Eurodam Sept 1 Our Story

[COLLEYBERRY]

I have never posted a review before,I am not sure if there ia a format I should be following ,so i will simply tell our story.
Eurodam NewEngland/Canada Sept 1.

Flight to New York:

Our journey began in the wee hours of Labor Day morning.As we drove away in the cool darkeness from our sleeping neighbourhood,I was filled with happiness,after all the planning and waiting, it was finally Cruise Day.

We arrived at the airport in good time. Check in was a breeze .Our flight was on time and scheduled to leave at 8.am.

I had been very concerned about flying on the day the ship sailed. ( I have made a vow never to be in this position again) It all worked out in the end, but not without a few heart flips ,just to teach us a lesson.

The plane began boarding at about 7.45 am.

I was sitting in my seat ,feeing quite smug, secure in the knowledge that all was going as planned ,when it happened ,that ominous bong/chime that sounds just before the Captain speaks.

" Ladies and gentleman ,I am afraid we have discovered some mechanical difficulties.It will require more than a few hours to fix.........YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ! ( I almost shouted out loud ,but did mange to restrain myself) ... the emergency floor lighting is not working as it should be.... PLEASE, THIS CAN"T BE HAPPENING!

However 'Captain Cautious' ( as I affectionaly call him) went on to say " We are going to bring up another plane for you. It will mean you will have to stand on the tarmac for about 15 minutes ,while we do our pre flight check ,but we will have you on your way very soon.
I was breathing once again.

So off the plane we all trundled. Huddled on the tarmac (it al felt very 1960) we watched as they transfered our luggage from one plane to the other.

It was then that I noticed Capt.C. (who by the way looked twelve)
bent on one knee inspecting a back wheel.
The Captain beckoned to "mechanic man' and both knelt at the wheel.
Mechanic man stood ,said something into a walkie talkie, then resumed his wheel study.
Before long a pickup pulled up and out jumped whom I can only assume was 'head mechanic man'and all three were now staring intently at said wheel.
Just as I turned to DH and said "I don't think the Captain is too happy with that back wheel" we were asked to board the plane.

The second plane was just as cozy as the first had been.
I obviously could no longer see the back wheel from my window seat, but I did however notice 'head mechanic man' bound up the stairs and enter our orginal plane.

DH and I were discussing how unusal this was all becoming,when..... bong/chime.... it was Capt.Cautious again (bless his safety minded little heart)

"Well folks it seems as if the original problem has indeed been fixed.( probably by 'head mechanic man') However ,there is an issue with one of the wheels on this plane. There appears to be some oil leakage and we have to determine exactly where it is coming from.(do they always give passengers this much information??)
So if you will just bear with us for a few more minutes .

Please, take all the time you need was my first thought. I personally wanted to return to plane # 1 .I felt a wonky, tempermental,
emergency lighting system (which in all probability we wouldn't need) was a safer bet than a questionable back wheel (which I was pretty sure needed to be in good working order for a safe landing)

Minutes passed. I was thinking about starting a petition amongst my fellow passengers about switching back, when.... bong/chime.....

"Well folks ,we have done a close inspection of our wheel ,it shows no evidence of leakage and we are certain the oil in question is not from us. It was probably left there by another plane. We will be preparing for take off in a few minutes.Sorry about the delay and thankyou for your patience."

Capt C., for all his youth did take his job seriously and looked out for us very well. I was happy we would arrive in New York only 3/4 hour behind schedule.
Lesson well learned , I will never fly on cruise day again, it just too hard on the nerves.
I often wonder though about that oil and just which plane it did come from:confused:

The flight from Toronto to New York is only 1 hour flying time .
It didn't seem long before we could see" the city that never sleeps" "
beneath us"
I was delighted with our view from the plane. I was able to spot many of the landmarks that were familiar only because of T.V(yea Law and Order) movies and books. I easily saw the Empire State Building ,sans King Kong, but I reconized it all the same.

Suddenly ,there she was , the Eurodam ! Docked at the Manhattan Pier A tiny, perfect, toy ship from that height, but clearly one of Holland Americas'own. I so was excited , I hadn't even thought of the possibility of seeing her from the air.

The Big Apple lay beneath us, the Eurodam was waiting, our cruise was about to begin........ to be con'd.

[earl_m]

Thats A Perfect Exemple Why Its Important To Go I Day
earlier. Hope You Have A Great Cruise!!!

[v702]

Colleyberry you're doing just fine. Can't wait to read more!

[jhannah]

Yes, travel the day ahead is a wise suggestion. There's another thread that is dealing with this, too. There's just not enough reliability with the airlines any more to allow us to count on getting anywhere within the timeframe we need. Best to cough up the extra night's hotel stay and be there ready for the ship when she comes into port.

[Debi_D]

What a great way to tell your story. Really enjoying it so far, keep up the good work. Sounds like it will be a hoot!:D :D

[Hugahav]

Great review so far, looking forward to more!

[mamaofami]

You're doing a great job with this review and your format is just fine. And yes, that's why one needs to fly in a day or two early.

I got off the Eurodam as you embarked, so I can't wait to hear the rest.

[Benji817]

Awesome start for your review.... more please! :)

[cccole]

Your review is fantastic and so much fun to read. I can't wait to read your review of after you board the ship. Cherie

[gelo7]

I'm enjoying this, it's like reading a novel.:p

[TCF]

Great start! You're doing just fine so far!

We decided to leave home the day we depart...mind you...we are only 20 minutes from the pier so leaving the traditional day or two early seemed like a touch over-kill this time.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Loving it so far...

Can't wait for more.

[norcal2]

Like everyone else I LOVE this beginning and can't wait for more. :p

[Mike & Sue]

On the edge of my seat, can't wait to hear more!!

[cccole]

On the edge of my seat, can't wait to hear more!!

I was just thinking the same thing!! Helloooooooooooo? Cherie

[KLLund]

I feel like those folks back in the late 1800's waiting for the next installment of a Charles Dickens novel ... I can't wait for the ..

to be cont.....

[SweetpeaOne]

Very nice review. Looking forward to hearing the rest....

[mudscraper]

Will the plane land?:)

[cruzkitty]

Were they all LOST at sea or a deserted Island??

[Sea Island Lady]

I am very much enjoying reading your review. However, could I please ask a favor? I am having trouble reading the small bright blue font. It is really hard on the eyes. :( Could you please either make the font larger, or change the color? Thank you...can't wait for more.

Could someone tell me about the size of the Eurodam? Is it like the Noordam and Oosterdam class? We found a good price for February.

[RuthC]

Could someone tell me about the size of the Eurodam? Is it like the Noordam and Oosterdam class? We found a good price for February.
Essentially, yes. The Signature class is Vista v2.0. ;) The additional area is up---there's a Panorama Deck, and there's also the Tamarind Restaurant. The stern is more straight up and down, too.

[Sea Island Lady]

Vista Class...thank you Ruth. I couldn't remember the name. ;)

Does the ship hold more passengers? Hope not!

[RuthC]

Does the ship hold more passengers? Hope not!
Yes, the E-dam has more passengers than the Vistas. I don't recall the figures, but think it's about 300 more at full (double) capacity.

[Sea Island Lady]

Can the Eurodam handle more passengers?

[Mary Ellen]

Can the Eurodam handle more passengers?IMHO - no.

[RuthC]

I agree with Mary Ellen. Although there were plenty of times/places where there was all the space one could possibly want, there were also too many times/places where it was all too crowded. And these were the important things---Lido at mealtime, dining room, narrow passageways, the lounges before dinner. Getting prompt service in the lounges before dinner was just impossible.

[kakalina]

So where's the rest of the story?

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thank you everyone for your kind remarks.
I hope this font is an easier read,if not, just let me know ,I 'll be glad to try another. I have been trying to continue my review,but the site has been a little wonkydoodle.Hope it works well today. Our story continues..........

Embarkation

The planes' landing was flawless. The wheel that had caused everyone so much concern performed perfectly.
I always say a silent prayer during take offs and landings,I like to think of it as 'celestial insurance' My prayer was a litlle more fervent for this landing,but Capt.C. had been right ,the oil wasn't ours.

La Guardia proved to be no problem at all, luggage was easily found,as was the Hal rep.for transfer to the ship. There was a considerable wait for the transfer bus to depart(over an hour) I didn't care ,we were in Holland Americas' hands ,there was no chance of "missing the boat"now.

The transfer to the ship was a mini tour in itself. Kind veteran cruisers pointed out all the landmarks to we newbies.
Fifth Ave,.Times Square.....again all the names were familiar, but now I was seeing them for myself.

I was truly in New York! I tried not to appear quite so "just came into town with the egg money" but I really was having a great time.
Spirits on the bus were high,everyone chatting and friendly,it was a fun way to begin our holiday.

In no time,it seemed ,we were at the Manhattan Pier.
Suddenly ,she came into view.
There she was ,in all her glory ,the Lady Eurodam.
A truly beautiful sight,a majestic example of ship buiding.
I have always loved the blue and white Holland America colors ,they feel so..... nautical..ms Eurodam wears them wonderfully.
We have only been on one other cruise (Zuiderdam Alaska/ 07 ) so clearly I am no expert on ships ,but she sure looked swell to me.:)

I was not prepared for just how big she was,she really is huge folks.
Even so,one can't get a true sense of her size close up.It was only later in ports,when I viewed Eurodam from more of a distance, could I really appreciate just what a dynamic vessel Holland America had built.

Her expansive, blue, hull loomed above us as we disembarked the bus.
I looked over at DH and there it was, his "sea grin".During our first cruise, he always seemed to have this adorable smile on his face,I dubbed it his "sea grin". Its presence was a sure sign we had arrived.

Everyone had to identify their luggage and then it was whisked away by porters/longshoremen ?

We entered the spacious ships' terminal and were thrilled with how well organized everything seemed.
In a matter of minutes we had presented our boarding passes,answered some health questions,shown our credit card, had photos taken, were given a folder with our key cards and that was it,ready to board.

Now I don't know about anyone else, but those first moments as you walk up the gangway are very special to me.Light hearted and full of anticipation , I felt like skipping,but out of consideration for DH, I opted for a little more decorum, but I was definitely jaunting.

I love the sound of that first bleep of your key card. I always take a peek at my photo (just to see what the poor man has to identify me with,everytime I board) I looked pretty good,must have been the excitement.

The entrance was a beehive of activity. We were surrounded by people coming and going.
I believe the the Mariner Brunch had ended.You could tell the brunchers ( you all looked quite spiffy) from the travel clad arrivals.Each group however, was happy and smilling.
I knew many CCers were attending the brunch,I thought about calling out "Any CCers here ?" Dignity won again.

I asked a crew member if the dining room was open.I knew it was futile (given the brunch) but worth a try. The answer was "no" and we were directed to the Lido.

The Lido was very, very, busy. DH (wonderman) did find us a table,I stayed with the carryons and sent him for his food first ,as a reward for being such a good scout.

The Lido ,I found similar to the Zuiderdam, it has a sleek and modern feel to it. The food is well displayed,with lots of selection, and of course the staff is helpful and friendly. The walkaway, however between tables and food, felt a good deal narrower. There's barely room for two to pass,. You toss in a passenger, paused mid stream ,full tray in hand ,scouting for a table and it's instant back up.I am sure anyone with mobilitiy issues would find it a bit of a challenge. I observed lots of staff ready to help.

A lovely couple from Kansas asked to join us. Seasoned cruisers ,they were a delight. We all enjoyed lunch and then ,that glorious sound was heard ," the cabins are ready"

Cabin 4183, was to be our home for the next ten days and I could hardly wait to see it.
It would be our first aft /stern or as I like to refer to it as 'wakeview' stateroom.
On our first cruise, I found the wake mesmerising, to know it would always be just a few steps away ....well ,needlesss to say ,I was very excited.

We found our cabin easily(I'm one of those that study deck plans before a cruise)
Don't ya just love that little, green light ,that flickers ,to let you know your key card is working? You press the lever handle and swing open the door. The cabin you had been trying to visualize for all those months ,was now yours to explore.

We were thrilled! The cabin was perfect for us.I don't know if the staterooms at the stern , are deeper and wider, than those at the sides of the ship,but this cabin was much larger than I expected.Moments after we arrived so did our luggage(amazing)

The decor is quite restful.Soft earth tones ,that are very easy to live with.
Just an aside,this may sound silly,but the draperies are a lovely neutral beige, great as a backdrop for photos. As much as I loved my Zuiderdam cruise ,those drapes fought with everyone of my outfits!( please don't think me shallow)

The bathroom ,done in grey and white was spotlessly clean( a given with Holland America ) Sufficent counter space, lots of fuffy towels,and the shower pressure was perfect.
The shower curtain even behaves itself,not like those pesky clinger type ,that you have to fight off as you bathe.

The bed ,ah.. what can I say,those of you who have slept on a Holland America bed, know of what I speak. Future cruisers ,you are in for a treat. The linens are of a high thread count and the pillows are very comfortable. I cherish my own bed,but for a restful night away from home,Holland America treats her guests very well.I have heard them discribed as the" best beds at sea" and for good reason.

