January 3 - 6, 2024

Bon Voyage!

To any of those who choose to follow me we are off on an amazing journey!

Jim and I are on the Holland America Zuiderdam headed off on a world cruise.  Our first attempt to circle the world in 2020 was not successful.  We hope for better luck this time. 

This process getting ready for this cruise has been stressful.  Because of El Nino, there has been a circle of drought around the Caribbean Sea.  The Amazon and the Panama Canal were at all times low. (This was also true for Naples, 24 inches low in October.)  The low levels of water made it questionable as to whether or not our itinerary would work. And, of course our ports in Israel have all been canceled and our passage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal seem a bit questionable.  We all refer to it as the mystery cruise.

And then there were the visas!  First, we spent many hours completing an online application for a Chinese visa so we would then be allowed to make an in-person appointment. In October, we made three trips to the Chinese embassy in DC to continue the application process.  After a combination of eight hours of sitting on hard plastic chairs and moving in a serpentine system, reminiscent of musical chairs, we finally got them!

In November we applied for our Indian visas.  This was online - should be a piece of cake, right?  No, the technical requirements, (data sizes) confused me.  But online research got me through.  Success - we have India visas.

Ah, but then there was Brazil.  Cruel, heartless, complicated, loss of sleep Brazil.  They had announced in early 2023 anyone arriving on January 10, 2024 or later would need a visa.  Our ship was arriving on January 11, 2024.  But how do we get a visa, we asked all year long?  In the first week of December, Brazil announces the process. I am immediately online determining the requirements. I am also on my world cruise blog reading comments of the other passengers trying to get visas.  It is a new computer system so guess what is happening  - crashes, glitches, failures.  Reports coming in - system won't take valid credit cards, it wipes out all entered data once it rejects your valid credit card.  Requirements are unclear - we need to submit pictures with passport like requirements, bank statements showing over $2,000 balance, passport page, and airline ticket.  We don't have an airline ticket so we get word to submit a cruise ticket with itinerary.  Rejections come flying fast and furious. Picture doesn't show enough ear,  bank statement not recent enough, items are wrong mb size or wrong format - jpeg instead of pdf. I ask computer savvy friends for help.  Still not right.  I buy computer apps to help resize.  I am not optimistic I can meet all these requirements so on December 10 I submit all my paperwork to CIBT - the visa agency HAL recommended,  I pay $400+ dollars.  On December 12, HAL recommended a different processing agency.  When your items are rejected, you are given a 12 hour window to correct or you need to pay again.  I am checking online constantly, to fix anything that is rejected.  CIBT tells me to reupload the bank, statement and cruise itinerary but gives me no way to do it.  Hours on phone, emails, finally they fix the problem.

HAL is telling all passengers that without a valid Brazil visa we can't board the ship because Brazil will not let the ship into their waters unless everyone has a visa.  Anger and panic ensues.  At this point about 80%+ do not have visas so I am convinced a solution will need to be found. On December 16, it is announced that we will sail a different itinerary if the problem is not solved  - relief.  On December 28?, it is announced that HAL has good news.  We will all be allowed on board without a visa, the ship will go to Brazil and those without visas will stay on board at all Brazilian ports.  Far from a perfect solution for me but what will be will be.  We board January 3!!!  I check multiple times every day - I have no visa yet.

On January 5, great news!  Brazil has postponed the visa requirements until April 10!

So, we boarded on January 3 and enjoyed sea days on Jan 4, 5 and 6.  We used this time to unpack, get settled, learn our way around the ship and solve internet problems. 

Texting is still not resolved. T-mobile tells us we are all set-up to text and the system is great.  We tell them texting does not work and they tell us we are set-up correctly.  Maybe in Brazil?

    

                                                Driving to the port.

                                        Unpacking.

    

                                    Jim created 2 hanging sections in the connecting door opening.  He is the best!

                    

                                          First sunset at sea.

                                

                                        Reunited with Arlene and Karen.

    

                                                Camila Andrade, Brazilian jazz singer.

    

                                                Chris Ritchie, a singing impersonator.

                    

                                                    Classical music option every night.

                                        Ravens/Steelers in the gallery bar.

                                         We meet Doug and Elizabeth - 

                    "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!"