Four Star Accomplishment!!

As I write to you from my stateroom it is another night that we turn the clocks ahead one more hour.  We are now 6 hours ahead of our time in Buckeye, AZ.   The seas are still pleasant even though we had dark threatening clouds to our north. Last night our clocks remained constant so I slept in till 9 this morning. It is still dark at 7:30 am.  Dan was up at 7 and made the trek up to the Lido for our coffee.  He keeps mine hot in a thermos until I get up :).  A real keeper he is!!  Our entertainment last night was a cellist who played an electric cello.  He had some of the Zaandam band members accompanying him. He is originally from Poland and still speaks with a heavy accent. He told us he trained with the wooden cello but now prefers his electric “partner” as it travels much easier.  Although he really was very talented his choice of musical selections wasn’t for me.  Many songs were loud and dissonant.  My favorite was the Flight of the Bumble Bee which he coined the Flight of the Boogie Bunble Bee.  He will entertain us one more night. 

Betsy and I have kept busy with the craft class.  Neither of us are much into “ crafts” but our instructor, Nancy and her helper Mary, are fantastic.  Before we attended the classes we both thought it might not be our thing but someone posted a link on Cruise Critic with photos of all the items we would be making. The classes are at no cost to those on Grand Voyages.  After perusing the photos I was pretty certain I wanted to at least make the jewelry and we have not been disappointed.  The classes are full to over flowing.  At first the instructors had two sessions. Folks were almost fighting over getting a seat.  She hosts the classes in the Lido around 2:30 to 3.  Betsy is taking a Creative Writing class that meets for an hour at 1:00 so I go about 1:15 and hold a seat for her.  Sometimes Dan and Chuck come and join me.  We play cards or a tile game until Betsy comes. Then they leave and go walk or read or nap!!  

Betsy has been wearing her patches for motion sickness and it’s working.  A few days ago we all had to self test for COVID.  They left small paper sacks with our testing materials along with explicit directions for the administration.  We were to perform the tests in the morning, take a photo of the test results with our names, date and room number and then share the results with our steward.  Thankfully we both tested negative. Folks who are positive have a pink dot on their cabin door. We overheard someone say there are about 24 with COVID.  We don’t know if that’s rooms or people but masking is still in force.  E ergo e masks except in the dining areas.  We know we will periodically get tested through the trip so we are still very cautious. 

The sea days have been lovely.  A little rain now and then but mostly sunny and warm.  Tomorrow is our first port day in Funchal.  We have a private tour I arranged with Viator.  It was about $80 per couple for a 4 x 4 jeep tour up into the mountains, seeing the Nuns Valley and a few other places.  We plan to ride the gondola and then take the sleds down.  We also plan to drink Poncha the local drink and taste the banana/pineapple fruit that is grow here.   

So far my subscription list is up to 67 readers!!! Many are from Cruise Critic members who may be taking this voyage in 2023 or those who at the last minute were unable to come along due to health or personal reasons. 

We see much fewer scooters or wheel chairs this voyage.  The average age still seems to be 80.  We have seen no children or young couples which is what we expected.  Service is wonderful and the waiters love to visit with us and share about their home, families and plans.  

I will attach a photo of the rose we got upon embarkation.  It’s lovely and is still looking beautiful in our cabin.  We have now become four star cruisers which means to us free laundry!! Ha ha.  So far they have not contacted us to give us new cards but they did leave a HUGE umbrella in our cabin. We assume it is for reaching this new level but what a weird gift.  There is no way we can pack it home as it doesn’t collapse so…. It may go to our steward.  There was no note just an umbrella .   

A map of the time changes…. We are now 7 hours later than Buckeye, AZ. 

Instructions and kit for our COVID testing. 

Our results…

Our outside room fall decoration. 

One of our daily activity programs

One of our pillow gifts. 

Our huge umbrella!

All our flower arrangements are real and exquisite!!!

Our embarkation rose.  

The 


The library and game place. 

Games a little picked over. 

This was our jewelry kit yesterday: tiger eye with mother of Pearl.  

Two fun friends we met, Rinehart on the left and John on the right.  They make us laugh!

Masked bandits!

This mornings rainbow from the third floor walk around deck. 

