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Florida cruise girl

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Posts posted by Florida cruise girl

    LIVE from the 2018 HAL Grand World Voyage!

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde Islands – April 19, 2018

     

     

     

    I was not overly impressed with today’s tour. We were told in advance that the buses might not have a/c or a PA system and ours did not but since it was a cool day and we only had 13 on the bus it was not a problem. What the problem was is that we did not do many of the things on the itinerary.

     

     

     

    The EXC description says that the top three reasons to book were:

     

    1.The Santo Domingos village arts and crafts cooperative

     

    2.The Cape Verdean Botanic Gardens in San Jorge dos Oragos

     

    3.The vibrant wholesale market of Assomada

     

     

     

    We did not visit any of these. When someone complained the guide told us that the arts and crafts cooperative had been closed for two months, that because of the drought there was nothing to see at the Botanic Gardens, and the road was torn up so we couldn’t get to the wholesale market.

     

     

     

    Because of the drought they substituted a visit to Eco Centro (basically a plant nursery with a few animals) for the gardens. Unfortunately, it was at the bottom of a steep cobblestone slope that some of us did not want to chance. Most of those who attempted it said we did not miss anything.

     

     

     

    We went to Assomoda for a bathroom stop at a bakery. We did not see anything else in town. The road was torn up but no idea if the market was still there or not.

     

     

     

    The only two things that went as advertised was lunch and the visit to the former concentration camp in Tarrafal. The camp was used by the Portuguese for opponents to the fascist regime in Portugal from 1936 through to 1974. It was modeled on the **** concentration camps.

     

     

     

    We had lunch in a nice restaurant on the water. The food was good. We were told that there was a market nearby but when we walked there it had only one stall selling souvenirs and nobody was there to take money. We then had an almost 2.5 hour drive back to the ship. Definitely not the best tour ever.

     

     

     

    When I got back on the ship I decided to go up to the Lido Deck and get a seat for the sail-away party. The lure of free alcohol had many people with the same idea. It was 4:35 and the place was packed (the party did not start until 5). As I was finding a seat Ed came over and asked me to join them. Ed and Cyndi were seated with John and Margaret (from the dinner table). We had a good time talking, listening to the Station Band, watching people dance, and of course, drinking. I was drinking rum punch but they were very weak.

     

     

     

    After the party we all ate dinner in the Lido together.

     

     

     

    I did not go to the show.

     

     

     

    We gain an hour tonight and we have five days at sea before our final port.

     

     

     

    It will be our first wc and I wondered at this point are you excited to be going home

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Amsterdam Self Serve Laundry

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Mame,

     

    We are on the same cruise and I am concerned about them doing away with the self service laundry when they do the dry dock after the world cruise. I know we can send our laundry out but for that many days it would be quite expensive. We will achieve 4 star in the dance middle of the cruise so it will not help.

     

     

     

    We are also in a lanai cabin on the same cruise. I will also be 4 star in the middle. We will celebrate at the same ceremony.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Holland America 2019 World Cruise

    in World Cruising

    Posted

    I remember a mid-December pick-up date for an early January sailing. I did take with me on the flight to/from FLL the two allowed (with no fee at that time) checked bags along with my carry-on. I shipped two large hard-sided bags and my previously mentioned box. I could have done without one of the hard-sided bags, I now know.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

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