StLouisCruisers

Have a wonderful cruise!!

Loved your photos today Tony @sailingdutchy especially the vegetable garden!🥕🍅

Cruisedeckplans.com does say that DA cabins on Main deck between 2538 and 2677 have full showers. But nowhere does it say cat. D cabins have them. I need someone who has been in the D category cabins on Volendam to answer. Please? And if in 1848 I would particularly like to hear back from you.

We booked that cabin and were told by the HAL rep that they have the tubs removed and showers installed instead. But Cruisedeckplans.com doesn't mention D category having showers installed, still tub/shower combos. If you are on Volendam and can find out (room stewards?) please do and let us know. Last year we were just down the hall in 1838 and the new shower was so nice. Those cabins (E cat.) were mentioned on Cruisedeckplans.com as being renovated.

I hope the good weather continues too. Yesterday we were in the low 50’s and sunny in Qaqortoq. It was in the low 40’s this morning with fog but as it burned off we got to about 49 but little wind. Going so slowly there was no real wind chill. Now I’m seeing a bit of fog rolling in and temp is about 45. Still lots of sun out there. Predictions for Iceland are for mid 50’s.

Photo taken on my TV screen a few minutes ago. I’m back in my cabin right at the moment.

The fog cleared and everyone is enjoying our slow sail through Prince Christian Sound. We met with FCC Annette and the fog lifted as we finished up. I went on the bow for photo taking. Isn’t it odd you can’t see my photos either? I have no idea why not as that generally doesn’t happen. I figured it was a problem here but not if you can’t see them either. Thanks for trying. We also took the double decker tour bus and it was quite hot there. I wished the bus had a roof over our heads that day.

We happened to have an appointment with Future Cruise Consultant Annette this morning and she said Indonesian visas are handled on the ship by Holland America. If you want to double check that advice, call HAL or your travel agent.

Here we are! Debbie, Sue, Dennis and me. Hope this posts properly.

Good morning friends! We are immersed in the fog here in Prince Christian Sound. The sun is bright though so perhaps it will burn off before the Captain decides we have to move on towards Iceland. I have nice photos taken the last time I was here but that doesn't make me feel any better about it. Fingers crossed the fog lifts very soon! We had an enjoyable dinner in Pinnacle Grill with Debbie and Sue last night. I have a photo on my phone and will try to post it as soon as I can from there. Our time at dinner flew by with lots of good discussion. DH made an appointment to see the Future Cruise Consultant first thing this morning so I don't have time to tarry. I was able to get the links to Mgarr, Malta listings in the past so here they are. Unfortunately there are too many people on the internet this morning and on both dates my photos are not showing up on my screen. So Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser if you could, would you copy and paste my Mgarr commentary and pictures for me? That is, if they show up for you. Thank you! Mgarr, Gozo Island, Malta was our port on July 2, 2021 and Jan. 30, 2022. Thanks to all for posting here, to Rich @richwmn for starting us out, to Tina @0106 for the food report, to Dixie @summer slope for our cocktails, to Ann @cat shepard for the wine report, and to Vanessa @JazzyV for keeping up the lists each day. Prayers for all in need (so many), and congrats to those celebrating. Have a great day!

Bon Voyage!! Love Norway so much!

Happy birthday @lobsternight!! Hoping you and DW feel better soon. Debbie @dfish your photos look a lot like mine so I’ll let you represent us both for today’s stop in Greenland. We realized we seem to come here to Qaqortoq every five years - 2013, 2018 and now 2023. We saw swimmers too! We saw a woman instead of kids. They’re crazy!

Jack, DH says you should try Guinness Extra Stout Foreign which is 7.5% alcohol rather than 6%. It’s not sold in every grocery store but Publix sells it in our area. It comes in a 4 bottle pack instead of 6 and is priced around $9.99. He says it’s the best beer he’s ever had. He has had it on both HAL and Princess ships. It has to say Foreign on it to be the 7.5% alcohol. 🍺

Whoops! Happy Anniversary Charlene @cunnorl and DH!!🥂

I was reading some posts back on June 25, 2021. We were in St. Louis watching Ren's Michigan Tigers team play in a tournament there. The week before we had the memorial service for my DS Nancy. But there was one paragraph I had to laugh at and enjoy again. Here's what I said two years ago: We saw something interesting today. There is a small electronic type gadget attached to DGS's soccer shoes that they can get results back on an app on the phone. It said DGS's top speed today was 17.7 mph and he ran 4.75 miles during his game. DH said "oh and I see you were goofing off 136 times". DGS's eyes popped wide open and said Wait, what? until he realized he was being teased by his grandpa. But, how in the world do you run 17.7 mph? You have to be 14 years old first of all... Jacqui, your friend's chemo pill price sounds like the price of the medication DB takes for his pulmonary fibrosis. Exactly that price. He was able to get a "grant" from a huge pharmaceutical firm to pay for this miracle drug. I'm hoping your friend does too.🤞🙏

