Report #133 Saturday May 11, 2024 Fort Lauderdale, Florida- United States Docked Port Side To Pier 26 At 5:30am Scattered Clouds And Sunny 90 Degrees 76% Humidity

 

Well, we have arrived to Ft. Lauderdale an hour ahead of schedule, just as Captain Friso had promised.  Around 5:30am, the Zuiderdam was pulling alongside Pier 26 in Port Everglades where we started over 4 ½ months ago.  None of us can believe how quickly this time has gone by.  The trip began as a "mystery" not knowing where we would be going for sure, but even with the changes that had to be made in the itinerary, we feel it turned out just fine.   Those folks that decided not to go the Africa route were able to leave the ship in Singapore and receive future cruise credit for their missed days.  We feel that was totally fair, but have no idea of how many guests chose to do that.

 

It looked like it was going to be a nice day with temps in the 90's.  There would be passing clouds, but we did not see any rain in the forecast.  Good thing because we had already packed the umbrellas and they were gone in the shipped bags.

 

Breakfast was early for us at 6:30am in the Pinnacle Grill.  Not all of our "breakfast club" showed up, since they wanted to be the first to debark.  We figured with fewer customers this morning, the service would be perfect.  Not really the service, so much as getting our orders right.  Starters always are the same with orange juice and Greek yogurt with fresh fruit.  Our waiter came along and took our orders, which was done correctly.  But we sat and sat, waiting like forever, and no food.  Obviously there was a problem since we could see our plates sitting on the end of the counter, but nothing was coming our way.  One of the waiters was cutting into the omelette and decided it was not right.  Finally he came and said they put the wrong items in it and it would have to be replaced.  Fine, but in the meantime, the other entrée sat  there getting cold.  When they brought our food, most of it was cold.  By then, we just wanted to eat and leave.  Bottom line is that their method of serving is not working as we were not the only ones with problems. The same thing happened every day to some folks.  It sure worked better on the Volendam when we had one or two waiters and everything was done right.  Here, we have 6 or more people involved and it doesn't work some days.  We have discussed this situation with Henk, our hotel director, but he claims he cannot change the operation.  It has to come from Seattle.

 

We went back to our room to relax because we knew our group was to be called off last by 9:30am.   That's one nice thing that we are not kicked out of our cabin like on other cruise lines.  The groups began to be called off by 7am, the earliest we can recall.  We watched the activity on the dock and spotted the massive amount of shipped luggage ready to be scanned through xray and loaded into a gigantic van.  We assume they drive it to a secured location and will attach the shipping labels when they get them.  We could see the regular Luggage Forward tags on some of the bags, assuming they were Neptune folks. 

 

Our veranda was just being hosed and cleaned when our group, green #1 tags were called by 9am.  Dedi, our room attendant, came running down the hall and gave us both hugs.  Both he and Putu made up for the confusion in with the breakfast today with their kindness.  We hope to see them again in the future.

 

There was a line-up of the Captain, Henk, Christel, Chantall, Maja, and Kimberly – all saying good-bye.  We got the best hugs from Christel and Maja, very special ladies.  Then we were off to pass through the immigrations checkpoint, but we did not have to stop. Remember, we had already cleared customs in San Juan.  With no luggage to drag along, we located our shuttle, boarded the bus, and were the only ones going to the Renaissance Hotel in Plantation.  We were there within 15 minutes.  Getting off on a Saturday worked out well because there was no commute traffic.

 

When we entered the lobby, we spotted two groups of guests waiting there to be transferred to the Zuiderdam and the Enchanted Princess.  We do know that the Zuiderdam will be going Transatlantic, but not sure about the Princess ship.  Despite the fact that we were early, there was a room ready for us.  Perfect, we were glad to be rid of our hand carrys.  The front desk fellow handed us an envelope with directions for our stay and tomorrow's transfer.  When we got to the room, we read the paper, and they had the incorrect air information.   Back down to the desk, we located the HAL rep who had a table set up for the outgoing guests.  She saw the problem and got on the phone and made the correction with the home office we assume.  She re-confirmed the flight and gave us a 4:30am pick-up time on Sunday morning.  Honestly, we have never had such problems with the air arranged by HAL, and hope nothing else changes in the meantime. 

 

It was already 10:30am, and we figured we may as well start our hike along the canal and head for lunch, which would be at Chili's on University Avenue.  It's quite a walk, but we made it there by 11am their opening time.  We did see a lot of birds, a few lizards, and no snakes or alligators, which could be sunning themselves on the concrete walkway.  We searched the trees for iguanas but saw none.  The air-conditioning never felt so good when we entered the restaurant.   The combination of the heat and humidity is a killer.  We were given our favorite sodas, followed by two more each.  Yep, it was that hot.  We ordered salads, one of which was the quesadilla explosion with crispy chicken.  When it was served, there was no chicken.  The manager said they were having internet problems and the kitchen had not gotten that message.  Gosh, the snafus were following us all day it seemed.  When the manager brought the chicken, he doubled the amount which was shared by both of us.  Really good too.  We thanked him and were on our way, back onto the heat by noontime.

 

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in the comfort of our room with a view.  It was the perfect time to catch up on news as well as reports and photos. 

 

Since we will need to wake up at 3am, we figured we better get something to eat earlier, and not our usual 7:30pm dinner.  When we stay at this hotel, we always take a stroll to nearby Bokampers, a sports grill and bar.  Instead of turf and surf or escargots and liver pate, we wanted something totally opposite.  That turned out to be chicken and cheese nachos which we shared of course.  It went quite well with the 22 ounce draft beers of Kona Big Wave.  A slice of Key lime pie was just enough to end our fun meal. 

 

Back at the hotel, we got our stuff back together, so we can meet our driver at 4:30am in the lobby.  We know the drive to the Ft. Lauderdale airport is short, but we will be there in plenty of time for a 7am flight – straight through to San Francisco.  It will be great re-connecting in person with family and friends.  In the meantime, it is early to bed for us to get our beauty sleep.

 

We will be back with a final report once we are home and settled in.  So stay tuned……

 

Bill & Mary Ann

83 Pictures

Report #132 Friday May 10, 2024 Sea Day #2 Of 2 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida- United States Scattered Clouds And Sunny 77 Degrees 76% Humidity Slight Wind 10 mph 6' Swell---Casual Dress

 

Well, the 128^th  day has arrived and it is time to call it quits.  What a trip.  We received the final sticker for this entire cruise, and we have logged 37,776 nautical miles, or 32,849 statute miles.  We always remark on how much water there is on earth with all of the seas and oceans we have crossed in 4 ½ months.  Incredible, actually.  And it is time to plant our feet on firm ground once again.

 

It was still warm and balmy today with temps in the 70's and humidity almost the same.  The skies were partly cloudy, but mostly blue as the day wore on.  With a wind speed of 12.3 mph and relatively calm seas, it turned out to be a most pleasant day.  For an Atlantic crossing, this has to be the best ever.  And most of that algae or kelp has disappeared, which made it nice for the boobies that appeared to catch the unsuspecting flying fish.  Adding to the drama at sea, a few frigates were flying high early this morning.  They lived up to their name of pirates of the sea as they bombed the boobies with fish in their beaks.  The frigates are a larger bird and quite capable of being bullies.  We will miss this science in action.

 

So, what's the story on the missing luggage shipping tags?  At our "breakfast club" we heard some likely explanations from friends in-the-know.  One couple said they knew for a fact that the Neptune suite guests received their pre-printed tags.  The rest of the shipping labels were possibly left behind in a San Juan hotel room and missed the ship.   Who knows for sure, but that is the latest version.  We all agreed that we will be happy when and if they get delivered to our homes.  As far as a time frame as to when to expect that delivery, nothing has been mentioned.  It sure would be of help if this fiasco was set straight and put into writing.  We seem to recall Kimberly said the real tags with the tracking numbers will be attached and we will get an  email with those tracking numbers.   When, we do not know.  

