2016 May Koningsdam Christening Cruise

2016 May Koningsdam Christening Cruise

Saturday 7 May 2016

At 11.30 am my friend Graham picked me up to drive me to the Airport. The check in went very smoothly however an overzealous security officer tended to go overboard with me as I went through security. I soon recovered with a stiff Gin and Tonic up in the Qantas Club before the flight where I also had a light lunch.

I was lucky on the flight down to Melbourne as I was in 4A right behind Business class and there was nobody 4B so heaps of room to spread out and relax. Oh Mr Qantas how slack was serving a hot meal in a cardboard box.

The Qantas Business Lounge at Melbourne’s International Terminal was excellent and a great place to spend filling in the 5 hours between connecting flights. 

The flight to Dubai was very good considering the duration of 14 hours. The meals were ok but with the cutbacks in service and presentation make them seem very inferior compared with the service on Emirates.

Sunday 8 May 2016

The short stay over in the Dubai was an opportunity to relax and experience service in the Emirates’ Business Lounge and have some brekkie.

The 6 hour flight to Rome from Dubai with Emirates was excellent with the meals and service up to the very standard that Airline is renowned for.

The arrival at Rome must have clashed with Sunday siesta time as the Immigration process took about 90 minutes to handle the volume of passengers. 

A bit over 2 hours after landing I was checking into The Hilton Airport Hotel. Boy oh boy it was great to have a shower and shave after the 29 hours between leaving home and arriving at the Hotel.

About 6.30 pm I went down to the hotel bistro to have a light meal. I decided on pizza and a glass of wine. OMG the pizza was so large it would have fed 2 people.

Thank God my friend Vickie Morgan got back to the hotel from touring Rome and joined me, she was able to help me eat some of the pizza.

We adjourned up to the Hilton Executive Lounge for a night cap and a catch up drink. Guess what the bar there was closed so I had an iced tea and Vickie had a coke. We arranged we would meet up in the morning and have brekkie in the executive club before going out to the Port for the ship. As we were both very tired we made it an early night and I was in bed by 9.20 pm and I reckon I was asleep by 9.21pm.

Monday 9 May 2016

I must have had a great sleep as I woke at 4.10 am so I decided to update this newsletter and discovered I could get free Wi-Fi from the hotel lobby in my room which was an unexpected bonus. Needless to say I didn’t go back to bed.

I met Vickie at 6.45 for Brekkie in the Executive club. What an excellent choice we had for self-service brekkie.

 After a leisurely meal I went back to my room to repack and get ready to leave by car to travel the 90 minute drive to the Port.

Everything went like clockwork, checking out, using the ATM and right on time our car arrived to drive us out to Civitavecchia the Port city to board the ship.

OMG the terminal was packed and I first thought we will be here for hours. Being a five star mariner has its privileges and we were whizzed through the crowd to the fast short line for senior mariners. What excellent service we received, it would have been no more than 10 minutes from arriving by car to the time we were boarding the ship.

The gangway welcome was great with the Indonesian crew forming a guard of honour and when they saw me were calling out Papaku, Papaku.  So I had to greet each and every one of them and Johnathon the Cruise Director was last in the line to welcome me on board. I would have Buckley’s chance of ever trying to board an HAL ship un-noticed.

From the time of boarding the Koningsdam I was struck with the wow factor, so modern and new. I fell in love with the ship immediately.

I was given an upgrade to a veranda suite and it is in a perfect mid ship position.

I went to lunch in the Dining room and was pleasantly amazed with this modern and large facility. The staff has smart new uniforms and the décor was perfect.

After lunch I did a little more exploring before going up to the Crows Nest for the VIP welcome aboard. As I knew many of the bar staff we were made very welcome and sat up at the bar. I was joined by Russell, Colin and Vickie so it was beaut to have some of the Ms Amsterdam ‘family’ join me.

Then it was back to the cabin to wait for further instructions for the boat drill. Wow it is all changed as we had to go to an assembly point and our ship board key cards were scanned to record our attendance. A great improvement as we didn’t have to listen to all the Cabin numbers being called out. My assembly area was in the BB King lounge so it was most comfortable.

