Report # 1 September 23, 2021 Thursday Sunny & 91 degrees in Clayton Enroute To Alaska
Well, here we are, once again, starting a journey to Alaska beginning on Saturday, the 25th, and ending Saturday October 2nd. At his point, we will believe it when we arrive to the pier in Seattle. Since we abruptly left the world cruise on the Amsterdam back in March of 2020, we have booked several future trips, only to have them be cancelled due to worldwide Covid outbreaks. Life will return to somewhat of normal someday, just not that quickly. In the meantime, we are really looking forward to this trip, despite the fact that it will be brief.
This will be out first voyage on the Nieuw Amsterdam, a vessel launched in 2010, with a tonnage of 86,700 gross tons. It does house over 2000 passengers, however we believe there will be far less on this trip. And what will be really different is the fact we will be required to wear masks while inside the vessel. And perhaps in the Alaskan ports as well. A small price to pay to be back on the seas once again.
So today, we had our required Covid tests (antigen) and passed. By the time we arrived home, emails were sent with the results. All we had to do was print them. About a month ago, we printed out our contract and boarding passes, and yesterday, we filled out an easy health form online for HAL.
The luggage (2 pieces) is packed and miraculously underweight. It will be strange to go from extremely hot and dry California to a probably wet and colder Alaska. Truthfully, we have been without rain for so long, we will enjoy seeing and feeling it coming down.
We do hope the internet will co-operate while onboard, as we have been tracking the progress of every previous 7 day Alaskan cruises since they began. If we miss a few days, we promise to catch up when we can.
Stay tuned………….
Bill & Mary Ann
