LIVE FROM the flagship Rotterdam on the 21-day Eastern Caribbean and 150th Anniversary Transatlantic

[Vict0riann]

The Mariner reception went well.  After the Captain, I think Joska, the seeing-eye dog, was the most popular one there. 
 

Captain and Joska

 

Even Karlijn, the Cruise and Travel Director, got down for a kiss from Joska

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Vict0riann

[Vict0riann]

The Sweet Spot special display was French today.  I had just a nice piece of Brie, and some calamari, as we will be going to the Indonesian tea later.

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

Just realized - we disembark a week from today.  I noticed because in checking the Navigator, I saw we missed the “Wednesday Brunch” which I didn’t know existed!  However we did go to the Indonesian tea, and while Tony and Martha go to the Rijstaffel, we will go to dinner in Club Orange.  
 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

The Captain gave an update on the TV to let us know what we have been doing and what we will be doing in the future in an attempt to avoid any bad weather.

 

[grapau27]

46 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

The Captain gave an update on the TV to let us know what we have been doing and what we will be doing in the future in an attempt to avoid any bad weather.

 

By the time you get to Plymouth on Sunday the weather forecast is for calm weather with 64-68°F expected.

[Florida_gal_50]

 Carmel corn pancakes 🤮.  Bring back the red velvet French toast 😍.  The food looks really good on your cruise. I used to love the Indonesian tea and I really don’t like tea but it always tasted so good.  The banana fritters were yummy.

[Vict0riann]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

 Carmel corn pancakes 🤮.  Bring back the red velvet French toast 😍.  The food looks really good on your cruise. I used to love the Indonesian tea and I really don’t like tea but it always tasted so good.  The banana fritters were yummy.

No banana fritters for tea, maybe they had them at the Rijstaffel.  We had scones, cupcakes, and coconut rice balls.  The spice tea bags were lovely.  

[Vict0riann]

Dinner tonight.  I waited to post the menu as it seems to be clearer when I photograph the actual menu rather than a screenshot of the menu on Navigator.  Not too exciting, I had Caesar salad and the sole, Pat had Caesar salad, French onion soup and the banana crisp.  He said the crisp was good and hot, for a change.  And our laundry came back in a day and a half - a record.  Others have been waiting 3 or 4 days.  
 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

Internet seems to be poor this morning.  
 

Program for today, and our location.  Ireland has appeared on the map!

 

 

 

The sea is pretty much as it was yesterday, perhaps a little calmer.  Yesterday I didn’t go out on the verandah to take my picture, but today I did.  
 

[Vict0riann]

Martha air dropped me some pictures from the Rijstaffel last night, which they enjoyed.  
 

 

 

 

 

[Mooregre]

On 4/11/2023 at 2:36 PM, Vict0riann said:

Do you know if they have spoken to your noisy  neighbours?  Once on Eurodam, we had a single lady next door who was lonesome, I guess, and maybe a bit deaf, and had the TV on loudly from 5 a.m. until late at night.  We talked to the Front Desk and they said they would ask her to lower the volume, and she did.  What a relief!

They have spoken to them several times.  Yes, we believe the the occupants are hard of hearing.  They don’t care what what we think.  Now, guest services are ignoring our requests.  

[Vict0riann]

21 minutes ago, Mooregre said:

They have spoken to them several times.  Yes, we believe the the occupants are hard of hearing.  They don’t care what what we think.  Now, guest services are ignoring our requests.  

That’s awful.  

[Oceansaway17]

1 hour ago, Mooregre said:

They have spoken to them several times.  Yes, we believe the the occupants are hard of hearing.  They don’t care what what we think.  Now, guest services are ignoring our requests.  

Well even longer cruises with very few kids can have issues.

So older folks who are hard of hearing and play tv loud and talk loud can be worse.

Then again problem could be solved with hearing aids but some won’t accept the fact they are hard of hearing.

I had issue on my last cruise where the tv’s were not back to back and so then mine would not drown theirs out.

[Fivelinks]

On 4/11/2023 at 4:36 PM, Vict0riann said:

Do you know if they have spoken to your noisy  neighbours?  Once on Eurodam, we had a single lady next door who was lonesome, I guess, and maybe a bit deaf, and had the TV on loudly from 5 a.m. until late at night.  We talked to the Front Desk and they said they would ask her to lower the volume, and she did.  What a relief!

Just off of a Celebrity cruise where we had acrobats or something crazy happening up there. Guest relations called while I was standing there and it did help some... Keep pushing them to do something!

[ger_77]

@Vict0riann did you speak with anyone about the lengthy turn-around time for your laundry?  It usually comes back by the following evening; 3 or 4 days is excessive.

[Vict0riann]

9 hours ago, ger_77 said:

@Vict0riann did you speak with anyone about the lengthy turn-around time for your laundry?  It usually comes back by the following evening; 3 or 4 days is excessive.

No, we haven’t.  But I guess we should.  It is going to be a problem to decide when to put in our last bag before we disembark.  We have a bag in now, we’ll see how soon it comes back. Have to wonder if they’re short handed.  The ship is pretty full. 

[dutchclogs]

Curious if you have heard of anyone experiencing the martini hour in Tamarind?  App is not very clear Is it $7 per martini??

Thanks x

[Vict0riann]

Last night’s menu.  

 

We ate in Rudi’s Sel de Mer, we had asked Khay, our Cellar Master, if she might be able to take some time some evening to join us there, and last night worked for her, before the Orange Party.  We had fun. The highlight, of course was the Salsburger Nockerl.  Our waiter brought us two, which was much too much!

 

[Vict0riann]

This morning’s Program and state of the sea.  Very few whitecaps.  The ship is very stable, and the Captain seems to be avoiding the worst of the weather.  
 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

We passed by the Orange Party last night, but didn’t linger.  It was very crowded, but Martha said it was a very good party, with Dutch treats and dancing.  Orange drinks.

 

 

[Vict0riann]

This morning, after breakfast, we stopped at the Dutch Cafe for a coffee.  I hadn’t noticed before, but besides the Dutch licorice, they now have “English” - Allsorts, and lovely and soft, so I bought some!  Also, Tony asked for  and received tiles for us!  They got them at the end of the 5-day cruise, but we didn’t, but now we have them.  
 

 

 

 

And things are improving!  Laundry is back this morning, so 24 hours.  

[Florida_gal_50]

Good news on the laundry.  I love sel de mer.  It’s my favourite.  The licorice, not so much.  I haven’t  seen those in years and strangely enough haven’t missed them 😛.

[Vict0riann]

The Sweet Spot specialty corner was German today in the Lido.  It always seems to have the longest lines and was the same today.  We shared a turkeyBLT and fruit, we have the Cellar Master Dinner tonight.  

 

 

Plenty of desserts at the neighbouring station. 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

Last night’s dinner menu for the dining room.

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

But we went to the Cellar Master dinner - our menu was a little different.  
 

 

First we were to go to the Ocean Bar for cocktails.  I asked what the drinks were - the red one is a Negroni, the orange one, no one was sure, just said “Not a Negroni”.  I had a Not-a-Negroni”. Quite tasty. Evidently brandy, an orange liqueur and Prosecco.