Hello from the Rotterdam

[infohunter]

I'm on our first HAL cruise on the ms Rotterdam.... so far having a wonderful time. I'll post details on everything I can at the end of the trip. Internet is slow..... at least for me ;)

 

Just wanted to thank everyone on cruise critics for the hints and tidbits in the various postings.

 

-Infohunter

[kakalina]

Thanks for taking the time to post, have a wonderful cruise.

[GmaPajama]

Wow - how exciting to hear from you from the Rotterdam! So glad you're having a wonderful time - but I'm dying to hear more. Hope you'll post again when you can. Enjoy! :)

[FlorenceItaly]

Great to hear from you. Thanks for posting :).

 

 

Marie

[Cruising-along]

So glad to hear you're having a wonderful time on my favorite dam ship! 156 more days and we will be aboard the beautiful Rotterdam. Have a great cruise!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have a great cruise.

 

Will look forward to your review when you get home.

[RevNeal]

Wow!

infohunter is posting from the Rotterdam on the same itinerary I will be on the next time the Rotterdam departs from Rio! THANK YOU, infohunter! I hope you have a fantastic cruise, and I look forward to reading your reports from the ship and any review you may write before I depart!

 

THANK YOU!

[RuthC]

Oh, am so excited to read this! I'll be on the Rotterdam very, very, not soon enough, soon. I almost can't wait! :D

I'll be looking forward with baited breath for your report.

Please, please, please, please, please spend some time in the Piano Lounge and find out who is playing> And if he/she will still be there for the cruise leaving January 27th? And if so, find out about his/her repertoire? And if you like them or not?

I would be most appreciative. Thanks. :)

[SharonN]

Glad you're having a great time. I can't wait to hear about your trip especially since I'll also be on the Jan 27th sailing :D

[infohunter]

Tonight we are sailing into BA. Had a wonderful lightening storm just after we finished dinner (about 8pm). The sky was all reds... the lightning awesome. We have same gentle rolling (more than we have had). They also posted that we don't go outside due to the high winds right now.

 

In the exploration lounge is a wonderful trio called the Rosario Strings. They are wonderful!

 

Other things from the program.... In the ambassador lounge is piano man Jeff Warren. Haven't go to hear him yet but will. There is also a resident pianist (name not listed) in the ocean bar as well. But more when I can....

 

Having a great time. I think I have the best staff in the dining room and for our room (3391).

 

Signing off as I'm off to lose money in the casino before we have a late night dutch snack. Herring at 11pm..... YUMMMM!

[RuthC]

I'm happy to learn it's the Rosario Strings aboard---every troupe I have ever heard has been excellent.

If you keep posting about your cruise I might just explode from excitement anticipating mine! :D Risk it, though. I love reading this.

[RevNeal]

Yes, thank you so much! I'm bursting with excitement, too!

[gammagampa]

What a nice surprise to find this thread! Paul and I will be on this cruise Jan 27th.

We will be looking forward to your reports. You have already been a great source of "Info".

Have a wonderful time.

[boards]

We will be on the Rotterdam May 26 and we are looking forward to reading about what you have to report concerning the condition of the ship, the food, the entertainment, the ports you visit. thank you in advance.

[MUD]

We will be on the Jan 7 sailing from Valparaiso. Anxious to read about the weather and seas in the Drake Passage.

[moo444]

Who ever is on the Rotterdam now or in the next few months, please try to introduce yourself to a wonderful waiter name Matej Kos (from Slovenia). He is working in the Pinnacle Grill and is one of the finest and nicest servers we ever had. We met him several years ago when he worked for Celebrity and now is working for HAL. Please tell him Marjorie and family say HELLO.

 

Happy Holidays to all....

Marjorie

[RuthC]

Who ever is on the Rotterdam now or in the next few months, please try to introduce yourself to a wonderful waiter name Matej Kos (from Slovenia).

I'll be sailing the Rotterdam January 27th, and hope to dine at the Pinncale at least once.

I'll be doing an on-line thread from the cruise. If you post a reminder to that thread I'll be happy to give Matej your regards.

[moo444]

Ruth,

 

I will look forward to your online report at the end of January. This is an itinerary which we hope to do one day....How very thrilled you must be for this upcoming cruise.

