The Daily for Monday September 06, 2021

St Pete Cruiser · September 6, 2021

4 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Good morning. Thanks for the Daily Report.

We had a thunderstorm roll through a little while ago and I didn't want to get out of bed. But I think it's over now.

Happy Labour Day. Fight procrastination, good idea. Read a good book - great suggestion.

I've heard that quote before, too bad it's true.

The meal sounds interesting. Hope the drink and wine are good too.

Love Rome, hope to go back someday.

Prayers for everyone on the Care List. Cheers for all the celebrations.

Stay safe.

Happy Labour Day to you as well. One of the holidays that is the same day in the US and Canada. Just checked the Port Huron web cam and it looks like a nice day there, with sun and a northwest breeze and that beautiful blue water flowing under the aptly named Blue Water Bridge. Didn't get there this year, maybe next year with ability to return to Canada.

AV8rix · September 6, 2021

39 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

It's amazing how many engineers you meet while on a cruise.🚢

Indeed! Many years ago I encountered a fellow Boeing engineer on Ryndam. We were both surprised because, even though we were flying buddies, we hadn’t discussed being on a cruise before that. So we got the great idea of finding other engineers to implement a nefarious plot. For the next couple of days we chatted up folks in the pool area, bars, dining venues etc until we found about 5 or 6 other engineers. We then all cornered the chief engineer of the ship and demanded that he allow us to see the engine spaces. He refused, stating “security issues” but, anyway, we tried. I’d still cut my right arm off at the ankle to be allowed to have a look at the big diesels.

Sharon in AZ · September 6, 2021

Good morning everyone!

Since the Nieuw Amsterdam will be in Juneau today I thought I’d share some pictures from one week ago.

Happy Monday from the Nieuw Amsterdam:

The shops were having a sale at the Lido pool. This was one table I couldn’t resist. I bought the Delft plates. A set of 4 is $35.

We had lunch in the MDR. We had the fish and chips but I don’t have a picture. I must have used Craig’s phone to take the picture. This is the calamari, which was really good:

After lunch we walked around and took the tram, which we hadn’t done before. The two other times we were in Juneau we did Mendenhall Glacier tours.

The view is amazing.

We shared a King Crab leg at Tracy’s Crab Shack, again something we hadn’t done before.

Now I need to read the Daily. How did it get to page 5 before 9:00 am?

Edited September 6, 2021 by Sharon in AZ

kb4683 · September 6, 2021

13 minutes ago, boze9999 said:

You've got that right @kb4683 Hotel Traghetto isn't fancy, but the location and the incredible service can't be beat! They even stored (for no charge) our luggage while we toured for a week in between B2B cruises and gave us a bottle of wine to celebrate our anniversary!

Absolutely agree. So sorry we have had to cancel 2 reservations with them because of this doggone virus..I am having Italy withdrawal 🤣

Here's a pic of our last time in Civi - turnaround day of our B2B Holy Land and TA on the Rotterdam Oct/Nov, 2019. Note what's in the background 👍

Edited September 6, 2021 by kb4683

Quartzsite Cruiser · September 6, 2021

At the time of our first visit to Rome, the Vatican Museum closed at 1 pm on Saturdays, and we were there on a Saturday. Princess arranged an afterhours tour of the museum for six buses with passengers and one bus with crew.

Each group arrived a few minutes apart, so when we walked through the museum, each group had that area to themselves. Even when we were in the Sistine Chapel there may have been one other group, but it definitely was not crowded. We could see the entire Chapel easily and even sit on the benches around the walls and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The story we were told about the missing part of the ceiling was that it fell when a cannon was fired near the Chapel. The ceiling had been cleaned and restored shortly before we were there. I asked our guide, Antonio, why the missing part was not restored at that time. He put his arm around my shoulders and gently told me, "Madam, only Michelangelo can restore what Michelangelo painted".

We were not allowed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel. Instead, these are pictures from the museum gardens and some of the hall ways. As our guide told us, there are five miles of halls in the museum, and if we did not keep up, we'd "walk all five miles." There were no stragglers after that.

