Dave’s Live from Ryndam Southern Caribbean Feb 16 – March 2, 2014

[Krazy Kruizers]

We all enjoyed your "Live" thread Dave.

Hope you made it home safely today.

[Copper10-8]

Awesome job Dave, thanks for making the effort and taking the time! :)

[kazu]

Just a wonderful, fabulous thread Dave:D

 

Your lives are always so good and such a pleasure.

 

Wishing you safe travels and thank you again for letting us all cruise through you with this awful snow around us:D

[GeriatricNurse]

Hello CC’ers,

 

I’m back with a blog of the Ryndam’s Southern Caribbean cruise. We sail from Tampa at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Feb 16.

 

Here is our itinerary:

- Key West 1-5 p.m. Feb. 17;

- Two days at sea (Feb. 18 and 19);

- San Juan, Puerto Rico noon-11 p.m. Feb. 20;

- St. Thomas from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Feb. 21;

- St. Johns, Antigua 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Feb. 22;

- Castries, St. Lucia 8a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 23 – after we leave Castries, we sail to Soufriere to pick up shore excursion passengers 5-6 p.m.

- A day at sea Feb. 24;

- Willemsted, Curacao 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Feb 25;

- Oranjestad, Aruba 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Feb. 26.

- It’s another sea day Feb. 27;

- Georgetown, Grand Cayman 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 28,

- A final sea Day March 1;

- Return to Tampa at 7 a.m. March 2.

 

Here is a map of our itinerary:

 

 

Trip to Tampa

 

We drove from the Washington, D.C. area. A snowstorm hit D.C (and most of the rest of the East Coast) Feb. 12-13. We were able to get out and drive south on Valentine’s Day, spending the night in Savannah, GA. Today, Saturday, Feb. 15, we drove to Tampa, arriving early afternoon.

 

In Tampa

 

We are staying at the Marriott Waterside in Tampa, near the cruise port. This is a comfortable and convenient place to stay prior to the cruise. Here are a few photos of the hotel public areas:

 

The lobby (two views):

 

 

 

 

And the outside patio of the lobby bar:

 

 

It was a nice sunny day in Tampa, and we enjoyed the warmth and sun after what has been a cold and dreary winter (although I admit that our CC colleagues in such places as Winnepeg, St. John and New England have had it worse.) In any case, it is great to get somewhere warm and sunny, and look forward to embarking Ryndam tomorrow on a great itinerary.

 

More later,

Dave

 

I too stayed at the 'Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina' for two nights before this cruise! I thought that it was a great hotel! :)

[GeriatricNurse]

Feb. 16, Tampa – embarkation day (cont.)

 

We spent yesterday consumed with all of the things involved with embarking a ship, and then with enjoying the experience, so I got behind in my blog. We now resume our regular programming …

 

Check in

 

We left the hotel and drove the mile or so to the ship at Terminal 6. Roy, it was indeed within walking distance, but I wouldn’t want to do it with a bunch of bags. A couple leaving the same time we were had Ryndam tags on their luggage as well – they took a cab.

That would be correct! ;) The cab fare was a falt rate $6!

 

The terminal is a different one from the one we embarked Ryndam in 2011. It looks new or at least newly-refurbished. We went through security/scanners and then filled out the medical questionnaires. The terminal had several small tables with forms and pens, so there was no bottleneck. We then went to the check-in lines. We noticed against the far wall that there was a separate check-in for suites and 4 or 5-star Mariners. We were heading toward that, when we were waylaid by a cheerful and efficient HAL rep who kept guiding us to the regular check-in line, even though we said twice we were 4-star Mariners. There was no line, so we just went with the flow. But, when we got to the agent, she said, “Oh, you are 4-stars. Why didn’t you say so?” But, she checked us in and went over and got our cards for us. We then went to the suites/Mariners area for a seat.

 

A few minutes later, about 11, the cruise director came ashore and got on the announcing system to say that the ship had been cleared, but that they were running a little behind with the rooms since more than 1200 passengers had just gotten off that morning. He said we could go aboard, but please go to the Lido until the announcement was made that the rooms were ready.

 

The Lido was in Code Orange with no self-serve available, but we did not eat lunch. We were not hungry after a large breakfast at the Marriott, but we went to the Lido bar and officially christened the start of our cruise:

 

 

We enjoyed what is one of our favorite moments: we have made it aboard the ship, and it won’t sail without us, and the whole of our cruise is ahead with all of the possibilities and promises of good times. We savored the moment and toasted the future.

