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

[Vict0riann]

After cocktails, we were ushered into the Pinnacle in groups and seated.  We had a table for six, Sailingdutchy, OverheadFred and us.  A very  congenial table!  The dinner went smoothly, Mark, the fleet food and beverage director, Khay, the Cellar Master, and the chef all gave talks and described the food and drink, and Mark told jokes.  The food was delicious, of course much too much, and the wine flowed.  
 

 

 

 

During the meal, my iPhone decided to go into Live mode.  I don’t know why, but I left it on for the champagne - I don’t know if you can see it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the dessert there were two drinks, one made with sherry and one with port.  We decided the port went best with the chocolate, but I did like the sherry one better, as a drink on its own.  All in all, the pairings were excellent.  The first course, a pate of foie gras went amazingly well with the wine, which was a dessert wine.  

 

 

[Vict0riann]

So, that was our evening, although the others went on to party with the Tiny Little Big Band.  
 

Today, we seem to be back to “almost millpond” status as far as the sea goes.  Just a bit of a swell.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

After cocktails, we were ushered into the Pinnacle in groups and seated.  We had a table for six, Sailingdutchy, OverheadFred and us.  A very  congenial table!  The dinner went smoothly, Mark, the fleet food and beverage director, Khay, the Cellar Master, and the chef all gave talks and described the food and drink, and Mark told jokes.  The food was delicious, of course much too much, and the wine flowed.  
 

 

 

 

During the meal, my iPhone decided to go into Live mode.  I don’t know why, but I left it on for the champagne - I don’t know if you can see it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the dessert there were two drinks, one made with sherry and one with port.  We decided the port went best with the chocolate, but I did like the sherry one better, as a drink on its own.  All in all, the pairings were excellent.  The first course, a pate of foie gras went amazingly well with the wine, which was a dessert wine.  

 

 

Lovely photos of you all Ann.

It is forecast for 54°F and partly cloudy tomorrow in Plymouth.

Edited April 15, 2023 by grapau27

[Ellencruise]

On 4/11/2023 at 3:41 PM, Vict0riann said:

We have had that problem before, too.  Sorry you are having a frustrating time.  I now avoid connecting rooms like the plague.  But sometimes that is all there is…

Yes that happened to us on a cruise and now I avoid adjoining rooms if possible. I hope your situation is remedied

[StLouisCruisers]

I posted this on the Daily a bit ago and want to repost here to perhaps get some answers.

 

I just looked at the cruisemapper map tab on my computer and see that the Rotterdam has changed directions and seems to be heading away from Plymouth England.  Anyone on board know what's going on?  A ship in distress nearby?  Maybe it's nothing and they have so much time to get to port they're doing doughnuts at sea.  Just curious.

 

 

Anyone there know what's going on?

[Overhead Fred]

6 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

I posted this on the Daily a bit ago and want to repost here to perhaps get some answers.

 

I just looked at the cruisemapper map tab on my computer and see that the Rotterdam has changed directions and seems to be heading away from Plymouth England.  Anyone on board know what's going on?  A ship in distress nearby?  Maybe it's nothing and they have so much time to get to port they're doing doughnuts at sea.  Just curious.

 

 

Anyone there know what's going on?

 

Our cabin TV shows the course change but we haven't had any announcement about it.

[rafinmd]

3 minutes ago, Overhead Fred said:

 

Our cabin TV shows the course change but we haven't had any announcement about it.

It appears to be about 4PM and Rotterdam is not due until tomorrow.  I wonder if they went maximum speed through the storms and have time to kill until arrival.'

 

Roy

[MO7]

I assume that we would have been in Plymouth far too early if we continued in that direction. We're on a zigzag pattern now with 10 knots an hour.

[Destiny0315]

Just don't be late for dinner...

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

I have no idea what’s going on regarding our course!    We went to an amazing Super Premium wine tasting, which lasted about an hour and a half, and even had magic.   Lovely wines and food, Khay and Mark did a wonderful job.  There was a quiz involved, Pat and I agreed on the first question, and we were right. He was right on the second, I failed.  
 

We started with a champagne.  Last night was Dom Perignon, this was a precursor, Ruinart, which started things off very well.  When I mentioned it was 6 a.m. in Victoria, Mark said we would be having breakfast of raw salmon with a raw quail’s egg yolk!   We had two Sauvignon Blancs to compare, the pairings were the salmon/egg yolk and caviar and the prawn with something green.  The first turned out to be the old world one, aSancerre and the second from NZ, Cloudy Bay.  Got that right…. The Cabernet Sauvignons were harder.  I thought the first was the Old World one, but it turned out to be from Margaret River, and the second, a Margaux.  With those we had the steak tatami and the chocolate with raspberry and cream.  Mark interspersed the serious tasting with humour and magic.  The finale was when he dipped his finger in his red wine, rubbed it up and down the stem of the glass and bent it!  Even Khay wanted to know how he did that!  I think the sommeliers in the room were fascinated, as were we all.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

And the magic trick - mind over matter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aliaschief]

A great dining experience. Thanks for sharing.

