StLouisCruisers

For those who want to look for particular posts on certain dates, go to the general Holland America Line thread first page where you would find today's Daily for instance. At the top where the page numbers are, look to the right where it says Sort By. There are page numbers from 1 to 5102 at the moment. This number rises each day as new posts are created. Click on the down arrow and put a number in the box. For 2020 you have to go back a good bit so start around 500. Then when you see the dates there you can go up or down until you find the date you want, like when Dixie just asked for Sept. 1, 2020. In a short time you should be able to find Rich's Daily with that date. Click on that post and begin your journey back in time to all we discussed that day. You'll find so much you had forgotten! The post for Sept. 1, 2020 was on page 519.

Here it is Dixie!

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda We stopped at this Caribbean port in 2015 on our South America cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles, 49 days. St. John’s is a small, poor town and doesn’t take long to explore on foot. This first time there I took a tour after our walk around town. There were two cruise ships in port so it was rather crowded. There were the usual touristy souvenir places But we decided to head up a hill to a church we saw from the ship, St. John’s Cathedral But it was in poor shape and under renovation. Time and hurricanes had done their damage. It didn’t look nearly as bad on the outside as it did on the inside It would take a lot of work to get it to look like this again! After lunch I headed out on my ship’s tour. The first stop was Blockhouse Ruins where we had a commanding view of land and sea. We viewed the remains of the powder magazine, gun platforms, cisterns and the officer’s barracks. Next we saw the Shirley Heights Lookout point with its picture perfect views of English Harbour. Our final stop was Nelson’s Dockyard, the finest example of a British Naval yard in the Caribbean. We got to look around a while and enjoy a beverage in the Copper & Lumber Store bar before heading back to the ship. If you needed a T-shirt they had a good selection In 2019 we again visited St. John’s, this time on the Rotterdam, and stayed in town taking a brisk walk as exercise. We went up the hill to the church again but it seems it is still under construction. The church consists of outer stone walls with a second wooden building inside. They felt this type of construction would help protect it from hurricanes and earthquakes. However all buildings require maintenance over the decades. I wish them luck completing this project. We were not able to enter the church on this trip as they had blocked entrances to visitors. Hoping they complete work on St. John's Cathedral and take it back to its old glory days.

Good morning friends and Happy St. Patrick's Day! I have a temp of 52F right now. It will reach around 66 and it will be cloudy with scattered showers today. No big plans to celebrate or go anywhere. Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for continuing to post the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps for Rich @richwmn. I'm happy to recognize Camp Fire Girls (I was a Brownie), Doctor Patient Trust Day and Corned Beef and Cabbage. When we went to Kroger yesterday they had all you needed to prepare that traditional dish right as you walked in the front door! We won't be having that but DH will have something planned by the time he has finished breakfast. No thanks to the rum punch or the Shiraz. Many interesting days in history on our list. Poor young St. Patrick being kidnapped. Nice discovery by Magellan, a big day in Italy and hurray for Albert Einstein. A cheer to our F&B ladies Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for your excellent reports.👍 Prayers for the Care list individuals, those in Israel and Ukraine fighting for their countries, the hostages still held and our troops in the region under fire. Also I pray for my DB's health and well being, great nephew Alex's twins in utero, and my friends Scott and Susan. 🙏 Cheers to our celebrants of happy events and cruisers! 🎉 Happy 63rd Anniversary to Jim and Sheila! 🥂 Bon Voyage to Kathi @Scrapnana! 🚢 Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the awesome lists you present us every day! The destination today is St. John's Antigua and Barbuda. I was surprised to see we hadn't highlighted this port before, I guess because there are several other St. Johns. So another new port! We visited there twice in 2015 on Ruby Princess and in 2019 on Rotterdam. I'll get the photos together shortly. Hoping everyone has a nice St. Paddy's Day. Stay safe and keep well, and if you're traveling drive safely and/or have a good flight.

