Live From the Ryndam 2/25-3/6

[sldispatcher]

Last Cruise: 12 Day Amsterdam Jan 07 Deep Southern Carib.

Who's going: My DW, my parents.

Ages: I'm 38, wife 41; parents 70

Why this cruise?: Wanted to see whales/show them the HAL experience on similar sized ship to Amsterdam.

Room Type on Ship: Verandah's 145 and 143

Arr: San Diego on Sat the 23rd. Staying at Holiday Inn on the Bay.
2 star accomodations
4 start location
Comments: Very close to airport, quite noisy on the bay side with traffic, horns, etc...but you can look right into the bridge of the ship. If I were to
do it again, I'd stay away from here and enjoy San Diego from a different perspective. Besides, it's hard to spend two days watching
people sail away and us not on it!

Will try and post daily reports. I will tell you that the "Live from XXXXXXdam" are some of the most helpful hints around when I read through the board. I'll try and answer any questions persons might have about this trip as timely as possible.

Weather today (2/24) is cloudy, rainy and quite cool. Ladies going shopping at Horton Plaza and gaslamp quarter...My dad and I will watch ships and planes from our rooms and talk about what we are going to eat!

Future cruises booked: Galaxy Med 08 and Oceania TA 3/09.

[cruisinjudy]

Hi we have a thread on the roll call boards. We are in veranda 113. We are doing a wave goodbye to San Diego at 3:00 on the forward deck. Join us there! And we are also at Holiday Inn right now. I also think we will stay elsewhere next time.
Jim and Judy

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have a great cruise on one of our favorite ships.

We always stay at the Embassy Suites in San Diego.

[DougH]

I'm boarding on 3/6 so will be reading your posts frequently. Could you post the daily shows and movies as they come up? Info on Loreto and La Paz would also be appreciated

Doug

[lka1012]

I too will soon be on the Rydam, but not until the Dec 1 cruise. So far I will be doing the wave by myself, but there is still plenty of time. I will be staying at the Embassy Suites also. I look forward to hearing about the ship I will be on later this year.

[seaproponent]

One of the roll call posts said the ship has had a code red experience in the past week -- anyone have any more word on this, or any idea whether a sailing time delay is likely tomorrow (for scrub-down)?

[DAllenTCY]

Please read my post on another thread regarding embarkation tomorrow.
David

[sldispatcher]

Ate at Anthony's last night...give it 2 1/2 stars out of 5.

Morning broke very cloudy and rainy. Dawn Princess and Carnival Elation pulled into port and emptied their passengers out onto soggy streets.

Ate lunch at Panda Inn at Horton Plaza...quite tasty. Was a Sunday Brunch sort of thing.

Dinner was at the Pier Cafe at Seaside Village. Nice location and good food. Give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. My wife got a drink called the "Shark Attack". It was very good...and great presentation. I'll leave it at that.

There was an appetizer combo called Harpoon Combo which was a bit on the spicy side..(more to our liking).

Walked back to the Holiday Inn which was about 5 - 6 blocks. Holiday Inn is nice, but a bit noisy. If you are going to just stay here the night before the cruise and are a nut about watching your ship come in...it's worth it. If you need more peace and quiet and would like a bit more contemporary surroundings...go somewhere else!

On the last note, there seems to be a rumor springing up tonight about a code red...and although I appreciate the possibility, it would have been nice to hear a little more about where that word came from.

HAL on call was very nice, but had no word on any problem with the Ryndam having a late embarkation tomorrow.

Just in case, I have secured a late check out from the hotel of 1pm. As always, I'd rather everyone be safe and healthy than worried if I am going to get to eat at the lido by 1130am.

However, as a physician and cruise observer, this is second year in a row that the Ryndam has been on the Mexican itinerary and had an outbreak. May be coincidence. However, we don't quarantine schools at home when a GI outbreak hits. I'm not sure deep cleaning would alleviate any spreading of the virus if just ONE crew member is sick during the changeover...all of that work is potentially all-for-naught.

Either way, we are going to have a GREAT TIME.

[sldispatcher]

I've tried to reach HAL this AM regarding the actual boarding time...but no real answer.

Good news is that it is a beautiful day here..

Additional good news is that a cleaning crew with pump sprayers numbering 30 or so have boarded the Ryndam by 745am. If I'm correct, that means that 4 additional personnel per deck are now on board and already beginning the process of cleaning the ship.

I wish HAL had a website update to let people know what is going on. However, it seems that lessons have been learned in the past and the delay will not be as "severe".

The bad news? It's only a 10 day cruise :p

[ltsally]

We'll be on this itinerary on the Ryndam in just over a month, so really looking forward to your comments, SLDispatcher! Especially about weather/temps, as well as other stuff. Bon Voyage!!

[nchank]

We will also be on this March 16:D. Looking forward to your posts.

[USNDiver]

Hope the nice weather holds up for you. If you should see a couple playing cribbage in or around the Martini (or any) Bar say hello for me, it's probably my parents.

Have a great time,:D

Dave

[Sundagger]

I've tried to reach HAL this AM regarding the actual boarding time...but no real answer.

Good news is that it is a beautiful day here..

Additional good news is that a cleaning crew with pump sprayers numbering 30 or so have boarded the Ryndam by 745am. If I'm correct, that means that 4 additional personnel per deck are now on board and already beginning the process of cleaning the ship.

I wish HAL had a website update to let people know what is going on. However, it seems that lessons have been learned in the past and the delay will not be as "severe".

The bad news? It's only a 10 day cruise :p

I was on the Jan. 5th Oosterdam cruise. There had been a small (non-reportable level) outbreak of Norovirus on the previous cruise. HAL sent my TA a notice and the TA forwarded it on to me a couple of days prior to boarding. They said that the boarding time would be delayed due to the cleaning. They even provided shuttle buses to a couple of S.D. locations to help us kill time.

[sldispatcher]

Feb 23rd – Embarkation Day

Norovirus had struck passengers on the Ryndam during the previous cruise. I watched the ship sail in this morning and could feel the excitement well up inside as the port workers assumed their positions to help moor our vessel.

I finally got though to someone at HAL who did confirm that boarding would be at 300pm, that the usual shuttles would be available, etc.

Local TV was doing live remotes (I wonder how often they go out when a cold virus strikes a local school?) concerning the ship cleaning/sickness.

We went over and checked our luggage in (cleaning crews were everywhere) around 11am. We played the very simple check-in game at this time with essentially a 5 minute wait time. Boarding cards were handed out for people to get on the ship in an orderly fashion once boarding began. They were numbered red cards…once they got to 26, they started over with white cards.

Later we took the shuttle (hail a cab if you want to get there quickly) down to Seaside Village where we had great fish and chips at the Harbor House Restaurant. There was a “secure” carry on storage area for those wishing to drop off their carry ons. Bottled water was also available.

Returning to the terminal at 2pm (via cab) we had essentially no line going into the terminal where we found crowds of people starting to gather in the bountiful seating areas. For the most part the crowd was quite calm.

