I am flying out tomorrow to attend the naming ceremony for the Eurodam - Holland America;s newest ship. If you have any questions about her over the next seven days, please post them here!
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I'm actually on as well. Would love to hear what you think of the ship! Does it feel "different" to you?
Oh, and were you able to figure out how to get the shower to work?? (You'll know what I mean when you try it ... either my cabin is missing a sign, or it's a logic puzzle that my jet-lagged brain barely grasped.)
I'll keep an eye out for you -- maybe we can grab a drink. =)
feel free to send me on the Westerdam the week of Nov 2nd for the Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Cruise and I will do a daily blog and interview all the great Jazz artist for the CM board
I will let you know about the shower soon, so far, all I have had time for is a nap. My flight from PHX was good, but I only had a 15 mionute stoper in Philly and I had to run 1 mile (at least).
Surpringly, the plane to London was only half full (peak season).
PBnJ... Identify yourself! send me a PM or something. We'll meet up ;-)
More later, there is a press conference with Micky Arison in 45 minutes.
Ciao
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I figured out the shower, and got my head soaked with cold water from the back and down my neck & back in the process (bbrrrrr).
The trick is the water pressure knob goes towards you for the bath, and away from you for the shower.
The ship is beautiful, an dinner in the Asian Tamarind last night was incredibly good. I am usually ambivalent about most Asian cuisine, but even the sushi has that special something where you said , mmm mm good."
Just the right spices and a very tasty ginger. I also had a steak with horseradish that was just delicious. We were talking about how much better the food is than the typical European restaurant, which are expensive!
Byu the way, HAL i snow employing Indonesian WOMEN for waitresses, and they are so beautiful. They are Asian, but much different from typical Chinese or Japanese (these ladies are beautiful, too, don't get me wrong).
But the Indonesian ladies are tall and thin, with dark skin and great big espressive brown eyes. Truly striking.
I ran into Pat Neidhart of Cruises-n-more last night. It is funny when you fionally meet in person someone you have "known" online for almost 10 years.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
B y the way, I think this is the nicest HAL ship yet. They have taken care of the niggly things that bothered me (small things) on the Vista class.
The movie theater is back (very cool), with the popcorn machine.
The Internet access has been copmpletely reveised (it was too slow on Westerdam before - awful, Im sorry to say), but it has now been fixed on that ship and this one with a new agreement with Microsoft (Seattle connection, no doubt). The quadrupled the bandwidth and it is bow rto stern wireless. They have classes that are ALL FREE - no charges for any of them.
The main theater is beautiful, much better sight-lines - they got rid og the glass &brass rails that were right in the way on the balcony. They also have theater-style seats instead of benches. Very nice.
As I said, the food is wonderful. The outside hamburgers now come with extra-crispy fries served Belgian-style in a paper cone. Hot, crispy & yummy.
I think Holland America has finally hit its stride to be the best it can be.
Also, the crew is very nice. I haven't been on a ship this upbeat in a long time. Kind of a lot of American crew-people. The computer center is a gal from Seattle, and I met a cute photgrapher, also American.
Also, the Indonesian ladies are so pretty....
... having a good time. Wish you were here! Pictures coming soon.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
We are sailing on Eurodam's first cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. I can't find on their website (even after booking) how much the poolside cabanas are going to cost per day. Can they be pre-booked? For the length of the cruise?
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What category cabin are you in? I booked a Large Inside (Catagory I) They are supposed to be 40 sq ft larger than the standard rooms. Let me know if you happen to get a peek at one of these.
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I am not much help to you. I only saw the smaller inside, not a bigger one. My balcony cabin is very roomy. I don't know the prices on Cabanas either ($25?) Sorry. Let me look for my notes. You get champagne and chocoloate strawberries, though.
So, PBnJ, you know I am eating in Pinnacle tonight. How did you know that?
We just saw your pictures, they are great.
Cannot wait till it will be Wednesday!
Maybe we will meet during those few days to Copenhagen.
I am sure we will make lots and lots of photos too.
We ate in The Pinaccle Grill lasy night. It was verty good, but I think I preferred the Tamarind. Buty we also had a pre-set menu, not much variety. (this is not therevenue cruise yet, that starts after the christening.
We were inundated with Dutch people,thousands of them, from Rotterdam and elsewhere, mostly young. It was quite a party !
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I really am enjoying your reports. I feel that I am onboard. I'm glad they brought back the movie theater and the popcorn. It was a feature I loved on the Statendam and one that is a nice diversion on a longer cruise.
