- How Much Does it Cost to Go on a World Cruise? Part 3 – Onboard Spending and Calculator
- Holland America SELLS OUT 2017 World Cruise Inside Cabins – Segments still avail for less the $5,000 per cabin!
- How much does it cost to go on a world cruise? Part 2 – Pre and Post Cruise Expenses
- Amazing end of cruise video!
- How much does it cost to go on a world cruise? Part 1
- PACKING FOR A WORLD CRUISE
- That’s Entertainment!
- Opening the Package! What is inside?
- Day 132, San Diego, California
- Day 131, Sailing toward San Diego, California
- Day 130, Sailing toward San Diego, California
- Day 129, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Day 128, Sailing toward Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Day 127, Huatulco, Mexico
- Subscribe to this blog! – Check box at bottom of this page
- Day 126, Puerto Chiapas, Mexico
- Day 125, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
- Day 124, Corinto, Nicaragua
- Day 123, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Day 122, Sailing toward Puntarenas, Costa Rica
- Day 121, Transiting the Panama Canal
- Day 120, Cartagena, Colombia
- Day 119, Sailing towards Cartagena
- Day 118, Sailing towards Cartagena
- Day 117, Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
- Day 116, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Day 115, April 29, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 114, April 28, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 113, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 112, April 26, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 111, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 110, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 109, Sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
- Day 108, Funchal, Portugal
- Day 107, Sailing toward Funchal, Portugal
- Day 106, Cadiz, Spain
- Day 105, Sailing toward Cadiz
- Day 104, Barcelona, Spain
- Day 103, Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Day 102, Livorno, Italy
- Menus and On Locations updated…more posts coming soon
- Day 101, Civitavecchia, Italy
- Day 100, Sailing toward Civitavecchia, Italy
- Day 99, Katakolon, Greece
- Day 98, Piraeus (Athens,) Greece
- Day 97, Sailing toward Piraeus, Greece
- Day 96, Ashdod, Israel
- Day 95, Haifa, Israel
- Day 94, Transiting the Suez Canal
- Day 93, Sailing toward the Suez Canal
- Day 92, Al’Aqabah, Jordan
- Day 91, Sailing toward Al’Aqabah, Jordan
- Day 90, Sailing toward Al’Aqabah, Jordan
- Day 89, Sailing toward Al’Aqabah, Jordan
- Day 88, Sailing toward Al’Aqabah, Jordan
- Day 87, Salalah, Oman
- Day 86, Sailing toward Salalah, Oman
- Day 85, Muscat, Oman
- Day 84, Sailing toward Muscat
- Day 83, Dubai, UAE
- Day 82, Dubai, UAE
- Day 81, New Delhi to Dubai
- Day 80, New Delhi, India (Ship sailing toward Dubai)
- Day 79, Agra, India (Ship sailing toward Dubai)
- Day 78, Agra, India (Ship sailing toward Dubai)
- Day 77, Colombo, Sri Lanka to New Delhi, India
- Day 76, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Day 75, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
- Day 74, Sailing toward Hambantota, Sri Lanka
- Day 73, Sailing toward Hambantota, Sri Lanka
- Day 72, Phuket, Thailand
- Day 71, Sailing toward Phuket, Thailand
- Day 70, Singapore
- Day 69, Singapore
- Day 68, Singapore
- Day 67, Sailing toward Singapore
- Day 66; Siem Reap to Sihanoukville – while Amsterdam is moored at Sihanoukville
- Day 65, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Ms Amsterdam sailing toward Sihanoukville
- Day 64. Phu My, Vietnam
- Day 63, Sailing toward Phu My, Vietnam
- Day 62, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- Day 61, Da Nang, Vietnam
- Day 60, Sailing toward Da Nang
- Day 59, Hong Kong
- Day 58, Hong Kong
- Day 57, Hong Kong
- Day 56, Sailing toward Hong Kong
- Day 55, Sailing toward Hong Kong
- Day 54, Sailing toward Hong Kong
- Day 53, Sailing toward Hong Kong
