- Circle Iceland: 24 days on Nieuw Statendam (Post #1)
- Lobster Rolls in Boston (Post #2)
- Black Falcon Check-in and SailAway (Post #3)
- Tuxedo Junction in the North Atlantic (Post #4)
- The Big Fiddle – Sydney Nova Scotia (Post #5)
- Captain Cook in Corner Brook (Post #6)
- Red Bay, Newfoundland (Post #7)
- Lounging in the Labrador Sea (Post #8)
- Qaqortoq, Greenland (Post #9)
- Sailing Prince Christian Sound (Post #10)
- Sailing the Denmark Strait (Post #11)
- Dynjandi & The Westfjords – Isafjordur (Post #12)
- Myvatn, Godafoss & Nature Baths – Akureyri (Post #13)
- Puffins and Elves -Seydisfjordur (Post #14)
- The Eggs of Merry Bay – Djupivogur (Post #15)
- Fiber, Falls, Steam and a $55 Hot Dog? Reykjavik (Post #16)
- Grundarfjörður canceled but Pinnacle Gala is a hit (Post #17)
- The Blend at Sea (Post #18)
- The Outdoor Museum in Nanortalik (Post #19)
- Sailing the Labrador Sea Westbound (Post #20)
- The Lighthouse in St. Anthony (Post #21)
- Puffins, Whales & Hockey? – St. John’s (Post #22)
- France in the North Atlantic – St. Pierre (Post #23)
- The Invasion of the Towel Animals (Post #24)
- Red Chairs in Halifax (Post #25)
- The Mountain and The Mansion – Bar Harbor (Post #26)
- Back in Boston – JFK Library (Post #27)
Back in Boston after 24 days on the Nieuw Statendam
We arrived in Boston around 7 AM, and would be the first of three cruise ships in port today. Later we would be joined by the Zaandam and the Enchantment of the Seas. Â
For reasons which were never explained, the ship wasn’t cleared until 8:30 AM. This resulted in massive lines as people were jockeying for the best spots to get off the ship as soon as possible. The original gangway was on Deck 2, but then they added an additional gangway on Deck 1, which made everything move faster. Â
Many people were frustrated by the fact that the 7:30 AM scheduled disembarkation time came and went. For me, I never schedule a pick-up sooner than 9 AM, and that way I am not frustrated by the delays that will often pop up when getting off the ship.
Our flight to San Diego wasn’t until 5 PM so we had some time to explore Boston, but the challenge is what to do with our luggage in the interim. We decided to charter an SUV from Malden Car Service for the four of us for 5 hours from 9 AM until 2 PM. This cost around $600 which is about the same price as the HAL airport transfer and tour, but was longer and with more flexibility. Â
We got off the ship at 8:45 AM and found our bags within a few minutes. A porter was nearby who helped us move our bags to the street just as our driver was pulling up at 9 AM. Â
We planned to spend a few hours at the JFK Presidential Library until about 1:30 PM, when we would head to the airport arriving around 2 PM. Since the library didn’t open until 10 AM, our driver gave us a windshield tour of some Boston highlights until the museum opened. Â
We spent about 2 hours and 45 minutes touring the museum, and we were able to see everything at a leisurely pace. If you enjoy these types of museums, you will definitely find the JFK library a worthwhile use of your time. Â
Once at Boston Logan, we settled into the Delta Sky club for a couple of hours until our non-stop flight to San Diego departed on time at 5:30 PM. Â
We were back home at 9 PM and that wrapped up another wonderful Holland America Cruise! Â
Thanks for this enlightening blog. It is very useful in our planning for the Voyage of the Vikings this year.
Thanks – glad you are finding it helpful