The-Inside-Cabin

It's easier if you let HAL get them. You can save some money by doing it yourself, HAL will charge $50 for a Vietnam Visa. It will cost you $25 if you do it yourself. This is for the single entry. I have attached a printout of HAL's general guidance on VISAs. It can change from time to time, but it is generally accurate. Double-check before you sail Some countries require VISAs even if you stay on the ship. Other countries don't, e.g., Mozambique and China. But this can change from year to year and ship to ship. HAL_Visa_Guidance_ADA (1).pdf

Today in the MDR - Dressy Night

Here is a short video showing some of the 400 blankets on display at the Lido Pool today.

The official ship time is on the home page of your Navigator App and the ships TV Holland America always changes the ship time to match the local port time.

Marty was the guest at Coffee Chat this morning. He talked about Project Linus Here is the replay. Tomorrow Project Linus will display the blankets that were made for this cruise on the Lido Pool over 400 blankets !!!!

Skies were clear as we dropped anchor off the coast of Lüderitz around 6 AM. Immigration officials came aboard, and we started our face-to-face immigration check around 7:15. We were in no hurry, so we waited until the final call around 9:15 AM. Open tendered was called at 11 am We went ashore at 12:30 PM - a 15-minute tender ride. Today is Sunday, so many places, including the grocery store, closed at 1 PM. We walked around town in a 2-mile loop, stopping at Desert Deli, Portuguese Fisherman, Lüderitz Museum, Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock and back to the tender landing. Here are a few pictures. Earlier in the morning, they prohibited wheelchairs and scooters due to the steep ramp and no railings on the pier. Later they allowed a few ashore The OK Foods grocery is close to the Tender Landing - it closes at 1 PM on Sunday - otherwise it is open until 6 PM The Desert Deli served food and drinks. It has a gift shop and wifi. They also have a tour desk. At first, I thought these guys were selling street food - No - they were just having a Sunday BBQ on the street. This is the best restaurant in town per Trip Advisor. It was crowded - Free Wifi. T-Mobile didn't work in Namibia. We ordered fish and chips and a Rainbow Sushi Roll The Lüderitz Museum is next to the Portuguese Fisherman restaurant. Admission is $ 2 USD or 30 NAD. We spent about 15 minutes exploring. It's worth your time and money. Inside the museum We hiked up to the Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock. It was closed when we arrived. Here is the church as see from the Ship Back on the ship, there was the Biergarten Dinner in the Lido, featuring various German dishes. Afro Popera Trio was on the World Stage - They put on a great show. Here is the menu for the special LIDO dinner Afro Popera Trio - they sang a nice variety of songs, including: - Andrea Bocelli’s Canto Della Terra - Romanza - This Is the Moment from the musical Jekyll & Hyde - Paralyze My Mind - Lippen Sweigen - Dein ist mein ganzes Herz - O Sole Mio - Funiculì, Funiculà - Nessun Dorma

Cape Town - 19 April - Final Day We went to the High Tea at Mount Nelson - More HERE. About $30 pp. Reservations are required. Mount Nelson is a very expensive Hotel - $1000 - $2000 USD a night for rooms - Its very nice inside Here is the menu. Here is the first course First Course - Close-up picture Second Course - Scones and Chocolates Plenty of tea- of course Third Course Third Course as served We had a great time! Back on the ship Bunny Chow was served from the Dive In at the Lido Pool - Choice of Marsala Steak, Butter Chicken or Vegetarian The skies were clear blue - great view of Table Mountain from deck 10 On the main stage the South African Youth Choir performed one show - two were scheduled but they canceled the second show as we moved up our departure to avoid the fog that was moving in fast. Their show started with 30 minutes of traditional African songs. The second half consisted of Broadway Show tunes, including Hey Big Spender and Phantom of the Opera hits—quite the contrast. Outstanding performance. Hey Big Spender!

We are back in Cape Town - We enjoy some Bunny Chow and a Gatsby Sandwich in downtown Cape Town and the Gatsby Palace. There sandwiches are HUGE!!!

I suspect that people who get complimentary casino cruises aren't eligible to use those days for PC

You can find safari accommodations ranging from tents to a motel 6 quality all the way to six stars and beyond.

