On Sunday 4 January we were up early and got ready for our cruise. We drove to the US1 Airport Parking on S. Federal Highway and took the shuttle to Port Everglades Pier 26 for the Nieuw Amsterdam. The young lady at US1 Airport Parking said "yes" to my Book of Mormon questions. Our ticket number for the shuttle upon our return is 17270. We had plenty of time and embarkation began at 11:30.
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| Inside Terminal 26 |
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| Inside Terminal 26 |
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| Eileen boarding the ship |
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| The Nieuw Amsterdam |
We went to the Lido Restaurant on deck 9 (the Lido Deck) and both had a big salad followed by sugar-free Neapolitan ice cream for lunch.
We got in our stateroom 4039 on the starboard side about 12:30. It didn't take too long for our luggage to show up and we spent quite a while unpacking. The luggage all fits under the bed once emptied. We remembered the shoe rack that we hang inside the bathroom door for all kinds of toiletry items.
Sweaty by then, we returned to the Lido Deck for cold drinks. I got my $50 soda card which is only $25 on the day of embarkation. Then we went down to deck 3 (the Promenade Deck) to await the mandatory muster drill outside by the lifeboats.
Afterwards we stayed on the outside deck, Eileen on the starboard side and I went to the port side, both taking pictures. I took pictures of the Eurodam, a Royal Caribbean ship, and another, and could look north to the A1A bridge. Then I followed the ship's path on my map app. I walked forward and around to the starboard side as Eileen and I texted. I continued taking pictures though she had gone back inside. She texted that she heard that a ship was behind us. I walked aft and chatted with a couple, experienced cruisers, who said it was the Eurodam behind us.
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| Container cargo ship |
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| Tugboat |
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| Holland America Eurodam |
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| A1A bridge |
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| Nova Southeastern University |
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| Breakwater |
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| Nieuw Amsterdam bench on the Promenade Deck |
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| Celebrity cruise ship |
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| Royal Caribbean cruise ship |
We went to dinner at 5:30 in the Manhattan Dining room on deck 3. We were assigned table 30 with settings for six and we were the only ones! How sad! Supper was very good! We visited the shops which were now open as we were out of port. Eileen got a little charm from the shopping desk in the atrium. We picked up literature about future cruises.
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| Entrance to Manhattan Dining room |
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| Manhattan Dining Room |
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| View aft from our table |
After our usual reading Eileen hit the hay and I went at 9:45 to the screening room on Deck 3 to watch the movie "Guardians of the Galaxy." I quit after about 30 minutes as I had no idea what was going on.
On Monday 5 January we enjoyed breakfast on the Lido Deck. Eileen especially liked the Eggs Benedict! I was saddened to see the waffles with fruit compotes that I know would send my blood sugar way up! Maybe I'll have one during the cruise.
We went for a walk outside on Deck 3 and relaxed for a while on the deck chairs on the port side facing Half Moon Cay.
I finished reading "Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope" by Victor Appleton which I began on 8 December. I have reached the end of the 25 or so Tom Swift books in the public domain on iBooks.
We returned to our stateroom and took a nap. Then we enjoyed the Lido Pool and Hot Tub, meeting a fellow from the Tampa area in the hot tub and a gal from England in the pool! She was from Yorkshire and now lives near Stonehenge.
We relaxed poolside and then had something from the Terrace Grill. Eileen had the Back Flip grilled chicken breast sandwich and I had the Dog Paddle hot dog with sauerkraut, bacon, and German mustard.
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| Lido Pool area |
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| Lido Pool area |
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| Terrace Grill |
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| Lido Pool area |
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| Lido Pool from above |
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| Lido Pool from above |
We both relaxed in our stateroom and, prior to dinner, shopped for suntan lotion. Surprisingly we found a Nieuw Amsterdam cap which they did not have three years ago.
While I returned our purchases to our room, Eileen waited in the Ocean Bar and discovered that they have caffeine-free diet Coke! When I got back to her, the server also brought some snacks similar to potstickers.
We were joined at our table in the Manhattan Dining Room by Shawn and Mimi who recently moved from Alaska to Minnesota. Shawn is in IT and Mimi is a cook (or chef). And we asked through our steward if another couple who were alone at their table would like to join us. They did and they are Rich and Mollie. He is a civil engineer and almost retired. She was a schoolteacher for nearly 30 years and she picked up right away that we are LDS when we talked about our mission.
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| Shawn and Mimi |
We went to show in "Showcase at Sea" which was going to be a percussion act but it was obviously going to be loud and raucous as many in the audience had noise-making devices, so we left before it started and went to hear "Adagio" in the Explorer's Lounge. They are a violinist Anna and pianist Liza playing classical music and they are very good. Another couple sat by us who had also decided to leave "Showcase at Sea." We chatted with them during the 15-minute break. They have been on 14 cruises including Alaska and the Danube.
