God, Life & Alaska May 2015

God, Life & Alaska May 2015

Let me attempt to explain the title

1. "God" because I thank him every morning with my first waking breath by Giving Thanks to Him for alllowing me to live to see another day on this beautiful world he has created for us all.

2. Ties into "#1" because I have been granted a Life where I can live because of my wonderful and loving God.

3. Also ties into "#1 and #2". I am thankful to God that I am alive and able to visit what I call, "God's Greatest and most Beautiful Area on Earth, Alaska."

OK, My Blog of this 18 days aboard the ms Noordam begins with an apology to HAL and all Cruise Critic Members.

Our first cruise aboard her back in 2010 in what is now SB 6166 (or is it SB 6164?) Oh well it was an Aft Wrap stateroom. I hated it ONLY because our divider door was welded shut and I felt it was a huge safety issue........Ya know, some times it is the tiniest thing that makes a difference and makes you love or hate a cruise. I loved the cruise but did not care for the ship.

I am now happy to say that our present stateroom, SB 7142 overlooks our previous stateroom and I can plainly see the divider is no longer welded shut and that is no longer a safety matter:)

I am truly enjoying this cruise and the ship!!

We flew into San Diego on May 4th, the day before we were to board her for our very first Pacific Coastal bound for Vancouver and on to Alaska,

We stayed at the Best Western Bayview about 5 blocks up from the port. Hotel was undergoing the last stages of remodeling (It was built 35 years ago) and while the lobby area had me feeling a bit concerned (It had a "Hotel Impossible" look to it *YIKES*), the actual rooms and the excellent service was some of the best we've been lucky to have.

Day 1:

Went to the port around 10am. Checked luggage in with a Porter and then we were turned over over to Karl (With a "K") from Shore Ops who personally escorted us from the entry to the terminal all the way to our stateroom (I'd sent a Curb to stateroom Wheel chair request in to HAL weeks ago). Man that man was awesome!!! Time from Entry to Terminal and stateroom, approximately 45 minutes.

Once on board hubby went to the Mariners Embarkation Lunch and I rested in the room and on my huge verandah, watching a pair of dolphins playing off the stern, a few seals and people watching, while having a cigarette or 2.

PEMD, otherwise called Passenger Emergency Muster Drill took all of 45 minutes and only 3 no shows for our Life Boat.

We sailed out shortly after the drill was complete. Canadianbear and her hubby joined us for sailaway before heading to kjw's Penthouse Stateroom 7045 to enjoy the sunset:)

Days 2 and 3:

Day 2 & 3 both began as very bumpy/rocking/rolling days........ We, hubby and I knew it was going to be rough, not only had we gleaned from CC that the first 2 days out of San Diego were normally a bit rough, but the San Diego weathermen/women had mentioned the night before that there was a system moving down the coast and it was going to be a bit rough. One of them even mentioned that the storm had originated off New Zealand *YIKES*

I went down to have a chat with the COM (Culinary Arts Manager) to see if it were possible to have Chocolate Purses as a dessert for lunch on Day 3 of the cruise with our CC Roll Call members and the Decadent Melting Chocolate Ball/Bomb one evening in the Pinnacle Grill for us all, either on the Coastal or the week of 9 May. Both requests were enthusiastically accepted *YIPPPPEE!!!* COM got on the phone immediately to the MDR Manager to make sure that he would set our CC group in an area that would have us separated from others and would ensure the best possible location so that perfumes and scents did not linger in. You have to love the awesome people who bend over backwards to make sure even 1 guest can enjoy themselves:) Besides, the little things such as this made us all feel special:) To top it off, we each had 2 Chocolate Purses delivered on our desert plates!! Not the normal 1 each, but 2 each!!!! RuthC would have thought she was in 7th heaven!! I know that both hubby and Canadianbear took photos, so will let them show you what we had. I have to add that other MDR Lunch diners were somewhay upset that the Purses were not on the menu.......

