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The sail away party with NY skyline in background

The Club Med Ship in the Harbor at Bermuda. It arrived that morning from Cuba
April 18,19, 20, 21 At Sea. The past 5 days have been spent crossing the Atlantic and fortunately, have been pretty smooth. We had a few hours of a little rocking but not enough to bother anyone. In fact, most people probably didn't notice.

One day we had a spectacular lunch buffet with a pirate theme. The waiters were dressed as pirates or sailors of one kind or another, a wrecked ship dominated the center of the dining room, sails billowed from the upper dining room, cannons boomed and centerpieces of flowers and fruit carried out the theme. The endless display of shrimp, lobster, meats, ham, turkey, salads, fruits, vegetables and desserts could have fed a third world nation

Another day there was a Moroccan buffet on the Lido deck and on a third a seafood extravaganza at the pool area.

The night of the 21st was the Black and Gold ball and the dining room was festooned with more black and gold balloons of all sizes than you can imagine. Black and gold streamers were everywhere and the chairs covered with black or gold slip covers.

April 22, Bermuda

A beautiful day weather-wise but it left a little to be desired on the planning of either Holland America or the Bermuda authorities.

First, we had been told that the ship would not be at a dock due to “renovations.” Rumor had it that a Royal Caribbean ship had the available dock space as they have more cruises to Bermuda than HAL. Who knows?

Second, the Amsterdam would not be able to use their tenders but would have to use a large ferry from Bermuda. The ferry was rumored to hold 800/750/600 people. Or perhaps none of the above. When I thought of how long it takes to load 40-50 passengers (many physically challenged) I didn’t hold much hope for a speedy loading from the ship or the shore. I was right. Numbers were given out for the tender. A fellow trivia player was in group one (20 people to a group) and I accused him of sleeping in the Queen’s Lounge all night to get an early ticket. We were in group 17. By the time the large ferry/tender arrived at the Amsterdam (and we were anchored WAY out), numbers were in the low 20s.

Fortunately, they loaded groups 1-18 so away we went. Loading at the dock was delayed as they had to take a passenger off in a stretcher and load him into an ambulance. (We never hear that anyone is sick or had died --just be sight or rumor.) Finally we were on shore and after a bit of milling around headed up the hill to the bus terminal. As I glanced back at the ferry, James, who had #1 was just getting off. (Those in higher numbers had to wait until after 11:00 for the next ferry.)

We purchased an all day bus ticket for $12 and hopped on a bus to ride out to St. George’s. Bermuda has changed to much since we were there last. I guess people find paradise and then ruin it but the island was still beautiful. Alan started talking to a couple of men from Nova Scotia on sailboat at the dock and it turned out they knew fellow Red Book Harbor Yacht Club members and in fact lay over in Pocasset.

On the way back to Hamilton we thought we might make the 1:00 ferry back to the Amsterdam and avoid the large crowd on the 2:45 last ferry. Wrong! As we were tooling down the road a motorcyclist pulled alongside the driver’s window and shouted something about “the back.” The bus driver stopped, got out, walked to the rear of the bus, come back in, shut of the engine, got out again, and made a call on his cell phone. We all sat there like a bunch of dummies until finally someone got out and asked what was going on. Bottom line ----the bus was leaking fuel and we had to wait for a replacement bus. Or walk to Hamilton --about a half hour walk --and it was hot.

Finally the new bus arrived and off we went, arriving in Hamilton at 1:10. Little did we know that the 1:00 boat did not leave until 1:30. We wandered around Hamilton as we had decided we didn’t have enough time to take advantage of our bus ticket and travel to the other end of the island. Alan found a couple of women at the bus terminal who were about to buy tickets so they became the recipients of two all day tickets. Our good deed for the day/month/whatever.

At 2:10 we arrived back at the waterfront and the ferry/tender line had was started. We got in line and waited, and waited, and waited. The line snaked around the pier area, out to the sidewalk, down the sidewalk and around the corner. It was hot, it was sunny, and remember a lot of these folks are over 80 and many have bad knees, back backs, etc. In spite of all that, it was a pretty mellow crowd and at 3:35, 526 people were aboard, many standing, and off we went.

The champagne sail-away was in full swing by the time we arrived back but we managed to snag a glass of champagne each.

After 100 plus days of great tendering, busses, etc., most people agreed Holland America could have skipped Bermuda. Or skipped New York City and stayed longer in Bermuda.

Dinner in the Lido with Frank and Mike from Toronto with plenty of laughs. We have to use up all the wine we pre-purchased!

April 23, At sea

Packing has started and who knows where it will all go or how we will carry it. Because we booked a category E cabin, HAL allows us each 100 pounds which will be shipped from Ft. Lauderdale to the house by FedEx. We had 5 bags shipped coming down and there will be 6 going home. Plus 3 or 4 large checked bags, 2 carry-ons, the lap top and my super-sized “pocketbook.”

About 300 people are leaving the ship in New York including friends we have made so we’re having lunch in the Fontaine with them. A couple more bottles of wine will be consumed.

A few nights ago we had a singer from England who had been awarded the OBE by the Queen. In her case, it is the Order of the British Empire. Tonight Alan received his own OBE as he was called up to be the magicians helper. (No, he didn’t wear tights and a sparkly dress.) For his outstanding performance we all annointed him Sir Alan and gave him an OBE ---in his case thought it’s the On Board Entertainer award.

Thursday, April 24. New York, New York.

None of the dire warnings happened. We were told that everyone on the ship, including all crew members had to be checked by Immigration and Homeland Security----in the terminal. We might not be checked until noon. We were also told our cabins might not be made up in the morning as the cabin stewards would have to go off the ship. There would be no lunch in the dining room, just the Lido Buffet. People going off the ship (like us) would not be allowed back on until everyone on the ship had been cleared. It might take 2 or more hours to clear everyone.

While waiting to get off I called the kids and found that after not talking to them for almost four months I didn’t have much to say. That will change when we get home.
I think everyone on the ship was on the cell phone for most of the morning--the first chance most people have had to check in at home.

Things went more smoothly than anticipated and other than no lunch in the dining room (and who cared) we were off the ship by just after 10, people who wanted to go back on were allowed on, cabins were cleaned, etc.

We docked at pier 92 and after some of the dock facilities we have seen, it was a disgrace. Certainly it doesn’t give much of an impression to tourists arriving in NY. Peeling paint, rust, bare and barren, etc. However, contrary to the stories about New Yorkers and government workers, the officials were pleasant and smiling. Having no specific plans we walked up to Central Park, sat on a bench in perfect spring weather, and saw at least 5 other passengers from the Amsterdam walking by.

Bought our final postcard (but no stamp for Lydia, she can find a US stamp on Nantucket), walked around a bit more and headed back to the ship.

The sail away party was magnificent with the New York skyline in the background, the orchestra playing as we sailing past the Statute of Liberty, under the Verrazano bridge and onward toward Florida.


Friday, April 25 At Sea

Eight suitcases packed! One carry-on and on to be checked to go.

We had lunch in the dining room with Lou and Kathy Budd, friends of friends from Florida. Another bottle of wine gone. As an incentive for folks to get their evaluation questionaires in before NY, the ship held a drawing of all those in by 9PM the 23rd. Nine people would win $99 and one, $999. Kathy and Lou were the lucky $99 winners.

Tonight, the Pinnacle Grill with Bob and Phylis and Nancy and Rick.