Report #134 Saturday May 13, 2023 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Homeward Bound And Final Thoughts Sunny And Warm

 

The day of flying home started for us at 3am when the alarm went off.  We were picked up in a nice limo at the hotel at 4:15am with one other guest who was flying on the same flight we were.  The good thing was that today was Saturday and there was virtually no traffic on the freeways.  The weather was going to be good with no rain and clear skies, as least on the Florida end. 

 

Even at this time of day, there were more people at the check-in area of United than we expected.  Of course, it is the weekend of Mother's Day, and more activity was to be expected.  The nice aspect of not having to lug bags to the counter, was the ease of checking in at the kiosk and getting our boarding passes.  No credit card to register because we had no luggage – only our hand carrys. 

 

The TSA Free does not seem to be given at random anymore since it is something that can be bought we understand.  However, at 75 years old, you are not asked to remove your shoes.  Only one of us is over that age, but the other is close to it.  One of the security guards asked if I was 75, and I said no, but close.  He laughed and said for today, you are 75.  OK, I did not have to remove my shoes, which is difficult wearing a back brace anyway.

 

I did set off the xray with the new knee, got patted down, wand once over, then set free.  That job done, we had 2 ½ hours left before our flight at 8am.  It appeared it was on time, which is always a good thing to see.

 

Not much in the way of restaurants are opened before 6am, with the exception of Burger King, McDonalds, and Starbucks.  The lines of people waiting at these popular fast food cafes were long.  We can say the coffee sure smelled good.  We sat across from one restaurant/bar that looked like it might open, but it never did.  It was most amusing watching several couples sneak into the restaurant booths to enjoy their fast food.  Within minutes, the employees of that restaurant came and asked them to leave.  Maybe they know sometimes they can get away with it and not have to use their laps in the regular airport waiting sections.

 

By 6:30am, we noticed a little corner café was opened, and we enjoyed a light breakfast with lots of very hot coffee. We ordered one scrambled egg sandwich and bacon and eggs, both of which came with cubed deep-fried potatoes on the side.  Wow, they were crispy and hot as could be.  Reminded us of the almost warm food we had been getting on the ship.  You don't realize it until you get a piping hot meal. 

 

We lingered for as long as we could, then asked for the bill.  The waitress said to scan the QR code on the table and pay that way.  You should have seen her face when we told her we did not own a cell phone.  No, really?  That was her first reply.  Honestly, no, we do not have one.  Then she said you're too lazy to do it, or we came from another planet.  Nope, not lazy, but we may have come from Mars.  Laughing at that, she gladly ran the credit card, and we were on our merry way.  She congratulated us for holding out for so long in getting a cell phone.

 

We boarded the plane by 7:20am, which happened to be full.  The flight was uneventful, and we were served a choice of a cookie or a bag of pretzels (maybe 10 of the tiniest ones ever) with a beverage.    The offer of another drink came mid flight we think.  There were no screens in the seats in front of us, but we did have a way of hooking up to their free wifi to use on our devices.  Supposedly TV series and movies were available for free.  We didn't bother, and neither did the folks around us. 

 

The only bumpy parts of the flight were while going over Texas where they had been having some severe weather and storms recently.  We must have had some tail winds, because we landed almost an hour ahead of time at 10:30am Pacific time.  We figured our driver in San Francisco would keep up with the changes if possible.  And of not, we would be waiting for a bit.

 

We waited outside door 8 near Starbucks at the baggage carousel for the driver.  He did arrive about one hour later, but on time for the original landing.  We all walked to the parking garage and were on the freeway heading for home by noontime.

 

Getting out of the downtown area in San Francisco is always a challenge.  And today was no exception.  There did not appear to be any games happening at the ball park, but traffic backed up anyway.  Once we made that final approach to the Bay Bridge, we were back to normal conditions.  We watched as the car's thermometer went up to 92 degrees outside, which we had heard from everyone that the weather had taken a turn to a nice warm spring day and week ahead.  That suited us just fine.

 

We were home by 1:30pm, and so happy to have completed this journey safe and sound.  We have our work cut out for us with fallen trees and weeds well over six feet tall in the back.  But the exercise will do us good.

 

Our final thoughts about this cruise was that it was not a stellar or grand one.  Way too many cutbacks had been implemented without prior notice to the guests, especially at the time the final payment was due.  Will we book more cruises in the future?  Yes, of course, we will, in hopes that the President of HAL will take into consideration all of the comments he heard while on the ship in Zuiderdam.  As members approaching the 3000 days at sea mark, we feel that our input and experience counts for something.  We sent a list to the President of HAL of 49 cutbacks that we had compiled over the 128 days of this voyage.  If we get a response other than a typical form letter, we shall let you all know. 

 

Until next time, thanks for following the blog and for your constructive comments along the way.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #133 Friday May 12, 2023 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Disembarkation Day Port Side To Pier 26 Mostly Sunny And Warm 85 Degrees High Humidity With Some Wind

 

The Zuiderdam slipped into Port Everglades quite early this morning, turned, then docked port side at Pier 26, where the Amsterdam usually docked.   It seemed like we just left here, but that was 128 days ago.  Time sure has a way of flying on by, doesn't it?  Despite it still being dark outside, it felt like it was going to be a nice day.  At least it wasn't raining as had been predicted. 

 

Of course we had been up early, even though we had a later departure time.  Around 6am, we went outside on the veranda to see what was happening down below, and were surprised to see an ambulance, lights flashing, and a fire truck at the lower gangway.  The EMT's had a stretcher ready at the bottom of the stairs, and three more fellows were helping a man down those stairs.  He was loaded quickly, then his companion or wife climbed in the front seat of the ambulance and away they went to the hospital we assume.  Asking friends later, no one seemed to know about this pick up, so it may have been something recent that occurred.  There was a lot more activity happening, but we would watch that later. 

 

We did not want to miss our last breakfast in our special spot, but what made it even better was seeing Barb come into the room to join us.  Last night, we had suggested she meet us, but getting up early is not in her routine.   It was a good time for her to enjoy doubles on the fresh-squeezed orange juice.  Her luggage tag number had been called a half hour later, so she rocket-dogged out of the dining room, but not before Danu and Andri could give her a proper hug.  She really does not like sad goodbyes, so we all said we would see her later, God-willing, and the creek don't rise. It's something we say every night when we head back to our rooms.  You would think we all live in Little House on the Prairie, and so far, the creek has not risen…..

 

The best place for us to wait our turn to go off, was in our room and the veranda.  It was a zoo down on the dock with all of the luggage being taken off with forklifts.  The majority of it was being loaded into trucks with the Luggage Forward tags on them.  It was great knowing that these suitcases did not need to be claimed and hauled through customs.  Bet the porters did not like that.  For those guests who did not get the free shipping or chose to take their stuff on the plane or by car, they did have to claim their bags. 

 

Along with the luggage, there were big deliveries of food and supplies for the trans-Atlantic sailing.  It looked about the same amount of products that we loaded back in January, indicating the ship is probably full. 

 

So with our hand carry bags over-loaded, we went off the ship when our tags were called.  That was about 10am, fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.   A double line of officers said goodbye to us, including the Captain, Henk, and Maja among others.  Although we did see a lot of Maja, we did not run into Henk that often.  He had his hands full with this cruise and that is an understatement.  Maybe that was why he had a look of relief on his face.  Christel had told us that he will be flying to Montreal for a big HAL pow-wow today, coming back in Europe for a short time, then it would be vacation time. 

 

Most of the luggage in the terminal had been picked up already, since we were the last group to be called.  We went directly to the Customs' desk with virtually no line.  The friendly official greeted us and asked for the passports, which he scanned.  Then he took a facial recognition photo with a very small camera mounted above his window.  Easy-peasy, we were free to go.

