On Board The Volendam

As we set out for the cruise ship terminal after a morning spent mostly at rest it rained heavily. The boarding process was easily the most tedious we have experienced but, viewed dispassionately, it was still over in about an hour. The main delay was the need to go through US Immigration. They did not have all the counters open but it did move quite quickly.

First impressions of the Volendam were fairly good. It is more compact than some ships we have been on and that might be to our advantage. There is huge learning curve on boarding any ship with much to become familiar with. There is invariably a terrible throng for the welcome buffet and today was no exception but it was clear that the food was of good quality. My salads sang of freshness –I ate ice cream too.

All cruise ships are huge money making machines and within two hours we had spent $150 on the spa and $100 for internet. I probably could live for a week without the internet but I don’t want to try. It is available in our cabin which gives one more opportunity to stay away from the hard of understanding/moving elsewhere on board.

I am settling down with Genghis Khan in John Man’s book of that name. A suitable companion I think for one so placid as myself.

We left Vancouver in more heavy rain and the low greyness which hung over the Burrard Inlet meant that it was better and easier to succumb to much needed sleep as we sailed after lifeboat drill than to watch such scenery as there was.