Today is Web Cam Banner Wave Saturday for the Oosterdam

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Morning from chilly and windy Las Vegas where it is just 40 degrees. I would like to say that those disembarking and embarking the Oosterdam in San Diego have it much warmer but I am afraid they do not. It appears it is about 54 degrees there right now.

But with any luck it will warm up to what is to be San Diego's high today of 66 at 3 pm when this weeks Cruise Critic Members have the Web Cam Banner Wave.

We have quite the group today, many are veterans to the Web Cam Banner Wave so they are very much looking forward to returning to do this.

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B7%3A%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3535%3C87987339nu0mrj

[cmdchiefthom]

I'm really getting hooked on this. Seems I'm begining to schedule my weekends to leave 5:00 PM open!:eek:

[kazu]

Looking forward to it. Thanks Lisa :)

[Himself]

I am tied up at the time of the wave and so I never get to see it. Is the ship going to Mexico or Hawaii this week? I presume it is Hawaii.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I am tied up at the time of the wave and so I never get to see it. Is the ship going to Mexico or Hawaii this week? I presume it is Hawaii.
This week it is heading on a 7 night Mexico, next week will be the 14 day Hawaii.

Looks like the ship is ready for the Holidays

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B4%3B%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3535%3C%3A35%3A%3A339nu0mrj

[Grampy]

Lisa, thanks for making a fun cruise even better. :):D

Mike and Pat

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa, thanks for making a fun cruise even better. :):D

Mike and Pat
Thanks Mike and Pat, hope you have a great time....I have already warned the ships's officers that you are returning ;)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

This week's CCers are gathering out on Deck 5 and it turned out to be a very nice day in San Diego for the wave.

I will soon be capturing pictures of the wave so stand by. :)

[travel123456]

I see them!!!!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We had 20 VERY Excited HAL CCers waving today, they actually took this as their first opportunity as a Meet and Greet and were still standing out there as I started to post this :D It really is great to get that first quick Introductions to all the CCers you have been talking to over the past several months.

The first picture is as they are starting to arrive.

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3A%3B%3A%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676% 3EWSNRCG%3D3536475%3B%3C%3B339nu0mrj

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B7%3A%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3536476232339nu0mrj


http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B4%3A%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3536476233339nu0mrj

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B%3A5%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3536476235339nu0mrj

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B49%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536476236339nu0mrj

[san diego sue]

Lisa,
Where's the banner?:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

The next set of pictures are when I had them line up toward the Starboard side so I could see the wave a bit better.

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B78%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536476237339nu0mrj


http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B52%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536476238339nu0mrj

Now for the Great BIG Wave

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B82%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536476239339nu0mrj

And I always take a second !

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B%3C2%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D353647623%3B339nu0mrj

Then the group took the opportunity to sign the back of the Banner which is actually getting very full of signatures.

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B94%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536476242339nu0mrj

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B6%3A%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3536476243339nu0mrj

[LAFFNVEGAS]

And here are just a few more picture of the group that were hanging around talking with their fellow CCers and getting to know one another :)

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B85%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D3536473575339nu0mrj


http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B82%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3EWS NRCG%3D353647%3A357339nu0mrj

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp%3B%3B8%3Enu%3D3237%3E%3A73%3E676%3E WSNRCG%3D3536473577339nu0mrj

[Grampy]

Thanks Lisa, Great job. It was a nice group. :)

Mike

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Thanks Lisa, Great job. It was a nice group. :)

Mike
Yes Mike it is a Great Group the only thing that is missing is ME :o But I guess someone needs to stay home and take the Web Cam pictures :D

Have a Great time and be sure to not miss Joel Mason's shows and tell him Hi for me :)

[Grampy]

Yes Mike it is a Great Group the only thing that is missing is ME :o But I guess someone needs to stay home and take the Web Cam pictures :D

Have a Great time and be sure to not miss Joel Mason's shows and tell him Hi for me :)


We will Lisa. The ship was missing me when you went to Hawaii. We are going to the drill in a few minutes then we can get the party started.

Signing off from the beautiful Oosterdam. ;)

Mike

[AkAz]

I love it! I'll be there next week...the tallest woman, in the back of course. :-) Hawaii, here we come!

