Report #137 Saturday, May 16, 2026---Sea Day #2 OF 2 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA---Partly Sunny----81 Degrees---85% Humidity----15mph-Winds----2' Swell-----Casual Dress

Well, today is Saturday and our final day at sea before the end of the cruise arrives.  Honestly, we cannot believe it is over so quickly.  Our parents have always said that time goes faster the older you get.  Guess what?   They were right.   So most of the day was for saying goodbye to new and old friends and packing.  The worst of it was accomplished yesterday, but that last minute stuff always takes time. 

 

It was still warm with the temperature at 81 degrees and 85% humidity.  We had fair winds of 15 mph and it appears they are following.  The sea swell was a mere 2 feet, which meant it was far less rocky and much easier to pack.  Captain Frank came on with the final noon time talk and agreed that we all have had a wonderful experience.  He also mentioned the GWV farewell at 10am, and how proud he was of this crew.   Oops….we missed the show because we failed to read the Daily newsletter in time.  We are sure it was televised and will be shown on TV later today. 

 

Anyway, Captain Frank said we were doing a speed of 18.5 knots and sailing on the north coast of Cuba on the portside.  Working  online with reports and photos from Cartagena, we happened to see bits and pieces of land in the distant horizon.    The good thing by taking this route, the seas are much calmer.  Tomorrow’s weather in Ft. Lauderdale sounded not quite perfect because rain is in the forecast.   Our docking has been changed to Berth 19 and the Volendam should be in Port Everglades by 7am.   Then the US Border and Immigrations officials will board the ship and conduct the required facial recognition in order to clear us.

 

We had our last room service lunch surrounded by a lot of luggage.  It will go out after dinner tonight.

 

Dinner was good in the dining room, which came with another parade of the crew members.  Always fun to watch, but we sure do miss the Baked Alaska Parade.  In memory of those days, a mini Baked Alaska was offered for dessert….without the sparklers….  We each ordered the Westland salad, and a bowl of chicken noodle soup for one of us.  It was the last chance to enjoy it.  Entrees were the rack of lamb, very good we might add.   Dessert was light with Jello.  We seems to sleep a lot better without the sugary desserts these days. 

 

We will be staying one night in Ft. Lauderdale, then fly home early Monday morning.   So our group will be the last to go off by 9:30am or so. 

 

Stay tuned….we will be back for a wrap-up once the dust settles.  It has been a pleasure sharing our adventures with you all!

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #136 Friday, May15, 2026----Sea Day #1 Of 2 Enroute To Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA----Partly Cloudy---81 Degrees---87% Humidity---23.1mph--Winds---Ships Speed--17 Knots----Casual Dress

The only notes taken today were the current weather conditions and the Captain’s talk after 12pm.   Day number one at sea on the way  back to Florida was a warm one with temps in the low 80’s and humidity at 87%.  The winds of 23.1 mph helped a bit to cool things off.  The ships speed was 17 knots and we were rocking and rolling all night.  We do believe that what the Captain said yesterday was correct with high winds during the night, near gale force and sea swells of over 10 feet.   All contributing the motion of the ocean.    This is not what we like when it comes to packing.  Remember, the higher you are, the more you pay and the more you sway.  Hopefully the seas will calm down the further north we get.

 

The final Mariner Recognition Event took place in the World  Stage at 10:15am.   As President’s Club members, we all had the chance to attend all three dates or choose one.  Honestly with the packing chore looming over our heads, we were leaning towards not attending.  However, after some convincing words from one of our breakfast buddies, we said OK….we will see you there.  Please save our seats. 

 

The format was about the same with music provided by Vivace before the show began.  Erin announced two acts….one of which was a lovely lady from the crew staff, and the other was Josh, our travel guide.  They both sang songs that reach the high notes.   Then the awards started with the introduction of Florin, the hotel director and Captain Frank of course.  The table of medallions was full with all four levels.  They began around 11am, and ended by 11:45am.  Perfect timing.  The World Stage Cast of four singers treated us with another rendition of “Halleluia” the same song they performed at a previous assembly.  Great job. Then the exclusive lunch was announced in the lower dining room by 12 noon.  Once again, we did not attend although we did hear through the grapevine that the last two lunches were quite nice.  

 

Back to the “salt mines”, we continued with the packing and never left the room for the remainder of the day.   Captain Frank came on around 12:15pm with his daily report.  He expected that sailing in the open seas would be rough but subsiding by 6pm when we would be near the sheltered area near Haiti.  He was correct, and by looking out our mist-covered veranda, we did not see the whitecaps we were seeing this morning.   The last request he had was to turn the clocks forward one hour tonight.  That will put us on Eastern time, the same as Florida. 

 

Today we had an odd message regarding the telephone services onboard.  It appears there has been an ongoing issue affecting the dialing of the extension numbers from our room phones as well as the public phones.   The electrical and IT teams were actively monitoring and investigating the matter.  In order for us to connect to guest services, room service and dinner reservations, we had to dial a different number.   The emergency number 911 still worked.  Good to know.   

 

By the time we were ready to go to dinner, we had unloaded all three stacks of drawers as well as the desk drawers and closets and successfully filled about 6 pieces of luggage.   Labeled, weighed and locked, they are ready to go out in the hallway tomorrow after dinner.   The menu was titled “Farewell Dinner”.  But we still have one more night, so we sure hope we are not being kicked off early.  That would put us in the vicinity of Cuba.   We ordered an alternate salad with the appetizer of clothes line bacon on the side.  At least it looked like the Pinnacle Grill treat but was not the same.  We think they used very thinly-slice pork belly instead of the bacon.   Mains were the veal chop, which was good but a bit  on the chewy side.  It came draped over a mound of cheesy polenta and some mystery root veggies underneath the polenta.  The bacon-wrapped green beans were good.   Desserts were some watermelon and another round of Jello.  A sweet ending, but light.

 

The show this evening was Hits On 45, radio’s golden era performed by the World Stage Cast.    We were so tired, we called it a night and were happy when we found the stacks of drawers were taken away.  No tripping over them tonight. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

11 Pictures

Report #135 Thursday, May 14, 2026----Cartagena, Colombia----7am-12:30pm----Docked Starboard Side To Pier----Hazy---81 Degrees---89% Humidity---14mph Winds-----Casual Dress

Colombia is a country we have visited many times, as Cartagena is usually on the Panama Canal and Caribbean cruises.   The capital is Bogata and the population is 47.2 million Spanish-speaking people.   An Equatorial country, it is truly diverse from the sunny Caribbean, to the emerald, green mountains of coffee plantations and the towering Andes mountains.  Bogata is the world’s third highest capital in the world. 