My luggage was in the cabin when I returned so I did my unpacking.  I was so busy doing this job I hate, I lost sense of time and when I looked out on the veranda I was shocked as we were out at sea. This cabin is so soundproof and the ship rides so smoothly with not even a shudder when the engines were started.

I caught up with Vickie and Colin for a drink at the Ocean Bar before getting ready for the evening.  Here again were many of the bar staff that I knew from other ships.

We arranged to meet up again at the OB before going to dinner. But alas the Ocean bar was so crowded and not a spare chair even in the OB lounge area we had to adjourn to the Billboard Bar lounge.

Dinner was fantastic and we have a great table beside the rear windows. All of us at our table were table mates on the Ms Amsterdam’s Grand Asian 2014 Cruise so it was like a reunion with lots of stories and laughs.

After dinner I had only one night cap in the OB before heading up to bed.

Tuesday 10 May 2016

I got up early and went up to the Lido to get a green tea and take some photos of the ship before the crowds awoke.

When the Lido opened for continental breakfast at 6.30 am I went back and had a couple of pastries with jam and fruit juice.

I took more photos as I continued exploring the ship and then returned back to the cabin to get ready for the day.

Today is a calm sunny sea day as we travel towards Cartagena Spain.

I took advantage of the veranda to sit out and update this travel update.

Late morning I went up to meet with the gang for lunch. We found a great place on deck 10 above the lido bar called the New York Deli & Pizza. I think this will be our meeting place for sea days.

The Pizza was to die for, Yummy Yummy as you could have them made to order. I really enjoyed it.

About 1.40pm I went down for my nanna nap. Wow I was surprised when I woke up at 6.50pm. I missed out on a few things I wanted to do after my planned 90 minute nanna nap like going to Happy Hour at 4pm in the Crows Nest.

It was a mad rush to get ready in formal gear to meet the gang for pre-dinner drinks in the Silk Den Bar at 7.15pm before going to dinner.

Great meal and company for dinner and the escargot was done to perfection as well as the rack of lamb.

We then went to the World Stage (Main Theatre) for the Captain’s toast and watch the show. This theatre is out of this world with great sound and lighting. Actually I will get some photos to send over the next few days.

The show itself would have to have been to best I have ever seen on any ship by the HAL dancers and singers. The standing ovation was electrifying.

I had a few nightcaps with Russell at the Billboard Bar before going to bed just after 1am.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

I awoke at 5.30 am and got the travel news up to date and emailed it off.  Room service brekkie was the order of the day as I leisurely get ready as the arrival in the Port of Cartagena was 10am and the tour commenced at 10.15am.

It was a 45 minute drive through diverse countryside and a relief to see the greenery of the irrigated farms on this sunny warm day as we made our way to the city of Murcia.

Our first stop was the Monastery of the Virgin of Feunsanta and an inspection of the church.

 The statue of the Virgin even has different clothes for the church calendar and even has human hair. From this hilltop church we had sublime views over the region of Murcia.

We then had a walking tour of this historic town and viewed the cathedral with its intriguing architectural blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque design.

 Susan and I took advantage of our free time to have enjoyed a beer and a tapas snack.

It was about 3.30pm before we returned to the ship so it was straight up to the pizza place to get a late lunch.

I then wanted to go to the Crows Nest for Happy Hour but when I got there it was packed so I went down to the Billboard for the Happy hour there. I think this bar will be my fun drinking bar on this cruise.

For pre-dinner drinks the gang went to the Crows Nest. Oh what a ball we had at dinner there was so much laughter as everyone told their stories. It’s a great combination with Susan, Colin, Russell and Vickie joining me. We have all done other cruises at the same time on other ships, mainly the Amsterdam.

Russell and I adjourned down to the Billboard for a nightcap after dinner. We were joined by the Butterfly (mum Dianne).

Thursday 12 May 2016

I started the day with another room service brekkie as I got ready for my first visit to Gibraltar. I spent some time updating the blog and downloading photos.

The day has started off being a lot cooler (13C ) windy and overcast so I will wear a jacket for the first time this year.

