Semi-Grande Luxe: 6/08
OK, I'll admit it. My idea of sea voyages is thoroughly out of date. Steamer trunks, varnished teak deck chairs with plaid lap rugs, evening gown and jewels to dinner, a Captain's table and the social outer reaches of the lesser crew, champagne in the cabin, and at least three murders between ports.
There are deck chairs on the Noordam. They're not varnished but, they have little ships carved on them: a stylized steamship with a clipper in full sail superimposed. There's champagne, if you order it, at far too much a bottle. There are two nights when you're supposed to get all dressed up to go to dinner, but I'm guessing the evening gowns are going to be almost as few and far between as the tuxes. There's no room for a steamer trunk under the bed, but there are lots of cunning little drawers and shelves and cabinets for our stuff. And a veranda. And two swimming pools and uncountable bars and a library with a cafe attached and a gym. And more distractions than you can shake a stick at, including a nightly Friends of Dorothy drinks meeting in the Ocean Bar.
I've never experienced anything quite like this in my life. Kind of like day camp with plenty of liquor and en-suite bathrooms.
And lots of food. There's nothing wrong with the food on the Noordam, but it's like good hotel food--kind of "fancy" without being particularly distinguished. There's a restaurant where you can get pizza until 10 pm and tea and coffee any time of the day or night. Still, I find myself missing crispy Roman pizza and all the Roman dishes we heard about but didn't have time to try. Well, next time.
There are deck chairs on the Noordam. They're not varnished but, they have little ships carved on them: a stylized steamship with a clipper in full sail superimposed. There's champagne, if you order it, at far too much a bottle. There are two nights when you're supposed to get all dressed up to go to dinner, but I'm guessing the evening gowns are going to be almost as few and far between as the tuxes. There's no room for a steamer trunk under the bed, but there are lots of cunning little drawers and shelves and cabinets for our stuff. And a veranda. And two swimming pools and uncountable bars and a library with a cafe attached and a gym. And more distractions than you can shake a stick at, including a nightly Friends of Dorothy drinks meeting in the Ocean Bar.
I've never experienced anything quite like this in my life. Kind of like day camp with plenty of liquor and en-suite bathrooms.
And lots of food. There's nothing wrong with the food on the Noordam, but it's like good hotel food--kind of "fancy" without being particularly distinguished. There's a restaurant where you can get pizza until 10 pm and tea and coffee any time of the day or night. Still, I find myself missing crispy Roman pizza and all the Roman dishes we heard about but didn't have time to try. Well, next time.