Live from Noordam 3/28/11

[Candy]

Jim and I have finally made it to our home-away-from-home, the beautiful ms Noordam! It's our 29th cruise; 3rd on Noordam. I'll try to post every day, but you know how that goes!

We had ashort and uneventful Allegiant flight from Savannah to Ft. Lauderdale and arrived at La Quinta Hollywood by 1:30. Due to some inefficient housekeeping scheduling we had to wait 2 hours for our room to be ready while about 20 other parties were checked in ahead of us. While the common areas of this hotel have been remodeled, the rooms are still old with shabby upholstery, mismatched paint on the walls, mold outside the windows and plumbing louder (yes, I said LOUDER) than that on our cruise ship. The continental breakfast was just OK - waffles, cereal, apples and pastries. We waited only a few minutes and 3 shuttles came to take those waiting to the cruise port.

Fifteen minutes after we arrived at the pier, we stepped onto our beautiful Noordam and went directly to our cabin. I stopped at the Neptune Lounge to drop off our CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet invitations, and off we went to the Mariner lunch in the Vista Dining Room. Iggy was our waiter and Jim recognized the voice of Bermont, our wine steward from our November Noordam cruise. Sadly, he is not working in the area where we have fixed main seating.

By the time we returned from lunch (about 1:45) all our luggage had been delivered. I took some time for some last-minute arrangements for the M&G and returned to help unpack. How come most of the clothes were mine? Jim says it's because I take one size for the beginning of the cruise and another size for the end. Same with shoes, I'm afraid.

After the safety drill I went up to the Seaview Bar for the SailAway, but there were not many people there. The thunder and very slight drizzle had chased many away, and even though I was wearing my ZuiderPrincess crown and had an armful of beads, I couldn't find our group, so I returned to the cabin to watch a movie before dinner.

We attended a lovely suite reception hosted by Captain Scott, and it was great to catch up with my old friend Mark Pells and Shane Michaels. This is going to be a GREAT CRUISE!

Dinner at a nice table for two was quite good, and Iggy was our waiter again! His assistant Felix was very attentive, and we are all going to get along just fine!

The Welcome Aboard Show tonight was hosted by CD Shane, and featured the HAL singers and dancers and 3 passenger-assisted games. I left Jim at the Hold'em table and began this first part of my online daily review. I hope I can keep up this pace - I'm already tired!

Candy the ZuiderPrincess

[Cruizer Bill]

Candy,
Thanks for checking in, enjoy your cruise and suite! We look forward to reading more of your reports. We were on Noordam earlier this month and LOVED it!!
Bill

[Krazy Kruizers]

sounds like you are off to a great cruise

[kazu]

Candy, thanks for keeping us up to date. Looking forward to your reports. Enjoy your cruise :):)

[IRL_Joanie]

I will not be able to follow the blog Candy, but will read all of it on my return from my own cruise on the 10th!!

I took snap shots of the Noordam leaving yesterday and yes, it did seem to be lacking many at the railings:(

Did you see the pod of dolphins playing in the area?? They were being reported by Captains all the way from south of the Coast Guard station up through the middle of the channel near the condos?

You have a wondeful cruise!!

Joanie

[Love the beach]

Watched you sailing away without me on the port everglades webcam :(. Have a wonderful cruise ! Love that Noordam :D!
Marge

[Candy]

We had a wonderful CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet this morning in the Captain's Corner. About 35 of us were joined by the Hottest HotMan at Sea, Hotel Manager Mark Pells (who also provided the Mimosas), CD Shane Michaels, Chef Erik, the Events Manager Renee, the Signature Shops Manager, Guest Relations Manager, Beverage Manager Walter (who also volunteered to be the CC Name Tag Distributor - what a great sense of humor!), and the Greenhouse Spa Manager Melica. They all gave nice presentations and we had a nice time getting to know each other.

The weather started off a little drizzly, but ended up a bright sunshiny day. Captain Scott took us through the calmest waters, and we had a really smooth ride!

Jim isn't one for fancy luncheons, so we skipped the Suite Luncheon in favor of the Trivia game. Jim entered the Hold'em Tournament and came in 3rd (he hasn't found his groove yet - there's no live dealer) while I took a nap before our first formal dinner.

I watched most of the production show while Jim played more poker, then played dice for awhile. I had a really nice run and about doubled my money, then slowly lost it back. That was fun!

Had a midnight snack in the Lido and came back down to post this note. Another sea day tomorrow!

