Report #31 Monday January 29, 2024 Manzanillo, Mexico Docked Port Side To Pier 12:30pm-9pm Heavy Clouds And Overcast 80 Degrees Slight Breeze---Casual Dress

 

Another day, another country.  This time it is Mexico and the port of Manzanillo, the sailfish capital of the country.   It is far from the largest city, but it does have 159,000 people that keep this port city going.  Manzanillo is the major seaport that transports cargo for Mexico City, the nation's capital.  We happened to stop here two years ago while on the Nieuw Amsterdam, but never realized the size of the container and commercial area of this massive harbor.  No wonder it was a pirate's haven back in the old days. 

 

When we woke up this morning, it was still dark.  Even at 7am, the daylight was just beginning.  Sure feels like a time change is necessary soon.  Perhaps after we stop in Puerto Vallarta.  Our arrival time was set at 12pm, so there was no rush to get up early for most folks this morning.   The tours would not leave until after noon time, and two of those would go first.  One was a drive to Comala with a lunch for 6 ¾ hours for $115.   The second  one was magical pueblos in Comala for $110 and 7 hours.  Manzanillo beach and shopping was 6 ½ hours for $50, while Salt,  Fruit and clay brick-making was 5 ¼ hours for $70.  Another beach trip was 4 ½ hours for $50, and fruit, folklore, and orchids was $70 for 5 hours.  Last was a city drive and shopping for $50 and 4 ½ hours. 

 

During her port talk, Kimberly also suggested taking a taxi to another beach where you can buy a day pass.  This would include use of the hotel's beachfront, all beverages, and a buffet lunch for $70 per person.  Considering that included all soft and alcoholic drinks, it is not a bad price.  She did advise everyone that it is common for shops and restaurants to close down during siesta time.  That would be from 2pm to 4:30pm.  Considering the weather was warm and sticky, the overcast skies might not have been the best for a beach day. 

 

Once we were docked, everyone was waiting to get off, but there was a problem.  The local officials had not shown up yet, and we were not officially cleared.  That did happen before 12:30pm, and we watched as all of the tour groups went off and headed for their buses.  And it was one l-o-n-g walk on the pier to get to the shoreside.  We waited until 1pm before we left.  One nice thing we noticed was that the dining room offered an express lunch from 11am to 12pm.  That way the Lido would not be crowded. 

 

Once outside the port gate, we turned left and followed the main road to see all of the fishing boats in the harbor.  No fancy yachts or sail boats here, but strictly deep sea vessels or small fishing boats.  There is a reason there is a gigantic blue sailfish marking the malecon, as this is considered one of the best places in Mexico for deep sea fishing.   We did not go too far this way, because the wide pedestrian street ended.  Turning back, we headed for the wide avenue of the malecon where the sailfish stands proud..  Along this stretch of harborfront, there is a Zodiac walk with artist's editions of each month's signs.  There was a nice parklike setting where benches were placed under shade trees.  We took full advantage of the benches, at least for a few minutes. 

 

At this far end, we turned left and headed up one of the main shopping streets of the old town.  There was everything that you would need right in about three blocks.  The most common shops had to be the shoe stores, followed by some clothes shops.  There was one fairly nice hotel that was just opening for lunch.   It was full of locals more than tourists.  The side streets provided more photo ops with the steepest steps we have seen to go uphill.  Most of the homes on the hillsides were painted bright colors.  They also painted the stairs the same colors.   When the street ran out of shops, we turned around.  It was really crowded for a Monday, and from what saw, very few businesses were shutting down for the siesta.  

 

We made our way back to the ship arriving by 3pm, never finding a suitable place for lunch.  Chicken Caesar salads sounded good to us and a shared club sandwich.  We had the best view of town all afternoon.  Two years ago, we had the treat of seeing a whale in the harbor, which came quite close to the ship all day long.   We did search for it, but only saw pelicans, frigates, terns, and sea gulls.  Later in the afternoon, we spotted a sting ray in the harbor waters below our room. 

 

At one point, we believe we bunkered fuel on the starboard side, as we could smell it.  During dinner, we did see a barge was alongside the starboard side of the ship until we left close to 9pm.   Dinner had a few good choices starting with breaded chicken tenders and split pea soup.  One of us ordered the pork tenderloin and the other had the alternate steak.  The best part of the steak dinner were the French fries, which were served piping hot.  Desserts were a lemon meringue cheesecake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and pineapple slices. 

 

Knowing most folks would be tired after a long day in port, there was a movie in the World Stage instead of a live show.  It was Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and was also shown at 3pm today.  Both showings offered popcorn.

 

Tomorrow we will be visiting Puerto Vallarta, another place where we walk until we drop.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

202 Pictures

Report #30 Sunday January 28, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Manzanillo, Mexico Sunny And Warm 85 Degrees Sea State Flat Very Little Breeze After A Very Rough Night 45mph Winds--Dressy Night

 

It has taken us this long to remember we dubbed "Sunday" as mimosa day in the Pinnacle Grill at breakfast.  As a matter of fact, fresh-squeezed orange juice, mimosas, cappuccinos and espresso coffees are complimentary every day.   They are not necessarily promoted like they were when we traveled on the Nieuw Statendam two years ago, but these items are on the menu for those who wish to order them.  Actually, one of us had the poinsettia version which is cranberry juice and champagne.  

 

And that leads us to Sunday Brunch, which used to be a venue every couple of weeks while on last year's world cruise.   So far, we have not seen that happen on this trip.  But close to it, we discovered there was a Spot of Brunch in the Lido Market from 11am to 2pm where waffles, pancakes, and eggs Benedict were being served along with many other items.  The regular dining room breakfast was still an option, as was the regular lunch menu in the Lido.  This probably works better for everyone.

 

The biggest subject of the day had to be weather we encountered last night.  Captain Frank had predicted a very windy and possibly rough evening as we entered an area of a system along the coastline.  By midnight, it became apparent that his prediction was obviously right on.  The winds reached 45mph and combined with deep sea swells, it made for one really rough evening….extreme at times to wake one of us up all night long.   Thank goodness, by the morning, the conditions improved leaving only wet decks outside.  During his noon update today, the Captain said last night's episode was a phenomenon which we hope would not be repeated.  The system that caused the ship to roll and pitch was far behind us now. 

 

But there would be something to brighten our day…….the sightings of dolphins and whales.  Taking a walk on the promenade deck around 9:30am, we saw some spouting whales in the distance.  Not quite the same as humpback whale blows, but definitely something big.  Then we saw the giant splash from one of the breaching whales.  Some friends who were also on the deck, said they may be fin whales.  They had brought up a picture of one on their phone and it sure looked the same to us.  At that point, we did not have our camera, so we headed back to the room to whale-spot from our veranda.  And we did get some shots of them as well as some dolphins.  Naturally we kept watch for an hour, and may have seen some more whales but far in the distance. 

 

We went to the Sea View Pool and had to pull chairs over to the poolside.  The tables had been pulled under the overhang while going through that bad weather, but not put back.   We have been finding that the wait staff back at this pool is about non-existent.  If there are a few waiters, they seem to bus tables more than anything else.  We find this most unusual as on other world cruises, these fellows or gals have been very attentive.  While we were sitting there, the Captain announced dolphins were seen on both sides of the ship.  Going to the side railing, we did see at least three of them swimming under the surface, but never jumping. 

 

Most of our afternoon was spent watching both football games.  The first game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens went about as expected.  The second game between the SF 49ers and the Detroit Lions was not going well, and we had to leave for dinner right after half time.  What a surprise to learn that the 49ers won that game as they were down by a lot from the very beginning.  Looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday next month.  It should be a good game.

 

Dressy was the code for tonight's dinner.  We have only had one of those in the entire month.  Anyway the menu was really leaning to the formal cuisine with escargots, ½ Dover sole, with the most requested entrée being liver and onions.  Really.  We opted for shrimp cocktails, salads, and mains of lasagna and everyday chicken.   A small slice of lemon torte finished our meal. 

 

A vocalist by the name of DJ Bucciarelli did the Neil Sedaka Songbook.  We are sure he was good but we really wanted to get back to see who won the football game.

