Report #112 Tuesday, April 21, 2026--Sea Day#5 Of 7--- Enroute To Kodiak, Alaska, USA---Rain Showers---37 Degrees--97% Humidity--34mph Winds---Casual Dress

Will the rocking and rolling with pitching ever stop, we all asked this morning at breakfast?  We had hoped the motion would have improved, but it has only gotten worse.  This happens to be close to the area where we encountered 55 - 60 foot seas back in 2002, so we are nowhere near that, and hope never to be.

 

Our travel hosts have a desk outside the Wajang Theater on sea days, which makes it convenient to chat with them on those days.  We share stories of the present as well as the past which has been fun.  Today, Kumar, our Mariner rep, stopped by to join in the conversation.  He reminded us that the US Customs and Immigration agents will be boarding the ship in Kodiak to clear the ship for entrance into the USA.  If our stop in Kodiak does not happen due to inclement weather, then the agents will board in Sitka instead.  With that said, we all agreed that our port of Kodiak might be a 50/50% proposition.  

 

Captain Frank came on the speakers with his voice from the bridge and current state of affairs with the Volendam.  The ship was keeping an 18 knot speed with considerable listing now as well as the pitching, rolling, and rocking.  He stated that we had near gale force winds with swells over 9 feet.  There was 12,000 feet of water under the keel, and we still had 936 nautical miles to go to Kodiak.  Tomorrow's weather did not look any better with higher gale force winds of 45 to 50 knots with 18 foot swells.  We could expect showers and reduced visibility.  And we are not alone due to the fact there are other vessels taking this same route and all were being monitored.  Oddly enough, Bill spotted some birds, perhaps sea gulls, flying around the ship during his daily promenade walk.   We are passing some islands of the Aleutians, so seeing some birds is not unusual.  

 

Finally Captain Frank stressed for all of  us to be aware of sudden movement on the ship and to please wear proper shoes.  Again, he doesn't have to tell us twice.  In his wrap-up, he said he was keeping his fingers crossed for a landing in Kodiak.  That speaks volumes.  Once again, we will be putting the clocks ahead one hour at noon with the sunset at 8:45pm and sunrise 5:55am.   

 

One of us spent the better part of the day figuring out the computer problems and communicating with our son at home.   He has been instrumental in sending directions to unravel the mystery that is ongoing. It was riveting just watching the heavy spray soaking our veranda all afternoon.  The wind has been whistling through the closed and locked veranda door making it sound like we are back in Antarctica.  

 

We skipped lunch again, snacking on some pistachios and pretzels.  Really not hungry, we know the importance of keeping some food in our stomachs to ward off seasickness.  Activities and lectures took place as usual except for anything outdoors.  Too cold, wet, windy and just nasty, most everyone stayed inside the ship today.  

 

The Pinnacle Grill hosted a new guest chef, John, with an unforgettable dinner with specially-crafted plates.  However, how are we supposed to know what kind of cuisine he was cooking?   It was not advertised very well.  We do know that if you did not wish to have the wine, it was priced with or without it.  That is fair, we think.  

 

Dinner for us included one arancini, a bowl of chicken noodle soup (on the menu), Caesar salad, and a chicken appetizer.  Mains were one bowtie pasta with pancetta, and chicken fajitas with one tortilla, guacamole with tomato-cilantro rice.  All good.   Desserts were coffee fudge ice cream.

 

The show on the World Stage was Cello 2 Cello once again with a journey through jazz, pop, classical, and rock music.   

 

One of us got caught up watching the movie "Cast Away" which contributed to staying awake beyond 1am.  Maybe not the best choice of movie considering the seas in which we are traveling.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #111 Monday, April 20, 2026--Sea Day#4 Of 7--- Enroute To Kodiak, Alaska---Cloudy---36 Degrees--77% Humidity--21mph Winds-----Casual Dress

It was increasingly rougher last night and it kept us awake periodically throughout the night.  It is what we expected for sailing in this part of the Pacific Ocean, and we can say we have seen it worse.  Captain Frank has done a good job at down-playing the motion of the ocean, with the exception of many warnings to be careful out and about the ship.  Don't need to tell us twice.  

The day began cold with temperatures in the high 30's, humidity 77% and 21 mph winds with overcast skies.  The ship has maintained a speed of 18 knots and when possible, the stabilizers were out to help with the motion.  Today was also the repeat of yesterday with two days the same, since we have successfully crossed the International Date Line.  

We noticed fewer of the regular breakfast folks were present this morning and guess that the frequent clock changes has something to do with it.  One of us notices it is harder to fall asleep before midnight, and much harder getting up  for the 8am breakfast time.  And that is one reason we never chose to do an eastbound world cruise.  And probably never will.   

Back to the "salt mines", or computer time, we worked this morning trying to figure out the glitch that turned the computer into a monster-gone-rogue.  Everything on the computer switched to a different format, one that we are not familiar with.  The saying that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks applies at least to one of us.  One solution is to take a break and go for a promenade deck walk for an hour.   It sort of clears the mind at least for one of us who is trying to figure out why a man using a walker insists on running with it around the promenade deck. Yes...running.  Hard enough with no walking aids such as canes or walking sticks, this is an accident waiting to happen.   But what do we know?

Captain Frank returned at noon for his updated nautical talk.  And once again, 12pm went to 1pm for the hour ahead, making us 3 hours past Alaska time now.  He hoped everyone felt well (no seasickness) which was wishful thinking at best.  We would be entering the Bering Sea area this afternoon with 1334 nautical miles to reach Kodiak.   The Captain predicted near gale force winds of over 35 knots and mostly overcast skies with the seas topping at 13.5 feet.  In fact, he said to expect gale force winds for the next two days.  What he did not say was that a stop at Kodiak may be "iffy" due to the fact that we will be tendering to shore.  That was news to us since it was not written in the itinerary that we would be tendering.  Reading between the lines, if it is too rough to dock, then tendering may be impossible as well.  We hope for the best because after a 7 day stretch in open waters, we will all be ready for solid ground.  We understand that the Volendam may be one of the first ships of the season to arrive at Kodiak.  Captain Frank  shared the news with us that there had been a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in northern Japan on Monday.  We do not know the exact location, but we were there on Friday, the 17th.  No mention of a tsunami, which is always a possibility.    The "ring of fire" reared its ugly side.

We skipped lunch today, snacking on some pistachios we brought from home.   By losing that hour at noontime, we don't think about lunch until closer to 3pm which is too late.  So today, we were plenty hungry for dinner which was on the Mexican side, a favorite of ours.  Starters were tostadas with chili con carne, lettuce, cheese and a spicy sauce.  Caesar salads came next with the better dressing on the side.  Mains were the enchilada dish barbacoa-style with rice, guacamole, sour cream and extra sauce.  The beef was shredded and very tasty.  Very filling although we saved some room for one Paris brest or cream puff and a plate of assorted melon.  

The team of White Magic 2.0 was the show this evening featuring new contortions and sleight of hand tricks.  At least their performance was not cancelled due to the rough seas.  We doubt we see the singers and dancers (definitely not the dancers) until we leave these turbulent waters. 

And so much for day #4 at sea.....hump-day to be exact.   

Bill & Mary Ann  

 

No Pictures

Report #110 Monday, April 20, 2026--Sea Day#3 Of 7--- Enroute To Kodiak, Alaska--Partly Cloudy---34 Degrees--66% Humidity--15.8mph Winds---Part #1 Of 1--No Pictures--Casual Dress----Xing Date Line

Yesterday we all got a reminder in printing that we will be crossing the International Date Line as we continue to head east.  Therefore, we will experience April 20th twice.  That will make up for the day we lost going west on February 26th.  We are advised to adjust our devices to the correct day and time.  We have no devices except for one computer, which we never changed since we wanted to know the correct time at home.  Those people that celebrate a birthday on the 20th, will have a chance to do it twice.  One nice lady at breakfast is doing just that with the hope of having two special birthday cakes.   

