Overnight in Hoorn Netherlands

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Avalon Artistry II Docked

Overnight in Hoorn Netherlands

We arrived in Hoorn around 8 PM at the tail end of our dinner.   After dinner we strolled through town taking a few pictures of the town with the sun setting on this harbor town.

 

City of Bold Explorers

Hoorn played an important role in the 'Age of Exploration' and some famous navigators are closely associated with the town.  Probably the most famous was Willem Schouten (1580-1625) who attained eternal fame by being the first person to round the southernmost tip of South America in 1616 and named it "Cape Horn" in homage to his hometown.

Continuing our Own Exploration 

In the morning, the included tour was a visit to the Dutch Villages of Edam & Volendam.  Since we had been there before during our Tulip Time river cruise, we decided to explore Hoorn some more on our own.

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Evening in Hoorn

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Thanksgiving Dinner in Koblenz

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Thanksgiving in July

No, Thanksgiving didn't come early this year, although we were thankful to be onboard Avalon Waterways Artistry II enjoying some excellent food and scenery in the Rhine & Moselle River  territory.

The Chef's special for our evening in Koblenz, Germany was Turkey Breast Stuffed with Bread on Cranberry Sauce, Served with Vegetables and Potato Lasagna.

 Dinner Menu

As always, there were several choices for main entree, but the turkey sounded like the best choice to us so that was what we both selected.   I've never had turkey prepared this way.  It was quite wonderful.










The starters we selected were a Mixed Greens Salad along with Cream of Potato Soup with Bacon and Herbs. 

We tried two different desserts:  Walnut Parfait with Mixed Berries Sauce and Pistachio Ice Cream with Raspberry Sauce.

More pictures, including menus, can be found in our album:

Koblenz Dinner

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Evening in Koblenz

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Dinner in Koblenz

Koblenz Dinner

Shortly after arriving in Koblenz, it was time for the Port Talk and then dinner in the main dining room.

Soup & Salad

The Green Salad with carrots, cucumbers, red onion, and tomatoes was the featured salad.  The two soup choices were Beef Consomme and Cream of Potato.

Main Entree

We selected the Turkey Breast Stuffed with Bread on Cranberry Sauce, with Vegetables and Potato Lasagne.  This wasn't your typical turkey dinner, but it was great.

Leave Room For Dessert

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The ice cream flavor was Pistachio with Raspberry Sauce and Whipped Cream.

The other main dessert selection was Walnut Parfait with Mixed Berry Sauce.   Both of these selections were good.   When it doubt, have both.

As usual, the meal was accompanied by a selection of local wines and beers.

Another option for the evening was the Avalon Panorama Bistro Dinner which we had done earlier in the cruise.

 

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Koblenz Dinner

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Cochem to Koblenz

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Afternoon Sailing 

from Cochem

All aboard Avalon Artistry II was at 12:45 PM as the ship sailed by 1 PM along the meandering scenic Moselle River.   Following our German Lunch Buffet we headed up to the Sky Deck for the narrated scenic viewing .

Docked Overnight Koblenz

We arrived in Koblenz around 6:30 PM just in time for our evening Port Talk and dinner.   Following dinner, we were treated to a spectacular sunset which illuminated the nearby buildings, sky, and river.

Tomorrow we would have time to explore Koblenz, so for tonight, we just took a short stroll along the pier before returning to the ship for som rest. 

Local entertainment was provided by a string trio, La Strada, in the lounge at 9 PM.



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Evening in Koblenz

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Spending Evening in Mainz

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Staying Overnight

Artistry II was docked in the central area from where it was a 15 minute easy stroll to the core of the city.   The ship remained docked there overnight. 

The evening program began with the usual Port Talk in the lounge at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner at 7:00 PM in the main dining room or 7:15 PM in the lounge for those signed up for the Bistro Dinner.

Main Dining

Each evening the menu was posted outside the main dining room.  As with ocean cruising, the waiter brings you a menu and then you pick  a starter, main entree, and dessert.

We looked forward to entering the dining room to see what folded napkin creation had been created by the crew.

As usual the dining room was open seating, which meant you could sit with the same people every night or find new table mates each time.  There were also various size tables to pick from.

