December 2023 – RovingRaconteurs.com

HAL Grand Australia/New Zealand Cruise

December 24, 2023

YES, the time has come!!!

The New Year is rapidly approaching. The time has come for another exciting cruise. And this one is very different from the World Cruises we have enjoyed over the past years. This time, we are sailing out of San Diego, a charming and interesting city. Many of our family members have lived in the San Diego area over the past decades; and for that reason, we are very comfortable with Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, The Hotel Del Coronado, Old Town, the ZOO!!! We ALWAYS look forward to visiting San Diego!!! On this journey, we will see San Diego TWICE!!! First for the departure on January 3, 2024. And then, once again, on April 6, 2024, when the MS Volendam transforms from the Australia/New Zealand Grand Cruise into the SAN-FLL, 15-day transit of the Panama Canal.

The 94-day, January 3, 2024, Australia/New Zealand itinerary

Followed by the 15-day Panama Canal Transit to Ft. Lauderdale.

This will work out quite well. Delightfully, Holland America arranged for luggage-forwarding to the ship. Two duffel bags were picked-up on December 14^th. Our air tags inform us those bags are currently in a San Diego warehouse awaiting the ship’s arrival. We will be flying to Lindberg Field, on New Year’s Day, with 2 checked bags and a carry-on each.

Two duffels as they patiently awaited pick-up.

Of course, we must finish packing those 2 checked bags. The two San Diego overnights were quickly packed into the rollaboards. All we have left are the garment bags and 2 large suitcases.