By the way people are trying to walk, it is apparent that the seas have gotten worse.  During his talk, Captain Frank hoped that everyone is feeling well as we try to navigate around the ship.  The word seasick comes to mind.  We still have 1738 nautical miles to go to reach Kodiak and are currently off the coast of Russia, a mere 217 nautical miles from the Kamchatka Peninsula.   The sea swells have increased to 14 feet or more, as reported by one of us that went for a walk on the closed decks this morning.   The ship is pitching more than usual as well as being hit by waves broadside.   The Captain said we could expect the winds to increase to 30 knots and the sea state at 17 feet maximum.  Bottom line.....be careful inside the ship as well as outside.  Finally the sunset will be at 7:55pm and the sunrise at 4:30am.

And the clocks will go forward one more hour at noon.   We knew that, but didn't like it a whole lot.  He continued to say that there were three systems around us.  A low pressure system was building up in the Bering Sea, another was forming in the Alaskan area, and  yet another system was working up the west coast of the USA.    All ship traffic has been directed to this channel we are taking and all being monitored.   

We had room service for lunch with one shared club sandwich with some chips and coleslaw on the side.  When our order arrived, we asked Agus if room service was busy, and he said yes....most everyone was in their rooms due to the increased motion.  It seemed to increase as the day advanced.

There were not many people in the dining room at the late seating.   Starters for us were one bowl of chicken noodle soup and a beef papaya salad and one shrimp taco.  Mains were sweet and sour pork and sauerbraten, a typical German meal with spaetzle .  Desserts were one lemon tart and a scoop of fudge tracks ice cream.   Except it wasn't fudge tracks, but coffee fudge.   Oh well, I like that just as well. 

There was another printed notice about a show change in the World Stage.  The singers and dancers would not perform, but Vivace would take their place.  So there would be no entertainment in the Explorers Lounge this evening.  And thank you for your flexibility.      

One of the most unexpected things happened while captioning pictures last night.  We got a Norton alert, which we get all of the time,  but this was followed by a notice that the files were corrupted and the computer was shutting down.  There was no stopping it, and I just watched the page fade away to la-la land.   Now what?  It was getting late and Bill was unable to resolve it, so we decided to wait until morning to try to fix it with the advice of our son.  Hope we are able to continue with the blog and also hope we did not lose everything forever.  As it turned out, stranger things with the blog were yet to come..... 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

No Pictures

Report #109 Sunday, April 19, 2026--Sea Day#2 Of 7--- Enroute To Kodiak, Alaska--Cloudy---34 Degrees--99% Humidity--45mph Winds----Casual Dress

It was quite noticeable that we have traveled further north, because the temperature dropped to 34 degrees and lower with the wind chill from 45 mph winds.  For the first time since we left Antarctica back in late January, the word SNOW was on the ship's  weather screen.  And during the day, we did see some flurries.  We suspect that this crossing will continue to be challenging the further we travel eastbound.  

Project Linus was first  and foremost on the agenda with a showcase of handmade blankets created by the talented ladies (and a few fellows) on this cruise.  The Lido Poolside was filled with colorful knit or crocheted creations that will be donated to children facing serious illness.  Thank you Marty and Gayle for your hard work for such a good cause.  Some of the blankets will be auctioned to raise funds for future yarn purchases.  

There are a few ports from Alaska to San Diego that will be having excursions.  The team gave a talk promoting these tours.  Then there was a talk on the Philippines, a country that we have not visited for some time now.  Many of our crew members came from there, and they shared their culture with the guests today.  Maybe it is time to put these ports back on a world cruise itinerary.    

Captain Frank came on at his usual time to give us the latest nautical information which included the weather report.  No doubt we were all feeling the motion of the ocean with gale force winds and sea swells over 11 feet.  Needless to say, the outside decks were closed.  Captain Frank predicted increased winds and 14 foot swells tomorrow with limited visibility and some rain.  We have another 2125 nautical miles to reach Kodiak on April 24th.  He also said we were seeing some of the mountains of the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia.    Gosh, we can see Russia from our veranda....how cool is that.  Actually we visited this peninsula back in 2002 while on this very same ship and experienced one of the most vigorous tours we ever took.  

We kept busy as usual with the photos to process and the adventures composed until dinnertime.  Our starters were the wedge salads, smaller than the Pinnacle Grill salads, but almost as good.   Lasagne and a pork slab were the entrees ending with desserts of banana pudding and a sliced banana.  

The entertainment was two lady instrumentalists with Cello 2 Cello with classical tunes sure to  please the crowd.    So much for day 2 at sea. 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

No Pictures

Report #108 Saturday, April 18, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 7---Happy Birthday To Me---Overcast And Rain---39 Degrees---96% Humidity---28mph Winds---7' Sea Swell----Ships Speed 18 Knots-------Dressy Dress

Today is special because it is a birthday for one of us…..a milestone one at that.  He also shares a birthday with Holland America Lines which turned 153 years old.  We can say they are a lot older than Bill…..by a lot.  It would turn out to be a very good day beginning with four balloons on the door and a large birthday greeting from the staff taped on the door also. 

 

It was cold with temperatures in the high 30’s.  The humidity remained high at 96% because there seems to be fog early in the morning.  The winds were 28 mph with 7-foot sea swells.   The Volendam was maintaining a speed of 18 knots, maybe to make up the three hours we lost yesterday leaving late from Hakodate. 

 

With the chilly weather, it was a good time to stay inside and work online.  We have noticed a slow-down with the internet speed, depending on the size of the files we send.  It had been announced more than a week ago to expect such slowdowns.  Not so long ago, we would have had no reception in this northern part of the world.  Starlink helped solve that problem. 

 

The afternoon was filled with calls of birthday greetings from the front desk folks as well as cards from Florin, Jonah and Kumar.   A tray of chocolate candies and another with the special moist cupcake with a card from Captain Frank were brought from room service waiter, Agus.  What a day.  Again, so much for trying to keep the birthday quiet.  No such thing on this ship. 

 

The Captain came on with his update at noon saying we had 2541 nautical miles to reach Kodiak with higher seas and winds tomorrow.  The swells were expected to increase to 13.5 feet and the wind increasing as well.  With a low pressure system building, the most northern route was better to take.   Sunset would be 6:30pm and sunrise 5am.  The time change would occur again at noontime, going ahead one hour.   This will be repeated for several days until we will not know what meal we are eating.  Lunch will be dinnertime, and dinner will be midnight or later technically.   No matter which direction we set the clocks, it wreaks havoc on the body’s functions, and more so, the sleep patterns.   

 

Today there was a scavenger hunt, an egg toss challenge and a ship drawing contest.  Fire & Ice was the subject of a lecture by Christine Sandvik, while Gregory Burns spoke on brushstrokes of Japan living. We had another invite to a regional wine tasting at 1:30pm but did not attend.   It was worth $35 per person, but we don’t drink wine.  Thanks anyway. 

 

We were surprised to see another fine sunset, even though brief, it is always good to watch and share with you all.

 

The special treat was going to dinner in the Pinnace Grill.  It happened to be a dressy night, so that made it a bit more special.  Much to our surprise, we were about the only diners at our usual table by the receiving desk.  There was a dinner happening in the back room, which included Captain Frank had his wife Alexandra.   A few officers may have joined their table.  

 

Our meal began with wedge salads, of course, with the bacon on the side.  The assorted rolls and garlic butter are always good with the salads.  One of us ordered the lamb chops and the other took a chance and tried the alternate ribeye steak that was marinated in soy and grilled almost crispy.   Served medium rare, the steak was sliced into four sections and had to be one of the best pieces of meat I tasted so far this trip.  We both added one baked potato with toppings, but when it came to dessert and the macaroons, we passed on it.    Naturally, the waiters came with the round birthday cake which was more mousse than cake.  They quietly sang happy birthday too.  Knowing we were full, our waiter wrapped the cake in foil and we took it home.  It will be a treat for lunch tomorrow. 

 

The show tonight was Magic & Contortion called White Magic.   Michael White, a UK magician, took the stage with Hulan, a circus performer, for a unique show with magic, illusion, and contortion.  Now that’s a different twist.  Literally.

 

Back in our room, we found more GWV gifts of two rolled duffels and two sets of zippered packing bags…..a reminder we will have to start thinking about packing soon, a job that neither of us relishes.  Simply thinking about it is enough for now.  And thanks to our excellent room stewards, we found a birthday cake created from towels complete with ribbons, as well as two little boxes of Le Belge Chocolatier treats.