Tonight's Menu

 Tonight's chef recommendations included Cocktail of Marinated Mango with Serrano Ham and Roast New Zealand Rack of Lamb.

Soups choices were a Clear Fish Soup or Cream of Vegetable Puree.  One of our favorite starters was the always available Caesar Salad.

The ice cream creations were always a good selection for dessert.

 Wine, Beer, Soft Drinks

We may not have mentioned this previously, but every night the chef paired regional wines and beers with the menu.   Tonight we had some regional German wines that were included.

Select beers and soft drinks were also included with dinner.  There were additional beers and after dinner drinks that could be purchased as well.

 Entertainment

Following dinner, entertainment was provided by Tom & Michael, two local musicians who performed upbeat tunes in the lounge.  If you were still hungry, there was the usual Late Night Snack at 10:30 PM.

A local hangout was just across from where our ship was docked.  You could listen to the music from the Sky Deck or join the party in person.

For those used to ocean cruising, think of the onboard entertainment like one of the lounge shows.  This is a much more intimate experience than the shows in the main theater of an ocean cruise ship.

 
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Artistry II Embarkation Evening

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Schedule at a Glance

Besides the printed schedule that was on our bed in the cabin, the computer monitor in the lobby had the day's events posted. You could also pull up the schedule, as well as other information, on the TV in your cabin.

It is very easy to find out about the schedule.

Safety Exercise

All passengers assembled on the sky deck at 6:15 PM where they were provided with a life jacket. Unlike large ocean cruise ships, the life jackets are stored in compartments on the open top deck. Instructions were given on how to put on the vests and after everyone was accounted for, we returned them and headed to the lounge for the actual safety briefing.

Welcome Aboard

Our Cruise Director (CD), Mark, introduced the First Captain who welcomed us onboard and introduced the rest of the crew.  This was followed by a champagne toast (the crew had ginger ale).

Mark then took over and provided the safety briefing.   In the event of an emergency, we would assemble on the sky deck where we'd be given life preservers like we were in the exercise.


Port Talk

Prior to dinner every evening, our CD held a briefing about the next day's activities.  On this first evening, he gave an overview of the first few days by showing us a presentation.   Most days started with an included excursion in the morning, followed by lunch, and one or more optional excursions in the afternoon.  There were some days where we'd have an afternoon sailing to our next destination.  Some days included overnight stays, where we could explore on our own in the evening if desired.

Following the talk, there were sign-up sheets for those passengers that had pre-booked included and optional excursions or for those that might have changed their minds after hearing more about the ports.  Then it was time to head for the dining room for our Embarkation Dinner.

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Basel - Embarkation
Artistry2 - Embarkation Evening

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Good-bye Nassau Hello Evening

Early Dining

Monet - Carnival Conquest

As we continued sailing away from Nassau, Bahamas, it was time for our first dress up night.  The dress code for the evening was "Cruise Elegant".   You didn't have to dress up if you didn't want to but there are some guidelines:

Not Allowed: Shorts, T-Shirts, jeans, flip flops, bathing suit attire, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear and baseball hats.

Table With a View

Our assigned table was on deck 4 of Monet Dining Room with a very nice view.  We requested a large table when we made our reservation, so we did get one set for 8 people however there were only 4 of us on most nights.  Two nights one couple went to "The Point" Steakhouse.

Menu

We had a lovely dinner with our new friends.  For starters we had the Strawberry Bisque chilled soup topped with fresh mint leave, spring rolls, and shrimp cocktail.  The last two items you can have every day.  Each day there's a chilled soup and hot soup amongst the starters.

Our two selections for the main entree were Broiled Maine Lobster Tail with Jumbo Black Tiger Shrimp and Tender Roasted Prime Rib of American Beef Au Jus.  The lobster dish came with yukon gold mashed potatoes and broccoli florets and the prime rib came with baked potato with all the trimmings.  For dessert we had Cherries Jubilee.

The food was cooked the way we liked it and the wait staff were very attentive checking to see if we wanted anything more.