Out To Sea

Well here we are in the middle of the Atlantic.  Today is Thursday the 13th of October. So far sailing has been smooth.  The weather for several days was very hot and humid.  The first day or two our AC was on the lowest setting.  Our room was HOT!!  We plugged in our travel fan to get some air circulating.  The Zaandam is an older ship. We have no USB connections, only one plug in and very small old TV’s.  We are a little disappointed.  The first day at sea huge crowds of people were at the Guest Services.   We stood in line for over an hour.  We pre paid for two internet devices but nothing worked.  It’s really a much better deal pre paying then waiting until you get onboard.  Anyway, we talked to many folks with both android and Apple devices.  We were able to help a few but it’s really important that you download the Navigator and have an account before you board. Also using the Verfly app is important.  During embarkation we flew through the lines because we had all the important information in this app.  And another important note is to have copies in paper of everything: passport, deviation letters,  vaccination cards, yellow fever cards or waivers.   We had digital copies but not lots of paper copies.  The night before at our hotel we found a free wireless printer and made copies.  Also no one ever looked at our embarkation times!!  They just took both couples at 11:00.  Our friends time was 2:00 but they whizzed through with us. No photographs were taken when we boarded!!  We haven’t even seen a photographer set up anywhere but that’s ok with us.  Last night was the captains welcome and first gala night (black and white) but we skipped it.  There might have been a photographer taking photos for that but we didn’t see them. 

Back to the guest services; the staff was awesome, calm and patient.  The navigator was down so they gave everyone who prepaid or had free minutes a day of free services at high speed.  The internet really isn’t too bad for being in the middle of the ocean.  We both have the high speed option.  I think it’s worth it.  

Our room has been great. We are on deck one 1873. We have a window and tub. It has been very quiet and comfortable.  The only downside or maybe upside is we have 7 floors of steps to go up to the Lido or 8 floors to go to the Crows Nest.  Food has been very good.  Service also has been impeccable.  We eat our meals in the Lido so I can’t comment on the dining room.  We eat a lot of salads and vegetables.  Dan loves the desserts and a little ice cream.  We try to split but you know it’s tough!  Ha ha

Another interesting thing that has never happened to us  before took place on the sail away.  We were in the Crows Nest watching the launch. After about 20 minutes ( we were late leaving due to loading food and luggage so it was dark and about 6:30) the captain came on and said we had a medical emergency and we were going back to port!!! Many folks were already in bed and never heard the announcement. So back we headed which took at least 30 minutes.  The captain slowly pulled in perpendicular to the dock which we have never seen.  It took an hour for ambulance and fire department to arrive and for the crew to get the gang plank down and stabilized.  We could see it was an older man they transported and along side him were all his suitcases.  How sad for this single traveler.  Some folks have had this booked for three years!!!  The captain did tell us this cruise is the longest one they have sailed since COVID!  Anyway finally we set out again and by this time it was 10 pm.  

We thought we had been on this ship before but we kept realizing we had never seen the art and they there is a pipe organ in the atrium !   On Tuesday they had a demonstration of the organ.  I thought someone would be playing it but it was pre recorded.   The pipes were adorned with different statues playing different instruments and many were animated.  It was awesome.  Looking back at my list of cruises (49!) we found it was the Zuiderdam not Zaandam.  

That night we watched the movie Giants of Africa in the small movie theater.  It was a documentary on basket ball camps they put on for young men across Africa that can attend.  Most were from very poor regions.  But they were giants in height.  It was a wonderful story. 

Wednesday Betsy and I attended one of the craft presentations.  There were so many people fighting for places to sit that it almost ensued a mass outcry!  I was there 45 minutes early and saved Betsy a seat.  She had attended a Creative Writing class which also was packed.  She is loving it.  Anyway our instructor is top notch and extremely organized.   We made beaded earrings and a necklace.  The beads have been hand made from a paper powdered and then painted.  It took an hour and then she hosted another class. 

After dinner we had a funny Irish comedian.  He will be with us a few more nights.  We have five more sea days until we teach our first port of Funchal.  We have been turning our clocks ahead for two nights and one more night tonight.  

So today we have pretty good internet.  We are 2037 more miles to go and we have gone about 1300.  As I write we have rolling seas.  This morning  we listened to two excellent Shore talks about the first few ports we will stop at. We have kept busy with fun craft classes, playing cards, visiting, walking steps, attending music venues and happy hours around the ship and totally relaxing. 

Leaving the hotel for the ship. 

Betsy, Chuck and Dan waiting for the shuttle.  

Boarding!

Our ship through the walkway. 

Our friends almost there!

We are ready!

Our room…

Window room and our first gift a ceramic blue Holland  gift box. 

Yes we have a tub!

Onboard outside Lido by pool. 

Crows Nest

The pipe organ. Look for the miniature statues. 

Our comedian who was very funny!

Our jewelry making craft time. 

Here’s what we all made. 

We have t made it too far after three days!

Hard to see but this was the sail away when we had to turn back for the medical emergency.  The ambulance is lower left. 

Folks have put really cute decorations on their doors.  I guess it is now allowed.  They used to prohibit this. 

Betsy, Chuck and Dan with Halloween masks and outfits!!!!  Watch out :). 

