A reunion of friends in Curacao

Today was a wonderful day!!!!  I left the ship bright and early and went for a walk about before heading over to see my friends Aart & Ellen.  It was a wonderful day for walking around, taking photos and just enjoying the sights and sounds of Curacao…  I arrived at their home around 9:30 in the morning and it was a wonderful reunion.  It seemed like times earlier this year when the Zuiderdam would call every 10/11 days in Curacao.  After visiting for a few hours, Ellen thought it would be nice to go and see an art project, the Cathedral of Thorns, being developed by artist Herman van Bergen.  The structure is being created by the thorns of the Acacia Tortuosa or Wabi.  It’s really quite amazing….  Herman took us around and described his work and how it will evolve until its completion next year.  There is a nice description at http://curacao-art.com/events/cathedral-of-thorns/ It’s definitely worth a look and once completed, it will be amazing…  I’m just happy I didn’t run into a wall and shred my skin…..  Afterwards, we went down by the water for drinks and a bit to eat, wrapping up a very special day…  Really love those two!!!!

Oranjestad, Aruba

Not surprisingly, the cruise is going great!  Last night we had our first Gala Night and the Captain’s Welcome toast, it was a delightful evening….  Today, we sailed to Aruba.  I spent all morning in the Retreat, enjoying the wonderful weather.  We arrived into Oranjestad, Aruba around 1:00 in the afternoon and I promptly departed to get in a nice walk and take a few photos along the way.  I also took a bit of time for shopping and Wi-Fi.  I came back to the ship and went back to the Retreat for another 1 ½ hours before heading back into town….  It was a full day, over 11 miles walking, a nice swim, beautiful sunshine and another t-shirt I don’t need….  Tomorrow is an exciting day; we dock in Curacao where I will get off first thing and make my way to visit with Aart & Ellen….  Kind of like last year all over again….  Great day!!!!

 

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Another great day onboard the Zuiderdam…  We were anchored off Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas and I elected to hang out in the Retreat instead of going ashore…..  It’s almost like having the ship to yourself.  Great day in the sun, heat index of 98F which meant you had to take a dip now and then to cool off.  It turned out to be a wonderful day.  Nice evening, wonderful dinner followed by some great entertainment in the BB King Blues Club….  I got a chance to visit with some of the officers and crew which made the day special.  There was even a cabin steward who remembers me from my first World Voyage back in 2007, what a memory…  Tomorrow is a day at sea which means another day soaking up the rays….

Family reunion on the ms Zuiderdam....

Well the magical day finally arrived and I was back on the Zuiderdam, my home away from home.  I was whisked right onboard and in my cabin before 10:30….  Fantastic!!!  The sign on my cabin door said it all, “Welcome Home”.  I spent the day wandering around the ship I had grown to love so much on my 8 ½ month journey that ended in July.  Around ever corner was another smiling face welcoming me back.  I am so glad that I decided to stop off here before heading to the Volendam.  It feels really great to be home…..  As we depart Fort Lauderdale I am really excited about the days ahead, time to see old friends on the Zuiderdam and Aart & Ellen in Curacao....  it just keeps getting better!



A new exciting adventure awaits.....

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries lately about my next adventure…  Great question since I hadn’t looked at it very closely….  Now that I look at it, looks pretty great!  I doubt that it will measure up to the magnificent adventure on the Zuiderdam but you never know.  Speaking of the Zuiderdam, I kicking things off with a visit to my old stomping grounds on the Zuiderdam, just needed to stop in and say hi.  Well, I’m packed and ready to go…..   What's not to like, lots of Caribbean, couple of trips up the Amazon and the beautiful Antarctic.  Love it!

Ms Zuiderdam

SUN 20OCT19 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 5:00pm

MON 21OCT19 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 3:00pm
TUE 22OCT19 Sea Day
WED 23OCT19 Oranjestad, Aruba 1:00pm 11:00pm
THU 24OCT19 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00am 4:00pm
25OCT19 Sea Day SAT 26OCT19 Enter Panama Canal Cristobal  5:00am 5:00am
SAT 26OCT19 Cruising Panama Canal and Gatun Lake
SAT 26OCT19 Gatun Lake, Panama 5,6 9:00am 10:00am
SAT 26OCT19 Cruising Gatun Lake and Panama Canal
SAT 26OCT19 Exit Panama Canal Cristobal 1:00pm 1:00pm
SAT 26OCT19 Colon, Panama 3:00pm 9:00pm
SUN 27OCT19 Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica 7:30am 5:00pm
MON 28OCT19 Sea Day
TUE 29OCT19 Sea Day
WED 30OCT19 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am