There was ample storage (lots of hangers) for our needs.DH( handy boy that he is) adjusted a shelf (on hinges) so we could hang our longer garments.Full length mirror on the back of a closet door. A safe for valuables . Drawers in the night stands ,we managed nicely.

The sitting area, very comfortable ,had a loveseat ,adjustable table(raise for dining) second chair(parson like) ottoman (used as seat for vanity/desk). The vanity /desk/bar housed a makeup mirror, a fridge beneath and flat screen T.V. above. I found this area very functional ,in fact we seemed to use it more than we did the sitting area, in our SY suite on the Zuiderdam.

The balcony ,how many hours did I spend in this dear space. It to was larger than I expected, The fourth deck appears to jut out further than the decks above.( 6ft deep?) Chair with ottoman ,cafe chair and small cocktail table were the furnishings.
The vista from the balcony was everything I hoped it would be.
When the ship is underway, your view seems to widen and widen and you can take everything in at once (albeit a little after everyone else);)
The wake,that glorious ,frothy white, churning of power .I do love it so!:)
I am afraid we're hooked , it's afts for us ,evermore !

We were checking excursion vouchers, wine card,and all the literature provided,when a gentle knock came to the door.
A voice, we would soon come to reconize, sang out"Housekeeping"
It was Anom,our cabin steward, DHs' rental tux in hand .( more about that later)
Anom took care of us very well,The cabin was always beautifully kept.
He had a genuine and pleasing manner and was a delight to know.Holland America should be very proud to have him in their employ.

I began my ' nesting rituals'. I can't really began to relax ,until we are unpacked.DH opened the wine( travelled unscathed in our luggage)while I checked his suit and my evening wear to see just how well they had travelled with all my careful packing .(I did good! )

We toasted our good fortune and each other, then set about making the cabin our own.


After we finished unpacking, we thought about a 'ship exploration 'but the ship seemed congested and kaffuffaly. I hoped once everyone was settled Eurodam woulld take on a more sedate feel ,indeed that was the case.

The passengers for the most part did seem older than us,but there were still many in our age bracket( If I tell ya,I'll have to kill ya ) We are in our 50s, but if I walk fast,I look 40:D

There were very few children on board,in fact ,it was days before I saw any.
We did encounter, an adorable set of twins about four years old ,a sweet babe in arms,two actve toddlers,and a pretty little blonde girl about five.Sightings ,however ,were rare.

We did scout out the dining room, it to had a familiar feel. Decor was pleasing. We had AYWD lower dining room,(it worked out well for us ,more about that later.)and wanted to see the tables for two.

We enjoy meeting other people,but prefer to dine alone.DH has his own business and I work in a hectic medical facility ,so ten dinners in a row with just the two of us.....well, it's one of our favorite parts of cruising.

The tables we liked were # 122 and #127, port and starboard,respectively ,corner tables ,at the very back of the dining room,quite secluded ,with partial water views (if you lean forward )
#109 and #111 water view tables ,well for one of you,the other has to turn around. Happy with our finds ,we headed back to the cabin,it was almost time for the life boat drill. We had a quick look at the menu posted outside the dining room, yum yum.( lucky we did ,more about that later) We booked #127 for 8pm (no problem) on our return to the cabin.

I know ,there are many people who look great in orange( I saw a photo of Brian in his blazer) I just don't happen to be one of them. The new life jackets, however , are easy to put on. Not so many strings to get entangled. I have a new respect for Mae West, her balance must have been extraordinary !! I couldn't see my feet,and felt like one of those Weeble toys.

Does anyone else do this?? Do you observe your fellow passengers at the muster station and wonder what it would be like to abandon ship with this group.

If the boat should be adrift for days,like in a movie,who among them will emerge as the natural leader, the selfless kindhearted soul,or the obnoxious lout ,that everyone wants to throw overboard. I just don't want to be that hystreical female they end up having to slap.DH is quite a fisherman,I thought I could be the one to serve sushi and tell silly stories to lift peoples spirits. Strange....I know ,but it gives me something to do while I am sweltering in a lifejacket ,waiting for people to answer to their names.
We dutifully wore our life jackets back to our cabin ,so no one would trip.

Sailaway out of New York harbour was everything ,everyone said it would be.
Thanks to Ruth C,we made the most of the experience.
One of my first questions on Cruisecritic had been about sailing out of New York harbour.Ruth ,kindly responded.

Operation RuthC goes like this... Get up on deck (Lido or higher) go port side for a good view of the New York skyline,about twenty minutes into sailaway get your wee self over to the starboard side , The Statue of Liberty is easily viewed from there.Passing under the bridge ,was just as she said it would be,I felt as though I could reach out and touch it. Thank you Ruth, it was a memorable time.
The Statute of Liberty is inspiring when you see her in photographs,close up, words fail me.
Sailing passed , I had goose bumps and found myself becoming very quiet, How proud Americans must be of their national symbol

After sailaway( which was quite festive by the way) we took our first walk on the promenade.

Promenade,how to I love thee ? Let me count the ways.I love thee ,the length and bredth thy teak can reach. I shall love thee better after death ,because I know there is a promenade deck in heaven.(Sorry Elizabeth for stealing your lines) I could walk for ever on a promenade deck. The breeze in your hair, the sky ,and the sea, there's simply nothing like it. WAAHHH I want to go back !!!

Suddenly Colleen began to fade, I did not sleep the night before we left at all,and frankly much the night before that, We had frantic days leading up to the cruise. I was suddenly exhausted,DH took one look at me and said "How about roomservice for dinner? "But we have that great table booked, are you sure?"
"We could eat on the balcony." was his reply. This why I love this man!!

I quickly canceled our reservations , We showered, changed into lounge wear, complete with bathrobes( they are very soft waffle material,white with blue piping, again that nautical look..... there's something about a man with a tan in a white bathrobe) and ordered dinner.

The room service menu is really just fine, but you can order from the dining room menu if you do it early enough. However you do have to know what you want..They seemed most reluctant to read the menu to me.Luckily we had a peek earlier,and remembered a few things( I don't know why the daily menus for all the restaurants couldn't be posted on a TV channel) Didn't really matter I was so weary ,I wasn't that hungry anyway.

Dinner arrived in less than 30 mins, after tipping ,we inserted the Privacy Please whatsit in the door and hung our breakfast order on the doorhandle.

It was heaven. The wake, cool white wine,and a Cobb salad ,I was a happy girl.
Really folks, ordinarily ,we are a lot more fun than this.Pathetic as it sounds,we were both asleep by 8.30pm

5.30 am ,Colleyberry is wide awake ! DH was still in dreamland After a quick trip to the loo(how close are we?) I donned my cozy bathrobe,( it kind of engulfs me ,but I love it anyway) and quietly opened the balcony door
. What a magical moment,.The air was soft and cool. To the east ,I could see a thin ribbon of crimson,which told me the sun was barely awake.To the west, the distant shore line twinkled with lights, a small New England town I thought.Above me, the sky was still dark enough to showcase stars.Below ,my beloved wake ,white and dancing as it propelled us forward.The solitude was wonderful ,just me and the sea( and the 2,000 people sleeping behind me)
I had no idea where we were,somewhere between New York and Newport R.I. I felt rested and renewed and blissfully content.As I turned to go back into the cabin ,I had a flicker of panic ,if this balcony door has locked behind me, I am in a bit of a fix.
No worries, it opened easily,I crept quietly back to bed ,it was too early to start the day just yet..
Newport R.I, lay ahead,,,,, it would prove to a fun port ,with a most delightful encounter on the Cliff Walk....... to be con'd










































t



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[Jade13]

Vista Class...thank you Ruth. I couldn't remember the name. ;)

Does the ship hold more passengers? Hope not!

It is really about the same. We actually had less passengers two weeks ago on Eurodam (who was full with 2,104 - I think) than on Westerdam last year when the Captain told us at the M&G we had over 2,200 on Westerdam. The difference is in the triples in the cabin, so they are very much the same.

If you liked Noordam, you will love Eurodam.

[sail7seas]

LOVE this current installment, Colley. What a wonderful report you are writing. Thank you for it.

[DaisieMA]

Please, please, keep typing...

[arlenez]

Anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

Regards,
Arlene

[RuthC]

Thank you for the honourable mention, Colleen. :) I'm glad my advice worked out well for you.

I'm enjoying your tale--sure hope Newport turns out as well as the lead-in predicts! I would hate it if my area wasn't good for you!

[MsBoomerang]

Great review. You are right up there with the best of them! I am really able to get a sense for the wonders of an Eurodam aft stateroom. I had one on the Zuiderdam a few years ago and LOVED it, but wasn't crazy about the ship. Sounds like you and your DH had a lovely time together. I woke up feeling irritated with my DH today, no particular reason, just after so many years of marriage it happens. But after reading your latest installment, I want to call him and suggest a cruise, without the kids.

[cccole]

Anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

Regards,
Arlene

Me too. Your review is absolutely fantastic. Aft balconies are my favorite, I just don't think there is anything like them. You wouldn't know the rest of the ship exists.

Cherie

[seafun]

I'm enjoying your review as well. You and I share the same sort of folksy, ramble on style, getting through the facts as well as the "oh, by the way, did I mention..."

I thought I got a little carried away with my long review of my trip to Egypt, but you know what? Everyone on these boards seems to love reading long reviews (lucky us!). ;)

Like you, I often found the most common comment was "Keep typing; I can't wait for more!" So keep up the good work, and I look forward to enjoying more of your trip with you! :D

[cruising teacher]

We were on the same sailing and are enjoying comparing our experiences.
Very entertaining review!

[Love the beach]

Love your review-- feel as if I am once more back on the lovely Eurodam:) . Thanks for taking the time to write!

[CPMichael]

GREAT review! Really makes me feel like was there. I would love to read more!

Thank you!

[Saphire]

Your descriptions gave me chills! Wonderful review so far, looking forward to reading more. :)

[localady]

Reading a wonderful review of a marvelous cruise is second only to being onboard a DAM ship, so I thank you for your fabulous writing.:D :D :D
I could truly feel myself standing out on the veranda in the wee hours of the morning and having a similar feeling....gosh how I long to feel that again.......:cool:

[HamOp]

I don't even like to read that much, and I can't wait for the next installment! Stay home and type, will ya?

[Assateague Island Princes]

C'mon! The suspense is killing me!:p

[seabourndt]

keep it up, i am going on her in 4 weeks from ft lauderdal;e to nassau and hmc am in the spa balcony cabin. did the visit in soton a month ago and really loved the ship. this year a did a close connection i flew the day berfore off NCL DREAM from south america to boston. flew from BOSTON to london landed heathrow 0700 next morning then home to REPACK and down to soton to board the QUEEN VICTORIA ion the afternoon. no problems with the aircraft like you had(THANK GOODNESS!)
dave

[gelo7]

I think that you are a gifted writer, you should consider a career change. I look forward to the rest, don't keep us waiting too long.:D

[PoohUnderstands]

Colleyberry:

I have never responded to anyone's review before, but just had to tell you I love your writing style. Just telling about opening the door out to the balcony early in the a.m.............. I can't wait for our Eurodam cruise on 11/15 to begin. No balcony this time, but everything else will be so great. Keep up the great writing and thank you for taking your time to do so.

Pooh

[Mike & Sue]

Colleyberry, I think you must have been a professional writer in a prior life ;)

Brings back memories of the awe I felt on my first cruise...

[luv2travelWA]

Oh my am I HOOKED! I cannot wait to hear the next chapter of your cruise. I'm with the others, I can just 'see' you. Your descriptions are just BREATHTAKING!

/christine

[SakeDad]

I absolutely love your style of writing. Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to hear what you think of the shows. I was the Stage Manager that put them on and really liked them and the performers. (I can only talk about the production shows, not guest entertainers) I hope you enjoy them!!! If you get a chance tell the performers Nathan says "Hello!":D I look forward to reading the "rest of the story"!;)

[CinWin]

You have a great way with words. Reading your review has been fascinating, so I can't wait to see what happens next. :)
Cindy

[hoss23]

Colleen, you should be proud. I am not surprised at the reaction to your review, as it is the best I have ever read. I have lived one hour from Manhattan for my entire 60 years, and, hearing you describe the sailaway out of NY. and passing the Statue of Liberty, even though you are not an American citizen, brought a tear to my eye. You have a talent, your humor and insightfullness are a pleasure to read. Let us know when youfirst book goes to print, as I want to get on the waiting list.

[Decebal]

Your review is outstanding, I had to print it out because I was laughing too hard at the computer at work. :D Keep it up.

Oh, on the Seabourn folder there is a GrannyLorr from Australia, when she travels she is just as much fun to read as you.

[eh2zed]

Wonderful review Colleyberry. We board her in QC on Oct. 1 and will retrace your steps in reverse although we end up in Fort Lauderdale after NY. Hope you are finished by when we leave on the 30th.
Thanks

[hammybee]

There is something magical about being out and about on a cruise ship, especially a HAL ship, at 5-5:30 A.M.

I am looking forward to more.

[8373seth]

WE are in 4183 in Nov.. So take some good pics so we can see. Also, how loud is the wake? I like to sleep with a fan on.

