LIVE! from the Eurodam 10/24-31

[K&RCurt]

Hi. Aboard the Beautiful Eurodam on our way to Grand Turk. I will be posting each night on our experiences from this trip. Feel free to comment/ ask questions I will answer as time and the slow internet connection allows.

Starting with yetsrday our trip to FLL:

Embarkation Day -1:

We left our house in the Philadelphia suburbs at 8:00 am in order to allow enough time for the typical delays in traffic, PHL airport security etc, so we would safely make our 12:00 Noon flight. The trip to PHL was unbelievably delay free. We checked our bags curb-side and had printed our boarding passes the night before. Equally shocking there was absolutely no line at the security check. We arrived at the gate by 9:25! We grabbed a bite to eat and some coffee and just sat back and watched the people come and go until it was time to board. The flight departed on-time (another miracle at PHL) and landed at FLL 15 min. ahead of schedule.

We proceeded to the baggage claim area, where once again beyond all reason our bags were among the first to appear on the carrousel. We went to the courtesy phone to call our hotel for the shuttle and were told where to meet the hotel van. Our good fortune continued as the van was waiting at the assigned meeting point as we walked up. We were joined in the shuttle by several other folks who were also sailing on the Eurodam with us.

We arrived and checked in to our hotel – The Hyatt Place Airport North – and went on up to our room, after confirming that the shuttle to Port Everglades the next day was “First Come, First Served” and that we should start forming a line around 10:00 AM in order to get one of the first shuttles.

The room was wonderful, very spacious with a sitting area a couch and wet bar, a separate sink outside the bathroom, a 47” Plasma HDTV and a very comfortable King sized bed. After settling all of our luggage, we took a walk to the Publix market nearby. We picked up some soda for the cruise as well as a few snacks for the evening. We headed back to our hotel, got changed into our swimsuits and spent some time at the pool.

After returning to the room, showering and getting dressed, we headed out to dinner. We ate at Chuck’s Steakhouse, which is on 17th across from the Embassy Suites. We like to eat there pre-cruise, as we got engaged at a Chuck’s Steakhouse in CT. and it just brings back all of those pleasant memories.

After our great meal we headed back to the room and both had a restless sleep, due to the excitement and anticipation for the next day.

[K&RCurt]

And this from Today:

Embarkation Day:

We awoke to the sound of the alarm clock, which took both of us some time to figure out how to shut off! I looked out of our window towards Port Everglades and could see the stacks to the carnival Freedom, The Zuiderdam and the Eurodam! We showered, got dressed and headed down to breakfast. The Hyatt Place had a very nice Continental Breakfast which is included in the price of you stay. After breakfast we headed back uo to the room to get our stuff together and get ready to head down to line up for the shuttle to the port. It was at this time that we experience a glitch in our well laid plans. As DW was zipping up her duffle bag she popped off one of her acrylic fingernails! This caused a major 5 alarm panic! What should she do? Go ahead, get on the ship and see if the Spa would fix it? Try to find a local shop? She decided to try the latter. If was 9:15 when she left the hotel. The first place she tried didn’t open until 10:00, luckily the second place opened at 9:30. She was able to get her nail fixed and was back at the room at 10:00.

So we gathered up our stuff, checked out and got in the line for the shuttle. About 3 minutes later the shuttle pulled up, loaded our stuff and off we went to the pier. We dropped off our bags and were in line for security screening by 10:30. When we entered the hall we were given a number “3” for embarkation. We waited until around 11:00 until we were escorted into the mail check-in hall. We were checked in within seconds. The HAL instructions tell you that you “MUST” print and bring your “Signature Express Boarding Pass”…The woman at the check in station told us “Put those away, you don’t need them”. The HAL documents say that after you register your credit card for your on-board account you ‘MUST present the card at check in”. We handed the credit card to the woman at the check-in desk, she said…”You already registered cards on-line, put that away you don’t need it!” All she was interested in was our Passports and health questionnaires.

After check-in we moved upstairs and waited around 30 minutes for the ship to be ready. By 11:40 we had had our first photo taken, and boarded the Eurodam. Our first stop once on-board was the Front Desk to sign up for a cooking class. We had been told that they sold out fast, so we decided to book this straight-away. The front desk staff was very pleasant and got us signed up for a class on the 2nd Sea Day with the Chef from the Tamarind.

