March 10th Maasdam Journal

[dbullsfn]

3/11/05 8:10 a.m.

Good Morning. We are off the coast of Myrtle Beach right now heading due south to Half Moon. The waves are 7-12 ft and the wind is howling, so cant really use the balcony right now. Boarding yesterday was picture perfect, the easiest I have ever seen. We took the shuttle from the Norfolk Holiday Inn Select straight to the Nauticus. On the shuttle were Kim (guzikim) and her husband Les. Within an hour, we were eating on the lido deck. Before we even received our drink orders, they was announced that we could proceed to our cabins around 1:00 P.M. The ship is beautiful and well kept up. Sure its old and you can see wear and tear, but that is to be expected. Dinner selection last night wasn’t so great. However, the food I did order was spectacular. The caesar salad was good and the strip steak (in some kind of gravy sauce) was out of this world. I finished everything on my plate and my waiter (Asu and his helper We) came up and asked if I would like another. I wasn’t about to turn this offer down and I got a full second entrée. After dinner, went to the show, a comedian/magician routine which was funny. Then hit the casino and the blackjack tables (I ended here up winning some cash so that was good). Finally, hit the crows nest about midnight where there were about a dozen people or so. Kim and I had a round of drinks then called it a night. Woke up at 6:30 this morning to start the day afresh.
If anyone has any questions or needs to know any information, just ask. Ill be keeping a journal of this voyage. I know that the Mariner's daily log was extremely helpful for me, so maybe I can help some future cruisers too

[Sage]

Thank you so much for posting. We enjoyed the Maasdam when we were aboard. May the casino luck continue for you. Enjoy your cruise.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for posting from Maasdam. PLease take care of that pretty ship. :)

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself last night and I hope you continue to have a wonderful time.

Wishing you calm seas and blue skies......

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Sounds like you are off to a wonderful start for a Great Cruise, with more luck that casino could help pay for the cruise:) Thanks for reporting

[RuthC]

Reading a "Live From..." thread is the next best thing to being there. Thanks for posting.

Here's hoping the seas calm and the skys lighten for you. And that the casino is kind!

[Time2sail]

Enjoyed reading day one of your cruise:)

[obriendan]

Thanks for keeping us up to date! Looking forward to the next report.

[mariner]

dbullsfn,

Hope by tomorrow the wind has calmed down and the air has warmed up so you can enjoy the outer decks.

Say hi to my friends and keep us posted.

Reading this beats reading reports any day.

[CDRMark]

dbullsfn, thanks for bringing us along vicariously. Is Kim enjoying the food? I know she was concerned.
Look forward to reading more, but we'll understand if you are having too much fun to post frequently.
Cheers!
MarkB

[dbullsfn]

Hey all. Sorry for the delay. Friday ended up not being a good day for me. I got up and entered the Fun 21 Blackjack tournament and made it to the final table. But the rest of the day I got seasick. I wasnt the only one though so that was good. Kim is doing great. Shes all over the place. We got to Half Moon early yeasterday. I was on tender 5. Went ashore for about 2 hours, did the buffet (delicious) and sat and had a drink listening to the music. The ship is beautiful and everyone really seems to care. So far this trip Im only down $50 at the casino. Two really good runs at the Roulette wheel has helped. Last night I played craps untill 1:30. 4 hours and won $50, go figure. Theres a slot tournament today I will be entering. As for the casino, its a very relaxing atmosphere, not high pressured like Atlantic City. We are at sea today before ariving in St. Thomas. Port times have been changed significantly from the brochure. Oh well, Bingo is calling so Ill try and write more later. Take care

[mariner]

Don't forget the cruise lottery. Great odds.

And if you're on Nav Deck port and see a steward named Augusto, tell him ``Budi Bear'' says hello.

From looking at the satellite, the seas should start calming down.

Too bad Captain Henk gets off soon. Would like to know who replaces him.

Keep having fun and may you get all aces and kings.

