Another change in plans...

I got this email this afternoon:

The Amsterdam and three other ships have been sold by Holland America Line.  So, my upcoming cruise has been cancelled.

The notice from HAL was to let those who were slated for future cruises that they had been cancelled with this financial move.  Also, it provided details on the two options available for refunds.

It's so sad to see the Amsterdam leave the HAL fleet.   It's the ship that I made my around the world voyage on in 2015.

These times are unprecedented for world travel, and it appears that HAL's days may be numbered, too.

That's me with the Amsterdam in the background.  This shot was made upon the arrival in Tonga (Tongatapu, Tonga) after a long voyage across the South Pacific in January 2015.

Japan turns away Carnival Corp.’s Westerdam cruise ship for fear of coronavirus

The Westerdam is the ship I was to travel to on February 15 (see article below).  I was originally scheduled to fly to Shanghai, but all flights were later changed to Yokohama, Japan.  I'm glad I cancelled!

"The Japanese government will not allow a cruise ship operated by Miami-based Carnival Corporation to visit the country as scheduled for fear of coronavirus contamination.

"The Holland America Line Westerdam ship was scheduled to visit several Japanese cities and pick up new passengers in Yokohama, outside Tokyo, on Feb. 15. The cruise originally departed from Hong Kong on Feb. 1."

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article240040568.html#storylink=cpy

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article240040568.html 

Update:  The February 15 cruise segment has been cancelled. I hope the HAL folks are able to find a port in which to disembark the guests on the Westerdam soon.  They've been sailing around since the Philippines wouldn't allow them to visit earlier this month.

China trip cancelled due to Coronavirus...

With the closing of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to tourists, I decided to cancel my trip to China.  I cancelled it on Friday, January 24.  It seems that this Friday (1/28), the travel folks have rerouted most trips to Japan.

Well, I now hope to do this trip in 2021!

Touring and Afternoon Tea in Quebec City

I spent the day doing a tour of Old Quebec which ended with a tea as the Chateau Frontenac.  It was a small group (9 which included the guide).  I had previously taken this walking tour, and I didn’t take many photos.  The streets were crowded, so I couldn’t get good shots of the various buildings and street scenes.  


Here are a few of the ones I did take prior to the afternoon tea.

I like this view.  You see the lower town, the Chateaux (upper left) and the funicular that takes you from lower to upper city.

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Every walking tour pauses at this mural on the side of a building.  It has many messages regarding Quebec and its people.

The last time I was here in 2015, Louis XIV wasn't in a snow globe.  This is a temporary art exhibit using the statue.

Street performers are everywhere.  These guys were really good singing in French!

The side view of the Chateau is not as impressive as the one taken from the cliffside. 

The view from the top.  It's a view of the St. Lawrence River which narrows at Quebec City.  Historically this was great:  (1) protection from enemy ships; and (2) tax collectors watched for fur and other traders to make sure each paid the required taxes.

The Earle Grey tea was delicious with the pastries.

Oh, no!  The vacation is almost over.  There's dinner tonight and then packing.  Tomorrow I disembark and then go to a hotel near the airport.  While I only had one flight to begin the tour, it takes three flights to get back home on Thursday (Quebec -Toronto - Atlanta - Columbia).

☹The dreaded activity of packing to return home:  I think I'll start this after dinner tonight.  It will, however, be good to get home!

Ville de Québec

It’s a beautiful day in Quebec City.  I was last here in 2015, and the ship docked in front of the Chateau Frontenac.  At this position you would see the towering hotel and the funicular providing an easy connection between the lower and upper city.  


I’ll get a better view later this afternoon.  I’m taking a walking tour of the upper city (the Old City) and participating in a tea at Chateau Frontenac.  

I took these photos this morning from the observation deck of the ship.

It looks like this Royal Caribbean Ship got the best spot to dock (and for viewing the Chateau Frontenac).

You can see the Chateau on the hill, but it's obstructed by the surrounding buildings.

Here's a better shot of the Chateau Frontenac from my 2015 blog on Quebec City.  I took this from the observation deck of the Maasdam. There was a beautiful view of the hotel from the deck of the ship.

A day in Saguenay, Quebec

Friendly.  Lots of smiles.  That’s what you notice when you visit Saguenay, Quebec.  The ship was met with historical reenactments and local musicians on the dock.  It was great. 


I took a walk into the town today, and the opportunity to learn more about the history of this area (I attended the “La Fabuleuse:  Histoire d’un Royaume”).  


It was a great day in this beautiful community.  Au revoir, Saguenay!

This is such a picturesque community in Canada.

Kids from the La Fabuleuse show were giving folks a preview.

Folks in period costumes were here to welcome us to Saguenay, Quebec

The kids must have gotten a day off of school today to perform for the cruisers.

The native people named this area, and French explorers adapted the names for settlement.  

These guys were really good, and they serenaded folks as they entered the visitor's center.

Saguenay has a long history.  It's also sad:  While folks were watching the Atlantic Olympics in 1996, the city was destroyed by flooding waters.

There were neat little shops in the city.  This was outside a shop that sold only hand made soaps.

A sea plane was landing as I walked along the river.

Here's the Zuiderdam.  Today we got to dock.  The Oceania ship had to tender.

The historical reenactment included lasers, holograms, explosions, and lots of animals (horses, pigs, ducks, etc).  The most shocking was the dropping of paratroopers (representing the era of WWII) from the ceiling. 

Saguenay had paper production as its largest industry, but tourism has become more important when the mills closed.

Here's the Visitor's Center.  You'll not the helicopter I took for a ride (see my other blog entry on Saguenay).

We could dock at PEI.  This ship was the one who was able to dock.  We missed the port of call because it was dangerous to tender on Saturday.

Folks hike up to the cross during a stay in Saguenay.

Here's a shot using my great lens on my camera.  It can be seen in the helicopter photos that I took in the other blog entry,

Saguenay, Quebec: A View from the Sky

Saguenay, Quebec, is beautiful, and I decided I had to see the area from the sky.  There were two options:  sea plane or helicopter.  I chose to view the area from the helicopter.  

Here are a few of my photos taken from my time over Saguenay:

All of those "shacks" are for ice fishing.  When the lake freezes, these are moved to a spot for the fisherman who owns the shack.