...We are now halfway through the cruise.
Day 15 - Departing Manaus
We have traveled up the Amazon as far as we go. Headed back toward the Atlantic with different ports of call on the way back. Due to the low water and shoals we are departing today instead of last night.
Went through the Meeting of the Waters again.
Went through the Meeting of the Waters again.
Day 16 - Boca de Valeria
It was a nice day in Boca de Valeria. Good for the Volendam passengers and crew and good for the village that hadn't seen a cruise ship since COVID. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. The passengers and crew were overwhelmed by the numbers of people greeting us in this small village. This is the Captain's favorite port-of-call on this voyage.
It was a nice day in Boca de Valeria. Good for the Volendam passengers and crew and good for the village that hadn't seen a cruise ship since COVID. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. The passengers and crew were overwhelmed by the numbers of people greeting us in this small village. This is the Captain's favorite port-of-call on this voyage.
Out of a large group of kids, we picked a young boy to be our guide (actually, he latched onto Zach's hand). We didn't speak any Portuguese and he didn't speak any English, but it worked out. He got us to a boat for a ride up the tributary to a village on a hill where the school was located.
Boats are the only means if transportation here. Everyone has to have one. We didn't see any new boats though. It's just a fishing village but there was electricity, cell phones and satellite dishes. Many houses were a lot nicer than we expected.
Of course, Zach had to hold the Cayman and Sloth.
Back in the village we went to the church.
Many of the children we dressed up in elaborate costumes.
Our last day on the Amazon. The ship has been racing at 25 knots all day to make up for the delay in Manaus. The river pilots were dropped off at Macapa where they started. It was amazingly fast.
Our final sunset on the Amazon.
We finally won evening Trivia again!!
Day 18 - Sea Day
We had our nicest weather today of all the sea days, so far.
Like every sea day, we stay busy. Cloudy tonight, no sunset picture.
Day 19 - Belem
We actually went south of the mouth of the Amazon to arrive at this large port city. We had to anchor in Icoaraci because the ship is too big for Belem. There is only one dock at Icoaraci, so it was crazy trying to get the tenders in with all the other boats. We had to tie up alongside another boat and walk through.
When we got off the dock in Icoaraci, then had an hour bus ride into Belem. We got off at Docks Station which is at the terminal and conveniently located in the downtown.
We actually went south of the mouth of the Amazon to arrive at this large port city. We had to anchor in Icoaraci because the ship is too big for Belem. There is only one dock at Icoaraci, so it was crazy trying to get the tenders in with all the other boats. We had to tie up alongside another boat and walk through.
When we got off the dock in Icoaraci, then had an hour bus ride into Belem. We got off at Docks Station which is at the terminal and conveniently located in the downtown.
It was a short walk to another crazy market, Mercado Ver-o-Peso. All kinds of crazy stuff there.
From there it was a short walk to the Forte do Castelo. The fort was well preserved and has an interesting historical section.
From there we went to the Catedral, Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth.
Then it was another short walk to the Prefeitura Municipal. The Palacio do Governo (the blue building) was undergoing renovation, so it was closed.
It was a longer walk to the Opera House, with many nice people along the way to keep us going in the right direction. This Opera House, Teatro de Paz, was older than the one in Manaus but not quite as luxurious. This one had the original chairs though and most everything else original.
Original floors and chairs!
Right across the street was the Praca de Republica.
We won afternoon Trivia and Majority Rules today.
Day 20 - Sea Day
Good weather today for our deck walk. We did at least 10,000 steps a day. Most days over 15,000.
We had our Neptune Ceremony for our 4 crossing of the Equator today. The polliwogs were crew members that was their 1st time crossing. We have crossed the Equator a least a half dozen times previously.
Not sure the significance of kissing the fish.
Day 21 - Sea Day
Another busy day at sea. We won afternoon Trivia!
Sunset kind of overcast. Still was nice picture.
Another busy day at sea. We won afternoon Trivia!
Sunset kind of overcast. Still was nice picture.
Day 22 - Bridgetown, Barbados
We only have 4 more port calls before the end of this trip. The days are flying by!
