Chanukah celebrations and candle lighting

[jandiart]

Does anyone know if there will be any candle lighting ceremony for Chanukah on the Noordam sailing of December 1st?

[sail7seas]

I have never heard of or seen one when aboard but who knows? Maybe. Speak with the CD when you board.

Have a great cruise and Happy Chanukah.

[Riverwatcher]

We were on the Volendam in 2006 and there were daily Chanukah Services.

Have a great cruise.

[middle-aged mom]

We were on the Amsterdam last holiday season December 2006, and there was a nightly menorah lighting, and a rabbi on board to conduct services.

Karin

[jandiart]

Thanks for the info. We will be traveling with my Hadassah group.

[FlyingScotSailors]

Jandiart,

First, please join our roll call for the Noordam December 1 sailing. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=464165 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=464165)

Last December on the Noordam, the last day of out cruise was the first day of Hanukkah, and the second Friday Shabbat service of the cruise. The service was lay lead, but we had about 250 people in the Queen's Lounge, with challah, wine and latkas. HAL provides siddurim, but not 250:D

Several years ago, on the Carnival Paradise, there was a communal candle lighting in the main atrium each night, with a six foot tall Menorah. There may have been a Rabbi, but we cannot remember now. We all lead the singing; Carnival provided song sheets. The group grew each night, to about 40 by the last night. The Cruise Director, who was Jewish, bought Manischewitz in Saint Thomas, and arranged for challah and latkas.

We toyed with the idea of asking HAL if there would be a Rabbi on board this cruise, but have not done so yet. In any event, we should have a good Hanakkah celebration.

Ann & Peter

[jandiart]

Thanks Ann and Peter. I will sign up. Also, I called Holland America today and they said that there will be a rabbi aboard all their ships for Chanukah. We will have approximately 50 members of my Hadassah group aboard as we are running this cruise as a fundraiser for Hadassah projects.
See you soon,
Jacki

[arzz]

Have been aboard during Hannukah many times and there has always been a rabbi on board and daily candle lighting (as well as latkes). Much safer to light candles as a group in a supervised area. The thought of individuals lighting candles in their cabins makes my hair stand on end.

We have always brought along a menorah that we can add candles to that do not need to be lit -- made of colorful paper and we affix it to the cabin mirror -- there are others with electric candles that work well for personal use also.

[FlyingScotSailors]

We have always brought along a menorah that we can add candles to that do not need to be lit -- made of colorful paper and we affix it to the cabin mirror -- there are others with electric candles that work well for personal use also.

We bought a small travel electric menorah for our cruise on the no-smoking Carnival Paradise. It was so realistic looking that ship's security came to check that we did not have open flames in our cabin! We will take it again on the Noordam.