Report #128 Thursday, May 7, 2026---Day At Sea Enroute To Puerto, Chiapas, Mexico----Sunny With Clouds----82 Degrees---73% Humidity---3.7mph Winds---Ships Speed 18 Knots-----Casual Dress

Today was another welcomed day at sea on our way to Puerto Chiapas, Mexico tomorrow.  No doubt, it was going to be hot with temperatures in the mid 80’s and humidity at 73%.  The winds were no help with 3.7 mph breezes, although the ship’s speed did add some wind at 18 knots.   There were scattered clouds with some sun peeking through. 

 

We did have some invites today beginning with a “Behind the Scenes” 1.5 hour tour at 10am to see the hotel facilities such as the kitchen operation and the laundry room.  We don’t believe the bridge was part of this tour.  On past cruises, we have toured these key working areas as well as one-on-one visits with a few captains showing off the bridge and the navigation equipment.  Then we had a private visit with Head Housekeeper, Shiv, who took us down to the laundry area and had the crew show us how their innovative equipment worked.  We never would have guessed how the thousands of tablecloths, toweling, and bed sheets were washed, dried and actually folded by one clever piece of machinery.    In addition, we saw how t-shirts and dress shirts were blown up with hot air instead of pressing by hand.  Shiv showed us the special commercial-sized washing machines that handled linens from guests rooms that were quarantined.  And he showed us the “dry” cleaning machine which was not chemical-based but used an apricot type of biodegradable solvent instead.  He did not recommend sending your good clothing here.   Speaking of Shiv, we miss him most of all since he left the company. 

 

Anyway, a safety warning came along with this invitation informing the invited guests that there would be stairs, long-time standing, and walking longer distances.  No full-time users of scooters or wheelchair people would be allowed to participate.   Non-slip soled shoes were required and we know there were warnings about excessive heat and noise.  And on our fall cruises, we saw this tour was available for a price around $179 per person.  Today, it was complimentary.  Since we have seen these areas and more, we did not attend.

 

The biggest discovery of the day was spotting green turtles in the water from early in the morning until darkness.  While one of us worked on the reports, the other had fun photographing the small retiles as they got tossed about from the sides of the ship.  These green sea turtles are found worldwide, but in larger numbers in this part of the world.  Some of the largest nesting grounds are found in Baja California and the Sea of Cortez.    Their life cycle begins as they hatch and the sex is determined by the warmth of the nest.  Too hot, the turtles become female, the cooler part of the nest produces the males. 

 

Basically, the adult turtles are herbivorous but are omnivorous in their younger years. Enemies are people (fishing industry and illegal poachers), sharks, shorebirds, crabs, foxes and jackals.  If the small hatchlings  make it to the water, they will stay near the coast for 5 years.  In shallow waters, they will dive up to 4 to 5 minutes, and surface to breathe 1 to 3 seconds. Once hatched, they can live up to 90 years.  Adults can reach 5 feet long and weigh as much as 419 pounds.  Some males have been recorded weighing 694 pounds.  For the most part, they are highly protected these days, although there are still some countries that sell all parts of these turtles for their meat, shells, and eggs. 

 

As far as migrating is concerned, these turtles can swim up to 1600 miles to their spawning grounds – the exact place they hatched.  Incredible.  Females mate every 2 to 4 years, and males will mate anytime.  And they are not sexually mature until they are 20 to 50 years old.  Also incredible.  We are lucky to be seeing some of these youngsters as we sail past the coast of Mexico.  We sure hope that not many of them are not injured as the ship plows through the groups. 

 

Captain Frank came on with his talk and mentioned we had passed Acapulco this morning.   There was a day when cruise ships regularly stopped there, but once the political violence became a factor, we have not been there on any HAL ship.   Just as well as there are many alternatives.   Due to the fact we were late in leaving Manzanillo, the speed needed to get to Puerto Chiapas was not enough.  He needed to add another engine to get the ship to the next port on time.  The pilot would be picked up around 8am tomorrow morning, with a narrow channel to navigate before docking portside in the outskirts of town by 10am. 

 

He added that the temperature would be rising to over 90 degrees and even higher in the inland areas where the tours would be headed.  Bring lots of water.  There was a slight chance of a late afternoon shower tomorrow as well.  The sunset was 6:45pm and the sunrise 5:45am. 

 

We had lemonade time at the Seaview Pool with Greg who updated us on ship happenings and harmless ship gossip.  Later in the afternoon, there was a Biergarten Festival in the Lido Poolside  with beer, of course, and live music from the Dam Band at 5pm.  The Lido Marketplace turned into a German Themed dinner.   Greg and his entourage will check it out before dinner to enjoy some of the appetizers such as pretzels.  

 

Another invitation was to a private afternoon tea for the President’s Club members held in the  Pinnacle Grill at 3pm.  There was live music from 3 to 3:45pm.  It was a nice and new event, but we do not drink tea, nor did we need the extra food before dinnertime.  So we did not attend, but thanked them anyway for their effort. 

 

We skipped lunch and had a few room snacks since we had reservations in the Pinnacle Grill.   The dining room featured German cuisine, but the Canaletto served Mexican tonight.    We had our usual wedge salads with two strips of candied bacon.   Presented on a larger plate, we were able to cut up the large wedge salad serving and not spill it everywhere.  Honestly, this was enough for a meal, but we did not end it there.  Both of us ordered the lamb chops, which are always good.  We shared a flute of skinny French fries, and barely did that justice.    Dessert was one slice of Key lime pie, cut in half, which was just enough with no room for the pretty little macaroons.  We had expected the room to be full of guests, but there were only a dozen or so diners present.   Among them were the Captain and his wife who were celebrating an anniversary.  Always nice to see them enjoying the trip as well. 

 

Entertainment this evening was a singer by the name of Spencer Day, with Sinatra tunes.  It never gets old for this group we assume.  As always, there was a Wajang movie, My Old Lady”.

 

Hope it isn’t too hot tomorrow….we shall find out soon.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

31 Pictures

Report #127 Wednesday, May 6 2026---Manzanillo, Mexico--7am-4pm---Docked Port Side To Pier---Clear And Sunny---81 Degrees---62% Humidity---8.3mph Winds-----Dressy Dress

Today’s port of call came with a safety advisory printed on the front of our Daily newsletter.  It was the usual warning concerning being aware of our surroundings, and the people around you.  Be careful handling money in public and separate the bills before you leave the ship.  Do not give out private info to people you do not know and be careful with handbags and valuables such as jewelry.  Best to leave these things onboard.  Be more careful in crowded high traffic areas like markets and train stations.  OK….we got it, but now many folks will be scared to go ashore? 

 

We have visited Manzanillo at least twice in the past and found it to be one of the least scary when it comes to safety.  Or maybe we just are more trusting.  However, no matter where we go, we have never left our guard down.  And with the number of tours available here, we feel that the majority of passengers booked something.  The city streets were mostly filled with locals and not tourists from what we saw.  This area of Mexico is more suited for those who seek the adventure of deep-sea fishing, and not so much the resort scene.    There are a few stretches of beach near the town, but nothing like you see in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta.  Doing some research, we discovered there are some high-end resorts and beaches, but out of this area.  You would need a taxi to get there and you might not be welcomed. 

 

Manzanillo has a population of 191,000 people and we guess are employed by the commercial area of town as well as tourist-related industries of hotelier and fishing.  The city is also known as the sailfish capital of the world and well-documented with the tallest blue sailfish sculpture in the world.   

 

The Volendam pulled into the Santiago Bay around 6am and was docked portside to the pier.  The ship was not cleared by the local authorities until well after 7:30am.   Erin had to remind the tour guests not to crowd the hallways and the show lounge, as she would announce the time to leave as soon as she could.  We did get a lot of photos of the birds that live her such as the pirate frigates, a vulture or two, pelicans, white egrets, cormorants, gulls, and boobies a few surf scoters.  During the heat of the day, these birds laid low.

 

The weather was a factor today with temperatures beginning in the mid 70’s and 79% humidity.  The skies were overcast with some sun and some clouds.  The entire area was shrouded in a sea or sun haze, common to this part of the world.  A light breeze of 2.4 mph did help cool us off slightly. 

 

There was another crew drill held at 9:30am, but we left the ship after 10am.  The pier walk from the ship to the shoreline had to be .25 of a mile, mostly in the blazing sun.   Even those who were on excursions had to walk half that distance to get to the waiting buses.  About the same time we were snapping a photo of a different type of commercial ship, something big flew out of the water making a big and loud splash.  It had to be a sailfish, and the photo caught it as it splashed down.  On our first visit here, a whale stayed in the harbor and appeared surfacing and diving all afternoon.  It had to be a different time of year, so we did not expect to see whales today.

