Travel Blogs

In my last message, I mentioned that I had been told by more than one passenger that there was a lady who lived full-time on the Amsterdam. Last night as I was heading toward our stateroom, I saw her! I had just approached the elevators when an elderly, but apparently spry, lady admonished an employee […]

I am almost hesitant to write about Honolulu for two reasons. The first reason is because it is amazingly wonderful. The second reason is that the majority of my readers have been to Honolulu at least once and a fair number have been there more than once. Well, I too have been to Honolulu more […]

Supposedly, no two snowflakes are alike. Living in San Diego has prevented me from personal research on this matter so I will just have to believe the scientists. I would say that the cruise experience of any two people on this around-the-world-adventure will not be exactly alike even though we are all on the same […]

I am writing this in the “Crow’s Nest.” This is my favorite place to hang out on the ship. It is located on the 9th or “Sports Deck.” The Crow’s Nest is both the highest room on the ship and the one closest to the bow. At 5:00am, I had the place all to myself […]

It is 5:30am and I am, once again, in the Crow’s Nest. This is my second time here this morning. I arrived, discovered how cold it was, and returned to our stateroom to don my fleece jacket. One of the two other passengers here appears to be wearing a down ski jacket. I am reminded […]

There is a wonderful song from “Fiddler on the Roof” called “Sunrise, Sunset.” I was reflecting on how much I liked the song this morning before I headed up to the Lido for oatmeal. There is an entertainer on board named Debbie Bacon. She plays the piano as well as a few other musical instruments […]

I do not recall ever hearing or reading the name Kagoshima before embarking on this world tour. When Mary and I boarded our shore excursion bus, we found very nicely printed “Tourism Guide Maps” on our seats. Rather than plagiarize the tourism guide and pretend I wrote it, I will just quote from it.   […]

The term “Bucket List” is commonly used to refer to things people hope to do before they die. It is understood that the ‘bucket’ reference is a euphemism for dying. Christa wanted to see the Eifel Tower from the time she was in grammar school.  I was fortunate to be able to send Christa to Europe […]

When you sign up for a world cruise, you have to sign a lengthy agreement that basically says, no matter what happens, you won’t get your money back. Things that might go wrong are spelled out. We had already passed up Saipan due to bad weather conditions. Once again, we learned we were going to […]

I have been contemplating what I could possibly say about a country as huge in size, population and economy as China.  It is a daunting task and I am daunted. I have been thinking to myself, “What if someone from China visited the United States and sent a message back that mentioned only the Statue of […]

Chinese junk as coming into dock   Before I describe my experience of Hong Kong, I thought I might pause and write about the many excursions offered by Holland America. Of course, passengers are free to do whatever they want when they go ashore but there are certain advantages to going on an excursion which […]

Vietnam was a dramatic shift from Hong Kong. There is a non-scientific term for a psychological state that occurs when something that happened in the past affects you in the present. The term is “emotional baggage.” As a citizen of the United States and as a family member, I am still carrying emotional baggage about […]

Singapore is superlative. I did not know what to expect and I discovered that I really liked what I saw. Singapore is a clean, prosperous and modern island nation.       The symbol of Singapore is the Merlion which is half-lion and half-fish. The top half is lion, the bottom half is mermaid. Our […]

Port Klang was place I had never heard of but we were going there. I had heard of Kuala Lumpor because a few years ago Toastmasters International held their Annual Convention there. Kuala Lumpor has a melodious name as does the country of Malaysia.     I have learned on this world tour that no […]

Colombo, Sri Lanka was a port that offered a new adventure. Mary and I seized the opportunity to visit an elephant orphanage! In 1975 a group of people decided to rescue seven orphaned baby elephants. Those elephants not only survived but thrived! (I was going to say little elephants but someone would say that was […]

Here is the description of our daytime tour of Mumbai: Depart from the pier for a panoramic drive past some of the most significant sights of Mumbai, including the city’s most famous landmark—the Gateway of India. Built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, this archway was originally conceived as an […]

