Live from the Amsterdam - Our Tales of the South Pacific

Day One - Tales of the South Pacific 2015 - The Good (the ship - very good), The Bad (Outside the terminal in San Diego), The Ugly (really just sad)

Once again, even though there are others offering their blogs on this trip, I will attempt to document my experience from the Amsterdam on this year's "Tales of the South Pacific" voyage. This discipline creates fantastic trip journals for me and I fear that if I do not post on line I will lose that discipline. Thank you for your indulgence.

Our flight from Chicago to San Diego on Thursday was delightfully uneventful.

Our hotel, which was located one block from Petco Stadium fit our needs beautifully (lots of restaurants in easy walking distance) with the following caveat: The neighborhood apparently houses more dogs per capita than capitas per capita. There is no grass anywhere - so between the dogs and the effluent from the Petco stadium crowds one has to walk the neighborhood carefully looking at the ground. Still a very nice location for a one nighter precruise.

Last year we cruised the Amsterdam's Grand Asia to Shanghai where we picked up a three week land tour of China which limited our luggage to one 40 lb suitcase and one 10 lb carry on per person for our whole 50 day adventure. This limitation made it a bit difficult to meet all of our needs on the ship as well as on land - so this year, well, I think we overreacted a bit. We decided to take two large cases each plus a wheelie carry on bag each ... More than we could manage to carry ourselves and no good deed goes unpunished.

Each stop along the way (car to the airport, taxi to the hotel, the hotel, taxi to the ship) we were glared at for having so much baggage. Especially incredulous was the registration clerk at our hotel who quickly noticed the disconnect between the number of bags and the length of our stay. So ... several tips and baggage fees later we did arrive at Terminal B in San Diego feeling like one of the world cruising socialites of the era of grand ocean travel (though we were traveling without a ladies maid and valet).

It seems the Norwegian Sun was sharing the terminal with the Amsterdam. At 11 am when we arrived at the port the Sun was still disembarking passengers while also receiving passengers. The Amsterdam had no one to disembark and sat at the pier like the small, neglected, foster child.

Our taxi was not allowed to deliver us to the port baggage handlers. We had to disembark, with our menagerie of suitcases, a distance from the terminal. No one was there to help us. Through creative suitcase piling DH and I managed to haul our bags down and around by the long "approved" route to where they were collecting bags for the Amsterdam - a location not all that far from our drop off had we been allowed to go there directly. Along the way we had to stop several times for the stevedores to label and accept bags from embarking Norwegian Sun passengers yet we had to continue on hauling our own. Say what?

Once relieved of our burden we entered the terminal where one agent was screening both HAL and Norwegian passengers and trying to communicate to each one which way to go to get on their ship. That line was slow, the agent's task difficult as we saw several clueless Norwegian passengers who were having difficulty understanding where they needed to go despite large, well labeled signs. Once we passed that check point, went through security and entered the doorway labeled to the "Amsterdam" it was like there was a fanfare complete with heavenly lights. At the table where we received and completed our mandatory health forms there was an agent who again checked our passports and documents - who recognized our four star status and escorted us directly to a check in desk where we were very quickly processed by a very friendly HAL agent. We were then allowed to embark the ship directly! Well organized and quick. I do not know how much more difficult the process became as the day progressed but considering the numbers of folks who must have been coming in for the Norwegian Sun versus the numbers for the Amsterdam it must have gotten quite interesting.

At the 5 pm sailaway beer, wine and bubbly were complimentary as a compensation for "the difficulties in the terminal". It did make for a very nice sail away complete with lots of munchies as well.

Our cabin (oceanview) was ready and in great shape. Our cabin stewards attentive. Lunch in the dining room was quiet and like coming home. We were especially complimented by those staff members who remembered us by name (we hope that is a good thing).

There was a mariner's reception around the Lido pool from 1:30 to 3:00 - complimentary bubbly and munchies were served. Not super well attended - actually a bit awkward with folks constantly walking through - personally I prefer the old embarkation lunch for mariners.

Our luggage (all of it) arrived in plenty of time to unpack before the emergency drill at 4:15. And we were able to stash everything that we brought with us and still have a bit of unused or underused storage space. Gotta love the Amsterdam's outside cabins.

We enjoyed the balmy weather on the aft deck during sail away, and we enjoyed watching San Diego retreat from view. We were on our way.

Unfortunately, not long after sail away there was an emergency "bright star" call on the PA. Around 9:30 pm they announced that the ship had been turned around and we were headed back to San Diego with a passenger requiring emergency medical assistance. We arrived back in San Diego around midnight and left about a half hour later. How very sad for that passenger and the family - we are all praying that the passenger will be OK.

Dinner was very nice - at the suggestion of our waiter I ordered the pork and was very pleased with a tasty meal with very tender meat. Our waiter service was perfect.