 

We had to make a stop after our morning walk to the Shops to pick up the guarantee for the Effy tanzanite set we purchased a few days ago.   They had promised to send it to our room in 2 days, but that never happened.  However, we know their angle for not sending it because that is their way of getting us back in the store in an attempt to sell us more treasures.  The salesman had to go through a stack of envelopes to find ours, but we were happy to wait for it.  Another job done.

 

Then it was off to the front desk to once again confirm our post hotel stay and transfers.  That part was fine, BUT looking for our Sunday morning flight showed nothing with our confirmation number.  Definitely not what we wanted to hear.  She asked us to double-check our confirmation number and come back.  Something was wrong, but no sense getting upset.  Back in our room, we placed a call directly to Michelle, our concierge, who was on a break but did hear from the front desk girl that there was a problem.  Michelle worked on it and discovered the girl was looking at American Airlines for our booking, which should have been United.  She apologized profusely for the mix-up and sent us an updated confirmation straight to our room.   We sure did not need that hiccup, but were relieved that it was resolved.  Another job done. 

 

At 10am there was "A City On The Sea" show for the grand finale of the crew farewell.  It came with a complimentary glass of the bubbly wine, which packs the World Stage every time.  The star of this voyage had to be our Cruise Director, Kimberly, who received the longest and loudest applause ever.  She truly earned  it with her effervescent personality that seems to be contagious with most everyone onboard.  We look forward to seeing her on the 2025 Grand World Voyage as she enjoyed being here as much as we all did. 

 

Lunch in the Lido Market was a seafood symphony which drew a huge crowd from 11:30am to 2pm.  We saw lobsters piled high at the salad bar and there was a line forming well before they opened the curtains.  Some folks made four trips to bring food to dine outside by the pool.  So far, we have not eaten one lunch in the Lido and obviously will not for this trip.  Too many memories of the Covid times and rules that should still apply to serving one self remain in our minds. 

 

Many sales were in progress in the Shops area like clearances, sample sales, an Effy raffle, 75% off some watches and a shopper's raffle.  Final fireball bingo must "go" at 3pm and over $511,000 Paradise Lotto had a jackpot drawing at 9:30pm.  Want to bet no one wins it?  But wouldn't that be something to take home?

 

We finished the rest of the packing leaving only our dinner clothes out.  The luggage needs to be put out in the hall by 10pm, earlier than we have always done.   There were nights before our final port where we could hear luggage hauled down the hallways even at 2am.   Now that we began this process yesterday, there are few bags left to pick up.

 

Dinner was good with All Time Favorites as the special menu.  There was not a Club Orange selection, but a couple of days ago, we asked our waiter and headwaiter Hazel if we could be served the veal chop one last time.  She promised to check with the chef, and said if it was still available, we would have it.   But before we had a chance to order, the entire kitchen staff including the waiters disappeared.  There was going to be a parade through the dining room before any of us were served food.  Great idea.  Kimberly announced Neil, the head chef, who paraded his crew through both dining rooms with napkins flying and guests clapping.   It was a nice send-off for all of us. 

 

Anyway, Yanwar took our orders for starters, but not the entrees since he knew the chops were coming.  Good thing we did not eat lunch today as the chops were huge….tasty and cooked perfectly.  We added one dessert of Snickers cake with a side of vanilla ice cream to share.  It was too good, but probably the last dessert we will have for some time to come. There were many goodbyes with longtime friends and staff, but we will be seeing most of them next year, God-willing.   

 

The final three suitcases went out before 10pm, and we will be all set for tomorrow.  Breakfast will be at 6:30am, so it was an early evening for us.

 

Stay tuned as we will be staying one evening in Ft. Lauderdale and should have time to do a report tomorrow at the hotel.  Until then…..sayonara from the Zuiderdam.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #131 Thursday May 9, 2024 Sea Day #1 Of 2 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida- United States Scattered Clouds And Some Sun 80 Degrees 75% Humidity Slight Wind 13mph 6' Swell ---Casual Dress

 

Early this morning, we all got a disembarkation package in our mail slots.  We have a post cruise hotel stay with an approximate debark time of 9:30am.  Actually, the later the better since check-in time might be in the afternoon.  Now that we have all been cleared through the US immigration inspections, getting off on Saturday morning should go much smoother.  As we previously mentioned,  the shipped luggage will not have to be claimed in the Ft. Lauderdale terminal.  That is a big deal, since in the past, that was the worst part of going home. 

 

Anyway, we have been given green #1 tags to use on any luggage we may be taking off with us.  We chose to ship everything – a total of nine pieces of luggage. Whatever we need for the overnight stay will fit in our hand bags.  We also got a message with important information for those of us using the Luggage Forward Services.   It stated there had been a change of plans for the tags being provided for that shipment.  So now HAL rip-proof tags are being produced onboard with their logo, our last name, and stateroom number.  Nothing else.  Oh yeah….thanks for your patience was added.  Usually, we are provided with real shipping labels (either Fed Ex or UPS) complete with our names and address.  We are not quite sure how this is going to work unless it is all done with a QR code or something similar.     One of us jokingly said these tags will be the same ones they always use.  Who knows?

 

After working on yesterday's photos and packing some more stuff, we went off for a much needed promenade walk, followed by a trip up to the Seaview Pool.   The weather gods have been kind to everyone with mostly blue skies and some drifting clouds.   Captain Friso has been taking some credit for the nice weather and low swells, so we will give him that.  The humidity is still with us, but no where near as high as yesterday in the Old Town of San Juan.   Looking forward, the sailing will continue the same all the way back to Florida.  Then Kimberly came on after the Captain, like she always does.  After a run-by of the afternoon's activities, she mentioned that the special luggage tags were being delivered as she spoke.    So we went down to our room, to find Dedi delivering envelopes to each of his rooms.  And guess what we found in the envelope?   The same old luggage tags with a label attached with our name and room number.   They were numbered from one to nine and we were to attach these to each piece of luggage.  No joking…the same tags. 

 

We suppose that the guest service desk got slammed with phone calls asking many questions, because Kimberly came on the speakers again to explain the tags and please do not write anything else on them, like an address.  An educated guess is that someone fouled up and did not get the real printed tags in time to bring them here.  Our next deduction is that somewhere along the line, these bags will be scanned with our names and room number and have a "real" tag attached with all of the info.  At least we hope so.  Just in case they go astray, we added a slip of paper in each bag with our name and address and a phone number.   No other explanation was given for the change of plans.

 

During the afternoon, we locked and tagged six of our suitcases and put them outside the door to be picked up.  This was a great idea because waiting until the final evening left a hard job for the fellows who had to move it all well past midnight.  The last three will go out tomorrow evening after dinner.

 

Here is a twist for you all to hear.  There was a crew talent show held in the World Stage at 2pm.   We always go, but were still deep in photo sorting and final packing.  Figuring we could watch it as we always do on our room TV was not to be.  Later at her 5pm talk, Kimberly mentioned that a DVD would be available to purchase with both the passenger talent show along with today's crew show.    Really?  Boy that is sure not the way it used to be, making us wonder how solvent HAL is these days.   They are figuring many ways to squeeze the last few dollars out of the guests in our humble opinion.  

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill, the last one for this cruise.  Going at 8pm, we noticed the room was pretty full.  We ordered our favorite salads and steaks followed with a shared slice of Key Lime pie.  At 8:45pm there was a chocolate wow or a chocolate surprise in the World Stage.  Of course, we were in the middle of our dinner, so missed it. 

 

The Flyrights delivered a farewell show promising a whole new performance.  We missed that also as dinner ran overtime.   At least we do not have to put the clocks back tonight as we are already on the correct time for Florida.  Four hours back in a week's time is too much too fast.  But that is part of travel….like it or not.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #130 Wednesday May 8, 2024 San Juan, Puerto Rico 3pm-10:30pm Docked Port Side To Pier Scattered Clouds, Rain And Some Sun 85 Degrees 78% Humidity Slight Wind 10mph---Casual Dress

 

Finally, we are seeing the return of the birds, the first one spotted during breakfast this morning.  These appear to be the Caribbean brown boobies.  By 9am, there were dozens of these soaring and diving birds having a feast of the small flying fish.   We did spot one masked booby from our veranda later on.   Strange, just one.

