Around the World on Amtrak, KLM, and HAL

[*Miss G*]

Hi Roy. Would you be willing to share your thought process in putting together this trip, along with the logistic challenges you encountered? I am fascinated in how this all came about. Thank you and bon voyage!

[rafinmd]

Posting from the Victoria Public Library

 

 

Hi Roy. Would you be willing to share your thought process in putting together this trip, along with the logistic challenges you encountered? I am fascinated in how this all came about. Thank you and bon voyage!

 

Miss G, I'll have to get back to you but most of it was just dumb luck.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day O1, Monday, September 25,2017, Board MS Oosterdam, Vancouver, BC

 

The Amsterdam is in Seattle. The Prinsendam is in Brest.

 

I was up at 5 and spent most of the next 2 hours online and organizing my packing to have everything I wouldn’t need immediately in the big bag. When finished the big bag was 38 pounds and the little one 23 pounds.

 

The 7:30 shuttle from the airport was jam packed with cruise passenger luggage but all except mine was from people who came off cruises Sunday and were flying home. I was the first one to arrive at the Holland America checkin area in the airport. They took my big bag and indicated the transfer would leave when everyone was ready probably around 9:30AM.

 

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I walked the airport concourse for half an hour. At the far end there were a couple of planes hanging from the ceiling, a 1920's biplane and the Voyager, the first plane to fly nonstop around the world without refueling. I believe it was the actual plane and not a mockup.

 

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I used my IPAD a bit and worked some Sudoku while waiting for the time to come. I knew there would be a wait (while hoping there might be an early and a late bus), but thought the airport might be the best place to get in a walk. Departure was later than expected as one local cruiser was hitching a ride with a late rising friend and waited until the deadline to arrive. We (just 17 on a 56-passenger coach) boarded the bus at 10:15 and were on the road soon after.

 

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The driver said traffic was unusually light; we only slowed to about 45MPH for a while in Seattle but otherwise traffic moved freely. We made a rest stop midway and had about a 20 minute stop at the boarder. We arrived at Canada Place a little before 2. It was a busy day in Canada Place, not only because there were 3 ships in port but at least 2 of them were in the midst of a Seattle to Vancouver to a US port so people staying on B2B was pretty well ruled out by the PVSA. We went into one of Canada Place’s convention rooms and were given numbers. Mine was pretty far down the list and we had not been given box lunches so I was ready for lunch. There was a Tim Hortons right across the street; a pretty sure sign that I had arrived in Canada.

 

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After my lunch of chicken noodle soup, baguette, milk, and tea I did a bit of exploring. I have reservations at Auberge Vancouver before my Alaska cruise in July and went out to check on the location. It was a bit closer than I had imagined (about 3 blocks from the port).

 

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returning to Canada Place a little after 3 I passed the docked Oosterdam. Checkin was then a breeze. They didn’t even check my room or Mariner status, just sent me to an waiting agent. She remarked that they still had a photo from a prior cruise so I didn’t even need to do that. Boarding was done at the Promenade deck, although I was a bit too late for the Mariners Reception in the Crows Nest,

 

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After almost 250 days on Holland America this is the first time I’ve had a HAL balcony. This Signature Suite is BIG and there’s both a whirlpool/tub and separate shower stall. The usual 3-stage muster drill came quickly at 4:15. Key cards were scanned as we arrived. After the muster I went up to the lido in search of apples and then walked out on the aft pool deck, just as the Emerald Princess and Norwegian Sun were departing.

 

I started out in anytime dining, not really by choice but my preference for the one day cruise may have carried over to the 5-day. I am investigating getting it changed. In any case I walked up and was seated right away and started the cruise off with berry soup, salad, turkey scaloppini, and banana crisp.

 

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There was a port talk at 7. It was mostly shore excursions but EXC guide Lance offered his comments as well. I will not see much of Lance as his talk on Victoria and Astoria was before I arrived.

 

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The main stage was the traditional “Listen to the Music” at 9:30. It was my first look at Cruise Director Erin Duffy.