 

Once outside the HAL reps guided us to an area to wait for our bus ride to the hotel.  There were only seven of us going to the Renaissance West, and the bus left at 10:25am.  Just as we were backing out, we spotted some people we knew that had to leave the ship in Mauritius for a family emergency.  We are guessing they were here to collect more of their luggage since they live close by.  We also saw some folks we know getting ready to board the ship for the trans-Atlantic voyage and beyond. 

 

We arrived to the hotel by 10:40am, but found it was too early to access our room.  By the way, the lobby was filled with new passengers on their way to the Zuiderdam.   Once their entire group was present, the rooms would be ready.  We had been told it might be shortly after 11am to get our room, but it really was closer to noontime before they became available.  It was worth the wait, since we were given a nice remodeled room on the 9^th floor with a great view.  Unloading what little we had brought with us, we were off for a much- needed walk, which led to our lunch destination.  It felt like a long haul to Chili's on University Avenue, but we think that was due to the 80 degree weather and high humidity.  We are not used to that yet.  We ordered salads which were refreshing, also downed two large Coke Zeros with lemon. 

 

We headed back to the hotel taking some photos of course along the way.   Back at the hotel we caught up on emailing and downloading computer stuff, also relaxing while watching some TV.  Knowing we have to be up before the chickens tomorrow, we decided to walk to Bokampers for a light dinner at 6pm and turn in early.  We will need to meet our driver in the lobby at 4:15am for the transfer to the Ft. Lauderdale airport, which is fairly close by.  On a Saturday morning , there should be little traffic. 

 

So sweet dreams……

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #132 Thursday May 11, 2023 Day #6 Of 6 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sunny And Warmer 70+ Degrees Calm Seas And Little Wind

 

Well, here we are on the last day of the cruise, writing the last report of the voyage.  It seems that no matter when the time change occurs, we are still up with the chickens.  Today we woke up to balmy weather…..mostly blue skies with white fluffy clouds on the horizon and really humid.  Sure feels like Florida.

 

Breakfast saw deck three in the dining room about full of our Breakfast Club.  We are going to miss this the most.  We will have one more breakfast in here, but at 6:30am.  One more day of being spoiled. 

 

Back at our room, we had the last set of itinerary stickers for the Journeys booklet.  Adding up the five major segments, we came up with a total of 33,798.1 nautical miles sailed.  However, converting that to statute miles, the number rose to 38,867.82 miles.  We think that is way more than just circling the globe, since we did a lot of south to north traveling this time as well.   What a journey.

 

The morning highlight was the Grand Crew Farewell.  Ian announced that the World Stage would be opened at 9am with showtime to begin at 10am.  Once again, the Rolling Stone Lounge was open for live-streaming of the event.  We could not locate the show on the room TV, although it was shown later in the afternoon. It was quite similar to the crew farewell we attended for the Tales of the South Pacific last fall, except there were more ports obviously.   As each port was flashed on the big screen, there was some applause.  However, we did hear some boo's when they showed both The Gambia and Senegal.  Also Mozambique gathered some negative vibes.   Guess the folks were not thrilled with these stops.  Actually, Dakar, Senegal never happened because we were kept on the ship.  The show ended with the crew and staff coming on the stage, and the crowd clapped for what seemed like forever.  They are the best crew on the high seas in our opinion. 

 

Final activities took place during the day like jackpot bingo, poker tournaments, team trivia, arts and crafts, coloring classes, and most exercise sessions.  We have never noticed if there was a yoga class on this cruise, by the way.  If you haven't learned to dance with the Zuiderdam dancers, then you had your last chance today.  A final movie was shown in the Rolling Stone Lounge called Seriously Red.  It looks like these movies will be included in the movies on demand on the room TV from now on. 

 

We finished the last of the packing, which was only one bag.  It might have weighed a tad over 50 pounds, but it is what it is.  We will lock it up and put it out in the hall after dinner.  In anticipation of a lot of luggage movement, three of the elevators were shut down in the aft area.  Did us good to go down three flights to the upper dining room.

 

Dinnertime was bitter-sweet, of course, with the good-byes.  But first, the menu was a little strange as it was titled "Chef's Surprise".  The surprise was, according to Barb, was there was nothing to eat.  We chose the Dutch pea soup and one appetizer that had real potato salad.  It came with herring, so that was donated to Greg, who loves herring.  For main entrees there were lobster and crab pie, haggis, venison, and a vegetarian stuffed cabbage roll, as well as the usual everyday items.  We both had the meatloaf and it was very good.  Oscar was sweet enough to bring a plate of piping hot French fries for all of us to snack on.  Barb had the lemon shrimp fettucine but ate mostly the shrimp like she always does.  No wonder she manages to stay slim, even though she did enjoy the little carrot cupcake.  It was frozen chocolate yogurt for us. 

 

Usually when it comes to the end of this final dinner, Barb becomes "rocket dog", as she was aptly named by retired purser and friend Peter.  She hates to say good-bye.  Anyway, people began to stop by asking if we were on next year, and they would see us then.  One by one, more friends came and we all had a group hug and that was that.  So long until the next voyage.

 

There was no entertainment in the World Stage, but the music walk would keep folks happy.  We rather doubt that many will stay up late, because tomorrow will be a busy day beginning early.  We heard there were only 20 guests staying on for the next voyage which goes to Europe.  Everyone else will be newbies.

 

And for the last time, we had one hour back on the clocks, eventually giving us back the day we lost while crossing the International Dateline months ago. 

 

We will be up early as we usually are but will not be debarking until after 10am we are told.  Fine and dandy with us.

 

Thanking you for tagging along with us on another Grand World Voyage!  Stay tuned…we will be back for the final report and a follow-up.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #131 Wednesday May 10, 2023 Day #5 Of 6 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sunny And Warmer 70+ Degrees Calm Seas And Little Wind

 

We enjoyed another special breakfast with friends this morning, realizing our days are numbered now.  One of the best decisions made by re-locating our group to this area was brilliant.  Waiters Andri and Danu along with Sugi have been the best ever.  Hope we are lucky enough to have them back on future cruises. 

 

Another positive thing was being able to put our luggage outside in the hallway after 8am this morning.  We asked our room steward who was hauling the bags to the elevator lobby, and he said they were.  We saw the hand trucks filled with luggage as we left the elevator, but they were gone quickly afterwards.  Last night at dinner, Rene told us that deck A was going to be filled  from end to end with the luggage baskets that will be taken off with forklifts in Ft. Lauderdale.  And now that we have all day tomorrow until 11pm to put out the last bag, there should be no parade of suitcases being hauled down the hallway during the late evening.   Our drawers and closets are about empty now as we saved only what we needed for a few days. 

 

The weather has warmed up a bit and the sun was mostly out today.   There were scattered clouds on the horizon, but the seas had flattened out.  No more "white horses" or deep swells like we have been experiencing the last four days.  Always good for walking, we did just that with a few elderly gentlemen whose wives must have kicked them out of their room so they can pack, we assume.   After being here for over four months, you come to know the usual walkers, and these fellows were not among the ones we know.    We did spot some more flying fish, but no birds yet.  Guess we are not close to any land.  

 

The Crew Talent Show in the World Stage at 2pm was packed to the gills.  The overflow went to the Rolling Stone Lounge to watch the show on the TV.  There were some pretty talented crew members having a fine time on the stage.  We expect they get a lot of practice in the crew quarters especially with the karaoke equipment. 

 

While dropping off some library books, we ran into Christel and had a long conversation regarding the cruise and the direction it took due to cutbacks.  The bottom line was that with over 500 passengers sailing with their future cruise credit from the 2020 GWV cancellation, it was impossible for this cruise to make any profit.  We suspected that from the beginning.  She has truly enjoyed her stay on the ship ever since she boarded in Freemantle, Australia.  It was so much different than being the Guest Relations Manager, and she admitted it was so nice to be free to come and go, especially in the ports.  On the day we crossed paths while in Eidfjord,  Christel had hiked the same trail we did, and was on her second trip.  As it turned out, she did it three times….making that 15 kilometers.  And she did admit to sleeping quite well that evening.

