LIVE! HAL Oosterdam 1/7-1/29 South America & Antarctica—Let’s Cruise!

[Sea42]

It is too bad that the cruise is off to a rocky start. I hope thing improve in the coming days.

 

2 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

we will be missing a lovely excursion but we understand that  this can happen in this part of the world

 

What a good attitude to have when the unexpected happens!

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, Sea42 said:

It is too bad that the cruise is off to a rocky start. I hope thing improve in the coming days.

 

3 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

we will be missing a lovely excursion but we understand that  this can happen in this part of the world

 

What a good attitude to have when the unexpected happens!

 

@Sea42 Thank you! Once, many many years ago, I was on a cruise ship that missed a port that I was extremely excited about, and I got all bent out of shape.  I realized that did absolutely nothing to improve the day or the cruise, and that was the last time I did that.

 

On cruises since, I’ve missed big ports, been through entire weeks of rain, gotten sick,  broken an  ankle and had to end my cruise early to go to a hospital…ton of stuff has happened. And you know what? I’ve had a great time on every single cruise (well, except the broken ankle one 😂 ).  

 

[TravelBluebird]

Sunset over Port San Antonio

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We have definitely noticed many rooms that still have their cards in the slots, so it must be a large group of passengers that have been delayed.

 

Here are the official communications we received from HAL on the situation; a letter to our room and also an email with the itinerary change attached  (I’m assuming that the email is really aimed at the people who are in transit and may not know of the change otherwise):

 

 

 

Edited January 8 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

2 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Gosh what a start to your cruise! Safe travels x

 

PS. Don't forget the drawers under the bed!

Edited 2 hours ago by NorbertsNiece

 

Thank you for reminding us of those! I am using one for some of my larger photo equipment!  The storage in the desk seat is also handy for some of that!

[TravelBluebird]

4 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

Remember this ship 2000 passengers vs excess of 4000 passengers on the bigger ships sailing the Caribbean.

Totally different cruise vibe!

I'll take improved food any day over any casino...just saying!

 

Very fair statement!   With no big “sail away” party (well, not like we really sailed away…but I digress) or big main stage show//welcome aboard show the first night, i know I’m not in Carnival land anymore!

 

Which is OK; this cruise is about the travel and places we are going for us. The food is a nice bonus! 😀

We weren’t in the mood for sitting in a bar listening to music this evening, so we are back in our room reading and such.  

 

We did go to the Holland America Origin Story show at 8pm. It’s just one person (Ed the cruise director? No idea; he didn’t introduce himself) narrating live, with a video presentation.  It was extremely well done, and both Russ and I love history and enjoyed the presentation. It wasn’t too crowded, but I’m sure its the type of show you only need to see once. 

 

A few images from the presentation, and 2 photos from the sail away party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

5 hours ago, 0106 said:

you decide to cruise HAL in the future, there is an excellent website called Halfacts https://halfacts.com/vista-class/4123-noordam/  The obstructions are clearly visible in the pictures that are posted there.

 

Thank you, but yes,  I knew about the site and looked up my room. Being new to HAL, when room 4123 for the Oosterdam wasn’t on there, I didn’t look any further.  I didn’t know which ships were sister ships, and so didn’t think to look at Noordam.

 

I’ll be having a little discussion with HAL about this. The cabin should CLEARLY be marked and sold as a partially obstructed view, and sold for less, and it was not.  I had other choices when I booked besides the disabled access room—the HAL agent I spoke with didn’t mention the problem with this room at all, and said it was a nice balcony room. I even ASKED if there were any obstructions to the view when I booked it, and I was told no!

[TravelBluebird]

Checked out the TV offerings. I like to know what there is…not that I watch lots of TV on cruises, but there are lots of sea days coming up, so you never know!

 

TON of movies on demand. 3 News channels (BBC, Fox and MSNBC). Food TV Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, some sports channels (they had the NFL game on tonight on special events channel). A good bow camera and map.

 

Very nice, and they clearly know their demographic well with the channel selections!  

[Hogladyrider]

@TravelBluebird...our 1sr HAL cruise was on Oosterdam just before the shut down.

 

Our 1st venture away from Carnival and yes we are now "older" and also Platinum with Carnival.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Origin show on HAL.

 

We sail on Koningsdam to Hawaii in 3 weeks.  My gift to myself is a spa pass I love the heated lounges, hydro pool, steam room etc.

While I enjoyed all our Carnival cruises we definitely prefer smaller ships in our retirement years.

 

Watched your precruise video today.  Looking forward to following along this cruise.

 

If you ever need a top notch TA I know one who is also a very good YT.

Susan

[Hogladyrider]

Just now, TravelBluebird said:

Checked out the TV offerings. I like to know what there is…not that I watch lots of TV on cruises, but there are lots of sea days coming up, so you never know!

 

TON of movies on demand. 3 News channels (BBC, Fox and MSNBC). Food TV Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, some sports channels (they had the NFL game on tonight on special events channel). A good bow camera and map.

 

Very nice, and they clearly know their demographic well with the channel selections!  

We really enjoyed the TV selections when we cruised HAL.  At the time many free movies.

 

Will they be showing movies by the pool?  Or are they in the theater?

[TravelBluebird]

@Hogladyrider  Thank you re the TA, I may have to take you up on that after HAL not informing me correctly about my room.

