Day 1 - First Day Departing San Diego And Heading To Catalina
As reported in the Daily Diary!
We departed home at 9:30 and landed at Chez Duda around 10:15 am just in time to pack and run!
Robin was ALMOST done; Binx was looking worried!
Poor Bob and Nick, they get two gunnysacks each!
Bob is the chief packer!
It's was a big thanks to the shoehorn and a jar of Vaseline!
Dr. Mary says "Let's go!!"
Easy! No traffic, but wait....
The harbor looks busy!
The Star Of India began the traffic jam!
The Disney boat was also in town, double the traffic.
Our ship awaits!
About The Ship - Much of Koningsdam, including the passenger decks, stairwells, and passageways, is influenced by music in naming, decor, and entertainment. Centered on the lower decks are the ship's main entertainment venues, including the main theater and three stages and lounges designed to offer different genres of live music.
Dining establishments are also located nearby and cater to different tastes and purposes, including a French bistro, an Italian restaurant, a cooking demonstration venue, a winemaking venue, a dining room, and a café. Atop the ship, features include a spa, pools housed under a magrodome, and a cruise ship poolside theater, as well as additional dining venues, including a buffet and a pan-Asian restaurant.
Koningsdam features a total of 1,331 passenger cabins across 12 decks and 588 crew cabins for a maximum capacity of 4,173 passengers and crew. Of the total amount of cabins, 78.4% have an outside view, and 68.5% have a balcony. She has a length of 299.65 metres (983 ft 1 in), a draft of 7.95 metres (26 ft 1 in), and a beam of 35 metres (114 ft 10 in). She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four MaK engines, each producing 12.6 MW (16,900 hp) to produce a total output of 50.4 megawatts (67,600 hp).
Main propulsion is via two ABB Azipods, each driven by a 14 megawatts (19,000 hp) electric motor. The system gives the vessel a service speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). Koningsdam was designed to operate at an optimal service speed, with an extended hull and modified bulbous bow to improve the ship's efficiency and glide and reduce resistance. The ship is powered by heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil and equipped with scrubbers from Ecospray Technologies.
Enhancements such as fan coil units used to maintain temperatures in public spaces, instead of centralized air conditioning, have allowed the ship to use 20% less power than Nieuw Amsterdam, despite carrying 20% more passengers. In addition, there are 16 150-person lifeboats and six tender boats, all provided by Hatecke. All infrastructure and IT systems are provided by Lufthansa Systems.
Maggie saw us at the end of the line and whoosh, we were swept away to the front of the line whizzing past the "riffraff" and into the awaiting arms of the Koingsdam Crew. We were whisked into the Ocean Bar where we imbibed and awaited the Duda's to join us!
"I am a Five Star now!!"
"But more importantly, I have wine!"
I found a way to keep Dr. Mary out of trouble!
A coloring book and a box of Crayons!
We all celebrated awaiting our rooms to become ready!
To the pool area for a drinkie, a burger, and ice cream!
Happy wife, happy life!
Nick is ready to go!
Cousin Irma and Maggie join the festivities
Salad and a good BM is an excellent way to start the day!
Who is bringing the soap??
We examine the spa and set up appointments.
Hot tub and steam room with a view!
Mary tried out the curved post spa chairs.
Ours is bigger than yours!
View out the spa window.
"What is she thinking??"
They have a myriad of torture devices available!
Oh Dear; Mary has the schedule of spa events!
She questions the tour guide about where can she put Paul when he is bad?
Bob demonstrates the treadmill!
But after two minutes, his tune is changing!
We went to the top and had to get oxygen masks as it is thirteen stories above the waterline. I thought I saw an angel but it turned out to be just Mary!
The funnels are well hidden!
The gaggle is in one place, QUICK, snap a picture!
The aircraft carrier looked pretty small!
The weather was perfect, in the upper 70s and a slight breeze!
The bay was busy!
Always a smile!
"Hey, let's check our cabins!"
We actually passed a dining room without stopping - a miracle occurred!
Our suite was quite roomy with plenty of room for guests and a party!
Mary and I stowed everything and were ready for dinner!
The Midway was dressed in red, while and blue!
Did You Know? - USS Midway (CVB/CVA/CV-41) is an aircraft carrier, formerly of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. Commissioned 8 days after the end of World War II, Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal. She operated for 47 years, during which time she saw action in the Vietnam War and served as the Persian Gulf flagship in 1991's Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned in 1992, she is now a museum ship at the USS Midway Museum, in San Diego, California, and is the only remaining inactive U.S. aircraft carrier that is not an Essex-class aircraft carrier.
The port is in Downtown San Diego!
The Pinnacle was a delightful place to dine; quiet and great views!
Did You Know? - Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, where an exceptional menu and impeccable service make for one of finest meals you'll ever have. The refined menu features a selection of 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks — meticulously chosen to guarantee the finest quality — as well as classic steakhouse dishes and innovative recipes. Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated
We enjoyed dinner on board! Steak was the order of the day!
Steak? Yes, perfect because we are "cut ups"!
Mary plans to work herself through the steak menu
The kids were having a ball!
Robin ordered the lobster bisque and this is what she got!
Then they poured in the liquid!
I went for the shrimp cocktail!
Robin did the Baked Alaska!
Baked Alaska is an old-school dessert that consists of a layer of cake, a frozen ice cream center, and a coating of toasted marshmallow meringue. It's essentially a fancy version of an ice cream cake, and though it is, admittedly, fussier to make than your average dessert, it's totally worth it for that wow-factor.
Desserts were my downfall!
Too pretty to eat!
She did it again!
It was enjoyable!
Thumbs up!
We were tired and ready to sleep because tomorrow comes early and the dining rooms are calling us! We were brave and did not even pass by the trough on the way to our room!
