Dave’s Live From Noordam Eastern Caribbean Feb. 18 – March 1, 2013

[JudeeJim]

Wednesday, Feb. 27, at sea

We enjoyed a relaxing day, taking in some of the activities, but not many. We watched an artist turn a huge block of ice into a marlin-shaped centerpiece in about 15 minutes; we looked at the things for sale at the Lido tables for about 2 minutes, and we spent a lot more time just watching and listening to the sea going by.

One event was not scheduled today, and it surprised us a bit – there was no debarkation talk, with the details on the baggage tags, how to fill out the questionnaire, the awful jokes, etc. Maybe they plan to do that tomorrow, but it seems unusual they would set that for the Half Moon Cay day.

Some random observations:

We have been on a few cruises where passengers have had service animals, and we have one on board this cruise, Rana, a beautiful golden-haired setter who is a service animal for a blind person. We had wondered just what arrangements were made for the animals. We learned how Noordam does it the first time we walked the promenade deck – they have set up an area for the dog along the forward bulkhead of the walk-around; today I took a picture and have attached it.

I had mentioned that we preferred the string quartet to the current duo. That is not to say that the two ladies are not talented, they are accomplished pianist and violinist respectively. It’s just that some pieces are better scored for a quartet. But, on Tuesday evening, the duo played a very good rendition of Strauss’ waltzes that worked very well.

We saw several flying fish today (no, really!). Those guys are even harder to capture with a camera than the whales were! I failed miserably at getting a shot with an image large enough to show something resembling a fish instead of a speck. They would launch themselves away from the ship, some flying an amazing distance before diving/falling back into the water. It is mesmerizing to watch them.

More later,

Dave

 

On our first cruise in the Caribbean there was a beautiful lightening and thunder storm. We were sitting at the aft sea view pool. The sky was so dark, a blank canvas until there was a lightening flash and then you could see the beautiful cloud formations. I wanted to get a picture of this but never able to time it just right. I finally gave up never giving it any thought I could have put my camera on record.

 

Judee

[Himself]

Dave, have a great time at HMC!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks Dave

When we were on the Noordam they also had the Dessert Extravganza on all 3 levels of the Atrium. May it hard to get pre dinner and post dinner drinks in the Ocean Bar. There were only a handful of seats available.

[RetiredMustang]

Thursday, Feb. 28, Half Moon Cay

The daily program shows the debarkation briefing as scheduled for 4 p.m., not long after the people got off the last tender which departs Half Moon Cay at 3, and just when Happy Hour starts in the Ocean Bar. I wonder how many people will actually attend.

We pulled into HMC pretty much on time, but we had a pretty stiff wind from the southwest, and we wondered if it was too strong to let us go ashore. But, the captain turned the ship to create a safe tendering from a lee on the port side, and the large ferry tenders were able to safely transport people. I took a photo of one from the shore, in case someone has not seen them before. It is attached and at: http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/510/Noordam_with_ferry_at_Half_Moon_Cay.JPG .

The weather was overcast as we arrived, but the son broke out just as we went ashore. It got cloudy again a bit later, but then completely cleared and we have had a nice, sunny day with a cooling breeze.

We walked a bit, and I took a photo of the new two-story cabanas, attached and at: http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/510/2-story_cabanas_Half_Moon_Cay.JPG . They actually don’t look too bad, and there are only five of them, clustered near the pirate bar, so they don’t clash too much. But, I have to admit, their biggest feature that I discovered is that they cannot be see when seated at the “I Could Stay Here Forever Bar” (which I went to solely in the interest of scientific research to find out, of course.:D )

We came back to the ship to have lunch … and pack. The envelopes of debarkation tickets were distributed early afternoon.

More later,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Wine Packages

I just realized this afternoon that I transcribed the latest list of wines in the wine packages early in the cruise, and forgot to post them, d’oh! They change a little bit now and then, and I try to get the latest when I’m on board. In any case, here’s what they are on Noordam now:

Dave

Navigator’s Package

3 bottles - $89

5 bottles - $149

7 bottles - $199

Whites

- Robert Mondavi Private Selection Reisling, Calif.

- Danzante Pinot Grigio, Italy

- Caliterra Chardonnay, Chile

- Toasted Head Chardonnay, Calif.

- Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

Reds

- Ravenswood Zinfandel, Calif.

- Frescobaldi Remole, Tuscany

- Three Blind Moose Cabernet Sauvignon, Calif.

- Alice White Shiraz, Australia

- Errazuriz Merlo, Chile

- Diseno Malbec, Argentina

- Laboure-Roi Pinot Noir, France

Admiral’s Package

3 bottles - $118

5 bottles - $199

7 bottles - $269

Whites

- Clos du Bois Chardonnay, Calif.

