erewhon #126 Posted August 5 Great updates, thank you. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SetAnOpenCourse #127 Posted August 5 Are The Maasdam’s cabins equipped for playing one’s own music? 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers #128 Posted August 5 Enjoying your reports -- great pictures. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #129 Posted August 5 5 hours ago, SetAnOpenCourse said: Are The Maasdam’s cabins equipped for playing one’s own music? There is a DVD player in each room. I cannot attest to the speaker quality. There is no usb socket to play music. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bcummin #130 Posted August 5 (edited) Thanks again for bringing us along. Is Jason Kelly still aboard? Are there any Zodiac plans on the way to Sydney? Probably not in Russia. Barbara Edited August 5 by bcummin 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #131 Posted August 5 6 hours ago, bcummin said: Thanks again for bringing us along. Is Jason Kelly still aboard? Are there any Zodiac plans on the way to Sydney? Probably not in Russia. Barbara Thanks. Jason got off in Yokohama. I've seen no mention of when the next use of the Zodiacs are. We enjoyed using them in the Maldives to go snorkeling. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azdrydock #132 Posted August 5 (edited) Great blog'......... How is the temperature in the ship public area? Some past summer cruises the restaurants, in particular, are freezing in the evening. Starting to pack so if we need more long sleeves. Interesting story about HAL excursions and accident. We were on Viking a few weeks ago. The last day, on an excursion, a women slipped and broke her hip. Viking guide was on the scene immediatly and was in contact with the ship and other Viking guides in the vicinity. They took complete charge of the situation. They reassigned the escorts and guides so they had two people at the scene and all of the tours could continue. They interfaced with the passenger and Portuguese EMT's. They didn't like the Medical Center she was taken to so they arranged transfer to a larger hospital in Porto. The passenger was traveling with her nephew and Viking helped him with the insurance company. Since the ship was to be in Porto a few days on the next cruise, they arranged for the nephew to stay in a vacant cabin and also helped him find a place to stay near the hospital until his aunt was able to travel. Edited August 5 by azdrydock 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bellair #133 Posted August 6 (edited) Good Morning Kanazawa Japan! Welcome to you all on the MAASDAM as she has docked there today the 6th of August 2019 Edited August 6 by Bellair adjusted 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erewhon #134 Posted August 6 Bellair, Thank you for posting this photo. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bellair #135 Posted August 6 2 hours ago, erewhon said: Bellair, Thank you for posting this photo. You are very welcome. It is live on the port webcam on youtube 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bellair #136 Posted August 6 18 hours ago, SetAnOpenCourse said: Are The Maasdam’s cabins equipped for playing one’s own music? If you are in a Spa room, We were upgraded to one of these outside cabins recently and they have a bluetooth speaker that you can connect your phone or iPad or similar wirelessly to. You can then stream your music directly thru this device. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bellair #137 Posted August 6 A nice live image of Maasdam tonight in KanasawaKanazawa 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers #138 Posted August 6 Enjoying the updates and pictures. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bellair #139 Posted August 6 (edited) Just before sailing out of Kanazawa Edited August 6 by Bellair added 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #140 Posted August 6 Japan should be called The Land of the Blazing Sun. It hit 99°f here today, but we made it through our 8 hour Tours by Locals guide. Details will be in my blog post but here are a few pictures from today. At the Kenrokuen Garden cell phones are everywhere A selfie of a selfie in a couple hours we're headed off to Russia for a two stops after a Taiko drum show. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kira5 #141 Posted August 6 Thanks for the information about the Kochi castle on your blog. Sounds a little too strenuous and with potential for a fall. I guess there's no elevator! Also the temperature/weather reports. I wonder if they sell those little sun umbrellas you sometimes see Asians carrying? I feel like I will need some protection from the sun beyond a straw hat. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #142 Posted August 7 We ran at 20 knots last night and today and outran typhoon Francisco. We arrived in Vladivostok 7 hours early at 12 midnight local time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #143 Posted August 7 Passport checkers boarding at 12:15am. They marched in formation. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bcummin #144 Posted August 7 (edited) Enjoyed reading about your visit to Kanazawa, Japan. Fascinating city. You covered more territory with your guide than we did on our own. The heat there is unbelievable. Time to head north. Thanks again for sharing so much. Barbara P.S. Impressive passport checkers in Vladivostok. When we visited Petropavlovsk in 2007, one lone kakhi uniformed Russian woman did all of our passports. Edited August 7 by bcummin 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawaiidan #145 Posted August 7 On 8/4/2019 at 8:44 AM, Btimmer said: Lance is the CD & Travel Director. We have 4 EXC presenters now on board none of whom were on our FLL Cruise . The Captain and HD are the same as the FLL Cruise. Our wine steward, Marlon is on board as well. Tim...... see if you can find out who they have planned to give WW2 talks on the 28- cruise... I hope it they are not duds....See if you can get their backgrounds..... See you the 29th. All out tours are squared away where we are to gether.... Dan/ 546 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers #146 Posted August 7 I am enjoying your blog -- got behind. Great pictures. Glad you were able to outrun the typhoon. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VK3DQ #147 Posted August 7 It seems such a long time until we join you on board on 3rd December ! I just paid the full payments yesterday and fixed my air transport from Melbourne to Sydney. We traveled on Pacific Aria in April just a quick trip from Brisbane to Auckland and had one of the large suites , we were a little shocked , the ship was very dirty and salt stained and every window was salt caked , the Varandah had not been cleaned in months. I know this is P&O and not HAL but Pacific Aria is a sister ship to Maasdam and we are concerned about her general condition I assume from posts by a number of seasoned cruisers that the ship itself is maintained to high standards We are very much looking forward to our cruise , this year has been very hard health wize and a nice comfortable ship is what we want ...along with good food and company So any photos taken around the ship would be most welcome Kindest regards John Jean & Elsie 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
briangl #148 Posted August 8 Enjoying your posts. Looks like you are having fun. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erewhon #149 Posted August 8 Enjoying your reports, thank you. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Btimmer #150 Posted August 8 15 hours ago, VK3DQ said: It seems such a long time until we join you on board on 3rd December ! I just paid the full payments yesterday and fixed my air transport from Melbourne to Sydney. We traveled on Pacific Aria in April just a quick trip from Brisbane to Auckland and had one of the large suites , we were a little shocked , the ship was very dirty and salt stained and every window was salt caked , the Varandah had not been cleaned in months. I know this is P&O and not HAL but Pacific Aria is a sister ship to Maasdam and we are concerned about her general condition I assume from posts by a number of seasoned cruisers that the ship itself is maintained to high standards We are very much looking forward to our cruise , this year has been very hard health wize and a nice comfortable ship is what we want ...along with good food and company So any photos taken around the ship would be most welcome Kindest regards John Jean & Elsie We have sailed on the Maasdam 4 months in the last year and it is well kept up. Major re-upholstery work and recarpeting was done last year. The ship presents itself well in my opinion. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites