The-Inside-Cabin

Last night, many singers and dancers from the various venues came together on the World Stage to showcase their incredible talents. This was billed as the Zuiderdam Variety Show. Here is the lineup. - Don’t Go Breaking My Heart / George & Lina - Billboard on Board - Don’t Rain On My Parade / Rachel - Cast Singer - Always & Forever / Tyree - Rolling Stone Lounge - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Kiana - Cast Singer - Just the Way You Are / George - Billboard on Board - interpretive dance to Don't Stop Me Now - Justin - Asst Cruise Director - Anthem (from ABBA’s Chess) / Phillip - Entertainment Director - New York, New York / Cole - Cast Singer - Oh! Darling / Lina - Billboard on Board - If I Can Dream (Elvis) / Bernie - Tech Manager - Dancin' Fool — singers & dancers .. dancers .. Abigail & Kristen, Alexai & Ethan .. singers .. Cole, Michael, Rachel & Kiana

We arrived Mindelo - leaving today at 3 PM Our complimentary wine and cheese sailaway is today. Taking a HAL tour today

We had our second-to-last Formal night. The theme was Night In Hollywood. The Rolling Stone lounge was turned into a Hollywood Premiere red carpet. The hallway outside was lined with Walk of Fame Stars and a Hollywood Sign. Guests could create their own star by drawing one with a Sharpie. The Hollywood Sign - on Deck 2! The Zuiderdam Walk of Fame! Lots of glitz and glamour all around! Our Formal Portrait from the Ship's photographers Our table was hosted by Chief Engineer Wilco - great conversation! Here is the excerpt from the daily program Tonights Menu HERE

We know many people who sail on inside cabins exclusively without an issue. Insides vary in size and certain ones can be pretty roomy. @sandiego1 gives a great answer above. I think if you are happy with insides on two week cruises you will be ok on longer cruises.

The Sandwich Island tour should be an easy challenge. There were three or more operators selling tours for about $135 each.

Our day in Takoradi - I took the shuttle bus to the circular market, which is still under construction. I did a one-mile loop around the side streets. No one takes dollars, and there are no money changers nearby—one ATM is 1/4 mile away. My advice is to take a tour of this port. We bought fabric in this shop last year - we had a guide who helped with changing money - No dollars and no money changers - no credit cards - no sale. I poked my head in this restaurant - More street vendors in town Back on the pier - a nice selection of vendors - all of them took dollars - do your shopping here. We did our 20-minute bridge tour - nice Orange Party tonight had a huge turnout - Fun! Drink Domino is a standard performance on HAL Bar Hops

Yes - Here is a snippet - I can't find more - the website isn't cooperating Here is an old thread with more