 

We do not arrive to the port of Manzanillo until noontime tomorrow.   It will be a good place to stretch our legs and take a long walk through town.   Hope it will not be too hot.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

26 Pictures

Report #29 Saturday January 27, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Manzanillo, Mexico Sunny With A Slight Breeze A Few Clouds 85 Degrees 6' Swell---Casual Dress

 

Our day at sea was most relaxing even though the day began early with the 7:30am breakfast.   We have been used to an 8am start on sea days and the half hour early is a bit hard to get used to.  Of course, we like the table we are given every day, and the minute we arrive 5 minutes late, someone else will claim it.  Almost like a game with some folks.  By the way, our entree plates have been hot every morning, and as long as we are very specific with our order, all has come exactly correct. 

 

Hoping that the temperatures would have cooled down a little that did not happen.  It was just as warm and muggy today as yesterday.  The seas have smoothed out nicely and that would prove to be a very good thing later in the afternoon.

 

The masked and brown boobies have followed us from Costa Rica, diving after flying fish, and perching on the bow.  According to Captain Frank, they are amusing to watch however they are leaving quite a mess out there.  Now we wonder how far they will go before flying back south? 

 

There is a new lecturer onboard by the name of Frederick Grant.  His topic was about Mexico's parks, reserves, and marine areas.  It's always nice to learn as much as you can about an upcoming part of the world that we are about to visit.  Also Kimberly gave a talk on Manzanillo, the first of two ports we will be visiting in Mexico.  We caught it later when it appeared on the TV. 

 

Have any of you heard of an ice cream social?  And one that includes a banana-split eating contest?  Yes….the top three fastest eaters will be prized with a treat.  That happened from 3 to 4pm, but we missed it as we were on watch for any type of sea life we might see.  Just by pure luck, we were sitting on our veranda, and heard a splash near the ship right below us.  Low and behold, it was a jumping dolphin.  It popped out twice then dove.   If there was one, there must be more right?  Being patient, we waited and watched and finally we saw more splashing in the distance.  Yep, more dolphins playing in the ship's wake.  It was far off in the distance, but the camera caught the action.  We stayed outside until after the sun went down hoping for more sightings, but saw none.  But there's always tomorrow…..

 

Last night we had a reminder notice that our credit cards will be charged on January 30^th.  If we owed a balance, then the credit card on file will be charged.  If we had a credit, then it will roll over for the next period.  They do give you the choice of changing your card on file if there is a problem with the billing.  This was never done on a world cruise, but it seems to be the rule now on all of the ships, especially those with longer itineraries. 

 

Dinnertime had some new items with a bay shrimp appetizer, a Caesar salad, and the old stand-by of French onion soup.  Our entrees were the same…..pork tenderloin with applesauce.  Could have used a lot more applesauce, but we always forget to ask.   Desserts were one caramel flan and a fruit plate.  And one cup of hot coffee. 

 

A new entertainer joined the ship and her name is Michelle Montuori, a stage and recording artist.  She was billed as a cabaret singer with her own brand of humor.  We agree…she was good.

 

Another day at sea with hopes of seeing more of those dolphins.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

89 Pictures

Report #28 Friday January 26, 2024 Quepos, Costa Rica Anchored Tender Port 7am-4pm Cloudy And Hot 90 Degrees Wind Star Also Here---Casual Dress

 

The Costa Rican port of Quepos today is a new one for us.  But first of all, here is a snippet of info on this Central American country.   Costa Rica has a population of 4.8 million Spanish-speaking people.  The capital is San Jose where the coffee plantations are situated as well as the volcanoes and rainforests.  This country has a little of everything such as waterfalls, crater lakes, jungles, and beaches.  The locals are friendly and enjoy the "pura vida" or good life.  Compared to neighboring countries, there is very little poverty here as the standard of living is high.  Their secret lies in the fact that education is a top priority.  Another interesting fact is that Costa Rica has survived without an army for over 60 years, relying on their police and national guard.

 

The shore excursions were different here compared to the usual ones out of Puntarenas.   We were anchored off of the town of Quepos, located near the Parque National Manuel Antonio, the smallest park, but the most popular area.   This park has howler monkeys, white-face capuchins, tropical birds,  sloths, and iguanas.  A tour to this park (the only place you will see these critters) was $140 for 4 ½ hours.   A tropical forest aerial tram was $160 for 7 hours and included a lunch.  Savegre River floating adventure for 5 hours was $170, while a dolphin and whale watching tour with lunch was 7 hours and $200.   And a most interesting fact to remember, is that there are 8 species of poison-dart frogs that may be beautiful, but they have skin secretions that can cause paralysis and death if they get into your bloodstream.  Don't touch!  Ever!

 

Today's temperature must have been the hottest yet, around 88 – 90 degrees with a very high humidity.  In other words, it was extremely uncomfortable.  The breeze was almost non-existent, which did not help.  There was a sun haze that enveloped the entire harbor and hillsides all day….almost like a thin veil of fog.  Not the best friend of the cameras.

 

This was a tender port as well.    During breakfast, one of our waitresses told us that the line to get tender tickets was stretched from the Rolling Stones Lounge to the back end of the ship.   We had arrived at 7am, so many folks wanted to get off early in hopes of booking independent tours ashore we assume.  And there was another ship in the harbor……Windstar.  Although smaller than us by a lot, there were still many guests looking to do the same tours. 

 

We stayed onboard until the thundering herd got off, which was about 10am.  The tender boat ride to the marina was only about 10 minutes.  It became quite apparent what this town is all about when we saw the number of deep sea fishing boats in the Marina Pez Vela.  It is renowned for world-class sports fishing for blue marlin and sailfish.  This complex is very modern and filled with restaurants, bars, stores, and boat- related facilities. And from the signs we saw, there are competitions here.  The actual town of Quepos was about a ¼ mile walk to the left.  The park was about 5 miles away and the closest beach was about the same distance to the south.  Due to a powerful undertow, there were no usable beaches in town. 

 

As soon as we left the marina complex, there was a wide promenade walkway along the beach and water below.  The rocks holding up this embankment were full of iguanas of all sizes.  They were just starting to appear on the heated rocks to warm up.  This walkway was really the highlight of the town, which was basically essential shopping for locals.  The only thing touristy about it had to be the bars and restaurants.   We walked the whole area, passing the supermarket, a few fruit stands on the corners, and plenty of shoe shops.  The biggest attraction was the firehouse, where some folks were admiring the fire engines.  There was a church nearby, but asking some locals where it was did not work as they did not speak English.  And the only monkeys, toucans, and sloths we saw were the stuffed animals for sale in the toy store.  

 

Back to the promenade walk, we did spot every bird that lives here such as the pelicans, shore birds, herons, grackles, pigeons, doves, and a vulture.  We got back to the marina by noontime, and boarded a waiting tenderboat.  And yes, it was great to get back to the coolness of our room.  All aboard was 3:30pm, and the ship eventually left the harbor by 4:30pm.   We watched for dolphins and whales, but had no luck.  All we saw were the brown boobies that re-appeared once we got out to sea.

 

Dinner was good with curried chicken empanadas for starters.  One of us had chicken "spaghetti" soup and the other a Caesar salad, which arrived without the dressing.  Our waiter quickly brought one of those tiny square containers of dressing.  Mains were the everyday herb roasted chicken and a chicken scaloppini with mashed potatoes and a savory gravy.   One of the head chefs, Hari, stopped by and asked how we liked the chicken.  Very good for the scaloppini, which was a new entree for one of us.  The chef described the process of  the mushroom gravy making with added cognac and heavy cream.   He knew it would be a hit tonight.   Desserts were opera cake and sliced pineapple.  

 

There was a show tonight with the return of Chris Pendleton, a comedian who promised to be hilarious.  We are not sure how many people would attend the late show, since it was such a long, hot day, most of the diners had left the dining room by 9pm. 

 

Now we have a few days at sea before arriving to Mexico.  Hope it cools down a bit by then.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

263 Pictures

Report #27 Thursday January 25, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Quepos, Costa Rica Sunny And Warm 82 Degrees Seas Are Flat No Breeze ---Casual Dress

 

Another day at sea was appreciated by everyone we know.  It took us most of the afternoon catching up yesterday's events.  Like we described yesterday, one thing after another went wrong with the fuel bunkering process, and we had to leave later than expected.  Good thing the Captain said we still had leeway to make up that lost sailing time.  

 

Usually when we exit the Panama Canal, the Pacific Ocean side is a bit cooler and less humid.  We sure did not feel that when walking the deck this morning.  There must have been a following wind that made the temperature seem much higher then the 80 or so degrees that it was.  And we had the company of a flock of brown boobies flying around the ship.  We did not see flying fish, but these birds were diving for something.   There may be small squid or similar size fish they were scooping up.  Later in the afternoon, the waters smoothed out, and we kept watch for possible dolphin sightings.  Never saw any though.

