**Near-Live Blog of Zaandam Inca and South America Cruise 24 Sep - 3 Nov 2018**

[roberts2005]

Thank you for your detailed reports.

[1of4]

More of my old Bucket List lived through you, thank you so much!  The Falkland Islands and massive iceberg to be specific.  It all sounds amazing and truly appreciate you sharing.

[Copper10-8]

Have a great time in Buenos Aires, Rich and remember; it takes two to tango! 

[0bnxshs]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

Have a great time in Buenos Aires, Rich and remember; it takes two to tango! 

 

It was not to be, John, see below, but thanks for the encouragement!  

[0bnxshs]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

Have a great time in Buenos Aires, Rich and remember; it takes two to tango! 

 

duplicate

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by 0bnxshs

[0bnxshs]

Day 38 (10/30)

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Nothing.  We did absolutely nothing all day except watch the rain falling and falling.  No, we again didn't have any plans for a tour today but many did.  Buenos Aires is a top notch city, autonomous, large and attractive, with a wealth of opportunities for touring and tasting and enjoying.  It boasts broad avenues and a monument reminiscent of the Washington Monument.  You want to see world class dancing?  Find a tango show.  World class food?  It's here, prepared by some of the finest chefs in the world.  Wine top your list of to-do tours?  Some of the best in the world come from Argentina.  Buenos Aires is also home of some very special, talented and beloved writers, actors, musicians, athletes, astronauts and of course, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Pope Francis.  Truly a world class city.

 

We were going to walk today again.  No where in particular, just somewhere once we took the free shuttle out of the port and to the terminal building.  Again, we've been here before and done a highlights tour before seeing a tango show and having dinner with it.  We toured many parts, of the city and seen the great statues to pioneers, modern and expensive homes and high rise condos and slums too.  There's so much to do and see here and when your flight out of here isn't until late in the evening, some time to do it.  Or, as in the case with Roger and his DW, if your DD mistakenly purchases flights for the day after you disembark from your cruise, even more time.  My DW will not ever live that down, but we do laugh about it.

 

But, no deal for walking today.  Roger especially has no interest in getting wet since he's still recovering from the crud (doing much better, it won't be gone until the minute he touches down in Orlando) and really, neither do I.  It rains heavily then lightly, then heavily again.  So we sit and read, work on the blog, take a few (very few) photos and while away the day.  Beside the rain, the temperature is nice, in the lower 70s.  Somewhat unexpected but I like it.  Lots of people stay on board who must also have chosen not to brave the rain today.

 

I find that my Machu Picchu bug bites are nearly healed up without ever giving me the first irritation.  Time for another shave too and a nail clipping is in order.  I distractedly organize my remaining cash into different piles for the things left to do with it: pay for the Rio tour, pay for the Rio taxi, allow for tips to several crew members who've become our friends and deserve something extra.  Not to cause a controversy here but we've heard from many on board who decline to pay the HSC in preference of tipping those they feel deserve something.  Telling them that 100% of the HSC is distributed among the crew, many of whom they don't see, doesn't change their minds, not that I expect it would.  These men and women who clean our cabins, cook our meals, serve our meals, wash our linens and clothing, maintain the cleanliness of all the restrooms and handrails and common areas, and so many more are driven hard by their managers, which I'm not saying is unfair or too much.  But to us, they deserve something a bit more, we feel.  So we gladly pay the HSC and tip a few who have become friends.

 

We have found that the mix of passengers is more international than many cruises we've taken.  There are North Americans (US, Canadian and Mexican), South Americans, Asians from Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and China, Europeans from Germany, the Netherlands, France, UK and Russians and Ukranians, South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders.  It's a very multi-national mix and we've enjoyed talking with so many of them.  I know I've missed a few and hope I've not insulted anyone.

 

Tonight's show in the Mainstage is "Duo Suqueira Lima" and I can't really tell you much more about them.  Adagio is off tonight after a long stretch of daily performances 3 and 4 times a day.  They deserve the break.

 

Tomorrow is Halloween and Punta del Este, Uruguay, a tender port that promises to be interesting as we've not been there before.

 

Looking in 1 direction from the ship:

 

Looking in the opposite direction from the ship:

 

 

[0bnxshs]

4 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Wonderful report and great pictures.

 

3 hours ago, roberts2005 said:

Thank you for your detailed reports.

 

2 hours ago, 1of4 said:

More of my old Bucket List lived through you, thank you so much!  The Falkland Islands and massive iceberg to be specific.  It all sounds amazing and truly appreciate you sharing.

 

Honestly, I truly appreciate all the encouragement and appreciation I've received over the last month+.  It means more than I can say and has provided inspiration for doing so.  Thanks to all!

[AryMay]

In 89 days we will be boarding the Zaandam and visiting many of the same ports you have written about. Thanks for giving us a preview. After anticipating our cruise for so long your blog has made the trip start to feel real!

