Land & Sea - LIVE (nearly) from Amsterdam and ms Rotterdam 15 day Atlantic Sojourn - October 7th, 2023

[kazu]

happy to say that our Captain just announced that their team member is stable, doing well and she is expected to fully recover.

 

Second piece of good news.  (Hope I don’t get into trouble).  Another roll call member won 2 games at Bingo today.  Congratulations @Radbooks.  That makes 2 of us so far.  Now to win the big one 😝 

 

Need to prep for our slot pull so once that is done - I will try to do some catching up.  Busy times on board 😂  Wish us luck on our slot pull 🤞 

 

It’s very windy and waves are around 18 feet high.  There is a definite motion of the ocean.  If someone saw me this morning weaving a couple of times they might have thought I had found a bar very early this morning 😂 

 

Weather is warm though as is the strong wind.  Things should improve a bit by dinner time according to our Captain.

[Radbooks]

It was really fun to win today! Not sure if I have ever won at bingo on a cruise before!! 

[0106]

This morning Dr Hardy the guest lecturer spoke on the marine life in Atlantic.  Much better than his first lecture.

 

Happy to be watching the Ravens by the Seaview pool!

[0106]

I really enjoyed Stevie Jo, tonight’s comedian.

[dfish]

It sounds like all are having a great time.  That is wonderful!   @kazu Jacqui, don't let your guard down and be safe.  No accidents, please!

[BetsyS.]

Jacqui - Thanks for the update on the crew member. That's great that she will fully recover. What a relief for all onboard! It's good to know that medical evacuations can take place even when the ship is not at a port.

         Congratulations to you and Radbooks on your Bingo wins!

Good luck on your slot pull!

          I hope the winds have calmed down.

 

        

       

[BetsyS.]

0106 - Congratulations on the Ravens win!!!!    That's great that you got to see it!

[oakridger]

16 hours ago, Sea42 said:

We stayed at Hotel ML. Great location! I would definitely stay there again.

https://www.mlinhaarlem.nl/en/

Thanks!  I have already booked Hotel ML  in Haarlem after the May TA on Zuiderdam.  It looked like a central area with many things to do within walking distance.  Do you have any specific suggestions on places near the hotel?

 

~Nancy

[kazu]

I tried to catch up a bit yesterday  but the spinning wheel of death was not co-operative.

Fingers crossed for a few posts 🤞 

 

Here is today’s programme: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

Last night was Gala night.  

 

The menu for the evening:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was really, really good.

 

I started with the lemon drop

 

 

and escargots of course

 

 

 

they were excellent & a good size

 

 

 

the steak was phenomenal.  Better than the Pinnacle Grill IMO.

 

 

 

Ended with cheese - but look at the crackers 😞 NOT crackers.  I’ll bring some next time.

 

 

 

I shared some of my cheese with Lacy Bella (Rudi-cruisers service dog) with permission of course.

 

 

[kazu]

I noticed a change in the breakfast menu (this is the CO menu):

 

Just one omelette or a make your own.  Fewer eggs Benedict choices, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[0106]

Last night, my DH wanted the lamb chops but did not like the sides. He asked our waiter if he could change the sides.  “Of course sir.  Would you like a baked potato and string beans?”  Yes, it was perfect.  My experience has been that they are happy to alter the menu to satisfy our taste.  This includes asking for extra vegetables(which I often do).

 

Warmer today with less wind.

 

I went to the lecture again this morning, “Daredevils: Longer and Deeper “  I found the topic interesting.

[kazu]

I am hoping @Vict0riann received my email with the time difference 🙏 

 

I need her to turn up the volume on her air tag.   I am off to search for the elusive thing at 2 PM and hopefully it will ping for me 🤞 

 

Very kind of the current residents to permit me to check 👍   Special thanks to @philjh for approaching their neighbours and explaining the situation.

[0bnxshs]

On 10/15/2023 at 10:21 AM, 0106 said:

This morning Dr Hardy the guest lecturer spoke on the marine life in Atlantic.  Much better than his first lecture.

 

Happy to be watching the Ravens by the Seaview pool!

Glad that your lecturer warmed up and delivered a better session!

 

I'm thinking you are at the Lido pool here.... and not far from the Lido Bar! 😂

[0106]

41 minutes ago, 0bnxshs said:

 

I'm thinking you are at the Lido pool here.... and not far from the Lido Bar! 😂

Of course, I was at the Lido pool, sorry for my error.  Luckily, the Lido excellent servers made trips to the Lido Bar unnecessary. 😊

 

BTW,  they had “football oriented” snacks in the Lido such as pigs in a blanket and sliders.

[Vict0riann]

3 hours ago, kazu said:

I am hoping @Vict0riann received my email with the time difference 🙏 

 

I need her to turn up the volume on her air tag.   I am off to search for the elusive thing at 2 PM and hopefully it will ping for me 🤞 

 

Very kind of the current residents to permit me to check 👍   Special thanks to @philjh for approaching their neighbours and explaining the situation.

I keep pushing the button to activate the sound, hope it is getting through somehow!

[kazu]

19 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

I keep pushing the button to activate the sound, hope it is getting through somehow!

 

Carolyn in 5050 was very warm and welcoming. Once she knew, she did a search herself - under the bed, etc before I got there.

 

I got nothing on my IPhone I hate to say (and yes, I had to take it off airplane mode 😳).    

