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cruise pastor

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    Symphony stop in Naples Friday September 28--how to get to Herculaneum?

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    We have a long day in Naples 7:30AM to 8:30 PM. We've been to Pompeii, and don't want to visit the coastal towns.

     

     

     

    Our primary interests are history and art, along with browsing markets and admiring the city bustle.

     

     

     

    I've learned that we dock at Stazione Marittima, close to Castel Nuovo and Palazzo Reale, where we could pick up a HOHO bus to see other city sights, including Museo Archeologico Nationale and Museo Capodimonte.

     

     

     

    We may also want to go to Herculaneum if the weather is nice. What would be the best way to get to Herculaneum? We are comfortable using public transport. Several years ago we took the train from Rome to Garibaldi Station, then changed to the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii.

     

     

     

    Comments are welcome. How long should we allow, and should we do the ruins in the morning, then the city in the afternoon?

     

     

     

    Thanks,

     

    Barb

     

     

     

    Get to the Metro station, very close to the port. Ask someone for directions. It drops you off right at the Museo Archeologico. We actually walked back from there to the ship quite easily! Be sure to stop for a real Pizza! Take a cab to Herculaneum....easy and cheap.

     

     

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    New HAL Umbrella

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    We have ours, too, and they are very nice travel umbrellas. The new orange one isn't really fit for travel, IMO, but excellent for home use.

     

     

     

    I wish they still gave nice prizes like that for trivia and other games. We've had nice mugs, key rings, travel pouches, etc. Now it's just a location pin.

     

     

     

    Not even that anymore! Just some Dam dollars to redeem if you have enough. Its ok..we just play for fun anyway!

     

     

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    Religious Services onboard

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    We have served as Guest Minister ( and musician)on board HAL ships for 15 years. Recently, our assignments are only for the Grands. That is across the board, unless things change after input from passengers.

    Still a great service that HAL offers ..it appears that the “Value Added” is well received. We are boarding the PRINSENDAM tomorrow..Grand Africa and Mediterranean .

     

     

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    Canada

    in Canada/New England

    Posted

    Welcome to Canada! Just do what you would do in Europe or Asia..get local currency from an ATM. I do this all over the world with my debit card. It’s part of the travel experience and ,anyway you’ll love our colourful money!

     

     

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    LIVE from the 2018 HAL Grand World Voyage!

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    At Sea – January 7, 2018

     

    Instead of having a “morning program” on TV as I have seen on many previous cruises, on sea days there is a “Coffee with Hamish” (the cruise director). The coffee takes place in the Explorer’s Lounge and the two that have taken place so far have been packed. He will usually have a guest. Today the members of Abba Fab were the guests. They talked about how they got started and the various shows they do. They also mentioned that they have now been together longer than Abba was.

     

     

     

    After the coffee I headed to the Crow’s Nest for our Sit and Stitch get together. There were about 10 present. I had to leave just before 11 because my travel agency was having the first of their sea day get togethers. The three hosts have “office hours” where you can ask questions, get help, etc.

     

     

     

    The only trivia for the day was held at 11:45. I played with my usual four teammates. Trivia is getting harder and this time we only had 10 out of 15. The winners had 13.

     

    1) What Latvian city is known as “the Paris of the Baltic”?

     

    2) How many copies of an album need to be sold to be declared gold?

     

    3) Who is the only person to win a Pulitzer Prize for movie commentary?

     

    4) Which two planets in our solar system are known as the “ice giants”?

     

     

     

    Today was the first Sunday Brunch. On previous Grand Voyages there have been Sunday Buffets. Because of health regulations, many of the buffets of the past are no longer. According to the maître ‘d, this brunch is something that began on the Amsterdam only a few months ago. It is planned to be held every Sunday that is a sea day. The menu will change each time.

     

    During the noon announcements the captain mentioned that the temperature was 81. I decided to spend some time out in the sun (it’s been a couple of weeks since I have experienced sun and warmth at the same time!) so I went up by the Sea View pool. It felt wonderful so I decided after arts and crafts I would go swimming.

