Getting Ready!

We've been spending a lot of time researching the ports we'll visit, as well as setting up excursions in these ports.  Our Roll Call (a group of fellow cruisers on this cruise) offers opportunities to share information, join private tours, and receive valuable hints from previous world cruisers about how to live on a cruise ship for 4 months!

We have our appointment for the Travel Medicine Clinic to update our shots if needed and get our malaria drugs and Yellow Fever vaccination.

Our doctor and dentist appointments are set for our "final checkups," replacement eye glasses have been purchased, lists are made of "drug store" purchases that will be taken with us "just in case."  Our travel agency is allowing us to ship 2 suitcases apiece via FedEx at no charge, so much of our clothing will be able to be shipped ahead, along with "drug store" items we might need.  Fortunately, our trip will be mostly in hot/humid weather or at the worst, mid-60's for a few ports, so our wardrobe doesn't need to be extensive. (Our RVing days have given us plenty of experience with limited wardrobes!)

The biggest extra expense has been for Chris to get his own laptop so that he can work on his videos and photos while we are at sea.

With all those sea days will we be bored? No!!! In addition to our own projects (usually working on photos, reading, knitting, and exercise) there are  lectures on ports (an outstanding port lecturer is on board who we have heard before), cooking classes, computer classes (only PC), all kinds of get-togethers, games (bridge, mahjong, scrabble, etc.) plus having fun with new friends! An expert knitter is on board who is going to give classes/seminars that I'll be taking. Lots of crafts, projects like knitting for charity...you get the idea.

Previewed the Amsterdam and Loved It!

In August, we took a 14-day cruise on board Holland America's Amsterdam to make sure we would be happy with a 4-month cruise on her, and found we loved it! It's our favorite ship, even though it's smaller than many in the already small-ship Holland America fleet. There is room for 1300 passengers, although we have heard fewer than that will usually be on the World Cruise.  While on board, we had dinner with another couple who did it in 2015 and will be returning for the 2018 cruise, so we will have friends on board!  The first thing we did was run down to the lowest deck to photo the cabin we will be in for the World Cruise. The steward was happy to let me quickly take a few photos so I could remember the size/layout of things. It'll be tight, but everyone does it...we will manage to stow our stuff.
I'll post photos of the ship here, so I don't need to upload them later when I'll have more limited wifi.  Some of the venues on the ship are getting makeovers before we embark, but they are limited to new carpets, etc.

Holland America's Amsterdam

Our Oceanview Cabin (bottom  row of cabins "in the blue area" in the ship photo)

Showing Part of the Main Theater (Queen's Lounge)

Explorations Cafe, another favorite place to get good coffee, teas

The Library, one of our favorite places, but most of the books are behind and to the right of this photo.

The Main Dining Room

The Lido Pool (which has a sliding dome cover, here retracted)

Spa, heated loungers which I doubt we'll use since we're mostly in the Tropics

Aft Pool

Another view of the Lido Pool from the walkway on the upper deck

The Atrium's Centerpiece, an Astrolabe, an early astronomical clock and calendar (no longer functions)

Piano Bar

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