Little Lolly's Small Adventures: MS Maasdam

Showing posts with label MS Maasdam. Show all posts

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Life at Sea Begins.

MS Prinsendam

We are back from our holidays at last and I know that I need to catch up on my blogs - I am waaay behind.... At the moment I'm going to concentrate on what is currently going on. At some stage I will catch up with the holiday.

It's been a hectic 3 days, unpacking and getting things done. Apart from sorting out the caravan and putting it in storage, we have cleaned Betty's (Paul's mum) fish tank. The fish are happy now too with plenty of fleas to soothe their shattered nerves.

Our cabin

Paul's leave is at an end and it's time to get back to work. During our holiday Paul learnt that he had been assigned to the Prinsendam rather than going back to the Maasdam.

We had a fairly late night last night, re-packing clothes for the next few weeks of our lives at sea and were up early. Fortunately we didn't have to fly out to meet up with the Prinsendam. She was in Amsterdam. We drove Betty's car to Paul's sister in Zoetemeer where we picked up her son (Paul's nephew, Dani) and carried on to Amsterdam's cruise ship terminal. The car needed a good run to get its battery charged. Dani then drove the car back to Betty's place where his mum would meet up with him a bit later.

At security Paul discovered that I was not on any list to board the ship and he was adamant that he would not go to sea without me. He ended up going to the ship to try and sort things out and I had to wait in the terminal. Eventually security called and said I could go through. Not a problem. Only I took a wrong turn and instead of heading onto the ship - I headed into the huge terminal which was the disembarking guest terminal. I wasn't allowed back up via the exit point so I had to walk all the way back to security in the embarkation terminal and have my luggage checked again before trying to find the gangway. By this time Paul was getting worried and called me to find out where I was. I explained what had happened. Anyway, before I got lost again one of the ship's security staff found me and took me to the ship's gangway. Paul was quite relieved.

After going through what seemed like a maze of passages, we arrived at our cabin where Paul had to leave me in order to start work - he had to have a hand-over with his counterpart.

So, I've been unpacking and finding my way around the cabin. It is quite a different layout compared to the cabin on the Maasdam. This time the cabin (although still on deck 10) is directly below the Bridge. And has a window looking out onto a forward facing balcony. Fortunately the balcony is only accessible to crew so we won't have guests trying to peer in through the window! I had been looking forward to having a bath but unfortunately the bath has been replaced with a shower since Paul was last on the Prinsendam.

After lifeboat drill the Prinsendam set sail, heading towards Vlissingen,

Paul is happy to be back with the Prinsendam as it will be the last time she will be sailing with her over the coming weeks and months. The Prinsendam has been sold and will be going to new owners (Phoenix Reisen, a German Company) in July 2019. She is one of the smallest in Holland America Line's fleet and will be sadly missed. Guests and staff are very fond of her.

By way of a bit of history, the Prinsendam: She was launched by the Royal Viking Line in 1988 with the name of "Royal Viking Sun". Between 1994 and 1998 she was operated by the Cunard Line before being transferred to Seabourn Cruise Line in 1999 and re-named "Seabourn Sun". In 2002 the ship was transferred to Holland America Line and re-named the "Prinsendam".

The Prinsendam's itinerary for this cruise is as follows:

Date / Time Port
16 Sep Departing Amsterdam, Holland

17 Sep 08:00 - 15:00 Vlissingen, Holland

17 Sep 20:00 - 17 Sep Antwerp, Belgium

19 Sep 18:00 - 19 Sep Rouen, France

22 Sep 08:00 - 18:00 La Rochelle, France

23 Sep 08:00 - 23 Sep Bordeaux, France

26 Sep 08:00 - 18:00 Lisbon, Portugal

27 Sep 13:00 - 18:00 Gibraltar, UK

28 Sep 08:00 - 17:00 Cartagena, Spain

30 Sep Arriving in Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy

Arrival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a flight back to the Netherlands.

Route from Sydney to Halifax

The Maasdam was supposed to have docked in Sydney yesterday but strong currents and wind made docking unsafe. There are no tugboats in Sydney to help ships, in need, so in the end the cruise ship was turned around and we headed back out to sea, sailing slowly to Halifax.

