'Twas Two Weeks Before Christmas - Live from the Nieuw Statendam, Dec. 10 - 17, 2023

[POA1]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

Not just you - I'd participate. And would love to have that book!

Here's the first installment of the art series. Deck 7 forward elevators. The reflected guy in the blue shirt is not part of the installation.

 

[POA1]

Just now, keeponcruising said:

Thanks for your quick response.  Wishful thinking on my part!

I will admit that we both thought it was inspired reasoning. Alas, it is not to be at the moment.

[POA1]

We did a quick walk into town in search of Nativity displays. Then the rain blew in and put a damper on things. (Quite literally.)

 

Having thoroughly watered our clothes, we returned to ship to change into dry swimsuits.

 

We are now working on the the research project that got pushed back due to weather. But first, a well-deserved champagne break. Poohby Joe is enjoying his afternoon bubbles before we get back to work.

 

The eagle-eyed among you might notice that he's sporting his new Poohby Joe's Guide to Cabana Living t-shirt.

 

That's probably a tip off as to the nature of the project.

 

 

[Haljo1935]

21 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Here's the first installment of the art series. Deck 7 forward elevators. The reflected guy in the blue shirt is not part of the installation.

 

Thank you!! And that's a really nice, detailed piece for a first installment. Stellar work, as usual.

[0106]

2 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

I wish they’d put together some sort of booklet to describe some of the pieces with the artist’s concepts or something.

I thought I read that they have a booklet at Guest Services about the ship's art.  In the interest of an easier art project @POA1, could you check? Maybe just send a message through the Navigator app.

[POA1]

This next piece is on Deck 12, forward elevators. (Note how you're getting pix from places I go regularly. The first one is from Deck 7,where we live this week. This next one is from the elevators we take to get to the cabana.)

 

This one is really cool. I'll show you from various angles and see if you can figure out what it is.

 

From the left side.

 

From the right.

 

Head on from the front. The hole is your clue.

 

Viewed through the circular cut out, you see Rene Magritte's "Son of Man."

[POA1]

Just now, 0106 said:

I thought I read that they have a booklet at Guest Services about the ship's art.  In the interest of an easier art project @POA1, could you check? Maybe just send a message through the Navigator app.

I'll pop by on the way to the Pinnacle tonight or after dinner. It seems like the kind of thing they'd put in the app.

[POA1]

This is the Deck 12 forward piece from above.

 

 

Looing at it this way tips you off a little bit.

[POA1]

Tonight's dinner is in the Pinnacle Grill. We had two eggs for breakfast, no toast or anything else really. Lunch was a small sandwich from the Royal Dutch Café. We shared, but did not finish fries. Nothing else but water & cabana champagne.

 

Dinner will be multiple courses, wine paired per course. I'll skip the Maker's before dinner, so we'll each have a cocktail from the list.

 

The proteins will be beef. Michelle's will carry a supplement, which we will pronounce in a snooty French way, "supp-le-mon."

 

You're looking at two cocktails, two appetizers, shared clothesline bacon, a main course and dessert. Wine pairings throughout. As an extra hint, the up charge item will not be the giant tomahawk.

 

Good luck. We're counting on you. (You don't have to play along. That's Lisa's thing. I'm just giving you fair warning that there will be a bit of food.)

 

Choose one from the cocktail list for each diner.

 

Don't worry about the wines. I'll work off the big list. We have the Elite Beverage Package but I plan to exceed $15 on a few of our wines.

 

Entrées from the steak page. Probably a side or two.

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by POA1

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

4 hours ago, POA1 said:

The bookmobile was here! The library is open and well stocked. (It reminded me to recommend the Finlay Donavan books by Elle Cosimano. We love them. They have surprising plot twists.)

 

Without further ado... The elusive Library. It's on the starboard side, forward between the Rolling Stone Rock Room and the main showroom. There is no background music and the club chairs are comfy.

 

Sign out in the corridor.

Ironically, the NS Library is not among the 1,000 Places

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

[POA1]

For what it's worth, when we go to a restaurant and expect to order extra, I always lead with, "I understand if there's a surcharge, and it's not a problem."

[POA1]

Even though we loaded digital books for the trip, we were impressed by the library. Unfortunately, we are working to hit 400 days in a row and actual bound paper books don't count. Our 400th day will be Sunday when we leave the ship.

 

 

[POA1]

For the sake of continuity, here's the Club Orange menu that we're not having tonight. It's Culinary Council Night so CO and the MDR have the same menu. This also happens on formal / gala / dressy / could you at least wear long pants nights.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by POA1

[kazu]

6 hours ago, hrhdhd said:

I wish they'd post the library's hours in the daily.

