richwmn

December 28^th, 2023 – Mazatlán, Mexico

According to the ships weather it is currently 70°F/21°C, with a high of 76°F forecast.

Our position at breakfast was –

Today’s activities –

After my spill yesterday I was going to play trivia at 4pm. Despite not being connected to either a shore tower or ship’s internet, my phone rang with a facebook call. I was connected to the ship’s wifi, but not the internet. I left trivia and went back to the cabin to call them back. I then spent the rest of the evening in, resting and healing. I feel very good this morning.

We are still three hours from Mazatlán so no morning port pictures.

As of early this year of late last year the duty of restocking the mini bar belongs to the cabin stewards. I was told this is fleet wide and I have experienced it on Zuiderdam and Volendam.

4 hours ago, erewhon said:

 

Easily done, do you think you tripped on something?

Hope that the graze will be healed before the Grand Voyage begins.

 

Tripped over the back of a lounge chair. Everything is just fine now.

I just realized that I didn’t post the evening menu for the MDR earlier, here it is

December 27^th, 2023 – Loreto, Mexico

Ship’s Officers for the Grand Australia / New Zealand

Captain – will be changing 1/3

Chief Engineer – will be changing 1/3

Hotel General Manager – Leonie Henry

Environmental Officer – Neda

Cruise & Travel Director – Daniel Edwards

Food & Beverage Director – Ali Sahin

Executive Chef – Javier Carpio Arevalo

Future Cruise Consultant – will be changing 1/3

I did tender into Loreto, Mexico for a short while today. It is a very pretty town with a nice walking path by the water. It has been a very clear, temperate day, and it was very nice sitting on a chair near the water. Here are some pictures of the area between the tender dock and downtown.

Just to get it out of the way, and take full credit – I did take a spill on the Lido Deck leaving the Taco Bar a few minutes ago. I am fine. Medical came quickly and gave it more attention than I would have myself. I have a small skinned area on my leg that will heal nicely, most likely before the Grand starts. Nothing else hurt but my pride.

December 27^th, 2023 – Loreto, Mexico

Greetings from Loreto, another tender stop on the way back to San Diego. According to the HAL weather information, it is currently 63°F/17°C with few clouds. The humidity is 82% and the winds are from the NNW at 10.4 mph. My phone tells me to look for a high of 80°F.

In about a half hour tendering will begin and it looks like there might be some things to do within walking distance of the tender dock.

Here are today’s activites. I guess the port map from two days ago was a one time deal, we don’t have one again today.

And some pictures from the ship this morning.

Good morning from Loreto, Mexico. Just a few more days until the Grand Australia / New Zealand group boards.

11 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Yes, I should have mentioned that the HalFacts' maps were from 2014 and may have (likely?) changed.

Not really picking on you, but I constantly see people mentioning that things on Halfacts are old. Have you considered asking for a new map if you think the one that is posted is wrong, then submitting it? Have you send in cabin pictures? If more people did this the site would be more up to date.

December 26^th, 2023 -- Pichilingue (La Paz), Baja California Sur, Mexico

It is a beautiful day in Baja California Sur. The sky is clear, the temperature moderate, and the sun isn’t too bright. It is a great day for all kinds of outdoor activity.

As mentioned earlier, today our stop is in an industrial port. HAL and / or the locals are providing a shuttle that takes about 20 minutes to get to the nearby ‘big’ city which is the capital of the Mexican state we are in. The bus dropped us off at the city’s bus terminal, along with everyone traveling by bus to distant places. The bus station is, however, located across the street from the beach in an area with lots of shopping and many restaurants. I was enjoying the day when I got a call that sent me back to the ship to try and take care of a couple of things. The downside of being away, but at least it can be handled from here, thanks to T-Mobile and the ship’s internet.

Here are some photos of the port and La Paz

December 26^th, 2023 – Pichilingue (La Paz), Baja California Sur, Mexico

We are just pulling in for an expected 8am chance to visit this port. During the run up to Cantare last night we were told that the port has absolutely nothing to do, and it is an industrial port. We do have free shuttles to La Paz, which is the capital of this Mexican state.

Our position at breakfast, about 30 minutes ago --

Today’s activities, unfortunately no port map for today.

December 25^th, 2023

It is late in the evening on what has been a very full Christmas Day. In addition to being Christmas Day, it was also the first port day on this cruise. Today was Cabo and I did tender ashore for just a bit. The area around the marina was active with only a few businesses closed. The weather was comfortable and the tender ride fairly short.

The 4:00pm trivia was challenging for two oldies. We got 8 points out of a total of 17. A couple of the questions I know most younger people would have been able to answer. Speaking of younger people, I know we have a bunch aboard but they are being kept busy and I haven’t really noticed them.

After trivia I grabbed a bit to eat and relaxed a bit. Trivia again at 7pm with the full team I have had for many of the sessions so far. We did better with four people and a span of ages, but still didn’t come out on top. It was still enjoyable, for the company as much as the competition.