We joined our tour bus which was a rattly bone shaker Minnie bus that carried 21 and it was full and Vicky and I were jammed in the corner of the back seat. The tour guide was a scream who seemed to be stoned and was of some white Russian background, so it took a bit of time to get used to her accent.

The town of Gibraltar was not what I expected I thought it would be very English but was more Spanish. OMG the bus driver did an excellent job in manoeuvring the bus around the narrow streets and sharp intersections.

We went a Museum first and it was very small crowded and after 20 minutes I had to get out and get some fresh air and the rain started.

Then we drove down to the most southern point and looked out over the Strait of Gibraltar towards the top of Africa. What a windy place and there was a nice old lighthouse and a Mosque there which made it a good photo stop.

Then it was over up to the cable car to go up the Rock. This was a great trip even though the rain drops were on the windows to make it hard for good photos.

The monkeys were heaps of fun running around and trying to get into people’s bags. The views from the top were fantastic even though it was not the clearest of days.

Then it was down to go to the tunnels behind the cliff face that were used in WW2. There was a lot of uphill walking so there was heaps of panting and puffing by most folk including myself.

We went back to the ship about 4pm after a very well worthwhile excursion.

After a quick chicken burger I made it late to Happy Hour in the Billboard Onboard. Have I told you I have made this my main bar as it has great atmosphere.

We had dinner in the Pinnacle Grill which was ok but not anything out of the box. The service was a bit slow and we had to keep asking for the wine steward to top us up.

After dinner I adjourned to the Billboard with Russell for a nightcap.

It was off to bed about 12.30am.

Friday 13 May 2016

I slept in until 6.45am  and downloaded heaps of photos taken yesterday and Vickie gave me many of hers from up on the Rock.

Colin, Susan, Vickie and myself went to the dining room for brekkie. I enjoyed had a croissant with Vegemite. As usual the friendly service was great.

Vickie and Colin then set of an a walking tour of the town of Cadiz, I was going to do the Hop on Hop off with Susan however as it was so cold and we both had done it before on a previous visit we settled for just having a look around the nearby shops and using the terminals free Wi-Fi.

We were back onboard by 1pm for a pizza lunch. I guess by now you know I love the made to request pizzas onboard and the area up on deck 10 is just ideal for the four of us to meet.

I had a quick nanna nap before Happy Hour at the Billboard which is becoming a very popular before bar.

I made a quick visit up to the Lido to meet up with Danny a friend and barman of many previous cruises.

Tonight we went to the early show of Frozen Planet Live which was a visual and musical journey of live music with breath-taking footage from BBC’s Frozen Planet. 

This show is a show not to be missed. It was excellent.

Dinner was in the dining room and it was the usual fun filled meal with heaps of laughter.

I had a quick night cap at the Billboard and was in bed by 11pm.

Saturday 14 May 2016

I woke at 6.00 am and updated the blog and downloading photos before brekkie arrived at 7.30am.

It was very cold (well for me ) at 11C overcast and windy out on the veranda so I got rugged up before catching up with the mob up on deck 10 for lunch.

Russell and I had Pizza and spent a pleasant afternoon holding court with the crew. The others were all doing various shore excursions however Russell and I had been here in Lisbon many times we decided not even to get of the ship.

I had a great 2 hour nanna nap and even missed Happy Hour.

I arranged for 2 guests (Marcel and Elizabeth) to come onboard in Rotterdam on the evening of Thursday 19^th May. Russell, Dianne (Butterfly) and I have been invited to go out with them for dinner that early evening so afterwards they will do a Papaku tour of the ship.

Some info of the pax on board: 89 5 Star and 489 4 Star Mariners .

The nationality breakdown of the 2238 pax onboard;

Yanks        856

Dutch       514

Aussies     296

Canadians        255

Swiss        40

Poms        33

The other nations had smaller numbers.

We went to the Canaletto for dinner and the meal and the company was most enjoyable, however we had to wait 20 minutes for the wine waiter to serve us and the restaurant wasn’t that busy.

After dinner I joined Russell for a night cap or two at the Billboard. The Billboard is a fun bar and we enjoyed the singalong with the piano couple ‘British Invasion’.