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| Showcase at Sea |
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| Showcase at Sea |
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| Showcase at Sea |
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| "Adagio" in the Explorer's Lounge |
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| "Adagio" in the Explorer's Lounge |
We left at 9 pm and went to the Lido Deck for some sugar-free strawberry ice cream. Then it was to our stateroom for an apple (Eileen) and a pear from our fruit basket provided by our room stewards.
I finished the 3 August issue of the Church News. I enjoyed reading about the newly renovated Ogden Temple open house (it was dedicated on 21 September), new features for the LDS Tools app, the talk by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson at the BYU-Idaho commencement exercises on 23 July, the recognition of the Church in Bolivia for its humanitarian efforts (it is home to more than 175,000 members), four new stakes including two from districts in Nigeria and one from a district in Jamaica (the first in that country), and the centennial of a Church building in Magnolia, Alabama.
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| Ogden Utah Temple |
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| LDS Tools App |
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Assemblyman Vargas, left, presents humanitarian award to
Area Seventy Elder Rene Cabrera, who accepted
the award on behalf of the Church. |
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Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President,
speaks during commencement exercises at BYU-Idaho. |
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Folks gather inside and outside the Magnolia Branch chapel
in south Alabama to mark the building's centennial. |
On Tuesday 6 January I finished reading "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley which I had begun on 25 April.
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| Mary Shelley (1797-1851) |
We observed Cuba as the ship was just going around the eastern tip of the island. It would follow the coastline all way into the Caribbean on the way to Grand Cayman.
We dropped off our disembarkation form and the form for the 5K walk for cancer which is on Friday, I believe. Eileen got her t-shirt.
We enjoyed breakfast on the Lido Deck. Eileen liked her Eggs Benedict again! I had two omelets with sausage links and crispy bacon. One was a ham, cheese, and mushroom omelet and the other was a seafood omelet with shrimp and lox. Eileen tried a bite of both.
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| Eggs Benedict |
Then we were the first to arrive in the Culinary Arts Center on deck 2 for "A Taste of Nieuw Amsterdam."
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| Culinary Arts Center |
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| Hostess Nikki |
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| At entrance to Culinary Arts Center |
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| Chef and Hostess Nikki |
While waiting I read a short story by Agatha Christie called "The Island" about Mary, the mother of the Savior, John the Revelator, and Jesus Himself. Star Over Bethlehem is an illustrated book of poetry and short stories on a religious theme by crime writer Agatha Christie. It was published under the name "Agatha Christie Mallowan" (whose only other book to be published under this by-line was the 1946 short autobiography Come, Tell Me How You Live). The sixth short story is "The Island." Wikipedia.
There were electrical problems with the stoves, so the show was cut short after jokes by Nikki, the hostess, and questions from the audience.
We returned to our room to relax and found that the room stewards had made a sting ray on our bed out of the white towels.
Then we returned to the Culinary Arts Center for "Delicious Caribbean Cuisine," again with Nikki. Are the stoves working now?
They were! We enjoyed the presentation and Mimi and Shawn sat with us.
We returned to our room to relax and then returned to the Queen's Lounge (which is in the same location as the Culinary Arts Center) for the "Diamond & Gemstone Seminar."
I finished "George Washington, Vol. I" by Henry Cabot Lodge which I had begun on 11 April.
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| Henry Cabot Lodge (1850-1924) |
Back at our room I finished the 10 August issue of the Church News. I enjoyed reading about writer, director, and producer T. C. Christensen who was the keynote speaker at the Family History and Genealogy conference at BYU on 31 July. He spoke of his movie "Ephraim's Rescue" about LDS pioneer Ephraim Hanks.
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T. C. Christensen has won more than 270 national and international awards
for his work in directing and photography. |
I also enjoyed the article "FamilySearch today" which featured chief genealogical officer of FamilySearch David E. Rencher whom I had heard on our mission in 2011.
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| David E. Rencher |
In the centerfold was "This Grand Opportunity" which is a video about the origin of sister missionaries in the Church. The link to view it is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSRdYkLWkA0
In Nauvoo was the Nauvoo Pageant which included the British Isles Pageant "Truth Will Prevail." "It was performed in the grounds of the Preston Temple in August 2013. the British Pageant celebrates the Reformation, the arrival of the first Mormon Missionaries and the subsequent emigration of over 60,000 converts who helped to establish the Church in the USA and throughout the world. The cast included over 400 volunteers with no professional actors and yet the result was simply inspiring!" Highlights of the pageant may be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qExA8G34Dmw .
I enjoyed the Manti preservation project article about the Manti Tabernacle where we attended church on our mission one Sunday.
