Thursday- Friday, 10-11 April 2025

Crossing the Atlantic

Another sea day when I shall try to keep the blogs together. The weather continues to be mild and the seas calm on Friday as the ship sails its third of seven days from Bermuda to the UK. 

Thursday is a quiet day as I rest up from yesterday's food and drink. In fact, after a Texas Toast French toast breakfast in the Dining Room, I skip lunch entirely. I settle in my stateroom to watch some mindless movies to keep my mind off all the terrible things happening back in the USA.

I begin the evening with a classic daiquiri at the Ocean Bar and then return for tonight's dinner at my table in the main dining room. The service is still haphazard and the main server is so harried he barely has time to ask if you like the food. I have never had such impersonal service on any other Holland America ship. Even on the Koningsdam--the same number of passengers--back in November, I enjoyed leisurely meals with servers who were efficient and friendly.

The food is still good and served in large portions. Tonight I begin with another order of escargot, served exactly the same as on a previous evening, followed by an interesting salad combining romaine, strawberries, cucumbers, and onions with a balsamic vinaigrette. The main course is a tender salmon fillet, served over rice and green beans. My wine tonight is a California Sauvignon Blanc; an okay accompaniment for the salmon, but not as piquant as the Pinot Grigio.

Dessert, for which I have to wait a rather long time, is a cupcake-sized flourless chocolate cake with raspberry and chocolate sauce.

Since dinner has lasted until almost 9:00pm, I decide to check out the evening's entertainment on the World Stage. I have described in an early blog post, how well-designed the theatre is. The entertainment, a Las Vegas-type revue of pop songs made famous by female singers, taxes the talents of the three women and two men company--so I leave pretty early to settle in for the night.

Friday, 11 April 2025

Crossing the Atlantic

I have a light breakfast this morning, because I have two scheduled eating events today:  the Mariner's Society lunch in the main dining room at noon, and dinner in the Pinnacle Grill at 8pm. And I am forced to consume two premium steaks at meals today.

The Mariner's lunch is for passengers who have sailed with Holland America on previous cruises. Mariner star status is earned by the number of sailing days and money spent by each traveler. When I boarded the Nieuw Statendam last week I was a 4* mariner just one cruise day short of 5*. So after the first day of this cruise I earned my 5*, which is the highest level passengers can achieve. 4* and 5* membership offers many perks, including free laundry, early boarding and debarking, immediate access to tenders in ports that use them--and many other options as well.

Because Holland America has so many repeat passengers, the Mariner's lunch takes up the whole dining room. I sit at a table with six retired couples and one empty chair. My fellow diners are not very pleasant companions (nor am I in the mood for chit-chat, I will admit), but the food is excellent, even if I skip the free glass of cheap champagne.

Lunch begins with an appetizer of lobster bits on cheese rounds with beet and pomegranate sauce. After scraping off the beets and pomegranates, I enjoy the lobster and cheese with the accompanying small leaves of arugula. The main course is an excellent small filet mignon, served to everyone in the dining at the exact same temperature--medium rare; no other choice is allowed, but that is fine with me. Fresh asparagus and carrots join the fried onions along with the steak. Small chunks of flourless chocolate cake--the same as I had at dinner last night--conclude the meal.

After lunch I wander around several decks taking photos for the blog. This is also a good way to get some exercise between meals. I even take a once-around the outside Promenade Deck, even though I am wearing "dressy" clothes and not really fitted out for a power walk (more on the problem with the Promenade Deck, below).

The Wine-Tasting Room--Can You Count the Glasses?

The Pinnacle Bar and Lounge

Central Atrium

Central Atrium Staircase

The Dutch Cafe

Ceiling Lights in BB King Room

I have never been on a ship where the views from the Promenade Deck are completely blocked by lifeboats. This is a terrible design decision!

My dinner in the Pinnacle Grill isn't until 8:00pm, so I stop for a dry Beefeater Martini on the rocks at the Pinnacle Bar. My dinner begins with a tomato, onion, and basil appetizer with balsamic dressing. Next up is an excellent lobster bisque with brandy and creme fraiche. The 12oz NY strip loin with bernaise sauce is served with marinated mushrooms (I forego other available sides), and dessert is a chocolate soufflé. For fun I have a glass of higher quality Pinot Noir. I am seated next to a very friendly couple from Florida, who make the evening quite pleasant.

And with a full stomach and a spinning head I shall retire for the night. I have several more sea days on which I will post more photos from around the ship.