 

What  is their favorite food?  Try ajiaco, an Andean chicken stew with corn, potatoes, avocados, and spicy herbs.  Bandeja paisa is a “gut” busting mound of sausage, beans, rice, eggs, and corn flatbread.   Empanadas are fried stuffed pastries which are served in many South American countries.  They are really good too.   A dessert favorite is helado de paila, an ice cream that is whipped in a copper tin.  Fresh orange juice is plentiful here.  And we are certain if there is sugar cane, there will be a variety of rums.

 

Among other things, the Pacific coast of Colombia is a good place to see the humpback whales as they arrive from Antarctica and have their calves in the warmer waters.   The journey is 8000 kilometers, and these whales can be viewed from clifftop restaurants along the shoreline we read. 

 

Shoulder season is right now with possible hard rains that begin in May.  If we do not see rain today, we consider ourselves lucky.    As it turned out, the predicted showers never happened.  Yep….lucky.

 

When the  Volendam arrived to the port of Cartagena around 6:30am, the temperature was already 81 degrees with 89% humidity.   The haze was heavy in the air even though the wind was 14 mph.   It was going to be a short stay with the all aboard time at 12:30pm.   Hot and steamy like we remember it. 

 

We went to breakfast as always and found some folks were missing and more than likely on tours.  The rest of us that stayed locally here came around 8am.    At 9:30am, there was a crew drill where we saw some of the tenders that had been dropped halfway to the water on our side.  Today the ship nosed-in starboard side for a change.    It was a good time to leave, and there was a shuttle available, but the walk was less than ¼  of a mile which we could easily handle.  By the time they filled the shuttle, we could be there at the terminal.   There was more of a description about getting to Cartagena’s Old Town printed in the map.  It stated that it was not advised for anyone to walk from the port to town.  Once in town by other means such as taxis, buses, or tours, the town would be pedestrian friendly and somewhat safe.  Since we have done the tours on past trips, we chose to stay right here. 

 

It was wicked hot outside today, feeling it immediately when we began the walk to the terminal.  It’s not really a terminal, but a pleasant area called Port Oasis with a mini zoo and one large shop that is very nice.    There are also small stands selling beverages and some food and a couple of duty-free liquor and cigarette stores.   Naturally, we were most interested in the animals and birds we always see here.  Entering this little jungle oasis, the first thing we noticed was that feeding trays had been added to the railings of the fences of the bird enclosure.   With the trays recently filled, like around 8am, the parrots were busy gorging on the deep orange fruit, which was more than likely very ripe papaya.  Too big for mangoes, the sweet fruit must be a real treat for these birds.   The several varieties of parrots and macaws were so intent on eating, they barely paid any attention to all of us taking close-up photos of them.  In fact, we had to be careful not to step on them.  Some folks who did not know any better, put their fingers close to those sharp beaks and risked losing those fingers.   Why….we don’t know.  People do strange things sometimes. 

 

There used to be flaming orange flamingoes here in this enclosure, but we did not see them right away.  There were peacocks, however, flying anywhere and everywhere they wished.  Their calls reminded us of what we are missing at home, as we do have about one dozen of these birds for pets.  This time of year, they are very vocal and will remain that way until the summer heats up and the breeding season is over.  

 

We continued around the side of the store, saving that for later.  We know from experience that the shop is kept very air-conditioned, which really helps to keep the customers inside spending money.  Smart local people.  Since the last time we were here, we noticed some improvements in the grounds and cages.   It was cleaner and possibly larger.   Some of the garden and cage area was closed off to the public, but there was still enough to see.   Walking around the backside of the entrance enclosure, we saw where the flamingoes were hiding.  They were in the shade under a large canopy of trees with another pond just for them. Actually, they were sharing this pond with a couple of very large active iguanas that were claiming a fallen log as their sunspot.   Unlike the birds,  the lizards need that sun to get their blood going.   There were a few black swans and Muscovy ducks in this area as well, but the feisty flamingoes stayed clear of them.   Sometime a bit later, the flamingoes were let into the grassy area near the entrance to cavort in the sprinkler and eat some of that sweet fruit.  In the wild, we never would have been able to get that close to a flock.  

 

A new sandy pen had been created for many small tortoises, who were also moving around.  We continued on to the backyard portion of the “zoo” where some of the oldest banyas trees are located.  Looking up into the tops of the branches, we did spot a furry animal, thinking it was a monkey.  It was motionless, but so far up in the tree, we were not sure what it was.  Of course, we never miss an opportunity to take pictures, hoping that might reveal the identity of the creature.  Or possibly, it would turn out to be a beehive.   Time will tell…..

 

The macaw and parrot structure was still in this area, so even more pretty birds were there chewing on small chunks of fresh corn.    More photos were taken, then we moved towards the taxi area where another trail was chained off.  One of the workers had let a couple of people into this section so we followed.  Most of this part of the zoo has a veterinary clinic for recently injured or abandoned creatures.  But there was also a very white peacock there, fanning it’s heart out for the few people who got to see him.     We used to have a pair of these birds, but they are not as common as the blue/green ones.   They are interesting.  

 

The largest of the banyan trees were here, so we took a lot of time searching the canopy for either howler or squirrel monkeys.  There is a resident tamarin monkey or macaque that is a master at hiding.   We never did see him or her.  The sloths in this area are brown-throated and there are some red squirrels as well.   Never saw them, or perhaps we did……There was some more movement high in the branches and we did spot some howler monkeys.

 

Between touring the gardens and taking plenty of pictures, we did visit with some ship friends that were doing the same thing as us.  Hard to do much more in such a short time.   It was time to pay a visit to the store, which was just as cool as we remembered it.  Many Colombian souvenirs were for sale as well as jewelry with emeralds.   One type of jewelry one of us prefers is made from a gourd grown here in Colombia.  There were several necklace and earring sets, all of which were one-of-a-kind.   I found just the right set along with another set with peacock feathers as the design.    We have found that the hard coffee candy they sell here is really good, so we purchased a bag of those.    The staff had at least four or more registers and were doing a brisk job.  Of course, it was our final port, and people were having fun making the best of it.  We did too.

 

Time to head back out into the heat.  There was a shuttle waiting, but we soon discovered that it would not leave until it was full.     By the time we walked back, taking our sweet time,  we beat the shuttle back to the gangway.  We had spent two hours at the terminal without ever leaving the port.    Even some of the crew made there from engineering and like services.  Back onboard, we ordered a room service lunch with salads and some watermelon. 

