cruise

Learn continually – there is always “one more thing” to learn. Steve Jobs

Okay, so maybe setting out to blog the way through our trip was a lofty goal, when I have never really blogged before nor used blogging software! I am pretty adept at figuring things out though and I had the beautiful gift of this website name already chosen for me – so why not? I am never at a loss for something to say!

MANY years ago I took a Word Press course however how it has changed in the last decade! Yikes! Good that it has become more plug and play our I would be lost at this moment. After setting up the website (thank goodness I still can do that!) and playing around a tiny bit when at home, I have to thank Lisa Hislop @thshrtstryedtr for her patience and tour of Word Press when I got discombobulated! Now I know where the Dashboard is and how to post and I was off with my first and second posts until I met….

Satellite Internet on the Nieuw Statendam! Despite upgrading to a faster speed (the “regular service we got free through our booking package”) so that I could stream and do all these WONDERFUL things could I upload a picture and have it take less than 30 minutes? Nope! I am even having issues sending e-mails on a regular basis from my phone….

Frustration then set in. I had typed up many a post but my pictures were holding me back….

Then good old Andrew (well he is good but not that old) and showed me the setting in Photo Editor where I can change the setting to reduce the size of my pictures! So instead of leaving my computer running all night *hoping* my pictures would upload to the webpage (they did not) I can now upload them in a few minutes!

I have gotten a few other settings under control too with regards to blog posts showing up out of order – yes – what date I create them vs. what date I post them counts and FINALLY now that we have been at sea for 5 days I am up and running I think…. you never know when technology is involved!

Talk to you soon!

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ― Jacques Yves Cousteau

Nieuw Statendam – a 4 year old ship (or boat as I so incorrectly have called it in the past) is one of the newest in Holland America’s fleet and is to be our home for the next 3 weeks! We will be traveling all the way to Rome via the following ports:

Ponta Delgada, Azores
Ceuta, Spanish Morrocco
Cadiz, Spain
Malaga, Spain
Alicante, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Nice, France
Livorno (Pisa/Florence), Italy
Tunis, Tunesia
Palmero, Italy
Naples, Italy

We also have a total of 10 sea days.

While we have sailed on Holland America previously, this is an upgrade to previous ships as it has better accessibility for people with mobility concerns (specifically more accessible washrooms), additional restaurants (Nami Sushi, Tamarind and Rudi’s Sel de Mer) and a better entertainment area – especially the Lincoln Centre where I like to listen to the artists.

The biggest changes however we have found has been in the dining room and Lido Deck. No more tables of 8-10 in the dining room – all tables of 2 and 4 mainly with a couple of tables of 6. This is much better socially as I prefer a smaller table as I really disliked eating at a table for 10 people and having Celiac Disease. Some people are so nosey and ask way too many questions! Also often I was served first or late depending on how the allergy kitchen was doing and if it was late, people thought they had to wait for my meal to arrive… On the Lido deck – EVERYTHING is served to you now. No more self service! That totally makes sense with what has gone on in the world and I am totally fine with that!

Oh and there is one other change – the Promenade deck – on other ships like the Noordam, I love to sit on the Promenade Deck in the lounge chair and watch the world go by while knitting. On the Nieuw Statendam the life boards are on the deck instead of being suspended so cabins get better views. So no more lounge chairs – just high speed walking! Three circles equals a mile!

Here are some pictures that I have taken getting onto (COVID testing for all) and around the ship – more to come in other posts!

Wheels on the Go

Baptism by Fire….

The Ship…our home for 21 days!