[Ellencruise]

Wow what a great trip and trick!

Edited April 15, 2023 by Ellencruise

[cruiseaholic78]

Have fun on your remaining days on board and your arrival in Rotterdam.

Our Dutch newspaper had a special about the HAL and I thought you might be interested, I have included the text, maybe sailing Dutchy can translate (see you on Westerdam in October/November)

Ann I am still proudly wearing the CC Badge your daughter made for our Copenhagen - Boston cruise.  On our last Azamara cruise I was the only person wearing one so everyone presumed I was the Organizer!

 

Rosalyn

 

[Vict0riann]

Thanks, Rosalyn, Tony explained it to me.  (we had a few people on this cruise wearing DD’s name tags at the M&G.)

[Vict0riann]

Last night’s dinner menu.

 

 

 

 

 We did not partake, as we went to Tamarind with Sailingdutchy to celebrate their birthdays.  Martha’s is on Rotterdam day, and they will be ashore with family, and Tony’s is in the next cruise, when we will not be on board, so this was our chance to celebrate.  There was singing and cake, and Khay brought us a bottle of red from her private stock.  So a good time was had by all.  

 

Lobster

 

[Vict0riann]

This morning’s view

 

 

[Vict0riann]

And today’s program.  Finally, no lunchtime time change!

 

 

 

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

22 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

After cocktails, we were ushered into the Pinnacle in groups and seated.  We had a table for six, Sailingdutchy, OverheadFred and us.  A very  congenial table!  The dinner went smoothly, Mark, the fleet food and beverage director, Khay, the Cellar Master, and the chef all gave talks and described the food and drink, and Mark told jokes.  The food was delicious, of course much too much, and the wine flowed.  
 

 

 

 

During the meal, my iPhone decided to go into Live mode.  I don’t know why, but I left it on for the champagne - I don’t know if you can see it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the dessert there were two drinks, one made with sherry and one with port.  We decided the port went best with the chocolate, but I did like the sherry one better, as a drink on its own.  All in all, the pairings were excellent.  The first course, a pate of foie gras went amazingly well with the wine, which was a dessert wine.  

 

 

Looks like you had fun.

[Overhead Fred]

Hiking in Dartmoor near Plymouth

 

 

Gorse in bloom on the moors

 

Rotterdam at "anchor" in Plymouth

 

Sailing out of Plymouth

 

 

[Vict0riann]

We went ashore in Plymouth about 9:30, as we had arranged to meet my cousin at 10.  Just a bit of a wait while we loaded up the tender.  The ship was also using some Plymouth ferries to take passengers ashore, they held a lot more than the tenders.  When we got ashore, it didn’t take long to find her, and we first went for a cappuccino in a little cafe, we had a lot of news to catch up on.  Then we went for a walk around town, passing the Plymouth Gin Distillery, and we went up a hill looking for the Elizabethan Garden - never did find it, and we eventually were directed back down into the port area.  We wandered on and decided on lunch in a small restaurant, which we felt was popular with locals having their Sunday lunch.  Pat had a prawn and avocado salad, Eleanor and I had two different fish, plaice and gunard, and chips.  Very nice fish, plaice is my all time favourite, and I had never had gunard before.  I had to look it up after we got back to the ship.  We got a tender back to the ship shortly after 2, and we were glad we did.  Busses were arriving with a lot of tours, and things slowed - the Captain wanted everyone back pdq, and I don’t think that happened.  I don’t think we left until after 3:30, and he put the pedal to the metal as soon as the pilot debarked.  We are now going 24 knots, which I think is faster than the ship can go!  We only have a 15 minute window to get into Dover, so time is of the essence.  If we’re not there at that allotted time, we will miss Dover.  
 

We showered, went to Mass, had a drink in the Ocean Bar, and went to dinner in Club Orange about 6:30.  I thought I had posted yesterday’s menu, but it turned out to be todays.  We both had the prosciutto, I had the scallops, CO special and Pat had the cod.  Very nice dinner!  
 

After a lot of fresh air and walking on dry land, we are tired and will make an early night of it.  Just hope the ship makes it to Dover at just the right time.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch

 

 

 

Some of the drinks in the Half Moon Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

We hustled all night, and made our time slot for Dover.  The ferries are coming and going all the time and a container ship came in around our time, too.  But the skies are blue, it looks like a beautiful day.  
 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

The ship is being spruced up for VIPs who will be coming on board, an area in the Crow’s Nest has been roped off, and there is going to be a special lunch today for them in the Club Orange.    
 

 

 

Some of Captain Card’s paintings of previous Rotterdams 

 

 

[BetsyS.]

Thanks so much for all your reporting and pictures. I love the pictures of food!😊

It must be very exciting with all the celebrations!  🥂

[Destiny0315]

Here is a link to the livestream of the Rotterdam, Netherlands Cruise Terminal where the HAL Rotterdam will be a arriving in just a few hours completing it's 150 HAL Anniversary Cruise. Marine Traffic has the ship with an eta around 5am CET which will be 11pm EDT/8pm PDT.

https://youtu.

be/nFozEhYTEMo