 

Captain Frank came on the speakers by 12:45pm hoping everyone had a beautiful, but hot day in Cartagena.  The pilot had just boarded and he was going to allow one of the junior officers to take the ship out of the port.   We had some scenic views as we left the long and narrow bay and back to the Caribbean Sea.   There was a icer breeze blowing once we got put to sea.   But it was getting rough, which we did not expect.

 

We kept busy all afternoon processing photos.  And guess what?  We discovered the mystery animal in the top of the canopy was indeed a sloth.  Glad we took that picture.  

 

For some unknown reason, this evening was chosen to be a formal night with the Grand Finale Ball.  It usually is held on a sea day, but things have been different on this particular trip.   We almost thought about not going since it had been a hot and draining day.   However, due to the fact we are currently heading in a northerly direction, the sun was shining in our room making it quite hot.   So we dressed up and went to the dining room for the last formal night.  

 

We ordered one Caesar salad and another bowl of chicken noodle soup even though it was not on the menu.  Mains were one vegetarian mushroom raviolis and one surf and turf of a tenderloin steak and lobster.   Dessert was light with pineapple slices and Jello.   All good.

 

The Ball had begun at 8:30pm in the World Stage with a farewell dance with Volendam’s Officers and Crew.   The prelude was by Vivace strings starting at 8pm.  We found it strange that on most formal evenings there had not been any live music in the dining room.    At times, it was provided for the dressy evenings.  Go figure……

 

Looking forward to two days at sea, or maybe not because the serious packing has still to be done.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

277 Pictures

Report #134 Wednesday, May 13, 2026----Sea Day Enroute To Cartagena, Colombia----Scattered Clouds---84 Degrees---84% Humidity---15mph Winds----Ships Speed--7 Knots-----Casual Dress

Today is one at sea and a good time to begin packing.  Like it or not, it has to be done.  But first, breakfast was in order at 8am.  Some of the regulars were either missing or dressed a little better than a regular sea day.  That’s because there is the second Mariner Recognition Event held in the show lounge at 10:15am.   Once again, we did not attend.  A lunch followed the ceremony in the lower dining room where they serve sparkling wine with lunch. 

 

One of us worked for hours on yesterday’s Panama Canal photos, while the other one began doing the “small stuff” packing.  With the exception of storing the cold weather gear, we have not touched anything under the bed.   After hauling out most of them, we recalled that the old tags and shipping labels were still on the duffels and suitcases.    We sure do not need to have anything go “missing”, so the old info was taken off.  We sent eight pieces of luggage and had taken one to Ft. Lauderdale for our stay there.   And because we do not want to haul anything but our hand carrys on the airplane, we will ship a total of nine bags home.   If the gifts and few souvenirs we bought make the bags overweight, we can pay for another one.  They did give us two collapsible duffel bags, and we can use one of those if need be. 

 

Today there was a message for the guests who wish to donate unused or leftover items such as toiletries or clothing, they can be left for the crew at a donation table in the Atrium deck three.  Many times people  do not want to take some of the gifts back home with them, and usually give them to their room stewards.   Also, the laundry service will stop on May 15^th in order for them to get it back to us on time.   

 

The ship did a very low speed of 7 knots most of the day.  Guess we are very close to Cartegena.   Actually, during his noontime talk, Captain Frank said we had 134 nautical miles to go to reach the next port in Colombia.  The temperature was a warm 84 degrees with 84% humidity.  Winds were higher at 20 knots with partly sunny and cloudy skies.  There was a chance of passing showers, although we never saw rain.  The Captain said we were sailing within 64 nautical miles of coral reefs located on the starboard side.   And we had 6000 feet of water under the keel.  Nice to know.    He hoped we would be cleared early tomorrow since the all aboard time will be 12:30pm.  Then he added that by the time we reach Ft. Lauderdale, we will have traveled over 36,000 nautical miles since January 4^th.   That equates to traveling the Equator one and a half times.  Impressive. 

 

Even with the short port time, there will be some tours offered.  A Ho-Ho bus ride is a great idea for 4 hours and $50.  Off the beaten track is 4.75 hours for $90.   Cartegena Bay and walled city walk is 4 hours and $99.  Local flavors, a bay cruise, and walled city is 4.5 hours and $110.  We have done this tour a few times and found it fun.  Snorkel Baru Island is 3.5 hours and $200, and Getsemani and Old Town in a classic cart roadster is 4 hours for $330.   Wow. 

 

By dinnertime, the report and photos were completed, although there has been a problem with the internet being very slow taking like forever to send files.  Most all of the “small packing” got done with everything in ziplock bags that fit in them. 

 

Dinner was good with two different salads, a bowl of chicken noodle soup (I like it better than creamy soups) and one shrimp cocktail.  Mains were flank steak sliced very thin and quite tender.  It was served with sliced potatoes and broccoli covered with a savory gravy, which may have been a wine-reduction base.   Dessert was one tiny slice of Key lime pie and Jello.    The dining room was pretty quiet tonight, then we remembered there was a Caribbean seafood boil in the Lido tonight.  For free, no charge.   

 

The entertainment was a good one tonight with Breton Thunder, with Heritage, the sounds of Nova Scotia.   This group was on one of the last cruises we took and they were very popular.

 

So much for one of the last days at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

 

No Pictures

Report #133 Tuesday, May 12, 2026---Scenic Cruising The Panama Canel---6am-4pm-- Sunny And Hot---86 Degrees---70% Humidity---8.1mph Winds------Casual Dress

One of us was awake early enough to watch as the Volendam sailed under the Bridge of the Americas which was completed in 1962 at a cost of 20 million US dollars.   It is part of the Pan-American highway.   The time listed on the front of our newsletter said the journey began at 6:30am, but it must have been a bit later than that.  We had a narrator by the name of Richard Detrich who raised coffee in Panama as well as having traveled the world.  Now being retired, he goes on small and large ships to make our adventure a learning experience.   One other aspect of today’s sailing had to do with the oppressively hot and humid weather and how to avoid heat stroke.  We were all given a detailed letter that suggested proper clothing, using sunscreen, drink lots of fluid, preferably non-alcoholic, and limit our exposure to the sun.   Heat exhaustion can reveal itself with headaches, nausea, faintness and weakness.  Finally, call 911 of we feel we are dying.  And sometimes these things can sneak up on you without warning, so we take the message seriously.

 

It was already 86 degrees and 70% humidity at 9am.  The winds were mild at 8.1 mph and there were some clouds and some sun.  No doubt in our mind that it will get hotter as the day progresses. 