 

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I did manage to stay up for sailaway. All aboard was 10:30 and the lines came in about 950 and we soon started away from a beautifully lit up Canada Place. We passed under the Lions Gate bridge about 11:20, perhaps the last time Oosterdam’s funnels will pass under that bridge before they get the new logo painted on them.

 

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Today’s parting shot–This is my first time on a HAL Vista (or Signature) class ship although I’ve had an opinion about them since about 2011 based on my knowledge of HAL culture and sailing on twins Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. In many ways I felt very much at home on the Oosterdam with some things very familiar like the aft pool deck. There are also significant differences especially on decks 2 and 3. Even a few little things like when I was at sailaway and wanting to refill my coffee. I was solidly expecting to find a beverage station on the left right after entering the Lido from the aft pool but it was not there. Little things like that come as surprises. Overall, I think my order of preferences remains unchanged–(1) HAL R&S class, (2) QE/QV, and (3) HAL Vista/Signature ships. In any case, I’ll gladly sail any of them any time.

 

Roy

[DeeniEncinitas]

Enjoyed the reading and photos! Favorite HAL going under The Lions Gate!

Enjoy your time Roy! We enjoyed 6056 when we were on board.

Smooth Sailings to you!

See you in San Diego!

Denise:)

[Happily@Sea]

Roy,

 

Going last first, probably the last time Oostie's funnels appear anywhere in Alaska, she is back to Europe next summer [her exchange with Westie - this year - was for her upgrades in Italy and Westie will be back in Alaska next season].

 

They have always re-taken my picture at check-in even when the cruises were only days apart. Must be hoping to improve the face. ;p

 

I had no problem with the Lido on Oostie - Koningsdam was a mess trying to find anything I was looking for.

 

Hope your find other Vista features that you like.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Love your recent reports.

There is no way I could do all this walking and doing everything you have planned. AH -- to be young again.

When the Vista class ships came out, we didn't think we would like them and didn't book them for a few years. After one cruise on a Vista, we were sold on them.

[*Miss G*]

Miss G, I'll have to get back to you but most of it was just dumb luck.

This made me LOL. Take your time Roy! I am enjoying your posts. :)

[ski ww]

Betty45, I have a nephew in San Diego and my brother will be visiting next weekend; otherwise I would likely have joined you (I'm in the Hilton Marina),

 

 

A dreary Monday morning in Seattle. I've been blessed with 2 nice days.

 

Roy

Let us know what you think of this hotel. We are departing from San Diego on our next cruise & was looking for hotels there. Looking forward to following along on your adventure.

Allan

[rafinmd]

Day O2, Tuesday, September 26, 2017, Victoria, BC

 

The Amsterdam is in wet dock at Vigor Shipyard, Tacoma. The Prinsendam is in LaRochelle.

 

I had gotten behind on things Monday and at 5AM was just getting started on my Monday post. I went up to te upper deck about 7 and despite a very cloudy morning the sun was just barely making it’s presence shown behind us. Not long after that we eased our way into the dock at Victoria.

 

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It’s about my 5th visit to Victoria, traveling independently in the 80's and 90's and most recently on the Crystal Symphony in 2011. I had no real touring plans but started walking into town around 10:30. It’s a nice walk passing British Columbia’s legislative building and the Empress Hotel as well as a very nice inner harbor which is also served by ferries to the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle.

 

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I made my way first to the library, a new and impressive building with equally impressive wifi. I worked for about 45 minutes before continuing another 6 blocks to Tim Hortons for lunch (chicken noodle soup and baguette) as well as a little additional internet work.

 

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I travel a lot and if I bought traditional souvenirs I’d be overwhelmed. What I do tend to buy is calendars; they’re useful and pretty to look at for a year and then I’m perfectly happy to get rid of them. A shop in Victoria had a very nice one. I walked back to the port pretty much the same way as into town and was back on the ship around 2:30.

 

I went up to the lido about 3 and watched as the MV Coho sailed past on it’s way to Port Angeles Washington. I sailed the Coho on my first visit to Victoria in the 80's.

