The Happy Wanderer (reprise)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Hi Ruth! I'm having fun reading as you weave you way across the big pond! Keep enjoying. How's everything in the Piano Bar!!! Are you wowing them?:D

[Jim Mcg]

Ruth

 

I am looking at the Maasdam as we speak on the webcam in St Johns... It's at the dock - yet they are lowering tenders... Whats up with that?

 

 

 

Jim Mcg

[tomc]

What's the URL?

[obriendan]

Thanks for the heads-up, Jim Mcg. That's a great picture. Probably lowering tenders for routine maintenance.

 

tomc, go to kroooz-cams.com

[Esme]

Ruth

 

I am looking at the Maasdam as we speak on the webcam in St Johns... It's at the dock - yet they are lowering tenders... Whats up with that?

 

Jim Mcg

Could be crew lifeboat drill & training.

[jhannah]

I see that you're in Newfoundland today.

And lo and behold, here she is!

 

If that link is busy, try this one.

[Jim Mcg]

Lifeboat drill is a good thing... Ship going down bad... Very bad...

[obriendan]

Here she is at approximately 12 noon CST:

[mrjcharles]

Ruth please have a great trip.My son Mike thanks you for your nice welcome to him on these boards. We sailed the last week of Tomc 7/2-7/9. Please tell Shy that Joe ,Mike and Isabel say hi. He is the best I have ever seen on 13 cruises that we have sailed on.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Here she is at approximately 12 noon CST:

 

Seeing her makes me homesick, just a little more than 3 days ago we were still aboard this beautiful ship.

 

Ruth looking forward to your next report.:)

[RuthC]

Some things are so enjoyable that you want to try and recreate the experience. Today's sail on the Scademia was like that. When I sailed on the schooner a couple of years ago it was a smooth sail out into the Atlantic revealing beautiful scenery. But I don't remember any whales.:(

Today was (again) bright, blue, sunny skies, calm seas, and WHALES!!!:) We saw several white-sided dolphin, a minke whale, and a humpback. Poor neglected minke; as soon as the humpback appeared all attention turned that way. He must be one of those whales with a big ego---he certainly wasn't afraid of the crowd paying homage (coming within 100 feet)---'cause he put on quite a show. We saw him rise up, up, up out of the water and show his flukes several times. We even saw the fish he was after jump out of the water trying to get away. Silly fish.

After about 40 minutes watching the show it was time to head back to St. John's. Your intrepid correspondent is pleased to report she returned safe and sound. Now, "why would RuthC feel the need to point that out?", you may ask. Well, she's not the only CC'er who was on that tour, that's why. As the captain turned the boat to head back he handed the wheel over to TedC.

Now, TedC is a fun guy and has a great sense of humor, but it didn't take me long to figure out I shouldn't believe much of what he says. He told the captain he knows how to drive a boat. The captain believed him.

Sure hope the Maasdam's captain doesn't go handing over the wheel to this "boat".

confidential to grannynurse---there's a new Newfie. Bosun IV is about 6 months old, teething, and cute as the dickens.

confidential to Jim Mcg---the life boat lowering to day was part of a crew drill. There was also a surprise inspection by the Canadian Authorities.

We passed.

confidential to longtimecruiser---pay up the phone bill, Adele! When I get home we are gonna have one good talk! ;)

[LizB1]

Just met Ruth as she was about to leave the internet room and wanted to add a few things to her post.

 

First, SHY says "hello" to both TomC and Lisa and remembers you both. We have him as a waiter in the dining room too and he is great.

 

Really enjoyed our CC get-together that Ruth organized for last Sunday. Was great to meet so many. Aussie Gal and her husband survived that long 19-hr. flight from Singapore and also enjoy both NYC and Boston, but I have a feeling they were glad to finally board the ship.

 

We have been very spoiled so far with both very calm seas (Force-1 Winds) and excellent weather. Captain just said at the sail-away that tomorrow would be fine but Thursday as we near Nuuk, Greenland won't be as good...will keep us posted.

 

That's all for now as Ruth/C does a much better job with her posts than I do.

 

Liz

[Dutchman]

Great posts from both of you, keep 'em coming!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Just met Ruth as she was about to leave the internet room and wanted to add a few things to her post.

 

First, SHY says "hello" to both TomC and Lisa and remembers you both. We have him as a waiter in the dining room too and he is great.

 

Really enjoyed our CC get-together that Ruth organized for last Sunday. Was great to meet so many. Aussie Gal and her husband survived that long 19-hr. flight from Singapore and also enjoy both NYC and Boston, but I have a feeling they were glad to finally board the ship.