The ourside and the gardens

The museum and just some of the works on display.

A look at the Vatican gardens as we were going into the museum

On our many visits to Rome after the first visit, we have visited may sights and seen a lot of the city. Howeve, we have not tried to see the Coloseum or the Sistine Chapel since then. Seeing them without crowds was so special, we don't want to ruin those memories with ones of crowds.

Lenda

Marmot@Sea · September 6, 2021

Good Morning and Happy Labour Day.

@StLouisCruisersHappy 52nd Anniversary. Your wedding photo is beautiful.

Val

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

19 minutes ago, puppycanducruise said:

@StLouisCruisersBeautiful picture of a beautiful couple.

So sweet of you, thanks!!

kazu · September 6, 2021

13 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

The shops were having a sale at the Lido pool. This was one table I couldn’t resist. I bought the Delft plates. A set of 4 is $35.

We had lunch in the MDR. We had the fish and chips but I don’t have a picture. I must have used Craig’s phone to take the picture. This is the calamari, which was really good:

Great pics Sharon. I don’t recall ever seeing the Delft plates before on sale at the pool. I’d snatch those up too 😉

Calamari is a new one to me as well. I’ll definitely have my eye out for that. If it means lunch in the MDR, so be it 😉

USN59-79 · September 6, 2021

A couple of thoughts on Civitavecchia: We once booked a hotel there before a cruise. Looked like it was a couple of blocks up the hill from the train station, so we didn't take a taxi. After a couple of blocks we were lost - seemed that the streets had a different name every block or two. A local man saw us as he was parking his car. Asked where we were going and offered to drive us there for free and wouldn't accept a tip. Another time we were in Rome and Sara wanted to buy some nice Italian shoes. Went through a few shoe stores, but couldn't find the right pair. Came back to Civitavecchia and found a beautiful pair in a shoe store there. So we have good memories of the town.

Ray

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

14 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

At the time of our first visit to Rome, the Vatican Museum closed at 1 pm on Saturdays, and we were there on a Saturday. Princess arranged an afterhours tour of the museum for six buses with passengers and one bus with crew.

Each group arrived a few minutes apart, so when we walked through the museum, each group had that area to themselves. Even when we were in the Sistine Chapel there may have been one other group, but it definitely was not crowded. We could see the entire Chapel easily and even sit on the benches around the walls and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The story we were told about the missing part of the ceiling was that it fell when a cannon was fired near the Chapel. The ceiling had been cleaned and restored shortly before we were there. I asked our guide, Antonio, why the missing part was not restored at that time. He put his arm around my shoulders and gently told me, "Madam, only Michelangelo can restore what Michelangelo painted".

We were not allowed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel. Instead, these are pictures from the museum gardens and some of the hall ways. As our guide told us, there are five miles of halls in the museum, and if we did not keep up, we'd "walk all five miles." There were no stragglers after that.

The ourside and the gardens

The museum and just some of the works on display.

A look at the Vatican gardens as we were going into the museum

On our many visits to Rome after the first visit, we have visited may sights and seen a lot of the city. Howeve, we have not tried to see the Coloseum or the Sistine Chapel since then. Seeing them without crowds was so special, we don't want to ruin those memories with ones of crowds.

Lenda

Lenda, the photos are great and remind me of our Vatican & Sistine Chapel tour just 2 years ago with our family. DH and I along with our 2 kids, their spouses and the 6 grandkids went on a cruise in early July followed by several days in Rome. Boy, was it hot that week! Record setting hot! Your tour sounds much nicer without the crowds and probably not the heat involved. I don't blame you for not going back since.

Still, our family says that was a great vacation which I appreciate them saying. We all went that summer to celebrate our 50th. Rather hard to do it in September with 6 in "school" and daughter teaching and son "professoring". 😂

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

20 minutes ago, Marmot@Sea said:

Good Morning and Happy Labour Day.

@StLouisCruisersHappy 52nd Anniversary. Your wedding photo is beautiful.

