All Aboard Nieuw Amsterdam

We flew using Alaska air miles, making a plane change in Portland another in LA. Flight out of LA was on Virgin America, which we have never flown before. It was a nice plan with TVs on each seat back, nice to help kill 5 hours! There food and beverage service operated very different, you choose on the TV screen what you would like, including the free beverage options, there were no free food or snack options. They would just come around and deliver what you requested and as many times as you requested, the attendants seemed to do more running up and down the isles to deliver food and beverages than any other airline, not sure how efficient this system is! 

We Ubered to our Airbnb, it was a great find, close to airport, cruise port, shopping, food.

The private entrance and patio area

Little kitchen

Soft bed

We walked to breakfast and thankfully were in the restaurant when a torrential down pour and wind came up from now where! Luckily it passed over quick then we walked around the neighborhood and picked up supplies for the cruise, 2 bottles wine, case of water (you never know if cruise ship water will taste yucky) then took an Uber to the port. We checked in and didn’t have to wait long to board, this must be a smaller ship as there just aren’t as many people as the last few cruises we’ve taken.

We are able to go directly to our room, here is what our fully instructed view looks like!

Oh well at least we can see some sky and have light!

The dining room is closed for lunch due to a wedding that took place on board so we have to have lunch on the lido deck, buffet. We were plesently surprised by the buffet operations! All food is served so quests are never touching serving spoons! Of course I am thrilled with this!!!! We go through the salad bar line where an employee custom makes your salad in a huge bowl, then we ordered pizza and enjoyed our lunch in a very uncrowded  area at the back pool. We are wondering where the crowds are, this is not normal for embarkation day!

We explore the ship before the muster drill, there are some lovely areas.

At sail away the crowd finally feels bigger. This is definitely a smaller ship than we have sailed on for a while. 

We have any time dining and were immediately seated when we showed up at 6:30! I guess I got excited and forgot to take pictures of dinner! I had a yummy corn chowder, salad and we both had snapper with tropical fruit salsa. Desserts were a little disappointing! 

I ordered two because I couldn’t decide between key lime pie or the chocolate thing, neither were very good, Dave’s apple pie was best, but not great :) 

After dinner we went to the BB King Blues Club and listened and danced to a group from Memphis. They were amazing and so much fun we went back for their second show! We also spent time in piano bar where they had 2 pianists who both also sang, also very good. So far musical entertainment is great! We did walk out of the large production show though.... ugh not so good!