dmwnc1959

Wanted to pass along a really good video that I found for Icy Strait Point. Wasn’t at all excited about going there until I saw this video. Hope you like it as much as I did, definitely have to earmark this one for future use.

The beautiful ZAANDAM (2000) that’s picking you up in San Diego is a sister to VOLENDAM (1999) of which I cruised the latter to Alaska back in 2003. Loved, loved, loved the Volendam! The ex-STATENDAM (1993) that we saw transit the canal today was the lead ship of four - the others were Maasdam (1993), Ryndam (1994), and Veedam (1996) - all which left the fleet by mid-2020. The pandemic hit the cruise industry hard and a lot of the older, smaller ships were either scrapped or sold off. Your SOLAR ECLIPSE cruise sounds amazing! Have fun!!! 🌞

For the most part, and for the past couple of decades, it’s been ship-specific cruises even as far back as Celebrity Mercury, Celebrity Millennium, Royal Princess, Allure of the Seas, Ruby Princess, etc., etc. The next one is more destination-specific, and even more specific to the Old Locks of the Panama Canal. But the ship definitely matters. To me at least. The reason I don’t cruise specifically for the destination is what happens if I get there and it’s pouring down rain all week. I at least want to be on a very comfortable ship that has a lot of interior amenities and creature comforts to choose from. I’ve been very fortunate to have served in the US Navy and got to see a LOT of places for free - from Europe to the South America, Asia and Africa and a lot of places in between. Now I travel for the sea and what’s beneath my feet. 😁

I’d be perfectly fine with another sea day. 😎

So from 981’ to 1056’ and 143,535 GT to 156,300 GT. Very nice! 😁

I’m very much looking forward to Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco. No ship crowds, and these are two of the ‘Love Boat’ ports I’ve been dreaming about for more than 4 decades.

Very nice. I do miss these little gems as part of the HAL fleet. Wish I had taken the opportunity back in the day for a Bermuda cruise that docked right in town.

It would be nice if they offered it twice on extended cruises.

There are three ports where I have already planned on staying on the ship. These seem most likely to be the ones cancelled for some reason, so since I am remaining on the ship, there are no shore excursions in jeopardy. All of the rest save the Panama Canal are in US ports, so fingers-crossed that weather and seas cooperate.

Then I’ll definitely skip the sports coat! Also plan on taking full advantage of the $29 Bundled Laundry Bag deal. It’ll be interesting to see you what date exactly that pops up on the itinerary. Do they announce this a couple of days ahead of time?

I got bored during the pandemic (was basically housebound except for my job at the VA hospital) and bought a few new shirts each month, ended up with 60 completely different shirts. I’ll probably only take maybe 20 (or so). As mentioned in Post #1 I’ve found a laundromat in San Pedro (Day 16) where I’ll do a bulk laundry visit. Already have the route mapped from the World Cruise Terminal. It’ll be a piece of cake. 👍🏻

I have a set bought for the last cruise. Plan on taking them with me! And I’m in a Solo Inside, but I’ll make it work with hanging the drying items. 😉

Odd that this type of information hasn’t already been released regarding statistics on the ship’s length. 🤔

Just, YIKES. 😳

Indeed!!!

I actually saw someone doing that on a YouTube cruise video watched last night, another idea that never occurred to me in the past.

That sounds exactly what I was trying to avoid, and what my doctors warned against. I’ve since been doing exercises with arm bands and standing wall push-ups to strengthen that shoulder. As for porters, in the past, I rarely have ever used them. This time will be different. Don’t want to show up at the ship with an injured arm.

I guess I wasn’t expecting an email receipt, but it’s definitely nice to have. The shore excursion verification also shows up in my booking. Smiles all around! 😁

You’ve been reading my mind. We also have a huge thrift (consignment) store in town that I’ve staked out already. Lots of inexpensive options I can take and donate down the line. As for the hot and humid 🥵 canal, I’ve been painstakingly thinking (overthinking) that part, hence some of the items in Post #3. It’s this transitioning from that to this 🥶 that’s made me start this post. It’s just mind-boggling to me packing for such extremes on the same cruise! 😁

Ooooh! The possibilities just exploded in my brain. 🤣 Planning this is gong to be freaking amazing!

Just got the email confirmation and you were exactly right! 😁

You’re right, it’s not. But with as many clothes as I’m probably taking, the exorbitant cost of a per-item laundry ticket, and as few items that will likely fit into that little paper bag, I’ve researched the next best alternative and quite literally can do all my laundry at a fraction of the cost. And I don’t even mind NOT spending a couple of hundred dollars letting NCL price gouge me. 😁

I already have a laundry list of around 11 shore excursions I’ve been eyeballing, plan on trying to buy as many of them as possible before-hand.

I have a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder that the doctors don’t want to do surgery on. Despite multiple MRIs that verify that it’s completely torn - and something that completely baffles them - I pretty much have complete functionality of that arm. I don’t dare overuse it, or do a lot of twisting and turning with heavy objects. Plan on making full use of carts and porters everywhere I go.