Memories on this Date

[ski ww]

In 2016 the Maasdam did the Crossing the Equator ceremony.

 

[Sea42]

1 hour ago, ski ww said:

In 2016 the Maasdam did the Crossing the Equator ceremony.

 

That would be so much fun! I've never crossed the equator on a ship, maybe some day!

 

[whogo]

January 25, 2020. No one climbed into the beautiful spa in this berg at Cierva Cove. The red buildings of the Argentine base are barely visible in the distance.

 

 

Another new species of penguins, chinstraps,  were the highlight of our zodiac tour. They swam in great numbers all around us. A few hung out on this berg.

 

 

Glaciers start out as white snow, turn blue under pressure and finally crystal clear after years of pressure. Our guide showed off some crystal clear ice, might be centuries old. The zodiac tour was marred by raucous fellow passengers who did not get the memo to enjoy the scenery in serene quiet. The worst? The woman with the most unpleasant voice ever, loud of course. "Honey! Honey! Did you get that? Honey! Take one of me! Did you get that? Stand up! Over there! Did you get it? Honey! Honey! Take one of me! Honey!

 

 

I could see the bow of the Quest through this oddly shaped iceberg. As we sailed away the berg flipped over.

 

 

[zelker]

9 hours ago, ski ww said:

In 2016 the Maasdam did the Crossing the Equator ceremony.

 

 

KISS THE FISH!  KISS THE FISH!  😁

[bcummin]

The Maasdam docked in Singapore two years ago today.  We were glad to stay onboard, while many disembarked at the end of one segment of the voyage.  My Lido lunch was so good.  Then we took the Metro to the Gardens in the Bay to explore.

Barbara

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by bcummin

[whogo]

January 26, 2020. We landed at aptly named Brown Bluff. Lucky, landings are frequently blocked by ice. This was our best stop in Antarctica.

 

 

The Adelie penguins soon became our favorites, they were the most active. Their nesting colonies are easily identified by the pink "used krill". Gentoo colonies are marked by their white guano. Patches of pink and white were scattered through the area.

 

 

A lone gentoo penguin (with white on it head) appears to be directing the black headed Adelie penguins down the beach.

 

Compare the chubby returning Adelie penguin to the line of skinny Adelies that are headed out to feed.

[rafinmd]

On this date 2 years ago MS Prinsendam stopped in Castro Chile, an Island on the west coast south of Puerto Montt.  It was not a place for breathtaking vistas but I took a lot of collages of various sites.  Castro is on Chiloe Island and is noted for an abundance of churches.  There are 150 "active" churches but only 13 priests, so an active church may mean 3 or 4 masses a year.  One church, Chonchi, is lovely but propped up by exterior buttresses:

Outside that we visited an eclectic private museum with a multitude of artifacts.  An old typewriter brought back memories.  My office used one in the 1970's to type huge statistical tables on sheets of paper about 2 feet wide:

 

 

There was a large community with houses built on stilts:

 

 

 

It was a morning tour and in the afternoon there was a Chilean Wine Festival on the Prinsendam's Lido Deck:

 

Roy

[VintageGeo]

In 2017 we visited St. Thomas.

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good afternoon!

 

Lori & George

 

[bcummin]

Still in Singapore, but our new 2019 cruise segment had new EXC In-Depth leaders.  K K and Brett now helped Matthew.  Brett introduced the coming ports.  New speakers included Terry Greenburg, whose evening EXC talk was a Southeast Asian Review.

Barbara

 

[rkacruiser]

6 hours ago, bcummin said:

Still in Singapore, but our new 2019 cruise segment had new EXC In-Depth leaders.  K K and Brett now helped Matthew.  Brett introduced the coming ports.  New speakers included Terry Greenburg, whose evening EXC talk was a Southeast Asian Review.

Barbara

 

 

Is that a Singapore Sling, HAL style, in one of your photos?

 

Singapore:  such a special city!

[Mtn2Sea]

Two years ago today, we spent the day passing through the Panama Canal, our first full transit.

[bcummin]

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Is that a Singapore Sling, HAL style, in one of your photos?

Singapore:  such a special city!

 

Yes, I did enjoy my Singapore Slings.

And, yes, Singapore is really special.

Barbara

[whogo]

One year ago an itinerary change brought us to the best wildlife viewing of the cruise at New Island in the far west of the Falkland Islands. We zodiaced to a spot away from both of the houses of the human island inhabitants and walked across grasslands to the so called amphitheater nesting site. Viewed birds galore in the amphitheater and in the far distance. It was bird watcher paradise.

 

Black browed albatross, rockhopper penguins, and Antarctic shag (not pictured) peacefully coexist. I love the albatrosses' mud pot nests. Try to imagine the challenges the penguins face to survive the crashing surf and hop up the cliffs to their nesting site.

