Live: A grouch's Veendam Hawaii cruise, January 2015.

[amster65]

At 54 I'm scared to death about having so many sea days and being so far away from land in case of any medical emergency. I've got to hand it to people that are in somewhat bad shape throwing caution to the wind. Thanks for the update.

 

 

54??? I guess at 70 I better stay home:D

[shrimp56]

At 54 I'm scared to death about having so many sea days and being so far away from land in case of any medical emergency. I've got to hand it to people that are in somewhat bad shape throwing caution to the wind. Thanks for the update.

I have to admit it did give me pause at 70+ on the Circle Hawaii cruise last December as it was the first time we'd really been "at sea" that long. LOVED IT! We're set for the Volendam repositioning across the North Pacific in April and not very concerned.

[cruz chic]

54??? I guess at 70 I better stay home:D

 

Not at all. I'm speaking only for myself. It scares me so I don't do it. Great for those folks that do.

[SilvertoGold]

At 54 I'm scared to death about having so many sea days and being so far away from land in case of any medical emergency. I've got to hand it to people that are in somewhat bad shape throwing caution to the wind. Thanks for the update.

 

You should try being about to sail 6 days across the Pacific when so far the ship had been sailing off and on with one prop.

 

The crew finally got the prop cooling systems "fixed". When the Captain made the announcement, there was a very evident tone of relief in his voice!

He said we would most likely be cruising on two props the whole way. We did, but we looked over the stern on every lap we walked to see how many props were working!!

[freestyling]

I'm enjoying "your" cruise so far :D. Thanks

[Jim Avery]

January 21, 2015

 

Anyone heard of cobia? I had not either, apparently a freshwater fish, the flesh is firm and a bit bland.

 

Not sure if we are talking about the same fish but a popular game fish in the Gulf of Mexico is Cobia. Also called regionally Ling or Lemonfish. It is a seasonal migrator in the Northern Gulf so is highly sought after. Properly prepared it is a pretty good fish. I prefer it fried. :D (I used to live in Florida)

Edited January 22, 2015 by Jim Avery

[freestyling]

Cobia is quite good. Very meaty white fish. Excellent when grilled with cajun spices. AKA Black Kingfish. Fun to catch on topwater bait.

[whogo]

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }January 22, 2015 headed southwest to HawaiiJanuary 22, 2015

 

Planned my first ever visit to a gym this morning. Warning! This will take longer to read than it took to live. Up well before dawn, I used a finger over the mini-mag light method to keep from waking my wife as I shaved and rounded up my shorts, t-shirt, socks, tennis shoes, iPod, and ear buds that were in seven different places in the cabin and not in the other 27 places that I searched. I remembered to take my room key, tada, and stepped out into the hall to find that my iPod battery was dead. Drat!

I had heard rumors that the treadmills, the only gym apparatus that I am familiar with, have a place to use my ear buds. I headed up to the gym and find that there were just two treadmills empty. Stepped on the first, tried to figure out the safety cord for a minute or two before seeing the “out of order” sign. Did not take me near as long to find the “out of order” sign on the other available treadmill. Well, I can honestly tell Mrs. Whogo that I spent some time on the treadmill. Shh. She does not need to know that the treadmill and I did not move.

Taking the stairs down, I figured I could get some exercise by running the stairs. Running? Well, walking down and trudging up. No, sometime later in the day some other movement would cramp up my gluteus ignoramus. Maybe a walk.

I expect the worst on the promenade deck, but find it dark, empty and pleasant. I did eleventy-three laps as follows: I walked a half lap and was passed for the first time by a woman who wished me a cheerful good morning. Well, she was younger than I am and better at dodging the water hoses the crew was using to wet the deck and lounge pads. I picked up the pace a bit, realized I could not match her speed. Well, she has longer legs.

I got a cheerful “Good morning” and smile from each of the hose guys. Finish lap one. Wondered about the lifeboats. In an emergency would I be better off with one farther forward? Back? Maybe on the other side? Which way would this ship list? No! One of the tenders would be the ticket. They look bigger and can apparently make it back and forth to shore regularly. Yeah, a tender would be best. Finish lap two.

More smiles from the hose guys. Find a woman in a bathrobe sitting out on deck as I finish lap three. Yeah, definitely lap three. Another cheerful “Good morning” as I was passed by another woman, this one definitely older. Drat! Well she was not carrying extra weight like I do – in my spare tire and rear end. Lots of extra weight. And extra intramuscular weight that I learned in food trivia is called marbling. I had to pass someone, sometime.

Found bathrobe lady with a cigarette on my next lap. Lap four. Gee, the women that passed me were a long way ahead. Don't get lapped! Don't get lapped! A glance over my shoulder to see that no one else was getting close also showed me my reflection in a window. I sucked in my belly for a half a minute. Lap five finds bathrobe/cigarette lady snuffing out her cigarette.