 

The bad news was that we woke up to rain and heavily cloudy skies.  We figured it would be a wet day in San Juan, but as the morning went on, it began to clear up.  That  would be a miracle, but sometimes things work out that way.  Just as Captain Friso had promised, we arrived to the port by 2pm.  At 12:30pm, Kimberly gave a sail-in commentary that could be heard about everywhere on the ship.   The bow had been opened as well.  

 

We stayed on our veranda and had the best place to photograph the entrance into the harbor, passing El Morro, the oldest Spanish fort in the New World as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The sun was at our back, and the views were spectacular….clear, sharp, and full of color.  Eventually the skies did cloud up again, but we got lucky while doing the sail-in.

 

The first job we all had was to have a mandatory immigration inspection in the terminal, not on the ship.  Around 2pm, the passengers decks were called off starting with 10 and 8, then the rest followed.  It would be a zero count inspection, and no one was allowed back on the ship until everyone had been cleared.   Kimberly suggested for those who did not intend on going into town, could wait until the final call and go off last.  Tour groups would go off, and go through the process then head for their buses.   Simple enough, but we did hear later that three passengers had to be called to finish the roster, and they held the waiting group up until 4:20pm.    It happens all of the time and that does not make these folks very popular. 

 

The crew members filed off the same time we did, but they had a separate area of the terminal for their inspection.  All of them were able to return to the ship and continue working. 

 

We went off by 2:30pm and decided to take the room umbrella since Captain Friso had mentioned that the south part of the island was experiencing flash flooding.  We had no way of knowing if it was heading this way but chose not to take any chances.  The customs checkpoint was quick, with a short line and several officers.  Then we were off and heading the way we usually walk.  Uphill.

 

In the meantime, there were some tours today which began with a historic walk-through San Cristobal Fort to see the secret tunnels and dungeons for 3 ½ hours for $55.  A drive to see the highlights of San Juan for 2 ½ hours was $70, while a folkloric show in the evening was 1 ½ hour and $80.  The history and cuisine of San Juan on foot was 3 ½ hours for $110 where canopies and a 3 course meal would be served.   Craft cocktails and a sample of Puerto Rican food for twelve people was 3 ¾ hours for $170.  Easy Old Town for 3 ½ hours for $180.  This may have been a tour in an open- air vehicle for 6 people with a weight limit of 800 pounds.   There was a tour listed previously that must have been cancelled.   It was a bioluminescent Bay Kayak trip for 5 ¼ hours and $170.  This would be a boat ride to the island where the organisms in the water light up like glow worms.  There were two people to each kayak and a waiver had to be signed before going.  And there was no guarantee that you would see the light show, but refreshments would be served.  Too bad it was cancelled.

 

Anyway, back to our hike uphill.   Even though it never did rain, the humidity was so heavy you could cut it with a knife.   And today, we were not alone as the Carnival Celebration was already docked  right across from us.  And it was a big one.  We need to look up her stats, but we guess with 16 lifeboats, there may be up to or over 6000 passengers.  The Zuiderdam looked like a baby next to her.   No doubt, there will be a lot of folks in the Old Town today. 

 

We headed up the main street to the Plaza Colon, where the Christopher Columbus statue sits in the center.  It reminded us of a small scale version of the monument in Barcelona.  Columbus landed here in the early 1500's followed by Ponce de Leon, who became the first governor.  That was well over 500 years ago when he declared the island for Spain.  Further up the street we came to the Fort San Cristobal, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is one of the largest forts in the New World.  Turning left on the Malecon Road, we passed the old pastel houses and businesses along the cliffsides.  It was so hot and sticky, we wished for rain that never came.  As we got closer to the La Perla area, we began to see swarms of tiny bugs, like knats, but smaller.  They must be hatching out in the fields of very green grass surrounding the oldest Spanish fort of El Morro.   Many locals were out and about, and appeared to be waving at each other.   Then we ran into the bugs, and realized they were all waving them away from their faces, hair, arms, and legs.  They just stuck to us, and we had to be most careful not to get them in our mouths and noses.   It almost became comical when coming back down from the gates of the fort.  Many guys pulled their shirts over their faces and the gals cursed while swatting at the little critters.  Our best bet was staying off of the expanse of grass, because that was where they were coming from. 

 

Instead of back-tracking, we continued walking past the several plazas that eventually led back over the ridge and back into the streets of the old town.   We had hoped to find the pizza place we had found several years ago, but when we got to the right street, it appeared the place had changed to something different.  If nothing else, we went in search of beers somewhere.  The only place that was serving draft beer happened to be Senor Frog's.  Thinking that might work, we opened the door and got blasted with unreal noise of drums and people starting a congo line.  Definitely not what we had in mind, we ended up back at the ship before 6pm. 

 

We have had a bottle of sparkling wine in the refrigerator for months now, and today was a good day to pop it open and enjoy sipping it on our deck.   Relaxing with the wine (which we normally don't drink), we watched as the last of the guests on the Carnival ship boarded.  It was fun watching the kids or adults riding the Celebration's rooftop roller coaster or going down the tubular shoot to the back pool.  Doing a little research on this behemoth, we learned that this new ship came out in 2022 at a cost of 1 billion dollars.  At 183,521 gross tons, it is the largest ship in their fleet.  At max capacity, there are 6500 guests with 1735 crew members.  A big WOW.   One thing we noticed when we walked back from our hike was the fact that the Celebration completely hid the Zuiderdam from sight despite the fact we were docked almost side by side with the terminal in the center.   This ship was successful in blocking the entire sunset from our view as it left the harbor before 7pm.   It sure was a pretty sight as it was lit up for the night as was the city.

 

Dinnertime found many people missing.  Many guests may have gone out to dinner because all aboard for us was 10:30pm.  The choices were limited but we did enjoy the hot bowl of pea soup and salads.  Entrees were the Peruvian chicken (half order) and they were just right.  Desserts were rocky road ice cream (finally) and one Tres leches flan.  

 

The ship left after a few toots of the horn by 10:45pm.  We are heading towards Ft. Lauderdale and will arrive on Saturday morning.   We have two full sea days to finish the packing.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

389 Pictures

Report #129 Tuesday May 7, 2024 National Tourism Day Sea Day #4 0f 4 Enroute To San Juan, Puerto Rico Scattered Clouds 80 Degrees 73% Humidity Slight Wind And Choppy Seas---Casual Dress

 

Day four at sea was another pleasant day as far as the seas and temps go.   Still a bit choppy, the swells and most of yesterday's clouds were gone today.  It may have rained during the evening, but blue skies were peeking through early on.   If it stays this way, we will be happy, as it is not cold as our usual crossings are. 

 

Since we are getting closer to San Juan, Puerto Rico, we may as well add some info here because we have the time.  The population of Puerto Rico is 3.5 million folks that speak Spanish and English.  There are actually four main islands here, with the largest, San Juan, having a population of 555,000 people.   Christopher Colombus landed here followed by Pone de Leon, who became the first governor of this 500 year old city. 

 

It is said to have a swashbuckling history due to its proximity to the United States.  These days the islands boast salty sea breezes at numerous resorts and beaches as well as casinos for the gamblers and a high-gloss city after dark.  San Juan, the capital has the old cobblestone streets, pastel colors of the colonial buildings and a famous fortress of days past.  El Morro is a prime example of what this island was all about.  

 

Now it is a city of bars and clubs reverberating with "salsa" (not the dip) but the rhythms on the dance floors.  The music has lasted through generations.  What kind of food do they like here?  The four main ingredients of Puerto Rican food are rice, beans, plantains and pork.  Fried, grilled, stewed or skewered pork is the King.  Their favorite lunch is a savory spit-roasted suckling pig cooked for over 8 hours until it is smoky and tender. 

 

Have any of you seen bioluminescent bays?  It is nature's magical trick, where in some parts of the world you can experience the jewel-like flicker of light dripping from your hands while night-snorkeling or kayaking.  There is actually a tour offered tomorrow that will take some folks to the tiny island to kayak in the darkness of night.  Interesting for sure.  Many years ago, while sailing somewhere in the world, we did witness this phenomenon when we happened to look out our window in the middle of the night.  The water was glowing and we could not believe our eyes.  The following day, Captain Mercer explained what we had seen.  Pretty cool and we didn't have to snorkel or kayak to see it. 

