St Pete Cruiser

We disembarked Divina 1/13 in Miami after a short 4 day cruise. Knowing a cold front was passing thru Florida, we checked this morning to see if the ship was back at Ocean Cay, MSC's private island. It appears Divina has proceded south without going to the island. Please post if and when you know where the ship is going. We found communication absent both onboard and before boarding.

Good morning all. Sunrise from MSC DIVINA at their private island near Bimini and just 65 miles from Miami. Beach and water is not nearly as nice as Half Moon.

Better sounding horn than the newer Celebrity ships.

That is a new angle. They should be able to use it for departures from #26/HAL.

What is on camera now?

It is wonderful to see so many out on the decks for sailaway. Remember back in 2020 when the ships were sailing out with just crew? That was sad. It is a beautiful day here and in ft Lauderdale with mid 70's and sunshine, very little breeze.

Here comes the NA!

Good close up on the Beyond's bridge. Didn't Captain McClure.

MSC has opera singers? Classical music?

Four departures by 4:30!

NS with 5 long toots. The ships are looking full again.

Now you can see NS. She will look better close up as the sun washes out the video.

Sky with its Love Boat toots sounding good. Lots of people on top deck.

Happy Saturday everyone. It is blue skies and sunshine here and 70. Change is coming to Music Walk entertainment. Lincoln Center and BB King has been our go to venues. See the other post for more information. Longer cruises for Holland America itineraries is a plus for us. Hopefully they will not be priced out of our reach. A little pool time before Florida Orchestra concert tonight's Gershwin's An American in Paris.

Lincoln Center and B B King are our favorites. Not sure about Rolling Stone Lounge, but maybe it will be good. The live music in Ocean Bar will be nice. On a long cruise, you want some variety. Enrichment, besides the standard productions like Spirits of the Caribbean, are needed.

Leanne, thanks for doing the sailaways.

Good news for those of us who want the "exotic" cruises.

Roy, you probably are aware that Jack Anderson is back in control of Crystal. The news article I read states that they hope to have the refurbished ships back in service by summer. I would like to try a cruise with them, especially if they offered fares comparable to Holland America, with a good itinerary.

Late night post: @ger_77 Happy to see you on the Rotterdam sailaway @Quartzsite Cruiser Thanks for the Durban pics. We were there in 2014 on the Rotterdam VI and I remember the harbor pilots being helicoptered to the ship and off. The seas are often too rough to use small boats.

Darn, I missed the Rotterdam and the toots. Eurodam with the usual 3 long. Nearly everyone waving to the camera today.

Always an exciting day in Ft Lauderdale with the World Cruise and the Grand South American leaving the same day. I was there several times for it. Met Gerald Bernhoft and Captain Halle Gunderson from the Prinsendam. Wishing all of our cruisers a great experience.

Good afternoon everyone. The holidays are now over, so today was back on the new bike to enjoy a beautiful day and maybe work off some holiday pounds. The beach today is Pass a Grille, the lower extension of St Pete Beach.

I will guess the Volendam continues in the fleet as long as her revenue is strong enough to be profitable. Holland America's strength has always included some exotic cruises and the smaller Volendam and Zaandam can fill those itineraries.

With the possible exception of the Prinsendam, which is no longer with us, Holland America doesn't compete with Seabourn. As with most upscale things, you generally pay a lot more to get a little more. Seabourn is superior to the Holland America product, but you do pay the premium for it. Some of us find we can cruise longer or more often with Holland and still have a very enjoyable experience. Others prefer quality over quantity. You may be turned off by additional charges, but I feel I have the option to choose as opposed to feeling like I have paid up front for everything even if I don't drink, eat, tour, etc. Seabourn ships, as nice as they are, don't have the extras the newer and larger Holland ships have: the walk around promenade deck, the larger mid ship pool with removeable covered roof, the variety of entertainment venues, and not to be ignored more comfortable ride in heavy seas. If you can justify the premium fare, I would suggest you try Seabourn.

Here we go!