St Pete Cruiser

Wow, guess the 150th anniversary is officially over. One of my regrets is we didn't do the special Rotterdam 150th crossing.

Good morning everyone. Just wanted to add one ship to today's fleet report: The Maasdam is in LaHarve along with the Nieuw Statendam today. Friends forwarded this to me. Long live the Maasdam, now the Renaissance of a new French line.

Happy Saturday Sailaway! It is a picture perfect day here in St Petersburg, 75F, sunny with a gentle breeze. Our morning group walk along the waterfront was outstanding. Sadly, life doesn't stand still....another month or two, it will be hot and humid. Also sad for me to see the fleet leaving for the season, as it is so nice in Florida in April. Just checked, Juneau is 42F and cloudy with rain expected. Cork, Ireland is 48F. Too early to leave IMHO. Europe and Alaska are awaiting, so here they go.

Nieuw Amsterdam, the only true "Nieuw " in the fleet, is headed to Cabo Rojo, DR, for what I think is a maiden first call for Holland America. Should be some good farewell toots.

We have friends on the Nieuw Amsterdam tomorrow. Is Cabo Rojo, DR, a new port for Holland America? I have never noticed it before.

Thanks for the pic of the Ryndam in Bergen in 2013. I was there on her in June 2013 on my 14 day cruise to Norway which began in Dover and went to many of the fjords and all the way to Honningsvag. Bergen is a very nice port as is the route in and out to Bergen.

I like the brunch menu. Early risers can have a little something at the Lido and do brunch instead of lunch if they choose.

Hi Roy. Looks like Carnival (and Royal?) will use Norfolk to replace Baltimore until the channel is cleared from the bridge collapse. I had a port call at Norfolk on the Maasdam in 2006. It was the reposition from Ft Lauderdale to Montreal. We enjoyed touring the USS Wisconsin battleship while there.

Thanks for the nice pic of the Maasdam. The S class are my favorite all time Holland America ships for their exterior design appearance. To their credit, they are still in use with other cruise lines. Her current name is Renaissance. Seeing the bow thrusters at work in your pic, I'm guessing this may have been leaving Half Moon Cay taken from another Holland America ship?

Yes, and a great shower it is! Glass door and nice size.

The Ryndam sailed out of Tampa many times. Along with the Veendam, she was well liked by Tampa cruisers. I did a 28 day cruise on the Ryndam in 2013; 14 days out of Dover to the top of Norway and 14 days to the Baltic including St Petersburg. It was one of my favorites!

Yes it is. HIA taxes and gratuities is a big portion of it.

How many days is your cruise?

I hear you! Not that I'm aware of, but maybe the really good reps have access to it.

Good morning early. So, it is Nieuw Amsterdam today and Statendam tomorrow.

Good morning everyone. Allicante was a favorite port call of ours. From the cruise port, there was a short free shuttle and then easy access to the promenade and small mountain overlook. There is an elevator in the mountain to take you up to the top for a small fee or you can walk up.

This itinerary has been on my bucket list for some time. The Maasdam did it pre covid and the price dropped last minute and I couldn't go, still a big regret.

I wasn't aware Captain Bart was on the Volendam. I'm glad to hear that as he was at Seabourn the last I heard.

Yes, for sure. We enjoyed Captain Bart on the Zuiderdam in 2019. He ran the Zuiderdam much like the Prinsendam with officers at the gangway and at the MDR entrance every Gala night to greet you. He has been at Seabourn of late.

From Marseille, you can also use the Metro and an intercity bus to visit Cassis. The bus has some scenery views from its higher elevation that are beautiful. Cassis is a pretty smaller seaside port.

Yes, bus 60 does. The stop is close to the dock Windstar is using and ends at Notre Dame atop the hill.

Happy Monday everyone. My best to you, wherever you are, may it be onboard a BHB or elsewhere including home. Another poster indicates cruise business is good with most of March sold-out. Those post covid days of half full ships at low prices seem long gone. We did the Beagle back in 2016 onboard the Zaandam. Great trip despite some cold and cloudy days. Remembering our Mediterranean cruise two years ago with calls to Monaco and Nice.

The big news it is back to an R class ship, Volendam.

We are in one of the new 4th deck rooms with bed next to window. We have had some rough seas and you can really sea the waves from our bed.

Our arrival into Barcelona, docking at the WTC location, close to the old city. MSC was the only other cruise ship, docked at the over the bridge cruise terminal. Seabourn and some of the other smaller ships can use the WTC dock.