 

We considered the spa pass, but at over $700 for both of us on this cruise, we decided we just couldn’t do it—the excursions have been quite expensive. BUT we may do a day pass for a day or two—like you, we love the thermal suites!!

 

I hope you live blog your Hawaii cruise—I want to follow along! 

[TravelBluebird]

3 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

We really enjoyed the TV selections when we cruised HAL.  At the time many free movies.

 

Will they be showing movies by the pool?  Or are they in the theater?

 

I don’t know yet!  I’ll let you know as soon as I see one on the schedule. 

 

For tomorrow e are going to Coffee with Ed, the Captain’s Talk,  a Tango lesson, and the Captain’s Welcome..  There is a single vocalist on main stage; I doubt we’ll go to that-single vocalists are just not our thing.  Probably will go to Rolling Stone Lounge in the evening.

[0106]

Just now, Hogladyrider said:

Will they be showing movies by the pool?  Or are they in the theater?

Movies are only shown by the pool on the Pinnacle class ships (Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam). The Vista class ships (Zuiderdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Oosterdam) show movies in the World Stage (theater). 
 

9 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

For tomorrow e are going to Coffee with Ed, the Captain’s Talk,  a Tango lesson, and the Captain’s Welcome.

Sounds like a great first day.  I always enjoy the coffee talks and I understand the Captain is very personable.

 

One of my favorite things about the Vista class ships is the full promenade on deck 3.  You are somewhat protected from the wind and rain.  If you are on the starboard side and they announce “whale on the port side”. You can easily cut through the ship and hopefully see the whales.  I often see photographers there.

[SUESEABE]

Bon Voyage! Fair winds and calm seas!

[TravelBluebird]

5:40 am

 

Ship still hasn’t departed

Edited January 8 by TravelBluebird

[caneable]

So sorry your missing the Puerto Montt  excursion. Blues of a different kind, although your stoicism is most commendable.

We’ve never missed a port yet in over 25 cruises, but we did have a delayed start on a Princess cruise in French Polynesia. Departing from Papeete, the captain let rip with the engines and reversed into the dock! Fortunately a thorough search was undertaken and we were cleared for embarkation in the early hours and made our first port of call easily.  On another occasion we got out of Halifax only to learn that just after we set off they closed the harbour. We had a forward ocean view cabin on deck 4. 20 ft waves, boy we barely slept that night with the constant wave crashing and see sawing through them all!
That balcony obstruction has us a little worried as we booked the cruise in a package and have no say over which cabin we get except that it is described as a “Deluxe Veranda Stateroom” that will be advised later (not so far!) by the cruise line.🫰

Being regular NCL cruisers (diamond level), we never need to worry about luggage storage, just slide it under the bed!  We usually take two cases each on any longer cruises, and one will slip inside the other. That’s what we’ll do this time but that  looks one sturdy case that you have with you, where could you stow it?
Steve

[TravelBluebird]

[TravelBluebird]

6 minutes ago, caneable said:

So sorry your missing the Puerto Montt  excursion. Blues of a different kind, although your stoicism is most commendable.

We’ve never missed a port yet in over 25 cruises, but we did have a delayed start on a Princess cruise in French Polynesia. Departing from Papeete, the captain let rip with the engines and reversed into the dock! Fortunately a thorough search was undertaken and we were cleared for embarkation in the early hours and made our first port of call easily.  On another occasion we got out of Halifax only to learn that just after we set off they closed the harbour. We had a forward ocean view cabin on deck 4. 20 ft waves, boy we barely slept that night with the constant wave crashing and see sawing through them all!
That balcony obstruction has us a little worried as we booked the cruise in a package and have no say over which cabin we get except that it is described as a “Deluxe Veranda Stateroom” that will be advised later (not so far!) by the cruise line.🫰

Being regular NCL cruisers (diamond level), we never need to worry about luggage storage, just slide it under the bed!  We usually take two cases each on any longer cruises, and one will slip inside the other. That’s what we’ll do this time but that  looks one sturdy case that you have with you, where could you stow it?
Steve

@caneable Amazing that you have never missed a port!  I have missed several over the years to weather or political uprisings.  But reversing into the dock and 20 foot waves!!   Those are some excellent t cruise stories!

 

As for our sturdy luggage (we call them our Joe vs the Volcano cases)—they all fit perfectly under the bed! They are the first hard side cases we’ve traveled with and we love them.

[TravelBluebird]

Hmm ,,, we have moved slightly?  But are quite stationary at the moment.  The industrial view out the window is different than last night—

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Ok I’m heading back to sleep—I woke up to take some medication.  I hope we are on our way when I wake up again!

[TravelBluebird]

Russ said “we didn’t move, one of the cargo ships across the way moved”

 

shows you how little I know—I didn’t know those things were even ships! 😂

[oakridger]

@TravelBluebird CruiseMapper is showing that you are moving away from the dock.  Enjoy the day at sea!

 

~Nancy

[TravelBluebird]

We are on our way!  

 

 

Edited January 8 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

28 minutes ago, oakridger said:

@TravelBluebird CruiseMapper is showing that you are moving away from the dock.  Enjoy the day at sea!

 

~Nancy

Indeed!  I felt the ship move and hopped on outside to watch sail away! 

[NorbertsNiece]

Good morning! Let me know if you'd like track info moving forward. Probably won't register down south but happy to give it a go x