Judy from Shore Excursions gave me a call to ask me to help with tour brochure collation and folding. Two others came to help but poor Karen (one of the band member's wives) was not feeling quite herself but after taking a Meclizine tablet for sea-sickness, she started to feel better and was soon back in fine form, helping with the folding. Judy did the stapling in the print room and the brochures were done very quickly.

In the afternoon I packed and then helped Paul, who has been extremely busy, to pack. We had dinner later than usual because he kept getting calls.

Mike, one of the doctors, organised 'Games Against Humanity' (a card game) in the Officers' Bar and Marizaan and Linda (nurses) had some nibbles organised. As the evening went on people came and joined in the game. It was a lovely evening which ended fairly late, when all the cards had run out.

We didn't expect to sleep in this morning because Paul is usually up early anyway. The telephone rang around 8.30am but only one ring and then cut off. We ended up getting up, opening the curtains to bright sunny skies. We had arrived in Halifax.

Paul had a few things to do things this morning, tying up a few loose ends. We said our goodbyes to the on board medical team and anyone else we bumped into. We had a late lunch after which we disembarked from the ship and waited for the transport to the airport.

Flying to Toronto from Halifax soon!

We eventually made it safely to the airport but it was sod's law that we got stopped at every single red traffic light on the way! We have checked in now and are waiting for our flight to Toronto.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Shelling a lobster & excursion: Island’s Finest: Anne, Lobster & Scenic Drive.

Friends joining us in our cabin for a game of "Werewolf"

Yesterday was a sea day. In between writing my blog I was able to help Paul with a bit of admin work. He's not only tidying up but also trying to sort out the filing system in his office which, in turn, will make things easier to look for as and when they are needed.

Last night we had a game of Werewolf and had a nice mixed group of people around to our cabin. We decided to make it more fun and asked them to come in their pyjamas or onesies. The medical team came in uniform because they had just clocked off for the evening but the rest came either in casual wear or in pyjamas. It was a fun evening with a few surprises during the game.

Arriving in Charlottetown, pier in the distance. Picture taken from
the Maasdam's on board camera.

Today when we arrived in Charlottetown it was cool with a threat of rain but nature took a surprising turn and later on the afternoon became bright and sunny again.

The Maasdam was late arriving in port so all the tours ran a bit late. It also meant that the cruise ship had to leave later than originally scheduled as well.

'The Bluff' within the national park. The red soil is beautiful, rich
in iron.

It was good to be back on lovely Prince Edward Island again and see a bit more of what the island has to offer. The tour I was assigned to was taken on a scenic drive through Charlottetown and into the countryside, passing amongst other places Rustico Port and Cavendish (which is situated within the Prince Edward Island National Park and where Lucy Montgomery - writer of Ann of Green Gables - grew up).

Green Gables House

We eventually ended up at Green Gables House. The Green Gables farm was owned by the MacNeill family who were cousins of Lucy Montgomery and Lucy visited the farm as a young girl which, in turn, inspired her to write about in her book "Ann of Green Gables". We had a bit of time to wander around the house and property, including the "Haunted Woods"and "Lovers' Lane" which were mentioned in Lucy's books.

It was getting on for lunch time and so we headed off in our tour bus to the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company which is owned by a Scotsman. The company's building is a former 1913 Creamery and has been turned into a preserve company. Initially it started off with making low sugar preserves and speciality food but it also now sells tea and spice. The property also has a restaurant and which is where we had lunch.

Lobster for lunch was one of the main highlights of the tour. Some people opted out and had something equally delicious instead. Instead of sitting with the guests I sat with the tour guide (Sandy) and driver (Cliff) - both of whom decided not to have lobster for lunch. And you will find out why in a minute.

Making and packing preserves

Lobster, not a lobster roll which is a bun with a bit of lobster meat in it. The lobster, the 'thingumy' with a hard shell, pincers, long feelers and tail. That was what I was presented with on my plate. The lobster stared at me from my plate, her tail curled underneath her as if she was resting a bit. I love animals and if she was alive I would have been ok with it perhaps holding her briefly before releasing her back into the water. But I cringed - I had to eat the poor thing. I know she was dead, cooked and ready to eat but I had to somehow get at the meat. How the hell was I going to get the shell off. I had been given what looked like a nut cracker and a long fork-like object. Again I cringed - I know she was dead but it was almost as if I could feel the lobster's pain if I were to peel her shell off.

