Venture to the Caribbean with Bill & Mary Ann on the Nieuw Statendam & Nieuw Amsterdam 12-18-21 to 4-26-22

[StLouisCruisers]

18 hours ago, The Other Tom said:

i thought the ship always waited for a ship sponsored excursion.  Not true?

 

As discussed already, things happen sometimes and the ships do have to leave early.  This happened in Hammerfest, Norway when there was a double booking made for our dock space.  A tanker was booked to dock there at 6 pm but HAL had booked the Prinsendam until 8 pm.  Our Captain found this out about noon, so signs were changed and announcements made, but some people had left the ship early and had no idea they had to return early.  The Prinsendam left the dock at 6 pm and anchored off shore.  The unknowing guests were brought out to the ship on a Pilot boat by the port agent during our dinner.  What an exciting end to their day!  Ship excursion people were no doubt notified by the Shore Excursion Dept. and made it back on time.

[Cruising Is Bliss]

15 hours ago, dchip said:

The ship is not always able to wait for late ship excursion passengers due to tides etc. In that case, which is rare, you will be taken to the next port. All expenses will be undertaken by the cruise line. 
Denise

 

Eight years ago HAL had a bunch of passengers stranded ashore overnight in Juneau during an unexpected very dense fog. Westerdam had to leave them behind to get to Glacier Bay the next day. HAL charted a whale watching boat to catch up to the ship for those passengers stranded ashore who had been on various HAL excursions. My then boss and her husband were among them and she said they were very well taken care of all day (including all meals & free flowing booze) before they caught up to Westerdam.

 

She and her husband were two of the passengers who had been on the helicopter tour to Mendenhall Glacier and they spent the fogged-in night in an emergency tent on the glacier!

 

 

 

[WCB]

Report #121  Huatulco, Mexico   Easter Sunday  April 17, 2022  8am-5pm  Sunny, Hot And Humid  85 Degrees...Part #1 Of 3.....80 Pictures

 

Usually the ship approaches the bay of Huatulco around 9am or later.  Today we arrived before 7am.  This has always been  a nice sail into the bay with the bow opened for viewing.  We have seen numerous dolphins, birds, and even turtles on the approach.  Today we were lucky to see some pods of lazy dolphins before we docked. 

 

By the way, Happy Easter to all!   It is going to be a hot and humid one for us today.  We started the morning with Easter mimosas in the Pinnacle Grill.  There were perhaps eight other diners in there, since at 10:30am, an Easter brunch was planned, with the charge of $25, or $35 with unlimited mimosas.  Those who will do “unlimited” will probably spend the afternoon with a long nap.  Anyway, when the tray of tempting pastries arrived, we had to laugh because there were little candy-coated chocolate eggs on them. Our waiter brought us each three more of the eggs, which was nice. 

 

Talking to Mercedes, we asked about possibly using our complimentary dinner vouches for lunch in the Pinnacle Grill.  She checked on it for us, and came back saying it was not allowed.  The normal cost for lunch is $15, but a dinner costs $39.  The manager said that was in the favor of the company, then said she would make an exception for us, and accept the free voucher.  On the Amsterdam, we always had lunch for the price of one voucher.  Things have changed, haven’t they?  We thanked her, and admitted that when we eat a good breakfast, we seldom have lunch until after 2pm……long after the PG restaurant is closed. 

 

While we had the manager here, we inquired about our ability to look at the daily dinner menu on the room TV.  Recently, it has not been posted until late in the day.  She immediately went to her desk, and pulled out the menu for this evening.  Bringing it to us, we decided it was a good evening to go here instead.  With that, she made our reservations, keeping this same table for us.  How’s that for service? 

 

 

Back in our room, the florist, Joseph,  presented us with a new stunning bouquet of flowers.  Now we will be able to enjoy them until the end of the trip.  All we need now are the 17 diet sodas, and the PC perk will be completed. 

 

Tours today included many water-related activities such as a catamaran to five bays with swimming breaks for 2 ½ hours, deep sea fishing for 4 hours, or a bird watch hike for 3 hours in the hot sun.  Lastly, there was a foodie tour at the nearby town for 3 ½ hours.  Prices went from $60 to $190.

 

We went off of the ship by 10:30pm while watching several double-decker catamarans leaving the marina filled with locals.  The guides were speaking Spanish, so we knew they were not HAL tours.   We had hoped there would be a deep sea fishing contest happening, but once we rounded the corner of the marina, we saw nothing.  After all, it is Easter Sunday, and the time for families to spend the day having fun. 

 

We checked out the central park where a band of young musicians were playing for the crowd.  Very upbeat, it made the littlest ones of the families dance in place. In the meantime, a pair of pretty birds flew overhead, ones we have never spotted before.  They resembled a large quail with long tail feathers.  We will have to “google” them when we get back onboard. 

 

Next to the park was their marketplace full of souvenirs, much of which is beach-related for the little kids.  Going through the stalls, we exited the opposite end.  Wearing masks made it difficult to breathe in the humid shops, so we left without buying anything.   From here we continued towards the beach.

 

Food is a big deal here.  The port area has to have the largest concentration of outdoor eateries than most of the places we have visited.  Their menus lean heavily towards the seafood items, but chicken and beef dishes are available too.  The most sold drinks are Margaritas, mojitos, and beer.  Lots of beer.  The best restaurant in our opinion is Vel Mar, a tiered restaurant off of the beach.  Where else can you enjoy Mexican cuisine while dogs, cats, and even chickens walk under the chairs and the tables looking for scraps?   On past visits, we ordered a platter of assorted wood grilled meats and chicken.  One serving was enough to feed an army. Too early for lunch, the vendors tried to seat us at a premium table, even though we were just looking at the menu.  On the walk here, we must have been approached by a dozen people trying to seat us in their cafes.  There were so many families out and about today, we would hesitate going into a crowded restaurant.  No social distancing here, and few locals were wearing masks.  

