Interesting Information Arrives

As the days dwindle until the cruise begins, more and more information has arrived.  My FedEx suitcase labels arrived in preparation for the December 18 pick-up.  I also had a long detailed e-mail from HAL about the cruise.

First of all, the Captain and Staff have been announced.  If you have ever been on HAL these names may mean something to you otherwise you might want to skip this section.

CAPTAIN: Jonathan Mercer
HOTEL DIRECTOR: Henk Mensink
CHIEF ENGINEER: Harry Drabbe
CHIEF OFFICERS: Thomas van Benthem / Jan Smit
CRUISE DIRECTOR: Hamish Davis
GUEST RELATIONS MANAGER:  Christel Mensink
PURSER: Peter Wallis
EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER:  Shiv Charan
CULINARY OPERATIONS MANAGER:  Ivan Ivanov / Florin Dragomir
EXECUTIVE CHEF: Petr Nozaki
DINING ROOM MANAGER:  Phillip Stolte
BEVERAGE MANAGER:  Twinkle Pastorfide
FUTURE CRUISE CONSULTANTS:  Lynn Lehr & Larry Lehr
EXC TOURISM MANAGER:  Nyron Peters
DESTINATION SPECIALIST:  Barbara Haenni

Also joining you the cruise are Guest Staff that will include Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Bridge Instructor, Dance Instructor, Dance Hosts, Guest Speakers and more.

There has been a great deal of discussion on Cruise Critic about the cutbacks on HAL and job positions that have been eliminated.  This same discussion goes on for almost all the other lines because cruising is ever evolving and it is not the same as in "the good old days".  Some of the activities that are no more on other cruises will still be available on the World Cruise.  Here are some of them.

ENRICHING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES - Our talented crew will introduce you to a daily supply of new activities, from the kitchen to the ballroom. Our list of qualified professionals includes:

A tai chi instructor

Dance instructors

Watercolorists

Arts & crafts instructors

Digital Workshop powered by Windows®

BBC Earth Experiences

Culinary and hotel-related demonstrators

Bridge instructors

THINGS HEAT UP WITH AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN Join us on a culinary-themed cruise where you will be able to explore new recipes and cooking techniques with leading America's Test kitchen cast members, editors, authors and celebrity chefs.

Finally, we received the list of Theme Events and Celebrations.

GRAND WORLD VOYAGE ACTIVITIES GALORE With so many thrilling onboard activities to look forward to, you may be wondering just what to plan for – and how to pack! Here’s a helpful guide to what you can expect at sea.

GALA CELEBRATIONS AND THEME NIGHTS Pull out your ball gown, top hat or tropical shirt. Holland America theme nights are guest favorites and we’ve already planned a list of them, giving you ample time to prepare. We encourage you to “dress the part.”

THEME EVENTS We will feature the following theme events: January 4 Complimentary Bon Voyage Sail Away on Lido Deck (meet up with all your friends on board as we depart on the Grand World Voyage 2018)

January 7 Captain’s Welcome Aboard Reception and Black & Gold Dinner (our first Gala Night, complimentary pre-dinner cocktail party with staff introductions followed by the Black and Gold Dinner)

January 8 Panama Hat Night (celebrate your upcoming transit through the canal, hats provided, or bring your own)

January 11 Mystery Celebrity Chef Dinner* (a very ‘fluid’ concept, so be prepared for the unexpected)

January 12 Dutch Dinner (a fun and typically Dutch themed dinner)

January 13 Sommelier Dinner* (gourmet food and wine pairings)

January 15 Black & Silver Masked Ball (Gala Night, the first Grand Ball in the Queens Lounge, masks to be provided, or wear your own “maskerpiece”)

January 17 Moulin Rouge Dinner (French infused and seductively styled)

January 18 Rudi's Sel de Mer (pop-up restaurant concept in the Pinnacle Grill of classic French Mediterranean dishes with a contemporary twist, cover charge applies)

