Voyage Of The Vikings
We leave home tomorrow to drive to Boston for a cruise on the MS Veendam to see the northern route to Europe. Here is the itinerary:
Before you ask, no we cannot pronounce all of these names, but hopefully by the time we get back we will be able to do so. Holland America calls this the “Voyage of the Vikings.” So is this just advertising or does this route fairly reflect the Vikings’ western explorations? (Of course the Vikings also went a lot of other places, including Russia, which is named after a Viking group called the Rus, and the Mediterranean.) It looks fairly representative of their western voyages to me, but judge for yourself:
Anyway, welcome aboard. We will be posting to this blog intermittently during the voyage, which lasts from July 12 to August 16, because the ship internet is sometimes buggy & there is only time to write blog posts on sea days & some of the sea days on this trip will involve scenic cruising that will preclude blog work. Last year it took months after our return before the blog of our Mediterranean trip was complete; this one will undoubtedly be unfinished when we return but I don’t think it will take as long to complete (at least I certainly hope not).
Immediately below this post is another called “About This Blog (Revised 2014).” It includes an explanation of how all the parts of the blog work, so you might find it helpful to read it through. In addition, at the very top of the blog (above the header with a new picture of us at Ephesus taken in April 2013), is a text button labeled “About.” If you press that button at any time while viewing this blog it will always take you to the “About This Blog” post with the instructions. The button next to it, labeled “Home,” will always take you back to the most recent post.
One more thing that some folks have missed: if you hover your mouse over a picture (ie. without clicking it) a caption will pop up. It will usually contain at least some identifying information, but may also contain some additional information, if we know any.
There probably won’t be anything more here until after we get underway next week. See you then!
BADER JOURNAL 
hope you have been watching Ragnar and “the Vikings” on the history channel the last couple of years, please avoid any offers to participate in a “blood eagle” ceremony!!!!!! best to you both!
July 9, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Thanks Diana. You don’t have to worry, I won’t be participating in anything with “blood” in the title!
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 3:22 PM, BADER JOURNAL wrote:
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July 9, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Have a Vonderful Time !!
July 9, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Thanks Mary Ann
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 4:08 PM, BADER JOURNAL wrote:
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July 9, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Sounds like a wonderful trip! I’m enjoying a week with your daughter! She is a sweetheart! Safe travels!
July 9, 2014 at 5:37 pm
I’m glad you are enjoying it. We hope to visit there later this year.
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 5:37 PM, BADER JOURNAL wrote:
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July 9, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Dear Rick & Mary,
Michael said he could pronounce “Boston”—–yuck, yuck, get the hook! We wish you a wonderful voyage. I will vicariously enjoy the cold you will experience by eating lots of ice cream!
Am looking forward to your blog, yes, I really am!
Be safe. Much love, Irene & your uncle
BADER JOURNAL wrote: > a:hover { color: red; } a { text-decoration: none; color: #0088cc; } a.primaryactionlink:link, a.primaryactionlink:visited { background-color: #2585B2; color: #fff; } a.primaryactionlink:hover, a.primaryactionlink:active { background-color: #11729E !important; color: #fff !important; } /* @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { .post { min-width: 700px !important; } } */ WordPress.com rbbader posted: “We leave home tomorrow to drive to Boston for a cruise on the MS Veendam to see the northern route to Europe. Here is the itinerary: Before you ask, no we cannot pronounce all of these names, but hopefully by the time we get back we will be able “
July 9, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Thanks Irene. Yes, I almost added a line like that (I can pronounce Corner Brook & Bar Harbor as well), but I decided that Michael would want to say that so I wouldn’t step on his line. Not really, but that’s my kind of sense of humor too, sad to say. We will be eating ice cream too!
On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 7:24 PM, BADER JOURNAL wrote:
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July 9, 2014 at 8:40 pm
I love your blog so much…you transport me to where you are!!! You guys have a great time, and will read about your adventures in weeks to come!!!
Love ya Joe & Janet
July 10, 2014 at 10:22 pm
If I’m not mistaken, I saw in your photos some young people in the pool . . . how exciting! Not everyone is a “senior citizen” on the Veendam??? That’s another difference between the Veendam and the Prinsendam. The ship looks beautiful, much newer than the Prinsendam. It sounds similar to the Maasdam, about which I’ve been reading because we’ll be taking it on the 50-Day Atlantic Adventurer in October 2015. Looking forward to reading about the ports you’ll be visiting! Ada
July 21, 2014 at 11:57 pm
Hi Ada. Yes, there are a number of kids on this cruise, probably because it is summer. There are plenty of older people on board (certainly a majority), but I would guess that the average is significantly younger than on Prinsendam’s long cruises. Veendam is newer than Prinsendam (all of HAL’s ships are), and we are enjoying the experience, but it would be easy to choose Prinsendam as the better ship to cruise on. About the only thing on which Veendam comes out on top is the Lanai cabins, which we like very much despite being a little small. Wait, there is also the hamburgers, which are worlds better on Veendam! I hope you have a good time on Maasdam.
Rick
July 24, 2014 at 5:23 am