ksmaxey

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

No lobster, a bit more scaled down second Gala night.

 

We are disappointed by tonight's menu apart from the lack of lobster.  The diminished options are significant

8 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Thanks for letting me know.

we have also been charged for A few of Tom’s beers and a couple of glasses of my Riesling a few days ago so need to have that removed.

We have a similar problem.  Have been to the desk 3X and still have charges covered by EPB remaining on our statement.

8 minutes ago, zelker said:

So they are forcing you to buy WiFi to scan the codes then, right?

Wifi for the intranet (on the ship) is free.  Internet you have to purchase.  The app either relies on local servers on the ship or is not filtered and allowed on the internet without cost.  I suspect it is locally hosted to reduce internet volume.

The invitation to the reception was in our cabin last evening when we returned.  I am guessing others who planned to attend the roll call had a similar experience and that may explain the attendance.  I apologize that we didn't make it.

So we reviewed the menus for the week on the app and TV and made our specialty dining decision based on it.  Tonight's menu changed from yesterday after we planned Tamarind.  Tonight is escargot, lamb chops, filet mignon with crab béarnaise.  We would have stuck to main dining room if that had been up yesterday.  First world problems!  We are vaccinated and on vacation so we can't complain too much and we love the Tamarind.  One day they will get that piece figured out.

today was the reception at 11 with the captain and officers for 4 &5 star.  They all came around and thanked us for returning and joining the first cruise.  Clearly working on customer relations which is no surprise with HAL.

Having lunch in the Pinnacle and Chef Rudi is here

Loving the cruise so far.  Menus for food and beverage are not as big though for drinks they can make anything.  Waiters are now handling wine rather than wine stewards which really hampered the meal and wine service at the main dining room.  This may be a way to reduce numbers interacting.
 

Changes for health are great.  Even opening door last to the aft deck so you can keep your hands clean.  No packet of sugar or sweetners.  All in stainless dispensers.  You can’t fill a cup at the lido.

cabin stewards are only servicing cabins in the morning unless you ask for turn down service.  We did as my wife goes through ice and we plan a great gratuity on top of having.

many crew say how lucky they are as they are working and HAL got them the vaccine and they worry about friends waiting to work at home

My wife and I head to the airport in a couple of hours.  So looking forward to this cruise!

My wife and I will be on this cruise!  Didn't know it would be the first but are really looking forward to it.

Apparently the system crashed.  It just booked us without giving us the excursion credit and won't let us use the credit for dining either.  I called and they don't know when it will be working again.

We will be on the Nieuw Amsterdam on July 24th.  Looking forward to it!

Rich thanks for the daily.  I can't wait to watch the New Amsterdam head north for Alaska!   We booked for July 24th out of Seattle and are hoping that nothing prevents the restart.  We are both fully vaccinated and the efficacy of the vaccine is incredible.  We also think HAL's protocols will keep all safe.

I sure have enjoyed the daily.  I am not able to read it every day but it has been great while we can't cruise.

DW and I took the bite and are scheduled out of Seattle on July 24th.  7 day only but it is something!

55 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

 

My brother spent the largest single chunk of his career as a Vice President for "The Wings of Man".  He was among the last people to turn out the lights when the end came, fortunately just as his wife got a college presidency  in Iowa.  It was rare but once or twice I was able to get a family pass trip.  Great memories of Eastern.

 

Roy

My father spent 37 years working for Eastern Air Lines.  He started as floor sweeper and worked his way up.  He turned down VP every time it was offered to him but when they closed he was responsible for all of their parts inventory company wide. 

Eastern helped him become an A&P mechanic and then he moved over to the parts side.  During the great strike that finally bankrupted Eastern he was sent to Boston to do maintenance.  He was a Florida boy through and through and wore 3 pairs of long underwear under his clothes and was still cold. 

6 hours ago, dfish said:

Think this would be an easy substitution of cauliflower florets for the pasta!

 

Good morning, everyone!

 

Happy Thursday to all.  Great days to celebrate, but especially the nurses who have been so heroic during this past year with the pandemic.  Back before we knew much about this virus, they were the ones who had to go in and take care of us.  Without our nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, etc, we wouldn't have tourists emerging.  

 

Water fitness at 10:00 this morning.  The Thursday instructor is very good.   I enjoy her class.

 

Today's meal sounds yummy to me.  I'd have to find a substitute for the pasta due to the carb load.  Reviews are good.