 

Once out the gate, we turned left to walk the Malecon de Manzanillo Promenade along the waterfront.   The rocked shoreline had dozens of small fishing boats along with a few charter-type vessels.  The area was relaxed, sort of falling apart in places, with views of cargo ships and tankers slowly coming and going into the busy harbor.  Manzanillo happens to be one of the busiest ports on the Pacific side.  Along the way, there were wide open patios with picnic tables and benches where the locals can buy street food and eat lunch under the shade of a tree.  There was one long stall of souvenirs and beach toys for the local kids.  Come to think of it, we did not see any young kids out with their moms.  It was a school day, so that was probably where they were.  We did see some skinny wild cats and some pigeons and grackles building nests. 

 

That’s when we stumbled upon a small pier where some fishing boats had just arrived.  One such boat had just left the pier and was back 20 minutes later with a large sailfish on the deck.  It appeared there were a couple that had gone out deep-sea fishing and did not have to go far for this catch.  The 7-foot-long sailfish was hung by the tail and perhaps weighed.  Pictures were taken with the couple who caught it, then it was dropped and lifted onto a nearby carving table.  Getting closer to the pier, one of us went down to get some close-up pictures as the sailfish was carved by an expert butcher.  Only the filets along the spine were sliced and bagged, with the remaining fish to be taken or picked up by local restauranteurs.  Later on while back onboard , we watched while three more sailfish were hung in the same place, carved up, then hauled away in a van.  That was the first time we ever saw sailfish close-up and not in a video.  We have seen the much larger marlin when we arrived to Huatulco during a competition years ago.  That was really exciting.   Also while here, we watched as another young fellow cast a weighted fish net in hopes of catching some fish by the gills.  One puffer fish was caught but quickly discarded back to the water. 

 

We passed by a possible spot near this pier for beer and lunch, but it was too early for us.   So we headed back towards the terminal and continued to the other end of town.  This is where the monument of the sailfish is located as well as the 12-month sculptures of the Zodiac.  Right in the center of these futuristic sculptures is the large printed sign of Manzanillo where people like to pose for a photo.   We have seen these familiar signs in many South American countries as well as in the Caribbean.  

 

At this end of the promenade is a garden with trees, grass and many ornate benches.  Taking advantage of some shade, we relaxed long enough to cool down.  There were a string of cafes and even a pizzeria or two, but they appeared to be more of a take-away venue.   There were no customers despite the fact it was noontime.  The downtown centro shopping center was located right up Mexico Avenue with small shops, pharmacies, clothes stores, and some street truck food.  Lunch was not in the cards today.  We did pass the local church on the way here, but it was closed up tight.

 

Back at the pier, we stopped to look into a small corner of the harbor where we saw people looking into the water.  There was a shelf of rocks and discarded clam shells where we could see some tropical fish swimming.  Some of them were the pufferfish, which were pretty large.  We did read that snorkeling is good here, but more at the far-away resorts.  Definitely, not here.

 

There were several tents set up beyond the gate, so we checked out their souvenirs, which were the typical wooden plaques, Mexican clothing, silver jewelry and ceramics.   Hats and t-shirts were down the opposite end but knowing we are close to being overweight for the luggage shipping home, we resisted any temptation to buy more stuff. 

 

Back to the coolness of our room, we enjoyed a light lunch of a club sandwich and mini sliders.   By the way, the final delivery of our President Club 2-week amenity was delivered today.  That was 20 Coke Zeros and a very lovely bouquet of flowers.  This will be the final $60 gift per person of this cruise.  

 

Captain Frank came on with his departure talk but said it would be delayed due to two buses that were caught in traffic.  We learned later that the roads out of town were under construction, and the traffic was held up often enough for the buses to return over an hour late.  The only other news was that we could expect similar weather tomorrow with 12 knot winds and temps in the 80’s.   There will be 3-foot swells with partly cloudy and sunny skies.   The sunset would be at 7:30pm and the sunrise at 6:15am. 

 

We watched as the last of the guests returned to the ship, and the lines were dropped by 5:15pm.  For the first time in a few weeks, we were able to sit out on the veranda as we sailed out of the bay, passing the towers of the power plant out of town.    Keeping a sharp eye out for possible dolphin sightings, we saw none.    But we did spot many types of birds like the pelicans, cormorants, egrets, surf scoters, and eventually some brown boobies, who put on a diving show for a few miles out to sea.

 

Dinner arrived soon enough and we ordered Caesar salads with mains of a crispy mint-flavored parsley slices of lamb.  The other entrée was a tenderloin minus the “Oscar” which was a scoop of crabmeat.  Desserts were simple – Jello and watermelon.  It happened to be a “dressy” evening with the Vivace strings entertaining us until 8:30pm.  Captain Frank and Alexandra were hosting the large table down below on deck four.   Our head waiter has asked repeatedly if we would like to join a group with the Captain, and we said thanks, but we prefer eating at our regular railing table.  We did have dinners with both Captains and were glad we did.  More than that was appreciated, but not necessary. 

 

The show in the big stage was the World Stage Cast with a repeat if “Feeling Groovy” with music from the 60’s.   The cast seems to do one show a week but keep busy doing other activities during the rest of the week. 

 

Looking forward to one day at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

410 Pictures

Report #126 Tuesday, May 5, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 2 Enroute To Manzanillo, Mexico--Cinco de Mayo----Sunny With Clouds----73 Degrees----81% Humidity---13.6mph Winds---Ships Speed-19 Knots---Casual Dress

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

Day two at sea found the temperature creeping up as well as the humidity.    The skies remained mostly overcast with some sun peeking through later in the day.  The temperature was 73 degrees with 81% humidity.  The winds were following at 13.6 mph.  The ship’s speed was 19 knots. 

 

We had our usual day at sea routine with one of us labeling photos and the other taking a nice stroll on the promenade deck.  Besides seeing some flying fish, he said many of the walkers are the new guests. 

 

It was finally nice enough to spend some time at the Seaview Pool where our buddy Greg joined us.  We always have updates between the three of us and today was no exception.    The bottom line is that many of the old timers were not enamored with the 2028 GWV and have decided to do the Australia/New Zealand cruise instead.  We feel that this voyage has been fine, despite the fact we did not circle the globe.   It was not a problem for us with the exception of the time changes forward we have been doing.   There will be two more changes before we arrive to Ft. Lauderdale. 

 

Ordering a simple room service lunch, we waited over an hour for the delivery.  Our runner, Agus, said they were starting a different program in the room service kitchen and it was taking a lot more time.  He apologized profusely, which we said it was OK and not his fault.  Sometimes new managers come along and change things that do not need changing. 

 

Many things had a “Mexican “ touch such as the talks, arts and crafts, teatime, dance lessons, and a special lunch in the Pinnacle Grill.  Another “pop-up”.   There were three lectures in the World Stage with wizard of wireless, the Mexican Riviera with tequila, and towing icebergs in the desert.  The Manzanillo talk by Josh was yesterday which we caught on our TV last night.

 

There are several tours tomorrow, although the all aboard time is 3:30pm.  Four of them are in town or close to town and start from $60 to $85.  One is a beach day, another is city and shopping, one is local fruits and folklore, and the fourth is a trip to a turtle farm.  The rest range in time from 5.25 hours to 7 hours with stops out of town like to Colima (almost a 2 hour ride each way), other pueblos, clay brick making, rum & chocolate,  a mangrove and tropical Barra de Navidad.  Prices range from $85 to $130 with some lunches included.  Josh did mention that not every place will accept the US dollars.  And if they do, they must be new bills.   And they may not take all credit cards.

 

Dinner had a Mexican theme,  much the same as the last few nights.  This evening we had the romaine spear salads with cucumbers, tomatoes, dried tomatoes, and marinated onions.   Mains were one prime rib meal and one meatballs and spaghetti.    Very good and served hot.  Desserts were one Mexican flan, really a custard, and a plate of sliced pineapple.  Many folks were not at dinner in the dining room because there was a “Fiesta Night” held in the Lido poolside beginning at 7:30pm and ending at 9:45pm, assuming that’s when the band quit.  The advertisement for it mentioned refreshing beverages and live music.  All on your own of course.   Since this is the exact time we have dinner, we missed the entire thing.

 

The show tonight was a magician with stand-up comedy, illusions, and musical magic that included the fastest escape.  His name was Ruben Vilagrand with a show titled “Undergrand”.    Very funny we think.

