A Year in the Life of a Tour Director
February 29, 2020 Almost a week since returning from my Westerdam adventure, and it is Back To Work! Reflection inside the Vessel in Hudson Yards The day after I returned home I received several phone calls from the Center for Disease Control, Virginia Department of Health, and the Fairfax County Department of Health. They knew... Continue Reading →
February 20, 2020 The PLAN WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK. A traveler's note: You never want to think to yourself, "Huh, I wonder why the plane is turning around? and why is Pakistan our new destination?" Lobby of the gorgeous Sokha Hotel It was a gorgeous morning in Phenom Penh! A fantastic breakfast and a little... Continue Reading →
January 19, 2020 It all happened pretty quick today. The Captain came on the sound system early this morning and told us that we were getting off the ship, loading onto 10 busses, heading to a hotel in Phenom Penh, and then flown home from there. We had 3 hours to get ready. Since all... Continue Reading →
February 18, 2020 The Westerdam treated all of us to Happy Hour in the BB King Blues Lounge last night. I guess they figured that if we had to have 8-inch Q-Tips shoved deep up into our brain for testing and another one down our gullets, then we deserved to be a little shit-faced. So... Continue Reading →
February 17, 2020 I BOARDED THE HOLLAND AMERICA WESTERDAM 17 DAYS AGO. Sorry, my caps lock must have been stuck. SCUTTLEBUTT: My new ship-turned-hotel-refugee-BFF, Judy Barr, who has been in 'quarantine' in a Phnom Phen hotel for the last two days with her husband and a ton of other Westerdam guests, tells me that yesterday... Continue Reading →
February 16, 2020 If I even hear the word 'quarantine', I am very calmly placing my phone, passport, credit cards and cash in a gallon-sized ziplock bag and will jump overboard, swim to shore, hire a tuk tuk, and get out of here! After disembarking over 1,100 people yesterday, one tested positive for the coronavirus... Continue Reading →
February 15, 2020 Today is the second day since docking and I still do not have flights out of Cambodia. They 'should' have me flying out sometime tomorrow, February 16. I believe there are only 60 of us who will stay onboard one more night awaiting flights home. They are certainly not kicking me off... Continue Reading →
February 14, 2020 WELCOME TO CAMBODIA! What an eventful day! But first, anchor in the bay, have immigration and health officials come on board, 20 people swabbed for the virus, visas glued into passports, and we wait. And wait. We are professionals at waiting. Ok, done, now the ship can move to the dock. The... Continue Reading →
February 13, 2020 Ok, so I did NOT see this next part coming... Thailand refused us entry into their country after two days of negotiations at the 'highest levels' between the Thai government and the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands. Ok, now what? Where? Where can we possibly go next? We... Continue Reading →
February 12, 2020 This ship's hollandaise sauce is one of many reasons why I am perfectly fine with just one of my thighs being the size of ALL of Renée Zellweger. At the next Christmas party, or perhaps even next Tuesday, it may be hollandaise sauce in my mug, not egg nog. The gossip continues!... Continue Reading →
February 11, 2020 This entire experience is just like preparing for a high school prom. You have an idea of who you want to ask to the big dance, you get up the nerve and ask, and luckily, he says yes! You buy a dress and find fun shoes you can dance in that don't... Continue Reading →
February 10, 2020 Where did I leave off? Oh, yes... 7 knots in the Philippine Sea... The Captain had said to us that Holland America was working closely with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Navy and all local authorities to find a solution. So, when the ship's course started heading into the Pacific Ocean... Continue Reading →
February 7, 2020 I was not planning on writing much about this 'event' but I really feel that I owe it to the phenomenal staff aboard this Holland America Westerdam ship to set the record straight. For those of you who have not followed the news, there is currently a massive outbreak of Coronavirus flu... Continue Reading →
On the Road in 2026 