I wondered about reserved vs. unreserved deck chairs and counted them on the next laps, coming up with different numbers on each lap. Let's just say that a big percentage of deck chairs are reserved. Was that lap eight? Nine? We will call it eleventy-three. How do people keep count? Oh, well, I switched to the time method. I knew what time I started and I know how long it takes me to walk a mile. If I could do a mile 14 minutes faster I could do a four minute mile. Still had not passed anyone, but I had been gaining on a strolling couple ahead. Another woman passed with a “Good morning” and she was walking at a pace that I consider a jog.

The hose crew members still smiled at me each time I walked past. Or were they laughing? What would I see if I turned around quickly? Oh, boy, I was catching up to a walker. He has a hiking pole. Or is it a cane? Is it white? Geez, how much older can you get? “Good morning”, I say cheerily as I pass. It is a hollow victory.

I got passed again, this time by a man. Where's the “Good morning”? This guy had really long legs, no shame there. The dawn was breaking gray, there were more people on the deck. I saw no sign of the women who had passed me. Hah! Lightweight sprinters had given up already, I was in for long haul. I had done my two miles, but had a chance to pass the strolling couple. It took me a couple more laps to get on their heels. It was a long stretch where there was no room to pass and then as the area widened they spread out. How could two people block so much space? I squeezed past, taking special pleasure in doing so. Road hogs did not merit a “Good morning”. I entered the first door available with the theme from Rocky in my head.

[whogo]

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }January 22, 2015, Thursday, headed southwest to Hawaii.

The motion got to a bunch of people yesterday, we were OK, seas are calmer today. At 8:30 AM my GPS read 2492 miles to Lahaina. I have to stay aboard, the GPS is unable to find an automobile route. First breakfast of fresh squeezed orange juice and some fruit in the Lido precedes second breakfast of eggs benedict in the dining room. Good company again, there are no weirdos to avoid. Yet.

A crew drill at 10:15 shut down all activities. The scenario was a fire in AC room, deck one, responders were to respond, stairwell monitors in place, unneeded crew to the crew mess. Another call was for crew to report to muster stations. I have never seen such an extensive crew drill, the crew lined up on deck 6 in life jackets. Know how crowded the passenger drill is? Imagine what it would be like with the crew added in.

Drill over, I continued my perfect record at trivia, losing again. The smart team, previous winners, won with only two members present. Peking Duck for lunch, never found the little pancakes and sauce to go with. The place was a zoo, they ran out of plates and silverware, might have been due to the crew drill.

The guy behind me in the Lido talked nonstop, there is someone to avoid. Air conditioning problems made the area around the casino and mix uncomfortably warm and close and our cabin a bit stuffy. A hot and bothered fellow at the front desk wanted to change rooms. That was not going to happen. All fixed in a couple of hours. Trouble free cruise so far, we are happy. Spent most of the afternoon quietly reading. I have set aside 15 minutes to dress for our first formal night. Mrs. Whogo may need longer.

[Copper10-8]

Awesome! Still laughing at your sense of humor :D You missed your calling! ;)

[MOcruiserman]

I had heard rumors that the treadmills, the only gym apparatus that I am familiar with, have a place to use my ear buds. I headed up to the gym and find that there were just two treadmills empty. Stepped on the first, tried to figure out the safety cord for a minute or two before seeing the “out of order” sign. Did not take me near as long to find the “out of order” sign on the other available treadmill. Well, I can honestly tell Mrs. Whogo that I spent some time on the treadmill. Shh. She does not need to know that the treadmill and I did not move.

 

* * *

I expect the worst on the promenade deck, but find it dark, empty and pleasant.

 

I used the treadmill when I was on the Veendam and, in retrospect, I wish I hadn't. The Promenade Deck is a wonderful way of getting cardio exercise on the ship - much more satisfying than a treadmill.

[erewhon]

Thanks for continuing your cruise reports.

Walking laps around the promenade deck can at times be quite entertaining :D

[Jim Avery]

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }January 22, 2015 headed southwest to HawaiiJanuary 22, 2015

 

Planned my first ever visit to a gym this morning. Warning! This will take longer to read than it took to live. Up well before dawn, I used a finger over the mini-mag light method to keep from waking my wife as I shaved and rounded up my shorts, t-shirt, socks, tennis shoes, iPod, and ear buds that were in seven different places in the cabin and not in the other 27 places that I searched. I remembered to take my room key, tada, and stepped out into the hall to find that my iPod battery was dead. Drat!

I had heard rumors that the treadmills, the only gym apparatus that I am familiar with, have a place to use my ear buds. I headed up to the gym and find that there were just two treadmills empty. Stepped on the first, tried to figure out the safety cord for a minute or two before seeing the “out of order” sign. Did not take me near as long to find the “out of order” sign on the other available treadmill. Well, I can honestly tell Mrs. Whogo that I spent some time on the treadmill. Shh. She does not need to know that the treadmill and I did not move.

