2015 April--The Maasdam (suite A 182) and around the ship:

2015 April--The Maasdam (suite A 182) and around the ship:

 

 I had heard there would be a Beverage card waiting for us in our room when we boarded, but all we found was this card stating the rules and wanting us to sign that we got the card.  After calling the main office, we found out that starting with this cruise, the beverage card was also our room card.

 One day I managed to get 10 drinks, but most of them were water, soda, or smoothies.  I found I could get a "lite" mango smoothie (half mango puree and half water with crushed ice) which was probably my favorite drink and I had it often.

 We took 2 large bottles of water on each of our port calls which we got from the very personable young lady, Caryl Carane, at the Explorer's Cafe.  I also tried the Drink of the Day everyday---most of which were really tasty---such as this one: Beach Comber made with light rum, triple sec, and sweet and sour mix with a dash of grenadine.

 Usually I would get my DOD with lunch. Also would hit up the Lido bar where bar tender Roel would save  a hard to find diet caffeine free Coke for me.

Usually had a beer or wine for dinner followed by the cordial of the day.  They had a nice selection of brews from other countries.  It was nice trying them all, such as this Boddingtons from England.  And nice to not feel bad about not drinking it when I found out I don't like it!

 I found I really liked the after dinner cordials and they even came in a souvenir shot glass.  Now to figure out what to do with 14 souvenir shot glasses!

 Did have to check our cabin statement a couple times and have corrections made for some of the drink charges.  Even ended up with a $25 charge from the lido bar the last night which we didn't bother having corrected on debarkation day since we had $36 in OBC which we weren't expecting for missing Halfmoon Cay.  (Called once we got home and were told it was for a bottle of wine that we didn't get and that it would be credited to our credit card along with the remainder of our credit.)  We ended up leaving with a credit, but I didn't think you get anything back for OBC for shareholders' credit or credit from Holland America---guess we'll soon find out.  We did get the credit!
About a month before our cruise we got an email with an upsell offer to a lanai room for an extra $450/person.  It was only $50 cheaper then upgrading at full fare and I wasn't sold on the shared lanais idea, so we declined the offer; but I kept checking to see if any verandah suites opened up.  About a week before our cruise I noticed a couple verandah suites opened up and decided to call inventory and see if I could upsell to one of them.  The young lady told me they weren't upselling on our cruise any more but would take my name and let inventory know I was interested if they chose to offer another upsell.  Much to my surprise, a couple days later I did get a call from them.  They wanted $700 @ to go to the verandah suite.  I offered $500 and they countered with $550, so I took it---even got to keep the Beverage package and OBC of $350 for stock owners and FCC.  I love having the floor to ceiling windows as well as the private space outside--not to mention the slightly larger room.
We were given category A, suite 182, midship on the Verandah level.  Good location. No complaints with the room.

 Our stewards (Oki and another guy we never met) were very efficient.

The adjustable table in the room is great for the occasional room service meal, too!

Speaking of meals, we had all our breakfasts in the Lido buffet.  Ken was especially impressed with Jomar who almost always waited on him.  I had the cream of wheat everyday with the occasional doughnut, egg, or whatnot.  Only disappointing thing with the Lido breakfast was always having to chase down a bag of decaffeinated tea.  They claim they don't get as many of them because their expiration dates come before they use them all, but they don't put any out.  No wonder they don't get used!

Some Lido Decorations:

 One fish I don't want to meet while snorkeling!

Loved the orchids on the tables---at least until the 2nd week when our ship went into Code Red and all the orchids disappeared.

Loved all the carved fruit.

 Sushi, anyone?

Most of our lunches were in the Lido or Dive Bar.
Everyday they had a corner of the Lido with something special.  This was from when they had the Filipino corner.  It was excellent.

They often had a carved meat station in the regular buffet section.

When we weren't there by 2:30, we often had a sandwich from the deli station or the Dive Bar.  They even had a station in the Lido where pre-made sandwiches were available.

 There was usually pizza available by the deli bar, too.

Their desserts were really good again this year.  Best of any cruise ship I've been on.
There was an afternoon tea in the Rotterdam Dining room every day, too.  On a couple of the sea days, I made it there while Ken rested in our room.

 We had most dinners in the Rotterdam Dining Room.
 A view of the lower diningroom from the upper diningroom.

 They changed the way the menu is presented---with available every night items listed with the rest of the items.  Ken was content with the onion soup, Caesar salad, and salmon most nights.  I liked trying the different choices and enjoyed everything i tried.   There were 3 formal nights and  lobster was served at at least 2 of them.

 Creme brulee was offered everyday

 Did I mention how good the desserts are?

 We even went to the Mariners' Lunch in the Rotterdam Dining room. 

 And were greeted by Captain Ane Jan Smit and the Hotel Manager.