 

By now, we were melting from the heat, and decided to go back.  Our veranda was in the shade with a nice breeze, the best place to be for the afternoon.   It was fun watching the banana boats being pulled by speed boats.  They could fit up to ten people, mostly grown men.  We never saw so many speed boats, jet skis, water bikes, and kayaks as we saw today.  Water taxis brought folks around the starboard side of the ship, getting rather close at times.  Doing computer work, we looked up those birds we saw and learned they were white-throated magpie jays, a dry forest native bird.  They can live from 15 to 25 years, and be tame in captivity if given a large aviary in which to fly.  Funny with all of the times we have been here, we never saw these birds before.

 

We had a light lunch in the room, then the ship left the port by 5pm tooting the horn as we passed another bay with a huge resort in the center.   Once we were 15 minutes out to sea, we began to see dolphins, but this time they were not lazy, as they jumped and cavorted around within the pods.  Always nice to see.   Then we spotted what appeared to be a large group of sting rays right under the surface.   The ship was moving at a faster clip now, and we passed the rays rather quickly.  Hard to film, they never surfaced.  The hunt for turtles turned up with none seen. 

 

The final photo of the day was the setting sun, a most unusual one in the sea mist.  An unexpected sighting of more dolphins surprised us this far out off of the coast.  Good way to end the day.  Oh wait, a better way was a gala dinner in the Pinnacle Grill at 8pm.  It certainly was not crowded, since most guests choose to dine earlier these days.  More room for us as well as a handful of officers. Our entrees of the 7 ounce tenderloin were seasoned and cooked perfectly.  Mercedes came by to see how our day went.  Her Easter brunch went off well, and she hinted that there was a surprise for Bill before we left.  Of course, we sort of knew where she was going with that, and we were correct.  The waiters brought a birthday cake to our table, even though it is not until tomorrow.  Knowing we were not ordering dessert, they also brought a lid with 2 sets of silver wear.  We thanked them, and called it a night.  Another nice day.

 

We will have a day at sea tomorrow, a well-earned one, we might add.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[westcoastsue]

We were in Huatulco for Christmas Day 2019 on the Amsterdam and couldn’t believe the amount of water traffic carrying mostly locals. It was a great port call and we would love to return.

[Florida_gal_50]

I love huatulco.  I also enjoy watching the banana boats from the balcony.

[rkacruiser]

5 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I love huatulco.  I also enjoy watching the banana boats from the balcony.

 

When I first visited Huatulco, it was a sleepy Mexican village.  It's main attraction was the several lovely bays located nearby.  I booked a catamaran tour to visit those bays.  Hard to believe how much the community has changed!   

[WCB]

Report #122  Day At Sea Enroute To  Manzanillo, Mexico  Monday April 18, 2022  My Birthday  Part #1 Of 1.........42 Pictures

 

First and foremost……Happy Birthday Bill!  And what a better way to spend a birthday than on a ship? 

 

Got to breakfast at 8:30am to find the restaurant full of guests already.  Now that we have a week left, it sees that everyone is making an effort to do it all while they can.   We lost our window table, but got a good one on the end of a four top.  Guess by doing that, we displaced someone else.

 

The Mariner Recognition Event was held in the Gallery Bar at 11am for the top Mariners onboard.  This is the medallion awards, where the guests are honored for their days sailed.  We would guess that there were 30 people invited at the most.  Arriving 5 minutes before the event, we had a chance to speak with the Captain and General Hotel Manager for a few minutes.  We had met Captain Jeroen back last September when we did a 7 day Alaska voyage.  At that time, cruising was in its test mode after a long time of no sailing.  The Captain mentioned that he felt the Zuiderdam was being used for the 2023 world voyage, because there was such a big demand for veranda rooms.  Makes sense.  Then we asked about skipping the port of Corinto, Nicaragua a few days ago.  He said it was their government that was refusing all cruise ships entry into the port due to Covid.  Also made sense.  Then a few more guests arrived in line, and we moved into the room.  Beverages were served as we joined two nice ladies from Victoria, Canada. 

 

We expected the same type of awards ceremony as we attended on the N. Statendam, but it did not happen that way.  As the only President’s Club members onboard, we were introduced by name first, but no days sailed mentioned, which was fine with us.  We had our photo taken with the officers, and took our seats.  From there on, the medal awardees were invited to pose with the Captain and Hotel Manager, but no mention of names or days achieved. In other words, it was a non-event for them, which was too bad.  The guests had received their medals in their rooms, and asked to wear them to the gathering.  We even saw platinum medals, which is 700 days sailed.  That should have at least earned a recognition by name.  Oh well, we know this would not have happened on Jonah’s watch. 

 

A surprise to us, we had been recognized by a lady who looked familiar to us.  She came over after the gathering and reminded us of meeting on previous world cruises.  She knew all the old timers we know who still cruise.   She said she will be on the next one in January, same as us.  That will make Barb happy since we recall they were Crow’s Nest buddies on the Amsterdam.  While we were chatting, two more couples came by to talk.   They wanted to know how many days it took to be in the President’s Club, which we informed them it was 1400 pure sea days.  Eleanor may have had 1100 days, and she felt it was do-able for her.   The others didn’t have near that much. 

 

During the afternoon, we had numerous sightings of  turtles, birds, dolphins, and even a school of sailfish.  They mostly stayed under the water, but when one jumped, there was no mistaking what it was.  Of course, that kept us on watch for a lot of the afternoon before and after lunch. The Lido was the place for salads and pizza, of course.  It certainly was not crowded in there at 2:30pm.  The waiter we see every time we dine there, had brought us two medium plates for our pizza that was yet to come.  Another waiter, who was busy cleaning tables, must have taken our plates while we ate salad.  Neither of us noticed, and thought we were losing our minds.  Nope, the crew are just extra good at doing their job.  Our first waiter brought us new ones, which we guarded. 

 

While downloading photos, one of us took the time to study the TV grid.  Finally discovered that the port talks given on the ship were recorded and put on the room TV’s.  Duh….only took over 100 days to figure that out.  Wonder what else can be found at the touch of the TV remote???  By the way, the TV seems to be working much better, and we suspect their equipment had been tweaked.

 

During the afternoon, a tray arrived from room service with one frosted chocolate cupcake for the birthday guy.  It came with a card from the Captain.  The laundry that was turned in this morning, also arrived….same day service.   It has been so nice having this perk.