 

Too bad there will not be enough time to sink our toes into the white sands and turquoise waters, as we will be arriving late in the afternoon.    Captain Friso did mention he would try to get us to the port by 2pm, but then we have to deal with customs and immigrations, slowing everything down for sure. 

 

Today was a busy one with many things happening.  Borrowed books had to be brought back to the library, and the photo contest has wrapped up, and we were able to get the one photo for free just for entering.    Any extra ones would have a charge of $5.  We had to sort through five piles of photos to locate the one we entered.  Then we had some cashable credit on our account, and took care of that, getting a complete copy of the entire statement.   Thanks to the refunded port charges for the change of itinerary and extra SB credit to help cover unexpected visa charges, we still had some left to take home. 

 

While getting "take-out" at the Dive In Grill, we noticed there was a White Elephant sale in progress in the Lido Poolside.  Fellow guests were invited to sell whatever they chose not to take home to other guests.   Many people who have done these long cruises do not need the extra gifts we got, nor do they wish to pay more to send them back home with Luggage Forward.  We have heard of many people giving their small suitcases, or duffels, jackets,  canvas hand bags, and even the Delft plates to their room stewards or waiters.   And we do know for a fact that much of this memorabilia shows up on eBay.  Believe it or not, there is a market for dated HAL items that command some nice prices. 

 

This evening was "Surprise Night" where the guests and crew were invited to the hottest club on the high seas – the Lido Poolside.   DJ Nyron would be spinning the tunes, while the guests sipped complimentary sparkling wine or indulged with drink specials and a late night snack.  This began at 9pm to 11pm with snacks at 10 to 11pm.  This would definitely be targeted for the early diners, since we were still eating our dinners at 9pm.  Our meal started with shrimp cocktails and Caesar salads.   Our mains were one BBQ pork ribs, and one ziti pasta with andouille sausage (a bit heavy on the cayenne).  It took a scoop of biscotti ice cream to soothe the burn.   

 

And the clocks went back one more hour, putting us on Eastern time now.  Puerto Rico….here we come.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #128 Monday May 6, 2024 National Beverage Day Sea Day #3 0f 4 Enroute To San Juan, Puerto Rico Scattered Clouds 80 Degrees 73% Humidity No Wind And Flat Seas---Casual Dress

 

Our third day at sea began with even smoother seas and continuing balmy temperatures and high humidity.  Looking out the window during breakfast, the sea took on the look of silk floating in the breeze.  We're almost afraid of saying this because it may jinx it.  Guess what?   It did.

 

We have also been seeing more and more of an algae-like greenery in the waters ever since we left Cape Verde.  Not sure if it is a type of kelp, but it seems to be getting thicker and larger  in size.  Usually, we are transiting the Atlantic from further north, such as from the Azores or Funchal, and we don't recall seeing this algae as the waters have to be cooler there.  In addition, we never remember having a crossing being so smooth or warm.  Normally, we would be bouncing off of the walls trying to pack.  But we are certainly not complaining about that.

 

During breakfast, there was a surprise announcement from Kimberly saying that some animals had escaped from a zoo and they were filling up the Lido Poolside.  In the back round, she was playing "A Lion Sleeps Tonight", a blast from the past.  Of course, we had to go get the camera and take some photos before the critters were rounded up by 9am.  Last  night between 11pm and 12am, the room attendants got together and provided the most creative towel animals we have seen so far.  There were the usual suspects of monkeys, elephants, turtles, birds, and sea critters.  Then the guys had made life-size crew members sitting in chairs or even in a wheelchair.  Not sure everyone thought that to be amusing.  Even the pink, green, yellow, and blue cleaning cloths were made into little lemmings.  All-in-all, there were hundreds of escapees from the zoo.  Good work room stewards!

 

Today was one of presents.  The first ones arrived early with the HAL Sailing 150 Years tiles.  No ship design or date was on them.  Although it is really 151 years, these are from last year.   Later in the day, we were given the commemorative plates for the 2024 Grand World Voyage.  We had been told that these plates were small, but we did not expect them to be that small.  They are 6 inches in diameter and do not have an itinerary on them.   Remember the movie, "Honey I Shrunk The Kids"?  Well we feel that has occurred with these final gifts.  Way back in 2005, we were given platters, then it went to plates, some round, some oval, but always something with the actual itinerary on them.  Due to changes in itineraries, not all of the plates were correct.  One year, they put the wrong world cruise on them and replacements were mailed to us.  Oh well, guess we should not look a gift horse in the mouth so to speak.  They will be easier to pack.

 

Kimberly gave her last port talk on San Juan, Puerto Rico.  This will be an unusual port stop because we are not due to arrive until 3pm.   The Captain said he is striving to get us there at least an hour earlier.  The number one priority will be doing the customs and immigrations clearing with the local officials.  This will occur onshore we understand.  This will be a "zero count" meaning that every person including crew has to attend before anyone is allowed back on the ship.    Usually this is done in Ft. Lauderdale, but since Puerto Rico is considered part of the USA, we can get this process out of the way.  It will make debarking in Florida a whole lot easier. 

 

The photo contest ended today and three photos were picked for each category.  This was a plus for the photo department because many folks stopped and checked out the numerous entries.  We are sure that they sold more of the pictures that have been displayed for weeks.  We are not sure how these entries will be voted on or by who.

 

The Crow's Nest was closed from 3 to 6pm once again to accommodate another Mariner Reward Event.   This must have been the last of the three sessions they did over the last sea days.  There used to be one last cocktail party where the awardees were all recognized in front of the World Stage receiving their medals and having a photo taken.  It was a one night event prior to each dining venue – early or late.  Like many things, that has changed. 

 

We did our usual walk, then went to the Seaview Pool to find the lounges about empty.  The sun was out and it was great sitting outside talking to Greg for a while.  We did notice that some clouds were forming on the horizon.    By 6pm, it was totally cloudy and it rained.  The sea got rougher, the winds were higher, and we had some good downpours.  Part of the starboard promenade deck was even flooded.  So much for the totally smooth crossing.   Also, Kimberly mentioned that there may be thunderstorms in San Juan. Sure hope not.  Thinking on the positive side, we packed the umbrellas and have no idea which suitcase they are in.  We do have the orange umbrellas in our closet, but they are quite large, so we never used them. 

 

Today was the final day for turning the laundry in and it had to be out by 12pm.  For the very first time on this trip, we did not get our last laundry back the same day, not that we expected that.  But as of tonight, we still have not seen it.  Of course, a needed sweatshirt was turned in to be cleaned, and everything else warm is packed.  We are sure they are over-whelmed in the laundry department.

 

Tonight's dinner was the final formal, although there are still some folks that do not comply.  Their excuse is probably that they packed all of their nice clothes.  We stuck to the dress code, and everyone around us did the same.   Appetizers were shrimp cocktails, a Caesar salad, and one a hot bowl of tasty tomato soup.  Mains were rack of lamb….about the best we have eaten so far in the dining room.  They were even more tender and juicy than what we get in the Pinnacle Grill when we order the lamb chops.  Desserts were one panna cotta, and one glass of vanilla ice cream with a warm fudge sauce. 

 

Good news, we think, the clocks went back another hour.  No matter which way the clocks go, it still leaves us all tired.  More so when it is done almost every other day.  We still have another hour to go back before we get to Puerto Rico on Wednesday.  We'll be walking zombies by then.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

59 Pictures

Report #127 Sunday May 5, 2024 Cinco de Mayo Day Sea Day #2 0f 4 Enroute To San Juan, Puerto Rico Scattered Clouds 75 Degrees 73% Humidity 15mph Winds 7' Swell---Casual Dress

 

We're not sure if we mentioned this, but we had another hour back on the clock last night.  One more hour, and we will be on Eastern Standard Time, also correct for San Juan, Puerto Rico.  And the other event we forgot to mention was Derby Day, a knock-off of the Kentucky Derby.  The "horses" names were Harry Trotter, Chewbacca, Hoof-Hearted, Ahhh Sol and Talk-Derby-to-Me.   The best hat of the day competition was at 1:30pm.  The Grand Voyage Band was present and it was fun for all that attended. 