At 230 or so, the AYWD (as you wish dining) stewards appeared and started taking dinner reservations (smart move HAL!). I was actually able to put our name first on the list.

***I know it has been said elsewhere, but I’ll say it here again. It seems like they are rotating different group numbers throughout the night. For instance, if you have 4 in your party and want a table of 4, I had 530, 715 and 815 to choose from. Other tables were staggered at different times as well. Of course, the widest range of times was available for those willing to sit with others. Just included here for your benefit.***

Boarding began at 320pm after what I’m sure was an exhaustive day for the crew. The groups seemed to be arranged in about 20 – 30. I wondered why so small, until I realized that the rate limiting step here was the need for a majority of persons to use the elevator. We took stairs, but it worked out great all the same.

Once onboard, the rooms weren’t ready, but we took our time showing my parents the lido, the dining room (where we perused the menus). We also took the requisite visits to the spa and quick tours of the show lounge, lido, and Pinnacle Grill.

[sldispatcher]

Dinner in the dining room was quite good as expected. It seems like AYWD is running fairly smoothly and both upper and lower dining rooms were quite full. We had 715pm reservations. I won’t bore you with the dinner selections ;).

I don’t know if it is the staff/the cruise etc. are a still under the burden of the cleaning, but the service in the dining room seemed to flow quite well to be so staggered.


We did not go to a show but decided to go to bed as it had been a long day and we were all quite tired.

The temperature onboard seems about 5 degrees warmer than it should be. I’m sure many people are happier with the warmer temperature.

Some more leftovers from the day were no bed turndown service, etc. I will gladly give them slack for this.

Additionally, no muster drill as it will be scheduled for the following day.

Weather: very nice.

Ship Condition: Like an older house, there are marks, nicks, scrapes and bumps…windows are quite messy from ocean spray but I’m sure that routine maintenance and cleaning were not able to be done during the post-viral time period.
Again, not enough to “ruin” a cruise.

We are having a very good time, but there are differences from the Amsterdam. More on that tomorrow. All I’ll say is that the ship’s activity staff is very disappointing. I’ve seen more professionalism from an eighth grade church camp. It won’t ruin our cruise like it would for some people, but HAL will not be getting any of our Bingo money.

Note to HAL…you can take someone out of Carnival, but you can’t take the Carnival out of them.

Room Attendant: Sudi. Very friendly and helpful. He’s trying as hard as he can to catch up. Ice bucket and flower finally appeared on the first full day.

More later….

David

[Gsel]

David, thanks so much for your reports. We will be boarding when you leave. Keep her safe and CLEAN for us and keep the reports coming when you can.

[gentlemancruiser]

I was on the Jan. 5th Oosterdam cruise. There had been a small (non-reportable level) outbreak of Norovirus on the previous cruise. HAL sent my TA a notice and the TA forwarded it on to me a couple of days prior to boarding. They said that the boarding time would be delayed due to the cleaning. They even provided shuttle buses to a couple of S.D. locations to help us kill time.

We were on the Feb 16th Oosterdam cruise and I know of 6 people who sat near us in the dining room suffered from it during the cruise. The CD was also missing in action for 2 days of the cruise, but we were just told he was 'under the weather'....

[Toad]

keep it coming.... as always I love reading LIVE reports!

[warren peas]

Ate at Anthony's last night...give it 2 1/2 stars out of 5.

Morning broke very cloudy and rainy. Dawn Princess and Carnival Elation pulled into port and emptied their passengers out onto soggy streets.

Ate lunch at Panda Inn at Horton Plaza...quite tasty. Was a Sunday Brunch sort of thing.

Dinner was at the Pier Cafe at Seaside Village. Nice location and good food. Give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. My wife got a drink called the "Shark Attack". It was very good...and great presentation. I'll leave it at that.

There was an appetizer combo called Harpoon Combo which was a bit on the spicy side..(more to our liking).

Walked back to the Holiday Inn which was about 5 - 6 blocks. Holiday Inn is nice, but a bit noisy. If you are going to just stay here the night before the cruise and are a nut about watching your ship come in...it's worth it. If you need more peace and quiet and would like a bit more contemporary surroundings...go somewhere else!

On the last note, there seems to be a rumor springing up tonight about a code red...and although I appreciate the possibility, it would have been nice to hear a little more about where that word came from.

HAL on call was very nice, but had no word on any problem with the Ryndam having a late embarkation tomorrow.

Just in case, I have secured a late check out from the hotel of 1pm. As always, I'd rather everyone be safe and healthy than worried if I am going to get to eat at the lido by 1130am.

However, as a physician and cruise observer, this is second year in a row that the Ryndam has been on the Mexican itinerary and had an outbreak. May be coincidence. However, we don't quarantine schools at home when a GI outbreak hits. I'm not sure deep cleaning would alleviate any spreading of the virus if just ONE crew member is sick during the changeover...all of that work is potentially all-for-naught.

Either way, we are going to have a GREAT TIME.

Interested in your experience in SD before boarding. We spent several days pre and post cruise in December. Walked past the oft mentioned Holiday inn several times and we all remarked on it having the perfect location, but looks quite tired. We spent several nights at the Sofia, just up the hill, very cute and trendy boutique hotel next to Horton mall.
Think you were incredibly generous giving Anthony's a 2.5 star rating. Our foursome all agreed it was terrible. A wonderful location that feature mediocre food, ambiance and service.

[Sundagger]

Interested in your experience in SD before boarding. We spent several days pre and post cruise in December. Walked past the oft mentioned Holiday inn several times and we all remarked on it having the perfect location, but looks quite tired. We spent several nights at the Sofia, just up the hill, very cute and trendy boutique hotel next to Horton mall.
Think you were incredibly generous giving Anthony's a 2.5 star rating. Our foursome all agreed it was terrible. A wonderful location that feature mediocre food, ambiance and service.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn the night before my cruise. I was thinking that the lobby, elevators, hallways all looked pretty tired. However, the rooms were a nice surprise. They apparently had been remodeled recently and were just fine. Not luxurious, but a good value. I don't think I'd want to stay there for long, though - there was a lot of noise from the streets and the rail lines. But I loved being able to easily take my luggage across the street to the cruise terminal - no shuttles to deal with.

[Gsel]

We will be at the Sophia next week, any suggestions as to a good place for dinner? Anthony's had been suggested to us, but with this last review we are re-thinking that. How did you find the Sophia? Thanks

[Susie51]

Thank you for your live from reports. I'm interested to hear more about the activities and the mention of Carnival.

[warren peas]

[quote=Gsel;13556409]We will be at the Sophia next week, any suggestions as to a good place for dinner? Anthony's had been suggested to us, but with this last review we are re-thinking that. How did you find the Sophia? Thanks[/quote

The restaurant adjacent to the lobby is very good. There is a pub a few blocks up on Broadway that has a hundred or so varieties of beer and great ribs, Believe it was called the Yardhouse.
The Sofia is a very old hotel brought back to life with an extensive reno. Try and get one of the rooms in the alcoved section, they are somewhat larger.

