Greetings From Maasdam

Maasdam was late arriving in Norfolk, but the shoreside staff at the Marriott kept us well informed from the moment we checked in.

Nut anyone booking a flight for a winter sailing should consider staying the night or geeting a late flight out. It just takes a storm front to slow everything down.

Had dinner at Shula's, where Mrs. Mariner dined on a $113 lobster tail. Was so nice to enjoy half-priced Pinnacle after boarding.

We were aboard by 3:45. There was open seating dinner last night, so that's why we headed to Pinnacle, where there's an eastern European/Indonesian mix. Ship sailed by seven.

The sea is slightly bouncy today, but Maasdam seems to be hitting on all cylinders. And so is Mariner after a few bloody Marys at the suite reception.

Asked the steward how large was his section. He thought I asked if he had large sex! Considering his height, I'm not even sure what he had in mind!

Never received the champagne and caviar we ordered through Seattle. Figured the chaos of late arrival was to blame. Checked with the Front Desk this morning and was told it's not on the manifest. Then it dawned on me, I know the bar manager. They'll be delivered at 5:30.

Off to the balcony for a siesta.

That's the way to do it. Enjoy!

That must have been one fine piece of tail for $113!!! :D

Shula's just opened here recently. I was wondering how it is. At $113 for a lobster tail I'll probably never find out.:eek:

Hi Mariner.....

Good to hear from you. :) You sound like you rolled with late embarkation just fine and after finding that friendly, familiar face.....your cruise is absolutely going to be great. (check your private e-mail for a message, if you don't mind.)

Mrs. Mariner always has had good taste.....happy to hear she enjoyed herself at Shula's.

Who is Hotel Manager? GRM?

Have a great time and please keep us 'posted'.

Thanks for your post and info. We sail the Maasdam in November but am following all the posts. Have a wonderful cruise.

We were on the sailing just before yours. The seas were pretty rough getting back to Norfolk. We knew from the get go that we'd be back late, but 5 hours?? We had booked a 3:20PM flight to Boston and opted for express checkout. It was a pleasure to just grab our bags and dash off the ship not having to search for our bags. One poor soul managed to drop his bag into the harbor. YIPES!! Don't know what happened there. How did HAL handle the check in situation? When did you finally board, and when did you set sail? Have a great time. We did.

Mariner

Thanks for reporting in - needed a good laugh today.

But - $113 for a lobster tail???? I know Shula's is expensive - but ???

Glad you had a few Bloody Mary's to help ease the pain.

Yes, that was fine piece of tail. If you saw Mrs. Mariner, who is a size 2, you would watch in amazement while she ate it. At that price, she better!

Actually, Shula's has some less expensive items on the menu. Had a burger for lunch the day we sailed. $9.

The filet mignon I had for dinner last night was hor d sized compared to the steak I had at Shula's. The food has been excellent so far.

We'll be half an hour late arriving at HMC today. The dining room will be open for lunch. It's 75 and a bit cloudy.

Should mention the Super Bowl was available. Saw many buckets of beer going to the Wajang and Casino Bar. There was a contingent of Eagles fans watching in the Neptune Lounge. They've seemed to have recovered.

The Crow's was jumping last night for 50s and 60s. Pax whom we met last year are aboard and they won the twist contest. The DJ has been great playing requests and the band in the Crow's we had on Volendam a few years ago. They sound excellent.

It's nearly time for a noon cocktail and tender.

We'll try to send some of this warm air north.

mariner-

Thanks for keeping us posted! Sounds like you're having a great time. :)

Asked the steward how large was his section. He thought I asked if he had large sex! Considering his height, I'm not even sure what he had in mind!

Priceless moments - LOL

Thanks for your posts, Mariner.

I'm enjoying them.

Keep 'em coming! :)

....and keep having a great cruise.

You both deserve it....and more!!!

Mariner Thanks for your posts. We are at 51 days and counting 'til we will be on the Maasdam.

At sea-- A chilly 72 degrees. But the Navigation Aft pool is a balmy 75.

They're trying a new promotion aboard. You get a free drink for every two bottles of wine that you buy. At least they're trying.

Have also noticed more drink specials than in the past. With the new alcohol policy, they seem to be trying to lower the prices for certain periods of the day.

Since we were late arriving at HMC, the shoreside barbecue was aboard at the Lido.

S7S, you'll be happy to know the ribs are still delicious. I'll get a helping of bread pudding for you after I post this.

