We have had a few weeks to digest our amazing voyage around South America as we resettle into our day lives here at home. We were immediately having to face a few tragic events which also delayed this posting but this is life and we can only do what we can and sometimes that is working through some deep emotionally draining events. We are forever changed and we will continue…
We are deeply and incredibly blessed to be able to not only travel and get away for 80 plus days but also to be able to be part of the amazing last Grand Voyage of the ms Prinsendam with her cruising around South America and the Antarctic. As I look through the pictures I am reminded of this beautiful world we live in and smile to be able to be healthy enough to enjoy each day of this amazing journey. I thank Holland America Line along with Captain Jeroen Schuchmann and his amazing team, Captain Schuchmann took us to some of the most amazing places on this planet and he did so because of not only the ship but his confidence and capabilities to get us there and back within the parameters of safety. Some say that HAL at the end of the day is a business and as a business person I fully understand the statement but I also see that is an end of the day statement. At the beginning of day and during the day, there is a group of people that are working extremely hard in making these cruise experiences happen. So we thank people at every level, our lives have been enriched from what they do everyday to make this experience happen. We are sad to see the Prinsendam sail her last Grand Voyage with her now completing her itinerary until the handover on July 1st. We only hope that HAL does look at the demand in this market for a ship of her size, there is one. We are loyal to HAL simply because they provide everything we look for in our cruising experience and this includes the bigger medium size ships as well as the boutique smaller ship such as the Prinsendam. We did hear a rumour that HAL may be looking for another smaller ship to join its fleet, we cross our fingers that this rumour is true.
As I wrap up this final instalment for this trip’s blog I attempted to take only one picture for each day of our voyage, some days were more difficult than others. Our days in the Antarctic as well our amazing day at South Georgia Island may have a few pictures as I could not just pick one. This entire voyage was an amazing experience and it is very hard to pick out top experiences as each port, each person we met, the crew, the many theme nights all added to and enhanced this experience. We will truly “savour this journey”. At the end of the day everything happened as it was supposed to happen, we did have a most wonderful journey and in addition to the many highlights it was very much appreciated that the crew of the Prinsendam capped off the voyage with our parting gifts at the gangway. As I sip from my Prinsendam GV 2019 mug wearing my Prinsendam 2019 GV cap, I smile and salute HAL on a job well done. Until we see you again…. I Hope you enjoy my highlight pics of this amazing GV adventure and thank you for following along, we hope you enjoyed the ride. Please check out this space again as we will be bringing you so more amazing adventures. Thank you for your comments and emails as well as all the Facebook “likes”.
Favourite quote of the day: “Once you have traveled, the Voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break from the journey” - Pat Conroy
Fort Lauderdale: Our adventure begins, cheers!
At Sea, First Formal following the Captain's
Toast
Santa Marta, Columbia: Sail away sunset
San Blas Islands, Panama: Beautiful and remote.
Transiting the Panama Canal, Nice lunch view
Fuerte Amador, Panama
Sea Day, Formal Night
Manta, Equador
Salaverry, Peru: Market Place
Lima, Peru, Day 1
Lima Peru, Day 2
At Sea: Black & White Gala Ball
Matarani, Peru
Iquique, Chile
Antofagasta, Chile
At Sea, Mariner Celebration with Hotel Director Rene Tuiman
and Captain Schuchmann
San Antonio, Chile
At Sea: Pinnacle Night
Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile
Castro, Chile
Puerto Chacabuco, Chile. Try some home
made hooch from Dan our guest wine expert
At Sea, Chile
At Sea, Chile
Punto Arenas, Chile
At Sea, Glacier Alley, Chile
Ushuaia, Chile
Antarctic Experience, Day 1
Antarctic Experience, Day 1
Antarctic Experience, Day 2
Antarctic Experience, Day 3
Antarctic Experience, Day 3
Antarctic Experience, Day 4
Antarctic Experience, Day 4
Antarctic Experience, Day 5
Grytviken, South Georgia
Grytviken, South Georgia
Resting place of one Ernest Shackleton
Grytviken, South Georgia
At Sea, Pinnacle Night
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
At Sea, Formal Night
Puerto Madryn, Argentina
At Sea, Displayed detail of the
Antarctic Experience
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Day 1
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Day 2
Santos, Brazil
Ilhabela, Brazil
Iguazu Fall, Argentina
Iguazu Fall, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ilheus, Brazil
At Sea, Brazil
Recife, Brazil
At Sea, Sun directly over head - no shadow
Fortaleza, Brazil
At Sea, Italian Night at the Canaletto
Belem, Brazil
Black and Gold Gala Formal Night
Officers Ball - Last one on the Prinsendam
At Sea, On the Amazon
Santarem, Brazil - Home of the pink dolphins
Boca da Valeria, Brazil
Manaus, Brazil
Manaus, Brazil - Up the Rio Negro
Parintins, Brazil - Home of the
Boi Bumba Show
Alter do Charo, Brazil - Cool Shop
At Sea, Crossing the Equator - Pollywogs and Shellbacks
At Sea - Amazon River
Devil's Island, French Guiana
At Sea, St. Patrick's Day
Tomahawk Steak Night
Bridgetown, Barbados
Port Elizabeth, Bequia
At Sea, Happy Birthday, Bagus!
Willemstad, Curacao
Oranjestad, Aruba
At Sea, last Formal Night
At Sea, Thank you Elvi for your great service
Fort Lauderdale, USA: We say Goodbye to the
ms Prinsendam: Incredible memories