 

Our special treat of Panama rolls were delivered by Joan who remembered to add some to her tempting tray of pastries.  Many folks like us came a bit later to the Pinnacle Grill since we were watching the start of the day-long trek.   We did not want to miss the chance of spotting the capybaras near the Pacific Ocean side of the canal.  And we were not disappointed because there they were, cavorting in a huge pond-like puddle left from the rain.  Of course, this was on the starboard side of the ship, so going out on deck six forward worked quite well.  Also seen were three large crocodiles swimming along the banks of the canal.  The bow was opened by 6am, and since it had not rained last night, the deck was dry.   While the photographer among us was taking the capybara pictures, a couple of deer snuck out of the canopy of trees on the port side of the canal.  Yours truly got a quick picture of them before they disappeared under the trees.  It was the first time ever to spot deer here.

 

So how do you describe the Panama Canal story in a nutshell?  The Panama Canal is the world’s most famous “shortcut” which cuts through the Continental Divide linking the Atlantic to the Pacific.   Sounds like a simple idea, but it sure turned out to be a monumental project.  It came with a price, mostly in the loss of human lives due to malaria, yellow fever, and accidents of all kinds.  There are many books written on the subject, which if you truly want to enjoy  what you are witnessing, understanding the history is most important. 

 

We happen to be here in the low season, or the beginning of the wet and wetter season.  It lasts from late April to early December.  So what are the favorite foods eaten in Panama?  They include sancocho which is a chicken and veggie stew.   Next is propa vieja - a spicy shredded beef over rice.  Rice, beans and fried green plantains go well with everything, especially fresh fish which is abundant.  Cerviche is everywhere in Panama.  Coconut water and tropical juices are available and their favorite alcoholic beverage is made with seco, a type of rum, mixed with milk and ice.  Perhaps many folks had a chance to try some of the local cuisine last night. 

 

One thing we missed were the flyers and maps given to us by the local Panamanian Canal officials.  The ship did provide a map with descriptions of the Canal, which was a big help.  There were many types of birds to be seen that included frigates, pelicans, ibis, vultures, egrets, grackles, brown boobies, little swifts, gulls, cormorants, and the best sighting of an osprey or two.  

 

The ship entered into the Miraflores Locks before 8am, but we missed most of the transit due to breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill.  That  is one downside to that venue, and it is the fact there are no windows.  The next set of locks was at Pedro Miguel, which sits 85 feet above sea level.  From here, we could see the new sets of Cocoli Locks where a giant container ship was being escorted by tugboats.  For several years now, we have witnessed the progress of this new technology which produced these new locks in 2016.   The Cocoli Locks are 31 feet higher than the old locks we were sailing in.  We could see the difference from our veranda, where we spent the majority of the day. 

 

By 10:30am, we were sailing under the newer Centennial Bridge which opened in 2004 to lessen the traffic on the Bridge of the Americas.  The distance between the two bridges is only 9 miles.  On a past cruise right after the bridge opened, we drove across both bridges in one day while on a tour.   It was the thing to do back then for bragging rights we guess.  

 

The Culebra Cut is an excavated gorge for 8 miles crossing over the Continental Divide.  It proved to be a bear of a job completing this section due to the unstable mud and soil as well as the extreme working condition for the laborers.  We have a few photos of this pyramid-like cut even though it was on the starboard side, we caught a glimpse of it before the ship turned.   We did see a quick look at Herman the German, one of the largest cranes used to lift the gates of the canal for routine maintenance.   For some reason, we did not hear any narration during this part of the transit.  In order to hear any of the narration, we had to keep the TV on the bow channel and go in and out of the veranda all day.  The outside speakers on this deck were not working. 

 

We also passed Gamboa where we believe Noriega was imprisoned for many years following his dramatic capture.  He has since died, and we did not hear any mention of the prison itself.   

 

A slow and steady pace brought us to Gatun Lake around 12pm or so.  By damming the Chagres River in 1912, this lake was left with little islands which were once mountaintops.  This 166 square mile lake is at an elevation of 82 to 87 feet above sea level.   It is the heart of the operation of the locks making it one of the greatest engineering projects in the world.  There are more than 100 species of reptiles and mammals, and 500 different types of birds.  Due to the heat, most of this wildlife is rarely seen.  

 

We did notice that there was two way traffic today with mostly commercial vessels and few small yachts passing the other way.  We did not see any other cruise ships, which is unusual.  It looked like we were heading into rain, but we only got some drizzles….nothing more.    It would have helped cool the air down if nothing else.  All through the mountains and valleys of the lake, we saw some bright yellow trees blooming.   Looking them up, we discovered they were the guayacan trumpet trees which can grow to 164 feet tall and live up to 50 years.  Their nickname is sunshine tree and can actually be seen from space due to their brilliance. 

 

The Volendam arrived to the Gatun Locks around 2pm which is located on the Caribbean side.  There were three sets of locks which dropped us down 100 feet to the Caribbean Sea.    It was even more interesting watching the locks next to us raising a commercial tanker to the lake.  We could not see the new locks at Agua Clara because once again, they were on the starboard side. 

 

The finale was going under the Atlantic Bridge, which was completed in August of 2019.    It is also made with double cable stay supports and connects the town of Colon.  It took six years to complete.  From here, we were on our way to the next and final port of this cruise – Cartagena, Colombia with one day at sea before we get there. 

 

Since it was so warm this late afternoon, we stayed in our room and worked on photos and research for the day’s journey.  Our room heated up to almost 80 degrees despite the fact the thermostat was turned down as low as it could go.    We had the tower fan running all day, which did help.  And because the hallway outside our room was recently flooded, the fans had been running day and night to dry it up.

 

Since we still had some non-refundable shipboard credit, we paid a visit to the Shops and did find an Effy treasure to purchase.  We happened to be the only customers in the Shop at the time, so we had their undivided attention.    After the purchase was completed and one of us rang their bell, the salespeople posed with us for a group photo.   We still have a little more to spend under the “use it, or lose it” plan, and the “cashable” credit will be credited back to our card on file.   

 

Dinnertime found the upper dining room rather empty of guests.  Dinner for us was one spicy chicken creole salad, one Caesar salad, and mains of Kingston chicken with mac and cheese with a spoonful of coleslaw.   Quite different.   Dessert was ice cream – coffee and mint chip.  The Pinnacle Grill hosted the last of their pop-ups with the Tamarind venue. 

 

The “Tailor of Panama” was the Wajang movie, and the entertainer in the show lounge was Salvatore Hasard, an instrumentalist with “Life is Music”.   It was written that he is one of the most iconic headlining shows in the cruise industry.

 

We had a package from Luggage Forward with all of our tags left on our bed along with our pillow candies.  A reminder we have to get busy with the packing soon.   

