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Postcards from the Transition

Postcards from the Transition.

  • Topics
    • Winds of Change
      • Winds of Change, Africa
      • The Fall of the Wall
      • Velvet Revolution
      • Arab Spring
      • Balkan Turmoil
      • 9/11
      • Soviet Union
    • Christmas Markets
    • Lent and Easter
    • Holy Land
    • Pillars of Hercules
    • Architecture
      • Boardwalk Towns
      • Bridges
      • Castles
      • Religious
    • Transportation
      • Trains
      • Ferries
  • Europe
    • Balkans
      • Albania
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
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      • Turkey
    • Central Europe
      • Czech Republic
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      • Poland
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    • Southern Europe
      • Gibraltar
      • Malta
      • Spain
    • Northern Europe
      • United Kingdom
      • Iceland and Faroes
      • Isle of Man
      • Baltic States
    • Western Europe
      • Belgium
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  • Africa
    • Kenya
    • South Sudan
    • Tanzania
  • Caucasus
    • Armenia
    • Azerbaijan
    • Georgia
  • MENA
    • Ceuta (Spain)
    • Egypt
    • Israel
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    • Morocco
    • Oman
    • Qatar
    • Palestine
    • United Arab Emirates
  • N. America
    • Canada
    • Contiguous US
    • Cuba
    • Greenland
  • S. America
  • Alaska
    • Sitka
    • South Central Alaska
    • South East Alaska
  • Cruises
    • Iceland, Greenland & Scotland 2017

Tag: 2024 Solar Eclipse. MS Koningsdam

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise8 Comments

Coda, I think this really is my final post on this cruise.

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 Rich McClear

In an early blog post on this cruise, I wrote about how many of our boarding cruise mates thought of this as a “long cruise,” 22 days.  We thought of it as a short cruise, 22 days. At the end … Continue reading Coda, I think this really is my final post on this cruise.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise5 Comments

The Art of the Upsell

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 Rich McClear

On the ship you can’t help but hear people talking about the changes in cruising since the pandemic, cost cutting and upsells, to make lines more profitable, or perhaps to help them pay off the debts they encountered while not … Continue reading The Art of the Upsell

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Is it the “Monsterdam?”

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Rich McClear

In 2015 we were on the Circle South America cruise on Prinsendam,  a Holland America ship that carried around 800 passengers.  HAL presented a slide show about its new ship, Koningsdam, carrying 2650 passengers, coming next year.  Koningsdam would carry … Continue reading Is it the “Monsterdam?”

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise5 Comments

… and it always ends with the Milk Run.

April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 Rich McClear

Normally I can’t wait to get off in port, but by the time we hit Victoria, at 1 Friday afternoon I decided I needed a nap more than a visit to Victoria (it’s in the neighborhood and we’ve been there … Continue reading … and it always ends with the Milk Run.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise5 Comments

Deck 3

April 27, 2024April 27, 2024 Rich McClear

240424 The Promenade Deck One of the things that Holland America cruisers like abut the line is that all of their ships have a Promenade Deck, Deck 3, that wraps around the ship.  You can walk outside.  On Koningsdam three … Continue reading Deck 3

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

A Course Diversion

April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 Rich McClear

I was sleeping when I heard the dings and an announcement asking the medical team to report to a stateroom on Deck 6.  A couple of hours later the captain came on the PA system and apologized for the early … Continue reading A Course Diversion

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Leaving Hawaii With Memories and a New Captain.

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 Rich McClear

The text and the pictures on this post are a complete disconnect.  The pictures are from all of our stops in Hawaii.  I had no other way to put them into the context of past blog posts, so here they … Continue reading Leaving Hawaii With Memories and a New Captain.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Hilo’s Lili’uokani Japanese Gardens.

