Not so "live" Review from the RSVP Charter of Eurodam 2.9.13

[bradpole]

What an absolutely wonderful thread.

 

Great pics - great descriptions.

 

This is really, really interesting.

 

thank you for doing it.:D

You're welcome! I'm enjoying doing it!

[bradpole]

Day 6, at sea! Valentines Day

 

Another busy day ahead!

8:30 and 10:30 was “Gay Comedy Showcase” staring Paul J. Williams, Jessica Kirson, and Richard Ryder.

 

Cashetta’s “best of” at 10:30

 

a theme party at 10:30

Dessert Extravaganza at the midships pool at 11:30p

Champagne toast at midnight

 

and other various acts around the ship throughout the evening.

 

Are you tired yet?

 

The highlight for the afternoon would be the final Bingo with Sister Helen Holy at 3:30 with the Newlywed game directly after at 5:30!

 

Besides the scheduled activities above we made a reservation for lunch in the Pinnacle at noon (this would be our first lunch there) with 2 friends, and dinner at 6 in the Tamarind again.

 

After breakfast we retired to the Silk Den until it was time for our lunch reservation at the Pinnacle Grill. I believe were the only table in there, which is a shame the lunch is wonderful for $10!

 

Lobster Creme Brûlée

 

Onion Soup

 

Pinnacle Burger

 

Crab Cakes (entree size)

 

 

Overall we had an excellent lunch!

 

Unfortunately at 1pm was the future cruise bookings, and 1:30 “Swimsuit pageant” and 2:30 pool games.

 

As much as we wanted to see the swimsuit competition (they have been a blast in previous years!) we wanted to get in line to ensure we got an interior cabin for next years cruise! When RSVP says Swimsuit pageant they aren’t looking for beauty! Drag swimsuits!

 

After securing our cabin for next year on the Diva (MSC Divinia) we promptly went to the mainstage to get our favorite seats for Bingo!

[bradpole]

Sea Day 6, continued:

 

Sister Helen was decked out in her Valentines best:

 

Bingo progressed all too quickly and before we knew, it was time for the newlywed game!

 

We reservations in Tamarind for 6, so we couldn’t stay for the entire show (what little we saw was very funny).

 

Since this would be our second dinner in Tamarind this cruise we decided that we wouldn’t just order our favorite items like we did the last time but branch out and try some other items on the menu. We weren’t disappointed! Everything was wonderful (except my dessert, but I didn’t need the calories anyway!)

 

Spicy Soup

 

Satay Sampler

 

Thai Curry (EXCELLENT!)

 

Ice cream tempura (I should have stuck with the Chocolate Fortune cookie)

 

We were fortunate and had the same table as the last time we had dinner there, and since this was our forth visit there this cruise the waitresses were happy to see us again!

 

Before heading to the night party, we went to a very enjoyable Comedy Showcase. Two of the comedians were new to me (Alex said he saw them on TV) but they gave us a good laugh!

 

And time for our final night time theme party. This theme makes we laugh every time I see it...

 

“Glitter and be Gay”

 

Seriously? As if RSVP needed a reason for people to wear glitter!

 

As fun as this theme was we TRULY feel sorry for the crew members who had to clean up all the glitter! I’m sure even now there are still some sparkly carpets onboard!

[bradpole]

Glitter Party!

 

 

 

By the time we remembered the midnight champagne toast and the chocolate buffet this is what was left:

 

 

 

 

Oh well, we certainly weren’t going to go hungry onboard!

[bradpole]

 

This is what I mean we felt sorry for the crew who had to clean up from the party. The aft stairwell well a mess with all the feathers and glitter blowing off the costumes:

 

 

 

Later that morning, all the feathers were cleaned up, but the carpets still had a bit of sparkle in them that wasn’t there when we boarded!

[startwin]

Aren't you exhausted yet? All this activity, not to mention all that booze, LOL - and still posting these wonderful and pics and posts... do you sleep at all?:D

[bradpole]

Aren't you exhausted yet? All this activity, not to mention all that booze, LOL - and still posting these wonderful and pics and posts... do you sleep at all?:D

 

Sleep? VERY little that cruise! I'm looking forward to this weekend to hopefully sleep in and catch up on it!

[bradpole]

Day 7, the last day, Half Moon Cay.

 

Arrival 10am, last tender 3:30

 

We decided before we even went to bed we would skip Half Moon Cay. As pretty as the island is we just didn’t feel like tendering over. What made that decision final was when realized the movie playing in the cinema was “ARGO” at 10am. HMC, we’ll look at you from the ship!

 

ARGO, that was an excellent movie!