 

We also got a letter describing disembarkation day, although it is a week away.  We will be in no big rush to get off, since our 1:30pm flight was changed to 4pm.   We had asked Teresa if she knew of anything that was delaying the ship’s departure that day, and she said no, nothing had been changed.  It was business as usual at the San Diego pier terminal.

 

Dinner had some good choices tonight with some Mexican touches.  Carne asadas with rice and beans was our entrees.  Starters were chicken noodle soup, salad, and phyllo purses filled with spinach and cheese and ricotta cheese and sun dried tomatoes.   All good.  We were not going to order dessert, but suddenly, several waiters arrived with the same chocolate fudge cake we had last night.  Of course they sang the special song they love to sing, and wished Bill a wonderful birthday.  Very nice of them to remember, and a great way to end the day.

 

Tomorrow’s port will be Manzanillo, a stop we have only made once.   Be nice to go back to see what we remember. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Overhead Fred]

Happy Birthday Bill! We enjoyed chatting with you on the Nieuw Statendam and hope to see you again on another cruise.

[WCB]

Report #123  Manzanillo, Mexico 8am-4pm  April 19, 2022  Cloudy And Hot 80 Degrees    Part #1 Of 5.........80 Pictures

 

It was noticeably cooler and less humid as the ship arrived to the port of Manzanillo, Mexico early this morning.  Of course, as the day progressed, it did warm up nicely.  The entire coastline has been shrouded with a sea haze ever since we began sailing from Puerto Chiapas, maybe even sooner than that.  Today was no exception.  From the looks of the hillsides, we think the mist of this haze helps the native brush, as it does not look as if it has rained here in quite a while.  In fact, we think this is the end of the dry season, and the rain will come in June.  According to the TV screen, the temps were in the low 70’s at 9am.

 

Leaving the room for breakfast, we found a photo from yesterday’s Mariner Event in our mail slot.   It was the largest size available, and of course, it was complimentary.   We waited until 10am, when all of the tour groups went off.  Shore excursions today were a drive to cities Colima and Comala for 6 ¾ hours.  Looking at a map of the state, these towns are located further north, and a long ride back & forth.  There was a salt-fruit-clay bricks tour to see how it was collected or made for 5 ¼ hours.  A Manzanillo shop and beach stop was 6 ½ hours, while an open-air ride and beach excursion was 4 ½ hours.  They ranged from $50 to $90.  Not bad, but a lot of bus riding for sure.

 

We walked the town from one end to the other, and with the tour groups gone, we were about the only cruise ship people in the crowd.  The malecon or main walking street is quite spacious.  It included many patios with seating, a fountain that operates with music, a place to watch the dozens of fishing boats, and monuments of all kinds.  At one end is an avenue dedicated to the signs of the Zodiac with modern art sculptures.  The centerpiece has to be the gigantic figure of a blue sailfish.  Actually, Manzanillo is the sailfish capital of not only Mexico, but in the world. 

 

The naval facilities were in this section of the malecon, and when we began walking in the area, we were asked to leave ….nicely.  Had it been roped off or fenced, we never would have walked there.  Our destination was the large church we could see towering over the downtown.  Going out the gated road, we strolled over to the Cathedral.  In order to access the upper level, there was a very long flight of stairs.  Only one of us was willing to do that.  Too many stairs are not my friend these days.  Going up….not so bad.  But going down….not good.  Many photos were taken, and that would be just fine with me.

 

Locating what looked to be the main street, we walked past numerous small shops, bars, a hotel, restaurants, and food stalls.  It was very busy with locals this morning.  All of the vendors were masked, but not all of the people.  Once again, we are not taking any chances and stayed masked most of the time.  Every business required a mask however.  One thing they have a lot of here is shoe stores.  And just the type one of us was searching for.  The only problem is that almost no one wears a size 10, and highest the sizes was 9, of course.  I have much better luck in India, or at home.

 

By now, the skies were clearing up, and the sun was getting stronger.  The breeze in town was much less, so we headed back towards the malecon, and eventually back to the ship.   As we entered the fenced entrance, our temperatures were taken and we had to sanitize our hands.   Why going back in, we don’t know, except there were some souvenir tables set up there.  One of the vendors asked us where the people from the ship were.  Our guess was that none of the tours were back yet.  Guess her sales were really slow.  We noticed that some of the offerings were definitely Guatemalan, not Mexican. 

 

Little did we know it, but the best part of the day was yet to come.  Having gotten involved with down loading pictures, we stayed in our room having snacks for lunch.  We popped in and out of the veranda to watch the harbor traffic, since we were facing the water being on the starboard side of the ship.  Now, if anyone would have told us we would see a whale today, we might have thought they were crazy.  But see a whale?  We sure did, and right off of our veranda no less.

 

A naval vessel had just passed our room, which caught our eye.  So we went out to get a photo, and there was a large splash across from us near the bulkhead.  It had to be something big, then suddenly, there was the whale breaching.  Not a fully grown one, we suspect it was a young humpback.  Well, it put on a show for all of us on this side for an hour.  Then it stopped and appeared to be resting….floating like a log.  Occasionally it blew its spout gently, like it was sleeping.  Very odd to see just one, we wondered if it had lost its mother and the rest of the pod. 

 

A few local boats, including military, came close to take photos, which woke it up every time.  The whale stayed all afternoon, until our side thrusters were activated, stirring up the water.  The whale strayed out beyond the bulkhead, and turned into the large bay.  We never saw it again, but we did see some turtles as we sailed out of the huge harbor.

 

The ship left after 4pm, and we did watch for more whales, but saw none.  The Captain had mentioned that it is not uncommon to see humpbacks as well as other varieties on this coast.  We shall keep an eye out for them all the way to San Diego now.

 

Dinner was in the dining room with one bowl of chicken noodle (spaghetti) soup, a Caesar salad, and one entrée of cordon bleu and one fettucine with Bolognese sauce and shredded beef rib meat.  It was delicious.  And we shared as well.  The head chef made another visit to the tables, and we thanked him for the different dished tonight. Finally, dessert was one rocky road and a neopolitan dish of ice cream. 

