Kinderdijk & Rotterdam, Netherlands 2009

This morning we were up to meet 2 other couples that we met on Cruise Critic and we shared a van to Kinderdijk to see the 19 windmills all lined up. We took a lovely boat ride past them all and toured the open operating one. We had the boat all to ourselves. Thanks Mike for setting up the transportation it worked out very well.

we stopped to tour this windmill

outside the entry to windmill

inside the windmill

back on the boat

Mike & Naomi

boat captain

boat dock

Then we headed to the ship and boarded a bit after noon. We checked our bags and boarded for the Welcome Aboard Buffet which was quite good.

drive to the port

our ship in port

in the Rotterdam Terminal

Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusburg) we walked across to start our walk around Rotterdam

Dickhoff Spin? (Greg in the background)

Greg on the path

waiting for the drawbridge so we could get back to the ship

All aboard was at 4:30 and we went straight to the lifeboat drill. After stowing our life jackets we met some of our CC friends for a sail away party at the aft pool bar.

the band played as we sailed away

me wandering the ship

the freeway appears to end, but it goes underground....

Dinner that night was a mess. We seemed to not actually have a waiter. We had a couple of assistants who stopped by only to take the order and drop off the food. Food was cold and we never got anything to put on our baked potatoes and it was eons before they came to take a dessert order. Top that off with one couple at the table that droned on and on and on about Fantasy Football and Bridge despite that the rest of the table could care less. Not off to a great start in the dining room. Luckily, we had good service and dinner companions the rest of the cruise. Phew! Though as I stated the food was not up to the same par as on the Veendam in November. Food was often not just cool, but like it came out of the fridge cold, and just not the same selections as before. Pastries were not as flaky and tasty. (little nit picks) No, we didn’t go hungry and most food was OK, just not “wow”. We ate at Pinnacle Grill for 2 dinners and 1 lunch and it was fantastic as usual.

First Sea Day: We were ready to relax by now. Greg got up and exercised and brought me back breakfast as I had slept in. We thought we might do a load of laundry. We have never used self - laundry on a ship and thought we would give it a try. With one laundry room closed for repair it left only 1 other one on the ship and only 2 or 3 working machines in there. So, we did one load and sent everything else out the rest of the cruise. We met at 10:00 for the ship sponsored CC party in the Crow’s Nest. Thanks Bob for setting that up! Then off to lunch in the dining room and then to relax in the covered pool area reading and sleeping and taking in the Jacuzzi. Off to Bingo! I won the first game for $80.00 and Greg won the second game for $106. (yes, we weren’t popular with the crowd) Then off to shower and head to dinner and the various evening entertainment. This was the first formal night. Greg had reserved a tux which still had not arrived. When he called they said they normally don’t deliver them until right before dinner. That was the first time on a cruise that the tux wasn’t delivered the first day of the cruise if it wasn’t already waiting when we checked in. It was delivered about an hour and a half before dinner. When you are trying to shower and get ready—not very convenient. Luckily, it fit and there were no issues with it that needed to be fixed.