The-Inside-Cabin

13 hours ago, Hygge! said:

So glad they have wheels this year. Two good looking guys. Tell us about your quilt! 

It's called the "Southern California Quilted Throw".  56 x 70 inches.   By Spartina 449

$108. 

They have quilts and hand bags for many touristy areas. Check out their website - for retail locations or buy online direct 

more HERE and HERE

Here is a picture of the luggage "Pillow Gift." we received yesterday

Pete with Presty outside the MDR on An Evening in Paris

4 hours ago, Ottawa traveller said:

I was on a HAL cruise last fall which stopped in Vietnam.  I took my guidance about whether HAL woud get the visa (yes) from the CIBT Visa Holland America  website. I let HAL get the visa because our stop was at Phu My for Saigon. Phu My was not on the list that you see on the Vietnam Visa site. Apparently, it is part of a larger port. It is also not Ho Chi Min(Saigon) which is in the city itself.  I decided it was safer just to let HAL get the correct visa.

I got the Vietnam Visa in January on my own. Since Phu My wasn't listed, I selected Ho Chi Minh City as the closest city. I received and used the visa without any issues.

5 hours ago, Eric from San Diego said:

You always have to get your own.   You don't mention which countries.   

You don't always have to get your own. HAL often gets visas for guests in many countries.  

7 hours ago, Kelownabccan said:

We are on the Noordam for a 28 day cruise in Asia.....Tokyo to Singapore.....looks like a couple of countries the ship visits require a visa.....get them by ourselves or let HAL do them????.....any suggestions....Thanks

It's easier if you let HAL get them.   You can save some money by doing it yourself,   HAL will charge $50 for a Vietnam Visa.   It will cost you $25 if you do it yourself.   This is for the single entry.   I have attached a printout of HAL's general guidance on VISAs.   It can change from time to time, but it is generally accurate.   Double-check before you sail

Some countries require VISAs even if you stay on the ship.  Other countries don't, e.g., Mozambique and China. But this can change from year to year and ship to ship.

HAL_Visa_Guidance_ADA (1).pdf

Today in the MDR - Dressy Night

Here is a short video showing some of the 400 blankets on display at the Lido Pool today.

55 minutes ago, Funsun60 said:

We will be in Europe with a single time zone and then cruising to UK time zone (one hour different) and then back to the Europe time zone. Does the ship have a central clock to confirm what time the ship is using and does the ship change ship time when there is only a one hour difference? Not a problem to change our watches if required.

Thank you

 

The official ship time is on the home page of your Navigator App and the ships TV

Holland America always changes the ship time to match the local port time.

Marty was the guest at Coffee Chat this morning.   He talked about Project Linus

Here is the replay.

Tomorrow Project Linus will display the blankets that were made for this cruise on the Lido Pool

over 400 blankets !!!!

Skies were clear as we dropped anchor off the coast of Lüderitz around 6 AM. Immigration officials came aboard, and we started our face-to-face immigration check around 7:15. We were in no hurry, so we waited until the final call around 9:15 AM.

Open tendered was called at 11 am

We went ashore at 12:30 PM - a 15-minute tender ride.

Today is Sunday,  so many places, including the grocery store, closed at 1 PM.

We walked around town in a 2-mile loop, stopping at Desert Deli, Portuguese Fisherman, Lüderitz Museum,  Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock and back to the tender landing.

Here are a few pictures.

Earlier in the morning, they prohibited wheelchairs and scooters due to the steep ramp and no railings on the pier.  Later they allowed a few ashore

The OK Foods grocery is close to the Tender Landing - it closes at 1 PM on Sunday - otherwise it is open until 6 PM

The Desert Deli served food and drinks.   It has a gift shop and wifi.   They also have a tour desk.

At first, I thought these guys were selling street food - No - they were just having a Sunday BBQ on the street.

This is the best restaurant in town per Trip Advisor.   It was crowded - Free Wifi.   T-Mobile didn't work in Namibia.

