Random thoughts from the sea
Day 63, Grand Asia 2017 Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 – At Sea We officially kicked off the holiday season tonight with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, accompanied by holiday songs, cookies, hot chocolate and apple cider and even a little snow. Passengers and crew packed the three-story atrium, where a
Continue readingDay 62, Grand Asia 2017 Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 – At Sea Today ended with a sad reminder that we will be getting off this ship sooner than many of us might want. We received a form asking for our disembarkation plans — flight numbers and times, whether we want
Continue readingDay 61, Grand Asia 2017 Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 – Auckland, New Zealand When it’s an island nation or a natural port, a locale’s history is intertwined with the sea. I saw an example of that today in Auckland, where I spent a couple of hours at its maritime museum.
Continue readingDay 60, Grand Asia 2017 Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 – Tauranga, New Zealand Today the Amsterdam docked right at the downtown area of Tauranga, a small city that has become New Zealand’s largest port. We were in the shadow of the volcanic Mount Maunganui, and a number of passengers took
Continue readingDay 59, Grand Asia 2017 Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 – Waitangi, New Zealand Our journey to New Zealand began with a scenic sail-in to the Bay of Islands, in the northeast part of the country’s north island. More than 140 islands, some merely rocks, dotted the bay as we entered.
Continue readingDay 58, Grand Asia 2017 Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 – At Sea Much goes on behind the scenes on the Amsterdam to make our time here special, and we seldom see it. Today I had an opportunity to look behind the curtain and take a tour of the galley. The
Continue readingDay 57, Grand Asia 2017 Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 – At Sea The boxes started coming up from the bowels of the ship in the morning. By early afternoon, the crew was hard at work. And by dinner, the sounds were filling the air. Christmas season has arrived on the
Continue readingDay 56, Grand Asia 2017 Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 – At Sea I have rarely gained weight on a cruise, but then I have never been on an 80-day cruise either. I’ve discovered some tips along the way to limit what some think is an unlimited opportunity to eat. Today
Continue readingDay 55, Grand Asia 2017 Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 – Sydney, Australia Figuring I am now an old pro at taking the ferry around Sydney Harbor, and having some money left on my Opal ferry card for fares, I set off this morning by shuttle bus, foot and ferry for
Continue readingDay 54, Grand Asia 2017 Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 – Sydney, Australia As I waited at our designated meeting spot this morning, I hoped I would recognize my friends. I planned to spend the day with Robyn and Helen, two women from Sydney whom I had met four years ago
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