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Sailing: Volendam & WesterdamSailing: Volendam & Westerdam
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Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

May - June 2025
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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
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  • United States
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St Pierre, France. Walk back to the ship

    May 30 in Saint Pierre and Miquelon ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    From the outskirts of town, we headed into the mountain for a scenic walk back to the ship.

    The scenery was beautiful. The paths were mainly stony but passed over bogland, streams and past ponds, and small lakes. In very marshy/boggy areas, there were boardwalks over them. It reminded me a bit of Scotland in places.

    The sun was lovely and warm, the wind not as chilly we expected it. During the last 3.5 km, clouds moved in, and the wind got colder, so we picked up the pace to get back to the ship. At some stage, 2km from the ship, I lost my footing and fell, scraping a knee, tore a hole in my trousers, and bruised a wrist.

    We got back to the ship just as it started to rain.

    Back in the cabin, I cleaned my knee. It wasn't as bad as it looked. There was lots of blood, so I thought I had taken a nice chunk out of my knees. Thankfully not! Just skinned in 2 places.

    It is foggy outside now and raining. Paul thinks he might be on fog watch tonight..    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. Pierre, France. Walk through town.

    May 30 in Saint Pierre and Miquelon ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    We were invited to a party last night in the Pinnacle Grill by friends we have known over the years who have sailed with us. It was a lovely evening. As usual, we were left with bulging stomachs - the "Pinnacle Baby" 😆.

    We arrived in St Pierre today, south of Newfoundland. It is a part of France but is self-governing. The St Pierre and Miquelon Islands have a very chequered history, and it makes for an interesting read if you look it up on the Internet.

    Docking in port was problematic because of very strong winds, 50 knots. The ship had to try again, turning around for a second approach, and even then, the ship struggled to dock. Everyone on board was warned for strong winds if they ventured ashore into town.

    Paul and I took a shuttle into town and had a bit of a wander around before making our way to a viewpoint and a monument on the outskirts of town. From there, we decided to walk back to the ship, but via hillside paths.    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. John's, Newfoundland

    May 29 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Paul has a strange inflamed patch on the back of his leg, so he went to the infirmary. He had an ultrasound scan to rule out a deep vein thrombosis and was given a steroid cream for thrombophlebitis. Paul will keep an eye on it over the next couple of days.

    After that, we headed to the crew office to see if they could figure things out because he has had a email advising him we are both booked to stay on the Westerdam from 8th June to 6th July (Seattle to Seattle via Canada). His original contact was from Seattle to Anchorage, where he would get off. I had been told I couldn't sail because of the Jones Law (a person sailing on a foreign flagged ship leaving a USA port cannot re-enter a USA port without first going to a foreign port. In this case, the ship would not be going to Canada before Anchorage). Paul had already booked me a flight back to the Netherlands, so he needs to clear things up before cancelling my ticket. The Crew Officer was as baffled as Paul and is going to make enquiries.

    Paul and I decided to head into town to look for a suitcase for me and then take a walk to a lake. We didn't get a suitcase but managed to burn 9km in total, walking through town to the lake and back again.

    The lake wasn't as pretty as we expected, but we walked around the lake anyway and saw pigeons, ducks, and seagulls. A pigeon was taking a nice bath at the water's edge, and 3 ducks in the water also had a good wash. A duck had a brood af chicks with her - fluffy dots - who followed her into the water.

    We had no intention of going to a supermarket, but we passed one on back to the ship, and I decided to look for a bra. In the end, we walked out with a bra, a massive bag of cheese puffs, and small marshmallows for our hot chocolate on board. Security personnel's eyes 👀 just about popped out of their sockets when they clocked the huge packet of crisps. I think we pre-walked our calories off and can now put them back on again.😆    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. Anthony, Newfoundland

    May 28 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    We had dinner with friends last night and enjoyed their company. They had another couple with them and a solo traveller. It was a pleasant evening.

    Paul fortunately wasn't called to the Bridge during the night.

    I felt sick at some stage and was wide awake, tossing and turning, feeling hot and then freezing. Something had disagreed with me. I was awake for what seemed like hours but didn't want to read in case the light woke Paul up.

    By the time we anchored, I felt better and was happy to go ashore.

    Instead of wandering around the small but well-kept fishing town, we decided to take a walk to some viewpoints. It was pleasant.    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Qaqortoq

    May 26 in Greenland ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    I slept rather well as the seas were a lot calmer. What a relief. Paul still had to go to the Bridge, though, due to icebergs.

    We managed to go ashore, via tender, around lunchtime, and had a wander around the town. It was a nice town. Paul was tempted to get a beer at a local pub, but in the end, he didn't. We popped into a local supermarket in the hope of getting liquorice ice cream, but they didn't have it. We consoled ourselves with a packet of liquorice sweets instead!

    Our circular walk took us back by the waterfront and harbour. We stopped at a shop where I picked up some lambswool mittens as my gloves aren't keeping out the cold, despite them being a good brand, Helly Hansen. I wonder if hand washing them (to get lots of sea salt off) has affected them.

    While we were walking, two very young Inuit girls were playing in the street in summer clothes (!) (temperatures were around 1C!) and came to say hello and shake our hands. We appreciated their sweet gesture.    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Paamiut

    May 25 in Greenland ⋅ 🌬 2 °C

    Last night, we were invited to dinner with guests whom we have known over the years, Dee & Wells, Sandy & Dave, and Rob & Bill. We had a lovely time catching up with them.

    Today, around lunchtime, Paul and I took a tender to the mainland and did a short walk around the village and to a viewpoint. It was icy cold, so we didn't stay too long.Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Sea Day 3

    May 24, Labrador Sea ⋅ 🌬 3 °C

    The ship rocked and rolled through the night, and Paul had to go to work at midnight. At some point, the ship had to deviate course because of an unexpected patch of ice, and also the wind picked up quite a bit.

    The Captain did a briefing just after lunch to update us as to what happened and show us weather and satellite pictures of the ice.

    Tonight, we have been invited to dinner with guests whom we have kept in touch with over the years. They are all on the same cruise funnily enough!    Read more

  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Seay Day 1 & 2

    May 22, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 5 °C

    Yesterday, the Captain updated us with regard to Greenland. Unfortunately, due to icy sea conditions and a bad weather front, the Volendam will not be sailing to Nanortalik. The port is unreachable due to ice blocking it.

    The next port was going to be Qaqortoq, but again, the ice is going to be probematic. Insead, we will head to Paaimut and then head down to Qaqortoq, by which time the sea conditions will have improved and the ice should move further south.

    Paul and I were asked to host a table of 4 guests at dinner time. It was a pleasant evening. It was formal night, and guests dressed very nicely.

    Today Paul and I have been relaxing so far. I'm tired from the motion of the ocean...    Read more

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