We arrived in Boston, Massachusetts from London Heathrow on the evening of 17th July. Lucky that we did, as there was a massive IT outage the following day and flights were cancelled all over the world. Blissfully unaffected, we enjoyed a couple of lovely days being tourists!
Boston is steeped in history, impressive statues and storytelling plaques. We highly recommend a visit to this beautiful city. We walked more than 10 miles each day and used local buses and the subway system. Public transport in Boston is easy to use and inexpensive ($1.70 per journey or $11 a day).
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A few unusual facts about Boston that we found interesting:
- The Old State building was once the tallest building in Boston, now it looks tiny against the skyline.
- Dr Crawford Williamson Long was the first doctor to use ether as an anesthetic. He removed a patient’s tumor without pain in 1842.
- There is an area in Boston dedicated to the heroic act on April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere warned Bostonians that the British were coming!
We walked from the hotel on the morning of the 20th & met people disembarking from the Volendam & Zuiderdam along the way. Embarkation was more challenging than normal due to the residual impact of the airline IT outage the day before. The ship delayed our departure time to allow additional time for some passengers to embark.
Our cabin is the most compact that we have ever had, but with creative planning, a large pocket bag and a magnetic rail for the ceiling, we soon had things ‘ship shape’!
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One of our first tasks as Voyage Hosts was to assist our guests with the Holland America Line Navigator app so they could make the most use out of it. The app allows guests to book onboard services, shore excursions, dining and provides access to a digital copy of the daily schedule. We were happy to be on hand to help our guests with that.
Our first day on the ship included a large reception on the Lido deck for 3-, 4- and 5-star Mariners. Over 1,100 people attended! As we wandered around during the gathering, it was wonderful to be recognized and stopped by so many people, both guests and crew members that remembered us from past voyages.
We delivered welcome letters to our guests as we made our way to dinner. The menu in the main dining room was more than adequate but has been streamlined to reduce food waste. Additional options are available upon request if you happen to want something else. It's good for the environment to operate in this way, and everything we ordered was tasty.
Day 1 – Bar Harbor, Maine
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Bar Harbor is tender port which was a smooth operation for all. It was a beautiful sunny day to wander around a lovely, homely, colonial town that was once called Eden. We walked through the town to the enchanting St Saviour’s Episcopal church with Tiffany stained-glass windows. There was a service in progress, so we just took a photo and continued on.
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A geocache trail took us to a lovely park out of the town towards the Acadia National Park and to the sandbar from which Bar Harbor got its name. It was another 3 hours before low tide, so we were unable to walk across to Bar Island.
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Day 2 – Cruise Specialists Welcome Reception
We held our exclusive event in the intimate Gallery Bar. Everyone enjoyed the ambience of the event so much that many stayed beyond the scheduled party time! Keith and I chatted with all the guests – it was wonderful to meet new guests and welcome back so many others that had sailed with us before. We had a great turnout, and everyone was pleased to receive their commemorative gifts.
We also saw a show that we enjoyed on board called “Song & Dance.” The stage settings and choreography were wonderful.
Day 3 – Sydney, Nova Scotia
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We were greeted at the port of Sydney by bagpipes playing and the sight of the largest fiddle in the world, right there at the terminal. It is 60 feet tall and weighs 10 tons. It's probably also the most photographed fiddle in the world too!
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We enjoyed our sunny day in Sydney immensely – as we followed another walking trail through the town and out to the Open Hearth Park and Glooscap trails. The trails are stunning, flat walking trails through what was once an industrial area. The park is beautifully landscaped with various interesting sculptures to create a nature reserve and community areas and not too far from the port.
Day 4 – Corner Brook, Newfoundland
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A complimentary shuttle bus was provided by the Corner Brook Port Corporation to take guests into the town. It was appreciated by all as it was quite a hot day. We knew that we had been here before but couldn’t recollect it until we saw the extensive wood pulp plant. Massive piles of cut timber ready to be made into wood pulp. Corner Brook got its name from the simple fact that when it was originally established by a British company, the logs were brought downstream along the ‘brook’ and around the corner – hence Corner Brook.
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We were pleased to find a little hidden gem in the form of a pretty roof terrace on top of the City Hall. It’s free and accessible by all for lovely views over the town and harbor.
We also covered about 6 or 7 miles walking to a couple of small trails on the outskirts of town, one was the Three Bear Mountain Trail which offered even better extensive views of the town and harbor. On the way back to the ship, we called into a famous Canadian coffee and doughnut place for a much-enjoyed treat!
Day 5 – Red Bay, Labrador
Red Bay was our second tender port and a bit trickier as it was quite bouncy and there were a couple of steps to navigate at the pier. Only 140 people live in Red Bay – a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Basque whalers spent summers harvesting Bowhead and Right whales. We walked out of town to see piles of logs drying that looked like an abandoned settlement, churches and tiny graveyards. There is also a little boat that goes over to Saddle Island for $11 a couple. Back in town, we stopped at a café where the servers were pleased to see us, and many of us enjoyed fish & chips with a couple of local beers before heading back on our tenders.
Day 6 – Chat Time at Sea
We had our first proper chat time and enjoyed an exclusive Future Cruise Presentation. We enjoyed meeting up with our Cruise Specialists guests again. Keith started off the hospitality event, whilst Susie and Chantal (Future Cruise Consultant) gave the presentation.
In the evening, Holland America held an event on the Lido deck, “All the Fun at the Fair.” Complete with good old-fashioned games including Toss the Hoop, Catch the Rat, Mini Golf, Cornhole and more, with lots of prizes and fun fair food to complete the party atmosphere. It was great fun!
Follow along with us on our voyage: Norway, Greenland & Iceland
Affectionately,
Susie and Keith, Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts
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