 

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For much of the afternoon I worked on unpacking (hardly seems worth while with just a few days left before San Diego). All Aboard was 4:30 and Captain Michael Williams announced about 4:20 that all were on board and we were preparing to leave. A Cruise Critic spillway party was planned for the aft pool deck but the ship was celebrating spillway there as well and I had difficulty finding a group. I did meet one member and we chatted for a while. The last lines came in about 4:40 and we started backing out of the harbor. Straight line distance from Victoria to Astoria is just over 100 miles but going around the intervening land almost doubles that distance.

 

Holland America offers 4-star mariners free “regular” laundry with items returned the following day. I had my bag out early this morning and the finished laundry was in my room when I returned from spillway; if I wanted I could have worn some of it to dinner. Nice!

 

Dinner was at an 8-top and the service was decidedly slower than when I dined alone Monday evening. I went for the Strawberry bisque, flat iron steak, and pineapple crisp.

 

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The featured entertainment was magician-comedian Nick Defeat. In truth I was having trouble staying awake by then but most of what I saw was pretty good.

 

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I’ll take my parting shot from the ship itself. Oosterdam is a “Vista” class ship, named for the Dutch words for the four points of the compass. I had always assumed that it was a new set of names inaugurated with this set of 4 ships. A Steven Card painting of an early 20th century ship in the forward stairwell told me that was not quite true. It was not Oosterdam but the root was the same. HAL originated as a general shipping line and in those days the suffix had a meaning. Passenger ships ended in “dam” while ships that carried cargo ended in “dyk” and I got a look at the 1913 Oosterdyk. Perhaps there really is nothing new under the sun.

 

Roy

 

PS: Sorry for the sideways picture. I was going to fix that and forgot.

[innlady1]

Thank you Roy. Love ❤️ your blog...interspersed wit photos.

Sheila

"Innlady"

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DeeniEncinitas]

Enjoyed my coffee with your blog Roy!

Side pics no worries!

Denise:)

[goodroe]

Thank you for taking us along on your amazing journey and thanks very much for your comments on Amtrak. Am considering a trip next year on Amtrak and the pictures of your roomette were very helpful. Didn't realize how small they are. My last train trip was decades ago so now I have a better a better idea of what to expect. Still looking forward to being on a train again, though.

 

Thank you.

[rafinmd]

I fixed the sideways photo on the blog but what wordpress does is create a new version of the photo. Here's the one that's fixed:

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/timhortons-e1506536646861.jpg

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Hi Roy. Would you be willing to share your thought process in putting together this trip, along with the logistic challenges you encountered? I am fascinated in how this all came about. Thank you and bon voyage!

 

MissG, my planning for this trip took a lot of twists and turns. I have been around most of the world at various times by cruise ship. The remaining gap in a cruise ship world circumnavigation was Shanghai (or Japan or Sydney) to Hong Kong.

 

While on the Prinsendam in 2015 I was at the Future Cruise Consultant’s Talk on “what’s ahead” and she mentioned a Grand Asia coming with a rough outline of the itinerary. It looked like it might fit the bill. I put in a “Future Cruise Request”

 

There were some complications. I really have 2 main “go-to” cruise lines, Crystal and HAL, and I had some plans with Crystal. I love sea days (I have a feeling you do as well) and nobody does them as well as Crystal. I was booked on a very special Crystal Serenity transatlantic, it was going to be 10 straight sea days, Rome to Ft. Lauderdale. It began October 15, and my Grand Asia plans were contingent on it reaching Hong Kong in time for my transatlantic. The Serenity was redeployed from Europe to Alaska this summer and that cruise was cancelled–if it wasn’t I’d have chosen it over the Grand Asia. I am also booked on the Crystal World Cruise starting in January and wasn’t willing to be on the Amsterdam until mid-December. Otherwise I might have stayed on for the entire Grand Asia. Next I saw that my favorite non-Crystal ship had a transatlantic starting November 2, that was interesting. A look at airline schedules showed I could leave the Amsterdam November 1 and still arrive in Rome the day before Prinsendam left. The end of the itinerary was now set.

