rafinmd

Kind of a miserable wet Saturday here but we do need the rain. A bit of a Dutch connection as the Stad Amsterdam in Baltimore today. Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Ann, Debbie, and Dixie. I was a bit late on taxes this year but submitted them last weekend. Laundry will be tomorrow. Interesting quote by Nin, I have not been to Venice. Glad @TiogaCruiser is set to head off to the Volendam. I'll pass on the salmon. My alternative is Chilled Anjou Pear Soup, Linguini Carbonara, and Butter Pecan Ice Cream as served on MS Zaandam Apri 15, 2017: Roy

I did look at the roll call and @TiogaCruiser posted they have a confirmed 8AM uber. Roy

The Volendam has arrived: Roy

What's the plan for getting to Fort Lauderdale. It might be better if possible to send the bag there. Roy

Was that a beach cleanup. I did one of those in 2011. Roy

And now taxiing for takeoff. Roy

I voted that it didn't matter to me, although it's most unlikely I will sail new Crystal. Not for any animosity but strictly due to changes in my life my cruising days are very limited. I've seen a number of recent posts of people who have had to be medically disembarked in far away places and as a solo am very concerned about having to do with that or be an excessive burden on those left behind. I do hope to carry through on the 2 open bookings currently have, a New England/Canada cruise on QM2 (that is in Pirncess Grill and funded with credits from the 2020 shutdown) and a November Panama Canal cruise through the new locks. I am more open to cancelling that one but it can also be combined with a family visit. For the most part though most of my cruise enjoyment will be memories and through the eyes of others, and Crystal will always be a big part of that. Roy

I hope you're on UA 1092 and there should be time for both you and bags to get to the gate on time. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2014 MS Amsterdam cruise from Cape Town to Fort Lauderdale, On April 14 Amsterdam visited Praia, Cape Verde: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2014 MS Amsterdam cruise from Cape Town to Fort Lauderdale, On April 14 Amsterdam visited Praia, Cape Verde: Roy

Keith, that supermarket scene was quite the eye opener. It didn't freak out because I use very little toilet paper but it's also the first thing to sell out when a snow storm is predicted here. It also brings back memories of my 2009 Wind Surf transatlantic. Windstar normally does it's transatlantics without stops but in 2009 we had a stop in Funchal. The Captain explained that the reason was that some supplies did not arrive in Lisbon on time, one of them Toilet rolls. Roy

As noted earlier I visited Prince Rupert twice, both times arriving by train and leaving by ferry. The first was way back in 1995 when I arrived by train and departed for Vancouver Island on BC Ferries former Queen of the North (sadly, ran aground and sank in 2006), Absolutely no photos from that era. The second time was part of an eclectic trip. I arrived in Prince Rupert by train August 26, 2010 and left the next morning on the Matanuska (my first ever shipboard night in 1991) for Wranell the next morning. After 1 night in Wrangel I boarded sister ferry Columbia for a night in Haines, and then on to Juneau on another sister Malaspina. From Juneau I boarded Cruise West's Spirit of Columbia, their very last voyage before going belly up, ending in Seattle. Very few photos from that trip: Of course I HAD to include this Prince Rupert from the Ferry Dock: There is only one ferry dock so while we loaded, Northern Adventure, replacement for Queen of the North, hung out in the harbor: Not actually Prince Rupert but this lighthouse marks the point where we entered US waters: Roy

@cruising sister my condolences as well on the loss of your son's friend. How sad. For those on the Zuiderdam I have a suggestion if you don't have plans for the port. Close to the port is the Dover Castle It has an interesting network of rooms and tunnels and served as an a communication and information center in World War II. I don't think HAL stops there often but I have twice boarded the Crystal Symphony there, Roy

My ancient dryer and fridge are both having issues but I suspect they may give me fewer problems than today's new ones. Roy