 

 

Adult rockhopper penguins have wonderful yellow feathered tufts. They also have orange eyes which I did not capture. I look back through my photos and think I ought to have a better camera and then remember that I have a better camera and took lousy photographs with it, too.

 

Spotted more bird species on the walk back with many species at the shore, really an incredible experience.

[bcummin]

The Maasdam's first tender port on the 2019 cruise segment "Indian Ocean Explorer" was Malacca, Malaysia.  A water monitor lizard welcomed us to the port.  My "Malacca and Countryside" tour took us to a rubber tree plantation, a palm oil farm (reassured that some native vegetation was being preserved), a beautiful private home, downtown Malacca, and the Porta de Santiago.  

The In-Depth cruises had such full daily schedules, that the EXC tour presentation was at 5 pm, just before our 5:30 Gala Dinner.  Afterwards was Captain Arno Jutten's Welcome Toast and entertainment by The Jersey Tenors, followed by History & Perspectives presenter Terry Greenburg's talk on Thailand.

Barbara

 

[bennybear]

Such wonderful memories!  Thanks for taking me along. 

[VintageGeo]

In 2017 we were on the last full day of our Caribbean cruise when we paid our first visit to Half Moon Cay.

 

 

 

 

We have since returned and enjoyed it just as much, and look forward to enjoying it again in the future.

As we sailed out for Ft. Lauderdale a storm was brewing on the horizon. For just a bit, it looked as if it would produce a waterspout, but it never fully developed.

 

Have a great day!

 

Lori & George

 

[rafinmd]

January 28, 2019 was Prinsendam's visit to the Chilean Fjords.  It was a stromy day as attested by the view outside my porthole:

 

Further evidence of the weather came in the form of Purell dispensers tied to the columns and wine coolers laid down on the floor:

 

 

We didn't get out on deck much but did see a nice waterfall:

 

 

Roy

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

January 28, 2019 was Prinsendam's visit to the Chilean Fjords.  It was a stromy day as attested by the view outside my porthole:

 

Love it!  That's when one knows one is not enjoying a land based resort!  I have no doubt that the good ship Prinsendam handled King Neptune's wrath well.

[bennybear]

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

January 28, 2019 was Prinsendam's visit to the Chilean Fjords.  It was a stromy day as attested by the view outside my porthole:

 

Further evidence of the weather came in the form of Purell dispensers tied to the columns and wine coolers laid down on the floor:

 

 

We didn't get out on deck much but did see a nice waterfall:

 

 

Roy

Oh my!  I would be pea soup green🤢

[bennybear]

A year ago we saw the beautiful Pacific Princess in Hawaii,  that we were to go on a Tahitian cruise this past October. Little did we know she really was sailing into the sunset! 

Edited January 28, 2021 by bennybear

[ski ww]

The Maasdam was in Recife Brazil.We went to an old prison which was turned into a market for local vendors.  

 

[bcummin]

It was a treat to return to Phuket, Thailand in 2019.  (My DH gets credit for the sunrise photo.)  Remembering that taxies rule at the port (as in Salalah, Oman), I used the "Old Town On Your Own" excursion.  About five of us complained, when we were delivered to the Robinson's Dept. store neighborhood.  Our resourceful bus driver called a truck/taxi for us.  $1 USD apiece, round trip.

I delighted in exploring the Old Town on my own, especially the exotic shopping and buying a coconut to drink.  Our return taxi ride included a visit to a friend's jewelry store.  

Returned to Robinson's Dept. store, I bought some spices.

Back at the port was more great shopping.  Yes I made children and grandchildren happy.

Mike Nolan presented our evening Maasdam EXC In-Depth talk about his zodiac boat adventures all over the world.  Great photos.

Barbara

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by bcummin

[bcummin]

Two years ago today we were in the middle of three sea days between Thailand and Sri Lanka.  Our Maasdam EXC In-Depth leaders answered questions in the Crow's Nest.  Singapore Chef Deming Chung demonstrated his skills.  Ashok Ferrey taught us about his homeland, Sri Lanka:  overview, architecture, and art.  From other speakers we learned about the coming ports, the Spice Trade, Colonialism, plate tectonics, coral reefs, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Barbara

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by bcummin

[bcummin]

Third sea day.  The Maasdam turned around to check out an abandoned boat.  Even sent out a tender to make sure that it was empty.

KiKi gathered The Voyagers for the first time in the lower Atrium.  We got to go see the Zodiac boats that were stored on the bow of the ship.  Impressive.

Tropical fruits were available at lunch in the Lido.

Special talks were about Mangroves and Photography.

Barbara

[iflyrc5]

So sad - since HAL sold the Maasdam we won't have the opportunity to do these EXC tours.