MS Nieuw Statendam
April 5, 2025

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, offers docking at Port Everglades. Travelers explore Las Olas Boulevard and Everglades tours. Excursions include airboat rides. Local markets sell conch fritters. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures canals and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes stone crab, a Floridian favorite. Souvenirs, like seashell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Seminole history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Fort Lauderdale’s urban charm offers a vibrant American stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of scenic waterways and natural adventures, making Fort Lauderdale an engaging destination for exploration.

King’s Wharf, Bermuda, offers docking at Royal Naval Dockyard. Travelers explore Fort Scaur and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. Excursions include snorkeling at Church Bay. Local markets sell fish chowder. The peak season, May to September, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures pink beaches and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes spiny lobster, a Bermudian favorite. Souvenirs, like cedar crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Bermuda Triangle history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while water shoes enhance reef exploration. King’s Wharf’s coastal charm offers a vibrant Bermudian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic forts and scenic beaches, making King’s Wharf an engaging destination.

Falmouth, Cornwall, England, offers docking at Falmouth Harbour. Travelers explore Pendennis Castle’s Tudor fortifications. Excursions visit St. Michael’s Mount, a tidal island. Local markets sell Cornish pasties. The peak season, May to September, brings mild coastal weather. Photography captures harbor views and rugged cliffs. Dining onboard includes cream tea, a Cornish tradition. Souvenirs, like tin crafts, are available in ship shops. Briefings highlight Cornwall’s maritime history. Light layers and sturdy shoes suit the temperate, damp climate. Binoculars enhance coastal views. Falmouth’s historic charm and scenic coastline provide a quintessential English seaside stop, inviting travelers to immerse in its rich maritime heritage and picturesque landscapes.

Portland (Weymouth), England, offers docking at Portland Port. Travelers explore Weymouth’s sandy beach and Nothe Fort. Excursions visit Jurassic Coast’s Lulworth Cove. Local markets sell Dorset apple cake. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Georgian waterfronts and fossil-rich cliffs. Dining onboard includes fish and chips, an English favorite. Souvenirs, like nautical crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Dorset’s maritime history. Light layers and waterproof shoes suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance coastal walks. Portland’s seaside charm offers a vibrant English stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic forts, scenic coastlines, and Jurassic heritage, making Portland an engaging destination for exploring England’s southern coast.

Le Havre (Paris), France, offers docking at Le Havre Port with excursions to Paris. Travelers explore Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum. Excursions visit Normandy’s D-Day beaches. Local markets sell crêpes. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for city tours. Photography captures Parisian landmarks and Seine vistas. Dining onboard includes coq au vin, a French favorite. Souvenirs, like beret crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norman history. Light layers and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Le Havre’s urban gateway offers a vibrant French stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of iconic landmarks and historic beaches, making Le Havre an engaging destination.

Dover (London), England, has docking at Dover Port. Travelers marvel at the iconic White Cliffs from the harbor. Excursions explore Canterbury Cathedral’s Gothic splendor. Local markets sell Kentish ales. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather. Photography captures chalk cliffs. Dining onboard includes fish and chips. Souvenirs, like Dover postcards, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover medieval history. Light layers suit coastal weather. Dover’s historic port offers a gateway to England’s heritage.

Rotterdam, Netherlands, offers docking at Rotterdam Port. Travelers explore Erasmus Bridge and Museumpark’s art galleries. Excursions visit Kinderdijk’s UNESCO windmills. Local markets sell stroopwafels. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for city tours. Photography captures modern architecture and Maas River vistas. Dining onboard includes erwtensoep, a Dutch favorite. Souvenirs, like Delftware, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Dutch history. Light layers suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Rotterdam’s urban charm offers a vibrant Dutch stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of innovative design, historic windmills, and maritime culture, making Rotterdam an engaging destination for exploring the Netherlands’ dynamic port city and heritage.

Casablanca, Morocco, docks at Port de Casablanca, 3 kilometers from downtown, with taxis for 15-minute rides. The city, population 3.5 million, features the Hassan II Mosque with a 210-meter minaret. Travelers stroll the Corniche for Atlantic views. Local markets sell tagines. Excursions to Rabat, 1 hour north, visit the Royal Palace. Peak season April to October; taxis 20-50 MAD. Dining includes couscous at medina cafes. Souvenirs feature leather slippers.

Agadir, Morocco, docks at its commercial port 3 kilometers from the beachfront, with shuttles or taxis providing 10-minute rides to town. The terminal offers currency exchange and basic shops. Souk El Had, 5 minutes away, bustles with 6000 stalls selling spices, leather goods, and rugs. Kasbah ruins, 20 minutes uphill, overlook the bay from 16th-century ramparts rebuilt post-1960 earthquake. Agadir Beach, a 5-kilometer crescent, provides camel rides and volleyball nets. Excursions reach Taroudant, 80 minutes east, for walled medina tours and argan oil cooperatives. Crocoparc, 30 minutes south, walks reptile enclosures with Nile crocodiles. Paradise Valley, 90 minutes north, hikes palm oases and waterfall pools. Dining includes tagine stews at beach cafes. Souvenirs feature Berber jewelry and ceramics. Mild weather year-round peaks April to October; taxis 20-50 MAD. Organized tours ensure haggling-free shopping. Evening souk visits reveal lantern-lit lanes.

Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, docks at Puerto de Naos, 2 kilometers from downtown, with shuttles or taxis for 10-minute rides. The city, population 60,000, features the San Gabriel Castle, now a history museum. Charco de San Ginés, a lagoon, hosts fishing boats. Excursions to Timanfaya National Park, 30 minutes west, explore volcanic craters. Local markets sell mojo sauce. Peak season November to April; taxis 5-10 EUR. Dining includes papas arrugadas at harbor cafes. Souvenirs feature lava jewelry.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, offers docking at Santa Cruz Port. Travelers explore Auditorio de Tenerife and Anaga Mountains. Excursions visit Teide National Park. Local markets sell mojo potatoes. The peak season, November to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures volcanic landscapes and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes ropa vieja, a Canarian favorite. Souvenirs, like lava crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Guanche history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while sturdy shoes enhance mountain hikes. Santa Cruz’s coastal charm offers a vibrant Spanish stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of modern landmarks and scenic volcanoes, making Santa Cruz an engaging destination.

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, offers docking at Funchal Port. Travelers explore Monte Palace Gardens and Funchal Cathedral. Excursions include levada walks. Local markets sell bolo de mel. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures lush gardens and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes espada com banana, a Madeiran favorite. Souvenirs, like embroidery crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Madeiran history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while sturdy shoes enhance levada hikes. Funchal’s scenic charm offers a vibrant Portuguese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of botanical beauty and scenic coasts, making Funchal an engaging destination.

Leixoes, Portugal, has docking at Leixoes Port with excursions to Oporto. Travelers explore Porto’s Ribeira district and Livraria Lello. Excursions visit Douro Valley vineyards. Local markets sell port wine. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather. Photography captures Douro River views and azulejo tiles. Dining onboard includes francesinha, a Porto dish. Souvenirs, like cork crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Portuguese history. Light layers suit the temperate climate. Comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Leixoes’ access to Porto offers a vibrant Portuguese stop, blending culture with riverfront charm.

Returning to Dover (london) — see Day 15 above for port info.