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| The Manti Tabernacle is one of just three 19th-century Mormon buildings in the world still used for weekly Sunday services. Photo by Sam Penrod, KSL. |
Lastly I read Eileen the Relief Society message 'By very small means' from Sister Carole M. Stephens of the General Relief Society Presidency.
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| Carole M. Stephens |
We enjoyed our formal supper with Rich and Mollie in the Manhattan Dining Room.
We then went to "Showcase at Sea" for the Captain's Toast at 7:50 as he introduced ship's officers followed by the show "It Takes 2" at 8. We were there early and everyone had to wait outside as the sign said "Rehearsal in Session." We were first in line on the starboard side of deck 2. Doors opened at 7:30. The show featured duets from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. It was quite loud and Eileen did not enjoy it. We turned off our transmitter and receiver. The only number that I really liked was "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore," the Neil Diamond/Barbara Streisand hit, which, of course, is not sung terribly loud.
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| Showcase at Sea |
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| Ship's captain |
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| At entrance to "Showcase at Sea" |
On Wednesday 7 January we were up early for our tour on Grand Cayman. We enjoyed breakfast on the Lido Deck. I had sausage links and a patty, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and cut-up potatoes. Eileen enjoyed fruit and yogurt.
We went to "Showcase at Sea" to wait for the tender to Georgetown and our tour, the Cayman Island Heritage Discovery. We rode the tender, meeting Bob and Joan.
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| Boarding the tender |
We boarded one of several air-conditioned buses and drove to Pedro St. James "Castle," the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. Our informative driver was Clint. They drive on the left side of the road and gas is about $6 a gallon.
In the "castle" theater we went through a simulated storm (noise and lightning but no rain) and watched a video. We enjoyed the grounds and the "castle." We had our picture taken with the T-C.
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| Ben and Eileen in front of the Pedro St. James "Castle" |
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| the Pedro St. James "Castle" |
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| the Pedro St. James "Castle" |
Then we drove to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Gardens and our driver was also our guide. The gardens were very nice.
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| Eileen by the visitors center |
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| Clint in front of the Cayman Kitchen |
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| We saw a number of iguanas. |
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| A snake, too. |
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| Another iguana |
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| Ben and a huge odd-shaped tree |
We saw many lovely colorful homes as we drove.
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| Montessori School |
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| Ben and the pirate |
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| Selling coconuts |
Back at Georgetown I gave our guide a tip and a pass-along card. We visited two jewelers and then took the tender back to the ship.
We enjoyed a light lunch and no sugar added ice cream. Afterwards we relaxed in our room for a little bit. The room stewards had made an elephant on our bed out of the white towels.
Then Eileen went to a crafts class in the Piano Bar while I went to a class about arthritis and pain relief in the Explorer's Lounge. As it turned out mine was a misprint and it was about acupuncture in another time and place, so I was just going to read. I walked back toward the Piano Bar and met Eileen coming down the hallway. Her crafts class was a waste and after 10 minutes she left. We returned to our stateroom.
We both read and snoozed. We enjoyed supper in the Manhattan Dining Room although we were by ourselves.
Afterwards we went to hear "Adagio" in the Explorer's Lounge. Then it was on to "Showcase at Sea" to hear "The Music and Comedy of Trisha Kelly." She was very loud and talented but I had no idea what she was saying, so I just read on my iPhone during the performance. Eileen enjoyed her though she had to cover her ears sometimes.
We stopped at our stateroom and then went to deck 9 for some pizza. Then we went to the Explorations Cafe on deck 11 which has comfortable seats in the library portion. About 10:15 we returned to our room for a little while and then went back to "Showcase at Sea" for the 11 pm show put on by the crew, Indonesian for the most part.
On Thursday 8 January we set our clocks back an hour. We didn't get up until nearly 11 am which was therefore nearly 10 am. I have come down with a sore throat so I'm taking Airborne and cough drops.
We enjoyed breakfast on the Lido Deck just before it closed for breakfast. Eileen liked her Eggs Benedict again although the egg was hard as we were among the last to have breakfast. I had two waffles, probably the last two already made, one with mango compote and one with cherry compote. We observed the Disney Magic docked next to us. We went up to deck 10 to take pictures of the other ships and the folks disembarking.
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| Eileen and the Disney Magic cruise ship |
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| Nieuw Amsterdam and Disney Magic |
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| Passengers coming and going between the two ships |
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| Goofy on the stern of Disney Magic |
I finished the 13 July issue of the Church News. I brought four with me and had started this issue earlier at home than the August issues. I enjoyed reading 'Turn the hearts,' the article about Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles' talk at the 2014 Seminar for New Mission Presidents on 23 June and the article 'The consecrated missionary' about Bishop Gerald Causse of the Presiding Bishopric's talk at the same event on 24 June. I read with interest 'Church expands use of digital devices for missionary work' and I read Eileen the Relief Society message "'New' Relief Society sisters" from Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president.
