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Inaugural Cruise on the Oosterdam On the 20th of September 2003 my husband, Ed, and I had the pleasure of sailing on Holland America’s ms Oosterdam, during her Inaugural Season. This was a 12-Day cruise sailing from London to Rome. We sailed from Harwich, which is approximately 2.5 hours from London. Since we had booked an independent hotel in London we also arranged a private minibus transfer from The Stafford Hotel. Whenever we visit London, The Stafford is our first choice. September 21, 2003 - Amsterdam was our first port of call…what an inviting city, all connected by canals. Bicycles are the most practical method of transportation for the locals. We chose a four-hour tour, which included an open-air cruise through the legendary canals. How delightful to see the city from the water! People are very friendly in this city and it’s a photographers dream for architecture, color and interesting subjects. Our tour also included a visit to the world famous Rijksmuseum, Home of Rembrandt’s masterpiece, The Night Watch and many other Dutch Masterpieces. We enjoyed this tour and would recommend it. September 22, 2003 - Our next port was in Zeebruge, Belgium and there were many interesting tours offered by Holland America. We pre-booked a tour to Bruge, which took approximately one-hour by motorcoach from the port. Tourism is the major industry in Bruge, so expect frequent shopping and photo opportunities. What a captivating port; Cobblestone streets; Horse drawn carriage rides; Sweetshops with tempting treats and friendly merchants selling lace, jewelry and local handcrafts. There was even time for an open-air boat ride through the canals. This was another great opportunity for taking photographs and getting a feel for the local people and how they live. Tourism is the major industry in Bruge. September 23, 2003 - Le Havre, France was next and although the distance from the port to Paris required an almost three-hour bus ride, this didn’t stop hundreds of our ship’s passengers from taking this tour. We pre-booked the all day tour to the Normandy Beaches. What an excellent tour! First, we visited the battlefield, bunkers and beaches. It was a cool, windy day, which I am told is typical for Normandy. This part of the tour was extremely thought provoking and emotional for most people. The cemetery was a breathtaking sight and the grounds were beautifully manicured. Gorgeous flowers and trees surrounded the white cross grave markers, which were lined up in alphabetical order with military precision; it’s quite a sight. The tour also included a luncheon with wine at the Normandy Beach Golf Club. After lunch we continued to the museum in the small town of Arromanches for a one-hour visit. This was an outstanding tour and well worth the money! September 24, 2003 – This was a full day at sea. September 25, 2003 – Our stop today was in La Coruña, Spain. We did not have a tour planned for today, because we visited this port in the past. We decided to stroll the main area; we took a few pictures, purchased a few souvenirs and enjoyed a cool drink in an outdoor café. September 26, 2003 - Lisbon was our next stop and my third visit in the past few years. We planned to have a different experience in this lovely city. Pre-planning before you leave home is key if you want to hire a quality private car with a driver. We hired a comfortable six-seat van with driver for our special day. Our first stop was the Summer Palace…what a magnificent property! We strolled through room by room in awe of the furniture, art and soft goods that were hundreds of years old. The grounds were radiant with flowers, mosaic walls, horses and breathtaking scenery. Our next stop for the day was in Sintra. This is a lovely little town that I highly recommend; it’s picture perfect and I know everyone will love it. To reach Sintra we drove up through the mountains on meticulously maintained curving roads; the various evergreens resembled an enchanted forest. The shops in Sintra were superior to other areas, if you wanted to purchase table linens, mosaics, leather, crystal or jewelry. The Café De Paris Restaurant was the ideal choice for eating lunch outdoors and soaking up the gorgeous atmosphere. After leaving Sintra, our driver suggested we visit Cascais; this was another spectacular area along the sea with stunning cobblestone streets and tiny, inviting restaurants. The weather in late September was in the mid 80’s and sunny. I enjoyed taking candid photos, strolling into shops and speaking with the local people. Trains are also a good mode of transportation and the highways all appear to be in excellent shape. September 27, 2003 - Cádiz, Spain was our next port and it had been ten years since we last visited. What a difference! On our first visit we were unimpressed with the port of Cádiz and took a cab ride (that was not air-conditioned) to Seville. Back then the heat was so oppressive that it was difficult to enjoy anything. This time we took a short walk from the dock to the main square. All the shops were open, so there were plenty of opportunities to purchase beautiful leather goods and souvenirs. September 28, 2003 – The Oosterdam arrived in Málaga before sun up with a ship of passengers anxious to experience the Costa del Sol. We chose a tour to Marbella and Puerto Banus to explore the most exclusive seaside resorts. Marbella has a lovely town square with upscale shops you will love. The shoe stores offered the latest styles in fine leather for men and women. New construction is going on everywhere for lovely condominiums and resorts. Puerto Banus was just 15 minutes away on our charter bus and was definitely a key spot for watching the rich and famous. The marina boasts more than 900 mega yachts. There was a variety of lovely open-air restaurants or sidewalk cafés, as well as plenty of fashionable boutiques, which were just a few steps away from the marina. The people were friendly and most of the younger people (under 40) spoke English. We were delighted with this cruise and all of the ports of call. Travel truly enriches our lives. Think about where you would like to visit next and we’ll help you make your travel dreams come true.
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