Live Nieuw Amsterdam Inaugural 2016 Cruise to Alaska

[gottagoacruzn]

Take your time, no rush. Thanks.

[RuthC]

Hey Crew News, are baked potatoes generally available at dinner in the MDR or are the a special request (time to cook them).

Not Crew News, but the answer is easy enough, so might as well fill you in.

 

There are a few things that are available every night, although not on the "always available" menu. Baked potato is one of them.

Some others are mashed potato, green beans, and carrots. Since French fries are on the children's menu, you can probably get them, too. However, those would be a special order, and would take a little extra time.

[KAE27]

Since you're just answering questions now...my question is why does another "live" thread mean you shut down yours in terms of updates? This is not meant as a criticism at all but rather a compliment...I enjoy your updates the most of anyone's, and I'm wondering what the connection is? I appreciate your having given a synopsis of a few days above.

[Crew News]

Since you're just answering questions now...my question is why does another "live" thread mean you shut down yours in terms of updates? This is not meant as a criticism at all but rather a compliment...I enjoy your updates the most of anyone's, and I'm wondering what the connection is? I appreciate your having given a synopsis of a few days above.

 

Repeating the weather, description of the seas, arrival times, food on the MDR menus for the evening, and other facts would be redundant so I chose to just add my observations and answer questions. The other thread is taking care of the "facts" and their thoughts.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Crew News

[Crew News]

I was met at the end of the pier here in Ketchikan that due to high winds, the flightseeing portion of my crab feast had been cancelled due to safety concerns. Faced with the choice of cancelling and getting a full refund or just paying for the feast portion. Seven, including myself, chose to feast while five passengers cancelled the entire excursions.

 

Instead of just 50 minutes to devour all the crab possible, we were given 90 minutes.

 

There were no appetizers this year but the open bar and salad were the same, Unlike previous years when the crab debris was allowed to accumulate for some great pictures, each debris plate was whisked away just before it overflowed. Six plates of debris from our three-top were soon fed to the gulls. With a last surge, I finished seven half crabs, followed by just a single bite of the fabulous NY-style cheesecake, before the time limit expired. All agreed that the freshly-caught crab was excellent even without the provided drawn butter.

 

The lodge has a huge, carved, Dungeness crab placed on the pier for some cool photographs. Of course, the "I caught crabs in Ketchikan" shirts and hats were still on sale in the Gift Shop.

 

On the return trip back to the ship, our van driver took a detour to let us get some totem pole photographs.

 

The day ended at Le Cirque with a friend and sorting through all of my collected menus and On Locations in preparation for tomorrow's packing.

 

Tomorrow is a Mariner Reception and Luncheon before starting the packing ritual. Of course there will be the mandatory Casino visit to try and lose all of my unspent OBC.

 

More tomorrow.

[qsuzi]

What is your favorite port and why? Sounds like another activity filled and good cruise and it is great following along with you.

[Cruisemungus]

Thank you RuthC for the answer about the baked potatoes.

[KAE27]

Repeating the weather, description of the seas, arrival times, food on the MDR menus for the evening, and other facts would be redundant so I chose to just add my observations and answer questions. The other thread is taking care of the "facts" and their thoughts.

 

That makes sense. Enjoying the thread - thanks again!

[Crew News]

Hey Crew News, are baked potatoes generally available at dinner in the MDR or are the a special request (time to cook them). I looked at the menus on your site but don't recall seeing them listed. Thought I read on a thread somewhere that they were available. Thanks.

 

I posed your question to the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager and was told that baked potatoes are available each evening in the Lido Market Place. If requested in the MDR, a baked potato will be obtained from the Lido Market Place.

[Crew News]

What is your favorite port and why? Sounds like another activity filled and good cruise and it is great following along with you.

 

Every port has its own attraction to me. Ketchikan is favored for crab feasting, Skagway for landscapes and dogsledding, Sitka for wildlife, Juneau for whales, and Victoria for Butchart Gardens' flowers. Every location contributes to my photo collection and my gift calendars I bring to every cruise.

[Cruisemungus]

Thank you Roger. We like baked potatoes with our steaks. Thank you for taking time to inquire and send me an answer. I really enjoy following your posts and your website is wonderful. Thanks for what you do. We leave three weeks from today and can hardly wait. Smooth sailing.

[Crew News]

Thank you Roger. We like baked potatoes with our steaks. Thank you for taking time to inquire and send me an answer. I really enjoy following your posts and your website is wonderful. Thanks for what you do. We leave three weeks from today and can hardly wait. Smooth sailing.

 

Somebody has to be on the first cruise of the season and if I can help subsequent passenger improve their planning, I feel successful.

[islandblue]

Can't thank you enough for all your efforts, Roger. I'll be taking many of your pearls of wisdom along on the May 28th sailing - coming up very soon! You have added so much to our anticipation - thank you and safe travels home!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Crew News]

Another great day at sea with a Room Breakfast that continues to arrive within one minute of the chosen early time on the Breakfast Card. As was the case last week, about 40 Mariner's attended a Mariner Society medal-presentation ceremony before the Mariner's Luncheon. Unlike last week, the Captain was present to pose for pictures with the recipients. One couple with more than 700 actual sea days was introduced. Also, unlike last week when the Captain was not present, Hamish was more subdued today.