     

     

     

    Nancy Grace and her friend (who’s name I cannot remember) are in charge. Nancy has a huge list of activities for our sea days. The two meetings so far have been much more popular than expected. She mentioned today that she had put together 100 kits for each activity which is twice what HAL suggested. Today there were a few people who came late and all the kits were gone. It did not take long to put together the zippered purse/keycard lanyard (Nancy had already sewn together the bags). We were also given a small pen to put in the bag. About 60 more projects to do over the course of the cruise.

     

     

     

    By three I was back in my cabin changing to go to the pool. I decided to try the Lido pool (the one that has a retractable roof which today was open). There were very few people around and I swam for a half hour. I then sat in the sun (and will admit I nodded off a few times) for about 45 minutes.

     

     

     

    The reason there was no trivia tonight is because it was the Captain’s Welcome Aboard Reception. It is also our first Gala Night – the Black and Gold Dinner. For those unfamiliar with HAL, within the last two years they changed Formal Nights to Gala Nights. The dress code is not as stringent for Gala Nights. I had read in blogs from previous years that people still tend to dress more formally on the world cruise and it certainly looked like that to me.

     

     

     

    During the reception there were (free) drinks and appetizers, the band played and some people danced. Then Captain Mercer came out and introduced the senior officers.

     

     

     

    As soon as that was over it was time to head for dinner where all the chairs were covered in black or gold and the napkins were also black or gold. We had a surprise visitor at the table – Mario, the Second Engineer from Croatia, hosted out table. We all had a good time and invited him to join us again (he is on until Singapore).

     

     

     

    Went to see the stand-up comic who I only considered so-so. When I returned to my cabin there was another “pillow gift”. I also got the correct messenger bag from the other day.

     

     

     

    Trivia answers…

     

    1) Riga

     

    2) 500,000

     

    3) Roger Ebert

     

    4) Uranus and Neptune

     

     

     

    Arts and Crafts instructor,Nancy Grace (and her assistant Mary) are such terrific leaders. You are blessed to have them on your cruise! The amount of preparatory work NANCY does before each cruise is mind-boggling. She was our leader on the Grand Med. in 2017.

     

     

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    New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Do you have a particular denomination in mind, or are you shopping? I was raised Lutheran and married a Baptist. I would have no hesitation attending a Catholic worship. If you are looking for a particular liturgy, your local parish might be able to direct you to a particular cruise line

     

     

     

    My husband (and I, as musician) have been Guest Minister assigned by HAL, for 15 years. We do interdenominational services on sea days and Sundays.

    It used to be all cruises 10 days and over, now we are assigned only on the Grand cruises, and selected Holiday cruises. We have been treated with so much respect by the HAL staff, and always given incredible support. Hope to meet some of you along the way!!

     

     

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    A Religious matter

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Just to weigh in on this, my husband and I have served as Guest Minister and musician for about 16 years with HAL. Earlier this year on the Grand Med., (Prinsendam)we had a very meaningful Sunrise Easter service outside on the fantail, by the Seaview pool. The sun rose over Athens as we sang worship hymns. We were delighted to have about 150 guests, of all faiths, to join us.The ship published it ahead, and everyone was invited. We hope to do the same in the Canarias this time.

    Looking forward to meeting you all.

     

     

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    A Religious matter

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Hello to all CC readers.

     

    CC is always a mine of information and also throws up things I hadn't even thought of.

     

    I read on another thread that daily Mass was provided. That is an important matter to many people.

     

    I wonder if provision is made for other Christian denominations, eg an ecumenical service for those who are not Roman Catholics.

     

     

     

    Just a genuine question.

     

    Thanks again to all responders.

     

     

     

    Deeko

     

     

     

    Holland America is booking guest ministers now for the Grand and Grand World itineraries, as well as selected Holiday cruises.

     

     

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    This is crazy

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Im supposed to go on a cruise in the beginning of December. When I did final deposit they had substituted st Martin and Puerto Rico for other islands. Now RCL is saying they will be the first to go back to these ports. I think its horrible, that they would vavaction were so many people are suffering. RCL should be giving money and time for these people to heal. I feel its not cool to be vacationing while people are living without food, power and clean water.

     

    Please call RCL cooperate and tell them this is wrong 305-539-6455.

     

     

     

    Holland America, Seaborn, Princess and the entire Carnival group are not changing itineraries at all.. Best decision they could make! Those islands have basically one industry..US! I am looking forward to being there in January. So donate and go! Consider taking a few gifts. Great training for your kids.

     

     

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