[Candy]

What a beautiful day! Sunshine, calm seas, an umbrella drink - who could ask for more? We slept late, hit the Neptune for breakfast, then took a nap. Yes, I know... why would I go on a cruise and sleep so much? Have you ever tried the BEDS on this ship? And the PILLOWS? They surround you like a cocoon and it takes all available willpower to get up! We finally made it to the Lido for lunch and the spa for treatment reservations.

Spa Manager MILICA is by far the Staff Member of the Day! I told her what was 'wrong' with me and she arranged a combination of three treatments that was restful and luxurious, and my wrinkles disappeared! Danielle, the La Therapie consultant knew just which products to use... it seems I've been getting the wrong facial all along!

We didn't care for the selections in the Vista Dining Room, so went upstairs. We couldn't get into Canaletto, so we ate at the Lido Restaurant, which had almost exactly the same menu as the MDR. Oh well, at least I was able to get a nice plate of Penne with Pesto Alfredo Sauce.

It took me 10 minutes to lose my nightly allowance to the dice table, and I'm writing this post as I wait for the 10:00 show to begin.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, so I can score a new bag like LAFFNVEGAS did... g'night!

[erewhon]

Thank you for your live reports from the Noordam.

[sail7seas]

We watched Maasdam sail from Port Everglades from our Hyatt Pier 66 balcony and then saw Noordam sail right after her. A beautiful sight.

Hope you have a great cruise on the beautiful Noordam. :)
We left early and tried to hurry everyone off so you could board promptly. ;)

[Himself]

Have a great cruise!

[Cruizer Bill]

Diana and I showed up at Canaletto at 5:30 one evening and were seated within 5 minutes. We were out of there by 6:45 and they were able to turn the table around by 7 PM. I think if you show up early they will seat you, or else we were just lucky.
Keep the reports coming, what a great ship!!!

[Crazy Gramps]

is the pinnacle open for breakfast?

Gramps

[Krazy Kruizers]

loving your live report candy

[sail7seas]

is the pinnacle open for breakfast?

Gramps

Pinnacle was open for breakfast every morning of our March 18 Noordam cruise and it was delicious. We really enjoyed it and went most mornings.

[Candy]

We watched Maasdam sail from Port Everglades from our Hyatt Pier 66 balcony and then saw Noordam sail right after her. A beautiful sight.

Hope you have a great cruise on the beautiful Noordam. :)
We left early and tried to hurry everyone off so you could board promptly. ;)



Thanks, Sail... she was spic 'n' span when we boarded!

[Candy]

See, I told you I'd get lazy! We woke up to a beautiful warm day and went ashore (yes, Jim got off the ship). We really didn't want to take the water taxi all the way into town or over to the French side, so we stayed at the dockside shopping area. Good thing we did, though, because I found the ring I've been looking for for a year at DI (see Dan for the best deals).

Once back aboard, we dined at the Lido and played Trivia and Bingo. We both got down to one number (me twice) but no wins. We had to miss a cocktail party due to a wardrobe malfunction, had dinner at the MDR, and I was so tired (NOBODY napped yesterday) I went to bed without posting. I assume Jim haunted the Hold'em table all evening.

[mamaofami]

Hope you have a wonderful cruise on my favorite ship. She's so elegant.

[innlady1]

We had a wonderful CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet this morning in the Captain's Corner. About 35 of us were joined by the Hottest HotMan at Sea, Hotel Manager Mark Pells (who also provided the Mimosas), CD Shane Michaels, Chef Erik, the Events Manager Renee, the Signature Shops Manager, Guest Relations Manager, Beverage Manager Walter (who also volunteered to be the CC Name Tag Distributor - what a great sense of humor!), and the Greenhouse Spa Manager Melica. They all gave nice presentations and we had a nice time getting to know each other.

The weather started off a little drizzly, but ended up a bright sunshiny day. Captain Scott took us through the calmest waters, and we had a really smooth ride!

Jim isn't one for fancy luncheons, so we skipped the Suite Luncheon in favor of the Trivia game. Jim entered the Hold'em Tournament and came in 3rd (he hasn't found his groove yet - there's no live dealer) while I took a nap before our first formal dinner.

I watched most of the production show while Jim played more poker, then played dice for awhile. I had a really nice run and about doubled my money, then slowly lost it back. That was fun!

Had a midnight snack in the Lido and came back down to post this note. Another sea day tomorrow!

