Monday, Jan 7.
A sea day with more things to do than there is time for. I had to leave the talk on Costa Rica and Panama to get to the trivia team play. We didn’t do as well as the first day but it was still fun and I’m in a great group.

Alan played bridge, I messed with the computer, went to the art auction talk (champagne), and checked out a couple more books.

Each sea day there is an informal gathering of passengers with special interests. Today was “yachting people”. Most of the 20 or so who attended had sailed around the world or had at least done “the circle” which they described as up the East Coast, across eastern Canada, into the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi. One couple there from the Chicago area own a Whitby so we had plenty to talk about.

Tonight is the Captain’s reception and our first formal night. The line to meet the Captain was very, very long and we didn’t think he would remember us anyway or invite us to the bridge so we entered the Queen’s Lounge by the side door, had a couple of drinks and hors dvrs, meet a fun couple of Canada and then it was in to dinner. If I can every figure out what I am doing I’ll post a picture of Alan in all his splendour

After dinner we attended the first Showtime show. Great talent, high energy and
incredible costumes.

Tuesday, Jan. 8

Awoke to find we are docked in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, After a leisurely breakfast we walked along the dock and ran the gauntlet of tour operators and cab drivers, each one promising the lowest price (most $20 PP) and the best tour. We spent a couple of very hot, very steamy hours looking for storage units and finally bought a five drawer thing. Each drawer is a primary color and lots like it belongs in a 4 year old’s play room but it will hold the T-shirts, some underwear and things like that. We drew a few comments and strange looks as we walked back to the ship with our purchase in two large trash bags.

A bit about our cabin. It is on the lowest passenger deck which doesn’t seem to be a problem at all. We have a large picture window with a deep window sill for all the odds and ends like books, pens, etc. Under the window are two small chests with a twin bed on each side, Moving inward toward the hall way is a sofa on one side and our new colorful chest on the other. Opposite the sofa (which has a small oval table in front of it) is a desk/counter with three drawers below. A very large mirror is over the desk/counter. Next come 4 or 6 closets (depending on how you count them --single or doubles) with adjustable shelves which allow for hanging different length clothes. Coming back from the corridor door is the bathroom with a counter with a shelf underneath, toilet and tub with shower. There’s plenty of room in the bathroom for one but it’s a bit tight for two to brush teeth at the same time. There is also a decent size medicine cabinet and wall mounted hair dryer. Outboard of the head is a two drawer chest with a table lamp on top and you’re back to the sofa.

The town of Puerto Limon is very poor and the streets in very bad condition. Vendors in bicycle propelled push carts were on every corner selling fresh cocoanuts with a straw stuck in them.

As I write this Alan is up playing bridge. Now let’s see if I can get on line and post this.

Another unsuccessful try at posting this on line.

The entertainment tonight is a ventriloquist and his duck. We shall see.

Tuesday, Jan. 9

Ken and Kelsey, the ventriloquest and his duck/dummy were wonderful! We could watch them again but they are only doing the one show.

We was up long before 5 this morning (with a time change to make it even earlier) to begin our transit of the Panama Canal. Before dawn we were on the observation deck. Thankfully the ship provided coffee, and panama rolls along with a commentary all day on what was happening as went through the three sets of locks, and Lake Gatum. Along side of us in the corresponding lock was the Seven Seas Mariner so we waved back and forth of course. The transit took all day and we dropped anchor off Fuerte Armador (Panama City) just before dusk.

Many of the usual activities went on all day…trivia as usual (our team, the green frogs after one player’s t-shirt) seems to be doing worse each day.

Ken and Kelsey (ventriloquist and duck)were interviewed in one of the lounger to a fairly good sized crowd. The duck is truly amazing, he was freaking out the girl interviewing him and we could all understand why. It’s hard to explain how an inanimate object can outstare a human but he did.

Alan has picked up a cold and spent portions of the day in bed alternating with picture taking and the hot tub.

A BBQ at the pool was offered as a substitute to the dining room. Alan choose the BBQ and I ate in the dining room. We meet in the theatre for a folkloric show. The Panamanian costumes were handmade and their head dresses beads and jewels. The music was quite loud and consisted mostly of an accordion and drums. After the show the performers danced their way around the atrium for picture taking.


