Ms Oosterdam Almost Live Nov 16-27

[SightCRR]

Thanks for the link to the current postings. I was looking in the wrong spot. Take Care and Hope You Have Safe Travels.

Sightcrr

[kftw]

Specialty Restaurant have been updated at:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/

 

Also included is the Main Dining Room Table Maps for Vista-class ships.

 

On Locations and daily MDR and Lido menus will be posted when I get a better internet connection.

 

Updated items are marked "Nov 2015"

 

Thank you for both the updates on your site and taking us along on your cruise.

[Crew News]

Still another beautiful day in the Caribbean. We docked in St Thomas along with a number of very large cruise ships. Room Service arrived at 7:00 AM. Eggs were 115 degrees, bacon - 118 degrees, milk - 72 degrees, and OJ - 72 degrees.

 

Delivery of the Room Service trays is now in a sealed rolling cart. This tends to warm cold beverages but keeps hot foods hot.

 

My "Discover St Thomas" excursion was a tour of the city aboard one of the open-aired multi-seat taxi/trucks. A one-hour ride up and down the Skydrive was the first stop. A rum drink was included at the top of the hill. Another stop was at a high city-overlook point with massive shopping area. Several passengers opted to stop in downtoen Charlotte-Amelie for some shopping. Being a passenger in the outrageous traffic here in St Thomas is not as bad as renting a car for a self-drive excursion. FWIW gas price was $2,99/gallon.

 

With fast AT&T cell connection, I filled my afternoon with uploading the latest versions of HAL Specialty Restaurant menus and maps of the Vista-class Main Dining Room tables. It was also a chance to finally get the huge Android lollipop downloaded and installed on my Samsung tablet.

I sat through the "Paul Blart Mall Cop 2" movie in anticipation of the laughs. Sadly, only the final scene of Blart being kicked by a police horse was my only chuckle.

 

We turn the clocks back one hour tonight and with tomorrow a sea day, sleep will be found well after sunrise. The is a Mariner Medal Ceremony tomorrow at 10:15 with a Mariner Lunch to follow. I have opted to skip the lunch and attend a cooking class with Tim Tibbets.

 

More later.

[albingirl]

Enjoying your posts very, very much. Maybe you don't have to take the temp of your food anymore tho. Save yourself the trouble and enjoy your cruise.

:)

[cruz chic]

Thx for the updates and for updating your website. I refer to it a lot.

[jertom]

Here is a link to my menus for Specialty Restaurants that I will be updating.

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/

 

I will be creating a new page under the Travel Tab for the Daily MDR and Lido Restaurant menus as well as the On Locations. The same tab will also include a page for Club HAL kids activities in the Caribbean. Stay tuned.

 

Crew News,

Thanks for all the postings and reviews ! We are just leaving, driving to Florida to get on the Oosterdam Nov 27 and really appreciate all the info you have provided. Enjoy the rest of your cruise !

[Krazy Kruizers]

Nice review.

[Mrs. Walkinman]

Which dock did you tie up to in St Thomas?

 

We're sailing this weekend for three weeks, and are trying to decide what to do there. It will depend on which side of town we end up docking.

[CGYCruisingFamily]

CrewNews, can you see if chef Tim tibbets will be on the Dec 18 cruise? He sounds great.

[erewhon]

Since food in the PG is cooked to order and there is no delay in delivery to the table, temperature did not seem to be an issue deserving of measurement. CC posts have a history of mentioning less than hot food from Room Service and that was my motivation from bringing the thermometer.

 

Unfortunately, I have no more PG dinners this cruise.

 

Thanks for your reply.

[regnig]

Roger when you get back home could you take a look at the link to the Canaletto Menu ($10 Nov 2015) as it apparently is not working. I keep getting the "This is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?" message. No big deal so please don't take you cruise time to fix it, later will be just fine.

Thanks

[Crew News]

Thanks for the Canaletto error. I just fixed it.

 

FWIW Oosterdam tried to tender at Half Moon Cay and was unable to safely tender with winds of 45 mph. Now proceeding to FLL.

 

Just came out of a day-long squall with heavy seas and winds so no report from yesterdays sea day.

 

Tim said that he was going back to work after this cruise but I will try to see if he will be back. Tim has been doing Q&As in the Culinary Arts Center throughout the cruise.

 

More later.

[guinnesshalfpint]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write your review. I absolutely love your website and have used it frequently when planning and daydreaming. We love to play the "menu game" even on this thanksgiving day with the over abundance of delicious home cooked dishes. Thanks!

[Smart 4-2]

Thank you Crew News for sharing your voyage.

sorry you missed Half Moon Cay.

-Smart 4-2

[qsuzi]

Shame on me for not finding your live thread until just now. This is just a fabulous thread packed with information and your responsiveness to questions is truly amazing. THANK YOU! Please say hi to Joanie for me.

