Amsterdam to Miami Travel Notes
AUGUST 19, 2024 – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (Day 253)
Amsterdam greeted us with a mix of charm and grit as Gwen and I wandered through its interesting neighborhoods. The beauty of the historic canals and centuries-old buildings contrasted sharply with the occasional pockets of dirt and trash that reminded us no city is perfect. Strolling past shop windows filled with everything from Dutch cheese to quirky souvenirs, we soaked in the unique feel of this city. We took public buses to make our way to the dock for a canal tour.
Doug and Margaret had their own little adventure, darting through the streets to meet up with us at the boat. Their last-minute dash added a bit of drama, but thankfully, the captain waited for them to arrive. The tour was hosted by Captain Jack’s Canal Tours, though our guide’s real name was James. The boat, cozy and intimate, carried fewer than 20 passengers, creating a personal and relaxed atmosphere. There was wine and beer along with savory and sweet snacks to enjoy. James expertly guided us through the canals, sharing fascinating insights into the city’s history and architecture along with some personal anecdotes .
We learned that many of Amsterdam’s iconic buildings lean precariously, propped up like old friends holding each other up. Built on wooden pilings driven into marshy soil, the foundations have shifted over the centuries, giving the structures their signature tilt. While James’s historical tidbits were captivating, his commentary on American politics veered into uncomfortable territory. With several Americans onboard, including us, the remarks fell flat, and let’s just say, his tip jar saw fewer contributions that day.
After disembarking, we wandered through the famous flower market, where bursts of tulips and other blooms seemed at times to envelope us with every imaginable color.
From there, we hopped on a tram to Amsterdam’s central station. It was a hub that allowed us to catch a short ferry ride that whisked us across the IJ canal to a spot called The Lookout, where we ascended to a panoramic vantage point. The view was spectacular, with the city unfurling beneath us in a mosaic of rooftops, waterways, and bustling streets. We enjoyed the view for a short time but did not linger for a drink or snack. Since our wine and food are included on board, we tend to only eat or drink off ship if it really appeals to us, and this definitely didn’t.
Our return to the ship was perfectly timed to catch the evening sail down the canal. The calm waters reflected the setting sun, painting the scene in hues of orange and gold. As we neared the locks, the ship made an unexpected stop at a side dock for a medical evacuation, a reminder that life at sea carries its own set of surprises.
Dinner that night was a casual affair at the Windjammer buffet, where we recharged after the day’s explorations. Gwen and Margaret capped off the evening by attending “Duo Elegia,” an acrobatic show that brought a love story to life through dazzling stunts and artistry. They couldn’t stop raving about how excellent it was. Doug and I, however, decided to sit that one out, opting instead for some quiet time.
AUGUST 20, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 254)
A “relaxing” day at sea? Not quite! People often ask how we fill our time on the ship, so let me walk you through one of our jam-packed sea days.
The day started early, with Gwen and me up before 8:00 AM. Gwen dove into her Bible study while I grabbed some much-needed coffee. By 8:30, we were on deck for her “Walk Around the World” book stamp, which is part of a fun cruise tradition. If I haven’t already fetched coffee, she will sometimes stop by Latte-tudes and get coffee for me on her way back to our cabin.
At 8:45, Gwen headed to her “Sit to Be Fit” class—a morning stretch and exercise session—while I got ready for the day. By 9:15, we both had to be present to finalize paperwork for our Iceland visa. That didn’t take long, and by 9:30, Gwen moved on to her diamond art crafting session while I prepared to lead our Bible community group.
At 10:00 AM, our Bible Community group came together for a great discussion. It’s always uplifting to share faith and stories with fellow cruisers. Right after the group, Gwen dashed off to an Iceland enrichment talk at 11:00, where she soaked up fascinating information about our next destination. We regrouped at 11:45 in the Safari Lounge for choir practice, where Gwen and her alto group got did great from the extra practicing in our room.
Lunch rolled around at 1:15, though it was a quick bite for Gwen. She had a 1:45 photo group meeting for a Canada tour. Afterward, we met up back in our cabin for a little quiet time, which we used to work on our website—a satisfying project when we are both working on it together.
