Following a expensive continental breakfast we finished repacking and then waited in the lobby for the 12.00 shuttle to take us over to the Port. There were about six or seven people on the shuttle all going to different cruise lines and out drop was the last. The first drop there appeared to be chaos everywhere with hundred’s or people all queuing in the sun whilst cars and taxis and buses were buzzing everywhere and so we were a little worried about how our ship reception would be. The second drop looked a little more organised and then we got to our Holland America Line ship called the MV Eurodam and it was so efficient, we dropped of suitcases, went thro security and within about 25 minutes were in our suite.
We went to the Lido buffet style restaurant for a light lunch, Noel a beef sandwich and Jennifer a Turkey sandwich whilst all around us people were loading their plates to the gunnels. At least the ship staff does the serving and not allowing passengers to help themselves for health reasons, or is it because it stops food wastage, this is the most likely explanation. we waited in the cabin for the ‘muster’ call for us to learn the emergency drill and down to the deck 3 where we had to check in and be given instruction by the crew how to let go the lifeboats and steer it away from the ship, sorry just kidding, and a demonstration on how to use life jackets and then back to the room to await the arrival of the suitcases which they did about 3.15 and so b y about 1615 we were petty much unpacked and watched the ship leave the harbour.
Lots of people on the side of the port exit and in the blocks of apartments took great pleasure in waving and cheering the hip leaving, but of course it is Super Bowl today and they were probably gathering to watch the match.
We had requested a table for two and so we went to the restaurant to check and found we are on a table for four, Umm lets wait and see before we do some foot stamping and crying to see if we can get our own table. Tonight we shall eat in the main restaurant and it looks quite nice and lets hope the food is suitable for Noel delicate pallet but we will of course have a pre-dinner drink in the bar first, we shall see.
Yes we did have a pre-dinner drink in the oceans bar, and it was quiet for about ten minutes and then a small group turned up and started playing not what we would call relaxing music however after about half an hour they packed up and moved on to somewhere else. We then headed for the restaurant expecting to see another couple but thankfully we woz wrong, in fact there was a line of tables for four people but only filled by two so we were happy. The first nights food was really quite good with roast pork from Berkshire, we presumed UK unless there is a Berkshire somewhere else, as the main dish and that was very tasty.
After dinner we both decided that we were tired and returned to the room fort some reading and music and then off to sleep.
