Dennis Cox, Author at AllThingsCruise

Cruising in the Far East with HAL

January 2, 2019 by Dennis Cox

by Dennis Cox ABOARD the WESTERDAM – Our arrival in Shanghai to board Holland America’s Westerdam was a bit unusual. It began early this morning on board Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas as we completed a short four night cruise over to Japan and back, returning to Shanghai’s Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal for a second time. The Westerdam just happened to be conveniently docked bumper-to-bumper in front of the Quantum. Nevertheless, clearing Chinese immigration in the …

Cruising in the Far East with RCI & HAL: Shanghaied Again

October 30, 2018November 1, 2018 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD QUANTUM of the SEAS — Early this morning the Quantum cruised into the mouth of China’s Yangtze River and then turned left on to the Huangpu River. After docking again at Shanghai’s Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal we had a late leisurely breakfast and waited to disembark after other passengers, as we can’t board the Westerdam until 11AM. The Westerdam just happens to be conveniently docked bumper-to-bumper in front of the Quantum. Nevertheless, clearing Chinese immigration in …

Cruising in the Far East with RCI: Home Bound for China

October 31, 2018 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD QUANTUM of the SEAS – We’re on our final sea day and I have a few loose ends to tie up in my coverage of the Quantum experience, such as ways to spend the final day of the cruise. Certainly there are numerous activities less strenuous than skydiving and rock climbing that I’ve failed to mention. Reading in the library, playing cards, and there is surely a game of mah-jongg going on somewhere. Jewelry and art …

Cruising in the Far East with RCI: Big Ship, Big Excitement

October 30, 2018 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD QUANTUM of the SEAS – Upon first seeing a megaship, I was a bit overwhelmed. Yes, they are huge, if that isn’t an understatement. In order to further describe megaships, cruise writers and bloggers have invented a few analogies that I’d like to explore aboard the Quantum of the Seas. The first analogy for the largest Oasis-class ships is that their split “open-atrium” structure is made possible by their hulls extraordinary width that is double most …

Cruising in the Far East with RCI & HAL: Doubling Our Fun

October 26, 2018 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD QUANTUM of the SEAS — I’m in Shanghai with my wife, Jialin, for a twofer, two cruises back-to-back with Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and Holland America Lines (HAL). I expect they will differ considerably. We arrived at Shanghai’s Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, this morning at 11 AM to board the Quantum of the Seas, the fifth largest of Royal Caribbean International’s innovative megaships and sixth largest cruise ship in the world, for a four day cruise …

Cruising with HAL: What’s new on the Zuiderdam

March 30, 2018 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD THE ZUIDERDAM A Caribbean voyage to the Panama Canal aboard the MS Zuiderdam is an opportunity to take a look at one of Holland America Line’s freshest refurbishings and renovations of one of their popular mid-size ships. While the Zuiderdam is a Vista class ship carrying up to 1,900 passengers and a crew of 900, it is similar in many respects to the 2,137 passenger Signature class MS Eurodam which I wrote about previously ( www.AllThingsCruise.com/ …

HAL in the Baltic: Return to Copenhagen

August 20, 2015August 21, 2015 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD THE EURODAM – Back at our home port. “To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen Salty old queen of the sea Once I sailed away But I’m home today Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen for me.” (Lyrics and music by Frank Loesser) In the 1952 internationally successful musical, Danny Kaye in his role as the famous Danish poet and fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen sings this ode to this wonderful 600-year old national capital of Denmark famed for its …

HAL in the Baltic: Never judge a restaurant on one meal

August 20, 2015 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD THE EURODAM – On our previous cruise aboard the Eurodam we had the pleasure of sampling two of the ship’s special additional-cost restaurants, the Canaletto and the Tamarind. On our first week during this sailing, we experienced a wonderful meal at The Pinnacle Grill. So during our last few days of this cruise, we are giving all three a second go-round. First up is the Canaletto charging an extra $10 per person. Canaletto A restaurant with …

HAL in the Baltic: Germany Excursions

August 19, 2015 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD THE EURODAM — There are two opportunities to visit Germany on this cruise, going east with a stop at the port of Kiel, and returning with a stopover at the seaside resort town of Warnemunde. From these ports there are excursions to some of the historical Hanseatic League cities including the old red-brick town of Rostock; Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city featuring an international maritime museum; Wismar, founded in 1229: and the Old Town of Lubeck, …

HAL in the Baltic: Four Ashore to Explore

August 18, 2015 by Dennis Cox

ABOARD THE EURODAM – When it comes to shore excursions, I like to mix them up. Some are best done on a tour, such as the extensive variety offered by HAL. Sometimes a Hop On-Hop Off bus seems to be an appropriate way to explore a new city. And there are some compact ports where walking is the best way to get the feel of the spirit of a place, or what the Romans called its “genius …