In the afternoon, I indulged in a couple of hours of play in the Vortex Lounge, enjoying the golf simulator. Nothing like hitting a few virtual fairways while at sea! It seemed like 7:00 PM snuck up on us. For dinner, Doug, Margaret, Gwen, and I sat with two other guests: Mark, a pilot from Atlanta, and Maxanaya, who introduced herself as a “frat mom.” The conversations went some very interesting ways and made it a memorable and interesting dinner.
As soon as the meal wrapped up, Gwen was off again at 8:00 PM, this time to a line dancing class she wouldn’t dream of missing. She barely had time to kick up her heels before heading to an 8:30 show featuring Pete Furman, a comedian-magician with plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Meanwhile, I wasn’t in the mood for magic, so I made my way to the casino and joined a Texas Hold’em game. Luck was on my side, and I ended the night ahead—a satisfying end to a whirlwind day.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned on this cruise, it’s that there’s always more to do than we have time for. Every day feels like a choose-your-own-adventure story, with so many interesting activities vying for our attention. This day was no exception, and it’s safe to say we made the most of it.
AUGUST 21, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 255)
Today was another enjoyable day at sea, though it ended with some rough waters. Gwen began her morning as usual, getting her books stamped and heading to “Sit to Be Fit.” Later in the morning, we attended a Q&A session with the captain in the theater. These sessions are always fascinating and often quite entertaining, as the captain shares insights and anecdotes about the ship and life at sea.
Afterward, we had choir practice before heading to lunch at the Windjammer. Today’s highlight was the Mongolian grill setup, a favorite of ours for its fresh and flavorful dishes.
The afternoon was spent working on the website, making good progress on organizing photos and updates. For dinner, we had reservations at Izumi at 5:30 with Doug, Margaret, Allie, and Andrew Kenney. I’m glad we booked an early seating because the seas turned very rough as the evening progressed. Izumi, located at the very back and top of the ship on the starboard side, was noticeably affected by the waves, rocking significantly during our meal. Andrew, unfortunately, struggled with motion sickness.
By the time we finished dinner, the crew had closed the outside decks for safety, and the waiters escorted us through the crew areas to reach the inner hallways. The rough seas were some of the worst we’d experienced, and the evening show was canceled as a result.
Despite the challenging conditions, we ended the night with a game of Euchre in the Centrum. It was a close series, with the guys taking three out of five games. Afterward, we all agreed that the best place to ride out the waves was in bed, so we called it a night, hoping for calmer seas ahead.
AUGUST 22, 2024 – REYKJAVIK, ICELAND (Day 256)
We started the day exploring. Our first stop was the Harpa Concert Hall, which had a very interesting design. We then walked to the Sun Voyager sculpture and continued into town, enjoying a lot of street art along the way. We stopped at Braud Bakery, famous for its amazing cinnamon rolls. We had heard about it from our daughter-in-law Jaime, who visited the bakery during a recent trip to Iceland. Thanks for the recommendation—it was worth it!
Next, we visited Hallgrímskirkja Church. Inside, someone was playing the organ, and it was nice to sit and listen to the music for a while. Gwen and Margaret went up into the tower to enjoy the views and see the bells ring. Afterwards, we walked down the streets of the town and came across an interesting café called Hresso. We tried a hot tomato soup that was absolutely delicious along with some appetizers. We intentionally left without an entrée as we had another stop planned. We just had to have the somewhat famous hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. We found the stand and ordered our hot dogs Icelandic style, topped with fried onion crumbles, raw white onion, mustard, ketchup, and remoulade.
Since this was an overnight stay, we decided to rent a car and head north out of the city to hopefully get a chance to see the Northern Lights and get some great waterfall photos. The rental car process was the most casual experience we’ve ever had. They didn’t check our IDs or paperwork—just asked for our name when we came in and walked us out to a car. They told us not to worry about dings or dents since the car already had plenty, and assured us they’d handle any issues. With Doug driving, we hit the road.
