All We Want for Christmas Is:  To Finish Packing for The Next Cruise!!!

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 14th.  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.

Luggage still waiting to be packed!!!
Packing in progress!!!

Gotta go!!!

Luggage Calls!!!

See you, soon, in San Diego!!!

Meanwhile, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!

See you next year!!!

8 thoughts on “All We Want for Christmas Is:  To Finish Packing for The Next Cruise!!!”

  2. You are stuck with us again! We’ll be joining you for this one. Should be wonderful. See you very soon.
    Have a lovely holiday.
    Wendy and Steve

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  3. Wow! What a way to start the new year !!! Can we come along in one of your suitcases? Wonderful combo! Really looking forward to your posts for these cruises. The north, west and south areas of Australia will be new to us, so those will be informative as well as fun to read about. Have a WONDERFUL time. Many thanks for all your posts, the first ones I look for each day you are away! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you, Patricia
      There is so much to see and do in both Australia and New Zealand. But as a rule, cruise lines tend to, repeatedly, visit the same ports-of-call. We’re excited about this particular cruise because we will visit some smaller, not often visited places. We are looking forward to a nice overview of the two countries. Of course, a few wine tours and some restaurant-hopping is also planned!!!
      So much to see and do; so little time!!! Glad you’ll be following the adventure!!!

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