Good morning friends! It started out 42 and mostly sunny bright and early here in Qaqortoq, Greenland and will be a lovely 54 and sunny later today. We arrived before 8 am. Coral Princess is anchored nearby, too. We will head over mid morning for a nice walk around town and maybe up the hillside (mountain) to see what's on the other side. Probably the same as what is always on the other side.😁 But you never know what size iceberg you will see! Good for beer, underwear and oysters having their own day! The quote is unusual. The menu suggestion sounds great and even the cocktail and wine don't sound bad. The day in history was a long, long time ago but I'm glad to hear reports from so far back, good or bad. Thanks to Tina @0106, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for your reports. Prayers for our long list of ailing members and spouses, plus family members. Praying all improve and go on the Celebration list soon. 🙏 Cheers to those celebrating especially @Mr. Boston as he starts the first full day of retirement. Enoy your cruises, everyone! Thanks go to Vanessa @JazzyV for her fine list keeping. The port of the day is Hakodate, Japan (Oshima) and we had that port on June 25, 2021 and December 22, 2022. Here are the links for your convenience. I haven't been there and have no photos to post. Feel free to add yours. Thanks in advance! Hoping all have a very enjoyable day!

Thank you Debbie. So far today not as bad as yesterday.

Would this be what you’re talking about? I checked my headboard on Zaandam as soon as I got back to my room tonight and saw this behind the pillows in the middle of the headboard. I’ve never even noticed it before. My problem is when I sit up in bed leaning back on a pillow to read I’m turning off the lights in the room all the time. As soon as I lean back, off they go!

No rubbing alcohol. How about a little Makers Mark??🤪

The round beehive homes in Bari are fascinating! Very cool. Apparently a bug bit me on my neck at the hairline during our hike in Corner Brook because I’ve been itching two bumps since last night. It’s driving me nuts. Hydrocortisone cream isn’t helping much. I’ll be glad when they settle down and give me some relief. 🦟

My folks claim when we were infants they just laid Twin and me on the back seat. If they made a quick stop we just rolled onto the floorboards. No harm done! 🤪

It's incredible so many of us survived childhood, isn't it Bruce @aliaschief??

That's good that you got so many spending points with HIA. We are hoping for the same this cruise, doubling the number of days of the cruise. Last December we got 28 spending points to go with our 28 days cruising. This time doubling our days of cruising will put us over the top for 5 star Mariner status!

Good morning friends! Yesterday afternoon we entered foggy waters with the foghorn working to warn other ships we were coming their way. This morning is sunny again with a temp of 50 degrees. Thank you Rich @richwmn for the Daily and Fleet Report. I like all the days especially chocolate chip cookies. I also appreciate the U.S. Coast Guard for their untiring work to keep everyone on the seas safe. Interesting Chinese Valentine's Day and Daughters Day all in one. The quote is funny, no thanks to orange fish or a derby spritzer. Probably a no on the wine, too. Very sad day for Anne Frank. 😥 Thank you Tina @0106, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for explaining the food and beverages for everyone. Prayers for our entire group of friends here and our loved ones. Cheers to those celebrating especially our cruisers. Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the list keeping. DS and Ren flew to Virginia yesterday for a couple days at the UVA soccer camp. DDIL and Kai flew back home to Michigan after a nice reunion in Frisco, TX. DS tells us he was able to purchase 2 tickets at a huge discount through FC Dallas, for the Lionel Messi Miami game against Dallas Sunday night. They will be very excited to watch that match up. ⚽ Bari, Italy is the port of the day and I don't see it having been shown here before. I haven't been there as far as I can recall. There will be no links but if you have photos please do share them with us. Italy is a wonderful country to visit! Happy Retirement Day @Mr. Boston! Hope everyone has a very enjoyable Friday and start to their weekend. We are enroute to Qaqortoq, Greenland, my third time there I believe. We arrive earlier than previously scheduled, at 8:00 am tomorrow and depart at 6 pm. Then DH and I will join Debbie @dfish and Sue for dinner in Pinnacle Grill. Looking forward to some good food and good company tomorrow night.

We had lunch in Pinnacle Grill and my meal was great but DH wished they’d actually blackened the blackened Alaskan cod sandwich he ordered. Not even close! Then when we returned to our room I saw this rather large iceberg floating by our starboard window.