Thanks for your photos today Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser. Nancy @ottahand7 if you'd like more photos of Moorea, the first date it was posted there were some nice photos from John @Copper10-8 and @daisybertie. When I was looking for the first destination of the day I found @KirkNC started us up on Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit on the first of February 2021. It caught on fast! He wasn't familiar with the white part, but others recalled it from their ancestors. Lorraine @cruising sister we are enchanted with Baby Murphy! She looks so precious dressed in her shamrocks. Thank you so much for posting her photo. BTW, I found out from DD that my great nephew's twins are identical and boys! The first set were too. Not only that but both sets of twins were "natural" and did not need any medical intervention for their start in life. Wow, is all I can say! Elizabeth @Haljo1935 not a problem ranting about the miserable day you've had. Any ONE of those things could put you in a bad mood, but all of them? You have my admiration for holding it together this well! Maureen @RMLincoln your photos of Moorea are gorgeous! Give your DH our compliments. @irishjim it's always good to see an old friend! Congratulations on your 63rd anniversary tomorrow! Rich @richwmn thank you for your gracious post today. Everyone who can help here is pleased to do so! Vanessa @JazzyV thanks a bunch for the photo of @RedneckBob today. It was a hoot seeing him sail by! Ann @Vict0riann I'm so sorry to hear of your DD's fall and OMG! Her broken bone! I hope things go as smoothly as possible with the cast and she's healed and back on her feet as soon as possible. Oh no @Mr. Boston! What a bummer for your DH catching your "germs". Seems to never fail. I hope it won't be long before he's feeling much, much better.

I have one item that I feel should be corrected. I've gone back to check and the first destination of the day was on March 1, 2021. Up to that point some of us would post photos when a place was mentioned, or a retired ship was thought about and photos shown. It was post #3 on March 1, 2021 when @richwmn said "Since we have been treated to pictures of various places, I thought I might add a "Port of the Day" for discussion. Today would be Georgetown Grand Cayman Island. What do y'all think?" I started my port spreadsheet and have kept it up ever since. So it will 3 years in just a few few weeks!

Made it on time!

Such a sad tale. I am so thankful Sarah has you and Pauline. Give Pauline lots of hugs from your Daily friends.

Happy Anniversary to the Daily! Bon Voyage to our cruisers, @Suslor, @RedneckBob and @Crazy For Cats! Enjoy! Debbie @dfish the chicken recipes and photos look so good! I'm sure many of us will be saving those recipes. Sorry about your bad luck at Farkle.

We've been to Moorea twice, once on Golden Princess in 2014 and again on Maasdam in 2017. In 2014 we went on a private tour with a CC group. It involved a Polynesian BBQ, ray and shark feeding, sightseeing at a barrier reef, snorkeling, etc. The day after this we were scheduled on a tour with Patrick in Bora Bora so they were essentially the same description tours, but Patrick's was much better! Still, I can show you a few photos from Moorea. Arrival at the pier. Welcoming committee. Scenes along the way Stingray feeding I was a little nervous watching this from the boat. I did go out when they spread out a little bit and that was fun, but when the sharks came I got back in the boat to watch. Arriving at the motu for the BarBQ. Not quite the same as Patrick's pig roast in a pit! The food and drink was good though, and after we ate you could take a little dip in the water to cool down. In 2017 on the Maasdam, we sailed from Papeete to Moorea in the early morning because they are only about 18 nautical miles apart. A beautiful sunshine-y day! The reefs visible in the water When we reached shore on our tenders we were met with dancers and musicians, local foods and lots of jewelry. We stayed in town this day since we hadn't done that last visit Free food! We bought a pair of black pearl earrings for me that day. We walked around the village and then peeped into the Ebenezer Church. It was Easter Sunday. And a look at a unique treat at dinner that night for Easter Sunday. Sorry about the number of photos! So much to see there.

Good morning friends! This morning our temperature is 56 with partly cloudy skies. High temp will be around 75 with a mixture of clouds and sun today. I hope the weather is good in Chicago because DGS Ren has a soccer game there today. Go FC Dallas! Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps for today. I'm happy that today we do everything RIGHT! A salute to black press and freedom of information. The rotisserie chicken sounds great, but I have no idea what the drink is. If I liked Cabernet Sauvignon I wouldn't mind a boxed wine. Not a good day for poor King Gustav III of Sweden but thankfully Lister made an important discovery about antiseptic surgery which saved many lives. Thanks to the F&B ladies Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for their reports. Prayers said today for my DB, great nephew Alex's identical twin boys (just like the first set!), friends Scott and Susan, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages enduring months of captivity, the military members in danger in the region, and all of us here on the Daily Care list who could use a helping hand and improved lives. Congratulations to those celebrating special events and the many cruisers among us. Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the great list keeping skills. Hoping all is well with you! The destination today is Bahia d Opunoha, Moorea, French Polynesia. This is a bay on the island of Moorea. It's also the first time for such a specific location on Moorea but we've enjoyed photos before of our Moorea visits on April 23, 2021, March 28, 2023 as well as July 13, 2023. I'll post the links for those dates next. Hoping for a much calmer day after yesterday's upheaval. AT&T was on the scene repairing damage to their network capability on our street until nearly 9 pm. Thankfully we don't have AT&T! So peace and quiet sounds great. I hope everyone here enjoys the St. Patrick's Day weekend. Stay safe and well!

