Room Service...one of the luxuries of the day

Room service delivered our egg-beater omelets and juice – what a way to start the day. We had a nice conversation with our two room attendants – I Made (i-maa-day) and Lucmon (luke-mon) who are both from Indonesia. They seem very friendly and funny and will be on the ship until October and then enjoy three months at home with their families.

I called all my group to welcome them onboard and arranged a meet and greet for tomorrow morning in the Explorer’s Lounge at 9:30. I met the nicest lady from Sydney on my 1.5 mile walk around the deck! We fell in step together and kept walking and talking. They flew over for the cruise and will stay in NY for 4 nights before going back home. Gene could see us as we cruised past our stateroom window on our laps around the ship.

It was a gorgeous spring day with white clouds and sunshine at 72 degrees. Really lovely day…so after room service lunch (starting out on the right foot with a salad!) I took an hour nap outside. The age of the guests is older and not many were outside in the sun. There are many activities during the day so they could have been at a fitness class, Tai Chi, doing the daily quiz, playing in the croquet target challenge, listening to the port lecture for St. Barts and Funchal Maderia Portugal, learning about Olive Oil!, at the casino, taking a knitting class!, golf chipping, in a dance class, doing arts and crafts, enjoying afternoon tea or ping pong…there is quite an extensive list of daily activities.

I worked with the purser’s desk and bar manager for our cocktail invitations and confirmations. Enjoyed a nice surf’n turf and poached pears for dinner and worked again…The 5:30 dinner hour is a bit early for me but the 8PM is too late. On most cruises they also offer a “ANY TIME” dining but on the longer voyages they offer the two set times and the buffet. We’ll enjoy the buffet some nights also and maybe some room service. I like being outside for the sunsets and you miss those when in the restaurant….although the windows are great! Full length and sparkling clean!

On to the show...Justin Miller.

On the ship!

We’re on the ship! Gene arrived early. We drove to the ship and embarked en masse. When he left, Dad said he thought it might be easier to arrive later in the day when the crowds subside but we were lucky to check in at the suite desk with fresh flowers and a shorter line.
We dumped our carryon in the stateroom – upgraded to #264! View of the promenade deck and water…I think we will see everyone marching past our window as they do laps! Nice big picture window! A bathtub (little luxury not often included on a cruise ship). And a walk-in closet! And a little hallway from the real hallway to your stateroom. Very nice layout of the room: sofa, TV, refrigerator, long desk area, safe, many shelf units for clothing and storage and a very good size bathroom. I’m pleased.

We ambled down our same floor to the dining room and promptly ordered our first meal of many. Prawns, soup, salmon and then up to the buffet for dessert! We had time to explore with Dad and found the laundry, card room, library, internet café, two pools and whirlpools. The first pool I saw was a very small round one in the middle of the ship. I thought about my laps and that would have been an adventure. It hardly qualifies as a pool – more like a large Jacuzzi without the heat and bubbles.

Dad was anxious to get on the road so off he went to western Florida. I am being chased by security now to get on the ship....we sail in an hour and have to do the lifeboat drill. Off I run....

Crossing the border in to Florida

Gorgeous spring day in Florida! Bright sunshine. Mild temperatures (46 in the morning and then a high of 65) and a nice drive.
Had our Florida orange juice at the welcome rest area just over the state line and headed to Dad’s friend Ed’s home, a fellow WWII
Veteran from the 12th Armored Division – the Hellcats.

Ed is a creative decorator! He lives alone on a golf course and has his photos and cut out murals of popular U.S. scenes in frames and placed them around the house. He even has a wooden light post in his living room that lights up! He has framed a photo of his friends playing in a lake and hung curtains around it so it looks like a window! And his garage is meticulously organized with the collectible Hess trucks and miniature antique cars in glass containers with old postcards placed behind the cars, so the cars look as if they are in a street scene. One wall has his 12th Armored Division memorabilia from the regional meetings he attends.

When we left Hobe Sound, we merged into the Ft. Lauderdale traffic but were thankfully allowed in the HOV lane, and managed to find the Residence Inn in Plantation. Just in time for a dinner of BBQ chicken and bratwurst, wine and beer, potato salad and watermelon! And of course the popcorn! Did you know dinners are provided on certain nights at a Residence Inn??? (Photo of the lounge/dining area where we will also have breakfast.) I finished the night working on quotes and emails and packing….
1175 miles from my house to the hotel

Gene is coming! He is able to get away and was confirmed today. We will pick him up tomorrow morning and head to the Prinsendam. I’m excited about my Dad coming on the ship before he heads to the west coast to visit friends.

