What to read after Rotterdam – 91 Day Far East Cruise?

This volume reflects my time aboard the Rotterdam, a Holland America cruise ship, for a 91-day journey. This extraordinary journey consistted of visits to 24 countries, with 37 different ports of call. To date, this was the longest cruising voyage I had undertaken, from September 2015 to March 2020, only stopping because of the Covid-19 pandemic.share these i

The first volume begins the journey when the Rotterdam left the from city of Rotterdam, Holland, then journeying southward through the Bay of Biscay, to Portugal, and then through the Suez Canal for the Middle East and the Far East.

This was an extraordinary journey, through regions, countries, and people as diverse as the world. The volume reflects the history and culture of these people, as we sailed ever deeper through the places of incredible beauty, with the necessity of changing money and keeping track of its local value so as to experience local flavors and its sights.

Doing justice to such a voyage is both exhilarating but also daunting. Every location we visited has its story, its own narrative and importance. We sailed across waters that is the stuff of ancient, medieval and modern legend. And it remains a distinct privilege to share this journey with the world.