The official start to this cruise was in Seattle but passengers were also allowed to embark in San Francisco and San Diego as we did. We have been told that there were only about 300 passengers who got on in Seattle, another hundred in San Francisco with the rest joining the ship in San Diego - where we have been told our current passenger compliment is about 1200.

We have also been told that our arrival in Hilo will not be affected by our detour. Except for the sad - this is starting out to be an absolutely wonderful cruise!

Glad you are blogging. I read them all.

Sorry to hear no embarkation lunch, but it sounds like you enjoyed the reception.

So sad about the turn around and the medical reason for doing this. very sad.

So glad you are doing this. I always follow your threads and since we are heading in this direction next year we are looking forward to your reports.

Thank you for blogging we remember you from Asia Pacific and the World cruises have a wonderful voyage safe healthy travels.

Glad to see you blogging again, thanks, Elaine

Looking forward to hearing all about it!

YAY!!!!

This will be fun! So glad you decided you need some discipline! Our benefit: thanks so much!

Have a wonderful cruise!

Bon Voyage and looking forward to reading your well written reports.

Terri

Thank you for doing a blog!! Love following along on such a wonderful voyage!!

Very happy you're taking us along with you!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

...... Lunch in the dining room was quiet and like coming home. We were especially complimented by those staff members who remembered us by name ...... - personally I prefer the old embarkation lunch for mariners.

I am confused. Sounds like there was an embarkation lunch. ???

Day 2 - Sliding into the sea day routines :)

Hard to believe that here we are on the Amsterdam again and how much it feels like home.

Our service this trip has been excellent in both the dining room and our cabin. The numerous buckets collecting leaking water that seemed to be all over the place in December are no longer there. So far I have not seen one. I am happy to report that the ship is sparkling and seems to be in great condition.

Yesterday, Day 2 of the cruise, it was over cast, windy and and the temperatures were in the mid-sixties. In our cabin we could hear the muffled rumble of the waves breaking on the side of the ship and feel the motion. The apples, crackers and sea sick bags were all laid out. We are in the Pacific and we knew we were at sea. At night it was fun to look out the cabin window and see how close the foam seemed to come to us. DH and I are fine though I did need to load up on the bonine. My guess, however, is that many were not so fine especially since these seas happened so early in the trip.

For the curious: our piano bar entertainer is Annika, we have solo guitarist David who plays in the Crow's Nest, and we also have the Neptunes who play in the Ocean Bar. Last nights show was Jim Curry who did a tribute to John Denver show ... we did not go.

There are also arts and crafts classes, watercolor classes, and bridge on board as well as lecturers and Kainoa our location guide and all that he offers. Plenty to do.

DH and I, however, had a very self indulgent day. DH started his day with a massage, and I spent much time in a bonine stupor enjoying the sounds of the sea and the motion of the ship. Could it be said that maybe I was high on bonine ... well, possibly yes. We avoided the promenade deck as it was wet with salt spray.

I am also happy to report that the internet is working well and the speed, for the Amsterdam based on my previous experiences, is actually excellent. I am suspicious that it has, in some way, been upgraded even though the new unlimited packages are not being offered, only the standard packages sold by the minute.

We had our big cruise critic meet and greet in the afternoon in the Crow's Nest and it was busy and well attended. Nice to connect names and faces - too many folks there to get around to everyone.

Today, as I write this it is Day 3 and the temperature is a little warmer, there is a little less wind, the promenade deck is dry and most of the rumble of the breaking waves against the side of the ship has subsided. There has been no bonine today. I have to function on my wits today, not my high.

Captain Eversen, in his daily announcements said that we are taking a slightly northerly course to avoid a tropical storm that may become a typhoon between us and Hilo. He expects us to avoid this system entirely.

This morning there was a lecture by Kainoa on the geological history of the Hawaiian islands which was fascinating. I was interested to hear that as the islands age, they crack in two or more pieces which creates some enormous consequences - like 500 foot tsunamis along the California coast. Kuaii, Maui and Oahu have already been through this process, but the big island of Hawaii is young and this has not yet happened there. There is, apparently, a growing crack across the island where the split will, eventually occur. Watch out California! This is, however, not due to happen anytime soon.

I had to make a difficult choice today between Melvyn Foster speaking about whales and going to trivia. Last year we avoided this cut throat daily obsession, but today we decided to join in. We joined a couple of folks and started a team. Did not win which is OK as I don't really expect to win. I would give us a C+ on today's performance. As usual we talked ourselves out of enough correct answers to make the difference between a win and a C+. Tomorrow may be better.