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| Elder Quentin L. Cook |
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| Bishop Gerald Causse |
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| Written materials and digital devices |
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| Sister Linda K. Burton |
We went ashore in Cozumel, Mexico, in the afternoon and bought some very nice jewelry for Eileen and a new leather wallet for me. Our first stop was the Silver Collection store where Eileen got a very nice tanzanite ring which we picked up on the way back to the ship after it was sized. When we returned, he had matching earrings and we got them, too.
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| Scene in Cozumel |
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| Silver Collection store |
Our second stop was the Mexican Leather store where I got the leather wallet. Next was Diamond International where Eileen got a Kabana heart-shaped necklace and matching earrings.
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| Ben in front of the Mexican Leather store |
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| Ben and the Hooter Owl |
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| Ben and Eileen with the Times-Courier |
We rode one of the little jitneys (#18) both ways from the ship to shore.
We enjoyed snacks at the Lido Restaurant. Eileen had nachos with ALL the fixings and I had some crab and corn salad. Then back to our room to relax and freshen up. The room stewards had made a dog on our bed out of the white towels.
We enjoyed supper in the Manhattan Dining Room with Shawn and Mimi even though my laryngitis was annoying! We took each other's pictures and Mimi sent us the one she took, so we should have her e-mail address.
Then we went to hear and see the Mariachi band by the Lido Pool. There were also two couples in elaborate Mexican attire who were dancing. I saw Rich and Mollie who said they would at supper tomorrow night.
We returned to our stateroom and got ready for bed, with me quietly reading my usual material even though I could hardly speak.
I finished reading "Literary Tours in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland" by Daniel Turner Holmes which I had begun on 15 April. It was delightful!
On Friday 9 January we set our clocks ahead an hour. We enjoyed breakfast on the Lido Deck. Eileen had a waffle and fruit, and I had a crepe, both of us enjoying the mango compote.
We went up to the Explorations Cafe on deck 11 and enjoyed reading and chatting with another passenger, a grandmother of 74 from Sacramento who lost track of the number of cruises she has been on when she reached 50! One of her granddaughters keeps track for her. She and Eileen enjoyed sudoku and Eileen closed her eyes for a while.
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| Eileen in the Explorations Cafe |
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| the Explorations Cafe |
There was a meeting for veterans up there but I didn't attend as I don't hear well and my voice isn't up to talking much yet.
Back to our stateroom for a bit and then to the Manhattan Dining Room on deck 2 for the Mariner Society's Caribbean Mariner's Luncheon at 1 pm, which is for frequent Holland America cruisers. We ate with Rich and Mollie!
Back to our stateroom for a bit. The room stewards had made a monkey on our bed out of the white towels.
Then it was on to the Manhattan Dining Room for formal supper. We had Surf and Turf with filet mignon and lobster tail. We again had Rich and Mollie with us.
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| Eileen at entrance to Manhattan Dining Room |
We returned to our stateroom to get comfortable and then to "Showcase at Sea" for the show by the Nieuw Amsterdam performers with songs about New York City. The backdrops were pretty neat but the singers were horrendously loud and we finally left it was so bad! We went to hear "Adagio" in the Explorer's Lounge and stayed there until 10. Then we went to deck 9 aft for some pizza!
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| Contact! |
Lastly we got two key lime slices covered in chocolate on a stick at Gator Joe's. They were wonderful!
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| Gator Joe's |
We changed our settings back to normal on our iPhones as we are back in the U.S. and we got a flood of e-mails to go through (281) and several texts. I deleted lots of e-mails and have lots to read. Now I have to do the same on my laptop tomorrow!
Then it was on to the Manhattan Dining Room for supper. We had an international menu. We had Rich and Mollie and Shawn and Mimi with us, all four for the first time!
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| Ben, Rich and Mollie, Shawn and Mimi, and Eileen |
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| Sindu D. Mahendra |
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| Nyoman Merta |
We returned to our stateroom to pack for our departure tomorrow morning. I filled out our customs form and put our four suitcases in the hallway outside our stateroom.
I finished reading "Montcalm and Wolfe" by Francis Parkman which I had begun on 21 November 2013. It is the sixth volume in Francis Parkman's seven-volume history, France and England in North America, originally published in 1884. It tells the story of the French and Indian War. Its title refers to Louis-Joseph de Montcalm and James Wolfe, the commanding generals of the French and English forces respectively and to whom the book devotes particular attention. Parkman considered the book his masterpiece. Wikipedia.
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| Francis Parkman (1823-1893) |
Bet Mom loved seeing the snake, lol! Thank you for all the cruise/travel pictures; super fun to look at and enjoy! :)
ReplyDeletePretty neat! So glad that someone is looking at my blog!
ReplyDelete