Hello from the Ryndam!

[localady]

Hello from sunny Juneau! We are enjoying the cruise immensely and although we are finding old traditions gone, they seem to be replaced with the new. I do miss the raisin buns, they seem to have gone the way side of the old room service breakfast menu:eek:. The new menu is more precise, you can place an order in increments of 15 minutes now. So far we have found the service here for the most part to be wonderful! Our steward Suaji is wonderful and so friendly and helpful!! We are seated at a table for 2 in the dining room and our wait staff is wonderful also. No new mattress in our cabin, but there is a new mirror that is handy. The staff as usual is so very friendly, and although a couple have confided their sadness with the new system, their work is still exemplary! Yesterday in Sitka was lovely and warm, the day before in Ketchikan a bit foggy! Will check in for questions in the next couple of days:cool:

[FlorenceItaly]

Hello localady - I am sure you are enjoying the cool weather(compared to Sacramento). It's good to hear from you. I am sailing next month on the Veendam so I am curious as to what you are doing in each port?

Ketchikan - I am considering a Misty Fjord flight with Michele at Island Wings.

Juneau - booked with Capt Larry for whale watching, and plan to do Mendanhall Glacier on my own (blue bus $5 each way) and maybe take Mt Roberts tram.

Skagway - Have an email in to inquire about a Yukon discovery tour.

Have you taken any of these tours I am considering?

Wishing you and dh a fabulous journey :).

Marie

[Sage]

Thank you for posting. We are considering Mexico and Sea of Cortez on the Ryndam for next year, so we are enjoying hearing about the ship and the crew. I'm so glad that you are having a great time.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for posting Localady. Happy to hear you are enjoying such good weather. Is this particularly warm and clear for this time of year in Alaska? Hope you brought some lighter weight garments.

Have you noticed a great difference in the menus at dinner?
Is Lido still serving roughly the same things as usual?

Have a great time.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Thanks for posting Localady, I have been thinking about you. We will be axiously waiting your review of the Ryndam.


Marie, we went on Captain Larry's in Juneau and I took some great pictures of Mendenhal Glacier, we were not up really close like other tours but could in fact see it. We were really impressed with the whole set up of Capt. Larry's. We saw far more whales then we ever guessed we would.

[elmorejj]

Localady, please say it isn`t so...no more raisin buns!!...that was our daily treat with our breakfast juice and coffee. Hopefully it is just this ship, maybe the baker forgot the recipe!!!....jean

[jasl]

Hiya Locafriend, so glad you are both enjoying the cruise. Too bad about the raisin buns, my Bob will miss them too. As Elmorejj mentioned, maybe just on the Rijndam. Tried the Pinnacle yet??
Enjoy the rest of your voyage with lots of good weather.

[rocks]

Hi Localady!
THANKS for taking the time to post-so nice of you! I'll be interested in EVERYTHING you care to share!
So glad to here you are having a GREAT time!
Is this the week you are in 'our' cabin #51? Will you have Suaji both weeks?
Glad the weather is so nice for you!
Have a WONDERFUL & RELAXING vacation!....rocks

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Localady

There has been a post here for several days about the Ryndam leaving 24 passengers stranded.

Do you know anything about this?

When did it happen? Where?

:)

[hart5cbc]

We went to Alaska last summer on the Ryndam and had a wonderful time - - sounds like you're having a little nicer weather - we had quite a bit of rain, but still loved it.

[tomc]

kk and others --

re: The "missed the boat" rumor.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=52926

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) tomc

I read that thread. Also wonder if that was the incident that someone had referred to when they mentioned that 24 passengers, etc., et.,

:)

[tomc]

Gotta be. You know how things get enhanced in the retelling.

[Himself]

Enjoy the RYNDAM and hope your weather in Alaska is good. I was up there four weeks ago and the weather was sunny and warm!!! (It was that way even in Ketchikan!!!!)

Himself

[cruisinjudy]

Hi Localady,

I am glad you are enjoying the Ryndam. We plan on doing mexico Sea of Cortez in the Spring.
Marie,
We did the Misty fiords with Michelle at Island WIngs in May and we really enjoyed it.
http://homepage.mac.com/jcastle1/.cv/jcastle1/Sites/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-06-06%2016.08.03%20-0700/Image-C581E10FB80D11D8.jpg-thumb_269_202.jpg

[BuckeyeLady]

were available in the Lido on Veendam each morning when we sailed in June. They were normally on the early cold buffet.

[Sage]

We have decided to book the Ryndam Mexico and Sea of Cortez for March of next year. Thank you everyone for your comments on the ship.

[localady]

Hello! They say the third time is a charm!! I have tried 3 times to answer these posts and have gotten kicked off 2 times now:eek: .

Raisin Buns are alive and well, and soft and wonderful tasting as always. I found out they have removed the buns from the inroom breakfast menu but they remain alive and well in the Lido!!!!:D

Also, I have been assured by many crew members that there were NOT 24 people stranded on the Ryndam. They say they are not sure how the rumour started but feels it's continuation is harming the ships reputation as well as Capt. Jan Smit. There is no basis for the rumour, and I have witnessed each sailaway!!

