have nearly all been sold. If you are even thinking
about joining us, please make a reservation now to
hold a stateroom. The deposit is fully refundable for
cancellations made before 4/5/05. If you wish to make
a reservation, email me and request a "booking form".
All activities during the Libertarian Cruises are
optional. The trip is for rest and relaxation - with extra
opportunities for having fun with fellow Libertarians, their
families and friends. Singles are always among our group and
many times children join us. All have enjoyed their Cruise.
With this update I'll begin two regular features;
"frequently asked questions" and "a day on the MS Westerdam" (an
abbreviated log of our days on the ship).
Question 1. Will I feel out of place if I go as a single? Not a
bit! We have had a variety of single passengers on each of our
prior Libertarian Cruises and they have, to my observation,
enjoyed the trip as much as everyone else. Some singles choose
to share a stateroom with another. Some prefer to enjoy having
a stateroom all to themselves. (Many staterooms are available as
a single for 150 % of the "per person double occupancy fare".)
If you are considering joining us as a single, let me know and I'll
send more details.
Question 2. What travel documents do I need to travel with the
MS Westerdam? A valid passport is required. It is best to renew
any passport (before the trip) which will expire within a month
of your planned return. (Renewal can take six weeks, so check your
passport's expiration date now.)
Question 3. Will I get sea sick? Although this is a very individual
problem, it is remarkably rare on a ship this size. Unless you get
motion sickness riding in the front seat of an automobile, you will
do fine on a Cruise on this size ship. Of my 122 days at sea, only
one day was rough enough to lead me to take an anti-nausea pill.
With that, I had no problem. I enjoy cruising without a worry,
even though I consider myself quite sensitive to motion. (I HAVE
become ill after small boat fishing, riding in the back of a van, or
when reading in a car, so don't join me for those activities.)
Don't wait for me to answer your question in this feature. Send
me an e-mail with your question. I'll send you a personal response
and it will help me address other's similar questions in this forum.
DAY ONE ON THE MS WESTERDAM
If you fly into the Copenhagen airport on the Fly Cruise
Plan a Holland America Employee will greet you at your gate and
direct you to a waiting bus. Your checked luggage will be handled
for you and will appear at your cabin this evening. For those
making their own flight arrangements, just grab a cab when you
arrive.
As you arrive at the pier, the size of the many cruise
ships becomes apparent. Several HUGE ships are in line at their
companies' terminals. There is electricity in the air as you
step up to present your boarding documents to the Holland America
personnel at the boarding desk, traverse the gangway and board
the MS WESTERDAM.
As you enter the ship, you find yourself five floors up
on the Promenade Deck with an open atrium. It reminds me of the
lobby of a Hyatt Regency Hotel. A white gloved attendant welcomes
you aboard and directs you to your cabin. Once there, you'll find
it spotless and ready to explore. The steward for your room will
stop by to introduce himself. He will become a good friend during
the next ten days, working very hard to please you.
After "muster" (a lifeboat drill) you'll join most passengers on
the sports deck to enjoy a "sail away" party and watch the ships and
port as you cast off and head out to begin your vacation. Then it's
time to meet and greet your fellow cruisers at our group's private
cocktail party. An open bar, hot and cold Canapés and friendly
libertarians make this a great beginning for our vacation. Then on
to the dinning room for the first of many gourmet meals. You'll meet
your server and his assistant when you get to your table. They'll
pamper you at every meal and leave you wondering how they do this
12 hours a day, seven days a week and still remain so cheerful.
Dinners become a get-together for you and your friends to
share the day's events after everyone "does their own thing" each day.
If you've requested a table for two, each evening becomes a private
renewal of the relationship you've come aboard to celebrate. Most
in our group usually share several large tables (near each other) at
the late seating and enjoy "open seating" among our group's tables.
Each night after dinner you'll be able to enjoy a stage show, the
casino, the midnight buffet, late night dancing and more!
That's it for this month. The next update will include DAY
TWO ON THE MS WESTERDAM. Please plan to join us.
Cheers!
Ken
P.S. If you have any friends or family who might enjoy receiving
these "Cruise Updates", please have them email me with their preferred
email address.
Back to "Info" page