I have to tell y'all that if you ever get the chance to cruise with the famous, or infamous, *HEHEHE* Chardonay Sisters, Be ready to hold your sides as you try not to laugh so hard not only your sides ache, but you swear you will be rolling on the floor!!! They are absolutely hilarious!!! I was supposed to get a small sip of their oh soo precious stash of wine, but since I'm allergic to alcohol, take medicines that do not take well to alcohol combined with the fact that when they are just getting out of bed, the rest of us (well me anyway) are going to bed, time was not on my side so they decided to scare the bejesus outta me and have one of the Front Desk staff ring my doorbell at 8:00pm with 2 plates LOADED with chocolate covered strawberries ...YUMMY!!! Diane and Christy are truly amongst those I've met or cruised with from CC that I cannot wait to cruise with again!!! Love ya both girls!!!

Hubby ate in the PG on the 2nd day and I just lazed around in the room and verandah the 2nd evening and to tell you the truth, I do not remember if I ate anything or not, I eat when I feel hungry.

Day 3 saw us still having some pretty rough seas which were causing quite a few passengers not leaving the relative safety of their staterooms for a 2nd day in a row (OK, their bathrooms and the "Royal Thrones" aka "Porcelan Goddess" in said staterooms Hehehehe)

So for the 3rd day at sea lunch was in the MDR with our CC Roll Call members. I do not remember everything on the menu, but do know their was fish and chips (fries) and Swiss Steak. I had the Swiss Steak and it was soooooooooooooo sooooooooooo GOOD!!! Unfortunately, I could only eat 1/2 of it.... I could have eaten it all, but had to save room for our dessert....Chocolate Purse. Most of us ate 1 and took the 2nd to our rooms to eat later. Let me tell ya, even cold they are just as delicious:)

Dinner for hubby and I was in the Pinnacle Grill for Le Cirque. OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I love, love, absofreaking LOVE the new Le Cirque Menu!!! There have been minute tweaks in the prentation of some of the dishes, but they are so minute that if you had not been the first HAL passengers to have the New Menu, you would not notice them.

I had my ever so favorite Escargot, Chateaubriand and Strawberry Pavlova....... So to die for meal!! The PG Chef, Guneesh, came out to talk with us about the Melting Chocolate Ball/Bomb, he said it is not served normally so he was unfamiliar with it. He said they serve a type of Brownie for the Captain's and Chef's table..... I told him of the You Tube video and he asked if we could give him the vidfeo so he could make sure he made it correctly and plated it perfectly. (I found out in Vancouver, May 9th, he had gone to a shop he knows of in Vancouver and purchased the ball molds...What a man!!!) So now all we had to do was agree on day and time for our CC Roll Call members to enjoy this decadent dessert being made specially for us. (Side note: Time 5:30 Day 13 May at Le Cirque.)

I love Le Cirque so much that I have made reservations for 5:30pm on both the 13th and 20th.

Day 4

What can I say about Day 4 except that there were a very very large number of passengers who were furious that we would be making Victoria BC, Canada, 4 hours late..... Most of them disembareking in Victoria. Sorry all, but the Captain has no control over the weather, the waves or other such conditions. Keep in mind that we even made Victoria at all.

Day 5:

Day 5 saw us arriving last into Vancouver and therefore being the last ship in meant we had to dock between Grand Princess and another Princess ship who's name completely eludes this old memory right now...... Such a sad event....Losing what few pieces of memory this old old brain once Disembarkation appeared to go off without a single hitch. We, the In Transits had been told we could go off ship on our own anytime between 10:30am and 2:00pm. All we had to do was take our In Transit Card, Passport and Stateroom Key Card with us, go through US Customs and Immigration and reboard immediately. NOT!!!!!! and the reason it did not happen as reasily as we'd been told was due to the largest Princess ship's computer going down and that ship had to do passenger manifests by hand......According to the Head of Port Ops, Kathy, Noordam was cleared at 9:30am, Grand Princess shortly after and the hold up was the much larger Princess ship. We were finally able to get back on shortly after 11:00am.....