Muscat is the capital of the country of Oman. This port city presented quite a contrast to Mumbai. To make up for the disappointing experience when we docked at Mumbai, Captain Jonathan sped up the ship so passengers could have time in Muscat the evening before we were originally scheduled to dock. Passengers happily disembarked […]

Aqaba Excursion Description This ‘easy activity’ tour begins with a short drive to the South beach of Aqaba then back into the town center. Aqaba is Jordan’s only outlet to the sea and has grown to an impressive port and resort town. Surrounded by a chain of purple mountains and groves of palm trees, the […]

Rhodes excursion description; Take this wonderful opportunity to enjoy a leisurely panoramic drive on the island Rhodes from the comfort of your motor coach. On leaving the pier, pass by the city walls of the old medieval Rhodes Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), New Market Building, Mandraki ( Photo stop if parking for motorcoach […]

Athens tour description; On this panoramic tour, which involves sightseeing from the motor coach, you will pass the Arch of Hadrian, the statue of Lord Byron, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which took 700 years to complete. Continuing on towards Constitution Square, view the former Royal Palace where the Evzones National Guard keep watch […]

Corinth Canal excursion description: “Depart the pier and drive to the famous four-mile-long and 70-foot-wide Corinth Canal. It has sloping sides that are 170 feet tall and it is 26 feet deep. The canal was built to replace an earlier and rather unique method of connecting two seas — it consisted of a wooden “road” […]

Iraklion, Crete excursion description; Enjoy a pleasant drive through the traditional Cretan landscape to the characteristic village of Peza, one of the most significant wine growing areas since Minoan times that today produces 70% of the Cretan wines. Continue to the village of Archanes which has won a European acclaim for its attractive restoration. The […]

Mykonos is perhaps the most famous of all the Greek islands, renowned today for its nightlife and beautiful beaches. Mykonos had substantial influence during the Greek War of Independence, before it was re-discovered as a picturesque location for filming. From the port of Tourlos, you will pass by the quaint villages of Ioannis, Ornos and […]

Stroll through the city’s narrow streets and let your guide introduce you to Mdina’s history and provide an orientation to the town itself. From the bastions, enjoy the fantastic view over the valley and the surrounding areas. Take advantage of some free time to visit either the cathedral or another historic site pointed out by […]

“Leave the port of Palma and head to the city center. Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the island, is a city open to the sea and the bay that takes its name. Your tour starts with a panoramic drive along the Maritime Promenade en route to Bellver Castle. This is one of the most […]

Visitors to Barcelona discover a city with charming streetscapes, sidewalk cafés and squares bustling with people. It is full of life. This amazing city also features the world’s largest collection of modernist architecture among its many buildings and churches. Drive past the Columbus Monument and see the bottom of the famous promenades of La Rambla […]

Set out on a panoramic drive through the beautiful countryside of the Costa de la Luz region. Passing through Los Naveros — a tiny agricultural village — you will follow the famous Bull Route. This is where some of Spain’s most prestigious herds of cattle are raised and bred for stamina and temperament. Your guide […]

“Experience the historical splendor of Casablanca and its landmarks during this scenic, half-day panoramic drive through the city. Leave the pier by motorcoach and proceed to the amazing and beautiful Hassan II Mosque. This is the second-largest mosque in the Islamic world, and you’ll stop for photos and some to admire the immense and ornate […]

A great panoramic overview of Madeira and fantastic views over the Bay of Funchal makes this tour an ideal start to the day. Pass through the quaint and picturesque fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, where Sir Winston Churchill spent much of his time painting. At Cabo Girão — the second-highest sea cliff in the world […]

It is now 4:38am on Monday morning April 24th. I am sitting very comfortably at a table in the “Lido.” This is the dining area on the 8th deck where people who choose to get their food themselves come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night-snacks and hot beverages. I have joked that while the message in […]