Taking the stairs down, I figured I could get some exercise by running the stairs. Running? Well, walking down and trudging up. No, sometime later in the day some other movement would cramp up my gluteus ignoramus. Maybe a walk.

I expect the worst on the promenade deck, but find it dark, empty and pleasant. I did eleventy-three laps as follows: I walked a half lap and was passed for the first time by a woman who wished me a cheerful good morning. Well, she was younger than I am and better at dodging the water hoses the crew was using to wet the deck and lounge pads. I picked up the pace a bit, realized I could not match her speed. Well, she has longer legs.

I got a cheerful “Good morning” and smile from each of the hose guys. Finish lap one. Wondered about the lifeboats. In an emergency would I be better off with one farther forward? Back? Maybe on the other side? Which way would this ship list? No! One of the tenders would be the ticket. They look bigger and can apparently make it back and forth to shore regularly. Yeah, a tender would be best. Finish lap two.

More smiles from the hose guys. Find a woman in a bathrobe sitting out on deck as I finish lap three. Yeah, definitely lap three. Another cheerful “Good morning” as I was passed by another woman, this one definitely older. Drat! Well she was not carrying extra weight like I do – in my spare tire and rear end. Lots of extra weight. And extra intramuscular weight that I learned in food trivia is called marbling. I had to pass someone, sometime.

Found bathrobe lady with a cigarette on my next lap. Lap four. Gee, the women that passed me were a long way ahead. Don't get lapped! Don't get lapped! A glance over my shoulder to see that no one else was getting close also showed me my reflection in a window. I sucked in my belly for a half a minute. Lap five finds bathrobe/cigarette lady snuffing out her cigarette.

I wondered about reserved vs. unreserved deck chairs and counted them on the next laps, coming up with different numbers on each lap. Let's just say that a big percentage of deck chairs are reserved. Was that lap eight? Nine? We will call it eleventy-three. How do people keep count? Oh, well, I switched to the time method. I knew what time I started and I know how long it takes me to walk a mile. If I could do a mile 14 minutes faster I could do a four minute mile. Still had not passed anyone, but I had been gaining on a strolling couple ahead. Another woman passed with a “Good morning” and she was walking at a pace that I consider a jog.

The hose crew members still smiled at me each time I walked past. Or were they laughing? What would I see if I turned around quickly? Oh, boy, I was catching up to a walker. He has a hiking pole. Or is it a cane? Is it white? Geez, how much older can you get? “Good morning”, I say cheerily as I pass. It is a hollow victory.

I got passed again, this time by a man. Where's the “Good morning”? This guy had really long legs, no shame there. The dawn was breaking gray, there were more people on the deck. I saw no sign of the women who had passed me. Hah! Lightweight sprinters had given up already, I was in for long haul. I had done my two miles, but had a chance to pass the strolling couple. It took me a couple more laps to get on their heels. It was a long stretch where there was no room to pass and then as the area widened they spread out. How could two people block so much space? I squeezed past, taking special pleasure in doing so. Road hogs did not merit a “Good morning”. I entered the first door available with the theme from Rocky in my head.

 

The bathrobe lady with the ciggie was out on the Prom deck on Veendam for our Christmas Cruise too. Maybe she lives there full time? Bathrobe seemed to be her only attire.

[BarbRN]

OMG my sides are hurting. You, sir, are a riot! I can relate!

[Boatdrill]

 

 

Woke up January 20, 2015 to find the Veendam parked outside my room at the Wyndham. Parked? You won't hear nautical terms either, I am from the prairie.

 

 

Not to worry. Many who work on the bridge say "parked" when describing where they docked the ship. "Hmmmm...not a bad parking job" has been said by more than one bridge officer. :)

Edited January 23, 2015 by Boatdrill

[Topsham]

Not at all. I'm speaking only for myself. It scares me so I don't do it. Great for those folks that do.

 

 

 

Well, we hope you are still sailing with HAL for yonks for ever!

 

I heard from ROTTEDAM came into New York after a World Cruise 100+ years ago... group of passenger standing at the rail shouting, "WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT!"

 

Good safe voyages for you!

[goodroe]

Thank you - thank you for incredibly entertaining and funny reports. I can certainly relate to being passed on the Promenade Deck.

[seaside sally]

Your daily reports are terrific -- thanks so much -- am just "finding" them now -- so entertaining!! love it!!

