We really hadn't planned to take another cruise this year since we we took the South America/Antarctica trip that lasted almost all of January. But late last year John's mother Beth mentioned she'd like to take a cruise. John gave a choice of New England in the fall or Alaska and since she's never been to Alaska the planning started. Of course we decided that my mother should come too. Because I'm low on vacation days we decided on Memorial Day week and there was a Sat to Sat cruise on the Westerdam that included Glacier Bay. Well I let John book the cruise so we ended up on the Oosterdam which is a Sun to Sun cruise and doesn't include either Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. Oh well it's about spending time with our mothers ... read more

We awoke for the last time this morning onboard the Veendam following our Latin America and Antarctica adventure to the din of a busy port bustling with cargo. Outside our lanai sliding window transport containers were stacked above our lower promenade cabin. The constant warning beep-beep-beep interrupted the morning calm. Gone, were our big suitcases, removed from the hallway outside our door where we left them the night before by porters hauling them ashore for all passengers, color coded for departing times and destinations. Our Brown-2 tags meant that they should magically appear at the Sheraton where we would be staying one additional night in Argentina. We had just the clothes we needed for the day. After showering and dressing, we made our way to the Lido for our final meal. There was a general downcast ... read more

When we awoke we were in the brackish waters approaching Montevideo, Uruguay. We had a 9:15 AM muster call in the Showroom, the same as two days earlier. We had a city sightseeing tour followed by a wine tasting and barbeque lunch before returning to the ship for another early departure. “Early In, Early Out” the captain had said. So again we went to the Lido for breakfast. French toast was good enough at that last port of call, and I thought I’d have the same today, as did Sharon. The Showroom was packed with earlier tours. We were still awaiting clearance from the local officials to disembark. They finally called our group “Blue Number Ten”. Sharon noted that we finally get the blue stickers (her favorite color). We’d been getting nothing but the red stickers ... read more

When we awoke this morning, the sky outside was still dark, something we haven’t been accustomed to at five in the morning. Checking outside, it appeared that we had arrived at our next port of call. I thought that we might be tendering at this port, and I didn’t notice the pier next to the Veendam many decks below the lower promenade. It is a short stay in Puerto Madryn, and we have a rush-rush tour today, as do other visitor’s on HAL tours at this port-of-call. We breakfasted in the Lido once they opened at 6:30 AM. I had some French Toast with sausage and hashed browns; while, Sharon ate the blueberry pancakes (well one pancake had blueberries in it, anyway). I really enjoyed the French Toast and may need to try them again. We ... read more

As we gazed out at the early morning sky, a ribbon of white had settled on the horizon, separating the dark sea from the low hanging grayish clouds above. The ceiling was quite low and consistent as it stretched both north and south. I enjoyed my Southwestern Omelet, with added sausage and hashed brown patties, while Sharon had, you guessed it, the American breakfast. There were four lectures scheduled for today, two more historic reviews of characters that participated in the Great Age of Discovery in Antarctica, one on waste management at the American stations in Antarctica, and one on birds (terns to be specific). The first lecture was Wilson on Wilson, Dr. David Wilson talking about his explorer great uncle Dr. Edward Wilson. Edward Wilson had started out as a great friend of Shackleton on ... read more