Meatloaf is the star on tonight's menu. I'm getting a bit tired of beef, beef, beef. But the other choices do little for my taste buds.

Heard this at lunch in the dining room today: ``My birthday was last year, but I told them it's tonight. I deserve it!''

We'll be docking at Havensight in St. Thomas tomorrow.

Mariner,

I love your posts! I must confess, I look forward to reading them several times a day! Afterward, I close my eyes and pretend I am there too. LOL

Have a wonderful time, and keep us posted. I can hardly wait for lots of details after you return form your Holiday at sea.

Docked at Havensight, St. Thomas

Mariner is considerably redder than he was a few days ago after spending a few hours at Magen's Bay.

The ship was early arriving but Immigration wasn't, so we were ashore by 11:00. Much more organized this time around.

Was planning to comment yesterday that our time-release toilet was working. Of course, as soon as I got back to the cabin, it went kaput. The plumber arrived and, of course, Mrs. Mariner was in the shower. While the plumber and I debated what was more important (her privacy or the privey), a miraculous wussh was heard from the bathroom. So far, no problems.

The Crow's was jumping last night (70s music). Bartender told me some people stayed until 3 a.m.

If anyone has a favoriate waiter named Dolly, he's aboard Maasdam. We had him several years ago on Statendam and he spotted us last night. He's so much fun. We'll arrange to have lunch at his table when we head back.

S7S, I'll echo your praise of the HAL strawberry. Just had a plump one in my drink.

They're setting up for the barbeque tonight. Smell those ribs yet, Sail?

We asked for hor d's in the cabin, expecting a plate like we get in the lounge. Answered the knock on the door and there was the waiter with a huge silver tray and bowls and bowls and bowls of shrimp, chicken, crabcakes. And a silver thing of sauce. You could feed a village with that thing.

Whiile we miss Mylene and Ronald this cruise, there's another couple aboard working together in the Crow's. Dan and Hydey are just wonderful.

Heard on the cab back from Charlotte Amalie: ``Stop the taxi. I'm getting off. I don't need a $1,000 bracelot.'' Every guy on the cab wanted to hug that woman.

Off to take a nap before hitting the steam and sauna. They just put new locks in the men's room lockers and the sauna has been working just great.

Cheers!

Mariner....

Your posts are wonderful and I keep checking back here looking for a new one.

So happy you and Ms. Mariner are enjoying yourselves.

You know how much we love "My" ;) Maasdam. :)

Funny about the hors d'o......they must have thought you had invited 20 of your nearest and dearest to feast with you. With both of you being so slim....me thinks a lot of nibbles never got nibbled!!! Especially after scoffiing down those ribs. I'm starving thinking of them.

So, Tanned one........How has the ship been riding? Rough seas? Calm?

Hope your a/c and plumbing are all operating fine. Check with the folks who are in (you know the number) our regular cabin, if you have the chance :) ....see if they have needed the plumber? Should I be changing our booking to another number? (just kidding!!!)

Keep checking in; your posts are fun.

How's the Internet Cafe? How are the connections? Reasonably rapid or painfully slow?

No fish on the menu? No good chicken dishes?

Oh Tanned One!! I hope the sun continues to shine and you get toasted a gorgeous shade of bronze.

Blue skies....calm seas.

Alongside Dominica

Just finished lunch in the dining room after a brief time ashore and a few hours at the Nav Deck pool. It's been very sunny, although it looks as if it might rain soon.

S7S, the seas have been getting calmer. It was a bit bumpy the first few days. And I saw the DVD from the cruise before. Those were some seas. I'd guess 25-footers.

Why does Mariner love HAL? Because the bar manager sent someone ashore in St. Thomas yesterday to restock Mariner's favorite beverage. Of course by the time Mariner got to Riise, Riise was out of his favorite beverage so he'll come home with some other bottles.

I told the bar manager to keep tabs in case we need to restock in San Juan.

There have been a few med emergencies this cruise. Two people were choppered off HMC and a third was put on a seaplane. An ambulance was waiting on the dock in St. Thomas.

It appears the hor d's are the same size every night. I must tell them a plate, not a tray. But it was nice munching on them as we sailed last night. Beautiful sunset.

The a/c is working just fine and the time-release toilet (fingers crossed) is still whooshing away.

I'll check your cabin Sail. But I haven't heard any complaints, other than ``I can't find the ice cream.''

