Koningsdam is Back!!!

 The Koningsdam is Back!!!!  After 19 months the Holland America Line Koningsdam is back in service, and I am so excited!!!  Today, I was picked up early at the hotel by the Limo that was sent to pick me up and take me to the pier to officially open up the Koningsdam for sailing again.  I was so honored when, weeks ago, I was asked to cut the ribbon to open up the Koningsdam.  I joined Gus Antorcha, President of Holland America Line, the Captain, Steve Macbeath and the head of the Port Authority to officially open the Koningsdam.  It was also great to see Seth Wayne again, Brand Ambassador for Holland America Line, he has done such an amazing job over the last 19 months keeping the Holland America Cruise family connected and energized...  Once I checked in and went through security, I entered the terminal area that was filled with Officers and Crew and the energy level was incredible….  They are so ready to get back in service and start doing what they do so well, providing amazing experiences sailing guests around the world… My excitement level was through the roof.  Spending 7-8 months at sea for so many years has become my normal lifestyle and I have missed it so much!  When I cut the ribbon, the place just erupted, everyone was so excited.  It will be a memory that I will always cherish.  Then it was time to go aboard and I loved being the first guest to board the Koningsdam…  I was home!  The rest of the day was a bit of a blur, going here and there, unpacking, visiting with old friends and discovering who was aboard.  I visited the Retreat where the Scott sisters and I have a Cabana for the next few months and saw me dear friend Manny Cabanela who will be taking care of us there.  The Mariner cocktail reception was nice, visited with old friends John & Diane.  The it was off to the sail away…  I am so excited to back in my element again…  Life is good!!!  Next stop Avalon, Catalina Island.    

Loving San Diego and ready for the adventure to begin.....

 The last time I was on a Holland America Line Ship was March 20^th, 2020.  Ann, Cathy & I debarked the Volendam in Fort Lauderdale, finishing up just a wee bit early our Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  It was still in the early days of the pandemic and we knew very little of what lay ahead as we made our way driving north to make it safely home.  It was a very scary drive; we were sanitizing every thing we came in contact with along the way.  It’s probably the first time all those gasoline pumps had a complete sanitization.  Well, a lot of time has passed, we all handled the pandemic in our own way, trying to make sense of a very uncertain future.  I decided to make it as positive of an experience as possible, doing constructive projects around the house, walking 10 miles a day or whatever I could to bring a ray of sunshine into a world that had gone dark in many ways.  Ann, Cathy and I planned many long journeys only to have them discarded and we would start anew…  It brought us allot of positive energy in planning for the future.  The travel plans that begin tomorrow for me on the Koningsdam is probably the 8^th generation of voyage planning.  This upcoming voyage which will have us on three ships, the Koningsdam, Zuiderdam and Rotterdam is what I would call my risk mitigation voyage, everyone vaccinated, not too far from the USA and on Holland America Line which has proven that they have the protocols to make this return to cruising work.  I’ve gone on way too long, tomorrow is a new day and I am very excited to get back with my Holland America Family and believe me, we are family….  I’ve included a few photos after my arrival last night and on my walk about today…  I love San Diego, beautiful place…  I’m also really looking forward to seeing my old friend David Allen from Shore Operations, we met years ago after he followed the blog for a long time.  Great guy, the Scott Sisters and I look forward to seeing him back to doing what he does so well….  So, one more night’s sleep and we’re off to enjoying life at sea on Holland America Line again…

The three ship solution....

Well, here I go once again with a new plan!!!!  This time, I went on the defense, with Hawaii hospitals at capacity and another potential lockdown looming, I decided to take the Hawaiian Islands out of the picture.  The last thing one needs when planning a long voyage if for huge gaps to magically appear.  Once again, I had to remind myself that we are still very deep into this pandemic.  Given the current state of affairs, the best approach for me is to take a very conservative approach and not venture far from the US.  So the solution was to come up with a voyage that involves 3 ships…  Yep!  Three ships, moving from one to the other on the same day, just grab your bags and move into a new ship.  The voyage will commence, as currently planned, on 10 October when I board the ms Koningsdam for weekly California Coast and Mexico cruises.  The Scott sisters join a week later.  Then, on January 2^nd, we move over to my beloved Zuiderdam for three 14-day Panama Canal Voyages from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale, and back again.  We end up in Ft. Lauderdale on February 13^th where we grab our bags, once again, and move to Holland America’s newest ship the ms Rotterdam.  We will be doing weekly Caribbean cruises until 17 April when it will be time to go home.  Is it the greatest itinerary in the world, maybe not but in this pandemic world, it’s just perfect for us.  I am so ready to be sailing, once again, with Holland America Line and see all my friends onboard.