- Hogue Gewurztraminer, Wash.

- Estancia Pinot Grigio, Calif.

- Simi Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma

- Franciscan Chardonnay, Napa

- Laboure-Roi Macon Villages, France

Reds

- Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon, Calif.

- Blackstone Merlot, Calif.

- Mark West Pinot Noir, Calif.

- Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chianti, Italy

- Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, Calif.

- Red GuitarTempranillo Garnacha, Spain

[lovetocruise2020]

Dave,

Always love to read about your adventures!

 

Thanks so much for all of the info you have been providing. It is always so very helpful.

 

Be safe!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the pictures of the new story cabanas.

UGH!!

My DH also says UGH!!

Have a safe travel home.

[RetiredMustang]

Thursday, Feb. 28, Half Moon Cay (Cont.)

DW attended the debarkation brief (while I guarded to table for two along the window in the Ocean Bar). She reported one new awful joke/question, at least new for us – “How small does my face have to be to qualify for the mini-facial?” Everything else was pretty much as usual.

We asked for and received expedited debarkation; as we used a credit card, don’t have over our customs limit and are U.S. (or Canadian) citizens, we qualify. We must be ready to go by 7:15 a.m. Since we have been getting up about 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. on the Caribbean time zone (+1 from EST), and we set our clocks back an hour tonight, that should not be a problem.

Some more random thoughts to post before my few remaining minutes turn into mice and a pumpkin:

Open dining: When it started, at the very first it was called “As You Wish Dining,” a term that was very distinct from, and meant to be in contrast to, fixed dining and all the other venues, such as Pinnacle. It was mean _only_ as what is now known as open dining, and _nothing_ else. The HAL marketers later changed the term to mean “whatever your choice is among the various dining options” … but I noticed that the guy greeting us at the front desk of open dining on Noordam in 2013 had a name tag that identified him as the AYWD manager. In any case, we found it to be fine for us, but we dine early, and made reservations for when they opened at 5:15 p.m. on those nights we did not have reservations in Pinnacle or Canaletto. We had fine service, but even at that hour, we noticed that there really weren’t enough dining room attendants. I don’t know what it was in fixed dining, but we have asked for fixed on our next two cruises.

Canaletto. We dined there tonight. We booked long ago, before the Master Chef Dinner the last night (which we did not care for) morphed into the International Dinner, and the MCD became, apparently, what used to be the tasting dinner in the Pinnacle. Looking at the menu for the MDR for tonight, we were not sorry to have made plans to be elsewhere – if we had dined in the MDR, it probably would have been a night for the always-available onion soup and strip steak. And, I really don’t care for baked Alaska, and I know the odds of getting a harassed, busy and overworked steward to bring me something else was about nil. We enjoyed our meal in Canaletto, although the only truly authentic dish was the antipasti. We’ve noticed that the quality of the dishes varies by ship; Noordam’s versions were pretty good. The service was excellent.

Service overall. Not what it used to be in the good old days (which probably weren’t really as good as memory makes them out to be, but they were still better). Still, the service was individually as excellent and cheerful as always, but sometimes the staff members were stretched a bit thin. I think HotMan Mark Pells has tried hard to do what can be done with what is available, and the service has overall improved, especially at happy hour in the Ocean Bar (I don’t have experience with what it was like in the Crow’s Nest).

There are no doubt many things I did not write about, or did not experience. If you have any more questions, please ask.

I will post this and sign off from the shipboard portion of this thread. I will try to check in on the road home tomorrow, where I expect to have a high-speed hotel connection, and let you know how debarkation went.

More tomorrow from the road,

Dave

Dinner menu, Feb. 28, International Dinner

North and South America

Appetizer and Soup: Latin-American Style Gravlax; Guiso (An Argentine soup).

Entrees: Bourbon Glazed Beef with Grilled Portobello Mushrooms; Poblano Stuffed “Pechugo de Pollo”.

Dessert: The “Big Apple” Cheesecake.

Europe and Africa

Appetizer and Soup: Mediterranean Mezze Plate; Scandinavian-Style Seafood and Potato Chowder.

Entrees: Lebanese Lamb Shank; Asparagus and Fontina Cheese Risotto with Sauteed Cod.

Dessert: Mohr in Hemd

Asia and Australia

Appetizer and Soup: Vietnamese Spring Roll with Chicken; Shiitake Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette..

Entrees: Wattleseed Roasted Duck with Apricots; Tofu and Vegetable Korma.

Dessert: Kiwi and Passion Fruit Pavlova.

Chef Rudi’s Tour Around the World

Appetizer and Soup: Brie in Crispy Phyllo with Apple-Cranberry Chutney; Chilled Pumpkin Soup.

