine. I probably held him up on occassion with my questions. After the grapes stayed for two days, he asked and we told him we didn't use grapes in any drinks, they were gone, never to be seen again. Oranges and banana's. He cleaned the blender the first day, but we told him to leave that be, we would be sterilizing it on a regular basis. The concierge was oustanding. Her name was Kathleen and she was outstanding. If I was in the restraunt/hotel business, I would hire her. She really helped us in St. Maarten, but that's another story.
As the ship headed down the river, we began meeting some of the cruise critic people I had been speaking with. CDR. Mark and Carolyn were neighbors down the hall and we all enjoyed howdies and champagne, eats and chatter.
At dinner, we met the table and were pleased. Mark and Carolyn, from Norfolk, Mathew and Vince from the area, Rob and Sheyrl, a retired couple who travelled extensively and shared their experiences when asked. We enjoyed the first meal together, staying long after the deck was cleared. Everyone chewed with their mouth closed, had an opinion and shared it, and listened to others. I even managed to eat off my plate only. (for which the wife was grateful, even if it didn't last past one night)
.......time to walk the dog........more tomorrow.........