Our First Cruise on HAL (on the Noordam)...and Quite Frankly, Once was Enough

[SailorJack]

OMG didn't anyone else catch the LLuvme tender???

 

Nice job Jack.

 

Thanks! A nice compliment coming from someone with your writing talents.

 

Jack

 

PS... If you haven't had a chance to enjoy John's delightfully dry sense of humor you can get a sample at this review:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1204032&highlight=

[SailorJack]

SailorJack,

 

As soon as I dry my eyes, I'm sending this to my cruise friends going with me on our first Dam cruise (Noor) in Jan., 2011.

 

Just the LLuveme and the Checken tenders would have been enough, but you added an entire short story, to my great delight.

 

This is prize-winning material. Whatever happens in the Cabana (mine is Baby Blue) or on the vessel itself, I will bring with me the joy of reading this post.

 

Please keep up the good work; any advice you may have is appreciated.

 

Marcia

 

Glad you enjoyed the review. While we didn't have a cabana, they looked delightful. I know you will enjoy both the cabana and the beach - as well as the Noordam which is a great ship.

 

We will also be sailing the Caribbean in January so I hope the weather is good for both of us.

 

Every once in a while, I re-read this, just to get a good /reminder/perspective on the little "problems" that often arise on a sailing hotel...too funny!

 

Thanks! Like you, I have found that given the right context most problems turn out to be small ones.:)

 

Jack

[JohnGaltny]

Hey Jack,

 

Just re-read this review because one of my freak parade has just proposed next Feb. on No-or-dam (which I assumed was the Dutch equivalent of Truth or Dare).

 

The thought of travelling in a tux (practicing my scottish burr to properly say " Bond -- Gold Bond" in the casino) and spending 10 days dodging more AARPs attacks had me sipping heavy medication on the rocks.

 

Thank you for calming me down to the point where only my wallet is nervous and the quivering actually doesn't feel that bad.:p

Edited May 18, 2011 by JohnGaltny

[SailorJack]

Hey Jack,

 

Just re-read this review because one of my freak parade has just proposed next Feb. on No-or-dam (which I assumed was the Dutch equivalent of Truth or Dare).

 

The thought of travelling in a tux (practicing my scottish burr to properly say " Bond -- Gold Bond" in the casino) and spending 10 days dodging more AARPs attacks had me sipping heavy medication on the rocks.

 

Thank you for calming me down to the point where only my wallet is nervous and the quivering actually doesn't feel that bad.:p

 

The Noordam is a great ship -a classic cruise ship. If you had any qualms about it - lay them to rest. Service was great and it had one of the best varieties of events and activities we have seen. And you don't need a tux - a coat and tie are fine.

 

Enjoy.

[madera1]

Loved reading your review. You certainly have a way with words. My husband even muted the Giants/Dodgers game so I could read him some of your review. thanks again for sharing

[SailorJack]

Loved reading your review. You certainly have a way with words. My husband even muted the Giants/Dodgers game so I could read him some of your review. thanks again for sharing

 

Glad you enjoyed it! And muting a baseball game...unforgivable!:D:D

[edmusic]

@SailorJack I just reread your review for the third time and finally got 'Chekken tender'. Laughed out loud for the first time at a web post in many months! Thanks for your talent and creativity!

[SailorJack]

@SailorJack I just reread your review for the third time and finally got 'Chekken tender'. Laughed out loud for the first time at a web post in many months! Thanks for your talent and creativity!

 

Glad you found the humor in it. McNugget Tender just wouldn't a worked.:D:D

[glutenhab]

Sailor Jack = Bob Newhart?

[Ontario Cruiser]

Hi Sailor Jack

We enjoyed the Noordam last November or 2nd time on her.We are booked on the Westerdam Nov 13th & Nov 20th . We were on Celebrity Summit for 14 days in Feb then we went on the Veendam down the Amazon for 28 days March 16th. Veendam is getting very tired and needs more than the quicky drydock which was done righ after our cruise. What about you what have you been up toÉ

Ontario Cruiser:)

[CaliforniaAC]

We were with you on that cruise:D. Brought back fond memories, reading your review again! We are back on the Noordam and will visit St. Maarten Feb 16th. We will stop in and tell Mama C you said hello;)!

 

AC

[gaylecool]

This review was hysterical and absolutely delightful! Thanks for making my day, I am still laughing!!

[SailorJack]

This review was hysterical and absolutely delightful! Thanks for making my day, I am still laughing!!

 

 

Glad you enjoyed it! I posted a new review on the RCI board this morning for our cruise for the last two weeks on Splendour of the Seas. If you are interested, the link to the review is in my signature down below.:)

Edited May 24, 2011 by SailorJack

[christy744]

Thanks to whoever bumped this to the first page again. I've read it before and it is one of the all-time best reviews. I hope I have as much fun on my next cruise as I had reading this review of yours.

