From Cool Alaska to the Balmy South Pacific, Sail with Bill & Mary Ann on the Volendam 9-6-23 to11-22-23 77 days

[mailmama]

I am on the Volendam next year. I booked cabin 1921 on Dolphin deck. Do you know if this cabin has a shower stall? I'm having knee/ankle problems and stepping in/out of tub is going to be trouble. Any way to find out for sure? I'd appreciate any answers I can get! Getting older has it's drawbacks for sure!!

[WCB]

We are 99% sure that 1921 on the Volendam has a shower.  We did take a look for friends on the same deck, and they also had a shower....all newly-remodeled.

 

However, you can call ship services at HAL and have them research it.  They are very accurate with their information.

 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[dchip]

4 hours ago, mailmama said:

I am on the Volendam next year. I booked cabin 1921 on Dolphin deck. Do you know if this cabin has a shower stall? I'm having knee/ankle problems and stepping in/out of tub is going to be trouble. Any way to find out for sure? I'd appreciate any answers I can get! Getting older has it's drawbacks for sure!!

I’ll keep an eye out when the cabins are being cleaned. We are on the Dolphin Deck now. The shower is wonderful. 
Denise

[WCB]

Report #30     Wednesday October 4, 2023 Sea Day Enroute To Hilo, Hawaii    Partly Cloudy With Lots Of Sun And Afternoon Showers  72 Degrees   Part #1 Of 1..........20 Pictures

 

Coming back to our room after breakfast, we were surprised to find that neither of our room keys worked.  We went straight to the front desk, where they made new keys. One of the fellows followed us up and tried each card.  Still did not work.  We waited in our room until the second set was printed,  and when the fellow tried them, they both worked again.  No explanation other than they had lost their magnetic strip,  We do know putting your key card in a purse with magnets for closures, can erase memory.  That might apply to one of us, but not both at the same time.  Sure hope this is not going to happen again.

 

During our morning walk, we saw the crew removing dozens of aluminum pouches from the tender boats overhead.  Curiosity got the better of us, so we asked the workers what these were.  They said Seven Oceans on them, and it turned out to be drinking water that is always stored in the boats in case of emergency.  We assume they were dated and were being replaced.  We always wondered how fresh water was stored in these boats, and now we know.  You learn something new almost every day.

 

Currently, we have good friends traveling on the Zaandam on the East coast.  We asked them if the day of the week was printed on their Daily program.  Yes, it was, and she even sent us a photo of the front page.  In fact, it was the largest printed word on the front of the newsletter.  We took the computer down to show this to the hotel director, but he was not in his office.  But Joyce, one of the officers of a different department was there.  After hearing our story concerning the lack of the day being on the newsletter, she took a photo of it with her phone, and promised to show the person who is responsible for the printing.  Now we highly doubt it will be added, but we did not like being told yesterday that it was not happening on any other HAL ship.  Cannot fool us old-timers……

 

The weather was warmer today, and we had some sun on the veranda.  However, while sitting outside,  a close-by neighbor appeared to be ill with a constant nasty cough.  We could not help but hear him telling someone that the doctor put him on antibiotics due to his advanced age.   Good grief…..we hope this is not the start of the Covid virus.  Come to think of it, more than once, our room steward has asked if we were feeling OK.  Then in the dining room a few nights ago, after ordering a bowl of chicken noodle soup, the head waiter asked if we were feeling seasick or ill.  Nope…one of us loves chicken noodle/spaghetti soup.  Anyway, it is enough for us to continue being careful with handwashing and sanitizer use.  And avoiding crowds.

 

For a change, we went up to deck nine aft right above the Seaview Pool.  Enough sun was shining through the passing clouds, so we relaxed on the lounges for an hour.  The outside speakers are working perfectly now, and when Captain Paul came on with his noon talk, we understood every single word.  Valerie, the cruise director also spoke clearly and distinctly.  Looking down below at the pool area, we can say that ½ of the lounges were occupied.  Only a few folks were swimming in the clean cool water. 

 

Lunch was our Dive-In usuals – burger and chicken sandwich to go.  Getting the food at 2pm only takes 10 minutes at the most.  The only other event was seeing the start of the flying fish…some huge but most medium-sized.  Later in the afternoon, a couple of boobys appeared.  It was most entertaining watching them perform for us with soaring and diving for the fish.  We expect to see many more of these cool birds the further south we drop.  Then by 3pm, it began to sprinkle off and on.  Nothing big, but it sure cooled the air off in a hurry.

 

Dinner was German-themed.  Now that is something new for the dining room.  Lately, these special themed dinners have been served in the Lido, not in the dining room.  Our salads were fairly simple, but the fried cheese was really tasty as was the beef soup with one dumpling.   Our waiter is taking 30 seconds to heat the soup in the microwave and it has made a huge difference…so much better tasting.  Mains were one Weiner schnitzel and the Club Orange special of Peruvian chicken.  For no special reason, we have never ordered that meal, so tonight was a good time to try it.  Of course it comes on a nice blue plaid plate.  It was a half of a small chicken perhaps Cornish game hen and was seasoned nicely with a crispy skin.  Very good. Desserts were one small fudge sundae and two tiny scoops of frozen strawberry yogurt.  Yogurt has not been written in the menu, so we found out it is available every day.

 

The World Stage hosted Humanity by the Step One Dance Company…..again.  We would have missed the beginning because our meal went well past 9pm. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[dchip]

@mailmama Yes, 1921 Dolphin Deck is shower only. 
Denise

[carolyn22]

37 minutes ago, dchip said:

@mailmama Yes, 1921 Dolphin Deck is shower only. 
Denise

Thank you for finding this out. I am in cabin 1920 for the Grand voyage starting in January, so I’m guessing if 1921 has the shower then 1920 probably does, too. 

[dchip]

1 hour ago, carolyn22 said:

Thank you for finding this out. I am in cabin 1920 for the Grand voyage starting in January, so I’m guessing if 1921 has the shower then 1920 probably does, too. 

Yup! The entire Dolphin Deck has showers only. 