[sldispatcher]

Feb 26th – Day at Sea

Usual breakfast at Lido while DW slept in bed for extra time. Seas are getting smoother. As always, it seems like there are parts of the ship, especially in the mornings, when you have it all to yourself.

Mother and DW enrolled in slot tournament…eventually my mother made it into the slot tournament and even had a cheering section.

Lunch in the Dining Room had one of my HAL favorites, the Weiner Schnitzel <sp>?
Excellent small desserts and just right portions on everything.
Curiously, the line for the dining room was very long. On Amsterdam, it was say how many in party and off you go. This time, every party was entered into the computer and assigned dining that way. Made for a much slower go of it. The line was still present at 1250 as people were filing in!

Bingo at 400pm was a laugh..and not a good one. Was our first real encounter with the ship entertainment staff….not a good first impression. Talking to each other, “sassing” one another, had an 8th grade..make that 5th grade..church camp feel to it. They would not even sell cards until 25 people had shown up, otherwise, they were going to cancel the event! We sat there and watched them banter back and forth over very silly things (should have been selling cards). Once they did start selling cards we were all so put off by their immature behavior (and we’re not prudes), we got up and left in disgust. Again, didn’t ruin our cruise for one minute like it might to some people on these boards….just a note that hopefully someone from HAL or onboard might read on this thread or on our comment cards at the end.

Although I had made reservations earlier in the day for dinner, we cancelled and opted for the Pinnacle Grill for the evening. My comparison is SS United States onboard Celebrity’s Milley. Again, overall experience is hands down better on Celebrity. However, the food is no slouch nor is the service anything but excellent on here. This ship has the Pinnacle on the starboard side. We enjoyed a very nice sunset. My DW and mother both enjoyed wine flights with their dinners. I won’t bore you with details, but if you get a steak, go with the sundried tomato sauce (or ask for a sample of each!). The think wafer like bread is great, the crabcake appetizer reminds me of great places on the Oregon Coast…and of course, the crème brulle and the Chocolate volcano cake are outstanding. We did tip in this dining venue. We’ll also go back!

After dinner, we went to check out the show but the room was packed with 20 minutes to go. We opted to return to the Explorer’s Lounge where June was waiting for us!

June in the Explorer’s Lounge made excellent Spanish Coffee and is VERY warm, friendly, and typical of HAL service. You will not be disappointed as he can offer any bar service, BUT, if you like an after dinner coffee….get it here. Good price at only 6.25 for the bargain hunters….and it is loaded.

We did get flowers, ice buckets and turn down service this evening. Again, recovery from the intense day of Norovirus cleaning is underway. So far, no reports of illness onboard.

I’m leaving out lots….and will be happy to answer as many questions as possible.

David

[wizard-of-roz]

David: Thank you for being so thorough in your reviews. I've enjoyed reading them.

My feeling of the Holiday Inn is very much the same as yours and of others on the board.

I felt the price did not match the quality. However, you know how it is in real estate; location, location, location!

The Holiday Inn was there long before the cruise ships....and it shows. The rooms have been renovated but the hallways and elevators really need to be spruced-up, before I'll go back and spend over $200 a night!

Again, the older ships can be a lot of fun; but certainly not with a crew of teenagers aboard!

I know HAL reads these boards....I, too, would have been turned-off by bad behaviour on the part of any crew member!

We'll be back on the Oosterdam, in April and although she had some Aizopod <sp> issues (now fixed)....she's a wonderfully maintained ship, with a fabulous crew!

[Boatdrill]

Note to HAL…you can take someone out of Carnival, but you can’t take the Carnival out of them.



Are you referring to passengers ?

[Boatdrill]

Think you were incredibly generous giving Anthony's a 2.5 star rating. Our foursome all agreed it was terrible. A wonderful location that feature mediocre food, ambiance and service.

San Diegans can't figure out why people go to Anthony's for dinner.

Next time go to the Fish Market Restuarant, which is on the south side of the USS Midway, right on the water, with a view across the water to Coronado Island. Choose from the Oyster Bar, sushi bar, casual dining, or upscale dining upstairs ("Top of the Market") ....all with fresh seafood.

[Cruisin Suzin]

Yes I'd like to know as well, was going to consider HAL for my second cruise and these live reports are wonderful but I would like to know what you meant buy that comment, is there something I should know about Carnival?

[wizard-of-roz]

I believe he's referring to the "Carnivalesque" actions of the "Bingo Crew!"

[oldmedic]

David-
thanks for the day by day, we are looking forward to our first cruise on HAL in May.

[InTheWASide]

Sounds like everything's going well for you so far.

What room did you end up with? Any upgrades?

[Jemima]

We don't play bingo, but do know there must be at least a certain number playing or it will be cancelled. Bingo was cancelled several times on our transatlantic cruise last spring. Bingo may be less popular than it once was or there may just not be many players on some cruises.

[sldispatcher]

Feb 27th – Day at Sea

Another good night’s rest courtesy the Signature of Excellence bedding. Up to the Lido for breakfast again with parents. I feel for the crew. Most passengers on board will never know the extent to which a few minor inconveniences stretches their already busy workload. There does not seem to be any ill will being given off by the service staff.

There were mango pancakes along with the usual breakfast standards of French Toast, pancakes, etc. My DW had her usual small breakfast in the stateroom after she rolled out of the rack.

The air is slightly more humid today and the sea is as smooth as glass. Movement of the vessel is barely noticeable. Skies are scattered high clouds at best.

The ship is still warm by about 5 degrees, but I’m sure that if any temp is changed downward, there will be howls of protest. From my standpoint, it is much healthier to have it cooler than warmer and the air drier if you want to prevent disease spread…but what do I know?

The air in the stateroom isn’t nearly as “conditioned” as that on the Amsterdam either. It is adequate for us and should be for most anyone else. But if you like it really cold in your room, this room will not suffice.

Speaking of disease, code red is still present…but I really haven’t heard a SINGLE complaint from any other cruiser about the situation or any “inconveniences”. I have a feeling this would not be happening on some other cruise lines.

Of note, the demonstration kitchen is being very well utilized this trip. I thought on our Amsterdam sailing last year that the kitchen was extremely underutilized. Not this trip. If anyone cares, I’ll try and list all of the programs available in the culinary arts kitchen in addition to the normal “cooking demo”. I give HAL a triple A+ for turning this program on. That is a program that I have overheard several shipmates talking about.

While the DW and mother took advantage of the 20/20/20 special in the spa, my dad and I booked another HAL cruise…well, almost….as it wasn’t quite open for booking yet. I don’t want to reveal that as I don’t want anyone else jumping on this one before we get a chance to get our “special” rooms. ;)

After that, we toured the galley with about 300 of our closest friends! Interesting, brief…and my goodness…they clean the ceilings every night along with everything else!!!!!!

Lunch was in the dining room as my DW and mother prefer to be served as opposed to eating in the lido. The usual happy smiles were around. We neared the tip of Baja and were met with dolphins and whales for the next 2 hours as we rounded Cabo san Lucas.
I had the burger, mom and dad had the fish and chips. Wife had salad. Much bragging was made over the chilled raspberry soup today!