WALVIS BAY AND SANDWICH HARBOR, NAMIBIA APRIL 28, 2024 We slip into Walvis Bay shrouded with heavy fog and travel to Sandwich Harbor over the dunes. The ship was cleared at 8:30, and we left immediately as we had an 8:30 pick-up time for our private tour to Sandwich Harbor. Still foggy as we walked down the pier at 8:30 AM Usually, in Walvis Bay, a shuttle bus is provided to the Dunes Mall and the Waterfront area, which has some restaurants. Today, we learned that the shuttle would only go to the Dunes Mall. If you want to walk to the waterfront area, it’s a little less than a mile. If you haven’t booked a tour here, you will always find tour operators selling tours at the end of the pier. SANDWICH HARBOR TOURS Sandwich Harbor, about 25 miles south of Walvis Bay, is a very popular destination. The trip requires using four-wheel-drive vehicles, and if the tide is low, you can have a great time running on the smooth sand. Otherwise, you will have to go up and down the dunes away from the beach and may not have enough time for the round trip. There are several companies offering tours. We chose the half-day option for $135 with Sandwich Dune Tours – HERE. HAL offers the identical tour for about $500. In 2023, the HAL tour was $229. If you are interested in this tour, you may be able to use the HAL best price guarantee. I asked onboard about the reason for the huge price difference, and they didn’t have a good explanation. The Sandwich Dune Tour is listed as starting at 8 AM, and since we arrived at 8 AM, this may have been a problem. But the company assured me they would pick us up at the pier at 8:30 and wait if necessary. They were very responsive to emails, and I recommend using them. Our driver was waiting for us, with my name on a sign. We piled into his Toyota Fortuner 4 x 4 and headed off to their nearby office, where we were joined by another guest from the ship. There would be three guests in our Fortuner and four in the other. Here is a video of our excursion HEADING SOUTH TO SANDWICH HARBOR Our two Fortuners headed south, and after a few miles, we drove off the road and onto the sand of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. We stopped to let the air out of our tires, reducing the pressure from 29 PSI to 11 PSI. This increased the surface area of the tires, increasing traction and improving ride quality and handling. When we started, the tide was low, which allowed us to drive on the smoother sand above the surf and make good time. After a few miles, we stopped to take some pictures and use an outhouse toilet—this would be the only toilet on the trip. We stopped at the entrance to the park We continued south until the sand dunes met the sea where we turned inland and climbed up the dunes until we reached the summit with an amazing view of Sandwich Harbor to the south. Our driver ran up the dune during one of our stops – no one else followed We were trailing many other tours, including the seven vehicles on the HAL tour, which were already on the summit when we arrived. They left after a few minutes, and we were all alone. Walking up to the summit Heading back to our vehicles Sandwich Harbor Heading back down, we swooped down one dune and then back up another, where we stopped for our mid-morning snack. The snack turned out to be an elaborate mini buffet with sparkling wine, beer, and soft drinks, along with chicken tenders, ribs, fish, red velvet cake, and more. This “snack” was far more elaborate than we expected There were 7 guests and 2 drivers in our two vehicles We spotted the vehicles in other tours below on the beach HEADING BACK TO WALVIS BAY After about 10 minutes, we headed back north; this time, we drove up and down the steep dunes. Our driver, Hans, would stop at the top of one dune, then accelerate down, slaloming across the sand into the valley while picking up enough speed to carry us up on the other side, where we would stop and repeat down the next dune. We probably did this ten times on the way back before we ran out of dunes and were back on the beach. The water was closer this time as we raced back toward Walvis Bay. The various vehicles tend to follow the same line through the dunes. After we were back in Walvis Bay, we headed over to Flamingo Beach, where we spent a few minutes observing the flamingos and taking some pictures. The flamingos are within a few miles of the port

This is from 2023 - It wasn't there in 2024 but we arrived after the park closed earlier on a sunday https://www.theinsidecabin.com/luderitz-namibia-post-62/

