April 20, 2016-continued
Our hotel-the Movenpick-the high rise part
The Movenpick hotel is a big tower plus some rooms in a larger section below the tower. We waited in line a
long time to check in (about a half hour) - finally got checked in by 5:00. This is very large and very busy hotel. The hotel itself is beautiful and it is in a pretty location, right down at the docks. The internet was good. We have a huge room (plenty of room for the scooter) with an anteroom
me reflected in the anteroom mirror
a bathroom with a handicapped shower
and a small fridge
But it is in the larger bottom section and it is hard to get an elevator that has room for me on the scooter. Unfortunately, the Maritime Museum where I had planned to go to this afternoon is closed for meetings. So we may not to much beside go to dinner. I was going to go to Jamie Oliver's restaurant which is quite near the hotel, but I changed my mind because about half the reviews were that the service was bad and I wasn't up for waiting. So I decided that we should try to see how far it was to where the ship was docked.
Going to look at the docks
Oops - I have picked the wrong hotel. Although I got the information on the dock from the on-line Amawaterways information and it is the closest to the docks, this hotel is the Viking hotel and I should be at the Softel which is where Ama hangs out. In order to get from the hotel to the boat, we have to go across a big bridge - so we have to go back far enough to get onto the bridge and then cross the bridge and then go down and back beside the bridge to the dock - twice as far as if we could just go directly. Bob does not think that we can do it with the luggage. Also he packed for the weather in Maryland and it is significantly colder here. So walking over I think he was cold - I was cold and I was wearing a lined coat. At the last minute he put in a sweater other than that, all he has is his sweatshirt and a jacket. Anyway, we walked and scootered over to the docks, crossing the bridge that separates the hotel form the docks
and went down onto the dock area
where I saw another Ama ship and there was a guy there in uniform.
He said AmaViola was rafted on the other ship.
Bob walking back to the hotel ahead of me
Movenpick Hotel and restaurant from the road
Dinner cruise canal boat
Went back to the hotel and went to the restaurant but they said they were fully booked and it would be 45 minutes before we could get a table, so we went and ate in the bar.
Lobby of the hotel going to the bar
Logo of the restaurant
Art on the wall of the bar
I got a Amsterdam burger (which was a cheeseburger) I got mustard and pickles with mine. I gave the mustard to Bob.
My Amsterdam burger and mustard
Bob got a US burger (which had bacon on it).
Bob's fries, burger and cole slaw
He gave his bacon to me as he thought it was raw (as in not burnt the way he likes it) His fries were very salty - mine were not so bad.
My fries
Tea glass and sugar packets
We got a pot of tea (half a glass each) and some water. We both were having trouble actually eating - we both ate the hamburger and left the bun. I had a scoop of ice cream. Then we came back to the room and Bob got undressed and was asleep almost immediately. I lasted a short time longer, and then I also went to sleep. I waked about 1:30 Amsterdam time, and then went back to sleep.
April 21, 2016
This morning we got up about 6:30 and got dressed. I had a shower utilizing the handicapped shower where I could sit and shower.
Hotel restaurant from the bridge
We went to the main restaurant (the Silk) for the very expensive ($25.00 each) buffet breakfast and it was a zoo. As usual doing a buffet is very hard for me and we did not get any juice as that was in another section.
Breakfast buffet
Bob getting me something from the buffet
Scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and tiny pancakes
We will check out about noon and take a taxi (the desk says about 8€) to the ship. We came back to the hotel room after breakfast and after a bit I decided to call AmaViola and see if we could come early. They said it was fine to come right away. This is their first cruise, so they don't have rooms to clean. When I looked out the bathroom window, I saw a regular size big cruise ship right outside. This turned out to be AIDA Mar which is a German ship. They were loading right from the Movenpick Hotel dock
AIDA Mar
We packed ourselves up and came down to the lobby - had to wait to check out the hotel was very busy. Got a taxi and found that they had moved AmaViola during the night and it was now right next to the dock. Bob gave the driver a ten € note, but the meter only had 7.46€ on it. So he got a much bigger tip than what I would have given him. I was unable to get the scooter up the ramp (it had cleats on it - this is an example of a
Ramp with cleats (and also steps at the top)
and they took our luggage to our room while we registered. They took our passports for overnight.