Lemoncello

We capped our dinner off with an after dinner drink of Lemoncello. If you have ever been to Italy, you'll instantly know about Limoncello. Lemons seem to be one of the important staples in the food of Sorrento. The most famous product is Limoncello. Every store or restaurant has it’s unique or favorite brand of Limoncello for sale or to taste. It is wonderful as a palate cleanser or as an after dinner drink. Limoncello is the generic name for an Italian citrus-based lemon liqueur that is served well chilled in the summer months. Limoncello is now considered the national drink of Italy and can be found in stores and restaurants all over Italy.  On Carnival Conquest, the price of the drink includes the souvenir glass which is yours to keep.

Entertainment

Playlist Productions show Divas featured songs from the great pop Divas like Gaga, Beyonce, Christina, Madonna, Whitney, and Celine. There were two shows in the Toulouse Lautrec Theater. Prior to dinner you could meet the Captain and Senior Officers, have your picture taken with them, dance to music and enjoy a cocktail. In days gone by, Carnival would provide the drinks free of charge, but now they simply offer a $1 discount. We now skip the Captain's party the majority of the time since it just means hurrying up getting changed. We had our drink at dinner instead.

Our after dinner entertainment of choice throughout the cruise was the comedy club.  Carnival brought 2 comedians onboard for the beginning part of the cruise:  Kim Harrison and Smiley Joe Wiley.  Each night, there would be two family oriented shows and two adult only shows in the lounge.  They were very enjoyable.

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Tip: Be sure to check your Fun Times before dinner to plan your evening.

Tuesday was a sea day so we opted to sleep in and have a late breakfast.  We'll tell you more about our Sea Day in our next installment.   If you have any questions that you'll like us to address, be sure to post here, on our Facebook page, or email us.

After the Game Embarkation Day

The Night is Young

Evening On Board

Carnival Conquest 

After our dinner at the steakhouse and the conclusion of the Superbowl, it was time to determine what to do for the rest of the evening.  There's something for everyone to enjoy.

 

Toulouse Lautrec 3,4 & 5 Forward

Checking our Fun Times, we found that there was only one Welcome Aboard Show scheduled that evening at 10:15 PM.  It was hosted by our Cruise Director, Gary.   It featured a preview of the Playlist Productions and Punchliner Comedy Club entertainment.   The entertainment portion of the show wasn't very long which gave our CD plenty of time to explain what we should expect for the remainder of the cruise.   

Tahiti Casino (click for more images)

 Tahiti Casino

Following the show the casino was bopping as passengers weren't ready to retire for the evening just yet.

The casino has state-of-the-art BlackjackPro and PokerPro tables where you can try your luck against the house (which is actually a computer).  Of course, if you prefer live action or slot machines, there are plenty of options there as well. 

Earlier in the day, the casino had complimentary play on the state-of-the-art tables prior to sailing and in honor of the Superbowl, they had a Big Game Score Pursuit where you could win up to $500 on a $10 bet.   Throughout the week you could use your Sail & Sign card to advance funds and also as a players card which could earn you free drinks.

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Tip: Be sure to check your Fun Times when you board the ship and plan your evening.

In our next installment we'll look at the welcome aboard activities for youth and also take a look at some of the bars and lounges that offer nightly entertainment.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Night Snorkeling

Do fish swim at night? Are fish active after the sun goes down? Do fish have their dinner when we do? Have you ever wondered about things like that? If so, then perhaps a Night Snorkeling excursion could answer those questions for you.

When reviewing the possible excursions available on the Norwegian Dawn cruise to Bermuda, we were intrigued by the Night Snorkeling excursion offered while we were in King's Wharf.

The Night Snorkel excursion description was as follows:
A ratio of one instructor to six snorkelers ensures your personalized attention and safety. You'll see a variety of sea creatures that normally hide during the day and marvel at how the beautiful coral formations come alive in our beams of light. Then for a real treat we turn off our lights to discover the extraordinary effects of bioluminescence microscopic creatures that create light as we swim through them. Experience a whole different type of Bermuda nightlife. Note: Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. All participants must know how to swim. This tour is not recommended for those with limited mobility and back problems.

After reading that description, we had some preconceived notions about this tour. We expected to be snorkeling off of a boat that provided the lighting. It turned out that we would be providing our own lighting using underwater flashlights.

Our tour began with a short taxi ride from the pier to 9 Beaches Resort. After a short briefing, we were given our gear which included partial wet suits, snorkel mask, snorkel, fins, life vests, and a flashlight. We were paired into groups of two swimmers and given one glow stick which would serve as a locator in the dark.

