Fire and Ice : A photo travelogue from Alaska thru the canal to the Caribbean and beyond

[scubacruiserx2]

Our lunch with our grandson was in Nassau on October 29th .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 A main street

 

 

 

Our corner spot

 

 

Atlantis

 

 

 

The Big Apple

 

 

And the sailaway

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 Dinner was at Canaletto where it was Osso Bucco night .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Well , our 5 day trip with Tyler had ended as we slid into Port Everglades under the cover of darkness to Port Everglades .

 

 

 

The line up near the Pinnacle for disembarkation 

 

 

Last breakfast at the Pinnacle

 

 

 

It was great to cruise with Tyler again and it seemed like he enjoyed his first cruise on HAL .  He is a fine young man who has been a real blessing in our life .

 

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Oops , we forgot that they had a charter cruise boarding on the day we left . It's the Malt Shop Memories cruise and there were a couple of people that we would like to see .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our TA picked us up at the cruise port and we had a nice chat as she drove us and our Tyler home . As we began unpacking we recognized that we were beginning to have a cruise withdrawal reaction . The solution was simple book - another cruise . A quick look showed us something that we liked . It was $ 299 for a weeks cruise with 2 SCUBA diving opportunities . We found a room that we liked and a chance at an upsell . The gamble paid off the next day with an upsell to a Neptune for $ 200 p.p.

 

 

So on November 6th we boarded the NA with our Beyond cruise . We hoped to surprise our friends on the ship and we did .

 

 

 

 

Lunch in the MDR was Mexican street Tacos and a Croque Madam for me and a Pannenkoek for Patty .

 

 

 

 

 

[oakridger]

I live near the cruise port of San Francisco, but the only regular homeport ships are Princess for Alaska and Hawaii or Carnival. I haven't taken cruises on either.  It sure is perfect for you Florida folks to have such a variety of choices within driving distance!!  

 

It was so nice to leave or return right in San Francisco on a three other cruise lines I liked.

 

~Nancy

[scubacruiserx2]

On 2/22/2023 at 2:32 AM, oakridger said:

I live near the cruise port of San Francisco, but the only regular homeport ships are Princess for Alaska and Hawaii or Carnival. I haven't taken cruises on either.  It sure is perfect for you Florida folks to have such a variety of choices within driving distance!!  

 

It was so nice to leave or return right in San Francisco on a three other cruise lines I liked.

 

~Nancy

 

You're right about leaving from your home port as it is so convenient . We have enjoyed cruising to both Alaska and Hawaii , but from Vancouver and Seattle . But we were thrilled to cruise into San Francisco and hope to return for some stay days before Hawaii . We are also fairly close to Miami and went on lots of diving cruises from there . If you or anybody would like a free virtual cruise of what Princess does look like you can read our post covid cruise on the Enchanted Princess to see some of the differences . Lots of good eating options .

 

 

Here's the complete review at this link below . We will be returning to our last cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam for some diving very soon .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Viewing the future and leaving Port Everglades just ahead of the rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rain caught us

 

 

Extended balcony # 6049

 

 

Sunset over the land

 

 

A sunset pan shot of the ship

 

 

 

Proper social distancing ?

 

 

An overhead view of our former aft corner balcony

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Seaview Sailaway

 

 

Dinner at the Canaletto

 

 

 

 

Not our best sunset this cruise

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Sunrise at Half Moon Cay

 

 

Breakfast and the announcements at Half Moon Cay ( Please don't congregate )

 

 

 

The Congregation waiting to go ashore below the Pinnacle breakfast

 

 

 

We hung out near the empty ( but covered pool ) and the Retreat . When it got hot we went for the view and the A/C at the Lido with a good pizza and some sushi .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We have been to HMC ( Little San Salvador ) which signed a 99 year lease with HAL in 1996 .

https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/travel-inspiration/half-moon-cay-bahamas-history/

 

We have been there many times so we skipped this day to eat , nap and explore and enjoy the ship .