[ottahand7]

You are fortunate to have Johan has the F&B Manager.   He was ours on the Grand SA and food service was top notch.  There was not a single day that we didn't see him in the Lido and the MDR.     Any complaints were rapidly dealt with.    We had Francois as our hotel manager and Reggie as beverage manager.   Continuing to enjoy following your journey.    

[The Other Tom]

Thanks for the info on drinking water on the lifeboats (tenders).  Makes sense, and I'm glad they think of things like that. 

[sandiego1]

10 hours ago, dchip said:

Yup! The entire Dolphin Deck has showers only. 

What about deck 2? Are they all showers too?

[WCB]

Report #31    Thursday  Sea Day Enroute To Hilo, Hawaii    Heavy Overcast With Showers And Some Sun    72 Degrees And Calm Seas    Part #1 Of 1......... 4 Pictures........Casual Dress

 

A mist of heavy fog greeted us early in the morning.  Not quite thick enough for the foghorn, but enough to add a chill to the air and make the decks slippery.   Good time to head for breakfast and some nice hot coffee.  Captain Paul happened to make a surprise visit to the Pinnacle Grill about the same time a gentleman seated close to us was deep in a conversation with the manager about why he was not allowed to invite a friend to breakfast here.  Unless that friend was in a Neptune Suite, they would not qualify to use this venue.  When the Captain entered and stopped by this table, the man asked who he was….possibly another manager?  Oh that was not the right thing to say, however the Captain did explain that’s how it works in here.  The fact that this single person was paying double for his Neptune Suite did not make a bit of difference.  With that said, he left the room.  Anyway, we did finally get to meet Captain Paul, who seems very friendly, reminding us of Captain Friso who did the first half of the world cruise this year. 

 

Trying to solve our internet problems, we spoke to Joice, the assistant hotel manager, who was most helpful.  Long story short (more or less) the signal in our room is weak at best.  So Joice sent two IT fellows to our room within minutes to trouble-shoot.  Checking the two hallway hot spots, they found them working.  However, the signal in our room was all over the place.  With his own laptop, one of the IT guys discovered that the distance from the hot spot made a difference in the reception.  Our desk is located next to the veranda door, and the furthest spot from the hallway.  As a test, we placed our laptop on the coffee table, and we got a better signal.  Go figure….  Leaving the door opened also increased the signal strength, although that is not an option for us.  Nothing was really solved, except for moving the computer around.  Even with the upgrade of Starlink, it is not perfect. 

 

The rest of our day was more pleasant as we visited with friends.  The drizzle had ceased for a while, so we went to the Seaview Pool to see if the sun was coming out.  We did run into good friends and spent some time chatting.  The sun eventually disappeared and it began to drizzle lightly.  Most folks just sat in it.  Oh well……we will get to the tropics soon we think.

 

Lunch was Dive-In again.  We did see that there was a dessert special in the Lido and while we were outside, and we did see people coming out with waffle cones that were dipped in chocolate.  We stopped eating the ice cream cones when all they served were tiny old-fashioned cones on the world cruise. 

 

Other fun activities included Hawaiian bracelet making, ukulele playing, hula dancing, and aloha sunset cocktail hour.  Lectures presented further education on volcanoes and iconic Hawaiian symbols.   We spent some time walking the promenade and watching for flying fish, some of which were huge.  No birds today.  These flying fish will survive to see another day.  Then at 5pm, we strolled by the Ocean Bar to find Ballroom Dancing Hour in full swing, as were the many couples who were also in full swing.  Reminded us of dances one might learn at the Arthur Murray studios. 

 

Dinner was good with starters of Caesar salads, a Thai beef salad, and a bowl of bean soup.   Mains were a diced short rib meat sauce with linguini….one of our favorites.  And guess what was another item for dinner?   Liver and onions….Barb.  We thought about you.  We had enough room for one hot fudge sundae and a toffee fig pudding.  Good thing the portions are small.   Showtime was a comedian John Wing guaranteed to make you laugh.

 

And the clocks rolled back one more hour this evening.  We believe there will be one more hour before we reach Hilo.  Fine with us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #32   Friday  October 6, 2023  Sea Day Enroute To Hilo, Hawaii    Overcast And Cloudy Skies With A Little Sun  72 Degrees     Part #1 Of 1........15 Pictures---Casual Dress

 

With the hour back on the clocks last night, there was a line of guests waiting for the Pinnacle Grill to open for breakfast shortly before 8am.   Ready or not….here we come.  A new breakfast waiter, Agus, took our order for a change.  We think we surprised him with all of the coffee we drink. 

 

The number of morning walkers doubled today.  For one thing, there was no rain and even though the clouds persisted, it was warmer and a little more humid.  And to top it off, there were a few masked boobies chasing after the flying fish.  Studying their behavior, we think once these birds are full, they will land and rest on the water for a while.  Since the closest island is Hawaii and over 700 miles away, we know these birds are true sea birds, and only go to land to raise their young.  

 

Another little observation we made is that the promenade windows are not cleaned with squeegees anymore.  Years ago, we did a last-minute Alaskan cruise, taking any room we could get.  That happened to be a window room on deck three.  Every morning around sunrise, we woke up to the screech of our windows getting cleaned.  Sort of like nails on a blackboard, we vowed never to book a room on that deck again.  Now the cleaning is nearly silent.

 

Checking out the activity at the Seaview Pool area, the Captain came on with his noon talk.  He speaks so clearly, as does the cruise director, that his every word can be understood.  Anyway, he and his staff captain had a bet on the type of sea birds that have been following the ship.  Captain Paul guessed they were petrels, while the staff captain said they were laysan albatross.  Their final decision was that they were the albatross, so the Captain gave this one to his friend.  Now, in our opinion, these birds were the masked boobies, fitting the size, weight, coloration, and the areas they frequent.  Perhaps they were seeing different birds that we did not see, but we know the behavior of these birds is far different from petrels or albatross. 

 

The sun had come out off and on today, so we took advantage of that on our veranda.  Lunch was two burgers from the Dive-In, while we finished watching the movie Australia on our TV.    We like that feature of being able to watch movies without having to get DVD’s at the front desk.  When it is working, the newer flat screen interactive TV’s are a big improvement from what we had on the Amsterdam.  For some reason, we have lost some of the signal around 3pm every day this week.  It’s not like there are mountains to block the signal.  Eventually, it comes back.

