22 March 2016; Marghera, Italy.

Another day in our Venetian Paradise with sunny skies and not too warm weather. The ship is now so far with cleaning up that we now have the requirement from the shipyard to wear shoe covering when walking around. Security at the gangway is handing out shoe sleeves with the aim to keep the ship as clean as possible.  Thus we now wear a helmet to protect ourselves and sleeves to protect the ship.

This will be the Coffee Bar in the Crowsnest, opposite the Library. Two front panels had been removed as they were busy with connecting the coffee machines.

Everywhere in the ship there are now huddles of crew sitting together receiving instruction and training from their supervisor about the work in their future area. There are a lot of background things which have to happen before you will get your drink served in a professional way at your table. Thus we have Training, Training and more Training.  Safety Training, Orientation Training and Service Training.

Housekeeping is still busy with supplying materials for the cabins. Yesterday I received my Lifejacket and today I became the proud owner of an ice bucket, a fruit bowl, and a vanity cover for over the bed and the luggage protection cover.  Also the Elemis soap dispensers where installed. I am now waiting for somebody to fill up my fridge and then I can start the cruise.

A French Street scene adorns the wall of the Sel de Mer Restaurant.

With the wall protective covers coming off, more and more is revealed about the interior of the various venues.  The Sel de Mer has a distinct French Theme and the menu is A La Carte (priced per item) and the courses are similar to what you will find in a French Brasserie. The food,  especially the fish, will be sourced fresh daily from local markets and thus we will see one of the chef’s go ashore every morning to see what is available in a specific port for the evenings fare. The venue is not so big and thus it will bring the intimate sphere of a French restaurant.

The wall mural in the Pinnacle Restaurant.

Yesterday I blogged about wine today a few words about coffee. No we are not going to have Starbucks on board but we have Beukenhorst. Special coffee imported from Holland for the various venues. We have regular coffee service in the Dining Room and Lido but for the Crow’s nest and for the venues of the Music Walk special coffees are available. I do not drink coffee so I have no idea but as the Dutch know everything about coffee (at least they claim so, until you speak to the Danish, they claim they know it even better) an animated discussion ensued about Starbuck versus Beukenhorst.  When I left a consensus had not been reached yet and it probably never will. The Java Café we have on the other ships is on board the Koningsdam combined with the bar in the corner of the Billboard.

A few Italian Contractors testing out the Bar stools of the Grand Dutch Cafe.

As the Dutch are big coffee drinkers, the Grand Dutch Café serves coffee as well, apart from Dutch Beer and the company expects this to be a very popular coffee-quaffing-gathering place. Today the contractors were already testing the bar. As a little it-bit of information, the colors of the Café are blue and white. Why? because the Holland America flag is blue and white. The walls have the forms of Dutch Houses to get as close to the motherland as possible.

The painters touching up the ships hull. Perfect weather at the moment to do so.

As we are coming close to the delivery, the ship is sailing in only 9 days; the outside of the ship is now being spruced up. If you look at the stern of the ship you see it is not straight but has a sort of “balcony” below the Dining Room. This is called a Duck Tail and its purpose is to reduce fuel consumption and it also helps with stability. When the ship makes speed, the stern goes down, drawn down by the Azipods. This is called Squat and then this ducktail sits on the water. Then it acts as a sort of spoiler you also see on race cars where they use it to keep the car more glued to the tarmac. They say it can add about 5 to 6% to the speed and thus reducing fuel consumption and over a whole year of sailing 5% has a considerable impact on the total fuel bill.

I call this Smoke in a Subway station but the real title will only be revealed when the ship sails and the signs are on.

I am ending again with two pieces of art.  Apart from the large pieces in the staircases, all the smaller frames have been installed now.  The art is from a great variety ranging from classical to surrealistic. Whatever you are going to think about it all, one thing is sure, the various pieces will result in a lively discussion among our guests. And that is exactly what the company tries to achieve with the Koningsdam; Guests interacting with the ship in as many ways as possible.

Today I had to explain what this was to one of our youngest crew members. She had even heard about Cassette Tapes.