 

Tomorrow’s port will be Mazatlan, another stop we have not made for years.  And this evening the clocks went back one hour.  We really like that.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[mkcurran]

Just follow the blue line in Mazatlan. It's a wonderful walk.

[WCB]

Report #124  Mazatlan, Mexico  9am-5pm  Wednesday  April 20, 2022  Sunny And Hot 85 Degrees  Part #1 Of 4.......80 Pictures

 

The first time we visited Mazatlan was while on a 7 day Sitmar cruise back in the 70’s.  There was hardly anything there that resembles what we see today.  It was more a fishing village than anything else.  Tourism was a long ways off at that time.

 

The N. Amsterdam arrived early, and we were able to watch the entrance into the harbor while we dined in the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast.  Even though we have been here a  few times over the years, it still did not jog our memories.  Compared to the Mexican ports we just visited,  this is a much larger commercial facility.

 

The ship was cleared by 9:15am, and we watched the tour groups file off.  As they left the gangway, a food and drug-sniffing dog was used to check each passenger.  For safety reasons, we were required to take an open-air trolley between the ship and the cruise terminal.  And it said as much on the front of the When & Where newsletter today.  This is the first time the request to carry your ship card, a photo ID, and the Covid vaccination card was not printed on the first page.  Hopefully a sign that things are getting better.  We still had to wear masks leaving and re-joining the ship, as well as in the shops onshore.  We simply left ours on.

 

We left the ship around 10am, and found the temperature to be a tolerable 78 degrees.  It was going to be a mostly sunny day, but eventually hot in the sun.  Humidity was not bad.

 

Following the blue line in the sidewalks, we began our trek towards Old Town.  Walking through the terminal after the shuttle ride was brief.  In fact, one of us almost did not get out of the shuttle as part of the hem of a blouse was hooked on the metal part of the seat.  Now what is the likelihood that we would get the shuttle that had this flaw?  And that one of us would sit in that seat?  I said I can’t get up, I thought quietly, but the lady in front turned around and offered her hands to pull me up.   Had to explain I was stuck, and would rip the blouse.  Working the fabric backwards, it got loose and I was out of there in a flash.   Lucky me…..

 

The door at the end of the terminal dumped us right in the middle of a taxi war to get your business.  Must have said no thanks a hundred times.  They were not too pushy.  We looked for the blue line, and found it started outside the terminal.  Part of it was a painted line, but most of it was like a series of rubber strips leading us through a residential neighborhood.  Actually, these homes were well-maintained and more than likely under surveillance.  There were three passengers walking well ahead of us, so we were not alone.  Never at any time did we feel nervous about our surroundings.  Several years ago, Mazatlan had some unfortunate violence aimed at tourists, and for this reason, this port was dropped from all itineraries for several years.  We were glad to see it back.

 

Walking on a tree-lined street, we came across a small Catholic Church, Maria Del Mar.  Around there, we took a right turn, and followed this street until we reached a stop light.  Right across the highway, the historic route began, starting with the Angela Peralta Theater.  There happened to be a ship’s tour group there as we walked by.  That’s where we were approached by an English-speaking lady, who could have been mistaken for one of the tourists.  She pointed out the nearby sights we should not miss, then went into a talk about Cielito Lindo, the high end jewelry store in this area.  Handing us a flyer with a 15% off discount, she went on to the next person she spotted.  Passing the Machado Square, we headed straight for the Cathedral Basilica of Mazatlan.  Entering a huge square, we saw Republic Square first where a truck load of  military police were roaming around the area, armed with rifles no less.  There would be no “smash and grab” robberies here for sure.  The Basilica was the main point of this entire block and worthwhile seeing the interior.  We took many photos discreetly.

 

If we had gone another block up the street, we would have found the Pino Suarez Market, where, we were told this morning, you buy your ingredients in the market downstairs, then go on the upper level, and prepare your own dishes.  It is most popular with the crew, and we heard that today many of them went there to cook. 

 

Following the jewelry vendor’s directions, we located Calle Angel Flores, where a row of colorful houses are located.  It was near here, that we came across a nice couple from the ship, who showed us a city map, which we failed to see at the terminal.  The lady said her husband had picked up an extra one, and offered to give it to us.  Yes, we would love it.  She added that she had no idea why he picked it up, so it was meant to be to help us out.  

 

We came out at the Pacific Ocean near the Little Deer statue and many nice-looking restaurants and hotels.  Down below the road was Olas Altas Beach to the left, and Olivera Tent Sea Pool below.  Many statues lined the roadway such as Dolphin Woman, Jose Angel and Salvador Lizarrugo statues, and the Mazatlan Woman.   In the same area was the Monument to the Diver, who we did see dive headfirst from the top to a tiny pool of water below.  Crazy.  Across the road in the granite wall, was a red-painted gate that was named the Devil’s Cave or La Cueva del Diablo.  Actually there is nothing there but the facade, but it a good photo op. 

 

Goddess of the Seas was another monument with a very large one by the name of Life’s Continuity with two statues of a woman and a man with a series of dolphins over a fountain.  It was quite impressive.  From here, the road started to go downhill towards the Sister Cities Park.  However, knowing we had to hike back uphill was enough to turn us around and head back.  Many vendors were in the area of the high diver, and one fellow with a case of silver items caught our eye.  Checking it out, he wanted over $100 for a complete set of an opal hummingbird pendant, a bracelet and matching earrings.  Way too much, although the silver was 925, but opals?  Not so sure about that.  He dropped his price every five seconds until he arrived at $50.  Not sure I needed a bracelet, he would not bargain for the three piece set.  Telling him we would  think about it, we walked further down the hill.  It took maybe five minutes, when he came running after us with the pieces in a bag.  The price ended up at $25.  Everyone was happy.

 

From here, we back-tracked, utilizing a few benches on the way back.  At Plaza Machado, some folks asked us for directions to the Blue Line, since they had taxied from the ship to the Cathedral.  Eventually, they followed us back through the local streets which were basically empty by now. 