 

So much for a special day, our first one of seven at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

27 Pictures

Report #107 Friday, April 17, 2026---Hakodate, Japan---8am-4:30pm--Docked Port Side To Pier---Partly Cloudy---48 Degrees---59% Humidity---3.7mph Winds-----Casual Dress

Our final port of call in Japan was Hakodate, located in the northern island of Hokkaido.    Although we did not travel all that far from Yokohama, the weather here is much different.    In a word – cold with temperatures in the 40’s, 59% humidity, and light winds of 4mph.   As we approached the harbor, we could see a dusting of snow on the nearby mountain tops, an indication that winter is holding on later than usual.  We were told that the cherry trees had not blossomed yet but again, in this part of the world, we arrived too early.  Figures.  We did have mostly sunny skies with some clouds in the morning, but it did become overcast later in the afternoon.    And once again, there was no satellite TV reception until we left the port.

 

Excursions here today included a panoramic drive of Hakodate for 2 hours and $110.  The Morning Market & Mt. Hakodate Ropeway was 3.5 hours for $150.  Goryokaku Park & Tower was 3.5 hours for $150, while Onuma Quasi National Park was 4.5 hours for $190.  The best of Hakodate was 7 hours with a lunch for $250.    All but the panoramic drive were described as strenuous and not advised for walker or wheelchair guests as some sights had stairs and no ramps. 

 

Today the ship was docked portside at Wakamatsu Wharf, and we had a view of the pier, terminal building and a ship/museum by the name of Mashu Maru.  The population of this city is about 239,800 people, the third largest in Hokkaido.  Most of the locals are descendants from a hardy people that migrated here thousands of years ago.  They became hunters and gatherers, which is different from the rest of Japan.  They never developed a printed language and relied on story-telling to pass the history down to the younger generations.  With such an extreme climate in the wintertime, survival was their utmost number one priority.   There are museums here that depict the culture from days gone by.  It sure reminded us of what you might find in Alaskan museums. 

 

All of what we needed to see was within walking distance of the pier, although there were taxis, buses, and a tram that run to nearby communities.   There was another crew drill at 9:30am, and a good time to leave.   We walked off of the gangway, through a long-covered walkway to the terminal building all on one level.   We picked up a local map, then followed it to the Hakodate Morning Market where 250 stalls of fresh & live seafood were on display.  The good thing was that all of these stalls were outside on the sidewalk in the open air.  Some of the stalls had a couple of tiny tables and chairs if you chose to eat what they were selling.  For instance, there were tubs of seawater with squid swimming in them.  If you chose to catch one on a fishing line, they would cook it on the spot.  The same went for the filets of assorted fish as well.  One of the main attractions was the giant octopus that was in a large aquarium for all to see close-up.  What a curious type of creature they are.  Bet the octopus thought the same by looking at all of us taking lots of photos.   We checked out every display table as well as a small supermarket which was inside a building.  It smelled like fish in there.  That was the only venue in this market that sold some souvenirs like t-shirts and trinkets.  Needless to say, it was quite crowded with Volendam guests looking for bargains. 

 

From here, we hiked all the way to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, where the old meets the new. Crossing an ancient stone bridge called Tomoe Ohashi Bridge, we came out at the beginning of the warehouses.   These warehouses were built in 1887 for storage and re-built in 1909.  These days the warehouses are a combination of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and many souvenir spots.   We decided to keep walking to the end of the street and explore the waterfront area below the Motomachi Ekimae Area.  There were some monuments along the waterfront as well as some museums across the road. 

 

The hillsides were steep looking up towards the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway, which is a cable car ride to the top of the mountain of 1000 feet in elevation.  It has one of Japan’s top three night views here.  The fee for a round trip ride is 1800 yen or $11.35 USD.  The hillsides below have Western-style houses, churches, and streets that reflect Hakodate’s port history.  We could have found our way up there, but it would have used up too much time and energy.  We decided to head back and check out the warehouses and look for a place for lunch.  

 

We did pass a very amusing hamburger place called Lucky Pierrot with a Crusty the Clown lookalike on the building’s marquee.  In fact we saw two such restaurants close to each other, but did not go inside.  We found out from friends later that this venue only accepted Japanese yen and no credit cards, although our mission today was to use the cash we had on hand as well as the coins.

 

The largest venue we saw for lunch was called Hakodate Beer Hall, which was about full of customers when we arrived.  Seeing that they were taking reservation numbers, we almost walked away, but the waitress stopped us and motioned for us to wait a minute.   They were clearing a table for two, and we were seated right away.   We ordered Sapporo draft beers, which is brewed here, and added a small Margherita pizza and a plate of crispy fried chicken, as suggested by friends Mike and Cathy who were sitting close by.  We shared a waffle/ice cream dessert topped with whipped cream.  We did use the yen to pay the bill and even had some to spare.   We have been finding that the restaurant prices are comparable to what we have at home, or even less expensive because tipping is considered inappropriate here in Japan.  

 

From here, we wandered through the shops finding the deep blue glass stone jewelry we had admired in Okinawa.  Doing some research, we learned more about these pretty stones.  They are called Hotaru stones or firefly glass.  Considered an iconic souvenir, the stones are created with midnight blue colors with added foil inside that reflects light.  Some even glow in the dark with phosphorescent qualities.  The deep blue shades reflect the ocean colors and represent calmness and confidence.  The foil is said to ward off evil spirits.    So a pendant, earrings and a bracelet became ours.  That took care of most of the paper money, now we had coins to use.    The last item we bought was a useful Snoopy pen for a mere 550 yen or $3.50 USD.  What fun we have.

 

We did work off some of the calories with the walk back.  Some ladies from the ship used the rickshaws that were manned by some local fellows to go back to the ship.   A taxi ride was only $5 we heard.   The walk was pleasant since it was not hot.  We were back to the terminal by 3pm.  On the way there, we stopped to sit for a moment near the old Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship permanently docked across from the Volendam.  It was here that a local young lady approached us, asking if  we were on the Volendam.  She thought we were Dutch since the ship was registered in the Netherlands.  No, we explained that the ship held a number of people from all over the world and we were on a world voyage for 133 days.  She was impressed, then told us her story of coming here from NYC and Korea.  It is moments like this that really makes our experience richer.  It is hard to find a country with such friendly people like here in Japan. 

 

On the way back in the terminal, we were required to go through a mandatory immigration inspection with our passports scanned and stamped and our room keys checked for identification.   We were lucky to be coming back when we did, because the majority of people doing this drill came earlier and had to wait in a long line.   All aboard was 4:30pm, so we had plenty of time if we had to wait.   Once the inspection was complete, we could not go back ashore.  

 

The photos have been piling up to process, so that was our job until Captain Frank came on with his sail away talk at 4:45pm.  He hoped we had all enjoyed all of our stops in Japan, but now we will have seven days crossing to Kodiak.  He hinted that the winds would pick up to 35 knots with 8 foot seas.  We could face 43 degree temps  with rocking and rolling.  The distance to Kodiak, Alaska was 3830 nautical miles at a speed of 16.5 knots.  Captain Frank planned on taking a northern route towards the Aleutian Islands, dipping south if necessary.  Some unfavorable conditions were in this area, and the head office in Seattle was monitoring our progress as always.   He did not elaborate at this point.

 

So we waited for the ropes to drop and the ship to pull away, but nothing happened.  The gangway remained in place.  Something was up and we figured some passengers must be late in returning from a tour.  We got ready for dinner at 7:30pm, and checked from our veranda to see a medical debark going off in a hearse.  Apparently someone had died and was being taken off here.  So sad to see, but life goes on no matter where you are.   The red tape took up to three hours before we could leave.

 

The Volendam left around 7:40pm and we did get to see the city lit up at night, which was nice.   Oops, forgot to jot down what we had for dinner, but it must have been good.

 

There was a show in the World Stage featuring the cast with “A Swing Thing” with swinging classics.  We did a swing thing to bed as these last three days have been exhausting. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

441 Pictures

Report #106--Thursday, April 16, 2026---Day At Sea Enroute To Hakodate, Japan----Overcast Skies--48 Degrees---85% Humidity---36mph Winds----Ships Speed 12 Knots-----Casual Dress

It sure is nice to have one day at sea before our final call in Hakodate, Japan.   It is hardly enough time to relax, but it is better than one port after another, without a break. 

