Hopefully "Live" Noordam 28 Feb - 10 Mar

[Mtn2Sea]

Pictures are wonderful. What camera and what site do you upload your pictures to in order to load them onto CC?

 

Catherine

 

I have a Nikon D50 that I purchased in 2006. I hope to have a new camera body before my next cruise. For the night pictures, I used my new Nikon 18-300 mm lense, which I've used for most of the outside photos. I've used either a Nikon 35 mm lense or Nikon 40 mm micro for the food shots and some of the ship photos. I use Photoshop to host the photos after I resize them in Photoshop Elements. I use Elements because I can resize while off line.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Mtn2Sea

[Mtn2Sea]

Today is our second of three sea days during this cruise. This morning the sky was mostly blue, but now it’s totally overcast. The seas, however, are pretty calm – hope it stays that way. Here’s today’s program of activities.

Some random shots of the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

Until later.

[Mtn2Sea]

After lunch our cabin steward advised us the toilets in our section of the ship were not working. Shortly after, I went to a computer class where I learned Deck 6 was also having issues (we're on Deck 8). When I returned after the class, everything was okay. Here's some more ship photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until later.

[Copper10-8]

You take some awesome pics! Very impressive! :)

[Mtn2Sea]

I have a Nikon D50 that I purchased in 2006. I hope to have a new camera body before my next cruise. For the night pictures, I used my new Nikon 18-300 mm lense, which I've used for most of the outside photos. I've used either a Nikon 35 mm lense or Nikon 40 mm micro for the food shots and some of the ship photos. I use Photoshop to host the photos after I resize them in Photoshop Elements. I use Elements because I can resize while off line.

 

I meant to say I host my photos in Photobucket.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Mtn2Sea

[boards]

Thank you for wonderful job you did in giving us vivid pictures of the ship and the ports you visited. Thank you hardly seems to enough to say. Greatly appreciated.

[Lara Cruising]

Thanks very much for your live review and photos - they really do make us feel like we are there. We join the ship after the TA for our first Mediterranean cruise. Your photos of the ship have me wishing we had more sea days to totally immerse ourselves in the ship itself.

How are you finding the internet speed/access? Thanks again.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Lara Cruising

[InTheWASide]

Our cabin.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for so many wonderful pics. The area I would love to see is the Cabana area they added (Retreat or Cabana Club... whichever they felt like naming it on this latest go around)

 

It's just such a shame that a ship that is only 8 years old can have a stateroom decor that is so horribly outdated looking. The Signature Class staterooms are beautiful... some new carpet and curtains would class the ship up immensely! Carnival's newest stateroom designs as well as those being put in by Royal Caribbean and NCL all look quite a bit nicer and note that none of those are Premium lines...

[cruisingxpert]

I meant to say I host my photos in Photobucket.

 

Thanks for that updated info. I'm not a real techie but I didn't think I had heard of Photoshop hosting. I was confused.

 

Thanks again though - they are great pictures.

 

Catherine

[RetiredMustang]

...

 

Tonight’s menu.

 

...

 

 

I see that you have solved the skewing problem with the photos. Is this something that is on Windows or Microsoft Office? If it is an app on a smartphone (which I do not own, or ever will), that is less than useless to me, but if it is something available on a netbook or laptop, I might be interested. BTW, great thread -- I might take the next Caribbean cruise off, since you do such a great job!

 

Dave

[ALLABOARD67]

W&B coming here 4/1 then your place after weekend. I sent you a text. Reno at coast progressing.

[RetiredMustang]

W&B coming here 4/1 then your place after weekend. I sent you a text. Reno at coast progressing.

 

The cafes in Paris are many. Often, the weather on the coast is fine.;) (This sounds like something a 1960s spy in New York would say.) What?

 

Dave

[ALLABOARD67]

W&B going to your main place after ours to visit a few days and then follow you north. Enjoy rest of your trip.

[Mtn2Sea]

Tonight was our last formal dinner. Rather than wait 20-25 minutes for a table for two, we chose to sit with others. At our table were two couples from Canada and one couple from England. I decided I needed to get into diet mode, so I had a salad tonight.

 

Here’s a couple of late night shows around the sea view pool.

 

[Mtn2Sea]

I see that you have solved the skewing problem with the photos. Is this something that is on Windows or Microsoft Office? If it is an app on a smartphone (which I do not own, or ever will), that is less than useless to me, but if it is something available on a netbook or laptop, I might be interested. BTW, great thread -- I might take the next Caribbean cruise off, since you do such a great job!

 

Dave

 

Hey Dave! I read your live review up until we boarded. I'll finish when I get a "real wifi" connection. I was was going to tell you I'll probably take the next cruise off since you do such fantastic reviews. These reviews are a lot of work! To answer your question about skewing, I have a portable scanner (Epson that cost me $100 on sale). The scanner will create a JPEG, so it's quite easy to copy menus. Since DW is eating gluten free, she is given the next night's menu so she can mark her selections. I ask for a second copy, which I then take back to the cabin to scan.