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill seated at a nice table for two at the window.  It was surprising to see how many people were dining in there, but we did notice that many were President's Club members and were probably using up their freebies.  Even though they had run out of the buttermilk dressing for the wedge salads, we had their substitute ranch along with some balsamic vinaigrette.   It didn't look pretty, but it was tasty.  We ordered one filet mignon and one ribeye steak.  Both were delicious……tender and tasty.  We saved a little room for desserts of sorbet and a chocolate souffle.  By then, most of the restaurant had emptied out.  Unknown to us, friends Mike and Pauline must have been sitting on the other side, and stopped  to say goodbye, just in case we do not see them tomorrow.  Since they live in Florida, they will be driving home.  We gave them a hug and said our goodbyes, promising to talk on the phone during the summertime.  They will be doing the New England and Iceland cruise, then will be back on the 2024 Grand World Voyage….good news.

 

There was a performance tonight by Lisa Harman playing the piano and belting out some songs.  Then there was the music walk with farewell songs, rock classics, and Beethoven Spring Sonata.  Never a lack of things to see and do.

 

Heo had mentioned there was a new movie being shown on TV called Wild Mountain Thyme, so we might just watch it.

 

One more day at sea, and we will be in Florida.

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

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Report # 130 Tuesday May 9, 2023 Day #4 Of 6 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mostly Sunny With Some Clouds Some Wind And Calmer Seas 65 Degrees And Warmer

 

The weather had improved quite a lot as the ship continues to head southwest towards Florida.  Doing at least 20 knots, it feels like a thundering herd of horses heading back to the stables.  We figured that as long as the movement on the ship was fairly stable, it was a good time to fill some suitcases.  We use a nifty hand-held scale that works rather accurately weighing the bags.  If the ship is moving up and down too much, the weight may fluctuate.  This morning it was working OK as the sea swells were not that bad.  And for those folks who do not have the hand-held device, there was a digital scale set up near the front desk.

 

We managed to complete six of our eight pieces of luggage, keeping them a bit underweight just in case.  Now we wondered how soon we could put them outside in the hall to be picked up.  And had the decision been made whether or not we would have to gather and drag the Luggage Forward bags through customs?   A quick phone call to the front desk folks answered those questions. 

 

We would be able to put the luggage outside by 8am tomorrow morning, with the final pieces out by 11pm Thursday evening.   And the greatest news of the day was that the shipped luggage would not have to be gathered and pulled through customs.  Now if we had any pieces of luggage we were bringing home with us on the airplane, we would have to go through customs with those.  We chose to go luggage-free and not haul anything on the plane except hand-carrys.   

 

Instead of flying home the day we disembark we had decided to stay one night in Ft. Lauderdale and fly out the next morning. Really alleviates the stress of getting off early to catch a flight.  That way we will not be in the middle of horrible traffic when we land in San Francisco.  We booked the hotel stay with transfers with HAL, so our disembark time will be 10:15am, among the last ones to get off.  The disembarkation package was promised to be delivered either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.  It was in our mail slot within an hour after calling. 

 

We took a nice long walk on the promenade deck around 5:15pm, mostly to see how the folks were dressed for the final formal evening in the dining room.  It appeared that the majority of guests followed the dress suggestion, while a few did not.   If HAL had not changed the description of formal to gala, then gala to dressy, and the usual country club casual, perhaps more people would stick to the suggested code for the various evenings.  We understand the trend is changing to almost 100% casual, but many folks like to dress up and we hope this tradition does not go by the wayside.  

 

Doesn't take much to make us happy as we saw some flying fish this afternoon while on our walk.  We began seeing those chunks of green algae floating by, followed by some tiny flying fish.  Patiently we watched for more, and they did get larger…. evidence that the water is warming up the closer we get to Florida.  Hoping for dolphin sightings would have been the frosting on the cake.  Did not see any of those……at least not yet.

 

A couple of interesting events occurred today with a Q&A session with Captain Frank.  Greg attended and said the questions were very good, and his answers on some subjects were acceptable.  A very sensitive question was asked regarding the situation we were in while stopping in Senegal in West Africa.  As you may recall, none of us were allowed off of the ship that day.   Apparently there was some confrontation with the locals and the Captain, who refused to deal with them.  That is probably one reason the containers meant for us were not released.  Not all of it was food, but supplies and furniture etc.  Non-perishables.  The Captain suggested that other HAL ships were due to stop there, and they may be able to take possession of some of the items.  That is, if they are still there and not pilfered.  That area was not our favorite part of the world cruise for sure.

 

The other event was the Guest Talent Show.  Hoping it would be televised at 2pm, we could not find it on the room TV.  Since we were in the middle of packing, we did not want to quit to go to the show lounge.  We did hear that there were a few good singers among the passengers.

 

And as we have already said, it was formal for dinner tonight – the final one.  This afternoon, two Delft plates for the 150^th year of Celebrating Holland America Line were left on our bed.  Printed on them were the words, 2023 Grand World Voyage.  Unfortunately, there was no itinerary printed on the plates this time.  Since there had been so many changes with ports deleted and some added, they never would have gotten them correct.   Funny story…..one year not too long ago, the plate-makers in the Netherlands got the wrong year and itinerary completely.  That summer, they mailed us corrected plates.  Guess the incorrect ones may become a collector item someday. 

 

Our table was hosted by our friend Rene, the spa manager, but we were missing Woody.  Apparently, he had miscalculated the time, and was so late, he must have decided not to come.  Our waiter Nik tried calling him but got no answer.  Barb got worried that something was wrong and went right to his room.  Oscar, our head waiter followed.   Afraid that Woody may have had an accident,  Oscar got the room steward to open the door.  He was OK, but definitely not dressed for dinner.  As it turned out, he must have decided it was too late to join us, and never did come.  Oscar said he would see to it that he had room service for his dinner.  You'll never find crew members like we have here, and all of us appreciate it.

 

So the starters were fishy, like bay shrimp cocktails, fish chowder, and a mixed croquette.  The usual formal entrees included surf and turf and a type of shrimp ball with Dover sole.  Expecting the Dover sole that needed to be de-boned, this dish was far from that.  It looked like two eyeballs on the plate with sides of veggies.  The sole had been wrapped around a shrimp ball.  Creative and tasty we suppose, it did give us all a chuckle.  One of us had the" formal" cheeseburger and savored every bite along with the hot French fries. Fancy desserts were available, but we had one jello and a frozen chocolate yogurt.  Pavlova and a fruit plate for the rest ended the meal nicely. 

 

There were two choices of entertainment after dinner., as well as the venues in the Music Walk.  One was a Grand Masquerade party in the Crow's Nest at 9pm, while the other was a performance by the singers and dancers with Simply Broadway.  We would wager a bet that the show in the World Stage might have drawn the bigger crowd. 

 

As expected, the clocks went back one more hour tonight.  Now we have one more to go to be on Florida time or Eastern Standard Time.   And waiting for us on the bed was a letter from Gus Antorcha, President of HAL saying that he was grateful for the fact we chose to sail with them.  He thanked everyone that provided feedback, including praise and critique while he was on the ship recently.  He added that they are already working on ways for the next Grand Voyages to be even more special. And he said that they will be finalizing changes for the future cruises based on our feedback.   He added that he was proud of the genuine connection the guests had with the crew and officers.  We strongly agree.

 

This was good news to read, since it does make a difference speaking up and questioning changes.  If not, nothing would ever have a chance of improving.  Some may consider this whining; however, we see the comments (good, bad, and ugly) as constructive criticism.  A large group of our friends that have up to 20 Grand World Voyages under their belts like us, are on the same page as we are.  We will not be seeing everything through rose-colored glasses or accept these cutbacks and deletions quietly.

 

Two more sea days left now, and we hope the Atlantic Ocean will be smoother as the swells and winds did pick up later in the day.  

