Week 3

We had two days at sea after leaving Cartagena as we headed to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It was quite surprising when we got there as the temperature was only 40 degrees. About 1100 people were just on board for the holiday portion of the cruise so they disembarked and 1000 new people came onboard. At 4:30 there was a Reunion Party poolside where everyone gathered and met up with friends they had met on other cruises and many met new friends. This was so fun for me as over my 4 ½ years with the company I have made many friends with both passengers and crew members. And there were people you forgot you had met before until you saw them again.





On such a long voyage there are lots of extra supplies to be taken on and people bring much more luggage than they normally do as they are onboard for such a long time so the loading of things was not complete for our scheduled sailaway time of 5pm. We ended up sailing at 8pm that evening.



We headed southwest for two more days at sea before visiting Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. This country has a beautiful rainforest and offers excellent kayaking and whitewater rafting opportunities.

We were alongside in Puerto Limon with another one of Holland America Line ships, the Zuiderdam which is sailing on 10-day cruises from Ft. Lauderdale roundtrip.

Friday night was our first formal night where the Captain holds a cocktail party/toast and introduces the senior officers onboard. In the photo – I’m the one in the purple. I’m one of the few officers not required to wear a uniform.


After the introductions, we all host dinner tables in the main dining room. I was with a table with 8 Americans and Canadians, three of whom I already knew so it was an enjoyable evening. After dinner was the evening’s entertainment. Many of you may remember Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show – the band leader, Doc Sevirinson along with the band El Ritmo de la vida performed one of the best shows I have ever seen. Very talented musicians! And Doc continued in his true fashion of being a flashy dresser, wearing a hot pink suit. After the show we went to one of our lounges, the Crow’s Nest, where Doc & his band came to relax and socialize. He now is living in Mexico.

Sunday was out transit from east to west through the Panama. There was a nice breeze so not as hot as it could have been. They are expanding the canal so it can handle more traffic and larger ships. Completion of the new sections is scheduled for 2014.