[jbhcw]

Thanks for your posts! What deck are you on and what category cabin doyou have? Also does the Maasdam have a Martini Bar? Just checking as we sail in November, which seem sooo far away! Hope your weather is good you have good luck in the casino!

[FranD]

PLEASE! What are the changes in port times?? Will be doing this cruise soon and it will really help with planning! Thanks for posting, enjoying the journal!
Cheers

[slineberry528]

Enjoy reading the posts. I was on the Maasdam last November and reading makes me think of my cruise. Looking forward to more.
Susan

[cheric]

I am so enjoying this thread. Just got off the Maasdam last Thursday and I am re-living it all over again with dbullsfn. Thanks so much!

[EmilyM]

PLEASE! What are the changes in port times?? Will be doing this cruise soon and it will really help with planning! Thanks for posting, enjoying the journal!
Cheers

I just got a copy of a fax in the mail from my travel agent. The Maasdam 2005 Eastern Caribbean sailings have lost some time at the ports. Instead of leaving St. Thomas at 8:00 pm, we now leave at 6:00. St. John's changed from 11:00 pm to 7:00 pm! Bummer! Philipsburg changed from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm. I am sure they have good reason for changing it, but I am really sad about this. This takes 7 hours off of our port times!

[cvillehf]

Thanks for the posts from the Maasdam. We will be on there in a little over 2 weeks. Hopefully all these clippers that keep coming through and going off the coast will stop by then :-) I got the same info from my TA about port times. Are they trying to sail longer so the casinos are open more!

[FranD]

EmilyM - Thanks so very much for the itinerary info! I agree hate those lost port hours! Going to have to rethink my St. Thomas plans for sure!

Anxiously awaiting dbullsfn's next journal entry! Cheers!

[TeresaJenkins]

I just got a copy of a fax in the mail from my travel agent. The Maasdam 2005 Eastern Caribbean sailings have lost some time at the ports. Instead of leaving St. Thomas at 8:00 pm, we now leave at 6:00. St. John's changed from 11:00 pm to 7:00 pm! Bummer! Philipsburg changed from 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm. I am sure they have good reason for changing it, but I am really sad about this. This takes 7 hours off of our port times!

Thank you for posting this change.

I booked with HAL for the times in port. It was not the only reason, but it was the deciding factor. This makes me quite upset. When does HAL plan to let the passengers know about the time differences? This could change everything for us and our friends plans. GRRR!!

[ExpCruiser]

I was on the Maasdam in January. There were VERY big differences in the port times, I reported that when I got back. We didn't get off the boat in St. Thomas til noon ... due to immigration and late arrival. We had to be back on at 5:30, the car we rented was a waste for that short time. I had expected ... per brochure to be in at 8 am and not due back til 8 pm.

HMC was late too and the poor tender service was worse. I got off the ship at 1 pm and had to be back at 4:30. Didn't do a cabana, thank goodness!!!
St. John and St. Maarten were also 4:30 - 5 pm return to ship rather than the evening times stated on brochures. All in all, the port times were so brief, and the ship not to my liking, it really didn't make for my best vacation.

[Linda&Vern]

Thanks for the posts from the Maasdam. We will be on there in a little over 2 weeks. Hopefully all these clippers that keep coming through and going off the coast will stop by then :-) I got the same info from my TA about port times. Are they trying to sail longer so the casinos are open more!
That was a joke, right?

[mrjcharles]

Please tell us about the cruise director and how long he might be staying. also do they have a guest talent show?

[sail7seas]

upset. When does HAL plan to let the passengers know about the time differences? This could change everything for us and our friends plans. GRRR!!


HAL will not directly contact passengers, they will contact your TA. It is up to them to relay the message to you.

[TeresaJenkins]

Thanks for the posts from the Maasdam. We will be on there in a little over 2 weeks. Hopefully all these clippers that keep coming through and going off the coast will stop by then :-) I got the same info from my TA about port times. Are they trying to sail longer so the casinos are open more!