Ms Volendam

FRI 01NOV19 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 4:00pm
SAT 02NOV19 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 3:00pm
SUN 03NOV19 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 10:00am 5:00pm
MON 04NOV19 Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 05NOV19 Sea Day
WED 06NOV19 Kralendijk, Bonaire 8:00am 11:00pm
THU 07NOV19 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00am 11:00pm
FRI 08NOV19 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 09NOV19 Sea Day
SUN 10NOV19 Sea Day
MON 11NOV19 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am
MON 11NOV19 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 5:00pm
TUE 12NOV19 Sea Day
WED 13NOV19 Sea Day
THU 14NOV19 Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
FRI 15NOV19 St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 16NOV19 Philipsburg, Sint Maarten 8:00am 11:00pm
SUN 17NOV19 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 8:00am 5:00pm
MON 18NOV19 Sea Day
TUE 19NOV19 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 4:00pm
WED 20NOV19 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am
WED 20NOV19 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 3:00pm
THU 21NOV19 Sea Day
FRI 22NOV19 Sea Day
SAT 23NOV19 Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy 8:00am 3:00pm
SUN 24NOV19 Castries, Saint Lucia 8:00am 3:00pm
MON 25NOV19 Sea Day
TUE 26NOV19 Devils Island, French Guiana 12:00n 6:00pm
WED 27NOV19 Barra Norte Sea, Brazil 3:00pm
WED 27NOV19 Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil  
WED 27NOV19 Barra Norte River, Brazil  5:15pm
WED 27NOV19 Cruising the Amazon River 5:15pm
THU 28NOV19 Macapa, Brazil 4:00am 10:00am
THU 28NOV19 Cruising the Amazon River
THU 28NOV19 Crossing the Equator
FRI 29NOV19 Santarem, Brazil 12:00n 8:00pm
SAT 30NOV19 Boca da Valeria, Brazil 8:00am 2:00pm
SUN 01DEC19 Manaus, Brazil 10:00am
MON 02DEC19 Manaus, Brazil 4:00pm
TUE 03DEC19 Parintins, Brazil 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 04DEC19 Alter Do Chao, Brazil 8:00am 4:00pm
THU 05DEC19 Crossing the Equator
THU 05DEC19 Cruising the Amazon River
THU 05DEC19 Barra Norte River, Brazil 11:15pm
THU 05DEC19 Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil 11:15pm
FRI 06DEC19 Barra Norte Sea, Brazil 2:15am
FRI 06DEC19 Crossing the Equator 2:15am
SAT 07DEC19 Icoaraci (Belem), Brazil 8:00am 6:00pm
SUN 08DEC19 Crossing the Equator
MON 09DEC19 Sea Day
TUE 10DEC19 Sea Day
WED 11DEC19 Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00am 6:00pm
THU 12DEC19 Sea Day
FRI 13DEC19 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00am 11:00pm
SAT 14DEC19 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00am 8:00pm
SUN 15DEC19 Sea Day
MON 16DEC19 Falmouth, Jamaica 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 17DEC19 Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 18DEC19 Sea Day
THU 19DEC19 Key West, Florida, US 7:00am 5:00pm
FRI 20DEC19 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am
FRI 20DEC19 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 5:00pm
SAT 21DEC19 Sea Day
SUN 22DEC19 Sea Day
MON 23DEC19 Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 24DEC19 Philipsburg, Sint Maarten 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 25DEC19 Sea Day
THU 26DEC19 Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00am 5:00pm
FRI 27DEC19 Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 28DEC19 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 8:00am 5:00pm
SUN 29DEC19 Sea Day
MON 30DEC19 Willemstad, Curacao 7:00am 11:00pm
TUE 31DEC19 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00am 8:00pm
WED 01JAN20 Sea Day
THU 02JAN20 Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8:00am 5:00pm
FRI 03JAN20 Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 04JAN20 Sea Day
SUN 05JAN20 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am
SUN 05JAN20 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 6:00pm
MON 06JAN20 Sea Day
TUE 07JAN20 Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 08JAN20 Sea Day
THU 09JAN20 Sea Day
FRI 10JAN20 Enter Panama Canal Cristobal 5:00am
FRI 10JAN20 Cruising Panama Canal
FRI 10JAN20 Exit Panama Canal Balboa 7:00pm
FRI 10JAN20 Fuerte Amador, Panama 8:00pm
SAT 11JAN20 Fuerte Amador, Panama 6:00pm
SUN 12JAN20 Sea Day
MON 13JAN20 Manta, Ecuador 5:00am 8:00pm
TUE 14JAN20 Sea Day
