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Despite losing an hour a day over the next six days at sea, crossing the Atlantic was exhilarating as guests found both old and new friends, discussed their upcoming anticipations and making plans to meet for various events on board or just relaxing by the pool in the warmth of the closed roof.
Some highlighted activities over those six sea days included cooking shows or movies in the Wajang Theater, art classes, themed trivia, talks on the Mediterranean, line dancing lessons, learning Spanish or Italian, jackpot bingo, origami folding, wine tasting, complimentary massages and special afternoon teas amongst many other fun-filled activities and musical entertainments around the ship! If you are feeling sporty, there are various activities and organized challenges such as pickleball, abs and fitness classes, basketball, ping pong, bocce ball, cornhole, Tai Chi and Walk a Mile for Charity.
Day 3 featured a dressy night with the Captain’s Welcome Party and complimentary bubbles! New to Volendam is the Travel Guide desk, hosted on this voyage by Josh. He is there for two hours each day to answer any questions at all about upcoming ports and travel plans.
Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal - The first port and Cruise Specialists excursion “Furnas Valley and Tea Plantation with Welcome Lunch”. A wonderful drive through the lush green island with views over the crater valley and a visit to the Chá Gorreana Tea Plantations followed by watching our lunch of Cozido (a rich stew) being pulled from the ground after being cooked by thermal vents in the volcanic soil. It was a sumptuous feast!
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I was the only one to brave the murky brown thermal waters at the Terra Nostra Gardens though!
Back on board – the chefs paid tribute to Canadian Thanksgiving with a Roast Turkey dinner.
Two more days at sea ensued and plenty more highlights for every taste, such as “Coffee Chat with Jayme,” whereupon the Cruise Director chats with various members of the officers and crew about their lives and job roles. Also, Mahjong, a well-stocked library of books and board games, the casino, bridge and knitting groups and an afternoon comedy hour!
Historic Lisbon, Portugal – A classic Lisbon fun experience is to ride the vintage Tram 28. It passes through major historic districts like Graça, Alfama, Baixa, and Estrela - perfect for sightseeing in a single ride! You just can’t miss the magnificent piazzas with huge historic statues, the blue and white ceramics and street cafés selling Pastéis de Nata. They are fabulous especially when they are warm! The ship had some available at the sailaway too!
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Another sea day – this time I’m focusing on “chilled out leisure”! From 7am ‘til 9pm you can use the hot tubs, pools and fitness center, not to mention the much enjoyed Happy Hours with live music around the ship!
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Cartagena, Spain - A scenic, harbor town perfect for walking, dining, and enjoying sea views. Nearby you’ll find naval museums, historical fortifications, and easy access to boat tours. An easygoing town with an abundance of very reasonably priced Spanish tapas and wines to enjoy. A fun fact - one of the world’s first electric-powered submarines was invented and built here by Isaac Peral in 1888. The Peral is here on display in Cartagena.
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Valencia, Spain – Despite it being a Sunday, the city was vibrant. There was a shuttle bus to Santa Rita at €18 pp for a return ticket. Or a 15 min walk and a local bus for €2 each way. We took this option into the city centere which was hosting a charity event with live music and thousands of walkers dressed in pink! After seeing the main sights, we took another local bus to the vast Science Park - Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias - home to an aquarium, IMAX theatre, planetarium, and science museum. You could easily spend a day here and it’s not far from the port.
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Barcelona, Spain – A purpose-built cruise liner port has been built since we were last here. Today there were six ships in (Volendam being the smallest!), each with its own terminal and bus stop!! €3 one way, €4.50 for return. Buses were efficient and continuous. Another vast city but of course here Gaudí’s iconic Parc Güell and Sagrada Família Basilica are the symbol of Barcelona. Its architecture is unlike anything else in the world.
Great to have sea day after these two busy ports – I’m featuring restaurants today! The Dive In is open for hot dogs and burgers on Lido deck 11.30 – 6pm, Lido casual dining is open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and late suppers, not forgetting the dessert and ice cream counters open all afternoon until 4pm! There is of course also the Main Dining Room and specialty (extra charge) restaurants the Pinnacle and the Canaletto. Tonight was the second dressy night themed as “Casino Royale” with special menus, gaming lessons and raffles.