 

The other reason we didn’t feel like going to the island is today in the Lido for lunch at the asian section they were featuring Filipino food. Alex is Filipino and wanted to sample the ships version of his favorite foods. So even if we went to the island we would have been back onboard for lunch!

 

Even though today was the last day onboard, it was no less jam packed of activities to keep us busy! When we looked at the Explorer at breakfast we actually had to scribble in a line that read, “GO PACK UP THE CABIN!” otherwise we have completely forgotten!

 

Besides the horrible task of packing up

today had a themed T-Dance as we sailed from HMC,

a surprise entertainer, only announced the prior night in the Explorer, on the Mainstage that was supposed to be excellent (more on this fiasco later) “Carrie Fisher; Actress, Author, and Failed Anorexic”

Comedy club, and Sister Helen Holy at 11:45pm with a session of the 701 Club!

 

So much for getting to bed nice and early to rest up for the long boring drive home!

 

Half Moon Cay from the ship

showing the new “condos” or two level cabana’s they built on the island. From the brochure on the ship they feature a hot tub inside them! Personally We’d NEVER rent one, or even one of the smaller ones, but to each their own!

 

If you have never been to Half Moon Cay, you must go ashore at least once. It is truly beautiful! Out of all the private islands in the cruise industry HMC is truly the best in our opinion!

[bradpole]

Although we didn’t go ashore this year, for those who haven’t been or seen pictures I took these back in 2009. The pictures don’t do the island justice!

 

 

 

 

Of all the photos I’ve taken on HMC,this is my favorite

[bradpole]

Today’s afternoon T-Dance:

 

“The Saint Retro T-Dance” (aka the 80’s party)

For those who may not know “The Saint” was a gay super club in New York’s East Village from 1980 to 1987.

 

People were very creative for this party! We enjoyed seeing the tribute to “Risky Business” with the guys wearing the pink button down shirt and just their “tightie whities” and many of the other costumes.

 

 

 

Gert made another appearance and lip synched... I love the ear rings!

[bradpole]

Day 7 continued:

 

 

 

And to close out the cruise, the traditional crew introductions/farewell were done with the crew standing around the hot tubs

 

 

One of my favorite pictures from the cruise, taken completely by chance:

 

After the crew introductions we had our final dinner in the Lido, and made our way back to the cabin to pack! UUGH!

[bradpole]

Day 7 continued

 

As bad as packing is, it was made easier since we weren’t flying. We could stuff, and stuff, and cram anything we wanted into our luggage without worrying about that 50 pound limit! Amazing how much time is saved when you don’t have to weigh your luggage and shift things around!

 

Our plan for the evening was go to the 8:30 comedy club featuring Jessica Kirson (who is very funny!) then to the 10:30 Carrie Fisher on the Mainstage and stay there for the 11:45 701 Club!

 

After a very enjoyable Jessica Kirson we start heading towards the Mainstage only to run into friends who tell us, “Don’t bother, second show is cancelled!”

 

We haven’t seen any videos, yet. But from what we understood the HIGHLIGHT of Carrie Fisher on stage at the 8:30 show was when her dog relived him/herself on stage! From what I understand the audience was leaving like rats from a sinking ship!

 

The gossip QUICKLY began to spread on just how bad the 8:30 show was and rumors began to spread that Amy and Freddy would do a third show for the week! We quickly made our way to the Mainstage to get our front row seats just incase Amy and Freddy were tapped to fill in for Carrie Fisher!

 

Before anything was confirmed about the 10:30 show word spread quick. The theater quickly became standing room only!

 

It was true! Amy and Freddy would perform at 10:45ish!

 

Brad the RSVP cruise director comes out and says, “WOW! Even without cell phones and text messages you girls can quickly gossip!”

 

Even the sign language interpreter poked a little fun at the Carrie Fisher situation

 

 

Amy and Freddy taking the stage for the surprise performance:

 

That was probably one of the better shows we have seen them do. Completely on the fly, no setlist, just audience shout outs, including some TV theme songs from the 80’s! And as a special treat, they preformed the “Pussy Cat Song” one more time for everyone! “.....Just a friendly little cat!”

 

When Amy and Freddy were done Sister Helen came out with Eleanor Roose-a-felt for session of the 701 Club.

 

 

Eleanor a talented piano player

(Eleanor was the winner of the Church Lady competition a couple of years ago and was tapped to join Sister Helen on stage)

 

 

Some may wonder what the 701 club is, why call it the 701 Club, not the 700 Club.