Edited November 26, 2015 by qsuzi

[Crew News]

Which dock did you tie up to in St Thomas?

 

We're sailing this weekend for three weeks, and are trying to decide what to do there. It will depend on which side of town we end up docking.

 

We did not dock downtown but rather 2.5 miles away or a $5 taxi ride. I walked to the downtown shopping area once and do not recommend it for the faint of heart as the traffic is insane and not so courteous to walkers.

 

Our docking area had a number of iguanas sunning on the rocks if you want to grab some "monster" pictures.

 

If you are going to a tour of St John, make sure you are the last one to board the truck if you want to get photos without a head blocking your lens.

[Crew News]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write your review. I absolutely love your website and have used it frequently when planning and daydreaming. We love to play the "menu game" even on this thanksgiving day with the over abundance of delicious home cooked dishes. Thanks!

 

As I tell those from whom I get menus, I am just the "scout" for many that will follow and how much CC members like to plan their dining options.

 

The ship had a traditional Thanksgiving menu for this evening and I will post it separately. My scanned menus for today will include the regular menu that will be served the last night of every 10 or 11-day Caribbean cruise this season.

[Crew News]

Shame on me for not finding your live thread until just now. This is just a fabulous thread packed with information and your responsiveness to questions is truly amazing. THANK YOU! Please say hi to Joanie for me.

 

Since she is currently snoring, I'll tell her in the AM.

 

As with every cruise, the last day packing and pushing the suitcases into the hallway is the stark reality that this cruise is over.

 

With the slow internet, I will answer your email from the Embassy Suites in FLL.

[Crew News]

Yesterday and most of today was spent in rock and roll mode. Bypassing Half Moon Cay was necessary due to the 51 mph winds and rough seas that prevented tendering. The local support staff could not get to Half Moon Cay from their island.

 

My Room Service guy (also my MDR waiter) said that he had only six people in his section last night due to the rolling seas. FWIW when our waiter, Kadek, delivers our regular 3:00 PM Room Neptune Suite appetizers, he pauses to create an oragami paper animal for Joanie.

 

The Captain announced that we would have calmer seas earlier this evening and that happened just in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. Attendance was down only slightly.

 

An obligatory visit to the Casino helped to clear away any remaining OBC and my slot machine skill showed a slight profit. Joanie was not so lucky. The bar staff helped me to spend all of my $100 Beverage Care by recommending the flashing glasses and a final diet coke with ice leaving a mere 20 cents.

 

While waiting to give the MDR Manager one of souvenir calendars that I print for each cruise, a diner asked where I purchsed it and I explained that i print only 16 for each cruise and give them away. He was the first person to receive one of calendars without having an impact on my cruise. The huge calendars, made with high-res photographs from my website, are traditionally given to our stateroom visitors and to crew who help me acquire menus.

 

With a much better tethering opportunity at the Embassy Suites in FLL, I hope to have all of the On Locations, Club HAL actiities, and daily menus (lunch, dinner, and late snack for Lido and MDR) posted. I also have the latest wine list from one of the Wine Stewards.

 

It will be good to set foot on non-moving ground after two days of rock and roll on the water.

 

More post-cruise thoughts later and several thousand photographs to prepare.

[KAE27]

You're a true gem. Thank you for all your information and your website.

[POA1]

Welcome back! It should be pretty nice in Fort Lauderdale today, albeit a bit breezy. Thanks again for all your reporting, scanning, recognizance, etc. See you in April for Alaska.

[qsuzi]

Welcome back. We have such mixed feelings about our last day onboard; missing home but not wanting to get off the ship. Hope everything goes smoothly and safe travel.

[Seafoam Green]

This has been a great thread. Thanks so much for sharing info and answering questions.

 

We look forward to boarding the Oosterdam in March.

 

:D

[Crew News]

Welcome back! It should be pretty nice in Fort Lauderdale today, albeit a bit breezy. Thanks again for all your reporting, scanning, recognizance, etc. See you in April for Alaska.

 

Weather today is perfect in FLL!! Hope it stays nice in Mobile, Alabama for the next three days, too.

 

Was able to snag NA 5187 for Alaska 2017 first two weeks of the season now just waiting for the 2017 Pacific Coastal.

 

Look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Crew News

[POA1]

Weather today is perfect in FLL!! Hope it stays nice in Mobile, Alabama for the next three days, too.

 

Was able to snag NA 5187 for Alaska 2017 first two weeks of the season now just waiting for the 2017 Pacific Coastal.

 

Look forward to seeing you in 2016.

I wouldn't say "perfect," but at least it's "cloudy-bright" (Totally a legitimate weather condition. ;) ) I'm impressed that you've already scored your 2017 Alaska cabin.