LOL...I totally agree, Candy! He is hot! Please tell him the innkeepers from Nantucket say "hello!"

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Candy, I hope you and Jim are having a great time, I am sorry I did not get to wish you Bon Voyage before you left :o
Looking forward to hearing about everything when you return :)

[Candy]

Lox 'n' Bagels from the Neptune started my day, followed by an early jaunt into town looking for goodies. It wasn't real busy, with only 2 ships in port. I walked down what seemed to be a street where locals shopped, and ended up in one of the large straw markets in town. They're a little more aggressive here, but I only found one woman who would meet my price on some trinkets. It got hotter and stuffier in there, so I made my way back to the ship, found Jim sleeping again, and went solo up to the Lido.

This is the first time I've attended the St. Lucia sailaway, and I'm really glad I stayed. The Captain opened up the bow so we could enjoy the hour-long scenic trip down the western coast to Soufriere, where we picked up some passengers who had excursions down that way. The Pitons are two 'mountains' about 2400 feet high, and seem to jut straight out of the water. You must see this to appreciate it.

Jim went to the Casino at 4:00 to sign up for the Hold'em tournament, and was the only one there. A few minutes later someone else showed up, but not enough to start a game. There sure aren't many gamblers on this ship!

After dinner in the MDR (spinach & cheese lasagna was superb) we migrated to the Casino where Jim's Hold'em game was already in progress. The Vista Lounge showed a movie (Life as We Know It) which was already over, and nothing else scheduled 'til the Filipino Crew Show at 11:00. Still no action at the dice table, so I once again came 'home' to post this note.

[Stakeout]

We watched Maasdam sail from Port Everglades from our Hyatt Pier 66 balcony and then saw Noordam sail right after her. A beautiful sight.

Hope you have a great cruise on the beautiful Noordam. :)
We left early and tried to hurry everyone off so you could board promptly. ;)




I have friends that were on the 3/18 Noordam...and then were sailing back to back on the 3/28 Noordam.. took a few screen-captures for them of the PE Webcam as the Noordam and Maasdam were leaving PE on 3/28.. Maasdam backed out first

earlier docked at PE ..at 1pm 3/28
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/DesktopPortEvergladesMaasdamNoordamDocked032811.jp g

NOORDAM

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image4-1Noordam032811.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image3-1Noordam032811.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image2-1Noordam032811.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image1-1Noordam032811.jpg

MAASDAM

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image4-1Maasdam032811.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image3-1Maasdam032811.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Stakeout/Port%20Everglades%20WebCam%20Cruises/Image2-1Maasdam032811.jpg

[Stakeout]

Jim went to the Casino at 4:00 to sign up for the Hold'em tournament, and was the only one there. A few minutes later someone else showed up, but not enough to start a game. There sure aren't many gamblers on this ship!



have friends onboard with you.. they are doing a back to back from 3/18... if you happen to see my buddy Tom .. I know he's always at the Hold'em table.. big guy .. you can't miss him :D...

spoke to his wife Denise on the 3/28 turn-around day.. said not too many people at the hold'em table..it was tuff getting a game going at least on that 3/18 trip... didn't know they still are doing computer hold'em not a live dealer... pretty sure they had the computerized table on either the Maasdam or Volendam a while back..I know they took it out as I watched them carry it off down the stairs.... I know they have a live dealer these days on the Maasdam--last time we were on it Christmas-New Years) and most recently Statendam in February also had a live dealer

[Candy]

Wide awake at 7:00 AM! This is probably the first time ever we breakfasted at the Lido so early... I rarely get to try the Eggs Benedict station, and was most pleased with the Scottish (need my smoked salmon fix every day) accompanied by the usual croissants and fruit. The waffles made to order were yummy (several toppings available) and Jim's omelet was exactly the way he built it! You know we took a nap after, intending to decide later whether to go ashore or sunbathe. I went ashore to buy some trinkets and met Jim at the $50,000 Bingo game. No one won the jackpot, but one lady won twice and there were 5 winners at the end.

Jenny the Pinnacle Manager is the Staffperson of the day! She happened to be in the Neptune when I came in begging for a reservation for tonight, and she moved some things around and got us in at 6:30. Jim figured we'd have time to get to the 8:00 show (comedian Mike Robinson) but we all know that's nearly impossible, don't we? We were seated and served right away with Sarah from Djakarta as our waitress. Time between courses was uncomfortably lengthy and Jim grew more and more impatient. Once we got past 8:00 he quit worrying about the time and was once again able to enjoy our meal. He had the lobster (great) and I enjoyed the petit filet mignon, followed by the triple creme brulee. One hour & forty-five minutes for dinner with no wine service.

