We boarded the ship around noon on Saturday after an extremely over-priced (surprise, surprise) taxi ride to the cruise port.  The hotel front desk said it would be about 20 euros give or take, but it was 37 euros. Where my math friends at? That is very nearly double what we were expecting. Yikes! Why the heck is everything in Amsterdam so dang pricey? It is ridiculous! But by this point, we are basically immune to overpriced goods and services. Take my money! Sure beats slugging my suitcase 45 minutes across the tourist infestation that is downtown Amsterdam.

Nothing else was super exciting or memorable. We made it onto the ship, found our room, and went to lunch. (We were not spending any more money in Amsterdam!) The boat has a buffet– but most of it is not help yourself. If you want a salad, you wait in line, and they make it for you with your chosen ingredients, like at Subway.

I consider myself to be technologically savvy and can handle basic internet tasks. However, when it came to creating a login ID for the Holland America App, I just couldn’t do it! I had to head to guest services for some internet assistance. While we were standing in line, we heard this horrendous crashing noise. Then the staff all took off running. Some lady had fallen down a flight of marble stairs! I assume she was European because no one in her group seemed too hysterical (and I did not go peep over the railing), but I heard her tumbling. And she didn’t get up. Something had to have been broken. We had been cruising for about an hour.

A while later, we were out on deck, pretending to be walking laps, but really, we were taking selfies. There were lots of Dutch people out taking pictures of our cruise ship. (I don’t even take that many pictures of the cruise ship, and I am traveling on it!). We were going through some locks, and I was thinking– ooh, is this going to be like th Panama Canal? Then I noticed an ambulance, staring at our ship. And some guys in yellw coats- with ropes– that they started tossing to our ship– and then our ship was tossing back giant lassos– that they were then looping to steel pylons on the locks. This was no  Panama Canal– they were stopping our ship! So, then we were stopped– and the ambulance crew was staring at the entrance to our ship– and I heard them utter the words “too dangerous.”” Then one of the captains came walking out and looking over the railing and climbing on the life boats, trying to figure out what to do. Then the captain came over the speakers and said we were stopped, waiting on the firemen to come and bring a ladder so that the paramedics could board the ship and help someome off with their medical emergency (reference above tumble.) So, we naturally stood and waited on the firetruck– watched them bring a ladder for boarding the ship– they all strapped on jaunty silver life jackets before crossing the gang plank they had also brought on the fire truck–you know, safety first.  But, then, you guys, there was a second fire truck with a cherry picker that they lowered down to the ship entrance. Right about, then they came out on the deck and made us all go inside for the privacy of the guest–which, I get, but I wanted to watch the firetruck! And really, why didn’t the ship have an emergy gang plank that the paramedics could have used? Surely this wasn’t the first emergency they have had?  And also, thank goodness for socialized medicine. Can you imagine what kind of bill the ambulance would send for waiting around for over an hour, or the bill for three fire trucks, including a cherry picker? Not to mention the port authorities working the locks? I can’t even fathom it.

Clearly the rest of the evening would have paled in comparison to that kind of excitement.  

Sunday was our day at sea. We spent the day  going to meetings to try and figuure out what we need to do while in Norway because, well, surprise surprise, this trip came up much quicker than expected and we didn’t have a darn thing planned.   Still not sure that we know what we are doing, but at least we will be slightly more informed in our lack of Norwegian shore knowledge.  

What else did we do?  Well, it is a cruise ship, so what do you think?  Raise your hand if you said EAT!  After fighting the masses at the breakfast buffet, we decided to eat lunch in the sit-down restaurant.  Nothing too remarkable, but it was tasty.  

The dessert did not make our hearts go pitter patter, so after lunch we went to the cafeteria to get some dessert from the buffet. That’s how we roll!  For dinner, we had our fancy restaurant complementary dinner at the Asian restaurant.  It was all quite delicious, but paled in comparison to the dessert. Seriously, it will probably be the best thing I eat for the whole entire rest of the cruise.   What was this wonder you ask?  Mango Posset.  I have no idea what a posset is, but I want more of it.  There was a scoop of creamy mango sorbet, atop a coconut macroon (the only weak spot of the dish), in a bed of mango puree.  There are no words to describe how good this stuff was.  Oh, and since we were also tempted by the assortment of gelatos, they brought us out a flight (yeah just like beer) of different gelato flavors.  The clear winner of the sampler was the lychee flavor–quite delicious!  We also had zulu or zuzu? It’s a Japanese citrus.  The other was lemon basil. I didn’t care for it, but my sister polished it off in quick order. 

Well, I guess that’s about it.  There’s only so much you can write about a day at sea. 

Goodbye for now!

Love,

thetwinsontour

#Bohrn2wander  seriously, why did we never think of this hashtag before?  It’s brilliant, eh? 

PS. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!  I am still not paying extra to include pictures in these blogs.  and I don’t remember how I inserted that hyperlink before.