Day 6 - Monday, January 3, At Sea

by Joe Koshuta, TravelPage.com

January 3, 2000 - On board m/s Volendam:

Today we are at sea. We left Cozumel at 11:00 PM last night and are heading for Key West, Florida. Today was just a perfect sea day. Weather is in the high 70s and it is sunny. I slept late and then spent most of the day by the pool. This afternoon, we took a bridge tour and I'm sorry to report that the bridge of the Volendam is just like most of the other new cruise ship - very much computer controlled with little resemblance to the teak, wood and brass navigation bridges of old. It's mostly green metal and lots of knobs and switches. The steering wheel is more like that of an airplane than a ship.

Tonight is the last of the three formal nights on this cruise - one more than normal due to New Years - and the HAL Mariners Society meeting where HAL alumni get together and recieve awards for passing cruising milestones. Well since not a lot happened today, I decided to treat you to a photo tour of the ship. I hope you enjoy them.

Lido Pool with Dolphin Sculpture

Bow of the Volendam taken from the Navigation Bridge

Window in the floor of the Navigation Bridge looking down at the passing sea

Forward stairway, the walls are decorated with pictures of former HAL ships

Veendam I painting by Stephen Card, from forward stairway

Veendam II painting by Stephen Card, from forward stairway

Java Cafe where you get a wide variety of coffees throughout the day - no charge

A sample of the extensive collection of art onboard - from the aft stairway

King's Room private dining area off of the Rotterdam dining room.

Rotterdam dining room showing balcony where music is played during dinner and long staircases for dramatic entrances on formal nights

View out to sea from the Lower Promenade deck - where I'm sitting as I type

Check back later for updates or click here to learn more about Holland America's Fleet.

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