Our December 2019 cruise

I just realized that I forgot completely to post a few photos from our cruise in December.  I guess late is better than never, so here goes!

Our trip was booked a long time before I got my diagnosis that I would be passing away likely in the new year, so it was a nice break from our routine to give us time to process what was happening to us. We headed out to the Toronto airport in a stretch limo (nice touch, Lui, from All Seasons Transportation!).

We eventually headed to Fort Lauderdale after a 3 hr de-icing delay and were happy that we elected to go a day early. Once we boarded on the Saturday, we quickly got contact with a young man who came to our home almost a decade ago through the international air cadet exchange program. He is much older and we knew that he was a pilot in the Netherlands, but here he is as an officer cadet aboard our ship! It was great to catch up with him after so long.

Eric, Reuben, and Wendy on board the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam

Our first stop was Key West FL, and it was not particularly exciting. We wandered around and shopped for a while before heading back to the spa on the ship. Our room, by the way, in the middle left window showing at the top of the ship (in a dark strip with 6 windows going across). Gorgeous views and a huge cabin!

Key West

Key West

Key West

Our second stop was supposed to be Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but the ship was unable to dock because of high winds. Big ship, sideways into the wind, guaranteed to crash against the dock or the coral reef... good choice. We got an extra day at sea and a free drink of wine (yuck), but it was still relaxing.

Our next stop was Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. Great tour of the city of Puerto Plata and we got to drink fresh coconut milk out of a coconut at the main square in town.

Dominican Republic

We did a cancer fundraiser by walking 9 laps around the ship during the next sea day. A bit dull, but we got the t-shirt! Had more meaning this time...

While on board wanting a place to relax, we went one floor up from our cabin to the Explorers Lounge. Wendy liked doing puzzles, but they kept being put away even if she was not done! Eric could have a drink and read a book while she puzzled.

Our final stop was the Holland America private island called Half Moon Cay. Beach was minimal because of the tides and the crowds were all squished into a small area. We took a glass bottom boat tour that was dismal (no fish to be seen through the floor), then sat and had a drink under the clamshell tent we had rented. Lunch was served (just like on the ship, by the same staff) and we headed back for the ship to  relax some more.

Half Moon Cay

Here is our ship stationkeeping off the island. We took tender boats but the water was very rough because of the wind.

Half Moon Cay

Half Moon Cay

Our final evening on the ship seemed like a suitable time for a nice meal in the main dining room (we had been several times). We invited Reuben and he got permission to come, as long as he had his dress uniform on. Snazzy outfit! He had never been to the dining room in the almost 9 months that he had been on the ship. It was nice to have at our table the only ship's officer in the room!

Wendy, Reuben, and Eric

This picture shows our room (3rd window from the left in the black area - right above the spa and below the Explorers Lounge. Perfect spot to get where we wanted to go most of the time.

After we got off the cruise (late - had to be tugged in due to a thruster malfunction), we took a paddlewheel cruise to see where the rich people lived along the intercoastal waterway. Although several hours after we got off our ship, we went right by it again. I took a few photos and noticed one person on the front of the ship looking over. It had to be Reuben...?

Indeed it was! He was taking a picture of the paddlewheel going by and sent this picture via Facebook while I was taking a picture of him! If you look closely, I am wearing a blue shirt and am taking a photo of him.

Eric on the paddlewheel as taken by Reuben on the ship

This is the photo I took of Reuben.  The randomness of this interaction was very memorable!

Reuben on the ship as taken by Eric on the paddlewheel

We headed back to Toronto and got home late in the evening. It was a great trip and we had our chance to process some of the things going on in our lives. The next step was to learn a new identity (cancer patient) and to start treatment on the Monday morning. 

One thing we learned a few days later was that our ship never did go back out for the next cruise. 2,500 people waiting in line to get on the next cruise had to be sent home or accommodated on a different ship. Apparently, the engine/thruster problem that caused us to be tugged into Fort Lauderdale was more serious than expected, so they repaired the ship the very next week. The ship also later got put into dry dock in February for a more extensive repair.

So glad we went when we did.