liketraveling
April 5th, 2009, 02:19 AM
Just got off the Ryndam from the 3/25 Sailing Sea of Cortez and had a great time.
We drove to San Diego from the SF Bay Area. We left at 4:00 in the AM
On 3/25 made great timing and we were on the Ship by 1:30. Embarktion was very smooth. We had to wait about 10 minutes in the Lido till our rooms were ready by 1:45.
We booked an HH Guarantee and were upgraded to a DA cabin on the Main Deck.
The Ryndam is in great need of reburbishing. At first I thought the toilet had not been cleaned and it turned out that it was water spots in the toilet. There was lots of caulking around the outside window. The molding around the door was falling apart. Except for the windows around the ship the public area was in good shape.
We had open seating which was great we usually went to the dining room between 6:30 and 7:00. There was only one time that we got a pager to wait and that took all but 5 minutes. The food and the service in the dining room was good. The only bad meal I had was a steak that was full of grissle. The first night my dad had prime rib that wasn’t good. Master Chef Night was the last night and there are only two fixed seatings for that and you have to have a reservation. I don’t paticullary care for Master Chef night and would have preferred to go to the Lido but my dad wanted to eat in the dining room.
The shows were good on this sailing however I sure wish they would change the show times to 8:00 and 10:00. I have only been on one other Holland America Ship and the Ships Singers and dancers on that ship could not carry a tune. The Ryndam dancers and singers were very good. They were on the first night and did three other shows. During the 10 days in addition to the Ryndam Singers and Dancers there were two comedians, a husband and wife doing a celtic Music Routine they were outstanding. A female Singer Sheryl ?? was on one night. The farewell show was done by one of the Comedians, Singer Sheryl and Barnaby one of the Comedians. I was stuck in the Master Chef dinner and wasn’t able to attend the last nights show. They really need to change show times on Master Chef night if you have to have a confirmed reservation. Showtimes is one of my Pet Peeves.
They had quite a few activities during the Sea days. I learned how to use my digital camera the right way. My dad misses the different types of lectures they used to have prior to these bad economic times
The Casino staff was great. There was one gal who was on the Veendam when I was on it in September who was now on the Ryndam.
Since we were in Mexico and I need to get off the ship I booked shores excursions from the Ship. I usually don't like Ships Shore Excursions but I was quite suprised on how well I enjoyed the excursions.
In Puerto Vallerto I booked a City tour which stated shopping. The Shopping was at an Opal Store.
Mazatalan. I did the Sierra Madre, Concordio, Coppola Tour – We went to a brick factory(bricks made the old fashion way), Furniture Factory (Beautiful Work) and two villages.
Tobolobombo – Did the Land of Zoro Native Culture. We passed through Los Mochis. We visited a village were they did a native dance and visited a home were they made tortillas from scratch. We also tasted them and I didn’t get sick. We than went to El Fuerente for Lunch after Luch saw a Folkloric Show and a visit by Zorro. We than walked around El Fuerente. I wish we would have had more time there.
Loreto – I went to the San Javier Mission. This was amazing. It was about 90 minutes over dirt road. People grow their own food their and there is one restaurant in the town.
One the way back we stopped at womans home who makes cactus candy and another Ranch where we saw the chickens, goats, the water well and they were preparing leather to make things. Now on the way back they had the road dug up and we had to wait 20 minutes for them to fill the road in. We were about 15 minutes late for the last tender but since it was a Ship Excursion they waited for us. Ship Security called my Dad looking for me. Another woman on the tour they called her husband and the other 8 were couples. The ten of us took the tender back with all the Security crew.
La Paz – Todas Santos This was a nices tour but I enjoyed the others on the trip better.
Cabo San Lucas - I did the Coastal Highlights Tour. Went to the City of San Jose, Cactus farm, and a glass blowing factory. The Coastal ride on the bus was beautiful.
It also got me out of town away from the T-Shirt Shops. I was in Cabo San Lucas
20 years ago and boy has Cabo Really Changed.
Since I have been on one Holland America Ship before I got to go to the Mariner Luncheon. My dad has over 100 days and had to be escorted to a special table. I wasn’t allowed to sit with him because I didn’t have 100 days. My mom passed away before they reached their 100 days. I helped him get his 100 days. I only have 17 days. It was a nice lunch but I am not loyal to one cruise line.
I was very impressed with the Crew and the Service of the Ryndam. This crew from the Captain on down really work together and it really shows. I also found the staff and crew to be very friendly.
Disembarktion was suppose to start at 7:15 but the ship wasn’t cleared by authorities til 8:45. We were off the ship by 9:15.