I must say that from my vantage, or should I say disadvantage, point the right hand does not know what the left had was doing on 9 May 2015 at Canada Place......For goodness sake people they tried to steer me onto BOTH of the Princess ships WITHOUT going through Customs before I got them to understand that I came in on a BLUE Hulled HAL ship and that was the only ship I was boarding again that day, Thank You very much!! *LOL*

So once back aboard I went to the Lido Aft for a smoke and a drink only to discover the smoking section was now the non smoking section for the day "Oh Oh....Houston we have a problem." All the smokers start lighting up as soon as they get to the Bar and then look up to see......Bunkering in Progress No Smoking Please. And in slightly smaller letters, smoking on other side (Cannot remember the exact wording of the signs but I'm sure Copper10-8 can tell us)

Duh!!!!! Just remembered the, name of the other Princess ship.....T'was Golden Princess........

Day 6

Did absolutely nothing today after our M&G at 10:00am Hosted by kjw aka Ken up in the Captain's Corner in the Crows Nest. Went to the Lido aft and ordered a Virgin Pina Colada, YUMMY!!! using our Beverage Card, THANK YOU Explore 4 or whatever promo we got that enables me to not have to pay for an alchoholic drink without the alcohol:) Had lunch in the Lido and came back to my verandah where I relaxed the day away until hubby went and grabbed me some pizza and our last Chocolate Purse. Gonna have to see if I can get the MDR chef to make me a couple more either later this week or next.....*Grin*

Day 7

Juneau Day.

Captain came on the PA a few minutes ago with the announcement that were will be delayed not only in arriving in Juneau but also on departure. He made most of our time up yesterday, (Late arriving Passengers (hey you DO NOT leave the Port without the passengers from Headquarters!! NOT if you wish to keep your command). But then last night we lost some time due to high winds. I cannot tell you how high the passengers from Headquarters aree, but will attempt to find out before Saturday and post it here.

So for today, this is it. I am going to laze back, bask in this "My Penthouse" on Noordam as we continue our Alaska adventure 2015. I forgot to mention that the Coordless Doorbell is working beautifully!! I've used a substance we bought several years ago called "Blue Tac." It looks like clay but when you work it around a bit it becomes something similar to adhesive and sticks to whatever you want and comes off the surface without leaving a mark. I cannot think of how else to describe it so I suggest if you are interested in it, go to google and search for Blue Tac or Blue Tack. Everyone from Crew to Passengers LOVE the Doorbell. Hubby will post a photo when he gets a chance.

Will post more later and answer questions then, just wanted to post that our next door neighbors have been having flush problems. Engineer was working on it earlier, but I've not seen them since to ask if the problem has been fixed. I'll report back later.

Joanie

Going great Joanie!!

Why were you concerned about the door on the verandah being welded shut?

Going great Joanie!!

Why were you concerned about the door on the verandah being welded shut?

Loving your post and looking forward to more to come. Please let us know what wildlife (whales, eagles, bears, dolphins, etc.) you are seeing. Thanks.

Going great Joanie!!

 

Why were you concerned about the door on the verandah being welded shut?

Agree. If the doors between balconies aren't open, they are locked, so they are NOT planned for emergency exit. If they were planned for emergency exit, they can't be locked.

Happy you are more satisfied with Noordam this cruise than you were the other time you sailed her. She's one of the two best ships in the fleet, IMO. :) I think they really did her 'right' and am eager for the chance to sail her again soon.

Continue to enjoy.

Enjoying your post!! I have to ask...i saw all the buzz about the chocolate balls but what are the purses???

Tanya

Going great Joanie!!

 

Why were you concerned about the door on the verandah being welded shut?

Because I was worried about the crew member who had to climb over the railing to clean the verandahs!! Was not concerned for me, but for him without a safety harness:(

Enjoying your post!! I have to ask...i saw all the buzz about the chocolate balls but what are the purses???

 

 

Tanya

Tanya, hubby aka Crew News posted a picture of them at this link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46493135&postcount=20

OK, time to get off here and go enjoy Juneau with only us and Westerdam in Port:)

Joanie

Loving your comments about the cruise, can't wait to read more.

We've now been to Skagway 7 or 8 times since 2008 and this is only the 2nd time the weather has been beautiful!!!

OMG!! It is supposed to be 68 today, warmer than Juneau yesterday which was supposed to be 58.