Shortly after trivia ended I headed to the World Stage. Tonight’s show was Cantare, a four piece vocal group. They did an active show of group songs featuring the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Abba, and others. The show was very good and kept the audience.

After Cantare I walked the full deck and listened to the band playing in the Ocean Bar for a bit. The Ocean Bar had a good crowd with a lot of people dancing. The five piece group had a good sound and the lead singer had a good voice. Everyone appeared to be having a good time.

December 25^th, 2023 Christmas in Cabo

Today is a tender port so I waited a while to even attempt to go ashore. When I did the wait was pretty short. It was a quick tender ride to the marina where, despite it being Christmas, pretty much everything was open.

Here are some picture around the marina, and from the ship.

And here are tonight’s menus for the Main Dining Room.

December 25^th, 2023 Christmas in Cabo

Today is a tender port so I waited a while to even attempt to go ashore. When I did the wait was pretty short. It was a quick tender ride to the marina where, despite it being Christmas, pretty much everything was open.

Here are some picture around the marina, and from the ship.

And here are tonight’s menus for the Main Dining Room.

6 minutes ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Of course HAL will be the final arbiter, but I’d like to do a transpacific from Yokohama,

clear US immigration in Kodiak then disembark in Juneau for further time in Alaska on my own rather than go all the way to Vancouver.

Appears to satisfy the criteria, any thoughts?

Since your proposed cruise begins in a foreign country, the PVSA does not apply. You could disembark in Juneau if HAL give you permission and US Customs & Immigration is willing to provide an agent to process you.

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

That does not make it right.

I never said it was right, just pointing out that the staff uses the term incorrectly as well. And with the staff using Jones Act, it is much more likely that the passengers will.

December 25^th, 2023 – Christmas Day in Cabo

It is 7am in Cabo and the tenders are being lowered. Tender service is supposed to begin at 8am, along with the arrival of Santa for the kids aboard.

Our position at 7am is:

Some images of Cabo just before day break

Our activities for today

And something I haven’t seen for a while, a port map

52 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

It would be nice if posters just stopped once and for all confusing the Jones Act and the PVSA. I don't know how many times I have read Jones Act when they are talking about cruise ships. It has been explained over and over. 

Unfortunately, it is not just passengers. I said something once to a staff member who said Jones act and his reply was that Jones Act was commonly used so that is what he called it.

Merry Christmas from Cabo. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

December 24^th, 2023 – Christmas Everyone

It is late on Christmas evening aboard Volendam. On the east coast of the US it is already Christmas Day. It has been a fun, full day on the ship as we move into Christmas Day. The ship has been festive, both Guests and Staff.

We had three sessions of trivia today -- 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. I joined up with a couple and their son for all three sessions and we did ok. The first was identifying logo images with the company name removed. About half were easy, a couple more were ok, and several were downright hard. At 4pm it was general trivia and at 7pm we dealt with Christmas Carols, but it wasn’t listening and identifying it was facts about the carols and identifying the song from the fact. Tom joined us for the final one, and we did ok but didn’t win. There’s always tomorrow.

At 9pm there was a comedian, Tyrone Hawkins, who was pretty good. The theater was pretty full on both levels. He got quite a few laughs and a good reception from the audience.

At 11pm we are going to have three choral groups made up crew members. That will conclude the evening aboard the ship. Santa will arrive tomorrow morning at the same time we arrive in Cabo.

Christmas Eve Dinner in the Main Dining Room

December 24^th, 2023 – Christmas Eve at sea

Good morning from Volendam.

I think I covered yesterday’s activities pretty well with updates during the day. For right now I will just add today’s activities. It is 6:30 and about time to head to breakfast.

Good morning and Merry Christmas from Volendam, this has been another wonderful cruise so far. Lots of great people.

December 23^rd, 2023 – Afternoon

Just a quick note on the activities so far today.

11:30 – Mariner Society Reception. This was in the Crows Nest for about 45 minutes. We had a good crowd and a pretty good turn out. Everyone, of course, was festive and several Staff members introduced themselves. Sparkling water flowed. I met several nice people and had a good time.

12:20 – Lunch in the lido. I don’t think that I have mentioned it yet, but Volendam still has a nice taco bar beside the Dive In. I had a nice quick lunch there between other activities. It was well stocked and everything was very good. It was nice to see it and I wish the Taco Bar was available on the other ships.

1:00pm – Cruise Critic M&G. I followed the roll call but I’m not sure I ever posted on it. I knew when the M&G was so I showed up. There was a nice turnout, not real big and I saw a couple of people I knew. I enjoyed the M&G and I’m glad I showed up.

1:50pm – Wine Tasting. This is something I never thought of attending until last year. For background, I am not much of a wine drinker. In 2019 on the Trans Pacific Cruise to Australia a couple of people included me in a private wine tasting during which I gained a bit of an appreciation for wine. Since then I attended two wine tastings on last years World Cruise and the one today. It is interesting to find out the information and learn a bit more about the wines included. Both presenters were very accomplished speakers.

More later!

I found this out a little while ago

1968 Crew of USS Pueblo released by North Korea

55 years ago