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Published: March 18th 2013
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FERRY BOAT
IN VICTORIA HARBOR HONG KONG TO THE VOLENDAM - MONDAY - I woke up this morning a little wiser. I went outside, walked a short block and had breakfast for under $4. US at a small restaurant. I couldn’t handle all that food at the buffet again. Weather was OK but foggy again. Went back to the hotel, got my bags and went downstairs to check out. First attempt presented me with itemization that charged me for the room I had prepaid. No problem, system error the lady said and a corrected bill was prepared, this time correct. The ship was berthed in a new area in the heart of the commercial port, so many of the taxi drivers didn’t know where it was. The Holland America line prepared the address in English and Chinese. Good move since many of the taxi drivers didn’t speak English. Even with this information, my driver had some difficulty finding the correct pier. Worked out fine though and I took a shuttle bus from the drop off to the pier to sign in. One thing that is inexpensive in Hong Kong is taxi service. The 35 minute ride only cost about $15. US. The check in was efficient
even though it was set up in a temporary location under a tent. I got aboard early and my stateroom wasn’t ready yet, so I made my way to the Lido Deck bar and met Jonathan, the bartender. I had a Japanese beer for starters and waited for lunch and my room to be readied. I am on a lucky streak; I was upgraded twice again. I booked and paid for an inside stateroom which was upgraded to a limited vision outside stateroom. I was pleased with that but then, about a week ago, I was notified of another upgrade to an unobstructed window cabin. Not the verandah I got on the Antarctic upgrade, but still welcome.
I checked out my stateroom (classy place - the soap is “Fig and Olive") on my way to the Mariners’ lunch in the dining room. It was ready so I deposited my computer which I had been carrying with me and headed to lunch. I was seated with a mother/ daughter and a couple from Australia. The mother was a very experienced cruiser having come back from an “Around the World” cruise (90 days) just recently. They had been to Hong Kong
and told me that what I thought was fog was actually smog caused by the pollution from Chinese factories. Too bad!
I returned to the room, unpacked and got ready for the mandatory safety orientation. I was tired so I took a short nap awaiting the sail away. What a beautiful experience. Most people were disappointed at being in the commercial port (especially the crew who were so far from the attractive parts of the city), but the sail through Victoria Harbor was exceptional. Kowloon, where I stayed, was on the port side and Hong Kong Island was on the starboard side. It was exactly where I was last night for the laser show. I can’t get over the number of really tall buildings. Amazing! The old airport had been in the harbor but was closed down and replaced by the new one about fifteen years ago. It is being reinvented as a cruise terminal and Celebrity Millennium berthed there yesterday as the first ship to use the new, and as yet, unfinished terminal. Grand opening is scheduled for June. The Volendam can accommodate 1440 guests, 620 crew and has a slightly different floor plan than I had on
the Veendam. My quick tour of the ship demonstrated the differences. I like both layouts, but time will tell which I like better.
Tomorrow is a formal night and I have a reservation at the Pinnacle Grill. It is also a sea day followed by another sea day before we get to Shanghai. I won’t be posting a blog until the second sea day on those occasions.
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Marcy
non-member comment
"Not the verandah I got on the Antarctic upgrade, but still welcome." A veranda at the Antarctic?? Not too useful unless you packed your mukluks.