 

Thank you for the explanation of the Dutch Liberation Day, which followed yesterday's Remembrance Day.  We learned something new. 

 

There was a final Brunch Sampler in the dining room at 11am.  We are not fans of this meal, but many love it.   It was breakfast as usual for us in the Pinnacle Grill, followed by a deck walk and some more packing.  We are caught up with as much as we possibly can be, leaving just what we need for the rest of the week.  For a change, we are ahead of the game.  For our convenience, there are weigh stations in every passenger elevator lobby to assist us with the luggage weights.  We still have the hand-held scale, and it works well.  

 

There were many promotions in the newsletter today, and that reminded us that we have to pay a visit to the Shops and see how we can make the best use of our non-refundable shipboard credit.  A few days ago we received a call from Guest Services reminding us that we need to spend that credit or chance losing it.    Nice of them to remind us, although, we have known this is something we needed to do.  Something with tanzanite might work for one of us…….

 

One of us had an appointment at 3:30pm for a haircut.  The wait was over ½ hour, but well worth it since the haircut came out quite nicely.   This has to be one of the busiest places on the ship, keeping our friend Rene, the manager, busy all day….even on port days as the spa is aways opened for business.  

 

During the 5pm dinnertime, we figured a visit to the Shops would be a good idea.    The manager of the Effy portion of the jewelry shop was most cooperative with helping us find a tanzanite necklace and earring set, and was able to get us a discount as well.   Later on, a Mary Frances beaded handbag was added to our collection.  And that was a wrap.

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill at 8pm.  By then, most everyone was almost finished and we had good service.  As always, we began with the wedge salads and one order of clothesline bacon.   The bacon is not quite the same as it used to be.   Slab bacon was what they used to serve, but now the bacon is thinner and not as smoky.  Still good, we put it on top of our salads.  One of us ordered the halibut, while the other went for the ribeye steak.  It was far superior to last night's offering in the dining room.   Skinny fries were shared as well as a slice of Key Lime pie.   It is going to be rough going home and cutting back……..

 

The entertainment this evening was a singer by the name of Suzanne O. Davis with hits from the 60's.  There was also star-gazing at 8:30pm with Ted Blank, one of the three lecturers onboard.

 

Two more sea days and we will be in Puerto Rico.  Hope the weather and seas continue to be good.  Today's temperature was 75 degrees with a light breeze.  Can't beat that.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

 

Report #126 Saturday May 4, 2024 Kentucky Derby Day Sea Day #1 0f 4 Enroute To San Juan, Puerto Rico Scattered Clouds 75 Degrees 73% Humidity 15mph Winds 7' Swell---Dressy Dress

 

Very few of our "breakfast club" showed up early for breakfast this morning.  We're guessing that since we have four days at sea now, many people slept in or stayed up late last night.   Now you would think that those of us that were dining there would have the wait staff's undivided attention, but that wasn't the case.    Once our breakfast was served (missing the ham) the waiters seem to disappear.  One of us gets a carafe of coffee, but the other has decaf…one cup at a time.  But no one was pouring it this morning.  Another waiter made a sweep with the pastry tray one time only.  Even one of our buddies had to get up and go help himself from the tray on a side table.  We were happy to see someone spotted that and came running.  We are the only ones that get the sugar-free packets….the rest of the tables have none.    This has been occurring for the last month, leading us to think they are running short.  Anyway, we will survive, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  Unlike our dinner waiters, we do not have a designated waiter for breakfast.

 

We spent some of the morning catching up on yesterday's photos and labeling.  We took our morning walk with pleasant temperatures and a little wind.  So far, it is still on the warm side, but we don't expect it to last long.  One thing for sure, we are enjoying watching the hundreds of flying fish scatter when the bow breaks the surface.  Their only worries are what is underneath them in the sea, but not overhead, since the birds are not here.

 

Spending an hour at the Seaview Pool, we found it was plenty warm.  Our regular deck waiters were not there today, and the ones that took their places never came around with ice water.    It appears the jobs have been changing as we get closer to the end of the trip.   Deep cleaning has continued in every restaurant as we get closer to that inspection in San Juan. 

 

We packed more luggage today, finding some clothes that were left in a side pocket of a duffel.   One of us knew some things were missing, but figured they were left behind while unpacking from the Tales of the South Pacific and re-packing for the world cruise.  At least one of us has some new dinner clothes for the final week here.

 

We received several invites.  One of them was for our travel group gathering at the Sunday Brunch tomorrow in the dining room.  Since we do not care for the brunch menu, we will not be there.  Another invitation arrived for a Mariner Society Lunch in the dining room on the 7^th at 11am.    It was by special invite from Captain Friso and Henk, our hotel director.  Chances are they will not be hosting tables as they have done in the past.   This year it appears that the officers have not been hosting tables on formal evenings either.  There may be a few of them that were invited directly, but not many. 

 

The most important note came to everyone regarding the use of requested wheelchairs for disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.  It was made perfectly clear that the service is limited and it applies to guests who have used mobility devices from day one.   Or perhaps if someone was injured onboard and needed assistance ever since, they would qualify for help.  Otherwise, it is not an alternative for luggage/package/carry-on transportation options.  You would be surprised how many folks did this years ago in order to be taken off first. No more.

 

At 5pm, there was a requested two minutes of silence for Dutch Remembrance Day or Dodenherdenking in Dutch.  It is similar to our Memorial Day and we're certain it was honored by all in the public areas.  Tomorrow is dubbed Bevrijdingsdag which might stand for Cinco de Mayo???    We sure don't know.

 

We received a full size photo taken with us and the Captain and Henk at the Mariner Recognition Event a couple of days ago.  It was a lot more casual that the posed pictures we normally took, and probably better.  Thinking back on that afternoon, we feel bad for the folks that had gotten their 5 star level medallions.  Each of them should have been recognized since it took a lot of days to get to that level.  At least they were invited to take a picture with the officers before leaving the party.  

 

It was "dressy" for dinner, although many of the guests chose not to be that dressy.   We know that everyone is in the packing mode and use that as an excuse not to dress up.   There is one more formal evening, and we are really sure many will not follow the suggestion.   It's not like the formal night will be on the last evening, as it will be on Monday with plenty of time to pack it up.  Dinner time found us ordering smoked chicken slices with a raisin aioli sauce.  It was really good as was the crab fritter.  Following our salads was the rib steak dinner, the chef's recommendation for the night.  We did not expect the meat to be as good as in the Pinnacle Grill, but it was pretty close.  There was room for a tiny scoop of Neapolitan ice cream for dessert. 

 

The entertainment tonight was another performance of the The Flyrights.  They promised a  sensational show – different from their last one.   We shall see.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report # 125 Friday May 3, 2024 Mindelo, Ilha De Sao Vicente, Cape Verde 7am-6pm Docked Port Side To Pier Few Clouds With Some Sun 20mph Wind 78 Degrees-----Casual

Today's port of call was the city of Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente, one of the windward islands of Cape Verde.  The total population of this archipelago is 553,000 people that speak mainly Portuguese, some English, and Creole.  The city of Mindelo is the capital of Sao Vicente and the population is 69,900 natives (2010).  Ninety-three % of the people live in and around this desert-like city.  Also making them famous is the annual Mardi Gras at Carnival time, which is said to be the best among African countries.  Local music called moma is the prevailing sound heard everywhere.

 

Located 500 kilometers off the west coast of Senegal, this island chain has volcanic peaks, many beaches, verdant valleys, and seaside villages.  The green valleys produce sugar cane, and flowers, not to mention a plethora of produce.   Mt. Verde is the highest peak on Sao Vicente at 750 meters, and windsurfing and kite surfing are a growing fad as well.   By the way, Sao Vicente island is a mere 88 square miles, not the largest of the group.