 

Looking through the terminal shops for a few minutes, we went outside and took the next shuttle back.  By 1:30pm, we were enjoying ice cold sodas on our veranda.  And ended up with some snacks instead of a Lido lunch.   Since we had made reservations for the Tamarind tonight, we wanted to be good and hungry.  

 

The ship left around 5pm after the last of the tour folks came back late.  Once we were through the entrance to the harbor, we turned south heading towards the next port of Puerto Vallarta.  This kept the blazing sun in our room until it set before dinner time.  Many boobys appeared as well as pelicans, diving for flying fish and other sea delicacies. 

 

Dinner in the Tamarind was excellent tonight.  There were very few diners left, so we had extra attention from the staff.  Starters were spring rolls and pot stickers.  Followed by ramen soup and Thai salad.  One of us had the wasabi-crusted tenderloin, and the other had the Mongolian lamb.   Both were mouth-watering tasty and tender.  Really full, we decided to try the mango posset, but sharing just one.  It was not too sweet and just right.  With all of the walking we had done today, we felt we deserved a treat.

 

Tomorrow will be another hiking day in Puerto Vallarta, hoping it will not be too hot.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

Bill & Mary Ann, those pics you took of the whale are the BEST whale pics I have seen in a LONG time, talk about being in the right place at the right time.....definitely a TREAT!

 

Thanks for sharing them with us!

[ottahand7]

On 4/20/2022 at 11:09 AM, WCB said:

Dinner was in the dining room with one bowl of chicken noodle (spaghetti) soup, a Caesar salad, and one entrée of cordon bleu and one fettucine with Bolognese sauce and shredded beef rib meat.  It was delicious.  And we shared as well.  The head chef made another visit to the tables, and we thanked him for the different dished tonight. Finally, dessert was one rocky road and a neopolitan dish of ice cream. 

I don't know what the problem is with proper noodles.  I thought it was probably just an aberration on the NS.  We had Beef Stroganoff twice and it was served on spaghetti noodles.    

[WCB]

Report # 125   Puerto Vallarta, Mexico  7am-5pm   Thursday - April 21, 2022   Sunny & 80 degrees   Part #1 Of 4........80 Pictures

 

The ship arrived very early to the port of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  By the time we headed off for breakfast at 8am, we were already docked.  Looking out the window on the port side, we could see the part of the harbor where other ships dock.  Today there was the vessel,  Hurtigruten Expeditions of the Roald Amundsen group.   And other than a small cruise ship anchored offshore (not in use) by the name of Vidanta Elegant of Vidanta Cruises, there were no other cruise ships here. 

 

For some reason, it had been decided not to change the clocks to local time.  We just had to remember that in town, the time was one hour ahead.   The only difference it might make is that lunch time might be over by the time we arrived to Old Town.  And naturally, if we were not careful, we could miss the ship.  All aboard was 4:30pm…..no exceptions. 

 

There were a whole lot of tours offered today.  Many were water-related like the catamaran sail and snorkel for 7 hours.  Other water sports were swimming with either dolphins or sea lions for 3 hours, while a lunch with a city tour was 5 hours.  Out of town treks went to the Sierra Madres with rappelling, a mule ride, and zip line for 6 hours.  Really?  And there was a horseback riding tour for 4 ½ hours, or an easy drive to Old Town with tequila for 5 hours.  The prices ranged from  $65 to $150.  Many of these same tours were being sold independently in the cruise terminal.

 

Speaking of the cruise terminal, nothing looked at all familiar to us.  A new building was blocking the view of the gardens we usually see.  We figured that the last time we were here was in May of 2019, and this new shopping complex was just in the beginning of the construction.  It is called Puerto Magico.

 

We left the ship around 10am with strict instructions regarding wearing of our masks.  They would be required going off and on the ship, as well as being worn outside and inside all venues in the city.  In other words, don’t take them off.  Obviously, the virus is still active here, as most all the locals we saw were wearing masks.  It did take us a while to be funneled through this modern mall with high end shops, but eventually we did find the exit.  We had bypassed the little park with parrots and souvenir kiosks, which is vacant now.  At the far end, there still is a small flea market, which is accessible by turning at the corner gas station.

 

The weather today was pleasant early on, with mostly sunny skies, a breeze, and temps in the high 70’s.  It was not extremely humid, but it did heat up later on.  Today would be the ultimate test of the new knee.  The estimated walk to Old Town was 3 ½ miles, but going beyond to the Rio Cuale and the River Café, would add an additional ½ mile.  Total miles walked one way was 4 miles.  The saving grace was that it was all flat ground.

 

Three years has made a big difference in the local upgrades and developments.  Back in the old days (not so long ago), there were no good sidewalks from the pier to town.  Most of it was torn up concrete with stretches of sandy trails.  Cobblestones as well.  Today, we found about all of the sidewalks have been repaired and widened with added trees and even a separate bike lane.  And many benches to sit, which really helped on the way back.   The impossible hard to walk cobblestones had been floated with concrete with a much smoother surface. 

 

We passed the familiar hotels and restaurants, noticing that many more new ones had popped up.  Traffic was as busy as ever, even though today was a Thursday. This is where we came across the usual souvenir stores and the many Senor Frog’s Restaurants and shops.  Must have been five in total.  Near to Old Town, the road was blocked for traffic and walking became easier along the malecon, or seaside walkway.   A crowd was forming near the tall pole where the four Indians climb to the top and hang upside down and spin as they lower themselves to the ground.  A fifth person stays on top and plays a flute.  This is a tradition here, as well as in other neighboring countries, and has a story, which we do not know.  Really neat to watch, locals passed around the $ bucket after the performance. 

 

Another favorite photo op has to be the bronze statues that are placed along this malecon….some are bizarre to say the least.  The most famous of these statues has to be the seahorse, that was lost during a massive hurricane here.  Eventually, it had been replaced, but when the original was found under the water in the Banderos Bay, it was resurrected.  Now they have two. 

 

Near the main square and the Cathedral, were extra- large wooden rocking horses for the kids to ride.  Vendors were selling everything from iced drinks to popcorn, and fresh fruit.  And the always stands of jewelry, silver or not, or beaded, are  popular souvenirs here.  Our destination was lunch at the River Café located on the Isla Cuale Island in the center of the Rio Cuale.  Hopefully it was opened.

