Today was Dedication Day for the Koningsdam so our activities focused around those activities plus a few more we devised on our own. Breakfast was In the Lido like normal where we ate with a couple from Florida. We were required to be in our places by 10:15am and the doors opened at 9:30am, so like good cruisers we were in line by 8:50am! And we were still 15th from the front!
Shortly after 9:30am the doors opened and we found a place at the hot tub end of the pool where Angela sat on the pool edge with her feet in the water and I stood. The Lido pool area filled quickly and the crowds pressed especially when the CD Jonathon announced that nobody could stand on the blue carpet as it was the fire escape route (most of it really was for Queen Maxima to walk on). Just after 10:30 Captain De Vries escorted Queen Maxima in to her seat in the front row on stage left. Following some introductory comments by Stein Kruse and Orlando Ashford including the announcement of the name of the next ship in the Pinnacle class to be the Nieu Statendam, Captain De Vries escorted Queen Maxima to the stage. She said a few words and then blessed the bell by pouring a glass of champaign over it and ringing the bell for the first time. She then signed the memorial wall followed by the captain and the HAL officials. And just like that the ceremony ended with Queen leaving to go down to the World Stage for the Dedication Ceremony where she pulled a cord that released a bottle of champaign to break against the ship's hull. And the ceremonies were over!
We adjourned to the Lido Market for a quick lunch with Keith Long from Australia before walking over the Erasmus Bridge to the Spido Harbor Tour dock where we our he'd 12.50€ each tickets for the 2pm sailing which lasted around 75 minutes. It was a good tour. Returning to shore we walked to the SS Rotterdam (now a hotel and restaurant) where we did a self guided tour and snapped a few photos. She's a grand old ship and Rotterdam is proud to have her back in the harbor in which she was originally built.
We walked back to the ship via some back roads and changed into formal (gala) wear for dinner. We ate with a couple from Germany and another from Texas who we had been on a tour with earlier. We then watched the untying from the dock, and shortly we were underway for the two hour exit from the berth to the open ocean. All along the canal, hundreds of people were watching and waving. Other ships saluted us with their horns and the Koningsdam returned the salute. A number of party boats also accompanied us much of the way.
At the exit to the harbor there was a nice 5-8 minute fireworks show.
We then went to the Billboard onboard to listen to the dueling pianos. A number of the Hal officials were there. I had the opportunity to speak with Orlando Asford and the pianist from the string quintet.
Our commemorative plate was in the room this evening and it's beautiful.
We're off to visit the Anne Frank house in the morning in Amsterdam.
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