Sunday 15 May 2016

It was great to have a sleep in and the weather seemed very foggy as we approached the Port of Vigo. 

I met up with Colin, Susan and Vickie for Brekkie in the dining room at 8.30am. It is always great for Papaku to go to the dining room for brekkie and get greeted by all the staff.

The yanks tease me about having tomato sauce on my eggs and bacon, and of course my vegemite.

We decided to meet up at 10.30 pm on the wharf to see about doing a local tour. Our first step was the Tourist info office and we were able to do a 2 hour city tour for only 7.50 euro about $10 Aussie, wow what a bargain.

Vigo, located in the northwest of Spain on the Atlantic Ocean, it is one of the main industrial cities in Galicia with a thriving fishing port and prime tourist destination.

It was on an open top double decker bus with a commentary in English. Vickie Colin and I enjoyed every minute of this tour through this picturesque city of 420.000 inhabitants that we had never heard of let alone been to before. The old and new parts of the city combined with hill top views and beaches.

We returned to the ship about 1 pm and met up for lunch of pizza of course.

About 3pm I went down to my cabin for a 2 hour nanna nap.

We met up at the Billboard for a pre-dinner drink which as usual was heaps of fun.

Dinner was great and I enjoyed the Dutch pea soup, the pork chop and the cheese platter.

I finished up the evening with a few night caps at the Billboard and the singalong.

Monday 16 May 2016

Today is a sea day as we cross the Sea of Biscay heading towards Cherbourg Normanby.

We were very lucky as this Sea has a reputation for being very rough, was very calm for us.

I went up to the New York and Deli for a light brekkie of croissant and green tea as today we had the Mariner’s Brunch and reception.

The brunch was very good however the chocolate tart was very rich.

I went up for a nanna nap before going to the Ocean Bar for Happy Hour.

Dinner was a great meal in the dining room as is becoming a bit of a habit we were one of the last tables to leave.

I called it an early night and only had one nightcap and was in bed by midnight.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

We arrived at Cherbourg France about 8.30 am so I had brekkie room service as I had to be at the meeting place to do my tour to Utah Beach part of the WW2 landing beaches and some of the nearby villages.

We first visited the village of Sainte Mere Eglise and had a look around. It was the first French town liberated by the Americans after the D=Day Invasion. OMG there were more American flags flying than French.

The little 14^th Century church was fantastic with its stained glass windows and war memorial displays.

Then we drove out to Utah beach and visited the landing site and the monuments.

On the way back we visited a few German bunkers and gun sites.

We got back to the ship for a late pizza lunch and drink.

Russell and I did the Billboard Happy Hour and then we had to go for a photographic session with the Captain and the boss man of the Mariners.

The ship was supposed to leave port at 6.30pm and the captain came on the PA system about 7pm to say because of the riots in Le Havre we were going to stay an extra day in Cherbourg.

Colin, Susan, Russell and I went to the Tamarind for a fantastic Asian meal experience. Oh Lord we sure had some laughs and a great time.

We finished up the night with a few night caps at the Billboard which ended up being a late night.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

I joined Vickie, Susan and Colin for brekkie in the dining room before going ashore. After meeting up with Rommel and Charles the barmen from the Billboard we caught the shuttle into town.

The weather was very cold and windy with showers. So after an hour of walking around dodging the rain we headed to the shopping mall to have some lunch. The boys had to return to the ship for work by 1pm so I met up with Colin and did some shopping with him and had coffee and used the free Wi-Fi.

We returned back to the ship just in time for Happy Hour.

Colin, Russell and I had a most enjoyable dinner in the Tamarind. Russell and I finished off the day with a few night caps in the Billboard.

Thursday 19 May 2016

I had room service Brekkie and got my laundry and dry cleaning organised before enjoying the day.

As we don’t arrive at Rotterdam until 2pm it is a bit of a relaxing sea day.

At 11am we went to a lunch with some of the Head Office big wigs from Seattle. The menu was excellent and of course the service was great. The lunch was in the Pinnacle Grill and we had fantastic views as we came into Rotterdam.