Live Review Koningsdam Feb 17-March 23, 2024. Hawaii/Tahiti

[mcrcruiser]

15 hours ago, Breezy66 said:

@mustgoYes- they stay on until Papeete.  Ukelele lessons, tahitian dance lessons and at 5pm they do sing, dance and play ukelele in the crows nest.  They are great

Are these people only performing in the Crows Nest ? Also what time do they perform ?

TIA

[Homer88]

@NCTribeFannothing in the Hudson 1 room, except what we bring.  There are Dominoes in the Crows Nest- first come first serve.

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

Are these people only performing in the Crows Nest ? Also what time do they perform ?

TIA

 

[Ipeeinthepools]

Is there any updated info on the noro outbreak?   Hopefully things are getting better.

[BermudaBound2014]

No update on Noro but captain just announced we are skipping Fanning island (as we knew), and he expects an ontime arrival in Raitea.

 

Apparently the helicopter had mechanical issues that prevented another attempt which meant we needed to do a tender evacuation.

Edited February 29 by BermudaBound2014

[CNSJ]

24 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

helicopter had mechanical issues that prevented another attempt

I think a ship to tender transfer is safer for all involved.  Glad to know they made it off ok.  

Our Transpacific in 2022 had a medical eval in the same spot, Helicopter evacuation.  We had to steam (I know WESTERDAM is a diesel ship) at full speed to make it to Apia, Samoa. 

[canadianbear]

1 hour ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Is there any updated info on the noro outbreak?   Hopefully things are getting better.

Honestly, I think they don’t like to talk about it 🤷‍♀️. We are trying to be very cautious.  Having a great time and loving this cruise.  

[crystalspin]

7 hours ago, mustgo said:

Thanks for info. We just booked for next year. I am really enjoying this discussion

Hey, come on over to the 2025 HI-Tahiti roll call! 

February 15 - March 22, 2025 ... 35-Day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas - Page 17 - Koningsdam Roll Calls - Cruise Critic Community

Sign up and then read the 17 pages to catch up!

[Homer88]

For future planning- we strongly recommend Beachin’ Rides Maui for your visit to Maui.  They were our private transport to the PAC Whale excursion, and it was a very safe, comfortable, professional transport. While riding with Jim and Jules, we learned Jim also does tours around the island. We are planning to see them again on the April 2025 Hawaii cruise RT Vancouver. 

[pa_snowbird]

Just curious, what level of medical emergency would warrant a change in itinerary?  Does it have to be life threatening or it’s up to the discretion of the captain?

[d9704011]

3 hours ago, pa_snowbird said:

Just curious, what level of medical emergency would warrant a change in itinerary?  Does it have to be life threatening or it’s up to the discretion of the captain?

I wouldn't say that a change to the itinerary is related to the nature of a medical emergency.  It's more about the off-schedule time spent being able to take care of an emergency situation - and in the case of a medical emergency, the ship's doctor will advise on the need for evacuation -  and then, decisions on how to proceed from there.  I expect the captain is in communication with head office operations about all of that.

Edited March 1 by d9704011

[TableGirl]

16 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Honestly, I think they don’t like to talk about it

I think you’re right.   Same with Covid.  I don’t think it’s right though to not share information.  I’m a firm believer that people make better decisions with more information rather than less and I’ve put that in my comments - even in a long letter once.  

 

I hope you all stay well.

[Hogladyrider]

21 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Honestly, I think they don’t like to talk about it 🤷‍♀️. We are trying to be very cautious.  Having a great time and loving this cruise.  

I agree.  We  were on the sailing prior to this one and we noticed the final couple of days up on Lido HAL had an employee stationed  near the hand  wash and Purell station and mentioned to every guest to please wash/sanitize.  This had not been happening  earlier in the cruise so I took it  as  a "sign".

We had no issues with noro but one of  us departed with cruise crud and is now recovered.

 

I prefer the handwashing station over Purell anyday!  Those hand washing stations are  wonderful!

[canadianbear]

5 hours ago, TableGirl said:

I think you’re right.   Same with Covid.  I don’t think it’s right though to not share information.  I’m a firm believer that people make better decisions with more information rather than less and I’ve put that in my comments - even in a long letter once.  

 

I hope you all stay well.

Totally agree. We’ve been on a cruise when letters were put in each cabin advising of the situation.  So many people ignore or just don’t hear announcements. 

[BermudaBound2014]

I’ve officially settled into the rhythm brought about by a long stretch of glorious sea days. 
 

My days look like this-—tai chi, oatmeal, chat with new friends. dance class, lunch, chat with new friends, naps, ice cream, meet new friends, walking the promenade, happy hour, maybe trivia, maybe show, maybe casino, maybe dancing, maybe another late happy hour. Much  of the day is meeting or getting more aquatinted with new friends. Our roll call is the bomb. Yesterday was the first day I played some slots. An hours worth of entertainment. Lost $50.
 

Had a salad for dinner from the lido (it’s a great salad bar) and enjoyed the sunset. A lazy day on the koningdam had me tucked in for a movie quite early. Will hit up the bands tonight. My friend said the band in bbkings is actually very good. I think the entertainment in Rolling Stones and billboards is just “ok”. In fairness, these folks aren’t a band at all. They are contract workers assigned to a ship by a third party. The Rolling Stones band (notice, they don’t even have their own name) has only been together 7 weeks. It takes awhile to gel. However; none of that has stopped me from enjoying a set or two. I didn’t come on HAL for top shelf entertainment and you shouldn’t either. 
 