 

Hope our room cools down so we can get a good night’s sleep.  Somehow we doubt it.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

340 Pictures

Report #132 Monday, May 11, 2026---Fuerte Amador, Panama---3pm-3am---Docked Port Side To Pier---Overcast With Rain---85 Degrees---95% Humidity---Ships Seed 17 Knots--18.5mph Winds---Casual Dress

If it’s Monday, then today is another country.  It is Panama, home to the Panama Canal among other things.  The capital is Panama City and the population of this country is 3.7 million people that speak mainly Spanish.   And some English.  Their currency is Panamanian Balboa, but also the US dollar.    Much easier for most of us cruisers.  Panama spans two oceans - the chilled Caribbean on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.   You can snorkel the reefs on the Caribbean side, or scuba dive with whale sharks in the Pacific.  Or even try surfing.  There are rain forests with ziplining, swimming with sea turtles or trekking cloud forest with howler monkeys.    We have done many of these things, except scuba with whale sharks, surfing or ziplining.   We will leave that to the younger crowd, thank you. 

 

Panama City, the capital, is called high-octane Latin America with casinos, a huge nightlife, and a jungle of high rises with some ultra-modern high-end malls.  And to be frank, it can be a dangerous place too if you are not careful.  We will be arriving to the port of Fuerte Amador later today, so it was partly a sea day as well as a short port stop with a late afternoon and overnight visit.  

 

It started out very hot once again with temps in the low 80’s and humidity at 82%.  The winds were 18.5 mph with heavily hazy and overcast skies with a chance of rain.  Last night around midnight, there was a fabulous lightning storm directly over the ship.  The blue light lit up the room right through the closed drapes.  Other folks heard the thunder, but we did not.  With that action in the sky, we expected it would have rained, but when we got up early this morning, the veranda was bone dry.   They are on the brink of monsoon or hurricane season, so rain is a given in this part of the world.  

 

We had our lemonade break at the Seaview Pool where all of the small tables and chairs were tied down.  We do recall the Captain mentioning 40 mph winds, so that might have been the reason to lash down everything.  Greg joined us as we caught up on ship news.  Today there was the first of three Mariner Recognition Events in the World Stage followed by a lunch in the lower dining room.   The next ones will be on the 13^th and the 15^th.  We may go to the last one, although we have been invited to attend all three if we wish. 

 

We also passed through the Lido pool area where the Project Linus Blanket Showcase was on display.  We can say that there was not one blanket alike and every one was nicely done.  Leaders Gayle and Marty deserve a lot of credit for a job well done with their happy group of knitters and crocheters, as well as their volunteer helpers.

 

It was close to 2pm when Captain Frank came on the speakers.   By then, we had already spotted Panama City in the distance and the dozens upon dozens of commercial vessels moored outside the canal.   Every one of the ships has a time slot to enter the locks, and some might wait days to do it.  Due to some work that was scheduled on the  Volendam, the Captain got us here 2 hours early.   Instead of 5pm, it was more like 3pm by the time the ship was docked at nearby Fuerte Amador.  He was not sure how long it would take for the authorities to clear the ship, so he said to be patient.  We docked portside and used the local covered zig-zag gangway that connected to the ship on deck two.  

 

Just as we were pulling alongside,  it started to rain….a drizzle at first, then the sky opened up.   The rain pounded down so hard, it sounded like drums playing on the long metal- covered causeway that leads to the very newly-finished terminal building.   Anyway, we are here overnight with the all aboard time at 3am tomorrow morning.   Tonight’s sunset was 6:30pm and the sunrise tomorrow will be 6am.  He expects the canal pilot or pilots to board around 5am, where we will go under the Bridge of the Americas by 6:30am.   The Captain will open the bow at 6am depending on the weather.  If he considers it unsafe or too wet, he will not open it.  The weather will be about the same as today, and he repeated the warnings to stay hydrated and out of the sun as much as possible. 

 

We left the ship at 3:30pm after the rain had stopped.  Of course, we packed umbrellas just in case.  There were a few ship tours here with a ride to Panama City on your own for $49 for 4 hours, or rooftop evening cocktails in colonial Panama for 3 hours and $195.  An evening stroll and dinner in colonial Panama with dinner for 4 hours was $225.    Our breakfast friends had a paid “farewell cocktails and dinner” in town as well with their travel group.  Hope to hear about tomorrow morning. 

 

Fuerte Amador was always a tender port, where the boats brought us into their small boat marina.  Now that they have completed the huge new terminal, we do not tender.  Located in this harbor by the name of Flamenco Marina, we have always enjoyed a meal at one of the waterside restaurants at Lenos and Carbon’s Gourmet.  Besides views of the fishing boats and luxury yachts, there are shops and facilities in this complex.  Sometimes if the ship docks earlier in the day, they provide a shuttle here.   Today there was no bus and we had the options of taxis, rideshares, or public buses. The taxi guys and gals are SO pushy, we said no thanks dozens of times.  We chose to walk which we estimated was over a mile, but it seemed like a lot more due to the extreme heat and humidity.  At least the rain had stopped. 

 

Many other folks were walking towards the Causeway where there were more shops, small marina, and restaurants.  We prefer to be in the less-busy places, and the marina was just fine.   We located the restaurant at the far end of the marina and were seated right on the patio railing with a most wonderful breeze.  Honestly, by then, we were totally soaked because it was so humid.   Our waiter suggested the local beer, which was not draft, but in ice cold cans called Balboa beer.  He brought chilled glasses too.  They sure tasted good, cooling us off.  They had a wide-ranging menu, but nachos sounded good to us.    We had a choice of beef or pork….we chose the beef and found it plenty for sharing.   We followed up with one serving of a brownie with ice cream on top.  A few other ship people entered the restaurant, but for the most part, it was filled with locals.  A good sign the food and drinks were nice here, just as we recalled.

 

We stayed until it started to get dark around 6pm, then made our way back to the terminal.  What we did not expect was seeing the clouds take on the colors of a beautiful sunset , which deepened by the time we reached the terminal.   Such a nice treat – both the reasonably-priced food, and sunset.    We had just enough time back in our room to get dressed for dinner which was going to be light.

 

With people in town on tours or walking like we did, the dining room was pretty empty.  The Pinnacle Grill was having one of their pop-ups with The Taste of Tamarind, and the dining room had some nice appetizers.   One of them was calamari fritti and the other was another bowl of their doctored-up chicken noodle soup.  Salads were our entrees and Jello was our choice of dessert.   By the way, it never did rain while we were out and about. 