 

I am anxiously awaiting Finlay Donovan #4.

 

 

Now that the elusive library is open, you might see a posting in the Daily.  On the Rotterdam Daily under 8 am it said “library is open”.  I don’t recall them stating the time it closed, though.

[POA1]

Just now, kazu said:

 

 

Now that the elusive library is open, you might see a posting in the Daily.  On the Rotterdam Daily under 8 am it said “library is open”.  I don’t recall them stating the time it closed, though.

This library is more impressive than the ones we all miss from the older HAL ships. (Assuming my memory is correct.) It could probably use a few more club chairs though.

[POA1]

Heading off to dinner in the PG. As usual, Poohby Joe dresses to match Michelle. In fact, he does a much better job than I do. Sadly, he never goes to dinner.

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by POA1

[Haljo1935]

15 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

 

Now that the elusive library is open, you might see a posting in the Daily.  On the Rotterdam Daily under 8 am it said “library is open”.  I don’t recall them stating the time it closed, though.

I seem to remember (maybe it was a foggy dream) on Eurodam in May, reading somewhere that it was open 24/7 once it was beyond it's grand unveiling. 

[Copper10-8]

Hey Brian; have a great cruise and a Merry Christmas to you and Michelle! Have you tried a "Broodje Kroket" in the Grand Dutch Café yet?

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, POA1 said:

Tonight's dinner is in the Pinnacle Grill. We had two eggs for breakfast, no toast or anything else really. Lunch was a small sandwich from the Royal Dutch Café. We shared, but did not finish fries. Nothing else but water & cabana champagne.

 

Dinner will be multiple courses, wine paired per course. I'll skip the Maker's before dinner, so we'll each have a cocktail from the list.

 

The proteins will be beef. Michelle's will carry a supplement, which we will pronounce in a snooty French way, "supp-le-mon."

 

You're looking at two cocktails, two appetizers, shared clothesline bacon, a main course and dessert. Wine pairings throughout. As an extra hint, the up charge item will not be the giant tomahawk.

 

Good luck. We're counting on you. (You don't have to play along. That's Lisa's thing. I'm just giving you fair warning that there will be a bit of food.)

 

Choose one from the cocktail list for each diner.

 

Don't worry about the wines. I'll work off the big list. We have the Elite Beverage Package but I plan to exceed $15 on a few of our wines. 

 

Entrées from the steak page. Probably a side or two...

Ritz Cocktail (never had one, so a bit anxious), candied 🥓 (to share), iceberg wedge no cheese w/1000 island, small portion ribeye med w/bordelaise, special request sides green beans & sautéed onions, finish w/chocolate souffle and cappuccino. Appreciate you handling the wine - I cannot make another decision. Oh yummy!!

Edited December 13, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[POA1]

You ask. The National Institute of Cheer delivers!

 

 

You'll have to wait until we're back in Fort Lauderdale for the scans though.

[Haljo1935]

19 minutes ago, POA1 said:

Heading off to dinner in the PG. As usual, Poohby Joe dresses to match Michelle. In fact, he does a much better job than I do. Sadly, he never goes to dinner.

 

 

Poohby Joe and your bride look stunning!

[Haljo1935]

2 minutes ago, POA1 said:

You ask. The National Institute of Cheer delivers!

 

 

You'll have to wait until we're back in Fort Lauderdale for the scans though.

Oh my!! You have brought the best Christmas gift ever - Santa gets a holiday!!

See, this is why we submit official requests to the Institute  🤭

Edited December 13, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[kazu]

45 minutes ago, POA1 said:

This library is more impressive than the ones we all miss from the older HAL ships. (Assuming my memory is correct.) It could probably use a few more club chairs though.

 

You think?  there aren’t that many books in these new libraries as they have multiple copies of the same ones.  the library on the Prinsendam or even the old Rotterdam was much more extensive and impressive IMO with many comfy chairs to sit and enjoy.  Each to their own 😉.   At least, there is a library where one can possibly find a book.  Shelves were pretty bare by day 3 on our cruise.

[kazu]

37 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I seem to remember (maybe it was a foggy dream) on Eurodam in May, reading somewhere that it was open 24/7 once it was beyond it's grand unveiling. 

 

I didn’t check it at midnight so I can’t say for sure but every day in the Daily it had the announcement it was open at 8 AM

[Sea42]

33 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Oh my!! You have brought the best Christmas gift ever - Santa gets a holiday!!

See, this is why we submit official requests to the Institute  🤭

Just my own little contribution, whenever I saw it I remembered to "Turn left at the shoe" to get to our cabin

Aft elevator area,deck 4