My Next Cruise March 20, 2022

 I just booked 21 days in the Caribbean on the Rotterdam.  Hopefully, it will be less of a new experience than the last one.  The itinerary is:

Sunday       March 20   Fort Lauderdale, Florida         4:00 PM
Monday      March 21   Half Moon Cay, Bahamas       8:00 AM to  3:00 PM
Tuesday      March 22   At Sea
Wednesday March 23   Oranjestad, Aruba                   1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Thursday    March 24   Willemstad, Curacao               8:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Friday         March 25   At Sea
Saturday     March 26   At Sea
Sunday       March 27   Fort Lauderdale, Florida         7:00 AM to  4:00 PM
Monday      March 28   Half Moon Cay, Bahamas       8:00 AM to  3:00 PM
Tuesday      March 29   At Sea
Wednesday March 30   Ocho Rios, Jamaica                8:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Thursday    March 31   Georgetown, Cayman Islands 8:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Friday         April     1   At Sea
Saturday     April     2   Key West, Florida                   8:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Sunday       April     3   Fort Lauderdale, Florida         7:00 AM to  4:00 PM
Monday      April     4   At Sea
Tuesday      April     5   Grand Turks and Caicos         8:00 AM to  4:00 PM
Wednesday April     6   San Juan, Puerto Rico            1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Thursday    April     7   St. Thomas, U.S.V.I                8:00 AM to  5:00 PM
Friday        April     8   At Sea
Saturday    April     9   Half Moon Cay, Bahamas       8:00 AM to  3:00 PM
Sunday      April   10   Fort Lauderdale, Florida         7:00 AM

Day 23 Athens to Chicago to DFW

At 6:15, after a really long night, I went to the American check in and had to explain my paperwork and finally get the woman in the Customer Office that I worked with yesterday to get the OK to check in.  Then it was off to  security and at 7,I was in the duty free area.  I stopped and got a coffee and a cinnamon bun for breakfast and then went to the gate at 8.  We started boarding at 9 and I got on the  plane at  9:05.  The flight was 10 hour 30 minutes and sleep turned out to be impossible due to a small child screaming very loudly off and on during the entire flight.  The lady behind me kept having to dig in her carry on and kept bumping the back of my seat, once even hitting me in the head with her elbow while I was trying to sleep.  When we got to Chicago Ohare, it took 30  minutes to clear immigration then 15 minutes to get bags and clear customs.  It took 30 minutes to clear TSA since they decided that my camera had to come out of  my carry on and the bag and camera were sent back through the X-Ray.  When I got to my gate for the ORD to DFW flight, it was 22 minutes until boarding.  I got on at 3 and then when we started to taxi to take off, the Captain announced that there would be a 15 minute delay in take-off due to some technical problem that had to be looked at.  We arrived finally at DFW at 6:10 and my driver was waiting for me in the baggage claim area and it was the owner of the limo service who I have known for a long time using his service and his name is Ron as well.  He gathered my bags and we were off to my house and arrived there at 7:10.  I went in and my brother-in-law told me the bulb in one of the kitchen under counter lights had gone out and he could not find the replacement bulbs.  I took a new bulb and tried it but to no avail since  the fixture was seemingly burned out since I put the bulb in another light and it was fine.    I unpacked a few things I needed and finally went to bed at 8:20.  I had been up most of 47 hours.

Day 22 Athens Airport

 My wake-up call was at 5:30.  I got dressed and finished with my luggage.  I had a message that my AA flight was delayed and would miss the connection in Chicago, so I changed it to a AA flight operated by BA through London Heathrow.  I went down to the lobby at 6:15 and my transport came at 6:20.  I arrived at the airport at 6:55 and went to check into my BA flight and found that iI had miscalculated the end date of my isolation and could not fly until tomorrow.  I contacted AA and was able to change my flight back to the Chicago route for an additional $1247.00.  At this point I just wanted to get home as soon as possible and accepted.  I also went to the AA Customer Service desk and verified the documentation I would need to fly was sufficient and paid for the ticket.  I spent the rest of the day and night in the terminal.

Day 21 Athens, Greece Isolation

 I got up at 7:15 and made coffee.  Breakfast came at 9:10 and included additional things beyond what I had requested.  It was all good.  I worked crosswords and read and repacked some of my things that I won't need today or in the morning.  At 10:50, I ordered soup for lunch since I had some bread left over from last night's dinner.  Lunch came at 1:45 and it also came with a small bread loaf.  I took a shower so that I could pack up everything I didn't need tomorrow morning.  Just got a notice at 5 that the flight from Athens to Chicago will be delayed 20 minutes.  I just get more time in the terminal.  I ordered dinner at 5:10.  My dinner came at 6:40.  David from HAL called at 7:10 to make a final check and said someone from their office would call me Monday to make sure I made it home OK.  I read until 9 and went to bed since I have to get up really early tomorrow.