 

I have enjoyed getting to know you and Roger and will miss spending time with you each day! One of the best reviews ever!! 

[Krazy Kruizers]

I don't blame you both for staying on the ship with all that rain -- and you have been there before.  No sense in getting sick again.

 

We always leave the HSC in place as well.  We like to know that those people whom we do give extra tips to at the end of the cruise can keep it and not have to turn it into their supervisor to be divided among all the crew.

[0bnxshs]

2 hours ago, AryMay said:

In 89 days we will be boarding the Zaandam and visiting many of the same ports you have written about. Thanks for giving us a preview. After anticipating our cruise for so long your blog has made the trip start to feel real!

 

I have enjoyed getting to know you and Roger and will miss spending time with you each day! One of the best reviews ever!! 

 

 

It pleases me greatly to know you think so. Thanks for your comments and best wishes on your Zaandam cruise.

[0bnxshs]

1 hour ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

I don't blame you both for staying on the ship with all that rain -- and you have been there before.  No sense in getting sick again.

 

We always leave the HSC in place as well.  We like to know that those people whom we do give extra tips to at the end of the cruise can keep it and not have to turn it into their supervisor to be divided among all the crew.

 

Absolutely agree with you on both counts, KK. Roger actually admitted he was feeling right today; I doubt he would say so had we gotten wet in BA.

 

Thanks again!

[erewhon]

11 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

 

Should you get the chance, don't miss dinner with an officer.  They are sometimes starved for conversation outside of the usual cruise ship complaints and questions.

 

 

Thank you kindly for the compliment!  Happy to know you are enjoying.

Last cruise we were invitied to dine with the Culinary Manager, it was an interesting experience.

 

 

 

Quote

 

 

Edited November 2, 2018 by erewhon

[erewhon]

Catching up with your great reports and photos.

Thank you.

[DianeNZ]

14 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

These men and women who clean our cabins, cook our meals, serve our meals, wash our linens and clothing, maintain the cleanliness of all the restrooms and handrails and common areas, and so many more are driven hard by their managers, which I'm not saying is unfair or too much.  But to us, they deserve something a bit more, we feel.  So we gladly pay the HSC and tip a few who have become friends.

 

Well said! Absolutely agree! Way back HAL used to have a disembarcation briefing in the showroom, featuring some of the staff - not just the ones you'd typically see but also the ones you never would (like the folks who keep the engines running!). It really brought home the message about who's benefitting from the HSC. We're not rolling in dough by any means but paying the HSC and tips for those we've particularly appreciated is fair recognition of the hard work the staff do.

[0bnxshs]

1 hour ago, DianeNZ said:

 

Well said! Absolutely agree! Way back HAL used to have a disembarcation briefing in the showroom, featuring some of the staff - not just the ones you'd typically see but also the ones you never would (like the folks who keep the engines running!). It really brought home the message about who's benefitting from the HSC. We're not rolling in dough by any means but paying the HSC and tips for those we've particularly appreciated is fair recognition of the hard work the staff do.

 

I remember the disembarkation briefings.  They need somehow to again introduce and recognize those members of the crew who aren't normally seen.

[rafinmd]

8 minutes ago, 0bnxshs said:

 

I remember the disembarkation briefings.  They need somehow to again introduce and recognize those members of the crew who aren't normally seen.

I also miss "Love in any Language"

Roy

[CruiseMGM]

Sigh. I've really enjoyed reading your blog, Rich, and have definitely enjoyed your photos and impressions. We'll be on the Zaandam in another couple of months and can't wait. For now, though, you're heading into different territory, as we'll be ending our cruise in Buenos Aires. I'll still be reading and enjoying your prose and thoughts! But I've certainly appreciated what you've said about the ports we'll be visiting. Thank you, and please keep writing in the future!

 

Best wishes!

[0bnxshs]

Day 39 (10/31)

 

Punta del Este, Uruguay

 

We've had a visit this morning!  Ghouls of the towel animal sort have been spotted on the Lido deck around the pool!  They must have been the ones who decorated the casino with cobwebs and ghosts and goblins.  As if the housekeeping department didn't already have enough to do.  Maybe they were all made in a towel animal class?

 

Today is the last port call of our 40 days of cruising.  How quickly these days have passed.  Our new habits have begun to overcome our old ones in the time we've been aboard.  How we dress, how we eat, the things we look forward to, the things we avoid.  Life aboard ship has become our new normal and now we have to think about returning to our previous places and habits.  Some, like Roger, look forward to this with much anticipation and excitement.  For me, I will of course be glad to be home with my DW (when she's home) and DD and all our furry babies.  I opened the last of my envelopes containing little reminders from home from the people and pets who love me and are awaiting my return.  But I will miss the motion of the ocean, the suspense of new, and old, places, the easy friendships made, Adagio, weather that changes with the tides and the latitudes.  It's bittersweet, disembarking a ship; like leaving an old home or friend.