For the poster who asked - the lunch served on embarkation day in the main dining room was not a special embarkation lunch, it was just lunch in the dining room (this cruise actually began 5 days earlier in Seattle). The mid afternoon reception at the lido pool was the official embarkation event. The free booze at sail away was due to the organization (or lack there of) at the San Diego terminal.

Great details of a sea day!

With this route you could have easy seas in a couple of days. I love boisterous seas so your descriptions are making me happy!!

Enjoy!

Thanks so much for taking the time to post! We will be hanging on every word and counting the days until it is our turn.

Cheers, Denise

Loving your details.

Looks as though we will no longer consider a cruise out of San Diego.

There is no way we could haul luggage that distance -- especially since I am partially disabled and have to have wheelchair assistance.

So the Mariners embarkation lunch was held at the embarkation location out of Seattle. San Diego for those who embarked the embarkation small Mariners Lunch was held in the Lido. That makes sense since it was day 5 of the cruise.

Enjoying your blog have smooth sailings.

Denise:)

So the Mariners embarkation lunch was held at the embarkation location out of Seattle. San Diego for those who embarked the embarkation small Mariners Lunch was held in the Lido. That makes sense since it was day 5 of the cruise.

Enjoying your blog have smooth sailings.

Denise:)

Isn't the Mariner's Embarkation Lunch no longer being done? Several have reported lunch on embarkation day in the MDR for everyone.

There is now a Mariner's (Embarkation) Reception in the Crows Nest at various afternoon times. On this specific cruise it was held by the Lido pool (bad choice of locale, as arzz notes - everyone constantly walking through...).

Thanks for sharing with us. I enjoy reading different accounts of a voyage as everyone has different experiences to relate.

Since I started blogging, I have found that I keep a much better record of what I did than when I used to write in a travel diary. Thank you for the time, money, and effort involved in taking us along with you!

Isn't the Mariner's Embarkation Lunch no longer being done? Several have reported lunch on embarkation day in the MDR for everyone.

 

There is now a Mariner's (Embarkation) Reception in the Crows Nest at various afternoon times. On this specific cruise it was held by the Lido pool (bad choice of locale, as arzz notes - everyone constantly walking through...).

WOW!!!

I am on HAL all the time! Are you guys kidding me? Really! So why? That was one of our perks and I just made 4 STAR on our last cruise in March:(.

I hope someone chimes in Like Sail, Kazuhiro, Krazie Kruzer etc!

I am bummed:(

Denise!

I am going to miss that on our Med cruise in Oct 2016!

WOW!!!

I am on HAL all the time! Are you guys kidding me? Really! So why? That was one of our perks and I just made 4 STAR on our last cruise in March:(.

I hope someone chimes in Like Sail, Kazuhiro, Krazie Kruzer etc!

I am bummed:(

Denise!

I am going to miss that on our Med cruise in Oct 2016!

I did not proof read my comments!

Sorry Kazu I was upset typing!

I am calm now!

Denise:)

Thank you for your live review.

Great details of a sea day!

 

With this route you could have easy seas in a couple of days. I love boisterous seas so your descriptions are making me happy!!

 

Enjoy!

Now I really want to try a forward cabin. Maybe one with portholes. But only if solo, as DH gets sea sick. Am remembering the sounds and slosh of the sea when I was in my bunk on Californian. Almost didn't want to fall asleep.

WOW!!!

I am on HAL all the time! Are you guys kidding me? Really! So why? That was one of our perks and I just made 4 STAR on our last cruise in March:(.

I hope someone chimes in Like Sail, Kazuhiro, Krazie Kruzer etc!

I am bummed:(

Denise!

I am going to miss that on our Med cruise in Oct 2016!

I have been reading as many "Live" threads as I can.

Seems that there are a lot of changes happening since we sailed in March/April. I will be taking notes on our next cruise.

DH is not happy with the changes.

I did not proof read my comments!

Sorry Kazu I was upset typing!

I am calm now!

Denise:)

no worries ;)

We had an embarkation lunch on our April cruise, but there have been reports here on the boards that it is disappearing and being replaced by a reception.

My understanding is that when this happens the MDR is open for everyone, but the changes are still happening so best to stay tuned, follow the live threads and know before you go.

Not a big difference since on a lot of cruises, there are a lot of mariners on board ;)

WOW!!!

I am on HAL all the time! Are you guys kidding me? Really! So why? That was one of our perks and I just made 4 STAR on our last cruise in March:(.

I hope someone chimes in Like Sail, Kazuhiro, Krazie Kruzer etc!

I am bummed:(

Denise!

I am going to miss that on our Med cruise in Oct 2016!

Don't worry, you will not missing anything. You can still go to the MDR for lunch on Embarkation Day; it is just not called a "Mariners'" event. We have been there many times when the MDR was very sparsely used by Mariners ... may as well offer lunch to everyone as a full staff is there anyways.