The only thing better than a day at sea… is… well, there is so such thing!
Day 5 onboard Holland America Line’s ms Noordam saw us spending a leisure day cruising the Caribbean sea en route to our next port-of-call, Bonaire – a small Dutch island off the coast of South America.
Being it’s a sea day, most people are going to use this time onboard to enjoy a day in the sun and spent it around both the Lido and Sea View pool – and both were crowded. Not so crowded that one could not find an open lounge chair though, which is a good thing. Chair hogs were nowhere to be found!
For those who do not know what a chair hog is, it’s one of those people who get to the pool around 4am, find a chair they like, put all their crap on it, and don’t come around to use it until after lunch. Most cruise lines and land resorts are on to the chair hogs and will take away items left to save a chair if nobody has sat or laid on it for 30 minutes.
A few years ago I was on a ship where the 30-minute rule was being enforced by pool attendants putting time stickers on vacant chairs and when the time was up, would take that person’s belongings to the front desk where they would need to be collected. I only saw that practice once, so I’m assuming it was a miserable failure and today the chair hogs are dealt with in a less confrontational manner.
So what does one day on a day at sea? Besides soaking up the sun and getting burned as I did for most of the day, many will rack up their bar bill sipping frozen concoctions and refreshing drinks of the day, which yesterday happened to be a Raspberry Baybreeze. Here are my Top 5 Things to do on a Holland America Line Ship on a Sea Day:
- Rent a Private Cabana. On the ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam and the ms Noordam, private cabanas are available to rent from 9am – 5pm. In addition to having a private retreat from the heat of the sun, the cabanas come with a private sun deck, butler service, champagne, fresh fruit, and bottled water and you can order a burger or hot dog from the Dive In which your butler will serve in your cabana. Cabanas are an additional charge, and the price increases on sea days.
- Take the Kitchen Tour. On sea days, most ships swing open the galley doors and invite guests in to see just how the ship’s culinary team prepares more than 12,000 meals a day. The tour lasts about 30 minutes and a light snack is usually served at the end. It’s a great opportunity to take some behind-the-scenes photos of an area that is near and dear to every cruiser’s heart. As an add-on to this, depending on the ship, a more in-depth behind the scene tour may be offered which allows you to go below deck to see the inner workings of the ship including the Engine Control Room, Navigation Bridge, Provisions, Sanitation, Laundry, and more. I’ve taken many of these tours and always find them fascinating. Note they usually last a few hours and require a lot of walking and step climbing. The kitchen tour is free, however, the full-blown all-access tour is an additional cost.
- Watch a Live Cooking Show. In conjunction with Food & Wine Magazine, Holland America Line ships feature a Culinary Arts Center where a host and a chef from one of the ship’s restaurants share their secret for cooking up one of the fabulous dishes served on board or something entirely different such as cake decorating, which a demo was being done on today. A full kitchen “set” is used and at the end, a sampling of the creation is offered up to those who attend. There is no charge for this demonstration.
- Learn How to Dance. You’ve seen the ABC hit television show, Dancing with the Stars, but did you know there’s a version of that on every Holland America Line ship where passengers take lessons throughout the week and then show off their talents at the end of the cruise? Yes! So if you want to show off your fox trotting or samba skills to your fellow passengers, or simply want to learn a few ballroom dance steps, the ship’s dancers are there to instruct and maybe make you the next winner of Dancing with the Stars @ Sea! There is no charge for these lessons.
- Rejuvenate. If you just want to spend a relaxing day without sweating it out in the sun, the Greenhouse Spa on board is the place to do it. Whether you’re looking for a soothing massage, a refreshing facial, a day of beauty pampering, or even an acupuncture treatment, the spa on sea days is the place to be. The daily program will list the many specials and seminars offered by the spa, so be sure to check it out. Keep in mind, sea day spa days usually fill up quickly. You’ll want to check out the details and book your spa treatments on your first day onboard if you’re wanting to take advantage of them during a day at sea. All spa services are additional.
Then of course there are plenty of other activities throughout the day to enjoy such as a movie, mixology classes, shuffleboard, trivia, and of course the casino. Keep in mind activities vary by ship and by itinerary.
So what did I do?
I started out with breakfast, where the Lido Buffet was a bit busier than previous days, but not so busy where wait times were long and tables were hard to find. After loading up a plate with scrambled egg substitute (because I find the concept of “real” eggs to be a tad bit gross), several varieties of pig, one of those deliciously sticky, sticky buns, and a bagel, I headed up to enjoy it with some champagne at my cabana.
After getting way too much sun and burning my lips to the point where I had to head down to the Signature Shops to buy some lip balm, I explored the ship stopping in many of the public areas and pools to see what was going on. The second busiest part of the ship, besides the pools, was the Explorations Cafe. This is where the ship’s library is located and along with it tables where people were playing board games, and computers to check email and browse the internet, read a book or have a cup of coffee or tea. It was obviously the place to be for those who wished to just kick back with a book and enjoy the air conditioning rather than the sun.