Woke at 4:30 this morning to beautiful blue sky and perfectly calm water as we sailed into the channel or sound or whatever it is called. To me it is Heaven:)

We are docked along what I call Grafitti Hill with the Celebrity Solstice docked backside to us. Nothing like being backside to backside:)

As soon as I get this lazy old body in gear I am off to buy me some of that Oh So To Die For Alaska Fudge Company Fudge!!!

Talk at y'all later

Joanie

As I recall, when we were in Skagway on the Zuiderdam two years ago it was a beautiful day. Let's hope our luck holds and we get it again next week!

Enjoy your fudge!

snip... I forgot to mention that the Coordless Doorbell is working beautifully!! I've used a substance we bought several years ago called "Blue Tac." It looks like clay but when you work it around a bit it becomes something similar to adhesive and sticks to whatever you want and comes off the surface without leaving a mark. I cannot think of how else to describe it so I suggest if you are interested in it, go to google and search for Blue Tac or Blue Tack. Everyone from Crew to Passengers LOVE the Doorbell. Hubby will post a photo when he gets a chance.

Joanie,

Lynn and I have 5190 for our September cruise and plan on a lot of veranda time (weather pemitting:)) and I 'd really like to know more about the doorbell, especially for GB day!

Pete

We've now been to Skagway 7 or 8 times since 2008 and this is only the 2nd time the weather has been beautiful!!!

 

As soon as I get this lazy old body in gear I am off to buy me some of that Oh So To Die For Alaska Fudge Company Fudge!!!

 

Talk at y'all later

 

Joanie

Joanie

Great posts! Enjoy your style!!

Glad to hear the weather is so good: Skagway can be so windy and cool, especially at this time of the year.

About that Fudge Shop: they make the most divine Turtle-style clusters. The dark chocolate with pecans are really good!!

Thanks to you and hubbie for taking the time to post!

God, Life & Alaska May 2015 ... I forgot to mention that the Coordless Doorbell is working beautifully!!

 

Joanie

Joanie,

What an inspiring post - it is so refreshing to hear from folks who IMO have their lives and priorities in proper order. God Bless You and Crew News on your cruise.

I am anxiously awaiting further info and pics on the cordless doorbell - I'm thinking of putting them throughout our house, so that my DW will have an easier time summoning me to duty!!!

Smooth sailing,

Rod

Agree. If the doors between balconies aren't open, they are locked, so they are NOT planned for emergency exit. If they were planned for emergency exit, they can't be locked.

And in the PS cabins, there are no doors at all to open to the other verandahs/balconies.

Because I was worried about the crew member who had to climb over the railing to clean the verandahs!! Was not concerned for me, but for him without a safety harness:(

 

 

 

Tanya, hubby aka Crew News posted a picture of them at this link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=46493135&postcount=20

 

OK, time to get off here and go enjoy Juneau with only us and Westerdam in Port:)

 

Joanie

Thanks -- in the PS the whenever the crew need to clean anything on the verandah, they have to come through the cabin.

We've now been to Skagway 7 or 8 times since 2008 and this is only the 2nd time the weather has been beautiful!!!

 

OMG!! It is supposed to be 68 today, warmer than Juneau yesterday which was supposed to be 58.

 

Woke at 4:30 this morning to beautiful blue sky and perfectly calm water as we sailed into the channel or sound or whatever it is called. To me it is Heaven:)

 

We are docked along what I call Grafitti Hill with the Celebrity Solstice docked backside to us. Nothing like being backside to backside:)

 

As soon as I get this lazy old body in gear I am off to buy me some of that Oh So To Die For Alaska Fudge Company Fudge!!!

 

Talk at y'all later

 

Joanie

Love Skagway.

Our first cruise to Alaska was in 1989 and they were having a heat wave. Temperatures in all the ports were in the upper 80's.

Joanie,

 

Lynn and I have 5190 for our September cruise and plan on a lot of veranda time (weather pemitting:)) and I 'd really like to know more about the doorbell, especially for GB day!