 

It was the Pinnacle Grill for dinner this evening.  It was not very busy at 7:30pm, so we got excellent service as always.  The wedge salads were perfect with the hanging bacon.  We both ordered steaks – one a filet and the other a smaller rib eye.  French fries and mashed potatoes were the sides.  Dessert was vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and pineapple sorbet.  Nothing fancy, just refreshing.

 

The show of Musicology with the Step One Dance Company must have been well attended since the crowd of folks filed by our “window” while we were eating dinner.  We have seen this on the N. Statendam and enjoyed it. 

 

Tomorrow will be day number 5 crossing the Pacific.  Ready to be landlubbers soon.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[roberts2005]

24 minutes ago, WCB said:

Report #32   Friday  October 6, 2023  Sea Day Enroute To Hilo, Hawaii    Overcast And Cloudy Skies With A Little Sun  72 Degrees     Part #1 Of 1........15 Pictures---Casual Dress

 

With the hour back on the clocks last night, there was a line of guests waiting for the Pinnacle Grill to open for breakfast shortly before 8am.   Ready or not….here we come.  A new breakfast waiter, Agus, took our order for a change.  We think we surprised him with all of the coffee we drink. 

 

The number of morning walkers doubled today.  For one thing, there was no rain and even though the clouds persisted, it was warmer and a little more humid.  And to top it off, there were a few masked boobies chasing after the flying fish.  Studying their behavior, we think once these birds are full, they will land and rest on the water for a while.  Since the closest island is Hawaii and over 700 miles away, we know these birds are true sea birds, and only go to land to raise their young.  

 

Another little observation we made is that the promenade windows are not cleaned with squeegees anymore.  Years ago, we did a last-minute Alaskan cruise, taking any room we could get.  That happened to be a window room on deck three.  Every morning around sunrise, we woke up to the screech of our windows getting cleaned.  Sort of like nails on a blackboard, we vowed never to book a room on that deck again.  Now the cleaning is nearly silent.

 

Checking out the activity at the Seaview Pool area, the Captain came on with his noon talk.  He speaks so clearly, as does the cruise director, that his every word can be understood.  Anyway, he and his staff captain had a bet on the type of sea birds that have been following the ship.  Captain Paul guessed they were petrels, while the staff captain said they were laysan albatross.  Their final decision was that they were the albatross, so the Captain gave this one to his friend.  Now, in our opinion, these birds were the masked boobies, fitting the size, weight, coloration, and the areas they frequent.  Perhaps they were seeing different birds that we did not see, but we know the behavior of these birds is far different from petrels or albatross. 

 

The sun had come out off and on today, so we took advantage of that on our veranda.  Lunch was two burgers from the Dive-In, while we finished watching the movie Australia on our TV.    We like that feature of being able to watch movies without having to get DVD’s at the front desk.  When it is working, the newer flat screen interactive TV’s are a big improvement from what we had on the Amsterdam.  For some reason, we have lost some of the signal around 3pm every day this week.  It’s not like there are mountains to block the signal.  Eventually, it comes back.

 

It was the Pinnacle Grill for dinner this evening.  It was not very busy at 7:30pm, so we got excellent service as always.  The wedge salads were perfect with the hanging bacon.  We both ordered steaks – one a filet and the other a smaller rib eye.  French fries and mashed potatoes were the sides.  Dessert was vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and pineapple sorbet.  Nothing fancy, just refreshing.

 

The show of Musicology with the Step One Dance Company must have been well attended since the crowd of folks filed by our “window” while we were eating dinner.  We have seen this on the N. Statendam and enjoyed it. 

 

Tomorrow will be day number 5 crossing the Pacific.  Ready to be landlubbers soon.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

Bill if you have your long lens and can take a good picture of the under side of the bird.  Use google search to identify the bird,  I did this on a recent South America cruise when I wasn’t sure of the type of bird.  Works on all types of mammals too.

[ottahand7]

Another happy memory from your journey,  we had Agus as our waiter in the Pinnacle Grill on the Grand South America.   

[WCB]

Report #33   Saturday October 7, 2023    Sea Day Enroute To Hilo, Hawaii  Partly Cloudy With Periods Of Sun  75 Degrees    Part #1 Of 1.......74 Pictures---Casual Dress

 

Day number five at sea made all the difference with the temperature and the humidity.  We are now experiencing the tropics for sure.  It’s no wonder that many guests came out early for a deck walk before it got even warmer.  Too bad the working crew decided to close off the forward section of the promenade to do some overhead work using power tools.  We all agreed it would have been better to do this job tomorrow when the ship is docked and the people would be ashore.  Perhaps this type of work is not allowed while the ship is docked. Who knows?

 

Today there was another 10am to 12:30pm brunch in the dining room.  We looked up the menu and it is a three-course meal.  There are two courses offered (limited choices) and dessert.

 

Back in our room after the brief walk, we found the veranda’s sun to be intense.  That reminded us to put some suntan lotion on the list for tomorrow’s shopping in Hilo.  Nothing worse than an unexpected sunburn.  

 

Lunch was via room service.  It was a bit disturbing when we were asked if we were isolated.  Of course, the answer was heavens, no.  Obviously, some people are sick, but how many?  So when the waiter arrived with our food, we could not help but ask him if many folks are currently sick.  Hesitating at first, he admitted that there are many ill people.  From exactly what, we don’t know, nor has anything come close to being announced.  All we know is that we need to be more cautious with hand-washing and using sanitizer.  Avoiding crowds is also a good idea. 

 

Captain Paul did his usual talk after 12pm, but this time he added his condolences for any guests who had family and friends in Israel during this sudden attack.  The N. Statendam just happened to be in Ashdod the day before, but it has been reported that the ship had left and all was well.  We spent a better part of the afternoon glued to the TV.  On a positive note, the Captain said to be sure to watch for whales tomorrow upon entering the port in Hilo.  Many years ago, we did see the spouts on the horizon, but that was in January. 

