Around the Horn in 80 days.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We enjoy walking around Aruba -- even the back streets -- easy to get around.

 

Hard to believe that this was your last port.  Two sea days and you will be back in Ft Lauderdale.

 

Several times as we were leaving, planes flew over the ship to land at the airport.  Too close for my comfort.

 

Love when we find something new on a new.  Your mermaid and glass column in front of her is beautiful -- good find.

 

Love the pictures.

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Wow.

What a great adventure.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

[travelnap]

Roy, Thanks again for taking us along with you on your voyage.  It has been fun to watch for your posts and the pictures that you have posted.  Welcome back to FLL in a couple days.  How long before you are off on your next cruise?

[sailingdutchy]

Roy , Thank you very much for al your stories and beautiful pictures . I have been following your blog because a couple of very good cruise friends , Ann and Pat were on board and also because we will be cruising on the Prinsendam in April from Lisbon to Amsterdam . 

Tony 

[rafinmd]

Thanks all.  How cool is this!  After searching unsuccessfully yesterday for luggage straps I just came back from dinner and our final pillow gift was 2 luggage tags and 2 luggage straps.  I may not post for a while as packing (80 days worth of stuff) will be my priority.  If I do not catch up before I board my train Tuesday morning there will be nothing more until Wednesday.  I can compose posts on the train but not send them.

 

Roy

[sailinglisa]

Roy - I rarely post on the HAL board, but I read it regularly.  Thank you for taking me along on your Grand Voyage.  One day, if I win the lottery,  a Grand Voyage is on my wish list.

[dfish]

Roy, it has been fun "sailing" with you and I look forward to the next voyage.

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Safe home.

[kazu]

11 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Thanks all.  How cool is this!  After searching unsuccessfully yesterday for luggage straps I just came back from dinner and our final pillow gift was 2 luggage tags and 2 luggage straps.  I may not post for a while as packing (80 days worth of stuff) will be my priority.  If I do not catch up before I board my train Tuesday morning there will be nothing more until Wednesday.  I can compose posts on the train but not send them.

 

Roy

 

Great that you now have the luggage straps, Roy 🙂 

 

Good luck with all of the packing and wishing you very safe travels.

 

We'll watch you arrive tomorrow.

[rafinmd]

41 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Great that you now have the luggage straps, Roy 🙂 

 

Good luck with all of the packing and wishing you very safe travels.

 

We'll watch you arrive tomorrow.

Thanks everyone.  You'll need to be up very early to see our arrival.  Our pilot time is 4:30AM (5:30 your time) and it will definitely still be dark. 

 

Roy

[kazu]

12 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

Thanks everyone.  You'll need to be up very early to see our arrival.  Our pilot time is 4:30AM (5:30 your time) and it will definitely still be dark. 

 

Roy

 

Oh, thanks Roy.  It will be dark indeed.  😞 

[rafinmd]

Day P78, Saturday, March 23, 2019, At sea, MS Prinsendam

The Veendam is in St. Maarten.  I started my walk going around the bow and then up the outside stairs to the Seaview Pool on the way to the lido for coffee.  A nearly full moon was shining brightly over the Seaview Pool canopy.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/moon0323.jpg

I cut my walk to 2 miles since On Deck for A Cause would be held later in the morning.  I had about a half hour in my room before going back outside for sunrise.  I timed my approach to the stern just about perfectly.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dawn0323.jpg

Since there aren't a lot of pictures today I'll talk a bit about breakfast.  I have my standards that I more or less rotate through.  Milk (preferably skim or 1%) and prunes are regulars.  When I go out to ports I'll take either baked goods from the lido (danish, muffins) or Special K bars from home.  I'll usually get some kind of protein, omelet, sausage, or grilled ham, and something from the griddle or bread.  HAL (especially the Prinsendam) has some of the best waffles, pancakes, and french toast at sea.  On Crystal I've grown attached to raisin bread toast.  The Prinsendam toast station doesn't have that but they do have it in the bread section.  I'll just pick up a piece and give it to the lady at the toaster.  Problem solved.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/breakfast.jpg

The highlight of the day was On Deck For A Cause, a 5k walk held to benefit  5 international cancer organizations each cruise.  There was a BIG group for the first segment but only about a dozen for the walk today.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/odc0232.jpg