 

There was some intrigue at the beginning of the trip as well. There was a long delay in announcing the Amsterdam’s plans between the end of the Alaska season and the start of the Grand Asia. I have heard bad things about San Diego embarkation and was really hoping to board Amsterdam in either Seattle or Vancouver but months went by with nothing on the HAL schedule. I finally booked Amtrak to San Diego and was pretty well set. Amsterdam’s coastal voyage was announced in December and I quickly changed my train reservations to Seattle. Just a few months ago when the Amsterdam was diverted to wet dock I was diverted to the Oosterdam, and of course I now have to embark Amsterdam in San Diego. If I had known that would happen I would probably have stayed with Amtrak to San Diego but it is what it is.

 

In terms of general planning I have a few key sources. I usually attend the Future Cruise Consultant’s talks on future voyages regardless of cruise line and that gives me some ideas. Other sources of ideas are reading Cruise Critic and checking with http://www.cruisetimetables.com. That gives me an idea of what cruises are available to continue on after 1 cruise ends. A prime example of that is 2014 when I had a Crystal Serenity cruise ending in Cape Town and dreading the long flight home. Cruisetimetables told me the Amsterdam was starting a World Cruise segment in Cape Town 3 days later ending in Ft. Lauderdale. Perfect!

 

I pretty much develop the ideas of my travels by my own research with sources like those. I have a great TA who handles the details and keeps me honest about everything fitting together. I hope this is somewhat what you’re looking for. Enjoy the Koningsdam.

 

Roy

[2aran]

Lovely to read about your trip Roy and how you plan your concurrent voyages. Lucky you. We met you on Cunard’s Q Victoria transatlantic last year when we went on to Australia. You may remember my Welsh accent! Thank you for all the news and photos. Much appreciated.

Dee and Ian

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am enjoying your review and the pictures.

[*Miss G*]

Thank you so much for your detailed response Roy! You have given me much to think about and I found it very interesting. When I saw the early costs for my flight to Rome I decided to look at other options. I tried very hard to cruise/fly to my destination from any number of North American and European ports. I couldn't find anything that worked so I thought "Well, I will purchase a round trip ticket and get a return TA instead!" I must have gone through hundreds of options trying to make something work but, alas, it was not meant to be. In retrospect it was serendipitous, so I am happy it all worked out the way it did. Anyway, that's a long way of explaining why I was curious how your trip came about. :) Thanks again!

[*Miss G*]

Oh, and I was especially interested in your train travel reviews as it is a dream of mine to do a cross-Canada trip by train. So thanks for that and the pics as well!

[RuthC]

I fixed the sideways photo on the blog but what wordpress does is create a new version of the photo. Here's the one that's fixed:

 

https://solocabinchallenge.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/timhortons-e1506536646861.jpg

 

Roy

Thanks for doing that, Roy. Now it really looks like a cup of chicken soup. ;)

[rafinmd]

Thanks all but especially 2aran.

 

MissG, I have an Alaska trip coming up next year and will be taking the Trans-Canada train in mid-July. (Then Volendam/Westerdam/Crystal Symphony Panama Canal) Stay tuned.

 

Goodroe, Amtrak does have bigger rooms but they’re considerably more expensive. It might be worth a look to see if they would be worth it to you.

 

Day O5, Friday, September 29, 2017, At Sea, MS Oosterdam

 

The Amsterdam is at sea from Seattle to San Diego. The Prinsendam is in Santander.

 

Day O4, Thursday, September 28, 2017, At Sea, MS Oosterdam

 

The Amsterdam is in wet dock at Vigor Shipyard, Tacoma. The Prinsendam is in Bordeaux.

 

Day O3, Wednesday, September 27, 2017, Astoria, OR

 

The Amsterdam is in wet dock at Vigor Shipyard, Tacoma. The Prinsendam is in Bordeaux.