 

Punta del Este is a tender port.  Not that we seem to be far from land (we aren't) but we are far from the marina where we will call, so far in fact that they use shore tenders to supplement the ship's tenders and to accommodate as many passengers as possible at the half-day stop.  It looks gorgeous here, so much different from old and tired Montevideo.  High rise condominiums line the beaches here, yachts of various sizes sit in the marina like so many do.  We don't have a tour here either but we do intend to go ashore when we can.  At 1 PM I head to the Ocean Bar to retrieve tender tickets after lunch and find we have number 37; they've just called number 10.  There's a passenger arguing with the Guest Services representative about his absolute need of being on the next tender over and won't accept the offered tickets.  I just smile and thank the representative for ours.

 

We were warned yesterday that there was a chance we might not even make this stop because of the winds.  But here we were and I'm surprised at the general mood of the passengers having to wait for a tender.  I might have suggested they make their own way over by jumping and swimming had I been asked, it seemed we were that close.  I think that might have aggravated the situation; both my suggestion and our closeness to shore.

 

Right at 2 PM we boarded one of the shore tenders to head on over.  It was windy and there were swells that rocked the boat during the 25 minute ride over.  And, of course, it began to rain as we streamed off the tender.  There was shelter there so no need to get wet, but what to do now?  It turned out to be a brief shower but the sky continued to threaten rain at any moment.  We confined our walk to only a short way off so that we could get back quickly.  Along the wharf there were several sea lions performing for the passengers who noticed.  One stood on the dock for the longest time posing and looking for handout fish from a nearby kiosk.  We were well entertained by their antics.  Roger and I both wished we had more time here to walk as all the ways we could see away from the marina were inviting; clean and safe looking.

 

The sky darkened more as the rain-laden clouds began to move in with the winds.  We decided to head back, fearful of getting wet and missing happy hour!  We managed to board the other shore tender with a few other passengers and it headed off mostly empty.  I sat in the back in the open area, out of the sun that appeared as soon as we left while Roger sat inside, certain that I'd soon be chased in by rain or wave.  I wasn't though and enjoyed my ride on the ever rougher swells.  Soon we were back aboard "Zaandam" and awaiting happy hour at our spot in the Ocean Bar.  Meanwhile, the sky had opened up and down poured a deluge of rain and even some lightning and thunder to accompany it.  We were quite pleased with ourselves at having timed our return just right.

 

Just after all aboard that was scheduled for 5:30 PM we slowly departed from Punta del Este.  Everyone seemed to be melancholic at the thought that our next stop was the end of our time together.  Some even sadder with the thought that we have 2 sea days to mope about it.  I was in the former group; Roger in the later.

 

This has been an amazing cruise.  Much like all the other amazing cruises I've enjoyed.  Much like the ones I know are to come.  I've never had a bad cruise and expect I never will.  That may set me up for severe disappointment some day, but I'm willing to risk that.  I will likely finish the blog through Rio and returning home once I have.  Thanks for following along.  I've enjoyed doing this more than I thought I would, in no small part thanks to everyone who has followed, enjoyed and encouraged me.

 

Peace to all.

 

The Ghouls on the Lido:

 

Notes from Home:

 

Punta del Este from the marina:

 

Sea lions at the marina:

 

[CruiseMGM]

2 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

Day 39 (10/31)

 

Punta del Este, Uruguay

 

<snip>

 

 

This has been an amazing cruise.  Much like all the other amazing cruises I've enjoyed.  Much like the ones I know are to come.  I've never had a bad cruise and expect I never will.  That may set me up for severe disappointment some day, but I'm willing to risk that.  I will likely finish the blog through Rio and returning home once I have.  Thanks for following along.  I've enjoyed doing this more than I thought I would, in no small part thanks to everyone who has followed, enjoyed and encouraged me.

 

Peace to all.

 

Notes from Home:

 

 

 

 

And it's truly been an amazing voyage with you, albeit vicariously. Thank you so much.  I look forward to reading more of your blogs. I'm sure I'm not the only one to think "AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!" at the notes from home, how sweet!

 

Best wishes, and safe travels always. Thanks a bunch for taking us along with you.

[1of4]

Safe travels my friend.  We all look forward to hearing about your adventures in person in a few weeks and look forward to our adventures in France next summer.  Your adventures have just been awesome to read.

[Stratheden]

Thank you so much for your wonderful blog.  You write so well that I felt as if I was right there. Safe travels home. 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have enjoyed your reports and pictures.

 

Love the notes from home.

[Love the beach]

Have enjoyed following along....thanks for taking us! Safe travels home!

[erewhon]

It's been interesting following your reports.  Thank you, and for sharing your photos.

[Copper10-8]

Safe trip home tomorrow from Rio, Rich! Thanks a bunch for your outstanding reports!