Days 54-55-56, Feb. 29, March 1, 2: We got to Cairns, in Queensland, a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the rainforest, and Australia’s Outback, with overcast skies and a rainbow. Humberto, Duffy, “our bear that went around the world,” and I promptly boarded the Reef Magic II, a large catamaran that came alongside the… read more of “Cruise Diary: Out…”
Holland America Line President and CEO Stein Kruse and his wife Linda boarded Amsterdam in Pago Pago, American Samoa, to host several Mariner Appreciation events as part of Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage. The Mariner Appreciation Days and other related celebrations are an annual special recognition and thank you for Grand World Voyage guests, many who… read more of “Special Mariner…”
Captain Jonathan Mercer Thursday, March 1: The telephone next to the bed woke me up, a glance at the bedside clock, O Lord, 2 a.m., time for a quick shower and then to the bridge to prepare for departure Cairns. The inevitable coffee in hand, I walk to the bridge. It’s still raining, this surely… read more of “Around the World…”
Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012: We arrived in Cairns at 8 a.m. at the cruise terminal. The long entrance channel is tide restricted, vessels such as ours can only enter at certain states of tide and we were fortunate that an 0600 pilot, a reasonably civilised hour, was suitable for us. Even so, we have to… read more of “Around the World…”
Days 52-53 Feb. 27-28: “We’re half way through the cruise already – time to start panicking: we’ll have to get off soon!” a guest told her traveling companion in one of the Amsterdam’s elevator wells. She was anticipating a bit – we still have three days to go before the halfway point. But I knew… read more of “Cruise Diary: Near…”
Dutch TV host and adventure seeker Charlotte Squarcy was recently on board for a segment of Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage, and she chronicled her journey. Enjoy! Believe it or not, it is possible to recreate a Mardi Gras bash on the wrong ocean, that is, if you are willing to put the time, money and… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
Days 50-51, Feb. 25-26: Humberto, Duffy (“our bear that went around the world”) and I were up early to watch our entrance to Sydney Harbor, one of the planet’s best natural harbors with such world-famous sights as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge and the city’s skyline, and we immediately headed for the Amsterdam’s… read more of “Cruise Diary:…”
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012: We spent yesterday making our way north, paralleling the Australian coast at varying distances. We had sun, however it was quite windy with a consequent strong wind across the decks. During the afternoon, an unhealthy swell built up, coming onto our starboard side and making for an uncomfortable ‘jerky’ ride. Later… read more of “Around the World…”