WALVIS BAY AND SANDWICH HARBOR, NAMIBIA APRIL 22, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We slip into Walvis Bay shrouded with heavy fog and travel to Sandwich Harbor over the dunes. ARRIVAL IN THE FOG Our escorting tugboat was barely visible through the thick fog, and we approached Walvis Bay early this morning. I wouldn’t have been surprised if we stayed outside the harbor until the fog burned off. Still, the Captain and his bridge team skillfully and safely brought us alongside the pier, arriving at 8 AM, but this was a little late as we were scheduled to be cleared and going ashore by 8 AM. The visibility was about 200 feet as we approached Walvis Bay The ship was cleared at 8:30, and we left immediately as we had an 8:30 pick-up time for our private tour to Sandwich Harbor. Still foggy as we walked down the pier at 8:30 AM Usually, in Walvis Bay, a shuttle bus is provided to the Dunes Mall and the Waterfront area, which has some restaurants. Today, we learned that the shuttle would only go to the Dunes Mall. If you want to walk to the waterfront area, it’s a little less than a mile. If you haven’t booked a tour here, you will always find tour operators selling tours at the end of the pier. SANDWICH HARBOR TOURS Sandwich Harbor, about 25 miles south of Walvis Bay, is a very popular destination. The trip requires using four-wheel-drive vehicles, and if the tide is low, you can have a great time running on the smooth sand. Otherwise, you will have to go up and down the dunes away from the beach and may not have enough time for the round trip. There are several companies offering tours. We chose the half-day option for $135 with Sandwich Dune Tours – HERE. HAL offers the identical tour for about $500. In 2023, the HAL tour was $229. If you are interested in this tour, you may be able to use the HAL best price guarantee. I asked onboard about the reason for the huge price difference, and they didn’t have a good explanation. The Sandwich Dune Tour is listed as starting at 8 AM, and since we arrived at 8 AM, this may have been a problem. But the company assured me they would pick us up at the pier at 8:30 and wait if necessary. They were very responsive to emails, and I recommend using them. Our driver was waiting for us, with my name on a sign. We piled into his Toyota Fortuner 4 x 4 and headed off to their nearby office, where we were joined by another guest from the ship. There would be three guests in our Fortuner and four in the other. Here is a video of our excursion HEADING SOUTH TO SANDWICH HARBOR Our two Fortuners headed south, and after a few miles, we drove off the road and onto the sand of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. We stopped to let the air out of our tires, reducing the pressure from 29 PSI to 11 PSI. This increased the surface area of the tires, increasing traction and improving ride quality and handling. When we started, the tide was low, which allowed us to drive on the smoother sand above the surf and make good time. After a few miles, we stopped to take some pictures and use an outhouse toilet—this would be the only toilet on the trip. We stopped at the entrance to the park We continued south until the sand dunes met the sea where we turned inland and climbed up the dunes until we reached the summit with an amazing view of Sandwich Harbor to the south. Our driver ran up the dune during one of our stops – no one else followed We were trailing many other tours, including the seven vehicles on the HAL tour, which were already on the summit when we arrived. They left after a few minutes, and we were all alone. Walking up to the summit Heading back to our vehicles Sandwich Harbor Heading back down, we swooped down one dune and then back up another, where we stopped for our mid-morning snack. The snack turned out to be an elaborate mini buffet with sparkling wine, beer, and soft drinks, along with chicken tenders, ribs, fish, red velvet cake, and more. This “snack” was far more elaborate than we expected There were 7 guests and 2 drivers in our two vehicles We spotted the vehicles in other tours below on the beach HEADING BACK TO WALVIS BAY After about 10 minutes, we headed back north; this time, we drove up and down the steep dunes. Our driver, Hans, would stop at the top of one dune, then accelerate down, slaloming across the sand into the valley while picking up enough speed to carry us up on the other side, where we would stop and repeat down the next dune. We probably did this ten times on the way back before we ran out of dunes and were back on the beach. The water was closer this time as we raced back toward Walvis Bay. The various vehicles tend to follow the same line through the dunes. After we were back in Walvis Bay, we headed over to Flamingo Beach, where we spent a few minutes observing the flamingos and taking some pictures. The flamingos are within a few miles of the port BACK ON THE SHIP About seventy children from Namibia’s Bernard Nordkamp Center (BNC) from Windhoek, Namibia, spent the day in Zuiderdam enjoying the pool and ice cream. At 3 PM, the children performed various songs for the capacity crowd on the World Stage. After the performance, Hotel General Manager Henk and the Captain presented a check for $20,000 to the director of the BNC, MaryBeth Gallagher. The $20,000 was raised on the ship with the silent auction a few days ago and supplemental cash donations. BNC Director, MaryBeth Gallagher. accepts the check – After the presentation a passenger kicked in another $4K to make the amount and even $20K Here is what the BNC center is all about from their website: As the performance was closing, the PA system announced “Mooring Emergency”. The Captain and Henk quickly left. We learned later that high winds started to push the ship away from the pier, creating too much tension on the mooring lines. The bridge team turned on the bow thrusters to keep us pushed against the pier. WORLD STAGE Instrumentalist Gary Sletcher was the headliner on the world stage. He played the saxophone and sang a variety of African songs.

We arrived at Null Island yesterday. This is the point where the Prime Meridian intersects the equator. Crossing the equator here makes you an Emerald Shellback. We didn't have a ceremony, but King Neptune, aka Entertainment Director Phillip, was the guest at Coffee Chat! Lots of fun! Around 2 PM, the Captain opened the bow, maneuvered the ship to the prime meridian and the equator, and came to a brief stop. The buoy is no longer around, but I took a little Photoshop license to simulate what it may have looked like. Here is a screenshot of our phone at Null Island! I think I see it! Over there! Yes - there it is! And of course - we received a certificate! Meanwhile, back at the Seaview Pool - there was the Null Island "Pool Jump" where King Neptune ordered Henk and the Captain into the pool, fully dressed!

Here is the final 2 week entertainment guide

It's called the "Southern California Quilted Throw". 56 x 70 inches. By Spartina 449 $108. They have quilts and hand bags for many touristy areas. Check out their website - for retail locations or buy online direct more HERE and HERE

Here is a picture of the luggage "Pillow Gift." we received yesterday Pete with Presty outside the MDR on An Evening in Paris

I got the Vietnam Visa in January on my own. Since Phu My wasn't listed, I selected Ho Chi Minh City as the closest city. I received and used the visa without any issues.