[Mtn2Sea]

Thanks very much for your live review and photos - they really do make us feel like we are there. We join the ship after the TA for our first Mediterranean cruise. Your photos of the ship have me wishing we had more sea days to totally immerse ourselves in the ship itself.

How are you finding the internet speed/access? Thanks again.

 

You'll love your Med cruise! We took our first one in 2005 and then one for each of the three following years. In 2006 we were on the Noordam out of Rome. They were all great cruises. The internet speed varies somewhat. If you're not use to a satellite connection, you'll be very frustrated. A lot of what I do is done offline and I then paste into CC so I don't use too many precious minutes.

[Mtn2Sea]

The cafes in Paris are many. Often, the weather on the coast is fine.;) (This sounds like something a 1960s spy in New York would say.) What?

 

Dave

 

Because I didn't recognize the user name, I was like you when I saw this post. After I saw your comment that it sounds like some kind of code, I understood. DW called her brother in Oregon about a possible trip east while we were in Fort Lauderdale. We now know he & his wife (W & B) are flying to Florida on April 1, staying with Allabboard67 for a few days, then traveling west for a couple hours to visit with us. We will then drive to western North Carolina where our summer home is located. Allaboard67 is having a contractor do some work on their coastal home, which hopefully will be done before W & B arrive.

 

You just have to know the code!

[Mtn2Sea]

Thanks for so many wonderful pics. The area I would love to see is the Cabana area they added (Retreat or Cabana Club... whichever they felt like naming it on this latest go around)

 

It's just such a shame that a ship that is only 8 years old can have a stateroom decor that is so horribly outdated looking. The Signature Class staterooms are beautiful... some new carpet and curtains would class the ship up immensely! Carnival's newest stateroom designs as well as those being put in by Royal Caribbean and NCL all look quite a bit nicer and note that none of those are Premium lines...

 

I'll try to get some cabana photos today. We were pleasantly surprised when we were on the Ryndam in December to see some upgrades. Even though the Ryndam is several years older, both the stateroom & the bathroom make you feel like you're on a newer ship.

[Mtn2Sea]

Hard to believe we’re on our last full day. This is our third sea day of the cruise and the weather is just about perfect. The temperature is just a little warm, but not hot. The day started partly cloudy, but the sky is almost totally blue now. While DW went to the spa, I went to the onboard cruise consultant and purchased a future cruise deposit. I then took some photos of the cabanas. That is a restricted area, so the photos are from the observation deck. Here’s this morning’s photos, but first today’s program of activities.

 

 

 

The larger cabana.

 

 

The smaller cabana

 

 

Until later.

[ALLABOARD67]

Praise the Lord you got it!!! Told W&B if things are in total disarray, they may have to get a room at hotel if we are using the only room available at our home. R is confident all will be well. W&B will stay through Sunday College baseball game and then go West to see you -- his idea. I hate renos in progress. Enjoy your trip and good response from Retired Mustang. As if reno isn't enough, lost a cousin (58) and dear elderly friend (87). Life goes on. Hope you and DW are having a wonderful time. We'd love to have gone on that cruise. Maybe next time. ALLABOARD67 is signing off and going back to filing and shredding as we clean out downstairs room to get rid of last of original carpet. YES!!!

[Mtn2Sea]

We had a nice quiet lunch in the MDR. It surprises me how the MDR has only a few diners on sea days. I fell off my diet that I started last night. I had a shrimp & crab crostini, lamb sliders with fries and a mango tart. The dessert was no sugar added and was probably in the top 2 or 3 desserts I've had on this cruise.

 

 

 

 

A few more ship photos.

 

 

 

[Mtn2Sea]

More ship photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until later.

[TheDJs]

I have really enjoyed seeing all your photos and reading your threads. Many thanks for all the effort you have put into it. Have a safe trip home

[Shebba]

Honestly, I am sad to see your cruise come to an end! I've enjoyed all of your posts and beautiful pictures. Dh and I will be on the Noordam for a Med cruise in June and this thread has gotten me SO excited. It's a lovely ship, one that we've not been on yet. Thank you so much for taking the time to bring us along. I know that these reviews are a lot of work and it's much appreciated. Have safe travels home!!

[Mtn2Sea]

Our final dinner aboard the Noordam capped a beautiful day at sea. DW had the lamb shank and I had the shrimp provencal. My final dessert was the Baked Alaska. A great way to end the cruise. The menu has a different look for what HAL calls the Master Chef's International Dinner. Here's the menu.

Probably my last photos of the ship. The crow's nest and where you purchased specialty coffee.

Disembarkation up next.