From the comfort of my office, I think of that Holland America cruise, which we had done just a few months before the arrival of COVID-19 and the next demise of our industry.
“Do you think this shipment will have found out before we return to Rome?” joked my husband about taking the wrong ladder again.
We were on the 12th, sailing through the Mediterranean, with friends.
I still didn’t know which bridge housed what, even though I had connected my cell phone to the boat’s navigator, the number of zones and da is amazing.
A theme song spread the sublime Koningsdam and a variety of venues provided us with live entertainment.
We were given to the Rolling Stones, sung with pianists on the Billboard Onboard, danced to the rhythm of Memphis’ melodies at BB King’s Blues Club and walked beyond the casino to the global level where two evening exhibitions were presented.
Every day ranged from Quizzes and Scattegories board games to chess and bridge games.
The greenhouse spa
As we all know, cooking is an integral part of cruise life.
We joined the fishermen every day at the Lido market and decided to choose from delicious themed resorts: board-shaped baked goods, huge salad bowls from Wild Harvest, ethnic delicacies from Distant Lands, and delicious sweet desserts.
A little beyond Lido Market, the Dive-In, which serves wonderful burgers and crispy fries.The stairs of this grill lead to the New York Deli, where we can make our own pizza.
The Grand Dutch Cafe, an informal place to eat that revered the ship’s heritage with specialties such as beef stew and pea soup.
Crow’s Nest’s most sensitive field explorations featured a variety of chocolates and sandwiches with stunning panoramic views.A charming two-story dining room delighted our palates almost every single night.
Edison, our experienced wine sommelier, provided the best pairing recommendations, while Yudha and Asep met all gastronomic desires: seductive appetizers such as French onion soup, New York counter-fillet accompanied by portabella mushrooms and the regionally promoted Provencal Minestrone.
The main dishes continued to peek out, from the sign offered at each consultation to the specialties of the day: Fish of San Pedro dotted with olives and onions, beef piccatta cooked with mozzarella and eggplant canelones for vegetarians.
As for desserts, neither of us gave up on the table without having tried at least one.
While the main dining room is satisfied, we have also made reservations in specialty restaurants with quite affordable prices.
Rudi’s Salt of the Sea, an intimate a la carte brewery to angels featuring French cuisine, Canaletto served delicious Italian dishes, Pinnacle Grill attracted meat lovers and Tamarind boasted thailos angelesnd, Chinese and Vietnam specialties.
We may be quiet in this sumptuous hotel floating on the cruise ship, but fortunately, over the course of 12 days, there were nine fascinating ports where we can burn some calories.
In Dubrovnik, Croatia’s main tourist hideaway, we stroll through the captivating Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with medieval 12th-century walls.
The next day we visited the village of Kotor, where we gave a speedboat ride and explored historic sites on the Adriatic coast.
The next prevented the captivating city of Split, Croatia, where we climbed the bell tower of St Domnius Cathedral and climbed Marjan Hill.
A dance consultation in Koper, a beach day in Corfu, a step back in time to the Neolithic in Malta and finally, we were fascinated by Pompeii in Naples.
It was a very complete and surprising port show. And similar to our sumptuous space over the sea, this Mediterranean itinerary is the one I will clearly do, until one day we can make a new cruise.
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