January 20 Tropical Paradise Dinner (kick back and dine between lush 'palm trees')

January 24 Polynesian Cook-In (Polynesian feast of food and entertainment in the Lido areas)

January 31 "Mad Scientist" themed Sommelier Lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (Gourmet food and wine pairings with a twist, fee applies)

January 31 Bowlers & Bumper Shoots (Gala Night, enroute to Commonwealth nations)

February 5 Superbowl (the event is “on” in the Queens Lounge, reception permitting)

February 6 Maori Kai Food Festival in the Lido areas (celebrating Waiting Day by showcasing the best of local food and culture)

February 7 Rudi's Sel de Mer (pop-up restaurant concept in the Pinnacle Grill of classic French Mediterranean dishes with a contemporary twist, cover charge applies)

February 8 Under the Sea Dinner (Gala Night with aquatic theme and a focus on seafood)

February 13 Mardi Gras (eat, party and celebrate the merriment of Fat Tuesday)

February 14 Valentine’s Dinner and Ball (Gala Night to celebrate love at this time-honored Queen’s Lounge Ball)

February 16 Chinese New Year Celebration (The Lido Restaurant will turn into China Town for dinner)

February 21 Aussie Outback Cook-In (Fair dinkum fun and casual outback tucker from Down Under in the Lido areas)

February 22 Mystery Celebrity Chef Dinner* (a very ‘fluid’ concept, so be prepared for the unexpected)

February 24 Pan-Asian Dinner (Gala Night, combining culinary delights from Indonesia and the Philippines)

February 25 Sommelier Dinner* (gourmet food and wine pairings)

February 28 Rudi's Sel de Mer (pop-up restaurant concept in the Pinnacle Grill of classic French Mediterranean dishes with a contemporary twist, cover charge applies)

March 1 The White Dinner (Gala Night, all-white clothing theme symbolizing purity and elegance)

March 4 Secret Garden Dinner (enjoy the mystery and wonderment of this floral inspired dinner)

March 11 Red Lantern Dinner (Gala Night, time honored theme to match your Asian wardrobe for this evening)

March 12 Mystery Celebrity Chef Dinner* (a very ‘fluid’ concept, so be prepared for the unexpected)

March 16 Makansutra Dinner in the Lido areas (featuring all the local food stalls that Singapore is known for)

March 17 St. Patrick’s Day (partake in the “wearing of the green” and look for that pot of gold)

March 19 "Lunch in the Dark" themed Sommelier Lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (Gourmet food and wine pairings, fee applies)

March 19 Indian Dinner (Gala Night, and a chance to wear your Indian garb and taste the many flavors Indian cuisine has to offer)

March 22 Sommelier Dinner* (gourmet food and wine pairings)

March 24 Seafood Grill Dinner in the Lido areas (fresh seafood galore prepared and presented in local style)

March 26 A Classic Gala Night (Gala Night, a chance to dress in near-bygone style)

April 1 Easter on Amsterdam (Gala Night, enjoy Easter for all its splendor to include traditional classics)

April 7 African Braai in the Lido areas (Africa’s own grilled and local specialties)

April 8 Sommelier Dinner* (gourmet food and wine pairings)

April 9 Out of Africa Dinner (Gala Night, relive the movie scenes of Robert Redford and Meryl Streep)

April 10 Mystery Celebrity Chef Dinner* (a very ‘fluid’ concept, so be prepared for the unexpected)

April 11 Rudi's Sel de Mer (pop-up restaurant concept in the Pinnacle Grill of classic French Mediterranean dishes with a contemporary twist, cover charge applies)

April 13 King Neptune Ceremony (daytime event to commemorate a sailor’s first crossing of the equator)

April 14 Fabulous Las Vegas (Gala Night, and "what happens on Amsterdam, stays on Amsterdam")

April 18 Double Dutch Dinner* (celebrating our Dutch heritage)