Warning- Side track; yesterday my dance class was cancelled due to the Koningsdam zoo parade. For those unaware, they do this on Carnival ships too. One morning you will wake up and the lido will be entirely filled with towel animals. Then they parade the cabin stewards onto deck for a round of applause. 
 

I don’t appreciate this tradition like many. First, in a time of fiscal conservatism (as evidenced by some of the entertainment options), I think it’s a terrible waste of water rewashing thousands of towels.  But more importantly; don’t our amazing cabin stewards work hard enough? These guys are ninjas when it comes to keeping my room clean and apparently they were up at 5:00 am making  monkeys? Personally, I’d rather see the crew get an extra hour of sleep but that’s just me. Clearly, I’m in the minority as many folks gleefully rushed around to take photos of towels transformed into alligators. To each their own, this is just my personal perspective on the event. We can all agree to disagree like adults that color. 
 

I should probably mention that yesterday morning we entered the twilight zone. I’m not going to pretend I understand it, but the chart seems pretty straight forward. I did have a friend get pimped on dinner reservations due to the day change, so if you have any reservations for March 3rd you should probably find out if it’s the first March 3rd or the second March 3rd :). 
 

Today is much of the same. Some random photos and of course tonight’s dinner menu for my new friends requesting- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1 by BermudaBound2014

[BermudaBound2014]

I should also note that the lunch menu in the dining room has been changing daily (not that I’ve done there ;))

 

Based on what I’ve read i believe this is new (or perhaps because this is a legendary cruise with a ton of sea days?)

Edited March 1 by BermudaBound2014

[ORTravelGal]

@BermudaBound2014 Sounds like the PERFECT day to me!  My TA trip on Rotterdam is now officially "next month" and all the updates on this thread are really helping me to get even more excited.  Hoping to join you & the others on this Hawaii/Tahiti trip in either 2025 or 2026.

[dmcfad2]

I don’t know what the status is with the GI issues on board, but yesterday I witnessed a man pick up cheese off the cheese board in the lido with his hands and eat it. I must be getting braver in my old age because I called him on it and said it was terrible and gross. “Well, no one is here to serve me and I only touched what I’m eating” was the reply. I just shook my head. Dude! Really???

[dmcfad2]

3 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

I agree.  We  were on the sailing prior to this one and we noticed the final couple of days up on Lido HAL had an employee stationed  near the hand  wash and Purell station and mentioned to every guest to please wash/sanitize.  This had not been happening  earlier in the cruise so I took it  as  a "sign".

We had no issues with noro but one of  us departed with cruise crud and is now recovered.

 

I prefer the handwashing station over Purell anyday!  Those hand washing stations are  wonderful!

Yes, I believe it was already on board when we got on. The first day I had a salad and my spouse had beans and we both had minor GI issues very shortly afterwards. 

[canadianbear]

We went to the presentation on the World Stage this morning and loved it.  Isabelle Groc was a fountain of information on “Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work For The Environment” and is an author of several books.  I was sorry we missed her first talk. 

[TableGirl]

I found a great article on The New York Times about Norovirus.  If HAL still has NYT access hopefully you can read it.  I’ll post the link and an excerpt.  I also googled if Clorox wipes kill Norovirus and they don’t,  I picked up a new can of them yesterday and they combat everything but.  I was thinking I would take some on my 28-day Alaska trip coming in June.

 

Seriously thinking of you all and hoping for all of to stay healthy and enjoying those sea days as well as port days.

 

Now if only I was signed up for this legendary voyage this fall instead of the Vancouver to San Diego trip to Hawaii…..

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/smarter-living/norovirus-prevention-stomach-flu-winter.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZU0.Pm-y.0k5-NwP9Mo4k&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb

 

“So which stomach bug is responsible? Salmonella? The flu? No, it’s probably norovirus, which causes the vast majority of stomach bugs in the United States. Research suggests that noroviruses can survive on surfaces for as long as 42 days, and it takes only about 20 viral particles to make a person sick. Yet one tablespoon of vomit contains a whopping 15 million viruses, and the same amount of stool contains up to 75 billion of the buggers. So “if it does spread in your house, it’s not your fault,” said Eli Perencevich, a physician and epidemiologist at the University of Iowa. (Small consolation, though, if you’re puking everywhere.)”

Edited March 1 by TableGirl

[TableGirl]

4 hours ago, canadianbear said:

don’t hear announcements

I hate when I can’t hear the Captain speaking.  I figure if he or she is over the PA system talking to us, he or she is saying something important and we should hear it AND pay attention it 🙂

[canadianbear]

1 minute ago, TableGirl said:

I hate when I can’t hear the Captain speaking.  I figure if he or she is over the PA system talking to us, he or she is saying something important and we should hear it AND pay attention it 🙂

Yup. Used to be people stopped talking & listened to announcements-not now 🤦‍♀️

[Hogladyrider]

@BermudaBound2014...enjoying following this sailing.  We were on the 18 day Hawaii sailing prior to your cruise.

 

We really enjoyed the group in BB Kings.  We attended Rock Room and while the music was enjoyable, the female drummer was the BEST, the rest just eh!  They didn't seem to gel....but it was still enjoyable entertainment just not as well oiled at BB King.

 

Glad you have settled into a routine it  makes for a fun cruise for sure.

[Haljo1935]

6 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

...

I prefer the handwashing station over Purell anyday!  Those hand washing stations are  wonderful!

This!!