Day 20 Athens, Greece Isolation

I got up at 7:10 and made coffee.  Water was delivered at 9 along with Nespresso pods.  Breakfast came at 9:30.  After breakfast, I read and worked crosswords.  I didn't order lunch as I had sufficient leftovers from dinner and breakfast to tide me over until dinner.  i ordered dinner and breakfast at 5:15 and was told that my transport to the airport Sunday will be at 6:30 am and was already paid.  I ask for a 5:30 am wake-up call.  Dinner was delivered at 7:20 and David from HAL called to verify that I knew about the transport time and to check if I needed anything else.  He said they would call tomorrow and again the day after I get back.  I went to bed at 10.

Day 19 Athens, Greece Isolation

 I got up at 7:40 after a restless  night  due to the street noise.  I am on the 6th floor, but it sounds like the traffic is right outside my room.  I changed the linens and towels.  Breakfast came at 9:30.  I ordered lunch at 10:30 and was told that the doctor was here.  He arrived about 5 minutes later and checked me out and wrote up a handwritten document for the airline that I was fit to fly on the 5th.   I worked crosswords and read.  My lunch came at 1:50 and it was a really big burger with fries.  I read until 5 when I ordered my dinner and breakfast.  Then I read some more until David from Holland America called at 7:10 to check up on me and make sure that I had gotten the email with the ship's final bill.  I had not seen it and found it in the spam folder.  He will have someone contact me concerning the transfer to the airport Sunday.   My dinner was delivered at 7:25.  I read and did crosswords until 10.

Day 18 Athens, Greece Isolation

 I got up at 7:25 and it was a good thing as a jackhammer started below my room shortly after that.  My breakfast came at 9:30 along with 4 bottles of water and bags for trash and linens.  I took my daily temperature at 10 and it was still normal. 

My neighbor lady called at 10 and said that she had still tested negative and had to move off of this floor and there were no other rooms available, so she will be moving to another hotel.  She left me the small amount of wine left in the bottle.  She was worried about leaving her husband here, but they offered her no choice.  

At 10:30 I ordered the chicken souvlaki for lunch.  I worked some crosswords and read.  My lunch was delivered at 2 and was very good.  I read the rest of  the afternoon and at 5, I ordered dinner and also breakfast.  

David from Seattle called at 6:55 to check in on me and if I needed anything.  My diner came at 7.  I read until 10 when I went to bed,

Day 17 Athens, Greece Isolation

 I woke up at 7:20 and responded to some emails .  I selected seats for my return flight and requested an upgrade for the Chicago to Dallas segment.  My breakfast was delivered at 9:05.  My new linens and towels were delivered at 10 and I spent 30 minutes remaking the bed since the comforter cover was a bear to put on.  I got linens for both twin beds that make up the main bed, but since I only use the outside one, I just changed it.  I bagged the dirty linens and towels in their proper bag to put outside the door.  I also set out the large trash bag with all of my smaller bags of trash and food boxes.  I decided to skip ordering lunch today and got a coke and ate the leftover chocolate cake from breakfast.  

I got another call from my neighbor and she offered to give me a glass of wine for supper outside my door.  She is in one room while her husband is in another since he tested positive and she did not.  

I read and worked crosswords for most of the afternoon. I ordered the chicken snitchel for supper at 5 and it was delivered at 6, one hour early.  I think the front desk guy was afraid that since I passed on lunch, I might be too hungry to wait until 7.  My glass of wine was delivered by my neighbor about 5 minutes later.  A very nice meal.  

Had a text from Linda with HAL at 7:08 that her colleague David would call with information.  He called at 7:30 about setting up a time for a doctor to see me Friday or Saturday to give me a clear to travel letter. 

I went to bed at 10.

Day 16 Athens,, Greece Isolation

 I got up at 7:15 and answered several emails from Holland America and the insurance people.  My breakfast ordered at 9 last night was supposed to be delivered between 8 and 8:30 this morning, but when I called at 9, they said 10 more minutes.  It was delivered at 9:30 along with 4 bottles of water and Nespresso pods and tea bags.  The food was not exactly what I thought I was getting, but it was good.  My original flight got cancelled while I thought it was being taken care of.  Since they couldn't just change it they are looking at a new booking.  The first quotes were for coach and I asked if they could give me a quote on Business/First.  The coach fares were from $945 to $1035 for United (thru Dulles) or American (thru OHare).  The business class fares range from $2086 to $4876 for British Air (thru London) or United (thru Dulles).  I opted for the American coach and will just have to suffer some more.  Ordered a club sandwich for lunch at 10:40 and it should be delivered between 2 and 2:30.   Got a call about the flight requesting payment card and adding my AAdvantage number to the information at 10:50.  I bought a couple of books on Amazon for my Fire.  I took a shower at 12 and then read and worked a crossword.  As you can tell, I am living my dream.  My sandwich came at 2:08 and came with fries and was very good.   I read some more and at 5, ordered a Greek salad for supper and it was delivered at 6:50.  Huge slab of feta on top of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and black olives.  Very tasty and filling.  For dessert, I had the banana from breakfast.  I called my eye doctor to cancel my appointment Wednesday. 