 

Around 4pm, we went to the Ocean Bar to listen to the music of the pianist, which led to the Ballroom Dance Hour.  We get a kick out of the dance couples enjoying the music as well.  Friends Rosie and Randy happened along, and we spent some nice time chatting. 

 

By 6pm, we headed back to the room for a cocktail while watching what there was of a sunset.   Watching the bow channel on TV, we noticed a few more folks have discovered the secret spot for viewing the west-setting sun…..deck six forward. 

 

It was the dining room for dinner with starters of a quesadilla and an egg wrap without hoisin sauce, which may have contained oyster sauce.  Our waiter had them substitute the sweet and sour red sauce we love.  Mains were one pork Weiner schnitzel and a rigatoni dish with chicken meatballs…..the closest to the beef meatballs one of us has been craving.  Naturally, the meatballs and spaghetti entree was last night’s dinner and we were in the Pinnacle Grill.  Both mains were quite good.  Dessert was a chocolate sundae and frozen vanilla yogurt, both of which came with the triangle cookie.  Wonder where they have been hiding these?

 

The clocks went back one hour tonight to be on Hawaii time.  Land ho….here we come.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[WCB]

Report #34    Sunday  October 8, 2023  Hilo, Hawaii  Docked Port Side To Pier   Sunny With Lots Of Clouds And Afternoon Showers 82 Degrees  Part #1 Of 4.......76 Pictures-----Casual Dress

 

Well, whale-watching on our approach to Hilo was a bust.  There were none to be seen, although we really did not expect to see any humpbacks.  What we did see was another brief, but nice sunrise.  Waking up early does have its benefits.

 

The ship was cleared at 8am while we were having breakfast, and we noticed there was a stream of folks passing by our window on their way to the World Stage to get “stickered” for tours.   There were several excursions that included the Volcanoes National Park, the longest being up to 7 hours for $260.  Shorter tours with the Volcanoes National Park included gardens or waterfalls for 3 ½ hours for $170.  Hilo highlights was 3 ½ hours for $130, or Old Hilo and Akaka Falls for 5 hours for $110.  A more strenuous excursion was a 6 ½ hour bike adventure for $170.  A drive to Mauna Kea at 13,804 feet in elevation for 4 ½ hours ran $280 with a box lunch.  Some of these tours included a stop at either the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory or the Big Island Candies.  Today is Sunday, and we are not sure those factories would be operating.  Definitely their shops will be opened to buy the candy and nuts.  At 9:30am there was a one hour crew drill, which is announced in the rooms as well as the entire ship.  Since it interrupted the TV news, we figured we would catch up on the news later on, sad as it may be.

 

Before we left, we watched as the tour groups went off.  A number of the officers, included Captain Paul, were outside wishing the excursion groups a good day.  That’s nice to see.  We heard there had been a medical debark when the gangway was set out, followed by some folks boarding that may have missed the ship in San Diego (we are just guessing).  We set out around 10:15am expecting to join the long line for the Walmart shuttle. Once we got the shopping taken care of, we intended to take our usual hike.  Well……when we stopped at the info desk, we overheard the local gal telling someone that there was no shuttle for Walmart.  Did we hear that right?  Yep, the lady repeated that same info that the shuttles were not running due to security reasons or some strange reason that the buses created a hazard while turning left.  Huh? At first we thought that they were not here because it was a Sunday.  Nope, they were not running at all any day of the week.  She suggested that we could take the morning only shuttle to the fruit and veggie market in Old Town, or call for a taxi.  There were no taxis in sight, so we just headed out of the port area, turned right at the highway and walked towards town. 

 

Passing Reeds Park, we went towards the water and some benches we knew were there.  One of us had pulled a calf muscle and really needed to stop.  Nothing really helped ease the pain, except proceeding slowly to get the circulation going.  It was going to slow us down somewhat, but we were this far and turning back wasn’t in the cards.  Stopping at Ponds Restaurant was an option, even though it was 11:30am, the healing powers of a draft beer surely would help.  By the way, it did help.

 

The good thing was that it wasn’t crowded yet, and we got seated near two windows that were wide open.  This small but good restaurant is built over the Ice Pond where fresh water comes from a natural cold spring, making the waters brackish.  Directly under the café is an enclosed pond full of turtles and koi carp.  You can dine and watch the activity right below your window.  We ordered a cheeseburger with fries and draft beers.  Our friend Leta had been out for a walk, and spotted us sitting in the window.  She came inside to buy a bottle of water and stopped to say hi before heading back to the ship.  Little did we know, some other friends had seen us too.

 

After an hour of relaxing, we resumed our walk around the kids jumping off of the railing along the Ice Pond.  Their aim is to soak anyone innocently walking past them.  That’s why we took a wide path and walked in the bike lane.  When we reached Banyon Drive, another buddy came across the street from the corner restaurant.  They had also seen us sitting in the window, even taking our photo. By stopping to chat, we thwarted another attempt at a soaking by some older high school girls.  They got tired of waiting for us to pass by, and dove in the pond.  Too bad.

 

Banyan Drive is an older hotel area from the 1950’s or earlier.  At one time, many famous people had a banyan tree planted with their names and dates on plaques.  One of the most famous was George Herman “Babe” Ruth, back in the early 30’s.   Probably all of these donors have passed on, but these trees will live on forever. 

 

We entered Lili’uokalani Park full of ponds, Japanese ornamental statues and bridges, blooming trees, bamboo groves, and the best of all…..mongoose.  We knew a good spot where a nice marble bench was near a volcanic rock outcropping, and we might see the little critters hiding under the green growth.  And we were correct, as out popped a little mongoose looking for something to eat.  As long we did not move, it came really close, until a lady came along with a dog.  We still got some good shots of it. 

 

We circled back and hiked out to Coconut Island, or as the natives call it Mokuola.  There is an active attempt at putting back the names of many icons to the original Hawaiian language so they do not become lost in time and memory.   Many families were having a picnic while the kids swam or dove from the old bastions of a bridge.  The BBQ’s were lit and tents were put up.  The day had started out cloudy, with the sun peeking through.  But knowing that the weather can change on a dime, it could rain.  It felt like rain.  Guess what?  On our way back, it rained.