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 Rich McClear

Near the port of Hilo, where the ship docks, there are some formal Japanese Gardens.  Their streams and ponds replenished twice daily by the tides that flow over the black lava rock beach.  Queen Lili’uokani built the gardens in 1917 … Continue reading Hilo’s Lili’uokani Japanese Gardens.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Don’t Make Pele Mad (Volcanoes National Park)

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 Rich McClear

Our tour bus driver and guide in Hilo, Jessica, made it a point that she was Jess, and if we called her Jesse she would throw us into a Volcano Caldera as a sacrifice to Pele, the Hawaiian Goddess of … Continue reading Don’t Make Pele Mad (Volcanoes National Park)

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Hawai’i Calling (Waikiki)

April 24, 2024April 24, 2024 Rich McClear

The lecturers on the ship spoke about how the mainland became interested, perhaps even obsessed with Hawaii.  They mention Elvis and the movie “Blue Hawaii” where Elvis wore Aloha shirts and a Lei while playing a Ukulele.  Of course there … Continue reading Hawai’i Calling (Waikiki)

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Do You Take American Dollars?

April 23, 2024May 13, 2024 Rich McClear

As an Alaskan I have been asked that question by visitors from cruise ships more times than I can remember.  I tried hard not to eye roll, and at one point carried novelty 22-dollar bills printed by an Alaska character … Continue reading Do You Take American Dollars?

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Aloha Honolulu

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 Rich McClear

240418 19 Aloha Honululu (Hello/Good by) The Captain told us it would be an early sail in to Honolulu.  I looked at the map and the sight I wanted to see was on the starboard, we are on port, so … Continue reading Aloha Honolulu

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Snowbirding Railway Cars.

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 Rich McClear

For being so different in climate, location, and population Alaska and Hawaii have a lot in common.  After all, Hawaii is one of the most isolated island groups in the world and the closest land to Hawaii is Alaska.  We … Continue reading Snowbirding Railway Cars.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Kauai Sail in and Sail Out.

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 Rich McClear

The captain told us he was opening the bow at sunrise so we could watch the scenic sail in at Nawiliwili bay.  Looking at a map I saw that the best views would be on the port side, where we … Continue reading Kauai Sail in and Sail Out.

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Pu’uhonua, Place of Refuge

April 21, 2024April 21, 2024 Rich McClear

The last time we were on the Kona Coast on the big island of Hawai’i, 45 years ago, most of the development was south of Kona airport.  We rented a condo South of the airport and explored the coast with … Continue reading Pu’uhonua, Place of Refuge

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise1 Comment

Kona’s Painted Church

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024 Rich McClear

Kona is a tender port, and it is also the port for re-entry into the United States.  That means that everyone must have a “face to face” meeting with immigrations officials.  The officials are shuttled to the ship and set … Continue reading Kona’s Painted Church

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Gold Medal Tourists

April 15, 2024April 15, 2024 Rich McClear

Back in 1999 we took my mother on a Mediterranean cruise on Norwegian America’s Vistafjord, part of the Cunard group.   Before Pop died, they had cruised a few times on Norwegian American and mom was invited to a ceremony where … Continue reading Gold Medal Tourists

Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise, Cruises3 Comments

A Sea Interlude (Musical Decks)

April 15, 2024April 15, 2024 Rich McClear

Holland America used to be known for its evening classical music.  On every cruise I’ve been on there has either been a group branded “adagio” that plays light classics (high class Central European Grand Café music) in the Explorer lounge, … Continue reading A Sea Interlude (Musical Decks)

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Everything is Beautiful — Mazatlan

April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 Rich McClear

We arrived in Mazatlan at 7 AM the day after the eclipse.  Suzi and I didn’t get off the ship until close to noon.  The night before I had two zoom meetings, one with the Raven Board and one of … Continue reading Everything is Beautiful — Mazatlan

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise2 Comments

Eclipse Redux

April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 Rich McClear

After my eclipse post several people asked where we were when we took the pictures.  I gave a general answer but yesterday the chief navigation officer came up to the “Crow’s Nest” and marked on a paper chart exactly where … Continue reading Eclipse Redux

Cruises, Koningsdam Solar Eclipse Cruise3 Comments

Solar Eclipse!

April 9, 2024April 14, 2024 Rich McClear

I am jumping this post in the queue because I think it will interest you more than our sail our or my post on Cabo. Those are coming. It’s an odd cruise when the climax comes on day three of … Continue reading Solar Eclipse!

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