 

Getting there, we found a new exit off of the bridge that spans the green river.  Yes, they were opened and we got seats right over the river.  The patio gazebo in the center was closed.  It looked like it had been damaged.  But it was a great spot to see the  many iguanas that were always here.

They used to scare the heck out of our favorite port lecturer, Barbara Haenni, who always dined here when we visited Puerto Vallarta.  Sadly, she is no longer with us, but her memory will always be in our minds. 

 

Our lunch was really good, starting with Pacifico beers.  They come in the new sized cans these days, but are priced right…..about $2.50 USD.  The first thing you are served here is a gravy boat of fresh chopped salsa with a bowl of thick tortilla chips.  Absolutely one of our favorite appetizers.  We added one order of cheese nachos, also good.  Ending the meal, we had a shared serving of a rich vanilla ice cream drizzled with a stream of chocolate sauce.  A roaming mariachi player moved around the many tables as we dined, which is common in the more traditional Mexican eateries.  It was so pleasant sitting under the ceiling fan, we hated to move.  We asked the waiter (owner) where the iguanas were.  He said that during the last hurricane, they were washed out to sea.  There had been a lot of damage at the time, taking out the bridge as well.  We bet in time, the iguanas will be back in their manmade fern garden below the patio.  Time to go, it was already 2pm, and we had a long walk ahead of us.

 

It took us about 2 ½ hours to make it back to the ship by 4:15pm.  All aboard was 4:30pm, so we did not have the time to stop at Fiesta Americana Hotel this time.  It is fairly close to the pier, but it is always nice to sit and sip ice cold sodas by their pool.  One last stop at the Puerto Magico and Diamonds International, where one more charm was collected.  The vendor asked what I thought the charm was, and I guessed it right…..the seahorse.  Totally guessing, he said I may have cheated, but no, I learned the seahorse was famous here after it was missing at sea.

 

We had plenty of ice cold sodas when we got back to the room.   Planting ourselves on our lounges, we enjoyed the sail out of the harbor, while one of us proceeded to work on pictures.  As for me?  I stayed planted on that lounge until it got chilly.  

 

Dinner was in the dining room with the usual starters and one lasagna, and one green chicken – not really verde, but an added splash of guacamole on the side.  Both were good.

 

Tomorrow will be a day at sea……thank goodness.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[0106]

I have enjoyed “traveling” with you Bill and Maryann!

 

For those interested a a tour in PV, we took the best ones I have ever had on a cruise in February.  We went to the Marietas Islands which is a Biosphere Reserve.  I believe it was called Whales, Rays  and Birds.  Comfortable boat ride out to the site, saw all of the wildlife in the tour name.  Guided snorkeling with wet suit provided.  Lunch. More whale sightings and boobys and laughing gulls.  Entertainment on the way back,  about 6 hours.  Highly recommend.

[KAKcruiser]

Regarding the maintenance issues, my understanding is that the Nieuw Amsterdam has not had a drydock since 2017.  That's a long time and I'm not sure if anything has been scheduled yet.

[WCB]

Report # 126   Day at Sea   Friday - April 22, 2022    Partly cloudy & 72 degrees  Part #1 Of 1......0 Pictures 

 

It sure was a laid back day with slightly cooler temperatures as we cross the Sea of Cortez.  During his noontime talk, the Captain said to keep a watch out for whales and other sea creatures.  He might be referring to the giant squid or whale sharks that live in these waters, but chances of seeing either of them is slim.  Regardless, we did give it a try during the afternoon hours to no avail.

 

Most of our day was used catching up with yesterday’s report and photos.  After the long hike, one of us was not up to writing after dinner, and only squeezed out one sentence.  It could wait for today.  Now that we are heading west, the sun never did hit our veranda.  Surprising how that keeps the temperature down.  At one point, we had to wear sweatshirts.

 

Since the gala menu wasn’t enticing, we made reservations in the Pinnacle Grill tonight.  Most times, doing this last minute, doesn’t work.  But with less than 900 people onboard, there were plenty of openings especially at 8pm. 

 

We went to lunch in the Lido, starting with salads.  One of us went outside to order a pizza, then by the time we finished the salads, the pizza would be ready.  Waiting for the buzzer to go off (never did), our pizza arrived, delivered personally by the pizza chef.  She remembered us from the N. Statendam, and just wanted to say hi to both of us.  What service, right?  It seems that 2:30pm is the best time to go for lunch, since the crowd is gone.

 

Watching a movie kept us busy until dinner time, where we went to the Pinnacle Grill of course.  Ordering the same items we always do, it all came on time and was very good.   We shared a baked Alaska.

 

On the way back, we checked out the shops to see what we can buy to use up some more shipboard credit.  It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it.

 

With this being the final gala evening, we had two Delft tiles for the Eurodam and N. Amsterdam ships, pillow chocolates, and for the first time……a towel animal (sea lion).  Come to think about it, we never were given the choice of nightly towel creatures every day.  We would have said no thanks anyway. 

 

Tomorrow’s port will be a new one for us……Pichilingue, Mexico for the port of La Paz.  Should be fun.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[The Other Tom]

2 hours ago, WCB said:

It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it.

Love the humor😂

[WCB]

Report #127  Pichilingue, Mexico For La Paz  Saturday April 23, 2022 Sunny And Cooler 75 Degrees  Part #1 Of 3.........80 Pictures

 

After sailing 430 nautical miles at a speed of 11.8 knots from Puerto Vallarta, we arrived to the port of  Pichilingue, Mexico, located in the state of Baja California Sur.  The actual destination for today was La Paz, about 10 miles away from here.  The good news was that a complimentary shuttle was offered to La Paz for about a 30 minute ride.  Or you could take another free shuttle to nearby Tecolote Beach.  All the buses operated from 8am to 4pm. 

 

On our way to breakfast, we always stop at the middle elevators where the screen shows the weather.  Today it read 57 degrees.  Was that a mistake, or should it be 75 degrees?   Guess not, as it was that cold.  It would heat up nicely later in the day.