From the Front Desk we headed up the Atrium stairs and once on the Lower Promenade Deck, sort of found ourselves being directed towards the Main Rembrandt Dinning Room for lunch. This was a very mice way to start the cruise. It was so much more relaxed and elegant that fighting the crowds in the Lido. I had an appetizer of “Salumis”, Italian Meats, Prosciutto, Motradella and Salami with roasted zucchini and red pepper, DW had the Bay Shrimp Cocktail, We both decided to skip the soup course. For Entrees I had Fettuccini with sun dried figs and tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese, topped with chicken breast, DW had a Chicken and Mango salad, For dessert we both had a fruit tartlette which was quite tasty.

After lunch, cabins were ready, so we swung by our cabin, dropped off our carry-ons and we headed up to the Lido Deck to look for the leader of our CC M&G group, PolarBearMom. We didn’t find her! We then headed up to the Tamarind to see if we could make lunch reservations for the next day, as it was a sea day, Luckily the word hadn’t got out about the Tamarind lunch yet, do we were good to go! We swung through the Lido area again looking for PolarBearMom, but again, no luck.

We made several trips around the ship, stopping by the cabin now and then, each time finding another one of our bags, which we would then unpack. It was very odd how our bags arrived one at a time, spaced out over several hours. We also made several passes through the Lido Deck hoping to spot the elusive PolarBearMom, to no avail! Our invitation the the M&G did show up in our mail slot so she must be about! No worries we thought, as we had arranged to share a table at late dinner in the MDR.

After a thorough examination of the ship the time was approaching for life boat drill. There has been some talk on the board that you no longer had to go to your stateroom and wear your life vest to the muster drill. Well, we DID have to return to our staterooms and we DID have to wear the life vests to the drill. It was quite warm and our side of the ship was in the sum for the time of the drill. One woman in our group passed out from the heat right as we were being dismissed, and had to be given medical attention.

After the drill we went back to the cabin, dropped off the vests and went up to the Aft Pool area for the sail away. The “HalCats” were playing and the entertainment staff was introduced. We stayed until the ship was pulling out of the port then went and got our Thermal Suite stickers at the Spa and headed back up to the room to get ready for dinner.

Before dinner we first went up to the Explorations Café; to set up our internet account, then to the front desk to turn in the Thermal Suite “Gift Card” so the credit and charge all balanced out, Once again the Front Desk staff was pleasant and efficient. I mention this as there were some reviews from last week’s cruise which stated that they were less than friendly and competent.

After conducting that “business” we went to the Ocean Bar for our traditional pre-dinner drinks and appetizers. We were not disappointed, the hot appetizers were great. As were the drinks. As 8:00 rolled around we headed aft to the Upper Rembrandt Dinning Room. We were quite excited that we were going to meet PolarBearMom, but, alas, it was not to be! We were at a table for 8, but only ourselves and another couple were seated. I hope we will finally meet PolarBear Mom at the M&G tomorrow.

The food in the Rembrandt Dinning room was excellent this evening. I started with an expanded version of the appetizer I had at lunch, an Antipasto, of cured beef, prosciutto, soprosotta and pate with roasted asparagus. DW started with Scallops Cervice’. We both had a chilled soup of pear, mango and pineapple with ciantro, it was very flavorful and refreshing. For the Main course DW chose a roasted chicken with a mango chutney (They had quite a mango thing going today) and I had Pork Tenderloin medallions with apple and dried cranberries in a maple reduction sauce which was wonderful. For dessert I had a Banana Coconut custard trifle and DW had a chocolate caramel torte.

After dinner we walked around the Promenade deck then headed on back to our cabin. DW is sleeping away as I write this,

Tomorrow is a Sea day and I am sure I will have much to write about then.

[floralscent]

I am glad to hear that your vacation is off to a good start! We are staying at the Hyatt Place FLL North too in December and I am very happy to hear that you were satisfied with the hotel.

Thanks so much for the daily reports, that is so nice of you to share as you go. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!!

[floralscent]

K&RCurt, what was your room # or what floor were you on at the Hyatt Place? Did you seem to have a good view of the ships in the morning or do you have any suggestions as to a room request that I can make at check in that would allow for a nice cruise ship view? Thanks-

[CuriousJ]

I'm loving your posts! I feel like I'm back on Eurodam. *SO* glad to hear that you are having positive experiences with the Front Desk...yay!