After the walk lemonade and cookies were served in the atrium.  I finished off my morning with a talk by Vivianne Rowan on the history of Holland America.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/postodc0323.jpg

In his noon update Captain Jeroen talked a bit about our fuel usage.  We use about 10 gallons of fuel per person per day.  Most of my afternoon was spent packing.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/packing1.jpg

For our final Gala night of the cruise, table 19 was hosted by our 3rd officer, Luke, a very nice young man.  He spoke glowingly of Captain Jeroen's relationship with the up and coming officers.  I chose the steak from surf and turf and the Almond and Orange Cake.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dishes23.jpg

After dinner I went out on deck as sunset should have been after 7.  It actually came about 15 minutes early and I just caught the sun as it was fallowing below some pretty opaque clouds.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dusk0323.jpg

The featured entertainment was a show by the Prinsendam Singers and Dancers I can't recall seeing before.  It's called "Concerto" and features very dignified renditions of classic pop songs much in the style of a symphony orchestra pops concert.  The dancers did do some interpretive dances but the emphasis was on the music and I really liked it.  When I returned from the show I found the final Gala Night pillow gift, 2 each luggage tags and luggage straps.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/pillow23.jpg

My next 2 parting shots will be a bit different.  I have compiled a list of our ports (plus a few other places for comparison) going from north to south.  I was a bit surprised that Barbados was our northernmost port of call, further north than our next ports, Curacao and Aruba.  For tomorrow I'll do the same thing going east to west.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/gsaportsn2s.pdf

Just a quick heads up.  My priority Sunday will be packing and if I run behind I will not be able to post from the train Tuesday or until I'm back home Wednesday.

Roy

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

16 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Thanks all.  How cool is this!  After searching unsuccessfully yesterday for luggage straps I just came back from dinner and our final pillow gift was 2 luggage tags and 2 luggage straps.  I may not post for a while as packing (80 days worth of stuff) will be my priority.  If I do not catch up before I board my train Tuesday morning there will be nothing more until Wednesday.  I can compose posts on the train but not send them.

 

Roy

 

Great that you got 2 luggage tags and 2 luggage straps for your final pillow gift.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It is a busy day for you -- walk for the cause -- packing, etc.

 

Great pictures.

 

Have a safe trip home.

[kplady]

Roy, thanks so much for letting me follow along on your splendid journey.  Since I'm still working, this length cruise is not possible right now - but your great narratives really makes it feel alive!  We did cruise together once (unfortunately, I can't remember which cruise!) which makes these posts so much better.  I'll be looking forward to your next adventure!

Laura

[3kidsplayingball]

We sure enjoyed reading about your trip. Thank you for all the pictures as well!

[jertom]

Roy, we have enjoyed your postings about the S America Grand Cruise. Besides being entertaining, it helps us prepare for the 2020 World Cruise on Amsterdam which includes S America and Antarctic. Thank you !

Tom and Jerie

[NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope]

I so enjoyed your postings and learned so much. Thank you.

[Oahucruiser]

As always, I have enjoyed every minute of your trip and appreciate the time it took for you to post so much, do your blog and let us enjoy so many great photos.  I'm just sorry that your next voyage isn't on here so we can know which cruise line and when you will be at sea again.  Always look forward to Roy's next adventure!!

[jbhcw]

Safe travels home....I always enjoy reading about your travels...and love the pictures!  thank you.

[Happily@Sea]

If you aren't taking the train until tomorrow morning - I'm guessing you will have a favorable spot for watching EE leave  - live.

 

Best wishes on no big delays tomorrow. .

[rafinmd]

4 hours ago, Happily@Sea said:

If you aren't taking the train until tomorrow morning - I'm guessing you will have a favorable spot for watching EE leave  - live.

 

Best wishes on no big delays tomorrow. .

Actually,no.  I may be online from my hotel, bat not sure I can bear to watch her leaving without me.  Currently getting lunch at Panera, and my IPAD keyboard not work so I won’t post much.

 

Roy

 

[gui218]

Rafinmd. thank you for the great review with narration and photos.

The 80 day voyage with Antarctica and the Amazon combines two must sees.

We have done Antarctica on the Zaandam and it is one of our best cruises.

The Amazon is on our must see list, so it was great to follow your posts with pictures, to give us a good idea of what to anticipate. 

Thank you for another enjoyable review and safe Travels.

