This will be a relatively short note because it was a very calm day.
Breakfast again with Kate and Mark. Then Kate rushed off to see glaciers, whales, etc. I knitted and read. Also spent a little time doing some e-mail. Back toward the room about 10:30.
Scotty and I had lunch in the main dining room again. But not nearly as much as yesterday! Then off to the spa. I bought a day pass to the thermal suite. Lounged on the heated tile chaise. Sat in the mineral water soak. Fell asleep on the chaise. Scotty had a massage and facial so we separated. I came back to the room for a nap. What a way to spend the day!
Woke up about 5 PM and headed to the MIX lounge to find Scotty with our adopted bartender, Phillipe. The Spurs game was on TV, so we decided to skip dinner in the main dining room. At half time we came back to the room to finish watching the game and decide what to do for the rest of the evening. Ordered "The Book of Eli" to watch in the room, Then headed to the Lido to get a bite to eat before we retired to our room.
Dinner in the Lido was nice. Pasta, fusilli, and alfredo sauce with some salads on the side. Best part was seeing whales! A couple of tails just as we were finishing dinner. So cool!
Back in the room now, drinking wine and watching the movie. Tomorrow is Haines and I've already got directions to the local yarn store.
Nite nite all!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday - May 28 - At Sea and Eating Day
Spent a day at sea and eating … or so
it seems.
Met Kate and Mark for breakfast after
sitting and having coffee with a lovely couple from Indiana while
waiting. That's one thing I like about cruising is meeting new people
and just chatting for a while.
Nice breakfast at the Lido: scrambled
eggs, turkey bacon, cantaloupe and bananas. So at least the day
started healthy. Left there and went to the Explorations Cafe to get
some Internet time. Did that and then sat by a window to knit. Of
course, that attracted attention … many people on the ship know
there is a group of knitters on board and we seem to be quite the
novelty.
Started back to the room just as Scotty
was leaving. We seem to be on the same wavelength on this cruise. So
we headed to lunch together. Met up with a couple from the knitting
group and shared a table with them. Had yummy lunch of Pistou Soup,
Fruit Salad, and Mac and Cheese. That topped me off so we headed back
to the room for a nap.
What I thought would be a short nap,
but the Captain's announcements at 4PM woke me up. Changed into our
fancy duds because it was formal night. Another wonderful meal:
Shrimp Cocktail, Italian Antipasto Salad, and Beef Wellington.
Finished off with Warm Apples Sundae. Oh boy! I am stuffed.
I sat and knit a while with the group
and then headed back to the room for bedtime. No pictures today, but
tomorrow is Glacier Bay, so I'll try to snap some memorable shots.
Monday, May 28, 2012
May 27 - Anchorage to Seward and First Night
May 27 – Anchorage to Seward
We were up fairly early (for us) today
because Melissa had arranged for a couple of yarn shops in Anchorage
to be open on a Sunday for our shopping pleasure! So, out the door by
8:30 to walk to The Quilted Raven.
To Scotty's delight, and that of her
wallet, it was primarily a quilting store, with a little yarn. I
picked up two skeins that had purples in them (my colorway for this
trip) and the needles needed to start the hat from the kit I bought
the day before at Oomingmak.
Once that was done, we were going to
walk around downtown Anchorage, but a slight rain had started, so we
headed back to the hotel. We spent the rest of the morning reading.
Our luggage had gone away at 8AM to get ready for the train.
We gathered at 11:30 in the Holland
America lounge at the Hilton to prepare for the bus. The room quickly
filled with knitters and we had a great time chatting and looking at
various purchases.
Took a short bus ride back to the
airport, which also houses the train station. Once again, Holland
America had taken care of everything, so our names were checked off a
list, we presented our photo ID's, and were shown to our train car.
We had a lovely and very spacious booth
on the train. The lunch menu was limited, but tasty and there was a
full bar. I tried an “Alaskan Mosquito Bite” … vodka, orange
and pineapple juice, and strawberry puree. YUM! Lunch was an “Italian
Meat Salad”, which was a variety of salami, pepperoni, and ham on a
bed of greens with Italian dressing. Pretty good, too.
Of course, the best part of the train
ride was the scenery. Here are a few shots from along the way:
Looks cold, doesn't it? We did see one moose and a couple of eagles, but they wouldn't stand still for a picture! We landed in Seward in 4-5 hours. Once
again, the train pulled right up to the port. We and our luggage were
unloaded and we boarded the ship.
Found Kate and Mark in line to get our
room key, but then didn't see them for dinner. We rushed a bit and
Melissa had to work some magic with the Maitre'd because we were late
getting off the train and through the line so our seating had already
happened. Ordinarily, that wouldn't have been a problem, but the life
boat drill was coming up quickly and the staff was worried we would
want a leisurely dinner and they wouldn't be able to finish serving
us before the drill started. Not a problem. We were admitted anyway
and dinner was magnificent. I had Pasta Putanesca. There was also an
appetizer and soup, which I can't remember right now, since I've
eaten twice more since then!
Standard lifeboat drill. No surprises
there.
Melissa had arranged for a private
cocktail party, so we headed for Crow's Nest to meet the rest of the
tour group. We are quite a large group of very pleasant people.
That's where we caught up with Kate and Mark and spent the bulk of
the evening chatting about Houston, common friends, and life in
general.
I had to get in a few turns at the slot
machines, so I went off to the casino. Probably won't be doing that
much any more this trip because it seems to have lost it's magnetism
for me.
In bed an snoring away before midnight!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
May 26 - In Anchorage
And so my vacation begins. Woke up to a rude alarm at 4:15 this morning. Had to be at the airport for a 6:15 flight. Why did I do that? I don't know! Other than it's about the only one that would get me from Albuquerque to Anchorage in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable amount of money.
So George and I stagger to the airport ... uncharacteristically, I had packed last night so had little to do but dress this morning. There was almost NOTHING open at the airport ... could have had coffee, but something cold sounded good. So I bought a Jarrito Strawberry Soda ... not exactly Big Red, but close!
The Delta flights were a pleasant surprise. If I weren't such a Southwest fan, I might be converted. On time, spacious planes, even the puddle jumper that took us from Abq to Salt Lake. The big plane from Salt Lake to Anchorage was great ... supposed to be full but at the last minute someone didn't make it, so the seat next to me was empty. How's that for luck!
Salt Lake City airport is spacious and clean. However we came in at concourse B and flew out of concourse D. Thank heavens we had two hours. It was about a 30 minute walk, and I was not strolling along and shopping!
Slept most of the way to Anchorage. Woke once for a diet coke and two cookies. That was the extent of the food on a 4 hour flight. Oh well.
Arrive in Anchorage a little early at noon. The Anchorage airport is also spacious and beautiful. Lots of stone work and stone sculptures of wildlife. Bags arrived in a timely manner and the Holland America greeter took it from there. I haven't ever purchased transfers from the cruise line before, so this was a new experience. Nothing to decide or chase down. Once you are in their pipeline, you end up where you are supposed to be.
The motor coach driver took us on a bit of a scenic tour, giving commentary the whole way into Anchorage from the airport.Did you know that Lake Hood seaplane base is the busiest airport in the world? I think the shuttle driver said 8,000 planes a month take off and land on the lake. Remember, flying is the way lots of travel is done in Alaska due to lack of passable roads.
By the time I got checked in at the Hilton Inn, it was almost 2PM and I hadn't had anything to eat but those two cookies. I headed out on foot to prowl around downtown Anchorage and find some seafood. Now here's the thing. I LOVE seafood (oysters, lobster, shrimp, scallops) but am only so-so about fish (salmon, halibut, cod). Well, guess what Alaska has PLENTY of? Yep ... very fresh fish. So, when in Rome ...
