BTimmer's Almost Live - Zuiderdam 1/2-30/22 -San Diego to Florida RT

[Btimmer]

54 minutes ago, cccole said:

Btimmer, sorry, sorry, sorry, but...does the pilot stay with your captain on the bridge until your ship leaves the canal?  No hurry in answering.  Cherie

Yes

[cccole]

Thank you, Cherie

[ksmaxey]

13 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Whether the Canal asks or not or what threshold wasn't disclosed to us.  They may not request it for the return voyage.  We'll see.

 

Re: snorkeling, we've been there three times in the last few months and have found an undocumented snorkeling spot that's pretty good.  The HAL trip should expose us to a new area.  Here's hoping.

We will be at HMC Monday - where do you suggest snorkeling?

[0106]

Brimmed- Thanks for taking us along on the first leg of your cruise.  Looking forward to hearing about your westward journey.  On another thread you said the cruise has been “challenging”. What did you mean by that comment?

 

[Btimmer]

14 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Brimmed- Thanks for taking us along on the first leg of your cruise.  Looking forward to hearing about your westward journey.  On another thread you said the cruise has been “challenging”. What did you mean by that comment?

 

By challenging, I had in mind several things: the challenge of getting a flight to San Diego, cancellations of ports and the need to rebook shore excursions,  the cloud of 'will one or both of us get the virus', keeping vigilant in our anti-virus practices when ashore, and how do we spend a significant amount of shipboard credit on experiences and not things. 

 

With all that being said, we are thankful to be onboard. We'd still repeat the cruise. We love cruising and we're doing our small part in providing jobs for the crew, many of whom lost 18 months of income and very real challenging times getting back to their home countries at the start of the pandemic.

 

Thank you for following along.

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, ksmaxey said:

We will be at HMC Monday - where do you suggest snorkeling?

Besides the HAL excursion, there is a snorkeling area at the beach by the tender dock.  If you don't mind a 45 minute walk, walk 30 minutes to the horse corrals, turn left down to the beach and turn right and walk another 15 minutes to the sign indicating to not walk any further.  Looking out at the water you'll see a dark spot.  Head for there and over by the rocky point.  
 

Please keep in mind, there are no lifeguards and few other people there.  A snorkeling vest is recommended.

[forwardho]

I so have enjoyed cruising the Panama Canal virtually with you on your trip. Your pictures and information have been wonderful. I do have a question since we have a upcoming trip on the Zuiderdam, will the bathroom or closet doors allow for a over the door shoe hanging organizer?

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

See you on the ship tomorrow.

Gail and Marty

[IPB4IGO]

31 minutes ago, forwardho said:

I do have a question since we have a upcoming trip on the Zuiderdam, will the bathroom or closet doors allow for a over the door shoe hanging organizer?

We are onboard now and use one of those organizers. We have used them on four dam ships now.

[zelker]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

By challenging, I had in mind several things ,,,  the cloud of 'will one or both of us get the virus', keeping vigilant in our anti-virus practices when ashore ...

Did you find yourselves not doing things onboard that you normally would and if so, what kinds of things did you avoid? 

 

Thx!

[Btimmer]

Almost again. . .

 

The Captain just announced while circling Half Moon Cay that the Bahamian authorities declined clearance this morning for the Zuiderdam to make a stop here today.  They changed the rules lowering the threshold. He sounded very surprised at this turn of events. So we'll have a slow day at sea.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

7 minutes ago, zelker said:

Did you find yourselves not doing things onboard that you normally would and if so, what kinds of things did you avoid? 

 

Thx!

On board the only things different are the constant mask wearing and we have not eaten with others.  In the Main Stage everyone tends to socially distance but not absolutely.

[canadianbear]

6 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Almost again. . .

 

The Captain just announced while circling Half Moon Cay that the Bahamian authorities declined clearance this morning for the Zuiderdam to make a stop here today.  They changed the rules lowering the threshold. He sounded very surprised at this turn of events. So we'll have a slow day at sea.

Oh goodness.  That’s a disappointment for sure.  

[Btimmer]

What might have been.  That's the Rotterdam positioned at Half Moon Cay.

 

[Btimmer]

Time to return to:

[canadianbear]

I wonder if you were denied because the Rotterdam is already there and they figured too many people?   Such a shame.  

[Btimmer]

33 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

I wonder if you were denied because the Rotterdam is already there and they figured too many people?   Such a shame.  

We have wondered the same.  Ian just announced complementary Bingo at 3pm.  Yesterday there was a free open bar after lunch.

[canadianbear]

4 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

We have wondered the same.  Ian just announced complementary Bingo at 3pm.  Yesterday there was a free open bar after lunch.

I am sure the Captain and crew are also very disappointed but it’s out of their control.  
 

Nice the Captain is giving extras to all on board. We experienced this once where Captain gave open bar for 3 hours-it was a gong show.  Entertaining for us watching it but people can be crazy when they hear “free liquor”.  

[Btimmer]

We're cruising by Eleuthera Island at 13 knots.  This turning into a live thread. . .
 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by Btimmer

[shanni-shanni]

19 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We celebrated with a Pinnacle Grill dinner!

 

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail 

 

Iceberg Wedge Salad

 

Alaskan King Crab Legs

 

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

That looks like the true King Crab, not the Snow Crab they used to serve.

 

Was there a surcharge?

 

Tom

[Btimmer]

46 minutes ago, shanni-shanni said:

That looks like the true King Crab, not the Snow Crab they used to serve.

 

Was there a surcharge?

 

Tom

Yes us was true King Crab and advertised as such.  And, yes, there is a $20 surcharge.

[Btimmer]

My source has confirmed that for the return voyage around 60 guests are staying onboard (roughly what I guessed from the number of Covid tests) plus around 900 will join us tomorrow.  These are similar numbers to what we currently have on board.

FYI, the Pinnacle Grill has been closed for lunch the entire cruise and faces a similar fate for next cruise.

 

[rkacruiser]

4 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Entertaining for us watching it but people can be crazy when they hear “free liquor”.  

 

😆   There is no phrase on a HAL ship that the guests like more than "free booze"!  

[zelker]

59 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

FYI, the Pinnacle Grill has been closed for lunch the entire cruise and faces a similar fate for next cruise.

 

Assume due to staffing issues?  We really enjoy PG lunches plus I've got a Roll Call group lunch planned there on our 35 day SoPac cruise so hoping this will not be an issue by the second week of March. 

[canadianbear]

18 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

😆   There is no phrase on a HAL ship that the guests like more than "free booze"!  

So true!!  They went wild which is something we’ve never seen before.  People watching was quite funny but the next morning, wow, never seen the ship so quiet 😂😂