'Twas the Week Before Christmas - Live from the Eurodam

[Mz11378]

Fantastic reports - I am going on in 2 weeks - thanks

[IllinoisGirl1978]

Oh, I will need to collect a new set. I also am not fond of sweet after dinner shots but to get the other eat I found very accommodating waiters who brought me empty ones and changed my SBP a nominal fee (not always).

 

 

 

They were selling them in the Explorations cafe when I was on the Zaandam!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Love the beach]

Enjoyed all your reports...thanks for taking us along....have a safe trip home (hope you don't get bogged down in traffic since you have so far to go) and have a very Merry Christmas!

[POA1]

Isn't it, though. Barely a long weekend.

 

But seven days is long enough to read several hilarious posts, and try to commit to memory some great variations on otherwise well known Christmas songs.

Thanks for the laughs.

 

Preaching to the choir. We need 10-11 days minimum. I think something along the line of a Panama Canal full transit or a Med + Transatlantic might me good.

[POA1]

 

 

 

And I heard him exclaim as he flew o'er the ship,

"Get off the 'dam boat!

It's the end of your trip!"

 





 

On behalf of Huskerchick, her father, and - of course - Poohby Joe, I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Or a Happy Chanukah and a Merry New Year (Gregorian Calendar New Year, because Rosh Hashanah was months ago.)

 

Okay - I have 51 minutes left on my 250 minute plan. Let's see if I can both load the CruiseCritic thread and throw up a post. I'm trying this from our room. It's after midnight and most of our clothes are in suitcases - which have been removed from the hall. (If my posting without pants bothers you, please look away and skip to the next post.)

 

We had dinner in the Pinnacle at 7:00 PM tonight. After that, we headed down to the front desk because DFIL happened to be the only person on the ship not to get luggage tags. (Read my post above about the time change and you'll get a flavor for what I'm talking about.) We managed to get him all straightened out and secured luggage tags in our group, Pink #1. That's the suites and 4/5 star mariner group. Basically, it's anytime disembarkation between 8 and 10. We agreed to meet for breakfast in the Lido at 8:30, on our side of the ship (starboard) and then repair to our rooms after breakfast to wait for disembarkation. Should be simple, right? Check back and I'll let you know.

 

We have a full set of Pinnacle dinner pictures to post later, but dinner was very good. We had Renzo as our server again and he does a great job. My cold has gotten worse, which is kind of a downer. I tried a Wang Wang, but it didn't seem to have the helped. Perhaps the healing properties nare overrated. (You'd think that having both pineapple and orange juices would help, but it did not.) I switched up my medication to a heavy dose of Vitamin B to try to stem the tide of this cold. I've let DW drift off to sleep while I write. I'm hoping that she'll slumber soundly before I go to bed. I fear that my congestion will cause me to snore with the fury of an angry cement truck.

 

I'll follow up from the Institute of Cheer's secret research laboratory later today.

Edited December 24, 2016 by POA1

[MisterBill99]

Thanks for posting all of this. I'm looking forward to seeing the MDR menus since I don't think anyone has posted the 7 day Caribbean menus lately. Would also be interested to hear how they decide whether to use the A or B sets you referred to. Do they alternate weeks, so I'd be able to figure out which set I'll have on the 3/4 sailing, or is it random?

[POA1]

Thanks for posting all of this. I'm looking forward to seeing the MDR menus since I don't think anyone has posted the 7 day Caribbean menus lately. Would also be interested to hear how they decide whether to use the A or B sets you referred to. Do they alternate weeks, so I'd be able to figure out which set I'll have on the 3/4 sailing, or is it random?

They alternate, which gives people doing a back to back eastern / western Caribbean 14 different meal experiences. We were the A cycle and eastern Caribbean. If you are on the Eurodam, you can count out from our cruise.

[POA1]

Just passed home a few minutes ago. We were hoping they'd pull over at let us off. It would have saved us cab fare. They said no. Something about customs and immigration and running aground if they left the deep part of the channel.

 

We're going to try to US Customs app. We also have Global Entry.

[POA1]

The plan is to eat breakfast at 8:30 and exit the ship around 9:00 or so. Once we get home, I have to run to the grocery store and pick up some items. (Just the perishables, some fruit, rolls for Christmas dinner etc. Exciting stuff.)

 

I'll try to get to the menus later today. They're in MS Word format and I need to install the proper fonts so they look nice. I'll output them as PDF files so that they look as much like the real thing as possible. It should be a menu bonanza because Mr. Pieter gave me all the menus including the late night snacks and Lido. I'm glad Roger Jett suggested asking for the files. I wouldn't have time to scan all them on a 7 day cruise.