Keep the reports coming.
Take care,
Mike
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"There is a great difference between being well traveled and just having been to many places." ~Me
The party kept going with people from all over, but mostly local Dutch from Rotterdam, filling the ship and drinking champagne until dinnertime. Afer dinner, we were treated to an excellent fireworks show.
I have more pictures to uploaed in the photogallery:
That picture you have labelled, Micky, his wife, Lynne (VP Sales), Queen is wrong.
The lady beside Micky's wife, Madeleine, is Pam Kern van Donselaar, the Captains wife........she's the gal who has been taking a lot of the Blog photos. Stein's wife's name is Linda and she was on the other side of the Queen beside Stein. I don't know who Lynne (VP Sales is). She may have been in another picture.
Great photos........ Watching the streaming video was fabulous. I enjoyed it live.
To avoid confusion, the cabin photo labled 'concierge suite' is Category 'SA or SB' Deluxe Veranda Suite. The category "SC" is different. Those cabins, along with "PS" are the only ones which have access to Neptune Lounge and Concierge services in Neptune.
Thank YOU. I just ate in the excellent Pinnacle Grill. Great as ever. Their new special is Lobster macaroni & cheese... I don't know how good it is, but it is the chef's special and they say it is great.
I stuck to the filet mignon and it was so tender. The bottle of wine I was recommended was $95 - should have checked the price before I said yes... oh well. At least there is plenty left over.
__________________
I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
I really am enjoying your reports. I feel that I am onboard. I'm glad they brought back the movie theater and the popcorn. It was a feature I loved on the Statendam and one that is a nice diversion on a longer cruise.
Keep the reports coming.
Take care,
Mike
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Amadeus:09 Diamond;Celebrity:10 Summit; HAL: 87 Rotterdam V,89 Nieuw Amsterdam II,93 Nordam III,94 Ryndam III,96 Westerdam III,99 Veendam IV,01 Maasdam V,02 Amsterdam III,03 Volendam III,03 Zuiderdam II,04 Westerdam IV,04 Oosterdam I,05 Zaandam III,06 Statendam V,06 Prinsendam II,07 Nordam IV,08 Eurodam I,08 Rotterdam VI,09 Veendam IV,09 Volendam,10 Nieuw Amsterdam IV,12 Ryndam III;11 P&O:Artemis;RC:07 Splendour of the Seas,11 Navigator of the Seas,12 Majesty of the Seas
Last night we sailed to Hamburg. What an exciting city. As a Beatles fan I had to take the subway to the Reeperbahn. Lets just say it mnakes the Amsyerdam Red Light district look like Snow Whites Castle in Disneyland. What those poor naive lads of 20 must have encountered in 1962 here!
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
It was formal, and the celebration was very good in itself. From 6:00 to 8:00 pm not much happened except a lot of toasting in small groups of people, no official ceremonies. I am sure Micky and Stein had the the Queen and her entourage someplacespecial and they visited.
The rest of us wandered the ship, I stated my article.
Then we had dinner in the main dining room. At night came a huge deck party with dancing capped by fireworks courtesy of the city of Rotterdam.
Yes, it was formal. It was fun.
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I am the editor, but I also speculate, ask questions and play devil's advocate. I reserve the right to change my mind.
Great review and pictures - thank you! I do want to correct one thing. The photo you have incorrectly labeled "Concierge suite" is actually a category SS or SY suite, which is quite a bit smaller than the SA, SB, or SC, and does not come with concierge privileges as do the Deluxe Suites, as has been pointed out by a previous poster. The suite you have pictured has the same double bathroom as the "concierge suite" (Deluxe) and it is called "suite" (it's actually called "Superior Suite") but it doesn not have Neptune Lounge privileges, has a queen bed as opposed to the King in the Deluxe suites, and also lacks much of the storage and dressing room area.
I'm planning on boarding Eurodam this winter for a spin around the Caribbean and I'm so excited! Thanks so much for your report!
Are you kidding? No apology necessary! (especially since after looking twice and 3 times I'm only 75% sure I'm even right about the pictures not being deluxe suites. .
. but enough about that!) I am SO enjoying living vicariously through your posts! We just booked the Eurodam for December 6 Eastern Caribbean and I am beyond excited!! (I keep forgetting I'm also going to Alaska on Westerdam next week!!! That's how entranced I am with the Eurodam!) Thank you so much for this thread and keep enjoying!!
Moriah
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