[rafinmd]

Day P79, Sunday, March 24, 2019, At sea, MS Prinsendam

The Veendam is at sea for 2 days from St. Maarten to Fort Lauderdale, about 1 day behind us.  When I first went to the lido for coffee just after 5 I found I was not alone.  There was a veritable menagerie of towel animals everywhere imaginable, on tables, on the deck, the pool railings and even stuffed into the fake shrub buffer around the smokers area.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/towelzoo.jpg

The variety was amazing.  They used not just the usual plain white towels but also the pool towels and beach towels, and some on the floor were huge.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/bigcritters.jpg

When we were in Barbados a number of large empty tubs had been loaded on the bow.  I saw notes "to be offloaded in Ft. Lauderdale."  They were joined by what appeared to be large rolls of carpet; I suspect a lot of the excess supplies are being moved to a HAL warehouse in Fort Lauderdale.  

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/outgoing.jpg

It was a very cloudy morning with occasional drizzle but near the end of my walk I saw a little bit of color in the sky.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dawn0324.jpg

It was a busy sea day again with an interdenominational worship service at 9 and the first time I have been served Communion since early December.  I skipped the 10 o'clock talk and at 11 we had a farewell toast in the showroom with a very large group of the crew representing all departments coming on stage.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/farewell.jpg

We spent much of the day sailing along the North Coast of Cuba.  I don't think there was anything unexpected in Captain Jeroen's final noon update but it was emotional I think both for him and for most of us.

My afternoon's activities started with a talk by Jim McParland on the Atlantic and he also tried to justify himself as an east coaster by describing his route to the sea.  I identified with his talk having navigated most of those routes on the 100-passenger ships of Blount Small Ship Adventures.  He was followed at 3 by a backstage tour in the showroom.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/backstage.jpg

Most of my time between the tour and dinner was spent packing.   The usual 4 were present at table 19 for one last dinner.  I am not fond of the  Culinary Council dinner concept but found a salad, pasta, and tart that I liked.  Since trivia was on at 7, our farewells were pretty rushed.

 

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/dishes24.jpg

I was nearly finished packing before dinner and my bags went out between 7:45 and 8:30 and everything I didn't need in the morning was packed in my carryons by 8:45.  We were given Cruise Logs for the 2 segments but I had already packed my scanner and I won't be able to post them until my shipped bags reach me.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/bagshome.jpg

There was a single variety show in the showroom at 9:30 with Martin Beaumont as emcee and performances by Magician Ruben Vilagrand, Jennifer Singer, and John Denver tribute artist Jim Curry.  It was a nice show but a little too long for me.  I left a little before the last song (10:30) and was soon in bed.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/finale.jpg

Part 2 of my parting shot is our ports (plus a few other places) in order from East to West.  Despite going far out into the Pacific, only once did we get a tiny bit east of Ft. Lauderdale, and I was surprised by how much further we were to the East on Greenland.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/gsaportse2w.pdf

Roy

 

[rafinmd]

20 hours ago, Oahucruiser said:

As always, I have enjoyed every minute of your trip and appreciate the time it took for you to post so much, do your blog and let us enjoy so many great photos.  I'm just sorry that your next voyage isn't on here so we can know which cruise line and when you will be at sea again.  Always look forward to Roy's next adventure!!

Since Cruise Critic was redone I haven't been able to redo my signature but I have a very full schedule.  I have one more HAL cruise before about an 18-month hiatus (not intended but that's how the itineraries work for me).  I'm on the Nieuw Statendam transatlantic leaving Easter Sunday and going to Amsterdam.  I haven't been on Cunard for quite a while but have a fair amount there scheduled as well as Crystal and a return to HAL in September 2020.

 

The details:

 

Nieuw Statendam to Amsterdam April 21

Queen Victoria Kiel to Southampton May 9

Short getaway on QM2 followed by transatlantic May 12.

 

QM2 NY to Southampton October 18

River Cruise on Crystal Bach October 27

Crystal Serenity Barcelona-Lisbon-Ft. Lauderdale November 5

Crystal Symphony Caribbean November 24

 

For 2020 2 long world cruise segments

Crystal Serenity  LA to Sydney January 22 (arriving March 3)

QM2 Sydney-Southampton-NY March 6

 

and in the fall:

 

QM2 New York to Southampton Late September

Crystal Serenity Barcelona to Quebec August 31

Zuiderdam Quebec to New York September 17

 

Roy