 

Hoping for more of a breeze on the Sea View Pool deck, we discovered it was just as warm and sticky back there.  The funny thing was that when we first boarded the ship, there were more deck attendants back here who offered you beverages, whether they be ice water or beers for instance.  The last two weeks, we have not seen that happen with any of us back here between 10 and 12 pm.  Perhaps these servers have been re-assigned to busier venues.  There is a self-service drink station in the Lido, so it is not a problem getting our own drinks.  If we were traveling on a different ship and a different cruise line, we are sure we would be bombarded with drink offers like every 5 minutes.  We will never see that happen here.

 

Between reports, photos, and posting the blog, the afternoon evaporated.  While having a light lunch, we listened to the port talk about Quepos, Costa Rica.   This will be a new port for us, as we always stop at Puntarenas going in this direction.  From what we have gathered, this town is a nice change from Puntarenas, and is a place for beaches and national park tours.  The photos of the marina look really nice.  This will be a tender port because there is no dock. 

 

This evening we were invited to a cocktail party with our travel hosts in the Crow's Nest.    The early diners would go at 4:30pm, while the second and late seating group would go at 6:30pm.  Since this trip began, we have only been to the Crow's Nest once to book a free tour.  So tonight, we were pleased to find a nice bar with high top stools….so much better than the very low chairs they have in the rest of the lounge.  This party was well-attended and had many key officers such as the Captain, his wife, Henk, Christel, Shiv, Maja, Michelle, and many other staff members we have met.  Twinkle, the assistant beverage manager always takes care of us with our drinks.  Some canapies were passed around, and a few short and sweet speeches were delivered. Talking to Captain Frank, he discussed the problems we had yesterday with the fuel delivery.   The main question of the day seems to be….where are we going on this cruise?  And when will we be told the itinerary changes?  The answer we seem to hear was an announcement was coming soon…like within a week.  We are betting that that itinerary will include Africa.

 

Dinner was good with appetizers of spring rolls, a spinach and mushroom salad, and mains of prime rib.  The meat was cooked perfectly and was tender as well.  Good thing we saved some room for dessert, since the birthday cake from last night was here for us.  We each had a slice of the cheesecake part, and we do hope our waiters will enjoy the rest of it.  To top off the evening, the clocks went back one hour.  We are on central time now.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report #26 Wednesday January 24, 2024 Transit The Panama Canal 6am-5pm Sunny And Hot With Some Clouds 89 Degrees Slight Breeze---Casual Dress Happy Birthday Mary Ann

 

Today was awesome in more ways than one.  Transiting the Panama Canal was one reason, but another was the fact that today was a birthday for one of us.  Keeping quiet about it was not in the cards.  Upon leaving our room this morning, there were two balloons and a Happy Birthday note taped to our door.  Then on to breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill, we were there 5 minutes when a decorated plate arrived with a special birthday cupcake. Tina and the waiters came and sang Happy Birthday then had me "blow" out the candles, which were the battery-operated luminaries.   To make the meal perfect, we took advantage of the Panama Canal rolls we love.  Some fellows sitting close to us mentioned they had ordered one dozen rolls for room service.  Then they asked for some more to go from here and the waiter brought them wrapped in a foil basket.  Yes, they really are that good.

 

By the time we got back to our room, we discovered two vases of flowers and cards from a favorite officer Shiv and Michelle and the front desk team.  So sweet of them to remember.  And there were cards from our agent, hosts, and other friends onboard.  Long time friends had mailed cards before we left home for each of us to open on the right day.   Later in the afternoon and evening, there were more surprises.

 

So back to Panama, it is a country of 3.7 million people that speak mostly Spanish.  Although we will not have a port stop here this time, we will transit through the Panama Canal.  Cutting through the Continental Divide, the Panama Canal is the world's greatest short cut.  It links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, shortening a ship's voyage by 7800 miles.  The construction of this canal began well over 100 years ago, and it came at a huge cost not only money-wise, but at a loss of life.  Between malaria, yellow fever, and accidents, the canal claimed many worker's lives.  Finally after 10 years, the canal began operating in 1914 and continued with the same technology until new locks were added starting in 2016.  Over the years, we have witnessed the progress made on both ends of the canal with the new style of locks.  Finally opened a few years ago,  we have never been on a ship that actually went through the new locks.  But we have been told that with the new system, it is not as fun to watch as the old locks with the workers and the "mules" that keep the ships centered. 

 

We ended up watching the entire sailing from the comfort of our room and veranda.  Most all of the best things to see were on the portside, and that's where we were.  No doubt, the water level of the canal and especially Lake Gatun is lower than we have ever seen.  Many of the islands in Gatun Lake had exposed shorelines, and the entire route was well marked with buoys.  We did have a 26 member team of Panamanians join the ship (several were pilots).  We trust they knew all of the shallow spots and kept us in the deepest waters.   And we figured that to keep the ship light in the water, we did not have full fuel tanks.  For the first time ever, the ship had to stop outside the canal beyond the Bridge of the Americas to bunker fuel. 

 

Entering the first locks at Gatun, we saw the Ruby Princess entering the new Agua Clara Locks.  Then a Carnival ship was behind us as we left Gatun Locks.    It appeared that neither ship was headed for the complete transit.  We assume they turned around in the lake, and went back to the Caribbean.   That may have saved them some money, since our transit was $366,000 and probably paid in cash.  By the way, the entire narration through the Canal was delivered by our cruise and travel Director, Kimberly.  She did a fantastic job, talking most all of the day from the navigation deck until well after 6:30pm.  It would have been better if she had been able to broadcast from every speaker, but it came through only on the outside decks, not near the rooms.  The room TV's worked but the sound was only ½ of what it could be.  And in order to hear it, you had to stay inside the room. 

 

Usually, the ship enters the locks on the Caribbean side so early, it is dark.  Today we did the transit with the early morning sun rising behind the newest Atlantic Bridge which opened in 2019.  The Gatun Locks took us up about 100 feet in three consecutive sections.  There are also double locks here for two way traffic.   The nearby Agua Clara Locks that opened in 2016 can accommodate  much larger ships such as the Neopanamax and some of the newest cruise line behemoths.    The Zuiderdam is small in comparison, so we went the traditional route.  

 

The manmade Gatun Lake sits between 82 and 87 feet above sea level, and became our passage for much of the morning.  Kimberly continued her narration almost non-stop as we passed by Barro Colorado Island, home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.   More than 100 species  of mammals and reptiles can be found here, but are seldom seen.  There are also 500 different bird species, but the majority we saw today were vultures and frigatebirds.  The busy settlement of Gamboa is located here as well as the Chagres River.

 

A famous section of the canal has to be the Culebra Cut, which gave the builders the most difficult challenge in the old days.  It is an 8 mile transit crossing the Continental Divide.  The rocks and soil excavated from here is said to be equal to that of 63 Egyptian pyramids.   The Centennial Bridge, built in 2004, has helped lessen traffic on the older Bridge of the Americas.   We have been lucky to have driven over this bridge while on a tour when it first opened.

 

By 1:30pm, we entered the Pedro Miguel Locks, where our ship was lowered 30 ½ feet to Miraflores Lake.  We did have some onlookers that came to cheer us on as we exited the lock.  From here we slowly made our way to the Miraflores Locks, where hundreds of locals came out to greet us.  The two chambers dropped the ship 54 feet, bringing us to the level of the Pacific Ocean.   The newest and larger locks, Cocoli Locks, are visible from here and opened in 2016.  Once again, we did not use the modern locks. 

 

As we were on our way towards the final bridge, we knew the area on the port side to watch for capybaras that sometimes graze in a field near a wooded mangrove.  We did spot six of them, one of which was a "porker".  They are the world's largest rodent and are on some menus in this part of the country.  We scanned the banks for other wildlife, but only saw many types of birds.  No crocs. 

 

The final exit from the canal was the Bridge of the Americas completed in 1962. The cost to the USA was 20 million dollars, a small amount these days, it was impressive back then.  This bridge is part of the Pan-American highway.

 

At 6pm, we were scheduled to bunker fuel at a Balboa anchorage.  However, due to a comedy of errors, we ended up bunkering the fuel for 12 hours instead of six hours. Some of these errors were due to mishandling of the ropes of the barge as well as the ropes getting sucked into the pumps.  This was the team of locals that had the problems.   And we are certain that Captain Frank found no humor in this situation at all.  The Zuiderdam left the area after 8am this morning and needed to do 19 knots to make up for the lost time. 

