Rare rafinmd Posted September 19, 2017 #1 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I may still be home but my big bag is on the move, picked up this afternoon. It’s n it’s way to San Diego and the Amsterdam via Luggage Forward. I’ll start chasing it in the morning. I’ve been doing crazy combinations of cruises (sometimes with trains and planes thrown in) since at least 2010 but up to now they’ve always included a mix of cruise lines. This time the ocean portions are all HAL. The seed of this odyssey is a bit strange. At various times I have just about circled the world on various ships and cruise lines with just one gap, from Shanghai to Hong Kong, and I’ve been looking to fill in that gap. The Grand Asia fits that bill precisely with a segment from San Diego to Shanghai to Hong Kong. From there I‘ve sailed Zaandam between Hong Kong and Singapore, Crystal Serenity Singapore to Cape Town, and Amsterdam Cape Town to Ft. Lauderdale. I put in a “future cruise request” on the Prinsendam in 2015 and booked the cruise as soon as it was announced. I’ve heard bad things about boarding in San Diego and wanted to avoid that, booking the coastal cruise starting in Vancouver September 26 so I would be a through passenger in San Diego. The Amsterdam was diverted to a wet dock and I was diverted to the Oosterdam with an overnight in San Diego. I had been very enthusiastically looking forward to a fall transatlantic on the Crystal Serenity but the ship was redeployed to Alaska for the summer. It turned out that my favorite Non-Crystal ship had a transatlantic so I had a great fall back option. Here’s my final very compact itinerary: September 20 leave home September 25 board Oosterdam October 1 board Amsterdam November 1 disembark Amsterdam and fly to Rome, arriving 11PM November 2 board Prinsendam November 18 arrive Ft. Lauderdale. https://solocabinchallenge.wordpress.com/itinerary/ My bag on the way out: https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/bag_away.jpg Today the Oosterdam is in Juneau, the Amsterdam in Homer, and the Prinsendam in Hamburg. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMLincoln Posted September 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Thanks for including us, will love following along and learning. Bon Voyage(s) m-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted September 19, 2017 WOW!! I envy you with all your travels. Bon Voyage -- look forward to your reports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innlady1 Posted September 19, 2017 #4 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Roy, you're one lucky guy! Have fun! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie68 Posted September 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Have a great time! I will be following along via your email updates as usual. Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise NH Posted September 19, 2017 #6 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I'll be following along...you gave me good advice re: Amtrak last year. We were on the Amsterdam world cruise this past year (we boarded in San Diego rather then Fort Lauderdale) and you told me there would be no problem getting the 12:30 Amtrak train in Fort Lauderdale at the end of the cruise and you were right! We were at the station in plenty of time to make our train home. We live in NH and took the train out to San Diego (actually LA then SD) to meet the ship. We had no problems at all in San Diego. Everything seemed well organized at the pier. Have a great trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfish Posted September 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Have a fantastic time on your trip, Roy. I'll be watching for your parting comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted September 19, 2017 #8 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Oh my, this is just a great journey and cruises. Can't wait to hear all and if you don't mind, your KLM thoughts. Tossing that around with A/C for next year. Safe travels to you and have an absolutely wonderful adventure and voyages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeniEncinitas Posted September 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Here we go again Roy!!! Love all your adventures!!! Sunny here in San Diego! I live in the coastal beach town of Encinitas/Leucadia and a nice temp of 70 degrees. I'll be reading along on all your travels! Denise:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted September 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted September 19, 2017 What is a “future cruise request”? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted September 20, 2017 #11 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Wow. Another fantastic adventure coming soon to a website near us. I can't wait to read every detail, and see the pictures you always provide. Best wishes for a great trip. And congratulations on completing the circle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 20, 2017 #12 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Sounds like a great trip, but then again, all of yours do! Have a wonderful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Boston Posted September 20, 2017 #13 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Have a great trip. You are my role model when it comes to traveling. Cheers! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxThrusters Posted September 20, 2017 #14 Share Posted September 20, 2017 What a fantastic trip! Did you plan it all out yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted September 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Have a wonderful trip, best wishes for safe travelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted September 20, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Thank you for the comments. You might have guessed I'm a bit busy tonight and probably won't get to answering any questions. Amtrak says there is wifi on my train tomorrow but I'll believe it when I see it. I may do some comment drafting on the train and post when I get to Chicago. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wearesiamese Posted September 20, 2017 #17 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I had not seen your entire itinerary before tonight ,RAF, but it is so cool! :) One week from today I fly to Vancouver and board the next day on Volendam.,my first HAL cruise as you know.:) I hope we can still get together on 15th October in Yokohama. If something comes up let me know.I bought a 1 week green Japan Rail pass as the 2 week green is too costly for me(and I am only staying 11 days not 14)...but could easily take the train to meet you at one of your other Japan stops/ports if that works out better for you .Let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted September 20, 2017 #18 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Have a great time, Roy! I am looking forward to all your travels and especially want to hear about the solo cabins on Prinsendam. Kathi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted September 20, 2017 #19 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Bon Voyage. Love your travel adventures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c564ever Posted September 20, 2017 #20 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Hi, I was reading this post on my smart phone and I saw the picture of the UPS driver picking up your luggage at your house but your license plate was also visible in the picture too. Just thought I would make you aware of this. I am on my desktop computer now typing this post, but didn't see the picture. Maybe you took care of it? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted September 20, 2017 #21 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Bon Voyage, fair winds & smooth seas. Looking forward to following along by your blogs.Sounds like a great trip. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted September 20, 2017 Author #22 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Hi, Just thought I would make you aware of this. Maybe you took care of it? Jim Thanks, Jim. I'm doing what I can about this. I'm reporting your post so as little information as possible will be out there. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbhcw Posted September 20, 2017 #23 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Following!! Always enjoy your posts....have a wonderful trip:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happily@Sea Posted September 20, 2017 #24 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Hey Roy, I'm here - had a busy day yesterday and I am looking forward to following your journey. You spoke so highly of Zaandam, I'm taking my chance to cruise with her from her finished [??] drydock in Freeport [i hope] to Seattle in April. She so seldom ventures into east coast US waters - 23 days and a stop in San Fran. I've always had good luck with WIFI on Amtrak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted September 20, 2017 Author #25 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Presently sitting in Baltimore Penn Station. Picked up 7:45 by Airport Shuttle, Arrived 8:45, Train is on time for 9:30. Baggage guy says all my stuff will fit in my roomette. I think so to. So far so good. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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