I had asked the shuttle driver for some recommendations and found myself at Humpy's Ale House Not a bad choice. They have a great micro-brew selection and a seriously good halibut burger. Sounds weird, I know ... but this wasn't your ordinary fish sandwich. I LOVED it! Halibut was flaky, but not mushy, and really flavorful. I might have to change my mind about fish. The Kassiks Nut Brown was a great accompaniment.
Well, I had to walk off that lunch, so I headed two blocks west to the Oomingmak Musk Ox Co-Op, home of all things Qiviut. Of course my knitter friends know of Qiviut. For the rest of you, it is the VERY soft undercoat of the musk ox, harvested by hand, and the warmest fiber for its weight. They don't sell yarn there, because, as the store person told me, that would undercut their craftpersons who do this wonderful knitting by hand. But they do sell a hat kit. Of course, I bought one and will knit on it during the cruise.Here's a picture of the Kit:
I will post progress on my ravelry page. If you don't have a ravelry account, you probably aren't interested anyway.
Still felt like walking, so I headed back toward the Hilton, but on the corner opposite the hotel was the Anchorage Marketplace. It's several square blocks of open-air tents, kiosks, and vendors of all kind. Jewelry, food, sculpture, clothing, fur, and leather are just a few. I didn't buy anything particularly Alaskan, but I did get this precious t-shirt for Madison:
Then I headed back to the hotel to rest and get ready for tomorrow. I will be getting up early to visit The Quilted Raven, who is opening specially for us on Sunday morning before we catch the train to Seward. I will try to get Scotty out of bed as well, since they are primarily a fabric/quilting store.
Nite nite for now.
So George and I stagger to the airport ... uncharacteristically, I had packed last night so had little to do but dress this morning. There was almost NOTHING open at the airport ... could have had coffee, but something cold sounded good. So I bought a Jarrito Strawberry Soda ... not exactly Big Red, but close!
The Delta flights were a pleasant surprise. If I weren't such a Southwest fan, I might be converted. On time, spacious planes, even the puddle jumper that took us from Abq to Salt Lake. The big plane from Salt Lake to Anchorage was great ... supposed to be full but at the last minute someone didn't make it, so the seat next to me was empty. How's that for luck!
Salt Lake City airport is spacious and clean. However we came in at concourse B and flew out of concourse D. Thank heavens we had two hours. It was about a 30 minute walk, and I was not strolling along and shopping!
Slept most of the way to Anchorage. Woke once for a diet coke and two cookies. That was the extent of the food on a 4 hour flight. Oh well.
Arrive in Anchorage a little early at noon. The Anchorage airport is also spacious and beautiful. Lots of stone work and stone sculptures of wildlife. Bags arrived in a timely manner and the Holland America greeter took it from there. I haven't ever purchased transfers from the cruise line before, so this was a new experience. Nothing to decide or chase down. Once you are in their pipeline, you end up where you are supposed to be.
The motor coach driver took us on a bit of a scenic tour, giving commentary the whole way into Anchorage from the airport.Did you know that Lake Hood seaplane base is the busiest airport in the world? I think the shuttle driver said 8,000 planes a month take off and land on the lake. Remember, flying is the way lots of travel is done in Alaska due to lack of passable roads.
By the time I got checked in at the Hilton Inn, it was almost 2PM and I hadn't had anything to eat but those two cookies. I headed out on foot to prowl around downtown Anchorage and find some seafood. Now here's the thing. I LOVE seafood (oysters, lobster, shrimp, scallops) but am only so-so about fish (salmon, halibut, cod). Well, guess what Alaska has PLENTY of? Yep ... very fresh fish. So, when in Rome ...
I had asked the shuttle driver for some recommendations and found myself at Humpy's Ale House Not a bad choice. They have a great micro-brew selection and a seriously good halibut burger. Sounds weird, I know ... but this wasn't your ordinary fish sandwich. I LOVED it! Halibut was flaky, but not mushy, and really flavorful. I might have to change my mind about fish. The Kassiks Nut Brown was a great accompaniment.
Well, I had to walk off that lunch, so I headed two blocks west to the Oomingmak Musk Ox Co-Op, home of all things Qiviut. Of course my knitter friends know of Qiviut. For the rest of you, it is the VERY soft undercoat of the musk ox, harvested by hand, and the warmest fiber for its weight. They don't sell yarn there, because, as the store person told me, that would undercut their craftpersons who do this wonderful knitting by hand. But they do sell a hat kit. Of course, I bought one and will knit on it during the cruise.Here's a picture of the Kit:
I will post progress on my ravelry page. If you don't have a ravelry account, you probably aren't interested anyway.
Still felt like walking, so I headed back toward the Hilton, but on the corner opposite the hotel was the Anchorage Marketplace. It's several square blocks of open-air tents, kiosks, and vendors of all kind. Jewelry, food, sculpture, clothing, fur, and leather are just a few. I didn't buy anything particularly Alaskan, but I did get this precious t-shirt for Madison:
Then I headed back to the hotel to rest and get ready for tomorrow. I will be getting up early to visit The Quilted Raven, who is opening specially for us on Sunday morning before we catch the train to Seward. I will try to get Scotty out of bed as well, since they are primarily a fabric/quilting store.
Nite nite for now.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
April 18 - Travel Plans
The plans for the year are shaping up ... and they look good.
Scotty and I will be taking a Craft Cruises trip to Alaska on Holland America the last week of May. If you are a crafter, knitter in particular for me, take a look at Melissa's Craft Cruises web site. She does a wonderful job of putting together instructors for classes while at sea and interesting shore excursions. I am really looking forward to this, even though we have been to Alaska before ... once is definitely NOT enough!
I'm trying to plan a trip to Houston and also one to New York for the summer. Both places are best visited NOT in the summer, but that's what my schedule looks like for now. About a week spent in each place should allow me to visit everyone I want in Houston and spend some quality time with Meredith in New York. Some friends have been asking when we are going back to New York, so perhaps I will arrange a group trip.
Then I have just finalized plans to visit DisneyWorld in December with the Hamletts. Of course Andrew will be too young to enjoy anything, but it should be quite a trip to see Madison's reaction to everything. I am really looking forward to this one, even though it's just in the early planning stage. We booked through David's Vacation Club rentals ... and saved about $1500 on the condo. We will be staying at the Boardwalk Villas in a two-bedroom condo for $2,470 for 5 nights! Whoa! If you are planning a Disney trip, this is the way to go!!
Will continue blogging while on the cruise and if I find any other superb deals out there. Happy sailing!
Scotty and I will be taking a Craft Cruises trip to Alaska on Holland America the last week of May. If you are a crafter, knitter in particular for me, take a look at Melissa's Craft Cruises web site. She does a wonderful job of putting together instructors for classes while at sea and interesting shore excursions. I am really looking forward to this, even though we have been to Alaska before ... once is definitely NOT enough!
I'm trying to plan a trip to Houston and also one to New York for the summer. Both places are best visited NOT in the summer, but that's what my schedule looks like for now. About a week spent in each place should allow me to visit everyone I want in Houston and spend some quality time with Meredith in New York. Some friends have been asking when we are going back to New York, so perhaps I will arrange a group trip.
Then I have just finalized plans to visit DisneyWorld in December with the Hamletts. Of course Andrew will be too young to enjoy anything, but it should be quite a trip to see Madison's reaction to everything. I am really looking forward to this one, even though it's just in the early planning stage. We booked through David's Vacation Club rentals ... and saved about $1500 on the condo. We will be staying at the Boardwalk Villas in a two-bedroom condo for $2,470 for 5 nights! Whoa! If you are planning a Disney trip, this is the way to go!!