Portofino, Italy – Tickets for the tenders were required for the first hour but then relaxed as the rush died down. The colorful Piazzetta waterfront lined with cafés, boats, and pastel houses. It’s the heart of Portofino and perfect for relaxing, people-watching, and photos. Limoncello ice creams are the specialty here!
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Civitavecchia, Italy – Many people went to Rome - easy to reach by train in about an hour, or a safer bet is to take a tour to see the top sights - the Colosseum, Vatican City (St. Peter’s Basilica, etc), Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. Apparently, it was extremely congested and not helped by the visit of King Charles that day.
We headed in the opposite direction and took a tour to Tarquina (formerly called Corneto and famous for Etruscan Necropolis tombs of the ancient world. 7BC – over 3,000 years old!) and Toscana (visiting the National Archaeological Park of Cerveteri – more amazing painted tombs from the Bronze Age).
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Naples, Italy – A truly amazing city to walk through and enjoy so many diverse things – from the historic Egg Castle to a very quirky umbrella shop and from the awesome Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral with its collection of frescoes and art works by Renaissance masters Michelangelo, Donatello and Giotto to streets full of shops selling everything from toilet rolls with Presidents of the world on them to Christmas landscapes.
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Another great attraction is the Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea). A hidden world under the streets: ancient Greek-Roman cisterns, aqueducts, and a Roman-era theater. There was just not enough time for us in Naples. Even the port terminal has an impressive mall of well-priced shops. Of course, though, for first timers – Pompeii is a must-see place.
The sea days that followed were full of animated talk about first visits to Europe by many of our guests. Such a different continent to the Americas! Onboard lectures fueled this excitement with topics such as “The Mafia, Myths and Reality in Sicily”, “Up Close Legendary Tales of Europe” and “Pyramid Mythbusting”! One day there was a mouthwatering arrangement of Italian desserts in the Lido. I felt that I could gain 5lbs just looking at them!
Heraklion (Iraklion), Greece – our fourth country and first port in Greece. The commercial port has a shuttle to the main gate as it is not accessible to pedestrians. From here you can get a Hop-On bus or enjoy a walk along the shoreline and up to the town. The main religion is Greek Orthodox, and the historic Saint Titus is the main cathedral near the Morosini Fountain at Lion Square. The shops are full of Olive Oil products, an abundance of blue and white ceramics, and colorful fabrics made into everything possible!
Another couple of sea days got me to thinking about what nationalities are on board. Of the 1288 people on Volendam, there are 1,101 from USA, 131 from Canada, 9 from UK, 8 from Australia, 6 from Mexico, 5 from Brazil, 5 from Columbia and 1 or 2 from Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, South Africa, New Zealand and Peru! Generally, passports were not required to get ashore, but taking a Government Issued Photo ID is required in most ports. It was only Egypt that stamped our passports, and Istanbul required us to take a landing card that had an individual QR code pass on it (issued at no cost by the ship).
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Alexandria, Egypt – We docked and left the ship at sunrise for the most eagerly awaited excursion of the cruise. So many of our guests had looked forward to this visit for years. The Pyramids are such a wonder of the ancient world still in existence and that first sight of them is an emotional one. I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they get that first glimpse. That dawning of realising a dream is spellbinding. The 3-hour journey with a local archaeologist and security man took our Cruise Specialists guests to Cairo and Giza, the first stop being the Pyramids themselves. Our guests rode camels (about US$5), bought scarves (similar price) and went inside the pyramids (included in price). We enjoyed a meze-style lunch, then visited the Sphinx and the Civilization museum with some unusual artifacts and plenty of mummies in the basement! As if that wasn’t enough to fit into a day – we checked into our hotel (The Fairmont Nile), had a group supper and then went out again to walk the bustling night bazaar of Khan El Khalili and even saw a mesmerizing Whirling Dervish dancing in a rooftop café. The atmosphere was electrifying!!
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The next day we went to Saqqara (the ancient necropolis of Memphis), home of the world’s oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Here we were able to go into the painted tombs and then on to be further wowed at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Despite the newly built (but not quite open) museum, there was still a huge amount of ancient artifacts, statues, chariots and mummies to be seen.