 

We left the ship about 9:30am for the 30 minute ride, which may have been shorter because there were many speed bumps along the way.  If we had been considering staying in Pichilingue, there would have been no place to go. Nothing to do.  The closest thing was a towering Cemex  factory, which was quite noisy all day.  There were over a dozen souvenir tents set up outside the terminal building, and three Pacifico beer tents.  Later in the day, there was a mariachi band.

 

There were three shore excursions offered here.   Highlights of the town with a lunch was 5 hours, while a trip to see a wild animal rehabilitation and aviary for 2 ½ hours.  Last but not least, there was a highlight excursion with a stop at a pottery factory for 4 hours.  Prices went from $75 to $100.

 

This is our very first time to visit La Paz, which is the capital city of the state of Baja California Sur.  Hernan Cortes arrived in 1535, and named the area Bahia de la Santa Cruz.  A year later, Sebastian Vizcaino renamed it La Paz.  Judging by what we saw at the pier area, we sure did not expect to find the exploding seaside resort that exists here.   The ride to town took us through dry sandy hills full of mature cacti…….a real desert.  These cacti looked like saguaro cacti, but technically are cardon cacti.  Had they been saguaro, they would be worth $100 a foot to buy for your garden at home. 

 

After a few miles, we began to see the coastline of the La Paz bay.  It was lined with small marinas, then resorts, timeshares, and some larger hotels.   We spotted a few new golf courses, and so many restaurants, cafes, and bars, we could not count them.  We could see a very long stretch of  a seaside walkway or malecon, much like what we saw in Puerto Vallarta. The tide was out, but there were few beaches that looked usable.  In fact, no one was in the water swimming or even sun-bathing.  We did see a kayaking group getting ready to launch. 

 

On the bus, we did have a narrator who pointed out the best places to eat in town and sites to see.  We were dropped off at the Tourist Information Center across from a garden and gazebo called Kiosko del Malecon.  The square surrounding this gazebo was being staged for something, we suspected was happening tonight.  Asking a nearby vendor, she said it was the Festival of the Whale Shark, and the celebration would start at 5pm.  That’s when we are scheduled to leave.  Figures.

 

We walked the entire length of the malecon dotted with bronze statues along the shoreline.  Sure looked like Puerto Vallarta.  The difference is that these monuments have been stripped of their bronze titles.  Good thing we had gotten maps of the area, which described everything we were seeing.   We might add that being today was Saturday, many locals with their youngsters in tow were out and about.   

 

Across the street from the malecon were dozens of very authentic Mexican restaurants, except for one huge Burger King.  One semi-outdoor café was filled with guests on an HAL tour……probably the one that included a lunch.  We saw no Senor Frog’s here, and no “spring breakers” were here.  They usually go to the beaches and bars of Cabo San Lucas. 

 

Having seen the coastline, we headed uphill on 5 de Mayo Street, and to the historical part of the city.  The La Paz Cathedral  is the centerpiece, and was about to have a wedding begin.  Some clueless cruise ship passengers had mixed with the waiting wedding party outside the church doors.  They should know better, since this is a big event in two people’s life.  These cruise people sure did not need to be in their personal photos.   

 

We watched for a while from the main square across from the church, then continued on.  Hoping to catch a glimpse of the bride, it is tradition for them to be a bit late for the ceremony.  Walking down the side street was so steep, there were stairs in the sidewalks.  It was far easier to go in the street instead, watching for oncoming traffic.  

 

Back at the bus terminal, we were about to enter the parking lot, when we were directed to go through the front door of the building.  This put us at the end of a very long line of folks waiting for the shuttle back to the ship.  We were lined up against a wall, where there was a little shade.  And it was only 12pm.  We were surprised there were so many going back.  Eventually there were two buses, and we were back to the pier before 1pm after waiting for 20 minutes in the hot parking lot.

 

On the way back through the tents, one of us found a matching silver bracelet for the opal set we bought in Mazatlan. 

 

Sitting on our veranda with cold sodas, had its pluses.  Until the sun began creeping up on the veranda, we did have a nice breeze blowing.  Our room faced the terminal and the tents where we could watch the activity below.  Then one of us spotted an osprey, that flew from the factory to some poles with obvious nests on top.  The bird had something in its talons, and the best we could see, it was a fish.  Sure is fun watching these birds of prey.

 

Even better, as we cleared the harbor, we saw a whale blowing for a nano second.  It skimmed the surface, then went deeper, but not diving.  It could have been a humpback or a gray whale.  We will not know what type it was, since it never came back.

 

The ship left around 6pm, and we sailed out of the harbor on our way to Cabo San Lucas.  Dinner for us was in the dining room where we had the pork chops, the first time this has been on the menu.  A very tasty starter was the halibut quesadilla, and chicken noodle soup for one of us.   Small desserts finished the meal nicely.

 

We finally made a stop in one of the Shops, and bought some jewelry, using some of the “have to spend” credit.  Always fun.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[Florida_gal_50]

Thank you for your description of la Paz.  I was thinking I should do it next time I’m there.  After reading your description I think I have done it.  What a memory I have. Hopefully I’ll remember once I see your pictures.

[westcoastsue]

It’s nice after all the traveling you have done to stop at a “new” port.

La Paz is a non touristy destination for fishing and diving. I’ve been going there since the early 1990’s.

[ON cruiser]

Before the pending end of your journey this year, a note of thanks for once again allowing me to travel vicariously with you two. Your great descriptions of the ports, and shipboard life, make enjoyable reading. I hope you both continue to stay well.

 

Looking forward to your return to the World Cruise next year! Safe travels, 

 

ON Cruiser.  

[WCB]

Report #128 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7am-3:30pm Sunday April 24, 2022  Sun With Haze And Much Cooler 75 Degrees  Part #1 Of 3........80 Pictures

 

The N. Amsterdam must have arrived to the Banderas Bay in Cabo San Lucas in the darkness.  Only one of us was up that early.  However, we could hear the anchors being dropped, which is the first time they have done this since we boarded.  And, it is the first port that we will have to use tenders to go ashore.  For some unknown reason, we were anchored the furthest away than we have ever been. 