[RuthC]

Also, how loud is the wake? I like to sleep with a fan on.
What does the volume of the wake have to do with sleeping with a fan on? :confused:

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thankyou everyone ! Your kind remarks are truly heart warming. The last time I did any writing was for English Lit. courses ( 100 yrs ago ) it kind of feels like opening a rusty tool box. But I am having fun with this ,so as long as you are , let's get on with the story..........


Newport RI.

Breakast in the cabin,another of my favorite things about cruising.How many is this now? Let's see, we have,the wake,the promenade,dinner alone with my husband, the bathrobes and we haven't even talked ice cream cones yet.

.But breakfast in the cabin that's a category all on it's own. You see, as working wife and mother, for someone to deliver your breakfast,....bringing you food that you haven't shopped for ,prepared or tidied the kitchen after, well ....it just makes you very ,very happy.

The breakfast choices are varied and plentiful .Short of Eggs Benedict, I can't think of what else you could want for breaky.
By simply filling out the card the night before ,hanging it on the door handle,your breakfast of choice, will arrive in the morning ,at the appointed time(1/2 hour window)

We usually leave a couple of dollar bills (for tip)out the night before ,it's easier than fumbling for money in a mornnig fog. I do try and pull my self together a little before breakfast arrives ,no sense in frightening the poor lad ,besides the crashing dishes could wake the neighbours.

Room service coffee is quite good ,we order a large pot.The bacon(something I don't eat in my real life) is just the right amount of crispy.and DH has aquired a taste for Muselix.The omelettes are nice and fluffy.
Yogurt and fruit if not eaten at breakfast can be tucked in the fridge for a later nosh. Not that that's even necessary. There's so much food on a cruise ship ,one could be like a newborn ,feeding every two to four hours.on demand.

Newport morning ,we had our second cup of coffee out on the balcony.
Newport is a tendered port. and we were anchored off Goat Isalnd.
We looked out onto an absolutely beautiful day.

The weather on this cruise was wonderful, that is until Hurricane Hannah,chased us out of Charlottetown PEI,but that's another story.

This day, however, was what I call a 'Goldilocks' day, neither too hot,nor too cold ,but just right. Blue skies and a delicious breeze.

We were in no hurry.Thanks to Sail 7s' kind advice, that Newport could easily be done on our own ,( so glad we opted for this ,it worked out perfectly) we didn't have an excursion to meet..

Uninterrupted converstions ,add that to my list of favorite things. No cell phones( he doesn't bring it) ,kids ,or dog,... all those things that can instantly halt the flow of communication between you and your spouse.
What ever crisis,was happening back home ( baring anything really bad)would simply have to wait until we returned.The luxury of enjoying an unhurried , uninterrupted coffee, on beautiful morning ....sigh.

Our plan for the day, was after tendering into Newport,we would go to the Tourist Information Centre.( it.s a block and a bit from where the tender lets you off.)
We wanted to find out about a bus that could take us to the Cliff Walk and the mansions.This turn out to be ridculously easy,( you were so right Sail) You simply walk through the tourist center, out a set of doors,two yellow poles mark the bus/trolley stop.( every 15 mins) A mere five dollars ,buys you a pass for the day, that can take you all around Newport.
The trolley took us right to the Breakers( the most oppulent of the mansions) .We planned to do the Cliff Walk (a fabulous walking path of public access,with the Atlantic ocean on one side and the lawns of the mansions on the other.) and then tour the Breakers.

We dressed for the day,( good walking shoes being the first priorty,)and headed to the Queens Lounge where we were to wait for our turn to tender.

In the hallway we meet Anom. He began apologizing profusely, for not doing the 'turn down service' for our cabin the night before. I assured him that it was perfectly alright , we had simply been exhausted and retired early. All the while thinking it would have been more of a ' tuck in' service than a 'turn down' one.:D I teasingly asked if I would get two chocolates on my pillow this evening.

In the Queens Lounge we chatted with another couple from Canada,there were a fair number of us aboard.
Soon our ticket color was called and we boarded the tender.I sat by a window, my seat of choice on a tender.

Newport is lovely ,I could happily live there. The overall sense of it, as the tender motored closer was, well very....... marine ,sea resort,New Englandy.( I know that isn't a word,but some how it works )

Sail boats and beautiful yachts( testimony to the considerable wealth that must reside in the area) were plentiful. I had a picture of Newport in my mind before we came and on this pretty morning ,she was just as I imagined.

As I stated eariler, we easily found the trolley to the Cliff Walk. The trip (about 15 mins.) took us past beautifully kept homes and gardens.We passed the Touro Synagogue( Americas oldest), the Newport Art Museum,and the Tennis Hall of Fame .( see how easy it would be to get to everything ,with your pass)

The Breakers was the last stop. Taking a street that ran along side of the mansions' property, we easily walked to the Cliff Walk.

The Cliff Walk was absolutely wonderful.
We couldn't have asked for a better day .The sky was blue,the sun warm ,but tempered by the ocean breeze. Waves crashed against rocks below the walkway. The Atlantic, a vast expanse ,dotted with white caps and sunlight ,had sea birds soaring above(.and that was just one side of the path ) On the other, cool green lawns ,separated us from the
enornmus mansions , those famous "summer cottages"of the1900s wealthiest.

DH didn't know what to photograph first. He was throughly enjoying himself,DH was raised by the ocean and any time spent near the sea brings out the best in him.

However, at one point that day, his usual good sense ,briefly left town.
Men ! gawd! Why do they do stuff like this???:confused:

Suddenly, this man whom I adore ,father of my children,began climbing down over the rocks that border the path.
"What are you doing?? I said.
No ,that's not true,what I really said was".What the HELL are you doing!!!??
" I just want to get a better shot of this." was his reply.

There was this surfer in a wet suit and a point of land or something......I don't know what kind of photographic composition he was trying to achieve......I just knew that Newport, most probably had a bylaw about foolish tourists climbing on rocks, periously close to the ocean.

I could picture the headlines "Canadian Tourist Rescued from Rocks at Cliff Walk.".Well ,I quickly decided I would call for help if it became necessary but I would claim I had never seen him before in my life.

I held my breath ,until ********* made his way back to terre ferme.

"What were you thinking !!! ?? said I in a gentle tone:rolleyes:

" C'mon Colley( that's' the name he uses when he thinks he might be in dodo) How many rocks to you think I climbed over as a kid.??"Then he gave me that goofy 'sea grin' of his,and I forgave him(a little,it was still dumb) cause he looked so happy.(he did get some great shots )
Besides it was too perfect of a day to be really annoyed at anything.

We turned around on the path (after going a considerable distance ) and headed back toward the the Breakers.

As we neared the mansion we noticed a young woman ,she was standing on some wood ,taking photographs over the fence of the Breakers.

She hopped down as we approached . She said to DH "You can get a great shot from up there, pointing to the wood"

She and I exchanged a few pleasantries. Then ,,,you know that feeling when someone seems familiar, but you just can't put your finger on how you might know them. This young lady seemed so familiar to me.
Then the light bulb went on.

"Excuse me " I said " is your name Pam ?" She looked surprised and said "Yes"

It was Captain vanDonselaars' lovely wife. I told her I had recgonized her from her photos on the Eurodam Blog.and that I had enjoyed the photographs she had taken for the site.

What a delightful, engaging young woman.Conversation flowed easily from one topic to the next. We chatted for several minutes.Shared a little of the Cliff Walk , then we parted ways,DH and I off to our Breakers tour and she off to take more photos for the Blog.(checked the Blog when returned home and there it was the photo she had taken just before we meet , DH has the same one) She certainly is a lovely ambassador for Holland America and great testimony to her husband wisdom.

Next stop was the Breakers.Where Anderson Cooper of CNN ,grandpa spent his summers.(Anderson is Gloria Vanderbilts 'son)

DH indulged me in this tour,but when it was over he did say he had enjoyed it
After viewing all the opulence he asked me if I thought he was an 'underachiever":D

The grounds are beautiful and the setting is spectacular.
The interior of the home is room after room of marble and gilt. High ceilings and grand staircases. The kichen and bathrooms( both salt and fresh water ) are very interesting.
In truth the decor is too garish for me ,but the workmanship in wood and marble is stunning.
My favorite part of the Breakers, is a large covered balcony that faces the ocean,I can imagine what a welcome respite this would have been for the occupants ,on warm summer evening.

There are wonderful photographs of the Vanderbilts, that I found very interesting.

There was a moment when I thought ,for all his gazillion dollars. poor
Mr. Vanderbilt, in one respect wasn't as lucky as DH and I.
We were viewing his bedroom,his bed seemed so very small and frankly quite lumpy(hope it was feathers).I knew then ,he had never slept on a bed as comfortable as a Holland America bed:p

We took the trolley back to theTourist Center. Walking toward the tender landing we noticed quite a line up. We joined the line and ended up chatting with a fun group from Misissippi.
Suddenly, one of the ladies in the group said to DH and I "Are you Mr.and Ms Eurodam?" We didn't know what she was talking about .We laughingly said "No "
Then they explained ,Holland America,has two mystery passengers if you identify them ,you can win a prize .You ask people at random,it is a great way to break the ice. I was asked four times and met some very nice people.

The tender wait was a tad long .I was glad to finally get aboard and snag my window seat. It was a little stuffy ,so I was happy when the tender picked up speed and a breeze came in the window.

I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. There seemed to be a symphony of accents.,each had theiir with own unigue charm.There was the Australian accent, that sounds friendly without even trying, a wonderful melodic drawl from a southern state, a Scottish brogue( my personal favorite), the NewYork accent that I recgonized from movies and the quick sharp tones of the Asian tongue.
I thought about our ' tender of the world ', with everyone onboard heading in the same direction. Wouldn't it be nice if the world were more like our congenial little boat.

As we headed toward our big Dutch ship,my own Irish heritage was making itself known, despite sunscreen ,I was feeling
quite 'sunkissed'. This evening was the first formal night , I hoped all the sun and ocean breezes ,had only resulted in a nice glow and not a sauteed look..

On returning to the ship ,we called inroom dining,and ordered smoked salmon and a cheese plate. That and a glass of wine on the balcony was perfect ,we were well passed lunch. Siesta time ( a nap ,not something I ever get to do in my real life)

Time to fluff and buff.
We decided we would have dinner at 7pm ,that way we wouldn't be rushed and could catch the 9.00pm show.We weren't able to reserve a table for that time ( they leave that block of time open for AYWD) You can certainly make reservations,just before 6pm or at 8pm. We decided to just take our chances and wait for a table for two for as long it would take.

DHs' rental tux worked out very well,it fit him perfectly. We had brought a formal vest from home(silver/pewter) white dress shirts and long pewter silk tie.The tux came with two wing collared shirts ,bow tie ,studs and cuff links. He could change up the look ,which ever way he decided to go.
The tux is not an Armani, but my theory is you pray for dim lighting and walk fast.No,seriously it was just fine, it was a 100% wool. The pants and jacket hung nicely and he was comfortable wearing it..

You know there is something about a guy in a tux.That fellow you have been married to for so long, seems to be that little bit more charming and witty.Looking so good .I call it the ' Tux Factor '

'DH refers to it as ,to parapharse...'.aquiring good fortune ' ;) '

We had our formal pictures taken ,before dinner. ( they turned out well,we ended up purchasing them)

Table worked out perfectly,we only waited a few minutes,and were given
#109 (one of the water view tables we had liked)

We both had the New Zealand rack of lamb ,it was delicious and done just the way we like.

The show that evening was Justin Miller a talented classical guitarist
We enjoyed him very much . He played music from many genre,and between songs ,imparts knowledge about the musics' history and the artists that performed or wrote the pieces.

His tone and technique were beautiful. His rendition of Danny Boy ,made
eyes well up. My Irish grandfather had a wonderful baritone singing voice. At family gathering we could always count on hearing Danny Boy.
But when Justin played Annies' Song by John Denver ,(the soloist, sang this at our wedding,yes we were married in the 70s) I was a mess.

During the show there was a medical crisis, I couldn't see what was happening, but I must say the cruise director Susan Wood equited herself very well. Taking control of the situation She called for the lights to be brought up and had medical personel there within a matter of minutes. Justin left the stage,in deference, and Susan had calming words for the audience .I was most impressed. When it came to the welfare of a Holland America guest the 'show did not go on' until their needs were met.

After the show ,we stopped in at the Piano Bar ,for awhile. Then took a stroll on the promenade. The promenade at night ,has an allure all of it's own. The dark sky and the dark sea are quite a combination.
We had discovered a staircase on the deck plans( I think it's more for crew use) that took just around the corner from our cabin. We called it our secret staircase. We were soon back at 4183,the day was winding down to a pleasant end.Sitting on the balcony ,lulled by the wake,it was time to call it a night.
Tomorrow was our "ships' day" we were going to take the day to explore the Eurodam and experience the ship when everyone else was in port............ to be con'd p.s .I found two chocolates on my pillow.

[sail7seas]

Colleen...........

WONDERFUL installment ....like the others. :)

Very happy I could help in a little way for you to enjoy Newport fully. We never tire of port calls there.

Your descriptions and style are so enjoyable.

Many, many thanks for such a great read.

[8373seth]

What does the volume of the wake have to do with sleeping with a fan on? :confused:

Because it sounds like a fan. (Or at least some sort of white noise) Therefore it will help me sleep.