Will continue blogging while on the cruise and if I find any other superb deals out there. Happy sailing!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Mar 6 - Cruise Healthy
Statistics say cruisers gain about a pound a day on a cruise ... but you don't have to be a statistic. Cruise lines are getting behind the health movement with more spas and fitness classes, healthier food, and lots of options for exercise. Check out this article on Cruise Critic for all the details.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Don't be Late
How may times have I told you ... Don't be late ... the ship won't wait. Well, these guys had to run to catch the ship after a lovely day in port. And listen to the comments. The fellow passengers won't let them live this one down for a while. So remember ... get back to your ship on time!!
Video ... running to catch the ship
Video ... running to catch the ship
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
SOPA/PIPA
We now take a moment for a political viewpoint. Please contact your congressional delegation and encourage them to vote AGAINST the proposed SOPA/PIPA legislation. See this link http://www.ted.com/talks/defend_our_freedom_to_share_or_why_sopa_is_a_bad_idea.html
for an excellent TED talk by Clay Shirkey on the opposition to this legislation, presented in clear layman's terms.
Addicted to Travel?
I love this article from The Independent Traveler!
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/funny-travel/16-ways-you-know-youre-addicted-to-travel
Of course, I am addicted to travel! I can even relate to a couple of these. I am always planning my next cruise while on the current one! Future cruise desks are designed just for travelers like me!
Last fall, when I had several trips planned close together, I did actually live out of my suitcase at home. Why go through all the bother of packing and unpacking?
How about you? Are you addicted to travel and, if so, what kind and where??
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/funny-travel/16-ways-you-know-youre-addicted-to-travel
Of course, I am addicted to travel! I can even relate to a couple of these. I am always planning my next cruise while on the current one! Future cruise desks are designed just for travelers like me!
Last fall, when I had several trips planned close together, I did actually live out of my suitcase at home. Why go through all the bother of packing and unpacking?
How about you? Are you addicted to travel and, if so, what kind and where??
Monday, January 9, 2012
Thinking of Europe?
Thought about going to Europe? Is it on your bucket list? Or is it somewhere you've been and can't wait to return?
See Europe via cruise! ... why?
1. You can see several major European cities in one trip. The travel between cities is done at night so you don't waste touring time.
2. You only have to unpack once! (one of my favorites!)
3. Once you have paid, you are not at the mercy of the dollar fluctuation for meals or tours.
4. Want to see the interior, rather than Mediterranean ports? Consider a river cruise. Just as luxurious, but sailing on one of Europe's wonderful rivers. Most of the major inland cities in Europe developed on rivers, due to transportation requirements, so you get to visit all the "biggies".
5. Many of the cruise line's European itineraries have overnight stays in the larger cities. So you have time for a longer tour and perhaps dinner or a show.
It's on sale now! This is WAVE season, when the cruise lines are offering some of their best deals. Royal Caribbean just announced $50-$100 on board credit for their European sailings. Other cruise lines also have offers.
Let's go to Europe this year!!
See Europe via cruise! ... why?
1. You can see several major European cities in one trip. The travel between cities is done at night so you don't waste touring time.
2. You only have to unpack once! (one of my favorites!)
3. Once you have paid, you are not at the mercy of the dollar fluctuation for meals or tours.
4. Want to see the interior, rather than Mediterranean ports? Consider a river cruise. Just as luxurious, but sailing on one of Europe's wonderful rivers. Most of the major inland cities in Europe developed on rivers, due to transportation requirements, so you get to visit all the "biggies".
5. Many of the cruise line's European itineraries have overnight stays in the larger cities. So you have time for a longer tour and perhaps dinner or a show.
It's on sale now! This is WAVE season, when the cruise lines are offering some of their best deals. Royal Caribbean just announced $50-$100 on board credit for their European sailings. Other cruise lines also have offers.
Let's go to Europe this year!!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Don't Do Disney in December ... at least the last week
Hello, all!
Do you like my alliteration? It is meant to call attention to the HUGE crowds that flood DisneyWorld the week between Christmas and New Year's. I have been to Disney that week and had forgotten about the crowds until I ran across this blog post from Jack Spence. He experience the same thing I did ... Ginormous crowds, multi-hour waits, and not so much magic. Here are a couple of his pictures. You can get the entire view at his blog
That being said, I think one of the BEST times to "do Disney" is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The decorations are up (my favorite reason to visit then), the crowds are smaller (Disney no longer has no crowds), and the weather is OK (a few rain showers).
Many of you already know that Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on earth. It is in a dead heat with cruising as my favorite vacations. But even a dyed-in-the-wood Mouse-lover like me can't stand the wall-to-wall people that Christmas week brings.
So YES! Book a Disney vacation this year. But let me help you pick a time when you can really enjoy ALL the magic!
Do you like my alliteration? It is meant to call attention to the HUGE crowds that flood DisneyWorld the week between Christmas and New Year's. I have been to Disney that week and had forgotten about the crowds until I ran across this blog post from Jack Spence. He experience the same thing I did ... Ginormous crowds, multi-hour waits, and not so much magic. Here are a couple of his pictures. You can get the entire view at his blog
That being said, I think one of the BEST times to "do Disney" is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The decorations are up (my favorite reason to visit then), the crowds are smaller (Disney no longer has no crowds), and the weather is OK (a few rain showers).
Many of you already know that Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on earth. It is in a dead heat with cruising as my favorite vacations. But even a dyed-in-the-wood Mouse-lover like me can't stand the wall-to-wall people that Christmas week brings.
So YES! Book a Disney vacation this year. But let me help you pick a time when you can really enjoy ALL the magic!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Where Do You Want to Go?
Yes. It's the new year and everyone is resolving and planning. So, don't forget to resolve to give yourself a vacation this year and plan to book your cruise early. The best cabins in the best locations always go first.
And just in case you think cruises are warm weather only activities, check this out:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/slideshows/?ID=315
Happy New Year!!
And just in case you think cruises are warm weather only activities, check this out:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/slideshows/?ID=315
Happy New Year!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Let it snow ... let it snow
It's only been a week and I already want to be back in the Caribbean! I'm sitting in my office, looking out over about 6" of snow that has fallen today; and it is predicted to continue. Cruise memories of sun and sand are fading away and thoughts of a white Christmas are pushing forward.
So let me take some time, while I'm sitting at my computer, to tell you about a hotel tour I had last week. Christi from the Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque showed me around this wonderful little downtown hotel. The pictures here are from their web site.
From the Hotel's fact sheet:
The historic La Posada de Albuquerque Hotel reopened October 1, 2009 as Hotel Andaluz, following a $30 million renovation. The hotel boasts 107 rooms and suites, with meeting space for a variety of corporate booking needs. The hotel’s décor incorporates Moroccan and Spanish colonial influences reflective of the original design of the lobby, and features a mezzanine-level cultural center honoring New Mexico’s museums, cultural institutions, performing arts groups, and other culturally significant organizations.
We began our tour in the lobby, into which the renovation incorporated "casbah's" ... small, intimate seating areas, which can be curtained off. These areas can be reserved for small get togethers ... think drinks with friends before dinner. Two of them can have the connecting wall removed for slightly larger groups ... like an intimate birthday party or anniversary celebration for about 10-15 folks. Here's a picture
We had a great New Mexican breakfast at their restaurant, Lucia. I can't speak for dinner or lunch menus, but if they have items half as great at the red chili, hash browns, and eggs I had, the dining experience will be wonderful. Christi had huevos rancheros that must have tasted as good as they looked if her expression was any indication! You can check out pictures, and all the menus and other info here.
Next we went on a tour of the rooms. She started me in one of the suites. This one had a king-sized bed in a bedroom that could be closed off from the sitting area. A convertible sofa in the sitting area added to the capacity for the room. Best of all was the bathroom ... totally renovated and modern ... and beautiful! Notice the huge antique tub in this picture:
They took great pains to restore many of the original cast iron soaking tubs, and then housed them in a bathroom with all the modern amenities. The shower just begs you to get in and take your time, while the bathtub is big enough for a really relaxing soak! Because the hotel's owner is very environmentally conscious, all the upscale toiletries are dispensed from wall mounted bottles that are refilled as needed, dramatically cutting down on the waste of all those little plastic bottles!
