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Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas
  • Lorna Spaas
  • Paul Spaas

Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

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. Lue lisää
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  • Matkan aloitus
    19. toukokuuta 2025
  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Arrival at Reykjavik Airport

    19. toukokuuta 2025, Islanti ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We finally arrived in Reykjavik and collected our luggage. We are waiting for another person to get off the flight as he is joining the ship, too. So far, there is no sign of him, and the taxi driver might have to leave without him. We will give him some more time to arrive, but at the moment, there is hardly anyone coming from the baggage collection area.Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    The Volendam & Reykjavik

    20. toukokuuta 2025, Islanti ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We arrived at the Volendam and Paul got sorted. We are in a guest cabin on level 2 at the back of the ship. At least it has a window!

    After lunch we look a shuttle into town and walked the 5.5km back to the ship. We went vua a luggage shop because i need a new suitcase. The shop was quite small and there wasn't much choice so we will look in Halifax or Boston.

    I was wearing flip-flops and by the time we got back my feet felt scorched.

    The jetlag isn't too bad but by 8pm my body is saying it is time for bed - whereas in France it is 10pm.

    The ship is in port overnight and tomorrow evening we will set sail for Greenland. Paul and I might go for a walk or do a bit of exploring. Tomorrow is another day.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Reykjavik Botanical Gardens Walk

    21. toukokuuta 2025, Islanti ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    With the ship staying another day in port, Paul and I took a walk to the Botanical Gardens this morning.

    There, we saw the remains of hot spring washing ponds where women used to wash clothes and linen in the water. There used to be a wash house on the site, which was built a bit later, but it no longer exists. Sometimes, women fell into the hot spring water while washing, as did the occasional child. Eventually, safety bars were put up to stop women from falling in. What a horrible death. A hot spring swimming pool was also situated near the site, but a no longer exists, but a new one was built.

    We continued through the gardens and stopped at the cafe, hoping for liquorice ice cream, but unfortunately, the freezer had a power cut yesterday, so there were no ice creams.

    We walked to a nearby shopping centre, but there wasn't much there, so we made our way back to the ship via the botanical gardens, but we chose a slightly different route.

    It was a good 7km that we walked, so we had a well-deserved drink and lunch.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Port of Reykjavik

    21. toukokuuta 2025, Islanti ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    This afternoon was quiet. Fog rolled in from the sea but later the sun came out again.

    Departure for Greenland has been delayed until tomorrow morning due to icy sea conditions and a weather front moving in. A new update came through, and we are going to have to miss a port in Greenland and have an extra sea day. The Volendam isn't like the Seabourn Venture and Pursuit where they can go through certain amounts of ice, so an alternative has to be found.Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Seay Day 1 & 2

    22. toukokuuta 2025, 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...    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Sea Day 3

    24. toukokuuta 2025, 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!    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Paamiut

    25. toukokuuta 2025, Grönlanti ⋅ 🌬 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.Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Qaqortoq

    26. toukokuuta 2025, Grönlanti ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. Anthony, Newfoundland

    28. toukokuuta 2025, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. John's, Newfoundland

    29. toukokuuta 2025, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 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.😆    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St. Pierre, France. Walk through town.

    30. toukokuuta 2025, Saint Pierre ja 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    St Pierre, France. Walk back to the ship

    30. toukokuuta 2025, Saint Pierre ja 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..    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Sea day, heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia

    31. toukokuuta 2025, 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). 😆    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam
    Today's session at Cow's ice cream shopThis time last year in Charlottetown

    Halifax, Nova Scotia

    1. kesäkuuta 2025, Kanada ⋅ 🌬 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!    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Portland, Maine, USA

    2. kesäkuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ⛅ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam
    Pilot boat approaching the ship
    Bunkering/loading fuel onto the thirsty Volendam

    Arrival in Boston

    3. kesäkuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Boston Airport

    3. kesäkuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam
    The car's dashboard - very unfriendly and too modern/cold.

    Arrival in Seattle

    3. kesäkuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Lue lisää

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  • Sailing: Volendam & Westerdam

    Seattle, day 1

    4. kesäkuuta 2025, Yhdysvallat ⋅ ☀️ 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!    Lue lisää

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