 

When I went up for coffee around 5:15 we were still in open ocean. By sunrise (about7AM) we were well on our way up the Columbia River and it was clear but very windy. I had mentioned Tuesday starting out very cloudy but it cleared up beautifully and warmed up nicely during the day. Today was a similar pattern. It started out very windy and chilly but the winds diminished during the day and the afternoon temperature went well up into the 80's.

 

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This is my third visit to Astoria after the Sea Bird in 2001 and the Crystal Symphony in 2011. In 2001 there was a basic tour of the area with visits to several sites. In 2011 I was on a volunteer tour collecting trash at a state park beach. Today I was essentially on my own. The port is about 1 ½ miles downstream from town, just below a bridge I understand is a bit too low for the Oosterdam to pass.

 

At the port exit people were selling tickets to a shuttle bus ($6) that ran into town as far as the Maritime Museum (about 2 ½ miles)with additional stops in each direction right in the center of town. A walking path runs for about 4 miles upstream from the port along the river and a trolley also runs on that path. There’s only one trolley and it’s small so I was not counting on riding the trolley. As I waited to board the shuttle bus a very nice Astoria fire truck pulled into the lot.

 

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I rode the shuttle bus to the Maritime museum, thinking I would walk back along the riverwalk until the mid-town stop and eventually ride the shuttle back to the ship. Just as I was walking towards a Coast Guard ship docked at the museum the trolley came along and had space.

 

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The trolley goes back to something like 1913 and is pretty much original except that the overhead lines are gone and power comes from a mobile generator pulled/pushed by the trolley. The driver pointed out sights along the way. I rode the trolley back to the center of town.

 

One of Astoria’s attractions is “the column”, a 125 foot tower with great views of the surrounding area. I visited and climbed the column in 2001, and the shuttle map showed a branch running to the column. I inquired and that shuttle only ran after 1PM and I decided not to go.

 

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The library was also in the center of town and I stopped there and got quite bit done including uploading menus and programs to the blog. I popped in at Burger King for lunch and then started walking back to the ship along the Riverwalk.

 

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As I approached the port I walked under the Astoria Bridge and then passed a Mariners Memorial. The memorial remembers all deceased members of the Astoria Maritime museum, including those who died of natural causes at advanced ages.

 

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As I returned to the ship I got a good view of the location of my cabin.

 

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I was pretty relaxed the rest of the afternoon. All Aboard was 5:30 and I was settled in at dinner as we started to slide away from the pier. I went for the Apricot soup, roasted chicken, and peach crisp.

 

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The sun was setting JUST as I left the dining room.

 

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The featured entertainment was the Oosterdam cast in “Off the Charts”.

 

I’ll take my parting shot from the Times Digest we got today. Even in the most conservative places change may be possible. Congratulations to the women of Saudi Arabia; may you make many happy memories behind the wheel.

 

Roy

[DeeniEncinitas]

Keep them coming Roy!

I so enjoy reading your adventures everyday!

Had a lot of fog this am ! Yesterday I watched it roll in from my kitchen over the ocean around 11 am! It broke through again around 3!and it was warm!

Still going to be nice on Sunday for you here in San Diego!

Denise😎

[nancynana9950]

Roy,I am really enjoying following you on this trip! In the 90’s my Mom and I went cross country by train twice. Albany/Rensselaer on the Lake Shore Ltd to Chicago. Then the Southwest Chief to Flagstaff. I learned when traveling by Amtrak you can never be sure of time schedules being accurate! We had a grand time. Can I ask how you came to be staying in a suite this time? I have been following your trips for a little while and you mostly stay in insides so I wonder if the difference has had any impact in your overall experience. I have to tell you I had no idea what an Actuary was until I started following your blogs, I had to look it up! I look forward to each days posting.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Happily@Sea]

Roy,

 

Now that you've had a couple of days, what do you think of the Vista Class? I know it reminds you a little of the Cunard line, would you like to keep cruising them on HAL?

 

I've really enjoyed following along.