The next suite I visited was similar, but without the wall dividing the bedroom and sitting room. Even though it was slightly smaller in square footage, it seemed bigger due to the lack of wall. So you can have your choice of privacy with a wall or a more open feeling without. Here's a sample of the open floor plan:
Notice the arch that leads into the entryway. One of the most charming thing about the hotel is the manner in which they renovated, leaving the original architecture as much as possible, while completely updating and modernising the decor.
I HAVE to talk about the desks! I travel some (duh!) and one of my pet peeves is the ridiculous placement of power outlets for computers, cell phone chargers, etc. Andaluz has solved the problem. Every desk, in every room, is equipped with a pop-up power strip. Now, why don't others think of that!?! Built right into the desk! Oh, another pet peeve of mine is that the more upscale the hotel, the more they charge for Internet access ... want free access ... go to a Holiday Inn. Not so the Andaluz! Internet access is complimentary. Hooray!!!
I could go on, but let me point you to the hotel web site instead. There is all the info you will need about this charming hotel in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.
Oh, and stay tuned ... I will be putting together a package with the hotel for the 2012 Balloon Fiesta. Let me know if you are interested!
So let me take some time, while I'm sitting at my computer, to tell you about a hotel tour I had last week. Christi from the Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque showed me around this wonderful little downtown hotel. The pictures here are from their web site.
From the Hotel's fact sheet:
We began our tour in the lobby, into which the renovation incorporated "casbah's" ... small, intimate seating areas, which can be curtained off. These areas can be reserved for small get togethers ... think drinks with friends before dinner. Two of them can have the connecting wall removed for slightly larger groups ... like an intimate birthday party or anniversary celebration for about 10-15 folks. Here's a picture
We had a great New Mexican breakfast at their restaurant, Lucia. I can't speak for dinner or lunch menus, but if they have items half as great at the red chili, hash browns, and eggs I had, the dining experience will be wonderful. Christi had huevos rancheros that must have tasted as good as they looked if her expression was any indication! You can check out pictures, and all the menus and other info here.
Next we went on a tour of the rooms. She started me in one of the suites. This one had a king-sized bed in a bedroom that could be closed off from the sitting area. A convertible sofa in the sitting area added to the capacity for the room. Best of all was the bathroom ... totally renovated and modern ... and beautiful! Notice the huge antique tub in this picture:
They took great pains to restore many of the original cast iron soaking tubs, and then housed them in a bathroom with all the modern amenities. The shower just begs you to get in and take your time, while the bathtub is big enough for a really relaxing soak! Because the hotel's owner is very environmentally conscious, all the upscale toiletries are dispensed from wall mounted bottles that are refilled as needed, dramatically cutting down on the waste of all those little plastic bottles!
The next suite I visited was similar, but without the wall dividing the bedroom and sitting room. Even though it was slightly smaller in square footage, it seemed bigger due to the lack of wall. So you can have your choice of privacy with a wall or a more open feeling without. Here's a sample of the open floor plan:
Notice the arch that leads into the entryway. One of the most charming thing about the hotel is the manner in which they renovated, leaving the original architecture as much as possible, while completely updating and modernising the decor.
I HAVE to talk about the desks! I travel some (duh!) and one of my pet peeves is the ridiculous placement of power outlets for computers, cell phone chargers, etc. Andaluz has solved the problem. Every desk, in every room, is equipped with a pop-up power strip. Now, why don't others think of that!?! Built right into the desk! Oh, another pet peeve of mine is that the more upscale the hotel, the more they charge for Internet access ... want free access ... go to a Holiday Inn. Not so the Andaluz! Internet access is complimentary. Hooray!!!
I could go on, but let me point you to the hotel web site instead. There is all the info you will need about this charming hotel in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.
Oh, and stay tuned ... I will be putting together a package with the hotel for the 2012 Balloon Fiesta. Let me know if you are interested!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Last set of tips
Promised you the final set of tips from Budget Travel Magazine ... here are the last two:
11 If you even manage to get a cell signal while at sea, your roaming charges will be outrageous. To communicate with your cabinmates, leave Post-it notes on your door detailing where you'll be throughout the day.
12 If you get lost on a ship, remember that most share a common layout. The lido-deck buffet restaurant, for example, will almost always be in the back to accommodate comfortable outdoor seating in the least windy part of the ship, while the lounge/theater will be in the front because wind is not a factor (there are no windows).
My thoughts on these tips:
Leaving the post-it notes is a pretty good idea, but I saw some very clever folks on this last cruise. They had purchased small walkie-talkies and were communicating with each other that way. I saw this trick used in Disney World some time ago, but never thought to take these little radios on a cruise ship. Clever! I may try it next time we cruise
Don't worry about getting lost on a cruise ship. Every ship has deck plans posted by the elevators and, for the most part, the public rooms are all collected on a few floors. You'll need to be able to find your cabin ... make a note whether aft, bow, or mid-ship elevators get you there easiest. And staff on cruise ships are ubiquitous and VERY friendly. Just ask! You'll get your directions down pat in no time!
I have returned with about an inch of handouts and paperwork that ended up in our mailbox every day. I'll start sharing those with you in the next posts. If you've never been on a cruise they will give you an idea what to expect. If you're an old hand, then you can compare what HAL gives us to your favorite cruise line's handouts.
11 If you even manage to get a cell signal while at sea, your roaming charges will be outrageous. To communicate with your cabinmates, leave Post-it notes on your door detailing where you'll be throughout the day.
12 If you get lost on a ship, remember that most share a common layout. The lido-deck buffet restaurant, for example, will almost always be in the back to accommodate comfortable outdoor seating in the least windy part of the ship, while the lounge/theater will be in the front because wind is not a factor (there are no windows).
My thoughts on these tips:
Leaving the post-it notes is a pretty good idea, but I saw some very clever folks on this last cruise. They had purchased small walkie-talkies and were communicating with each other that way. I saw this trick used in Disney World some time ago, but never thought to take these little radios on a cruise ship. Clever! I may try it next time we cruise
Don't worry about getting lost on a cruise ship. Every ship has deck plans posted by the elevators and, for the most part, the public rooms are all collected on a few floors. You'll need to be able to find your cabin ... make a note whether aft, bow, or mid-ship elevators get you there easiest. And staff on cruise ships are ubiquitous and VERY friendly. Just ask! You'll get your directions down pat in no time!
I have returned with about an inch of handouts and paperwork that ended up in our mailbox every day. I'll start sharing those with you in the next posts. If you've never been on a cruise they will give you an idea what to expect. If you're an old hand, then you can compare what HAL gives us to your favorite cruise line's handouts.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Home again ... home again
Our ship docks tomorrow and I will spend most of Monday getting from Ft. Lauderdale to home.
It has been a wonderful cruise. These last two days at sea have reminded me why I cruise. I have spent hours on our balcony ... listening to the ocean, staring at the waves and whitecaps, enjoying the wind, reading. The peace of the ocean lets me relax, rejuvenates me, and gives me space to think. I've already started planning for next year.
I did pick up a few things for gifts while we were docked in Aruba. But I can't tell you what ... then they wouldn't be a surprise, would they?
I learned to play craps last night. More fun than slots, with only slightly different odds. I'm really not any good at card games, where the odds can occasionally be swung in your favor. But I won! Beginners luck? Who knows? We'll decide after I give the table another run tonight.
I will have two final tips for you when I get home and back to my regular computer. Till then ... sail on!