 

Planning on a nice walk in town tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #125 Monday, May 4, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 2 Enroute To Manzanillo, Mexico-----Overcast And Cloudy---64 Degrees----77% Humidity----14.8mph Winds----Ships Speed 20 Knots------Casual Dress

Now that the Volendam is sailing along the coast of Mexico, it is not too soon to list a few facts about the country.  The capital of Mexico is Mexico City and the population is about 123 million Spanish-speaking people.    It is a country of steamy jungles, smoking volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, cactus-filled deserts and coastal beaches.  It has an ancient history of pre-Hispanic civilizations that include the Mayans, Aztecs, Palenque, Teotihuacan and many pyramids dedicated to their beliefs.

 

Mexico is also home to 1100 bird species, 500 mammals, 1200 amphibians and reptiles, 5000 crustaceans, and 2000 varieties of butterflies.  Indigenous plants number over 25,000. 

 

What are their favorite foods?  Enchiladas are a lightly-fried tortilla filled with beef, chicken, or cheese served with a chili sauce.  Quesadillas are a tortilla folded in half filled with cheese.  Tacos are cooked meat, fish, or even eggs with salsa, onion, and cilantro.  Tamales are made with masa (cornmeal) mixed with lard and stuffed with stewed meats, fish, or veggies, then steamed in corn husks or banana leaves.  All of these dishes go well with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. We love each and every one of these dishes and cook them quite often at home.    Well, maybe not the tamales as they are easier to buy frozen. 

 

Tequila is considered the champagne of Mexico.   And there is nothing better than a margherita in a chilled glass with a salted rim on a hot day.   

 

Today was day one at sea on our way to Manzanillo.   Sadly, we passed the Baja Peninsula most of the day, and we wished one of the Mexican stops would have been to Cabo San Lucas.  It has been some time since we were there last, and the same goes for Puerto Vallarta.  Perhaps there are reasons we are not aware of, or there are too many ships there, so we skipped both.  Politically speaking, these favorite vacation spots have had some unrest and violence, but that is nothing new. 

 

Today was one of catching up with our day in San Diego.  It sure was a nice one with lots of walking.  The photos tell the story and is worth the time to document everything.  We also took the time to pay a visit to one of the future cruse consultants in regards to some back-to-back voyages we hoped to put together for the fall of 2027.  He seemed to run into some problems in getting us the same room for the entire time.  That’s how many people are booking so far in advance these days.  We feel it is always a good idea to put down some deposits while onboard to take advantage of any extra incentives they are offering.   

 

Captain Frank came on right after noon and confirmed what we saw by looking outside that the skies were overcast and dreary.   It was not that cold with the temperature at 64 degrees and 77% humidity.  The winds were 14.8 mph and the ship’s speed was 20 knots.  The Captain did mention that the sea temps were climbing slightly as we sail south, and there is always a chance that the ship’s temperature will be warmer than we are used to.  So far, we have not noticed that but we did notice two private air conditioning technicians getting coffee on deck five.  Now we wonder what they are doing here.   He added that there is a long sea swell keeping the ship in a rolling motion.  We were sailing within 21 nautical miles of Baja California with many small islands and rocks along the way.  He said it was a hot spot for fishing and salt production.   It is also known for its deep-sea sport fishing.

 

Before we knew it, dinner time arrived.  Skipping lunch, we were ready for some of the Mexican items on the menu such as the beef empanadas, a bean soup, and a regular Caesar salad.  Mains were fettucine with a Bolognese sauce and a pollo (chicken) fajitas with rice and cheese.  A special dessert showed up on the menu which was cinnamon rice pudding with raisins. The other dessert was sliced watermelon. 

 

Vocalist Charity Lockhart was the entertainer this evening with a show titled “Legacy: History’s Golden Vocal Moments”.   A Vegas-level spectacle was promised this evening.

 

One more sea day, and we will be in Manzanillo.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #124 Sunday, May 3, 2026---San Diego, California, USA---7am-4:30pm---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Overcast With Clouds---68 Degrees--57% Humidity--10.4mph Winds----Casual Dress

A funny thing happened this morning when one of us got up early to watch the scenic sail into the harbor of San Diego.    It was supposed to begin around 6am with the bow opened and San Diego Rolls to enjoy.  However, the Volendam was already docked at 6am or earlier.    The only explanation we could think of was there may have been a medical emergency during the night, and the Captain did not announce a change in plans.  The only clue we had to a medical debark was seeing an ambulance and a fire truck with lights flashing on The Embarcadero Road.  Nothing was mentioned even though there were a handful of guests out on the bow early, also surprised to see we were docked.  Oh well, there were plenty of rolls and coffee to enjoy.

 

There were 274 guests debarking today with about as many boarding for the final 2 weeks of this cruise.  The new guests had to do the muster check-in with their assigned stations, but the rest of us did not have to attend. 

 

It appeared the ship was bunkering fuel as well as being serviced by a barge with a large crane.  Maybe we were getting the promised lounges for the verandas, which would be nice.  However, as the morning advanced we saw the crane lifting a new anchor to the bow of the ship.  Oh well, so much for those new lounge chairs.  It was interesting watching the procedure, something we seldom witness.

 

After breakfast, we paid a visit to the future cruise consultant to look into booking some cruises in 2028.  By doing this now, we can get some extra shipboard credit which always helps.

 

So what is there to do in San Diego?  There were some tours today, but three of them were transfers to the airport.  Depending on the flight times, one tour was to the San Diego Zoo for 6 hours and $136, and the other one was San Diego highlights for 4 hours and $96.  Both would end up at the nearby San Diego airport.    The Old Town trolley was 2 hours for $80 and the San Diego Zoo for 6.25 hours was $140.  Lunch was on your own.   Old Town ghosts and gravestones was 3 hours and $70 while the San Diego SEAL ride was 1.5 hours for $80.  Last was a ride to the Temecula Countryside with a vineyard and wine tasting for 5.5 hours and $220.  A picnic lunch was included.  

 

The weather was a mixed bag with overcast skies and some sun shining through occasionally.  The morning temps were 61 degrees, with 81% humidity.  There was a slight breeze of 10.4 mph.  We are so used to being here in October when the weather is more summer-like.  Today, it was pleasant enough to go without a sweatshirt, but still cool when the clouds blocked the little bit of sunshine that appeared.   

 

We took the same walk we always do, turning right from the terminal and heading along the waterfront.  It was a Sunday morning, and the traffic and local people were few in numbers.  That would change as we got closer to the Petco ball park.   The USS Midway aircraft carrier was already full of tourists who were taking in the museum of this ship which had seen action during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War operations and the Persian Gulf.   This ship was turned into a museum in 1992.  If we had wanted to visit this aircraft carrier, we would have had to obtain tickets online well ahead of time as it books up quickly. 

 

Had we turned left from the terminal, there was the Star of India, an old sailing ship turned into a museum as well.  Other vessels docked here were the Californian, HMS Surprise, San Salvador, Medea submarines and the USS Dolphin, all full of maritime history.  Once again, tickets were available online well in advance of our visit.   When we are here in the fall, the Star of India is decorated with Halloween decorations making it appear more like a pirate ship.   Really cool.   

 

The waterfront on the Embarcadero  had the usual souvenir stands selling all types of treasures.  Many times people that arrive here on cruise ships do not anticipate the fact that it can be cool on the harbor waters.  So many smart vendors have pretty decent sweatshirts for good prices.  If we had stopped in San Francisco, we would have seen some of the same items for sale.  We have purchased some of those hooded sweatshirts and reversible jackets for great prices.  Sorry to say, we did not stop in “our city” this time. 

 

Our next walk was through Seaport Village which is only .6 mile from the cruise terminal.  It can be described as a charming waterfront destination with coastal breezes, boutique-like shops, cafes and restaurants with a pond and some fountains here and there.  It is a good spot for families and fast-food type options as well.  Being that today was a Sunday, it was getting busy with kids and their parents. 

 

We always enjoy walking past the marina here which is loaded with vessels from small pleasure boats to the ultra-modern luxury yachts and dinner boats.   The last hotel on this stretch of the promenade walk is the Hilton.  A little bit further, maybe .25 miles, we would have been at the base of the Coronado Bridge.  There is a ferry located here that runs from the hotel area to the island and other parts of the harbor. 

 

Going up the escalator, and passing through the lobby of the Hilton, we made our way to the outside walkway passing the parking garage of the hotel.    This led us over the major highway where a train runs.  Today that train was stopped on the tracks below.  Usually, there are only a handful of people using this overpass, but today it was loaded with families and fans on their way to a Padres and White Sox baseball game.  Wow, we have never seen so many groups of people heading to the park.   The closer we got, we realized that the elevator was closed down to the street below and we had to take the stairs.   It is one of those elevators where you have to hold your breath while it goes down because we think some homeless people sleep in there at night.  Just as well, it took one of us a little longer to do the flights of steps, but we made it. 