Oh my Joy! That IS a lot of bad news! Sorry to hear of your friend with Covid and the friends with the property damage. Condolences to your neighbor on the loss of her husband. And let's hope the medical practice issues turn around before long. Hope you have better news soon. KFC coleslaw is delicious. You have good taste! What is wrong with the rest of the family not liking KFC coleslaw? Oh well, more for you! Hope you enjoy that cruise, and that you get the answers you need and want at your medical appointment!🤞 Wow whee! Can you buy some lottery tickets on board? You certainly are on a lucky streak. Now have fun picking the free cruise! Couldn't happen to a more deserving person.🎉

We're having quite the upset on our street today. First we were supposed to have pine straw applied to the mulched beds in about two weeks but this morning the 18 wheeler arrived to unload bales of pine straw. This time they didn't knock over any mailboxes like they did when they delivered for the common areas. Here's the load left in front of our house. At the same time the contractors laying down new fiber optic cable arrived and began digging holes for them to thread the needle down each side of our street. Here's a pic of them at a few of my neighbor's yards. And here are both teams at work at the same time in the same place! We called our roofer and asked him to delay working today because there is just too much going on and we don't need any more stress at the moment!!

After we left the Cathedral we walked to the Gamle Bybro bridge, called the Old Town Bridge. It's become the symbol of Trondheim and connects the two banks of the river Nidelven. It was first built in 1681. Continuing on We were headed uphill towards the Kristiansten Fortress built in 1685. Very steep climb. On the hill along the curb was a bicycle lift. You put your right food on a triangular shaped metal pad that rises up the hill as you sit on your bike and it does all the work. Here's a pic of someone using it. Anyway we got up to the Fortress and walked around quite a bit there. Lots to see inside. At the bottom of the hill we enjoyed seeing the little shops and restaurants as we headed back to the ship. Back to the lovely Prinsendam I hope you get to Trondheim someday, too.

Trondheim, Norway We went to Trondheim in 2016 on the Best Norway Cruise Ever on Prinsendam, and then againin 2022 on our Island Princess (Covid) cruise. I was out of Covid jail, but DH was still in so I walked around there on my own. I'll show my photos from 2016. On July 1, 2016 the Prinsendam arrived in Trondheim, Norway. It was also Canada Day so later that evening we had a great celebration at our dinner table, since our 4 tablemates were from Canada. Three days later we all 6 celebrated July 4th Independence Day. Here are some arrival photos. On our left as we entered the harbor was the Munkholmen, an ancient fortress island. Look who was on the bridge wing. Captain D.D. We departed the ship and walked towards the the famous Nidaros Cathedral. But we had lots to see before we arrived there. I love the fact the Norwegians aren't afraid of using color on their buildings. On the way to the Cathedral we passed the Church of Our Lady, St. Mary's, built at nearly the same time as Nidaros Cathedral. Oh my, we passed by lots of interesting places on our way to the Cathedral. Parks, squares, shopping malls, statues, murals on walls. We finally arrived at the Nidaros Cathedral but for some reason I couldn't get a level photo of the front of it. All of them seemed to tilt! I tried over and over. That was the best I guess. This Cathedral was built in 1070 and is the largest one in northern Europe. Pretty impressive from the outside. I wondered if they gave tours of the inside so went into the visitor center across from it to see. There were very long lines but when I saw the very expensive ticket price I decided to pass on waiting for a tour. We had lots of other places to see in Trondheim, too. It was massive so we walked all the way around but could never get a photo of the whole thing in one shot. This will have to do! I have about 3 dozen photos but did see this one finally as we left the property. You can see a lot of it here, except where the one tree in the middle is blocking the view. There are so many photos of Trondheim I will post now and begin another post to finish them up.