Ms Koningsdam

SUN 10OCT21 San Diego, California 5pm

MON 11OCT21 Catalina Island, California 7am 5pm

TUE 12OCT21 Sea Day

WED 13OCT21 San Francisco, California 8am

THU 14OCT21 San Francisco, California 7pm

FRI 15OCT21 Sea Day

SAT 16OCT21 Ensenada, Mexico 8am 5pm

SUN 17OCT21 San Diego, California 7am 4 pm

MON 18OCT21 Sea Day

TUE 19OCT21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 8am 5pm

WED 20OCT21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

THU 21OCT21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

FRI 22OCT21 Sea Day

SAT 23OCT21 Sea Day

SUN 24OCT21 San Diego, California 7am 4 pm

MON 25OCT21 Sea Day

TUE 26OCT21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 10am 6pm

 WED 27OCT21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

THU 28OCT21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 5pm

FRI 29OCT21 Sea Day

SAT 30OCT21 Sea Day

SUN 31OCT21 San Diego, California, US 7am 5pm

MON 01NOV21 Ensenada, Mexico 7am 5pm

TUE 02NOV21 At Sea

WED 03NOV21 San Francisco, California, US 7am

THU 04NOV21 San Francisco, California, US 7pm

FRI 05NOV21 Sea Day

SAT 06NOV21 Catalina Island, California, US 7am 6pm

SUN 07NOV21 San Diego, California, US 7am 5pm

MON 08NOV21 Catalina Island, California, US 7am 6pm

TUE 09NOV21 Sea Day

WED 10NOV21 San Francisco, California, US 10am

THU 11NOV21 San Francisco, California, US 7pm

FRI 12NOV21 At Sea

SAT 13NOV21 Ensenada, Mexico 8am 6pm

SUN 14NOV21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 15NOV21 At Sea

TUE 16NOV21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 10am 6pm

WED 17NOV21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

THU 18NOV21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

FRI 19NOV21 At Sea

SAT 20NOV21 At Sea

SUN 21NOV21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 22NOV21 At Sea

TUE 23NOV21 At Sea

WED 24NOV21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

THU 25NOV21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

FRI 26 NOV21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

SAT 27NOV21 At Sea

SUN 28NOV21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 29NOV21 At Sea

TUE 30NOV21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

WED 01DEC21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

THU 02DEC21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

FRI 03DEC21 At Sea

SAT 04DEC21 At Sea

SUN 05DEC21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 06DEC21 At Sea

TUE 07DEC21 At Sea

WED 08DEC21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

THU 09DEC21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

FRI 10DEC21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

SAT 11DEC21 At Sea

SUN 12DEC21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 13DEC21 At Sea

TUE 14DEC21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

WED 15DEC21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

THU 16DEC21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

FRI 17DEC21 At Sea

SAT 18DEC21 At Sea

SUN 19DEC21 San Diego, California 7am 4pm

MON 20DEC21 At Sea

TUE 21DEC21 At Sea

WED 22DEC21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

THU 23DEC21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

FRI 24DEC21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

SAT 25DEC21 At Sea

SUN 26DEC21 San Diego, California, US 7am 4pm

MON 27DEC21 At Sea

TUE 28DEC21 At Sea

WED 29DEC21 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 8am 9pm

THU 30DEC21 Mazatlán, Mexico 8am 5pm

FRI 31DEC21 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am 3pm

SAT 01JAN22 At Sea

SUN 02JAN22 San Diego, California, US 7am

 