[Bearnaise]

Sorry for the bannerless past week. Our meet & greet was only attended by all of 7, but at least we met! Thank you especially to Cruisecritics J & R who shanghaied me into their winning trivia team - we're now proud owners of HAL coasters and a "Rubik's cube". A very fun week.

[GTVCRUISER]

Back from the Oosterdam cruise

[Himself]

Lisa:
Great pictures! I just wish the HAL Banner for this season would have said "Merry Christmas" rather than Happy Holidays.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa:
Great pictures! I just wish the HAL Banner for this season would have said "Merry Christmas" rather than Happy Holidays.
Actually I think Happy Holidays is perfect. Holland America Crew represent many different nationalities as well as those that sail on her. This season is made of many different Holidays to be Happy about. The word Holiday actually came from the word Holy so I think it is great!! :)

[Himself]

Actually I think Happy Holidays is perfect. Holland America Crew represent many different nationalities as well as those that sail on her. This season is made of many different Holidays to be Happy about. The word Holiday actually came from the word Holy so I think it is great!! :)

Dear Lisa:

It did not take long to get a response out of you. I must have hit a tender cord.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Dear Lisa:

It did not take long to get a response out of you. I must have hit a tender cord.
No, just think people make too much out of the fact we do not say Merry Christmas. Up until a few years ago when a certain political person made a big deal about retail merchants not saying Merry Christmas we never cared. We would say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays. I would love to go back to the good ole days when we did not worry about such statements being politically correct. There are many classic Christmas songs that say Happy Holidays that we all love and cherish so I am just stating that Happy Holidays is perfect :)

[nana51]

Back from the Oosterdam cruise

My husband and I will be on the same cruise. also 4 other friends from our "Mexican Train" group.

[nana51]

No, just think people make too much out of the fact we do not say Merry Christmas. Up until a few years ago when a certain political person made a big deal about retail merchants not saying Merry Christmas we never cared. We would say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays. I would love to go back to the good ole days when we did not worry about such statements being politically correct. There are many classic Christmas songs that say Happy Holidays that we all love and cherish so I am just stating that Happy Holidays is perfect :)

I have a friend who said "They are trying to get rid of Christmas everywhere". Well I went into K Mart today and besides all the Christmas decorations, they were playing "Oh holy night" and Handels "Messiah". Don't get much more Christmasy then that.

[ugminer]

Thanks Lisa. the Banner Wave is such fun. It's sad to think that this tradition will end soon and take the "O" with it.:( You might have to look into a farewell reunion group on her last San Diego embarkation

[DrFUN]

Thanks Lisa. the Banner Wave is such fun. It's sad to think that this tradition will end soon and take the "O" with it.:( You might have to look into a farewell reunion group on her last San Diego embarkation

Is HAL abandoning S.D.?? When? (WHY???) :(

Thanks for any info,
Mary-Lou

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Is HAL abandoning S.D.?? When? (WHY???) :(

Thanks for any info,
Mary-Lou
HAL is not abandoning San Diego but the Oosterdam is leaving :( After her Alaska season this coming summer she will go to Australia/New Zealand leaving just the Zaandam doing what the Oosterdam is doing this year.

I still strongly feel they should make some last minute changes but that is just my opinion. OK so take the Oosterdam to AU/NZ but instead of sending the Zuiderdam back to the Caribbean have her stay on the West Coast after Alaska and send the Zaandam in her place. To me it makes more sense having a larger ship doing the popular Hawaii run and 7 day Mexico that passengers will not spend $1499 PP for a balcony on and have the Zaandam doing the 10 and 11 day partial Panama Canal that draws a different passenger.

[DrFUN]

HAL is not abandoning San Diego but the Oosterdam is leaving :( After her Alaska season this coming summer she will go to Australia/New Zealand leaving just the Zaandam doing what the Oosterdam is doing this year.

I still strongly feel they should make some last minute changes but that is just my opinion. OK so take the Oosterdam to AU/NZ but instead of sending the Zuiderdam back to the Caribbean have her stay on the West Coast after Alaska and send the Zaandam in her place. To me it makes more sense having a larger ship doing the popular Hawaii run and 7 day Mexico that passengers will not spend $1499 PP for a balcony on and have the Zaandam doing the 10 and 11 day partial Panama Canal that draws a different passenger.

Thanks, Lisa!