 

We had stopped to pick up a Coke, because even with the clouds, it was really warm and humid.   We are only allowed to bring a sealed bottle of water that can be bought on the ship.  The same rules applied in Alaska as well.  That’s when the rain began, heavy enough we could barely see the ship as the shower passed by it.  Oh well, we had left the umbrellas on the ship, so we just stood under some of the old banyan trees and actually stayed pretty dry.  It let up long enough for us to get back to the Volendam without getting wetter. 

 

To make things easier, before going out of the terminal, the officials were using facial recognition.  There was no xray at all in this terminal.  The ship did that instead, and it did slow the line down somewhat.  We happened to come back the same time as a couple of the tour buses.   It was good for one of us, since inching up the steep gangway slowly worked just fine.  

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on photos, reports, and simply relaxing.  All aboard was 5:30pm, and we left the dock shortly afterwards.  We stayed on our veranda to watch the sail away instead of going to the Seaview Pool.  We understand that as the ship went out of the bay at the end of the breakwater, the rain resumed.  

 

The dining room dinner was perfect tonight.  There was a good choice for us with appetizers of crispy spring rolls served piping hot, and Caesar salads….hold the anchovies please.  Mains were veal parmigiana served over a bed of spaghetti and grilled zucchini.  Extra marinara sauce made it even better.  Desserts were one hot fudge sundae and a bowl of frozen strawberry yogurt with a side of sliced bananas.  Great combination.  We were happy, but tired campers.

 

The World Stage was “dark” tonight as our buddies Greg and Heo would say.  We have noticed a pattern with closed venues.  Entertainment in the Explorers Lounge is dark two nights a week.  The Mix bar and the World Stage are each closed one night a week.   We believe that occurred even more often while on this year’s world cruise.  This must have something to do with the contracts of the entertainers.  Hate to admit it, but in the old days, nothing ever closed.  But then, nothing stays the same forever, does it?

 

Replacing the entertainment at 9pm was a Masquerade something-or-other.  Not a “ball”.  Masks that had been created a few days ago in a craft class could be used, but just for fun.  To tell the truth, we only saw one couple donning the masks.

 

The ship is now heading towards the island of Kauai, passing our original call at Lahaina, Maui.  That port had been cancelled months ago after the devastating fire that wiped the historic town out. Lahaina was such a unique town and we are happy to have fond memories of our many visits there.   Kimo’s for hula pie was one of those memories as was the gigantic banyan tree that is hopefully on the rebound.  So we shall be doing scenic cruising along the east and north coastline of Kauai.  Sounds like a neat plan.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

@WCB...Bill & Mary Ann I am very sad to hear no shuttle to Walmart.

 

We will be taking our first cruise to Hawaii on Koningsdam in January and research had shown the shuttle was running but guess not anymore....very sad.

 

I look forward to see the photos on your blog when it posts since the photos are not available on CC.

 

Enjoying your reporting as always!

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Enjoying your reviews and posts as always. As you know we are blessed to divide our time between NY and Honolulu. Hilo Town is an interesting and beautiful town and is well known for its rain lol. Also, with respect to shuttles to Walmart for those not familiar with the islands I would recommend ABC stores which are found almost everywhere. Also Hilo Hattie although they have closed stores recently. They even had a location in Las Vegas known as the Ninth Island. Additionally Longs Drugs which is owned by CVS carries a lot of souvenirs and around this time of the year should have 2024 Calendars at a very good price. Please keep us posted and enjoy!

[WCB]

Report #35  Monday October 9, 2023  Happy Canadian Thanksgiving  Scenic Cruising Around The Island Of Kauai And The Jurassic Coast  Mostly Sunny And Warm 82 Degrees  Part #1 Of 5......77 Pictures-----Casual Dress

 

Originally, our port of call would have been Lahaina, Maui one day this week.  Obviously, due to the wildfires that caused such destruction, the port was eliminated, and a day of scenic cruising was substituted.  Which brings us to today with a pleasant afternoon of scenic cruising of the Jurassic Coast of Kauai. 

 

After a nice breakfast that included sliced bananas to help with the muscle cramps, we took a slow walk around the promenade deck to discover we were already sailing quite close to an island, but which one?  We knew that after leaving Hilo on the big island of Hawaii, we traveled across the north part of the island then turned passing Maui’s southwest coast.  Turned out we were sailing by Oahu.  Sure would have been nice if there was some commentary while we passed so close to this island.   It was close enough to see huge clouds over the island’s center dropping massive amounts of rain.  

 

Spending time at the Seaview Pool, we chatted with our buddies.  We all agreed it was going to be a very hot day, but a good one for that afternoon sailing.  The plan was to pass Oahu, then go between the islands and continue up to the east and north coasts of Kauai.  Kauai is among the smallest of the Hawaiian chain, but it is the oldest geologically.  Millions of years old.  It is also the wettest if we remember correctly.  Rainfall is measured in feet and not inches.  It has been given the name of the Garden Isle for the reason it is so green.  Average rainfall annually is 373 inches.  It is no wonder that the swollen rivers have cut the canyons that resemble the Grand Canyon in the USA. 

 

Watching the scenery from our veranda was wonderful, however the heat of the sun made us feel as if we were cooking under a broiler.  The Captain had slowed the ship to 8 knots, so there was very little breeze.  Our Polynesian Ambassador, Kainoa delivered the commentary at 3pm which could be heard on the bow TV station in our rooms.  Too bad it was not broadcasted throughout the ship, but it was not.  One of us had to pop in and out of the room to catch what he was saying, which turned out to be a good way to try to keep cooler.  The bow was opened as well for the folks to view this coastline. 

 

Kainoa mentioned that few ships are allowed to sail on this side of the island, so we should consider ourselves lucky.  We certainly appreciated seeing the dramatic cliffs that at one point went up as high as 4000 feet.  The original people to inhabit this island were of small stature but considered strong and sturdy.  They mastered pond making where fish could be stored for future use.  In time, the Marquesans and the Polynesians traveled here to live.   Captain James Cook landed here in the 1800’s and life for the natives probably was never the same.  European diseases were introduced which was bad. 

