yammer

Recently I was sailing on the Koningsdam- Holland America and the dining room staff put me at a table with all solo travellers. Everyone was friendly and shared their cruise experiences. Everyone was a bit shy but after introductions, it was a quick way to meet fellow cruise enthusiasts.

I enjoy cruising solo and I find that cruising is generally pretty safe for a solo traveller. I don't have to worry about getting to the hotel room safely from the street at night and I can relax knowing that I have assistance whenever I need it. I did my first solo cruise for my 30th birthday and loved it!

I purchased the "behind the scenes" tour for $150 and for the hour we got to see the behind the scences activities. But the Bridge was no longer included in the tour after September 11th, 2001. We were informed that the Bridge used to be included in the tour and we were not permitted to take pictures or do any filming. All phones had to be left out of the tour. I have been on 4 cruises after the pandemic and have not seen this onboard tour available for passengers.

Ever wonder happens behind the "Crew door" labelled EMPLOYEES only? Guess what I found in the library on the Holland America Koningsdam ship? Want some insights about cruising and hidden secrets of the cruise industry? I have sailed a number of cruise lines over 19 years and recently while I was sailing Holland America I came across a very interesting book in the libray on the Koningsdam titled "The Untold Tales of a Sailor at Sea" by author L.C. Tang. It was written by a cruise passenger who became a crew member and then ended up working in the cruise industry as an employee while also sailing as a passenger in between contracts. While reading this book, it gave me insights into the lives of the crew members who serve us and it made me appreciate the employees alot more during my 10 day cruise. I highly recommend all cruise enthusiasts to read this book as it divulges some fascinating bits and secrets from both the perspective of a sailing passenger and a crew member. Check out the website of the book. www.authorlctang.com I ended up spending alot of time in the library as there is large selection of the latest books. My fellow passengers and I spent alot of time discussing this fascinating publication that provided insights into the operations of the cruise industry.