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Georgiana and Nick's Next Great Adventure |
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2009 Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage Holland America - ms Prinsendam January 2 – March 11, 2009
Report #1 - January 2 – 9 (Ft. Lauderdale – Half Moon Cay, Bahamas – Bridgetown, Barbados – Devil’s Island, French Guiana)
We boarded the Prinsendam in Ft. Lauderdale mid-afternoon of January 2 and were quickly settled-in and unpacked. The ship is the smallest in Holland America’s 14 ship fleet and carries a maximum of 750 passengers - we have about 650 aboard. The Prinsendam was built in 1988 (by Royal Viking) and even though refurbished in 2008, she feels and looks a bit “seasoned.” One thing’s for sure, those who have sailed on her before, love her.
As expected, there are plenty of activities, lectures and classes and the Exploration Café is the internet-connected meeting spot, with lots of computers, books, games and videos. The evening shows have been fairly good and usually worth seeing and our dining table is perfect. We have a round table for six on the window, with two other couples from the World cruise (this was pre-planned from 10 months ago). The social highlight of the week was the Captain’s Welcome Reception, hosted by Captain Halle Thon Gundersen and his senior staff. Captain Gundersen is just what I think a Captain should be on a Holland America ship – tall, gray, handsome, experienced and Dutch!
Two of the Exploration speakers for the week were on the World - David Smith and Kate Ross. David talks about Digital Photography and Nick and he have become “buddies” and Kate is a retired teacher from Rochester that we both have enjoyed getting to know better. Kate gave a lecture on the historical connection between the areas of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, as that’s one of her specialties. Kate also studied about the destruction of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest on-site in the jungle and spent a summer of study in Yad Vashem – Jerusalem’s International Memorial for the Holocaust. We’re looking forward to attending all her lectures in the weeks ahead.
Our first port of call was Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, on January 3. This is Holland America’s private resort on Little San Salvador Island (about 100 miles southeast of Nassau). The bay offers a chance for snorkeling, beach, sun and sand – better known as a very lazy day.
After a 2-day sail in a south-westerly direction, we reached Bridgetown, Barbados, on January 6. Bridgetown, located in south-western Barbados, is the capital of the island and the country’s chief port and commercial center. The city was founded by the British in 1628 and became the capital of independent Barbados in 1966. Having been several times before, we opted for a Photo Adventure Tour, conducted by Ronnie Carrington, a leading Barbadian photographer and video producer. It was a good experience and a fun time.
Next, we were off to a small group of three islands off the coast of French Guiana, a country on the north coast of South America. The islands - Devil, Royale, and St. Joseph - are small rocky islets and the site of a French penal settlement that was in use from 1852 to 1946. Prisoners who were sent here usually never left, as 70% of those imprisoned died from harsh treatment and disease. Those who tried to escape met their end due to the strong currents and shark-infested waters around the islands. The best know account of the prison is the novel and film Papillon (butterfly). The film starred Steve McQueen and we’ll have to see it when we return home, as it’s not in the ship’s video library. While the day was interesting, we were happy to sail away on January 8.
Friday, January 9, was a sea day full of lectures and discussions on the Amazon River and region. The message was loud and clear - that once in the Amazon we were no longer passengers, but explorers and we were no longer on a cruise, but an expedition.
Next Report – the Amazon River, jungle, cities, and people.
Check-out Nick’s photos at – www.nide.smugmug.com (very limited number of photos, due to slow satellite internet connection) |