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report # 129 Monday May 8, 2023 Day #3 Of 6 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mostly Sunny With Some Clouds Some Wind And Calmer Seas 65 Degrees And Warmer

We actually woke up to mostly blue skies this morning.   The seas have calmed down quite a bit, which is so much better for packing.   Walking was pleasant on the promenade deck, which we managed to do twice today.  We could count the walkers each time on one hand, so we are certain people are beginning to pack.   Last night we got a notice regarding wheelchair service for disembarkation day.  A last- minute request for mobility service, unless it is due to a recent accident perhaps, cannot be accommodated.  Only guests who have been noted and confirmed to use utility devices throughout the Grand World Voyage will be honored. 

 

On our morning hike, we stopped briefly to look over the side, and discovered dolphins swimming under the ship.  They never did jump out of the water but stayed under the surface.  They are so fast, if we had looked a few seconds later, we would have missed them.   Then there were none.  Funny how we sensed they were even there.  The water is still too cold for flying fish, which was what we had hoped to see.

 

There are two speakers on board – one lecturing on how folklore can save the world.   His name is Dr. John Bodner.   The afternoon speaker dealt with libraries and librarians.  Her name is  Crystal Rose.   A movie was shown in the Rolling Stone Lounge called The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu.  We never did attend a show in there, so we missed out on the popcorn.  Darn.

 

There were a couple of casino poker events, but from what we have gathered, the casino has not been the busiest spot on the ship.  One thing we have not seen on this trip are art auctions.  There is an art cubbyhole, but it's seldom manned. 

 

Two more Mariner Brunches took place in the lower dining room today – one at 11am, and the second at 1pm.  There was no regular lunch served in the dining room, so we could not order something different from room service for lunch.    It was soup and a shared club sandwich for us. 

 

Dinner time found all six of us present, sharing news of the day.  We think we were correct that there will not be a crew show, but there will be a passenger talent show tomorrow afternoon.  Dinner selections were better with appetizers of chicken tenders with a grainy mustard dip.  Every one of us ordered it, which has to be a first.  And it did not disappoint.   Mains were the Club Orange chicken, and one Chef Neil's cheeseburger, one of the best of the cruise so far.  Oscar even brought a plate of piping hot French fries for Bill, knowing how much we prefer hot food.  It was a generous pile, so he shared.  Oscar saw this and brought another large plate full of fries.   Then his cheeseburger came with the basket of skinny fries.  So much for limiting the carbs…..  Desserts were jello and passionfruit sorbet, quite different from the other flavors, it takes some getting used to. 

 

We noticed that the sun was just going down on the horizon as we left the dinner table.  It was close to 9:30pm, indicating the reason we will need to set the clocks back one hour tonight.  Now we have two more hours back to be correct for Florida. 

 

During the afternoon, we compiled a list of changes we have noticed with the 2023 Grand World Voyage.   We will be posting the full list towards the end of this cruise. 

 

Looking at the ship's location, it appears we are about even with Bermuda, but still far out at sea.  Currently, the ship is doing 21 knots, which is quite fast.  Could it be that we will be arriving earlier than expected in Florida, or will we be slowing down the closer we get?   Time will tell.  And so goes the third day at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report # 128 Sunday May 7, 2023 Day #2 Of 6 Sea Days Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Overcast Skies With Strong Winds 8 Foot Swells Temps 60-65 Degrees

 

The days are flying by now as the end of this voyage approaches rapidly.  It was very rough last night, setting off those inside elevator weights banging during the wee hours of the night.  We suppose not everyone hears this noise, so it must depend on where your room is located.   The 8- foot swells remained with us through the night, and we woke up to overcast skies.  The rain had stopped and stayed away for the rest of the day.  This seems to be typical weather here as we recall.

 

It was another day of "final time to use this service," referring to the last morning (today) to turn in your laundry in hopes of getting it back before we leave.  The laundry team expected voluminous requests in order for the guests to take most everything home clean and folded.   In addition to that, there were numerous promotional sales in the Shops and spa.  Only certain brands if watches were being promoted, but not the really high-end ones.   We find it odd that the jewelry shop salespeople for Effy offer deals hand over fist if you show the slightest interest in any one of their items.   But not the watch salesman.  As is the case with any significant purchase, it is wise to do some internet searching prior to buying anything.  And we always have to remember there is no tax here….duty free up to a certain amount.

 

At 11am, there was a Mariner's Brunch in the main dining room for the high day Mariners. We had received an invitation marked President's Club leading us to think a special area of the dining room was set for this group. At least that is how it worked on past grand voyages. Prior to this brunch, we traditionally attended a metal awarding ceremony , where all of the new metal awardees were honored, then we were led to an assigned table hosted by a member of the staff or an officer. Now that is gone. Those who were invited simply lined up outside the doors and sat wherever they wished. From talking to friends, a married couple, one of whom received a 500 day medallion, was invited to an awards ceremony in the Crow's Nest a few days ago with only others who were getting the same award. His wife, who is already in President's Club, was not invited. Go figure….. 

 

Do any of you remember the Farewell Cocktail Reception where the medallion awardees were called to the stage and had their photos taken with the Captain and Hotel Manager?   At that time drinks and canapies were served in the Queen's Lounge, and it was a memorable affair.  Now that is gone too.  We are well aware that not everyone wants to hear about these changes, but they are what they are.  And speaking for ourselves, we hate to see these traditions die by the wayside.  And from what we hear from other friends, we all agree once these events are gone, they will never come back.

 

This is just a rumor at this point, but we heard that there will not be a Filipino or Indonesian Crew Show.  The reason is that the crew members are a mix of many more nationalities these days and just doing those two shows would be considered discrimination.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it……  If the rumor is untrue, we will let you all know.

 

Our day was filled with more packing, which is good not trying to do it all at the last minute.  Most of the small stuff is done, and now we just have to distribute everything among the eight suitcases.  One thing for sure is that we won't have to stress over the weight of the gifts we received this trip.  They were fewer than ever, and the heaviest items had to be the duffel bags.  Today we got the limited- edition Delft tile celebrating the 150 years of Holland America Line.    Barb nicely donated hers to us because she always does.  There should be one more gift coming on the final formal night.  Our wild guess is that is will be a Delft plate….or not, who knows?

 

We got to take two long walks on the promenade deck today since the ropes were down finally.  We were almost alone out there except for the deck workers picking up a few lounge pads that they had put out in the morning.  Guess everyone is packing.

 

Dinner was fun tonight because we had company.  It is nice sometimes to have a full table of eight as it makes the conversation go around better.  Dinner choices were not that great, but the starters were better.  We had the arancini with marinara sauce, a Caesar salad with the dressing on the side now (less soggy), and mains of meat tortellini and lamb loin.  The best part of the lamb dinner was the scalloped potatoes.  Desserts were frozen chocolate yogurt and strawberry sherbet.  Heo mentioned that he is already cutting back on the carbs, but everyone else decided they would think about meal cutbacks when we get home. 

 

The entertainer tonight was Jim David, an outrageous comedian who has been seen on Comedy Central Presents.   It was either that or a barn or line dance in the Rolling Stone Lounge.

 

Day two at sea – over.  But there are four more to go.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No PIctures

Report # 127 Saturday May 6, 2023 Day #1 Of 6 Sea Days Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida Heavy Overcast With Afternoon Rain Showers And High Winds 60 degrees

 

Today was one of invites and packing.  It was breakfast as usual for us, but we have been going a little later, but well before closing time.  As far as the weather was concerned, it was a dismal day with overcast skies and temperatures in the 60's.  It was far from warm due to the high winds blowing across the decks.  As we recall, this is expected during this time of year as we venture further west crossing the Atlantic Ocean.  

 

We were not able to walk the promenade during the day because we found every exit roped off.   We have had much more severe winds on previous cruises, but they must be using extreme precautions with this group pf passengers. Later in the day, it began to rain, and did not let up.  Depressing.