Well I best go, this is costing me an arm and a leg!!! The Ryndam is a fabulous ship and will be even more wonderful after the late Sept. 3 week dry dock in Victoria Canada!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

localady, Thanks for your report. Yippee!!:D That means she will be refreshed before I sail her in November. Any word of what they will be doing to her in Dry Dock? We are really looking forward to this cruise espeically now that we will have our first S Suite. Kinda like being Queen for a Week instead of a Day:p

Thanks again for reporting.

[localady]

Hello again! I have found an internet cafe in downtown Seward, and am using there 2.00$ for 15 minute deal! We are having the most fabulous weather, we awoke to wonderful clear skies and a fabulous view of Resurrection Bay ! As an added bonus, HAL is providing a free shuttle bus into Seward and free tickets to the Sealife Aquarium here in Seward for the BtoB passsengers ( of which there are many!)

I have gotten sunburned now 3 days in a row and am happy to report the smoke is not so bad here in Seward from the fires in the interior! Well I best get going, I will be happy to answer questions if anyone has them when I find a deal on internet again!

[FlorenceItaly]

It's so wonderful hearing from you. It's so good to hear the weather has been nice. For future reference my notes tell me that in Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau there are "Seaport Cyber" Cafes. You may purchase a $5 card for 30 minutes, which can be used at all the "Seaport Cyber" Cafes.
Also, the public librarys offer free internet.

Marie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi localady, I see you are on line. Glad to see you are enjoying Alaska, Too bad about Vision of the Seas.

[localady]

Hello again to all! The second week of this cruise is turning out to be as fabulous as the first!! It was fantastic on the Hubbard Glacier yesterday, with a huge amount of calving of very large chunks!! The Capt. got us to within a 1/4 mile of the Glacier face, it was awesome!!!:D Then this morning we went on the Otter Quest here in Sitka, and found a pod of humpback whales, numbering at least a dozen, that kept us entertained also!! Sitka is sunny for the most part, they tell us it's the first day it's been sunny since the Ryndam was here last week! Recommend the Otter Quest in Sitka highly, the staff is great on board and the naturalists very knowledgeable!! Having a fabulous time aboard, have even run into a group of "Red Hat Ladies" on board!

[cruisecrasy]

Are u also on the Nov 13th sailing to Sea of Cortez per chance? I am in process of booking an 'S' category now and wld also like to know what happens with the dry docking. I was on this same ship & itinerary in Jan and no new 'stuff' then but maybe in Sept. new mattresses - sure are needed? Have tried out a new one already on the Zaandam in May and WOW - impressive, the duvet & towels are all just wonderful. Full credit to HAL for this...most timely! Happy cruisin' :-)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Cruisecrasy, Yes we are going to the Sea of Cortez Nov 13th. We are also in a S cat, we have suite S-043. This will be our first S Class ship having only been on Vista Class Zuiderdam and Oosterdam. I started a Roll Call for this on the Roll Call board we can chat about it there:D

[Bill HaHa]

Thanks for the report. We will be on the Ryndam March 6th 2005 to Sea of Cortes/Mexican Rivierra. Any one else on this cruise?

[Sage]

I'm so sorry that we are not on your cruise. We will be on the one 10 days after yours, on the 16th sailing. Be sure and take good care of the ship, and we hope that you have a wonderful time.

[cruisinjudy]

We have not yet decided which sailing of Ryndam we want to take. We might decide on the late April one for my birthday.

[CINCY40]

We just booked the final Alaska cruise for the year on the Ryndam. Five days out of Vancouver. We have visited Ketchikan and Sitka before but have not sailed up the inside passage so look forward to it.

Anyone ever been up there that late in the year? Hope the weather will be okay.

Nancy

[localady]

Hello to all!!! We arrived home after 14 days on the Ryndam in Alaska (7/9-23). The weather was beyond wonderful. Last year on our trip we got 10 days out of 14 of rain or very cloudy skys, this year we had 13 out of 14 days with no rain and we were all sunburnt after our excursions to Sitka and Skagway. Folks sunbathing on the back deck and swimming were a frequent sight and Vancouver was in the high 90'sF yesterday. It was a wonderful cruise, and a very lovely ship, she has truly aged with grace! I am overjoyed to tell you that I found no difference in the friendliness of the fabulous staff, they are as courteous and warm as always.:D I will put together a complete review of the ship after I get unpacked and a bit rested, right now I am buried in ripe tomatos :eek: and children's schedules (I am the taxi to their summer social life).

[rocks]

Glad to hear you had a great cruise! How lucky you were to have such nice weather.
Can't wait to read all about your cruise.
rocks

[localady]

Thanks rocks!!

I can tell you definately that you will love the Ryndam!! Agus, who was our steward in cabin A51, was soooo great! Very accommodating, pleasant and kept the cabin wonderful. You will love the new towels, they are bigger and part of the upgrades. Let me know what specific questions you have, and I'll try to answer them.

[jasl]

Welcome back lovely Lady. Did you have to pay for the extra baggage or did the halibut travel in the hand luggage??? Glad you had such great weather. Take care