Cruise Ship: ms Prinsendam
Cruise Destination: Mediterranean Cruise from Lisbon, Portugal to Athens, Greece (13 nights)
By: Doug Eads, Travelworld International
Vintage Elegance Alive! ms Prinsendam
It was a mild fall blue-sky afternoon as Captain Halle Gundersen stood atop the control deck guiding Holland America’s ms Prinsendam, an elegant explorer, down the Tagus River away from Lisbon, Portugal toward the vast Atlantic waters.
"I knew from childhood that I wanted a life at sea." says the sophisticated Nordic ship captain with pride. The personable captain was readily seen about the ship mingling with passengers, and always opened his P.A. announcements with a down-home "Good day, it’s me again!" or simply "Hi … it’s me!" and this would add a warmth and friendship to the demeanor of our days ahead at sea.
As I stood on a forward ship deck with a warm fresh breeze in my face, I was again facing new discoveries to lands I had never before visited … how wonderful! Holland America’s ms Prinsendam glided with sophistication under the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge, one of the longest on earth, and to our port side was Holland America’s sister-company ship, Cunard’s QE 2 also departing Lisbon this was a spell-binding moment in life’s adventures.
My emotions raced, and I imagined what thoughts may have gone through the minds of early Portuguese explorers, like João Fernandes, as they plied waters to unknown worlds for the first time … I too felt that mysterious sense of impending exploits … this would simply be the wonder of a lifetime!
Our Itinerary:Focusing just on the itinerary would not be completely reader appropriate in telling you about this classic ship, ms Prinsendam, for as an elegant explorer she does just that … she moves onward exploring. In fact on January 13th she will begin her 113 day around-the-world adventure from Ft. Lauderdale. But don’t be completely bewildered by this concept, as you may be able to book merely segments of this grand exploration.
Our elegant explorer itinerary sailed from Lisbon, Portugal continuing 3000 miles for 13 nights to Athens, Greece. We arrived a day early to Lisbon, which is imperative in today’s changed air markets, and we used this time to re-coup from jet lag and explore this enchanting city. From Lisbon we went to the U.K. member Gibraltar which is quite close to Africa. We took in Gibraltar’s heights, and those feisty Barbary apes.
Mahon of the Spanish Minorca islands came next, then Italy’s Sardinia, followed by Civitavecchia the port in Italy used for access to romantic Rome, and the Vatican State. We docked two days and explored Rome and the Vatican extensively. The next day we ventured on our own via train to Tarquinia, Italy to see the ancient Etruscan burial ruins that pre-date Rome by hundreds of years … they were quite exquisite and well preserved a grand adventure was unfolding!
From Civitavecchia we had a day at sea to photo the Stromboli volcano spewing steam and debris down along its populated coastal areas, and then on through the Straights of Messina, that narrow gap between Italy’s mainland and Sicily … remember Homer’s Odyssey where perhaps the sirens enticed passing sailors?
Next the lovely Greek islands like Santorini and Kefalonia plus stops for the original Olympia where the games began in 776 B.C., and even for the 2004 games the flame was still lit here for its journey round the world to light the current modern games where ever the location. This year as you know the flame returned to Athens, Greece.
A highlight of this ancient wondrous voyage was our day in Turkey. We made port at the city of Kusadasi. This city is your gateway to the ruins of Ephesus, even more amazing than the Rome’s ancient Forum. Here you will walk the marble streets of Alexander, Caesar, Cleopatra, the Apostle Paul and St. John. Nearby you will visit the last known home of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the burial spot of St. John who was beckoned by Jesus to care for Mary -- an inspiring day was in store for visitors.
The port of Kusadasi is home to several ancient boulevards hosting Turkish-style bazaars where everything can be bought; from hand-woven rugs, to fine jewelry to knock-off purses and watches. Bring your cash, your haggling nerves of steel, and just relax and have fun nothing in your life will have prepared you for a Turkish market we loved it!
No matter how much you bargain -- you won’t win. The Turks pride themselves on being masters of the ‘deal’ and it is just part of the culture. To not bargain is almost no fun at all for them and an insult to the game that is afoot and less fun for you. But, they will win -- it is only a matter of degrees for you! It is no matter though, the deal-making is recreational and prices are very low.
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