Happy Friday. Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Ann, Debbie, and Dixie. There are only a few ex-spouses in my extended family and I have difficulty finding anything not to like about laughter and looking at the sky. The quote will be popular among dailyites. I've been to Prince Rupert twice but it was many years ago, arriving both times by train and leaving on ferries. I'll try to flesh that out a bit later. I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Iced Melon Bisque, Fresh Fruit Medley, and New York Striploin Steak as served on MS Amsterdam April 14, 2014. Best wishes Vanessa on your doctor's visit today, and wishing safe arrival in Florida to those boarding tomorrow. Roy

Bon Voyage! Roy

That is correct. I drove in the area in November and am pretty sure there are 2 options; if you don't have a transponder your tag will be photographed and the car owner will be sent a bill. At least all the major rental companies supply a transponder. When I was there I had my own car and used a transponder but almost all of the east coast states have reciprocal arrangements. THere will be a surcharge from your rental car but the tolls may not be that big a deal. Roy

It may be pre-mature to completely dismiss the idea of Portland. The Columbia River is quite navigable right up to Portland and recently the Koningsdam, probably almost 2 times the size of Serenity was drydocked there. That position is noted in this post: Just took a look at cruisemapper.com and see the Koningsdam getting into position at drydock in Portland Oregon right now. It's quite a distance from the ocean. See its journey? While Portland does not have a cruise terminal, I can conceive of Serenity docking in the area and running a shuttle into town: The green dots are bulk freighters so I think a Portland area is POSSIBLE. Is it ;practical or in Serenity's future? As they say, time will tell. Roy

Today's sunrise is land based from my 2012 Celebrity Solstice transatlantic. On April 13 I was in Fort Lauderdale awaiting the start of the cruise, a much nicer day in Fort Lauderdale than this April 13: Roy

Today's sunrise is land based from my 2012 Celebrity Solstice transatlantic. On April 13 I was in Fort Lauderdale awaiting the start of the cruise, a much nicer day in Fort Lauderdale than this April 13: Roy

I would have thought that N Amsterdam would have dynamic positioning and not need to use the anchor at all. I assume the dining room was opened up for some additional seating. Roy

Good luck. Sure don't like what I see about South Florida. Roy

Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Dixie. I will celebrate some plants but curse others. Bookmobiles are vary valuable and while I would love a peach cobbler it won't happen. I'm a bit surprised that Messiah premiered in spring since it is now largely associated with Advent. I have not been to Monte Carlo. I prefer the full version of today's quote. I'll pass on the meal due to the pepper. My alternative is Pineapple, Kiwi, Strawberry, Arroz Con Polla, and Triple Berry Sundae as served on MS Zaandam April 13, 2017: Roy

We've had 2 recent compound "Ports of the Day", Puerto Caldera/Costa Rica and Amber Cove/Puerto Plata. Altar Do Chao/Santarem could almost be a third. Altar Do Chao sits about 20 miles up the Rio Tapajos from Santarem which sits at the confluence with the Amazon. I visited both cities in 2013 and 2019 on the Prinsendam and both ties visited Santarem headed towards Manaus and Altar Do Chao on the way back. I did not really see a lot of Altar Do Chao and was not especially impressed with what I did see. In 2013 I visited Tapajos National Forest from Santarem and then had a "Highlights of Santarem" tour when we stopped at Altar Do Chao on the way back. In 2019 I did walk around Altar Do Chao but the highlight was the departure. That day MS Veendam was visiting Santarem and it was the last time Prinsesndam and Veendam as BHB's and both Captains made it a great celebration with toots galore, cameras flashing and the Veendam following us until she turned upstream towards Manaus. Here's my blog post from that day: https://morethangetaways.wordpress.com/2019/03/14/day-p68-wednesday-march-13-2019-alter-do-chao-brazil/ Roy

I have stayed in one and it was fine for me. A couple notes of caution. First, since they are far forward the area where they sit slopes so the further back you can get among the cabins you can get the larger your cabin will be. The other caution is about pricing, Since there are few single cabins sometimes supply and demand makes them more expensive than other cabins. What I tend to do is just set my number of passengers to one and see what the prices are. Roy