[eh2zed]

Another great chapter Colleyberry. And if you want Eggs Benedict for in cabin breakfast just write it on the card. Has worked for us everytime. Looking forward to the next edition.

[SkystheLimit]

Colleyberry,

Thank you for your wonderful posts. If you are not a writer by trade, then you need to change your line of work. Truly entertaining and beautiful prose.
Can't wait to hear more.

[KLLund]

This is the best review I have ever read .. now if there aren't pictures posted somewhere I am thinking serious depression will ensue ..

Writing is seriously your forte !!!

[arlenez]

More, more, more. We want more!

Thanks for such a great review.

Regards,
Arlene

[usha]

COLLEYBERRY, I'm SOOOOO enjoying your Eurodam story! Thanks so much for sharing it with us, and please keep it coming!:D

[RuthC]

Because it sounds like a fan. (Or at least some sort of white noise) Therefore it will help me sleep.
Then you would only hear the wake if the balcony door were to be left open---which it is not supposed to be.

Perhaps you're not aware that leaving the door open cuts off the air conditioning for every cabin on the same line. That could include inside and outside cabins which have no other source of air.
Please don't plan on leaving your balcony door open. If you need a fan for noise, ask your steward to provide one. They are available.

[Crazy]

I am enjoying reading this post. I will be on the Eurodam, September 2009, Canada/New England. I am going to have the same "aft" cabin that I had on the Eurodam when she left Rotterdam in 2008. It was a great adventure to be on the first sailing of this new ship.

Emily

[Flick]

Colleyberry, as if I wasn't already looking forward to our balcony the first of November on Eurodam, your commentary is really "feeding the fires"! Great review!!!!!

[Mary Ellen]

Because it sounds like a fan. (Or at least some sort of white noise) Therefore it will help me sleep.Yes, but with the door closed (as it should be) you won't be able to hear it.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Once again everyone ,Thankyou, your response has been overwhelming!! It's impressing the heck out of my kids( thanks for makin' Momma look good !)
I have taken the day off from writing (I have got to get some things done around here:)
I am back to work Monday. I'll try for another post this weekend.

eh2zed thanks for the tip on Eggs Benedict,if I had only known.:)
8373 seth, how I envy you your upcoming cruise.,I know you will love the stateroom. The sound of the wake is very,very,muted with the door closed. The "white noise' you like ,I think will be provided by the air conditioning. ( you can ask for a fan if you need to ,but I don't think it will be necessary)

There is vibration and motion in the stern cabin,but it was nothing that I found intrusive. In fact I kind of eguate it to " the baby in the car principle"
Take a fractious baby on a car ride and poof their asleep.
Have a wonderful cruise !!

Again everyone, you sure make a girl feel swell !:) :) :)

[8373seth]

Then you would only hear the wake if the balcony door were to be left open---which it is not supposed to be.

Perhaps you're not aware that leaving the door open cuts off the air conditioning for every cabin on the same line. That could include inside and outside cabins which have no other source of air.
Please don't plan on leaving your balcony door open. If you need a fan for noise, ask your steward to provide one. They are available.
I've never heard that before. I've only cruised on Princess and we always leave the door open at night (we've never been at the stern). There has never been anything posted or mentioned in paper work about this. Where did you hear this?

[8373seth]

Then you would only hear the wake if the balcony door were to be left open---which it is not supposed to be.

Perhaps you're not aware that leaving the door open cuts off the air conditioning for every cabin on the same line. That could include inside and outside cabins which have no other source of air.
Please don't plan on leaving your balcony door open. If you need a fan for noise, ask your steward to provide one. They are available.

The more I think about this the less I understand what you are saying. You are saying that every time we open the balcony door the air conditioning for another cabin is turned off? So during the day the air conditioning is mostly off because people will leave their balcony doors open? I can understand the cruise line advising you to close your door due to safety reasons but not for air conditioning. In other words, why should my door being open affect someone else's air?

[COLLEYBERRY]

Holland America does ask it's guest to keep their balcony doors closed. If I am not mistaken there is even a sticker on the balcony door to that effect.
It has been explained here on CC, by experts far more in the know than I.
Essentially, if I am understanding it correctly,the air conditioning system is indeed all connected and the harder it would have to work at one end to battle warm air,the more diminished it's capability at the other.Aside from energy conservation ,leaving the door open can effect your fellow passengers.
The wonderous wake is only steps away,I know you will love the stern cabin. H:) ppy Sailings !

[mamaofami]

[quote=8373seth;16338200]

I also like the sound of a fan when I'm trying to sleep, so I travel with one of the tiny white nosie machines. I've done that for years and it works just fine.

[mamaofami]

Colleyberry, I'm loving this review. If you ever tire of the medical field, you have a natural with writing. I can't wait to hear more.

I was on deck 5, a stern VA right above you, and found it to be smaller than I had expected after being on the Noordam. I didn't even notice that deck 4 was longer. Sitting and watching the wake, or breakfast out on the veranda and watching the wake are two of my favorite things.

[tamsno]

Colleyberry, Thank you for the pleasure of your delightful prose and poetry. I'm encouraged to start writing again. The sea is a wonderful inspiration. I could watch it glide by for hours, and have cheerfully done so. Sailing out of New York was a thrill for me too! Even though I grew up in Brooklyn and had many ferry rides and crossed many bridges, it was very special. Later on, from our port side veranda we could see Coney Island with the lighted Empire State Building in the background. Looking forward to your next installment.

[2B AT C]

I was on the Eurodam with you but don't think I had the pleasure to meet you. We are from Ottawa.
I am really enjoying your story - can't wait for the next installment.
Did you see 'the green man'? If so I hope you write about him!!
If anyone else knows what I am talking about I would love to know what you know about him if anything??!!

Judy

[WeLoveCruising]

Colleyberry,
I love your writing, thanks so much for sharing with us. Cant wait to read more!!

8373Seth,
RuthC is correct about the air conditioning. There are signs on the doors, as well as in the daily program asking guests not to leave the doors open.

[COLLEYBERRY]

I was on the Eurodam with you but don't think I had the pleasure to meet you. We are from Ottawa.
I am really enjoying your story - can't wait for the next installment.
Did you see 'the green man'? If so I hope you write about him!!
If anyone else knows what I am talking about I would love to know what you know about him if anything??!!

Judy

I absolutely am going to write about the "green man:" I plan to but him in the next installment.

I meet a lovely lady from Ottawa( I think I had on a red blouse) in the lineup for Justin Millers' CD. We talked about my brother being a lawyer in Ottawa( Nepean area ),was that you???Also there was a nice couple from Ottawa, at the bus stop for the Breakers.

I was going to but out a request for info ,as well.I know nothing ,other than he was most bewildering.

[bepsf]

Colley--

What wonderful writing...
...and I'm glad that you got to meet Pam - She's a doll!

[happy cruzer]

Nice review. I am quite enjoying it. We did Canada/new England with Princess and shared many of the same experiences. We walked from the dock in New Port to the Breakers then the Cliff Walk then back to the dock. Next time the bus for sure. We too had a bit of lineup for tenders but it did move. So you can see, you relive it for many of us. I do keep my eyes open for a chance to cruise with HAL with a visit to Montreal ( oh well someday, I hope).

Thank You.

[RuthC]

I've never heard that before. I've only cruised on Princess and we always leave the door open at night (we've never been at the stern). There has never been anything posted or mentioned in paper work about this. Where did you hear this?

The more I think about this the less I understand what you are saying. You are saying that every time we open the balcony door the air conditioning for another cabin is turned off? So during the day the air conditioning is mostly off because people will leave their balcony doors open? I can understand the cruise line advising you to close your door due to safety reasons but not for air conditioning. In other words, why should my door being open affect someone else's air?
I'm not an engineer, so I can't explain the "why"; but I can give the "what"---and that is that if anyone leaves a balcony door open it affects the A/C in that cabin, and all other cabins on the same line. Cabins are not like individual A/C window units---they are more like central air. There are several cabins on the same line.

Your balcony door is not supposed to be left open during the day or night. Anyone who wants to enjoy the fresh air is supposed to open the door, exit to the balcony, then close the door behind.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Colley - Your fabulous review convinced me to book the Eurodam for the 11/1 sailing. I did it tonight and...lo and behold...there was an aft cabin still available on deck 5. :D I was in an aft on my last cruise in April and it spoiled me rotten so I snatched this one up as fast as I could...running to grab the credit card out of my purse in fear someone would get this coveted spot before me. For those of you who haven't sailed in an aft cabin, you simply must put do it...there's no words that explain the peace and beauty...

I'm lookng forward to the rest of your review!

Diane

[usha]

I'm not an engineer, so I can't explain the "why"; but I can give the "what"---and that is that if anyone leaves a balcony door open it affects the A/C in that cabin, and all other cabins on the same line. Cabins are not like individual A/C window units---they are more like central air. There are several cabins on the same line.

Your balcony door is not supposed to be left open during the day or night. Anyone who wants to enjoy the fresh air is supposed to open the door, exit to the balcony, then close the door behind.
Ok, I really hope that's the end of the hijacking of this (otherwise) lovely thread.:rolleyes:

[RuthC]

Cheese it! The cops! :eek:

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colley - Your fabulous review convinced me to book the Eurodam for the 11/1 sailing. I did it tonight and...lo and behold...there was an aft cabin still available on deck 5. :D I was in an aft on my last cruise in April and it spoiled me rotten so I snatched this one up as fast as I could...running to grab the credit card out of my purse in fear someone would get this coveted spot before me. For those of you who haven't sailed in an aft cabin, you simply must put do it...there's no words that explain the peace and beauty...

I'm lookng forward to the rest of your review!

Diane

Diane,have the most wonderful cruise.:) I have seen on other ships' deck plans, that the aft balconies seem so much deeper,that must be heaven.
We are such novice cruisers our taste is probably not as discerning as that of cruisers who have taken many voyages. I am afraid ,I am just so happy to be out of a lab coat,and away from every day stresses,that my critical meter registers 0. I hope you do find the Eurodam as enjoyable as we did. H:) ppy Sailings.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Diane,have the most wonderful cruise.:) I have seen on other ships' deck plans, that the aft balconies seem so much deeper,that must be heaven.
We are such novice cruisers our taste is probably not as discerning as that of cruisers who have taken many voyages. I am afraid ,I am just so happy to be out of a lab coat,and away from every day stresses,that my critical meter registers 0. I hope you do find the Eurodam as enjoyable as we did. H:) ppy Sailings.

Oh my Colley, I'm in the same boat (pun intended:) ) as you. My cruise in April was only the second one I've ever taken...the first was 25 years ago and I was 6 months pregnant.:eek: I'm just happy to get away from the every day stresses of corporate America. BTW - I work in the health care industry, too.

Diane

[COLLEYBERRY]

Well my life is under.control once more. Gardens are happy( relatively weed free), fridge is full , and the house is in order( it seems so much quieter when polished and vacumed,) There's still laundry,but if a gal can't flip a couple of loads while doing a little typing,than what is she made of??:)

Before we begin,I realized when I reread my last post that I had spelled acquire , as aquire, twice:o If you'll forgive any ,spelling ,gramatical,and typo errors( that rusty tool box again) I'll try and proof read more carefully.

Yesterday, I left the computer on at the CCsite and would periodically check in(does anyone else do this,or do I have a problem?) I felt like Al Pacino in the Godfather " I try to get out but they keep pullling me back in"LOL

May I say once more, your supportive comments are very much appreciated.You have been kind and generous in your feedback and I do thank you. Now on with the story.......


Let me explain about our 'ships' day'. Before this cruise,our only other cruise had been a 7day Alaska cruise last August(breathtaking)

We felt as though we had just gotten into the rythm of cruising ,when our voyage was over.There didn't seem to be enough time to really take in the ship itself.So on this cruise we decided to take a day and experience the ship when most were ashore . We choose Boston because we had visited this wonderful city in the past .

Let me just say Boston, as a port on an itinerary , has everything a cruise passenger would want. Very walkable full of charm and history all the while being an exciting city.
I read a shuttle is available at the ships terminal.
Home of Harvard and MIT , the Boston Common. and the Freedom Trail.
The Freedom Trail a journey (especially poignant for American passengers)where you are introduced to the places and the characters that help forge so much of Americas' idenity. Geez, maybe we should have gone ashore.

Had we known, Miss Hurricane Hannah, would result in another sea day ,we might have made a different decision.However , I must say there is a special feeling to the ship, when you have her mostly to yourselves.

Our plan was to do things we hadn't done on our first cruise.

Such things as ,eat breakfast in the dining room,actually watch as we pull into port ,check out the ships' bell, and have a good walk through the ship as the saying goes "from stem to stern".

On the Eurodam we wanted to investigate the infamous cabanas and try the dim sum lunch at the Tamarind( no charge)

We had both brought "please don't talk to me " books ,so maybe scout a quiet place to read. I wanted to take the art tour via Ipod. I ended up doing that ,the day Hannah said "hi'( very enjoyable, more about that later)

Folks we had some kind of power surge and my computer went wonky.