WED 15JAN20 Salaverry (Trujillo), Peru 3:00am 6:00pm
THU 16JAN20 Callao (Lima), Peru 11:00am
FRI 17JAN20 Callao (Lima), Peru 6:00pm
SAT 18JAN20 General San Martin (Pisco), Peru 8:00am 5:00pm
SUN 19JAN20 Sea Day
MON 20JAN20 Sea Day
TUE 21JAN20 Coquimbo (La Serena), Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 22JAN20 San Antonio (Santiago), Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
THU 23JAN20 Sea Day
FRI 24JAN20 Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 25JAN20 Sea Day
SUN 26JAN20 Puerto Montt, Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
MON 27JAN20 Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 28JAN20 Puerto Chacabuco, Chile 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 29JAN20 Cruising Chilean Fjords
THU 30JAN20 Scenic cruising Amalia or Brujo Glacier
THU 30JAN20 Scenic cruising Sarmiento Channel
THU 30JAN20 Strait of Magellan
FRI 31JAN20 Punta Arenas, Chile 7:00am 7:00pm
FRI 31JAN20 Cockburn Channel
FRI 31JAN20 Beagle Channel
SAT 01FEB20 Scenic Cruising Glacier Alley
SAT 01FEB20 Scenic Cruising Cape Horn
SUN 02FEB20 Ushuaia, Argentina 6:00am 8:00pm
MON 03FEB20 Sea Day
TUE 04FEB20 Antarctic Experience 8:00am 6:00pm
WED 05FEB20 Antarctic Experience 8:00am 6:00pm
THU 06FEB20 Antarctic Experience 8:00am 6:00pm
FRI 07FEB20 Antarctic Experience 8:00am 6:00pm
SAT 08FEB20 Sea Day
SUN 09FEB20 Stanley/Falkland Is/Islas Malvinas 8:00am 5:00pm
MON 10FEB20 Sea Day
TUE 11FEB20 Puerto Madryn, Argentina 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 12FEB20 Sea Day
THU 13FEB20 Punta del Este, Uruguay 10:00am 6:00pm
FRI 14FEB20 Montevideo, Uruguay 8:00am 6:00pm
SAT 15FEB20 Buenos Aires, Argentina 8:00am
SUN 16FEB20 Buenos Aires, Argentina 5:00pm
MON 17FEB20 Sea Day
TUE 18FEB20 Sea Day
WED 19FEB20 Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil 8:00am 11:00pm
THU 20FEB20 Ilhabela (Sao Sebastiao), Brazil 8:00am 5:00pm
FRI 21FEB20 Armacao dos Buzios, Brazil 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 22FEB20 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 7:00am
SUN 23FEB20 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 11:00pm
MON 24FEB20 Sea Day
TUE 25FEB20 Ilheus, Brazil 11:00am 7:00pm
WED 26FEB20 Salvador da Bahia, Brazil 8:00am 5:00pm
THU 27FEB20 Sea Day
FRI 28FEB20 Recife, Brazil 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 29FEB20 Sea Day SUN 01MAR20 Fortaleza, Brazil 7:00am 2:00pm
MON 02MAR20 Sea Day
TUE 03MAR20 Icoaraci (Belem), Brazil 8:00am 6:00pm
WED 04MAR20 Crossing the Equator
WED 04MAR20 Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil
THU 05MAR20 Cruising the Amazon River
THU 05MAR20 Crossing the Equator
FRI 06MAR20 Santarem, Brazil 8:00am 6:00pm
SAT 07MAR20 Boca da Valeria, Brazil 8:00am 2:00pm
SUN 08MAR20 Manaus, Brazil 10:00am
MON 09MAR20 Manaus, Brazil 5:00pm
TUE 10MAR20 Parintins, Brazil 8:00am 2:00pm
WED 11MAR20 Alter Do Chao, Brazil 8:00am 2:00pm
THU 12MAR20 Cruising the Amazon River
THU 12MAR20 Crossing the Equator
THU 12MAR20 Crossing the Amazon River Bar, Brazil
FRI 13MAR20 Sea Day
SAT 14MAR20 Devils Island, French Guiana 8:00am 5:00pm
SUN 15MAR20 Sea Day
MON 16MAR20 Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00am 6:00pm
TUE 17MAR20 Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 8:00am 5:00pm
WED 18MAR20 Sea Day
THU 19MAR20 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 8:00am 5:00pm
FRI 20MAR20 Sea Day
SAT 21MAR20 Sea Day
SUN 22MAR20 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am
SUN 22MAR20 Sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 4:00pm
MON 23MAR20 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 24MAR20 Sea Day
WED 25MAR20 Sea Day
THU 26MAR20 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 8:00am 6:00pm
FRI 27MAR20 Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis 8:00am 5:00pm
SAT 28MAR20 Castries, Saint Lucia 7:00am 4:00pm
SAT 28MAR20 Scenic Cruising Soufriere Bay
SUN 29MAR20 Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00am 6:00pm
MON 30MAR20 Saint Georges, Grenada 8:00am 5:00pm
TUE 31MAR20 Point-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe 9:00am 6:00pm
WED 01APR20 St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda 8:00am 4:00pm
THU 02APR20 San Juan, Puerto Rico 8:00am 11:00pm
FRI 03APR20 Sea Day
SAT 04APR20 Sea Day
SUN 05APR20 Debark Ship Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7:00am