I’ll stop here, and add a part 2 to help save space.

[sldispatcher]

Feb 27th – Day at Sea – Part 2

After lunch, we split up..wife on balcony for sleep and sun…dad and I to the Oasis to watch the tip of Baja slip by…and mother to lose some more in the very tight casino.

Naps were abundant this afternoon.

430 was off to the Oasis for pre-dinner drinks. Not quite as good as the ones in the Ocean Bar or the Casino Bar. Love the Mojito!

As tonight was Chef’s Dinner, there were only 2 seatings….so everyone with AYWD had to call and make a reservation..and were put into 1 of 2 seatings. I know a lot of people don’t care for this dinner…but the food is quite good…the presentation nice…and the waitstaff seemed to have more fun than at any other time so far. The hat is a little silly, but I never took mine off! (More on my thoughts on AYWD later). The Duck was very good and not strong tasting at all. My dad said is was the best meal on board so far.

My mother and DW are now addicted to the Spanish Coffee in the Explorer’s Lounge. The lounge was very full tonight and the ever faithful June was quite busy. He did not have time to chat…but was very patient in making the 2 coffees. June is what HAL is all about. I would be chastised if I did not mention the absolutely wonderful Hungarian trio that plays the piano, violin, and bass. They have been very entertaining the entire cruise and my father LOVES to sit and listen to them. Not a sheet of music in front of them. If they were to learn a few American songs like Orange Blossom Special and Amazing Grace, you’d have to move them into the main auditorium. My dad wants banjo players onboard with bluegrass and gospel music! haha

After the evening coffee service, we chose to go to the theater for Beowulf. Note to HAL: the view lines in the Wajang theater for a movie are simply horrible. Heads everywhere….no popcorn tonight..but I’m assuming that is due to the code red situation. Movie was quite entertaining and a technological marvel. The show was an act that was a cover of John Denver. I wouldn’t have minded going, but again the theater was packed by 8:10 and nonone else in the party was interested.

Parents even bailed on the movie when a couple with a 5-8 month old baby sat down…in front. So as not to offend anyone, I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on that one. From the big picture to the small picture of the moment.

We arrived in our room and have noticed further service recovery items underway. Bottled water and liquors are back..as was the TOWEL ANIMAL…Yeah! I know some people think it is cheesy. I like to think of it as a bit campy. The wink and nod of service that is meant to be elegant…but never takes itself so serious that it can’t have a little bit of fun.



Some thoughts for the board to chew:

The Pinnacle Grill staff now has a healthy mix of Filipino waitstaff. This resulted in what I thought was a marked service improvement over the experience on the Amsterdam. My understanding was that originally it was to be all Eastern European…that’s what we had on the Amsterdam.

I’ve yet to lay eyes on the cruise director…but that’s no fault of his. We just haven’t been to anything where he would be present. So I have no complaints about the CD.

I heard a gentleman at the Holiday Inn back in San Diego tell my dad that he thought that HAL was just “more refined” than other cruise lines he had gone on. Also he complimented HAL’s food as being more tasty from top to bottom. I agree.

The “more refined” comment goes with my comments about our first experience with the cruise entertainment staff yesterday. HAL is just more refined. A grand dame that treats guests with the same respect and gentility for which she is expected to have returned by her guests. There’s nothing wrong with goofing off…but you can look quite professional while doing it. No one has mastered that better than the Filipino Crew (I am probably misspelling that). It creates a uniformity to the experience…a constant that must be universal to the fleet according to what I read on these boards.

Parents have been really impressed with the size of the stateroom for the dollar compared to Celebrity. We tried to tell them, but sometimes you just have to show them.

AYWD. Sigh. Again, the staff is trying to do something that is almost against their nature. It’s been discussed over and over here. It’s as much a nuisance as anything as everyone seems to be gaming the system. It was ridiculously easy to get the same table. Once our waiter saw us come back, he has started to warm up and smile with us. That and $20 will go a long way!

Cabin Steward: Sudi. I hit him with $20 right off the bat. Some people would be screaming bloody murder for no turndown service the first night. I’m grateful for the heroic effort he put forth to get our cabin ready to leave San Diego to begin with.

I got a call from guest services tonight…seems like the 3 or 4 of you back there are not the only ones reading Cruise Critic boards………..but I digress.

Enough for one night!

[sldispatcher]

no upgrades

wonderful cruise

I would book it in a second!

[USNDiver]

David,

Thanks for the ongoing updates - I tip my hat for taking the Code Red thing in stride and focusing on some enjoyment. I wrote about my last 2 cruises on the boards here and enjoyd doing that almost as much as the actual cruise (I stress ALMOST.) Keep the news coming!!

Sincerely,

Dave

[RustaRoo]

Okay, this was posted on a Roll Call this morning:

"Yesterday, the Ryndam was even forced to go back to San Diego because they had over 200 severe cases on board."

Is this for real??

[Gsel]

Can you tell me exactly on the Roll Calls you read this? I can find nothing. The Ryndam is supposed to be in Puerto Vallarta today.

[RustaRoo]

Can you tell me exactly on the Roll Calls you read this? I can find nothing. The Ryndam is supposed to be in Puerto Vallarta today.It was posted on a Volendam Roll Call:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=13572303&postcount=38

[LAFFNVEGAS]

It was posted on a Volendam Roll Call:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=13572303&postcount=38
Richard, I seriously doubt that the ship has 200 cases of NLV and also do not believe they would coming heading back to San Diego. I think this poster is just trying to stir the pot a little:rolleyes:

[Gsel]

I agree, sounds like this poster has a slight problem with HAL and is trying to start something. I think if the Ryndam was headed back the news would be all over it already. We are set to board her next week and not worried one bit.

[sldispatcher]

#1. ryndam sits in Puerto Vallarta with me and 1200 of my closest friends on board (or in town) as we speak.

#2. There really has been no major disruption...only minor inconveniences so far in terms of the code red. Major announcements from the captain yesterday about hand gel use and food consumption in Puerto Vallarta. My immediate reaction was that this was most likely the epicenter of the break out...but THAT IS NOT CONFIRMED.

Excellent cruise..that is turning out exactly how I would have wanted.

[Gsel]

Thanks so much! EXACTLY what we wanted to hear! Love your reports, you are making us anxious to board next week.

[cruisinjudy]

Our experiences on board this cruise are very similar. However there is no truth to the rumor that we have turned back to San Diego! We are here in Puerto Vallarta and the weather is very nice.

We also have had Spanish cofee, but it was in the Ocean Bar. Our whole table went to the Ocean Bar after dinner last night and the bartender made them for all of us. It is quite a procedure!

Ladies at our table thought their verandah cabin was much smaller than Celebrity. I set them straight. Only thing I could think of was that maybe they didn’t have a standard balcony on Celebrity. If they bring it up again I wll lhave to ask them if they had a butler. If they are comparing an SS on Celebrity that would be a different story.