 

It was interesting to see the entrances to the ball field with the restrictions on what you are allowed to bring in there.  The good old days are gone when you could bring bags of food or backpacks or even drawstring pouches.  And each and every entrance had security guards as well as police with dogs.   We turned left around the park and made our way towards the Gaslamp Quarter Historic District.  Normally this area is asleep until later in the day and definitely full of activity at night.  However, with the game about to start,  all of the nearby pubs and cafes were over-flowing with customers.  The restaurants with patio TV’s were the most crowded and noisy. 

 

Our destination was back down towards the terminal and lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, a favorite place we enjoy when at home.  Being located closer to the Embarcadero, they were about full of customers, but we did find one of the high-top tables to sit.   We ordered beverages of Coke Zero and one Stella draft beer.    Our preferred salad is the “Skinnylicious”  Mexican tortilla salad with extra ranch dressing, which is particularly excellent here.    Their French bread and dark Indian bread is also a nice treat with the shared salad.  While here, we were able to go online easily and update the Kindle.  Many of the games had expired, so now they should last for the next two months.   We added a dessert without looking at the menu which was a brownie sundae.  It was huge with three triangles pieces of solid Godiva chocolate with whipped cream- topped vanilla ice cream between the peaks.  Decadent cannot begin to describe it.  It will take miles and miles to work this off, but worth it. 

 

We took our time walking back to the terminal taking advantage of the several benches along the waterfront.  When the sun peeked out it was quite pleasant and fun watching the locals pass by.  The larger harbor ferries were loading folks here, which surprised us how busy they were.    Being within sight of the Volendam, we noticed that the Seaview Pool was filling with guests getting their seats for the 4pm complimentary wine and cheese sail away.  And it was only 3pm.  That’s one reason we seldom attend those melees especially when it is advertised as “free”. 

 

We went back before 4pm and never left the room.  It had been a long day with lots of exercise, and we looked forward to the scenic sailing right from our veranda.  There were a few folks that were missing by 5pm, and we are not sure they made it to the ship on time.    Captain Frank came on with a reminder to the newbies to do the muster station drill, then he continued to say we had been plugged into the shore power services today, and once unplugged, we would be dropping the lines by 5pm.   He welcomed the new guests and mentioned what a nice day it had been in San Diego.  The temperature had reached 70 degrees with partly cloudy and sunny skies.   The pilot was already onboard which was good, but he did apologize for the fact the clocks had to be set forward one hour tonight.  The sunset was 7:30pm and the sunrise would be about 7am.  He expected good weather as we sailed for the next port of Manzanillo, Mexico in two days.   

 

Nice to be back at our regular dining room table, we ordered the tostada appetizers, one spicy shrimp cocktail, and one bowl of chicken noodle soup, not on the menu.  One of us had the pork chop, and the other the enchilada barbacoa dinner.    Tasty, but too much, we were still full from lunch.  Desserts were a sliced banana and Jello.

 

Looking forward to two days at sea and some warmer weather.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

334 Pictures

Report #123 Saturday, May 2, 2026---Sea Day #3 Of 3 Enroute To San Diego, California, USA----Partly Cloudy---57 Degrees---76% Humidity---8.2mph---6.5' Swell---Ships Seed 16 Knots-----Casual Dress

The days are flying by as we head towards San Diego and the last of the segments. Captain Frank said his “goodbyes” to the group that is heading home tomorrow. It sure seems like both Captains have said goodbye numerous times this cruise……more than usual it seems. One thing we do not miss is the mini-parade of chefs and kitchen workers with the napkins flying at both dinner seatings. Now the Mariner Recognition Event covers that farewell, which already occurred before Seattle.  

 

We have 246 nautical miles to reach San Diego with temps in the high 60’s and light winds. It has always been nice in San Diego, although it has been a long time since we have been there in May. The icy chill we felt in Alaska is gone for sure and by the time we reach the first Mexico port, it will be hotter. The seas have been rather co-operative with slight swells that the stabilizers help to correct. We can handle the gentle rolling. Tomorrow the pilot will embark the ship at 5am, and we should be docked after scenic sailing by 7am. Sunrise will be 6am and sunset tonight will be 7:50pm.  

 

Captain Frank always picks an interesting subject related to a nautical theme after his update. Today he discussed the Marine Conservation Zone and the Naval areas we are currently sailing. A protected eco area, this coast has a strict speed limit for the ships in order to protect the migrating whales. The species we know that take this route north are the blue, grey, humpback, and right whales. Each one of them has a season, which he did not elaborate on. So in order to avoid being under that speed limit, he takes the ship further out to sea where they know there are no whales. Interesting, we never knew that.    

 

Erin, our cruise director, followed up with her part of the noontime talk and added a reminder for the departing guests to PLEASE return the library books and the borrowed ukuleles. We had to chuckle over that message, making us wonder how many ukuleles accidently get put in the suitcases. 

 

At breakfast we got an update concerning the Night in Hollywood which was last night’s theme for formal evening. We were not aware that this event was part of the GWV special event of the cruise, which we were told this morning by our breakfast buddies. We thought it was odd to have a flyer on our door in the morning describing the evening’s times for the World Cruise entertainment. It did begin at 7pm, but our group was having the special cocktails and dinner during most of the showtime. We did ask about the “awards” that were given in the show lounge, and learned it was for some of the departments of the ship such as the room stewards and the wait staff. Now that makes sense. And the “big” entertainment was by the group called Phat Swinger Big Band, which we heard was fantastic as told by our other ”reliable sources” who are into the entertainment scene worldwide.

 

It was nice enough to take a walk, both of us this time, on the promenade deck and also make a run to the Seaview Pool. We have not been back there for our lemonade fix for weeks ever since the weather turned cold. On our way from the Lido pool, there were tables set up with some sale items of ladies t-shirts and some large coffee mugs. All were selling for $4.99, regularly $43 t-shirts. Really? We bought two of the t-shirts. Last year they did the same thing with very nice HAL Panama Canal t-shirts……$5 each. 

 

Even though it was overcast, it was not too cold sitting by the aft pool with sweatshirts on. On the way back, we stopped and chatted with four of our good friends who like to eat lunch there on sea days. Always good to share info on all of the ship’s activities and more.  

 

It was nice to go back to our regular dining table without all of the extra activities of the day or evening. We ordered two Caesar salads, and mains of beef Wellington and one chicken parmigiana with some linguini on the side instead of spaghetti. We had kept lunch light with mini burger sliders from room service, but were still not really hungry at dinner. Desserts were one tiny baked Alaska and Jello. By the way, there was another pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill with a Fleet Chef Dinner. This cruise has had the most pop-ups we have ever seen in this venue, so it must be a money-maker. 

 

Talking to Ronald, the manager of the Lido this afternoon, we did find out that the ship will not be sailing with a full guest capacity from San Diego. With those that will be leaving and those that will be joining, we may be up 100 or so. Definitely not full.

 

Entertainment this evening was provided by vocalist Craig A Meyer with songs by Elton John, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow. Our buddies (reliable sources) said he was good and they were not going to miss his show. 

 

Looking forward to a nice day in San Diego.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures 

Report #122 Friday, May 1, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 3 Enroute To San Diego, California, USA----Partly Cloudy---54 Degrees---85% Humidity---25mph---8' Swell---Ships Seed 16 Knots-----Casual Dress

Today was day two at sea, and a busy one if we chose it to be so. Many different activities revolved around the HAL reps that are onboard beginning with a cooking demo, coffee chat with Erin, a lunch with our travel group and President of HAL, a happy hour beverage with our travel group in the Crow’s Nest, and finally the President’s Club reception and dinner in the Explorer’s Lounge and Pinnacle Grill. We would decide to do some of these, but not all of them. 

 

No matter what the weather holds, we decided it was time for “shorts” again. By 10am, it was overcast and cloudy with temps in the mid 50’s. The humidity was 85% and the winds were 25 mph, which were following winds. The ship was maintaining a speed of 16 knots. 

 

This morning we resumed watching the GWV presentation from yesterday’s Q&A session. We are happy they can record this and other talks on our room TV. It was very interesting to hear the questions asked and the answers received. We heard many legitimate inquiries, and the repeated answer of “we will look into that, or we are working on that” was the basic answer on most things. The speech was nothing more or less than what we expected. The 2028 GWV and the Australia/New Zealand itineraries were revealed with not much new expected there. Many more long-time cruisers are leaning towards the shorter Zaandam itinerary as opposed to the longer Volendam one. Some do not like these smaller and older ships and will book on the newer Pinnacle class ships, even if they are back-to-back voyages. The name “Princess” was tossed around as well as an alternate idea. 

 

Captain Frank came on with his noon talk stating we have 630 nautical miles to reach San Diego. The temperature may climb up a notch as we sail down the west coast and the swells maybe up to 6.5 feet. He is happy to say that the clocks will not change until after we leave San Diego. Fine with all of us. The sunset will be 8:10pm and the sunrise will be 6:15am. Currently we are sailing along the coast of Cape Mendocino.  