- Day 52, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Day 51, Semarang, Java, Indonesia
- Day 50, Sailing towards Semarang, Indonesia
- Day 49, Benoa, Bali, Indonesia
- Day 48, Sailing toward Benoa, Indonesia
- Day 47, Sailing toward Benoa, Indonesia
- Day 46, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Day 45, Sailing towards Darwin, Australia
- Day 44, Sailing towards Darwin, Australia
- Day 43, Sailing towards Darwin, Australia
- Day 42, Cairns, Australia
- Day 41, Townsville, Australia
- Day 40, Sailing towards Townsville
- Day 39, Sailing towards Townsville
- Day 38, Sailing towards Townsville
- Day 37, Sydney, Australia
- Day 36, Sydney, Australia
- Day 35, Sailing toward Sydney Australia
- Day 34, Melbourne, Australia
- Day 33, Sailing toward Melbourne
- Day 32, Sailing toward Melbourne
- Day 31, Sailing toward Melbourne, Australia
- Day 30, Picton New Zealand
- Day 29, Sailing toward Picton, New Zealand
- Day 28, Auckland, New Zealand
- Day 27, Waitangi (Bay of Islands) New Zealand
- Day 26, Sailing towards Waitangi
- Day 25, Sailing towards Waitangi
- Day 24, Sailing towards Waitangi
- Day 23, Sailing toward Waitangi, New Zealand
- Day 22, Avatiu, Rarotonga
- Day 21, Sailing toward Avatiu, Rarotonga
- Day 20, Moorea, French Polynesia
- Day 19, Papeete, Tahiti and taking the ferry to Mo’orea
- Day 18 – Avatoru, Rangiroa
- Day 17, Sailing toward Avatoru
- Day 16, Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia
- Day 15, Sailing toward Nuku Hiva
- Day 14, Sailing towards Nuku Hiva
- Day 13, Sailing towards Nuku Hiva
- Day 12 – Sailing towards Nuku Hiva
- Day 11 – Sailing towards Nuku Hiva
- Day 10, At Sea – Enroute Nuku Hiva
- Day 9 – At Sea enroute to Nuku Hiva
- Day 8 – At Sea enroute to Nuku Hiva
- Day 7 – Fuerte Amador, Panama
- Day 6- Cruising the Panama Canal
- Day 5 – Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
- Day 4 – At Sea Enroute to Costa Rica
- Day 3 – Cruising the Carribean
- Day 2 – At Sea – Enroute Costa Rica
- Day 1- The Grand Voyage Begins! 115 Days
- Day D-1 Arriving in Fort Lauderdale
- Day D-2 Leaving Imperial Beach, California
Today we were in Monte Carlo, Monaco, a very exciting city full of people with lots and lots of money.
We moored with the starboard side facing the city, and with our cabin on the port side, we had a nice ocean view but would have preferred a city view today. As I reflect back on our cruise, I would say more often than not, the starboard side usually had the preferred views when moored in any particular port. There were only a few ports where the view would be worth thinking about, but if all other things were equal, I would choose a starboard side cabin if I had a choice next time.
Expensive Yachts in Monaco
Lady Moura is now the 28th largest private yacht – owned by Saudi Businessman Nasser Al-Rashid
We were cleared to go ashore by 7 am, but we didn’t plan to get off until noonish as our plans were rather modest: Walk to the Grand Casino, then back toward the Palace and finally return to the ship.
As we were leaving the ship we noticed a basket full of umbrellas next to the security podium. One of the nice things about this cruise – and maybe every cruise – is that they will provide umbrellas at the gangway if there is any threat of rain. Theres also a bigger, much nicer umbrella that came with our cabin, but fortunately there was only one port where we needed an umbrella ashore: Bali, Indonesia and then for only an hour or two.
We learned later that there was a brief rain shower earlier in the day, but by the time we were leaving the skies had cleared and there wasn’t any rain for the rest of the day.
Once off the ship we passed thru the cruise terminal where there was a tourist information counter with helpful staff and I suggest you discuss your walking route with them in advance as there are certain ways to various spots where you can take elevators to avoid climbing stairs or even walking uphill as much as you might otherwise think was necessary.