 

The food and drink are all Portuguese-related with a creole touch.  Imported olives and wines go well with the cuisine of dishes created with dried corn, beans, rice and fish or meat.  Thanks to many Italian tourists, pizza and pasta dishes are available everywhere, and most lucky for us.   This is truly a Mediterranean-style town attracting mostly European clientele.  And cruise ship passengers like us.  We have been to this city before, but it has been so long ago, we had trouble remembering most of it.  Perhaps back in the old days, we did a tour that took us out of town. 

 

The currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo with 102.94 CVE equaling $1 USD.  Most of the shops and restaurant will quote prices in both escudo and Euro.  And most places do not accept US dollars or American Express.  The most used cards here are Visa and Master Card.

 

There were four excursions here starting with a walking tour of the town for 3 ½  hours for $55.   It would take you along the beachfront road with shops and monuments, ending up at the fish market and African market.  We did all of this and more for free.   Then there was a drive up Mt. Verde for views of the islands (weather permitting).  You would enjoy a taste of the local liqueur and some of their agriculture snacks.  Around the island  in a 4 x 4 vehicle for 4 ½ hours for $110 took folks to the inland agricultural area and also to see beaches and caves at a fishing village.   And lastly there was a culinary experience for 4 hours and $110 to join a group that would go to a local restaurant for a taste of the meat and fish with beans, corn, potatoes and bananas.   We suspect many guests took these excursions because they were priced-right. 

 

It was much cooler this morning with temperatures in the high 70's….not 100's like in The Gambia.    There was a 20 mph breeze blowing and the humidity was 69%.  A few scattered clouds were overhead, some residual fog, and no rain.  Only sunshine for most of the day. 

 

We docked portside to the pier where we had the view of the seawall and the road to town.  Sure resembles the same pier as in Funchal, Madeira except not as large.  There was a crew drill at 9:30am which lasted for an hour.   We left in the middle of it, boarded the small shuttle, and were in the center of town within minutes.  It was nice that we did not have to walk in the commercial port area, although we did see people doing it. 

 

The driver let us out in the center of town where we continued to walk the entire seaside road.  The first icon we saw had to be the sailfish display in the surf…reminding us of the huge one that is in Manzanillo.  Just smaller.  A short distance up the road was the monument of Diogo Afonso, who was the Portuguese explorer and founder of Cape Verde.  The Torre de Belem, the replica of the one in Lisbon, was built in the 1920's commemorating Lisbon's Belem Tower. 

 

A visit here would not be complete without a stop at the local Fish Market which is always fun to see for us.  The expert ladies were busy fileting tuna and other fresh catch of the day.  The fishermen were hauling tubs of fish in the back entrance.   There was a sign showing the type of fish they catch here as well as some of the deep sea fish that had limits on them.  The walls of this market were lined with the typical Portuguese tiled pictures showing historic scenes from the past.  Again, this reminded us of the fish market in Funchal which is also Portuguese.   By the way, this market was clean and the smell was almost non-existent.  What a difference from what we saw and smelled while in Ghana and The Gambia. 

 

Turning uphill, we came upon a series of raised squares that held the outdoor fruit and veggie market.  Other stalls had a myriad of souvenirs, much of it beach-related.  Flip-flops, clothing, t-shirts and African-style brightly-colored dresses were displayed.  Beaded jewelry was more like you would see in the Caribbean Islands, tons of bracelets and necklaces with few earrings.  Several tour buses were stopping here and letting their guests out to shop.  We are not sure if they took US dollars or Euro only. 

 

Next we found a side street that took us to a church, Nossa Senhora da Luz built in 1862.  There were a dozen or more fellows lingering outside the church doors, so we did not go inside.  Some were looking for handouts.  Across from the church was a wide strip of garden with many benches.   All of the shady spots were taken by local fellows.

 

Coming out on a side street, we turned right and saw the colonial pink and white People's Palace or Palacio Povo built in 1858.   It was temporarily closed.

 

Close to here was the older colonial building which turned out to be the Mercado Municipal.  This two story building had every fruit and veggie you could possibly want along with some extras like dried veggies, rice and staples and houseplants.   Rum bottles were in the center of each display.  This market was organized and very clean with tiled floors and the vaulted ceiling. The vendors were most friendly and showed us their packaged beans, corn, cashews, peanuts, cornmeal and rice.   Add some meat or fish and you would have a stew or soup.

 

From here we made our way back to the seaside road, Avenue Marginal. Following the road, we window-shopped until we passed by the ferry terminal, the port area, and eventually, the wood-fired pizza restaurant U Sabor.  It was located across from the Lajinha Beach, an urban beach just a short walk from central Mindelo.  The only problem was that we had to climb 34 steps to get to the patio landing of this restaurant.  We will do anything for a good wood-fired pizza with beers.  Just our luck, it was not crowded and we took seats at the window with a breeze.  Meal times here are a lot like European restaurants where the folks dine later.  Of course, we had to be back onboard by 2:30pm, and did not want to be rushed for lunch.  So we ordered two Strela draft beers and one cheese, ham, salami, and mushroom pizza to share.  Beers came first, then we had to wait a while for the pizza.  No rush, it was nice to sit and relax after walking all morning.  The pizza was really great, but the desserts we ordered were top-notch.  One was called petit gateau with ice cream, and turned out to be identical to our volcano cake in the Pinnacle Grill.  The second dessert was gelado bolecha, a frozen cake in the center of ice cream covered in a fudge sauce.   Delicious.

 

Hiking back down the stairs slowly, we headed across the street to the beach.  There was a road that went to the port area, but we were not allowed to walk there.  But on our way out of the side street, a shuttle driver stopped and picked us up.  He ended up driving back to the town's center, where we stayed on until more folks came for the ride back.  This time we rode all the way back through the dock area to the ship's gangway.  We were back in our room by 2pm.  

 

Lo an behold, Kimberly came on the speakers announcing that our departure time had been changed to 6pm, due to slow- bunkering fuel.  So we did not have to cut our time in town short to be back early.  The complimentary wine and cheese sail away was still on as planned, although there would be no sail away until later.  We got involved with downloading photos as always, and forgot the time for the free party was at 2:30 to 3:30pm.  Oh well, we do not drink wine anyway, and sure did not need the cheese.   But it was a nice touch for the folks that like all that.

 

The sun was shining on our veranda all afternoon and it was great to relax out there, at least for one of us.   We expect the temperatures will be gradually dropping as we make the crossing in the next four days to Puerto Rico.  The Captain gave his talk at 5pm and was pleased with today's weather.   He apologized for leaving late, but it was not under his control. Now he will have to speed up to make up the lost time in order to get us on schedule to San Juan.  Once again, he expects a smooth sailing with winds at 20 knots and sea swells at 6 to 7 feet. 

 

Dinner was labeled "Spice Islands" and offered some different items once again.  Chicken tacos were a tasty starter, followed by a Chinese potato salad with vinegar and soy sauce.  We chose the same entrée of a soy-brushed chicken with rice, carrots, beans, and eggplant.  No….hold the eggplant.  There was no dessert for either of us since we had indulged at lunchtime.

 

The show was a mixed bag of the entertainment team singing various songs.  We were so tired from the exercise we got as well as the warm weather we did not go.   Good time to turn in early.

 

Looking forward to four days at sea as we will have to continue the packing. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

373 Pictures

Report # 124 Thursday May 2, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Mindelo, Llha De Sao Vicente, Cape Verde Overcast With Some Sun 20mph Wind, Rough With 8' Swells-----Casual Dress

 

We can say it again…..what a difference a day makes – referring to the weather of course.  Yesterday was beyond sweltering, but today it was almost chilly.  Having sailed in a northwesterly direction, we have left the coastline behind.  Early in the morning there was still some of that hazy-sand in the air, but the worst of the oppressive heat was gone.

 

The swells and waves were such that we were getting the spray coming up to our veranda, where it felt almost like rain.  Sure cooled things off in a hurry.  We are not complaining  either.  The rocking of the ship must have kept most folks sleeping later, since the Pinnacle Grill was very quiet at breakfast.  After such a hot day yesterday, we even felt the effects of it.   Those who had stayed onboard, of which there were many, had the best idea. 