 

We did not attend the lunch in the upper dining room at 12:15pm with our travel group and the President, since it was too close to breakfast and also too close to dinner. Too much in one day. Instead we worked online and one of us took the every sea day walk on the promenade deck. More folks are packing to leave in San Diego in a few days, but we have to verify the number. We do know that the bottom line is the ship will be sailing full.

 

Tonight was a formal evening as well as a Night in Hollywood. We all received a flyer this morning outlining the activities tied to this theme. This would not apply to our group, since we would spend most of the time at a special dinner. The evening began at 7pm in the World Stage with photos and interviews with the activity team. Erin announced the Phat Cat Swinger, a 10 piece band. The evening continued with different things we do not know how to explain like 4 awards and acts in between. It was dubbed a “costume event”. What happened to formal attire? Oh well, we did not go, so we will never know. 

 

We were invited to the President’s Club Reception and Dinner beginning in the Explorer’s Lounge at 4:30pm. Really early for us, there about 40 members invited. This included the new inductees which numbered 14. Tables for four were set up and we were served beverages and numerous fancy hors’deuvres for almost an hour. We lucked out and sat with friends Cathy and Mike, who were also getting their pins tonight. During this time each member was called to get the special pin and boutonnieres for the guys and flowers for the ladies. Photos were taken and they each got the frame holder for the photo and certificate. 

 

Then we were led to the Pinnacle Grill for a special meal prepared by Culinary Ambassador Ethan Stowell. We were seated in the back room with Tom M, Gayle, Marty and Beth Bodensteiner. The first course had a mystery title of Hamachi crudo. Turned out to be a piece of raw fish with radishes on top. Few of our tablemates ate it. I lucked out and had more of a tiny veggie salad with no fish. The littlest rolls we have ever seen were served with the first course. The second course was mushroom cacio e pepe with pecorino romano cheese. It was a pasta with mushrooms. Entrées were a choice of ribeye, rack of lamb, or salmon. We chose the ribeye, but it was not a ribeye that we recognized. More like a tenderloin, it was a bit on the tough side and nothing like ribeye. The rest of our tablemates had the salmon. The best part of the meal was much simpler with a large warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream, peanut crumbles and chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. Wines were served with each course, although four of us did not drink any. A nice after dinner drink served was a small glass of almond dream, a mix of three liqueurs. Now that was good. 

 

The conversation around the table was varied and polite, but when it came to serious legitimate questions regarding this particular cruise, we were basically given the brush-off. Even keeping the questions coming as constructive criticism was not overly welcomed. Compliments were accepted freely. We did have specific inquiries about the President’s Club amenities which are different on each and every HAL ship. Beth seemed unaware of why we would be allowed to use our complimentary dinners on the Tamarind pop-up on the Zaandam or Zuiderdam, but not on this ship. Then we wondered why there were so many pop-ups making it difficult for us to book a regular evening. Beth seemed surprised to learn of so many specialty dinners held in this venue. All of us asked why there had been so many segments on this cruise, creating a “ferryboat-like” atmosphere for the entire trip. We know it is a matter of dollars and cents as far as filling the ship. What many other full cruise guests did not like was the fact the segment folks were getting deeply discounted fares, then bragging about it when they boarded. Hard to ignore.

 

One particular thing we recalled from last year’s discussion with Beth, was the fact that some of the cruise hosts from a popular travel agency had been inducted into the President’s Club which for years had not been allowed. One such couple did get their pins several years ago, only to be rejected weeks later when their days were re-inspected. Their days as hosts did not count since their company covered the fares. Somewhere along the line, this policy had changed when we heard several hosts were inducted last year. Upon asking Beth about it on last year’s world cruise, she claimed that this was going to be rescinded….it was a mistake. But did that happen? We guess not because more travel hosts were getting their pins this year. We did ask if Gerald Bernhardt, the head of the Mariner Society would be replaced since he retired last year, and the answer was probably no. Too bad, since he was well-versed on the subject and well liked. 

 

By 8pm, Beth had to attend the awards in the World Stage, so it was a good time to say thanks and head home. It will be nice to wrap up the report and get to bed early for a change. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures 

Report #121 Thursday, April 30, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 3 Enroute To San Diego, California, USA----Partly Cloudy---57 Degrees---85% Humidity---22.4mph---5' Swell---Ships Seed 16 Knots------Casual Dress

It was a very restful day at sea for us.  Although we had overcast with high clouds, the temperature was in the low 50’s with the sea water temps at 57 degrees….something we never hope to find out.   The winds were 24 knots and we experienced following winds with 5 foot swells.  Once the Volendam got out into the open Pacific Ocean waters last night, the motion increased enough for it to be noticed. 

 

After another breakfast with friends, we headed back to the room to continue working on the blog.  Most everyone left the Pinnacle Grill early to get ringside seats for the 10:30am Grand World Update and Q&A with the President Beth.   She would be revealing the 2028 Grand World Voyages as well as sharing her visions of the brand.  Interesting, but we intend to watch it later and not fight the crowd in the World Stage. 

 

There was a port talk on San Diego and a speaker, Captain Golden, lecturing on pirates, smugglers, and terrorists.   What a controversial subject these days.  Resident artist Ben revealed his Grand World Drawing which will be auctioned off on this trip we assume.  We happen to have a young lady who has been posting her sketching’s as this trip has progressed and she would give Ben a run for his money so to speak.  What a blessing to have that level of talent.  

 

So one of us took a nice long walk as usual on the promenade deck, only to find very few folks there.  Most of them were in the World Stage.  When we have a long day in a port, it seems to take much longer at night doing the reports, so they have to be completed the following day.    No more staying up until 1am. 

 

Shop promotions are running hot and heavy now that we only have a few weeks left.    It seems that the casino players are more active as well.  At 10pm tonight there was a drawing for over a $624K paradise lotto jackpot.  Wonder if anyone ever wins that?  Certainly we would hear about it.  We understand the casino does not run independently and is tied to a corporation, making the odds of winning progressive slots for instance very slim.  

 

Captain Frank came on later than usual due to Beth’s talk running late.   He said we were doing a speed of 16 knots with 985 nautical miles to get to San Diego.   He expected an increase in the winds and rougher seas with 11-foot swells tomorrow.  The stabilizers will be out to help with the rolling.  He also promised slightly higher temps.   Sunset will be 8:25pm and sunrise at 6:13am. 

 

Dinnertime arrived and we ordered one chicken noodle soup to warm up,  the everyday shrimp cocktail with the best sauce, one mango/jicama salad and one Caesar…dressing on the side.  Both of us had the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of sliced turkey, smashed sweet potatoes, dressing and extra cranberry sauce.   No it was not Thanksgiving but tasted just as good.  In this part of the world, the menu has been heavy on the seafood, which many love.  Always nice to have more choices.  Dessert was one strawberry jello and a plate of watermelon slices.  Refreshing and not heavy. 

 

By the way, the Pinnacle Grill hosted its first special dinner for the Neptuners and the HAL reps onboard.   We will have our special President’s Club dinner tomorrow evening, a formal night.

 

The singer this evening in the World Stage was Charity Lockhart titled “Aretha: The Queen of Souls”.    A powerful tribute, she is said to have a stunning five-octave range and unforgettable charm.

 

Two more days at sea to go before San Diego, a place we love to visit.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #120 Wednesday, April 29, 2026---Seattle, Washington, USA---7am-5pm----Docked Starboard Side To Pier----Sunny---64 Degrees---60% Humidity---12.7mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Today’s port of call was Seattle, Washington.  By the time the Volendam began sailing onto Elliott Bay, it was obvious it was going to be a beautiful day without rain or fog.  Although the temperature was 46 degrees upon arrival, it warmed up to 64 degrees by noon time.   The humidity was 60% with 12.7 mph winds.    The ship docked at Pier 66 before 7am and tied up starboard side.   This was the first time ever we have been at this convenient pier as it is usually saved for the larger cruise ships like NCL.   Shortly after docking, the ship was bunkering fuel.  And better yet, deliveries were being brought to the pier to replenish the ship’s stores and supplies.  We sure hope they remembered to order Greek yogurt, among a few other things. 

 

And because the Holland America Line offices are located in Seattle, a group of the executives and the President, Beth Bodensteiner, boarded the ship and will stay on until San Diego.  They have planned a series of events beginning with a Port Plaque Exchange with the Port of Seattle at 4pm today.   There will also be a sail away celebration at the same time at the Seaview Pool with free sparkling wine and special appetizers.   We have heard of select breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in the following sea days as well as a presentation by Beth with an overview of their 2028 Grand Voyages.  Following the speech, she will have a Q and A session.   As for us, we have been invited to a lunch with our travel group on May 1^st and a cocktail party and Pinnacle Grill dinner on the same day.    This will be the evening for the President’s Club members to witness the induction of some new members. 