Val

Thanks so much Val!❤️

lindaler · September 6, 2021

Wow, five pages and I'm early today. I will post first and then read. Otherwise I might be on page 15. Everyone is up early. I again woke to so much smoke. Last night I got a "red line photo" of the river from my lawn swing. It looks like someone just took a red marker and drew a line across the river. That is just the reflection of the smoky sun. Now to read the five pages.

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

@Sharon in AZI love those plates, too! I've never seen them sold on the ship like that before.

aliaschief · September 6, 2021

33 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Good morning everyone!

Since the Nieuw Amsterdam will be in Juneau today I thought I’d share some pictures from one week ago.

Happy Monday from the Nieuw Amsterdam:

The shops were having a sale at the Lido pool. This was one table I couldn’t resist. I bought the Delft plates. A set of 4 is $35.

We had lunch in the MDR. We had the fish and chips but I don’t have a picture. I must have used Craig’s phone to take the picture. This is the calamari, which was really good:

After lunch we walked around and took the tram, which we hadn’t done before. The two other times we were in Juneau we did Mendenhall Glacier tours.

The view is amazing.

We shared a King Crab leg at Tracy’s Crab Shack, again something we hadn’t done before.

Now I need to read the Daily. How did it get to page 5 before 9:00 am?

Those crab legs were so good. We also took the tram.

Horizon chaser 1957 · September 6, 2021

Good morning all, and Happy Labour Day! Procrastination is my wheelhouse, so I’ve been told. Largely due to reading a book instead, so how fitting the two days are celebrated together!

The meal sounds good, but DH does NOT like shellfish. I think he would rather have the linguine with New Zealand COOKIES. 😉

I have never been to Rome, so all pictures are appreciated.

. @StLouisCruisersHappy Anniversary, Sandi and DH. Enjoy your special,day!

Yesterday my unofficial son in Australia texted me. He took us on an overnight trip to the Hunter Valley with a sunrise hot air balloon ride when the Amsterdam was in Sidney in March 2020. He wanted to know if I’ll be home Thursday. He is sending me something and arranging a delivery day. I’m curious and excited to see what it is. Flowers? Food? A singing telegram? I’ll let you know on Friday.

Will and I in the balloon basket high above the Hunter Valley, just before the world shut down. I’m so grateful we got that visit in!

And of course, Happy Monday, whether you’re regretfully preparing for back to school, or happily aboard a BHB preparing for a drink in the Crows Nest!

Edited September 6, 2021 by Horizon chaser 1957

St Pete Cruiser · September 6, 2021

Civitavecchia is, or has been, Holland America's biggest European port, based on number of guests embark and debarking. After going back thru my memory bank (my head), I realized I have been there 5 times. I'm sure some of you have that beat easily!

My first time, strangely enough, was June, 2003, to board my first Holland America cruise on the previous Noordam. Living in Florida, I had cruised on several different lines including the Premier Line which bought the Rotterdam V and sailed it as the Rembrandt. That Noordam cruise was 14 days, to Copenhagen. We did not spend even one night at the port, but bussed from Rome which I think most people do.

I returned in 2006 on a NCL ship which was doing a 7 day RT out of Barcelona.

The next time was 2012 on the present Noordam, which we had sailed from Ft Lauderdale and disembarked in Civitavecchia.

Those 3 times, we never stayed in or saw much or the city, but thought the next time , should see more that the port and the train station.

Then in 2018, we took the Koningsdam TA , but still went directly to Rome.

Finally, in 2019, my last cruise because of the pandemic, we flew to Rome and went directly to Civitavecchia and stayed overnight at a nice small hotel before boarding the Nieuw Statendam. We walked the streets of the old city and the port area and enjoyed it very much. If you have done Rome, treat yourself to a night or two there. The port has a beautiful terminal now to handle all the ships and felt a bit like Ft Lauderdale/Port Everglades with all the activity.

lindaler · September 6, 2021

3 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

You guys look so happy. 52 years is a long time. Happy anniversary.

cruzn single · September 6, 2021

Happy Labor Day! If I don’t post now, I will procrastinate till late in the day. At least it is the day for it!

Happy 52nd Anniversary, @StLouis Cruiser Your picture is lovely. Made me cry, as you looked so much like my youngest sister, who was also married in 1969, but gone from us too soon.

