World Cruise Day 1: Embarkation in Fort Lauderdale

January 4, 2026

We left our hotel around noon and took an Uber to Port Everglades. On some occasions, I would rent a car from Avis at the airport, drop it off at the Avis location inside Port Everglades, and take their shuttle to the terminal. Lately, I have started using UBER for all my pre-cruise transportation, which is simpler and faster, and when I looked at the price, it was close to the same.

Traffic became stop-and-go as we approached the port gate. Port Security personnel always check ID’s and boarding passes here, so we had ours ready. Many people are unaware of this requirement and have to fumble around at the gate, which backs up traffic.

Between arriving embarkation traffic and vehicles already exiting the terminals, the area was busy but moving steadily.

Once inside the terminal, things picked up quickly. Security was a breeze with no waiting at all. By the time we reached the check-in area around 1:15 pm, there were perhaps 100 people ahead of us. Suite guests had their own dedicated line with no wait, but I didn’t notice a separate priority line for 4-Star or higher Mariner guests.

Check-in itself was fast and efficient. We had all the required paperwork ready: passports, our Brazil visa, and our New Zealand and Australia ETAs. The Check-In clerk didn’t ask to see our ETAs, though several people later said they were asked for theirs. While waiting in line, we spotted a few guests who looked surprised when asked to produce their passports and had to dig through their bags to find them once they reached the podium.

The process is now streamlined compared to years ago: Clerks scan your passport, then take your picture. Facial recognition matches your photo to your passport photo and then pulls up your reservation. After they confirm your identity, you’re cleared to board. Room keys are in your mailbox outside your door.

Because we arrived a couple of hours after check-in opened, we missed seeing the Captain and Cruise Director greeting guests as they boarded. The photographers were still stationed at the gangway entrance, though, and we stopped for an embarkation photo.

Having spent 45 days aboard Volendam just a few months earlier during the Legendary Mediterranean cruise, the ship felt instantly familiar. Rather than exploring every deck as we do for a new ship, we focused on activities specific to the Grand World Voyage.

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Grand Voyage Activities: Arts & Crafts Open House

Grand Voyages feature a much more extensive activities program than typical cruises, and one of our first stops was the Arts & Crafts Open House in the Art Studio, held between 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Activities team members Elzette and Dany were on hand to explain how the program would work throughout the world cruise.

We learned that five Activities Crew members are working under the Assistant Cruise Director, Clare: Shelly, Adena, Johnetta, Elzette, and Dany. Together, they organize and host nearly all onboard activities, except for Watercolors, Bridge, and Creative Writing. They are responsible for trivia, Tai Chi, pickleball, arts and crafts, and a wide range of games and special events.

Craft classes are divided into three color-coded sections, Blue, Red, and Green, with each group completing the same project. If you miss your assigned session, you’re welcome to attend another session without issue. Here is a list of all the projects scheduled for this cruise – I used the dates for the Red group as representative. The Navigator app always lists the project scheduled for any particular day.

All projects were prepared before the cruise began, and the onboard staff didn’t know who built the kits or planned the projects.

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Muster Drill & Sail-Away

It has been years since we’ve done an old-school muster where we would physically line up on the Promenade Deck. As usual, we watched the safety video in our cabin, then made a quick trip to Deck 4 to locate our lifeboat station and check in with the crew, fast and painless.

Our scheduled departure time wasn’t until 11:00 pm – far later than the usual 5:00 pm sail-away on shorter cruises. World cruises involve significantly more provisioning and logistics, so rather than risking delays, Holland America wisely built in extra time. In the end, we actually departed earlier than scheduled.

Even with the late departure, the Sail Away Party took place from 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Deck 9 overlooking the Sea View Pool. The Holland America “Dam Band” played while Erin and members of the activities team led guests in line dancing. Sparkling wine was available for $12 per glass, with Taittinger Champagne offered at $22.

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Luggage, Reception, and Dinner

Logistically, luggage handling worked flawlessly. We had sent four bags ahead using Luggage Forward and handed six more to the porters at the terminal. All ten checked bags – plus our two carry-ons – were waiting in our cabin by 5:00 pm.

There was a Mariner Society reception for 4-Star, 5-Star, and President’s Club guests by the Lido Pool from 6:45 to 7:30 pm. The Captain and Hotel General Manager headed up a short receiving line, greeting guests as we arrived.

