A LEGENDARY VOYAGE

This trip represents our second Legendary Voyage—the 28-day Legendary Alaska was our first last year. According to Holland America Line, Legendary Voyages span 25 to 59 days, offering in-depth explorations of destinations through immersive experiences. Our route begins with a Transatlantic crossing, followed by stops from Lisbon to Istanbul, complete with overnight stays in Alexandria and Istanbul. Compared to brief sailings, Legendary cruises amp up the onboard fun with events like the Volendam Ball, a Halloween party, Casino Royale, a Sock Hop, and more.

Usually, the Navigator App only has accurate information about events once you are on the ship. We discovered that all the performers and special events were loaded in the Navigator app a couple of weeks ago. Refer to the table at the bottom of this post for our itinerary, including a list of performers and special events.   There is also an interactive map where you can click on a port to find our arrival and departure times, expected temperatures, as well as recommended food and activities.

SAN DIEGO TO NYC

Although the ship departs on October 7th, we flew to New York on the 2nd to enjoy a few extra days in the city. A direct flight from San Diego to JFK lasted nearly six hours, touching down around 10:30 p.m. For the ride to the Hilton Times Square, we booked NYC United Limo car service.

PRE-CRUISE HOTEL

Nestled in a prime spot, the Hilton Times Square offers easy access to subways and attractions—though, as with most Manhattan spots, it comes at a premium price. Instead of the on-site buffets ($32 for continental fare, such as croissants and fruit, or $49 for a full spread with eggs and bacon), we strolled to a nearby Starbucks for coffee and the Europan Diner for morning meals. Our 37th-floor room had stunning vistas of downtown Manhattan, and a Target across the street proved handy for grabbing a few last-minute items.

TIMES SQUARE, MUSEUMS, BROADWAY, AND YARN

During our stay, we soaked up Times Square’s electric vibe, explored the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side, caught MJ the Musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, and savored a meal at the storied Joe Allen restaurant in the Theater District. Capping off the pre-cruise whirlwind, our last day involved a one-mile stroll along the elevated High Line park plus stops at two neighborhood yarn stores: West Village Knit and Needle in the West Village and Knitty City on the Upper West Side.

Subways handled most of our transit needs, save for a handful of Uber rides. Navigating them proved straightforward with a chip-enabled credit card; simply tap to enter the turnstile, and since all rides cost a flat $2.90, no additional tap is necessary on the way out. Google Maps excels at plotting routes, even pinpointing the best entrances to stations.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

NYC United Limo handled our brief transfer—barely a couple of miles—to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, where we arrived around 11:45 am on October 7th.

Boarding moved swiftly; just 20 minutes elapsed from arrival curbside to settling into our stateroom. As we exited the terminal, Captain Frank van de Hoeven and Hotel General Manager Florin Dragomir greeted the guests.

Stateroom 7037, our Vista Suite, awaited us fully prepared. After viewing the safety briefing, we went to the spa to make some appointments. Lunch featured a shared Dive In Burger, during which we bumped into old acquaintances and chatted for the next 90 minutes by the Lido Pool.

Next, we headed down to Deck 3 to verify our lifeboat muster station.

Scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. departure, we actually cast off at 6:30 p.m., missing the daytime skyline but catching the illuminated Statue of Liberty against the night sky.

Fixed seating at 7:30 p.m. brought the five of us together at an eight-top table on deck 5 near the dining room entrance, and the inaugural meal impressed with its quality and attentive staff.

The evening’s spotlight fell on comedian Tim Nutt, who was very funny as he humorously recounted everyday absurdities and bold tales.