1st Night on the Road

Did you hear me banging car doors this morning as I packed and re-packed the car at 6:15?? Sorry to disturb you!
We were off right on time at 6:30 and then the rain came!
It rained and rained but we drove on.

Sun came out around 11:00 and we saw the beautiful white pear trees and light pink cherry trees and yellow azaleas and daffodils in full bloom! Just beautiful as you are driving south....

Hardeeville, South Carolina is our home tonight. Russell Stovers chocolate outlet, Chinese dinner, computer time, phone calls and slumbertime...that was enough for the day.

Final night of preparation

Well, suitcases are packed. Incredible. It went rather quickly this time. Most of my clothes are in one case; included are ten pairs of shoes. But what is a female without shoes…..?

It’s the gifts and paperwork that slow me down. I have been sifting through the piles and writing down so many passwords.

Dad has very kindly offered to drive me to the pier! In Florida! I’ve also been granted special permission for him to have a quick tour before we sail at 5PM. That will be fun!!

Prinsendam ship
Ship's Registry: The Netherlands
Passenger capacity: 835 (Queen Victoria was over 2,000)
Crew members: 470
Gross Tonnage: 37,983 grt. (Queen Victoria was 90,000 grt)
Length: 669 feet
Beam: 106 feet
Maximum speed: 22 knots

Features
La Fontaine Dining Room: features impeccable service and an extensive wine list. Five-course menus include continental cuisine, vegetarian and low-carb options

Pinnacle Grill: This intimate reservations-only venue offers an elegant, sophisticated dining experience. Featuring premium Sterling Silver beef, inspired seafood dishes and many select wines rated "Excellent" by Wine Spectator - as well as distinctive Bvlgari® china, Riedel® stemware and Frette® linens

Lido Restaurant: offers a relaxed ambiance for all three meals and features a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order specialties

The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine: our state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen offering interactive gourmet cooking lessons taught by our own Master Chefs or culinary guests

Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times: a comfortable, coffee house environment where you can browse through an extensive library, surf the Internet and check email or simply read the morning paper.

Greenhouse Spa & Salon: features heavenly beauty and wellness rituals. Enjoy a facial, hot stone massage, steam in a thermal suite and have your hair and nails done for a special evening.

Queen's Show Lounge: features talented vocalists, dancers, illusionists, comedians and variety acts

I know I'll enjoy exploring all the options on-board...just get me out the door tomorrow morning!

Documentation received!

Documentation has been received!
Stateroom #408

Holland America is very well organized with pre-boarding information. I received a flyer with the Grand Voyage Activities, the names of all the officers, prices for internet ($250 for 1000 minutes!), laundry, wine, soda and spa packages….there is much to ponder over these last few days.

Gala Celebrations!
There are 8 formal and 43 smart casual nights plus all these special events.
March 25 is the Captain’s Welcome Toast
March 27 Buccaneers' Night
April 1 is the Black and White Ball
April 5 Ali Baba Night
April 8 Viva Espana Paella BBQ on deck
April 9 Sommelier Dinner
April 10 is “Speakeasy”
April 15 is the Mariner Lunch (for those who have cruised before on Holland
America)
April 17 Indonesian Rijsttafel Dinner
April 19 Imperial Russian Night
April 21 Indian Delicacies
April 24 Night of the Gods
April 29 Medieval Knights
April 30 is Queens Day (the Queen of The Netherlands’ birthday)
May 2 Fiesta del Matador
May 3 Grand Mediterranean BBQ
May 8 "A Deadly Feast" Murder Mystery
May 9 is the Black and Gold Ball
!!!

Plus there are Casual Theme Nights!
Ali Baba Night
Imperial Russian Night
Medieval Knights
Fiesta del Matador

Holland America is a big supporter of the Susan G Komen Foundation and on every cruise they sponsor a walk and auction in support of breast cancer research, supplying t-shirts to all participants.

Everyday Enriching Activities
Yoga, dance instructors, water-colorist, arts and crafts instructors, culinary and hotel-related demonstrators.

Plus we will have two celebrated top chefs in the Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine.
Kristin Dixon, Executive Chef and Owner, Within the Wild Lodges (Alaska) from March 24 – April 8
Marisol Koczal Simon, Culinary Educator, Author and Chef, Denver, CO from April 9-26

Much more to read and digest…final preparations are underway.

