Category Archives: Ports of Call

Cartegena Cruise Port

Posted on January 2, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Cartagena, Columbia Cartagena’s tourist draws include the 16th century walled old town and its beaches. Temperatures in Cartagena generally stay with lows in the mid to high 70’s F to highs in the high 80’s to low 90’s year-round. Annual … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Nieuw Amsterdam, Port Cities, Ports of Call, South and Central America | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Nuku Island and Swallow’s Cave Snorkel Excursion

Posted on December 26, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

I was happy to see that Holland America’s information on our transpacific cruise on the Noordam for this excursion from Vava’u, Tonga specified reef-safe sunscreen and that there was no mention of insect repellent. So many snorkel excursion instructions say … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Noordam, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

European Christmas Decorations

Posted on December 24, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Throughout the areas in Europe where Christmas markets flourish, those markets provide a lot of festive decoration for the areas where they reside. Some of them get quite creative. Even the market stalls are sometimes festive. Nearly every Christmas market … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Port Cities, Ports of Call, Skirnir, Viking | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Aruba by Land and Sea

Posted on November 21, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Aruba Aruba’s motto is One Happy Island. There are lots of beaches on the 70-square-mile island. The country is an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prior to 1986 it was part of the Netherlands Antillies, but gained … Continue reading →

Posted in Caribbean, Holland America, Nieuw Amsterdam, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Vava’u Tonga Cruise Port

Posted on November 14, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Neiafu, Vava’u Tonga Neiafu is the second largest city in Tonga with a population around 4000 people. It is located in the island archipelago of Vava’u, which encompasses about 50 islands in the north of the Kingdom of Tonga and … Continue reading →

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Grand Turk Beach Day at the Port

Posted on November 7, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Grand Turk is the largest and capitol island of the Turks and Caicos, a British overseas territory. Divers come to the island for spectacular wall dives on its nearly 7000 foot wall. Tourist attractions on Grand Turk include an 1852 … Continue reading →

Posted in Caribbean, Enchanted Princess, Ports of Call, Princess | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Patagonia Nature in Depth

Posted on October 17, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

At Holland America Oosterdam’s port stop in Puerto Chacabuco, Chile we booked an excursion called Patagonia Nature in Depth. This excursion promised a walk through the Aiken del Sur private 5 square mile park with superb views of lakes, rivers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Oosterdam, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rarotonga Cook Islands Cruise Port

Posted on October 3, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Rarotonga is an island of volcanic origin in the South Pacific. Though the name has tonga in it, it is not part of the Kingdom of Tonga, but rather one of the Cook Islands. At just over 26 square miles … Continue reading →

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Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Cruise Port

Posted on September 5, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Puerto Chacabuco is a small town in the Patagonia region of southern Chile in the Aysén Province located at the head of Aysén Fjord. The town is named after a ship that explored the area in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Oosterdam, Port Cities, Ports of Call, South and Central America | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Grand Turk Beach Day

Posted on August 29, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Grand Turk Grand Turk is the capital island of Turks and Caicos and the largest island in the Turks, but there are two in the Caicos island archipelago that are bigger. Turks and Caicos together make up a country which … Continue reading →

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