 

During the afternoon, we had a series of birthday deliveries.  First was another decorated cupcake on a plate from the Captain.  Then Maja,  the Guest Relations manager, and Michelle, our concierge paid us a visit carrying gifts.  One was a woven black & white bracelet from the Nautical team and a small commemorative wooden plaque,  compliments of the Technical Team with Happy B Day and my name on it.  Both came with really nice cards.

 

We chose to have dinner in the Pinnacle Grill, as we always do on our birthdays.  It was also another way to avoid the display of the waiters singing in the dining room.  As it turned out, we were instantly greeted by Jacques, the Cellar Master, who escorted us into the restaurant and proceeded to present us with a chilled bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne.  The real deal.  It was a gift from him, Tina, and Henk, our hotel director.  Our meal was excellent with warm rolls, wedge salads with a side of candied bacon, and two small filets with fries and a baked potato.  We had a surprise visit from Henk and head chef Neil wishing a wonderful birthday to me.  Then a three layer cake arrived and of course, all of the wait staff singing Happy Birthday.  They all had the "candles" to blow out.  We opted for a small serving of sorbet and asked for the cake to be delivered tomorrow after our dining room dinner.  Once again, it was the best birthday ever, and most unexpected.   And we did get two certificates for today's successful crossing of the Panama Canal.  But there was one more nice surprise…..our room stewards Putu and Dedi had made a two-tiered towel "cake" tied with a ribbon and dotted with pillow chocolates and Kleenex candles.  A very nice gesture, we really appreciated adding it to the collection.

 

Really looking forward to a day at sea tomorrow, although we were still bunkering fuel when we called it a night by 11pm.

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

217 Pictures

Report #25 Tuesday January 23, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To The Panama Canal Sunny And Windy 82 Degrees Sea State Rough 12'-14' Swells---Casual Dress

 

Remember when we mentioned that the air-conditioning in our room was not working last night?  Well, it only got worse during the night, sending the thermometer up to 88 - 90 degrees.   Sometime around 10pm, a note was slipped under our door saying that a section of the rooms from deck one to deck eight were experiencing technical difficulties.   There was a team of technicians actively working on a resolution.  Truthfully, we think they called it a night, and resumed work at 8am this morning.  That was what we were told by the front office folks this morning before breakfast.   Furthermore, they acknowledged that our comfort was top priority, and they appreciated our patience.  What choice did we have?  Alternate accommodation was offered, but at 10pm, we chose not to leave our room.   After all, we have survived a record heat wave while on a Sri Lanka leopard safari a few years ago.  Nothing will ever match that experience. 

 

On our way back from breakfast, we did see two of our neighbors coming down the hallway carrying pillows from their room.  Obviously, they had re-located for the night.  Bet they were not waking up every two hours like we did.  Even going out on the veranda did not help much since it was still warm outside.  We stayed outside walking the promenade deck, then going to the Sea View Pool for an hour.   Sometime around 11am, we felt the room cooling down very slowly.  The exhaust fan in the bathroom resumed running as well, but not quite as good as it had been working.  The temperature eventually dropped to 77 degrees, but not lower than that.  We did have several phone calls from our special concierge making sure the air was working better.  We are in a particularly hot and humid part of the world, so we do hope it doesn't fail us again. 

 

The seas were choppy today with quite a bit of rolling due to very deep swells.  There was no sign of any storm, but we are probably getting residuals from a system somewhere.  The Captain was correct in warning all of us to be careful walking inside and outside and especially using the stairs.  

 

Lunch was from the Dive-In grill with a cannonball burger and a hot dog.  One of us loves the hot dogs, but not the poppy seed rolls so much.  In our humble opinion, we don't see how these tiny black seeds add anything special to the roll.  They usually end up stuck in between every tooth, and all over your napkin and plate.  Maybe next time, we'll ask for a plain roll.

 

While working on yesterday's photos and reports, we watched an Avatar movie.  Boy, movies have sure changed over the years.  And here we thought Star Wars and Star Trek were way out there.  It's a whole new world out there for entertainment compared to what we grew up with.  Westerns were the big thing back then, and we still enjoy the reruns while at home. 

 

Dinnertime snuck up on us, and we were off to the dining room for delicious cold veggie-filled lumpia.  The best part was the sweet and sour sauce drizzled on the plates and perhaps a touch of teriyaki sauce.   A hot bowl of wonton soup and a Caesar salad were good starters.  Then we ordered the only chicken entrée on the menu which came with a cheesy pile of grits and kernel corn.   Not something we eat at home, we figured it is an acquired taste.  Desserts were a pineapple crisp and a toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. 

 

Back in our room, we found the temperature had dropped another degree.  What is funny that up to now, we have had to use an extra blanket on our bed at night.  Talking to some friends this morning, they agreed they have had trouble finding that sweet spot to set the thermostat.  The good news was that the clocks went back one hour, putting us on EST now.  You can bet we needed that extra hour to make up for the loss last evening.   

 

There was a comedian, Chris Pendleton, performing in the show lounge.   He was guaranteed for lots of laughs and a few surprises.    Tomorrow we will be transiting the Panama Canal.  As many times as we have done this transit, we still look forward to doing it.  It will be interesting to see if we notice a difference in the water levels.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #24 Monday January 22, 2024 Willemstad, Curacao 7am-5pm Docked Port Side To Pier Sunny With Clouds And A Heavy Rain Squall 85 Degrees

 

Part of the A-B-C islands, Curacao has a population of 164,000 folks that speak both Dutch, English, as well as Papiamento, a local dialect.  Once called the Netherlands Antilles, Dutch is very much part of the culture.  Willemstad, the capital, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and a "go-go" destination worldwide we understand.   

 

Sint Annabaai shipping channel cuts the town in half with colonial neighborhoods on one side ( Otrobanda), and old sailor districts turned edgy cafes and bars on the other side (Punda).   The popular food and drink includes funchi, a fried cornmeal cake or used as a coating.  Nasi goreng, an Indonesian fried rice, which ties the Dutch to Indonesia.  And how about iguana stew?  Yes, it will show up on some menus here.   Curacao is their signature liqueur, which is tinted blue, but is made from fermented orange rinds.  

 

Of course there were some HAL excursions here such as Curacao land and sea in a semi-submergible vessel for 2 ½ hours for $60.   Authentic Curacao island tour was $45 for 2 ½ hours, while Ultimate Curacao beach and turtle snorkel with lunch was $110 for 6 hours.  Cooking with a Caribbean chef with lunch was $180 for 5 ½ hours, and Caves and city highlights was $55 for 2 ¾ hours.  A trip to an ostrich farm and aloe plantation was 3 hours for $60.  The trolley train for 1 ½ hours was $45, while a country drive was $60 for 3 ½ hours.  Kimberly's talk yesterday revealed many more activities people could do on their own.  There were various museums, including old slave houses, liqueur distilleries, government buildings, and a  mangrove park for starters.  There was a list of beaches, but nothing close-by.   Much of this city can be reached right from the area where we were docked.  And for half of the day, that is exactly what we did…..walk the city. 

 

Our travel group of about 70 people were invited to take a bus tour to see the Cathedral of Thorns, the Curacao Liqueur Distillery followed by a drive through the popular shopping area of the Punda district.  Finally, at 1:30pm, there was a buffet lunch at Restaurant & Café Gouverneur De Rouville.  One of us has been having some back problems, and decided not to take the bus tour portion of the tour.  Instead, we planned to meet the group at 1:15pm and join them for lunch.  

 

We were not alone in the port today as the Ambience was already docked in the harbor.  She was formerly the Regal Princess (1991), then sold to P&O Australia as the Pacific Dream.  Now part of Ambassador Cruise Lines, it holds 1400 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 70,285.   They boast having 89 cabins for singles.   Later in the day, we were surprised to find Celebrity's Equinox docked right behind the Zuiderdam.  That's a whole lot of people in town for sure. 

 

Willemstad is a very walkable town, where once you leave the ship, you are on your way through the Renaissance Wind Creek Resort and Mall, which is full of highend shopping.  Taking a right turn through a small tunnel, you end up in an 1828 Rif Fort, built to defend the city.  Today there are even more shopping opportunities and dining venues in the fort.  Outside the fort, we followed the main street which was lined with souvenir stands.  The biggest attraction here has to be the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge also known as the Swinging Old Lady.  This bridge rests on 16 pontoons and opens for ships and boats to enter the harbor.   Built in 1888, it costs 2 cents to cross, unless you removed your shoes, then  it was free.