 

We will be up early to watch the start of the Panama Canal sailing.   It is not often that we do this in reverse order, and we will get a better view from mostly the portside. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

169 Pictures

Report #131 Sunday, May 10, 2026---Mothers Day------Sea Day Enroute To Fuerte Amador, Panama---Overcast With Some Sun--84 Degrees--66% Humidity--5.2mph---21 knots--Ship Speed-----Casual Dress

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

 

A Mother’s Day at sea, perfect timing to celebrate with a special Pinnacle Grill Brunch at 10:30am for the occasion.   Most of us regulars went at 8am and enjoyed a nice breakfast without the charges.   There was also another Sunday brunch in the dining room at 10am.  This will be the final one of this cruise, since next Sunday most of us will be leaving for home.  Where did the time go??

 

There seems to be several problems on the  ship the last couple of days.   One of them involves the internet and the lack of speed that one of us has noticed.   If you recall, we had problems when our computer took on a life of its own and started moving files to parts unknown.  It eventually resolved itself, but at one point, we felt the need to upgrade from the premium plan to the streaming one.  Right now, the better plan seems to be of no use.  If there is a problem with the internet service, we are not being told. 

 

For no good reason, the TV’s in all of the rooms have started to pixelate and freeze frame off and on all day long.  Sometimes we call the front desk and they can give us a “re-hit” right from their end.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes not.  Once again if there is a problem with the reception, we are not being told.  

 

Our hallway on deck six forward has developed a skunky smell due to the recent flood.  Fans are working overtime to dry out the carpet, and Kuz from housekeeping said once the carpets are dry, they will be shampooed.  Can’t be soon enough.  We think many of the forward rooms are empty, so not many folks are complaining.

 

We kept busy with a walk on the promenade deck, where the rather large and heavy-coated service dog was trying to walk this morning with her handler.  Actually, it was too hot outside and the poor dog laid down and refused to go any further.   Our dogs used to do the same thing to the point one of them had to be carried back from a walk at home.  Even at 84 degrees with 66% humidity, it was uncomfortable.  The ship’s speed was rather high at 21 knots while we passed the coast of Costa Rica all day. 

 

Captain Frank came on with his talk as usual.  Our next stop at Fuerte Amador, Panama is still 487 nautical miles away.    Then he announced that we will be arriving early to Fuerte Amador at 3pm instead of 5pm.  He alluded to some planned maintenance being necessary on the ship.  He did not elaborate.  Maybe it has something to do with the internet and satellite feed.  Who knows?  With a ship this age, it can be anything or a lot of things. 

 

He added that we had some strong winds of 40 knots during the night, but calmed down by today.  There was a long swell of no more than 3 feet.  The sea water was 88 degrees and the skies were cloudy with a chance of rain.  Sunset would be at 6:45pm and the sunrise at 6am.  By the late afternoon, our veranda was out of the sun and rather pleasant sitting outside watching the dozens of brown boobies fly by.  We could see the outline of the Costa Rican coast, but when the view disappeared, so did the birds. 

 

We had an invite to a Farewell Cocktail Party exclusive for full cruisers at 6:45pm.  It was held in the Lido midship poolside with drinks (mostly wines we heard), conversation, and community spirit.

 

Sharing unforgettable moments, they raised a toast to friendships and memories that stay with us long after the journey ends.  We figured if all of the full cruisers attended, there were be 500 plus people there.  For that reason, we had our choice of drinks in our room instead.  

 

Dinner in the dining room started with appetizers of smoked chicken and coconut-crusted pork meatballs.  Sounds weird, but they were tasty.  Caesar salads were served with extra cheese…don’t know why, but it was good.  Mains were one Caribbean jerked chicken breast with rice and pineapple.  It was more spicy that expected and left a burning sensation on the lips long after dinner.   The other entrée was better -   a close version of last night’s boneless rib meat with mashed potatoes and broccoli.    Desserts were a little pistachio ice cream to calm the burn, and one jar of Jello.

 

The World Stage Cast did a performance of Curtain Up, a musical theater journey.  Or there was a movie “Panama Hattie” a comedy in the Wajang.  Yesterday we also received a confusing invite to the final Mariner Recognition Events which will happen on May 11, 13 or 15.  We, as President’s Club members have a choice to choose a preferred date, or attend all of the events.  Do we really need more photos?  We think not, and will more than likely need that time for packing.   With less than a week left, we will have to do more than just think about packing.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #130 Saturday, May 9, 2026---Acajutla, El Salvador---7am-2:30pm---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Cloudy With Heavy Haze---91 Degrees---65% Humidity---9.3mph Winds-------Casual Dress

The country for today is El Salvadore, the smallest of the Central American countries.    According to one of our resources, El Salvadore is one of the most underrated countries with 6.4 million people that speak mainly Spanish.   The capital is San Salvador, located about 2 hours drive from the port city of Acajutla, our port of call for today.   El Salvador has been kept off of the tourist radar by civil war and bad press.  And that has been the main reason no ship we have ever sailed on has had a stop here.  From what we have read recently in the ship’s newspaper, a large number of convicted criminals have just been sentenced to long prison terms or worse, taking about 400 of them off of the streets.   This is something you will not read in the promotional ads for visiting this country. 

 

What this country does offer are world-class surfing on almost deserted dark sand beaches, as well as coffee plantations, colorful Spanish colonial towns and many national parks and volcanoes.  A new breed of travelers is appearing in search of new experiences in this little-visited land. 

 

So what is their favorite food?  They are most famous for “pupusas” which is a round cornmeal dough stuffed with a combination of cheese, refried beans, wild veggies, and pork rinds.  Then it is grilled.  A common side dish to add to the pupusas is a mixture of pickled cabbage and veggies called curtido.   We were informed later by the shuttle monitor that if the cabbage is not properly boiled, it can be lethal to non-citizens.  No, not fatal, but a bad stomach reaction.

 

There was a total of 14 HAL tours sold here today.   The most affordable excursions included indigenous handicrafts for 3 hours and $85, or a 5-hour panoramic walk in Santa Ana city for $85.  Easy sightseeing was 3.75 hours for $100 and for the same price, there was a 3.5 hour stay at Serene Los Almendros Beach for $100 that included juice.  There was a long 2-hour ride to the capital of San Salvadore for a total of 7 hours with lunch and on your own for $150.  There were six options with tours from $120 to $135 and 3 to 7 hours to a chocolate plantation & workshop, two different volcano hikes, a ride to Joya de Ceren, Mayan and indigo traditions with sandwiches, and a Mayan cacao heritage delight with a lunch.   A pupusa-making class was 4 hours and $135 with lunch and a mangrove cruise at an eco-lodge for 7 hours that included a seafood lunch and $165. 

