Mediterranean Mosaic
12 -25 October 2016
12 -25 October 2016
Holland America ms Koningsdam
Returning to Holland America
Since the disastrous cruise on ms Zuiderdam in April-May, 2015, I have been very reluctant to sail with Holland America again. But given that I had previously enjoyed 14 successful cruises on various HAL ships, and that one person’s protest has little effect on a large and soul-less company, and that I was only denying myself the benefits I had accrued from those many sailings--I have decided to try them again.
This 12-day round-trip cruise from Rome on 12 October explores popular ports of the western Mediterranean. I have visited some of these ports on previous trips (Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cadiz, Barcelona), but will enjoy the experience of new ports as well (Cagliari, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia). So the trip is divided evenly between the old and the new. Repeat visits to Naples and Palermo, in particular, will allow me to see some historical sights that I have missed on previous trips—not to mention the chance to sample the wonderful pizza in Naples.
This 12-day round-trip cruise from Rome on 12 October explores popular ports of the western Mediterranean. I have visited some of these ports on previous trips (Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cadiz, Barcelona), but will enjoy the experience of new ports as well (Cagliari, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia). So the trip is divided evenly between the old and the new. Repeat visits to Naples and Palermo, in particular, will allow me to see some historical sights that I have missed on previous trips—not to mention the chance to sample the wonderful pizza in Naples.
I will also be experiencing a brand-new ship for the first time. The Koningsdam sailed its maiden cruise just this past April. With 2600 passengers, she is Holland America's largest ship. For the past several years I have enjoyed sailing on smaller ships, from the 625-passenger Nautica (Oceania) to mid-size ships ranging from 850 passengers (HAL's Prinsendam) to 1200-1500 passengers (Oceania's Riviera and HAL's Veendam, Maasdam, and Zaandam). My early cruises--from 2007 to 2009--were on the somewhat larger HAL ships, the 1900-passenger Oosterdam and the 2100-passenger Eurodam (four cruises on that ship), as well as Dawn Princess. The two cruises on Cunard ships ranged from Queen Victoria (1900 passengers), to the largest I've sailed, the QM2 (2600 passengers). Although I have come to appreciate the smaller ships most of all, even the size of the Koningsdam is nowhere near the behemoths of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Lines that carry 5000-6000 passengers.
Mediterranean Mosaic: Itinerary
Mediterranean Mosaic: Itinerary
Su 9 Oct 2016 1:46pm Lv Tucson (TUS) / DL 1240
8:20pm Av Atlanta (ATL) / overnight
M 10 Oct 2016 3:15pm Lv Atlanta (ATL) / DL 62 / overnight
T 11 Oct 2016 7:00am Av Rome (FCO) / overnight
W 12 Oct 2016 10:00am Lv Rome
11:00am Av Civitavecchia (Port of Rome)
11:00am Av Civitavecchia (Port of Rome)
| Day | Date | Port | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 12 Oct 2016 | Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy | 04:00 PM | |
| 1 | 13 Oct 2016 | Naples (Pompeii), Italy | 08:00 AM | 06:00 PM |
| 2 | 14 Oct 2016 | Palermo, Sicily, Italy | 08:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 3 | 15 Oct 2016 | Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy | 08:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 4 | 16 Oct 2016 | At Sea | ||
| 5 | 17 Oct 2016 | Gibraltar, British Territory | 01:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 6 | 18 Oct 2016 | Cadiz (Seville), Spain | 08:00 AM | 06:00 PM |
| 7 | 19 Oct 2016 | Malaga, Spain | 08:00 AM | 06:00 PM |
| 8 | 20 Oct 2016 | Cartagena, Spain | 08:00 AM | 04:00 PM |
| 9 | 21 Oct 2016 | Valencia, Spain | 07:00 AM | 05:00 PM |
| 10 | 22 Oct 2016 | Barcelona, Spain | 08:00 AM | 11:00 PM |
| 11 | 23 Oct 2016 | At Sea | ||
| 12 | 24 Oct 2016 | Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy | 07:00 AM |
M 24 Oct 2016 9:00am Disembark ms Koningsdam
9:50pm Lv Rome (FCO)
11:20pm Av London (LGW) / overnight
11:20pm Av London (LGW) / overnight
T 25 Oct 2016 1:30om Lv London (LGW) / Norwegian 2645
4:25pm Av Los Angeles (LAX)
8:30pm Lv Los Angeles (LAX)
8:30pm Lv Los Angeles (LAX)
10:00pm Av Tucson (TUS)
*****
Spoiler alert: watch for news of another up-coming cruise--I will be returning to Oceania Cruises in November. Will and I, along with our friends Anita and Deb, will sail from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro on Oceania's 1200-passenger ms Marina for 16 days from 21 November to 7 December, 2016. With added travel time, three nights in Lisbon, and two additional nights in Rio, the entire trip will last 23 days. This schedule will give me just under three weeks between when I return from Rome and depart for Lisbon. Besides resting, paying bills, and doing laundry, I will use some of that time to prepare the blog for the Lisbon-Rio cruise.
*****
I will start regular postings for the Koningsdam cruise after I leave Tucson on 9 October.
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