Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise: Day 1 – Embarkation
Viv & Jill’s Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise: Day 1 – Embarkation
12-Night Mediterranean Romance Cruise June 3-15, 2011
Day 1 – June 3: Embarkation in Venice, Italy
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam Mediterranean Romance Cruise – Embarkation in Venice, Italy
Venice is a magical destination at any time of year for any reason so embarking on our Nieuw Amsterdam cruise in the City of Bridges was idyllic. The previous day we had overnighted in the nearby small town of Quarto d’Altino where we could take a quick 20-minute train ride into Venice where we spent the afternoon exploring.
Venice, Italy
Embarkation day went very smoothly and at a leisurely pace as we had already learned the lay of the land and knew how to use the Venice People Mover (1 euro/ride) to get from an area near the train station over to the cruise pier. By 11:30 am we were in our cabin and starting our much anticipated cruise vacation. Travelling with only carry-on luggage had allowed us to quickly unpack and get settled into our comfortable and well-appointed inside cabin where we were immediately impressed by the premium quality linens, towels and amenities.
As we made our way to lunch at the Lido buffet on the Lido deck (where the pools and spa are located) we were continuously greeted by the happiest and most pleasant crew we have ever encountered. Although we are not usually thrilled by buffet dining, our first Lido dining experience on board Nieuw Amsterdam was delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality, selection and presentation of the buffet lunch items available.
After satiating our appetites we spent some time acquainting ourselves with the layout of the ship before deciding to head back into Venice on our own for some additional sightseeing, photographs and a visit to a local grocery store where we purchased a couple bottles of Italian wine and a bottle of Proseco (Italian sparkling wine) to enjoy in our cabin. Holland America Line allows passengers to bring wine and champagne on to the ship that is to be consumed in passenger cabins.
With the ship docked overnight in Venice and not scheduled to depart until the next afternoon, we were in no hurry with our sightseeing and had plenty of time to relax and enjoy. Deciding that we wanted to dine on board for the evening, we did make a reservation in the Italian restaurant, Canaletto for 7 pm, which allowed us plenty of time to relax with a pre-dinner cocktail in the Ocean Bar.
Aptly fitting its name and our port location that evening, Canaletto (named for the famous 18th century Venetian artist) is located in a corner of the Lido Restaurant and is available to passengers at no additional charge for evening dining. For our 3-course meal we started with antipasti of grilled vegetables, baby bocconcini, cold meats and olives and passed on the salad and soup option. Three main course choices were available and we were very pleased with our picks of chicken and veal parmigiana. For dessert I quickly and easily devoured the Trio of Tiramisu, while Jill chilled with the assorted gelato. As we waited for our cappuccino to arrive our attentive waiter brought us a plate piled high with cotton candy – now we totally felt like kids in a candy store.
The remainder of our evening was spent watching the entertainment in the Showroom at Sea followed by a stroll on deck to watch the twinkling lights of Venice before calling it a night.
Venice, Italy
Explore More of WJ’s Holland America Line Mediterranean Romance Cruise
Overview | Itinerary | Photos | Day 1: Venice, Italy | Day 2: Venice, Italy | Day 3: Dubrovnik, Croatia | Day 4: Corfu, Greece | Day 5: Argostoli, Greece | Day 6: Santorini, Greece | Day 7: Sea Day | Day 8: Catania, Italy | Day 9: Naples, Italy | Day 10: Rome, Italy | Day 11: Livorno, Italy | Day 12: Barcelona | Day 13: Barcelona Disembarkation |
Click here to visit the Holland America Line website.