 

There were some tours offered here today, but they appeared to be for the in transit Th guests with later flights.  Small bites on the Bay and Pike Market was 3 hours for $130.  The best of Seattle was 4 hours and $150, while a ride on the Hop On – Hop Off bus was 1.5 hours for $65.  A tour up the Space Needle was 2.5 hours and $185, and a drive to Woodinville Valley with wine tasting and a simple lunch was 5 hours and $220.

 

We left the ship after 10am and headed into the huge terminal, which was all new to us.  The way out did not have any maps or info like you usually see in other ports.   The ship’s map left a lot to be desired, so we asked a local fellow directing traffic near the terminal how to get to the Public Market Center.  Oddly enough, he did not know but pointed in the general direction to walk.   Then we happened to talk to an elderly lady walking her cute little dog how to get to Pike Market.   She said we could all take the lift that crossed the road and we would be heading in the right direction. 

 

Well, that took us straight uphill on Bell St. for many blocks and into an area where we saw a lot of homeless people.   Most were sleeping on the sidewalks and against buildings and doorways.  If there were ever city benches here, they are all gone.  A large number of businesses and stores were closed and for rent.  It was sad to see how a nice district could go downhill that fast.   We turned right on 3^rd Ave. and finally spotted the Public Market Center down another street.  In hindsight, we should have walked up Alaskan Way along the waterfront and taken a lift there across the street.  Hindsight is aways 20/20, right?  Now we know and hope to remember if we come here again someday. 

 

The Pike Place Market had some signage as we neared the streets close to it.  Some of the streets were closed to traffic, which has become a controversy among the locals.  The tourists prefer the closed streets since they are responsible for much of the profits made here.  Did you know that cruise ship travelers alone bring $1.2 billion to the local economy.    Much of it is spent here.  On the other hand, locals come here to this public market to buy groceries and have a hard time parking far away, or picking up people. 

 

This Public Market Center is an historic 9 acres of 500 plus small independent businesses.  Broken down, there are 220 shop and restaurant venues, 75 of which are restaurants and eateries.  There are 190 buskers or street artists that have to pay an annual fee of $35 to perform here.  There are 160 crafts people, 80 farmers, and artisanal vendors.  In addition, there are 450 residents in affordable housing along with 5 social services onsite.  A very busy place indeed.

 

We wandered around some of the venues and cafes selling pastries, piroshkis, BBQ pork, cheeses, and mini cheesecakes to name a few.   Numerous venues were selling smoked salmon jerky, fish chowders, fresh produce, fresh-caught fish and plenty of ice cream counters.  There were too many souvenir shops to count where they were selling artwork, antiques, jewelry, and trinkets by the 1000’s.   One-of-a-kind handmade crafts and plenty of flowers were for sale. 

 

There were some bars, theaters, and cocktail lounges – one of which we searched for without any luck.  The restaurant we were looking for was called the Alibi Room where they had a wood-fired oven for pizza.  We were directed to find the Gum Wall, which literally is a tunnel-like pathway with walls of sticky already chewed gum stuck all over it.  Yuck, it was rather a disgusting sight to see although colorful.   Instead of turning right from the alleyway we came from, we turned left and down the entire length of Post Alley, named after the first post office that was here. 

 

We ended up at the street level and figured we missed it.  No way were we walking back to the market….we had seen enough.  But the good thing was we were right across from the main Alaskan Way and the waterfront.  We took some time to relax on a large picnic table directly across from the Seattle Great Wheel  ($21 for seniors and a 7 – 10 minute ride) and other attractions such as the Wings Over Washington, a virtual ride ($22  for seniors) and the Salish Sea Tour  for 1.5 hours and a $32 boat ride. 

 

Directly across from the benches was Miners Landing, we believe is an old pier and warehouse remodeled with many venues inside.  One of the eateries was the Crab Pot Restaurant, which was much larger than we expected.  Naturally, they specialize in seafood, but they also had cheeseburgers on their menu.  A big plus was seeing Mud pie on the menu…that was it.  We got a table sort of inside, but on a covered patio.  We ordered Stella draft beers and one colossal cheeseburger with fries to share.  We ended the meal with one generous slice of Mud pie, making our day once again.  It was almost as much fun watching the surrounding diners with their mallets hammering the large crab legs.  Quite amusing.  Quite messy.   This restaurant reminded us of Bubba Gump’s. 

 

We walked slowly back to the terminal, taking in the warmth of the Seattle sun, which we have never seen.  We passed the remodeled Aquarium and Anthony’s Seafood Restaurant that was the closest to Pier 66.  We are certain many cruise buddies ate here this afternoon.  We located the entrance to the terminal where we went through security and xray.  There was no facial recognition here.  And oddly enough, there was a stand full of maps and brochures we could have used before heading into town.  We still helped ourselves to the information-laden maps and booklets.  They come in handy with writing the report. 

 

There was a sail away with free sparkling wine and appetizers rubbing shoulders with the HAL reps.  There was a plaque exchange with the Port of Seattle during the sail away on the Seaview Pool deck.  Knowing how crowded it would be, we did not attend.   The second the word “free” is involved everyone and their brother shows up.   

 

Back on the ship before 4pm, we waited for the Captain to talk, which happened later than usual.  At 5:40pm, he announced that a crew member needed to be medically debarked and taken to a hospital.   He said once the person was taken off, the lines would be dropped, which happened by 6pm.  With no more follow-up, we had scenic sailing for several hours as we left Elliott Bay and sailed along the coastline of Vancouver Island.  We did spot the peaks of Mt. Rainier peeking out of the clouds.   Just majestic.   

 

Dinner was good with one shrimp cocktail and one seafood cocktail.  The difference?  One had scallops and one did not.  We each had Caesar salads and the entree of pork medallions with lingonberry sauce and smashed sweet potatoes.  Our meals have been arriving piping hot and tasting much better.  Desserts were some vanilla ice cream and a sliced banana. 

 

The entertainment was vocalist Craig a Meyer, an Elton John experience.  Bet it was good.  And Boys in the Boat was the Wajang movie.   Missed that one too.

 

We will have three days at sea now with events planned by the HAL reps onboard.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

233 Pictures

Report #119 Tuesday, April 28, 2026---Sea Day Enroute To Seattle, Washington, USA----Cloudy With Overcast----46 Degrees---84% Humidity---16.7mph Winds----Ships Speed 19 Knots-----Casual Dress

Our day at sea began with 46-degree temps, 84% humidity, and 17 mph winds.  The ship is doing a speed of 19 knots, which should get us to Seattle Wednesday morning around 7am.  During his noon talk, Captain Frank mentioned that over 200 guests will be leaving, which is a different number than we initially heard.  Update Wednesday morning:   There will be 200 leaving today, but no one boarding.  So we will be sailing with 700 guests only until San Diego.   We have 215 nautical miles to get to Seattle, where we hope to be docked closer to downtown. 

 

Another time change one hour forward put us on Pacific time, which is home time for us.  That will be the same as we travel down the coast to San Diego.  Then there will be three hours to go ahead as we near Ft. Lauderdale.  The sea state was pretty calm all day with swells around 5 feet in 5900 feet deep waters.  The temperature will increase by the time we reach Washington State to 66 to 68 degrees where it will be partly cloudy and sunny.    No rain was in the forecast.  Then the Captain added that we have traveled 33,218 nautical miles so far this world cruise. That computes to traveling the length of the Equator one and a half times.  And we did it mostly in the Pacific Ocean except for doing the east coast of South America and Antarctica. 

 

We spent the majority of the day catching up with photos and reports as well as one of us taking a nice long walk on the promenade deck.  Did we mention that last night during dinner around 8pm, one of the navigation officers announced there was a pod of orcas alongside the ship?    Too bad it was too dark to see them, although some folks jumped up and looked out the portside windows of the dining room.   Usually these sightings are not announced during meal times or show time, but last night was an exception. 

 

Dinnertime found us ordering two Caesar salads ( double dressings on the side), one bowl of Avgolemomo soup (chicken, lemon, rice, egg, parsley & carrots) and grilled bang bang shrimp.   OK, what’s the bang bang mean?  Turned out to be tiny strips of jalapeno peppers, thus the bang.  We both ordered the veal Weiner schnitzel  which was quite good.  Served piping hot made it even better.  Come to think of it, we only snacked on the butter popcorn we bought in Ketchikan for lunch.    We seem to enjoy dinner even more that way.  Desserts were a rum flan with no rum taste whatsoever.  And one of us enjoyed some slices of pineapple….also good.

