Rare Btimmer Posted March 27, 2017 #1 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Today we board the MS Volendam in Hong Kong and begin our 44 day cruise to Vancouver, BC. On this cruise, I am joined by my wife, Angela, and our 15 year old granddaughter, Anastasia. It's her first trip out of the USA, and hopefully she can keep up with us. I'll do periodic posts here, and I also keep a detailed daily blog at http://www.timmer2017asia.blogspot.com. It already covers our trip so far. Come along with us as we've never been to the upcoming Asian ports of call. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted March 28, 2017 #2 Share Posted March 28, 2017 What a fabulous trip for your granddaughter! You, too, of course, but she has a fantastic opportunity here! Hope she appreciates this generous gift. I'm looking forward to riding along on this cruise; I took it myself a couple of years ago, and it was a real thrill. (but those short days trans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted March 28, 2017 #3 Share Posted March 28, 2017 (sorry, something funny is going on with posting on CC tonight. there was more in my original reply, but it disappeared into the ether.) Suffice it to say I wish you a fantastic time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted March 28, 2017 #4 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Best wishes for a wonderful cruise. The other day came across the sticker you gave me at the Meet and Greet on board the Maasdam . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestyling Posted March 28, 2017 #5 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Hope you all have a fantastic cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted March 28, 2017 #6 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks for the link to your blog. Did the airbnb host supply the breakfast food? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted March 28, 2017 #7 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Have a great cruise. What memories your granddaughter will have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 28, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks for the link to your blog.Did the airbnb host supply the breakfast food? Yes, we had eggs, toast, apples, bananas, Asian pears, juice, cereal & milk, AND a box of chocolates! While the apt was just a bit bigger than a HAL stateroom, it worked for us and was out of the tourist area. We also had great WIFI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 28, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Best wishes for a wonderful cruise. The other day came across the sticker you gave me at the Meet and Greet on board the Maasdam . We really liked that cruise. I have more stickers for this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted March 28, 2017 #10 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1of4 Posted March 28, 2017 #11 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Wow - what an adventure for your granddaughter! Enjoy the whole experience. It is on my bucket list! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrimp56 Posted March 28, 2017 #12 Share Posted March 28, 2017 See you in Yokohama on April 25 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 28, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted March 28, 2017 We just did a two hour stroll down to the Ma Tau Kok public pier where we could see the Volendam waiting for us. On the way back we strolled through the Hoi Sham park with its Fish Rock sculpture. It's going to get to 73f today which makes for nice walking. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROCruiser Posted March 28, 2017 #14 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Will follow along. We were on the Volendam twice in 2016, enjoyed our days cruising Southeast Asia on her. Have a wonderful trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 28, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted March 28, 2017 We boarded the Volendam at 11:45am in one of the smoothest embarkations we have experienced with HAL. The terminal is huge. Lunch in the Lido was wonderful and Anastasia was impressed with the food. We gave her the big picture tour of the ship including the SPA. The muster drill is at 7:15 followed by a movie and the production show 'Listen to the Music'. The Hong Kong light show is at 8pm and sail away is at 11pm. We're unpacked and ready for the adventure ahead. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 28, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted March 28, 2017 Anastasia's really thrilled with Club Hal! That's really cool! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted March 29, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hope you all enjoyed the Hong Kong light show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 30, 2017 Author #18 Share Posted March 30, 2017 We just arrived in Shanghai after two days at sea. It's a pretty spectacular view from the ship. We have a couple hours before we clear immigration and start our two day tour. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted March 30, 2017 #19 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Have a grand time. I really enjoyed my two days in Shanghai. What are you going to be doing/seeing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 30, 2017 Author #20 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Btw, my portable WIFI device is working well for internet access although FB and Google are blocked. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted March 31, 2017 Author #21 Share Posted March 31, 2017 On our first day in Shanghai, we made it out to the Ancient Water Village and three things stood out: the gondola ride, a visit to the ancient post office, and a wonderful meal at a local restaurant. Returning to the city we went up in the TV tower for some hazy views of the city. It was about an hour and a half wait to get up there but worth it. Our bus drove us back to the ship in the dark, and the building lighting is spectacular and very creative. The disembarkation process actually went smoothly once it began. HAL shore excursion participants got off first (600 plus of them) and we followed at 8:45am ish. I'll describe the process in more detail when I update my blog. While I can post to my blog via email, it's blocked here so I can't review what posts. I'll do that when we get to Korea. Our granddaughter really liked the shore excursion today, but we can still out pace her. Old people rule! ;-) Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comcox Posted April 1, 2017 #22 Share Posted April 1, 2017 You mentioned that shore tour people disembarked first. Is that a hard and fast rule now with HAL when docked? I know it's been that way for tender ports, but before when docked others could get off quickly, even before shore tours left. This will be an issue for us at two of our upcoming ports (Incheon and Kushiro) as we have private guides meeting us and we are not 4 or 5 star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted April 1, 2017 Author #23 Share Posted April 1, 2017 (edited) I can't tell you if it's hard and fast. It was just the way it was to accommodate the immigration process in China. We requested the earliest possible disembarkation time and 8:45am was assigned to us. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Edited April 1, 2017 by Btimmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted April 2, 2017 Author #24 Share Posted April 2, 2017 We're in Incheon this morning lined up for our immigration inspection on the ship which is a different process than for Shanghai. I've updated my blog through yesterday at sea. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted April 3, 2017 Author #25 Share Posted April 3, 2017 The immigration process on board the ship was quite smooth and we were through in under ten minutes. We're now in our private mini van on our way to Seoul. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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