 

We sure felt the motion of the ocean last night with 36 mph winds (gale force), 48 degrees, 85% humidity and the ship’s speed of 12 knots.  We had expected as much as Captain Frank had indicated this weather yesterday.  The outside decks were closed off due to the deep swells and spray coming from the tops of the waves.   

 

Keeping busy in our room worked out since when you are sitting, you do not feel the motion as much as trying to walk anywhere.  Captain Frank came on with his daily report admitting that the winds had increased to 50 to 60 knots at one point even though we were not in a storm, the seas were rough and choppy with overcast skies.  We still had a distance of 260 nautical miles to reach Hakodate located in the northern region of Hokkaido.  At noontime, the temperature was 46 degrees and with the wind chill factor, it was much lower than that.   It was “a shocker” moment going outside on the veranda where we have spent so many warm days.  Tomorrow temps will be even cooler with dry air, but only 5 knot winds.   No rain was predicted.   Sunset was 6:08pm and sunrise was 5:55am. 

 

Captain Frank also commented on the crossing from Hakedate to Kodiak, Alaska for a total of seven sea days.  He said a strong system was after us, but he hoped to outrun the worst of it by doing 16.5 knots and heading in a northerly direction.  Once he follows the designated defined straits out of Japanese waters, he will head northeast. 

 

Erin came on after the Captain and reminded everyone of the welcome block party at 4pm.  We were so deep in computer work and research that we sort of forgot to go outside in the hallway.   We ordered a room service lunch with salads and a shared sandwich.   Honestly, the salads are much better from room service than even at dinner in the dining room. 

 

Before dinner, we happened to look outside and saw what appeared to be a rather neat sunset.   It has been many days since we have had a sunset, so we went out on the veranda to get some pictures.    It only took moments before we were chilled to the bone. 

 

Still chilled from being outside, one of us had the hot chicken noodle soup and the other had a potted beef starter.  Still not sure what potted meant but it was good.  The global comfort dinner was our entrée with meatballs and spaghetti with coffee fudge and mint chip ice cream for dessert.  One scoop each.   

 

The show was vocalist Christine Allado with Broadway and opera showstoppers.  The Wajang movie was Sarah’s Oil.  We watched Josh’s talk on Hakodate mostly because it is a new port for us. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann    

 

53 Pictures

Report #105 Wednesday, April 15, 2026---Yokohama, Japan---Day #2 Of 2---All Aboard 4:30pm---Overcast With Some Sun--61 Degrees---90% Humidity---5.7mph Winds------Casual Dress

Day two began with temperatures in the low 60’s with 90% humidity.  The winds were light once again at 5.7 mph.  The skies were overcast, and there was a possibility of showers today, which never happened because we took the umbrellas with us. 

 

Breakfast time has been more social with many of us sharing info with each other about the ports.  Sometimes we can learn more from each other than relying on the port and shore excursion talks.   There’s nothing like first-hand experience.

 

We left the ship about 10am and turned right at the end of the Osanbashi Terminal road.  Following the blue line on one of the smaller maps, we walked around the waterfront to Zou No Hana Park, which used to be the first wharf in Yokohama in 1858.  It has since been restored to wide open spaces with a small park for the little kids to play.  There is a small café there called a rest house.  There is also a compact marina there with police and pilot boats. 

 

Crossing the Shinko Bridge we continued on to the Red Brick Warehouses, where we saw a garden display of several trellised tomato plants full of mostly cherry tomatoes.  These plants were grown on elevated stands and in pots with little soil.  We never saw such a prolific crop of tomatoes on these pruned vines.  Anyone tall enough could have handfuls of these sweet treats.   They were so ripe if you picked one, many would have fallen.   We decided to stop back here later and look for a lunch venue.  It was still too early for a meal.

 

From here we headed for the Yokohama Hammerhead Shinko Pier Cruise Terminal, where the Oceana Regatta happened to be docked.  This pier is named after the first electric crane that came from the UK in the 1910’s.  It survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and remains one of three cranes that are still here.   From here, we found our way to the Megamibashi Bridge and the Pukari Pier, a much older and smaller version from centuries ago. 

 

We found ourselves buried in the huge towers on this area, one of them being the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel.  It was designed to look like a sail from a sailboat.  Something like the Burj al Arab in Dubai.  We were searching for Queen’s Plaza and building A where a Hard Rock Café was located.  We had done some research and knew it was not opened for lunch until 2pm, due to a private event.    But the Rock Shop was opened.  Finally finding it after some help from a very nice lady in town, we were handed coupons for free drinks if we came back at 2pm, and also a discount at their shop.   We had no problem finding a city t and another t-shirt using their promotion.   In addition to that, just for wearing a HRC t-shirt today, we got another 10% off. Using our membership number, we got another discount.   That worked for us.  

 

Many lunch venues were here at the three Queen Towers, but most were fast-food style.  The time was exactly 12pm, and there were lines outsides some these restaurants waiting to go inside.  All of the customers were local business people, well-dressed, and ready for a power lunch.

 

From here, we crossed the street to the Yokohama Cosmoworld where the giant Ferris wheel Cosmo Clock 21 was in operation.   Also here was a roller coaster, kiddie rides, and an arcade.  There was a ropeway called the Yokohama Air Cabin with gondolas that went over the Kishamichi Promenade.  It opened in 2021, perhaps when the Ferris Wheel debuted. 

 

From here, we crossed the Kokusai Bridge and made our way on side streets back to the Red Brick Warehouses, originally built in the early 1900’s for storage.  These days they house galleries, restaurants, and many small boutique-like shops.  It is a popular tourist spot made even better at nighttime when it is lit up.  Somehow we missed the Cup of Noodles Museum – yes a real museum dedicated to the invention of instant ramen noodles. 

 

Arriving to the warehouses, we found them to be so crowded on the lower levels, that we did not even attempt to go up to the second and third floors.  It was a bit too touristy for us.  Outside the warehouse, there was another garden set-up with more bulbs and flowers blooming happily.  It appeared there was an upcoming event with tents and a music venue being set up.   We exited by the trellised tomato plants and continued on our way.  Lunch would have to be a different venue, or perhaps at the same one we enjoyed yesterday. 

 

Somehow we found ourselves on the overhead walkway accessed by an elevator.  The views were nice from here, and we knew that we would end up at the Wharf House near Yamashita Park.  Taking the elevator down, we were right near their entrance.  Perfect.  Seated once again in the patio, we ordered two Kirin draft beers (large of course) and added one cheeseburger and another plate of delicious nachos. An old stand-by entrée was spaghetti Napoleon, a dish that was created for solders of the Occupation Forces after the war.  Instead of a spaghetti sauce, it was made with tomato catsup and had sauteed red and yellow bell peppers in it.  It has remained popular to this day and is served here at the Wharf House.    

 

Close-by, there was a young couple having desserts -one of which was a softy cone.  Gosh that looked good, so one of us ordered the raspberry/vanilla softy in a cone.  It arrived in a special holder that supported the treat.  This was the very first ice cream cone I had the entire trip, and it was the best ever.  Bill had the lemon cake, equally as good he said.  Sadly, it was time to move on as the all aboard time was 4:30pm. 

 

Having some time left on the way back, we decided to hike the Osanbashi Terminal to see what this “Whale’s Back” design that was completed in 2002 was all about.   Starting at the wooden walkway with a lot of possible splinters, we climbed up one side that took us to the whales back.  The actual terminal was located under this structure.  This old pier sight played a role for 130 years in Japan’s trade and transportation and what we see today is the 7^th generation terminal.   The stream-lined exterior is supposed to resemble waves and ships.  The interior is unique because there are no beams or pillars in the construction.   This complex was part of a design contest held in Japan at the time. 

 

We made our way to the very end of this complex, taking in the city sights.  Going down a ramp, we found the elegant restaurant that is located near the convention hall.   It was opened for dinner only and reservations were required.  Snapping some photos, we hiked back and entered the terminal where our keycards were checked as well as our passports.  We were back onboard after 3pm, where we worked online until the Captain’s talk at all aboard time.