We ordered  fish and chips

and a Rainbow Sushi Roll

The Lüderitz Museum is next to the Portuguese Fisherman restaurant.   Admission is $ 2 USD or 30 NAD.   We spent about 15 minutes exploring.   It's worth your time and money.

Inside the museum

We hiked up to the Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock.  It was closed when we arrived.

Here is the church as see from the Ship

Back on the ship, there was the Biergarten Dinner in the Lido, featuring various German dishes.

Afro Popera Trio was on the World Stage - They put on a great show.

Here is the menu for the special LIDO dinner

Afro Popera Trio - they sang a nice variety of songs, including:

- Andrea Bocelli’s Canto Della Terra

- Romanza

- This Is the Moment  from the musical Jekyll & Hyde 

- Paralyze My Mind 

- Lippen Sweigen

- Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

- O Sole Mio

- Funiculì, Funiculà

- Nessun Dorma

Cape Town - 19 April - Final Day

We went to the High Tea at Mount Nelson - More HERE.  About $30 pp.    Reservations are required.

Mount Nelson is a very expensive Hotel - $1000 - $2000 USD a night for rooms - Its very nice inside

Here is the menu.

Here is the first course

First Course - Close-up picture

Second Course - Scones and Chocolates

Plenty of tea- of course

Third Course

Third Course as served

We had a great time!

Back on the ship

Bunny Chow was served from the Dive In at the Lido Pool - Choice of Marsala Steak, Butter Chicken or Vegetarian

The skies were clear blue - great view of Table Mountain from deck 10

On the main stage the South African Youth Choir performed one show - two were scheduled but they canceled the second show as we moved up our departure to avoid the fog that was moving in fast.

Their show started with 30 minutes of traditional African songs. 

The second half consisted of Broadway Show tunes, including Hey Big Spender and Phantom of the Opera hits—quite the contrast.   Outstanding performance.

Hey Big Spender!

We are back in Cape Town - We enjoy some Bunny Chow and a Gatsby Sandwich in downtown Cape Town and the Gatsby Palace.   There sandwiches are HUGE!!!

I suspect that people who get complimentary casino cruises aren't eligible to use those days for PC 

5 hours ago, Toad said:

Wow what an amazing opportunity!  Great photos, and I loved seeing the accommodations since I have always been a bit nervous about accommodations thinking they would be too rustic for my taste.  Guess I will have to reconsider this.  My husband says thank you. 

You can find safari accommodations ranging from tents to a motel 6 quality all the way to six stars and beyond. 

25 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Those of us who have been around HAL a while have met, or heard of, at least one passenger who is in the President's Club. 
I wonder how many people have the required number of nights aboard to qualify for this exclusive club, but never were invited to join? 

Anyone ever hear of that circumstance? I did once know one person who declined an invitation to join, but never heard of one who wasn't even asked. 

The invitation requirement weeds out people with many sea days but not as full-fare guests, e.g., lecturers, travel hosts, agents, etc.

Unlike the Mariner Star Level Program, the Medallion Program only recognizes and rewards actual cruising days – there isn’t any bonus credit for suites or spending as there is in the Mariner Star Program.

Here are the Medallion Award levels

100 days – Bronze
300 days – Silver
500 days – Gold
700 days – Platinum
1400 days – Presidents Club

While achieving greater Star status offers definite perks, achieving a higher Medallion Station offers nothing more than the commemorative medal itself and local recognition, including invitations to special parties.

The perks for Presidents Club Membership, include, but are not limited to:

• Annual Holiday Gift e.g. Waterford Crystal Vases
• Invitations to special onboard parties
• “Head of the line” tender service equal to Neptune Suite Guests
• Your choice of flowers/beverages/wine, etc. every 2 weeks
• Recognition at onboard events

Plus more – there isn’t a specific list publicly available, but these are the highlights I have discovered based on my research. Any updated information is appreciated.

Here are a few highlights from our second safari day. Tomorrow, we fly to Cape Town to rejoin the Zuiderdam.  