Oh yes, we are getting excellent internet access in our room. Faster than at home. That is something new!

[sldispatcher]

Feb 28th – Puerto Vallarta

Beautiful approach into Puerto Vallarta with clouds, mountains, mist, calm waters and aromas of bacon and pastries.

We have a privately arranged tour with discoverpacifictours.com. Alfredo was a fantastic host. He communicated well via e-mail and speaks English better than I do! He is obviously passionate about what he does. We were on a whale watch tour into the bay that lasted 4 hours. It is a 10 minute taxi ride from the terminal.

The service recovery continues as now there is lots of brass polishing. No lifting of the code red at this point.

Late lunch snack was in the lido and then off to naps for all of us after our morning tour.

We decided to have dinner in the Pinnacle Grill before we left this morning.

Was even better than before! The Vanilla Soufflé with Grand Marnier sauce was the lightest I’ve ever tasted…and was WONDERFUL. Also, the thin crispy bread, like a cracker…was wonderful.

No show tonight for us once again (very odd). Sat at the Explorer’s Lounge with the classical trio and Spanish Coffee. Also booked a Eurodam cruise for summer 09! Excellent price and even got an aft balcony cabin!

My wife tried the Blue Glacier martini and really liked it.

My dad and I watched sail away from deck 12.

Tomorrow we are off to Mazatlan where the ladies are going hunting for silver.

David

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for checking in.

Glad to hear that you are still healthy.

[innlady1]

Richard, I seriously doubt that the ship has 200 cases of NLV and also do not believe they would coming heading back to San Diego. I think this poster is just trying to stir the pot a little:rolleyes:

I think so, too (pot stirrers). I seem to recall they were disgruntled about something last year and swore off HAL at that time.

[Steve Q]

David,

Sounds like a wonderful cruise. My wife and I board next week and your comments only increase our enthusiasm.

Good to hear that the Noro outbreak has subsided. I suspect the Code Red will be eased as the cruise continues.

I have no idea why people post comments that are totally untrue. For what purpose? If it is a rumor, state that it is "only a rumor". Others can then either confirm it or refute it.

[GmaPajama]

I think so, too (pot stirrers). I seem to recall they were disgruntled about something last year and swore off HAL at that time.
You are correct. We sailed the Ryndam with them during one of last March's code reds. When I read their review, I could not BELIEVE we'd been on the same cruise. They'd had some trouble ashore - after which everything went downhill. They blamed HAL for things that were totally out of their control, and actually disembarked early somewhere in Mexico. Too bad, I actually thought they were nice guys. We enjoyed them till things took that turn.

[cruisinjudy]

Code red has been lifted. i believe they are calling it code yellow. They will use caution but the library shelves have been opened and self service is back in the lido! Security guy, Mike said there were only three people confined.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Code red has been lifted. i believe they are calling it code yellow. They will use caution but the library shelves have been opened and self service is back in the lido! Security guy, Mike said there were only three people confined.
Sounds like great news Judy, enjoy the rest of your cruise:)

[KSCnCA]

Yeah! Glad to read that the Ryndam status is on the up and up. Judy, David and all the rest of the current Ryndam CC'ers: have a great cruise!

[susandiego]

Hi, sldispatcher & CruisinJudy,

We are so enjoying your Live From reports. We disembarked on Monday, and your descriptions are helping with withdrawal. :)

If you should run into Joel who serves cocktails in the casino at night and by the navigation deck pool during the afternoon, please give him regards from "Miss Susan" and "Sir Brian."

Looking forward to reading your ongoing reports. For those not going to Copper Canyon, we cannot recommend enough having lunch at the Las Brisas Del Mar restaurant at Playa El Maviri (the beach where the bus takes you from the port, past the Bat Cave). The atmosphere at the beach felt a bit like a ghost town, and the restaurants are plenty rustic, but the fish and seafood! Skip breakfast, or better yet, go early and eat twice! :)

Enjoy, and congrats on the lift of code red.

Susan

[lka1012]

First guys, thanks for your reports, I will be on the Rydam in Dec and they help me prepare. And Susan, thanks for the non-Cooper caynon suggestion. I've been wondering what to do. While I do, one day, want to go to Cooper Caynon, I want to go as a destination, not excursion.

[sldispatcher]

February 29th – Mazatlan – Happy Leap Year!

Code Red lifted today!

You forget about all of the little touches that are affected by such a move. Fruit is on its way back to the staterooms. Dessert trays shown again in the dining rooms/newspapers/magazines/library books back at Exploration Lounge. Bar menus on tables, etc.

Brass polishing has begun.

Note to future travelers…is there a little wear and tear? Only if you really look for it. It will not affect your cruise one bit.

I escorted the ladies over to the Golden Zone. They found some great silver pieces at Cienta Lindo and Quetzal <sp>? In fact, had we had time, we could have gone to several shops in between. Taxi fare is $10 each way. Our cab driver met us at a specific time and place right on schedule to take us back to the ship. The taxis are very small…3 max per cab. Also note, it will make you feel like you are in Grenada trying to navigate the cruise ship terminal. It is horrific with van drivers trying to get your business. The terminal itself is quite nice.

We watched the sailaway from the bow of the ship off of deck 6 once I FINALLY found the “secret” passage to get there.

Dinner was at the main restaurant. AYWD is quite funny, because we are really offered the choice of two seatings…ahhahahahahha 5:15/5:30 or 7:45/8:00. sound familiar? Of note, we are requesting a particular table of 4 and that may have a lot to do with it. This dinner was agreed as relatively uninspiring for us…and may need a retooling by HAL. My dad did have the French Onion Soup and thought it was some of the best he’d ever had.

The crew is obviously relieved that code red is lifted, and seems relaxed. They’ve never been grumpy…just more relaxed. I feel greatly for the Hotel Manager as I’m sure the brunt of the code red recovery responsibility fell on his shoulders. There is so much that the staff has to do during the code red that none of the passengers ever have to see.

We went to the show tonight. I have now seen the CD for the first time and he fits the HAL mode perfectly. He is a guide, a common face, but he is not under the gun to make or break the entire cruise. My very limited impression is that HAL passengers know what they are doing and what they want. They don’t need a circus barker egging them on each day to get out there. Again, the affable cruise director seems aware of that and is letting the cruise “just happen”. HAL seems to score a 5 star rating with this aspect.

The show…well, it is new according to the daily program. And as on the previous cruise, I’m simply amazed at how much energy the HAL singers and dancers have to exude each night in order for the show to go on. What they are asked to do in such a tight space with such complicated moves is nearly miraculous in my sight. If they got paid by the amount of volts they produce, they would be millionaires each night. Of note, the two lead male singers on this cruise have different strengths. The dark haired fellow will be on a broadway stage…it’s just a matter of time. The blonde haired fellow not only has quite a bit of singing, but is the best dancer of the whole cast. Watch how much energy he puts forth if you are cruising soon.

This cruise continues to delight.

The weather has been great. Puerto Vallarta was “warm” at 80 degrees, but the rest has been cool mornings and moderate afternoons in the low 70’s. PERFECT.

