Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

May - June 2025
Current
Sailing with the Volendam from Iceland to Greenland, Newfoundland, and down to Boston. Then, sailing with the Westerdam from Seattle to Alaska & back to Seattle. Read more
Currently traveling

List of countries

  • United States
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Canada
  • Greenland
  • Iceland
  • Netherlands
Categories
Cruise ship
  • 20.1kkilometers traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight6,101kilometers
  • Cruise ship5,353kilometers
  • Bus908kilometers
  • Motorboat843kilometers
  • Car535kilometers
  • Walking57kilometers
  • Ferry8kilometers
  • Hiking2kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
  • 47footprints
  • 36days
  • 473photos
  • 88likes
  • Seattle, days 3 & 4. Lake Bronson

    June 7 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We felt the need to get out of the city and into nature, so we decided to go to Lake Bronson Club Family Nudist Club.

    It is a campsite situated around a lake, but there are a few self-catering chalets, too.

    We had thought of driving into the mountains today, but it would have been a very long drive, so we decided not to and go back to Lake Bronson instead. Our visit yesterday had been very pleasant that we decided to go again today but leave early to drop the hired car off.

    We had a lovely time reading in the shade next to the lake, as well as going for a swim.

    Yesterday, we took a short walk down to the river to see a waterfall on the property, and today, we did a circular walk through the forest. It was lovely to feel free.

    All too soon, we had to make our way back towards the offsite airport car rental place to drop the car off. From there, we got a shuttle bus to the airport and got a tram back into Seattle.

    Tomorrow, we board the Westerdam.
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  • Seattle, day 2

    June 5 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We took a walk to Pike Place Market and Seattle waterfront, where we clocked up a bit of mileage during our walk.

    Pike Place Market used to be a produce market, but it has changed over the years, and now there are other stalls as well. It was very busy. There was fish-throwing when someone ordered fresh fish at the fish stall, food stalls, flower sellers, arts and crafts, trinkets, clothes, and much more being sold.

    We stopped along the waterfront for fish, chips, and calamari. Where we sat, seagulls were lined up for their fair share of chips - if the humans would oblige. The seagulls didn't attack anyone and sat patiently waiting for someone to throw them a morsel. A nearby sign said that "seagulls are dainty eaters"!

    It was an interesting few hours, and we were quite footsore by the time by the time we got back to the hotel.
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  • Seattle, day 1

    June 4 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We took a drive to look for a newsuitcase for me and ended up in Tacoma.

    From there, we continued our drive so that we were able to continue a loop back to Seattle.

    A lot of areas were built up, and other areas we drove through were less built up and through forest. We ended up on Bainbridge Island via a bridge and took a ferry across back to Seattle.

    Sadly, I didn't take many photos as I forgot!
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  • Arrival in Seattle

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We discovered we were sitting in business class for our flight. Paul had more leg room, and I had a bit more seat room to try and relax/curl up on for the next couple of hours. I did manage to sleep a bit after our meal, but Paul was wide awake.

    We had to take a tram to another terminal to collect our luggage, and had quite a walk to luggage carousel number 15. Hardly anyone arrived, and we got worried. We checked the boards to see if we were correct, and then the carousel number changed to 5! So we had to walk back in the direction of where we had already come from.

    Luggage collected, we caught a shuttle bus to the car rental office. The shuttle bus was busy with so many people going to hire cars. Fortunately, the queue for Thrifty wasn't long, and we soon got Kia car. It is very modern inside with a strange dashboard - very digital and "cold". It is petrol and not electric. The passenger seat is very low compared to the driver's seat. I can't make the seat any higher.

    We managed to find our way to the hotel, using a satnav app on Paul's phone and discovered we could connect it via Bluetooth to the car's cental console screen and had an enlargement of the map.

    After checking in, we got directions for the hotel's car park, which is around the corner and underground. It's going to cost an arm and a leg to park here for the duration we are in Seattle. We might see if a local car park is any cheaper!

    Our room, 39 floors up, overlooks the city and is very spacious.

    Tomorrow is another day.
    Read more

  • Boston Airport

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After breakfast, we sat in Ocean Bar because the Lido area was a bit noisy. We just wanted a bit of peace and quiet.

    Just after 2pm, our taxi arrived and brought us to the airport 🛫. Getting our luggage checked in was a breeze. Security... we forgot that there was an unopened tin of Red Bull in Paul's rucksack, so it got confiscated. The security chap was nice enough about it and we said he could have it on our behalf.

    We are now waiting to board our flight, which will be in about an hour's time.
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  • Arrival in Boston

    June 3 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    I've been awake since 5am, and Paul had had a rough night, so we are a bit bleary-eyed.

    Immigration officials came on board but over an hour later than expected. Guests and crew disembarking the Volendam today have to see the officials. Due to the officials' lateness, a few guests were not happy at all because they had flights to catch. The poor ship's staff were berated, but it had nothing to do with it. One missing guest had to be called to come to immigration but he or she felt it was unnecessary and wanted to speak to the documentation manager 🙄. Sadly, certain people feel 'entitled', and things don't apply to them. I think the person came in the end as Immigration officials don't take any nonsense even from their fellow countrymen.

    Staff eventually went through immigration too.

    Our taxi to the airport is at 1pm so we are having breakfast and relaxing on the ship until then.
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  • Portland, Maine, USA

    June 2 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    The clocks went back another hour again last night, and we were awake by around 5.30 am, yawn.

    The ship arrived in port at around 10 am, so while waiting for a call to go to see immigration officials, Paul and I got most of our packing done.

    Eventually, I was able to get off to see immigration officials in the port terminal and came back on board to wait for Paul, who had gone to the deck office. He eventually came back after having had major problems with the printer.

    Paul had to see the immigration officials, and after that, we did a circular walk along a coastal path, through town and back to the ship.
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  • Halifax, Nova Scotia

    June 1 in Canada ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    The fog was still thick when we went to bed, but fortunately Paul wasn't called for duty.

    This morning was overcast and windy, but we decided to take a walk along the waterfront boardwalk of the harbour and stopped at Cow's to have an ice cream. This day last year, we were in Charlottetown and also had ice cream at a branch of Cow's.

    After that, we headed up the hill to Citadel, where we had nice views of the city.

    Heading back to the waterfront, towards the ship, we walked through a by then open air Asian food market with stalls offering a variety of food. The smell of cooking was heavenly, but we decided not to get anything.

    Unfortunately, my photographs have not come out very nicely due to cloud cover and the position of the sun.

    We have spent the better part of the afternoon reading in the Crow's Nest of the ship. It had been very quiet, but it is now busy with the sail away party spilling upstairs

    Tomorrow is our last day on the ship as we are getting off in Boston the day after. Time is moving fast!
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  • Sea day, heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia

    May 31, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Despite the fog, Paul wasn't needed on the Bridge. He got a call at midnight to tell him that, and then it took him ages to get back to sleep.

    There has been thick fog, on and off all day, and the ship's whistle has been going on a regular basis. It is weird sailing almost "blind."

    Guests were invited to play the usual game of pickleball on deck, and jokingly, it was mentioned that the ball might become invisible (going into the fog). 😆
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