 

But there were invites to brighten the day.  The first was a combined President's Club Members and Pinnacle and Neptune Suite Guests invitation to an Indonesian "Rijsttafel" lunch at 11am in the upper dining room.  During breakfast, we spotted the table decorations of specially-folded napkins resembling birds.  The word Rijsttafel itself is really Dutch and means "rice table".  The meal includes many side dishes in little portions, but including rice of some sort.  We have been to a special private occasion on a cruise years ago that included over 26 side dishes.  The wait staff dressed in Indonesian garb, really making it special.   However, we did not attend today due to the fact one of us is sensitive to the slightest shellfish ingredient that is often used in the cooking of this dish.  Even alerting them to this problem, one of us is not certain the message always gets to the right cook.  Better to be safe than sorry. 

 

The other invitation was a farewell reception for President's Club members in the Gallery Bar at 6:30pm.  It was attended by the Captain and some of the officers and staff.   And we heard they served some nice canapies and beverages of your choice.   Guess we shall say our goodbyes sometime during the last few days we have onboard.  And we don't need a drink to do it.

 

We had a phone call from the front desk folks reminding us we have money to spend.  Hopefully we are not alone with non-refundable credit, and more folks are in the Shops looking to spend it.  That way the salespeople will not be on our heels so much as they have been recently.  If we need help, we will gladly ask for it. 

 

Dinner found most of us there.  The only one missing was Barb, who is always…we mean always there first.  It was nearing 8pm when she came into the dining room after attending the party in the Gallery Bar.  And she was really upset with us because we did not go.  She did not accept the excuse that one of us had to re-arrange the sock drawer.  She did have friends she knew there, including Woody who has been doing everything on his own since Susie went home on a medical debark.  He will certainly be busy packing for the next week as they come prepared for the world cruise with everything except the kitchen sink. 

 

Anyway, it has been two days since we saw our tablemates and we discussed the two islands of the Azores we saw and enjoyed.  Apparently, none of us have been to the last port before this trip.  Sometimes smaller in size can be more rewarding.

 

The entertainer this evening was Lisa Harman, a vocalist and pianist performing some of the music from the greatest vocalists and pianists worldwide. 

 

So much for day one at sea.  Five more to go, and as this is being written, it is getting rougher outside. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report #126 Friday May 5, 2023 Praia Di Vitoria, Portugal 7am-5pm Docked Starboard Side To Pier And Town Morning Showers Clearing In The Afternoon 65 Degrees

 

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

The ship arrived at about 7am to the port of Praia di Vitoria, the capital city of Terceira, Azores.  Once again, there were early morning showers blanketing the hillsides, coming down to the water's edge where we were docked.  At one point, we even saw a rainbow.  Thinking that today was going to be a repeat of yesterday, we were pleasantly surprised when the clouds broke up and the sun came out.  The breeze was warm and welcoming.  We guessed the temperature was in the high 60's.

 

We cannot recall being here before, but there is no guarantee that we haven't.  Usually when in a new port, we always took a tour.  So it is possible that we went up high, and missed seeing the city.  When we get home, we can dig in the archives to see if we have stopped here on past cruises. 

 

Since the Zuiderdam was docked in a container port, a free shuttle was provided for a 20 minute ride to the old town.  Getting off by 11am, we boarded the shuttle which filled with mostly crew members by this time.  The tour groups had left much earlier.  There were six excursions in total beginning with Terceira Island & City of the Lords for $110 and 7 hours.  Terceira Island highlights with a lunch was 6 ¾ hours for $120, while a 4 x 4 ride over the island was $120 for 3 ¾ hours.  Island highlights was $90 for 4 ½ hours and panoramic Praia was $70 for 3 hours.   There was a tour called Terceira audio-guided siteseeing for $500 for 5 ½  hours, but we think that price must have been a mistake.  

 

We had done a little research before leaving, but only got a few facts.  The city was built in the mid 15^th century and there were two main churches.  The population in 2011 was 21,035 people and many summertime travelers come here to surf.  It was also recommended to drink only bottled water.  And that is the extent of all we know.

 

The bus followed the rural coastline passing numerous fields with cows in them.  The grassy weeds were so plush, the cattle were being used as lawn mowers.  Closer to town, the bus began going uphill towards the higher end of town.  Not familiar with the area, and not having any luck finding a map, we began our walk downhill, but towards the hillsides on the left.  This led us past some schools and a gentle walk down towards the water.  We passed by an iconic building that we had seen on the TV port talk.  Not sure what it represented , we took photos in hopes that we could put a name to it later on if we found a map.   Never did find one by the way.

 

Further down the street, we came across a wetlands park full of ducks and other water birds.  Blue flowers dotted the banks of the fresh waterway, and at a closer look, we discovered they were deep violet/blue morning glories.  We can grow these at home during the summer if we can keep the plants away from the grazing deer.   Following this park until it ended, we came upon a carved-out hillside where a huge monument sat on top of the bluff.  Running into some ladies from the ship, we were told that the statue was of Santa Maria or Mother Mary.  One of the ladies said someone they knew tried to hike up the switch-back trail, but came back within minutes saying that the steps were uneven and steep.  And with the lack of a hand railing, he decided not to try it.  There was a road that went up there, so they took that instead.   We had no desire to climb to the top and were perfectly happy to take pictures from down below.  And besides, the all aboard time was 4:30pm today, so time was limited. 

 

This area happened to be the start of the marina where many sailboats were moored.   An additional area had been created with sand to make some beachfront.  It was lined with a spacious plaza that would fill up with folks in the summertime we suspect.  Along this waterfront were several cafes and restaurants.  In hindsight, we should have looked at the menus and stayed down here, because there were no crowds of people.  Most of the passengers would not walk down this far.

 

The church steeples were in view from here, so we began going uphill to see them.  Another friendly couple suggested we see the one painted white with blue trim, since a service was in progress there.  We did go inside this one to discover two separate altars, but the service was completed.  At least this church was opened to the public unlike many other we have recently seen from the outside only.  Close by was the second church, but it was closed.

 

We had located a pizza restaurant online somewhere in this vicinity, but failed to write down the street name.  We happened upon the main pedestrian cobbled street where many small shops and cafes were opened for all of the cruise ship people.   Looking up and down every narrow side street, we never did find the restaurant or anything suitable for lunch.  Heading back up this main street, we ended up close to the bus drop-off.  Running into Bob and Martha, we pointed out the direction they needed to go to see most of the sights.  Actually the better part of the walk was where we had begun at the wetlands.

 

The bus was ready to leave, so we jumped on and went back to the ship by 2pm.  It was room service lunch for us, which was good as always.  Perfect time to work on photos, we took a break when the sun came around to our side of the ship.  It was nice to be able to get warmed up on the veranda again. 

 

The ship left the port around 5pm and headed out to sea and on the way back towards the good old USA.  We were so involved with looking for birds and possibly dolphins that we missed the sail away wine and cheese party in the Lido poolside.  Knowing it would be really crowded with the "free" wine offered, we were happy not to attend.  We saw birds, probably shearwaters,  by the thousands flying low over the water.  This usually means there are small fish on the surface, and larger things feeding on the fish deeper under the water.  And that's when we saw them…..dolphins.  They were swimming towards the ship and diving under it.  They were fast as could be, but we did manage to snap some shots of them jumping.  As quickly as they appeared, they were gone just as fast.  Having patience paid off this time. 

 

Dinner for us was in the Canaletto, which we have been meaning to do for months now.  The menu was not so appealing to us in the dining room, so early in the day, we booked reservations in the Italian restaurant.  We began with the Canaletto salads, along with a shared bowl of delicious veal meatballs in a very hot tomato sauce.   Our mains were the lamb chops cooked to perfection.  They came on a bed of fried cornmeal polenta and went well with the reduction of lamb gravy.  Saving a little bit of room for dessert, we had the Nutella tarts with a chocolate mousse on the top.  For a change, it was a nice treat.  And the restaurant was not crowded at all.

 

The best gift was putting the clocks back one hour tonight.  We will have three more time changes before we arrive to Ft. Lauderdale.  Then three more when we fly to California.  Not looking forward to that.

