Boston, July 31- August 2, 2017
We arrived in Boston by plane on the 31st just about the same time that Jay and Claire arrived via Amtrak. It was so nice to see them for the first time since last Christmas. They're quite patient with their elders with their crumbling knees. We spent a very busy Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday morning seeing this and that along the Freedom Trail plus the JFK Presidential Library and the Adams HIstorical Park. We did take the transit train out to Adams and then back into town but mostly relied on Uber with no problems at all. You'd have to be nuts to drive a car in Boston and then where to park when you get to wherever you're going?! An unexpected surprise on Wednesday morning when we went to the Bunker Hill monument. Jim and I took in the museum while the kids climbed the 294 steps up and 294 steps down of the tower. While up there they could see the USS Constitution being maneuvered by a tugboat. A local guy who runs up and down those stairs three times every morning told them this was the first time the ship had been floating since going into dry dock two years ago. We followed the brick path of the Freedom Trail (Whoever came up with that in Boston was brilliant!) down to the Charlestown Navy Yard on the waterfront in time to see a WWII destroyer being moved to one side of a permanent dock and then the Constitution to the other side. They'll both re-open to visitors in September. A fun fact, the Consitution (aka Old Ironsides) is the oldest continuously commissioned ship in the US Navy and is still manned by active Navy personnel. Now that would be interesting duty!
Wednesday afternoon they left to Amtrak back to Philly while Jim and I Ubered to the ship. The cruise terminal is being remodeled so it wasn't exactly a pretty spot. When the driver's GPS announced that "you have arrived at your destination" the three of us just looked around and said "huh?" But then we spotted an army of porters in neon vests ready to move luggage from car to trolley. I will never, ever understand why people choose to wrestle GIANT pieces of luggage on board by themselves. In San Francisco the Princess team wouldn't allow it. Geez people. You've spent thousands on a cruise. Ten bucks to the porter to schlep your stuff is a bargain. Although the Rotterdam wasn't sailing until 10 pm, passengers were allowed on after 11 am. We did learn that the early birds (don't want to miss lunch!) had to cool their heels while the health department did a surprise (I guess this is SOP which makes sense) inspection. No letter grades, just pass or fail so we were happy to learn that the Rotterdam passed with flying colors. An interesting note---absolutely no security to approach the dock.
The late departure makes the first day loosey-goosey. The mandatory passenger muster drill was at 4, but thanks to some delayed flights many passengers were boarding afterwards and rushing to make their 5:30 early dining. (Don't want to miss dinner!) I couldn't face changing into "Smart Casual" for the dining room so we decided to have a drink in the Crow's Nest, hit the Lido Buffet "as is," and then listen to the welcome spiel from the (very young) cruise director and (very experienced) location guide. It is the location guide's job to tell you that everything is "just a short walk" from the pier in every port. We've learned over the years that "an easy 15 minute walk" usually translates to a good mile-long trek over cobblestones, brick or gravel so we take everything he or she says with a big ole grain of salt. The Voyage of the Vikings only sails once a year on Holland America with just 1400 passengers. We signed up just because going to Iceland or Greenland in August sounded cool (temperature not hipness). Sort of like going to Antarctica because we'd see penguins. Jim and I are such simple souls.
Two thirds of the passengers are cruising veterans with four and five star mariner status. Besides free laundry and discounts on booze and lattes, this group is used to going to the front of the line for everything. Needless to say, ain't gonna happen which should make for some entertaining drama along the way.
About 5 pm as we were up in the Crow's Nest sipping our drinks and chatting with a fun couple from Philly the storm that had been threatening all day hit with a vengeance. We had a front row seat to the cloud to ground lightning and then the deluge. The rain was over by the time the ship started to leave the dock, backing up for a good mile or so before swinging around and heading out of the harbor. Logan Airport is also on the waterfront so as the ship maneuvered we were right at the end of the runway with a non-stop show of arriving and departing flights. Quite the send off.
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