I don't know if this much has been lost, I am afraid I am very computer illiterate ( DH is out)so I am going to send this and hope it gets through.I didn't want to continue writing and find at the end it can't be sent. How ticked would I be?? Sorry for interruption of flow. It will be quite a while till I get back ,it takes most of the day for me to write an installment. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Here goes!

[COLLEYBERRY]

WHEW!! Thank heavens. See ya later!,:) Colley

[Jo-Bob]

Ok, I really hope that's the end of the hijacking of this (otherwise) lovely thread.:rolleyes:

I don't consider that a 'hijack' of a thread whatsoever. Sometimes questions come up on a thread, and require a response. Ruth was kind enough to answer the question......what on earth could be wrong with that? Would it have been better to not answer the question? Demand that it become another thread? No one is required to police the content of a thread, beyond the moderators.

I too am very much enjoying this wonderful read...let's not bog it down with petty critisisms.

[usha]

Sorry, I didn't mean to criticize Petty.:D
http://www.captainsdead.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/tom-petty2.jpg

[KLLund]

Colley

Now that is a teaser of monumental proportions .. sigh .. are you sure you don't write serialized novels for a monthly magazine ????? (If you don't, you should consider it in all that spare time you seem to have LOL)

Waiting almost patiently .........

[COLLEYBERRY]

Sorry about that. continuing.....

The ship wasn't docking until 9.00am. We ordered coffee, from inroom dining ,to have while getting dressed.

We were having breakfast in the dining room .I was going to have Eggs Benedict ( something else that doesn't happen much in real life.May have happened more than once on this cruise ,had I known about the breakfast card trick; For those who missed the post, apparently you just write Eggs Benedict on the menu card and they to will appear.) and DH was looking forward to the Belgian Waffles.

Having breakfast delivered to the cabin is wonderful,but having it served to you in a pleasant dining room also has it's charms.

The staff were attentive yet unobtrusive, They seemed to know , that in the morning, a gentle interaction was most appreciated . The dining room was not busy , perhaps we had missed the rush, or people were getting ready for their shore excursions.

I very much enjoyed my eggs , a little melon ,and my day was off to a fine start. DH and his waffles ? Well ,let's just say ,he was a happy boy.

After breakfast, we went up one deck, and took the promenade(any chance I get:) ) to the front of the ship. It was another beautiful day ,for our cruising pleasure.
Back inside, elevators took us up to a deck with a wonderful vantage point, for viewing the ships' docking
We had front row seats ( actually teak deck lounges), We were practically alone ,maybe five other people..We walked about and looked out on Bostons busy sea port.

The Black Falcon Terminal was to our left . To our right ,large cargo containers were being stacked one atop the other, handled as though they were toy blocks , I couldn't believe the height they were reaching .A crane ,with a huge claw ,was adeptly puttting each container in it's place . I found it fasinating to watch. I thought whoever was operating that crane, well , it most definetely wasn't their first time.

As impressed as I was with the crane operator, when I saw what Captain van Donselarr( I assume he was at the helm) was about to do, I was in awe.

Now , I knew the man could drive, because he had been the captain for our first cruise, on the Zuiderdam. But when I saw where he had to dock the gigantic Eurodam . Geezy Peeps !!!

You must remember,this is being viewed by someone who thinks parallel parking should be an Olympic event.
Seriously, the berth(pier??)seemed so narrow , it felt as though there were only inches to spare on either.side.

We took our places for the show , relaxed on our lounges ,the ship felt as though it was barely moving forward . How in control of a huge vessel would you have to be ,to have it behave so very delicately. ?

Then ,to our surprise ,the second show began.
Our own private air show. Aircraft of all sizes and types,which we assumed were destined for Logan Airport, began flying over head.
. There were large carriers,private planes and small carriers much like Captain Cautious' 40 seater, that had brought us from Toronto to New York.
It was exhilarating .I felt like those people ,who go to an airstrip and lay on the hood of their car and watch the planes come in.
One huge aircraft flew so close overhead it took my breath away. I have never been that close to a moving jet. The windows of some planes were so visible ,I waved. Although I couldn't quite make out people,I am sure they had a good view of us.I imagined them thinking ,well isn't she friendly.:D

Captain van Donselarr brought Lady Eurodam to a perfect stop. I thought there should be applause or something, like in a plane when the landing has been difficult. .I was very very impressed
This ships'day begining, had been in a word....cool.

Our next stop, the Retreat Cabanas. During our cruise I didn't see one person using either the Retreat Cabanas or the Lido Cabanas.There may well have been ,but I didn't see any.
There were attendants at the Retreat Cabanas ,asked if we could have a look and they were most obliging.

I must say the retreat cabanas did hold some appeal for us. I liked the corner cabanas Costa del Sol and Capri.If you were travelling with family or a couple of couples, they would be a lovely spot for every one to be together. . They looked so inviting ,it seemed a little sad no one was using them.

The Lido Cabanas did not appeal to us,I think I would feel too much on display. They certainly do take up space ,that can't be denied.
However ,for a family with children poolside ,they would make a great "mission central" I quess time and the warmer climate cruises will determine their fate.

From the Retreat Cabanas, we set out to view the ships' bell.
I had not taken note of the ships' bell on the Zuiderdam and thought it would be kind of neat to have a look at one.

Rev.Neals' review had said ,you could get to the bell ,through a door on deck five . Sure enough just like he said , we found it,, no problem. It was at the very end of the hallway ,as far forward as you can go
.We opened the door and stepped up and over a large sill. Stepping out on the deck ,there it was ,just below us.
Noble in its' solitude .It had white metal framing around it.
I thought about trying to get a little closer but I wasn't even sure we should be out there. Like naughty kids ,we took a photo and got the heck out of there.

DH said "How did you know how to get here?" (I had merely told him to" follow me" that I knew the way to the bell. ) Research, dearheart ,research:)

The the ship does have a familiar feel to it, I found I could find my way around nicely.
The Atrium houses a light fixture/ chandelier/art work , that is most unusual. I have heard it discribed as many things.( one of which I can't get out of my head) You can find photos of it on the Eurodam blog and judge for yourself. It is different and certainly gives people something to talk about. The floating glass staircase is lovely.Quite a sensation as you walk up or down.

It was at the glass staircase that I first encountered ,the gentleman in green.

His apperal was most unusual. He was wearing what appeared to be a kimono like robe( well sort of). It was however, made of what looked like a vinyl tablecloth( very thick) or a tarp , in a shade of teal green. It was not garment fabric.

When I saw him walking up the staircase ,the first thing that came to mind was 'spa treatment.'As odd as that may sound, I felt a little vindicated in my reaction ,when I over heard , a women expressing the same thought to her friend,later on in the cruise. DH, when he first saw him ,thought he might be a New Age priest..He had many people intrigued. He seemed comfortable and at ease with his choice of outfit

Frankly the why of it ,is in truth, none of my business.He added some interest to the story of our cruise, and what ever his story maybe,I sincerely hope, he enjoyed himself aboard the Eurodam, as much as we did.

Our dim sum lunch ,at the Tamarind ,was a huge success .We enjoyed ourselves so much, we had dinner there twice during the cruise.

The Silk Lounge ,soon became our place of choice ,to go for a quiet drink ,before dinner. During the day you couldn't find a more serene or tranquil place to read a book.

The Tamarind dim sum lunch, if you are not familliar with Pan Asian food.,would be a wonderful excuse to be adventurous. There is no extra charge, the menu is set so you don't have to wonder what to order, and the charming waitresses will answer any questions you my have.
We love Thai food ,and from all the rave reviews we could't wait to go.

DHs' prowess with chopsticks is truly amazing .I however am a barbarian when it comes to the skill. No matter, the Tamarinds' flatware
is lovely , it feels sleek and elegant in your hand. The plates and all other dishes are white( I think food always looks its' best plated on white) with a distinct Asian feel.

If you go ,you will be astounded at how these tiny ladies, seem to carry these dishes with such ease and speed. They are an outstanding staff ,each has a gracious demeanour and a beautiful smile.

The atmosphere is very pleasant ,we felt most comfortable.

Please try the wasabi (do not be alarmed, not hot)soy encrusted beef tenderloin , on the dinner menu( med, rare ) it's beyond tender. The dressing for the salads are delicious ,what these people do with lemongrass should be illegal. I am salivating as I type.

During our lunch DH( who thinks himself a bit of a Spice hero) was throughly enjoying the cuisine and sampling each of the fusion dipping sauces in it's turn. The sauces and their ingredients had been carefully explained to us by the waitress. One of them was warned to be very hot.( believe them when they tell you) After two bites the fire suddenly ignited. I swear he looked like that cartoon where the red starts at the neck and rises to the top of the head. He was in trouble...eyes watering ..gulps of water...gulps of wine,... all the while maintaining his composure so as not to attract attention. Through a will of steel ,no one was the wiser,the heat finally abated. I just smiled sweetly and said" she
warned you.

When I told a friend this story, she said that when her husband and she first began dating ,they went out to dinner,and he inadvertantly took a forkful of horeradish thinking it was mash potatoes.( ligthing must be have been dim) She still married him.

DH knew what he was eating ,he just underestimated it's thermal power.

Our afternoon was very relaxing , reading and another siesta. (bliss)

Leaving the port of Boston .
The captain again performed his feat from this morning ,only this time it was in reverse.
We watched the show from the privacy of our balcony. People were fishing off the pier.
Sail boats and fisherman in small boats seem to lay in our path. Do you guys know how big we are? Clearly they were used to the comings and goings of cruise ships because the deftly got out of the way .
The ship left the dock as quietly and gracefully as she has arrived.

Dinner and a show were on the agenda. We opted for dinner at seven again.I don't remember what we had because for some reason it didn't make it into my journal,but I am sure it was good :) We took the promenade to the front of the boat, inside, I usually pop into a washroom to adjust the wind swept look. Speaking of washrooms , the washrooms throuhout the ship are lovely .Very contemporary decor, fresh floweres and spotless. Don't worry I wasn't in them all.LoL

This evening we chose to sit, for the first time, in the box seating. Perhaps not the best view of the stage,but I enjoyed the privacy and the ability to chat to DH without distrubing anyone.Most evening thats where we sat in the box to the left of the stage as you face it.

The show was entitled Nightlife. High energy with,very talented singers.
Costuming and sets were great . I always admire how they can but on a show in the confines of a ship.

One day, we met one of the male singers on the promenade I don't know his name, a wonderful singing voice .He said he was married to the Japanese girl in the cast(beautiful). Nice fellow.

After the show ,Piano Bar check in,and you guessed it, promenade back home.
Our ships' day, may not be everyones cup of tea but it worked for us.I could feel my self unwinding more and more with each passing day.
Tomorrow was St. John N.B. , we 'd be back again on Canadian soil.
We spent some time with the wake and stars and said farewell to New England........... to be cont'd.


















































I

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colley

Now that is a teaser of monumental proportions .. sigh .. are you sure you don't write serialized novels for a monthly magazine ????? (If you don't, you should consider it in all that spare time you seem to have LOL)

Waiting almost patiently .........

Sorry about that, I honestly thought the whole thing would be lost .:D Where are kids and DH when you need them??:) Thanks for all your nice remarks.. Tomorrow is work ,I am pretty spent by the end of the day,I don't work Fridays so I'll try for another post then. Once again you have been very kind. Colleen

[seafun]

Your description of the cruise is great fun and I'm enjoying it like a fine wine, a few sips at a time.

The day exploring the ship was delicious! Thanks again for sharing it with us. :D

[COLLEYBERRY]

Your description of the cruise is great fun and I'm enjoying it like a fine wine, a few sips at a time.

The day exploring the ship was delicious! Thanks again for sharing it with us. :D


I have had so much fun,doing this. ! I am sitting with my coffee about to get ready for work.I am loathed to leave CC.

I have been away for 4 weeks (gawd knows what I will find). It's back in the saddle for me. Thank you starting my day so nicely. Colleen

[sapper1]

Loving your well written reviews!!! Don't forget that when you do the Saint John review it is always "Saint John" and never "St. John"!!! But as a good Canadian you knew that didn't you?;)

[usha]

Tomorrow is work ,I am pretty spent by the end of the day,I don't work Fridays so I'll try for another post then. Once again you have been very kind. Colleen
Friday?!!! No, we can't wait 'til FRIDAY for the continuation!!!:eek:

[Flick]

Guess we will have to. Bummer!!!

[COLLEYBERRY]

Loving your well written reviews!!! Don't forget that when you do the Saint John review it is always "Saint John" and never "St. John"!!! But as a good Canadian you knew that didn't you?;)

I promise ,it won't happen again.:) I saw the big white sign ,you told me to look for. and wondered if you were watching us sail in. We had a lovely time in SAINT John . Thanks for your kind comment, Colleen

[COLLEYBERRY]

Friday?!!! No, we can't wait 'til FRIDAY for the continuation!!!:eek:


You are too funny ! We always know when it is you, the 'Lady in Pink'.

I don't know if I am going to make t'il Friday. I am not sure, but I think they're trying to kill me at work. :D Cruising ,is way more fun.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Guess we will have to. Bummer!!!

I noticed you sail on the on the Eurodam in Nov. I should be finished the reviews by then:D :D H:) ppy Sailings.

