barefootguy

It's certainly the best deal going!! We've always used our credits from Carnival stock & enjoyed them... However, now as 4 star, that $100 credit is worth $200 in the Pinnacle & Tamarind.  Should you plan on cruising any of Carnival lines in the future... Buy now & even if the stock goes high or low, hang on in the end you'll have a wonderful time dining on board!

Heading out on the K-dam in Nov. & will be dining on our credits!  Makes you love the steak & lobsters even more when they're free...

Did you ever consider that it might be a couple on a honeymoon cruise in 6059?  In time, they'll get tired & have to go to the dining room. That's your best time to sleep or simply enjoy "quiet times".

Not sure about the problems with vibrations... Thirty or forty yrs. ago, it would have cost you a full roll of quarters to keep the bed going like that! You really should have taken advantage & enjoyed the vibrations!  Looking forward to booking same cabin for this fall's cruise!  Just remember, when life gives you quarters, enjoy!

We just came off the Kdam a week ago & I simply used one of my biz cards... Just standard biz card, not plastic & no magnetic stripes. Keep it simple!

Hey Tom, We've done the TG cruises several times & all have been great! Perhaps a few more kiddos on the ship that week, but all have been great! On TG Day, probably wouldn't do the turkey dinner... Go for a steak or anything else.. If you're used to real sausage dressing & ground cranberries vs. gelled poop... Just go go the other menu options..

You'll have a super trip!!!

When I first saw the post... Showers on Eurodam! Sorry, all I could think is that always, showers are best prior to dinner! That shouldn't even be posted here... Yes, get showered & then share a table... Please don't come stinky...

Thanks for all the pics of K-dam as we'll be on it next Nov.! You're pics & blog are better than anything I've been able to find on it at this point!

As a "heads up" on the Bonaire pic of sailing ship, it's the Royal Clipper. We were on it about 15 yrs. ago & have a link to it on signature section.

Again, super photos & now we're really looking forward to traveling on a HAL ship bigger than Vista class!

We came off the Z-dam on Nov. 20, Pt. Everglades, pier 21, late disembarkation, 9:30 or so... Grabbed our bags & headed to immigration with Mobile Passport set to go! We saw the Mobile Passport sign, no one there in line with mega backup in normal immigration line.

Started to follow the sign, were stopped by agent, she asked if we had Mobile Passport, yes! She was so EXCITED, couldn't believe it! She said we were the first of the day to have one. That's after probably 1,500 folks had left ship.

She had to see it work! Escorted us to immigration officer at check point, stopped the main line & said these folks have Mobile Passport & priority! Lots of interesting looks from all line, not good looks... Just who are these people?

We just hit, receipt... Wife's came up, scanned & she was good to go, then mine scanned & we were through. Life can be GREAT! Fastest immigration line ever!!!

Seems that the tour bus carrying Zdam passengers had a big problem going up Cadillac Mt., broke down & closed the road for 7 hours. Here's a link to the story...

http://www.mdislander.com/featured/bus-breakdown-blocks-cadillac-mountain-road

Guess my question on this trip would be... What if you get up north to see kids, then snow/bad weather appears & even though you live easy drive to port from home, can't make it do to seeing kiddos... Ykees, ship is heading out & we can't move due to ice storm! Maybe have the kiddo visit you prior to leaving on the ship!

An option?

As for kids on the trip... We do Thanksgiving week cruise every yr. When they said there were 65 kids on board, not even realistic. Only say a few, 5/6 at a time & all were super behaved!!!

Just thinking that if you've used up all the spaces in the name areas, you may have also lost some numerics in the cabin booking area. Your new cabin could be life boat #2 vs. cabin 5412. Guess you'll find out that one when boarding or during muster drill & you find out who you'll be sharing life boat with...

Have a great trip!!!!

Last fall we were on the Noordam in cabin 80**, under dining area... Dining hours, we had no sound, but it was the vacuuming after hours we heard. Vacuums were really no problem as it passed quickly, however when they would hit one of the metal thresholds between areas... It was machine gun fire into the room!!!

Spoke with dining room manager & it stopped... They began turning off vacs as they went over the thresholds late in the evening. All was good then... Should you have machine gun fire in your cabin, just talk with the dining steward/supervisor & all will be fine.