 

Now we were in the Punda district, and one of the first buildings we saw on the right was Fort Amsterdam, built in 1634, is a museum these days and the Fort Church.  On the left of the bridge is the world-famous street of colorful buildings that are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   The main and side streets are full of old buildings with baroque gables and arched galleries that house many a boutique, jewelry shops, and art galleries. 

 

We also strolled by Wilhelmina Park and the statue of Queen Wilhelmina along with the I Love Curacao and Dushi signs.  This area is full of government and office buildings.  From here we made our way down the narrow streets full of souvenir shops to Marshe Nobo, the largest indoor produce market as well as handmade crafts for sale.  Plasa Bieu is where the locals go for traditional dishes, more like a cafeteria.  The aroma of fish was heavy in the air. 

 

From here we made our way to the Floating Market where the fishing boats from Venezuela bring their fresh catch to sell daily.  They also have the nicest selection of fruit and vegetables.  The funny thing is that we read the boxes of the fruit, finding most of it came from Argentina, Peru, and Colombia.  As for the fish, there were two tables where they usually butcher the larger varieties, but all of it was already sold by the time we got there. 

 

We slowly made our way around the Scharloo district and some more museums across a bridge.  The Curacao Maritime Museum was located there.  Rounding the corner, we found we were on the Handelskade street with the famous old pastel buildings.  These days they house  shops and cafes.   We needed to be across the harbor to meet our group for lunch by 1:15pm, so we crossed the swinging bridge again, located the restaurant right by the ferry landing.  

 

Being that we were the first ones to arrive, we had our choice of seats on the upper covered outdoor patio facing the harbor.   We were served drinks of pineapple juice with coconut rum served over ice.  Sure went down easy after three hours of exploring on foot.  That was followed by bottled beers while we waited for the rest of the people to arrive.  A nice buffet was being set up in their garden under a large tent.  Once the tables were full of guests, they called us to the line one table at a time.  Right before we were called to the line, a sudden wind came up along with a sudden downfall of rain.  The wind must have been 50 mph and blew sideways right at our group sitting on the patio.  Lucky we did not have our food yet, although the table next to us had theirs.  And it did get wet.  It passed over as quickly as it had begun.  The waiters came with towels and dried our table, while the other folks scrambled to escape the rain with no where to go.  Oh well, a little water did not hurt us, except fpr the beverages that spilled in or laps.

 

Our small group was the last to get our food, but the buffet was kept full and fresh from beginning to end.  Our meal consisted of a mixed green salad with Caesar dressing, a bay shrimp cocktail and a cerviche shrimp tasting.  There were squares of quiche, banana soup, a fish stew with curry, spaghetti, and rice with a beef and veggie stew.  Decadent brownies and a silky custard were there for dessert.   To make up for spilled beer and drinks from the wind,  the staff kept the beverages coming. 

 

Some of the guests took the shuttle back, but most of us walked.  All aboard was 4:30pm, and we still had plenty of time to wander through the stands and shops on the way back.   That's when we noticed that the Equinox had arrived.  Shortly after getting back to our room, the Ambience left the harbor blowing the horn all the way out.  The Zuiderdam pulled away from the pier closer to 5:30pm, apparently waiting for a late-arriving guest. 

 

We noticed at that time that our room was heating up.   Looking at the thermometer of our projection clock, it read 86 degrees.  Checking the ceiling vents, we realized they were not working.  The exhaust fan in the bathroom went silent as well.  Calling the front desk was useless as they were not answering the phone.  So on our way to dinner, we saw our room steward who said that our block of rooms were not working.  He had no idea how long it would take to fix it.  We sure hoped by the time dinner was over, it would be repaired.

 

Dinner began with chicken empanadas, Caesar salads, and one Bolognese spaghetti dish and one flat iron steak meal.  Both were good.  Desserts were a slice of cake and one plate of pineapple.  And did the air-conditioning get fixed?  Nope….it was even hotter by the time we returned at 9:30pm.  A note was slipped under our door saying that technicians were working on the problem, and it would be repaired as soon as possible.  Easier said than done.  If we could not tolerate the warmer temps, we could ask to get another room for the evening.  We were lucky enough to have a tower fan, and turning that on helped a lot.  Right now, it is 11pm, and nothing is fixed.  The temperature outside is still warm, so opening the door might make it worse.    Time for a cool shower…..

 

Captain Frank mentioned in his talk that we will be experiencing rougher seas due to a system that has covered the entire Caribbean.  He expects high winds and deep swells by tomorrow as we head towards the Panama Canal. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

266 Pictures

Report #23 Sunday January 21, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Willemstad, Curacao Sunny With Clear Skies 81 Degrees 21mph Wind-----Casual Dress

 

A day at sea was most welcomed this morning.  Although having breakfast start every day at 7:30am is a bit early.  We used to have an 8am opening on sea days, which was nice.  Now it is the same time everyday…. port or sea day, it does not matter.   Of course, for the early birds, the Lido opens at 6:30am.  Unless we need to be the first ones off of the ship, you will never find us dining in the Lido at that time of the day. 

 

At his noontime talk, Captain Frank reported that we were halfway to the island of Curacao.  Our speed was around 11 to 12 knots with clear skies and following winds.  That tends to make sailing very muggy without a fresh breeze to help cool us off.  There were 7 foot swells and the temperature was 84 degrees.  The Captain warned us all to expect some changes by Tuesday as a system was developing with 15 foot swells and winds of 45 mph.   It might get rough again as we head towards the Panama Canal.  Speaking of the canal, we just read an article in the newspaper about record low water levels due to a lack of rain.  This has been the case for a few months now, and we will be interested in seeing the difference from our previous crossings.   The report claimed that many commercial vessels were lined up waiting to go through the series of locks.  So far, we have not heard that our transit has been affected.  We do know that the new sets of locks do not discharge the water they use to raise and lower the vessels.  The water is recycled.  It would be great if the Zuiderdam got to use the new locks, although something tells us that the cost would be prohibitive.  We will find out when we sail the Panama Canal on the 24^th of January…..a few days from now.

 

After our deck walk, we headed up to deck nine and passed through the Lido.   We had seen many very large palm fronds being brought onboard yesterday while we were in Grenada.  It appeared they were used here for decoration for "Island Dream", a tropical paradise dinner theme this evening.  In addition, they brought on piles of white sand and then decorated it with conch shells here and there.  Someone is clever in these theme dinners, which is Caribbean-inspired tonight in the dining room as well. 

 

Kimberly delivered her talk on Curacao, but we intended to catch it this afternoon on TV.  Searching for it around 2pm, we could not find it.  It finally appeared on the excursion channel by 6pm.  Better late than never we say.  She has done a thorough job in the research of every port.  The main highlights are pointed out as well as opening times and cost to get in.  This is nice for the independent guests like us.  Also important, she points out the places that are closed. 

 

Today was a perfect one to catch up on reading for one of us.  There are so many new books in the little book room, we will not run out of choices.   Most folks have downloaded books online, but since we don't do that, it is nice to have options.  

 

Around 6pm, while waiting for the sunset, we spotted some islands that Captain Frank said to keep an eye out for.  They are called Archipelago Los Roques, a group of 300 sandy islands off the coast of Venezuela.  What we saw on the horizon was Gran Roque where people go to snorkel and dive.  This entire collection of islands was made a national park in 1972.  By the time the sun went below the horizon, the view of the island was gone in the sea haze. 

 

What's for dinner???  Well empanadas with chicken and beef with a mango, tomato, and onion salsa.  We could have ordered more of these and made a meal out of them.  But we had salads and one order of bay shrimp.  This year, the shrimp appetizers have been very good.  Our entrees were the rack of veal plate, served hot, with asparagus, mashed potatoes, and a delectable gravy.   The meat was cooked medium and sliced thin.  It was quite tender and very tasty.   Topping off our dinner, we had one small slice of carrot cake and a piece of rum-soaked cake.   Hmmm, good.

 

Curacao should be fun as we have a partial tour with our travel group.  Will explain that in tomorrow's report.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

44 Pictures

Report #22 Saturday January 20, 2024 Saint George's Grenada Docked Starboard Side To Pier P&O Britannia Docked Along Side Us Sunny With Clouds & Rain Showers 85 Degrees--Casual Dress

 

Today we are visiting the Spice Island of Grenada.  They are known for the production of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and mace to name a few.  The population of this rather small island is 111,219 people that speak mostly English.  The capital is St. George's and that is where we will dock today. 