[sapper1]

I promise ,it won't happen again.:) I saw the big white sign ,you told me to look for. and wondered if you were watching us sail in. We had a lovely time in SAINT John . Thanks for your kind comment, Colleen
I certainly did watch you sail in-------and out!!! I was on the boardwalk behind the Hilton and I swore I could have reached out and touched it. I too, was amazed at the way the captain swung that baby around on a dime. Two more weeks and we get to go aboard for our luncheon and tour.
You got to enjoy one of our rare nice days this summer. We were saving it for you.:D
On Saturday the QE 2 was here as part of her last voyage. She still is magnificent and it was sad to know that I will never see her again as the chances of us visiting Dubai are slim to none.

[PEPALR]

My DH and I were also on this cruise and yes, we too were wondering about the "green man". Or as we like to call him "they guy in the tarp". We first noticed him when we were in Black Falcon Terminal waiting for our tour group to assemble. Since we got clearance a little late, everyone was pouring off at once and meeting their groups or heading into town. My DH and I were one of the first off so we got to people watch for a while. Then the man in the Tarp went by and EVERYONE starting asking. No one was quite sure why he was wearing a green tarp. There were a few speculations - including 'for religion', 'making a statement' and 'luggage lost by airlines'. But my favorite was that he "lost a bet".:eek: I think almost everyone on the cruise must have seen him at least once. My curiosity got the best of me - I noticed he was in the atrium lounge a lot. So I asked the bartender there if he knew what was up. He didn't seem to know the whole story, but it seems he lost his wife recently (and from what I understood, tragically):( and it seems he mentally lost it a little. I know there is more to the story - but that was all the bartender knew. So now it's a sad story instead of just a bizarre one. Maybe someone else found out more.

[COLLEYBERRY]

My DH and I were also on this cruise and yes, we too were wondering about the "green man". Or as we like to call him "they guy in the tarp". We first noticed him when we were in Black Falcon Terminal waiting for our tour group to assemble. Since we got clearance a little late, everyone was pouring off at once and meeting their groups or heading into town. My DH and I were one of the first off so we got to people watch for a while. Then the man in the Tarp went by and EVERYONE starting asking. No one was quite sure why he was wearing a green tarp. There were a few speculations - including 'for religion', 'making a statement' and 'luggage lost by airlines'. But my favorite was that he "lost a bet".:eek: I think almost everyone on the cruise must have seen him at least once. My curiosity got the best of me - I noticed he was in the atrium lounge a lot. So I asked the bartender there if he knew what was up. He didn't seem to know the whole story, but it seems he lost his wife recently (and from what I understood, tragically):( and it seems he mentally lost it a little. I know there is more to the story - but that was all the bartender knew. So now it's a sad story instead of just a bizarre one. Maybe someone else found out more.

I sincerely hope his green' blanket 'eases his pain. I wish him peace.and I hope with time his grief will soften. Everyone indeed has a story.

[2B AT C]

We were on that cruise and I actually spoke to 'the green man' a few times.
The first time was the second day and he was by the lido aft pool. I thought he might be 'Mr. Eurodam' so asked him. He didn't know what I meant so I tried to explain that a passenger had been asked to be 'Mr. Eurodam' and whoever found him would win some prizes. I asked him if he was hot in his tarp and all he said was that 'he liked to be covered'. He explained that the tarp was 'sail cloth'.
Another time - on formal night - he walked through the dining room in a tux! so we asked him to come to our table (it was very late and the dining room was almost empty). We bought him a drink and tried to get some answers. He gave us his name and said he was from The Netherlands.
His english was good but at times he was hard to understand. He said he was a tutor of high school students. We came right out and asked why he wore the green trap but he never really answered. He said some people thought he was a monk but no he wasn't. He has cruised before - I spoke with a lady who said he was on the Westerdam in the Med. last year wearing the same outfit - and he is going through the Panama Canal next February. Someone said it was the staff that told him he had to wear something other than the green tarp and he either had the tux or rented one (don't know if that was true or not) We also heard that he had told people that the scarves he wore around his neck belonged to his wife so that fits into the story too. The most strange thing to me was the belt with the padlock on it!!
On second formal night he was in a tux again and this time he was dancing with some of the staff at the Black and White Dance in the Queen's Lounge.
I wish him well but he certainly was the talk of our cruise.

Judy

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thankyou Judy . It sounds like you were very nice to him. Seems like the staff were looking out for him as well.
You and Amy helped clear up some of the mystery.Cruising seems to be a comfortable place for him.
DH thinks it could very well have been sail cloth. Thanks again.

[COLLEYBERRY]

In the post about our ships' day I had said the ships terminal was on the left side as we entered port. Make that right side not left.
Pardon me ,that would be starboard side not port.I am slowly getting the hang of 'cruise speak',it my sense of direction that needs work .You should see how much fun I am on a road trip.:)



On with the story....


We weren't to dock in Saint John N.B until 10.am . With no early excursions to meet or tenders to catch ,it meant for a slower start to our day.


Breakfast in the cabin once more( it is now my opinion this is how all civilized people should begin their day )


We had time for a long walk on the promenade.When thinking about saying goodbye to this piece of "teak paradise" I recall what Dorothy told the Scarecrow "I am going to miss you most of all"
DH suggested, I could walk around our pool deck a couple of times a day, to combat withdrawl (sorry,he thought it was funny)
I was happy I had days before I would have to say farewelll to the promenade.


It was another glorious Goldilocks day.


Little did I know Hurricane Hannah was working her way up the eastern seaboard. The last big 'blowhard' I knew about was Gustav and he had been headed for Texas ,a long way from the Canadian Maritimes.
Hannah was gaining on us with each passing day,but there was no sign of the big 'party pooper on this lovely September morning.


Sapper1 ( if you want to know anything about Saint John N.B ,she's your gal ) told me ,when sailing into port,to look for a large white sign bearing the name Saint John.
There it was ,hearlding our arrival ,just like she said it would be.


I throughly enjoyed our day in Saint John . It is a very 'cruise friendly' port.
Lots to do within easy walking of the ship.


It's claim to fame however,is the renowned "Reversing Falls",a neat trick the Bay of Fundy tides have, of making water flow backwards.Quite the sight to see,showtime of course is determined by the tides.


We set off on our own to experience Saint John. A walking path, not far from the ship ,took us to a fabulous boardwalk that lines the harbourfront.

The Eurodam was easily viewed from the boardwalk and it was here that I really began to appreciated what a huge vessel she really is.
Her wonderful ,big bottom was facing us and I spotted our stern balcony with no problem. It's kind of neat to think ,"hey, I live there"( for a little while at least)


The boardwalk took us to a very unique , indoor complex , that should make Saint John very proud.


Market Square is a beautiful space ,where you can find every type if retail store. But as an added litlte feature,how about a museum , library and aquatic center.

Spacious, air conditioned and easy to get around. I keep thinking what a terrific concept. Rain or shine , a cruise passenger could enjoy hours of interesting things see and do


Oh and for all you Canadian cruisers, you can have a 'timmys' at Market Square. When I saw the 'Tim Hortons ' I knew I was truly in Canada.:)

Tim Hortons is a coffee/donut shop franchaise ,perhaps best described as a 'not so yuppie ' Starbucks.
There is one Tim Hortons for every twelve Candians .Not really ....but almost. They are everywhere and always busy. Who is drinking all this coffee? I don't know ,but the shops are part of our national fabric and it made me feel warm and fuzzy to see one.


Making our way through Market Square we found ourselves at City Market.


I LOVE markets and this one made me very very happy.


This 'so not supermarket 'space was full of every good thing.


Wonderful cheeses,breads and meats.Fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ethic foods and unusual spices.Specialty olive oils and hand made soaps. There was every kind of fudge imaginable ( samples happily offered ) I do believe Maritimers love their fudge. Packages of dulce(dried seaweed ,very good for you if you can get pass the idea) were just one of the interesting things we found.


Talented local artists and artisans had theirs works displayed.

I found the perfect little souvenir .I try to find souvenirs that meet a certain criteria .Practical,not tacky, and looks like more than I actually paid for it;)


These were thin ,stainless steel ,bookmarks (nice and shiny) about six inches long , in the shape of a shepherds' staff(hook) Tiny beads and/or ornaments are put on the end of the hook to personlize each bookmark.ie golf clubs,ballet shoes, tennis racket ,every kind of sport ball ,musical insturments etc. I had such a good time selecting these tiny metal ornaments. Everyone I gave one to said they make fantastic bookmarks. The kind vendor, gift wrapped each one in a little cello pounch complete with ribbon. I was delighted I could cross so many people off my list.


Exiting the market,we found ourselves across from a lovely park. We found a bench ,and with a cool drink in hand began to partake in one of my favorite sports, people watching.

The park was full of flowers and big old trees and music was coming from an open air stage.I ask you ,who could want for more?


It was here that I had my first twinge of homesickness
A man was having a game of fetch ,with his dog, a gorgeous Great Pyrenees .If you are not familiar with this breed ,think of a Newfoundland dog ,only all white. He was stunning against the green grass,and such a good boy. I missed my puppy!!!!


Ginsberg ,is a chocolate lab, that came into our lives one Christmas. The kids came home from university ( Montreal) with this little 'herseys kiss' in tow.He was a 'rescue' puppy(long story)
Momma had not been thrilled ( come on guys ,tution and dog food ,not fair) when I first heard about who was coming for Christmas.
But one look at that sweet face and I was a goner.
Well, Ginsey has grown into a magnificant animal ,he's so handsome. and he loves me best (probably because I feed him)
As I sat on that park bench I longed for one of his sloppy hersey kisses.


I guess leaving pets behind is difficult for many CCers But one thing we have to look forward to,when travelling, is no one does a 'welcome home' better than your pet.


We took the boardwalk back to the ship. DH was taking photos of the Eurodam when I had a brainwave.

"Hey " I said ,"why don't you stay here,I'll run back to the cabin .You can take some pictures of me on the balcony. You should be able to spot me easily if I put on that turquoise pashmina(scraf like wrap).
I got a bit of a raised eyebrow.
" No seriously ." I continued,."We can show the kids exactly where we were on the ship. Believe me this will work."
I turned and started for the ship.I hadn't got far when he called after me.
"How come you get to be the one on the balcony?"
I laughed and called back over my shoulder " Do you wanna wear the pashmina?" He just smiled and shook his head at his loopy wife.
The photos turned out great.

It was beautiful weather for a late afternoon sailaway. It 's always sad to say goodbye to a port where you have enjoyed yourself so much.
Nova Scotia was our next stop and I was looking forward to Halifax .I had been there once long ago on a business trip with DH.


Dinner that evening was spent with a terrific couple from Michigan. We decided "what the heck" we'd try a table for four( no wait). We couldn't have had better dinner companions.They were funny and interesting. We had a great time.

Performing that evening were two talented comedians Andre&Cirell.
They did an excellent job of entertaining the audience.
The shorter gentleman( don't know if it was Andre or Cirell) did the most remarkable imitation of Jimmy Durante. You could almost feel the wave of nostalgia and appreciation coming from the audience. for his transformation into this beloved comedian .His routine consisted of everything from Inka Dinka Do to the endearing "Good night Mrs.Calabash,wherever you are"


Mystery surrounds why Durante always closed his act with this farewell.One therory is ,it was to honor his first wife ,who died on Valentines day .Apparently they lived in the Calabasas area during the years before her death. Calabash was just Durante mispronouncing Calabasas.( found this info on Wikipedia)
I like this theory ,but we will never know cause Jimmy never told.


Dancing can be found on the Eurodam ,in the Queens Lounge or Northern Lights.

We enjoy dancing.. We took some ballroom dancing classes once( surefire way to test your marriage ) They resulted in a passable waltz, a fairly good jive( I think we do this one best) and we have invented our own version of a latin dance.:D We often return to the dances of our youth though,far apart for the fast ones and hold and shuffle for the slow.


I like nothing better than watching a couple who dances really well together. More often than not, they are a mature couple ,schooled in an era when you looked at your partner when you danced.


As they take to the dance floor ,these perfectly ordinary looking people are suddenly transformed. With suprising grace and agility they make it look so easy,Comfortable in each other arms,.her skirt swirls and sweeps as he quides them effortlesssly across the floor. There is no awkwardness, or hesitation ,Clearly ,with years of dancing together ,they now move as one flawless unit. Ah.. something to aspire to. There were some lovely dancers aboard the Eurodam.


We went to the Lido for an ice cream cone. Decorated as you wish,and put in a waffle cone,the ice cream tastes delicious. Maybe not the best choice for a midnight snack but we were on holidays and I thought it was a perfect way to end our day.

Secret staircase brought us back to 4183 . We now had a grand total of eleven days cruising (7 days Alaska) .Wonder when we get our medallion......;) to be cont'd

[seafun]

You have a very nice way of putting your words together, ma'am.

Thanks for another wonderful installment.

There were so many high points, but I think one of my favorites was "another Goldilocks day." (As in not-too-hot, not-too-cold, but just right.. :) )

You can be sure I'll be plagiarizing that one somewhere down the line.

Sorry to hear you ended up with the post-cruise crud (I got it real bad after my trip to Egypt). :(

I'm overjoyed to hear you have opted for the recommended antidote, and have another cruise booked! :D

Write on ...