 

We thought yesterday’s port in Puerto Chiapas, Mexico was hot, but today it seemed even worse with what we can label as “hot fog”  if there is such a thing.  There was a heavy haze in the still air and what was described as broken clouds, which was more like different shades of gray.  The temperature at 9am was 88 degrees with 65% humidity.   Winds were 9.3 mph.  This has to be one of the busiest ports on the El Salvadoran coastline.  Heavily commercial, there was no terminal building, just a harbor and coastline filled with moored cargo and container vessels.  The port of Acajutla did not allow pedestrian traffic, so we had to take shuttles.  And since there was no town close by, we had two different shuttles to choose from.  One went to a resort called Las Veraneras Hotel and Resort and then other went to a Railway Museum at Sonsonate City, of which we had no printed material.  

 

It was going to be a short day with the all aboard time at 2:30pm.  We left the ship shortly after 9:30am and were handed a card with a small stone bracelet compliments of the locals.  Nice touch we thought. Then we went to the first available shuttle which went to the resort with a beach, about a 20-minute ride from the pier.  We had no intentions of staying there but were just curious to check out what was here.  The ride took us through the mostly industrial and commercial part of Acajutla, where big rigs were lined up on both sides of the highway to service the cargo and container ships.  Definitely not a place anyone would chose to walk. 

 

When we arrived to the resort, we found it to be totally fenced and well-guarded.  When we entered through the gate, we were given bracelets to wear which gave us access to the facilities, but not any beverage or food venues.   Talking to a fellow passenger, he found out that a day pass here costs $35.  Maybe that included food and beverages.  The resort had bungalows and perhaps a small hotel along with a huge shallow swimming pool and a good place for families.   Besides red flags being flown near the beach, the tide was up and there very little beach exposed.  Some of the HAL people tried walking across the slippery boulders to access more dark sand beach, but it was off of the guarded property.  Some of our buddies had arrived earlier and took benches facing the surf, while some were finding tables to possibly buy lunch and beer. 

 

With the shuttles arriving every half hour, we decided to go back to the pier and try the other bus to the Railway Museum and see where that takes us.  It was way too early for lunch for us anyway.  As soon as we got back to the pier, we switched shuttles and waited for 20 or more minutes before it left.   There were only six of us in this bus, but they had to return every 30 minutes, so off we went.  This turned out to be a good thing because we had a very nice bus monitor who spoke about his country on the 40 minute ride to Sonsonate City, about a 20 mile ride.    One of the first things he did was offer us bottled water, which really surprised us.  It’s not like we were on a paid tour, but just a complimentary ride. 

 

He told us that we were the last of about 10 cruise ships that have stopped here since January.   He told us that all of these shuttles came from San Salvadore with the drivers and guides at 4am this morning.   It had been arranged through the Port Authorities to promote tourism here.  He explained how his country has had problems over the years with civil unrest and violence, keeping many tourists away.  These days he said things are safer and the country has been concentrating on improving their place in the world with exports of sugarcane, corn,  coffee, and more recently, providing a call center where businesses worldwide can communicate with each other.  This has been very common with countries such as India, but now we might get operators from here that, in his opinion, speak much better English.   

 

The traffic on the four-lane highway was moving well until we went off on a ramp towards Sonsonate Centro, where traffic lights kept us about stopped for 20 minutes.  At least we had a view of a couple of modified pick-up trucks one carrying a cow and the other with a group of locals standing in the back holding on for dear life.  No seat belt laws here.  Finally making a left turn, we were headed towards the marketplace where the Railway Museum was located.   We were not prepared for what we saw since this stop was described as only a museum stop, which went virtually ignored from what we saw. 

 

Well this had to be one of the largest and most vibrant marketplaces we have seen so far.  Crowded does not come close to describing this area.  Our guide said it was so busy due to the fact that tomorrow was Mother’s Day here, just like in the states.    And it is a big deal with celebrations and families out and about celebrating with all of the restaurants and bars opened.  Making it even more busy was the fact today was Saturday, and the people work ½ a day here, then get off for the weekend.  Everyone and their brother was food and supply shopping. 

 

The shuttle stopped across from the museum, but only two people got off.   Seeing the crowd outside and spotting the line of guests waiting to board this shuttle, we decided along with the other couple, to stay onboard.  We could easily get plenty of photos from the bus and not fight the crowd of shoppers.  And the last shuttle to leave here was 1:30pm, and it was already after 12:30pm at this point.   They took on as many of the waiting guests as they could, filling up every seat that dropped in the center of the narrow bus.  Packed like sardines, our nice monitor offered the folks bottled water, which might have not been the best idea knowing we could be stuck in traffic getting back.

 

Taking a right turn off of the main shopping street was not the best idea, as we were jammed behind dozens of cars, trucks, and motorbikes.  Our driver qjuickly made a U-turn, and found a side street that was really third-world appearing with ram shackled buildings falling apart with people actually living in them.  It was a quicker way back to the highway where we made it back to the pier after 1pm. 

 

Back at the ship, we squeezed over to the one or two tables of souvenirs being sold.  Most of it was magnets, keyrings, pill boxes and t-shirts and costume jewelry, which looked like it came from Guatemala.   One table had bagged coffee beans for sale.   And that was it.  One couple was trying to board our shuttle to go back to Sonsonate City but were informed they could not go there and be back on time.  Our driver left to go back and pick up the rest of the group with an empty bus. 

 

Back in our room, we ordered a light lunch of a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and one bowl of chili.   With the exception of the resort, there was no venue for lunch in the town.    We waited for the Captain to talk at 2:30pm, but as far as we know, he never came on the speakers or did not deliver his update at all.  It became obvious by 3pm that we were waiting for a late tour bus, which did arrive by 3:30pm with police escorts.  The lines were dropped as we sailed out of the busy harbor on our way towards our next port in Panama. 

 

Dinnertime found some very different items on the menu.   We both enjoyed the Thai beef salad with papaya and the global favorite of braised beef boneless ribs with mushy potatoes, hidden spinach, and a savory gravy.  All good.  We had one panna cotta in a jar and a plate of watermelon….always refreshing and light.   The clocks went forward one hour tonight, with one more to go before we arrive to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

There was a show in the World Stage featuring a vocalist Spencer Day with jazz and pop music along with audience requests.  “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” was the movie in the Wajang.   We bet with all of the tours in the heat of the day, many folks called it a night especially losing that one hour on the clocks.