 

The last time we were here was in 2022 on back-to-back Caribbean cruises.  Due to Covid, there was no world voyage that year, so we created a trip with almost as many days but stayed close to the USA.  On our initial stops here, we were not allowed access to the town unless we had booked a ship's tour.  Having done most tours here over the years, we chose to stay in the Esplanade Mall and not exit the building.  On our final stop, we were able to go where we wished.  We pretty much did our same hike today as we did back then.

 

We had company today…..the P&O Britannia was also docked across from us.  And it was big compared to the Zuiderdam.  They have up to 3600 passengers with a crew of 1350.  Unlike us, they were on a 14 day round trip in the Caribbean and many of their passengers were young kids.  The town and the excursions will be busy today.  Speaking of tours, there were 5 choices which included Grenada Island drive 4 hours for $65, and the best of Grenada for 7 hours and $150 with a lunch.  Snorkeling from a 60 foot catamaran in Flamingo Bay was $75 for 2 ¾ hours, but a really fun one was a Rhum Runner Pleasure Cruise, enhanced with a powerful rum punch we were told for $75 and 3 hours.   Lastly a rainforest visit was $80 for 3 ¾ hours.  And from the looks of it, rain passed over those high peaks most of the day.

 

We lucked out and had the portside view of the harbor where we watched the Rhum Runner load its guests.  A little further up, several water taxis filled up with folks heading towards the beaches.  We read somewhere that the cost of these taxis is about $4 USD.   Between the Britannia and the Zuiderdam, these small boats operated all day.  Our guess was that these rides went to Grand Anse, the main resort area south of the St. George's.   They boast white sand beaches and nice resorts, something you will not find in downtown.  The highest number of hotels, bars and cafes are also located in Grand Anse. 

 

North of St. George's is an underwater sculpture park consisting of 80 life-size works.  Made from concrete, these statues have become encrusted with coral growth.  It is accessible to both snorkelers and divers, however not offered on any ship tour.  The tickets reportedly cost $2 USD to get into the park. 

 

What kind of food is served here?  Roti, which is seen on most all of the Caribbean islands.  It is more like a sandwich filled with all types of meats and veggies.  Oil down, an odd name, is a beef and salt pork stew with coconut milk.  Another favorite is salt fish baked with onion and veggies with a side of fried bread.  Dishes made with conch are called lambi and is typically washed down with Carib beer.  Jack Iron rum is a lethal local brew, but the chocolate produced at the Diamond Chocolate Factory, called Jouvay, is sold throughout the island.  Among the fruit grown here are papayas, custard apple, and a soursop, an acquired taste. 

 

Leaving the ship  by 11am, we headed through the huge Esplanade Mall to the main street.  Turning left, we walked through downtown to the bus depot.  In that same area, we found the fish market, where most all of the fresh catch had been sold already.  Not a surprise, because today was Saturday, their biggest market day.  Turning back, we went up one street and found their marketplace where you could find everything.  There was the produce, but also tents full of souvenirs.  The biggest seller had to be the bowls of assorted spices as well as necklaces made from nutmeg seeds.  We still have these mementos at home from our first visit here back in the late 80's. 

 

Running into friends, we all headed towards the Sendall Tunnel which runs 350 feet under a steep knoll.  It connects the downtown to the Carenage waterfront promenade of an adjacent inner harbor.  This tunnel was built for horses and carriages in the old days, so it was narrow and not very high.  We walked through this one way tunnel the last time we were here and there were no ceiling lights.  Sure made it creepy as well as dangerous without any lights.  We recall the locals bringing out their cell phones and holding them up to see inside the tight tunnel. Now there were bright lights and we could see without the use of cell phones.   It worked for us as we safely made it to the other side.  Here we made our way to the water of the Carenage and walked the entire promenade passing many fishing boats.  It was written that there are many beachside restaurants here, but the biggest one was a Pizza Hut.  There may have been some bars, but they were not opened yet.  We all took many pictures of the boats in the harbor, especially when the sun came out and the houses on the hillsides were brilliant. 

 

On the way back, we wanted to stop in the House of Chocolate Museum, a very small shop with a tiny café where the folks can enjoy chocolates that were crafted on site.  Going into the door, we saw that the place was wall-to-wall jammed, so we left.  Continuing walking uphill, we realized that we had summited the top of the steep knoll that by-passed the tunnel.  It was not as strenuous as we had been led to believe, although some of those higher streets were downright vertical.  Most of the sidewalks had to be stairs.  We went as far as a Cathedral and a school, then turned around heading the same way we had come.

 

Back to the Esplanade Mall, we headed out the doors to the ship since we had not found any restaurant at all for lunch.  Our best bet was room service salads and a sandwich.  Once again, it was so warm outside, we appreciated cooling off in our room.  We had the best view from our veranda and stayed outside most of the time watching the boats fill up over and over. 

 

Sail away was after 5pm, followed by the Britannia.  We're not sure where she is headed, but we are on or way to Curacao in a couple of days. 

 

Dinner was good, but different items are popping up on the entrée section.  Chicken noodle soup, a crab and shrimp appetizer, and salads were our starters.  One of us ordered the roast lamb, which looked nice, and the other a pasta dish with Italian sausage.  However, there was no sausage to be seen.  By the time our waiter came around, it was too late……it was all gone.  Oh well, pasta with a cheese sauce was fine for a change.  Desserts were a chocolate cake with caramelized popcorn, a scoop of ice cream, and a glass of sliced bananas.  They must have bought some onshore today.  Lucky. 

 

The entertainer this evening was a flautist by the name of Andrea Amat.   Described as "Virtuoso de Valencia", she was guaranteed to blow everyone's minds. 

 

We did have a message waiting for us on our bed concerning updated ADA signage in parts of the ship……  specifically, the Lido, self-seating bar areas, and the World Stage.  There are disabled signs on some seats with another sign designating a companion seating.  We have been asked to respect those signs and sit elsewhere if we do not need these ADA seats.  Not a problem for us, since we do not frequent these areas very often. 

 

Looking forward to a day at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

270 Pictures

Report #21 Friday January 19, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Saint George's Grenada Sunny With Broken Clouds 85 Degrees 6' Swell King Neptune Day--Casual Dress

 

There were two highlights of the day.  One was the King Neptune Ceremony at 10am at the Lido Poolside.  Despite the heat and humidity, it was well-attended.    Viewing it from deck 10, we needed to squeeze in between many onlookers in the space left open in the dome.    We could hear Kimberly loud and clear beginning the ceremony as the "Judge".  She did a really good job, as she did when we crossed the Equator last fall on the Volendam.    The most fun part of that ceremony was the fact that it was Kimberly's first time crossing and was a pollywog.  There was no way the Exploration team was going to let her escape the dunking in the pool.  At the conclusion of the crazy festivity, she was tossed in, clothes and all, and then the Captain followed with his officers.  Clothes and all.  We didn't stick around long enough to see the conclusion of this event, because it was blistering hot and crowded.   And of course, this evening we all received certificates that we had crossed the line twice in the last week or so.  Unless our itinerary changes, this will be the only time we will cross the Equator on this world cruise.

 

The flying fish have appeared in larger numbers this morning.   We saw them flying and diving on both sides of the ship most of the day.  There was one lone gray bird flying near the water, but it was gone right after we saw it.   So far, there are no boobies.  Hope they return as they are fun to watch.  Walking the promenade deck, we spotted at least one dozen large green grasshoppers or locusts that are on a ride to the next port.  Also, later in the afternoon, we saw one lone frigate bird flying very high near the ship. That was odd since they are usually in larger numbers and close to land.   Then we guessed perhaps this bird hitched a ride on the ship.  Lo and behold, we watched as the frigate landed in the bow area and perched on the flagpole.   Another hitch-hiker. 

 

Not too many folks were walking on the promenade deck.  We think it was just too warm for most folks and besides, they were positioning for the best spots in the Lido Pool area well before the ceremony began.  Knowing that the Seaview Pool would not be busy, we headed back there for some sun and fresh air.  On the way across deck 10, we spotted many casualties with the Amazon insects due to spraying we suspect.  Greg came along and we chatted for a while, exchanging what info we had heard concerning the upcoming itinerary.  There have already been some cruise ships cancelling their Suez canal sailings, which were due to happen soon.  It is going to be a test of everyone's patience waiting for the final decision.  Will we go, or not?  Time will tell…….