The invitation requirement weeds out people with many sea days but not as full-fare guests, e.g., lecturers, travel hosts, agents, etc. Unlike the Mariner Star Level Program, the Medallion Program only recognizes and rewards actual cruising days – there isn’t any bonus credit for suites or spending as there is in the Mariner Star Program. Here are the Medallion Award levels 100 days – Bronze 300 days – Silver 500 days – Gold 700 days – Platinum 1400 days – Presidents Club While achieving greater Star status offers definite perks, achieving a higher Medallion Station offers nothing more than the commemorative medal itself and local recognition, including invitations to special parties. The perks for Presidents Club Membership, include, but are not limited to: • Annual Holiday Gift e.g. Waterford Crystal Vases • Invitations to special onboard parties • “Head of the line” tender service equal to Neptune Suite Guests • Your choice of flowers/beverages/wine, etc. every 2 weeks • Recognition at onboard events Plus more – there isn’t a specific list publicly available, but these are the highlights I have discovered based on my research. Any updated information is appreciated.

Here are a few highlights from our second safari day. Tomorrow, we fly to Cape Town to rejoin the Zuiderdam. The main entrance to the Ukhozi Lodge This morning we tracked and found a couple of Cheetahs The Cheetahs don't stay put very long- We had about 10 seconds to observe before he took off. Lodge staff meet every returning game drive with interesting drinks (orange juice and grenadine here) and hot towels. We had the same Ranger, Forrest, for all three days. On the afternoon drive, our guide, Forrest, dug into a termite mound and offered us a chance to sample a live termite. It tasted like a blade of grass. Forrest offered us live termites - about half of us took him up on the opportunity/ They look like ants We came across a small herd of Wildebeest One of three White Rhinos we observed this afternoon. We came across the same two lions we saw yesterday - they sleep a lot. At our "Sundowner" drink stop, we observed two male Giraffles - necking - which is how they fight it out to see who gets the desirable female. My Picture above = More below from YouTube Our Game drive group at the Sundowner stop/

Thanks. I am trying to not take pictures of animal's butts! They always seem to be facing away.

Their location is on the eastern cape much further west than our previous safaris. The reservation grounds are huge (44 square miles) but enclosed by fencing so the animals can't migrate to other parts of South Africa. Thus all the animals are "here" but sometimes hard to find nevertheless. No jaguars here at all. Maybe a few cheetahs. The facilities are about the same. All crazy good. Our room is smaller that last year which was over the top huge. This suite is a nice size.

Highlights from this afternoon's Game Drive - All about Elephants! (plus a few giraffes_ We came across about 25 elephants at sunset. Nice

You can find safari rooms that are a Motel 6 up through the Four Seasons..... We return to Cape Town on the 18th

Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth was on time - nice flight. Warning!! Arrived too late for the evening safari drive Here is our room Highlights from this morning's drive After reading about elephants in the news in Zambia - this encounter got our hearts pumping. He passed close enough to touch - but left us alone And finally a Lion - more later

We arrived in Durban very early this morning (15 April) We are moored at the new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal Last year we were at the Ocean Terminal Building The ship has a shuttle going to uShaka Marine World. Walking out of the port is allowed but not recommended as apparently we are in a bad neighborhood. All the passengers had to walk into the terminal for a face to face immigration. It started at 7 AM and finished at 10 AM We are leaving the ship today and heading to the Kariega Game Reserve - we retund on the 18th in Cape Town. More HERE

We enjoyed one of the many Pop-Up dinners in the Pinnacle Grill the evening we left Maputo. Here is tonight's Rijsttafel dinner menu, which means Rice Table. It is a Dutch adaptation of traditional Indonesian dishes. More HERE Pinnacle Grill Manager Tina selected the dishes for tonight's menu from those her mother used to make in her home country of Indonesia. The food was fantastic, and the service was exemplary. The surcharge was $69, which included your wine. The three dishes of the Kroepoek (Sambal Matah, Sambal Badjak and Atjar Mentah Bakwan Udang - Vegetable and Shrimp Fritters Pecel Solo - Mixed Vegetable Salad & sliced omlette Soto BetawI - Coconut Milk Soup Main Dishes - Sumatran Beef Stew, Balinese Chicken Skewer, mixed vegetables and eggs, steamed fish wrapped in a banana leaf. Vanilla Ice cream and Coconut Dyah, Tina and Pete

Yes, This was in the MDR

Zero formal nights. probably 5-7 dressy or gala nights formal nights are only on Grand Voyages

Here are a few highlights from our recent sea days: I tried the $25 Morimoto Fresh Halibut XO - NIce! We enjoyed our 3rd For Cakes' Sake Event in the Lido - lots of great cake. We had our fourth and final Meet and Greet in the Crow's Nest - ABout 50 people turned out - good times! If you provide the ship with a list of names and cabin numbers in an Excel Spreadsheet, the ship will send out Meet and Greet invitations, which helps the turnout.