Since we had been here before, we decided to do something different. Of course, we took a picture at the Barbados sign. We took a cab to Gun Hill Signal Station; even too far for us to walk. We caught the cab outside the port terminal, so the price was considerably less.
We only have 4 more port calls before the end of this trip. The days are flying by!
Since we had been here before, we decided to do something different. Of course, we took a picture at the Barbados sign. We took a cab to Gun Hill Signal Station; even too far for us to walk. We caught the cab outside the port terminal, so the price was considerably less.
James, the driver waited for us while we went back to the ship so we could get everything to go straight to the beach after our little tour. It took 45 minutes, but he was still waiting for us.
He apparently liked us, so he took us to a lot a places. We stopped at St George Episcopal Church.
From there we went by the Bridgetown Museum. Then to the George Washington House, where he apparently had stayed for a while in his younger days.
After that we went to the horse racing track. Right next to the track was the Naval Headquarters. For some reason there were many canons pointing toward the racetrack.
Then we had James drop us off at Brown's Beach at Carlisle Bay. We had been here 4 years ago and remembered it was a nice beach. This was our 1st beach day of the entire cruise.
When it was time for us to head back to the ship, we walked through town. It was a 40-minute walk back. The town center was all decorated for Christmas. 1st time we've seen floating Christmas trees.
We took pictures of some other places, as well, during our walk back.
We took pictures of some other places, as well, during our walk back.
Day 23 - Sea Day
Beautiful weather for the Sun Deck. Lots of Seagulls flying around ship today.
We had spent a week here in 2015 and have been wanting to go back ever since. We were still familiar with the layout of the town. Cathy wanted to go back to the market where we used to buy Gouda cheese.
We walked along the waterfront down to the Mariott Renaissance where we used to stay when Cathy worked for Marriott. Went to the Clock Tower and Old Fort. The town is decorated for Christmas here; nothing like Manaus though. Walked by Surfside Beach and saw some large flamingos and some Iguanas. They still have same phone booths. Went by the Queen Wilhelmina statue and the March 19th (independence) memorial.
From there we wondered back toward the market. At the market we bought a half wheel of Gouda cheese.
Today was Orange Day on the ship; to celebrate Holland America Line's founding 150 years ago in Rotterdam and the royal House of Orange from the Netherlands. We brought the only orange shirts we had for the day, our SMILE 5k Volunteer shirts.
Back on the ship we took some pictures of the harbor and the tallest hill on the island, that in our younger days we hiked to and climbed the 600 steps to the top. It's a lot farther away than it looks.
Another nice sunset tonight.
Day 25 - Sea Day
A nice orange sunset for Orange Day.
Tonight, we won Orange Trivia, missing only one question. Our reward a deck of cards each.
Day 26 - Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Our last sea day. The crew put on a huge towel animal display in the Lido Pool area this morning.
Zach won Simon Says. The 1st time he played it on this cruise. It was actually the only time anyone played it on this cruise. Almost missed sunset. It was early at 513pm.
Tonight, was best night of the cruise for Stargazing. Even saw meteors!
Day 28 - Half Moon Cay
Our last day on the ship. Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line's (Carnival) private island. It was a particularly beautiful day. The water was amazingly clear and blue.
Our last day on the ship. Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line's (Carnival) private island. It was a particularly beautiful day. The water was amazingly clear and blue.
Beside the Volendam, the Nieuw Statendam was also in port. Coincidentally, this is the ship for our next cruise to Norway and the Arctic Circle.
Being on the island with the other passengers was culture shock. After being on a cruise with everyone over 70, there were actually families and young people from that ship. We walked around the island for a while to get in our steps. We saw stingrays and walked along the beach for 2 miles.
Captain Morgan's is our favorite place to get drinks. We had lobster rolls for lunch, unfortunately, they were not as good as we were expecting.
Our last day of Trivia till our next cruise. Amazingly, we won the final Trivia with only 8 points. This was after taking 2nd the night before with 16 points. More cards and pins. This is the total from the entire cruise.
Ft Lauderdale and Home
Off the boat and to the airport.
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