 

 

On board

 

About 11:45, the announcement came that the rooms were ready. We went to ours, and I got several shots before DW started unpacking our carry-ons. Even in a suite, unpacking is better if just one person does it so you aren’t getting into each other’s way. DW prefers to do that, since she wants to know where everything is and figures she can tell me if I’m looking for something and can’t find it. So, I’ve learned over the course of many cruises either to sit down out of the way or make myself scarce. I proceeded to do so, wandering the ship to check out our dining table, look at the dinner menu, talk to the internet manager, get some shots of the public areas, etc. It was then when I noticed Colin in the Pinnacle Grill.

 

I went back to the cabin, and took photos of the daily program and things. Our shore excursions packet came, and our bags showed up a bit later. So, I parked myself at the desk, out of DW’s way, and posted those earlier posts prior to boat drill.

 

Boat drill was the usual, with announcements that anyone who refused would be put ashore. Everyone at our station made it, and I presume everybody else did, as I did not hear of anyone being kicked off.

 

We then repaired to the Mix for a pre-dinner drink, and encountered the bartender Rolando, whom we had met on Noordam last year. He served us our glasses of wine and we chatted for while. He also served us some hors d'oeuvres (small crab/lobster cakes, and spanakopita pockets, but no bitterballen, sorry L).

 

More later,

Dave

 

Dave, was that you & your wife who I saw frequently seated at the forward end in MIX at a table for two? :confused:

[GeriatricNurse]

Feb. 16, Tampa – embarkation day (cont.)

 

After dinner, we went out on the deck to catch some better views of the sail through Tampa Bay. We got out there just as the ship was passing under the bridge. Here is a shot back past the wake to the bridge.

 

 

We then took a stroll on the deck, but when we turned into the direction we were sailing, the wind was a bit cold, so we went back inside. We went to the Explorer’s Lounge and listened to Adagio for a while. The two ladies were OK, but missed a note now and then.

 

By then, the casino was open, so we went and played the silly penny slots for a while before turning in.

 

More later,

Dave

 

It took 2 hours & 10 minutes to reach the 'Sunshine Skyway Bridge' & what a beautiful sight it was too! :)

[GeriatricNurse]

Thanks for joining us on the cruise! We missed Heat, but we have listened to Terry in the Mix a couple of times. I haven't noticed Happy Harry or Allan by name in the Lido, but everyone there is very helpful as usual. And, we look forward to visiting St. Lucia again, with the Pitons -- usually viewed from deck with a glass of wine in hand....

 

Dave

 

Dave, you don't recall 'Happy Harry' (Heriberto) singing 'Coffee from Heaven & Tea to make you Happy' as he pushed the coffee/tea trolley forward to aft inside the Lido at meals? ;)

[GeriatricNurse]

Happy Harry serves coffee on the side opposite of Canneletto in the morning. He will be singing "Coffee from heaven! Coffee make you happy!" He also has a small sign that a previous guest made him that says "Coffee from heaven" too.

 

I hope you get to meet him!

 

Actually, as I recollect, it was "Coffee from Heaven & Tea to make you Happy'. ;)

[RetiredMustang]

Dave, was that you & your wife who I saw frequently seated at the forward end in MIX at a table for two? :confused:

 

Quite likely, we were a fixture most afternoons. Between Rolando and Catherine, we were taken care of very well. :D

 

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Dave, you don't recall 'Happy Harry' (Heriberto) singing 'Coffee from Heaven & Tea to make you Happy' as he pushed the coffee/tea trolley forward to aft inside the Lido at meals? ;)

 

At the time I made the post you quoted, I had not seen him -- luck of the draw I suppose on the side of the Lido we were on. I did see/hear him many times later.

 

Dave

[GeriatricNurse]

We missed the Q&A session with the captain, but I have chatted a bit with the some of the hotel staff (who of course may not know the details). The yard period is 14 days in the Bahamas, so there won' be any major configuration changes. But, the staff seems to think there may be some work on a few air conditioning issues, as well as cosmetic things like replacing worn carpets and chairs, etc. One thing all agree is that the internet will be shifted from MTN to a new provider (presumably Harris) which has received a new contract to convert the entire fleet. The crew hopes this will make it faster and easier.

 

Dave

 

Hopefully, the sliding dome will be repaired too as it squealed VERY loudly whenever it was being opened/closed! :eek: So loudly, in fact, that the Lido Bar server who did the operation every day was wearing ear protection for the noise! :D