2019 Grand South America Antarctic Voyage - ms Prinsendam

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