Now it is off to the Sea of Cortez and the whole reason I booked this trip.

There has been quite a bit of expectation management for the Copper Canyon tour. We are not going on that tour, but I’m sure many will.

Questions?

David

[rochelle_s]

David,
Are you going to share the secrets of finding the secret passage for those of us cruising in the near future on the Ryndam? Would love to know how to get there.

Rochelle

[ltsally]

Me too! Me too! I wanna know the secret passage!!:rolleyes:

Really enjoying your reports, David. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this; it's helping to fuel my anticipation for our sailaway, now just 3.5 weeks away!

Would like to know a little more about the silver expedition, if you have a chance. What sorts of pieces/prices? This is 'the good stuff,' i take it, not the typical nickel silver....

Thanks again for keeping us in the loop!

[DougH]

Info on the 'secret pasage" would be appreciated. I remember having a hard time finding it on the Statendam years ago and ran into an officer coming up the stairs as I was exploring on the first day. Asked him, and he gave me directions. As he was walking away I realized I had just asked the Captain :)

What sort of "expectation management for the Copper Canyon tour" are you receiving? I'm booked on it, decided I'd regret it later if I missed the chance even if it it is quite expensive.

[Steve Q]

David, thanks so much for the outstanding review. It has been one of my favorites.

While I understand you have not attended all of the shows, do you know who have been the entertainers?

[hunzabunz]

David,

Glad to hear about everything. Was wondering if there was any kind of Kararoke on the ship for some fun and entertainment. This CD seems to be a real drag. We'll be on the ship 3/16 sailing and our group will make bingo unforgetable for the staff.

Nan

[Copper10-8]

I think so, too (pot stirrers). I seem to recall they were disgruntled about something last year and swore off HAL at that time.

This is the same guy that came up with the bunk info last week that HAL crew gets shipped home as soon as they come down with Noro

[sldispatcher]

Saturday March 1 – Topolobampo

Very foggy on the arrival. I was not up to the Copper Canyon guests leave the ship, but the number must have been between 300 and 400.

We piddled around on the pier and bought some locally made jewelry. It is obvious that this small town wants HAL to return and put on a nice effort. There were even local dancers and musicians late in the afternoon.

For some reason, I felt this area could easily be a Half Moon Cay #2 somewhere in the vicinity…would just need the white sand, clear water…and cabanas, of course!

Good lunch, great dinner. Will be hard for you to choose this night! The Key Lime pie was tart, my mother looooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeedddddddddd the opera cake. All of the main dishes were quite good.

Lots of external cleaning/painting today as service recovery is now complete and more mundane functions are taking place.

We went to the show tonight and saw a funny fellow by the name of Billy Fellows. I tried the frozen mudslide here and it was very good. Earlier in the day, my wife had the Ultimate Strawberry Lemonade. The edge still goes to the classic Mojito.

We stayed up to see the buses return. A very nice touch from HAL: hot towels for the returning guests along with a reception line 12 – 15 deep on 2 sides of officers, dining staff, activities staff, waiters, cabin stewards, chefs clapping as the passengers returned.

The last passenger was on by 10:45 and we left by 10:55.

Off to Loreto!

[sldispatcher]

Wife says Mazatlan was more upscale...better displays.

Loreto was better for bargaining and authentic..more on that report later.

Secret passage. Take deck 6 promenade to front...two sets of stairs behind glass walls. Take the one on the starboard side of the ship and you will arrive on the bow!

[MissPoovey]

If you get the chance, walk by suite 7 on the navigator deck and peek in if its open, or just listen for a few seconds and tell me if you hear lots of noise.
We have booked this room in july for 7 days in Alaska.
I'm alittle worried because its under the spa and lido... sound can carry during nap time, lol
Dont go to any trouble though, we will enjoy our cruise no matter. We are die hard nappers, but we will just turn on the tv if there is noise above.
Thank you for your reports and enjoy yourselves...as you seem to be doing.
Wish we were there now... you are envyed!
Thanks again!

[rochelle_s]

David,

Thanks for sharing the secret......will definately find my way now....and thanks also for all the other wonderful information you have been sharing.

Keep enjoying your cruise!

Rochelle

[sldispatcher]

March 2 – Loreto

Very slow and scenic approach to this tendered port. Worth getting up for.

We were one of the first to tender to port after a Lido breakfast. The small “harbor” area had a flock of very hungry pelicans that were worth watching all day! If all you do is tender over to watch the pelicans, you’ll be happy.

It’s a 4 block walk along a nice, but cobblestone type sidewalk. Wear comfortable shoes! Then a turn up a few blocks into the city center. Many small shops where you will haggle for everything..but not in a bad way. Don’t accept the first price and always be prepared to counter offer. The shops furtherest away from the ocean seemed to have the best deals.

There is a bar/hotel on the south side of the city center that is worth taking a picture of on the inside. It was gorgeous.

Hopefully, Diamonds International et al will never find Loreto. It needs to stay as it is now. All of the shopkeepers had some command of the English language. All were very cordial.

A “whip around” of the Santa Anna winds blew up very rough surf right before 330pm. Whoever was left to tender back to the ship must have had a very rough trip.

We sailed away amongst schools of dolphins and a few passing whales.

**Comment: I wish HAL would have a day of Scenic cruising here. The landscape is equivalent to putting a lake on the moon. Just not enough daylight left to see it!

For those looking for a few other details, this ship does not have the corner storage space in the bathroom mirror…be prepared for that. Also be prepared for more overhead announcements. There have been 2 or 3 a day announcing different activities onboard the ship. Nothing intrusive, just more than I remember.

One of the announcements was for an onboard cooking class that I have had 2 cancel on me so far for lack of participation. If it were me, I’d change the themes to more about cooking theory (i.e. making different sauces, etc.) than cooking a meal. I keep waiting for HAL to team up with Top Chef program or with the Food Network and start kicking it up a notch, so to speak. At any rate, I am again very pleased with the variety and number of uses for the Wajang Theater.

I did attend a flower class with my mother, but unfortunately, it was very basic without the educational part that would have been helpful…my mother is a champion flower decorator and holds office in the National Garden Club Federation. It struck me how there are so many ladies in the country who participate in flower shows..what a great group that would be to come in and do a “Flower Power” cruise. Real teaching, real theory….wonder if anyone would be attracted to that? Turns out that Disney turned over their Spring Flower show to the Garden Club there because they did it so well…..

But I am way off topic….

Dinner was fine tonight. We chose NOT to make reservations and roll the dice. We waited at least 20 seconds before a table was assigned…whew! Waiter was very, very nice. Ari.

No full show tonight, only an encore presentation of a John Denver tribute.

Dessert Extravaganza looked very nice, but we did not partake of any treats…only looked.

Other notes for those following along:
Chicken Brochette on this night…..appetizer…don’t miss it!
The Casino machines are a waste of time….Don’t bother
Avoid the small shopping area anytime there is a “raffle”
Spa deals were available daily. DO NOT book the first day for later days.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

David

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for checking in.