[Mtn2Sea]

I've thoroughly enjoyed your review. Have a safe trip home (all ten minutes of it). Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy the holidays!

[POA1]

I've thoroughly enjoyed your review. Have a safe trip home (all ten minutes of it). Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy the holidays!

Thank you. I'm hoping that this is a short cold and that the lovely Mrs. POA1 doesn't catch it.

 

We're all packed up and I'm holding a table in the Lido while DW and DFIL grab their breakfast. Very crowded and it reaffirms our normal routine, which is room service breakfast on disembarkation day.

[ger_77]

Welcome home - and Merry Christmas!

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[lakemurraykid]

I have to say, by far, this review is the absolute best one I have ever read on CC. It was awesome. I laughed all the way through it. I've learned so much more about Ms. Eurodam since we sailed on her a few years ago. We will board her on 1/31 and can't wait. Thank you again for taking so much of your time to keep us all entertained. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[POA1]

We're home and all unpacked. Now for some very serious advice.

 

If you are cruising out of Port Everglades, you must download and use the mobile passport app from US Customs and Border Patrol.

Of course, this assumes you have a mobile phone with a data plan that works in the US or you can use WiFi in the terminal. The mobile passport line was exactly three people long: Me, Huskerchick and her dad. We were out of the terminal in about a minute. As of this writing, the app can only be used at selected airports and Port Everglades.

 

You set up the app at home by scanning the bar code on your passport and taking a selfie. When you dock, you open the app, select New Trip > Cruise Ship. The you select the passengers. You and your spouse & children can all use the same app. Then you choose your Port of Entry (only PEV for now), your cruise line, and your terminal. If you don't know which terminal you're coming into, you can ask someone. Or, if you want, you can check the Port Everglades vessel schedule at:

 

https://pevvesseltraffic.broward.org/webx/

 

I cannot recommend this app highly enough. We usually get home fast, owing to our proximity to the port -- but today was so fast it wasn't funny. We filled out the blue customs form just in case there was a systems problem, but we didn't need it.

 

But wait.... There's MORE!

 

Canadians can also use the Mobile Passport app ('cause America loves you.)

 

The app is available for both Android and iPhone and you can get it your operating system's app store.

 

But that's not all!

 

The app works at quite a few US airports, including all the ones you'd normally use to get to Port Everglades.

Edited December 24, 2016 by POA1

[rubytue]

I've enjoyed reading along with you, as we were on the same cruise. No Internet package, so I could only read it in San Juan and St Thomas (thanks AT&T). But I wanted to second the mobile passport recommendation. There was no line for us. I actually had to stop at the front to dig out my passports because I didn't have a line to wait in, when I usually do that. H was amazed and gave my high fives for technology :)

 

Best part was when we went to the mobile passport sign and showed the nice men directing traffic that we had mobile passport, they moved the ropes and escorted us into a special path. Then yelled at everyone who tried to follow us.

Edited December 24, 2016 by rubytue
Darn you, autocorrect!

[RuthC]

I first opened your thread today at 9:33 AM, and wondered if you were home yet :eek:. Now it sounds like a real possibility!

(it could be so easy to hate you for that, you know. ;))

[ksmaxey]

We board the Rotterdam on 1/2/17 and we have Explore 4. We are really hoping to upgrade to Elite and I even asked our PCC when we made the reservation because I would likely have not gone with Explore 4 if I couldn't.

 

We really enjoy wine with dinner and the limited options on SBP worry us.

 

If you have any tips on how to negotiate paying the difference, please let us know.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Kevin

[POA1]

We board the Rotterdam on 1/2/17 and we have Explore 4. We are really hoping to upgrade to Elite and I even asked our PCC when we made the reservation because I would likely have not gone with Explore 4 if I couldn't.

 

We really enjoy wine with dinner and the limited options on SBP worry us.

 

If you have any tips on how to negotiate paying the difference, please let us know.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Kevin

 

I just kept asking people until someone was able to make it happen for us. The person who helped us out was a server from whom we bought our first two rounds of drinks. The front desk and one of the bartenders told us no. There are lines on our bill that say something like upgrade SBP to EBP - $80.50. That's the $10 per day difference + the 15% service charge. It really does open up the wine choices.

[POA1]

I first opened your thread today at 9:33 AM, and wondered if you were home yet :eek:. Now it sounds like a real possibility!