It has been a wonderful cruise. These last two days at sea have reminded me why I cruise. I have spent hours on our balcony ... listening to the ocean, staring at the waves and whitecaps, enjoying the wind, reading. The peace of the ocean lets me relax, rejuvenates me, and gives me space to think. I've already started planning for next year.
I did pick up a few things for gifts while we were docked in Aruba. But I can't tell you what ... then they wouldn't be a surprise, would they?
I learned to play craps last night. More fun than slots, with only slightly different odds. I'm really not any good at card games, where the odds can occasionally be swung in your favor. But I won! Beginners luck? Who knows? We'll decide after I give the table another run tonight.
I will have two final tips for you when I get home and back to my regular computer. Till then ... sail on!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Day 7 & 8 - Curacao and Aruba
Days 7 & 8 – Curacao and Aruba
Dec 8 & 9
Yes, for those of you paying attention, I missed a day! C'mon … I'm on vacation!
Curacao was yesterday. The ports and cities are getting larger as time goes on. Curacao was a beautiful, tropical city, with pastel buildings and beautiful flowers. Right off the dock is the Renaissance Casino. It is a grand building and quite a shopping area has sprung up around it. I went walking among the shops, bars, and tourist attractions for about an hour. There are quaint cobblestone streets and a few local crafts.
Otherwise, yesterday was like the rest of the cruise … relaxing. Knitting, reading, going to the hydrotherapy pool in the spa. We had a great dinner with one of the best waiters we've had so far. He was pleasant, without being intrusive … quite a feat. I asked about some origami I had seen him making and he came by the table to fold us a frog … that hops! When we awoke this morning, it was hanging from our stateroom mailbox!
Today is Aruba. Bigger and more bustling than Curacao. Again, I went wandering among the shops at the pier. This time I actually did some shopping. A few Christmas presents and a new caftan for me.
I am sitting at the writing desk in our cabin as I type, looking out over the aft of the ship … at the Queen Victoria, docked behind us. I thought she would be more impressive. Several folks on her forward deck, in the hot tub and reading. Appears everybody does the same thing on a cruise!
Yesterday and today I have watched innumerable cargo ships come and go. Gives me a small understanding of the amount of commerce that happens on the seas. I see big rig trailers every day and it leads one to believe that truck haul most of our goods. Not so … Cargo ships, piled high with shipping containers.
Since this is two-days worth of postings, you get two tips:
9. Make your cabin homier by packing a small collapsible vase and a bouquet of flowers.
10. If you go directly from the air-conditioned ship out onto the open-air deck (which is usually warmer and more humid in most cruise destinations) your camera's lens is likely to fog up. Warm the camera with your cabin's hair dryer on a low setting or briefly leave it out on your balcony so it can acclimate to the weather.
Hmmm … seems like the writers at Budget Travel Magazine were reaching for these. I have never found the need for flowers in my cabin. Even mass-market lines like Carnival have very nicely decorated staterooms … even the interior ones. I'd save my luggage space.
The camera tip is so true. But the fogging (which happens on my glasses as well) resolves itself very quickly. It's not serious enough to damage any of the few moving parts in today's digital cameras, so I just take a few moments to enjoy the scenery before I start snapping pictures.
We are about to pull out of Aruba … our last port. The next two days are at sea as we head back to Ft. Lauderdale. I'll see what goodies I can find to report on for you.
Dec 8 & 9
Yes, for those of you paying attention, I missed a day! C'mon … I'm on vacation!
Curacao was yesterday. The ports and cities are getting larger as time goes on. Curacao was a beautiful, tropical city, with pastel buildings and beautiful flowers. Right off the dock is the Renaissance Casino. It is a grand building and quite a shopping area has sprung up around it. I went walking among the shops, bars, and tourist attractions for about an hour. There are quaint cobblestone streets and a few local crafts.
Otherwise, yesterday was like the rest of the cruise … relaxing. Knitting, reading, going to the hydrotherapy pool in the spa. We had a great dinner with one of the best waiters we've had so far. He was pleasant, without being intrusive … quite a feat. I asked about some origami I had seen him making and he came by the table to fold us a frog … that hops! When we awoke this morning, it was hanging from our stateroom mailbox!
Today is Aruba. Bigger and more bustling than Curacao. Again, I went wandering among the shops at the pier. This time I actually did some shopping. A few Christmas presents and a new caftan for me.
I am sitting at the writing desk in our cabin as I type, looking out over the aft of the ship … at the Queen Victoria, docked behind us. I thought she would be more impressive. Several folks on her forward deck, in the hot tub and reading. Appears everybody does the same thing on a cruise!
Yesterday and today I have watched innumerable cargo ships come and go. Gives me a small understanding of the amount of commerce that happens on the seas. I see big rig trailers every day and it leads one to believe that truck haul most of our goods. Not so … Cargo ships, piled high with shipping containers.
Since this is two-days worth of postings, you get two tips:
9. Make your cabin homier by packing a small collapsible vase and a bouquet of flowers.
10. If you go directly from the air-conditioned ship out onto the open-air deck (which is usually warmer and more humid in most cruise destinations) your camera's lens is likely to fog up. Warm the camera with your cabin's hair dryer on a low setting or briefly leave it out on your balcony so it can acclimate to the weather.
Hmmm … seems like the writers at Budget Travel Magazine were reaching for these. I have never found the need for flowers in my cabin. Even mass-market lines like Carnival have very nicely decorated staterooms … even the interior ones. I'd save my luggage space.
The camera tip is so true. But the fogging (which happens on my glasses as well) resolves itself very quickly. It's not serious enough to damage any of the few moving parts in today's digital cameras, so I just take a few moments to enjoy the scenery before I start snapping pictures.
We are about to pull out of Aruba … our last port. The next two days are at sea as we head back to Ft. Lauderdale. I'll see what goodies I can find to report on for you.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Day 6 - Bonaire
Day 6 – Bonaire
Dec 7
Once again, the ship is in port and we are on the ship. Bonaire looks pretty inviting from our balcony. See picture …
the pastel houses, tropical foliage, and blue, blue water. But we have discovered that, if we stay on the ship on port days while everyone else goes ashore, it's like we have the ship and staff almost entirely to ourselves.
You see, there are certain things cruises are great for, and others … not so much. Cruises are great for travelling in style, not having to unpack, seeing beautiful landscapes and ocean and beaches, and for the occasional scuba or snorkelling outing. Cruises aren't so good for getting to know a port in depth. You are only there for several hours and, unless you are willing to venture out on your own, there's not enough time to escape the tourist shopping venues and pre-packaged “native” shows. Nope … if getting to know about a locale is your purpose for vacationing, then rent a condo and spend a couple of weeks living with the locals. … So Scotty and I rarely get off the ship.
But you win because we stayed on board today. I decided to get pictures of the flower arrangements today. In addition to its magnificent collection of art, HAL employs full time florists … two on the Noordam … to keep flowers fresh and ever changing. Here is a sample of the arrangements to be found on every floor and every dining table.
We had lunch at Pinnacle Grill … now, who would go to a five-star restaurant and order a hamburger?? Me! And it was one of the best hamburgers I've ever had! Then I mentioned to our waiter how much I loved the peach frozen yogurt from the day before and, even though it wasn't on the menu, he found some for me … ah, white glove service!
As I said, it was a lazy day for us, so we headed back to the room to sit on the verandah and just watch the water. I read and knit for quite a while. This is what I consider a vacation!
Dinner found us back in the main dining room. I had a roast duck appetizer (wonderful), a five-onion cream soup (interesting), and leg of lamb (YUM!!!). Finished off with a hot fudge Sundae. Yes, I will be gaining a pound a day unless I don't take another bite from now until we disembark on Monday!
The casino was kinder to me tonight. Won back part of what I lost last night. If I could learn to just walk away when I win, I could stay ahead … but where's the fun in that?