I called HAL today and the rep said the changes are due to the "popularity" of HMC. I've never seen it, but I guess it is one hell of an Island.
I started a new thread about the changes earlier.

[dbullsfn]

Ok folks, sorry for the delay but Im still here onboard. Just have fallen into a routine and have not had time. Kim and I are hanging out alot so I can give her perspective on items too. She loves the food she asked me to inform you. As for the port times, DO NOT go by the port times listed. We have been either ontime or early every day. I was onshnore at HMC by 11:30 in tender 5. Although there are alot of tenders needed to take passenegers ashore, they move very quickly. That said, St. Thomas we did not go through customs untill 10:30. Once customs is done, you can disembark. We had to be onboard at St. Thomas at 5:30. Yesterday,we arrived before 8 and had to be onboard at 6:30. Today we docked at like 6 in St. maarten, all aboard was 5:30. The ship will set sail at 5:30 if everyone is onboard. The computerized chips you use to leave and board the ship are linked to a computer system onboard, so right before the gangway is hoisted, if there are passengers still ashore you will hear an announcement made for them. I have a suspicion the reason port times are reduced is due to port surcharges. Every cruiseship is out of port by 6. Last night, I could swear we simply drifted from antigua to st. maarten. If the engines were running, we were traveling at 1 knot. Anyways as for the cruise director, his name is Craig and he recently joined. Troy is the assistant and he is 24 years old. Candice, who assists troy, joined me for awhile at the crows nest last night. She will be leaving for the Veendam in July. And today is Ronan's 23rd bday. We got him drunk last night. Overall hes alright although I have heard whispers that some people want to throw him overboard and find a better dj. All the cruise directors are young which I think has greatly impacted this cruise. They try to learn your name and always address you that way. The same with the her employees. The waitress Joanie is always calling me Sir Tom :) Anyways Im having a blast. Far fewer old folks on board. Id guess the median age is 40. Theres a very lively group of young folks on board too so we all hang out together. The final observation I have is that because this is as Norfolk cruise, most passengers live within like 4 hours of each other. We are planning get togethers after the cruise. Ive met several folks from my town also. The closeness of the passengers makes this a very special cruise, unlike any other Ive been on. If you need anymore info, please ask. Time to prepare for dinner, bye all.

[cheric]

Hey "Sir Tom", please tell Joanne that "Sir Gary and Ms. Cheryl" send their best. She is a real sweetheart. Please be patient with Ronan. We spent a lot of time with him last week and before last week he had no DJ experience. Peter was the DJ and Ronan was in training. He learned the line dances the same time I did in the Crowsnest. You are his third cruise, we were his second. He even hosted our dinner table one night and he seems like a nice kid, but a little homesick for Australia. Rick was our C.D. but he got off with us in Norfolk. Keep us posted on how things are going. Sounds like you are having a great time, just as we did. You apparently had calmer seas on the way down than we did ... I'm happy for you.

[dbullsfn]

Well we are 2 days out ofs Norfolk. The captain is really racing to slip between two weather systems which are surrounding us. If we dont beat them, well be delayed most likely. The ship was decked in green last night and there was a great group in the Crows nest for St. Patricks day. We even had corned beef for dinner. Anyways, let me run and enjoy what little time I have left, take care

[Sweetdreams]

Enjoying your journal entries. Eager to learn more about the Massdam. Leaving from Norfolk 5/1/05 to S. Carribean. If you have any good tips or neat finds, share with future sailors. Sounds like you're having a good time. How has the weather been?

[dbullsfn]

The weather has been bad the past 2 days now. The pools were even closed today. I just saw the cruise log and we have arrived early at every port. When I get home and unpacked, I will compile a more comprehensive review. It may be a while because I think i need a vacation from this vacation. Getting in at 2:30 every night is a killer :)

[auntdeedee]

Hi---do you know if you're still going to be on time arriving in Norfolk tomorrow? Why were the pools closed?