Our route to the Casino would follow the Harbor all the way around and ended up being about 1 mile or so. There was a ferry boat that cut across the harbor, but we didn’t investigate its price or frequency of operations.
As we were walking along the waterfront, we discovered that there were grandstands and fencing all along the various streets, as they were setting up for the two Grand Prix races in May – there is the Historic Grand Prix May 13-15 and the regular Grand Prix toward the end of May.
Two races coming up
We also learned that as the race course was being set up, many of the cross streets would be barricaded, which made is possible for anyone interested to drive on the course at normal speeds. We saw more than one Ferrari and Lamborghini darting around the course, screaming with high RPMs but not going very fast as they would accelerate quickly and then almost immediately brake or downshift for a turn. I am not sure what the rules are, but there was a steady stream of cars of all descriptions driving around all day.
Ferrari on the race course
Everyone wanted to drive the course
One surprise as we left the cruise terminal and walked around the city was the complete lack of Taxis. We only saw 2 or 3 all day. We even looked at some hotel entrances, usually a hangout for taxis – but none there either. Once we arrived at the Grand Casino, we thought we would see people arriving via taxi – but no – didn’t see a single one in the 15 minutes we were in the area.
There is a pretty good bus system but we were walking today so didn’t investigate that option, but we spoke with a few people who did and found it inexpensive and easy to use. I would check out the details of how it works at the tourist information counter before you head out, even if you don’t plan on using it, because sometimes your energy level drains more quickly than you thought and it’s nice to understand how the bus system works before you are standing on the steps with a line of people waiting to get on behind you.
The last quarter mile to the Casino was all uphill but we were rewarded with nice views of the harbor with all the amazing yachts on full display. The Amsterdam was by far the largest “yacht” in the area and she looked splendid moored along the pier on the other side of the harbor.
Monaco Selfie
The biggest and best yacht in town
We didn’t go into The Grand Casino as we were pressed for time and you had to check your bags and pay 10 Euros per person. We have been inside a couple times before, but I still always enjoy looking around, but today we didn’t have the time and I didn’t want to pay 10 euros pp for a 5 minute walk thru.
Admission to the Grand Casino is 10 euros
Our next objective was the Starbucks near the Palace. Judy collects the Starbucks mugs with the various city names and we wanted to see if the Monaco Starbucks had a special cup. It was a little over a mile to the Starbucks. We walked thru some of the back streets and now we were going downhill most of the way. The MAPS.ME app proved useful once again in helping determine the best walking route and it was fully aware of all pedestrian only paths and stairs when it developed the optimum routing.
Setting up for the Historic Grand Prix
Grandstands going up
We are never sure if the Starbucks will have a specific country cup, so we were pleased when we arrived and saw that they did have Monaco cups for sale. We paused in the Starbucks to snack on a muffin before we headed back to the ship in time for the all aboard at 3:30.
The MUG!
Monaco Street Scene – Very nice!
There was a nice crowd at the sail away – the weather was nice and the view of Monaco as we sailed away was spectacular. The snacks today were a crispy roll stuffed with a semi-spicy pepper and beef. I found it very tasty and had several, but others thought they were a little too spicy.
We had a Lobster Cobb salad last night and tonight we had a delicious Lobster Pot Pie. The pot pies on the Amsterdam are fabulous and always a special treat when they are on the menu.
Rita Rudner did her second show tonight. I wasn’t a big fan when the show started, but she held my interest and the time flew by and she was very funny. One of her better lines – “My husband is good in bed – he lies still and doesn’t snore” That one did crack me up.
Rita Rudner put on a great show!
Rita had everyone laughing out loud
There was a theme dinner in the Pinnacle Grill tonight
DISCO inferno in the Pinnacle Grill
We are looking forward to the sea day tomorrow.
I noticed that there have been no new postings of the daily program or menu’s since the 14th. I mention this not to get you to do it (I’m sure it’s a lot of work…and you are on vacation afterall)… but I wondered if you thought they posted and they didn’t.
Posting pictures and other attachments can really suck up the wifi, I know from personal experience.
All menus and On Locations are not updated…thanks for reading
Beautiful shawl in the Monaco selfie, Judy!!
Judy says Thanks!