 

Captain Frank agreed that we had two wonderful days in Yokohama as well as a chance to tour Tokyo.  We enjoyed Yokohama just as much or even more than a ride to crowded Tokyo.  We now have 539 nautical miles to reach the next port of Hakodate with expected high winds of 45 mph and 13.5 seas.  He planned to close all outside decks tomorrow.  Hakodate was looking better and we sure hope so.  There was a complimentary sail away at the Seaview Pool with sparkling wine and appetizers.  The Grand World Voyage Band played as we exited the massive bay area, going under the scenic Yokohama Bay Bridge.  We watched from our veranda, bundled up with our Arctic jackets.  The temperature was already dropping.

 

Dinner was good with new and improved Caesar salad dressing.  We suppose that the Executive Chef followed through with his promise of personally-made dressing, thank you very much.  Both of us ordered the pulled steak burrito with rice and salsa.  They were delicious.  Sliced watermelon and a flan were the desserts we had. 

 

Entertainment was the GWV Vocal group with “Boulevard”  - music from the 1950’s.  No dancing, just singing due to the rocking and rolling of the ship. 

 

Really looking forward to one precious day at sea tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

372 Pictures

Report #104 Tuesday, April 14, 2026---Yokohama, Japan---Day #1 Of 2---7:30am--Overnight--Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Hazy Sun---63 Degrees--75% Humidity--4.1mph Winds-----Casual Dress

The Volendam sailed into the massive bay area of Yokohama very early at 6am or so with the bow opened and where they were serving Yokohama rolls, juice and coffee of course.    After what seemed like miles of moored vessels and commercial dock areas,  we docked starboard at the Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, one of the most innovative terminals we have ever seen. 

 

Today happens to be the end of another segment with about 300 guests disembarking and around 159 people joining.  The total amount of passengers is now a little over 900.  The last segment was from Singapore to Tokyo (Yokohama) for a total of 21 days.  The final segment is from Tokyo to Ft. Lauderdale for 34 days, although there will be some leaving in Seattle and more leaving in San Diego.  Some folks will be boarding in San Diego as well.  It makes our heads spin trying to figure this out.  We are certain there are good deals out there to fill the ship the best HAL can.  

 

We have been in touch with the Princeton Tailors who will have a representative join the ship today and tomorrow in Yokohama in order to correct some major mistakes that occurred with some of the guests orders.  Roxanne agreed to meet with us at 11am.  She came to our room and decided that the slacks of the tux had to be re-made since they were 6 inches too short.  We had requested covered buttons with the brocade vest, but they came with regular buttons.  The tux shirt had tiny round buttonholes made for a different type of studs, so she said she would send a set of the jewelry instead of replacing the shirt.  Good deal.   She took both pieces and promised to have them delivered to the ship when it arrives in Seattle on April 29^th.  We trust they will follow through with their promise, and we were glad to see they backed up their excellent service.

 

With that out of the way, we left the ship around 11:30am and entered the huge and new terminal.  They had a treasure trove of printed maps and brochures which one of us loves.  We did bring umbrellas just in case it might rain.  It was overcast with hazy sun, but the temperature was a comfortable 63 degrees.  Humidity was only 75% and the winds were minimal.  It would turn out to be a beautiful day.  Outside the terminal doors, we ran into Captain Frank and his wife Alexandra and it appeared they were out for a day of exploring and lunch for sure.  They had a few officers with them and they all seemed very impressed with this terminal.  The walkways down each side were made with teak or something similar, and were said to look like the back of a whale.  A funny warning was printed on this unique walkway and that was watch for splinters.  Not so funny if you were not wearing proper shoes. 

 

The population of this city is 3.7 million people, the second largest in the country we read.  The total number of local passengers using the Yokohama train station is 2.3 million every day.  The number of ships of all kinds and sizes arriving to the port daily is 90.  Impressive numbers to say the least. 

 

It was a long walk down to the street level where we turned left on the main street.  This led to Yamashita Park (1930), a seaside strip of re-claimed land planted with an expanse of lawn and flower beds. It had a gorgeous view of the harbor with statues and floral displays.  It became apparent that there was a competition of flower designs and displays – all planted in every bedding plant and bulb that exists.  The main bulbs used were tulips for spring time.  The creative scenes drew many locals to this park, especially those with their little dogs and some cats.  These pampered pets were even dressed with jackets or dresses and groomed to the hilt.  The owners posed their animals in each display to take their picture.  Even a large long-hair cat was posing for pictures.  Each and every animal had a stroller made for them, like a baby stroller.  We have seen this while in Tokyo but did not expect it here. 

 

Speaking of Tokyo, this port was the gateway to Tokyo where there were some tours offered.  One excursion was a tour with an airport transfer for 5.5 hours and $200.  Tokyo on your own was 7 hours for $110.  Then it was temples and shrines for 5 to 5.25 hours and $100 and $190.  Highlights of Tokyo was 5.25 hours for $120 or best of Tokyo for 8.5 hours and $210.  Some of the longer tours included lunch.  Since we have done some of these tours in the past, we decided to see what Yokohama had to offer on our own.  We were glad we did. 

 

At the far end of Yamashita Park was a docked cargo-passenger liner from 1930 called NYK Hikawa Maru, which appears to be a museum these days.  It traveled between Seattle and Japan and was called the Queen of the North Pacific. In those days, it was considered lavish with top notch services, cuisine, and décor.  During WWII, the ship was used for a naval hospital for the Japanese Imperial Navy.  

 

From here, we turned inland and crossed the street where the Hotel New Grand was located, another icon of old Yokohama, only bigger and better with a new tower added to the property.  Walking a couple of blocks away, we entered the Choyo Gate (East) to Chinatown, one of the largest in Japan if not in the world.  It was packed with tall colorful gates, temples, and restaurants.  Walking the main pedestrian street revealed dozens of shops with clothing and souvenirs.  Chinese food had to be the most places here with small take-away counters to large opulent restaurants.   If you wanted to stroll down every alleyway and side street, you would be here all day, it was that large.   Besides the all-you-can-eat diners, there were both Chinese and Japanese restaurants and grocery stores.  Bakeries and tea shops topped the list.  It was souvenir heaven for many.  Along the way, we saw several fortune-telling tables where the locals were reading palms, and not just the tourists.

 

Here’s a snippet of history about this Chinatown.  In 1859 Yokohama opened the city to international trade.  Western merchants arrived with Chinese assistants as interpreters with the Japanese.  In time, these Chinese people became chefs, tailors, barbers, and restauranteurs.  They lived in a foreign residence area but suffered during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-95.  Then they survived the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 and the attacks during WWII.  Being a resilient, these hardy people survived it all and got along well with the Japanese from there on.   

 

We stuck to the main street so as not to get lost.  And being that it was afternoon, it was lunch time for hundreds of students who attended private schools close by.  High school age, these uniformed kids were buying the local food that was sold at windows of cafes.  Some of the sticky buns had different faces put on them to identify the fillings.  Some were bean curd while others were shark fin.  We did see many kids eating what appeared to be breaded chicken or fish pounded thin.   They used their fingers or with the sushi, they used chopsticks.  We saw skewers of something red, which turned out to be frosting-dipped strawberries with green grapes separating the berries.  None of these kids were eating sandwiches like we did at that age.

 

One of the local shops had some kimonos hanging outside the entrance.  One size fits all, we bought one with a Japanese floral design with a black fringe on the bottom.  It will be a nice souvenir from here and perfect for dressy evening on the ship.

 

There was not any place for lunch for us in Chinatown, so we backtracked through the park and ended up at the Wharf House at the front end of the park.  They had a wide variety of food from Japanese to American.   We were seated at the back patio with a view of the harbor and the Volendam as well.   We ordered two large Kirin draft beers to start, followed by one serving of nachos and French fries to share.  The servings were not huge, so we added one dessert of a chocolate brownie to end the meal.  It was so nice sitting and relaxing after all the walking.  We were lucky to have such a nice day weatherwise. 

 

We got back to the ship by 4pm and spent the time until dinner online.  We will never be caught up with photos until we have the upcoming seven days at sea.   The attendance at dinner was spotty with many guests onshore and also eating in the Lido with the special steak dinner.    We ordered one chicken starter and a shrimp and pork wrap.   We both decided on the fish and chips without the fries, but were disappointed to how greasy the breaded fish was.  The tartar sauce helped.  Half of our plates were filled with broccoli and stir-fried noodles.    For dessert we both  had the vanilla rice pudding with raisins – very good.