 

Joanie had one of her fingers cut on a broken piece of a verandah chair's wicker last week and yesterday her finger was swollen and needed medical treatment. Since it was not reported on the day of occurrence, the $357 medical bill for her exam, dressing, and antibiotic was added to my ship account. The learning point is to report ANY medical issue involving the ship's facilities immediately to get free treatment and avoid filing an insurance claim to get a portion of the cost recovery.

 

Dinner at the Tamarind for the 5th time in the last 19 days brought quite a surprise. The Assistant Dining Room Manager from Deck 3 personally delivered my requested chocolate purse dessert that was added to my ordered Tamarind Chocolate dessert. After thanking him, I related that the Pastry Chef had denied my request. I learned that the Pastry Chef was not a decision maker and the Dining Room Manager, Ferdinand, made the dessert happen.

 

With my chocolate dessert plate in hand, I rode down the elevator with the Captain and took the opportunity to thank him for my fulfilled request. His response was that the Nieuw Amsterdam policy is to never say, "No." I smiled.

 

Since the dessert request was not for me, I delivered the purse to CC member legalslave for her enjoyment. She and I have been discussing our successful chocolate purses last year on the Noordam and HAL came through with flying colors again this year. I will make the same request on the Zuiderdam in November.

 

Unlike the last two Disembarkation Eves, our luggage WILL be in the hallway tonight.

 

Since all of my photographs are in RAW format, they require some processing before they can be presented. I will keep this thread open to post the stateroom pictures that I have promised, share other photographs, answer questions, and do a summary of our three weeks aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam.

 

Bon Voyage to those boarding the Nieuw Amsterdam in the coming weeks.

[gottagoacruzn]

Oh gee, that's a terrible shame!! Just jokin mind you.:rolleyes:

[canadianbear]

Sorry to hear about your DW and medical bill-good information to know.

 

Safe travels home and thanks for taking us all along for your Alaska trip!

Enjoyed meeting you both again on the Pacific Coastal part. Hopefully see guy again on another Dam ship.

 

Looking forward to seeing your photos in a few weeks once you're all settled at home.

[Copper10-8]

Safe travels home Crew News! Thanks for taking the time for this live report

[frankc98376]

Thanks for another great one Roger- look forward to seeing pics and scans when you get home. You and Joanie are responsible for getting us hooked on 5190 and 5191!! They indeed are "penthouses". Many of us here still miss the "other site" and all it brought us!

 

Safe travels home!

[qsuzi]

A BIG Thank you for all your time and effort to provide such excellent resources and a glimpse into daily life on an Alaskan cruise. Congrats on persevering and being successful in the "chocolate purse" challenge. Safe travels home.

[gottagoacruzn]

Just thought of something, are any of the crew from Romania? Just askin, cuz I speak a little of their language.

[Crew News]

Just thought of something, are any of the crew from Romania? Just askin, cuz I speak a little of their language.

 

I don't know about the crew but I think the Shops are contracted with a Romanian company.

[erewhon]

Thank you for continuing your reports.

Hope that Joanie's finger is healing well.

[gottagoacruzn]

Hey Roger, was on Princess a couple of yrs ago, ordered the drink the Dirty Banana,:) took a picture of it, wrote down the ingredients on the back, was wonderin if I take the picture with me, an show it to the bar tenders, could they make the drink, provided that they have a blender? Yes, the Dirty Banana was good!!!

[Copper10-8]

Just thought of something, are any of the crew from Romania? Just askin, cuz I speak a little of their language.

 

On HAL, you'll find the Romanians mostly in the Casino, as engineering officers and, oh yeah, AMDM has lovely third officer handling the ship from the bridge. NADM currently has a Romanian Casino supervisor assigned to her

[Crew News]

The day began at the stroke of midnight and my "expires at end of cruise" unlimited internet access disconnected. When I logged back in, the screen reported that I had just purchased 600 minutes for $199. A call to the Neptune Lounge had the charge removed from the just-received bill.

 

Beware!!! Unlimited internet ends at midnight. Minutes expire when you are no longer aboard to use them.

 

With everything packed in our carry-on bags, we waited and waited for our Room Service. After reaching 15 minutes past the latest delivery time, I called and learned that they had an unusually heavy call for Room Service Breakfast. This was not the case on the previous turnaround day in Vancouver. When breakfast arrived nearly one hour late, only half was present which shocked the delivery guy as he checked off the items that were supposed to be on the tray, The balance of our order arrived ten minutes later. This was only the second glitch in Room Service in our 19 days aboard.

 

The day before we docked, some genius decided to not allow taxis to pickup at the terminal exit and now all passengers needed to go up one level to catch a taxi. With three ships in port at the same time, the taxi passenger line snaked around the front of the Canada Center/Pan Pacific front with hundreds of disgruntled travelers. Fortunately, a MDR waiter pushing Joanie and a great porter brought us with taxi border our luggage to the proper waiting area.

 

Lesson learned: spend the Disembarkation Day at the Pan Pacific and pickup the rental car the next day before all of the cruise ships disgorge their passengers.

 

The border crossing was quicker than normal with nearly every car bearing Canadian license plates. Being in the right lane, we had a single crossing gate whereas those in the left approaching lane could branch to five gates.

 

Lesson learned: keep left as you near the border crossing for a faster crossing.

 

More later.