 

Kainoa mentioned that fishing is fantastic here.  Often seen are the humpbacks who come here to have their calves beginning in November.  He added that the orcas will travel here during the calving season and will attack the weaker females and young whales.  Tiger and white sharks are commonly seen.  There is one great white shark that is said to be over 20 feet long and has been spotted in and around the islands for several years.  That would keep us out of the waters.  Hawaiian monk seals are located on the other side of the island.

 

After slowly sailing past the dramatic cliffs, the Captain turned the ship so the folks on the starboard side could view the special sights.  Then around 4:30pm, we headed towards a very private island called Miihow or the Forbidden Island.  Not sure the spelling is correct.  But the story has it that this small island was sold to the Sinclair family from New Zealand for $10,000 back in the 1800’s.  They were searching for an area where cattle and horses could be raised.  The twist in this story is that the family was offered property where Waikiki is located, but the offer was rejected.  Anyway, the combined families of Sinclair and Robertson still own the island, which by the way, has no running water or electricity.  Hard to imagine this day in age.  So the men run the ranch, but the women collect tiny seashells that only exist on this island, making it into very expensive jewelry.  For instance one necklace with these shells could run about $6200.  Wow.

 

As always, we kept watch for the birds around the island.  There were a few boobys and seabirds we did not recognize, but the best surprise was sighting some tropic birds.  They flew so fast and at a distance too far to see for sure.  But the camera caught them, and we could see the long tail feathers that they have.   These birds prefer tall cliffs to fledge their young, then fly out to sea to search for food.   We both said that as many times that we have visited Kauai, we have never seen this part of the island.  The best way to do it is by helicopter, which we saw a few flying over the canyons and the dramatic cliffs.  We all agreed that today’s scenic sailing was spectacular.

 

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the other private island, all we saw was the outline of it on the horizon.  The sun had gone down, and darkness descended.  We figured that we needed the extra time to sail around this island so as not to get to tomorrow’s port of Nawiliwili too soon. 

 

Tonight’s dinner was special for Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.   Starting with sesame crispy chicken tenders, one soup, and a salad, we had the full turkey dinner, just like we have on our Thanksgiving.  Of course it would not be complete without a slice of pumpkin pie.  All of it was delicious once again.

 

Hope that the weather holds up like it did today.  Could not have been better.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #36   Tuesday  October 10, 2023  Nawiliwili, Hawaii  Docked Port Side To Pier  8am-6pm  Cloudy With Periods Of Sun  85 Degrees   Part #1 Of 4........77 Pictures-----Causal Dress

 

After circumnavigating the island of Kauai yesterday, we completed the circle by entering the bay of Nawiliwili this morning at 7am.  Watching from our veranda, it was a tricky maneuver for the pilot to bring the ship into the dock.  He did it with ease, although we have always been told that the Captain is always at the helm, and the pilot gives the directions.  The ship was cleared by the local authorities a bit after 8am.   As for us, we stuck around watching the tour buses fill.  It’s amusing to see the people trying to out-walk each other to get to the “best” seats in the bus.  Been there, done that.  We are glad we took as many tours that we did back in the early days.  These days….not so much.  

 

Speaking of tours, there were a few to Waimea Canyon – one was a small group for 5 hours at $170, or a large group for $130.  It is a must see in our opinion, and it is the luck of the draw to see it without the fog descending.  It is visible one minute, then gone the next.  An excursion that takes in the Hollywood movie scenes was 6 ½ hours for $270, while the Tropical Gardens and Waterfalls was 5 ½ hours for $210.    One that we did years ago was a Wailua River cruise and the Fern Grotto, where Elvis sang one of his famous songs for 3 hours at $150.  The 8 hour version was $230.   Lastly, Discover Kauai was 6 ¼ hours for $210 and a Plantation Railway Train ride was $90 for 2 ½ hours.

 

Last year when we were on this same cruise, we learned there was no longer a free shuttle to the shopping mall in Lihue, a 10 minute ride from the pier.  However there were free rides to Anchor Cove or a mini mall near the cove.  Truthfully, it is a 10 minute walk from the terminal to get to both the shops and also Kalapaki Beach.  We left the ship around 10am and headed towards the beach and the Sonesta Hotel by Marriott.  Last time we were here, it was warm and sunny, which shortly changed to cool and rainy.  Taking the umbrellas insured us that it would not rain today.  Turned out to be correct even though it felt like rain, it stayed away. 

 

This hotel has a lovely garden full of native species of flowers and trees like hibiscus, frangipani, flame trees, mangrove palms, banana plants and tall coconut trees.  Woven in and around the garden is a pond with waterfalls and fountains.  The pond is full of mature colorful koi carp.  During the day, these fish are fed pelleted food and they swim right up to the very edge of the shallow steps leading to the pond.  Little kids love watching it…..we do too. 

 

Continuing along the paved walkway, we passed by the hotel’s huge swimming pool (guests only) then onto the stretch of sandy beach.  This is where most of the crew will go if they are allowed off of the ship.  They must take turns getting some free time in the ports.  Situated along this beach is Duke’s Canoe Club, a perfect spot for lunch.  It was afternoon by now, so we did have a 10 minute wait for a table.  For a change we decided to try the Tuesday special of carne asada cheese nachos with teriyaki marinated grilled steak strips.  Surprise…it was really tasty.  The beers were Duke’s Blonde Ale, brewed in Kona for this restaurant.  Ice cold, they were refreshing with a slice of lemon on the glass.  But the best had to be Duke’s Hula pie, a real treat made with an Oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut vanilla ice cream, covered with whipped cream and surrounded with hot fudge sprinkled with more nuts.  Now that was a perfect ending to a fun meal.

 

We made our way back ducking in and out of the shops.  There was an ABC store, the equivalent of a CVS or Walgreens, but when it got too crowded, we exited quickly.  We can wait until tomorrow for shopping in Honolulu.  Actually, we learned that our 2 day stay there has been extended for a departure time of 11pm, giving the crew some extra time off after the dinner service is ended.