 

The piano player, Panos Karan did two shows in the World Stage with a breathtaking performance that was not to be missed.  Sorry, we were so tired, we missed it.   Had to rest up for another busy day in Yokohama tomorrow. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann           

 

395 Pictures

Report #103 Monday, April 13, 2026---Shimizu, Japan---7am-8pm----Docked Port Side To Pier----Overcast And Hazy----63 Degrees----75% Humidity----1.9mph Winds----Casual Dress

Our port of call for today was Shimizu, Japan, and a new one for us and many others that we know.  We docked portside to the Hinode Pier with the Mein Schiff 6 docked right in front us.  We all had a bird’s eye view of Mt. Fuji only 14 miles away although there was a haze that covered the 12,000-foot volcano most of the day.   It was good that the other cruise ship was here because the port authorities will provide a free shuttle with ships of 2000 guests or more.  We would not have qualified, but with a total of about 4000 people, we were included with that group and shared the buses. The bus took us to the JR Shimizu Train Station with a stop at another station on the way.  The shuttles ran every 20 minutes with the last shuttle for us at 7pm.   All aboard was 7:30pm, extended from 5pm because the distance to the next port of Yokohama was quite close. 

 

The ships were also located very close to the Shimizu Marine Park and the PARK-side shopping mall, all within walking distance.  And it was going to be a nice day, even with the overcast skies.  It was not cold but a comfortable 63 degrees with 75% humidity and hardly a breeze.  The tours today included a ride to Sunpu Castle Park with views of Mt. Fuji for 4.5 hours and $135.  Next was a trip to Nihondaira Outlook and a shrine for 3.5 hours and $160.  Last was Fujian Honga Sengen Taisha Shrine & Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center for 4 hours and $160.    Speaking of tours, we heard that the day before we arrived to Nagasaki, lightning hit the slope car rope at the Mt. Inasa observation platform.   It cause enough damage that the rope ride was shut down.  You can trust one thing….there will be no rope gondola rides for us any time soon, if ever.

 

We left the ship around 10am and joined the shuttle line with the Mein Schiff 6 guests, most of whom we believe were German.  Watching from the bus,  we noticed there were few people walking the streets, so we were glad we did not attempt to hike this route.  The first stop was at Shin Shimizu train station, where many folks got off to catch a train out of the city.  We stayed on and went to the end of the drive at JR Shimizu Station with two venues to see. 

 

Lucky for us, we ran right into friends who gave us directions to the fish market by the name of Kashinoichi Fish Market which had opened before 11am.  We heard that they did not open before that time, so don’t rush to go there early.  The local docents at the bus stop had pointed to the direction of this market but said it was 5 minutes away.  Not exactly, taking our time, it was more like 20 minutes.   We had to go up an escaltor through the train station, over a highway on a raised pedestrian walkway, and make our way to the upper level of the fish market building.   We entered through a door where nicer restaurants were located, then found our way to the street level store.   Compared to other fish markets we have seen worldwide, this one was very neat and clean with most everything covered with plastic wrap and labeled.  Not sure what some of the fish were, nothing smelled fishy here.   The vendors offered some samples for tasting, but we thanked them and just took photos.   Even without speaking any English, these folks were quite friendly. 

 

We did not find a suitable place for us for lunch and it was still too early for us.  Back-tracking, we walked through the train station to wander through their Shopping Mall which was covered like the one we saw in Naze, only bigger and better.   The name was Shimizu Ekimae Ginza Shopping Street – all pedestrian.  It was described in their brochure that it was a charming, covered arcade where locals greeted you with a smile.  We happened to run into our friends once again as they were already on their way out after finding some treasures.   Ginny said the best bargains were to be found at their version of a Dollar Store back in the states. 

 

One of us had a total of 700 yen in coin to spend somewhere.  It was worth close to $4.40 USD.  And we did find some useful items all priced at 110 yen.   They included a pocket calculator, a magnifying glass, a marking pen, bandaids, a pair of “cheater” glasses, and a Burberry coin purse.  What a deal.  We window-shopped the rest of the arcade, then headed back to the shuttle for the 15 minute ride.

 

Back at the pier, we walked over to the more modern mall called S-Pulse Dream Plaza, where we saw many of our crew headed for shopping and dining.   The main mall had just a few stores like Uni Qlo and an outdoor shop as well as a Starbucks.  On another level, we saw a shoe store, a mini market and another clothes shop.  The second building had a kiddie land arcade with rides for the little ones and a flywheel for everyone.  Then we entered the lower level where we found all sorts of foods for sale and a food court.  Another level had a series of restaurants, nothing fancy, a supermarket, and sushi.  Sake and more could be bought at a liquor store.   The ramen and tempura cafes were favorites for the crew.  Of course, there was no venue that appealed to us, so it was back to the ship for lunch.  On our way out of this mini-mall, we went to the harbor here and saw lagre black fish swimming in the shallow waters.  People must toss food to them, because when the fish spotted us, they came right over to the edge.

 

While we were walking around the harbor area, a bus load of Japanese tourists came running down a path from a coach.  Apparently they had been on a long bus ride so their guide brought them here to use the public restrooms.  These folks were not young, so to see them run like that was rather impressive.  Those kinds of things do not need an interpreter to explain as we have all been in that situation one time or another.    

 

Passing by the entrance to the Mein Schiff 6 dock, there were souvenir tents set up with some unusual trinkets.  Besides the usual magnets, keyrings, and t-shirts, they were selling jewelry made from old roofing tiles.  Charcoal gray in  color, they had necklaces and earrings with the claim you would be wearing part of their history that might be centuries old.  Then there were small replicas of Mt. Fuji that actually smoked when lit.  Looked like the folks were liking all of it too. 

 

Our ship had no tents, so we went back onboard and ordered room service salads and mini burger sliders.   That was around 3pm and a good time to catch up on online work.  We watched as the Mein Schiff 6 pulled away from the dock by 7pm.   Then it was time for a dinner of udon noodle soup, ground lamb meatballs, and a crab/shrimp roll.  Both of us ordered the chicken piccata with fried polenta and found it to be an ample serving.   We finished the meal with a sliced banana, and lime jello.    While we were having our starters, the Executive Chef Noorul Ari stopped by to chat with us.  We have been asking our head waiter, Eko, about the change in the Caesar salad dressing.  Honestly, he really could not explain why Ken’s Caesar Dressing was replaced with a nasty, oily substitute.  So he promised to look into it, and worse comes to worse, he would personally whip up some fresh dressing for us.    Then the subject of yogurt came up.  He was sorry to say that the ship had run out of all of the yogurt and they were making their own version of it from scratch.  It has been more like yogurt soup, and nowhere near close to Greek yogurt, which is always firm and creamy.  Once again, he hoped the next delivery they get in Yokohama will include better dressing and lots of yogurt.   Nice of him to stop by and ask.  Maybe he heard more than he wanted to, but someone has to tell them.  Their biggest concern seems to be the ratings they get from the questionnaires after the cruise.    They are most pleased when given the chance to make something right and the only way that happens is if someone speaks up. 

 

Showtime in the World Stage was an illusionist and mentalist named Andrew Lee.  The teaser was be prepared to be wowed out of your seats in this mind-reading show.  Really?

 

Looking forward to two full days in Yokohama for Tokyo.  Going to be a busy two days.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

423 Pictures

Report #102 Sunday, April 12, 2026----Day At Sea----Cloudy And Overcast---70 Degrees---58% Humidity----20 Knot Winds----Ships Speed--17.5 Knots-----Formal Dress

It was a comfortable and warm day at sea with temps in the low 70’s, less humidity and 10.3 mph winds.  It did remain cloudy most of the day.  We finally met fellow diners Carol and Pat, often seen on other world cruises, but never formally met.  They are among the loyal diners for breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill and are also members of the President’s Club.  We shared the story of the fire on the Diamond Princess back in 2002, and the reason for the switch of names.  Cathy and Mike, who sit next to us at breakfast, chimed in and said they could verify what we said, since they were there as well.  We agree that it is nice that we all remember that trip like it was yesterday.