 

This morning we all had to pick up our passports and the yellow fever certificates they had collected a while ago.   This was done on each passenger deck and was completed by 10am.  We will not need them in the next two ports.

 

Someone took so many photos yesterday, it took the better part of the day to sort through them.  That worked out fine since the other one of us continued with the packing.  Just doing a few things here and there, we filled another bag.  There are few days left now, and we had to decide what to keep out and what to pack.   Taking the shirts down over the bed made the room look so plain and half empty.  It takes more time than you would think, so it is good to do at least one piece of luggage a day.   

 

Captain Friso sounded the noon horn as he always does on sea days.  Then he came on with positive news about the weather, which has been causing some swells like 6 to 7 feet.   He expects the rolling to subside when we get nearer to the Cape Verde Islands.   He also explained why he had to blow the horn several times after leaving the port yesterday.  There were some fishermen with nets casted that were not moving out of the shipping lane.  It is narrow, so they must have moved at the last minute.   We cannot stop on a dime, and the locals should know that. 

 

The Captain continued with the plans for tomorrow.  He will be opening the bow once again for scenic cruising.    That might be nice if the sun comes up early.  Yesterday it was still dark at 6am.  The port times will be short, but he does plan on bunkering fuel to make it across the Atlantic. 

 

At 4pm, we were invited to  Mariner Event held in the Crow's Nest.   Our group of President's Club members were cordoned off in a center section with the offer of Veuve Cliquot champagne (no sparkling wine).  We sat  with Don, Suzanne and Leon, and Mary and Joe, who we met while on the Tales of the South Pacific cruise last fall.  All of us were offered some small but odd canapies.  Better to stick with the mixed nuts…at least we know what they are.   Others in attendance were the 5 star members, but we are not sure if there were any other groups included.  There was not enough room for more folks. 

 

The usual welcome talks were delivered, then each PC member was recognized by their number of actual sea days.  The two of us and Don were the last ones announced.  Photos were taken with the Captain and Henk M. standing behind each couple or single person.   Instead of us going to them, they came to us.  Actually, a better idea today since the rolling of the ship was much more pronounced up on deck ten. 

 

Dinner for us was supposed to be in the Pinnacle Grill, which was Tamarind cuisine tonight.   When we found out they were serving a full turkey dinner in the dining room, we changed our minds, and called guest services to inform Tina we would be cancelling our dinner there.   They said it was done, but around 8:30pm, Tina showed up at our table and asked if we were OK.  For some strange reason, she had not gotten the message that we had cancelled.   Turkey dinner has not been served here for a long time, so it was special. 

 

We caught up with Kimberly's talk on Mindelo after dinner on TV.  We have been to this port in the past, but it has been a long time ago.  All aboard will be 2:30pm, so we will have most of the morning there to explore.  At least the temperature should be in the 70's.    Fine with us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report #123 Wednesday May 1, 2024 Banjul, Gambia Docked Starboard Side To The Pier 7am-5pm Fog Like Haze With Sun Hot 108 Degrees 25% Humidity 13mph Wind---Casual Dress

 

Today we are in The Gambia, the smallest country in the African continent.  The population is 2 million, the capital is Banjul, and the official language is English.  Bordered on all sides by Senegal, The Gambia has only 80 kilometers of coastline.   The seaside area is full of sandy beaches, palm trees, lagoons and fishing villages.   The Gambia River runs through the entire finger of the country and is full of wildlife.  Over 600 species of birds migrate here in the Bijilo Forest Park, a 51 hectare reserve.  Namely, the most seen birds are bee-eaters, grey hornbills, osprey, Caspian terns, francolins, and wild doves.  Larger animals are green vervet, patas, and colobus monkeys.  Monitor lizards call this home too. 

 

Another area nearby is Makasutu Culture Forest which is full of wetlands, mangroves, and savannah plains.  They are home to baboons, more lizards, and hundreds of birds.  Canoe trips are common there.  As easy day excursion is Abuko Nature Reserve with 250 species of migratory birds.  Kachikally Crocodile Pool is a sacred sight where the crocodile represents the power of fertility.  Nile crocs of all sizes fill this pond, which we have seen on past visits. 

 

Albert Market near the pier was founded in the mid 1800's with a large produce market and a selection of fish.  It is a main hub of activity since locals can bargain for fabrics, hair extensions, shoes, clothing, housewares and souvenirs. 

 

Gambia has one of the highest population densities in all of Africa with 115 people to every square kilometer.  Forty-five percent of the population is under 14 years old.  Made up of various ethnic groups, most of the natives are Muslim with a small percent Christian. 

 

Rice is a basic staple mixed with a ground nut sauce, tomatoes, fish and veggies.  Seafood such as grilled ladyfish, barracuda, and butterfish are abundant.  Spicy red beans are served with bread on all street corners. Fried fritters with chicken and rice are popular, and their favorite drink is a cranberry- colored juice.  Restaurants are in tourist areas, but the best are located in hotels. 

 

Tours here include the Roots Experience to Juffureh and James Islands, a three hour river cruise.  You will see Alex Haley's Roots village and slave-trading station from 200 years ago.  There is a visit to a slave museum and also to see a village chief to learn cultural history.   Buffet-style lunch is served on the riverboat.  The cost was $280 for 9 ¾ hours. 

 

A Gambia Adventure drive for 8 ½ hours and $240 took the folks to a  village with beaches and cultural heritage.  Tahji Nature Trail would lead the walkers to see monkeys and birds.  Visit a palm wine tapper,  a village school, and stop at a fishing village.  Lunch would be a BBQ on a beach with time to swim.   The ride was in an open-air truck accessed by a ladder.

 

Banjul Highlights was 4 ¼ hours for $210 which went to the National Museum, Albert Market, the main mosque, and a gold and silver shop if opened.   Kachikally Crocodile Pool and Bakau craft market were the other stops.  Drinks would be served at the Garden Hotel.

 

A trip to Makasutu Cultural Forest and canoe adventure was 5 ¾ hours for $250.  A drive went up the Gambia River where you boarded a boat to see the mangroves, savannahs, and dense forest.  It was possible to see vultures, west marshal eagles, lily trotters,  pied wagtails, warblers, black and Goliath herons, rollers, and kingfishers.   Larger animals are monkeys, lizards, mongoose and baboons.  A buffet lunch with one drink while watching a cultural show were part of the tour. Bring sunscreen and bug spray. 

 

A drive to Abuko Nature Reserve was 4 hours for $156, and the drive was 14 miles from the pier.   It is considered a bird lovers paradise and there may be sightings of turaco and paradise flycatchers, vervet moneys, bushboks, manatees, crocs, antelopes and lizards.  With the extreme heat today, sightings were not guaranteed.

 

The capital of Banjul has a population of 31,000 people that do not speak much English.   In the early days, this port city was used as a slave-trading port.  Today their money is the Gambian Dalasi with 67.94 dalasi equaling $1 USD.    Kimberly warned us all of using caution with our credit cards and cell phones as they have been easily stolen by quick thieves.  Never let your card be taken away from you when paying a bill.  Best to use cash.  They all took the US dollars.  Buy with caution and bargain carefully.  There would be few taxis and the local buses are unreliable. 

 

Free shuttles would be provided for the guests with a 15 minute ride to the downtown center.  Some of the local sights could be reached on foot, but not recommended.  Ladies traveling alone should stay in a group.  And wearing short shorts would be frowned upon, as this is a primarily Muslim area.   The famous Kunta Kinteh ferry would be docked near us, but do not take it, as their schedule takes 4 times longer to get anywhere.  You would have no guarantee for getting back to the ship on time. 

 

So we discovered the reason for the seahaze fog that has shrouded the skies the last few days.  It is the sands from the Sahara Desert blowing all the way here.  We did notice that sand was collecting in the ship's outside gutters and now we know why.  In addition, the temperature started out being 77 degrees at 8am, but that number climbed all day.  Almost to the unbelievable.

