TRANSATLANTIC CRUISE- 16 DAYS
RYNDAM
HOLLAND AMERICA LINES
APRIL 2013
DEPART: TAMPA FL.
DISEMBARK: BARCELONA, SPAIN
Repositioning cruise, you can get some great deals on these!
Departure was smooth and easy. We flew from Toronto on
Westjet arriving on time and anxious to get to the ship. Holland America
shuttle picked us up at the Tampa airport and took us directly to the port.
Check in was easy and quick and soon we were in our oceanview stateroom on deck
4.
Well appointed, spacious and clean we were pleased. Our
cabin stewards, Made and Tulus took care of our every need. We were underway and passing under the Sunshine Skyway.
The Ryndam is one of Holland America’s smaller cruise ships
carrying only 1200 passengers, and for us that was an advantage. The service
was excellent.
Our crossing was generally smooth, although we did have
fifteen foot seas on one occasion and it was noticeable, but not bothersome.
We spent time on the
promenade deck walking one mile after every meal and sometimes again in the
afternoon, so lots of exercise and never a day that we couldn’t walk due to
inclement weather. The walking helps to prevent weight gain with all of the
fabulous food on offer. Meals can be sit down dining in the dining room or
buffet style on the Lido deck. There were four formal nights during the sixteen
day cruise but most nights are casual dress. Slacks and shirts for men and
dress slacks or dresses for ladies in the dining room, Lido Buffet is casual,
no swimsuits. Waiters in the Lido buffet were great, two of our favorites were
Angga and Wayan; always quick with our coffee and making sure we were happy.
Nightly shows in the theater were very entertaining with
good variety and a great cast of singers and dancers. Eric the cruise director
and entertainers, Carrie, Denise, Mathew and Jesse were excellent. I enjoyed
the afternoon movies and saw Life of Pi and Lincoln, two movies I had been
anxious to see.
One of the definite bonuses on the Ryndam is a self -service
laundry. This is very handy on a long cruise and most ships offer paid laundry
service. I was happy to pay $2 for a wash and $1 for a dry. I wish more ships
would incorporate this service into the cruise.
Our eight days at sea were most enjoyable.
Some highlights:
Day one-Florida Straights
temp 24C
Great day for suntanning on the deck. Movie was Life of Pi and evening theater was
Classique a musical.
Day two-Continental Shelf north of Bahamas temp 26C
Went to lecture-Spanish and Portugese colonization of Latin
America-most informative
Ate our evening meal
in the dining room and then theater for comedian Frank King.
Day three-Hatteras Abyssal Plain west of Bermuda temp 18C
Lecture on Ernest Hemingway
Learned to play Shoelyn (Dutch shuffleboard) Lots of fun.
Evening theater was Elio Pace, musician.
Day four-Bermuda Rise
temp 15C and windy
Lecture was Pirates of the Caribbean, the real ones, not the
movie!
Watched Hyde Park on the Hudson in the movie theater in the
afternoon.
Evening theater was comedian and juggler, Dan Bennett.
Read the book The Noticer by Andy Andrews, very interesting
and highly recommended.
Day five-Sohm Abyssal plain 16C but smoother seas.
Lecture was travel in Cadiz and Mortil, Spain which were two
of our upcoming stops.
Spent some time in the casino, didn’t lose much!
Afternoon movie was Cirque du Soliel, World’s Away, most
entertaining.
Evening show Rock Legends Musical
Day six-Atlantic Ocean
17C cloud and sun
Sat on deck and watched for whales and dolphins, saw spouts
but not whale as too far away.
Afternoon movie The Impossible
Evening theater- Divas of Motown.
Day seven-Atlantic Ocean
18C
Laundry day, very convenient and fast.
Saw dolphins during our walk in the afternoon and more whale
spouts.
Lecture Palma de Mallorca, our third destination.
Suntanning and relaxing on deck.
Evening theater, comedian Frank King.
Day eight-Atlantic Ocean
18C calm and sunny
Afternoon movie-Les Miserable
Evening theater-Variety Show, dancing, singing, comedy
A great eight days with lots to do, time to relax, great
food and good entertainment.
Day nine-LAND AT LAST! Arrive in Ponte Delgada, Azores
(See the separate posts for each
port.)
Day ten-Atlantic Ocean
Today I met with a woman from Tampa who had purchased one of
my books prior to the cruise and was happy to sign it for her. Nice to find
fans everywhere!
Evening theater was a string quartet.
Day eleven-Atlantic Ocean
Chocolate Extravaganza in the evening, Chocolate in every shape imaginable!
Yum Yum Yum, a truly wonderful experience for a chocolate lover like me!
Day twelve-Cadiz Spain
Day thirteen-Motril, Spain
Day fourteen-Mediterranean Sea Celebration of 140th Anniversary
of Holland America Line.
Movie was Lincoln.
Day fifteen-Palma de Mallorca
Excellent final evening theater show, Droon a fantasy
musical.
Day sixteen-Disembark Barcelona, Spain
Total distance sailed 5072 NM or 5837 miles.
I would highly recommend Holland
America lines and thoroughly enjoyed this cruise.
Now on to Scotland !!!!
(be sure to check each port description below)
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