(I remember when I was a young girl mum and dad took the family on holiday to Mombassa, Kenya, and whilst there, one day we had crab for lunch, The restaurant served the crab whole on a wooden breadboard, and we were given a small wooden 'club' to crack open the shell. The crab wasn't the problem because we were used to catching them and holding them by their carapace before letting them go. The problem was taking the shell off - because of thinking that the dead crab maybe could feel pain. Mum and dad ended up having to get the meat out of the shell for me. And I have had issues with peeling seafood ever since however I am slowly overcoming that problem. Except now I was presented with something a helluva lot larger!)

Sandy and Cliff both looked at me rather bemused. It was difficult for them to understand how I felt,but they tried to. They seemed to have a gut feeling that I was a novice at shelling a lobster so they talked me through it: which part to break off first and what to do next. Piece by piece, under the tuition of our guide and driver, I managed to dismantle the lobster's shell and retrieve the meat - including sucking it out from the legs. How do I know that the lobster was a female? She had eggs/roe underneath the back part of her carapace when I opened her up.

Charlottetown - lobster greeting near the pier

The meal was delicious but the whole process was very messy. However, it was well worth it in the end. We had been given plastic aprons/bibs to put on to keep our clothes relatively clean - depending on where sauce and juices splattered. I certainly made a good job of getting stuff all over me and the table - and that is why Sandy and Cliff had something else to eat instead. They did't want to make a mess of their uniforms!

After lunch it was a very happy group who boarded the tour bus back to the pier. Sandy kept the guests entertained with stories and history about Prince Edward Island and the places we passed. He even had photographs to show us - what the island looks like in different seasons. There was also an album of pictures from snowfall during the awful 2014/15 winter.

Route to Sydney, Nova Scotia

By the time we arrived back at the pier I was very tired so ended up having a nap. We had been due to meet up with Karen and Nick for dinner in the Canaletto Restaurant but the later departure threw our arrangements around a bit. So we all ended up ordering from the main dining room menu and having it delivered to our cabin, having a lap dinner instead. Karen and Nick didn't mind - as long as it filled hungry stomachs. And we enjoyed their company.

Tomorrow we arrive in Sydney, Nova Scotia, if all goes well!

PHOTOGRAPHS

'The Bluff' in the national park

House of Green Gables

Montreal & Québec, Canada.

Luggage traffic jam below the decks.

Yesterday in Montreal it was a turn-around port day for the Maasdam. So it was a busy day for staff having to see to disembarking guests, new guests coming on board, and the usual stocking up of provisions and getting the ship ready for the next cruise which is down to Boston, being a 7 day cruise.

Guests' luggage being dealt with - below decks.

The Maasdam is back in Québec City again after sailing up to Montreal and back again.

Montreal

Ongoing ship maintenance

Today I made arrangements to meet up with a friend. I had met Stacy last year when she had taken a group of guests on a walking tour, and I had gone with the group. We have remained in touch ever since so it was nice to meet up again under informal circumstances. With Paul's permission Stacy came on board the ship for lunch and I took her around the ship afterwards, giving her a chance to have a look around and get a feel of what it could be like to be a passenger. I also took her into some areas that passengers don't get to see - the laundry department, tailor's shop and more. It was nice to have a catch up session and see her again. Unfortunately I don't particularly like goodbyes but with about 10 minutes to go before the 'all aboard' time - well in this case 'all guests depart' time, we went down to the pier where we parted company. I know that the Maasdam won't be back in Québec City next year but hope I will bump into Stacy at some stage whether it be in Québec or somewhere else. Keeping in touch with friends, though, is important too!

The Maasdam's route to Charlottetown.

The Maasdam is now on her way to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Paul will have to be up late to let the pilot off the ship. Tomorrow will be a cruising day - along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. I would like to say 'scenic cruising' but if fog sets in - it won't! At least guests can put their feet up and relax for the day, making most of what the ship has to offer in the way of entertainment, food, spa, gym, etc.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Montreal