We did make it to the 10:00 show... I dragged Jim away from the Hold'em table to see Mike Robinson - a comedian/ventriloquist with a very funny routine. When we returned to the Casino, there were actually PEOPLE AT THE DICE TABLE! I played for over 2 hours and had a ball!

[Candy]

It's a shame that we docked at this beautiful island on a Sunday. When I went ashore I found only a few souvenier shops and one straw market open.

Manager of the Day - Marketing Manager Marc Thompson! Marc hosted 8 curious passengers on a tour of the inner workings of the Noordam. Beginning with Stage Manager Maria's tour of the stage areas, where we learned how the sets are constructed and stored. In the dressing room area wo of the dancers told us about the dancers' daily routines, contract lengths and work schedules, and then we went on to the wardrobe room which was crammed with beautiful costumes and about 100 wigs.

Our next stop was the laundry area where Catalina showed us the tailors' room where all the uniforms are constructed and/or tailored. In the laundry area we learned the progression of both ship and passenger laundry, how it's sorted and handled, the HUGE washing machines (133 pound capacity), dryers, ironing stations and the largest mangle I've ever seen that irons and folds linens all by itself.

On to I-95, the crew corridor that runs roughly from stem to stern. Lining the walls of this hall are ship diagrams of the various fire and other safety information. We also saw the flood doors that close off any area that may become flooded.

In the engine room, we viewed the many charts and dials on the console and all over the wall indicating things I will never understand, but are crucial to the engine and water systems.

In the Waste Management section we "experienced" the various ways our trash is handled. They actually go through each bag of trash, both ship and personal, by hand! Glass and plastics are sorted according to the port to which it will be offloaded. Apparently some islands are pretty picky about how their shredded plastic is bundled. We also saw barrels of discarded food.

"Bosco" then led us through the food storage rooms, and showed us how the items that will be readily consumed are in the middle of the room, leaving the less-used items along the walls. At the Liquor Room we were treated to flutes of Mumm's.

Executive Chef Thomas Schuman took us through the various kitchen areas on deck 2 (there is another smaller kitchen on deck 3) and we saw how the chilled and steam tables are organized and some of the preparation. The chocolate covered strawberries were yummy! He also explained the electronic food management system which tracks which menu items have already been served. Lining the walls of the prep areas are photos of the various dishes to show how the dish should LOOK before it leaves the kitchen.

The last stop was The Bridge. Hotel Manager Mark Pells met us in the elevator lobby and escorted us to the bridge where we experienced a vista no passenger is able to see. The Captain can see forwards, sideways, rearways and even downways when maneuvering the ship while docking. We spotted a small ship on the radar that was only barely seen on the horizon. Captain John Scott joined us for a little Q&A and the ship photographer took a group photo.

In The Crow's Nest we were treated to a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres and were given two books - one of HAL's culinary treats from the Chef and one about towel animals from Housekeeping. I absolutely loved this tour. It was 3 hours with lots of stair-climbing, but at $150 pp I think it is well worth it.

Jim bowed out of the ship tour and won the Hold'em Tournament. We enjoyed formal night in the MDR (Land and Sea was great), and I retired after a strenuous day WITH NO NAP, while Jim held reign over the Hold'em table.

[kazu]

Thanks so much for the information on the ship's tour Candy. different people on the boards have different opinions, but it sounds like it was good and something I think dh will enjoy. Your posts are great. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

thanks candy

loving your live report

[Candy]

We were docked at Crown Bay, and I visited the little shopping area right by the pier, but there was nothing out of the ordinary to buy. We had a lovely lunch in the MDR and we caught some rays by the midship pool.

Staff Member of the Day - Shane Michaels! This young man has SO much energy and seems to be everywhere! We especially enjoyed his trivia games. Today, however, we had NO luck with the trivia game, and did NOT win the $70,000 Bingo game (although DJ Jazzy is a great Bingo caller, and we had much fun). After dinner in the MDR, I caught the Livewire show... a husband/wife team who played Celtic music on the electric guitar and violin (or is it a fiddle?). I did not enjoy this act as much as I hoped I would.

