The Cruise Critic message board is not just a forum for cruise enthusiasts to chat, exchange information, and share experiences. The message board is a very important evaluation tool to Mr. Deering and he reads postings frequently if not daily. Mr. Deering IS very much aware about the concerns and needs of past and present passengers, and strives to make each "cruise experience" a positive one for those sailing Holland America. While it appears to be a glamorous position, attending to the needs of roughly 1,900 passengers and 800 crew members cannot be an easy task. However, Mr. Deering appeared to be "everywhere" on the Oosterdam, and always with a pleasant greeting. It's rare in this day and age to encounter individuals who take their positions seriously while apparently "loving" what they do. James Deering is undoubtedly one of those individuals.
Many interesting topics were discussed and timely questions were raised. Briefly, some topics were as follows:
� Corporate Holland America Line
� No Smoking Ships
� Satellite Internet Access Onboard Ship
� Children (main) and "Adult's Only" (aft) Pool
� Star Princess Fire
� Crew Member Recognition
� Gratuities for Crew Members
� Rationale for additional charge for Thalassotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite
� Rationale for Pinnacle Grill and additional charge
� Implementation of dining tracking software (Silver "Where")
� Passenger concerns
Thursday was another formal evening with the Farewell Dinner and the accompanying festivities. This was one of the evenings I had looked forward to all week. On the menu for the evening were filet mignon and lobster, with the traditional Baked Alaska parade!
I dressed for the evening and stopped in the Martini Bar for a drink. The Oosterdam's own Martini Bar bartender, Alvin Escobar was a recent winner in the martini category of the Bacardi "Bartender & Chef" Cruise Competition (BBCCC). The award-winning "Cosmic Sensation" is not only a delicious, fresh tasting martini, its two-layer color combination is a visual delight! The truth be known, I found it necessary to sample "several" different drinks at the hand of the talented Mr. Escobar! Savoring my martini, I traveled to the Ocean Bar to relax. It was pleasant to listen to the exciting sounds of Crossover, but alas there was no one to dance "spin me around the floor."
At 8:00 p.m. I traveled to the Vista Dining room to find my dining partners. The dining room was beautifully appointed, with a white linen drape over all of the chairs. We all had a good "chat" to catch up on what we had done on our cruise, and enjoyed an exceptional dinner. I ordered escargot for an appetizer, with "surf and turf" as an entr�e.
The escargot was deliciously different, with a definite preparation of garlic. I was delighted to be served a smaller sized filet mignon and a lobster tail. It was the perfect size and delicious! The Baked Alaska parade was a "sight to see," with the dining staff and chefs parading around the dining room with sparklers on top of the wonderful Baked Alaska! A visit to the casino (the "donations" were adding up) ended another perfect day at sea.
Thursday Entertainment:
Vista Lounge - Oosterdam Cast: Escape
Queen's Lounge - Movie: Pride & Prejudice
Crow's Nest - Contemporary: Cruise Control
Ocean Bar - Classic Dance Hits: Crossover
Explorer's Lounge - String Favorites: Rosario Strings
Piano Bar - Piano Player: Jeff Warren
Northern Lights - DJ Dancing: D. J. Matt Green
Signature Cocktail: New Fashioned Bermuda
Martini of the Day: Espresso Martini
