Tag Archives: photography

February 26, 2018 · 5:35 am

54 Days at Sea — April 3, Reaching Funchal, Madeira


Funchal, Madeira (Portuguese island)

We left St. Barts on March 27, traversed the Atlantic Ocean, and arrived a week later at the Portuguese island of Madeira, port of Funchal, some 550 miles/885 kilometers southwest of Portugal. That’s about 3,000 miles/4,800 kilometers east northeast of St. Barts. Our approach was in the early morning hours, and Funchal was still enshrouded in darkness.

Early Morning in Funchal

Ursula had us set up for a group tour, so we spent our day touring the sights. Along the way we saw some spectacular cliffs:

Madeira cliffs

Our tour guide:

Madeira20

Our Madeira tour guide

One of our stops was the Madeira Botanical Garden. Here you’ll find perfectly preserved examples of traditional Madeira houses.

Traditional houses at the Madeira Botanical Gardens

Madeira Window

Of course, we simply had to hit a local grocery store. Those are a must for both Ursula and me.

Madeira grocery store

Our tour also included a nice lunch at a very charming restaurant:

Madeira tour lunch

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February 23, 2018 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — 54 Days at Sea, MS Prinsendam


MS Prinsendam Flying Bridge — Captain Halle Thon Gundersen

MS Prinsendam is one of the very few cruise ships still in operation with an open-air “Flying Bridge“. Most ships have gone instead to an enclosed Bridge Wing, which is an extension on either side of the  navigation bridge. Pictured above, standing on the right, is Captain Halle Thon Gundersen. Captain Gundersen served as the master of MS Prinsendam from the very first day she set sail as Royal Viking Sun in 1988. That means Captain Gundersen stayed with his ship through several company transitions, name changes, and retrofits. He finally retired in late 2012 or early 2013.

Bagus — The Guy who Rings the Nightly Dinner Bell

Two months at sea is a great way to make a lot of friends, and I don’t mean just fellow passengers. When you interact on a daily basis with the crew, they also become friends.

Dining Stewards Hamming It Up

Here is today’s photo gallery/slide show of MS Prinsendam favorites from this 54-day adventure:

Our dining companions Marilyn and her mother with Bagus
MS Prinsendam Atrium
Dining Companion Wendy
MS Prinsendam Promenade Deck at Night
Having Fun with Ursula

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February 21, 2018 · 5:35 am

54 Days at Sea — Continuing the at-sea tour of MS Prinsendam


Showroom at Sea panorama

Being such a small ship, the main theater is equally tiny by today’s mega-ship standards. But that lends this venue an air of intimacy and fun not found on most ships.

Showroom at Sea

MS Prinsendam to being the smallest ship, she’s also the oldest ship in Holland America’s fleet, and probably one of the oldest ships of any major cruise line. That doesn’t detract from either her charm or her ability for passengers to find something to do. Here, again, is the Explorations Café library and internet area:

Explorations Café library and internet

If you feel like going upscale from the already very good main dining room, you can always pay extra and enjoy the Pinnacle Grill:

Pinnacle Grill for higher-end dining

What cruise ship would be complete without an area to sun oneself?

MS Prinsendam Lido pool and whirlpool, and Lido Bar

Shopping is even available aboard this tiny ship:

Jewelry store in the Shopping Arcade

This last image is the Atrium, Deck 8, looking across to the Guest Services desk:

Main Atrium

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