Here's the latest tip from Budget Travel Magazine:
8. If the porters haven't delivered your luggage to your door by the first night of the cruise, check what our experts call the “naughty room”. Security will store any bags containing contraband, (like candles, alcohol, or coffeemakers) in this centralized location until you come to claim it. You'll be able to pick up your bag on the first night but your banned items will not be returned until the end of the trip.
Folks, cruise lines are very serious about this. There is nothing scarier to the crew than a fire. So anything that heats up or has the possibility of a flame is confiscated. Please, please pay attention to these limits. It will make your cruise much more enjoyable and safer!
Dec 7
Once again, the ship is in port and we are on the ship. Bonaire looks pretty inviting from our balcony. See picture …
the pastel houses, tropical foliage, and blue, blue water. But we have discovered that, if we stay on the ship on port days while everyone else goes ashore, it's like we have the ship and staff almost entirely to ourselves.
You see, there are certain things cruises are great for, and others … not so much. Cruises are great for travelling in style, not having to unpack, seeing beautiful landscapes and ocean and beaches, and for the occasional scuba or snorkelling outing. Cruises aren't so good for getting to know a port in depth. You are only there for several hours and, unless you are willing to venture out on your own, there's not enough time to escape the tourist shopping venues and pre-packaged “native” shows. Nope … if getting to know about a locale is your purpose for vacationing, then rent a condo and spend a couple of weeks living with the locals. … So Scotty and I rarely get off the ship.
But you win because we stayed on board today. I decided to get pictures of the flower arrangements today. In addition to its magnificent collection of art, HAL employs full time florists … two on the Noordam … to keep flowers fresh and ever changing. Here is a sample of the arrangements to be found on every floor and every dining table.
We had lunch at Pinnacle Grill … now, who would go to a five-star restaurant and order a hamburger?? Me! And it was one of the best hamburgers I've ever had! Then I mentioned to our waiter how much I loved the peach frozen yogurt from the day before and, even though it wasn't on the menu, he found some for me … ah, white glove service!
As I said, it was a lazy day for us, so we headed back to the room to sit on the verandah and just watch the water. I read and knit for quite a while. This is what I consider a vacation!
Dinner found us back in the main dining room. I had a roast duck appetizer (wonderful), a five-onion cream soup (interesting), and leg of lamb (YUM!!!). Finished off with a hot fudge Sundae. Yes, I will be gaining a pound a day unless I don't take another bite from now until we disembark on Monday!
The casino was kinder to me tonight. Won back part of what I lost last night. If I could learn to just walk away when I win, I could stay ahead … but where's the fun in that?
Here's the latest tip from Budget Travel Magazine:
8. If the porters haven't delivered your luggage to your door by the first night of the cruise, check what our experts call the “naughty room”. Security will store any bags containing contraband, (like candles, alcohol, or coffeemakers) in this centralized location until you come to claim it. You'll be able to pick up your bag on the first night but your banned items will not be returned until the end of the trip.
Folks, cruise lines are very serious about this. There is nothing scarier to the crew than a fire. So anything that heats up or has the possibility of a flame is confiscated. Please, please pay attention to these limits. It will make your cruise much more enjoyable and safer!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Day 5 - At Sea
Day 5 – At Sea
Dec 6
Very rollercoaster day today. No, the ship is not rocking … I am … well, me and the slot machines! I am down some, but this morning I won $500 on a random spin! I was on cloud 9 for quite a while. Now, after an evening in the casino … not so much … ah well. I am enough of a statistician to know I am just playing for entertainment and there is little hope of walking away ahead of the house.
I have to talk about the walking. We are really getting our exercise. The Noordam is three football fields in length … 935 feet, to be exact. As I have said, our cabin is at the very aft … looking out over the aft of the ship. The Lido Buffet is directly above us, three decks up. Otherwise, we walk at least half the length of the ship to get anywhere. The Main dining room is completely forward. The casino and lounges are mostly mid-ship. The crow's nest is completely forward. The Neptune Lounge is a little forward of midship. See … we are getting our exercise. Perhaps we won't gain that average of a pound a day that everyone talks about!
For those of you who have asked for more pictures, Holland America Line does it much better than I do. So here's a link to some beautiful pictures of the ship and facilities:
http://experience.hollandamerica.com/ships/noordam/NO_slideshow2/index.html
The first room picture is the type of cabin we are in. The hydrotherapy pool is the one I head to every day. We have eaten in the Lido Buffet and the main dining room. Tomorrow lunch is the Pinnacle Grill. I will take more pictures of things that aren't in this slide show. Especially the art work … amazing!!
Today was pretty calm, other than the casino trips. I spent some time in the Neptune lounge, sending off today's blog, checking e-mail, and knitting. My knitting is drawing some attention, so I have begun carrying around the pattern as well as the WIP. People want to see what the finished product will be like.
We had a nice lunch in the Lido Buffet. Salad, nothing too fancy. After a while you just have to have real food! Then Scotty went off to a movie and I headed to the casino. She enjoyed “Larry Crowne” and I played the slots … 'nuff said.
We spent a little while in the cabin prior to dinner, sitting on the verandah and reading. I admit, I snoozed off a little while in bed! Dinner was at Caneletto. HAL turns part of the Lido Buffet into a very nice, but informal, Italian restaurant at dinner time. We took advantage of it and had a great Italian dinner. My Chicken Marsala was wonderful and her Cod looked pretty good too!
Time for tip # 7
7. If your tablecloth is wet at dinner, you should prepare for rough seas. Restaurant staffers have been known to slightly dampen the tablecloth to keep plates and glasses from sliding.
This is another one that is outside my experience. Given how rough the seas were at the start of this voyage, I would have expected to see it then, but didn't … perhaps this is the sea-going version of an urban legend? Have any of you experienced dampened linens??
Headed off to bed now. We dock in Bonnaire tomorrow. We have lunch scheduled for the Pinnacle Grill, but we will also try to get off the ship and see what we can in town.
Dec 6
Very rollercoaster day today. No, the ship is not rocking … I am … well, me and the slot machines! I am down some, but this morning I won $500 on a random spin! I was on cloud 9 for quite a while. Now, after an evening in the casino … not so much … ah well. I am enough of a statistician to know I am just playing for entertainment and there is little hope of walking away ahead of the house.
I have to talk about the walking. We are really getting our exercise. The Noordam is three football fields in length … 935 feet, to be exact. As I have said, our cabin is at the very aft … looking out over the aft of the ship. The Lido Buffet is directly above us, three decks up. Otherwise, we walk at least half the length of the ship to get anywhere. The Main dining room is completely forward. The casino and lounges are mostly mid-ship. The crow's nest is completely forward. The Neptune Lounge is a little forward of midship. See … we are getting our exercise. Perhaps we won't gain that average of a pound a day that everyone talks about!
For those of you who have asked for more pictures, Holland America Line does it much better than I do. So here's a link to some beautiful pictures of the ship and facilities:
http://experience.hollandamerica.com/ships/noordam/NO_slideshow2/index.html
The first room picture is the type of cabin we are in. The hydrotherapy pool is the one I head to every day. We have eaten in the Lido Buffet and the main dining room. Tomorrow lunch is the Pinnacle Grill. I will take more pictures of things that aren't in this slide show. Especially the art work … amazing!!
Today was pretty calm, other than the casino trips. I spent some time in the Neptune lounge, sending off today's blog, checking e-mail, and knitting. My knitting is drawing some attention, so I have begun carrying around the pattern as well as the WIP. People want to see what the finished product will be like.
We had a nice lunch in the Lido Buffet. Salad, nothing too fancy. After a while you just have to have real food! Then Scotty went off to a movie and I headed to the casino. She enjoyed “Larry Crowne” and I played the slots … 'nuff said.