Good morning friends! It's 58F here this morning with cloudy skies. Rain and a high of 73 is expected today. DH says the pollen is coming and he noticed it all over the mailbox yesterday. In a further update on my arm, this morning the size of the red area is smaller and the redness is fading to a lighter shade. It's still painful to the touch. Taking a Benadryl yesterday noon and again before bed has me dragging around this morning. I see a nap in my future! The doctor didn't suggest a shingles shot for DH so I'm surprised we didn't get our last ones at the same time. Thanks to Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting our Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps for Rich @richwmn. Happy Ides of March! Sort of frivolous days to recognize today IMO. The quote is good, and as for the meal I'm not so sure I'd want it without a ham or something. Don't know what an Enzoni is and no thanks to the Chianti. All three good days in history. It makes sense now why the Cincinnati Reds are called what they are. Thanks to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for your reports today. Prayers said for all here on the Care list and even those who are not on the list but in need of prayers. Also to those at war in Israel and Ukraine, the poor hostages still being held, and the military members in harm's way in the region. Special prayers for my DB, great nephew Alex's twin babies and friends Scott and Susan. 🙏 DGD says she feels sooo much better at her new apartment and just finished putting together a table with two bar stools to put in front of some windows with a nice view of the lake. 🥰 Cheers to all celebrating happy events and cruising! 🥂🎉 Bon Voyage Katherine @Lady Hudson!! 🚢 Thanks to you Vanessa @JazzyV for the updated lists each day! Hope you have a great Friday and super weekend. The port today is beautiful Trondheim, Norway. This was the port before on Feb. 20, 2022 and March 2, 2023. I'll post the links for you, and my photos next. Thanks in advance for any photos you can share. Hoping we all have a great day! Keep safe and stay well!

From myself and my DB, thank you for your birthday wishes for him. Your sister must feel so much better now! About 6 or 7 years ago I spent 2 nights in a hospital and the neighbors shouting the second night was the last straw! The nurses coming into my room at 3 am to poke a needle in my arm for blood work was the first straw! I hope your DSis gets back on track soon! Sorry the quote doesn't show, but I appreciate your advice about watching my reaction to the shingles shot. Not everyone has a perfect experience so the remainder must be vigilant. How have you been feeling lately Jane? I've been keeping you in my prayers.🙏 I'm so sorry to hear how bad this cold has been for you. Feel better ASAP! This afternoon I gave in to the Benadryl and took a nap. I hope I can sleep well tonight.😴

DH said the doctor's office said I should put an ice compress on the arm and take a Benadryl. I did and boy it's cold with that ice on the arm. I stopped after 10 minutes so I could stitch because I can't do both at the same time. Hopefully I won't want a nap after lunch. It is definitely warm to the touch. Twin says she had a bad reaction last time too, but she had body aches and headaches so I guess I should feel grateful I don't have that. Thanks once again for the birthday wishes for my DB @Overhead Fred, @AncientWanderer, @Quartzsite Cruiser and @JazzyV. Vanessa, I really am sorry to hear that your coughing kept you up and hurts your ribs. Two and a half hours is not enough sleep! I hope things turn around again once the cold and cough get better.🤞

Thank you Graham and @Haljo1935. I'll keep you updated.

I thought the same thing. We need to stress this more often I guess. We don't want to be disrespectful to the Irish and their traditions, etc.

I took a good look at my left upper arm this morning and it's all red and a little swollen. Not just a tiny area, more like 5 inches up and down and 3 to 4 inches across side to side. I wasn't expecting such a reaction but it says online this is common. But the photos they showed were tiny little red spots around the injection site, not the whole upper arm. Hopefully that starts to go away soon. DH said he'd ask about it at the doctor's office and even took a picture to show them if they ask. I want to extend my thanks and my brother's thanks for all of you who have so kindly wished him a happy birthday. That includes @puppycanducruise, @grapau27, @kazu, @rafinmd, @Denise T, @smitty34877, @dfish, @ottahand7, @ger_77, and @Nickelpenny. I hope I haven't left anyone off. Whoops, almost missed @RedneckBob. Once again thanks to all of you!❤️ @Denise T best of luck with Chase today. I hope Fiona continues to eat well and feels better.🐈 @daisybertie thank you for the Lerwick photos. Very nice! I've only seen cloudy skies in Lerwick but it would sure be nice to have sunny skies there. @aliaschief looking good all dressed up! Continue to enjoy every moment! @marshhawk Annie I'm sending you hugs today! {{{ 🤗 }}} Thanks for your photo comment today. We don't have Britbox unfortunately. It says when I search on my DVR I can watch Shetland episodes with a free trial on Amazon Prime, but I have no idea how long the free trial lasts. Looks like quite a few seasons to catch up. Hallmark Channel has been showing episodes of Drop Dead Diva from 2009 to 2014 Mondays thru Fridays, 2 episodes a day. I have them set up to record and am watching season by season. I wish I'd told my twin about it sooner because we are at the end of season 2 right now. I found some YouTube links to send her of season 1 but I don't have any links to season 2 and she just started recording. She's going to go through all the YouTube links first while recording the following seasons from here on out. It's addictive!