Entrees: Sauteed Shrimp Provencal; Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Escarole..

Dessert: Baked Alaska.

From the Daily Program:

Vista Lounge: Farewell Cariety Show featuring Tom Briscoe and Paul Pappas, 9:30 p.m.

Queen’s Lounge Majority Rules Game, 8:30 p.m.; Ben & the HAL Cats, 10:30 p.m. – midnight

Ocean Bar: The HAL Cats, 7:00-10:00 p.m.; Happy Hour 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Piano Bar; Farewell Songs and Sing-A-Longs with Diane, 9:00 p.m - close

Explorer’s Lounge: Adagio, 6:00-10:00 p.m.

Crow’s Nest: Solo guitarist David, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Happy Hour 9:00-10:00 p.m.

Northern Lights; DJ Jazzy, Last Dance, 10:00 p.m. – midnight

Tonight’s Movie: Wuthering Heights, Vista Lounge 1:00 p.m.; Lido poolside 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m..

Half Moon Cay Island Bar-B-QUe, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Disembarkation Briefing & Crew Farewell, Vista Lounge, 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon Tea, MDR, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

[496and706]

Thank you so very much for this thread and all of the pictures.

[cruz chic]

I ate in the MDR tonight. The International menu leaves a bit to be desired. I thought it would be good. I had a lamb shank based on a comment that it was good. I think it's probably one of the worst things I've had in 11 days. I found Canaletto to be quite good on this trip. Dave, I've enjoyed reading your take on the Noordam the last couple of days and enjoyed meeting and talking with you and your DW.

[JudeeJim]

Thank you for all this much appreciated information. We leave on the Noordam for a duplication of your cruise on March 11.

 

Judee

[flipflops84]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us, Dave! Sorry it had to come to an end so quickly, as they all do. Can't wait to read about your next cruise!

[JamesEM]

Thanks for the reports and pics, have a safe tip home.

[sapper1]

Thanks for taking the time to do such an entertaining (as usual) report.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you Dave!!

[filmsy57]

Thanks Dave Just sitting here reading your post and waiting patiently to go to pier. Still 2 hours to go but at least we are in warmer temps. it has been great to read your posts and again thanks for the input

[kazu]

Another great thread Dave. Thanks so much for taking us along and all of your fantastic info and pics. It's been fun cruising with you:D:D

 

Safe travels home:)

[aliaschief]

Welcome back to the Homedam. Thanks for taking us along on your cruise.

[innlady1]

thanks for your wonderful 'live from', dave. welcome home!

[Cruising-along]

Thank you again Dave. Your careful thought to detail is very much appreciated. Cannot wait to board the lovely Noordam in 10 days! :)

[RuthC]

Thank you for so many excellent posts letting us all enjoy each day as you sailed. It's been a smooth voyage!

I appreciate the time and effort you put into this. I especially appreciate that you listed the entertainment, both on the stage, and in the lounges. That matters.

Thanks, too, for the menus every day. They have reminded me of how poor the selections have become. Many a day I looked, and thought "Always available" again tonight. :(

[RetiredMustang]

All,

 

A final post. We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale on time, and the ship called for expedited depatures shortly after 7 a.m. We quickly left, cleared customs/immigration and were on I-595 by 7:30.

 

An interesting new wrinkle to us -- the ship set up poles/tapes to direct traffic flow on deck two, so that the people from the aft area would bend around the atrium, go through the Queen's Lounge and approach the starboard side of the mid-ships area to click off ship's ID one last time and then go to the tunnel into the terminal. People from the forward area presumably went aft from the casino/sports bar to midships.

 

It worked OK for expedited, but I wonder how well it worked for the regular debarkations by color/number -- I say that because, while we were carfeully going around and through the Queen's Lounge, etc., the midships elevators were all stopping at the 2nd deck, and people were getting caught up in the debarkation line. I hope they did something about that, because I can imagine a real mess if they didn't do something to stop a bottleneck from happening.

 

In any case, while we saw heavy traffic on the drive north out of the Miami area, it cleared after a few miles, and we did not have any problems making it to Savannah. We hope for similar conditions tomorrow on the drive back home to northern Virginia.

 

That should wrap things up for this thread (unless there are any more questions I might be able to answer). As always, I had a great time doing the blog, and am glad so many of you liked it. Thanks for coming along with us on the Noordam!

 

Cheers,

Dave

[Krazy Kruizers]

Interesting about the plans for disembarkation.

Have a safe drive the rest of the way home tomorrow.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Great blog Dave. I really liked the menus and the list of entertainment, figuring it will be close to what we see in two weeks when we sail. Have a safe trip home.

[Himself]

Welcome back and safe home. Are you ready for another cruise. By the way the Noordam cast off her lines at 3:55PM