Thursday, Jan. 10

We overslept! Our little electric alarm clock was blinking when we finally woke up but we didn’t find out the reason until 10:10 we stumbled into the Lido dining area to find it shut down except for pastries, cold cereal and coffee.

Sometime around 4 am the power had gone off (according to passengers who woke up during the next half hour and couldn’t turn on a light to go to the bathroom).

We caught a tender (about a 10 minute ride into the port area----a few souvenir shops and a duty free liquor store. It was very hot and everyone coming back from the town said it was even hotter, very poor and not worth the trip. We bought a few bottles of wine and some tonic water for consumption in the cabin. Lochstead folks --I found four buck chuck with a Chilean label! That beats the cheapest wine in the dining room --$32. As we went through the security detector the wine bottles could have been forbidden scotch, rum or whatever. The ship’s policy is that you can bring aboard wine and champagne for cabin only consumption but I am sure many people were bringing liquor on board.

Here goes another try at posting.

It didn’t work!!!!

Tonight’s entertainment is a singer from Australia, Janine Reed. A powerful voice and quite entertaining.

Friday, Jan. 11

Team Trivia was brutal! Cruise Director, Bruce Scudder, hosted it and the passengers were challenged by his cruise staff. In keeping with the 50th anniversary theme of this cruise all questions had to do with the year 1958. Only one of the staff had been born before 58 so they did not do very well. Nor did many others.

Our next port of call --in several days --is Nuku Hiva, a small island that is part of the Marquesas Islands. It seems there are no taxis, no shops except for a few native stalls, no restaurants, just beautiful scenery. More on Nuku Hiva latter when Barbara, the port speaker loans me her notes.

Alan attended the piano presentation by Natalya Lavrova and I went to the movies. Big mistake but I was to tired to walk out on Even Almightly, a truly stupid movie.

For the English majors reading this, or those who just like correct grammar, this blog/log is going to change tense, etc. as it is written at various times and days. Sorry but this teeny keyboard is just too frustrating and we won’t even talk about the mouse things!



Saturday, Jan. 12

Cloudy but warm. In fact warmer than last night when apparently we sailed closer to the currents coming up from Antarctica.

This morning we passed 200 miles from of the Galapagos. Small birds continue to follow the ship dropping low I assume to look for fish but I haven’t seen any dive yet.
They are a long way from land although we still have 3000 plus miles to go.

Trivia question we missed: In what novel did Ian Fleming introduce James Bond?

Tonight is the Black and White Ball and of course a formal night. Alan still isn’t feeling on top of the world so we are skipping the fancy dress and eating in the Lido.

Sunday, Jan. 13,

Eating in the Lido last night was excellent. We each choose New England clam chowder, crab cake and Alan had surf and turf (filet minion and a lobster tail) , and I had two lobster tails. Not bad for a buffet.

For those unfamiliar with the ship there are several dining choices--- The Fontaine Dining Room, encompassing a large area at the stern and taking up two decks there. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Fontaine with breakfast and lunch being open seating and dinner assigned tables and two seatings, 5:45 (too early) and 8:15 (too late). The Lido is open for many hours of the day, breakfast and lunch are buffet/cafeteria style with waiters to carry your trays if you wish and to bring you refills of drinks or coffee or whatever else you desire. Dinner in the Lido is served from 5:45 to 8 with open seating and a more relaxed dress code than the dining room. The hours give a greater flexibility to dining than rushing for the 4:45 seating. There is also 24 hour room service with breakfast foods, sandwiches and whatever is on the dining room menu should you order during the hours the dining room is open. For over-the-top dining there is the Pinnacle Grill, (a “nominal” cover charge applies, I think it is $20 or $30). There is also a salad, deli, taco and pizza “bar” in the pool area open from 11:30 until 5.

For cocktails we have a choice of the crow’s nest, explorations café, explorer’s lounge, lido bar, ocean bar, Rembrandt lounge, sports bar and the wine cellar. Plenty of choices for a ship of 780 feet and carrying less than 1300 passengers on this voyage. The ship’s capacity if 1380 and is sold out. There are many singles which accounts for the lower number of passengers.