 

The Zuiderdam arrived with no apparent problems with the shallow channel approach.  The tour groups went off after 7am, although the viewing of the sail into the harbor from the bow would have been in the dark.   We were greeted by a native drum band with ladies dancing – what a workout they got.  Amusing to watch as our lady officers were pulled into the dance circle.  Some of the guests tried imitating the gyrations of the well-endowed local gals. ….even more amusing.  

 

We figured by going off of the ship early around 9:30am, we may escape the worst heat of the day.  Two small shuttles were waiting for the guests, and we climbed inside one of them.  Good thing it was a short 10 minute ride to the center of town.  Deep inside the Albert Market,  the memory of being here was still fresh from last year's visit.  It was fresher than the fish that were laying on the boards a few inches off of the ground.  Freshly caught or dried, it was fish as we have never seen them or smelled them.   More flies than fish,  even the feral cats or dogs did not go near them. 

 

One thing about this market that drives us nuts are the fellows that want to tag along with us.  Their goal is to lead you to a stall of a friend who is selling carvings or art work.  Even the little kids around 4 or 5 years old will attach themselves to you.   We always say no thanks, we are simply looking.  Sometimes they will go away, sometimes not.  One of the guys pointed to a dark pathway saying our fellow shipmates went that way.  Doesn't matter to us, we were not with a group, and no, they did not go that way.   And this is not a market with a raised roof.  Hanging overhead are tarps that dip low enough we had to stoop to walk under them.   Claustrophobic is the best way to describe the narrow path between the sitting vendors.  To add to the confusion, delivery guys with carts and wheelbarrows will push their way through the crowd.  If we did not squeeze to the side, they would have plowed right into us.   Did we feel welcomed here?  Nope, but this is where the shuttles bring the folks, and we would at least get some photos….good or bad – it is what it is.  Speaking of pictures, some of the younger locals will smile, but not the elderly.  Once again, we moved through this part of the frenzied market rather quickly.  One area that is of interest to one of us is the sewing circle of mostly men that are creating the nicest dresses, shirts, and jackets.  The fabrics are good quality as well as really dressy, which does not go with the territory. 

 

Realizing that we were about the only cruise people here, we made our way out to the street, then back to the bus stop.  Now we know why so many folks did not get out of the shuttle once again.   One whiff of the stinky fish and rotting produce was enough to send most back to the ship.  And like last year, the shuttles were dropping people off in different spots.  The drivers did not tell people where to catch the bus back, so some very unhappy people (some with walkers) were quite upset because they had been waiting for 45 minutes on a corner in the extreme heat for a shuttle that never came.  Our driver kindly picked them up. 

 

We were back to the pier by 11am and had plenty of time to search for some souvenirs.   This time it was the best place to look for something useful like some woven trivets.   We found medium sized trivets for hot dishes or pots and bargained for three of them for $10.  A good deal, they are flat and will pack well.  Speaking of which, we had the time to put another bag together in our room in between enjoying a couple of room service sandwiches.   No lunch out today.  We never even saw a place to have beers. 

 

By 3pm, the thermometer soared to 108 degrees with 8mph winds and 16% humidity.  Terrible.  All aboard was 4:30pm, which meant nothing to some folks, the same ones that are always late because they can.  In order to get some good close-up photos of hawks and vultures, we went to deck 10 despite the heat.  It was also a great spot to watch the action on the pier below with people trying for last minute bargains.   Henk M began to walk past the vendors reminding the few passengers to wind it up.  Most listened but one lady that was undoubtedly getting the lowest price she could. 

 

There was one bus of an excursion that arrived 15 minutes late.  We finally left by 5:15pm, turned around, and sailed out of the harbor following the narrow channel again.  We could almost feel the grittiness of the sand in our teeth by now, and we are certain everyone will be glad to be heading towards Cape Verde now and far from the blowing sands.  Sure hope we are leaving the worst of the heat behind as well.  Captain Friso said all looked good for a smooth crossing.

 

Dinnertime found some nice appetizers like arancini and a Thai beef salad.  Entrees were a beef rib stew and one honey mustard chicken dish.  Served extra hot.  We indulged in a glass of ice cream….a good way to end a hot day.   It was still in the high 80's at 10pm.  Good news – the clocks went back one hour this evening.

 

Mark Sampson was the comedic entertainer in the World Stage. He was very funny for a change.  Looking forward to a day at sea on the way to Cape Verde.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #122 Tuesday April 30, 2024 Sea Day #3 Of 3 Enroute To Banjul, Gambia Overcast Skies 85 Degrees 85% Humidity Sea State: Low Swells 11mph Winds----Casual Dress

 

Did we mention there is a photo contest happening onboard?   The hopeful contestants were able to submit photos in three categories: city, people and nature.   Just for the fun of it, we asked how to go about submitting a photo.  The first thing we were told was from your cellphone, camera, or computer.  OK…..no cell phone picture, no camera "stick", but we did have the photo on the computer.   The manager gave us the email address and said she would make a copy of the photo, and display it with the rest of them.  There was no charge as there has been in the past.  The winners in each category will have their prize pictures professionally framed and gifted back to them.  If we wanted the enlarged photo back, they would charge  $5.00.  Fair enough, but as we passed through the gallery after dinner, ours was not on display yet.    Oh well nothing gained, nothing lost.  The deadline for submitting your best shots is tomorrow, May 1^st.

 

The weather was really strange today starting with heavy overcast and gray skies.  By noontime, it was almost sunny at the aft pool, but there was a nicer breeze.   A few hours later, a strange fog or sea haze developed everywhere, and it blocked the horizon.   There wasn't a chance of a sunset, but there was high humidity.  During his noontime talk, Captain Friso mentioned that it is going to be very hot tomorrow in Banjul and we had to be sure to bring water with us.  Once again, he did mention that the channel  into Banjul will be shallow with little room for error.  It sure sounds as if he still is not sure we will make it into the port.     There is a plan to open the bow at 6am for scenic cruising, but we are not sure the sun will be up by then.  

 

There was a taco zone in the Lido Market for lunch today.  We had custom-made hotdogs from the Dive-In Grill.  They are custom in the fact that we ask for hamburger buns instead of the black-seeded hot dog buns.  We always have them add pickles, tomatoes and shredded lettuce.  We have quit the double-coated naked fries since they always seem to come in a greasy clump.  

 

Today we bit the bullet and began the chore of packing.   Bagging up the small stuff really takes time, but once it is done, the rest falls into place.  We did not realize how useful the three stacks of drawers were as they held a lot of things like clothes, socks, purses, extra toiletries, and lot of camera things.  All of the contents did get packed and our kind room steward removed them later in the day.   Two pieces of luggage are done, and we have seven more to go.  One a day is about right we figured. 

 

During our afternoon walk, there was an announcement that there were dolphins on the starboard side.  We happened to be right there, but only saw one.  They must have been really fast or there were few of them.  All we have seen are a couple of scattered flying fish.  It was very late in the afternoon, when we spotted some dark birds flying off of the water, but at a distance where you needed binoculars.   We do expect to see a lot more birds tomorrow while in Banjul.

 

Dinnertime had some different items.  We currently have a guest chef onboard who contributed to tonight's menu.   There was an interesting appetizer and one main with beef roulade.   One of the starters was a crab and shrimp-like fish ball.  It said it came with tater tots, but actually it was the crab and shrimp mixed with tater tots and deep fried.  It was really good with an aioli sauce.  One of us had the everyday shrimp cocktail and we both ordered Caesar salads.  Mains were the rack of lamb with mashed potatoes – very tender, and more Pinnacle Grill quality.  The other one of us had the KFC or fried chicken.  Our waiter cannot say KFC, but we can.  We like it as much as they do.  Our waiters have been serving our food quite hot, and it really has made a difference.   No dessert, except for a sliced banana and a cup of coffee.

 

The Beatles: All Jazzed Up was the theme of the show tonight.  The Grand Voyage Band returned with an encore of the best of the Beatles.  Always a favorite of the crowd. 

 

Tomorrow we will be in Banjul, if we can make it through the shallow channel.   We are betting it will work out just fine.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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