I also mentioned about the Casino having been done over when she was in dry dock and the slots are POOR.

[Gsel]

David, one question for you. We had a wonderful waiter on the Noordam last year and his name was Ari. Hopefully this is the same person. Would it be worth asking for one of his tables? We are really enjoying your posts, thanks so much.
Barbara

[DougH]

Loreto sounds very nice but since I'm on the Copper Canyon trip I'm not sure if I'll be getting up early the next morning! Great reports, keep it up.

Doug

[REBCRUISER]

Enjoy your comments. What advice would you give on the use of Dollars, Pesos and credit cards for your purchases, meals, etc. on land? Should we wait for Puerto Vallarta to hit an ATM to get Pesos? And a delicate one: what about the availability of toilets ashore, and does one need coins for tips there, like in parts of Europe?
Thanks,
Roland

[sldispatcher]

March 3, 2008 – La Paz

Before I forget, this class vessel does not have the curtain between the bed and sitting area like the Amsterdam…certainly miss that!

We got as far as the flea market on the pier today. Walk off after the second offer from the silver vendors. They will chase you down to give the “special” price. I do feel a little sorry for them as I’m sure most are just trying to get some food money…but I do enjoy the soft bargaining that takes place.

The bus trip to La Paz is about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the ship says a shuttle will only run every 45 minutes or so. No thank you.

The water here in the harbor is a magnificent turquoise color. Again, somewhere around here Half Moon Cay #2 is just waiting to burst forth! Not much in the way of shade as it is very arid countryside. The cacti look as though they struggle!

I had some fairly decent nachos from the poolside grill for lunch. DW went up and sunned over deck 12 in a nice quiet spot as the wind was relentless today at over 21 knots average.

The juggling act was canceled this evening due to the rather moderate seas we encountered after leaving La Paz. They are going to do a Newlywed/Not so Newlywed game instead.

Dinner was average to good. The waiter was very nice and entertaining. Denny.

Still no hints of GI bug running rampant on the ship. They’ve taken down some of the antibacterial stations around the ship. I’d just as soon they leave them up full time.

The air is nice and crisp this evening. Parents went back to that moneytrap, the casino. I haven’t heard yet if they hit anything.

Tomorrow is Cabo San Lucas. I am hoping that the whales will be around the ship…and we can just sit on the balcony and enjoy.

In the dining room tonight was a bacon and cheddar soup that I thought was really good. The Thai Spring Roll was everyone’s favorite at the table. Prime rib was so-so. Mother’s pork was good. If I had to do it over again, I’d probably go with the chicken cordon bleu.

I would say overall, the ship is now gotten over code red syndrome and will be welcome site for a few folks in 3 days! Hang in there, she is coming to get you!

David

[sldispatcher]

David, one question for you. We had a wonderful waiter on the Noordam last year and his name was Ari. Hopefully this is the same person. Would it be worth asking for one of his tables? We are really enjoying your posts, thanks so much.
Barbara

Yes, it would be good. Also Denny was very good tonight.

[sldispatcher]

Enjoy your comments. What advice would you give on the use of Dollars, Pesos and credit cards for your purchases, meals, etc. on land? Should we wait for Puerto Vallarta to hit an ATM to get Pesos? And a delicate one: what about the availability of toilets ashore, and does one need coins for tips there, like in parts of Europe?
Thanks,
Roland

Local vendors all want dollars. Will take Pesos. Credit cards are widely accepted even in shops in Loreto you wouldn't think could take them.

Toilets...not certain. I do know that in Mazatlan, the silver shops all had nice restrooms, softdrinks, liquor, and water.

[KSCnCA]

David,
Thank you so much for your posts. It helps make the wait bearable. Sounds like you are a glass half full kind of guy - I appreciate that!

[Gsel]

David, Since we are leaving tomorrow for San Diego and will board the Ryndam on Thursday just wanted to thank you for all of your posts and keeping the anticipation going for us. It seems you have been giving us the good along with the bad in a honest and clear way and it has been greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for taking time from your vacation.
Barbara

[lka1012]

Local vendors all want dollars. Will take Pesos.

I have wondered about that. I have debated whether or not to change my money into pesos.

[ltsally]

My thanks, too, David for this trip log - it's been great reading!

You'd mentioned some temps up around 80...is the air a little cooler and refreshing while the ship is underway? And did the onboard temps ever get more comfortable (you'd mentioned it feeling about 5 degrees too warm at the outset)?

Thanks again!

[sldispatcher]

March 4 – Cabo San Lucas

An early morning arrival into Cabo. A whale surfaced, blew, and quickly slipped into the inky black waters at the edge of the Sea of Cortez.

The lights and hills of Cabo looked more like a nighttime arrival to Vegas than the sleepy Baja towns we were used to seeing.

Breakfast was in the Lido and then slid right down to the Wajang theater for tender tickets. Not much wait there. Of note, I’ve noticed that the windows in the tenders are, to borrow a phrase from home, “stink nasty”. You would have trouble seeing Godzilla approach the tender boat looking through those murky windows. Try and get a seat next to door.

Cabo had a very nice Marina and a few hawkers of services in the bay. We marched right into downtown where some very nice stores awaited. (And I’m not talking about anything listed in the silly recommended stores by any ship that talks shopping.)

Shoppers note! A very small store on the north side of the main thoroughfare (east end) called “Silver Exposure” is a must if you are looking for unique items. The designer is Jodie Johnson. There is a website, but I don’t want to look like a hack on here. The pieces are VERY unique.

The next store was on a side street and I don’t have an actual name other than it had the Mexican term for turquoise in the title. The owner is very knowledgeable, does his own designs, and will show you how to spot fake silver. The last store I’ll list, (and the first we visited) was Minas de Cortez. B E A U T I F U L stuff…but get ready to plunk down some change. They WILL deal, but let them do the dance first.

Lunch was back on board the ship. The dining room is closed on this day. Plus, they are getting ready for the farewell dinner. Lido was okay.

This afternoon we read books on the balcony with Cabo as our backdrop. A very busy port scene. Compare and contrast at this point what was seen at Loreto or Topolobampo with Cabo. We left right on schedule and sailed around the tip of Cabo and then turned to the northwest to go get all of you cruise addicts waiting for us to surrender our ship!

I would have filed earlier but my dad was on my sign-on down in the café. I really think HAL should consider reducing the cost of the internet connection. It is ridiculously high for the quality of the bandwidth. I wouldn’t mind paying the bundled rates if the connection speed was better. BUT, you are captive on the ship while at sea and it is not like you can just plug into Comcast, etc. But still, the charges are obscene for this service.

Tonight was the last formal night. Very good salads, chilled strawberry soups, 4 plump shrimp in a cocktail accompanied by a mustard sauce, then a different dish for each person around the table for entrees. My dad and I turned our traditional surf and turf over with substituting the rack of veal for the filet. My mother had her traditional surf and turf and really liked the filet! My wife had the snapper and it was truly tasty.