 

Sister Helen said it best herself, “I call it the 701 club because I’m just a littttllllleee bit better than Pat Robertson”

 

The 701 club consists of some piano playing, hymn singing, Sister Helen interviewing the cruise director Brad, Amy Armstrong, and the comedian from earlier that evening She also goes out in the audience and just makes fun of people. It is all in good fun! She made a comment during one of Bingos, “just wait, if I haven’t offended you yet, I will!” For those who enjoy the comedy during Church Bingo, it is just a continuation of that, but late at night!

 

We finally made it back to the cabin around 2am, and set our alarm for 6!

 

Last morning onboard.

 

We had our final breakfast in the Lido when they opened at 6:30, gathered our stuff, and vacated our cabin by 7:45. Just as I was getting out my iPad to check up on cruise critic our luggage tag was called a full 30 minutes ahead of schedule!

 

There’s another difference between a regular HAL cruise and an RSVP cruise. Most people on the last morning want to carry their own luggage off, or have a nice early tag. RSVPer’s seem to prefer the later tags!

 

We quickly found our luggage, had a porter help us. Upon picking up the first piece of luggage he said, “well... I know you’re not going to the airport with these heavy things!”

We told him we were in the mid port garage across the street, and he happily pushed our luggage to the car. That was a first, any porters in the past that we asked to push our bags across the street to the parking garage only did so under protest!

 

We were in the car, pulling out of the parking garage by 8:15am! Not too bad! At exactly 4:04am we pulled up to our home in Wilmington, Delaware. Although we take our time driving down, we drive straight through on the way home! We lost a good hour or more in South Carolina when we hit flurries, we went from the 70MPH speed limit down to 25!

 

Overall we had an EXCELLENT, but exhausting, vacation! We can’t wait for 2014, although we will miss HAL!

[bradpole]

Closing comments:

For those who have want to do a Gay cruise but have been put off by the price, trust me stop comparing the price to a regular cruise, they can’t be compared. In this case RSVP chartered the Eurodam, the heart and sole of Holland America Line is still there when RSVP comes on, but the RSVP product brings something special to the cruise experience that is just too hard to describe until you experience it first hand!

 

Another excuse we’ve heard from people as to why they won’t book a gay cruise, “I need to get in shape first!” YES, there are muscle twinks on board. YES, they are wonderful to look at, but the vast majority of the people onboard an RSVP cruise are just regular men (and some ladies!) out to have a fantastic time! You will see every possible shape, size, and color person onboard, and we all get along! If you step out of your shell you’ll meet some wonderful new people and hopefully develop some wonderful friendships.

 

If you do book an RSVP cruise... visit Vistaprint.com (or a similar site) and order yourself a batch of cheap business card with your name, email, and hometown on it. The small amount of money (less than $10) you spend on them will make it so much easier to exchange information with your new friends. We were blown away a couple of years ago at just how many people say, “here’s our card.” And we’re standing there scribbling on a sticky note our names and email!

 

Another excuse someone once told us for a reason they wouldn’t book, “Holland America, they have a stuffy dress code!” As I’ve said earlier in this thread, there basically isn’t a dress code. You’ll even see this up on deck 12 forward (above the crow’s nest), something you won’t see on a regular HAL cruise

 

 

The pay restaurants require pants and a nice shirt! The Lido buffet requires you cover up a little. I will admit some of our fellow guests push the envelope on what is appropriate for the Lido restaurant! There are a few who even the diehard HAL fans out there who don’t approve of the bath robes being worn outside the cabin would gladly see the bathrobe in the Lido instead of what is currently there! :-)

 

All in All the RSVP full charters are an amazing experience! If you book, you won’t regret your decision!

 

I welcome all questions and comments!

[Typhoon1]

This report is fabulous and the photos great!!!

 

Thanks so much for going to the trouble to share with us.

 

More, We want more ......... :)

 

Glad you're enjoying it Sail. You should join us sometime. It would give you another aspect of HAL cruising.

[Northshorecruisers]

You had an absolutly fantastic cruise!! Can't tell you how much I've enjoyed your posts and the pictures.

 

I always see RSVP at Mpls Pride and my son looks at some of the information, but they haven't booked. He and his partner just got back from a Carnival cruise to San Juan a week or so before your cruise and said that it's the last Carnival cruise for them. I'm going to print out this review and give it to them - I think they would have a blast!

 

Thanks for taking all the time to post on your vacation. Even though it is time consuming, it's a nice way to relive the experience. I hope you and Alex have as good a time on the cruise next year...please come back and report on how it was different from HAL.

 

Thanks again!!

[Typhoon1]

What? No pics from the Unmentionables Party???