We have enjoyed cruises stopping at Lerwick twice. First time was on a Southampton to NY transatlantic on Caribbean Princess in 2015. Second time was in 2022 on Island Princess. We arrived in Lerwick on Sept. 8, 2015 on Caribbean Princess and tendered over to Victoria Pier The first thing that caught our eye was a zebra-striped accommodation barge used to house workers building the Shetland Gas Plant. It's no longer there since the project was completed several years back. We had scheduled a tour of the Jarlshof Ruins and the Hoswick Visitor Center. Excuse the photos taken from the bus window of the countryside. Our driver told us Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick own property here. I have no way of verifying that information, but it would be a perfect place to get away from it all. The Hoswick Visitor Center had a lot of very old radios and other communication equipment, along with textiles and other odds and ends. Seemed an odd collection to me. Most of us thought the scenery outside more interesting so went out to take some photos before time to move on to the Jarlshof Ruins. Scenery like this and this Back in the bus for the drive to the Ruins we saw lovely beaches which were dotted with seals, surprisingly. The guide passed around photos and other information while en route. In order to reach the Ruins we had to cross a runway at Sumburgh Airport! Arriving at Jarlshof Ruins This photo shows outlines of some of their huts and other buildings. This would have been where the fire was in their rocky home. And some of the walls Leaving the site, we stopped to enjoy a few of the Shetland ponies next to the walkway. We were back in Lerwick on June 9, 2022 on Island Princess. We walked around the town a bit then got instructions on how to get to Tesco to do a little shopping. I was surprised to see this hospital with the funeral director in the same building! 😳 We had quite a little walk to get to the Tesco but on a cruise you can always use the exercise. After we picked up some goodies for our waiters and bar staff favorites, we stopped to see the Lerwick Town Hall. Then passed by this monument. And then we found the very conveniently located Fort Charlotte Island Princess is in the back of this photo. DH always has his photo taken with a cannon. Back to the dock area to get on a tender. Fun times in the good old UK!

Good morning friends! It will be a nice sunny 80 degree day here but right now it's only 48. This morning DH has his annual physical appointment so let's see if they suggest he have another shingles shot too. Then he can moan and groan about his tender upper arm! Mine's still hurting.😬 Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location map for Rich @richwmn. I read the good news about the Volendam being able to call at Bora Bora this month. Fingers crossed that actually happens for them.🚢 Some great days to recognize this morning. Scientists bring service to the human race, and genius day celebrates folks like Albert Einstein. We all learn by asking questions. Today is also Pi Day as well as my area code back in St. Louis. I think the quote is funny. I think I'll just pass on the meal, drink and wine today. Nice day to celebrate the cotton gin mill, the Currency Act, and it was about time that women were allowed to join Muirfield! Thanks to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for the reports today! I hope your DSis is doing okay now Ann. Prayers said for all on the Care list, my DB, great nephew Alex's twins, Scott and Susan, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages still held and our troops in harms way there. Hoping for good news on all fronts in the days ahead!🙏 Congratulations to all who celebrate happy events today and the cruisers! 🥂🎉 Happy Birthday wishes to Brenda @bennybear and @Mr. Boston's DM, as well as my little brother. 🎂 Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for remembering him and for keeping the Care and Celebration lists for us all! You are a star reporter! The port today is Lerwick, Shetland Island, UK. This was the port before on Sept. 20, 2021, Nov. 1, 2022, and June 15, 2023. We have gone there twice and enjoyed our looks around the area. Here are the links to those dates for you. Hoping you all have an enjoyable Thursday. Keep safe and stay well!

Oh wow, that doesn't sound comfortable at all! I hope they can take care of it quickly for you so you don't have to suffer much longer. Good luck! Vanessa @JazzyV I so appreciate the way you condense and comment on each person's day the way you do. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments to everyone. I hope you start feeling better very soon! I'm sorry though you couldn't see your UK friends again last night. I'm sure they're missing your company. No, I hadn't heard about the gas line explosion and will check that out. What a shame for that elderly couple and their family though. 😢 I'm getting along with my arm okay with the stitching. I just don't like to touch or lay on that side as it's extremely tender.

Joy, I'm sorry to hear about Allen's sodium deficiency and hope the prescription helps restore his levels quickly! Prayers for him!🙏