Ms Zuiderdam

SUN 02JAN22 San Diego, California, US 5pm

MON 03JAN22 Sea Day

TUE 04JAN22 Sea Day

WED 05JAN22 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 7am 4pm

THU 06JAN22 Sea Day

FRI 07JAN22 Huatulco, Mexico 8am 2pm

SAT 08JAN22 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 9am 7pm

SUN 09JAN22 Corinto, Nicaragua 8am 4pm

MON 10JAN22 Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa 8am 6pm

TUE 11JAN22 Sea Day

WED 12JAN22 Enter Panama Canal Balboa 5am 5am

WED 12JAN22 Cruising Panama Canal

WED 12JAN22 Exit Panama Canal Cristobal 7pm

THU 13JAN22 Cartagena, Colombia 12noon 5pm

FRI 14JAN22 Sea Day

SAT 15JAN22 Sea Day

SUN 16JAN22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 17JAN22 Sea Day

TUE 18JAN22 Sea Day

WED 19JAN22 Cartagena, Colombia 7am 1pm

THU 20JAN22 Enter Panama Canal Cristobal 5am

THU 20JAN22 Cruising Panama Canal

THU 20JAN22 Exit Panama Canal Balboa 7pm

FRI 21JAN22 Sea Day

SAT 22JAN22 Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa Rica 7am 5pm

SUN 23JAN22 Corinto, Nicaragua 9:00am 5pm

MON 24JAN22 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 7am 5pm

TUE 25JAN22 Huatulco, Mexico 1pm 7pm

WED 26JAN22 Sea Day

THU 27JAN22 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 10am 8pm

FRI 28JAN22 Sea Day

SAT 29JAN22 Sea Day

SUN 30JAN22 San Diego, California, US 7am 5pm

MON 31JAN22 Sea Day

TUE 01FEB22 Sea Day

WED 02FEB22 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 7am 4pm

THU 03FEB22 Sea Day

FRI 04FEB22 Huatulco, Mexico 8am 2pm

SAT 05FEB22 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 9am 7pm

SUN 06FEB22 Corinto, Nicaragua 8am 4pm

MON 07FEB22 Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa 8am 6pm

TUE 08FEB22 Sea Day

WED 09FEB22 Enter Panama Canal Balboa 5am

WED 09FEB22 Cruising Panama Canal

WED 09FEB22 Exit Panama Canal Cristobal 7pm

THU 10FEB22 Cartagena, Colombia 12noon 5pm

FRI 11FEB22 Sea Day

SAT 12FEB22 Sea Day

SUN 13FEB22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am

Ms Rotterdam

SUN 13FEB22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 4pm

MON 14FEB22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 15FEB22 At Sea

WED 16FEB22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 8am 5pm

THU 17FEB22 Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8am 5pm

FRI 18FEB22 At Sea

SAT 19FEB22 Key West, Florida, US 7am 4pm

SUN 20FEB22 Fort Lauderdale US 7am 4pm

MON 21FEB22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 22FEB22 At Sea

WED 23FEB22 Oranjestad, Aruba 1pm 11pm

THU 24FEB22 Willemstad, Curacao 8am 5pm

FRI 25FEB22 At Sea

SAT 26FEB22 At Sea

SUN 27FEB22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 28FEB22 At Sea

TUE 01MAR22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 8am 4pm

WED 02MAR22 San Juan, Puerto Rico 1pm 11pm

THU 03MAR22 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 8am 5pm

FRI 04MAR22 At Sea

SAT 05MAR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

SUN 06MAR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 07MAR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 08MAR22 At Sea

WED 09MAR22 Falmouth, Jamaica 8am 5pm

THU 10MAR22 Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8am 5pm

FRI 11MAR22 At Sea

SAT 12MAR Key West, Florida, US 8am 5pm

SUN 13MAR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 14MAR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 15MAR22 At Sea

WED 16MAR22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 8am 4pm

THU 17MAR22 Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8am 5pm

FRI 18MAR22 At Sea

SAT 19MAR22 Key West, Florida, US 7am 4pm

SUN 20MAR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 21MAR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 22MAR22 At Sea

WED 23MAR22 Oranjestad, Aruba 1pm 11pm

THU 24MAR22 Willemstad, Curacao 8am 5pm

FRI 25MAR22 At Sea

SAT 26MAR22 At Sea

SUN 27MAR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 28MAR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 29MAR22 At Sea

WED 30MAR22 Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8am 5pm

THU 31MAR22 Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8am 5pm

FRI 01APR22 At Sea

SAT 02APR22 Key West, Florida, US 8am 5pm

SUN 03APR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 04MAR22 At Sea

TUE 05APR22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 8am 4pm

WED 06APR22 San Juan, Puerto Rico 1pm 11pm

THU 07APR22 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 8am 5pm

FRI 08APR22 At Sea

SAT 09APR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

SUN 10APR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am 4pm

MON 11APR22 Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 8am 3pm

TUE 12APR22 At Sea

WED 13APR22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos 8am 5pm

THU 14MAR22 Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 8am 5pm

FRI 15APR22 At Sea

SAT 16APR22 Key West, Florida, US 7am 5pm

SUN 17APR22 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 7am