In fact, Holland America overbooked as all cruise ships do and had to scramble to find 30 additional cabins. They were offering folks great savings (we heard 50% off) on next year’s cruise if they would give up their cabins. Supposedly no one was willing to wait a year so many of the senior officers had to double up and their cabins assigned to passengers.

Last night’s entertainment was a comedian. The satellite was lost so no one was able to enjoy the Patriot’s game. Everyone is hoping that things will work out for the playoffs when we will be in New Zealand.

Many evenings we have found gifts in our cabin. So far we’ve received slippers, a very nice leather journal with a pen, a leather case for credit cards and our cabin door card. Last night was a battery operated (yes, battery included) dual-time travel alarm clock.


We expect to cross the equator around 3 pm tomorrow afternoon. I understand big ceremonies are planed.

With time changes so many nights we are constantly changing clocks and watches.

We’re meeting more and more people each day. So many are on their 2nd, 3 rd, 5th, 12th world cruise we feel like a minority. Everyone is very helpful with port hints and e-mail advice (which we all need). E-mail and the computers are the most annoying thing about the cruise. No one is happy as it takes a minimum of 5 minutes to bring up aol or whatever server they are using….eating up those precious minutes. The people without a prepaid plan are paying 75 cents a minutes!

The entertainer tonight is Renato, a tenor from Italy. His CD is title a tribute to Pavarotti and has Renato and Pavarotti picture on it --standing together.

. After the evening show, a comedian, Dick Hardwich and singer, Janine Reed, we meet tablemates Jack, John and Joan in the Crow’s next for a drink and to have John try to get our blog on line----without success.



Monday, Jan. 14

Today we crossed the equator! It went unnoticed by everyone except a few passengers who have brought along a GPS. The only change we noticed was that the temperature at night was a bit cooler at the equator than a bit north of it. Something to do with currents coming up from Antarctica. After lunch there was a ceremony at the aft pool to initiate several crew members into Poseidon’s society and insure our safe passage and smooth waters. Poseiden aka King Neptune, his queen, a merman and several ship’s officers presided over the ceremony which consisted of leading the crew members down the deck roped together and then forced to hear their crimes. They then had to “kiss the fish”, a very large, very cold, very dead fish, be covered in colored glop, and then jump into the pool. After the ceremony we all had a chance to kiss the fish for a photo op.
Upon returning to our cabin we found certificates that we had been found worthy, and were proclaimed Shellbacks able to forevermore cross the equator and roam the Oceans and Seas.

Dinner again in the Lido and then I turned in as Alan’s cold is finding a new home. Another night of clock changing so I was probably in bed before the street lights went on……or out here, before the stars came out.


Wed., Jan. 16

The Amsterdam is averaging 20 knots with the South Equatorial Current in our favor as we sail toward Nuku Hiva. The ship has a port lecturer who gives a presentation on the ports we will visit. Apparently Nuku Hiva is a small island, still somewhat unspoiled with no taxis, restaurants, bit hotels, internet, etc. Barbara’s talks are well researched and much of her information based on personal experience so they are well worth attending.

The ship’s florists gave a floral arranging talk. All the flowers are flown in from Holland every couple of weeks. Most of the arrangements around the ship are very unusual, incorporating twigs, feathers, and very different containers. One large display in the library is made of what looks like twisted vines with roses in what looks like test tubes hanging from the vines. Unusual and a conversation piece. There are arrangements in all the public spaces, on each table in the dining room, orchids on each table in the Lido and a single blossom in our cabin.

Lunch in the Fontaine Dining room with some of the cruise critic people and another one scheduled for Friday. We ‘re still putting faces to those we corresponded on line with for so many months.

Dinner tonight is formal and much to our delight Barbara, the port lecturer joined us at our table. On formal nights different ships officers sit with various tables (and supply wine) ---a nice touch.

After dinner, all dressed in our formal wear we went to the Wajang Theatre to see the movie Mr. Brooks with Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and William Hurt. Most people did not like the film but at least it wasn’t a typical Hollywood film made for 14 year olds.
Since we went to the 8 o’clock movie we still had time to pop into the queen’s lounge to hear Renato’s second performance of the cruise.

Thursday, Jan. 17

I keep looking out the windows ---guess it’s just habit since there is nothing out there but water. 69.4 million square miles of water, one third of the earth’s surface, with an average depth of 14,000 feet.