 

Will follow you faithfully to the end (of the cruise, that is!) :D

[Vict0riann]

My DH always took pennies to change from one pocket to the other to count his laps around the promenade - I count mine by the number of times he laps me! Actually, now we don't have pennies any more, perhaps he'll manage to accumulate a few in Fort Lauderdale next time, if he remembers!:)

[Copper10-8]

My DH always took pennies to change from one pocket to the other to count his laps around the promenade - I count mine by the number of times he laps me! Actually, now we don't have pennies any more, perhaps he'll manage to accumulate a few in Fort Lauderdale next time, if he remembers!:)

 

You could use Loonies......................;)

[Vict0riann]

You could use Loonies......................;)

 

Thanks! I spend enough time repairing his pockets as it is.:eek:

[socalcruisers2]

Love your blog.

 

I will be cruising on the Veendam to Hawaii in March. Could you let me know when the early fixed seating is on your cruise? I have had mixed responses on this question. One gentleman on the Veendam's, Jan 2 Hawaii Cruise, informed me that the early fixed was at 5:15, while ship services said it was at 5:45.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Mary

[whogo]

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }January 23, 2015, Friday, cruising southwest toward Lahaina

 

A few people were dressed up and waiting at the main dining room at 4:30 for the doors to open at 5:00. I thought how odd it was, but we went once again at our preferred time to face another wait for a table. Why would I think anything would change? I can't get a reservation between 5:30 and 7:45, it is madness to expect anything else.

 

Our formal dinner was the best yet, superior food, service and company. All it takes to make me happy is a little lamb, we have it infrequently at home. Mrs. Whogo was well pleased with her shrimp and beef tenderloin combo. I know a lot of cruisers like to hear all about the waiter's family and home life, but I prefer an aloof waiter who just gives attentive, unobtrusive service.

 

Tried to sneak in late to the first showroom performance in progress. Every seat was taken. Late show was about half filled, good performance by the Veendam entertainers in Bob Mackie's Broadway.

 

The regular visitors to the Holland America boards know about changes to the HAL product which are sometimes referred to as cutbacks. Mrs. Whogo does not use Cruise Critic. It is up to me to keep her abreast of changes. Our last cruise was on the Prinsendam. I reminded my wife that the Veendam is a bigger ship with added cabins and odd tubs where the aft pool should be. I warned her that unspoken for promenade deck chairs could be hard to find and that staff may be a little thin on the ground. I mentioned that food quality may not be what she remembered. I mentioned that the Veendam has aged another four years since our last voyage. I told her about the square chocolates at turn down.

 

How could no one have mentioned the big change? We were both caught unaware. It was a shock to the poor woman. She noticed right away. She took to her bed. I darkened the room and put a damp, tepid washcloth on her forehead. What a time to have an empty ice bucket! What could I do? She made it clear that a cold can of soda pop was not what she wanted against her forehead. I was helpless to do anything for her. I went to check. Maybe our eyes had deceived us, a trick of the light. No, it was true. No mistake. The yellow bar of Elemis soap was now white. Of all the cutbacks! They have taken the yellow dye out of the soap! Cutbacks, cutbacks and more cutbacks.

 

I made a show of throwing away the offending soap. We agreed to talk no more about it. She rallied. Perhaps some primitive response had blocked the incident from her mind. But now... sometimes... when I am all alone... in complete privacy... I take the bar from its hiding place and take a shower.

 

This morning the GPS read 1446 miles to Lahaina, yesterday's reading of 2492 miles must have been incorrect. Or this morning's reading. I am not the one to ask. I booked our flight to San Diego with a 10:00 PM arrival time. My first thought was that that was 8:00 PM our time. Knowing that it needed a second thought I used a complicated method and faced north, imagined those little lines that circle the globe from top to bottom, considered that the sun rises in the east, worked out different time zones as related to those little lines that circle the globe from top to bottom and asked my wife who told me that it was midnight our time.

 

It is a beautiful day to sit on the promenade deck with comfortable temperatures, soft breezes, and sunny skies. Today's walk was an eighth of the way down the ship to the first available chaise longue. That was enough distance to get stuck behind a slow moving couple. There is a steady stream of walkers. Speedy walkers should get out before dawn or expect frustration.

 

I was out on our balcony earlier and the promenade deck is much better. The balcony is almost claustrophobic with steel walls at the sides and a narrow field of vision. The promenade deck has a nearly 180 degree view and is that much closer to the sea. I have found my spot. I know how people love their balconies. I like the big expanse of glass and natural light, but I will spend little time out on our balcony.

[kazu]

Whogo,, you are too funny :)

 

Enjoying your live very much. Remember, you can order ice at night after if Mrs. Whogo needs help again. I agree with her - a cold soda can doesn't cut it :p

 

Enjoying every minute of your live from.

[Swice]

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }

She made it clear that a cold can of soda pop was not what she wanted against her forehead..

 

I am overcome with worry for the Mrs.... was there a mini-bar charge for usage of the cold can?