As Volendam continued south along the Pacific coast, our final ports of this leg brought us to a fascinating mix of Mexico, Central America, and finally Colombia, before turning eastward toward the Panama Canal.
Manzanillo, Mexico
With no formal plans in Manzanillo, six of us did what seasoned travelers sometimes do best—we improvised.
At the end of the pier, we hired a local guide named Adan and piled into his van for a four-hour tour, costing $35 each. Adan showed us the highlights northwest of the port, beginning with one of the largest container terminals we’ve ever seen. But once beyond the industrial zone, the scenery quickly shifted to oceanfront condos, golf courses, resorts, beaches, and the manicured neighborhoods of the wealthy.
Back in town, we headed straight for the local market to buy hot peppers for our beloved crew. The hotter the better, as many of them make and share homemade sambal in crew quarters. Along the way, we enjoyed the flavor of the streets and its many murals.
Markets like these are always sensory overload in the best possible way—crowded aisles, unfamiliar produce, lively vendors, and aromas impossible to describe.
By afternoon, the combination of 93-degree heat and 95% humidity had fully won the battle. After several hours wandering the town, we gratefully returned to the ship for showers and air conditioning.
Puerto Chiapas, Mexico
Puerto Chiapas proved to be one of the more unusual cruise ports we’ve visited—an isolated dock seemingly built in the middle of nowhere.
The nearby city of Tapachula was about forty minutes away by shuttle, but the local tourism board had done an impressive job creating a welcoming cruise complex right at the pier. Expansive green spaces, a swimming pool, restaurants, shaded palapas, and vendor stalls filled with local crafts, embroidered textiles, leather goods, and jadeite made it feel like a mini oasis.
I’m sure Tapachula offered even deeper cultural experiences, archaeological sites, coffee plantations, and markets—but in the intense heat and humidity, remaining close to the ship felt like a perfectly reasonable decision.
Captain Frank mentioned that on previous visits he and his wife had enjoyed a small family-owned restaurant near a nearby marina, so we joined another couple and took a taxi there as well. Fresh pico de gallo and guacamole were prepared tableside, along with mojitos, and everything was delicious. Their specialty was tuna poke topped with fresh local mango—a combination we’re still thinking about.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stop “in the middle of nowhere.”
Acajutla, El Salvador
Our stop in Acajutla was brief, with an early all-aboard time of 12:30 p.m., so our options were simple: a shuttle into Sonsonate, or a shorter ride to a nearby beach. Given the already rising temperatures and stagnant air, the beach easily won.
At Club de Playa at Villas Veraneras, we found a relaxed setting with shaded picnic areas, a pool, and beachside seating.
Jo, Elaine, Tom, and I claimed four Adirondack chairs overlooking the surf, where we happily spent the morning listening to waves crash against the rocks at high tide.
Simple. Relaxing. Perfect.
Panama Canal
Though we have transited the Panama Canal several times before, this was our first crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic—meaning we finally experienced “the other side” of the lock doors.
And honestly, no matter how many times you pass through, it never gets old.
More than a century after its construction, this engineering marvel still operates with astonishing precision and efficiency. Watching the massive lock chambers fill and empty while ships are lifted and lowered between oceans remains every bit as fascinating as the first time we experienced it.
Volendam passes under the Atlantic Bridge and now sails in the Caribbean Sea.
Cartagena, Colombia
Our final port of this journey was Cartagena, a short but memorable stop from 7:00 am until 12:30 pm. From the harbor, Cartagena presents itself as a thoroughly modern city, with high-rise towers stretching along the coastline. But the true gem is the historic Old Town.
Stepping inside the walled city—originally fortified in the 1600s—felt almost like a movie set. The narrow streets, brightly painted buildings, flower-filled balconies, and intense Caribbean sunshine created scenes that hardly seemed real.
Preservation of their heritage is wonderfully authentic. Café owners and shopkeepers stood in their doorways enthusiastically welcoming customers and promising deals, while roaming vendors offered everything imaginable—magnets, sunglasses, leather goods, and hats. Naturally, three of us ladies could not resist purchasing $5 coco hats.