[Candy]

Officer of the Day - Hotel Manager Mark Pells! At the Mariners' Reception he and Captain John Scott individually awarded Copper and Silver Medallions to those who had acheived those levels. We were awarded our 4-star pins as we entered the Queen's Lounge, and a group photo was taken at the end. Following this beautiful reception (complete with champagne and other libations) we were escorted to the Vista Dining Room and were seated in a special section for honorees. Jim and I were seated at Mark Pells' table where we enjoyed some personal time with he and his beautiful Milica. The menu was superb and it was our most enjoyable luncheon ever!

Another formal night found us in the MDR for Surf & Turf. I got so caught up in the game at the dice table (netted $15 but had a ball) I forgot all about the production show "That's Vegas" and I'm really upset... I really wanted to see the result of all that backstage stuff I saw on the tour.

[Candy]

In the past few cruises we have not been able to visit HMC due to weather conditions, so I was THRILLED that the sun was shining and seas were calm. I had reserved a clam shell and two floaty-thingys, but canceled the floats because the water was a little cold (for us). It was in the low 80s and the sun was blistering, so the clamshell gave us a little respite from time to time. We were the only ship at the island today, so there were plenty of loungers and no lines for food. The tenders hold 300 pax, so there was virtually no line either way. As usual, when we arrived at the tender to return to the ship, we were met with cold cloths and lemonade... I love HAL for the little things.

We made it back in time for the $100,000 Bingo game, and nobody won. Unfortunately we didn't win anything else, either. Maybe tonight when I go to the casino to clear my room card I can throw a few hands of dice...

We're dining at Canaletto tonight, then I will pack and HE will play cards. I'll try to post again if I'm not worn out.

[Krazy Kruizers]

we first met shane michaels back on the eurodam -- and then again in 2009 on the zuiderdam -- he had told us that he was going to be on the nieuw amsterdam when we would be on it last fall -- but he wasn't

he really does work hard

[Krazy Kruizers]

glad to hear that tables were hosted at the mariner's brunch

[Candy]

have friends onboard with you.. they are doing a back to back from 3/18... if you happen to see my buddy Tom .. I know he's always at the Hold'em table.. big guy .. you can't miss him :D...

Yup... Tom is one of the regulars. He had to play with his wife's card one night, and all night they called him 'Denise'.

[Candy]

glad to hear that tables were hosted at the mariner's brunch
That's not the only one... the first was on deck 2, followed by another seating on 2 & 3, and I'm not certain there were hosted tables, as there were no special honorees.

[kazu]

Candy, thanks again for your report. Sad to think that your cruise is nearly over :( We had Dj Jazzy on the NA for bingo as well. Hop-efully they have on emore game and you win!! :) Safe travels and thank you again for sharing with us :)

[RetiredMustang]

Candy,

Thanks for your posts. I have enjoyed Noordam several times, and it's nice to visit again via your blog. And, I have to say, Mark Pells is a great HotMan, one of the best I've encountered.

Glad you got into HMC. It's a special place.

Dave

[Crazy Gramps]

I hope whomever got my cabin (SA7054) throughly enjoyed themselves.

Gramps

[TLHB70]

I have truly enjoyed reading your live reports. We have this same cruise on the Noordam booked for next March. We have sailed the Westerdam and Oosterdam but never the Noordam. We are looking forward to experiencing the ship and seeing a few new ports.
Thank you for your updates.

[Candy]

...snip...We're dining at Canaletto tonight, then I will pack and HE will play cards. I'll try to post again if I'm not worn out.

After dinner we made out our tip envelopes and I started packing while Jim went to the casino for one more game. I really must invent some strategy for packing, 'cause I miss all the fun on the last night. The Casino Cashier called us twice to clear our room cards of gaming winnings. Be very careful to clear BOTH your slots AND PokerPro accounts. Jim had to go back one more time for the last $15, and when we got home, there was a check from HAL for the Poker winnings from our LAST NOORDAM CRUISE IN NOVEMBER for over $800! We made the rounds handing out tips and saying goodbye to our vacation 'family'.

[Candy]

Thank goodness they changed back to the number/color system for debarkation! HAL tried the honor system for a couple of years - you were sent a letter with a time to debark, and simply show up on the Main Deck at the appointed time. The trouble is, there is no 'honor' on debarkation day. Everyone wants to get off first. Many times when the elevator arrived at Deck 1, there were so many line-jumpers there we couldn't even get off! Now pax wait in public areas until their number/color is called, and there are shore personnel at the gangway telling people to leave if they don't belong there.