Here We Go!!

Last night we celebrated our negative COVID antigen results by going to Oregano’s for dinner.  That was our last big hurdle and we all made the jump successfully.  The Story’s dropped us off at our place and we did a few last minute things; turned off the hot water and AC units, ran the dishwasher, closed all the blinds, watched a little TV then off the bed.  Dan was up at 5 making coffee and then got me up at 6.  We were so lucky that our daughter loaned us her Escalade full with gas and waters :).  We picked up Stor’s at 8:15 and made a seamless trip to Sky Harbor airport.  We stopped them at the United Terminal and then much to our distress we had to park way out in the outfield!!  Ha ha.  All covered parking was taken. But we got in some good walking with all our luggage and made it to terminal three for Southwest.  No one was at the airport so we walked through all checking and security in no time. 

We will get to Fort Lauderdale,  is Austin, Texas about 10 tonight. We have packed snacks and things to do on the plane.  We hope to rendezvous with Storys in the luggage area and take the shuttle together to the hotel.  I made our cruise port shuttle reservations today. Our Check-in is 11:20. We have the VeriFLY  app and all our documentation uploaded so checking into the ship should be a breeze. 

Here are a few last minute photos of the preparation !

The house is all set to leave .

All three cars are on trickle chargers. 

Dan and Chuck loading the Escalade

Can’t get much more in!

Betsy inspects for Chuck.  

The Escalade is parked and ready for Tess and Aaron. 

Success Finally!!

So this is a YAHOO for me that I have to share!  After days of searching, googling and writing to experts I found a very easy simple solution to putting a subscription link on my blog and now it should appear for my readers and work!!  The suitcases have been weighed and are ready to load in our sweet daughters Escalade .   Thank you so much Tessie.  We will leave her car at Sky Harbor Saturday morning and then take our flights to Fort Lauderdale where we have two nights before we board the Ms Zaandam on October 10th.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us that we four test negative on our rapid COVID test Friday night.  We heard from some passengers onboard the ship now that 900 folks are onboard.  Not all of them will continue on with us.  Some are taking the east coast trip down to Florida.  

Now our focus is on cleaning out our refrigerator and eating left overs!!  Ha Ha.  We have our wallets emptied of credit cards we don’t want to take and other  items.  We have new boarding times which ours is 11:30.  Story’s are later in the afternoon.  We have a small get together with four other couples staying at our hotel on Sunday evening which should be fun. 

The monsoon season here is officially over so hopefully no more exciting storms for us to worry about.  We have two vehicles hooked up to our trickle chargers and on Saturday we will shut off the inside water and the hot water tank.  

Till later!  YAHOO!!

Here is the wonderful travel card my daughter had made for me!!!  I have lots to pass out to new friends we make on this voyage. Thank you so much to my talented, thoughtful and generous daughter and my best friend.  I totally spaced this.  She helped me make travel cards for my Grand Asia voyage.  

Here is the back of the card:

YAHOO!!

The Countdown Begins

Arizona continues to be hot in the day which provides us with inside time to check our suitcases, finish packing medications and over the counter stuff and make sure our home is ready to leave for almost 90 days!  I haven’t been able to discover a means of adding a subscription link to my blog so I put together a group email list of folks interested in coming on our journey vicariously.  Thanks for those of you who have posted a comment.  Don’t forget to sign your name with your comment.  Many of them come through anonymously so we don’t know who are readers are ❤️ .  

I checked off the hair appointment yesterday and now all that is left is getting our COVID testing done late on Friday afternoon.  The four of us have appointments at Fry’s Little Clinic, which is a Kroger based chain.  That day I’ll also get a pedicure and maybe Betsy will join me (our traveling partners).  This week we have gotten together everyday to chit chat and check on things we need to do.  We watched a YouTube video on Wadi Rum andPetra together so we would understand our overnight excursion there a little better.  Dan and I watched Hatari, an old John Wayne movie set in Africa on Kanopy which is free movies through our library.  It was pretty corny but the part on the animals was worth it. We also watched on PBS The  Zambezi River.  It was amazing and beautiful.  We learned quite a bit about this river which pours over the Victoria Falls and how the animals and environment benefit.  

I purchased two books our friend Kate Ross recommended.  Kate is a very skilled and successful guest speaker on many Holland cruises.  We became close friends on the Grand Asia several years ago.  We are absolutely thrilled to be able to reconnect on this voyage. 

Here is a paragraph Kate sent me about two books she recommends….

Our ship and some statistics..

The table of contents of the digital photo book!

Our itinerary and the map

The crew, the flags of the countries we enter and our average temperatures at each port.

These are the photos of the four of us in the digital photo book. It’s been fun to read about our fellow passengers and where they are all coming from.