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…