 

This evening there was a seafood boil, a one-time dinner held in the Lido Marketplace.  We think there was a $35 charge for the special meal and great for those who love a lot of seafood. 

 

The entertainer this evening was vocalist Maria Campos with timeless classics and standards.  A little of Puccini and a little of Sinatra. 

 

Looking forward to hiking in Seattle and better yet, we understand we will be docking closer to town and not in the boonies.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #118 Monday, April 27, 2026---Ketchikan, Alaska, USA---8am-4:30pm---Docked Port Side To Pier---Sun And Clouds---48 Degrees---67% Humidity---12.7mph Winds-----Casual Dress---With Some Orange

The bow opened up at 6:30am for scenic cruising into Ketchikan with the treat of Ketchikan Rolls and coffee,  which would also be served in the Sea View poolside and the Crow’s Nest.   It was chilly with temps in the mid 40’s, 67% humidity, and 12.7 mph winds.   We gladly watched the sail in from the comfort of our veranda.  Most all of the scenery was on the portside today.  Coming into the Tongass Narrows, we passed Newton and West End, a pioneer district that had been cut off from the other part of Ketchikan by a rocky knob.  It was home to the businesses of the fishing fleet, salmon canneries, a laundry, a marina and homes of prosperous residents.  A tunnel was eventually built to tie the two parts of town together.  

 

The Volendam quietly passed by this historic district which retained some of the same businesses as well as added convenient shopping centers and grocery stores for the locals.  Ward Cove is located up this way and has become another place for cruise ships to dock when the berths in Ketchikan are full.  A free shuttle bus brings the folks to downtown Ketchikan.  Some older ships were in drydock up at this end and a ferry landing is located nearby.   Casey Moran Harbor is another place we have walked for lunch with nice scenery.  In the 1920’s and 30’s this harbor was home for a fleet of halibut boats, thought to be one of the world’s largest.  

 

Finally, we arrived to the pier at the Waterfront Promenade right across from a very nice visitor center.  Perfect timing, we headed off for breakfast at 7:30am as the gangway was being installed.   As luck would have it, we were the only cruise ship in town today, the second one of the season.  Our nice waiter surprised us all with a bunch of Ketchikan Rolls on his pastry tray.  They sure were good with a creamy, more custard-like filling this time.    It is difficult to keep breakfast light here.

 

There were a total of 37 HAL tours offered here today.  Yes, 37…..that’s a record.  Some of them involved fishing, which we are not certain they actually happened.   Anything describing salmon or trout may have been cancelled.  The hunt for halibut may have been possible and that was 5 hours for $500.  It included a boxed snack.  Salmon fishing with a light snack was 4.5 hours and $275, while fishing and wilderness dining was 5 hours for $445. Another expedition was fishing for salmon, rockfish and ling cod for 5 hours and $480 with a lunch.  Two floatplane trips were 2 or 3 hours for $400 - $430 (one included a dungenous crab meal).   The rest of the various tours were to see the totem pole making at Saxman Village, several food-related tours,  many variations of the Lumberjack show, and hiking, biking, kayaking, or 4x4 drives.  Prices ranged from $75 to $350.  And it was no wonder that we did not see a lot of people walking in downtown early on today.  They may have been on a lot of excursions.

 

We left the ship around 10am, bundled up to keep warm.  It really wasn’t bad until the wind blew, then it would have cut right through you without proper jackets.  Our first stop was at the visitor’s center to pick up their excellent walking tour map.  It is loaded with just about everything you need to know about Ketchikan and its history.  Our next stop was at the shops under the Alaska King Crab Co. where we always go for lunch.   We did not see the OPEN sign flashing on the 3^rd floor today.  Going into the souvenir store, we asked the young cashier if the restaurant was opening today, and he said no, not until May 1^st.   We found that held true for many of the local businesses that vie for your $$$ here. 

 

Walking through downtown was like visiting a ghost town .  What a difference several cruise ships make.  We passed by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, which we learned later that it was opened for free today.  Then we walked by the fire department and the Federal Building.  Turning right put us on Thomas Street and the Stedman Street Bridge that goes over the Ketchikan River.    Quite often we see locals fishing from this bridge when the salmon are running.   Today there was not a single fish in the water or dead along the banks.  One nice aspect of no fish, it the lack of the  horrible smell of the decaying carcasses.  Don’t miss that.  What we do miss are the sea lions that come up this river to gorge on the salmon. 

 

The Thomas Basin Boat Harbor is located here with a viewing platform at the beginning.  Back in the old days, there was a baseball field at low tide where locals enjoyed playing.  From here, we carefully crossed the street to enter the Creek Street walk across from the Bayside Hotel from 1927.  There is a viewing deck of Ketchikan Creek where the locals watched the salmon runs, seals and birds.  Walking up the Creek Street boardwalk was easy because there were hardly any tourists here today.  Of course, not all of the shops were opened.  This area was known for being a red-light district with “working girls”, speakeasies and bootleggers during the Prohibition days.  The city outlawed these practices in 1953 and created the cool area we see today.  

 

Dolly’s House was next on the trail and with a $5 entry fee, you could see the antiques, caches, and garish décor of the times.  Been there, done that, a 5-minute pass through.  The trail that comes down to this area from above was called the Married Men’s Trail, due to the fact these men could sneak down to Dolly’s House for a night of frivolity.  No sneaking here, as everyone knows everyone, and there were no secrets.  Today we strolled past the boutiques and happened to run into our friends who were testing the canned salmon in one of the shops.  We always have a meeting of the minds and visited for a spell.  That drew out the owner of the salmon shop to give his 2 cents of opinions as a local merchant.  Guess he had no customers, so he joined in with our conversation.  We found it curious that this fellow complained about the tourists that did not follow the crosswalks and stop the local traffic flow.  Well, we all reminded him that if it wasn’t for the tourists, he would have no business.  OK, we all got the message and left on a friendly note.  After all, Ginny had just purchased some of the tasty, canned salmon, which did look like cat food to us when she showed us the contents of her bag.  Good thing we have all been friends since 2007.

 

Instead of walking to the top of the creek, we exited at the footbridge from downtown and followed the side street uphill.  That avoided the stairs to the top of the street.  We had plenty of time before we considered a lunch spot.  At the top on Park Ave we stopped at the viewing platform, reading the excellent signage of the salmon cycle and watching the powerful waterfall and fish ladders, now empty of spawning salmon.  Usually we head for the City Park past the salmon spawning area, but without the fish, all we would see was an empty creek.  So we decided to tackle the hike up Venetia Ave to the Cape Fox Lodge perched high on a mountaintop with a killer view of the town below.   We have done this hike years ago, but did not remember how steep this road was.   If the lift had been working from the Married Men’s Trail, we would have gladly paid the $2 fee to ride up the hillside.  The lift was closed due to maintenance today, as it is many times we have been here.

 

Eventually we summited the road and found the Lodge which is next to the Ted Ferry Civic Center.   Someone had told us that the Cape Fox Restaurant was closed today but we doubted that since there is a hotel here.   Well, we were very happy to find the restaurant named Heen Kahidi Dining Room opened and not crowded. There were a few locals dining there and we got a nice window table with the best view of the Volendam docked in downtown.  We ordered two draft Alaskan beers then added one cheeseburger with French fries, one platter of crispy-breaded calamari, and finally one slice of mud pie.  That was a nice surprise to see they served it here.  The best part of lunch was relaxing after that climb.  Now we had to figure out the easiest and closest way back down to town.  That was by taking a side trail around the hotel and finding the trail with 1000 stairs back to the Creek Street boardwalk.  Not really 1000 stairs, but it sure felt like that.   Taking our time, we did it. 

 

We went out the footbridge once again, but walked down some different streets towards the dock.  We wanted to check out the Panhandle Pizza place the checker fellow recommended earlier.  We did find it, but it was not opened, having possibly closed at 2pm.   If we come here next fall, we will have to try their pizza. 

 

One stop at the Tongass Trading Company netted one of us two Alaska t-shirts for a good sale price.  We had a good laugh when we ran into buddies that had visited the free museum earlier which would have set them back a total of $10.   Isn’t it funny we spend $$$$$ on a cruise, but marvel over getting a bargain when we can.  Gotta love it.  One last purchase for us was kettle corn at a local kiosk which we were happy to see opened today.  We saved four dollars by purchasing two bags….yes, it is that good.   Then we scoped out the store with my favorite sleep t’s to see the new designs.  That will be for a future purchase next fall.  