 

https://damndelicious.net/2020/06/22/swedish-meatball-pasta/

 

 

RIP Krazy Kruizers.  She was such a welcome presence here when we started cruising HAL.  Can anyone share a link to her obituary?

14 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Actually, a lot of aircraft, perhaps most, have a HEPA grade air filter already installed.

My father worked in the airline industry.  After the ban of smoking in flight, the airlines took advantage to greatly reduce the new air introduced into the aircraft in flight and instead recirculated air as it was a cost cutting move.  The HEPA filters help but I wonder if they will increase the fresh air being used in flight.

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

It's great when the bulb comes on and you can put it all together. I remember my first when the fire dept battalion chief (very experienced with ICS/unified command in So Cal wildfires) I was working with was of tremendous help in letting me see the big picture. Then, after that first one, it all sorta comes and flows together

And having worked with both LE and Fire I can say that Fire is better at ICS.  LE are trained to work alone and Fire never works alone.

On 2/27/2020 at 11:37 AM, syesmar said:

Some very good news!  From https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-scientists-In-three-weeks-we-will-have-coronavirus-vaccine-619101 "...If all goes as planned, the vaccine could be ready within three weeks and available in 90 days...."  The article is very insightful and worth a read!

I just returned from Israel and met a doctor from the US who shared about this vaccine.  Glad it has made the news

nearly 1/4 of the daily "hold" is the amount of hsc too . . .

What will be key is whether both accounts were using the internet at the same time.  Only 1 device online at a time is one of the restrictions that HAL places on internet use.  (one that can be gotten around with a little tech)

Just off the Veendam today.  The new carpets look great and the ship is in great shape for an older ship.  We had 1 night in 12 where the air didn't seem to work right and we called and reported it and they called us back the next day to ask if they had fixed it which they did.

The ship layout is not as great as others with the galley blocking motion on that floor.

We loved the hand washing stations on the Lido.  The Lido is smaller because the ship is smaller.

We thought the entertainment was seriously lacking compared to other ships.  It lacked the variety that BB Kings offers.  Lots of piano music if that is your thing.   Also all the key entertainment areas are around the casino and there was smoke odor.  We spent more evenings watching DVD's in the stateroom that any other events - which is a first for us.

The crew was fantastic.  The TV's are old school and really small. 

Fleetwide there needs to be more variety for America's test kitchen for those who cruise more than once every 2 years. 

New York Pizza was advertised as lunch and dinner on the online app but was closed the first 3 days and then only open from 11 - 2:30 PM.  There were lots of kids on the transatlantic who would have liked pizza for dinner . . .

The Fitness Center was in great shape and opened every day sharply at 6 AM which was first for us as 4 star mariners.  (some ships it is 7 and most often the staff forget 1 out 7 days to open and the desk has to be called.)

We are on the Veendam coming down from St. John's to Boston on Saturday. We missed St. Pierre because of weather. (unrelated to Dorian)  Today we are at Bar Harbor but are cutting the stop short by and hour.  Captain Mark plans to head full speed to Boston arriving by 2 AM but not opening a gangway until 7 AM as planned.  We were in Halifax yesterday and it was a beautiful day.  Now to get through Immigration this morning.

Kevin

I am on the same cruise - a few observations:

The water being off wasn't a problem for us and was way less time than indicated.

The New York Pizza was closed the first 3 days as they re-tiled the cooking area.  Now it is only open 11-2:30 though the online navigator shows that it is available for dinner.  we miss getting a pizza late in the evening like on other ships with the pizza.

We had to ask for a future cruise deposit form.  EVERY HAL cruise prior has had one delivered to our stateroom without asking.

The pool has been closed for the last 3 days for repairs to the tile.  With the removal of the rear pool there is no back up option and with the unplanned sea day the pool was missed by a fair number of people.  (not me to be honest)

The food has been great and the cabin stewards on this cruise are amazing.

The smoke from the casino has spread more than on previous cruises and most of the key public spaces have smoke smell.  (Ocean bar, Mix and Adagio area outside the Pinnacle)

15 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

Yes, that would be fine.  No U.S. federal law requires they be in their original containers. 

Some states do have laws that indicate that any scheduled drug not in a pharmacy labeled container is a violation of the law.  The bottle and label provide proof that you have been prescribed the scheduled medication.  While one could later provide proof and have charges dropped do you really want to have deal with this in a place you don't live and are simply passing through to vacation?