[sapper1]

Still enjoying your reviews. Loved your reflections on Timmies. In the Maritimes, Tim's has taken the place of the old general store as a community gathering place. Everyone has "their" Tim's and you always meet people you know there and spend longer than you planned. If you you should venture into a Tim's in another part of town, people will ask "what brings you over here?" They know who "belongs" and who doesn't. Quite a uniquely Canadian institution as you said.

For our Eurodam transatlantic next summer one of the things I have to find out is the location of the nearest Tim's to the dock in St. John's Newfoundland. After 24 days away we will be in serious withdrawal:eek:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great reading -- am enjoying your report.

[Travalerie]

Thanks for this review. I never thought about this itinerary, and after your descriptions of the ports, this is going on my list!

[COLLEYBERRY]

You have a very nice way of putting your words together, ma'am.

Thanks for another wonderful installment.

There were so many high points, but I think one of my favorites was "another Goldilocks day." (As in not-too-hot, not-too-cold, but just right.. :) )

You can be sure I'll be plagiarizing that one somewhere down the line.

Sorry to hear you ended up with the post-cruise crud (I got it real bad after my trip to Egypt). :(

I'm overjoyed o hear you have opted for the recommended antidote, and have another cruise booked! :D

Write on ...


I have just made my way through your extraordinary reviews of Egypt. I feel like I have been to the land of the Pharhohs' and back. I am not sure but I think a review is supposed to make people want to go a destination,not be so good,you save them the trip.:)
To recieve a compliment from the master, I am indeed humbled,thankyou.
There should be a vaccine for this cruise crud.We need a telethon,designer masks ,or something.
In the mean time I shall cruise on and hope for immunity.
Thanks again.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Still enjoying your reviews. Loved your reflections on Timmies. In the Maritimes, Tim's has taken the place of the old general store as a community gathering place. Everyone has "their" Tim's and you always meet people you know there and spend longer than you planned. If you you should venture into a Tim's in another part of town, people will ask "what brings you over here?" They know who "belongs" and who doesn't. Quite a uniquely Canadian institution as you said.

For our Eurodam transatlantic next summer one of the things I have to find out is the location of the nearest Tim's to the dock in St. John's Newfoundland. After 24 days away we will be in serious withdrawal:eek:

So glad you enjoyed the review. I loved your Tim tale. It's so true , they have become so much more than a donut shop.
We really had a great time in Saint John,Sapper1.Our transatlantic stops there next year. I'll be glad to be back.:)


Glad you enjoye

[COLLEYBERRY]

Great reading -- am enjoying your report.


Thank you KK. You are always so helpful to everyone on CC.
I certainly appreciate all the knowledge you share.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thanks for this review. I never thought about this itinerary, and after your descriptions of the ports, this is going on my list!


I am so glad you liked the review. We really did enjoy this itinerary.
Sorry we had to miss Charlottetown because of the hurricane. They sure are playing havoc this year.
We to have a list of cruises we want to take ,happy I could add to yours:)

[seafun]

Thanks for the nice words. I'm glad you enjoyed my "slog through the sands of time." :) It was quite an adventure!

[COLLEYBERRY]

I think I should finish the review of this cruise.I am afraid I may have become a little too Gone with the 'Windy". So I'll just to tell you some of the highlights of the remainder of the cruise. Just know we had the best time. There was lots of laughter and wonderful people and I can't wait to cruise again.



Let's finish the story......


Halifax:

Another spectacular day . We had an early morning excursion to Peggys' Cove and planned to spend the afternoon exploring the.Hailfax waterfront..


This picturesque fishing village was looking her very best on this sunny morning.
The charming lighthouse ( actually has its own post office,buy a postcard the stamp's included ) stood white and red against a blue.sky.
A lone piper played, adding poignant music, to this beautiful place.
Huge flat rocks, that were easier to walk on than they appeared, led to the doorway of the lighthouse.


DH was a happy boy,climbin' rocks and snappin' pictures.

The vast Atlantic spread out before us as far as we could see.

We had been told of how this quiet community had sprung into action after the Swiss Air disaster
.

Fisherman had taken to their boats ,in a desperate search for survivors.
The community opened their homes and hearts to the victims families,as they waited in a helpless vigil for any word of their love ones.
Many of the relationships forged in those trying days remain strong to this day.


Looking back from the ocean to the quiet cove , the piper in the background, one is reminded of the heritage of these people of Nova Scotia( New Scotland) Leaving one shore of the Atlantic to crave a new life on the other.


We returned to Halifax and did some shopping at the harbourfront.
Silk scraves for SIL and moi. Pashminas for DD. We were able to find a wine store ,(we were meeting friends the next day in Sydney)and wanted to bring wine. I had found a lovely book of maritime photography in Saint John .With the wine and two of those trusty bookmarks,I was glad we weren't coming empty handed.


I first heard the name Hannah. on our return to the boat.One of the port volunteers mentioned something about hoping we would not be in the way of the hurricane. My first thought ',how the heck big was Gustav anyway! ' Then Di Caprio and Shelly Winters flashed before my eyes. Further questioning and the name Hannah came into the conversation.It was hard to believe on this gorgeous day there was bad weather anywhere.

DH gave a reassuring talk, something about satellites ,radar,modern comunications and captains not putting passengers in peril. I felt better but still ....a flipping hurrricane !!

Dinner at the Tamarind , happy happy day. Banana Ginger Bread Pudding for dessert,oh my. I would cruise in a circle ,if only to enjoy this
restaurant.


Sydney


I don't know what initials to use for friends :D

Margie and John were waiting for us at the fiddle (50ft Caleigh fiddle port side in Sydney). We hadn't seen them for two years. From 8.30am that mornng until 3.30pm that afternoon ,we laughed and carried on as if it had only been yesterday.


What wonderful hosts they were. They drove us all around the area,the Bra d'Or Lakes is a truly beautiful part of Canada.


They took us to the lakeside home they had built. What a piece of paradise . Stunningly beautiful,yet ,thanks to Margies' magic,warm and inviting. We spent the afternoon relaxing and catching up
.

Barbequed salmon, broccoli/cauliflower salad, homemade bread, tomatoes from their garden and a blueberry crisp( she picked the blueberries, it was at this point I told her she was just showing off :D )

We were sorry to say goodbye. Promises of a longer visit next time.

With us safely back on board, they drove to a small marina adjacent to the port ,from there they took photos of us on our stern balcony.
DH was in the picture this time...I still wore the pashmina.


It was formal night ,we made late reservations ,wasn't sure I could eat another thing. You'll be pleased to know I rallied. I loved the Pumkin Curry soup.DH enjoyed the Beef Wellington.


Charlottetown( well almost)


I was looking forward this port. DH had gone to school in Charlottetown .
and wanted to show me his old stomping ground.


I did want to see Anne of Green Gables homestead. I loved the books as a young girl and wanted to see where Lucy Maude Montgomery had found her inspiration


I had read her personal journal as an adult and was hoping to find a copy in the gift shop. I had been intriqued to find out she had married late in life ,to a minister ,and settled in a small town in Ontario ,not too far from where we live.


But it was not to be. I was dressed and applying war paint.,when the Captain broke the news. Hannah was just too close.


He had made the decision to not enter the port at Charlottetown.
They were calling for 55 kmph winds and flooded roads. Besides all of the excursion operators had cancelled. ( no need to go to the front office ,they would automatically take care of refund)


In a nut shell ,we were getting the heck out of Dodge.
The Captain would keep us safe at sea , far from the nasty Hannah.
The next day was a scheduled sea day, so we had a lot of sailing ahead. of us

I thought to my self ,'Now what.?'
DH said" I'm going back to bed"

Then I remembered some advice I recieved here on CC,it was for our ships'day,but it was also a great idea should a hurricane interrupt your plans.

I made my way to the Explorers Lounge and asked for the Ipod with the ships art tour. The ship was very quiet, I guess a lot of people went back to bed( I wasn't going to waste the war paint)

Well ,I had the best time! The little buds in my ears took me all over the ship. From top to bottom ,with instructions on how to get from one piece of art to the next.

I'll just tell about a few of the highlights.

First of all if Rembrandt were still alive I 'm pretty sure I could pick him out in a crowd. There are many self portraits (reproductions) of him on board.
Me thinks he may have been a little self absorbed or there were a shortage of models back in the day.
He did have a wonderfully interesting face,maybe he just couldn't help himself.You can see him as a young man,middleaged ,and in his senior years. He looks like he might have been quite a character.


Wonderful marine paintings by Captain Card in the front stairwell of the
ship. I walked backwards down a few steps so I could view them from more of a distance.


Tiny models of ships( extraordinary in their detail) done by naval prisoners of war. All the more extraordinary when you learn they were made from bones and fashioned with nothing more than a nail. These tiny works of art would then be bartered for better food and things to make their lot easier.


In the Sports Bar you'll find a replica of the World Series Trophy,wonderful black and white photos of Marilyn and Joe De Maggio msp? and a real horn pipe.


A huge painting entitled "The Night Watch Two minutes Later" just around the corner a little reproduction of the famous The Night Watch
It was fun tryng to find the differences.Kind of like those two pictures in a magazine where you have to find six things that are different.Only this was a little more high brow :)
I must have looked quite odd,going back and forth between the two,but I was having fun.


There was lovely china,pieces of glass art and furniture .Some art was modern ,some more old school and some was just plain funky.

Anyway if a hurriacane thwarts your plans ,try the art tour.
or you could do what I did when I returned the Ipod ,rent some DVDs


We ordered club sandwiches off the room service menu( figured the Lido would be too busy) and watched a movie. It was a little rocky rolly
but I didn't find it anything alarming.

Day at Sea


Mariners Lunch .... Wow there is a lot of people who do a lot of cruising!
Very impressive.

We had lunch with two lovely couples from New York and the dearest couple from Ireand. They gave us lots of info about two of the ports, Dublin and Cork, on our intinerary next year.
I have never been to Ireland
My grandparents made very sure I knew from whence we came. This couples wonderful accents brought back a flood of memories.


Justin Miller was giving another lecture/ performance after lunch .I was sorry to see our happy group part.
I lined up after the show to get his CDs One for my brother .who played guitar in a band to help finace law school.And one for DS who loves his guitar. Two more souvenirs ,check.


Formal night again, DH duly tuxated,and me as spiffy as I could get.Part of the fun for us.
Everyone in the dining room seemed to be enjoying themselves whatever their attire( every one looked just fine, as far as I could tell,I. was reallly only looking at the fella across from me and he looked really good )


Our viewing of the fijord was hampered by over cast weather.We saw the statue of the Madona( 50ft tall in the middle of the trees) and did enjoy the view from our balcony,I can only imagine how spectacular in sunshine and dressed in fall foliage it would be.



Quebec City

I watched the wake from our balcony as we pulled into port. As its frothing ceased I realized I would see it no more on this cruise :(


Quebec city really is.romantic. Canada own bit of Europe. Cobbled streets and stone buidings . I could walk forever.

We did take a carriage ride and enjoyed the friendly commentary of our driver. It was romantic being driven about this lovely city ,imagining what it would have been like years ago. Every once in awhile you got some 'essence of horse', just to remind you what it really must have been like.


Again the weather was faultless. We browsed shops and galleries.Each street a photo opt. Found the hotel we planned to stay at for a few days after the cruise.


We returned to the ship for lunch .The ship docks in a perfect spot to view the city. Walled and dominated by the castle like Chateau Frontenac hotel the city is truly a picture.


Our last night aboard. We dined and dance and promenaded.
I was sad to see it end.
I wrote a note to Anom and inserted our grateful acknowlegement of his hard work.
Bags packed and color coded were placed in the hall. We would be late getting off the ship ,we had no flight to catch . One more in cabin breakfast for me.
I ate my chocloate and went to bed:(


The next morning the ship is abustle ,with cabin stewards already busy preparing for the next group of passengers. It really kind of bothered me someone else was going to be in our cabin, is that normal.?


We had a peek at the corner aft cabin ,as they were cleaning. I would be happy there

By the way white powdered carpet freshener was
sprinkled every where. I guess this is part of how they keep the rooms smelling as fresh as they do. Sorry didn't get the brand.


Then our color was called. It was really over, time to go. Leaving the ship was a painless process.Customs ,luggage and taxi .Before I knew we were at the door of our hotel.


All that planning and anticipation.Ten days seemed so long at the begining of the voyage but they had sped by.


We have wonderful memories and DH is happy with his pictures.
I 'm just happy he didn't fall off a rock.


We had two more glorious day in Quebec City.


Then it was back home to kids and dog and all things real.


The End



That's it folks the story of our cruise. Thanks for listening.:)


We would also like to say thank you to this forum . Your advice was and is so valuable.
From the why you don't fly in on the day the ship sails to Cruise Crud is a fact of life, you have been there every step of the way.
You helped to make this cruise a very special time for us.

We thankyou
Sincerely
Lee and Colleen

ps I really have enjoyed writing this review
I now type with two fingers instead of one( I'm not kidding) and if I could figure out just what the heck you do with a semicolon ,my life would be complete.

[KLLund]

I am sure you didn't enjoy writing it as much as we all enjoyed reading it .. You did make a cruise come alive and it was a magical journey with you.