 

We have been very spoiled so far with both very calm seas (Force-1 Winds) and excellent weather. Captain just said at the sail-away that tomorrow would be fine but Thursday as we near Nuuk, Greenland won't be as good...will keep us posted.

 

That's all for now as Ruth/C does a much better job with her posts than I do.

 

Liz

 

Liz, you are also doing a GREAT JOB, tell Shy I am missing his greating in the morning:)

 

Thanks for reporting along with Ruth. Also tell Aussie Gal "Hi"

[longtimecruiser]

Hey ruth, I can hardly wait for that long talk we're going to have. I'll call you on my cell phone over the weekend cause I get free weekends. Looks like we're going to need it....lol Sounds as though you are enjoying yourself. You always do. Guess your weather was better this year than the last two years. Hope you continue to have calm seas as you head toward Nuuk. Watch out after leaving Nuuk. remember two years ago? Enjoy your posts. Can't believe that we haven't heard about the piano bar yet. What gives????

[mickey]

Ruth:

Spoke to Grannynurse on the phone Sunday and she reminded me that you were on board the Maasdam. We did the 17 days across in 2003 and the 34 in 2004. How I miss being on board! I will sail with you vicariously. Hope you win all the trivia prizes and remember Bob Dylan isn't dead.

[mrjcharles]

Liz please tell Shy that Mike , Joe and Jamie are waiting for the pictures to develop. I am afraid that I (JOE) may have scared the camera. You are so lucky to have him as your waiter ,he is unsurpassed. Have fun on your cruise and enjoy all places maybe even the casino. They welcome your money there.At least they did mine.

[Sweetdreams]

Thanks for the wonderful posts live from the Maasdam. The aquatic show sounds as if it were really awsome. Tell Shy Hello from Nick & Sharon.

[HeatherInFlorida]

As if we were there, Ruth and Liz:) ... as if we were there.

[stormyc]

Hi, Ruth - enjoying your posts very much!

 

Hello, LizB1 - your supplements are great, too! Give our best to Aussie Gal and her DH.

 

Thank you all for thinking of us,

[cheric]

Thanks so much for your posts. I love hearing about your trip and if I close my eyes I can pretend I'm back on the Maasdam. Have a wonderful cruise.

[Aussie Gal]

Just a quick note as I haven't taken out a big internet package like some of my fellow C.C. members.

 

We are having a wonderful time on this beautiful ship. It is certainly in great condiition and we are enjoying the great food.

 

We have been so fortunate with the wonderful weather and it was great to meet up with the other C.C. members on Sunday.

 

We absolutely adored New York and also Boston. We have walked our feet off and I am now suffering from a very bruised big toe, I may yet lose my toe nail!!

 

Jennie

[shipcafe]

Here she is at approximately 12 noon CST:

 

Wow I just love the S-Class ships. :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Jennie, hi there!!! You made it!!:D I can't wait to hear all your experiences of New York and Boston, too!!! Have a wonderful trip.

[RuthC]

When this cruise sailed there was a large turn-over in some of the senior staff positions compared to recent weeks, so today I thought I'd fill you in on the current line-up (btw---that reminds me: how are the Red Sox doing?)

Captain-------------------Hendrick Draper

Hotel Manager-------------Kees Streuding

Food & Beverage Manager--Peter Kenneth Carew

Bar Manager---------------Raymundo Eslao

Chief Officer---------------Ane Jan Smit

Executive Chef------------Tony Tudla

Maitre D'------------------Tri Wiyono

Chief Housekeeper---------Mario Latief

Guest Relations Manager---Chantal Racine

Cruise Director-------------Rick Hinkson (what a happy surprise to see Rick again; he had been in Alaska and just moved over)

Sr. Asst. Cruise Dir.--------Craig DiRocco

Cruise Consultant----------Mary Ann Fagan (is she following me? or does she think I'm following her?)

I've sailed with some of these people before, and am thrilled to see them again. Already I've had contact with some people new to me; they have served in the fine tradition I've always expected from HAL.

I've also seen Myra---a lounge stewardess I remember fondly from last year, and finally met Shy this afternoon.

Oo!-Oo! I think I've figured out why there was so much fog on last year's cruise! I went to the aft Lido Deck this morning to eat breakfast outside. It was cold and foggy---so different from the last few days, and a frightening flashback. Anyway, I looked down to see heavy steam coming off the outside pool. That's gotta be it! If the outside pool weren't heated there wouldn't be any fog on this trip.

Well, it made sense before coffee.