It took an extra 15 minutes to clear the ship. We were called for 8:15 and left at 8:30, went directly to pick up our bags, through customs and in a cab by 8:45. As DJ Jazzy would say, "YAY"

[Candy]

As you know, the Vista Class ships are our favorites. The Noordam is in excellent condition and you will always find someone cleaning/scraping/painting something to keep it that way.

Mark Pells is without a doubt the finest Hotel Manager at sea. The staff and crew work together seamlessly under his able leadership. He is very often found around the ship talking to guests, and we had the pleasure of attending many functions with him.

Captain John Scott found us the brightest sunshine and calmest seas for an unbelievably smooth sailing. He, too, participated in some of the social functions, and was most informative and candid about his years at sea.

CD Shane Michaels lends his unbelievable energy to the entertainment venues. We enjoyed his emceeing duties in various shows and trivia games.

Spa Manager Melica is as knowledgeable and professional as she is beautiful. She arranged exactly the treatments I needed and suggested other promotions which were available in the following days.

Event Manager Renee Puthukeril did a wonderful job with our CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet. Everything was in place perfectly in time for our gathering.

Marketing Manager Marc Thompson was a gracious host and guide through the bowels-of-the-ship tour. We also ran into him in many other activities about the ship.

Concierges Reyan & Doris were wonderfully helpful. No request was overlooked. They seemed to go out of their way to make us happy - Reyan even ran down the hall to open my door when I couldn't carry my overloaded tray!

Cabin Stewards Achmed (same as November) and Agung were very attentive. We sleep very late, and they seemed to 'know' when we were gone so they could straighten our cabin. How they could clean around us without moving our stuff around, I'll never know.

Iggy and Felix (Main Seating, Table 79) were efficient and personable.

Lido Stewards Cassydi and Buonte were wonderful! Cassydi remembered us from last time, and Buonte called me "Princess" every time he saw me (which was usually at the midnight dessert kiosk). He remembered me from the Princess crown I wore at the sailaways!

Sadly, we are NOT BOOKED ON ANYTHING. This is a very serious condition with only one cure... start doing my homework! If I can't talk Jim into Hawaii or Alaska (chances are slim for either) then we can't cruise 'til everyone comes back from Alaska & Europe. I told Mark I may have to settle for an RCI or Princess cruise, and he called me a traitor! So, if I have to, I'll feel really guilty about it.

Thanks for listening/reading!

Candy (Candy@CandyBrock.com) the new 4-star ZuiderPrincess

[kazu]

No Candy, THANK YOU for your great posts. It was our pleasure to read them :)

[cp556]

Candy, I really enjoyed reading your posts! Made me feel like I was there, and whetted my appetite for out forthcoming cruise.

A question: you mentioned the Marc Thompson tour with eight passengers. Was this the Behind the Scenes Tour that I've read about for $150pp? It sounds so interesting, but I don't mean to be nosy.

Thanks
Carol in SC

PS----We fly out of SAV, too ... it's closest to our home in southern SC.

[KirkNC]

As you know, the Vista Class ships are our favorites. The Noordam is in excellent condition and you will always find someone cleaning/scraping/painting something to keep it that way.

Mark Pells is without a doubt the finest Hotel Manager at sea. The staff and crew work together seamlessly under his able leadership. He is very often found around the ship talking to guests, and we had the pleasure of attending many functions with him.

Captain John Scott found us the brightest sunshine and calmest seas for an unbelievably smooth sailing. He, too, participated in some of the social functions, and was most informative and candid about his years at sea.

CD Shane Michaels lends his unbelievable energy to the entertainment venues. We enjoyed his emceeing duties in various shows and trivia games.

Spa Manager Melica is as knowledgeable and professional as she is beautiful. She arranged exactly the treatments I needed and suggested other promotions which were available in the following days.

Event Manager Renee Puthukeril did a wonderful job with our CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet. Everything was in place perfectly in time for our gathering.

Marketing Manager Marc Thompson was a gracious host and guide through the bowels-of-the-ship tour. We also ran into him in many other activities about the ship.

Concierges Reyan & Doris were wonderfully helpful. No request was overlooked. They seemed to go out of their way to make us happy - Reyan even ran down the hall to open my door when I couldn't carry my overloaded tray!