[cheric]

At the risk of presumptive, I will answer for dbullsfn who is no doubt enjoying his last night on board. Last week when we were on the Maasdam the pools were closed about four days because of high waves from the pool. It makes for treacherous walking on the Lido deck when the waves from the pool spill over. They did their best to keep the floors mopped up but they ended up just closing the pools. I am so looking forward to his review when he returns. I hope he had as good a time as we did on the March 10th sailing. It sounds like he did. Aunt Deedee, have a marvelous cruise and tell us all about it when you return.

[auntdeedee]

Thanks for the information on the pools---that sounds like you must have been doing a lot of rock 'n rollin'... without the music :) I've been used to the nice calm (almost never feel an inch of movement) Disney ships the last few years, so I'm sure it shall be a shock to the system to return to "normal" cruising.

I've overpacked, so I'm currently trying to reduce the number of suit cases so we'll actually be able to fit into the car in the morning with the luggage LOL

[cheric]

I overpacked too and really didn't have to. We took advantage of the laundry service for $12.00 a bag. We did it two or three times and it was well worth it. Everything came back so nice. Shirts and tops on hangers (even my cotton night gown was on a hanger) and all underware was folded neatly, placed in a wicker basket with tissue paper and a gold seal. It's amazing how much you can fit into one of those bags. They even ironed the shirts. Next time I will definitely take a whole lot less clothing. Drive safely and enjoy every minute of the cruise ... even the rock 'n rollin. It was an adventure!

[caribbean girl]

Lucky you!! I am jealous!! We got off the Maasdam 3/10 and were by far, some of the youngest people on board. The median age looked to be at least 60. We are in our 40's.
Funny to hear about Ronan! I met him my first day on the ship. I loved the photo shop people, all very playful and fun. Say 'hey' to Braam from Alcira!!:rolleyes:
Enjoy every moment of your trip.

[Sweetdreams]

Thanks for the great reporting "live" from Maasdam. Will be aboard May 1. Your journal will add to my "sweetdreams".

[dbullsfn]

Theres not much you can say about Ronan. Except that he almost ended up on the AIDA at St Johns. He did tell me though the cruise directors rotate their posts for each cruise, so he will not be the DJ on this Southern Voyage. Also I think Candace is not on this cruise, though her fiancee still is. They also added a mascot, skippy the kangaroo. Ronan received a care package with skippy in it for his birthday. Candace danced with skippy all he time in the crows nest. They were getting a nametag for him (already had the shirt) and he was getting his picture taken with the Captain this cruise

[cheric]

Sounds like you really had a great time up in the Crow's Nest, as did we. Thank you so much for your reports from the Maasdam. We made a decision last night to book her again next March. Probably the same initerary but I don't care. I loved being on the Maasdam. I had only cruised Celebrity before, but I think I may be a convert now. Have a safe trip back.

[slineberry528]

I just love hearing about the cruises. I just love the Maasdam. Our cruise was great. We had no problems getting to our ports on time. I have friends sailing on her in November. I have told them all about it.
Susan

[caribbean girl]

It's good to hear that Ronan will have Skippy to help him feel less homesick!!:)

[dbullsfn]

Let me tell you something about Skippy. I got to know Candace and Troy first through Trivia then Bingo. Candace was dancing with Skippy one night and all I could do was shake my head. I told her she was sick. Her response was skippy never gets tired, never talks back, and does what she wants him to do. She ended by saying he was the perfect man :) Ronan will be her brother in law, what a scary thought :)

[caribbean girl]

Yeah...that Skippy sounds like quite a guy!! I wish we had had you on our trip! Sounds like you had a blast!! Our crowd was much more low key.

[dbullsfn]

Thanks carib girl. We had a nice group of folks I met. Every day we were drinking out by the pools. On days we were at sea, the Strawberry Daiquiris started flowing at the first bingo session. The best was the night they sold the cups they used for soda purchases(you know the big tall ones) for 12 buckas and 2 hours of unlimited daiquiris and Margaritas. The happy hour specials are awesome too, and every bingo session is 2 for 1 drinks