 

Kimberly did a talk on tomorrow's port of Grenada, and we did find it repeated on the TV, which is nice.   The only problem, however, is the fact that the sound on the TV can only be cranked up halfway.    We can hear it, but not really well.  And occasionally, the program stalls.  Must be a computer error, which also was not fixed since we were here a year ago.   Good thing for all of us that Kimberly has such a clear and distinct voice, that we understood most of her port information.

 

Lunch was from the Dive-In Grill with cannonball burgers made better with Gouda cheese and smoked bacon.  We think it is the best one offered.  A couple of  boxes of naked fries went well with the burgers, except now the serving is half the size that it was on last year's world cruise.   Of course, we can always ask for doubles, but we can do without it just as easy.  The fries do tend to be on the greasy side. 

 

There were numerous activities to keep the passengers busy all afternoon.  It appears that the Oi Brasil team is still onboard and giving lectures, dance classes, dance aerobics,  and finally instructions on capoeira self defense on deck 10.  Now that would be something to see with the ship rolling, especially on deck 10.  Hmmm, that is an accident waiting to happen with much of this crowd.

 

Casual dinnertime came quickly, and we ordered bean/rice tacos for appetizers and Caesar salads.  Both were good….the taco hot, and the salad cold.  A beef tenderloin dish was one meal, and the other was a stuffed manicotti shell with cheese and a red sauce with diced bell peppers.   It was nice for a change of pace.   Desserts were one small piece of lemon meringue cheesecake and a plate of sliced pineapple.  Sliced bananas would be nice, but they have run out of them.  Don't they always?

 

The Grand Voyage singers and dancers performed a Rhythm Room song and dance, which our buddy Greg said they have been enjoying most of the entertainment.   But the better plan was setting the clocks back one hour again this evening.  Now we are on Manaus time, or one hour ahead of EST.  It sure helps all of us to re-charge our batteries so to speak, making that the other highlight of the day.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

41 Pictures

Report #20 Thursday January 18, 2024 Day At Sea Enroute To Saint George's, Grenada Sunny With Clouds 20 Knot Winds Rough Seas 9' Swell--- Formal Night

 

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."  -Helen Keller-   That was the note left on our bed tonight with formal evening chocolate candies.  And it just dawned on us that we have only gotten these messages on dressy or formal nights.   We used to have a note every night….sometimes inspiring and at times humorous.   Guess this is another tradition that will go by the wayside, even as small of a nice touch it is.

 

Actually the daring adventure turned out to be the rough seas that increased through the evening.  Usually the motion rocks us to sleep, but last night, it got rocky enough to wake one of us up at 4am.  We must have been traveling in the shallow area north of the mouth of the Amazon River.  Captain Frank had warned us to expect some turbulence, and he was right on.  During the day, the further north we traveled, the waters began to smooth out. 

 

At breakfast, our buddies that had been at the cocktail party in the Officer's Bar (now known as the Team Bar) exchanged thoughts about the subject of our future itinerary.  All of us have different theories, but the bottom line ends up with the questionable area…… the Suez Canal.   There may be more hots spots as well, but we do think any changes will be announced next month for sure.  Many people have independent tours off of the ship, so they need to know well in advance if their plans have to be amended or cancelled.  And those guests who booked overlands through the shore excursion department, will be credited.

 

Today was a relaxing one for us with our usual promenade deck walk.  However with the spray from the 10 foot waves, one side of the deck was soaked.  The other was almost dry.  The weather has stayed warm and sticky, but we do expect that to change as we get closer to the Caribbean.  And we have also crossed the Equator, where the heat and humidity is the worst.  Hope we do have the King Neptune Ceremony soon to bring us those fair seas and safe crossing.

 

It was a good afternoon for Cobb salads, a shared panini, and an old movie with Lee Marvin and Keith Carridine.   It was all about trains, the Great Depression, and the hobo way of life.  Glad our generation missed that time in history. 

 

This evening was "formal", which was announced once again by Kimberly during her 5pm talk. She reminded the folks of the dress code for all table service dining venues.  In addition to the special dining room dinner, there was Casino Royale, described as a night of glamour, games, and entertainment – Bond style.   This was held in the Casino, Billboard Onboard, and the Gallery Bar.  Since day one on this cruise, we have noticed little activity in the Casino.  That is not unusual for a trip that is this long.  So to jump-start more interest, there were free gaming lessons, a free slot tournament, and table games.  Even raffle prizes were part of the fun.  This all began at 8pm and ended with a complimentary "champagne" tower and pour with Captain Frank.  And all this taking place with the sounds of the Rat Pack in the backround.  Of course this was right smack dab in the middle of our dinner time.   Oh well, we will certainly hear about it tomorrow, perhaps at breakfast. 

 

The menu was not the most appealing, and did not offer the usual surf and turf, escargots, or caviar.  We recall when caviar was served with toast points most every formal night.  The closest that got was an appetizer that had flying fish eggs.  Not quite the same.  We did order the jumbo shrimp, on the menu most everyday, and Cobb salads with tataki beef slices.  The meat was absolutely tender and delicious.  We were happy that the mains of sliced short ribs and mashed potatoes was conservatively portioned.  Dessert was a slice of cheesecake that was really more like a jello cheesecake with one strawberry and a blueberry.  (They are running out of fresh berries.)  Sliced pineapple was a good and dependable choice for one of us. 

 

The entertainment in the World Stage was a group called The Flyrights.  Billed as the ultimate experience, it was a fusion of Motown and Swing – a song and dance routine we think.  By the way, we have noticed more guests wearing face masks.  And some of our friends are sick with a bug of some kind.  Sure hope that nothing contagious is making the rounds.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #19 Wednesday January 17, 2024 Sea Day Cruising The Amazon River With A Brief Stop At Macapa, Brazil Mostly Sunny With A Few Clouds 82 Degrees---Casual Dress

 

It was really nice not to have to go anywhere today after having had so many ports in a row.  Like many cruise friends before us have said, "It's a hard job, but somebody has to do it".   Just as Captain Frank had said yesterday, the local river pilots were dropped off into their pilot boat at 10am this morning.  This was near the town of Macapa, where we began our river adventure about a week ago.  Gosh, the time went by fast. 

 

The day began with a nice breakfast, followed by a deck walk, then up to deck 9 for some sun time at the Sea View pool.   Something funny happened up there.  We watched as one of the deck fellows proceeded to lift the wooden grates on the floor inside the outdoor pool showers.  Dozens of little Amazon critters were hiding under these grates, and scattered when he uncovered them.  Prepared with a broom and dust pan, he chased these bugs before they reached the smoker's section.  There were too many of them as they hid under the tables and chairs.  Most guests never saw them.    At a closer look, we saw they were green grasshoppers in all sizes.  We doubt they will last long on the ship.  While we were walking the promenade, we spotted dozens of the same insect  plastered on the walls and ceilings.  We bet that after sunset, these insects will be sprayed or hosed off.  And tonight will be the final evening that the outside deck lighting will be at a minimum, since we will be leaving the river soon.

 

Summing up our Amazon River experience this time, we compared it to the first time we came here to the jungle.  Back then in the late 90's, at most every port, we had dozens of canoe locals bringing their boats close to the tender landings and either selling their souvenirs or begging for anything folks would give them.    One of the worst things we saw was an older passenger bringing out a roll of quarters, and tossing them near the canoes, where the young kids would dive for the sinking coins.   Shortly after he began doing this, the captain came on the outdoor speakers telling the man to stop what he was doing, which he did.  The captain reminded the folks that someone's eye could be taken out.  

 

At another port, such as Boca da Valeria,  the guests threw clothing, shoes, socks, toiletries, and fruit like oranges and apples from their staterooms to the begging natives in those canoes.  Then right before leaving one of the ports, a couple of crew members brought out cases of those small squeezable shampoos, conditioners, and lotions and dumped the contents into the water.  The little kids dove in the water and scooped up the floating toiletries and tossed them into their canoes.  We saw none of this happen on this trip, which is a good thing.  Of course there was a 50 meter warning sign for any craft to stay away from the ship and it was honored. 

 

Lunch was from the Dive-In Grill with one chicken sandwich and a couple of hot dogs.   Going to the grill around 2pm, there has never been a line and seldom more than a 10 minute wait.    In our opinion, we feel their burgers are the best choice or the hot dogs.  The chicken breast tends to be stringy and difficult to eat.  It tastes good, but is messy with lots of sauce. 