 

Getting back to the ship by 2pm, we kept busy until sail away at 6pm.  The Captain had reminded everyone to be back onboard by 5:30pm sharp, as he wanted to leave immediately after that.  On one of our visits here, we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets we have seen.  We figured we would miss it, since the skies were mostly cloudy.  Well we were wrong as the sky developed some pretty neat rays as the sun went behind the cloudy mountains.  Had we gone inside earlier, we would have missed it.

 

The dining room dinner menu reflected the area we are visiting…..everything with a Hawaiian theme.  We stuck to the regular Caesar salads, one tomato soup, and for a change…..the Club Orange alternate of roasted pork belly slices served over warm pineapple with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.  Guess you can call it the “blue” plate special referring to the blue plate it is served on.  Desserts were sliced bananas and one hot fudge sundae. 

 

Tomorrow we will be in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, just a mere 100 miles away from Kauai. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[mexico8]

26 minutes ago, WCB said:

Report #36   Tuesday  October 10, 2023  Nawiliwili, Hawaii  Docked Port Side To Pier  8am-6pm  Cloudy With Periods Of Sun  85 Degrees   Part #1 Of 4........77 Pictures-----Causal Dress

 

After circumnavigating the island of Kauai yesterday, we completed the circle by entering the bay of Nawiliwili this morning at 7am.  Watching from our veranda, it was a tricky maneuver for the pilot to bring the ship into the dock.  He did it with ease, although we have always been told that the Captain is always at the helm, and the pilot gives the directions.  The ship was cleared by the local authorities a bit after 8am.   As for us, we stuck around watching the tour buses fill.  It’s amusing to see the people trying to out-walk each other to get to the “best” seats in the bus.  Been there, done that.  We are glad we took as many tours that we did back in the early days.  These days….not so much.  

 

Speaking of tours, there were a few to Waimea Canyon – one was a small group for 5 hours at $170, or a large group for $130.  It is a must see in our opinion, and it is the luck of the draw to see it without the fog descending.  It is visible one minute, then gone the next.  An excursion that takes in the Hollywood movie scenes was 6 ½ hours for $270, while the Tropical Gardens and Waterfalls was 5 ½ hours for $210.    One that we did years ago was a Wailua River cruise and the Fern Grotto, where Elvis sang one of his famous songs for 3 hours at $150.  The 8 hour version was $230.   Lastly, Discover Kauai was 6 ¼ hours for $210 and a Plantation Railway Train ride was $90 for 2 ½ hours.

 

Last year when we were on this same cruise, we learned there was no longer a free shuttle to the shopping mall in Lihue, a 10 minute ride from the pier.  However there were free rides to Anchor Cove or a mini mall near the cove.  Truthfully, it is a 10 minute walk from the terminal to get to both the shops and also Kalapaki Beach.  We left the ship around 10am and headed towards the beach and the Sonesta Hotel by Marriott.  Last time we were here, it was warm and sunny, which shortly changed to cool and rainy.  Taking the umbrellas insured us that it would not rain today.  Turned out to be correct even though it felt like rain, it stayed away. 

 

This hotel has a lovely garden full of native species of flowers and trees like hibiscus, frangipani, flame trees, mangrove palms, banana plants and tall coconut trees.  Woven in and around the garden is a pond with waterfalls and fountains.  The pond is full of mature colorful koi carp.  During the day, these fish are fed pelleted food and they swim right up to the very edge of the shallow steps leading to the pond.  Little kids love watching it…..we do too. 

 

Continuing along the paved walkway, we passed by the hotel’s huge swimming pool (guests only) then onto the stretch of sandy beach.  This is where most of the crew will go if they are allowed off of the ship.  They must take turns getting some free time in the ports.  Situated along this beach is Duke’s Canoe Club, a perfect spot for lunch.  It was afternoon by now, so we did have a 10 minute wait for a table.  For a change we decided to try the Tuesday special of carne asada cheese nachos with teriyaki marinated grilled steak strips.  Surprise…it was really tasty.  The beers were Duke’s Blonde Ale, brewed in Kona for this restaurant.  Ice cold, they were refreshing with a slice of lemon on the glass.  But the best had to be Duke’s Hula pie, a real treat made with an Oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut vanilla ice cream, covered with whipped cream and surrounded with hot fudge sprinkled with more nuts.  Now that was a perfect ending to a fun meal.

 

We made our way back ducking in and out of the shops.  There was an ABC store, the equivalent of a CVS or Walgreens, but when it got too crowded, we exited quickly.  We can wait until tomorrow for shopping in Honolulu.  Actually, we learned that our 2 day stay there has been extended for a departure time of 11pm, giving the crew some extra time off after the dinner service is ended.

 

Getting back to the ship by 2pm, we kept busy until sail away at 6pm.  The Captain had reminded everyone to be back onboard by 5:30pm sharp, as he wanted to leave immediately after that.  On one of our visits here, we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets we have seen.  We figured we would miss it, since the skies were mostly cloudy.  Well we were wrong as the sky developed some pretty neat rays as the sun went behind the cloudy mountains.  Had we gone inside earlier, we would have missed it.

 

The dining room dinner menu reflected the area we are visiting…..everything with a Hawaiian theme.  We stuck to the regular Caesar salads, one tomato soup, and for a change…..the Club Orange alternate of roasted pork belly slices served over warm pineapple with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.  Guess you can call it the “blue” plate special referring to the blue plate it is served on.  Desserts were sliced bananas and one hot fudge sundae. 

 

Tomorrow we will be in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, just a mere 100 miles away from Kauai. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

Always happy to read your posts and especially the food descriptions.   My mouth is watering just reading about that Duke's Hula pie.   It sure sounds good!!!   Lucky you and thank you.

[sandiego1]

The private island is named Ni’ihau.

[WCB]

Report #37   Wednesday   October 11, 2023  Honolulu, Hawaii Day #1   Docked Starboard Side To Pier 2 - 8am-Overnite To 11pm On 10-12-23  Cloudy With Sun 80 Degrees   Part #1 Of 5......77 Pictures-----Casual Dress

 

The Volendam sailed into the port of Honolulu just as the sun was rising.  We were docked at Pier 2 Cruise Ship Terminal, and shortly after we arrived, the Ponant’s Le Boreal took the pier near the Aloha Tower.  It’s been a while since we have seen another cruise ship in port with us.  But with her small size, we doubt it will make any difference in a city as large as Honolulu.