The day was made complete by having an enjoyable buffet lunch cruising along the Nile with entertainment by a whirling dervish, a belly dancer and Susie! Lol! All over too quickly we made the 3-hour journey back to sunset at the port of Alexandria. Tired and happy but still time and energy for some portside market stall shopping - everything you could want was right there and US$ and Euros were well accepted (as was the case in all of the European ports).
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A much-needed sea day followed providing rest and plenty of Halloween fun! Pumpkin carving competitions, Halloween cakes and of course a costume party!! No sleep for the wicked – there was even a mandatory lifeboat drill. These days though it’s easy. You just have to go to Deck 3 and get your ship card scanned, then watch the video in your stateroom.
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Santorini, Greece – Santorini, only accessible by tender, is a Greek island in the Aegean sea. Tours went by boat to other parts of the island, but we took the cable car up to the pretty village of Thira (€10 each way). An expensive 3-minute journey but the alternative is a steep donkey track that at the time was closed due to a landslide. The village is mainly cobblestoned shop- and restaurant-filled streets with fabulous views out over the caldera (volcanic basin).
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Kusadasi, Turkey – We led a Cruise Specialists tour to Ephesus here in our sixth country. This magnificent UNESCO World Heritage, ancient Roman city holds a plethora of excavated remains including the Temple of Artemis, a massive amphitheater, a marble street, and the famous Library of Celsus. The Terrace Houses have been excavated since we were last here and we were all astounded at the mosaics, wall decorations, and grandeur of these huge houses. They even had indoor toilets, running hot water and backgammon boards carved into the marble-topped tables! We followed the wide avenues to the harbor area that Cleopatra and Mark Anthony once rode in procession. A short drive back to Kusadasi, there is a myriad of jewellery, carpet, and souvenir shops within a few minutes’ walk of the ship or a lovely flat coastal walk if you just want to get away from it all.
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Istanbul, Turkey – We berthed late in the afternoon and went straight out with our Cruise Specialists guests for an evening excursion with meal. We enjoyed an entertaining drive as the sun was setting over the Bosphorus as we headed to the village of Kumkapi for a delightful evening of local food, wines, and entertainment.
*As a point of note here – the cleverly designed port building in Istanbul also houses an underground bus park. This makes for a very efficient terminal but is a very long walk to get out from the ship. Extra time is needed here to get to your arranged tours*
An overnight stop in Istanbul gave us plenty of time to explore the city the following day with another impressive Cruise Specialists excursion. Istanbul is largely pedestrian access only, consequently it was a strenuous day on the legs. We visited the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Sophia Grand Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar covering about seven miles on foot. Lunch in a garden restaurant was much appreciated and the relief to see the bus at the end of this long magnificent day was as wondrous a sight as the Blue Mosque some 8 hours earlier!!
Next day, we cruised through the Dardanelles with narrations accompanied by warm rolls, coffee and fresh orange juice on the open bow and Crow’s Nest. In the afternoon there was a “Singalong Abba show of Mama Mia”. A great chance to let your hair down, no matter how badly you may sing! Singing badly out loud with no inhibitions is definitely good for the soul!!
Pireaeus, Greece – The main attractions here are in Athens – only 30 minutes from the port, you can wander the sites of the Acropolis and many other excavated Greco-Roman ruins which litter the city. Many steps and cobbled streets to navigate but another lovely friendly city to explore at leisure, with of course plenty of shopping opportunities!
A Biergarten festival was in full swing for those with energy left on board that evening!!
Three new guest speakers had arrived on the ship and the talks were now focused on the upcoming countries of Malta, Tunisia, and Gibraltar. Also “The Wonder of Ships” and “Extreme Weathers”. Fingers were crossed for the latter as we have already been warned of storms during our upcoming Atlantic crossing.
Valletta, Malta – One of the smallest capitals of Europe and definitely one of the most beautiful concentrated historical areas of the world. These bustling bays of the Sciberras Peninsula are crammed with 16th century architecture, Baroque buildings and well-preserved fortifications making it one of the most impressive places to sail into in the world. It’s in my personal top 5.
If you just want to wander - there is an elevator in the side of the cliff not far from the port. At €1 return trip, it is well worth it!! Otherwise, there are some great tours and Hop-On buses right outside the port. A great way to see the city, but be careful about leaving enough time to get back on if there are any big ships in. Watching the sailaway is a must here in magnificent Malta.