 

I do hope you have the opportunity to meet Matej and perhaps you can request him to be your waiter. I will of course remind you at that time.

 

Thanks,

Marjorie

[RevNeal]

Hello Marjorie!

I will be aboard the Rotterdam for that cruise with Ruth, and I've written down Matej's name and will be sure to ask for him if he's still in the Pinnacle aboard that ship when we're aboard next month.

 

1 month from today (on January 23rd) I fly to Rio. :D

[infohunter]

I'll make a note of the name as we will be eating in the Pinnacle Grill on the 26th. We went to Boursa (sp?) winnery in Montevideo and have purchased some Tannet wine for our dinner that night.

 

Our dinning room crew is Dedi, Ridwan, and Willis. I think they are the best. Our drink steward is Oliver. They are really taking care of all of our needs. I think that the sambal that they bring me each night is getting hotter ;) They are bringing me what the crew eats so it is very spicy and wonderful!

 

The only negative comment I have so far is with Andrea the event person (can't remember what everyone is called). I had asked to have a cruise critic meetup posted in the daily program as we hadn't selected a get together time in advance. Well she gave me the line that she can't just post anything without corporate's approval especially since it is such a small group. I estimate that we are about 30 in total. Anyway I've meet some of the other CC folks along the way but for those of you on future trips on the Rotterdam... please please please pick your meetup time in advance and let everyone know.... or make sure that someone on your roll call has everyone's room number so that it can be communicated when on board.

 

Having a great time.....

[cdkempton]

Thank you for posting, Infohunter. Though we don't sail on the Rotterdam until April, I am enjoying your posts. Glad you're having such a great cruise!

Colette

[moo444]

Infohunter,

 

Love hearing your live reports aboard the Rotterdam:) .

 

I really hope that you get Matej to be your waiter when you dine in the Pinnacle Grill. We cruise a lot and I would say that he has been one of the finest we have ever had. Please say Hello to him from me and my family....enjoy the special wine that you bought for the occasion and keep me posted.

 

Cheers,

Marjorie

[nancycoop1]

Thanks for posting all the info. We will be on the Rotterdam leaving Valparaiso on Feb. 16th and can't wait!!!

[infohunter]

Sailed through the Falklands yesterday morning. Got to see penguins darting around in the water... lots of birds (comerants) flying about as well. They really seemed to like the back of the ship. Luckily we purchased high powered binoculars for the trip (Canon IS 18 x 50)... throught the binoculars we could see a huge penguin colony ashore.

 

Right now we re heading towards Elephant Island. Will be scenic cruising there this evening starting about 6:30 for 5 hours. Told we should start seeing some iceburgs this afternoon.

 

Weather is getting colder. Just at freezing about 36 F. So far seas are calm to moderate. The gentle rocking back and forth is very soothing... The captain sailed us through two low pressure systems yesterday to avoid rough weather... however we have been told that there may be some rough seas ahead.... Bags have appeared by some of the elevators but not all.... so not sure how they decide on when to put out the "barf" stations :D.

 

Our Ice Pilot gave us a great lecture yesterday about what we are going to be seeing for the next couple of days. It all is sounding wonderful. Basically told that we wouldn't have much sleep the next couple of days as we will be too busy looking at all of the lovely scenery and penguins. It appears that we are lucky and will be boarding some of the scientists from Palmer Station to give us a couple of talks. Evidently they don't do all of the trips.

 

Glad that I decided to bring a insulated mug with me. I love having hot tea and I got a mug with a very wide bottom (not a car travel mug). It is very stable on a table or out on the lower promenade. There is a small shelf unter the railing in the aft section where I can place my mug when looking over the railing.

 

Will post again when I can.....

[SharonN]

Sailed through the Falklands yesterday morning. Got to see penguins darting around in the water... lots of birds (comerants) flying about as well. They really seemed to like the back of the ship.

 

 

 

Thanks for the update. Can't believe that a month from today I'll be on board :D and reading about your trip is making me even more excited (if that's even possible).

 

You mention you sailed thru the Falklands. Did they have to cancel your stop there? I know it's always a possibility but I'm hoping we're able to get there since I'm looking forward to the the Volunteer Point excursion I booked.

 

Enjoy your Antarctica crusing the next few days.