 

Really need a day at sea and more to re-charge the batteries.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

209 Pictures

Report #129 Friday, May 8, 2026----Puerto Chiapas, Mexico---10am-6:30pm----Docked Port Side To Pier---Very Hazy Skies---91 Degrees---74% Humidity----10.4mph Winds-------Casual Dress

Hot and steamy does not come close to describing the weather this morning.  Living where we do in California, we are used to hot summers where the temperature climbs over 100 degrees on many days.  The big difference is the humidity which is excessive here this time of year in southern Mexico.  At 10am, the temperature was already 86 degrees with 74% humidity.  By 3:30pm, the temperature had risen to 91 degrees with a 10.4 mph wind which did help ever so slightly.    There were scattered clouds early in the morning, and overcast skies by the late afternoon.  

 

This port of Puerto Chiapas is not really a town, but a complex with two large palapas, the largest one with some handicraft shopping,  a beverage counter, and a center entertainment venue where the dancers put on a show, like they did this morning on the pier.  The smaller palapa houses a mini-restaurant and bar with a swimming pool for public use.  The area around this complex is planted with grass and palm trees.  However, what they are not saying is that this place is isolated with no notable points of interest nearby.  Bottom line:  do not go walking away from this complex and expect to be safe.  We were told that many years ago when a ship first stopped here.   

 

There were some tours today starting with one trip that went to nearby Tapachula, an 18 mile drive from the pier combined with mysteries of the Maya for 4.5 hours and $120.  There was a local shuttle taking people to the town of Tapachula for a special price of $25 for two people round trip.  You would be on your own and come back on any shuttle which was running every half hour.  We have done that one past cruises, but back then it could have been $10 per person for the round-trip ride.   Other excursions were a banana plantation for 4.5 hours and $90 or Mayan tree of life and chocolate experience for 4 hours and $90.  Argovia Estate and Flower Plantation was 7 hours for $220.  It included a buffet lunch.    Izapa ruins and Tapachula was 4.75 hours for $125.  The Captain had warned everyone yesterday to chose tours wisely since the temperatures would climb even higher as they traveled inland.  

 

Speaking of Captain Frank, with his extra efforts to get the Volendam to this port on time, it paid off.  The pilot boarded the ship by 8am, and we were docked portside by 10am.  Breakfast was at 8am instead of 7:30am due to the later arrival.  Kumar came out from the office which we pass every day on the way to the Pinnacle Grill.   He presented us with two nice GWV aprons, gifted to us at a luncheon we did not attend.  They are nice and will be useful at home. 

 

A funny thing happened on or way back to our room.  Well, not really funny. We instantly spotted a lot of commotion in our section of hallway, only to see Kuz from the housekeeping staff coming out of room 6110 with no shoes or socks on and his dress slacks rolled up to his knees.  Good grief…..what happened?  Obviously, there was a flood which our room stewards said was a big broken pipe in the wall.  Sounds like what happened to us back in January.  Only worse.   The plumbers were running with their tools and Metka,  the head of housekeeping was shaking her head in disbelief.   She said it was a good thing someone was in that room, or else the leak may have gone undetected a lot longer.  As it was,  the water was already leaking down to deck five. 

 

Our first thought was that we might be without water all day and possibly most of the night once again.   But it appeared only the hot water was shut down and was turned back on later in the afternoon.   We were in no big hurry to go ashore, knowing we did not intend to leave the complex and probably not eat lunch in the palapa.   So we did some computer work and research for yesterday’s port, then left the ship by 11am.  Most of the tour groups had poured off of the gangway and joined their buses on the other side of the large palapa.  And at 11am, there was a crew drill, also a good time to leave.  I almost forgot to wear the new neck fan, so I went back to the room for it.  It really is nice on days as hot as this one. 

 

As soon as the ship was cleared, a few folks headed for the swimming pool.  Beverages from the bar were brought out for those who stayed in the pool.  Needless to say,  by the end of the day, some of the swimmers were really having a good time aided with the help of cheap beers and margheritas no doubt.    We could hear the noise through our closed veranda door and thought it was coming from a flock of birds.  Actually, most of the birds hid out in the palm trees and did not re-appear until the pool and bar were closed.   Then the grackles and some egrets flew to the edges of the pool to drink to their heart’s content. 

 

We walked to the palapa, stopping to take some photos of the rocked sea wall where iguanas like to bask in the sun.  If you did not stop and watch, you might never see them.  Other wildlife here were birds such as the grackles, pigeons and occasional egrets and terns.  And there were small yellow butterflies coming from the nearby mangroves.  Going into the palapa, we had just missed another short-lived performance by the local dancers.  All that was left was to check out the several small shops where souvenirs were being sold.  We felt that the items offered were over-priced and the vendors had signs saying no bargaining on their windows.  So much for that.

 

We walked out the back exit and sat on a wall in the shade for a bit.  Then we strolled back under the palm trees and through the grassy area.  We ended up at the restaurant/bar palapa where all of the tables were taken by the cruise folks.  There was more activity around the pool area where we spotted one lady in a white floppy hat that had gone in this pool after 10am, and never left it ……like all day long.  Oh well, at least it was something to do in a terminal with little to do unless you booked a tour. 

 

We came back onboard the cooler ship and spent the rest of the afternoon with a light room service lunch and time for down-loading photos.  We had considered Dive In hotdogs or burgers, but waiting in the Lido poolside might have been terribly hot. 

 

Captain Frank came on with his talk around 6:15pm with the all aboard time at 6pm.  The lines were dropped and we were on our way to El Salvadore, a new stop for most everyone.   Although it is a short distance, he will need to do a high-speed run.   He mentioned that there will be many commercial vessels in the port tomorrow and we will need to use shuttles to go anywhere.  More info to follow.  He expected the weather to be the same as today, with high temperatures and humidity once again.   Tonight’s sunset was 6:30pm with a sunrise at 7am tomorrow. 

 

Dinner was back in the dining room where we ordered shrimp quesadillas with jalapeno guacamole and salsa.   One of us had ordered the tortilla soup, but it did not appear, so I forgot about it.  Mains were Oaxacan lamb leg barbacoa with chipotle, red cabbage slaw, and a warm tortilla.  The lamb was shredded making it easier to mix with the toppings.  The other entrée was a coconut-crusted stuffed chicken breast with mango and ginger.   Really different and extra large.  It came with a stuffed half potato which was good.  Desserts were one custard coconut pie and one bowl of butter pecan ice cream.  We suspect that will be the last of the Mexican cuisine for a while. 

 

There was a comedian Steve Caquette in the World Stage tonight.  He worked at the Late Show with David Letterman as well as Stephen King.  The dining room was about empty by 9pm, but we think it was due to the long tours and the excessive heat of the day.  It does tend to drain the energy.

 

Tomorrow we will be in a new country….El Salvador. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

292 Pictures

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

 

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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