Memories on this Date

[rkacruiser]

2008, the Amsterdam was in Venice, an unusual port for a Grand World Voyage.  My tour today was to the islands of Murano and Burano.  Both were very interesting visiting the glass factory on Murano as well as the various stores on Burano where their lovely lace was being produced.  Couldn't afford (nor figure out how I could safely get the Murano glass pieces home that I saw and would have liked to own), but, did buy some lace items and enjoy them today.  

[bennybear]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

2008, the Amsterdam was in Venice, an unusual port for a Grand World Voyage.  My tour today was to the islands of Murano and Burano.  Both were very interesting visiting the glass factory on Murano as well as the various stores on Burano where their lovely lace was being produced.  Couldn't afford (nor figure out how I could safely get the Murano glass pieces home that I saw and would have liked to own), but, did buy some lace items and enjoy them today.  

I learned they ship 😂.   I fell in love with a chandelier!  

[ski ww]

In 2012 the Amsterdam started her transit of the Suez Canal. It was a very hot day, spent most of it wandering around the decks taking pictures. I think this and the Valley of the Kings were the high lights of this cruise.

 

[1ANGELCAT]

April 7 2015. Boarded the Maasdam for a 10 day Caribbean cruise. 

[bennybear]

April 7/19. Kinosaki onsen

 

[TheEmerson]

It is not today, but in June.  Here is the marker given to everyone to the opening week of Denali Square in June 2016.  All the HAL big wigs and some CCL big wigs were there.  But on the day of the ribbon cutting we were on the Denali Tundra Bus Tour.

[rkacruiser]

13 hours ago, ski ww said:

the Suez Canal.

 

Images that you posted, I remembered.  A very interesting experience both from a geopolitical as well as a cultural point of view.  

 

The recent accident of that huge container ship blocking the Canal brought back memories to me.  What if the Amsterdam had been blocked when we transited?  What ports would have been missed?  

[rkacruiser]

2008, our second day docked in Venice and my tour of the day was the St. Mark's Square area and the Doges Palace.  One of the ship's nurses was my tour escorts.  She had been involved in my treatment due to my injured knee that I experienced at Luxor.  The boat that transferred our tour group from the Amsterdam to an area near St. Mark's Square docked at an area that required crossing four bridges to the Square.  Much to my unpleasant surprise:  those darn bridges have steps!!  OK going up; not so good going down the steps.  I was always at the rear of our group.  And, the nurse escort stayed with me.  When we got to the Doges Palace and got our headsets for the tour, she told me:  you cannot do this tour.  There are too many stairs.  Sit here in the courtyard; maybe you will be able to hear some of the tour guide's narration.  I followed her direction and was able to hear the first few minutes of the narration.  I people watched until my group returned, we were then "turned loose" for awhile, and I wandered around hoping to visit the Cathedral.  But, that proved impossible:  the line to enter was much too long for the time that I had.

 

Nonetheless, being a bit disappointed in not getting to do what I wanted to do, my visit to Venice was a highlight of my cruise.  

[1ANGELCAT]

April 8 2016 , the premier voyage of the Koningsdam. 
 

[bennybear]

April 8/2019   Kyoto,  we fell in love! 

Edited April 8, 2021 by bennybear

[ski ww]

In 2012  the Amsterdam was in Athens. We did a private half day tour.

 

[bennybear]

April 9/19.  Kyoto

 

[rkacruiser]

2008, on this date my two Canadian friends and I were celebrating Marvin's 81st birthday with a dinner in the Pinnacle Grill aboard the Amsterdam.  We arrived at Malta early because of a need for an emergency medical evacuation.  

 

Valletta at night, lighted, was a delight to see.  Such a beautiful city.  

[bennybear]

Oops!  Missed April 10/19. Kyoto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2021 by bennybear

[bennybear]

April 11/19. Kyoto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2021 by bennybear

[bcummin]

    In 2018 we were docked in Yokohama, Japan.  We decided to do the day on our own this time.  Walking into the port area, we turned left and into Yamashita Park on the waterfront.  Glorious tulips and other flowers were in bloom.  One lady was painting a picture of our ms Volendam.  Sudden heavy rain sent us into Happy Lawson's shop.  Jack enjoyed coffee and the internet.  I bought a children's book there.  Our grandchildren notice the interesting truck pictures, not the foreign language.  The sidewalk to Jonathan's Restaurant for lunch was decorated with interesting tiles to enjoy.  Lunch was a hamburger plate with rice and tea.  Jack bought shave lotion in the nearby drug store, which was an adventure. Such helpful people. 

    I stayed to enjoy the Silk Museum upstairs.  It was fascinating with all the steps in making silk.  And interesting displays of silk clothing through the years.  Lovely gift shop.  I bought postcards.

    Heard the ship's horn about 1 pm.  Maybe to welcome Captain Turner?  We had finished Code Red.  Captain Van Der Hoeven could turn over a clean ship to him.  And we celebrated.  Especially when we met our new tablemates at dinner.  :)  

   New cruise segment, mandatory safety drill, and an enthusiastic drum performance at the Osanbashi Cruise Terminal sent us on our way. 

    Barbara     

Edited April 11, 2021 by bcummin

[ski ww]

In 2012 the Westerdam was in Kataolon Greece. This is the place were the torch for all the Olympic games are still lit.

[ski ww]

In 2012 the Amsterdam was in Messina Italy and Mt. Edna was erupting.

 

[bennybear]

April 12/2019.  Near Kyoto,  Uji. 

 

[ski ww]

In 2012 the Amsterdam was in Naples. No matter how many times we visit Pompeii I still stand in wonder at what life must of been like when it all ended.

 

[daisybertie]

April 13th 2019, we were docked in Tauranga, New Zealand, after a cruise to Vanuatu and other Pacific islands. We met up with friends in Auckland the next day as they were boarding the Maasdam to sail back to the USA, and we flew back to Sydney.

The Maasdam was our favourite BHB, and we will miss sailing on her again.

 

[bennybear]

April 13/ 2019 on the bullet train to Yokohama,  the night before the cruise we visited their Chinatown

[rkacruiser]

13 hours ago, ski ww said:

No matter how many times we visit Pompeii I still stand in wonder at what life must of been like when it all ended.

 

Having studied Latin during my 4 years of high school and being a member of our Latin Club, Pompeii has been on my bucket list for decades.  

[rkacruiser]

2008 on this date, the Amsterdam was docked at Gibraltar.  Having visited this port previously, no tour was needed.  I spent a delightful day walking through the town with friends and meeting fellow shipmates.

 

That late afternoon and evening was bittersweet, however.  There were some whom I met that would disembark the ship the next day in Lisbon.  

 

My journal reminds me that the MDR menu had a "British" slant.  Fish and Chips, Trifle were items that were available.  Appropriate, I thought, as we departed a British related port.  

[bennybear]

April 14/ 19  Yokohama. 
After a good night sleep at the Grand hotel, which was General Mac Arthur’s headquarters during WW2,  we woke to a view of the Westerdam!  

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2021 by bennybear