 

She and I think it might have ended up in the bed sheets or covers and gone down to laundry.  

 

I hate to say it, but my search was in vain 😞. 

 

She was hoping as much as I that it was found.

 

I’m going to check at Guest Services for the heck of it to see if it could be there although that is probably for naught.

 

Sorry Ann 😢 

[Vict0riann]

Jacqui, I'm sorry I'm such a bother!   I suppose it might be in a Lost and Found drawer somewhere, it is evidently still on the ship.  The wandering AirTag is on its way to Fort Lauderdale!  

 

Thank you for your efforts on my behalf, and thanks to Carolyn in 5050 for participating in the search!  We still have three AirTags, now with new batteries, and so that will cover our two suitcases and Pat's carry-on!

[kazu]

This is as close as we got to Ponta Delgado on that fateful day:

 

 

It was a miserable day but a rainbow did come out for us:

 

 

There are still orchids in the ladies’ washrooms.  I didn’t check out the Men’s 😂 

 

 

Rhonda @Radbooks and I both scored small bingo wins this morning.  👍 

Despite my planning - I missed it this afternoon in my air tag search and chatting 😱 

[kazu]

1 minute ago, Vict0riann said:

Jacqui, I'm sorry I'm such a bother!   I suppose it might be in a Lost and Found drawer somewhere, it is evidently still on the ship.  The wandering AirTag is on its way to Fort Lauderdale!  

 

Thank you for your efforts on my behalf, and thanks to Carolyn in 5050 for participating in the search!  We still have three AirTags, now with new batteries, and so that will cover our two suitcases and Pat's carry-on!

 

No bother at all, Ann 😊 

 

Carolyn and her husband were happy to help.  She was really hoping I would find it.  

 

I will take one of mine down to Guest Services to see if they have one so they know what they are looking for.

 

Worth a shot.  I’d love this story to end with a good ending 🤞 

[durangoscots]

4 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Carolyn in 5050 was very warm and welcoming. Once she knew, she did a search herself - under the bed, etc before I got there.

 

I got nothing on my IPhone I hate to say (and yes, I had to take it off airplane mode 😳).    

 

She and I think it might have ended up in the bed sheets or covers and gone down to laundry.  

 

I hate to say it, but my search was in vain 😞. 

 

She was hoping as much as I that it was found.

 

I’m going to check at Guest Services for the heck of it to see if it could be there although that is probably for naught.

 

Sorry Ann 😢 

Jacqui and Ann ... interesting on the air tag. Obviously it is somewhere. It is amazing how those GPS units can travel and withstand getting wet, bounced and generally mishandled. Remember the friend of mine who passed and her family tossed her Lifeline in the trash. It survived the trash compactor on the truck and sent out distress signals all the way to the dump. Evidently it is now buried deep and has been silent. The family had a real battle to get the thing disconnected and a refund on the unused portion for some time after as it did continue to send cries for help for several days after it was tossed.

 

Susan

[kazu]

Here is today’s Lido menu:

 

 

 

 

 

And Lido dinner menu:

 

 

 

our MDR dinner menu :

 

 

 

 

Won’t be at dinner there.  We are going to the Tamarind tonight.

 

All reports are very good 🤞 

[kazu]

Here are a few pics of the library on board.  

 

 

 

 

Sorry I do NOT understand why they are posting upside down.  GRRRR.

 

 

The shelves are somewhat empty as people take 3 books at a time (so I was told).  

 

 

 

How many books can you read at one time?

 

 

There is a book exchange section.

 

 

 

Sorry, I do not understand why these are upside down.  GRRRR.

 

after the search for the air tag I met up with CC friends in the Dutch Cafe.  Didn’t want a lot to eat with  Tamarind coming so I had a small bite with them.

 

 

 

Up in the Lido, I saw CRACKERS.  WTH?  They got rid of the decent ones because they were packaged.

 

 

These sure look packaged to me.

 

 

They are tiny, tiny crackers.  I haven’t tried them yet.

[0106]

6 minutes ago, kazu said:

They are tiny, tiny crackers.  I haven’t tried them yet.

Oyster crackers go in soup or chowder.  Although they taste a bit like saltines, I wouldn’t eat them with cheese.

[kazu]

Back tracking - a bit of a vent.

 

the other night 5 of us went to the Pinnacle Grill

 

 

the jumbo shrimp - good I believe

 

 

 

Caesar salad:

 

 

The other salad:

 

 

Ok, you KNOW I was going to order the caviar, right?

 

 

ok?  6 biminis for the caviar?  We had to order more.

 

 

One person changed seats to join me and happy to report a 3rd is now a converted caviar fan 😉 

 

 

the strip loin:

 

 

 

Lamb chops:

 

 

Sides:

 

 

 

 

Two of us ordered the lobster in the interest of CC research.  No pics of it.  It wasn’t worth posting.  Overcooked, dry and awful.  Very disappointing.

 

Sorbet:

 

 

The baked Alaska:

 

 

My friend dug a hole in it and got to the good stuff 😂 

 

 

And the soufflé:

 

 

 

Service was borderline at best.

 

One person waited forever for his wine.

 

No coffee or tea even offered.

 

I would have sent my lobster back but no one asked how our meal was.  Sheesh.

 

My friend ate hers because she was hungry.  Me?  If it’s no good I don’t eat it.

 

We had fun though but I will NOT return to this PG.  

 

the steak last night at the MDR was better than the one in the PG.  One of the best.