 

Yesterday we were informed our flight home in May had been cancelled, and they were offering another flight with a stopover in Houston.  No, we were not happy with that change as it would be getting us to San Francisco by midnight.  Being that we made our reservations with HAL with a hotel stay for one night including transfers, they were willing to find us another straight through flight.  So now we will be flying home at 8:30am and getting to SFO by noontime.  And there is no stop over.  Now we hope that won't change.

 

We had an invitation to a special event for the President's Club members held in the Officer's Bar on deck four at 6:30pm.  This was a first on this ship, and we figured it was due to the fact that the number of guests in the Club are lower than last year.  Better for all of us, we located the hidden door forward on deck four.  There were as many officers as there were guests.  This lounge was half the size of the one on the Amsterdam, but very nice and cozy.  Special canapes were passed around as well as bottomless beverages.   The party lasted over an hour, and we were lucky to be able to visit with Captain Frank and his wife, Christel, Henk, Shiv, Mila, the environmental officer and the best guest relations manager, Maja.  She is the happiest person on this ship and pleasure to chat with.  When many of the guests and staff left, she went to the back of the bar, and brought over a tray full of canapies to share with us.  We did help her out, but it was our dinnertime and we finally said our thank you's and left for the dining room.   

 

Our meals consisted of salads, a soup, a smoked duck appetizer, and one Weiner schnitzel and a Peruvian chicken.  Not sure which one was the best.  Our buddy Don upon leaving the dining room, ordered a slice of carrot cake for Bill, a special treat that was not on the menu.   We did share it and it was quite good. 

 

And as the Captain mentioned earlier, the waters at the mouth of the Amazon became a bit rough.  He did advise all of us to lash down any breakables just in case the turbulence got worse during the evening.  So far so good and it is 11pm as this is being written.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #18 Tuesday January 16, 2024 Santarem, Brazil 8am-5pm Tender Port Using Ship & Shore Tenders Sunny With Some Clouds Hot 90 Degrees 58% Humidity---Casual Dress

 

Last night, we all got a letter from Captain Frank in response to questions some guests are asking about the situation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal.  He reassured everyone that the safety and security of the guests and crew are top priority.  HAL has been in touch with the US Department of State and other agencies regarding this situation.  The Captain continued to give details on the security team that is onboard with us now and also shoreside.   There are some various itineraries that can be substituted in case we are unable to transit the Suez Canal to enter the Mediterranean Sea.  We have no doubt HAL will not send us into harm's way.  And like we stated weeks ago, this may turn out to be a mystery cruise.

 

So we ask, what is a "Nothing Day"?  That was on the front of the Daily newsletter.  Actually, that is where the day of the week should be printed.  We can say it is Tuesday and we are in our final port of Santarem.  It is one of the oldest cities, and one of the larger ones.  Founded in 1661, the city flourished with industries such as hardwood timber, rubber, coffee, and gold mining.  Later on extensive clearing of the forest was done to cultivate soybeans, another very useful products in many ways.  It is a far cry from the Tapajos Indians that lived here for thousands of years. 

 

The last two times we visited here, we went on tours to see the highlights, and fish for piranhas.  Today we decided to see the city.  After tendering over in a local wooden ferry boat, we took the complimentary shuttle to Fisherman's Square, about a three mile drive up Avenido Tapajos, named after the tribe of natives that lived here.  At the end of the riverside drive, we were dropped off across from a building with a patio that overlooked the convergence of the Amazon River and the Tapajos River.  This is another area where the waters do not mix readily.  While taking photos here, we also spotted some more river dolphins as they skimmed the surface and dove.   This is also the spot where we took a riverboat ride on the piranha fishing tour ten years ago.  At that time, the guide collected the small piranha fish we all caught and fried them up for us to taste.   Funny thing, we had just read about the parasites that are inside the flesh of the fish, and if they are not cooked properly, you could be in for a big surprise as these parasites grow in your stomach.  Yikes.   No way would we even taste them, but many others did.  This same tour was offered today for 2 ½ hours at $90 per person.  The other tours took folks on a drive-by ride through Santarem with a 40 mile drive to go back to Alter do Chao.  That was $80 for 5 hours.  Santarem Highlights was $70 for 3 ½ hours, while a trip to the Tapajos Forest was $85 for 4 ½ hours. 

 

There is a malecon or riverside promenade walkway that follows the river here for about 3 miles.   Besides dozens of shops, markets, cafes and bars, there are scenic views of the river activity and landmarks along the way.  Even though the weather was warm, there was a nice breeze.  So we decided to walk back towards the pier, and stop to see some sights along the way.  The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa da Conceicao was close to here, so we went up a side street and entered the church.  It was painted blue and white on the outside and stood out looming over the center of town. 

 

Continuing on, we followed the river side watching for birds.  We did spot more terns, greater egrets, the ever-present vultures, and some hawks.  A few of the diving birds we could not ID.  There were many markets for the locals as well as souvenir tents set up near the church.  It was close to noontime, and street food carts were appearing.  We never did see any cafes or restaurants opened along the way.  What they did have were several concrete benches in some shade along the entire malecon.  Many of us took advantage of that as the sun was quite intense.

 

But the best was yet to come as we got closer to the Mercado 2000, a fish and fruit market built right on the roadside.   Years ago, we recall a giant fish market that was directly on the sandy banks of the river.   Tables were set up with the fishermen's catch of the day.  We can remember the smell and the flies.  Today, the fishermen work under a nice roof and have the convenience of stainless steel counters and plenty of sinks with clean running water.  Most of the day's catch was already sold, but we did see a large variety of river fish.  Some were not like anything we have seen in other fish markets around the world.   Of course, this is a river and the fish would be different than ocean fish.   The majority of the fruit sold here were gigantic watermelons.

 

We could see activity happening on the river boats below us, so we took the time to watch.  Fishermen were fileting really huge fish, at least 7 to 10 feet in length and each one weighing over 400 pounds we bet.  Asking a local, he said they were the pirarucu that have the giant scales on their bodies.  We remembered seeing these monster fish back in the 1990's, and were told then that their numbers were dropping due to over-fishing.   Probably regulated now, the ones we saw being skinned were still good size.  We watched as they threw the entire skins into the river where they sunk, then proceeded to carve 7 foot long filets, finally placing the fileted fish in baskets.  They were weighed, brought up to the malecon, and placed in big ice chests full of crushed ice.  Bet they were on their way to the fish market.   We had the opportunity to taste this fish on a tour back then, and it was tasty and moist with no bones.

 

Our ship map stopped at this point, so we guessed at the way back to the port gate.  There was no sign on the corner, so we followed the road passing Cargill, a big name in the food and copra industries.  They are a worldwide corporation, and create many products specifically related to the coconut.  Bet that soybeans are also a product they handle.  It turned out we took the right road, because as we neared the river, we could see the gate.  One of the shuttles was on its way back to drop off guests from the ship.   We checked out the souvenirs tables but saw nothing we needed.   A ferry was waiting to take us back to the ship, and it took a while to get there.    We had left the ship at 10am and got back before 2pm.  Ice cold sodas were in order.

 

Relaxing in our room, all aboard time came at 4:30pm, and so did the Captain with his talk.  We will head towards the next port of St. George's Grenada in a few days from now.  In the meantime, the  Brazilian pilots will be dropped off in Macapa tomorrow at 10am.  And at that time, we will be able to say that we sailed the Amazon River without any problems of getting stuck on a sandbar, thanks to our excellent navigation team and the help of experienced river pilots.  It has been quite an adventure. 

 

We did spot several birds diving near some fishing boats as we left the city of Santarem.  Among the boats, we spotted more dolphins although they barely skimmed the surface, we did see them for a nano-second.  Too fast for a photo.  Passing through the different shades of water in the converging rivers, we were well on our way downriver.  At one point we smelled smoke and discovered that there was a fire on the opposite bank.  Certainly this was not a forest clearing fire, but an example of how fields are burned for future planting. 

 

Time for dinner right after the sun went down.  We ordered a bean soup, salad, and a shrimp cocktail. Love the red cocktail sauce.  Mains were the English dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.   Ample portions, it was very tasty.  Desserts were one crème Brule and a plate of fresh pineapple slices.   Seems they have run out of bananas.  What a surprise….

 

Looking forward to some lazy sea days now.  We have earned them.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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