Prinsendam Lisbon to Rome -- Days 2, 3, & 4

Day 2 was a sea day, and very uneventful. Smooth sailing. It was also the first formal night. I don't remember seeing anyone in the dining room underdressed. The men were almost 50/50 tuxes/suits, with perhaps a few more tuxes. Someone asked if the Prinsendam was classier than other HAL ships. I don't think so, but people seem to dress more in keeping with what HAL asks. The dinner was spectacular. Escargo, lobster bisque, and white pepper and sesame crusted salmon was absolutely wonderful!

Day 3 was Mahon, and was a good port. Lots of interesting nooks and crannies in the town. It is a bit of a walk up a winding walkway or climbing lots of stairs to get up from the dock, so be prepared. There was supposedly a city shuttle available, but we didn't see it.

The journey into Alghero, Sardinia, Italy was really a rock and roll affair. Lots of swells in the Med. We even had to go around to an inlet to drop anchor because it would be too tricky to tender onto the normal pier at the head of old town. We enjoyed our looking around. Another fascinating city with something different down every side street. Genuine Sardinian pizza is something scrumptious, too. Had that for lunch. There was a bit of a delay with some folks getting back onto the ship, as one tender had to be towed back to the ship. Seems some rope got wrapped around one of the props. Nothing dangerous ... they just couldn't maneuver like they needed to in getting pax back to the ship.

Tonight is informal night, and tomorrow is Civitavecchia/Rome. We're really looking forward to it.

Wow Jim! Sounds like you've had a great couple of days! I know you will love Rome.....watch out for the vespa riders, they will run you over!!!!:eek: Rome is one of my favorite Med. cities, a fountain or fresco at each turn. Hope your sailing is a bit less eventful for the rest of the time at sea. Hope the weather is good, but not too hot, but then again being from Vegas, you know heat:D, just not humidity. Safe travels!:cool:

Jim-thanks for posting --- enjoying them! Keep up the good "work"! :)

Day 3 was Mahon, and was a good port. Lots of interesting nooks and crannies in the town. It is a bit of a walk up a winding walkway or climbing lots of stairs to get up from the dock, so be prepared. There was supposedly a city shuttle available, but we didn't see it.

Mahon is my favorite Spanish port! A nice little town with nary a "tourist" place in sight! Even the "Tourist Information Office (on the other side of town from the port) didn't want to encourage tourism. :eek:

Thanks for the lovely journal!! :D

Jim, Thanks for posting again. It all sounds wonderful.. Hopefully the rest of the cruise will have very calm seas for you.

....For which I would be eternally grateful! We are booked in Promenade cabin AA193 for next fall. Another poster has raised the issue of its proximity to the casino and from that information I'm also questioning its proximity to the Explorer's Lounge. Are those two venues so close to those cabins as to there being a possibility of issues due to lots of noise and/or drifting smoke? I'm not a lunatic about either one of them unless it is markedly very obnoxious. If you are strolling around that area of the ship at some point, could you check it out for me? I'd be really grateful. Thanks!