 

It appeared the weather was going to be nice today with some clouds, but some sun too.  We watched as some of the tour groups went off after 9am, and thought it felt comfortable outside.  However, we know better, as the day wore on, the temperatures climbed.   We noticed there were no flower leis being handed out as the guests left.  But then maybe that is only done on grand cruises.

 

We had balcony cleaning as was announced last night with a special letter.  Since it was planned for 8:15 am to noontime, they advised us to keep our drapes closed.  We bet these fellows have seen more than they wanted when the guests forget to shut the drapes and are perhaps getting dressed for the day.

 

We stuck around until 10:15am, then headed off for our long hike.  Surprise…surprise.  There were boxes of purple and white orchid leis being put around each and everyone’s necks as we passed by the line of officers waiting at the gangway.  The hotel director, Glenn, graced us with the flowers then asked if we wanted a photo with the Captain.  Seeing that he was already involved with another couple, we said no, that was OK.  We thanked him and continued on our way.  Then we heard the Captain behind us saying he did not have the chance to introduce himself, and added that perhaps sometime during the course of this trip, we would have dinner with him in the Pinnacle Grill.  We thanked him and went on our merry way.

 

Leaving the ship and walking the street, we noticed the clouds blew away and the breeze stopped.  One of us made the mistake of not bringing some water, which we know better.  It is a long walk before we reach a place to buy some.  From here on out, we will take it with us at every port.  Along the Ala Moana Blvd, we pass some open lots and car dealers.  There are always wild chickens in the bushes and the grassy fields.  Today we passed one hen with about seven little newly-hatched chicks.  Then about 20 feet up ahead of us, was a man and his wife coming back to the ship. He had picked up a wayward chick that had wandered into the crosswalk halfway across the intersection.  The man was still looking for the mama hen when we passed him.  Not sure what he did with the little creature, but we are sure the mama would come back for it. 

 

By the time we came across the marina with all of the touring fishing boats and whale-watching vessels, we noticed that some big projects were in progress across the road.  This used to be the last section of the Ward Centre, which has been demolished and is turning into something else.  In a year’s time, not much has been accomplished except creating a gigantic mountain of dirt.  At the marina, there is only one display of the marlin left in the grass section.  Where the rest have gone, who knows?  

 

Reaching the park area where a long stretch of public beach is located, we noticed there were fewer homeless folks there.  Now they have nice tents and giant umbrellas for shade.  Many have cooking utensils and BBQ’s.  Most are living directly across from the Ala Moana Shopping Center where they have easy access to many types of fast food.

 

Crossing the Ala Wai Canal, we passed by the marina made famous by Gilligan’s Island TV series.  One you get that tune in your head, it is hard to erase it.  Waikiki is the next stop with all of the highrise hotels.  The one we always stroll through is the Hawaiian Hilton.  It was really busy with guests coming and going today, so things are looking up here in Honolulu for the tourist industry.  Reaching the famous Waikiki Beach, you could barely see the sand for all of the umbrellas and sunbathers.  And boy, was it hot or what?   We could hear a lot of folks complaining about the heat today.  One thing for sure, there will be many sunburnt people tonight.

 

Our destination was the Hard Rock Café.  We arrived by 1pm, and took a perfect table by the edge of the balcony upstairs.  A beautiful breeze was blowing.  The first thing we ordered were two draft beers – Heinekens.  Then we decided to try the new Messi chicken sandwich with fries.  The chef’s name that created the new sandwich is named Messi, but the actual sandwich is messy.  The breaded chicken has a mayo sauce that keeps it moist, but messy.   Very good, we added two more beers before we finally cooled down.  Wearing a HRC t-shirt from Copenhagen began a good conversation with our waitress, who has been to many HRC overseas restaurants.  These days if you wear one of the t-shirts, you can get an automatic 10% off of a store purchase.  We did take advantage of that before we left. 

 

Taking our time hiking back, we got back to the ship by 4pm.  We never left the room until dinnertime, keeping busy with photos and reports.  We never appreciated our tower fan as much as today.  Ice cold Cokes also helped.  Before we left the room, the sun set was worth filming. 

 

At dinner, we ordered some different appetizers of lumpia, garden salads, and a chicken dumpling soup.   Mains were the same for both of us….fajitas with marinated steak, salsa, seasoned rice, sour cream, a tortilla shell, and extra servings of guacamole.  Excellent choice, we will have them again if they show up on the menu.   Desserts were sliced bananas and strawberries, and one hot fudge sundae.  The frozen yogurt was somewhere in the delivery, but could not be located until tomorrow.

 

We are overnight here, and will have a full day tomorrow.  Will try to view the tours available for tomorrow.  Missed doing that today before they were wiped from the TV.

 

Sweet dreams……

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[carolyn22]

Sounds like you had another lovely day. I really enjoy reading your daily reports, and I appreciate the time you take to let us hear about your adventures. 
 

Quick question - based on your earlier report, we have purchased heavy duty magnetic hooks for our outside cabin on the Volendam. Since there are only a few places where the hooks will work, do you know if it’s OK for us to also use the Command-type hooks?

[LouChamp]

Aloha and welcome to Honolulu! We are blessed to divide our time between NY and Honolulu and one thing among others that we love is the ability to walk everywhere in the city essentially without need for a car. You can certainly use TheBus with the new HoLo card or the new monorail which has cost billions. The Ward Centre and Kakaako areas are being 

developed with Condos and shopping also within walking distance of the Ala Moana shopping near Aloha Tower. We have a condo there with a lovely view of the ocean and Diamond Head. I have a condo at the Illikai which you may recall is in the opening scenes of both the original and recast Hawaii 5-0 series. We are renting it to the displaced from the terrible devastation on Maui. If you have time I would suggest you enjoy cocktails and the music at the Halekulani where we staycation. Also closer and near the Illikai is the Chart House. You may need reservations for both since if they do not know you there nay be quite a wait. Hope you don’t mind my two cents just trying to spread a little Aloha. Enjoy!