Cabin Stewards Achmed (same as November) and Agung were very attentive. We sleep very late, and they seemed to 'know' when we were gone so they could straighten our cabin. How they could clean around us without moving our stuff around, I'll never know.

Iggy and Felix (Main Seating, Table 79) were efficient and personable.

Lido Stewards Cassydi and Buonte were wonderful! Cassydi remembered us from last time, and Buonte called me "Princess" every time he saw me (which was usually at the midnight dessert kiosk). He remembered me from the Princess crown I wore at the sailaways!

Sadly, we are NOT BOOKED ON ANYTHING. This is a very serious condition with only one cure... start doing my homework! If I can't talk Jim into Hawaii or Alaska (chances are slim for either) then we can't cruise 'til everyone comes back from Alaska & Europe. I told Mark I may have to settle for an RCI or Princess cruise, and he called me a traitor! So, if I have to, I'll feel really guilty about it.

Thanks for listening/reading!

Candy (Candy@CandyBrock.com) the new 4-star ZuiderPrincess

Mark is the best, we got to know him a little on our Noordam cruise last year. He literally does run a tight ship. Glad you are having a great cruise.

Kirk

[two4me]

Candy, my husband said he would not take me on any more cruises as I relax so much, when I got home, still in relax mode. hahaha Got home Friday and still having dreams of traveling on and off the boat. No wonder I feel tired. hahahaha. Hope all had a great time! May we meet again someday!:D

[Candy]

Candy, I really enjoyed reading your posts! Made me feel like I was there, and whetted my appetite for out forthcoming cruise.

A question: you mentioned the Marc Thompson tour with eight passengers. Was this the Behind the Scenes Tour that I've read about for $150pp? It sounds so interesting, but I don't mean to be nosy.

Thanks
Carol in SC

PS----We fly out of SAV, too ... it's closest to our home in southern SC.
Yes... Marc was our tour guide for the Behind the Scenes Tour. There is a limit of 10 guests @ $150 pp, and worth every penny. I'll post the Shutterfly link as soon as I get the photos uploaded.

We flew down on Allegiant for $285 total, but the flight back was too early so we had to pay Delta nearly $1,000 to get back. Book early!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sadly, we are NOT BOOKED ON ANYTHING. This is a very serious condition with only one cure... start doing my homework! If I can't talk Jim into Hawaii or Alaska (chances are slim for either) then we can't cruise 'til everyone comes back from Alaska & Europe. I told Mark I may have to settle for an RCI or Princess cruise, and he called me a traitor! So, if I have to, I'll feel really guilty about it.

Thanks for listening/reading!

Candy (Candy@CandyBrock.com) the new 4-star ZuiderPrincess

Book Alaska!!

[Candy]

Here are my Behind the Scenes Tour Photos (http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/start.sfly?albumId=/sfly/user/000023545275/.media/sfly/album/2011/04/1975802)

[kazu]

Here are my Behind the Scenes Tour Photos (http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/start.sfly?albumId=/sfly/user/000023545275/.media/sfly/album/2011/04/1975802)



sorry Candy - doesn't work for me - taking me to the home page to sign in? :confused:

[Candy]

Here are my CruiseCritic Meet 'n' Greet Photos (http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=c24e1133825d2ed72f762628e38c6d8e)

[Krazy Kruizers]

candy

i clicked on both of your links -- can't see the pictures as i don't belong to shutterfly?

[Candy]

Try these...

Meet 'n' Greet (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Aat2TVo1Zsmcf)

Behind the Scenes Tour (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Aat2TVo1Zsmcs)

[maxout]

Very nice, thx! :D

[kazu]

Thanks Candy very much. they are great. a log of good in depth photos of the ship's tour. :)

[cp556]

Yes... Marc was our tour guide for the Behind the Scenes Tour. There is a limit of 10 guests @ $150 pp, and worth every penny. I'll post the Shutterfly link as soon as I get the photos uploaded.

We flew down on Allegiant for $285 total, but the flight back was too early so we had to pay Delta nearly $1,000 to get back. Book early!



Just saw the Shutterfly pics ... they were great! Thanks so much.

I will discuss the tour with DH and show him your pics to tempt him. I think that although some of us have been fortunate to have cruised many times, there are areas we haven't seen, and this sounds well worth it.

Yep, Allegiant can be cheap, but their schedules aren't always what we need, are they...

Enjoy the day

Best
Carol in SC (near Hilton Head)

[LSEA]

Thanks for the great report. Enjoyed the photos!