(it could be so easy to hate you for that, you know. ;))

 

The only reason we got home as late as we did was because we met for breakfast at 9:00 AM. It's okay to hate us for the short trip from the port. We routinely make it home before our friends get through airport security. Their texts are typically salty, encouraging us to "intercourse" ourselves.

[sue1898]

We're home and all unpacked. Now for some very serious advice.

 

If you are cruising out of Port Everglades, you must download and use the mobile passport app from US Customs and Border Patrol.

Of course, this assumes you have a mobile phone with a data plan that works in the US or you can use WiFi in the terminal. The mobile passport line was exactly three people long: Me, Huskerchick and her dad. We were out of the terminal in about a minute. As of this writing, the app can only be used at selected airports and Port Everglades.

 

You set up the app at home by scanning the bar code on your passport and taking a selfie. When you dock, you open the app, select New Trip > Cruise Ship. The you select the passengers. You and your spouse & children can all use the same app. Then you choose your Port of Entry (only PEV for now), your cruise line, and your terminal. If you don't know which terminal you're coming into, you can ask someone. Or, if you want, you can check the Port Everglades vessel schedule at:

 

https://pevvesseltraffic.broward.org/webx/

 

I cannot recommend this app highly enough. We usually get home fast, owing to our proximity to the port -- but today was so fast it wasn't funny. We filled out the blue customs form just in case there was a systems problem, but we didn't need it.

 

But wait.... There's MORE!

 

Canadians can also use the Mobile Passport app ('cause America loves you.)

 

The app is available for both Android and iPhone and you can get it your operating system's app store.

 

But that's not all!

 

The app works at quite a few US airports, including all the ones you'd normally use to get to Port Everglades.

 

THANKS! You are just the handiest guy to "know"! Just set it up since Dulles is on the list so in July when we return from Amsterdam and our K'dam cruise of the fjords we will be all set.

[SilvertoGold]

Too funny about your DFIL!

 

People don't read, you know? That is the big quest for any cruise line: how to get people to read. Time changes, dining hours, all aboard deadlines, luggage tags, there is a whole boatload of info that people never even know about.

 

Have loved this thread, the clever Christmas songs, the extraordinary photos, the brilliant commentary. Will continue to watch for more....

 

Thanks for taking us along and have the best Christmas!

[ski ww]

Thanks for the posts, really enjoyed reading them. Welcome back home. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. We board the Eurodam New Years eve. Our roll call group will be standing behind the yellow banner with black lettering that has TOOT on it, we'll be waving to friends & family back home.

Allan

[POA1]

I was able to find the fonts that HAL uses on their menus, so these should be pretty good representations of what you'll actually see on the ship.

 

This first set I put together is the major menus for the day. It's both lunch and dinner for the MDR and the Lido. Is this a good format, or would you prefer to have them as separate files: Lido Lunch, MDR Lunch, Lido Dinner, MDR Dinner?

 

http://www.evernote.com/l/AFhmBq98Q_hL7Z55YW8AkFwogs3Qy7K93F0/

 

I also have about 20 different late night snacks. Each is themed. I'm not sure of the rotation though.

[kazu]

I was able to find the fonts that HAL uses on their menus, so these should be pretty good representations of what you'll actually see on the ship.

 

This first set I put together is the major menus for the day. It's both lunch and dinner for the MDR and the Lido. Is this a good format, or would you prefer to have them as separate files: Lido Lunch, MDR Lunch, Lido Dinner, MDR Dinner?

 

http://www.evernote.com/l/AFhmBq98Q_hL7Z55YW8AkFwogs3Qy7K93F0/

 

I also have about 20 different late night snacks. Each is themed. I'm not sure of the rotation though.

 

Welcome home POA1 :)

 

this is a good format, at least for me. I see all the day 1 menus and they show up very nicely :) Just the day 1 menus though, but I am guessing that is all you have loaded until you have feedback ;)

 

Have a Joyous Holiday Season and all the best in the New Year to you and Huskerchick. Thank you for making the week before Christmas very enjoyable on CC with your wonderful thread. :)

[frankc98376]

Thanks for taking us along and thank you even more for the amazing new desktop picture of the Eurodam on my desktop. Felt like I was there!

 

Hoping we have an opportunity to cruise together one day. Appears we have a similar love of wine, food, and the EBP! If that wasn't enough in common I'm a telecom engineer that has been accused (frequently) of not using (or having) a filter and a pretty twisted sense of humor :)