I have of course, left out lots of details in these daily reports, but I would rather paint a picture with broad strokes, and let you discover small touches in your own way. There have been numerous instances on this cruise that I will not detail here of staff going out of there way to handle what was only meant to be a question of curiosity and not a mandate for service to be performed. I don’t mention them so that someone reading this may think these things are a matter of routine. Again, if you’ve never sailed HAL. Come experience a different way of cruising. The whole experience is about having a sailing excursion and it makes no bones about it. The primary mission seems centered around the idea that you are on a fine ship as opposed to trying to make you forget you are on a ship as some lines seems to be moving towards.

A production show was performed in the theater tonight that was heavy on singing and costumes and light on dance moves. My wife actually preferred it because of those features. Again, whoever designed these R and S class theaters needs to be taken out back and horsewhipped. Sight lines are terrible. People were present 45 minutes prior to showtime to get “their seat”. Whew!

As I type this, the seas are actually enough to make one feel like one is actually cruising…and barely noticeable at that. These rooms have not made a single sound. Not a creak. Not a pop. You cannot hear things above or below you. Every once in a while an adjacent balcony door may slam, but that is about it.

Well, I’ll try and file at least one more report. I hope that it has been informative to some degree without spoiling all of the little things that make sailing HAL so nice.

Happy Sailing!

David


PS. The temps did get a little nicer on the ship...outside air temps are definitely cool on the water. Esp mornings/evenings as expected.

Bon Voyage!

[lka1012]

After reading your posts, I am so looking forward to doing the same cruise in December. Thank you for your cruise-log.

[iluv2travel]

Just wanted to add my thanks for your posts. We sail the Ryndam on 4/15 and your reports made the wait a lot more fun! Enjoy your last days.

[oldmedic]

David,
Thanks for the great reports!! we will be on the Ryndam in May and your reports have made me look all the more forward to sailing with HAL!!! safe journey!!

[sldispatcher]

March 5 – Day at Sea

The Lido was quite busy this morning. Time changed overnight (gained an hour) so there were many hungry eaters this am. (Why?)

The morning was spent tidying up loose ends, changing airline seats to exit rows, etc. The disembarkation lecture seemed to have been attended by everyone onboard as well as those from the Dawn Princess. So much for the “one member of each cabin” as there were way too many twosomes present. I turned around and left without getting a seat.

Immigration will be done in the terminal (WONDERFUL) and not have to clear everyone on the ship prior to letting us off the ship.

Unfortunately, at 3pm, the Ryndam was placed back on Code Red.



Just kidding ;)

Everything is fine and the ship is in great shape for the next cruisers. I am aware of only 3 or 4 max ever being quarantined as a precaution.

We did have a brief CC meeting which I could not stay for the full length. There was a variety of HAL/cruising experience in the group. It was determined that the Ryndam had quickly recovered from the code red…had made all of the necessary efforts and was doing quite well. First time HAL cruisers had put HAL way above the newest/latest/greatest of some other lines out there. Many compliments were handed out to all of the previous CC folks who had posted info about the Ryndam and HAL.

Overall, I would have to say that the experience was very close to the Amsterdam last year. The edge still goes to the Amsterdam, but that is much like saying the Grand Marnier Soufflé was better than the Mocha Crème Brule. To each his own.

Again, HAL has been very accommodating this voyage. We even had off menu items in the main dining room tonight arranged by one of the assistant dining captains after we lamented the fact that a favorite dish would not reappear. This brings to light my last suggestion, if you are torn between two items in the dining room…just ask for them both!

Unless something awful happens with debarkation in the AM, you will probably not hear from me again with a live report. I want to thank all 3 of you that have been reading this…and especially want to thank CC for having a central place such as these boards for us to post our trip reports.

I do not know how in the world I’m going to write a concise review for the “review” section of this website. Just like trying to polish off a dessert in the dining room, I’m not sure how I’ll do it, but I’ll sure give it my best shot!

Bon Voyage

[rochelle_s]

David,
I hope you and your family have a safe trip home after your wonderful cruise.
Thank you very much for sharing and I look forward to the full review.

Rochelle

[KSCnCA]

Unfortunately, at 3pm, the Ryndam was placed back on Code Red.
Just kidding ;)

David -
You got me! Thanks for the jolt-now I don't need my coffee this morning!
Seriously, I want to thank you for taking the time (and spending the money on internet fees) to share your entertaining and informative view of your cruise. Thanks also for taking care of the Ryndam for us - we'll be down in a few hours to take your place on board. :D

[zentmrs]

Unfortunately, at 3pm, the Ryndam was placed back on Code Red.
Just kidding ;)

David -
You got me! Thanks for the jolt-now I don't need my coffee this morning!
Seriously, I want to thank you for taking the time (and spending the money on internet fees) to share your entertaining and informative view of your cruise. Thanks also for taking care of the Ryndam for us - we'll be down in a few hours to take your place on board. :D


Ack! Got me too!! This was a wonderful account of your trip - we'll be boarding soon and hope our exerience will be just as grand!

[PathfinderEss]

Included me in on the gotcha........have a safe trip home and thanks for the great reporting! We leave in 10 days, hurray!

[Playsprite]

I wanted to let you know how wonderful it has been to listen to your daily reports. We set sail on April 5. Our daughter is going with us and has never been on a cruise before. Your reports have stirred the imagination of us all.
As for only 3 reading your post. I lurk alot and seldom reply. I am sure there are many more like me. We are hoping who ever goes on the next cruise files many reports as you have.

[DaveOKC]

Misspoovey - we had 007 two years ago on the Ryndam and loved the suite. I did hear a bit of noise one time when on the balconey from some pool chairs above us but it was very minor. Had alot of fun with 007 suite - I told several folks my name was Bond.
DaveOKC

[cruznon]

Thank you so much for sharing your Ryndam cruise. I enjoyed reading so much ove rthe past several days. Have a safe trip home.

[debgirl]

Thanks for the wonderful report. It brings back memories of our cruise Christmas week.

[Susie51]

Thank you for your informative posts.

[sldispatcher]

Arrival into San Diego was quiet, uneventful and right on schedule.

Note to the travelers...forget about the Lido for breakfast on this final morning. Plan for a stress free breakfast in the dining room. You will be so glad you did.

Disembarkation was right on time and without much hassle. There were the usual folks who will run right over you to get off of the ship. I am usually kicking/screaming/dragging myself off of the ship.

San Diego has got to be in the top 3 worldwide of the easiest ports to get in and out of.

Bon Voyage!

[oldmedic]

thanks for all your posts--- looking forward to your review- please advise here when you have done it so we can read it!!

[STEVENJAN]

David, thank you for your wonderful postings. Thanks to C.C. for keeping archives. It's great. Thanks to SteveQ for responding to my inquiry that lead me to his postings(which in turn lead me to yours). This is a great Board. I will be traveling by sea to the Sea of Cortez for my first time on HAL. Last year we traveled to Mexico on the Dawn Princess....Loved it. It sounds like the Ryndam shall rise to the occasion.