After everyone had their gear, we entered the water from the beach near to the equipment shack and made sure that our masks and snorkels were working and adjusted properly. I was a little leery, despite having snorkeled before, we never had done so at night. Most of our snorkeling was done by jumping into water from a boat which was anchored nearby the snorkeling area. That gives you the opportunity to rest for awhile and rejoin the snorkeling when you want. This was obviously not going to be the same experience.

The tour guides assured me that we'd stay together and make frequent stops to be sure the group was together. He also said that I could stay close to him if that helped. Unfortunately, he took off and staying with him wasn't really practical. My husband stayed with me and that had to suffice.

The water was cold despite the wet suit. We did make several stops to keep the group together. I only saw a couple fish the whole time. My husband didn't see any at all. He was too busy keeping tabs of where my light was and where I was. Our son was with us too and he did see a few fish.

I started to get a cramp and decided that I'd had enough. A few of us got out near a landing and walked back to the equipment shack. The rest of the group continued for 15 or 20 minutes more, so we could have made it the whole time, but I didn't want to risk it due to the cramps.

Some people might enjoy this tour, but we weren't very happy with it. The description was misleading to us and the tour guides could have been more sensitive to the abilities of the group. If you are good swimmers / snorkelers, you might enjoy this experience. For us, we'll stick with day-time snorkeling.

Even though we had underwater cameras, we took no pictures, so I have nothing to share with you from this tour. Do come back next time for some of our other activities in Bermuda.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Evening Activities

Evenings aboard the Norwegian Dawn typically included dinner at one of the Freestyle Dining choices and entertainment. The first night, there was a Welcome Aboard Show in the Stardust Showroom. The main attraction for this show was the Jean Ann Ryan Company with music provided by the Norwegian Dawn Showband. Since photography was not allowed during the show, close your eyes and imagine you are seeing singers and dancers perform live onstage.

Since we had eaten at the Welcome Aboard BBQ, we didn't go to one of the restaraunts the first night. We did join romantics and photographers out on deck for a glimpse of the setting sun. As the saying goes, "red skies at night, sailors delight". Tomorrow would be a beautiful day if the saying held true. As the sun sunk lower from the sky into the sea, we bid our goodbyes to New York (or at least that's what we thought).

While we were waiting for the show to begin , the Captain interrupted to announce that our ship was turning back to New York due to a medical emergency onboard. One of the passengers had been injured and required medical attention. Since the next two days were sea days, this would not impact the overall cruise schedule.

For those that wanted to dance the night away, Spinnaker Lounge was the site of the Welcome Aboard Party: Dancing Through the Decades. The Cruise Director Staff and Sound Bytes hosted this dance party featuring the greatest dance hits from the 50's to today.

On Tuesday night the lounge was the site for 70's Night Disco Groove party. Members from Second City Comedy Troop were also onboard and Thursday and Friday the Spinnaker Lounge was turned into a comedy theatre for their show. Music could be heard throughout the ship. The venues also included Gatsby's Lounge, Grand Attrium, Dazzles Lounge, and Pearly King's Pub.

There was something for every music taste throughout the cruise. You could even be one of the "stars" at the Family Karaoke which was held in Dazzles Lounge a few times during the week.

Dawn Club Casino opened about an hour after we left New York and remained open the first night until the ship returned to New York to have the Coast Guard transport the injured passenger. The highlight event in the casino was on Monday night for Monte Carlo Night. This event was hosted by the entertaining Gazillionare (the Cruise Director) along with the Freestyle Showgirls and Monte Carlo Night Tumblers. The casino was open except while we were in port.

Although Norwegian Dawn doesn't have a formal dress code during the cruise, some people dressed up on Monday night and had their picture taken with Captain Trygve Vorren. There were opportunities other nights for pictures if you were so inclined. In fact, even if you didn't want your picture taken, you probably had more than your share throughout the cruise.

In my next post, I'll talk about a couple of the Freestyle Dining options that we did during this cruise. These events only scratched the surface of the evening's choices. As NCL said in the Freestyle Daily, "everything is hotter when the sun goes down".