Quick note to navybankerteacher... Yes, the opening of the video is at the top of Cadillac Mt. We go up to a wonderful place every yr. near Bar Harbor to do our lobsters. Grew up in NE, then moved to midwest, no lobsters here that are barely moving by the time they're trucked or flown cross country.. We do all meals with clams, lobsters & mussels.. For one week a year, life is GOOD!

Here's a quick link to the YouTube

Here's a link to one of our Bar Harbor trips that I put a lobster to sleep for my grandson. The "lobster sleeping" comes at around 2:26 in the vid...

WOW! Have never heard anyone talk about that or knew about it in 45 yrs.! Used to work with a chef that, always, before dropping lobster into the pot, you had to "put him to sleep" by turning on nose, stroking the tail, not with pencil or anything, but with your hand & then into the pot! He said that they were then relaxed going into the pot & meat was more tender... Don't know about it, but... Yes, cool trick!!! Do always do it to ours. Have shown a number of folks this way to put a lobster "to sleep". Lots of fun!!!

Just a quick note, always go clockwise around the deck! Everyone else will be going counter clockwise & you'll get to say, "Hi ya" every time you pass & may find some new dinner friends...

Oh yes, you get chocolate! We always ask our stewards on the first day, "Don't worry about a turn down on the bed, just leave us double chocolates!" Never have been disappointed! Saves them time & we get to savor the taste of Holland! Oh! The pain of opening your own bed, all made easier by chocolate!!!

Randy, should it be a problem for you guys to share a loaner toothbrush... Simply write in at the bottom of the "fruit basket" form in your room, TWO loaner toothbrushes. That way you guys don't have to share & will always have a full basket of fruit. Cabin steward will also have a big toothy grin during the whole trip! Actually all the stewards in the hall will! Even if you really have to bring your own toothbrushes for the trip, hide them & have fun with the cabin guys! SPECIAL NOTE! Always leave the brushes wet when you leave the room!

Pack light & keep it simple! Just ask your cabin steward for a loaner & leave it in the bathroom for the next folks on disembarking...

Everyone's right on it... Approach at sunrise, then through the locks, a relaxing day on the lake & then back through. There's a YouTube link to the partial transit on our signature. You'll love the trip!

As we were on the ship a few yrs. ago, all called it the Ziiiderdam... Yes, that's rhyming with sigh... Should you be doing a partial canal cruise, do stop by the YouTube vid on our signature. Some of it's canal, then other is wonderful snorkeling in Bonaire! Just go back to the big blue ship when you're done playing in port. All will be good unless there are two big blues in port the same day as we had on our cruise... Yes, Westerdam was in same port, same day & at that time did all the big toots going out of port. Same as in FLL. Do enjoy life aboard the Zuiderdam!!!

Perhaps all this is about just how friendly you are & do you want to meet your shipmates! A "friendly guy" will go clockwise & always say, "Hi, ya doing?" when passing another walker/jogger... By the third or fourth time, you stop & meet, you're both ready for short break. Yes, new folks to have dinner with... Maybe...

Should you be in high seas & ready for a workout, always walk up hill/deck. That may be to bow, then change direction & head to stern after cresting a wave. You'll never change sides of the ship but still a great workout & always say, "Hi, how ya doing" when folks pass you sliding down the slippery deck on their butts. Lend a hand should you be so inclined!

Life can be fun! What direction are you going???

It was OK when HAL said no to smoking in rooms any more... However, should you/HAL change to no smoking on balconies, we're gone! We also book cabins near the aft of ship so as to bother as few a persons as possible.

Enjoy the trip!!

We've done it several times... Here's a couple of links to the trip...

The other on the trip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiuhbIuPqZA

We've done the Coral Princess & the Z-dam Both are wonderful... Not a full transit, but a great time!! Holland America has been choice for the last 7 cruises & will continue to be. Do understand that one of the vids was for the kiddo so he could take it to school...

Doesn't matter who you go with... Just settle in & say... Life is great & enjoy!!!

Morning Kopykat!

Now you're down to two days from the cruise! Have a wonderful time & we'll be watching you go out of FLL, wishing we were there! Give a wave on your way out!!!