 

It seemed like people were anxious to leave the room because Culinary Ambassador Chef Morimoto was scheduled to prepare seared Kyushu tuna in the World Stage at 10am.  It seems to be a big deal that he is onboard, which if you love fish dishes, it would be a big deal.  Sorry, that’s not us.  However, there will be a total of three days in a row that Morimoto by Sea has taken over the Pinnacle Grill at dinnertime.  A few years ago, this venue was filled by Rudy’s Sel De Mer.  We have heard that he is on the Princess ships these days.   We miss seeing his specially-designed charger plates.

 

It was a good day to work on pictures and catch up on research and document the upcoming tours from Shore Excursions.  We enjoyed a room service lunch after 2pm with one salad, which was custom-made and a club sandwich.  We can verify that the salads that are offered by room service are the best, even better then the ones at dinner in the dining room and fresher than in the Lido.  And by keeping out of the Lido during the lunch service, we are not tempted by cookies and ice cream cones. 

 

Captain Frank gave his sea day report saying the ship was doing 17.5 knots with 271 nautical miles to reach Shimizu tomorrow morning.  We were currently sailing 28 miles from land and were close to Hiroshima.  It was overcast with high clouds and 70 degrees.  The sea swells were 5 feet high with 20 knot winds, which increased from this morning.  The Mein Schiff 6 will also be docked in Shimizu where both ships will be docked portside.

 

Josh had a talk on Shimizu, a new stop for us, and Yokohama for Tokyo.   We will catch up with that at 10pm when it shows up on our room TV.  That works out better for us since we can rerun the talk and get the details much better.  The trick is to stay awake.  We decided to add some more yen to our wallets just in case the credit card did not work. 

 

This evening was labeled “formal” and was for the Cherry Blossom Masquerade whatever? to follow dinnertime after 8:30pm.  Passengers were asked to don a mask and dress to impress for a night of mystery and excitement.    So was this a “ball” like they usually have, or not?  So far we have not talked to anyone that attended.  There was music provided by the group Vivace beginning at 8pm.      And as usual, this event was held mostly for the convenience of the early diners and not the second seating guests.  We foresee the day when the ship goes to anytime dining all of the time on both levels of the dining room. 

 

There was no World Stage entertainment due to the Masquerade Affair. 

 

Looking forward to a new port tomorrow…Shimizu with a view of Mt. Fuji, a mere 14 miles away (weather-permitting). 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #101---Saturday, April 11, 2026----Day #2 Of 2---Nagasaki, Japan---All Aboard 4:30pm---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Cloudy With Sun---68 Degrees--56% Humidity---3.8mph Winds------Casual Dress

Day two in Nagasaki was just as predicted……68 degrees with 56% humidity and light winds.  The best thing was that the sun came out and the rain was gone.  A few scattered clouds did not matter.

 

There was another crew drill held at 9:30am, so it was a good time to leave.  Today we followed the directions to Nagasaki’s Shinchi Chinatown, touted to be one of the oldest ones in Japan.  On our way out of the dock, we ran into the same information fellow that teased us about the pizza yesterday, or the lack of finding an Italian restaurant.  He asked if we were successful in locating pizza and beer, and we said, as a matter of fact, we sure did.  And it was within walking distance from the pier.  He asked where it was, then wished us a good day in town. 

 

We took a long way around passing the wharf area, then going by the huge Prefectural Art Museum.  We seem to recall touring here many years ago.  Following the street signs, we did locate the correct street to the portal over the Chinatown, which some joked it was Chinastreet, referring to how small it was.  Sitting under a shrine across the street, we spotted friends already coming out of Chinatown.  They joined us for a spell while we discussed ship news and world news, most of which has been cut off to us.  We told them about the pizza café we found yesterday, and they would check it out since they have had their fill of Asian food for awhile. 

 

So this Chinatown was small in comparison to some we have seen but also was very clean and uncrowded for a change.  There were the usual hanging lanterns and Chinese decorations to brighten up the scene.   Souvenir shops were scattered between small eateries with two main restaurants down the far end.   We suspect that many of the passengers may have come here for dinner last night.  None of the souvenirs appealed to us since we already have them all at home.   

 

From here, we wandered back towards Dejima Wharf passing the Dutch Trading Post Site, that was built in the Edo period centuries ago.  It is a nationally designated historic site about Nagasaki’s unique Wakaran culture which is a mixture of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch cultures.  We did not have time to go inside but did walk past the ancient rock wall that has recently been excavated.  We could see the original rocks that lined the harbor here for a long block.  The walls of the trading post have been reinforced to preserve the site as well.  

 

We crossed a pedestrian bridge to the Youme shopping mall, a modern 4 or 5 story building with modern clothing, a supermarket, and a food court.   We made a quick pass through the first floor, then down to the food court.  Everything was fast food style and included a McDonalds. 

 

From here, we strolled through Dejima Wharf with several eateries, mostly fish- oriented, and the small marina with a few boats.    No good pizza place here, we continued onto the Seaside Park.  This time we walked the backside of the park to find it was beautifully landscaped and followed the canal all the way to the end of the park. 

 

Going the samedirection we went yesterday, we easily found the ALI pizza café and had another delightful lunch there.  This time, we were among the first customers to be seated, followed within ten minutes by a full restaurant.  We got lucky with our timing, since today being a Saturday, many more locals were out and about.  We ordered the same draft beers and two of the Margherita pizzas once again.   We do not know when and if we will find good pizzas like this for the remainder of the trip.   

 

We got back to the ship by 3pm, with the all aboard time of 4:30pm.  Of course, we worked until then online and writing our day’s adventure.  Captain Frank came on with his daily talk and stated what a wonderful two days we had here in Nagasaki.  Even with one rainy day, today’s nice weather made up for it.   He said we will have 600 nautical miles to go to the next port of Shimizu with a day at sea before arriving.  He expected gusty winds and a three-foot swell tomorrow.  The temperature will be around 65 degrees and no rain predicted.  Once leaving, there would be some scenic cruising on our way out of the harbor.    He was right.

 

Much to our surprise, a group of high school kids performed a show for us when the lines were being dropped.  There was a small band with the boys and girls doing a song and dance routine.  Then each and every kid grabbed an instrument and wowed us with their talent.  They cheered in Japanese of course and gave us an outstanding send-off.  We could hear the applause from the guests coming from each deck as well as the promenade deck.   Glad we went out on deck six forward, or we may have missed the show. 

 

Viewing from the portside from our veranda, we did get some nice photos as we passed various parts of town.  We did see a few very old cemeteries carved out of the stone hillsides.  Shipyards were everywhere on this side of the harbor as well as the opposite side.  We passed easily under the 2005 Megami Ohashi Bridge, built in the new cable-stay design.  It is the longest type of this bridge in the city at 558 feet tall, allowing for the biggest cruise ships on the seas. 

 

We passed by the tip of the city where there was a good view for the starboard folks to see the old Kaminoshima Church and the statue of the Virgin Mary also locally known as Venus wings.  On our side of the ship, we could see Iojima Island with the Iojima Lighthouse and Observatory on the tip of the island.   We were minutes out of the harbor into open waters when all of a sudden we spotted dolphins swimming and jumping near the ship.  Big ones too.  We sure did not expect that although one of us had a feeling we might see them.  Why, we don’t know…just instinct.  They lasted only a moment and we were lucky to be able to capture some of their antics.  Watching the wake, they disappeared and never came back.   It was time to go inside because it had gotten really cold outside and it was time for dinner soon.

 

Soup was a good starter to warm up along with along with salads.  The Caesar salad dressing has continued to be rather nasty, so we have learned to ordered it on the side or substitute something better.  One of us had the teriyaki chicken with mac and cheese, while the other had the flank steak (chewy).  This time the chicken won.  We had one scoop of pecan ice cream for dessert.

 

The entertainment was provided by the onboard singers with Boulevards rock and roll music.  The Casino remained closed for the evening, perhaps due to the fact we were not in international waters.  Really looking forward to one glorious day at sea to re-boot.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

354 Pictures

Report #100---Friday, April 10, 2026----Day #1 Of 2---Nagasaki, Japan---8am-Overnight---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Cloudy With Showers---63 Degrees--90% Humidity---8.1mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Well, we have pretty much reached the 100^th day mark in this world cruise.  Hard to imagine there is a little over a month left.  We have to admit, we are really enjoying Japan, even though we have been here before, there are places new to us and more to see and learn in the places we have already visited. 