Looking forward to reading more of your adventures. Are you posting from the Explorations Cafe? If so, then be sure to try one of their yummy chocolate croissants while you're up there. I had a few too many of those.

Have a fun day at sea!

[English_in_Spain]

Looking forward to reading the rest of your report.

RE the hotel. Did you book this through HAL (ie did HAL choose it for you) or did you choose it?

[Grandma Gilly]

Thank you so much for the review. I am really getting excited as I will be on the Eurodam next month - 1st time on HAL. Perhaps you can answer a question which I recently posted. Can you use Skype on the ship?
Have a wonderful time and looking forward to tomorrows report!

[Brunswick Coach]

Great post looking forward to more...

[IRL_Joanie]

Awesome start to your reviews. I am so looking forward to more!!

Can you get staterooms photos of the web site??

Have you met your CC M&G PolarBearMom yet??

Oh one question I keep meaning to start a thread on, but will ask here instead.... What marine life is there to be see from the ship itself? i.e.; whales, dophins.... I know they head south for the winter, but is it to soon??

Cannot wait to read more..

Joanie

[jbhcw]

Enjoying your report from the Eurodam...love your style We've also stayed at the Hyatt Place a few times...it's great...good rooms and near everything....there is a great New England type seafood place called Kelly's Place of Landing nearby...food is wonderful.

Thanks for posting

[rnnyce]

Take good care of the Eurodam, we sail next week! Enjoy your vacation!!

[K&RCurt]

Originally Posted by floralscent

K&RCurt, what was your room # or what floor were you on at the Hyatt Place? Did you seem to have a good view of the ships in the morning or do you have any suggestions as to a room request that I can make at check in that would allow for a nice cruise ship view? Thanks-

We were in 416. We could just make out the stacks of the ships.

If you go higher you will have a better view. They ask what floor you would like when you check in.

The the oper question about the Hyatt...We booked this ourselves on their website.

[K&RCurt]

Originally Posted by Grandma Gilly

Thank you so much for the review. I am really getting excited as I will be on the Eurodam next month - 1st time on HAL. Perhaps you can answer a question which I recently posted. Can you use Skype on the ship?
Have a wonderful time and looking forward to tomorrows report!

Skype is blocked due to bandwidth restrictions with teh satellite internet connection.

[K&RCurt]

To the other questions.

I took a buch of photos and then found out my camera went caput and I lost all the photos. Trying agan with DWs camera!

Our M&G is in 2 min. next door in the Crow's Nest. I HOPE to meet PolarBearMom then!

Be back later!

[IrishLassie]

Love your review. We will be on Eurodam in less than 2 wks. & can't wait! You mentioned in your post about "health questionnair", what is that & where do you get it? My TA didn't say anything about that & it's not in our travel documents. Just want to be prepared, so thanks for any info. Look forward to hearing more about your cruise.

Oh one more question, how do you like the "Mummers"?

[rnnyce]

Judy,
The health questionnaire is filled out at the port prior to boarding, it is very short, about 10 questions.

[SharonN]

Have a great cruise Kurt and Gina I'm looking forward to following along since I'll be on this same cruise Thanksgiving week with a friend. Hopefully if you're going kyacking this time at HMC you don't try the 2 person one again!

[K&RCurt]

Originally Posted by SharonN

Have a great cruise Kurt and Gina I'm looking forward to following along since I'll be on this same cruise Thanksgiving week with a friend. Hopefully if you're going kyacking this time at HMC you don't try the 2 person one again!

LOL

We've sworn off tandem Kayaking Forever!

[K&RCurt]

We met up with Colakid, PolarBearMom's DH. She is not feeling 100% today and missed our M&G.

Our dinning reservations ended up not getting linked by HAL, no big deal, glad to know all is for the most part OK.

The M&G was wonderful and I'll provide more details in my next daily report.

The question about the health questionaire - It was handed out right after you dropped off you baggage and basically asked if you or anyone in your party had vomitting, diahreah, runny nose, coughing or fever. If you answered "yes" to any of the questions you were to be assesed by a health worker before being permitted to embark.

Oh, and I can give or take the Mummers....But...HOW ABOUT THOSE PHILLIES???

[CowPrincess]

Great report, thanks so much -- your description of embarkation day made me like I was there!