At Sea

5th January 2018

36 Comments

Dear Readers, one of my ‘plug-ins’ for this blog show me ‘statistics’; I see that you have preempted my arrival back on the “Amsterdam”, a large spike of views yesterday!  🙂 

A belated Happy New Year to you all!

Well, I am back on the “Amsterdam” and so the blog of our 2018 Grand World Voyage commences.  I now write as we make our way towards the western tip of Cuba, (Cape San Antonio), our destination being Georgetown, Cayman Islands, tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, in Port Everglades, came as a culture shock; from enjoying some R&R I found myself back to work.  An early arrival on the ship, having to relieve my ‘oppo’, Captain Eversen and take command before embarkation started; meet-and-greet our guests as they made their way through the terminal, lots of photos, accompanied by Orlando Ashford no less.  That done, a rendezvous with Karen and manage the loading of (numerous) suitcases, the logistics of which are beyond description  🙄   

Back to what I know and love, Seamanship and our Bridge Resource Management meeting with the Navigating officers and a briefing for our forthcoming voyage; a chance to open suitcases and unpacking before our Passenger Emergency Muster drill prior to departure and finally, at 8 p.m. we departed Port Everglades and headed south.  

My camera will be close at hand during the coming months, however I leave this post with some photos of the Grandchildren; I spent time with them and they are growing up too fast, every visit is precious.

It’s always fun when the 4 of them are together; Emily, Lois (Lo-Lo), Olly and Violet

Gramps, Violet and Lo Lo wrapped up for the winter weather

We have just decorated the tree……

Violet with her ‘Hatchibles’

Violet on her Christmas ride

Emily and Sam, in Spain

Olly and his 1st-time skiing

36 thoughts on “5th January 2018”

  1. Great to travel with you again even if it is by reading your blog. You certaiy look like a very proud Grampa.. Helen

  2. Dear Karen and John:
    Happy New Year and Bon Voyage ..Sorry that we wont be with you this year -my twin brother’s illness (he is at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital) is preventing a long needed LONG vacation.
    But it is what it is.
    The grandchildren are beautiful and cannot get over how fast they are growing!. Then again, my MAX will be 3 in March and Cara will be 1 on Feb 1st!!!
    Looking forward to the blog and living vicariously on the world cruise with my favorite Captain and wife.
    Jeffrey and Susan Kane

  4. Captain, welcome back to work. I look forward to you updates. We do the world cruise through your blogs, due to medicine restrictions. Can only do 60 day cruises. We are blessed to be able to go on 60 day cruises.

  6. So enjoyed last year’s world cruise wish we could have made this year’s. Will enjoy following your posts

  7. Good morning to you Captain.
    I am booked into a Neptune Suite for the 2019 world cruise. Looking forward to the cruise.
    Would like to read in your blog more about the activities on the boat.
    Thanks

  9. We were wth you from Spruce Creek Fly In for the 2016 world cruise. Wish we were there now. Have a wonderful cruise.

  10. Welcome home to the Amsterdam! We are all so glad you are there. I will be following your voyage daily and joining back on in Hong Kong. I am so excited. I can hardly wait and am jealous as I remembered and relived every detail of my first world voyage sailaway in 2016 (traveled half way, to HK).

  11. Missing being with you this year, but hope the voyage is filled with calm seas, good health and lots of fun! We’ll travel with you through your posts.

  12. Thank you Captain, SO happy to receive your emails again . Wish you a wonderful voyage and loved the pics you posted of yr beautiful grandchildren.
    Thank you so much for sharing..

  13. Great pictures of the grandkids; (and of you too) how they have grown. Looking forward to your blog as the world cruise progresses.

  14. Welcome back, Captain
    The grandchildren certainly growing up. Nice that you had time & fun with them before embarking on the WC.

    We were on the Rotterdam over Christmas and returned home to bitter cold… -20C today. Brrr. Wish we were back on the ship.

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