A few nights ago, I tried the Morimoto Fresh Halibut XO for $29.50 ($25 +18%) This is offered daily on the Zuiderdam. It was pretty good. I enjoyed it and will order it again from time to time. Here is a short video

VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES (POST #44) APRIL 5, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We feed giant tortoises, enjoy Indian Food and visit the Seychelles Yacht Club ARRIVAL When we arrived at the dock around 7 a.m. today, it was silent, unlike in 2018, when it was alive with dancers and music. The HAL excursion buses were close by, but the taxis, private tours, and vendors were moved further away at the end of a 200-yard covered sidewalk. This was the area around the ship at 7 am before any passengers went ashore The air was heavy with humidity and relatively cool, but you could tell that it would soon get much hotter as the sun rose in the sky. SEYCHELLES – BRIEF HISTORY The Seychelles were uninhabited until the French discovered them in 1770. The British gained possession in 1794, and they remained a British Colony until 1976. They are now part of the British Commonwealth. Indigenous people have never inhabited the Seychelles, but its islanders maintain their Creole heritage. The Seychelles has a population of 100,000 and 115 islands. 90% of the population lives on the main island of Mahé. The next largest populations are on Praslin and La Digue, respectively. Eight of the Seychelles’ islands are permanently inhabited. Tourism and tuna fishing are the largest drivers of the economy. 80% of the tourists come from Europe. HIGHLIGHTS Pretty beaches and water sports are the main reasons people visit the Seychelles. There are a few nice view spots; every tour will take you to see them. The Mission Lodge viewpoint is the best, about a 30-minute drive from town. Check out my post from 2018 HERE, which includes a video of what it is like to drive in the Seychelles if you are considering renting a car. The roads are incredibly narrow, and the cars are right-hand-steer, with driving on the left. View from Mission Lodge There are a few other sights in town – the Clock Tower, the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, the National History Museum and the Botanical Gardens. The Clock Tower is a little over a mile from the ship The Seychelles Botanical Garden is home to giant tortoises. Tickets cost 250Rs ($19), and you can buy them in advance HERE. Cash is not generally accepted at the Botanical Garden, but they may make an exception if you don’t have a working credit card. My recommendation for your first visit to the Seychelles is to take an island tour and see all the view spots and highlights around the island. You can take a HAL tour or hire a private guide through Viator or Tours By Local. The company Ask Cindy advertises on the walkway out of the port—I don’t have any experience with this company. Another option is to hire a local taxi driver who will take you to all the spots, but the value of their commentary will vary widely. I wouldn’t miss seeing the giant tortoises. You can enter the enclosure to see them up close and feed them with plants provided by the Garden laying on a table by the enclosure. DAY 1 – GIANT TORTOISES AND INDIAN FOOD We left the ship around 2 pm to head to the Seychelles Botanical Garden to see the giant tortoises and then go to Eden Island to enjoy Indian food at The Maharajas restaurant on the marina. As you leave the ship, you will find a covered walkway about 200 yards long, leading to a large parking lot with taxis and some vendor stalls. You have to pass through a security screening station on your way out and as you return. A person from the tourist bureau is at a table passing out maps and other literature. The taxi drivers will ask if you need a ride and try to persuade you for a minute but they will leave you alone after a few no thanks. They accept dollars or euros – I didn’t see any that would take credit cards. Long trips to the other side of the island or to resorts to the north or south will probably cost around $40 to $50. Tours of four hours can probably be negotiated to the $150 range. We negotiated a multi-trip ride for €60 – Our Driver John Leon (WhatsApp +248 2570892) agreed to take us to the Botanical Garden, come back in an hour – then take us about 3 miles to Eden Island, come back in 2 hours, take us to the Grocery store for 20 minutes and then back to the ship. Six of us fit comfortably in his air-conditioned van. I was able to update him on our progress using WhatsApp. This worked out great for us, and I recommend setting up a multi-journey trip for your day. John Leon was our driver – highly recommended SEYCHELLES BOTANICAL GARDEN The Botanical Garden is less than a mile away if you want to walk. There is a small office at the entrance where you can buy your tickets or present a copy of the tickets you bought online ahead of time HERE. The park closes at 5 pm, with the last admission at 4:30 pm. Our only interest in the garden today was the giant tortoises. Their enclosure is a short, clearly marked walk from the entrance. The viewing area is covered, and a small wooden gate leads to a feeding area with posts preventing the tortoises from escaping. At first, we weren’t sure if we were allowed inside the enclosure, but we didn’t see any signs or notices prohibiting entering, so we walked between the posts and into the enclosure. This photo was taken from inside the enclosure. You can see the posts that keep the tortoises inside. Behind the post is