 

Tomorrow will begin the six day journey across "The Pond" as it is often called.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

266 Pictures

Report #125 Thursday May 4, 2023 Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores.. Portugal 8am-10pm Port Side To Pier And Town Rain Showers On And Off All Day 62 Degrees No Wind

 

Well, we happen to be back in Portuguese territory with our visit to Ponta Delgada, Azores.  Located on the 40 mile long and 9 mile wide island of Sao Miguel, Ponta Delgada is the capital of this autonomous region of Portugal.  According to a 2014 census, there are about 246,772 people that speak Portuguese as well as some English.  What you will find in this part of the world are islands that have granite peaks, lush valleys, old wine estates, and gorgeous blue and green lakes created by the calderas of ancient volcanoes.  Dormant, we hope.  Located 1000 miles off of the coast of Portugal, these islands have endured earthquakes and volcanic eruptions over the centuries.  Originally built on the fishing industry, these days you can find exports of oranges, tea, wine, cereals, veggies and dairy products.  Pineapples, also called ananas here, are a major export.  In addition, there are the sugar refineries as well as liquor distilling.  And during a certain time of the year, it is a great place for whale-watching.  

 

The ship's tours included the best of the Azores – valleys and hot springs for $190 for 8 hours.  Two excursions that were 3 ¾ hours in duration were Lire Lake and Ribiera Grande for $70, and a taste of the Azores was $90.  Two other tours that were 3 ½  hours were off the beaten track for $120 and Sete Cidades Crater Lake for $70.  We have been to this island more than a few times, but it has been many years ago.  We did take this crater lake tour and it was most impressive.  We got lucky and the fog and rain stopped long enough to see the deep color of the water.

 

This is probably a good time to mention the weather which was not the best today.   We docked by 8am with passing showers, and they continued through most of the day.  It was one of those days that the umbrellas went up and down, but we were glad that we had them.   It was not cold with temperatures in the 60's.  And for the first time in weeks, it was slightly humid. 

 

Just as we were tied up, the Seadream II docked right next to us.  Size-wise, she is a baby compared to us.  Part of the Seadream Yacht Club, this vessel is 4333 gross tons and used to be the Seabourn Goddess II and also the Sea Goddess II.  It was bought by Seadream in 2002.  She holds up to 112 passengers with a crew of 95.  We did notice there were no balcony cabins, but have no doubt, their product is luxury experience. 

 

We went off of the ship by 11am, and headed through the terminal building.  That brought us out into the Portas do Mar along the waterfront marina with shopping, restaurants, bars, sea activities, and entertainment.  Turning left, we followed the marina until we were able to walk up a series of stairs to the main street locating the Information Center.  Although we had gotten a couple of small city maps in the terminal, we were handed a much nicer one here in the main office. 

 

We passed by the Square of Vasco da Gama just as we heard horse hooves hitting the cobblestone streets as they were pulling a fancy carriage with tourists.  Didn't expect to see that, although we recall seeing a tourist train in this area.  We headed towards Fort Sao Bras, which is a military museum these days.  The better photos were outside with the cannons and steep fort walls.  Across the street, we saw St. Joseph's Church as well as hearing the noon church bells ringing.  The churches were all locked up today.  Passing a big square called S.  Francisco, we spotted the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Hope.  A narrow shopping and dining street began here so we continued walking it….carefully as cars were also using this tight street. 

 

Turning uphill, we headed towards a small but pretty park (jardins)  recently planted with summer-blooming flowers.  Across from this garden was the Colegio Church and museum as well as the library and archives.  There seemed to be a group of students milling around here too.  We sort of remembered that the Palace and gardens was up here, so we tried to find the correct streets to access it.  The street names seemed to change with every block, so it was difficult to get our bearings.  By chance we ran into Parque Atlantico, a major and modern shopping mall with three levels of shopping and a food court.  We had been here before and actually had pizza in a Pizza Hut in this same food court.  Back then, it was a full service restaurant, not just take away.   Now there is every recognizable fast food restaurant we have at home in the USA.  

 

It had begun to drizzle outside again, so we wandered into the mall, and walked each level.  We read somewhere that this is the largest and perhaps the only mall in all of the Azore Islands.  From here we did find the Palace Sant'Ana and Jardins Jose do Canto but they were closed.  Just as well, it would be a long walk back downhill.  We have to mention that the pavement and the sidewalks are all created with either cobblestones and small rocks placed on edge.  They create designs with dark and white stones which are really pretty to see.  No two streets are alike, even the narrowest of the side streets have these designs.  The large squares are stunning with these designs.

 

Back down at the main square and St. Sebastian Parish Church, we walked the car-free area taking in the Town Gates and the statue of Velho Cabral.  Aiming for the tall baby blue and white high- rise building, we knew we would locate the Italian restaurant we had "googled" before we left the room.  It was close to 2pm and many of the cafes along the way were over-flowing with diners.  We considered sitting outside in the covered patio, but changed our minds when we saw another series of showers headed this way.   We got a table for two, which our waiter combined with another small table to make more room for us.   Ordering two large Sagres draft beers , we ordered a medium pizza with the base of red sauce and cheese.  We had the option of adding five toppings from a list of 12 items.  That would be pepperoni, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and extra cheese.  Glad we stuck to the medium size this time, because the pizza was heaping with the toppings.  And so good.  We had to chuckle when the outside diners either came inside or sat against the outside front windows to stay dry.   In the meantime, we shared a slice of pineapple cake, the closest we have come to having upside down pineapple cake, a real old- fashioned dessert we may add.  Next to this restaurant was a mini-mall where we used the small amount of euros we had left to buy some little biscotti-like cookies.  

 

The showers let up long enough for us to get back to the ship without getting wet. It had been a fun day of hiking the hills and we were happy to get back to our room by 3:30pm.   Originally, our time to leave here was after 5pm, but that was changed yesterday to 9:30pm.  Dinner had only four us there, as the guys went to the Canaletto with another couple.    We kept dinner light with pea soup, which had sausage and ham diced up in it.  Sure was good, especially on a cool rainy day.  One of us had a Caesar salad with sliced chicken and the other had the pot roast.   We were happy to see rocky road ice cream on the menu, and ordered it.  However when it arrived it looked more like marble fudge.   Still good, it had been mis-marked. 

 

The ship pulled away from the dock by 10pm, leaving behind a very pretty city all lit up in the dark.  And still in the rain.

 

Tomorrow will be our final port for the entire world cruise…..Praia Di Vitoria, Terceira Island, Azores.   Not sure if we have been there before…..

 

Bill & Mary Ann

251 Pictures

Report #124 Wednesday May 3, 2023 Day At Sea Enroute To Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores Sun With Broken Clouds 65 Degrees And Strong Wind Sea State Rough

 

Day two at sea should have been a relaxing one for us, but it sure was not.  After breakfast, we thought it might be a good idea to haul out the luggage from under the bed and under the small desk.  When we had unpacked four months ago, everything was stuffed willy-nilly in each one, such as the shoes bags, large and small zip locks, and the bigger bags we use for the dressy clothes.  We have come to the conclusion that it is the little stuff that takes time to re-pack.  Not the clothing.  It took time to sort through the camera stuff as well as the jewelry pouch.  That job got done, followed by removal of some magnets and the command hooks.  The world map was folded and stored for the next time.  We still have over a week to complete the rest, so doing a little every day is much better than all at once. 

 

Speaking of luggage, Barb had told us last night at dinner that she went to make an appointment with the representative from Luggage Forward, and was told all of his appointments were taken.  What???  So this morning, we went to the front desk to ask the same question.  Guess what?  We were told that exact same thing…..he was booked.  So now what?  It was suggested that we wait to see him in between his 15 minute appointments.  That could go on all day waiting for a break in customers.   This has never happened on past world cruises, especially when HAL had their own rep who had an assistant to help out.  We were never turned away without an appointment.  Too bad that HAL decided to end this service. 