Our first destination was Thingvellir National Park, where we saw the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. We also explored geysers and visited the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall. By evening, we made it to our destination, Kirkjufell.
Finding the accommodations was another casual experience. When we walked in, there was just a note on the counter with our room keys. We wrapped up the day with a glass of wine in plastic cups, recounting our adventures. We remarked on how little wildlife we’d seen, apart from two mink chasing each other behind Doug in Reykjavík. While drinking our wine, we starting getting pings on our cellphones about the eruptions of a volcano near Reykjavík. People were able to see the some of the fire and smoke from the ship. Mark, our next door neighbor, organized a small group that rented a car and headed out to get better pictures. This was one of those moments that we were wondering if we made the right decision and there were no Northern Lights in our skies, but there was plenty of excitement back in town.
AUGUST 23, 2024 – REYKJAVIK, ICELAND (Day 257)
Waking up early in the crisp Icelandic morning, we set off to visit Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, one of the most picturesque spots in the country. Located near the iconic Grundarfjördur mountain, the waterfall created some great pictures with cascading waters and the Kirkjufell mountain in the background. It was impossible not to be awestruck by the way nature had sculpted such a perfect scene—a postcard-worthy memory etched into our minds.
The drive back to Reykjavik was equally mesmerizing, with the rugged Icelandic countryside. Our first stop along the way was Budir Church, often referred to as the Black Church. Perched on a windswept plain, its stark black exterior stood in bold contrast to the pale grasslands and distant mountains. It is simple but it is very interesting to have a black church with all the green background. It is a reminder of Iceland’s deep history and its enduring connection to nature.
Of course, we couldn’t leave Iceland without one more stop at Braud Bakery. The scent of freshly baked pastries greeted us as we walked through the door. We got more of their cinnamon rolls that were just as gooey and sweet as they were yesterday. Every bite was a little piece of heaven, and it was easy to see why this bakery had become a must-visit spot for travelers. It felt like a perfect way to bid farewell to Iceland—indulging in a treat that somehow captured the cozy charm of the country.
As we checked our phones we saw all the posts from fellow cruisers who had stayed closer to Reykjavik. They had managed to catch incredible views and pictures of the volcanic eruptions the night before, with lava glowing against the dark sky. While we couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy, we also felt immensely grateful for our decision to explore the countryside. The quiet roads, hidden gems, and breathtaking landscapes gave us a deeper sense of what Iceland is truly about. Sometimes, it’s not just about capturing the most dramatic photo but about soaking in the essence of a place.
That realization struck us again as we sat over drinks and reflected on our journey. On this world cruise, so many of our stops had focused on bustling port cities. While they were rich with culture and energy, venturing out into Iceland’s wilderness gave us an entirely different perspective. There’s something transformative about standing in the middle of untouched nature, where the wind carries only the sound of rushing water and the occasional birdcall. It’s moments like these that stay with you long after the photos fade. We left Iceland with full hearts, tons of memories, and a newfound appreciation for the stark beauty of the countryside—something we wouldn’t have known if we hadn’t struck out on our own to see more than city buildings.
AUGUST 24, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 258)
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AUGUST 25, 2024 – CRUISING PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND (Day 259)
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AUGUST 26, 2024 – QAQORTOQ, GREENLAND (Day 260)
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AUGUST 27, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 261)
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AUGUST 28, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 262)
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AUGUST 29, 2024 – ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND (Day 263)
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AUGUST 30, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 264)
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AUGUST 31, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 265)
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SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 – HALIFAX, NOVA SOTIA (Day 266)
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SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 267)
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SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 – NEW YORK, U.S.A (Day 268)
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SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 – NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Day 269)
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SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 270)
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 – ROYAL NAVAL DOCKYARD, BERMUDA (Day 271)
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SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 272)
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 273)
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SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 274)
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SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 – MIAMI, FLORIDA (Day 275)
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Brian K and Gwenda G Smith
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God has had His hand on us from the first date!
"If we were to write about the story of our life, we would have to mention Him on every page we'd write."
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