We spent a little while in the cabin prior to dinner, sitting on the verandah and reading. I admit, I snoozed off a little while in bed! Dinner was at Caneletto. HAL turns part of the Lido Buffet into a very nice, but informal, Italian restaurant at dinner time. We took advantage of it and had a great Italian dinner. My Chicken Marsala was wonderful and her Cod looked pretty good too!
Time for tip # 7
7. If your tablecloth is wet at dinner, you should prepare for rough seas. Restaurant staffers have been known to slightly dampen the tablecloth to keep plates and glasses from sliding.
This is another one that is outside my experience. Given how rough the seas were at the start of this voyage, I would have expected to see it then, but didn't … perhaps this is the sea-going version of an urban legend? Have any of you experienced dampened linens??
Headed off to bed now. We dock in Bonnaire tomorrow. We have lunch scheduled for the Pinnacle Grill, but we will also try to get off the ship and see what we can in town.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Day 4 - Samana - and a new tip
Day 4
Dec 5
Samana is a very small place. We stayed on the ship. Tender trip would have been 30 minutes, then another 20 cab ride into town, according to our dinner-mates.
I was up at 7:30 – no particular reason, just awake! Took my computer down to Lido for coffee and croissants. Had a very pleasant time posting yesterday's blog, checking e-mail and chatting with a couple from Jamaica/Canada. Coincidentally, they have a daughter living in Santa Fe. It is such a small world!
No pictures today, because it was really a lazy day. Went back to the cabin after eating and Internet time and took a quick snooze. Poor cabin steward hardly got a look at our room today, we were so snuggled up. Left Scotty in the room and headed out to browse the ship. Stopped in the Crow's Nest to read some, then down to the Lido for some sushi for lunch. Scotty found me there. She fixed herself up with some asian food and we sat and chatted for a while. Just luxuriating in the peace and watching the sea.
Back downstairs to the cabin … Deni hadn't made it by to make it up yet, so we put him off yet again and took another nap. I awoke after about 2 hours and decided to go sit somewhere beautiful and knit. Found a nice quiet place in the seating area of the ocean bar. Scotty and I browsed the jewelry and gift shop … seemed to be smaller than the last HAL cruise we took, but we are much for shopping anyway. Nick and Mark at the Ocean Bar took good care of us and I got a fair amount of knitting done.
Headed to dinner and ran into Ann and Bill, whom we had eaten with at lunch on the first day. It is amazing that, on a ship with 1800 people, you can run into the same folks over and over. So we shared a table with them for dinner. I had proscuitto salad, cheddar/bacon soup, and flank steak with polenta. All very yummy. Ended the meal with a date bread covered in zabaglione. Also yummy.
Then we parted ways. Scotty went to listen to the chamber string quartet and I headed for the casino again. Walked away with $69 more than I put in, so I consider it a good night.
Just came in from our verandah. I could have slept in the deck chair … ocean sound, rocking ship, sea air … lovely!
For those of you who have been reading along, I promised the answer to the trivia question … who wrote “Twinkle, twinkle little star”. And the answer is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Again, thanks to Budget Travel Magazine for tip # 6
6. Don't assume you can save a spot at the pool with your towel. Cruise lines give you one pool towel at the start of the cruise. If you don't have it (or a cleaned trade-in) at the end, you'll get charged. If you let it out of your sight, you run the risk of losing it or having it stolen by a fellow cruiser.
Not so in my experience. Although Scotty and I aren't ones to lay about by the pool, my daughters are. I have never had the experience where the cruise line only gives you one towel. HAL has towels poolside and hands them out freely. Of course, it is rude to save a seat with your towel and then not use it. Chair hogs are the worst on cruises!! Don't be one!
Dec 5
Samana is a very small place. We stayed on the ship. Tender trip would have been 30 minutes, then another 20 cab ride into town, according to our dinner-mates.
I was up at 7:30 – no particular reason, just awake! Took my computer down to Lido for coffee and croissants. Had a very pleasant time posting yesterday's blog, checking e-mail and chatting with a couple from Jamaica/Canada. Coincidentally, they have a daughter living in Santa Fe. It is such a small world!
No pictures today, because it was really a lazy day. Went back to the cabin after eating and Internet time and took a quick snooze. Poor cabin steward hardly got a look at our room today, we were so snuggled up. Left Scotty in the room and headed out to browse the ship. Stopped in the Crow's Nest to read some, then down to the Lido for some sushi for lunch. Scotty found me there. She fixed herself up with some asian food and we sat and chatted for a while. Just luxuriating in the peace and watching the sea.
Back downstairs to the cabin … Deni hadn't made it by to make it up yet, so we put him off yet again and took another nap. I awoke after about 2 hours and decided to go sit somewhere beautiful and knit. Found a nice quiet place in the seating area of the ocean bar. Scotty and I browsed the jewelry and gift shop … seemed to be smaller than the last HAL cruise we took, but we are much for shopping anyway. Nick and Mark at the Ocean Bar took good care of us and I got a fair amount of knitting done.
Headed to dinner and ran into Ann and Bill, whom we had eaten with at lunch on the first day. It is amazing that, on a ship with 1800 people, you can run into the same folks over and over. So we shared a table with them for dinner. I had proscuitto salad, cheddar/bacon soup, and flank steak with polenta. All very yummy. Ended the meal with a date bread covered in zabaglione. Also yummy.
Then we parted ways. Scotty went to listen to the chamber string quartet and I headed for the casino again. Walked away with $69 more than I put in, so I consider it a good night.
Just came in from our verandah. I could have slept in the deck chair … ocean sound, rocking ship, sea air … lovely!
For those of you who have been reading along, I promised the answer to the trivia question … who wrote “Twinkle, twinkle little star”. And the answer is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Again, thanks to Budget Travel Magazine for tip # 6
6. Don't assume you can save a spot at the pool with your towel. Cruise lines give you one pool towel at the start of the cruise. If you don't have it (or a cleaned trade-in) at the end, you'll get charged. If you let it out of your sight, you run the risk of losing it or having it stolen by a fellow cruiser.
Not so in my experience. Although Scotty and I aren't ones to lay about by the pool, my daughters are. I have never had the experience where the cruise line only gives you one towel. HAL has towels poolside and hands them out freely. Of course, it is rude to save a seat with your towel and then not use it. Chair hogs are the worst on cruises!! Don't be one!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Day 3 - Grand Turk - and Tip # 4
Day 3 – Grand Turk
Dec 4
As I have regularly said, Scotty and I are ship people, rather than port people. But will still disembark long enough to see the shops at the pier. No sightseeing in Grand Turk for us.
I was up at about 9AM to head to the Neptune lounge to post yesterday's blog, and check e-mail and Facebook. Not trying to keep up with work or anything, but I don't like to feel totally isolated. I discovered a wonderful layout of fruit and breads. Two great cups of coffee later and I was ready to return to the room to wake Scotty up.
She was up, on her first cup of coffee and I could smell the bacon and eggs she had ordered for breakfast. Don't know why, but we ate in the room (I had a fruit plate), rather than on the balcony. Some times we just don't think about it, no matter how much we enjoy it.
Dressed and headed to the disembarkation station. Along the way, I discovered that the ship's crew was continuing to put up Christmas decorations. Today was the trees. There are several pictures of them below. The one in the main Atrium is the largest and suspended from the ceiling over the Atrium Bar. I have a couple of shots of it in process …
Then we headed outside. Gorgeous day! Here's the pictures of the ship from the pier and the entrance to the cruise terminal.
Grand Turk has done an outstanding job of creating a wonderful place for their cruise passengers. There's a beautiful white sand beach, a huge swimming pool, and many many shops. Here's a picture of Scotty under a shop sign I found pretty amusing.
It's the normal cruise stuff for sale … trinkets, liquor and cigarettes duty-free, jewelry, and the ever-present Margaritaville. We browsed for about an hour and headed back to the ship.