 

 

 

Leaving HMC

 

 

In the sunset and distance we could see Princess Cay ( Eleuthera ) and a Princess ship . It's 17 miles away and where most of the workers on HMC commute from to work on HMC .

 

 

The 2nd night dinners options on TV

 

 

 

We found this neat group of tiles on the ship

 

 

We have a number of tiles from the Nieuw Amsterdam/Eurodam that we would love to trade for some HAL ships that we were on but didn't receive a tile . We are looking for The Westerdam , Zaandam and the Zuiderdam . Would anybody else like to exchange tiles ?

 

 

 

[expectGREATthings]

All I can say is WOW! This travelogue is fantastic and the photos are spectacular. I appreciate all of the work you've put into this. Thanks

[Cruise Suzy]

13 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

We have a number of tiles from the Nieuw Amsterdam/Eurodam that we would love to trade for some HAL ships that we were on but didn't receive a tile . We are looking for The Westerdam , Zaandam and the Zuiderdam . Would anybody else like to exchange tiles ?

 

I would be interested in the most recent Signature class design (upper left). How can I contact you?

 

I have one 2019-2020 Vista Class tile and one 2012-2014 Volendam/Zaandam tile that I could send. 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Hi Cruise Suzy.

Please contact us at scubacruiserx2@gmail.com

Interested in both tiles you show.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Joe and Pat

Edited March 1, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

11 hours ago, expectGREATthings said:

All I can say is WOW! This travelogue is fantastic and the photos are spectacular. I appreciate all of the work you've put into this. Thanks

 

Thank you very much , we're glad that you enjoyed it .

[scubacruiserx2]

After a smooth sail away dinner was at the Pinnacle

 

Our new favorite red

 

 

Escargot

 

 

Crab cakes were great

 

 

Patty had a little lamb

 

 

The Steak was very good and cooked perfectly 

 

 

Semi loaded baked potato

 

 

A Key lime finish 

 

 

Elephant protected from our cooties

 

 

 

[Cruise Suzy]

Just sent an e-mail to you.

[scubacruiserx2]

3 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Just sent an e-mail to you.

 

Message received . We will sent them tomorrow . 

[scubacruiserx2]

A day at sea heading to Ocho Rios

 

 

A fiber filled breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

We think that this was an isolation zone

 

 

Bow access on another  level

 

[shipfriend_max]

On 3/1/2023 at 4:20 PM, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

 

 

Bow access on another  level

 

 

Wow, is this area open to everyone at any time?

 

Are there still things like Chocolate SUrprise parade going on on one of the last evenings? And fingerfood served to the cocktails during Happy Hour?

[scubacruiserx2]

18 hours ago, shipfriend_max said:

 

Wow, is this area open to everyone at any time?

 

Are there still things like Chocolate SUrprise parade going on on one of the last evenings? And fingerfood served to the cocktails during Happy Hour?

 

We're not sure if it was open at anytime but it was during the day . We haven't attended the Chocolate Surprise Parade yet  and we don't usually go to the Happy Hour . Sorry that we can't be more help .

[scubacruiserx2]

The Crow's Nest and Explorations Cafe 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a HMC type Lobster lunch at the Retreat for 2 

 

 

 

As a coincidence we were married 45 years ago today 

 

 

 

[oakridger]

Such a cute couple in those wedding pictures!!  What an exciting life you are having!

 

~Nancy

[scubacruiserx2]

14 hours ago, oakridger said:

Such a cute couple in those wedding pictures!!  What an exciting life you are having!

 

~Nancy

 

Thank you so much Nancy . And yes life is surely an adventure . We looked at our local temperature today and we have record heat today for our daughter's bridal shower (92 f and very dry ). When we looked at San Francisco it was 48 f and our guide told us that they are having a blizzard in Yosemite with feet of snow and freezing weather . We are looking forward to some cooler weather when we hope to be near to where you live later this month .  🏂