Day 37 – Feb. 11: Remote, exotic, mysterious, mystical, Easter Island is also known as Isla de Pascua – meaning Easter Island in Spanish, as it was annexed by Chile – and as Rapa Nui in its Polynesian culture. It is, well, a holy grail type of place among the world’s most experienced travelers. This… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
Days 35-36, Feb. 9-10: Each ship has a heart, the place where passengers gravitate to, perhaps to meet friends, or just to relax and be comfortable. That hub on the Amsterdam is the Explorations Café. Humberto and I went there often during our five days at sea sailing in the world’s largest body of water,… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
Seeing the moai sculptures on Easter Island was an incredible experience never to be forgotten. At the Rano Raraku crater there are still 397 sculptures. This photo was taken on the outer slopes where 20 moai remain, some buried up to their necks. Eerie, inspiring and certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jonathan Mercer Captain ms Amsterdam
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 Landfall at 0600, Easter Island, illuminated by the light of an almost full moon, not a light ashore to be seen. I had heard from the island’s agent that Hanga Roa would not be suitable for tender operations, the swell there was too big. There are only 3 possible landing points,… read more of “Around the World…”
Captain Jonathan Mercer Feb. 8-10, 2012 Wednesday, Feb. 8: The swell has slowly reduced during the day and the wind, so long from the south-west has swung, initially gentle zephyrs from the north this morning and now 20-25 knots. We are recovering some normality after our days of storms; the pools are full again, (we… read more of “Around the World…”
Days 32-33-34, Feb. 6-7-8: If you have been reading this blog, you know about the Amsterdam’s gracious interiors with fine furnishings, hundreds of flower arrangements and numerous works of art. But you don’t know too much yet about the ship’s international staff and crew. At-sea days, like this stretch we are on now en route… read more of “Cruise Diary: Crew…”
Editor’s note: Here is freelance travel writer Georgina Cruz’s Day-29 Cruise Dairy, which somehow got lost in cyberspace on the way to the Holland America Blog. Better late than never! Day 29, Feb. 3: We had been to Ushuaia, Argentina, a quaint town on the Beagle Channel and with a backdrop of mountains that give… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
Dutch TV host and adventure seeker Charlotte Squarcy is on board for segment of Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage, and she is chronicling her journey. Enjoy! I’ve figured out how to make my time aboard not 32 days at sea but 64 days at sea. I hope no one who is aboard now reads this tip… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