 

Back onboard, the Captain came on with his daily report and was pleased with the favorable weather we had today.  The sun was even out by the time we left the port.   We have 653 nautical miles to reach Seattle with the expert help of a local pilot.   By the way, the US Coast Guard boarded the ship for a semi-annual safety drill which they successfully passed.  Tomorrow we can expect temps of 47 degrees and a sea swell of five feet.  It might be windy with no rain in the forecast. 

 

Dinner time was a Dutch theme due to it being King’s Day, a Dutch holiday.  The menu followed suit and we ordered one bay shrimp cocktail, one green pea soup, and two Westland salads.  Nasi goreng and the hodge podge klapstuk or braised beef brisket were our entrees.  Dessert was some ice cream and sorbet.  The Orange Party was held in the Crow’s Nest at 8:30pm and the show was the comedian Tim Nutt with “Rough around the Edges” performance.  Call of the Wild was the movie in the Wajang Theater.  

 

We really need a day at sea tomorrow to re-charge the batteries.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

453 Pictures

Report #117 Sunday, April 26, 2026----Sitka, Alaska, USA---8am-4:30pm----Docked Port Side To Pier----Overcast, Fog And Drizzle----45 Degrees---92% Humidity---2.6mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Sitka, Alaska was our port of call today and there were a total of 19 tours offered here.  Too many to list, the most reasonable ones were a downtown walk for 1 hour and $55, or Sitka sites for 3.5 hours and $110.  A fun one was a pedal and pub crawl for 2 hours and $120, or a bike and hike tour for 3 hours and $150.    On the high end there were excursions that involved fishing…specifically salmon and Dolly Varden fishing.  Since it is way too early for the first salmon run, we do not know if these tours happened today.    One was a guided fly-fishing for 4 hours and $290.  Or remote flyfishing with lunch for 6 hours and $350.  Finally, there was a King or Coho salmon fishing for 4 hours  with a light snack for $530.  If you caught one, having it processed and mailed home was extra.    One excursion we did here years ago was fun and that was sea otter and wildlife quest for 2.5 hours and $180.  We did have an opportunity on this cruise to take a free tour at the Fortress of the Bear, but it was too early in the season, and it was closed. 

 

The Volendam docked out of town by 7:30am with temperatures in the mid 40’s, 92% humidity, and light winds at 2.6mph.    It was overcast, foggy at times, light rain briefly and some sun upon leaving the port.    Typical early in the season Alaskan weather.  A complimentary port shuttle was provided which we were advised to pre-book.  A letter of instructions was given to us a few days ago.  Since we do not have a cellphone to copy a QR code, Jonah said she would get one printed for us.   So after breakfast, she stopped by the Pinnacle Grill and handed us the ticket for a 10:30 to 11am time window.  If there happened to be a line for the shuttle, we would get priority over those without the ticket.  Without a ticket, you had to wait until the end of the line to board if there was room. 

 

We hung around after breakfast like we always do and left the ship when a sound testing on the speaker system was taking place.  Literally drove us off of the ship as annoying music was blasted throughout the ship.  Another inconvenience was the fact the ship’s water system was going to be shut down from 9:30 to 1:30.  Nothing would work in the rooms ship wide.  Then we were advised to flush the faucets with plenty of water to clear out the rust particles.  This was at least the fourth time this cruise that the water had to be shut off, mostly due to flooding problems we had.  That was resolved thank goodness.  Anyway, it was another good time to leave the ship and head for the shuttle. 

 

We lined up for the next bus without anyone checking the ticket.  We did notice, however, that this whole terminal looked different with new additions.  Asking the bus monitor lady, she said the new improvements had been done after Covid in 2020.  Much improved and easier to access, we decided to check out the new shops on the way back.  The buses were school buses we think due to their tight seating.  Like no leg room at all, we had to sit sideways.  We could not help but notice that some of the guests were getting cranky when they made comments to people that were moving too slow.   When being told to keep moving to the back of the bus, another lady said there were no seats and that was why she was not moving…..adding is that a good enough excuse for you?   Sure shut up that cranky lady.  Some nicer folks moved to seats together making room for the last two guests.   And we wonder why we do not like tours anymore……

 

We were dropped off in downtown at the Harrigan Centennial Hall, with views of the snow-covered mountains where conventions and trade shows are held.  Sometimes there are maps and information inside, but today being Sunday, we were not sure they were opened.  

 

We took off walking from there to the Sea Walk along Crescent Harbor .  This walk took us past homes, the Russian Bishop’s House (closed), the high school and an extensive playground for the kids.  The harbor was full of small pleasure boats as well as some fishing vessels.   We continued past the Sitka Sound Science Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research and education.  It was closed to the public and work was also in progress with the hands-on experiences inside the building.   There is a fish ladder here where you can watch the salmon come during their runs.  The nets were up at the opening, but there were no fish to be seen.   

 

Continuing up the road, we ran into four of our friends as they were just returning from the National Park and the totems there.   Already on their way back to town, we had no doubt they were going to find a place for lunch as it was already near noontime.  Following the paths along the water’s edge, we ended up at the Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska’s oldest.  The highlights here are the massive Sitka spruce trees with a dozen or so very tall totem poles.  It is also home to the fort and battlegrounds of the 1804 Battle of Sitka.  Excellent signage along the way described the history here.  It was a long hike, but there were many benches to sit and take in the views of the harbor and river.  Except for some locals walking their dogs, not too many people from the ship ventured this way.  We did run into two more sisters that were hiking here, and they shared some news that people had spotted whales on the bus ride to town.  They advised us to sit on the left side of the bus on the way back and we might see them.  Funny, we always sit on that side.

 

We got to the old fort area and the battleground, then the trail wrapped around and headed back to the visitor center.  There were nice restrooms there as well.   Being that today was Sunday, the playground was full of young kids having fun.  It did not matter to them if it began to drizzle for a bit.  A little water never hurt anyone.  We ended up back in town by 1pm, searching for a pizza place that advertised wood-fired pizza.  On previous stops here, we dined at the Westmark Hotel’s restaurant, but we noticed that name was not on the building today.   It must have been sold, and the restaurant had a different name, but it was closed on Sunday.  Oh well. 

 

We headed up the street and uphill passing the Orthodox Church.  As we were waving at a group of pedalers on the bar hop tour, a local lady recognized us, calling us by name.  She admitted she was holping to run into us as she has been following the blog for many years.   Always nice to hear from readers world-wide that enjoy our travels.  She even admitted to marking our stops with pins on a map. 

 

Heading towards the St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church, we located the pizza place nearby.  It sure was not what the website showed.  It was tiny and had very few narrow tables with rickety chairs where you order your food and pick it up at the counter.  Not to our liking, we decided not to stay.  Way too claustrophobic for us.   Even the hot dog stand from a food truck in the parking lot looked better.  So we headed back to the shuttle after walking in and out of a few stores.  We could order room service instead.

 

Two shuttles were waiting at the hall, and we were off in no time for the short ride back.  Sitting at the back of the bus, we did see some whales very near the shore.  Captain Frank mentioned later that they were gray whales and they were working the waters all morning.  With a moving shuttle, we were lucky to get one shot of a whale while it briefly surfaced.  No diving, just blowing of the spouts.  Sometimes these are called resident whales that never migrate.  The boat tours that people take often will locate the pods and get really good pictures.   The one time we did that tour, a whale came up right alongside the boat  and blew its spout, spraying an oily smelly substance all over us.  Smelled for days. 

 

Back at the terminal, we passed through the old building, then wandered through the shops in the new part.  The two levels of stores resembling what we would see in Juneau and Ketchikan.  And being that we were the first cruise ship here we think, there were no close-out sales or end of season…everything must go bargains. 

 

We were back onboard after passing the facial recognition check near the gangway.  That was the first time we did that on the whole cruise.   We instantly ordered Cobb salads and a shared club sandwich which arrived on time….no extra waiting. 

 

Between 3 and 4:30pm, we all had to visit our muster stations and have our room keys scanned.  This is a 30 day mandatory safety essential and was very easy.  No waiting, we were back to the room within 10 minutes.   Captain Frank came on with his sail away info  after 4:30pm, reminding everyone to attend the simple muster check.  He hoped everyone had a good time in Sitka with the mostly favorable weather.  We now have 233 nautical miles to reach Ketchikan tomorrow.  He said to watch for whales on the way out, which we did, but saw none.   He expected to dock portside in Ketchikan where the US Coast Guard will be boarding with inspections.   The weather would be much the same as today. 

 

Dinnertime found some good items on the menu.  We ordered double vegetable spring rolls with extra sweet chili sauce.  One of us had the shrimp cocktail, then we had a mushroom quesadilla and one boneless rib plate with creamy mashed potatoes.    Desserts were jello and pistachio ice cream.

 

Looking forward to Ketchikan tomorrow, our final Alaskan stop.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

336 Pictures