VMax1700

Today was my first visit this cruise to Dive In. I used the app to order a Gainer and Naked Fries. Result: Double Fail. Gainer had no Dive In sauce on it and the fries were just fries. Not the usual coated fries but just plain fries, like out of the freezer at home. 😟

Don't hold your breath then! They perform from Abba to Stormzy. The play list is a much broader than I have seen previously on Koningsdam, which was mostly pure rock - Queen, Stones, U2, Lizzie etc.

Day 4 Upgrade Surf to Premium Internet package was $50 for 9 days (1 device) Day 5 ............................................................................... $50 for 8 days (1 device) Day 6 ............................................................................... $40 for 7 days (1 device)

They have opened the bow for the sail in to Istanbul.

As many will be taking late tours or just going ashore after arrival in Istanbul at 4pm they have announced that Lido will stay open until 9pm tonight.

Today's Lido Lunch menu:

Today (Saturday 18th June) (day 6) Classed as a 'Sea Day' as we arrive at Istanbul at 4pm local and PG is open for lunch! MDR Dinner Menu: Lido Dinner Menu:

Good morning from Oosterdam approaching Istanbul, Turkiye. Today's When & Where:

Have a great trip. FYI - I am currently on a 12 day Med cruise on Oosterdam. Have it all package internet is ok, but wifi calling is disabled. We can use WhatsApp calling. On embarkation day Navigator offered an internet upgrade to Premium for $50 for 12 days. Since then it has stayed at $50 to upgrade until today when it dropped to $40 for the last 7 days. If you think you may want to upgrade your internet, then it seems to be better value to do it on day 1.

There are already enough bars on the ships. Its ways to fill them with paying punters is what is needed.

This week on Oosterdam they had a special desk to deal with Navigator problems. It was open Embarkation day and the next day. Just across from Front Desk.

Yes, the chart says just Rolling Stone, but the website (post #22) says BBK https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-activities/cruise-entertainment/bb-kings-blues-club.html

Wine is still extremely good value in Spain. Recently in a hotel near Malaga I ordered a bottle of Solar Viejo Rioja in the restaurant. The price was €15. The same wine is available in the HAL Sommelier Suit and it would cost approx €27 in the ship's restaurant. (Cellar #3; 50% 4 Star discount; 18% SC). That is an amazing markup, considering the Malaga hotel also had a markup.

I am starting to think there is a difference between Rolling Stone Lounge and Rolling Stone Rock Room. Although the HAL website still lists BBK for Oosterdam, Noordam, etc etc.

Still not seeing it!

Maybe the licencing fee is less, but there were usually 8 in BBK band (lead g, bass g, trumpet, sax, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals). The Rolling Stone band on Oosterdam has 7 (lead g, bass g, rhythm g, keyboards, drums, male vocals, female vocals). So that is a saving of 1 salary, 1 room and food onboard.

Maybe spend it on part payment of the $21 fee to visit USA?

Over the next day or two, I will be posting a 'mid-term report' which will cover the entertainment, but let's just say it is somewhere between underwhelming and mediocre.

Is that the Carrefour half way down Las Ramblas? They have a good wine selection too! Sadly, you are correct about the choco-choco 😉 It has appeared only once this cruise and that was on gala night. Maybe the TA will have 3 gala nights, so 3 portions of chocolate 😁

Today's bread pudding 😁

Ooops, I erred and you spotted it! There was bag checking in both ports, but right after the check there were shops where wine and spirits could be purchased. There was no check on the ship, so it would, in theory, be possible to bring on alcohol and consume it onboard. Or am I missing something?

20 new crew members came on board today. (I don't know if any left or if they are additional)

Both yesterday (Katakolo) and today (Kusadasi), there was no bag inspection/scanning when coming back onboard.