 

Yesterday, we had a phone call from the Event Coordinator, Teresa, who offered to personally escort us to the tender platform if we wished to go over early.  Very nice of her to ask, we usually wait until the thundering herd of passengers are gone from the ship.  No need to be first, since not much is opened that early. 

 

On our way to the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast, we noticed that the mid ship elevators were manned.  Tender tickets were being distributed in the BB King Blues Club for those who did not have tours.  Four and five star Mariners, as well as suite folks did not need tickets.  Those that did have the tickets,  handed them to  a staff member who let them in the elevator that went down to deck A.  It was very controlled and there did not seem to be a problem with the procedure.  Of course, this was not Easter Island, where things went south in a hurry due to the tendering being cut off early.  People had lined up at 4am to get those tickets.  Thought there was going to be a revolution that year on the world cruise.

 

Anyway, there were two cruise ships already anchored when we arrived.  They were way closer to the marina than we were.  One was the Carnival Miracle, which did not look that big….but it was the closer we looked.  The other ship was small.  It was the Star Breeze, a Windstar vessel.

 

On a side note, after getting some smaller bills at the front desk, we walked deck one where the rooms are located.  Out on the floor were several discarded paper and Styrofoam plates and cups, as well as plastic forks and knives.  Hmmm, that tells us that these folks are quarantined.  And to add to the clues, later on when we ordered room service, the operator asked if we were quarantined.  Heavens no, we said.  Apologizing, he said he had to ask that question.  Now we wonder how many people are locked up?  And why, except that Covid is on the rise.  Unfortunately, we do not know anyone well enough to get an answer to this question.

 

Tours today were a catamaran ride for 5 hours, or several combinations of seeing Los Arcos for 2 ½ hours.  Snorkeling at Chileno Bay for 4 hours was an option,  or a beach resort with lunch for  5 hours.  A tour to Todos Santos included a stop at Hotel California (made famous by the song) and lunch for 5 ½ hours.  Last, was horseback riding for 4 hours.  Prices went from $55 to $130.  It is possible some of these excursions had been cancelled, according to an announcement yesterday.

 

The call for open tenders came around 9:30am.  No one would need tickets anymore.  And that is when we left to join the line of folks waiting for the next boat.  There was a short wait, then we loaded on a local tender, much the same size as ours.  The seas were rougher than they looked, making boarding a bit more challenging.  It was at least a 20 minute ride.  With three ships in port, the landing pier was very crowded.  On the way out, we picked up a map and a flyer for Diamonds International.   Oh good, a chance to collect a different charm. 

 

The most aggressive tour vendors in all of the Mexican ports, has to be here.  There were so many people entering here, that it was easy to escape them.  By the way, most people that we saw were not wearing masks.  Some of the locals were, but not as much as in previous ports.   If we did go into a shop, we had to use sanitizer, which is fine with us. 

 

Searching the marina for sea lions, we saw none today. And there were very few pelicans also.  So we headed up the streets to Cabo Wabo to check out their t-shirts.  The city T shirt has not changed since we were here last.   Their restaurant was opened, but it was too early for lunch.  So we headed back downhill to where the old Hard Rock Café used to be.  All that was left of the old building were the door handles that looked like guitars.  To our surprise, we looked across the street to find a brand new HRC.  This was built in the three years we have not been here.  There was a problem, however.  Not one large shirt existed anywhere in the shop.  They were mostly small and 3 x size.  Oh well.  From here we walked across the road to the Puerto Paraiso Mall.  This has to be the center of all high end shopping, and is connected to the Luxury Mall now….even higher-end.  Starting at one end, we ended up leaving this mall by the marina.  This is where we found a nice place for lunch several years ago.   Finding Baja Brewery was easy, but it was locked down….closed forever.  Disappointed, we headed back to the ship.  Dodging vendors all the way back, we looked for Diamonds International .  Nowhere to be seen, it was at the bottom of Guerrero Street, but not on the marina side.   Somehow we had bypassed that one store.  Oh well, that will give one of us something to look for next time we visit.  

 

Back at the docking area, we found it crowded with guests returning already. All aboard was at 2:30pm, and no one wanted to be late.  This time the boat we got was one of ours.  Riding in it, reminded us of how lucky we have been by not visiting any Caribbean islands that needed tendering.  Except for Half Moon Cay, where there is no choice but to tender.  And during the time we were ashore, another ship arrived…..the Navigator of the Seas (RCI) and anchored in the bay.  Just what they need…..more people.  The ride back was uneventful.

 

Once back in the room, we decided to order lunch from room service.  It did take over 40 minutes, but obviously worth the wait.  We ordered one Caesar chicken salad, and one cobb salad. Then we split a club sandwich.  It was just right, and tasted really good.  Except for the Covid lock-up, this is the only time we had room service.  Glad we did.

 

The N. Amsterdam left Banderos Bay after 3pm, while the other three ships remained.  Once the ship got out far enough to make that turn, it got downright chilly on the veranda.  We expected that, but most folks do not.  Especially those that are at the Seaview Pool, enjoying the last of the warm Mexican sun.  We have seen belongings and towels go flying overboard almost instantly when the winds picked up.   Watching the pounding surf climb up a cliff, we realized that the mighty Pacific Ocean is not as peaceful as you might expect.  As the evening progressed, the sailing became a bit rougher with the ship rolling quite a bit.  We expect this to remain the same as we head towards San Diego now.

 

Great time to stay in the room and work on photos and reports.  Dinner time arrived, and we went to the dining room for their special culinary menu.  We had soup, salads, and crab cakes.  The main was prime rib for both of us.  Bill always orders an outside cut, but medium rare.  So far, he has gotten the meat served exactly as he described.  We added a baked potato and skipped the veggie stew.  Desserts were one raspberry tart and a serving of ice cream. 

 

The clocks went back one hour, which is finally back to Pacific time now. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[lostatsea200]

Thanking you for all the reports and wonderful pictures.  It was our morning

reading along with coffee.  We wish you a safe journey home and will be

looking forward to the 2023 world cruise.  

[cunnorl]

Thank you for always taking us along on your travels. Always a pleasure and very informative.  Safe travels home and we look forward to your travels on the World Cruise.