After Le Boreal, I've had all of a day and a half at home, unpacked and repacked and now I'm off again, this time to Venice for the naming tomorrow - July 4 - of Holland America Line's new 2,160-passenger Nieuw Amsterdam.
The honours are going to be performed by her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, and once the deed is done, we're sailing to Dubrovnik for a day, having a day at sea and then it's back to Venice, where the ship starts its summer series of 12-day cruises between Venice and Barcelona.
The ceremony begins at 1pm and you can watch it live by clicking here.
I'm really looking forward to this trip. Not only do I get to visit two of my favourite cities in one hit, I am also going to be seeing what promises to be a great new HAL ship with some interesting design features.
I especially love the idea of the chandelier in the atrium that is an abstract sculpture of the skyline of New York. Apparently if you take a picture from a certain angle, the lights from the Ocean Bar make the torch on the Statue of Liberty appear to light up!
Internet willing, I'll bring you a pic of that and more news and thoughts about the ship so remember to keep checking back.
Jane Archer
