12 March 2012 - And the Journey begins...again

Off to the Ocean Blue....


via Fort Lauderdale, the equivalent of an airline hub, except there we have a huge cruise ship hub instead.


Mega Yachts instead of quaint romantic gondolas are crammed into the canals of Venice of USA. Hardly anybody except the polishing crew aboard, whilst the owners mingle with the hoipolloy somewhere in the exclusive sections of a 5 ***** hotel, patting down the luscious curves of the latest deck fluff.


Aboard the lovely MS Prinsendam, I moved into my quarters for the next 62 days, with ocean view. (As if one does not get enough of that during 62 days at sea from the various decks).


Welcome Home it says at the centre swimming pool - without a cover, thank you, and open to whatever the heavens bring. Small ship, only 75 % filled, which means most of the public spaces look deserted and very inviting.


Being a 'GRAND JOURNEY' to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, what is euphemistically called 'amenities' starts at embarkation with a non stop welcome party, where a never ending offfering of complimentary snacks, champagne, coctails and live music get passengers into the spirit of things. The 'Welcome Home' is an apt greeting, after the first 1/2 hour one meets the usual suspects from various previous 'Grands' and one does indeed 'meet again' old friends and aquaintances. The first women I saw walking onto the Lido Deck, champagne in hand, were Janice and Lola, who had the great honour in 2008 (I think) to be rowed around the Amazon River in a dugout canoe, by none else but yours truly. "Remember the deluge we rowed into that day in the backwaters of the Amazon, even the indigenous owner of the canoe got a little impatient with these tourists just plain LOVING it!!"


Well we are on our way for six or seven days of water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink (not a problem on the ship, though, if one is into that). First Landfall will be Madeira.


Just outside the channel markers of Port Everglades, the pilot jumps off the ship, and one waves Good Bye to the flat sky line of Fort Lauderdale, where only the highest hotel and condo buildings are visible after a little time out to sea.


Anchors aweigh....