Buses bringing passengers - from our window
We got into the room but the suitcases were all on the floor so there was no room for the scooter. We went to the lounge
View from the lounge of the bow
where they had lunch - pea soup and finger sandwiches.
egg salad and cucumber sandwiches
There were fresh tulips at all the tables
Reflection of tulips in the glass table in the lounge
and big vases of them in the public areas. Bob had two cups of pea soup (it is one of his fav's)
split pea soup
and we had some sandwiches and then went back and unpacked. The cabin was excellent. There was free internet on the TV and also many TV channels. The bow camera was the best I have ever seen and at night they used Infrared technology, so we could see even in the dark. There was a set-up to open wine bottles. There were electric outlets for both Europe and US. The sliding windows were kept spotlessly clean so I could photograph the scenery through the window, or I could open the window and look out (although I didn't do that very often because it was cold outside). The bed was comfortable.
Sitting on the bed taking a photo of the cabin
As we unpacked we found that while there is plenty of hanging space with plenty of hangers,
Closet for hanging clothes
but there are almost no drawers, and very few shelves. Underneath my side of the bed is not accessible as there is a drawer there, but Bob put my suitcase in his suitcase and put them under his side of the bed. There is a refrigerator, and a safe that take up two of the cabinets. I have my socks and underwear in a small drawer next to the bed, and I have one shelf for tops and my bathing suit and sweaters. It is a big shelf. There is an alarm clock on my nightstand and a bottle of water. I put my pills on the shelf over the two drawers as I can take them with water on the night stand and don't have to go into the bathroom for that
Bathrobe
There is plenty of storage in the bathroom (a cabinet over the sink and one under the sink).
Shelves in the bathroom
There's also a stool for me to sit on in the shower.
Shower
Shower stool (and toilet on the right)
sink
shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner
I have gotten one of the chairs in the room taken away. I am pretty good now at coming in and turning around where that chair was and parking in front of the refrigerator for it to be charged.
Scooter in the cabin
And most important, I could get in and out of the room on the scooter by myself because the door would stay open. We put the little table out of the way under the desk. I was ready now to take a taxi into town, but Bob said he was ready for a nap, so I didn't go. I was hoping to look for a ring for my granddaughter, but I guess I'll have to wait until I get home. I was experimenting with the TV and accidentally got the internet on it and couldn't get out of it, so I turned the internet off and then couldn't turn the TV on. So for the second time I had to call the hotel manager and he showed us where the switch in the back was to turn it on. On the previous visit he showed me how to open the window. About 3:45, Bob waked up and asked if we were going to tea, so we got up and went to the lounge for tea. To get to the lounge or dining room, we went down the corridor and I scootered into the elevator and Bob walked down the steps. This was SOP for us.
Corridor of deck 3 AmaViola
One of the crew
Looking up at the roof from inside the elevator
They had sandwiches as before and a raspberry cheesecake and coffee cake. But we didn't find where to get the hot tea.
sandwiches
Back at the cabin, I took some photos of the cabin itself. Then just before 6 we went back to the lounge for the Captains champagne reception and safety briefing.
Lounge before the Welcome Reception
We had orange juice instead of champagne. We sat with some people named Dick and Liz from El Paso.
Rose from the captain
The Captain was giving a rose to each woman - he told us that there was a vase in the cabin, and there is. The Cruise Director introduced the Captain and he gave the safety briefing and introduced the staff, and then each of the heads of department gave a little speech and then the Cruise Director talked about what we are doing tomorrow. The whole thing lasted until 7:00 and then it was time for dinner. We asked to sit with other people and we got Dave from NH, and Jan and Maurine (Mo) from Indiana PA. They are sisters. Jan is a widow. They were both sailors. Dave got invited to the Captain's table so it was just the four of us trading sailing stories. We had a "amuse bouche" (spinach, tomato salsa, grilled feta)
and then we the crab cake appetizer - a crab cake about the size of 50 cent piece but thicker, and a whole crayfish with pineapple salsa.
whole crayfish with pineapple salsa
The next course was mushroom cappuccino soup which came with a big froth on top and was really hot so you had to be careful not to burn your tongue.
Mushroom cappuccino soup
The Bob got the always available Salmon Fillet with potato wedges which came in a metal basket,
Bob's salmon and fries
and I had the
Whole Roast US Beef Sirloin with red wine sauce
It came with cauliflower and broccoli and potatoes. I eventually scraped the wine sauce off. Then Bob had the
Mascarpose Mouse with Caramel Chocolate Sauce
(which he didn't care for) and I had Cherry Jubilee. I thought I was just getting ice cream.
Cherries Jubilee
They also gave us petit fours, but I was full and only ate one.
Petit Fours
While we were eating, the boat moved around to a different location. Where before our room overlooked the street, now we are looking out over the water.
View from our window after the ship moved
When we got back to our room, the bed had been turned down and there was chocolate on the pillows and the plan of the day for the next day. The cabin steward had spread my nightgown out on the bed and Bob thought it was a dress. So we are all tucked up in bed with the rose in a vase on the dresser.