 

Pete

Pete, I bought the Cordless/Wireless Doorbell through Amazon.com. I know you can pick the same one up at home depot. They are $24.00 or $29.00 and come with a small battery for the button itself. I cannot find the post I made about it on either or 5 May or 9 May Roll Calls, the post has the link to it and maybe even a picture. Sorry, I did try but connection is cruddy:(

I did not even leave the stateroom yesterday in Juneau. It just felt so good to not do squat:)

VisaGrunt, I sure hope this absolutely gorgeous weather holds for Skagway holds!!! I found this brand new little Bazarr off the main street that has several little shops and the entry is through what looks like an alley. There is a young lady who is an artist and to draw attention to the Bazarr she happily Sings with her indescribable voice!! I cannot rave about how beautiful her voice is. I was mezmerized to hear an angels voice in an alley, drawing pictures. I was so enchanted that I forgot to take a picture.....

OK, I've been up since about 4am and need to nap. Tomorrow is going to be a long day at Glacier Bay. And I will be up late looking for the Northern Lights that some of the Skagway locals say were to be seen last night and tonight!!

Later all

Joanie

Hope you see the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights were visable last night. Hope you were able to see them!!

OK all, I have been a Bad Girl!!! I promised to try and do a bit from every US Port, but have not....

I DO have a good reason though!!! I Really Do!!!!

It has been such absolutely relaxing not only in HAL's wonderful bed but also on deck!!

The weather is every single US Port and Glacier Bay has been fantastic!!! We are talking Beautiful cloud free skies, high 60's to low 70's and sun so gorgeous....... Only cloudy days have been the first and last sea days and Vancouver:(

This is going to be short and sweet so I can go shower and then go back to relaxing out here on my Verandah with Mt Robers, Crown Princess and my 2nd favorite HAL ship as my view:)

OH Before I forget last Friday, just before the Medallion Ceremony for our own "dobiemom," the Assistant MDR Manager, Gunther and I were talking about my allergy. He suggested I trust him and try a table in the MDR which is a bit secluded for the Mariner's Brunch. I think I'd like to marry the man!!! Well maybe not since he says he bathes in cologne *LOL* But anyway he arranged for me to try the "Honeymoon" Table, 127, which I did and Let me tell ya, it felt AWESOME to be able to enjoy Formal Night last night in the MDR for the first time since 2011. Gunther and his boss have reserved that table every night for me:) You have to love the people who do so much to make sure that a single passenger can enjoy their cruise.

Tomorrow night we are having Le Cirque with PathfinderESS, her wonderful hubby and the COM, Santosh, and possibly the Hotel Director. Ganeesh is making us the Melting Chocolate Balls and the MDR is making Chocolate Purses for PathfinderESS. The ONLY way to get them away from their (PathfinderESS & hubby) set 7:30 standing reservations in PG and dining with us at 5:30 is if I could get her the Purses!!

Another before I forget, This week in every US Port the ship is going through Inspections.

So, on the note(s) above I will leave you with thoughts to come such as..... A criminal among us being escorted off the ship in her swim suit (NO Not me!! *LOL*) An Abusive Talker, A Druggie, Double plates of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, just so they did not HAVE to share their precious wine with me....*LOL*

Before anyone gets up in arms, those mentioned above know this post is coming and are waiting to chime in with their explanations *LOL*

Time to shower

Joanie

Tomorrow night we are having Le Cirque with PathfinderESS, her wonderful hubby and the COM, ...

I've been away from CC for quite a while now, and must have missed something. What is a "COM"? Was there some change in job title on the ships?

I hope you and Roger are having a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing with us.

I've been away from CC for quite a while now, and must have missed something. What is a "COM"? Was there some change in job title on the ships?

Culinary Ops Manager??

Culinary Ops Manager??

Plausible, especially in the context where it was used.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I've been away from CC for quite a while now, and must have missed something. What is a "COM"? Was there some change in job title on the ships?

COM = Culinary Operations Manager and the name change was about 4-5 years ago. I know I mentioned COM as far back as 2011 aboard the Zuiderdam, or shortly thereafter. I believe the new title came into being about the same time as the Title Matre de was changed to Main Dining Room Manager.

Ruth, question for you: What does the CCASE/LSSE in your Signature stand for? I've been trying to figure it out, with no luck...........

Joanie