The main entrance to the Ukhozi Lodge

This morning we tracked and found a couple of Cheetahs

The Cheetahs don't stay put very long-  We had about 10 seconds to observe before he took off.

Lodge staff meet every returning game drive with interesting drinks (orange juice and grenadine here) and hot towels.

We had the same Ranger, Forrest, for all three days.

On the afternoon drive, our guide, Forrest, dug into a termite mound and offered us a chance to sample a live termite.   It tasted like a blade of grass.

Forrest offered us live termites - about half of us took him up on the opportunity/

They look like ants

We came across a small herd of Wildebeest

One of three White Rhinos we observed this afternoon.

We came across the same two lions we saw yesterday - they sleep a lot.

At our "Sundowner" drink stop, we observed two male Giraffles - necking - which is how they fight it out to see who gets the desirable female.   My Picture above = More below from YouTube

Our Game drive group at the Sundowner stop/

1 hour ago, cunnorl said:

Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing with us. 

Thanks.   I am trying to not take pictures of animal's butts!  They always seem to be facing away.  

3 hours ago, Hygge! said:

How did this location compare to last year’s location? Very impressed seeing so many elephants! 

Their location is on the eastern cape much further west than our previous safaris.   The reservation grounds are huge (44 square miles) but enclosed by fencing so the animals can't migrate to other parts of South Africa.   Thus all the animals are "here" but sometimes hard to find nevertheless.   No jaguars here at all.  Maybe a few cheetahs. 
 

The facilities are about the same.  All crazy good.   Our room is smaller that last year which was over the top huge.   This suite is a nice size.    

Highlights from this afternoon's Game Drive - All about Elephants!  (plus a few giraffes_  We came across about 25 elephants at sunset.  Nice

7 hours ago, forwardho said:

Wow I never thought a safari room looked like that! How long will you be on Safari?

You can find safari rooms that are a Motel 6 up through the Four Seasons.....

We return to Cape Town on the 18th

Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth was on time - nice flight.

Warning!!

Arrived too late for the evening safari drive

Here is our room

Highlights from this morning's drive

After reading about elephants in the news in Zambia - this encounter got our hearts pumping.   He passed close enough to touch - but left us alone

And finally a Lion - more later

We arrived in Durban very early this morning (15 April)   

We are moored at the new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal

Last year we were at the Ocean Terminal Building

The ship has a shuttle going to uShaka Marine World.  Walking out of the port is allowed but not recommended as apparently we are in a bad neighborhood.

All the passengers had to walk into the terminal for a face to face immigration.   It started at 7 AM and finished at 10 AM

We are leaving the ship today and heading to the Kariega Game Reserve - we retund on the 18th in Cape Town. More HERE

We enjoyed one of the many Pop-Up dinners in the Pinnacle Grill the evening we left Maputo.

Here is tonight's Rijsttafel dinner menu, which means Rice Table.  It is a Dutch adaptation of traditional Indonesian dishes.   More HERE

Pinnacle Grill Manager Tina selected the dishes for tonight's menu from those her mother used to make in her home country of Indonesia.   The food was fantastic, and the service was exemplary.

The surcharge was $69, which included your wine.

The three dishes of the Kroepoek (Sambal Matah, Sambal Badjak and Atjar Mentah

Bakwan Udang - Vegetable and Shrimp Fritters 

Pecel Solo - Mixed Vegetable Salad & sliced omlette

Soto BetawI - Coconut Milk Soup

Main Dishes - Sumatran Beef Stew, Balinese Chicken Skewer, mixed vegetables and eggs,  steamed fish wrapped in a banana leaf.  

Vanilla Ice cream and Coconut

Dyah, Tina and Pete

1 hour ago, Kay S said:

This was in the main dining room, correct?  Looks delicious.

Yes,  This was in the MDR

Zero formal nights.  
 

probably 5-7 dressy or gala nights 

formal nights are only on Grand Voyages