April 21 The Magic of Motown (dress the part and dance to this Soul-Pop era music in the Crows Nest)

April 22 Breakfast for Dinner* (yes, you read it right, breakfast in all its glory, served for dinner)

April 23 Mariner’s Appreciation Night (final Gala Night, to include pre-dinner cocktail parties in the Queens Lounge honoring your Mariner status)

April 25 American Cookin' Dinner in the Lido areas (all your classic favorites with trimming and helpings galore)

April 26 Chef’s Farewell Dinner (culinary excellence in the La Fontaine Dining Room)

April 26 The Grand Farewell Night (Queens Lounge event with a special Guest Entertainer to close in Grand style)

April 27 International Favorites Dinner (summing up our culinary journey with all-time favorites)

*Limited to the Pinnacle Grill only, by onboard reservation only, US $79.00 all-inclusive set-price cover charge (including Bar Service Charge). We recommend making your booking(s) at the start of your voyage.

And in case you are wondering, I do not bring clothing to go with all of the themes (I didn't on my last WV, either).  Most people don't but it is fun to see those who do.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Cancelled Ports

On a cruise you are not guaranteed to go to all of the ports on the original itinerary.  On my 2014 WV we were supposed to have two ports in Egypt but because of the political upheaval there they were cancelled and we went to Israel instead.  (I was quite glad about that because I had been to Egypt but not Israel.)

Sometimes ports are cancelled because of weather.  On my South Pacific cruise in 2016 we had two ports cancelled due to rough seas.  Both of these were places where you have to get off the ship onto a tender that will take you to the port.

We just had our first port cancelled.  We were supposed to go to Madagascar (I was really looking forward to seeing the lemurs) but there is an outbreak of pneumonic plague there and HAL decided not to take any chances and replaced it with Reunion Island.  This is a very small island to the east of Madagascar.  It is the place where the first debris of Malaysia Flight 370 was found.

We have at least ten ports that require tenders so the number of cancelled ports may increase.  Also, our last port is San Juan, Puerto Rico.  As slow as things are going there they may not be ready for cruise ships by then.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Why HAL?

Some friends were surprised when I told them my world voyage was going to be on Holland America (HAL) rather than Cunard.  After all, I had a wonderful time on my Cunard world voyage, loved the dressing up in the evening, the British ambience on board, and of course, my balcony.  So why did I switch to Holland America for this cruise?  There were a number of factors which influenced my decision.

In my first blog I explained how I ended up deciding to cruise on Cunard.  My first choice had been HAL but the balconies were almost $30,000 more than on Cunard (which put them way out of my price range).  For this world voyage I decided I was fine with an oceanview cabin.

For a number of years I have been reading blogs by world cruisers on HAL.  After taking three cruises on Holland America, I knew that I would enjoy a world cruise with them.  Although I don’t think you get quite as good a mix of nationalities on HAL that you get on Cunard, there always seems to be many Canadians (more than I have seen on Cunard) along with a few other nationalities.

The world voyage begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale which is very easy (and fast) to get to from home.  Jetblue has two non-stop flights a day between Richmond and FLL and they take about two hours.

I had heard many good things about a travel agency in Seattle called Cruise Specialists.  They give a number of perks for world cruisers that AAA (former travel agency) do not – on my first world cruise AAA gave me $200 onboard credit and a bottle of wine.  I asked some people I met onboard HAL if they used Cruise Specialists and how they liked them.  Heard only positive comments and was given the name of a specific agent who came highly recommended.  Cruise Specialists provide the following for HAL world cruises.