Got a call from the room next door from a lady who was on the Eurodam and her husband tested positive but she didn't but had to go into isolation also.  They had booked their own flights and they had some insurance other than the Holland America Platinum and had not heard anything from anyone about when they get out and the procedures.  I told her that I had been contacted several times by the CareFreeAssistance and the Live Travel insurance people.  It turns out they were also on the world cruise last year that ended in Freemantle/Perth and they had seen me on the Eurodam and thought I looked like someone they had seen on the world.  Had a phone call from Linda with Holland America to check on me and we chatted about books for 15 minutes.  The lady next door called again at 8:40 and she had finally been contacted by HAL and was much happier.  She said that they would test her again tomorrow and if she is still negative, they will move her to the Hyatt and she will be able to go out.  

At 9:05, I ordered breakfast for tomorrow.  I read and went to bed at 10.

Day 15 Athens, Greece Isolation

 My wake up call was at 5:15 am and the nurse came at 5:50 to administer the covid test. Another nurse came at 6:20 and gave me a N95 mask to wear instead of the Holland America one.  They loaded my luggage on a cart while another crewman sprayed my bags and all along the hall as we walked thru the guarded hall to the mid-ship elevator and down to the gangway.  I was put into a waiting car with another covid positive passenger and driven away.  The driver had plastic between his seat and the passengers.  We got to the hotel at 6:55 and check-in was a breeze.  I took pictures of my room (612) and my cleaning supplies.  Also today's menu.  I have a nice view from the balcony, but the bells at the church are quite loud.  I ordered a beef burger for lunch as I did not have breakfast this morning due to the early start all.  Allan called and checked in on me just after 12.  I read and did a crossword puzzle.  My burger came at 7 and was 2 beef patties with a lemon half, no bread.  Had a call from Linda with Holland America Line Family Assistance to check on how well the transfer from the ship to hotel took place and to explain that a local doctor will come a couple of days before I get release to give me the necessary paperwork to be allowed to fly home.  She also said she would look into the airline arrangements and that I have $150 per diem  if I want to order food from outside.  She will be checking back tomorrow.  Ordered dinner, pork snitchel, peas with potatoes which was delivered at 7.  As it turned out, the pork was served with fries and rice, so the peas and potatoes were an overkill.  The fries were a bit soggy but the pork was very good.  I got a call from someone with insurance who is going to look into changing flight arrangements.  I worked on documents for insurance and went to bed at 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14 Nafpliion, Greece Isolation Cabin

 I got up at 7:12 as we dropped anchor as this is a tender  port, not that it matters to me.  I ordered breakfast at 7:40 and it was delivered at 8:05.  Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, butter jam and coffee.  After breakfast, I called guest services about information concerning cancelling my flight tomorrow and obtaining a hotel for the remainder of my isolation.  They said they would deliver the information later today.  I took a couple of pictures from my isolation cabin verandah.  Got my hotel information at 1:45 and I will be staying at the Kubic Athens Hotel during the remainder of my isolation period.  I will have to change my own linens and can exchange old for new on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.  I ordered a late lunch, early dinner at 3:15, Chicken Noodle Soup, Caesar Salad, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and iced tea.  It came at 3:45 and was better than last night's meal.  I took my shower and repacked so that I would be ready whenever tomorrow.  I just found out that I will be disembarking first at 6 am tomorrow and will have another covid test to allow them to determine what strain it is at 5:50 am.  I will probably to to bed very early tonight so I am posting this a bit early.

Day 13 Mykonos, Greece/Isolation Cabin

 I got up at 6:30 and went down to get my Covid test at 7.  I was in and out of the testing area with no waiting in just about 2 minutes.  I went to breakfast at 7:30 and then watched the sail in.  I got a phone call at 8:20 from the ship's doctor that my ainttigen test was positive and that they would be in my cabin shortly to give me a PCR test.  If that comes back negative, then all is well, if not, they would go from there. The nurse came at 8:23 and took my medical history and took the PCR swab and left me confined to my cabin at 8:30.   She said that it would take about 30 minutes or so and that she would call with the results.  At 9:20, the doctor called and my test was a positive so I am being moved to an isolation room and when I disembark, I will have to go to a hotel for 10 days before coming home.  At 11, they came to transfer me from mu cabin 5097 to my isolation cabin 6007.  l ordered a sandwich at 12 and it was delivered at 12:20 completely covered in aluminum foil on a paper plate and wooden spoon and fork.  I ate it and then worked several crossword puzzles.  Its a good thing I brought several.  At 7:10, the nurse brought my medical results papers.  I ordered diner at 7:45 and it was delivered at 8:20.   The presentation was lacking.  I read until 10 when I went to bed.

