December 24, 2003
This is the final "Cruise Update"
for our 2004
Panama Canal Cruise. 2004 is almost here and all
those who have booked a stateroom have been making
their flight plans during the past month. If you have
been waiting to reserve a place with our group, please
reply to me by January 10.
I am already planning our 2005
European Cruise.
The greatest interest expressed has been for a Baltic
Sea cruise. I have found one 14 day itinerary (Amsterdam
to Copenhagen) which spends a day at Mariehamn, Finland.
My grandfather was born on one of the islands there and
several of my cousins have visited the states and met
with my family. If this proves to be the itinerary for
our 2005 cruise, I will get to visit them in their homes!
This itinerary also provides two days in St. Petersburg.
(That cruise is aboard the Prinsendam, Holland America's
most intimate ship, with fewer than 800 passengers. She was
acquired from one of the ultra-luxury smaller cruise lines
for Holland America's yearly "World Tour" 100 day cruise.
The crew members are all selected especially for this ship's
discriminating passengers. She is a very special ship.)
All of you (the requesters of
these monthly updates)
will be provided an announcement email for our 2005 cruise
next April. I will need to make a final selection by then
to present an invitation at the National Convention in Atlanta
(over Memorial Day weekend). I hope you'll attend and see
dozens of our former cruisers serving as "Cruise Ambassadors"
wearing a button saying, "Ask me about the 2005 Libertarian
Cruise".
Now our final version of the 2004 virtual cruise:
DAY TWO ON THE MS ROTTERDAM
As the sun rises I sip my morning coffee
on deck, so as to
not miss a moment of our first glorious morning aboard. Later,
in the dinning room for breakfast, we are greeted like long lost
relatives by our table attendants, whom we met just last night!
Even though I saw him working the midnight buffet, our waiter
is bright and smiling as if this were a day off.
Monday brings one of my favorite stops
on any Holland
America cruise, a day on Half Moon Cay, their private island.
I've been to the private islands of many other cruise lines, but
I'm always most impressed by Half Moon Cay. It is beautiful,
of course, but also clean and spacious. The walkways are
concrete sidewalks meandering through the various beach areas.
They have a great snorkel area,
swimming beach and all
the expected beach toys (sailing, wind surfing, etc.). There
will be volleyball games and a beach barbecue ashore. All the
amenities are available aboard the ship throughout the day as
well, for the times you aren't on the beach. Since tomorrow
will be a day at sea (more about that later), I'll stay at
Half Moon Cay until we sail away at 4 P.M.
Once we take the tender back to
the ship, we'll enjoy a
sail away party on deck and sip a "drink of the day" as we
watch Half Moon Cay fade in the distance. (I'm not sad about
leaving, as I know I'll visit again within a few more years.)
After a shower, I'll head to the casino for an hour, then meet
with friends in the Piano Bar for a cocktail hour. At dinner
we'll see the whole group again and relive this wonderful
start of our cruise, sharing the day's experiences.
As I am rocked to sleep tonight,
I'll be dreaming of our
first day at sea tomorrow. I like to participate in some of
the extra activities planned just for days at sea. There are
wine tasting classes, tours of the galley and bridge, and
bridge or backgammon tournaments. Everyone sets their own
schedule during the entire cruise, but days at sea are without
any rush or fuss and it continues at a perfect pace for an
evening of elegance. The evening of our first full day at sea
is the first of our formal evenings. The evening starts with
a complementary "Captain's Welcoming Cocktail Party" before
dinner. For me, a formal evening at sea, with a gourmet dinner
and evening stage show, is a highlight of the cruise.
I hope you've decided to join us!
Happy Holidays!
Ken