As daytime turned into night, the ms Noordam cruised at a leisurely 11 knots on a calm sea. I retreated back to my stateroom for a cold shower and some time watching the world pass by from my verandah before getting dressed for dinner in the Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s signature steakhouse.
Before dinner, I caught up with some of the news of the day on the television. One thing about being onboard a ship… besides having slow, expensive Internet, television choices are pretty limited. As I tuned into MSNBC, I learned of the tragic plane crash in the French Alps. A few years ago when a ComAir flight crashed, I was also on a cruise and was onboard a ship when the Costa Concordia sunk.
I also learned that Senator Ted Cruz threw his hat into the Presidential ring. I want to take a moment to thank the Senator for doing this. While I have as much of a chance at being the next President as he does, he will at least provide enough entertainment over the next several months to make politics enjoyable for once.
I digress…
Off to the Pinnacle Grill where dinner started out with appetizer compliments of the chef, a deep-fried wild mushroom ravioli. Let’s just say it was so good, I asked for a few more to be served with my steak.
Next up was the return of the crab cakes, which were once again delicious.
For my main course, my server Mario recommended the ribeye prepared medium rare. It was a bone-in steak that was well-marbled and full of flavor. An excellent choice.
After some ice cream and fruit for dessert, it was off to the Vista Lounge to see the evening’s performance of Heat – “a hot and steamy trip to some of the most exotic spots on the planet starring the Noordam singers and dancers.” As I passed by the B.B. King Blues Club, I got sucked into the music and never made it to the Lounge! I stayed for two sets and left when the band called it a night around 11:30pm.
If you’re on a Holland America ship that has the Blues Club, you owe it to yourself to spend an evening there. You won’t regret it.
Some things to note so far:
- I mentioned the other day in my report that while the Noordam is very well maintained, some of her soft furnishing such as the carpet is in need of replacement. I’ve been told that following her next sailing, she will be going into dry dock in Freeport for ten days before starting her Alaska season. Carpeting is one of the things scheduled to be replaced throughout the ship as well as an exterior paint job. No major work onboard is expected other than routine maintenance.
- During port days, the casino has been open for slot play. This is something that I have not noticed before. Usually when in port, the casino is closed completely due to local regulations. Not so at the ports we’ve called on so far. However…. while the slot machines are open, tables are closed. There is also… get this… no smoking permitted in the casino during this time. Smoking is only permitted when the ship is at sea. That is certainly interesting.
- There have been no issues with air conditioning, toilet systems, medical emergencies, or other mechanics. The sea has been extremely smooth and there has been very little motion or vibration felt anywhere in the ship.
- At around 5:30pm, after finishing up a cold bottle of beer at the Sea View Bar, I walked through the Lido Buffet to grab a slice of pizza to take back to my room. While the Lido is advertised as having pizza and pasta available from 11:30am – 12mn, the pizza station was closed. Perhaps it was being changed over for dinner, but I didn’t get that slice I was hungry for.
We arrived in Kralendijk, Bonaire around 6am this morning. I know this because my stateroom is located directly above the port side bow thrusters. As we were navigating our way to the dock and those suckers turned on, I thought someone pulled out their “Super Mega Heavy Duty Personal Massager” and was looking to get frisky. Unfortunately, I was in bed alone and it was only the natural vibrations of the Noordam, not Jessica Simpson trying to wake me up.
The ship docked around 7:30am and passengers began making their way ashore around 8am. Being that this is the first time I’ve been to Bonaire, I did get off the ship for about two hours and walked around the entire downtown area. I’ll have more on what this Dutch island was like in tomorrow’s installment.
See, what I did there? I whet your appetite just a little so you’ll come back tomorrow!
Since I didn’t have breakfast this morning, I’m going to check out the burgers and hot dogs from the Dive In for lunch. I’ve watched several folks in adjoining cabanas enjoy these this week and I’ve been kind of jealous. So today is Dive In day! I just ordered a “Cannonball Burger” which is a burger topped with frizzled onions, bacon, caramelized onions, chop-chop lettuce, tomato, and Dive In sauce served on a brioche bun. Maybe I should just skip dinner tonight or spend the rest of the day walking it off on the Promenade Deck.
As for later tonight, it’s time for me to take a break from the Pinnacle Grill and try two of the other ship’s restaurants. Mario, my server for this trip from the steakhouse arranged for me to have a table for one in the Vista Dining Room, the ship’s main dining room, tonight at 8pm and promised me he will stop by to check in and make sure everything is living up to my expectations! Tomorrow night, he’s arranged for me to be in the Italian restaurant, Canaletto. I’ve had issues with Canaletto in the past on other ships and am interested to see how this experience goes this time around.
Stay tuned!
Personal Day-By-Day Noordam Cruise Review:
Photo Tour of the Noordam:
Join me as we embark on a photographic journey to see this incredible ship and all that it has to offer. This tour will take you on a visual journey through this magnificent cruise ship, showcasing its beauty and elegance through the lens of my camera. From the stunning public spaces to the comfortable and luxurious staterooms, this Noordam Photo Tour will give you a glimpse into the unforgettable experience that I had on board the Noordam.