 

Thanks for the laughs (again).

 

Christy

[SailorJack]

We were with you on that cruise:D. Brought back fond memories, reading your review again! We are back on the Noordam and will visit St. Maarten Feb 16th. We will stop in and tell Mama C you said hello;)!

 

AC

 

ACCK! For Pete's sake, don't mention me! I am hoping time will erase that whole event from her mind.:D

 

The Noordam is a good ship and you obviously feel the same way as you are sailing on her again. Enjoy your cruise...it should make for a good winter escape.

 

Thanks to whoever bumped this to the first page again. I've read it before and it is one of the all-time best reviews. I hope I have as much fun on my next cruise as I had reading this review of yours.

 

Thanks for the laughs (again).

 

Christy

 

Christy, thanks for your comment...glad you enjoyed the review. I know you will enjoy your next cruise! I mean what is not to enjoy about being at sea and not at work!:D

[The Odd Couple]

Loved it!! I always write a cruise diary but if I could write with your inimitable humour and style - I would be smugly pleased with myself. We are Brits on our first HAL cruise in 2012, and your review has really made me wish we were cruising sooner. Thanks for a great laugh.

[samnewbie]

Absolutely love your review, it's made me laugh so much :D

 

I hope we have as much fun and great memories on our forthcoming cruise in August.

 

Thanks again, I'm sure i will read this a few more times before we sail

 

Sam :)

[jd1966]

Fantastic review:):):):):)

[SailorJack]

Absolutely love your review, it's made me laugh so much :D

 

I hope we have as much fun and great memories on our forthcoming cruise in August.

 

Thanks again, I'm sure i will read this a few more times before we sail

 

Sam :)

 

Thank you..enjoy your cruise in August. I envy you...we have to wait till November to take our next cruise.:D

 

Loved it!! I always write a cruise diary but if I could write with your inimitable humour and style - I would be smugly pleased with myself. We are Brits on our first HAL cruise in 2012, and your review has really made me wish we were cruising sooner. Thanks for a great laugh.

 

Thank you for the compliment. I know you will enjoy HAL..it is a great cruise line.

 

Jack

 

 

 

Speaking of HAL... this is a photo I took two weeks ago of the Nieuw Amsterdam anchored just off the coast of Santorini.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2011 by SailorJack

[K&RCurt]

I am a sporadic CC user. I usally avoid this place when I don't have a cruise booked or in the planning stages as it's too depressing otherwise!

 

So I booked a cruise (sort of on a whim - no planning) and sauntered my mouse on over to CC. Not having been on here for quite a few months, Imagine my surprise / delight at finding THIS thread alive and well!

 

The more things change, the more they remain the same!

[samnewbie]

Thank you..enjoy your cruise in August. I envy you...we have to wait till November to take our next cruise.:D

 

Ahh but come November it will be I envying you!! :(;):D

 

It really is a fab review, my husband is going to read it this evening as he is curious what I was roaring laughing about!

 

Love the photo too, she is such a beautiful lady

 

Sam :)

[happycruisers13]

Great review of your cruise! I havent laughed that hard in a long time. What a gift you have!

[SailorJack]

Great review of your cruise! I havent laughed that hard in a long time. What a gift you have!

 

I am glad you enjoyed it, But a gift? SailorJill views it more like a curse, as she has to put up with my constant note taking at night when she wants to go out to dinner and a show.:)

[Minoushka]

Hey Jack

 

Because I missed this one ...how is that possible????...I searched for it as I needed a morning chuckle As always you delivered admirably ..I loved the LHUVEME tender ..so funny and all your other antics

Keep on writing as I love to read you

 

Michele

 

I'm actually considering Hal for next winter as it goes to ABC islands ...not for the illiterate but snorkellers Bonaire was Fabulous I met a beautifyl BIg black fish with yellow eyes and we really connected ...right up to my mask .......not the least shy ...unless of course his eyes revealed too much partying...unless of course he was flirting with me

HOw else does one get yellow eyes !!!

[SailorJack]

Hey Jack

 

Because I missed this one ...how is that possible????...I searched for it as I needed a morning chuckle As always you delivered admirably ..I loved the LHUVEME tender ..so funny and all your other antics

Keep on writing as I love to read you

 

Michele

 

I'm actually considering Hal for next winter as it goes to ABC islands ...not for the illiterate but snorkellers Bonaire was Fabulous I met a beautifyl BIg black fish with yellow eyes and we really connected ...right up to my mask .......not the least shy ...unless of course his eyes revealed too much partying...unless of course he was flirting with me

HOw else does one get yellow eyes !!!

 

You will enjoy HAL - our cruise on the Noordam was one of our favorites. Bonaire is the only ABC island we have not visited... and as we are both divers the omission is embarrasing.:D

 

Glad you enjoy the reviews. Perhaps one day we will be on the same ship -I will look forward to it.

 

Jack