Freeps Ahoy 3

the Free Republic Network Cruise Committee | 12/22/2003 | DoughtyOne

[hoosiermama]

Surrey ride sounds like a great idea....And still time to do many other things.

[DoughtyOne]

Did someone mention a surry ride...

[hoosiermama]

Sure-looks-like-fun BUMP

[Palladin]

Just to make it clear--the ship leaves right from Lauderdale?

[MinuteGal]

Yes, the ship leaves from the port city of Ft. Lauderdale. The port itself is known as Port Everglades.

Leni

[Mycroft Holmes]

I just called Wanda and the cheap seats for the cruise are going fast. Me and my lovely wife Marisa went last year on the Western Bahama cruise and had the time of our lives. We can't really afford to go this year but after an agonizing 15 seconds of indecision we decided to scrape our pennies together and go anyway. We figure that we are on the permanent honeymoon program and this is just another phase of it.

We'll be flying in the night before and will be staying at whatever hotel gets decided upon. If any of your folks out there are sitting on the fence get off it and register today or tomorrow. People are traveling now and the ship is filling up fast.

[MinuteGal]

How right you are, my dear Holmes. We selected H/A, a premium and popular cruise line, because its prices were very competitive this year. We're not the only ones who spotted this. We are dead serious.....this ship will fill up fast. The itinerary is appealing, and as you said, Mycroft, there's a pent-up desire to travel this year, last year's stagnant economy being a bummer for the vacation industry.

Folks, take what I'm saying to heart. Call Wanda tomorrow at toll-free 1-800-890-7583 and at least get your deposit down on the cabin of your choice while there's still a choice. Figure out the rest later, LOL.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

Ahoy, FLORIDA FREEPERS!

The FReeps Ahoy cruise ship, Zuiderdam, is leaving from Florida's front porch!

Please see reply #55 on the Bahama Mama thread (link above).

Leni

[Conservababe]

Sigh. I am still searching for a cabin mate before I can make a committment. Any ladies out there who are in the same boat as me? LOL

[BreitbartSentMe]

Just looked at travelocity's site tonight, I've been monitoring flights. Up until today, the latest return flight for the cheapest fares have been May 8th. Tonight, they're showing May 23rd as the latest return available. So, they should be ready to release the cheap flights covering the time for flights for our cruise pretty soon. I'll post here as soon as I see them released (after I book mine, of course!!)

Getting excited here!!

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for monitoring airfare deals for us, BD. Please DO post whatever bargains you come up with.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

For all you lovers of good vittles....er.....fine food, here's an example of a Zuiderdam dinner menu:

APPETIZERS
Northwest Smoked Fish.....Alaska King Crab Legs.....Seasonal Fresh Fruit.....Garden Vegetable Crudite with Dip.....Agnolotti

SOUPS
Dutch Vegetable Brown Bean.....Wonton.....Clam Chowder

SALADS
California Greens.....Iceberg Lettuce.....Pesto.....Assorted Dressings

ENTREES
Seared Sea Scallops.....Rack of Lamb.....Cider Grilled Chicken.....Grilled Halibut.....Roast Prime Rib of Beef

IMPORTED CHEESE WITH FRESH FRUIT
Brie.....Swiss.....Maaslander.....Edam

DESSERTS
White Chocolate Mousse.....Chocolate Eclairs.....French Pastries.....Dutch Apple Pie with Ice Cream.....Baked Fruit Coupe.....Fruit Jello

(Coffee, tea, iced tea, milk, chocolate milk, soda pop.....Homemade breads, rolls, butter or substitute butter).....after dinner mints

By the way, does anyone know what the appetizer "agnolotti" is?

[hoosiermama]

Agnolotti


The premier dish of Piedmont period. Agnolotti are a sort of rectangular “tortello” or ravioli usually filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese. Visitors to Piedmont should try the “standard” version prepared in a roast meat ragù as well as the agnolotti in a fondue sauce. The most refined version of the agnolotti are those made by hand into little sacks – these are called “plin” or “agnolotti al plin” for the “plin” is the tool used to seal the pasta sack. If you’re not up for making them yourselves, you can always try those made at the renowned De Filippis pasta shop.

[BreitbartSentMe]

Here's a link for anyone who wants to look at the deck plans prior to booking, it's from the HAL website: http://www.hollandamerica.com/fleet/fleetHome.do?ship=zu

Also, I found some reviews that people have written about their recent cruises on the Zuiderdam. Would anyone be interested in seeing some? It give a good feeling of what the ship is like. I can either post some links, or copy/paste some of the more useful reviews here, whatever works best.

Only 4 more months to go!

[Indie]

don't look for the discount like we had last time

Unless you (I) are an airline employee. Probably won't work on this cruise though.

[Conservababe]

I would be interested in the reviews.

[MinuteGal]

Reviews can be found through Yahoo or Google search functions. Just type in "cruise line reviews". Cruise, hotel and resorts critiques and reviews flood the web. They are subjective and are mostly written by vacationers happy or unhappy with individual experiences. Probably better reading the critiques on the review sites than reproducing them here on FR's bandwidth.

Leni

[MinuteGal]

I must go down to the sea again, to the lovely sea and the sky
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking

I must go down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying

I must go down to the sea again to the vagrant gypsy life
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a fellow freeper rover
And sweet dreams and memories when the freeper cruise is over.

Leni

[Johnny_Cipher]

This sounds like its going to be wonderful! Sadly, I'm on continuous call at $dayjob during late May/early June (our busiest time; tons of stage productions and lighting to set up during the spring and summer months), and I already have a Crystal cruise scheduled for October.

I hope all of you have a fantastic time! And if you'll accept a few tips from somebody who would live on a cruise ship if he could:

Take half the luggage and twice the money you think you will need.

Take at least one pair of trousers with elastic in the waistband, or a comfortably large pair. You can worry about working off the excess waist you'll have when you get back.

There is a reason that the balcony cabins are so popular. Nothing compares to being able to walk out on your own balcony and smelling that sea air.

Book your return carriage (taxi, airport shuttle, whatever) from the cruise ship dock to the airport before you go. Nothing is worse than standing around for 3 hours after you return trying to catch a cab; they all seem to be busy. In fact, booking all of your to and from travel ahead of time will save you no end of sweat and bother.

A piece of duct tape the size of a dollar bill can get you out of myriad scrapes aboard a cruise ship. It truly is the miracle adhesive.

Never, NEVER draw to an inside straight at the casino :)

[BreitbartSentMe]

Here's a couple more:

Bring an outlet strip, because there are never enough outlets in the cabins.

If you have a balcony, a long bungee cord to hold the door open lets you hear the wonderful ocean sounds for the few hours you're in your cabin.