 

Carole

[whogo]

I like your souvenir calendar idea, Roy, never figured out what cruisers did with all the pillow gifts, geegaws, and tee shirts. Do they have lots of half-full display cases in their house(s)? I have a house full of too much stuff already, don't know what I'd do with souvenirs.

 

As always, I am very much enjoying your cruise thread.

[rafinmd]

Day O4, Thursday, September 28, 2017, At Sea, MS Oosterdam

 

The Amsterdam is at sea from Vigor Shipyard, Tacoma to San Diego. The Prinsendam is in Bordeaux.

 

The lovely weather we had in Vancouver, Victoria, and Astoria did not carry out to sea. After getting coffee in the lido I went down to the Promenade deck and found it roped off. We passed offshore of the Oregon-California around 9 with the fog horn sounding every 2 minutes.

 

It was largely a day to be inside, rather than out. I can’t really say the day was activity filled but there was enough so I was never bored. Things started out at 9 with Lance’s talk on “The History of Baja. While I am getting off in San Diego I will be visiting some of these ports both on the Crystal Serenity in January and the Crystal Symphony in August (getting home from Volendam/Westerdam Alaska). When Lance was finished the Promenade deck had opened up and I walked 5 laps. The Promenade deck on the Oosterdam is nearly identical to that on Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. One difference I noted is that there were no power operated doors on the Oosterdam. Cunard’s are a mixed blessing. They are clearly a godsend to some people but the motors are no match for even a mildly blustery sea day. There are no handles on the power doors so if the button won’t open them you are trapped outside. If only each ship had a couple of exits where there were both manual and power doors.

 

I also went to Alex’s 11AM future cruise presentation. There was not a lot I didn’t know but did find out that the 2019 Prinsendam summer schedule is available. I don’t know if I’ll book another Prinsendam cruise so soon after the Grand South America but I’m delighted the old gal has at least that much more life ahead of her.

 

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Captain Willem’s noon update indicated we had come 327 miles since Astoria with 667 to go so our progress is quite decent. The official temperature was 15C/60F, quite chilly with the clouds and breeze.

 

Lunch was fries at Dive-In, the only time I’ll get there on this cruise as tomorrow is the Mariners Brunch. The invitation did not have an RSVP but the front desk called to check and also wanted to verify I had received my bronze medallion.

 

My main afternoon activity was afternoon tea on the upper level of the dining room. I do prefer both Crystal’s Palm Court (think Crows Nest) or Cunard’s Queens Room teas to HALS but it’s still very nice. It may also be the only time I get to that space.

 

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I pretty much avoid ship’s elevators but one of my traditions on a new ship is that I ride each of the elevators down once from top to bottom. I have pretty much finished that with the exception of 2 elevators that have been out of service.

 

Laundry remains impressive. I sent a bag out this morning for the free “regular” service that’s due back by the end of the second day. I got a knock on my door about 4:15. Very impressive.

 

This is the only Gala night of the 5-day coastal cruise. I am going relatively informally with a shirt and tie and my black Travelsmith Blazer. A bag is coming to the Amsterdam via Luggage Forward and I’ll dress a bit more formally on the Amsterdam and Prinsendam but not yet.

 

Dinner was at Canaletto Italian Restaurant with the ship security officer, AKA Copper10-8 on Cruise Critic. We are both pretty active on Cruise Critic’s Holland America forum and we met in person last spring when the Crystal Symphony and Amsterdam were together in Huatulco.

 

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We talked about shipboard life, past and future travels and our backgrounds and enjoyed a great dinner. I went for the spaghetti, lamb, and pistachio gelato and I left just in time for the Captain’s toast.

 

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In this case the toast was not a big deal with Captain Willems simply welcoming us aboard but no introduction of senior staff.

 

The featured entertainment was pianist Brett Cave playing music of Billy Joel and Elton John. I paused briefly on the way back to my room to sample the Piano Celebration at Billboard Onboard and the Group at the Lincoln Center Stage.

 

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My parting shot comes from something I saw first in the little Canadian news summary. Rest in Peace, Hugh Hefner.

 

Roy