a feeding area with a gate leading to the rest of the park. The plants provided by the park are on the table on the left side of the picture. The park provided some plant clippings that we feed to the tortoises. They enjoyed the food and would approach you once they saw that you had something for them to eat. There were about 20 tortoises in the enclosure, with most of them cooling off in the small pond. The tortoises ignore the guests unless you are carrying food Most of the tortoises were cooling off in this pond This tortoise was coming out of the pond and was still wet The tortoises will pull hard on the food branches – keep your hands clear We learned later that sometimes, no food is available, so feeding the tortoises is not guaranteed. After about 30 minutes, we returned to the entrance, where our driver was waiting. EDEN ISLAND Eden Island is about 2.5 miles away. Here, you will find a Marina with several mega yachts, like the ELEMENTS, which rents for €800,000 a week HERE. There is also a modern multi-story mall with various shops and a casino. Next to the Marina are several restaurants, including The Maharajas Indian Restaurant, where we had a late lunch. The Maharajas Restaurant has one large table for six inside and about ten smaller tables. There is more covered seating outside, which would be more pleasant in the evening when it is cooler. You can find the menu online HERE. We enjoyed the Butter Chicken and the Lamb Biryani with rice. Cold draft beer and soft drinks are available. The food and service were excellent. The hours are Tuesday to Sunday from noon until 10:45 pm and Mondays from 6:30 pm “onwards.” The restaurant overlooks the marina Pete, Gail, Joel, Sharon, Marty, and Judy Our driver was waiting for us as previously arranged, and we headed to the STC Hypermarket. STC HYPERMARKET The STC Hypermarket is a large, modern grocery store with various products. We spend about 20 minutes here picking up some snacks and soft drinks. This market is about 600 yards from the ship. After we finished shopping, our driver dropped us off at the entrance to the long-covered walkway that led to the ship. Once again, we passed our bags around the metal detector, walked through it, and returned to the ship. (We’re unsure what they were looking for as Judy set off the metal detector every time with her cane.) DAY 2 – VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES WALKABOUT We left the ship around 11:30 am and headed out to the main street, following it along the waterfront until we reached the Seychelles Yacht Club Entrance. The sign on the gate says MEMBERS ONLY, but there was a paper sign stating – “Welcoming Cruise Ship Passengers.” SEYCHELLES YACHT CLUB As you approach the Yacht Club entrance – slow down and look. The club building is not obvious from the street. Look for the sign. Walk back towards the water and you will see the Yacht Club Patio – you can enter directly to the patio or veer to the right and enter through the open door. Look for this sign as you walk down the street. You can walk directly onto the patio on the left or enter through the door on the right They have a menu featuring burgers, fish and chips, pizzas, and more. Draft beer and soft drinks are available. The seating is under a patio – so it’s still hot but comfortable in the shade. Credit cards are accepted. Here is the meat lovers pizza with some chicken and shrimp skewers in the background SEYCHELLES NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM After lunch, we walked over to the town center to the Clock Tower and the National History Museum. The museum covers two floors, and we spent about an hour exploring the exhibits on both floors. I didn’t know much about how Seychelles got started, and I found this museum very interesting and well worth our time and money. Plus, it’s air-conditioned! Admission is 150 RS, about $11, and then take credit cards. Check out their website HERE The National Museum of History is across the street from the Clock Tower City signs like this are becoming more prevalent in tourist areas around the world We returned to the ship, walking down Francis Rachel St past a string of tourist stands and, finally, the National Archives and Library. I poked my head inside the library – it was air-conditioned and may have internet, but I couldn’t confirm. We are going to explore the library on our next visit to the Seychelles DOCKLANDS The Docklands retail complex is very close to the entrance to the covered walkway leading to the ship. A convenience store on the first floor has a selection similar to a 7-11. The Docklands building is also home to the Aloha Restaurant and Bar, which is upstairs. A Duty-Free gift shop is across the street. SAIL AWAY The Grand World Voyage Band played for our sail away. Below is a short video created when you use the LIVE photo feature on an iPhone. A small group of regulars will take a “BOUNCE” photo every day with everyone who happens to be in the area. Fun! – Let’s Bounce! HERE is how to create a BOUNCE video on your iPhone LINK to BOUNCE VIDEO HERE Here is a short video from our Sail Away MAIN STAGE Comedian Jim David was the headliner on the main stage this evening. He is pretty edgy for Holland America, and his jokes are definitely for adults. There is no foul language, but there are plenty of sexual innuendos and wordplay. Jim David MAPS This shows the places we visited on Day 1 This shows where we visited on Day 2

Good times in the MDR. Everyone is complying with formal dress code. Table 89 is the Best!