As we sat beneath umbrellas in a plaza enjoying refreshments, the lively rhythm of the city continued all around us. We all agreed Cartagena is a place where we could easily spend several days simply soaking in the atmosphere.
Even the cruise terminal turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The shaded nature park surrounding the pier was alive with peacocks, flamingos, guinea hens, monkeys, macaws, parrots, turtles—and even an anteater.
Cartagena was a delightful surprise all around. It was a wonderful last port of call for this cruise.
Life at Sea
The sea days following Cartagena were filled with farewell gatherings, dinners, crew talent shows, tributes, hugs, and more than a few teary goodbyes. Over these many months, this floating village had shared extraordinary places and experiences together. Along the way, acquaintances became friends, and our beloved crew became part of our daily lives.
And speaking of sea days… We love sea days! One of the questions we’re asked most often is: “What do you do all day aboard a cruise ship?”
First and foremost, sea days allow us time to research upcoming ports, organize photos, write blog entries, and simply recharge. But on a longer voyage like this, there’s truly no shortage of activities. Here’s just a glimpse of life onboard during sea days aboard Volendam:
Everyday Offerings Onboard
| Activities & Enrichment | Recreation & Social |
| Destination, history, wildlife & cultural lectures | Trivia & Bingo |
| Enrichment ambassadors in various ports | Mahjong & board games |
| Bridge instruction | Arts & crafts |
| Dance classes: ballroom, Latin & line dancing | Pickleball & fitness classes |
| Watercolor painting, drawing & writing classes | Pool, hot tubs, sauna & Thermal Spa |
| Tai Chi & fitness training | Afternoon Tea |
| Tech-for-Travelers – apps & tips for phones | Casino |
| Interdenominational gatherings | Nightly live music in multiple venues |
| Library & guest book exchange | Main stage entertainment nearly every evening |
Special Events & Voyage Activities (just a few examples):
- Neptune Ceremony while crossing the Equator
- Derby Day festivities
- Ice cream socials
- Shuffleboard, putting & ping pong tournaments
- Optional formal nights & ballroom events
- Theme nights including Gatsby, Hollywood & Casino Royale
- Cooking demonstrations
- Regional enrichment activities, such as ukulele classes in the South Pacific
- Community-organized gatherings for cards, chess, music jams, scuba groups, and more
- Project Linus, where guests knitted and crocheted more than 400 blankets for hospitalized children
Dining Highlights: Plenty of variety as well:
- Lido Market – buffet
- Main Dining Room
- Pinnacle Grill – fine dining
- Canaletto – Italian specialties
- Guest chef dinners, including Chef Masaharu Morimoto!
- Cellar Master wine pairing dinners
Perhaps our most memorable onboard celebration, however, was Tom’s birthday dinner. We rented the elegant King’s Room for a private dinner with twenty-two friends, and even the Captain and his wife stopped by. It was an evening full of laughter, friendship, and wonderful food—one we’ll always remember.
As you can see, sea days can be as busy or as relaxing as you want them to be. That flexibility is part of what makes longer voyages so enjoyable.
And before we knew it, our final sea days were carrying us steadily toward our disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale.
Closing Thoughts
As this incredible journey comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable contrasts we experienced along the way. From the stark beauty and desolation of Antarctica to the lush tropics, from ancient cultures to modern skylines, from moments that revealed humanity’s hardships to countless acts of kindness from complete strangers—every stop offered something meaningful.
We witnessed an extraordinary kaleidoscope of landscapes, cultures, languages, foods, and traditions. Glaciers and icebergs gave way to coral reefs and tropical waters. Bamboo forests became pine forests. We marveled at engineering achievements both ancient and modern, admired artisan talents in every imaginable medium, and occasionally sampled foods we still couldn’t quite identify.
And everywhere we traveled, regardless of language or geography, we were reminded of the shared curiosity and spirit of people everywhere.
Travel has a way of humbling you. It reminds you how vast and beautiful this planet truly is, while also making the world feel surprisingly connected. We feel enormously grateful for the opportunity to experience even a small part of it.
A little piece of each place stays with us. Travel widens perspective, softens judgment, deepens appreciation, and reminds us that we have far more in common than not.
To quote Euripides: “Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves.”
We could not agree more.
Life in Nautical Miles 