Review - Part 2 Our Cruise On The Veendam - Transcanal And Amazon River

[Aussie Gal]

We are in sunny Mexico. Unfortunately my mobile phone hasn't been working since we were in L.A. so have been unable to send text messages home. I am hoping it will come good further on as I know it worked in Brazil earlier this year.

We are still having wonderful weather. Today is 90C and the sea is just so calm. We arrived here at noon and will be here until 6pm. We were tendered to shore and Sandra, Peter, (Sandydownunder) Peter and I took a water taxi out to see the rock formations, arch, seals and pelicans. It was a 45 minute ride and well worth the trip.

We are having a fun time on board the Veendam. The Captain and his officers are very personable and nothing is too much trouble for them. Last night was our second Formal night and this time it was the Captain's Cocktail Party. Sandra, Peter, Peter and I were invited to the Chief Officer's Table for dinner which was a thrill. We met in the Explorer's lounge before going into dinner and had drinks and savouries before being escorted to our lovely big round table in the lower dining room. We sat with an American couple from Seattle and a Dutch couple from the border of Belgium and Holland. It was a great night. Bart, the Chief Officer was a great host. He is only in his early thirties and is married to one of the girls who works in the Excursion Office. We have our menu signed with his name on it for posterity!!

The food has been delicious so far and we have met some great people. Everyone is very friendly and we are all looking forward to our trip through the Panama and up the Amazon

 

Another lovely sunny day at sea and again the sea is like glass. It is the 15th day in a row that we have had perfect weather! How lucky we are. We are now on our way to Costa Rica where we will dock at 8am tomorrow moring. We are doing a private tour with Sandra and Peter (our friends from QLD) with Charlie Soto. It is a 7 hour tour and we will be visiiting the volcano.

We loved our day in Apapulco. We again did a private tour for four with Sarah and she took us everywhere. We went to the local market first of all and then on to the lovely Fairmont Hotel a few bays around where we saw the pink flamingoes. Then we went up one of the hills to the Chapel of Peace and then onto the highlight which were the Cliff Divers. I have always wanted to visit Apapulco since I first saw films on the resort way back in the 60's and 70's and wasn't disappointed.

Yesterday we tendered into Huatulco. We were the unlucky ones as both the Westerdam and the Coral Princess were both here and as they are the larger ships they got the only two berths at the dock.

There wasn't a lot to see in this new resort town and a couple of hours ashore was long enough especially as it was so hot.

The Veendam is a lovely ship with great staff. Our Dutch Captain is full of information when he gives his noon day report and is most interesting. We have good table waiters and our room steward is excellent. The meals have been great so far. Our chef originates apparently from Germany.

We have a lecture on the Panama Canal this morning to go to so must finish.

 

Jennie