There have been several talks by Gary Pudney, a “television industry legend” who has won over 50 Emmys and among other achievements discovered Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis. Pudneys talks have covered his friendships with Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Di, Princess Grace, Lucille Ball, Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett.

Another Explorations Series speaker is astronomer Eric Dunn, who gives interesting and informative lectures on the Solar System, Ancient Map Making, the Cosmos, etc.

Friday, January 18

The usual morning activities leading up to an afternoon concert by Natalia Lavrova, the very talented (and unassuming) pianist we heard the other night.

The past several days at sea have been anything but boring and so far no one has complained about idleness. There are not enough hours in the day to participate in all the activities scheduled. Most are hosted and scheduled but some are drop in when you wish such as the knitting group. So much is going on I have only read one book in 16 days!

Saturday, January 19

Landfall! This morning we anchored in a lovely little bay of the tiny island of Nuku Hiva, one of the Marquesas Islands. After tendering ashore (a 5-10 minute ride) we explored the three craft shops, the little grocery store and strolled along the waterfront taking pictures of the dozen or so sailboats from all over the world anchored in the bay. The scenery was magnificent, lushly covered mountains (some over 3280 feet) intersprearched with sheer faces. Other than scenery there is little too do and the heat and humidity drove most people back to the Amsterdam well in advance of our 6:00 sailing. In fact, we up anchored and left about a half hour early as everyone was back.

The ocean passage covered 3,842 nautical miles giving one a new appreciation of the early explorers. At least we know our destination. And have wonderful food, dry, clean beds, laundry service, and a great library.

Saturday, Jan. 20

A day at sea and we are ready for it. It is amazing how much there is to do and how little time. Of course, having to be in the dining room at 5:45 means that we need to start showering and dressing by 4:30 ---earlier on formal nights.
A few nights we have eaten in the Lido which we can do up until 7:30. The menu is almost the same as the Fontaine Dining Room. In the morning and at lunch the Lido is a buffet with many choices and a waiter to carry your tray if you wish, and get you coffee or juice. Evenings in the Lido we pick our choice from the buffet, take a table (covered with a cloth and having a candle and flowers). A waiter brings our dinners, water, wine, coffee, etc. I think I have talked about the various dining venues so forgive my senior moment.

Holland America is committed to raising funds for the Susan G. Koman Foundation and today was the first of several walks for Cancer. Called On Deck for the Cure, folks pay a minimum of $15 which gets them a pink bracelet, t-shirt and an opportunity to walk 5K around the deck. Alternately, you can make a $15 or more donation, get the bracelet and t-shirt and watch the walkers. You can guess what we did. Nearly $3,500 was raised.

Monday, Jan. 21, day 18 of our voyage.

We have arrived at Papeete, Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia. After seeing so many pictures and hearing so much of Tahiti it was, unfortunately, a disappointment. The first disappointment was that the Museum of Tahiti is closed on Monday. Second was the city itself has traffic to rival the southeast expressway in Boston and route 41 in Bonita, graffiti and heat. We wandered the tourist center as well as the large market place which consisted of two floors of tables and stalls selling everything from fresh fruit to large wooden carvings. After returning to the ship for lunch we ventured out again, hiring a driver and van to take us around the island. After leaving the hustling, noisy city behind we saw beautiful views of the harbor from high up the mountains. We stopped at Venus Point, the landing site for European discovers for many centuries. The beautiful black sand beach boasts the island’s only lighthouse and is where Capt Cook’s conducted observations of the planet Venus.

Cook’s name is constantly mentioned in all of the lectures on the Society, Friendly and Marquesas islands. Cook, a self taught son of a ditch digger, made 3 voyages to the South Pacific and was killed on his last one. Even today the charts he made are considered accurate.

Tahiti boasts its share of famous residents and visitors --Paul Gauguin, Herman Melville, the filming of Mutiny of the Bounty and of course Marlon Brando who bought an atoll and married a Tahitian woman.

The day concluded with a BBQ dinner around the pool and a wonderful, energetic show put on by a Tahitian dance troupe The pace was breakneck and the costumes beautiful.