 

You'll have to use your imagination, Ruth. :D:D

[Assateague Island Princes]

Excellent review, Brad! Thanx so much for sharing with us. Loved the 'food porn' (chocolate fortune cookie is now on my list to find somewhere, somehow!). Couldn't believe the guy with the white platform shoes with the roses inside the heel. OMG - how could he walk in those things? Crazy!

 

Sounds like you all had a fantastic time, your photos were great. I too will be pointing my friend in the direction of your review - I keep telling him he and his partner would love cruising, but he just thinks I'm just a crazy middle-age heterosexual who wouldn't know what fun is;).

 

Thank you again - great job!

[bradpole]

You had an absolutly fantastic cruise!! Can't tell you how much I've enjoyed your posts and the pictures.

 

I always see RSVP at Mpls Pride and my son looks at some of the information, but they haven't booked. He and his partner just got back from a Carnival cruise to San Juan a week or so before your cruise and said that it's the last Carnival cruise for them. I'm going to print out this review and give it to them - I think they would have a blast!

 

Thanks for taking all the time to post on your vacation. Even though it is time consuming, it's a nice way to relive the experience. I hope you and Alex have as good a time on the cruise next year...please come back and report on how it was different from HAL.

 

Thanks again!!

Please give this to them, I hope they'll make a booking! They'll be spoiled for all other cruises going forward.

[Typhoon1]

We were on a Eurodam cruise just prior to a RSVP charter. We returned to FLL very late due to leaving our anchor at HMC the day before. The ship tried and tried to retrieve the anchor and finally had to leave. When we arrived about 12 noon in FLL, HAL had set out lunch for all of us and we learned they had piled the mountain of luggage for the charter and the charter guests were being taken care of in the terminal next door.

 

We processed VERY quickly off the ship, many had missed their flights, didn't have hotel rooms etc but we had planned to stay over in FLL. We were meeting an HAL friend that night and we watched Eurodam sail in about only an hour late. They did a world class, fabulous job turning that ship around!!!!

 

Peter was on that cruise if I remember correctly. :)

 

Remember that well Sail. We were late in embarking.

 

I am told by a HAL officer that anchor is still laying there. They don't want to spend the money to salvage it.

[RuthC]

I can't thank you enough for sharing your good time with us. I had a blast, but now I'm exhausted! Can't imagine how I would feel had I actually been trying to do it all.

Great job.

Loved the pics, too. It's rare that I open a picture in a post, but I think I opened just about all of yours.

Tell me, is Sister Helen Holy's slip always showing??? I think that's what I saw in every pic she appeared in. Someone needs to tell her that they come in shorter lengths. ;)

[bradpole]

Excellent review, Brad! Thanx so much for sharing with us. Loved the 'food porn' (chocolate fortune cookie is now on my list to find somewhere, somehow!). Couldn't believe the guy with the white platform shoes with the roses inside the heel. OMG - how could he walk in those things? Crazy!

 

Sounds like you all had a fantastic time, your photos were great. I too will be pointing my friend in the direction of your review - I keep telling him he and his partner would love cruising, but he just thinks I'm just a crazy middle-age heterosexual who wouldn't know what fun is;).

 

Thank you again - great job!

You're welcome, I enjoyed reliving the cruise

 

That fortune cookie is amazing. The picture doesn't do it justice, it is MASSIVE! To give you some size perspective also on the plate is a regular scoop of ice cream. Yes the cookie is that big! Best of all the tips of the Cookie aren't just dipped in chocolate the tips are filled with heavenly warm dark chocolate!

[bradpole]

I can't thank you enough for sharing your good time with us. I had a blast, but now I'm exhausted! Can't imagine how I would feel had I actually been trying to do it all.

Great job.

Loved the pics, too. It's rare that I open a picture in a post, but I think I opened just about all of yours.

Tell me, is Sister Helen Holy's slip always showing??? I think that's what I saw in every pic she appeared in. Someone needs to tell her that they come in shorter lengths. ;)

 

Thank you for the kind words!

 

That she is! Every appearance!

[Boytjie]

!) Couldn't believe the guy with the white platform shoes with the roses inside the heel. OMG - how could he walk in those things? Crazy!

 

Actually, I think its goldfish in those heels! ;)

[Boytjie]

Tell me, is Sister Helen Holy's slip always showing??? I think that's what I saw in every pic she appeared in. Someone needs to tell her that they come in shorter lengths. ;)

 

It is part of her schtick. ;) That and the hanky that gets waived around!

[sail7seas]

Glad you're enjoying it Sail. You should join us sometime. It would give you another aspect of HAL cruising.

 

 

This all looks SO MUCH FUN........

 

We'd have a blast. :)

Who doesn't love seeing people enjoying themselves?!!!