Gail
We drove to San Diego from the SF Bay Area. We left at 4:00 in the AM
On 3/25 made great timing and we were on the Ship by 1:30. Embarktion was very smooth. We had to wait about 10 minutes in the Lido till our rooms were ready by 1:45.
We booked an HH Guarantee and were upgraded to a DA cabin on the Main Deck.
The Ryndam is in great need of reburbishing. At first I thought the toilet had not been cleaned and it turned out that it was water spots in the toilet. There was lots of caulking around the outside window. The molding around the door was falling apart. Except for the windows around the ship the public area was in good shape.
We had open seating which was great we usually went to the dining room between 6:30 and 7:00. There was only one time that we got a pager to wait and that took all but 5 minutes. The food and the service in the dining room was good. The only bad meal I had was a steak that was full of grissle. The first night my dad had prime rib that wasn’t good. Master Chef Night was the last night and there are only two fixed seatings for that and you have to have a reservation. I don’t paticullary care for Master Chef night and would have preferred to go to the Lido but my dad wanted to eat in the dining room.
The shows were good on this sailing however I sure wish they would change the show times to 8:00 and 10:00. I have only been on one other Holland America Ship and the Ships Singers and dancers on that ship could not carry a tune. The Ryndam dancers and singers were very good. They were on the first night and did three other shows. During the 10 days in addition to the Ryndam Singers and Dancers there were two comedians, a husband and wife doing a celtic Music Routine they were outstanding. A female Singer Sheryl ?? was on one night. The farewell show was done by one of the Comedians, Singer Sheryl and Barnaby one of the Comedians. I was stuck in the Master Chef dinner and wasn’t able to attend the last nights show. They really need to change show times on Master Chef night if you have to have a confirmed reservation. Showtimes is one of my Pet Peeves.
They had quite a few activities during the Sea days. I learned how to use my digital camera the right way. My dad misses the different types of lectures they used to have prior to these bad economic times
The Casino staff was great. There was one gal who was on the Veendam when I was on it in September who was now on the Ryndam.
Since we were in Mexico and I need to get off the ship I booked shores excursions from the Ship. I usually don't like Ships Shore Excursions but I was quite suprised on how well I enjoyed the excursions.
In Puerto Vallerto I booked a City tour which stated shopping. The Shopping was at an Opal Store.
Mazatalan. I did the Sierra Madre, Concordio, Coppola Tour – We went to a brick factory(bricks made the old fashion way), Furniture Factory (Beautiful Work) and two villages.
Tobolobombo – Did the Land of Zoro Native Culture. We passed through Los Mochis. We visited a village were they did a native dance and visited a home were they made tortillas from scratch. We also tasted them and I didn’t get sick. We than went to El Fuerente for Lunch after Luch saw a Folkloric Show and a visit by Zorro. We than walked around El Fuerente. I wish we would have had more time there.
Loreto – I went to the San Javier Mission. This was amazing. It was about 90 minutes over dirt road. People grow their own food their and there is one restaurant in the town.
One the way back we stopped at womans home who makes cactus candy and another Ranch where we saw the chickens, goats, the water well and they were preparing leather to make things. Now on the way back they had the road dug up and we had to wait 20 minutes for them to fill the road in. We were about 15 minutes late for the last tender but since it was a Ship Excursion they waited for us. Ship Security called my Dad looking for me. Another woman on the tour they called her husband and the other 8 were couples. The ten of us took the tender back with all the Security crew.
La Paz – Todas Santos This was a nices tour but I enjoyed the others on the trip better.
Cabo San Lucas - I did the Coastal Highlights Tour. Went to the City of San Jose, Cactus farm, and a glass blowing factory. The Coastal ride on the bus was beautiful.
It also got me out of town away from the T-Shirt Shops. I was in Cabo San Lucas
20 years ago and boy has Cabo Really Changed.
Since I have been on one Holland America Ship before I got to go to the Mariner Luncheon. My dad has over 100 days and had to be escorted to a special table. I wasn’t allowed to sit with him because I didn’t have 100 days. My mom passed away before they reached their 100 days. I helped him get his 100 days. I only have 17 days. It was a nice lunch but I am not loyal to one cruise line.
I was very impressed with the Crew and the Service of the Ryndam. This crew from the Captain on down really work together and it really shows. I also found the staff and crew to be very friendly.
Disembarktion was suppose to start at 7:15 but the ship wasn’t cleared by authorities til 8:45. We were off the ship by 9:15.
Gail