 

The first thing we noticed before our arrival to Nagasaki was that the satellite TV feed had been shut down again.  This has to be a government mandate with the cruise ships and goes unexplained by anyone on this ship.  Not every person goes onshore in each and every port for many reasons.  Without the ability to keep up with the news, for instance, can be stressful.  The answer we get when asking the front desk people is that the service will resume once we leave port.  At least, the internet signal has not been affected or there would be a mutiny onboard for sure.

 

It was raining lightly when the Volendam arrived to the port of Nagasaki this morning around 7am.  The ship was docked starboard at the Dejima Pier and will stay here for two days.   While we were at breakfast, the Diamond Princess arrived dropping a whole lot of guests into town.  The Diamond was re-christened in 2004 and it is 115,875 gross ton. It carries a total of 2700 passengers and 1100 crew members.   Should be a busy day here, despite the ongoing rain showers.   We have been told that tomorrow, the weather will be clear of rain and mostly sunny.  It didn’t matter to us as we always go off no matter what the weather.

 

We have to add an interesting story regarding the Diamond Princess.  Back in October 1, 2002, the Diamond was being constructed in the Mitsubishi shipyard when it caught on fire from a welder working in one of the staterooms.  The fire spread and lasted for over 36 hours, causing huge damage to the ship (70% of it was destroyed).  All workers were safely evacuated and there were no deaths.   The largest insurance claim ever was filed for 400 million dollars by Princess. We happened to be here on the Volendam a day or so after it happened and saw the extensive damage from our veranda.    At the same time, the Sapphire Princess was also being built here.  The hulls were switched and the Diamond became the Sapphire and Sapphire was the Diamond, which entered service in March 2004.   The Sapphire debuted in May of 2004.  There were passenger reports that the Sapphire had that “new car smell” about it.  True since it was really the damaged Diamond re-named.  

 

Here are some of the tours offered today and tomorrow.   Both the Nagasaki Museum and History tour and Ground Zero and the Atomic Bomb Museum were 3.5 to 4 hours for $110.  Then the Atomic Bomb Museum and Mt. Inasayama Viewpoint was 5 hours for $140.   Arita porcelain and Nagasaki Peace Park was 7 hours for $245, while Saikai Bridge and scenic 99 islands was 8.5 hours for $230.  Accessible Nagasaki was 5 hours for $350.

 

We have taken the tours that included the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park as well as a tour to Glover Garden.  The museum and park were understandably upsetting, but the garden was delightful.  So today, we decided to return to Glover Garden, where we saw the park 24 years ago on this very same ship.  We liked it then, and knew we would like it more today. 

 

Leaving the ship around 10am, we discovered there was no cruise terminal and access to town was easy.   We stopped at the info table on the pier for maps and directions.  When we asked one of the older Japanese guides about where we could find pizza, his reply was  “we’re not Italian here” and laughed as he did not know where to find Italian cuisine.  Wrong answer, a young Japanese gal came over and suggested that we might find that in the Wharf area, a better answer. 

 

From here, we turned right going past the expansive Nagasaki Seaside Park and coming out at one of the main streets in downtown.  We mixed with dozens of Princess folks all dressed for the rain with umbrellas and plastic ponchos.   Most were lining up to take the streetcar to some sights in town.  We soon discovered that the street signs also had arrows pointing to major sights within easy walking distance.    We happened to pass by the Confucious Shrine and Historical Museum of China.   There was a fee, but there were no people inside at all.  Maybe it was too early, so we kept going.

 

Our destination was the Glover Garden.  Following a side street, we came across a corner restaurant called Ali Pizza.  How about that?  As well as other starters and entrees, their menu showed up to 20 varieties of pizza and they also had draft beer.   A small restaurant, it would open close to noontime and we decided it would be a good place for lunch.   We would come back…..

 

Miraculously, we made our way to the bottom area of the Glover Garden entrance by following a couple of elderly Japanese ladies who were headed in that direction.  We discover a small funicular elevator , called  Glover Sky Road that took us up five stories above the town.  There were extremely steep stairs going up, but no way would we want to do that.  We came out at a viewing platform where there was an elderly rest home nearby.   Wrapping around the bend we found another lift taking us to the top and the entrance to the Garden.  It was the toll gate #2  entrance where we paid 1300 yen ($8.18 USD) fee per person which included a free photo somewhere in the gardens. 

 

We did recall touring here in 2002, but with limited time to really take it all in.  This historic garden with homes dating back in the 1800’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well-deserved for the cultural and historical elements it portrays.  We spent nearly three hours starting from the top using their detailed map with excellent information.   The only problem was that the printing on this map was infinitesimally small and hard to read.  Or maybe our eye site isn’t as good as it used to be.  Back in our room, we would be able to use the magnifying glass to get all of the details.  There were a total of ten buildings to visit as well as enjoy the gardens, ponds, outdoor cafe and fountains as we went down slowly to each level.  Four unique homes were constructed here for the Glover, Ringer, Walker and Alt families.   All from Europe, these men were responsible for establishing businesses that sparked the export trade operations.  Some were tied to beer, hoteliers, advanced fishing techniques,  and tea products. 

 

Right outside of the Glover mansion, we posed for a free fun photo using the coupon we had been given.  Normally we would not take the time to do this, but the black & white photo was more of a postcard size.  Looks like we were part of the 1800’s.  Of course, they had 4x6 photos in color to purchase for 2000 yen.  We preferred the free one instead….more authentic.  We have to add that the restrooms were well appointed with the fancy pushbutton toilets with heated seats.  Another how about that?    Located all through the gardens as well as all around town, were vending machines full of popular beverages as well as water.  They took coins or credit cards.  Easy peasy…..

 

We have to add that touring this complex was rather strenuous due to the steep incline of the hillside.  There were wheelchair paths, but even those were steep and slippery in the wet weather.  Coming out at the main gate #1  at the bottom, we passed by a street-full of boutique shops, cafes, and the Oura Church.  This was described as a hauntingly beautiful Catholic Church, Japan’s oldest, commemorating early Christan missionaries and hidden believers during religious persecution.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but there was a fee of 1000 yen to enter.  Standing at the base of the steep stairs to go into the church, one of us decided they would have to pay me 1000 yen to tackle those stairs.  Many tourists turned away not wishing to pay for something that has always been free to see a Catholic Church. We did the same, having seen it 24 years ago.  Back onboard later, we searched the reason for the fee and found that there was a little museum on the property and therefore, they could charge for the entrance. Whether or not you visited that museum, it did not matter.

 

Wrapping around the hairpin corner,  we saw a larger brick-built church that was opened.  Going inside, there was a flight of stairs to the second floor to see the interior.  Only one of us did it, and came back with pictures.  Good enough for me.  We continued down the steep street passing through a bakery with nicely- packaged treats for sale.  There were two young Japanese girls buying some cakes and cookies that were put in a fancy paper bag.  The salesgirl  added a plastic cover to keep that bag dry in the rain that was starting to fall now.  We had lucked out and never had more than a mist up in the Garden, although we heard that it rained heavily at the pier.

 

Time for lunch, we located the pizza café where we started with two draft Asahi beers and a Margherita pizza to share.   The pizza was delicious, but more on a personal size.  So we ordered another one to share.  It was wonderful being able to sit and talk about what we just saw today.  And the café was not crowded with only one other couple in there around 1pm. 

 

Heading back to the ship, we were back onboard by 3pm and spent the remainder of the day working online and taking copious notes on our exploits for the day. 

 

Dinnertime had Japanese cuisine that included a beef tataki starter and chicken teriyaki with ginger-fried rice and stir-fried broccoli.  Both good.  Dessert was light with jello and fruit.

 

Illusionist & mentalist Andrew Lee was the entertainment this evening.   We doubt he filed the lounge because a lot of people were off the ship and probably out to dinner.   We did notice that the Diamond Princess was gone sometime between 5 and 6pm. 

 

So much for day one in Nagasaki and looking forward to one more day here.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

525 Pictures