Seas Beckon...Holland America GRAND VOYAGE

I've been asked by Ensemble, the host agency for Preferred Travel, to host a group of 22 from Ft. Lauderdale for an incredible journey: two trans-Atlantic crossings, two crossings in the Mediterranean and stops in the Black Sea...
How could I refuse??!!

March 24 - May 14, 2010
I'll be on the Prinsendam ship for 51 days!

Here is the itinerary:
24 Mar 2010 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 05:00 PM 1
25 Mar 2010 At Sea 2
26 Mar 2010 At Sea 3
27 Mar 2010 Gustavia (St. Barts), France TR 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 4
28 Mar 2010 At Sea 5
29 Mar 2010 At Sea 6
30 Mar 2010 At Sea 7
31 Mar 2010 At Sea 8
01 Apr 2010 At Sea 9
02 Apr 2010 At Sea 10
03 Apr 2010 Funchal (Madeira), Portugal 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 11
04 Apr 2010 At Sea 12
05 Apr 2010 Tangier, Morrocco 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 13
06 Apr 2010 Almeria, Spain 07:00 AM 05:00 PM 14
07 Apr 2010 La Savina, Spain TR 09:00 AM 05:00 PM 15
08 Apr 2010 Barcelona, Spain ON 08:00 AM 16
09 Apr 2010 Barcelona, Spain 05:00 PM 17
10 Apr 2010 St Tropez, France TR 10:00 AM 06:00 PM 18
11 Apr 2010 Livorno (Florence) Italy 07:00 AM 07:00 PM 19
12 Apr 2010 Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy 06:00 AM 07:00 PM 20
13 Apr 2010 At Sea 21
14 Apr 2010 Katakolon, Greece 09:00 AM 05:00 PM 22
15 Apr 2010 At Sea 23
16 Apr 2010 Istanbul, Turkey ON 08:00 AM 24
17 Apr 2010 Istanbul, Turkey 06:00 PM 25
18 Apr 2010 At Sea 26
19 Apr 2010 Sochi, Russia VX 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 27 2014 WINTER OLYMPICS!
20 Apr 2010 Batumi, Georgia 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 28
21 Apr 2010 Trabzon, Turkey 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 29
22 Apr 2010 Sinop, Turkey 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 30
23 Apr 2010 At Sea 31
24 Apr 2010 Volos, Greece 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 32
25 Apr 2010 Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 33
26 Apr 2010 Piraeus (Athens), Greece 07:00 AM 11:00 PM 34
27 Apr 2010 Thira (Santorini), Greece 08:00 AM 11:00 PM 35
28 Apr 2010 At Sea 36
29 Apr 2010 Valletta, Malta 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 37
30 Apr 2010 At Sea 38
01 May 2010 At Sea 39
02 May 2010 Cadiz (Seville), Spain 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 40
03 May 2010 Lisbon, Portugal ON 08:00 AM 41
04 May 2010 Lisbon, Portugal 11:00 PM 42
05 May 2010 At Sea 43
06 May 2010 At Sea 44
07 May 2010 Ponta Delgada, Portugal 08:00 AM 05:00 PM 45
08 May 2010 At Sea 46
09 May 2010 At Sea 47
10 May 2010 At Sea 48
11 May 2010 At Sea 49
12 May 2010 Hamilton, Bermuda 08:00 AM 04:00 PM 50
13 May 2010 At Sea 51
14 May 2010 New York, New York, US 07:00 AM 04:45 PM 52
15 May 2010 At Sea 53
16 May 2010 At Sea 54
17 May 2010 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 07:00 AM

The Prinsendam is "designed to explore the remote corners of the world in elegance and style, the ms Prinsendam is our most intimate ship. Accommodating just 835 passengers, she gives guests the feel of a classic yacht with the spaciousness of a cruise ship. The ms Prinsendam offers many cozy areas in which to find your favorite spot, most of her staterooms feature commanding ocean views and many have private verandahs. (I'll have a window.)

A special signature sculpture dominates the three-story atrium featuring etched fish, turtles and dolphins climbing a stunning cylinder of Bolle glass and lit with state-of-the-art fiber optics. Other works of art include a remarkable abstract marble sculpture of a Viking ship by contemporary Norwegian artist Nicholas Widerberg, a series of paintings by impressionist painter Neil Pinkett, and an outstanding collection of Roman Amphorae from 50 - 150 AD. The ms Prinsendam, or "Princes" ship, is truly a classic ship worthy of her name."


Much to do to prepare...If I could only remember the routine for packing from last year...