You don't always have to get your own. HAL often gets visas for guests in many countries.

It's easier if you let HAL get them. You can save some money by doing it yourself, HAL will charge $50 for a Vietnam Visa. It will cost you $25 if you do it yourself. This is for the single entry. I have attached a printout of HAL's general guidance on VISAs. It can change from time to time, but it is generally accurate. Double-check before you sail Some countries require VISAs even if you stay on the ship. Other countries don't, e.g., Mozambique and China. But this can change from year to year and ship to ship. HAL_Visa_Guidance_ADA (1).pdf

Today in the MDR - Dressy Night

Here is a short video showing some of the 400 blankets on display at the Lido Pool today.

The official ship time is on the home page of your Navigator App and the ships TV Holland America always changes the ship time to match the local port time.

Marty was the guest at Coffee Chat this morning. He talked about Project Linus Here is the replay. Tomorrow Project Linus will display the blankets that were made for this cruise on the Lido Pool over 400 blankets !!!!

Skies were clear as we dropped anchor off the coast of Lüderitz around 6 AM. Immigration officials came aboard, and we started our face-to-face immigration check around 7:15. We were in no hurry, so we waited until the final call around 9:15 AM. Open tendered was called at 11 am We went ashore at 12:30 PM - a 15-minute tender ride. Today is Sunday, so many places, including the grocery store, closed at 1 PM. We walked around town in a 2-mile loop, stopping at Desert Deli, Portuguese Fisherman, Lüderitz Museum, Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock and back to the tender landing. Here are a few pictures. Earlier in the morning, they prohibited wheelchairs and scooters due to the steep ramp and no railings on the pier. Later they allowed a few ashore The OK Foods grocery is close to the Tender Landing - it closes at 1 PM on Sunday - otherwise it is open until 6 PM The Desert Deli served food and drinks. It has a gift shop and wifi. They also have a tour desk. At first, I thought these guys were selling street food - No - they were just having a Sunday BBQ on the street. This is the best restaurant in town per Trip Advisor. It was crowded - Free Wifi. T-Mobile didn't work in Namibia. We ordered fish and chips and a Rainbow Sushi Roll The Lüderitz Museum is next to the Portuguese Fisherman restaurant. Admission is $ 2 USD or 30 NAD. We spent about 15 minutes exploring. It's worth your time and money. Inside the museum We hiked up to the Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock. It was closed when we arrived. Here is the church as see from the Ship Back on the ship, there was the Biergarten Dinner in the Lido, featuring various German dishes. Afro Popera Trio was on the World Stage - They put on a great show. Here is the menu for the special LIDO dinner Afro Popera Trio - they sang a nice variety of songs, including: - Andrea Bocelli’s Canto Della Terra - Romanza - This Is the Moment from the musical Jekyll & Hyde - Paralyze My Mind - Lippen Sweigen - Dein ist mein ganzes Herz - O Sole Mio - Funiculì, Funiculà - Nessun Dorma

Cape Town - 19 April - Final Day We went to the High Tea at Mount Nelson - More HERE. About $30 pp. Reservations are required. Mount Nelson is a very expensive Hotel - $1000 - $2000 USD a night for rooms - Its very nice inside Here is the menu. Here is the first course First Course - Close-up picture Second Course - Scones and Chocolates Plenty of tea- of course Third Course Third Course as served We had a great time! Back on the ship Bunny Chow was served from the Dive In at the Lido Pool - Choice of Marsala Steak, Butter Chicken or Vegetarian The skies were clear blue - great view of Table Mountain from deck 10 On the main stage the South African Youth Choir performed one show - two were scheduled but they canceled the second show as we moved up our departure to avoid the fog that was moving in fast. Their show started with 30 minutes of traditional African songs. The second half consisted of Broadway Show tunes, including Hey Big Spender and Phantom of the Opera hits—quite the contrast. Outstanding performance. Hey Big Spender!

We are back in Cape Town - We enjoy some Bunny Chow and a Gatsby Sandwich in downtown Cape Town and the Gatsby Palace. There sandwiches are HUGE!!!

I suspect that people who get complimentary casino cruises aren't eligible to use those days for PC