 

By the time we got back to the room, grumbling all of the way, we happened to have a phone call from our personal President's Club manager, who suggested that she could send us the paper work we needed to add two pieces of luggage to our order.   Why didn't they tell us that at the front desk?  Yep, this world cruise has been like no other…….

 

The weather did not stop the "On Deck for a Cause" 5K fundraising walk this morning.   The waves were hitting the ship broadside and causing very wet decks and very wet people if you stayed outside long enough.  As we were still eating our breakfast, we watched as some folks braved it out as they passed by the windows.  There were far fewer people participating today, but that does not mean that many others donated anyway.  No need for the walk.

 

The seas remained rather rough through the night, but at times, we saw clouds and sun off and on all day.  We also had passing showers, and expect much of the same tomorrow while in the Azores.  The temperatures have remained cool, but we do hope to have warmer days ahead.  Wishful thinking.

 

After an invigorating walk outside, we strolled through the Shops to see what was available to purchase.  We still have some credit to spend.  There were so few passengers in there that the sales people were all over us.  We despise that as we are just looking.  It got worse when we walked into the high end jewelry section, mainly because we were the only customers in there.   Whispering a comment between the two of us about a specific collection of jewelry, it was overheard and before we knew it, jewelry cases were being unlocked, and items were presented without asking.  As long as some of the pieces were outside the case, we inquired as to the price.  Their list price was dropped immediately.  Then it was suggested that if we were interested, we could make an offer.  Really?   One would have to know your diamonds and tanzanite in order to make offers like that.  Maybe we will stick to the watches.

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill, where we had requested a table for two by the window like we always do.  The manager told us that the table she reserved for us was still occupied by two folks that were slow in eating.  Just beginning their dessert, she asked if we wanted to wait.  That could be a long time if they were savoring the wine.  We said no, we would take another table.   We chose one that overlooked the atrium for a change and really liked the location.   We could watch the traffic go by on two decks as well as listen to the Ocean Bar music.  As it turned out, the slow-dining couple left the window table 45 minutes after we had arrived.  We had made the right decision not to wait. 

 

We ordered the wedge salads, but were disappointed that the salad dressing was not the same as usual.  It was not the one made with buttermilk, but a substitute sweet ranch dressing.  When our waiter stopped to ask how we liked our salads, we questioned him on the dressing which he admitted was not the same.  He did bring some oil and balsamic vinegar as a substitute, which was really good.  Our mains were one halibut, a ribeye steak, and a shared baked potato.  The steak was every bit as good as the small filet mignon, but perhaps a bit tastier and way bigger for sure.  We only had room for vanilla ice cream and orange sorbet.  And one tray of the chocolate candies they always bring. 

 

Tomorrow we shall be in the Azores, on the island of Sao Miguel and the city of Ponta Delgada. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report #123 Tuesday May 2, 2023 Day At Sea Enroute To Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores Overcast With Rain Showers 52 Degrees And Strong Wind Sea State Rough

 

Everyone was late coming to the Breakfast Club this morning, because sleeping in a bit later was required.  We all needed it at this point of almost steady port after port days.  The weather sure wasn't the best however.  We woke up to very cloudy skies, rough seas, deep swells and temperature in the 50's.  It was not raining yet, but later on this afternoon, it did….a lot.

 

It was a good time to work on photos and reports, hoping the day would improve.  Later in the morning, we did venture outside for a walk on the promenade deck, and realized why people were not outside today.  The portside was dry, but the starboard was getting soaked with the sea spray from the high waves.  If the winds increase, as Captain Frank had suggested, they may have to close these decks off to walkers.  The signs warning of "slippery when wet" scares one of us.

 

This was also a good time to check out the shops for some purchases to use our shipboard credit that is non-refundable.  It's "use it or lose it", and we have no intentions of giving it back to HAL.  There was a time not long ago when we could use this shipboard credit to cover the charges for shipping extra pieces of luggage back home.  That doesn't work anymore because this service is charged to our credit cards if we recall correctly.  We could haul the extra two pieces we have home with us, but if it saves our backs not lugging it to and from the hotel and the airport, then it will be worth sending them with the six ones that are already covered and paid for.   The only other thing we need to keep in mind is making sure each piece of luggage does not weigh over 50 pounds.  Filling them to the brim was a luxury we never expected to lose.  We have four days before we are back to Ft. Lauderdale to make an appointment with "Brian" who is here representing the luggage delivery company.  He will be able to issue two more tags that we will attach to these suitcases.  In a large envelope, we received the 6 tags for the rest of the bags that we stashed under the bed and the small window desk.  We plan to begin packing a little every day and not wait until the last minute.  Today there was even time to start "cleaning house" and throwing all useless papers away that have been saved for we don't know what.

 

The one job of the morning was to pick up the passports between 9 and 10am in the mid elevator lobby.  There was no line at all, and only few passports remained to be picked up.  This is the final time we have to do this as we have already been cleared for Portugal.  The upcoming ports in the Azores belong to Portugal so we are good to go.

 

We had a phone message from Greg that they had been invited to dine with friends Ginni and Rich, so it will be a table for four this evening.  Sometimes this is good, because at least three of us have trouble hearing, and this way, we can sit close together and not be spread at opposite ends of the table.  The menu tonight happened to be the Culinary Council picks.  Barb stuck to her guns and ordered appetizers for starters and her main meal.   That worked out well, as the shrimp appetizer was her main dish.  Nik added her favorite sweet and sour sauce to dip the shrimp.  Oscar came along and cut the tails off, doing everything he could to make her smile.  It worked…..

 

We ordered the tempura shrimp with the salad, then had prime rib.  One was a small end cut, while the other looked like a side of beef it was so large.  I could only eat half of it.  Some one in the kitchen has a liking for cardamom and seasons the most unlikely items with it.  That happened with the mixed veggies, and it was not to our liking.  That same flavor has turned up in other appetizers as well as soups.  The deep- fried mashed potato was good though.  None of us ordered dessert when we placed our orders, but in anticipation, Nik brought several samples of everything.  He knew Bill liked the puffy chocolate pudding-filled crunchy donut dessert and Barb liked the ricotta cheesecake.  Both Woody and I had the red cactus ice cream, which was NOT melted.  How about that?  Now as to the flavor of this unusual ice cream, neither of us could make a guess.  But Woody was most careful to avoid any thorns in it….ha-ha. 

 

Tonight there was a most odd activity happening beginning at 9pm in the Lido Poolside, which had been turned into a bedroom.  Yes, a bedroom….no kidding.  Sort of like a slumber party, but for grown-ups.  And the scariest part was the suggestion of wearing pajamas while enjoying popcorn, cookies, and adult hot drinks, or something stronger if you wish to pay for it.  Three stages would be set up for story-telling.  No, we are not making this up as we go.   They were set for 20 minutes each and were titled once upon woodland, a letter, or a love story.    This sounds more and more like a "Carnival" thing and not an HAL activity.  We can't wait until tomorrow to hear all about it. 

 

The better activity of the evening was turning the clocks back one hour.  Don't you all agree?

 

Another day at sea, and we will be to the Azores, an archipelago 1000 miles west of Portugal.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #122 Monday May 1, 2023 Cobh, Ireland Docked Port Side To The Pier 8am-6pm Overcast With Afternoon Sun 55-65 Degrees

 

The Zuiderdam arrived around 8am to the second and last port in Ireland…….Cobh or Cork.  We actually docked in the port of Cobh, but the intended destination was Cork, a short distance away on a 30 minute train ride.  Back in 2019, this port was also on our itinerary, but we had to bypass the dock and head for nearby Ringaskiddy (funny name huh?) due to the fact that a Royal Caribbean ship had taken our dock in Cobh.   The entire area of this town looked mostly deserted except for a few dock workers.  Boy, would that change later. 