[bernie5]

[quote=Candy;28712678]Yes... Marc was our tour guide for the Behind the Scenes Tour. There is a limit of 10 guests @ $150 pp, and worth every penny. I'll post the Shutterfly link as soon as I get the photos uploaded.

Can you sign up for the Behind the Scene tour ahead of time or only when you board? I cannot find it on the HAL website. Is it given on a sea day? Sounds like something I really want to do.

Thanks

[benny salami]

:cool: Really enjoyed your cruise review. We were on the 3/18 Noordam cruise and loved it. They always seem to dock in Martinique on a Sunday which is a real shame. It's a great island and HAL is one of the few lines to stop there. Barbados is also one of our favorite islands with great beaches, people and cuisine. Visit the Southern Caribbean if you haven't yet.

The cabin stewards and customer service people on Noordam are exceptional. Make sure to visit the Pinnacle Grill at least once during your cruise. We booked two nights when we first got on board. If you wait they will be sold out. The shopping mavens Mark and Candice also deserve praise. They are friendly, knowledgeable and around when you need help. A wonderful group of passengers with Holland, Canada and Northern US all well represented. A perfect cruise as always on HAL.

[Candy]

[quote=Candy;28712678]Can you sign up for the Behind the Scene tour ahead of time or only when you board? I cannot find it on the HAL website. Is it given on a sea day? Sounds like something I really want to do.
Thanks

@bernie5: I think you must sign up onboard. Our tour was in the afternoon after an early allaboard. Your itin may be different, so ask at the Front Desk or Concierge as soon as you board. Limit 10 pax, $150 pp, 3 hours.

@benny salami: We were looking for you... for some reason I thought you were doing the b2b. Glad you enjoyed your cruise!

[benny salami]

:cool: We did the Eastern Caribbean half of the cruise last year. It is difficult for us to take 20 days off work. Hopefully, next year we can do a March b2b.

You are right about Noordam -it is just the right size. Our CC roll call was standing room only with Mark P, the Captain and many 3 and 4 star mariners in attendance. HAL takes the comments on this board very seriously. Y'all keep cruising in March-unreal how many familiar faces you see each year. Once is never enough. Next year on the Noordam!

[Stakeout]

Yup... Tom is one of the regulars. He had to play with his wife's card one night, and all night they called him 'Denise'.

he confirmed that yesterday after I told him I posted this on CC.... we usually do some early morning fishing together most mornings... BTW..was he wearing a formal gown that nite at the tables.. or his regular sporty skirt... :D

[Candy]

Here are the Shutterfly links to some of my photos & review:

Meet 'n' Greet (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Aat2TVo1Zsmcf)

Behind the Scenes Tour (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Aat2TVo1Zsmcs)

CruiseCritic Review (http://frontiernet.net/%7Ecandybrock/NoordamReviewMarch2011.html)

Candy <-- sadly, NOT booked on ANYTHING :eek: :mad:

[innlady1]

Officer of the Day - Hotel Manager Mark Pells! At the Mariners' Reception he and Captain John Scott individually awarded Copper and Silver Medallions to those who had acheived those levels. We were awarded our 4-star pins as we entered the Queen's Lounge, and a group photo was taken at the end. Following this beautiful reception (complete with champagne and other libations) we were escorted to the Vista Dining Room and were seated in a special section for honorees. Jim and I were seated at Mark Pells' table where we enjoyed some personal time with he and his beautiful Milica. The menu was superb and it was our most enjoyable luncheon ever!


They're a winning combination! Mark Pells is absolutely HAL's #1 Hotel Manager...and Captain Scott my favorite Captain! He and Milica were in the PG last year on Valentine's Day, so we met her then. He truly enjoys his "job" and is the most accessible HotMan we've encountered thus far...
really down to earth..

Enjoyed your photos, Candy....we'll have to do the "Behind the Scenes" tour next time. I don't know why I was under the impression it was just behind the scenes as in the Showroom at Sea...LOL!

[BoiseIdahoSpud]

Great review, Candy. Nice meeting you on the beautiful Noordam.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Candy <-- sadly, NOT booked on ANYTHING :eek: :mad:





You need to get Sir James talked into flying to San Diego, then you will have the right one to book ;)

[Candy]

Great review, Candy. Nice meeting you on the beautiful Noordam.
Nice meeting you too, Pete... you seemed to be EVERYWHERE!