La Goulette, Tunisia – Our 8th country and a step back in time in a different way as we touch land here in North Africa. Greeted by men holding falcons and eagles, there is a nice arcade of shops to fulfill any shopping needs at this port of call. We had a very pleasurable Cruise Specialists tour visiting ancient Carthage (founded in 800BC) and its Punic Ports. It was here that Hannibal began his legendary journey on an elephant across the Pyrenees and the Alps into Italy. We took a less arduous journey to the North African American Cemetery and the beautiful picturesque blue and white village of Sidi Bou Said.
Look for the wonderful doors whilst you are walking around here. There are only four yellow ones in the whole village. They were pre-regulation of the now law of enforcing blue doors.
*A Face-to-Face passport check is required for everyone going ashore here*
Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy – Another commercial port, therefore a complimentary shuttle to the main gate and from there an easy walk into the town to explore at leisure. Renowned for its hilltop castello and the Bastion of St Remy for its fabulous panoramic views. We spent the day wandering, exploring, and eating our way around this easygoing friendly town.
Between Cagliari and Gibraltar, we had another sea day with everything from NFL games, ladies pamper parties, painting a monkey, and learning Italian!
Gibraltar - Another dramatic sail in is to see the incredible sight of Gibraltar looming in the distance, but before that we enjoyed a very moving Remembrance service with poetry and readings to honor all active, retired and fallen veterans.
We are past residents of Gibraltar, so we enjoyed a quick walk to meet friends and then bring them back on board with us. This can be arranged via security at least 48 hrs before and with the presentation of the visitors’ passports for verification.
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Gibraltar for first time visitors is a really exciting experience and a tour of the “Rock” with an enthusiastic local taxi driver is a great way to see everything in a short space of time – St Michaels caves, The Siege Tunnels, Europa Point, the world famous runway and of course the very cheeky Barbary Apes.
Gibraltar is a super safe place to visit and possibly the most unique!
Gibraltar’s currency is the British Pound, but they happily accept any currency, although we thoroughly recommend an international credit/debit card for the best exchange rates. It is also famed for its British policemen, mailboxes, and fish and chips!!
Cadiz, Spain – One of my very favorite Spanish towns. You can walk through this typically Spanish, family-oriented town and out to the beaches on the opposite side to the port. Passing churches, local tapas bars and street cafés - Sherry, Sangria and Flamenco are a must here.
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal – The final port of this wonderful Grand Mediterranean cruise and our last Cruise Specialists excursion. “Scenic Madeira and Monte Basket Sleigh Ride”. We eagerly anticipated the basket ride and getting up there early was the best plan of the day as long queues soon built behind us. The 2km, 8-minute ride was over too soon-great fun! From there we went for a sumptuous feast of local wines and cheeses and a scenic view from a glass platform called “The Sky Walk”. The tour ended in the town where we chose to walk back to the ship at leisure. It was lovely to savor the last day of warm sunshine on land before the next six days at sea.
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The following days at sea were rough to say the least. We had to skirt a hurricane and the captain literally plowed on through the waves bringing as little discomfort to us all as possible. I was amused by some of the unfortunate lecture choices that were called “Shipwrecks and Time” and “The Weather in Art”. The ships’ company tried their best to keep the daily program on track for those unaffected by the “motion of the ocean”!! One morning, the Captain said “Find a safe space and stay there” – 43 of our guests decided that our Chat Time venue was their “safe space”!! Bless them.
During those last six days at sea across the Atlantic back to New York, the daily program continued “As and when it was safe to do so” – but it was possible to hold the Masquerade party, Mariners awards and lunches, a Sunday Brunch, Crew shows, a shopping show and even a ship building competition!! We held our final cocktail party, which was very well attended despite it being a bit touch and go in the Crow’s Nest, but we toasted our guests and unexpectedly, they in turn all stood to toast us. Then amongst a flurry of exchanging photos and numbers it was over.
After 20 ports in nine countries, the Volendam and our 93 lovely Cruise Specialists guests were safely sailing into the sunrise over New York as we sailed once again past the glorious Statue of Liberty to begin our journeys home for Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Affectionately,
Susie and Keith, Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts
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