Took our lunch at the Lido buffet again. We hit the pasta bar this time. Made-to-order sauce, with a wide choice of mix-ins. And pizza. Not like home, but not bad either.
So what does one do on ship when in port? We took a nap! I'm not sure what Scotty did, but I slept for 2 wonderful hours! Pulled the curtains shut so there was no light and was immediately out. No the ship wasn't rocking, like at night … in fact, we've hit pretty calm seas now … but I still fell asleep right away … perhaps the sun and sea air?!?!
After nap time, I went looking for Scotty. Found her in the Crow's Nest. A wonderful lounge/bar at the very bow of the ship that has one of the best views aboard. We watched and listened as the Cruise Director played team trivia … I might have helped a team win, but we had entered late, so just watched. BTW, who wrote “Twinkle, twinkle, little star?” (Answer in tomorrow's blog).
I then headed down to sit in on Microsoft Windows Live Movie Maker class. Actually didn't know much about this product and so I picked up a few things. Frank, the “techspert” had wanted to see my Kindle Fire anyway, so we had a nice chat. Turns out HAL has an exclusive contract with Microsoft … at least for the next three years … for these classes. After that, Frank guesses other cruise lines will come knocking on Microsoft's door. Perhaps I've found something I could do to cruise and earn a little money???
Then dinner. Here's a picture of the menu. Don't know if you can enlarge it to read it, but you get an idea of how extensive it is. Different every night and this doesn't even include dessert.
Tonight I had the eggplant caponata … not made the way I make it, but not bad. Then an arugula and pear salad with balsamic dressing … YUM. Followed by “pot roast”. That's what the menu called it, but my pot roast has never had the depth of flavors or the presentation that this pot roast did.
We also had a complimentary glass of champagne as the captain's way of apologizing for missing Half Moon Cay. We are also being refunded $18.75 (woo hoo!) for the port taxes that didn't get collected because we didn't dock. Interesting.
Returned to our room after dinner because, even with a nap, we are tired. I suited up and headed for the spa. The last time I wrote about the hydrotherapy pool, I said I was a prune. Tonight I was a noodle. It's the best way I can think of to relax prior to bed.
Here are the rest of the pics of Christmas decorations I took today:
With a tip of the hat to Budget Travel Magazine, here's cruise tip # 5
5. Internet phone services like Vonage can be programmed to send transcribed voice mails to your e-mail in-box. That way, you can check your home answering machine quickly at an Internet cafe without paying insane roaming fees on your cell. The transcriptions won't always be perfect, but you will get the gist.
I can vouch for this one. I use Vonage and I do get my voice-mail transcribed into my e-mail in-box. Even with George at home catching most of the phone calls, I feel like I still can stay in touch. And yes, the cell phone roaming charges are exorbitant. If you are planning a cruise, tell family and friends you can check e-mail intermittently, but not to plan on phone calls. I purchase an Internet time package (about $.40/min when purchased in bulk) Then I sign on … download e-mail … sign off … compose e-mails and blog posts … then sign back on and upload. It's as efficient with your minutes as you can be and still stay in touch.
Tomorrow is La Samana in the Dominican Republic. And tip # 6.
Dec 4
As I have regularly said, Scotty and I are ship people, rather than port people. But will still disembark long enough to see the shops at the pier. No sightseeing in Grand Turk for us.
I was up at about 9AM to head to the Neptune lounge to post yesterday's blog, and check e-mail and Facebook. Not trying to keep up with work or anything, but I don't like to feel totally isolated. I discovered a wonderful layout of fruit and breads. Two great cups of coffee later and I was ready to return to the room to wake Scotty up.
She was up, on her first cup of coffee and I could smell the bacon and eggs she had ordered for breakfast. Don't know why, but we ate in the room (I had a fruit plate), rather than on the balcony. Some times we just don't think about it, no matter how much we enjoy it.
Dressed and headed to the disembarkation station. Along the way, I discovered that the ship's crew was continuing to put up Christmas decorations. Today was the trees. There are several pictures of them below. The one in the main Atrium is the largest and suspended from the ceiling over the Atrium Bar. I have a couple of shots of it in process …
Then we headed outside. Gorgeous day! Here's the pictures of the ship from the pier and the entrance to the cruise terminal.
Grand Turk has done an outstanding job of creating a wonderful place for their cruise passengers. There's a beautiful white sand beach, a huge swimming pool, and many many shops. Here's a picture of Scotty under a shop sign I found pretty amusing.
It's the normal cruise stuff for sale … trinkets, liquor and cigarettes duty-free, jewelry, and the ever-present Margaritaville. We browsed for about an hour and headed back to the ship.
Took our lunch at the Lido buffet again. We hit the pasta bar this time. Made-to-order sauce, with a wide choice of mix-ins. And pizza. Not like home, but not bad either.
So what does one do on ship when in port? We took a nap! I'm not sure what Scotty did, but I slept for 2 wonderful hours! Pulled the curtains shut so there was no light and was immediately out. No the ship wasn't rocking, like at night … in fact, we've hit pretty calm seas now … but I still fell asleep right away … perhaps the sun and sea air?!?!
After nap time, I went looking for Scotty. Found her in the Crow's Nest. A wonderful lounge/bar at the very bow of the ship that has one of the best views aboard. We watched and listened as the Cruise Director played team trivia … I might have helped a team win, but we had entered late, so just watched. BTW, who wrote “Twinkle, twinkle, little star?” (Answer in tomorrow's blog).
I then headed down to sit in on Microsoft Windows Live Movie Maker class. Actually didn't know much about this product and so I picked up a few things. Frank, the “techspert” had wanted to see my Kindle Fire anyway, so we had a nice chat. Turns out HAL has an exclusive contract with Microsoft … at least for the next three years … for these classes. After that, Frank guesses other cruise lines will come knocking on Microsoft's door. Perhaps I've found something I could do to cruise and earn a little money???
Then dinner. Here's a picture of the menu. Don't know if you can enlarge it to read it, but you get an idea of how extensive it is. Different every night and this doesn't even include dessert.
Tonight I had the eggplant caponata … not made the way I make it, but not bad. Then an arugula and pear salad with balsamic dressing … YUM. Followed by “pot roast”. That's what the menu called it, but my pot roast has never had the depth of flavors or the presentation that this pot roast did.
We also had a complimentary glass of champagne as the captain's way of apologizing for missing Half Moon Cay. We are also being refunded $18.75 (woo hoo!) for the port taxes that didn't get collected because we didn't dock. Interesting.
Returned to our room after dinner because, even with a nap, we are tired. I suited up and headed for the spa. The last time I wrote about the hydrotherapy pool, I said I was a prune. Tonight I was a noodle. It's the best way I can think of to relax prior to bed.
Here are the rest of the pics of Christmas decorations I took today:
With a tip of the hat to Budget Travel Magazine, here's cruise tip # 5
5. Internet phone services like Vonage can be programmed to send transcribed voice mails to your e-mail in-box. That way, you can check your home answering machine quickly at an Internet cafe without paying insane roaming fees on your cell. The transcriptions won't always be perfect, but you will get the gist.
I can vouch for this one. I use Vonage and I do get my voice-mail transcribed into my e-mail in-box. Even with George at home catching most of the phone calls, I feel like I still can stay in touch. And yes, the cell phone roaming charges are exorbitant. If you are planning a cruise, tell family and friends you can check e-mail intermittently, but not to plan on phone calls. I purchase an Internet time package (about $.40/min when purchased in bulk) Then I sign on … download e-mail … sign off … compose e-mails and blog posts … then sign back on and upload. It's as efficient with your minutes as you can be and still stay in touch.
Tomorrow is La Samana in the Dominican Republic. And tip # 6.
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