New Year’s river cruise to Amsterdam

The New Year 2018 started like the old year ended… working on a river cruise ship.

This time it was a relatively short cruise from Düsseldorf to Antwerp then Rotterdam, the end of the year in Amsterdam, the first day of the New year in Arnhem and back to Düsseldorf. Ship was fully booked.

Similar crowd as every year this time. “Let’s go away for New Year’s! Let’s take a cruise! ” – Me personally, if I’d pay for a cruise, I would go to the tropics for this! Caribbean, Thailand, Bali, Polynesia… Anywhere with sun, beach, hot weather, seafood, open air restaurants, yummy Cocktails in a beach bar… OK, they make pretty good Cocktails in the bar on board this river cruise! But the weather… The weather is just the same as at home… cold, nasty wet, no snow as usual!

The tropics would be hot and colourful, sunny, happy people, beach… Here… same dark like at home, not much colour – why are most of the winter jackets in black, grey, dark? People, we need colour!

OK, I am no different! I prefer black, but at least my uniform is turquois…

Then again, I volonteered for this cruise! I got to go to Amsterdam for New Year’s! And get paid for it! And I actually like my job! If only the weather were better!

New Year’s Eve was sort of sunny in the morning, but just as the ship arrived in Amsterdam it started pouring down with rain. “Why did you order weather like this!?” – Me? What have I to do with weather making? – “We did not book weather like this!” – Of course, you did not! You probably expected a hot Sahara storm blowing in over the North Sea bringing tropical temperature to Amsterdam for the last day of the year! – “You did not pray enough for good weather! – Gosh, my favourite! – “Please close the rain tap up there! ” – Yeah, I tried calling Petrus, unfortunately he did not pick up! ….

However, the weather is not the only thing to complain about! “Why do we have to cross two ships to reach the pontoon?” – Because there are too many ships here and we have to share the pontoon! – “But why are there so many ships? ” – Because everybody wants to spend New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam! Did you think you would be alone here? – “Why is the city so full of people? ” – Because…. I mean, what do people expect? They take river cruise in Central Europe in the end of December! Climate change is happening, yes, but not that fast! So, why would the weather here be much different than across the border at home?

Well, to get away from all Les Miserables I went off to indulge in three of my favourite pastimes! I went to find one geocache, the last one of the old year, inspite of the rain. Of course, it was close to the port, in fact right across the road from the ships, and easy to find. And then I went to the Sky Lounge Amsterdam on the 11the floor of the Double Tree by Hilton! Just the right place to be on a rainy day! Some say, how can I go alone to a fancy cocktail lounge. No problem, I like cocktails and rooftop views! Going alone is my kind of meditation – not talking to anybody, enjoying the drink and the view, not thinking about work at all. The Sky Lounge is a cool place with beautiful views in almost all directions and with better weather it is even better to sit outside on the rooftop terrace. For New Year’ Eve it is only open until 8 pm and it was packed. Nevertheless I found a seat by the window with the view over the city. Did not want to look over the port seeing the ship anyway! My meditation for New Year’s Eve consisted of a couple of Sky Tai Cocktails and some oysters. Bliss!

Bliss was short as work was calling… It was still raining, but well… if we could change the weather.. do not let me get started!

Anyway, there was no need to actually get off the ship for the Countdown. Let’s face it, the city was full with people, why would you not spend the night on board since you had paid for it already anyway. There was the included 6 course gala dinner, a show and dance after and one of the best spots to watch the midnight fireworks from the sundeck!

Dinner was exceptionally good, unfortunately some guests rushed through it to reserve seats in the lounge for the party. It is that phenomenon of the pool chairs … run and put your towel there to save your chair for later. Of course, all those “towels” get removed and put in Lost & Found… So, some people actualy missed out on dinner just to get a seat. Even though, during the last few days during day and evening entertainment there was never a problem with the seats! We have some 160 seats in the lounge and usually only 140 guests on board. No other guest would join the party thanthose booked for the cruise anyway. There should not be a problem …

Whilst there is no real stage, there is a small center dance floor and from really every chair and table the view is good. Why sit right next to the sound system and then complain about the level of the sound, though ?

Well, the show was a great mix of 50s , 60s and 70s music and the guests actually sang and danced along. Afterwards the DJ rocked the floor with more of the same area. After all the age average on board is out of that aera …

Countdown at midnight on the sundeck was fantastic. The docking spot proved to be the perfect watching spot for the fireworks. We had the outside position on the pontoon hence the crossing of 2 other ships to reach the pontoon. Now nobody was complaining anymore…

The rain had stopped just in time an hour before. There were 2 big ocean cruise ships docked at the Passenger Terminal and 2 more had come in for the countdown. It looked like they had teamed up and put up a grand office feu artifice. It was spectacular and we had a fantastic view point. Of course there was plenty more fireworks all over the city! The party on board went on till 3 am and it was hopping. New Year’s Day started with a late brunch, sunshine and a rainbow!