It is another beautiful day, with cooler weather. But know what is coming soon, weather-wise. It is still smoky, so we want the fires OUT!

I am enjoying today’s photos. I should have been in the port and Rome for a TA earlier this year, if I am keeping my cancelled cruises straight.

Enjoy the day, everyone

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

@Horizon chaser 1957thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated!

Your "unofficial" son is handsome and apparently very thoughtful as well. Enjoy your surprise! I would be excited too if I were you.🥰

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

8 minutes ago, lindaler said:

You guys look so happy. 52 years is a long time. Happy anniversary.

Thank you! I have heard my DMIL thought we shouldn't marry so young, but we have lasted quite a long time. I'm pretty sure she's glad we did now though. We provided her the only two grandkids (and 6 great grandkids) that she has. Until the last few years she spoiled every one of them rotten.

I'm sorry to see the photos of the smoke in your area. This has been going on quite a while now. Prayers that there is improvement in the fight against the fires. The photo with the red streak on the water was unique though.

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

10 minutes ago, cruzn single said:

Happy Labor Day! If I don’t post now, I will procrastinate till late in the day. At least it is the day for it!

Happy 52nd Anniversary, @StLouis Cruiser Your picture is lovely. Made me cry, as you looked so much like my youngest sister, who was also married in 1969, but gone from us too soon.

It is another beautiful day, with cooler weather. But know what is coming soon, weather-wise. It is still smoky, so we want the fires OUT!

I am enjoying today’s photos. I should have been in the port and Rome for a TA earlier this year, if I am keeping my cancelled cruises straight.

Enjoy the day, everyone

Oh, I'm sorry I made you cry, though I do understand your thinking of her. I miss my late sister a lot, too. Thanks for the well wishes. And I hope the fire in your area is contained and put out soon as well.

durangoscots · September 6, 2021

Good morning all. It is cool and sunny here, but will heat up later.

I have been reading, but not commenting the past few days - just have not felt like it. I am still having to bandage my face which makes peeking around the edge of the bandage a little uncomfortable for me. Supposedly they will remove the stitches on Wednesday morning. I certainly hope so. I have been faithfully following all instructions about care but it still looks rather nasty to me. My eye is lovely shades various colors. I have been avoiding going out any where anyone other than my immediate neighbors can see me. Bandit longs for full walks. To my surprise, I have been able to sleep well at night.

Stay well everyone. The covid numbers here are up although not as high as other areas. A friend of mine has had symptoms but fortunately I have not see her for awhile. She is resisting getting tested but is staying at home.

Susan

StLouisCruisers · September 6, 2021

9 minutes ago, durangoscots said:

Good morning all. It is cool and sunny here, but will heat up later.

I have been reading, but not commenting the past few days - just have not felt like it. I am still having to bandage my face which makes peeking around the edge of the bandage a little uncomfortable for me. Supposedly they will remove the stitches on Wednesday morning. I certainly hope so. I have been faithfully following all instructions about care but it still looks rather nasty to me. My eye is lovely shades various colors. I have been avoiding going out any where anyone other than my immediate neighbors can see me. Bandit longs for full walks. To my surprise, I have been able to sleep well at night.

Stay well everyone. The covid numbers here are up although not as high as other areas. A friend of mine has had symptoms but fortunately I have not see her for awhile. She is resisting getting tested but is staying at home.

Susan

Susan, I hope reading the Daily helps you feel better while you recuperate from your cancer surgery. The face has such tender skin, especially around the eyes so I'm not surprised about the bruising. Good you've been following directions on how to care for the wound. Good luck with getting the stitches out Wednesday!💕

sailingdutchy · September 6, 2021

We have had the pleasure to be in Civitavecchia about 8 or 9 times to climb on board a BHB sometimes as initial embarkation to start a cruise and other times on a B2B cruise and exploring the beautiful area with a wonderful guide who lives nearby .

Just love to show you a few pictures from a couple of tours without too much commentary . I won't go into Rome today just the area around Civitavecchia .