The last night we were looking to burn some of our OBC so we went to the Canaletto Restaurant.  They've changed the menu since last time we went and we enjoyed this dinner a whole lot more then previous ones.
I even enjoyed an Italian beer.

 We shared 2 "small" plates

 We were there rather early, but it certainly lacked customers. 

 My Bistecca was excellent.

Our shared pasta was really good, too.

Ken even enjoyed his meal.  

 He also enjoyed his pistachio ice cream.

 I enjoyed a chocolate dessert, plus they went and got me the cordial of the day.

 Speaking of food---there was a culinary show most days.  We went to them whenever we could.  Not only did we learn about cooking different things, but there were a lot of laughs involved.  This was Jordan's first cruise as Culinary Arts Center Host and she did a great job.
Here Chef Sander and Executive Chef Walter go head to head.  They had us laughing most of the show.

 Chef Walter's completed dish.  He was given rutabagas and sweet potatoes to cook.  Chef Sanders some how had shrimp and scallops to work with.  It was a decisive tie.  Chef Walter even made his 2 ways---one regular and one gluten free.  They're getting on the band wagon of having more gluten free alternatives.

 Another day Hotel Director Kees and Executive Chef Walter answered questions on a chef's life at sea.  The Hotel Director actually had been an Executive Chef before becoming Hotel Director.  Again there was a lot of humorous bantering.

 Chef Sanders also did demonstration on his own (with Jordan emceeing).  He entertained us with a unique sense of humor, too----with the help of Jordan.

 During Chef Sander's cooking shows, we were given tastes.  Loved seeing how to make things correctly!  Who knew I was coating chicken wrong all these years!?

 One of Chef Sanders dishes.

 The Culinery Arts room, also known as the Wajang Theater when movies were shown.  We made it to many of the movies, too.  It's nice that they show a different movie everyday---usually twice a day---and serve free fresh popcorn with it.

 We even went to Mix Bar one day and tried their free appetisers which were very good.  We even played some cribbage while we waited for our food.

 Great little sliders.  The hot wings were great, too, but note an order is only 3 wings.

 While we were enjoying our wings and sliders, there was a beer tasting (for $15) going on.  Would have like to have done it, but couldn't see paying to taste beer when I could get 15 free/day!

 I have more pictures of the Maasdam on my 2014 cruise blog, but here are a few more things we enjoyed around the Maasdam this year (2015).
The Crow's Nest.

 The real flower arrangements.

 The Mix bar where the very talented Jamm the Piano Man packed the place in the evenings.

 More of the Mix.

 The Mix

 The Atrium

 The Digital Workshop

 A week into the cruise some people (TV news said 60 passengers and 11 crew) were hit with the dreaded Norovirus and we went into Code Red---and we were treated to lots and lots and lots of sanitizing gel!

 Another view of the atrium

 Love the tropical flowers in with the others

 Coming out of the Wajang Theatre.

 Laszlo and Claudia performing in the Showroom at Sea---fantastic! 

 A question and answer session with the performers on board.  Neat way to get to learn a bit about them.  This was their last cruise together.  We really enjoyed their shows. 

 The Filipino show which was also excellent---and done at 3pm instead of 11pm!

 More of the Filipino show with some of the ship performers joining in.

 Cruise Director Jeremy Whited.   Very personable, too bad this was his last cruise, too (at least with the Maasdam).

 The library  in the Exploration Cafe.  This was before Code Red.  Once Code Red hit, the books were locked up and you had to sign up to check them out.  Then at a certain time, the wi fi gal would get it out for you.  No more puzzles or cards to check out.

 some of the treats in the Exploration's Cafe.

 One of the many pieces of artworks in the Art Auctions.

 A puzzle to work on before Code Red.

 Fortunately I decided to do laundry Thurs. night.  Friday we went into Code Red and the self serve laundromats were closed for the rest of the trip.  But I thought it was really inexpensive to do laundry---$2 to wash clothes (I brought laundry soap with me), and $1 for 60 minutes drier time.   Fortunately it was just down the hall from us which was very convenient---and never crowded (might have been a different story if it was open the 2nd week). 

 The Ocean's Bar.

 Meeting the officers of the ship

 The Lido pool---before Code Red.  During Code Red, the jacuzzi's were emptied and closed.

 Tennis courts.  They really ought to equip it for pickleball.  I did the tennis serve competition and won a pin (all 3 of us who showed up won).

 The usually empty Aft pool near sunset.

 One of the few pretty sunsets this year.  Last year almost every night had beautiful sunsets.

 towards the front desk---do check on those charges before the end of the trip!

Now on to my favorite part of the cruise-----Ports!!!!  I LOVE the water, so usually try to pick a vacation that takes us to great snorkeling areas.  This cruise went to 7 great snorkel ports: St. Thomas, St. Barth's, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Bonaire, and Curacoa.  We spent 3-6 hours in the water at each port!