 

As we have mentioned today is a Bank Holiday, so we did not expect much to be opened.  Some of our buddies booked tours, while some opted for the train ride to Cork.   Cobh (pronounced COVE) has a population of 13,000 people and is situated in the Cork Harbor, which happens to be the second largest natural harbor in the world.  Who knew?  We suspect the first largest natural harbor has to be Sydney, Australia. This town is most famous for being the last port that the HMS Titanic left for its fatal voyage Trans-Atlantic on April 11, 1912.  Certainly we all know that story.  In addition to that tragedy, the Cunard liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U Boat 10 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale a short distance from here.  Many rescue workers of Cobh (original name Queenstown) were fishermen from here.  The Old Church Cemetery located high above the town contains three mass graves with 169 victims of that disaster as well as a number of individual plots.  The Lusitania Peace Memorial sits in the center of town. 

 

Shortly after we were docked, several coaches arrived for the tour folks.  Discover Spike Island was $50 for 3 ¼ hours, while Cork's Countryside and Kinsale was $80 for 4 hours.  Panoramic Cork and Jameson Whisky was $100 for 4 hours and Kiss the Barney Stone on County Cork was $110 for 4 hours.  These days, we wonder if the stone is sanitized in between kisses?  Anyway, other tours included were the Cork Cultural Show for $140 and 2 ¼ hours or Waterford City, County and Crystal for $160 for 8 hours.  The last one was exploring Tipperary for $200 and 8 hours.  Or take the train at your own expense to Cork, and do-it-yourself.

 

Or do like us and stay here.  The weather was feeling and looking better today.  It was cool, but not freezing, and although it was overcast, eventually some sun did appear.  Sure made a difference with the photos.  Remember what we said about the town looking deserted?  Well, by 11 am, there were people everywhere.  We happened to be docked portside with a full view of the train station.  We watched as train after train of people came here.  It must be a destination for locals to come here on a holiday like today.   Checking online, we realized there were many cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the immediate area.  Some were closed, but most were not. 

 

We were able to locate the Information Center in town, so that was our first stop.  Spotting us looking for brochures, the nice info ladies asked if they could help us.  Yes, we did need help finding a Cobh map, which was right on the desk.  Opening it up, the docent pointed out the main attractions, and suggested we go uphill and turn right at the main intersection.  She pointed out St. Benedict's Priory, which happened to be used during WW I housing the USA Naval Corps that came here to help.   These days this old historic building is a retreat area for a group of nuns from the Benedictine Order.   There is a lovely garden terraced off of the hillsides named the Bible Garden.  The gardens were opened, but the building was closed for the holiday.  They also serve tea up here on another patio, which was also closed today.

 

Getting up to the Benedict's Priory was quite a trip.  The street we took was as steep as a street gets without having stairs and is lined with a long row of houses called "The Deck of Cards".  Each ornate house is painted in pastel colors, reminding us of the Victorian "Painted Ladies" of San Francisco.  Directly across from these houses is a fabulous French neo- Gothic cathedral by the name of St. Colman's Cathedral, started in 1868 taking 50 years to complete.  The main spire is 300 feet tall with a 49 bell carillon. The bells rang every 15 minutes on the dot.  The interior has stained glass windows, marble carvings, and stonework.  It has to be one of Ireland's most scenic churches.   And the congregation just happened to be conducting a funeral as we entered the side doors.  Several of us quietly stood in the back taking in the interior decorations until we saw the priest  begin the procession down the aisle heading right towards us.   We quietly left by the side doors. 

 

From there, we zigzagged down the narrow streets until we reached the waterfront.  Turning left, we did see the Old Customs House and an old tall stack, now abandoned, that was used for burning coal for power in the old days.  We went past a tiny strip of what they call a beach, and a few restaurants like the Wan Fu, with Chinese cuisine located in the Old Town Hall.  By now, these venues had filled up with people eating lunch or drinking many types of beer.  We even saw signs posted outside the entrances that they were at full capacity.  For that reason, we never did have lunch in town…not even a beer. 

 

We went past the Spike Island booking and ferry departure, where you could go see the isolated island with 1300 years of history.  It began as a 6^th century monastery, and 18^th century fortress, then the world's largest Victorian prison.  It has been recently renovated and now includes a nice tearoom.  The consumption of tea is also huge here.

 

The Titanic Experience shows what life was like on board that vessel and learn the facts that surrounded the tragic sinking of the ship.  Also there is the Titanic Trail where plaques have been placed around town giving the history of the tragedy.  You can do it on your own, or pay for a guided and narrated tour.  

 

There is a Promenade Park also named John F. Kennedy Park which houses a bandstand, two cannons, and a grassy field for the kids to play.   Today there were tents of souvenirs and a spot with two small ponies where the kids can pose for a photo.  Many young families were there enjoying some take-away food and listening to the guitar player, who was very entertaining.  To say this area was crowded is an understatement. 

 

The Commodore Hotel, the largest in town, was directly across the street from this park.  Getting closer to the harbor, we went past the Cobh Heritage Center and the entrance to the Cobh Railway Station.  The Heritage Center told the story of Irish immigration, the famine, and also gave you a chance to trace your ancestors, and hear about the sinking of the two ships.  The Railway Station provides a link to Cork and has been operating since 1862. 

 

The cruise berth here handles up to 50 cruise liners a year bringing in an estimated 100,000 passengers and crew to the region.  It felt that there were that many people in town today.  We got back to the ship after 2pm, and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.  We had a great view of the activity on the pier as well as the train arrivals and departures.  Nearby the pier, a bridge crossed over from the hillside used as a shortcut to access the train.  A young and crazy fellow was putting on a show by jumping into the ice cold water from the top of the bastion.  He drew a crowd as he hesitated to jump over and over.  Sort of expected to see law enforcement come along and stop him, but it did not happen. 

 

All aboard was 5:30pm, but leaving the port did not happen until well after 6pm.   A local brass band had set up their group directly across from the ship and began playing music at 5:30pm.  A crowd of locals had gathered, but as far as we know, Ian never announced this send-off was in progress.  With every song they played, the crowd cheered.  Even a few of the dock workers were dancing on the green pontoons floating in the water.  The crowd loved it.  We heard "Anchors Away" as we exited the harbor.  In our opinion, this would have been the time to have a scenic sail away, and not at 6am this morning.   With the sun shining, leaving this spacious bay area was wonderful.  People had come out on the hillsides and watersides to bid us goodbye, leaving us with the impression that we were a big event today.  Today's decision to stay in Cobh was a wise one….we truly enjoyed our visit.  We were relieved that the band did not play the theme from the movie, Titanic.  That may have been too creepy.

 

Now we have two full days at sea and will arrive to the Azores by May 4^th.  We have over 1100 nautical miles to sail and it will take a speed of 19 knots to get there on time.  Keeping our fingers crossed that the temperature will be higher and we see more of that warming sun.

 

At dinner, we learned that Greg and Heo never left town, but stayed right in Cobh like we did.  Barb had changed her mind, and did not leave the ship with them.  Woody had gotten brave, and ventured out on his own since the gangway was easy.  He did not navigate the steep hillsides because he did not trust his motorized wheelchair to maintain the battery charge.  The local residents were very helpful with him when it came to curbs as not all of the streets had wheelchair access ramping.  Our meals left a little to be desired.  Barb had ordered three appetizers that were very good, but the shrimp entrée fell flat on its face so to speak.  Not the least bit shy, she let our waiter know who brought Oscar over to see if they could replace her main dish.  The biggest problem was that the food was ice cold.  Nothing worse than cold rice with spinach and broccoli even colder.  From now on, she has promised to order only appetizers and forget the mains.  Then when the dessert arrived, and the frozen ice cream, yogurts and sherbet were half melted.  At least Oscar was there when we were served the melted desserts.  We knew the problem stemmed back to the fact that the frozen desserts had been brought to the counter on the heels of our main entrees.  Of course, they were going to melt.  From now on, we shall choose our desserts after we finish our meal and not before that.  We do not relish complaining, but we feel as if we are getting rushed out of the dining room only due to the fact we have chosen the later fixed seating time of 7:30pm.   In time they will get it right, but it should not have taken over 120 days to do so. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann   

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