THank you sooooooooo Much!!

[seafun]

Colleen, this has been great! Thak you so much for sharing, and for finishing the story. ;)

I know, that you know just how hard it is to keep the story going. (By the time I was three quarters through my review of Egypt, I would have just as soon put bamboo under my fingernails rather than keep writing, and writing, and writing, lol.)

You've shared a lot of joy and great information with many folks. Uh, I think that qualifies as a major deposit in your Good Karma bank! :D You go, girl!

[sapper1]

Thanks so much for your wonderful account of your cruise. It was the next best thing to being along with you. Well----not quite but you get the idea. ;)

[our turn]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share you trip with us. I would love to see your pictures if you post them anywhere.

Kim

[gelo7]

Great read Colleen, Thanks for sharing.

[mamaofami]

I loved reading this review. You certainly do have a way with words.:D

[tamsno]

Thank you for "taking us with you." I loved "didn't want to waste the war paint." So true. I did that running back and forth to compare the two "Night Watch" paintings also, and after a few minutes a crowd of about 10 had gathered 1 or 2 at a time doing the same thing with much laughter! Enjoy your travels together. Having someone special to share the experience is one of the best parts.

[RuthC]

Thank you so much, Colleen, for taking us along on your cruise down Memory Lane.
You have brought to life a ship, and an itinerary, I thought I knew, with fresh eyes. I'll be doing that Ipod tour if I'm ever aboard, that's for sure!

[Love the beach]

Thanks so much for your wonderful review! Enjoyed every minute! What cruise sre you going on next year that takes you to Dublin & Cork? DH is dying to see England & Ireland & I'm not finding too many cruises that go to both. Hope you are feeling much better now.
Marge

[arlenez]

Thank you, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed your review and you're really a great writer. I look forward to more reviews and hope you will be cruising again soon.

Regards,
Arlene

[2B AT C]

Colleen; The review was so wonderful - I'm tempted to print it out so I can put with my photos to complete my album - you really do have a way with words.
I think we did meet in the line for Justin Miller's CD's - I think we were the last two in line.
I'll have to watch for your name again when you do another cruise so I can read the review.
Thanks again..:)

Judy

[EbayCruiser]

Thanks so much for telling your wonderful story! I have enjoyed every minute it.

You truely have a way with words and should definitely try writing a short story or novel.

Maybe one about crusing :) :) !!

Vickie

[arlenez]

Thanks so much for telling your wonderful story! I have enjoyed every minute it.

You truely have a way with words and should definitely try writing a short story or novel.

Maybe one about crusing :) :) !!

Vickie

Hi Vickie:

We missed you on the 3 day cruise on Eurodam out of NY. Hope all is well with you.

Regards,
Arlene

[COLLEYBERRY]

[quote=KLLund;16448062]I am sure you didn't enjoy writing it as much as we all enjoyed reading it .. You did make a cruise come alive and it was a magical journey with you.

THank you sooooooooo Much!![/quot


I have appreciated all the positive feedback you have given,right from the very begining of my story. Thank you soooooooo much.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colleen, this has been great! Thak you so much for sharing, and for finishing the story. ;)

I know, that you know just how hard it is to keep the story going. (By the time I was three quarters through my review of Egypt, I would have just as soon put bamboo under my fingernails rather than keep writing, and writing, and writing, lol.)

You've shared a lot of joy and great information with many folks. Uh, I think that qualifies as a major deposit in your Good Karma bank! :D You go, girl!


Thank you for all the encouragement,:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Great read Colleen, Thanks for sharing.


Thankyou . Glad you enjoyed it . I did have fun writing the review. :)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thanks so much for your wonderful account of your cruise. It was the next best thing to being along with you. Well----not quite but you get the idea. ;)



Thank you Sapper 1. Hope all is well with you We are hearing some pretty scarey reports about weather in you area. Stay safe. From the sound of things you are going need to hold onto your hat .
Colley

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share you trip with us. I would love to see your pictures if you post them anywhere.
u
Kim

I don't know the first thing about posting pictures:eek: I am afraid I am the biggest dufus when it coms to computers. Kids and DH could help,but we haven't even sorted through our photos yet. It has been a little zooey of late. I'll try and get some advice and see what I can do.
Thanks for your kind words Kim.

[COLLEYBERRY]

[quote=gelo7;16449646]Great read Colleen, Thanks for sharing.[/quote

So glad you enjoyed it, It was very nice of you to respond.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

I loved reading this review. You certainly do have a way with words.:D


Thankyou. I think you enjoy those 'wakeview statrooms as much as I do.:) :)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thank you for "taking us with you." I loved "didn't want to waste the war paint." So true. I did that running back and forth to compare the two "Night Watch" paintings also, and after a few minutes a crowd of about 10 had gathered 1 or 2 at a time doing the same thing with much laughter! Enjoy your travels together. Having someone special to share the experience is one of the best parts.

So glad you had fun with the Night Watch,I can just picture all of you:D

You're right he really was the best part. It was nice to have the time to reconnect. :)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thanks so much for your wonderful review! Enjoyed every minute! What cruise sre you going on next year that takes you to Dublin & Cork? DH is dying to see England & Ireland & I'm not finding too many cruises that go to both. Hope you are feeling much better now.
Marge


Glad you liked the review. The cruise we are taking is a Trans atlantic Celebrity cruise.on the Constellation Do you think I can still play here?
I am a little nervous about not sailing Hal, but the itinerary was very appealing.

We sail Sept 5 2009 from Harwich England, le Harve( Paris), Cherbourg France, Cork. Dublin Ireland Glasgow Scotland(I know) ,
Reykjavik Ice land, St.Johns Newfoundland , SaintJohn NB and Cape Liberty New jersey. 14 days( 3 sea days)

It had many of the destinations on our "one day want to see"list.
DH wants to ride the ponies in Iceland ( don't ask) and I would finally see Ireland.

I do feel much better this week. I sure don't like "cruise crud " :mad:

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thank you, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed your review and you're really a great writer. I look forward to more reviews and hope you will be cruising again soon.

Regards,
Arlene


Thank you Arlene ,that was very kind. I have to wait a whole year before we cruise again. But the anticipation and planning are all part of the fun. I am sure I'll have lots of questions and I sure know where to find the answers.;)

[sail7seas]

Absolutely fabulous review, Colleen. Thank you. I so enjoyed reading every bit of it.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colleen; The review was so wonderful - I'm tempted to print it out so I can put with my photos to complete my album - you really do have a way with words.
I think we did meet in the line for Justin Miller's CD's - I think we were the last two in line.
I'll have to watch for your name again when you do another cruise so I can read the review.
Thanks again..:)

Judy

Absolutely that was were we met ! This is so cool. The line took forever ,we had a very nice chat. Hope you enjoyed your cruise.
Thankyou for your kind words.:)
Colleen

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thanks so much for telling your wonderful story! I have enjoyed every minute it.

You truely have a way with words and should definitely try writing a short story or novel.

Maybe one about crusing :) :) !!

Vickie

Thankyou ,but I think my punctuation needs some work.:)
My children have always wanted me to write down some of the stories I made up for them when they were small. ,maybe I could try that.
I sure have had fun with this and you have all been so encouraging.
Thanks again

[COLLEYBERRY]

Absolutely fabulous review, Colleen. Thank you. I so enjoyed reading every bit of it.



Thankyou Sail, for your advice. So glad we took it for Newport,it made for a wonderful day. I am so happy you enjoyed the review.:)
Colleen

[dmgg]

Colleyberry, I generally lurk and gain fabulous information from these boards. Your review was fantastic, I truly enjoyed it and often read portions aloud so DH could also enjoy. Thank you...we look forward to your next review (Ireland is one of our "one day" itinerary hopes!). Thanks for a delightful read!:)
Best wishes,

[eh2zed]

Colleyberry, we are off to QC tomorrow to board the Eurodam on Wednesday. Great that you expedited your review just in time. Originally I thought we would only get to read up to maybe Halifax.
And remember next year to write in Eggs Benedict on the breakfast card

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colleyberry, I generally lurk and gain fabulous information from these boards. Your review was fantastic, I truly enjoyed it and often read portions aloud so DH could also enjoy. Thank you...we look forward to your next review (Ireland is one of our "one day" itinerary hopes!). Thanks for a delightful read!:)
Best wishes,

You are so right the best information can be found by just lurking.
I often read things aloud to DH as well,we have shared some good laughs and have learned alot about cruising,thanks to CC.

I am happy you enjoyed the review and thankyou for responding.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colleyberry, we are off to QC tomorrow to board the Eurodam on Wednesday. Great that you expedited your review just in time. Originally I thought we would only get to read up to maybe Halifax.
And remember next year to write in Eggs Benedict on the breakfast card

Have the most wonderful cruise.!
I will think of you every time I order Eggs Benedict and send a little thankyou your way.:)
I hope you have good weather( the leaves should be spectacular) and these goofy hurricanes get lost .
Is there any room in your luggage for me? I know it looks like I talk a lot but I can be very quiet if I have to.:D
H:) ppy Sailings.
Colleen

[midgecruiser]

I have so completely enjoyed this review...or should I say, I so completely enjoyed experiencing your cruises with you. I have been out of town for the last week (wine tasting in Walla Walla...this region is producing some amazing wine) and could not wait to finish reading your posts. You do such an amazing job of painting a picture of what you are seeing and experiencing. What a joy. Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise with all of us. I could almost hear, taste, feel, see, this cruise with you which means you are a very good writer. Love it!!

:) Wendy

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thankyou Wendy ,that was very kind . Sounds like you had a pretty fun week:)
I have found such encouragement here on CC that I am going to persue my writing.
I hadn't done any for years and years,(school days)and then I started doing this review and found such joy in puttting my thoughts and feelings into written word.
Clearly my tools need a lot of honing and polishing.I have an idea for some childrens' stories,or maybe submit something to our local newspaper
.Hey ,what's the worse that can happen,they'll just say" no."
When rejection comes, I 'll still have this wonderful forum to reflect on and all the kindness I have been shown here.:)

ps I'll look for wines from Walla Walla,thanks for the tip.:)

[sapper1]

Thankyou Wendy ,that was very kind . Sounds like you had a pretty fun week:)
I have found such encouragement here on CC that I am going to persue my writing.
I hadn't done any for years and years,(school days)and then I started doing this review and found such joy in puttting my thoughts and feelings into written word.
Clearly my tools need a lot of honing and polishing.I have an idea for some childrens' stories,or maybe submit something to our local newspaper
.Hey ,what's the worse that can happen,they'll just say" no."
When rejection comes, I 'll still have this wonderful forum to reflect on and all the kindness I have been shown here.:)

ps I'll look for wines from Walla Walla,thanks for the tip.:)







If you get something published in the newspaper be sure to post a link so we can all read it!! Good luck.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Matthewtor, hope this helps . We had a great time on the Eurodam wishing the same for you. Sorry it's so long.:)

[CroneWynd]

Colleyberry, thank you for your wonderful review.

Please, do NOT think that you have to have excellent grammar/punctuation skills to be a writer! This is what editors are for! YOU have creative talent... just write stuff down, let someone else worry about what to do with semicolons! :)

If your DH gets all the photos posted online (like at Flickr), be sure to come back and post a link to the set. :)

Thanks again!

[prestodiner]

Small world. We have just booked our first cruise- a HAL Seattle/inside passage to Alaska cruise in August of '09. I'd been poring over the CC boards before making our decision and you have all been so terrific at providing information. *But back to the small world- I live in Walla Walla- the great wine country. Midgecruiser-I'm glad you enjoyed our little neck of the woods.* I'm looking forward to other reviews like collieberry's- it's giving me an even higher level of anticipation reading such a detailed and interesting report. Thanks to all the CCers!
Stacy

[COLLEYBERRY]

Colleyberry, thank you for your wonderful review.

Please, do NOT think that you have to have excellent grammar/punctuation skills to be a writer! This is what editors are for! YOU have creative talent... just write stuff down, let someone else worry about what to do with semicolons! :)

If your DH gets all the photos posted online (like at Flickr), be sure to come back and post a link to the set. :)

Thanks again!

Thankyou CroneWynd, glad you enjoyed the review. We had a great time aboard the Eurodam. Had a peek at your cruise photos ,looks like you had fun on your cruise as well.:)

[COLLEYBERRY]

Small world. We have just booked our first cruise- a HAL Seattle/inside passage to Alaska cruise in August of '09. I'd been poring over the CC boards before making our decision and you have all been so terrific at providing information. *But back to the small world- I live in Walla Walla- the great wine country. Midgecruiser-I'm glad you enjoyed our little neck of the woods.* I'm looking forward to other reviews like collieberry's- it's giving me an even higher level of anticipation reading such a detailed and interesting report. Thanks to all the CCers!
Stacy

Alaska ! What a wonderful way to begin the cruise experience.You are in for such a treat. You're gonna be sooooo hooked:D
We travelled in August as well. Weather was wonderful, hoping the same for you.
You are so right ,CC is a terrific resource . It is a wealth of information and adds so much to the excitment.
Have the best time ,Alaska is just breathtaking. H:)ppy Sailings!