Dinner was at 7:30 pm at our fixed table for eight (with seven people total). We much prefer late seating and fixed dining. Most guests choose early and open seating, which makes the dining room far more crowded earlier in the evening. By 7:30 pm, the Deck 5 dining room reserved for fixed seating was only about half full.

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Welcome Aboard & Evening Entertainment

The World Stage shows are scheduled for 7:30 and 9:00 pm. Just before the main show, at 8:45 pm, Cruise Director Erin hosted the Welcome Aboard introductions, highlighting many of the people who will support guest activities throughout the voyage:

• Priest: Father Bart
• Ministers: Reed Cook & Esther (interdenominational services)
• Rabbi: Elliott
• Ballroom Instructor: Matt Kelly
• Watercolor Instructor: Ann-Maree
• Bridge Instructor: Andrew
• Techspert: Thomas
• Creative Writing Instructor: Jackie (through Sydney)
• Drawing Instructor: Ben Sack (after Sydney)
• Guest Chef: Andre
• Travel Guide: Tjalling

Introductions wrapped up at 9:09 pm, and at 9:10 pm Mid-Atlantic Men took the stage, opening with Any Way You Want It and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics.

A long day, but a smooth, well-organized start to what will be many months at sea.

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First Sea Day

January 5, 2026

The main objective of our first sea day was simple: unpack everything and get settled.

Certain activities, most notably the Watercolors classes, are extremely popular and require signing up for class on the first day. Watercolors will be offered in three sections throughout the voyage.

I checked out the Creative Writing class – Jackie’s class is held in the Waijang theatre at 11 AM. Some enrichment classes are continuous, and if you miss one, you may fall behind. The creative writing classes stand alone, and you can join the class anytime – each class stands on its own.

One event unique to Grand Voyages is the Block Party. This is where guests are encouraged to gather in the hallways and elevator lobbies on their floors to meet fellow guests. Room stewards serve red or white wine, while waters will wander about with trays of snacks. Typically, some of the ship’s senior officers will visit each floor, rapid fire, to say hello.

That evening’s featured entertainer was Chloe Lowery with her show The Divas, featuring:

• (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
• Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner
• Last Dance by Donna Summer
• Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
• All by Myself by Celine Dion
• Skyfall by Adele
• Defying Gravity
• Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You

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Second Sea Day

January 6, 2026

About 120 people attended our Cruise Critic Meet & Greet in the Crow’s Nest, making for a lively and energetic gathering. Cruise Critic is a website dedicated to all things cruising, and it offers a section called Roll Calls. This is an area where people on the same cruise meet virtually to discuss activities, interests, planning, and excursions for their particular cruise. In some cases, these online discussions can take place a year before the cruise. Once the cruise begins, there is usually a “Meet and Greet” where people who were active on the roll call can meet in person.

The Meet and Greet is also an opportunity for people with common interests to meet and plan future activities.

While wandering the upper decks, I noticed stacks of boxes on Deck 10, filled with decorations and props for upcoming themed events, including Derby Night. It’s always interesting to see just how much planning and material go into a Grand World Voyage behind the scenes.

That evening was a dressy night and featured the Captain’s Welcome and Toast. Officers lined both sides of the World Stage entrance on Deck 4 (starboard), greeting guests as they entered.

Later, Mid-Atlantic Men returned with another excellent performance.

Back in our cabin, we found the first pillow gifts of the voyage: heavy-duty Grand World Voyage tote bags and valet trays.

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Third Sea Day

January 7, 2026

Judy attended her first craft class, she’s in the Red group, which meets every third sea day. About 30 people gathered on the starboard side of the Lido Market, just aft of Canaletto. The project for the day was wooden magnets. Each participant chose a plain magnet with design outlines, roughly two inches across, and used colored markers to decorate their magnets.

Later in the morning, we attended the Coffee Chat with Chef André Castro. Highlights included:

• Chef André is from Brazil and has over 26 years of international culinary experience.
• Trained in Mediterranean cuisine, he’s also a sommelier, olive-oil taster, and former capoeira instructor.
• Brazilian cuisine reflects Indigenous, African, Portuguese, and strong regional influences, which he hopes to showcase onboard.
• He’ll remain aboard through Rio, hosting cooking demonstrations and a Brazil-themed Pinnacle Grill dinner, sourcing specialty ingredients along the way.

A relaxed but enjoyable day, settling further into the rhythm of life at sea as the world cruise truly begins.