Tuesday, Jan. 22

When I went out onto the deck this morning my jaw actually dropped at the beautiful anchorage. The rest of the day convinced me that Moorea is the most beautiful island in the world. Like most of the islands Moorea was created by a volcano. It is incredible green and lush with beaches, mountains and vegetation that one thinks of when they think South Pacific.

We rented a car and with Alan driving toured the island. Halfway down a mountain Alan announced that the gas gauge was showing empty. With our two traveling companions, Frank and Mike from Toronto we had no choice but to continue on in the hope of finding a gas station. A few miles down the only road on the island we came to a Mobil station and put it about an imperial gallon of gas ---$8. Everything on all the islands is very expensive from postcards from 80 cents to a dollar, beer at $9 a bottle, a stamp for a post card $1.60. After our brief stop for gas, coffee out, and a quick look at the souvenir shop next door, we continued on.

We passed several resorts which consisted of small thatched roof “huts” built on stilts over the water. The individual units were connected with wooden walkways. One or two similar resorts were built out on the atolls and accessible only by the resorts’ boats.
I am sure they are very, very pricey.

With only one road on the island we were assured we could not get lost. I don’t think you would call what we did lost but we managed to miss the driveway back to the car rental place and tender pier. With the gas gauge back on empty we nervously turned around when Mike announced he thought we had gone to far. We made it back without incident, bought a couple of post cards, a somewhat native dress for Sandra and took the very warm tender back to the Amsterdam.

Tonight’s entertainment, Rick Starr, a comedian.

Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Bora Bora is another South Pacific Island whose name has conjured up images of green covered mountains, white sandy beaches lined with palm trees and natives in colorful pareas. We weren’t disappointed once we got out of the town and tender area which was congested with black pearl shops, souvenir shops, a police station and a post office where you took a number and then sat on a bench to wait your turn.

Black pearls are a very big thing in these islands and quite expensive. When you walk into a shop and see tray upon tray of them in all sizes and degrees of color you have to wonder why they are so expensive if they are so plentiful. We passed on the pearls and picked up our usual postcard.

We were booked on our first Holland America tour leaving at 8:15 a.m. Even at that hour it was very hot and humid as we boarded a funky bus with no windows, hard plastic, narrow seats and no springs. The island had just experienced two days of solid rain and the one dirt road on the island had more pot holes than Boston in April. Every time we went over a pot hole people were bounced almost off their seat and some in the back of the bus let out a groan like they had been hit with a sledge hammer. The rest of us thought it was just part of the local color.



Our bus stopped at a roadside stand where we saw a demonstration of how pareas are made. A large piece of white cotton is tied and then dipped section by section in pans of bright colored paints. The cloth is then wrung out and placed over tables made of corrugated tin. Stencils made from linoleum are placed on the now colored clothes which are left to dry in the sun. Once dry then are hung on clothes lines for tourists to purchase. They are priced from $10 to $25, depending on where you shop. We suspect that the place we stopped was owned by relatives of our guide or bus driver.

Our final stop was at the famous Bloody Mary’s where most of us ordered ---what else --a bloody mary.

All of the islands had a overwhelming population of the ugliest dogs ever seen. The dogs roam freely and breed freely. According to our guide, the French government is trying to institute a neutering program but from what we saw it isn’t very successful.

Tonight’s entertainer, Stuart Gillies, a singer from Scotland. Tonight’s movie, The last Legion, a waste of ben Kingsley talent according to all who say it, walked out or fell asleep. Tomorrow’s movie is Spider Man 3.The movies are truly appalling choices for the age of the audience.


Thursday, Jan. 24.

At last a day at sea. Everyone is ready to relax, sleep a little latter and catch up on laundry, journals and blogs.

In Tahiti most of the entertainers and lecturers left the ship and a new batch came on board. The new speakers that we know of are Charlie Urbanowicz, an anthropologist, and David Abbott, a radio and TV host as well as a syndicated columnist. Tonight entertainer is Annette Wardell, an opera singer who must weigh all of 115 pounds but has the voice of a singer twice her size.

We continue to change the clocks, play bridge, trivia and meet new people.

Today the passenger directory was published. We spied a couple of people from Bonita and a few from the cape. Perhaps we'll get to meet them later.

On our next sea day I hope to be able to publish pictures. In the meantime, we're having a wonderful time and urge everyone to rush out to your travel agent and book the next world cruise.