Overheard ashore: Two older women speaking. ``That 30-something that I danced with last night said he had a dream about me. Said I went to his cabin and got in his bed. He said when he came out of the bathroom, he saw me and then two wooden legs on the night stand!''

I am not making this up.

I think the 'older lady' must have dipped into your private stock of the beverage Bar Manager needed to restock!!! Too funny :)

Glad the seas are calm and you've been enjoying Nav Pool.

Who is HM?

How about chicken/fish on dinner menu? Not much offered?

Give Bar Manager a huge hello from us. Too long since we've cruised together. Will you find out Bar Manager's vacation schedule??? Please.

Continue to enjoy!!

(I'll write on your private e-mail)

Hi there Mariner!! We will be sailing on the Maasdam next week, so we welcome the updates and appreciate you taking the time to keep us up to date. Glad to hear you are having a good time and are well taken care of:) . Looking forward to your next post...

Sincerely, T & S

Alongside Barbados

It's so nice being 13 degrees from the equator. What a perfect Caribbean day spent at the beach (with a couple fast-moving sprinkles). A steel band is playing on the pier.

Had the parmesan chicken the other night and the pasta last night for dinner. Mrs. Mariner dined on the double-cut pork chop. She proclaimed it delicious.

Last night was country line dancing in the Crow's, which featured buckets of beer.

We learned the asst. c-d, Jer, is leaving the ship tomorrow to become the c-d on Ryndam. So last night was his last dance off. We bet he's happy.

The Pinnacle had the most people in it last night. The dinner menu was close to the old Dutch Night menu, sans the sole and the brisket.

Must get ready for a nap and massage. We're dining with the captain this evening.

Told to Mariner: I was approached the other day by an Indonesian steward in the Lido. He said, ``Thank you so much for all the help your country has given us after the tsunami. Your military is fantastic and your people have been so generous. God bless the U.S.A.''

Mariner choked back a ``you're welcome.''

H20, I'd be glad to stay aboard to show you around and introduce you. I'm sure your cabin can fit three. No need for Mrs. Mariner to remain.

Cheers

Hi mariner. Thanks for the update.

love your reports... we'll be on the Maasdam in two weeks. thanks for taking the time to share

Hi Mr and Mrs. Mariner.....

I KNOW FOR SURE you had a Wonderful dinner with the Captain. Lucky you. Captain Draper FABULOUS!!!! We are so hoping he will still be aboard when we cruise in June. :)

Share with us....we are all ears :cool: to hear of the fun doings aboard Maasdam. I sure miss that beautiful ship. It's been since July when we were last aboard.....that's a long time between doses of Maasdam for us!

How's the gym....most of the machines operating okay? Some down needing service?

Which pretty beach did you enjoy in Barbados?

So many questions.....I'm sorry as I should be bearing in mind you are paying by the minutes to read my dribble.

CONTINUE TO ENJOY!!!! Please send big regards to the wonderful friends we have aboard that we care so much about!!!

Alongside St. Kitts

Oceana's Regata is docked next to us and the Maasdam dwarfs her. She is a lovely ship from what we can see nose-bagging over the rail.

Had a lovely day at Friar's Bay. It's cloudy and looks like it will rain any second, but at the beach there were plenty of breaks of sunshine in the clouds.

S7S, we went to Payne's Beach in Barbados (near where Tiger Woods got married). Well worth the trip, if you can twist a cab driver's arm to take you there.

Dinner with the captain and his wife (who helped start the HAL program) was marvelous. Two other couples were at the table. We were all mariners (including a woman who sailed on the maiden voyage of the old Rotterdam). Many sea stories were swapped.

As to why the captain didn't made an announcement when the wave hit two voyages ago, he said he would have been making announcements all night and he thought most passengers would want to sleep.

As to the Maasdam being sold, he said he has heard no such thing. In fact, the Crow's Nest and Java will be changed under the Signature of Excellence program.

He also said one of Paul Allen's former yachts was docked in the Maasdam's usual spot in Barbados. Let's put it this way, it's not every day you see a yacht with a 35-foot sailboat and helicopter on its deck.

Told to Mariner by the Captain: ``At this point, there don't appear to be any fronts developing that will delay our arrival in Norfolk.'' I replied, ``Not even for $100?'' He said ``Nay!''

I'm off to try to bribe the chief engineer.