Day 12 At Sea

 I got up at 7:20 and went to breakfast at 8.  After breakfast, I started to do some packing since I have a tour on the last day before the cruise ends.  At 10, I went to get my passport back from the ship.  On this cruise, your passport is collected and returned on the deck where you reside making it much nicer than everyone going to the front desk and forming a long line.  I just saw where the 2022 Grand World Voyage scheduled for January has been cancelled along with several other Holland America cruises.   I went up to the back deck to look for Allan and Sandra, but they were not there. I did run into my favorite egg cook from the World Cruise, Zai Clavel Pasiolan.  She is working at the pizza station.  I returned to the cabin and worked on some crosswords.  At 2:30, I went up to play final bingo and bought the 6 pack of cards but only the first game was won by a paper card while the other three were won by a tablet which plays for you.  One couple won 3 of the four games including the $1000 final jackpot game.  I just don't understand the enjoyment of letting a machine play the game for you. The dress tonight was Gala Attire, so I got dressed in coat and tie and went to dinner at 8.  After dinner, I returned to the cabin and packed my slacks and jackets.  I went to bed at 10 as I have to get up at 6:30 to go have my Covid test.  Tomorrow, is Mykonos again and I do not have a tour scheduled and will probably treat it as a sea day.

Day 11 Limassol, Cyprus

 I got up at 6:40 and cancelled my 7 am wake-up call.  I went to breakfast at 7:45.  I   went down to the main stage area at 9:15 and got my sticker for the tour at 9:30 and went to the bus.  We drove for about  30 minutes to Kourion.  During the stop, i bought a bottle of water for fifty cents euro.  Besides the tour described, we also stopped at a winery and tasted about 7 or 8 of their wines including white, rose, red, blue wine and a desert wine.  During our free time, I had a chocolate ice cream cone and a Coke Zero for 3 euros.  We got back to the ship at 320 and went through security in the terminal building where they made me take off my watch and fitbit and my belt.  Regardless, I still beeped due to my knee replacements.  The dress code was smart casual and I cleaned up after working on the blog and worked some crosswords until dinner at  8.  Tomorrow, I get my passport back and the next day, I have to get my covid test.  Went back to the cabin at 9:10 and posted this entry before going to bed at 10.

 Top 3 Reasons To Book

• Kourion's Greco-Roman site, pavement mosaic remnants
• A superb Greco-Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century BC
• Omodos Village, the Monastery of the Holy Cross

Enjoy a relaxing drive through the vineyards and orchards of the Phassouri citrus groves. The day begins with a visit to the main historical attraction of this area -- the ancient ruins of the city of Kourion. This impressive Greco-Roman site features remnants of pavement mosaics, including the fine four-panel design in the central room at the House of Eustolios.

Nearby is the superb Greco-Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century BC and still used today for many performances including ancient dramas. From this beautiful and unspoiled spot perched high on a cliff, you can enjoy the dazzling view of the ruins and the sea below.

Your next stop is at the Temple of Apollo. Apollo was a significant deity of ancient Greek religion. He was the god of light, sun, poetry, music and woodlands, as well as the protector of the city of Kourion. The Sanctuary of Apollo is the largest and perhaps the most important religious center on Cyprus. It has been in use continuously from the late 8th century BC to the second half of the 4th century AD. The southwest side of the temple has been restored and excavations have revealed other structures, such as the bath complex, the pilgrim halls, the palaistra and a holy precinct.

Continue to one of the most beautiful old villages of Cyprus -- Omodos Village. Explore the Monastery of the Holy Cross with its excellent woodcarvings and old icons. You'll also see the restored Linos wine-press in an old house. Step inside some local houses to feel the age-old tradition that seems to ooze from the walls, and stroll through the narrow streets and local shops famous for their vitraux and handmade pieces of traditional stained glass.

Spend some time in the village square to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings.

Day 10 Rhodes, Greece Day 2

 I got up at 7 and went to breakfast at 8.  Today, I did not take a tour as I had been here before.  After breakfast, I returned to the cabin and worked some crosswords and edited some pictures.  At 9:45, I went our of the port, through a gate and walked around and took some picture.  I bought a T-shirt and after about an hour, decided it was too hot and I needed to save myself for tomorrow in Cyprus. 

The sail-away was at 3:30 and I went up to the aft pool and had the last of the Mariner's Special drinks and then to the middle pool bar for another drink.  We sailed at 4.  I returned to the cabin at 4:05 to get ready for the evening.  The evening dress was formal.  I went to dinner at 8 and returned to the cabin afterward.  I went to bed at 10.