Cost of Holland America cruise-single cabin $3809 -
this included one night at the Four Seasons.
Because I had booked this trip on a previous cruise, 15 drinks/day were
provided. The travel agent gave me a free Pinnacle dinner. Travelbound (pick up at ship and two nights in
hotel) $572. Cost of Trafalgar bus tour
$4513. Airfare to Vancouver, and return from Osaka $1218 US dollars.
In Jacksonville, I noticed that the flight going to
Vancouver was delayed an hour, so instead travelled to Atlanta - Salt Lake
City - Vancouver. Instead of getting to the Four Seasons at 8 that
night, I did not arrive until 11:15. Because I had arrived so late, I missed the Holland America shuttle - took a cab to the hotel and was reimbursed on the Ship. Met
my travelling companion (the same solo traveler from Auckland) and went for fish and chips and a beer right at the
hotel.
On September 27th, we took the Holland America
shuttle at 10 a.m. to the Volendam. We stayed on the lowest passage deck - Main
Deck - in adjoining interior cabins because of sea sickness. My cabin was a
little small, but certainly good enough. Then to the mandatory Life Jacket
drill, which again took a long time.
That afternoon, we went to the 4th Star Mariner
Welcome with drinks, but surprisingly, no appetizers.
We
booked dinner at 8 o'clock in the fixed seating dining section. I
had scallops with bacon, Caesar salad, short ribs with noodles and for dessert,
apple strudel, lemon sorbet and a double espresso (15 drinks/day).
