Day One Hundred Seventy- Three to Day One Hundred Seventy-Six June 26 to June 30 I would like to provide a brief description of our four seadays across the Atlantic Ocean after we left Belfast. The first day the seas were rough and many passengers either stayed in their staterooms or spent time on the lower decks. Second day of our sea crossing and the seas are not cooperating. Janice was up very early to take some Gravol (Canadian version for motion sickne...

Day One Hundred Seventy-Two June 26 Today was an eye opener and the final port in Europe before crossing the Atlantic Ocean on our way to St. John's Newfoundland for Canada Day. Janice booked a private 2.5-hour tour with Viator in a supposedly black taxicab which turned out to be blue to learn some of the history of Northern Ireland. Presently, it is part of the United Kingdom along with England, Scotland and Wales. When the Brexit vote was held the following...

Day One Hundred Seventy-One June 25 It is not good a good sign when no pilot flag or the country flag are flying from the mast. I woke early again to take some pictures of the Dublin countryside. Little did I know that this was the closest we would get to Dublin today. Again, we were to tender but the weather conditions again prevented the operation from being carried out. It was embarkation day for our sister ship Sirena and no extra docking stations were ...

Day One Hundred Seventy June 24 On the previous sea day, the captain informed us that due to weather conditions and the fact that the ship would need to use the tendering system, the stop unfortunately in Waterford was cancelled. The expected swells would not allow the tender dock to be lowered from the ship. Too bad as it would have been a new port for us. In its place Insignia would sail to Cobh (pronounced Cove). Cobh is the cruise terminal on the south coas...

Day One Hundred Sixty-Seven - June 21 Around 08:20 our ship leaves the North Sea to enter the canal and the Ijsselmeer (IJ). This one canal allows for the monitoring of seal levels as the city is located below sea level (-2 meters). All types of boats must use the canal before arriving in Amsterdam. The Amstel River flows north and south through the city towards the IJ. On our way towards the city we see small pleasure boats, ocean container freighters, on...