·      $200 OBC or $200 off the excursions they offer (which usually are a little cheaper and with smaller groups than the ones HAL sponsors)

·      Pre-cruise hotel overnight stay

·      A special cocktail party and dinner the night before the cruise

·      Transportation from the airport to the hotel and the hotel to the ship

·      A windbreaker and choice of a tote bag or small messenger bag

·      A voyage host (or hosts)

·      Private onboard events and gatherings

·      (Saved the best for last) a 6% discount on the cost of the cruise (minus taxes and fees, of course)

Holland America also gives perks for certain categories of cabins and for booking by June of the year before the cruise.  These include the following:

·      Fed Ex pick up of two suitcases to be delivered to the ship and returned to home afterwards

·      OBC based on category of cabin (I get $350 + $150 for booking shortly after my last cruise)

·      Pre-paid gratuities (a savings of about $1400)

·      A 3% discount on the cost of the cruise (minus taxes and fees again) if paid in full before June 1, 2017

Guests in suites get even more benefits.

Due to missing ports and changed itinerary, HAL gave everyone on the 2016 South Pacific cruise a 12% credit of the cost of that cruise to be used on a future cruise.  For me, that was just over $1000 and helped to bring down the cost of the world cruise.

As of now, I think the thing I will miss the most about Cunard is the dress code.  I really do like “dressing” for dinner and especially the formal nights.  HAL has watered down formal nights to “Gala Nights” where there are a few more restrictions in the main dining room but formal wear is optional.  I have read that the people on the world cruise tend to be dressier than on shorter voyages.  I still plan on taking my formal wear (a few less items than on Cunard) and enjoying “dressing up” in the evenings.

Stay tuned to find out how HAL stacks up against Cunard!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Upsell Offer

Yesterday I was offered an upsell.  For those unfamiliar with the term, it means that the cruise line is offering me a cabin in a higher category for an extra amount of money.  (An upgrade is when the cruise line gives you a higher category cabin for no extra money - this happened to me on my "Winter Crossing" cruise in 2015.)

My travel agent called and said HAL was offering me a verandah cabin (instead of my oceanview) for $12,000.  That was actually a bargain because if I had originally booked a verandah it would have been $40,000 more than what I paid.  Unfortunately, I don't have $12,000 sitting around, so I declined the offer.  $12,000 is almost half of the amount of the next "Grand Voyage" cruise I want to do in 2019 so I will remain happy with my original oceanview cabin.

Smooth sailing until next time!

ms Amsterdam

The Amsterdam is the oldest and the smallest ship I have been on in twenty years.  I am most familiar with ships that hold about 2000 people and are about 95,000 tons although I have been on short cruises on larger ships.  Many people love the smaller ships much better than the larger ones.  I don't think I would care for the 6000 passenger ships.  We'll see what I think about a smaller one.

ms Amsterdam

Information about the Amsterdam --

• Built in 2000
• Tonnage 62753
• Length 781 feet
• Occupancy 1380
• Crew 600
• Godmother - Janet Lanterman 
• Flag - Netherlands

Some people like to save a few dollars and book a "guarantee".  This means that you will get at least the category you pay for but might be put in a higher one.  However, you may be given a cabin anywhere on the ship including some less than desirable locations.  I chose my cabin very carefully.  Almost all of the oceanview cabins have the bed right under the window.  I had a cabin like that on my Canada/New England cruise on Liberty of the Seas.  To look out you the window I had to either stand at the end of the bed, kneel on the bed (not possible with my arthritic knees), or lean over (can't do that for long).  Amsterdam has two front facing cabins on deck 6.  I have had front facing cabins twice before and really like them.  So, I chose cabin 6102 the larger of the two front facing cabins.  I've read that you can sometimes hear noise from the Queen's Lounge Showroom which is below the cabin.  However, since I am a night owl and the shows are usually over by 11 pm, it shouldn't bother me.  The cabin has two front facing windows and an outside deck in front of it (no, you can't see in).  I plan on using this deck as a stand-in for having my own balcony.  Not quite as good but only a few steps away from my door and tens of thousands of dollars cheaper! Once I am aboard I will post pictures of my cabin.

Smooth sailing until next time!