On the Road - by Bob Van Leer

Tilbury, London, 8/7/1993Missing baggage turns up on ship.

(TILBURY (LONDON), ENGLAND, Aug. 7, 1993)

by Bob Van Leer

Our cruise ship, the Crown Odyssey, is sailing down the Thames River estuary heading into the English Channel for a short voyage to Amsterdam, Holland. We boarded the ship this afternoon after an hour bus ride from the Grosvenor Hotel in London. Our baggage, which had been missing since we left Portland, finally caught up with us on the ship for which we are thankful.

Amsterdam, 8/8/1993 Bus-Boat Tour of Amsterdam and Visit to the Rijksmuseum

Forest Of Oil Drilling
Platforms Seen

By  Bob Van Leer

(AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, Aug. 8, 1993) - In the early hours of the morning our cruise ship, Crown Odyssey, docked at Amsterdam. When we woke in the morning the ship was tied up to the dock.

Kiel Canal, 8/9/1993 Is Feature of Today's Journey

Kiel Canal is World's Busiest Channel

By Bob Van Leer

(KIEL CANAL, GERMANY - Aug. 9, 1993) - The feature of today's journey was the transit of the Kiel Canal.

  During the night our ship, the Crown Odyssey, continued sailing north along the Holland coast and then turned east along the north coast of Holland and Germany. At night the oil drilling rigs in the north sea were lit up like strange Christmas trees. These are busy waters. There is almost always some other vessel in view.

Warnemunde, Germany, August 10, 1993Some Would Vote To Bring Back The Wall

(WARNEMUNDE, GERMANY, Aug. 10, 1993)

by Bob Van Leer

West Germany is having problems digesting East Germany after the reunification Oct. 3, 1990.

Our cruise ship, Crown Odyssey, docked at Warnemunde, the port entrance to the former East German city of Rostock, a city of 250,000. We spent the day touring around the area in the company of two German guides.

Crown Odyssey Casino, 8/11/1993 Open Only When Underway

Ship Uses 65 Tons Of
Fuel Per Day

By Bob Van Leer

(AT SEA IN THE BALTIC, Aug. 11, 1993) - The next two days are being spent at sea as we sail from Warnemunde, Germany, to St. Petersburg, Russia, a voyage of 724 nautical miles.

  Capt. Emmanuel Tzanis, master of the Crown Odyssey, is more visible now as we are at open sea. In transit through the Kiel Canal he appeared to stick to the bridge. Tzanis said we are traveling at 15 knots and will arrive at St. Petersburg Friday morning. This morning we passed between the Swedish mainland and the Swedish island of Bornholm. The weather is clear,bright and cool with choppy waters and a six foot swell.

Busy, 8/12/1993 Day At Sea

Tomorrow Our Ship Will
Arrive In Russia

By Bob Van Leer

(AT SEA NEARING ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, Aug. 12, 1993) - On our second day at sea we are still sailing toward St. Petersburg, Russia. Capt. Emmanuel Tzanis said we should arrive there about 7 a.m. This is not a speed run and we are averaging 14 knots.

400 Mile Flight, 8/13/1993 Takes Us To Moscow

Cruise Ship Docks At
St. Petersburg

By Bob Van Leer

(MOSCOW, RUSSIA, Aug. 13, 1993) - After a couple of leisurely days at sea we made up for it today with a full schedule that started at the docks in St. Petersburg, Russia, and ended at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow.

Kremlin Government, 8/14/1993 And Religious Symbol of Russia

Afternoon Flight Takes Us
Back To St. Petersburg

By Bob Van Leer

(ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, Aug. 14, 1993) - We arrived back at our cruise ship, Crown Odyssey, this evening after a full day starting at Moscow. The feature of the day was a tour of the Kremlin including its famous Armory which contains a few displays of medieval arms and a lot of displays of early Russian metalworking art, jewelry and clothing.

Helsinki Finland, 8/15/1993 Small But Prosperous National Capital

Became Independent After
Russian Revolution

By Bob Van Leer

(HELSINKI, FINLAND, Aug. 15, 1993) - Our stay in Helsinki was short. Our cruise ship entered Helsinki harbor, small as major ports go, at 11 this morning for our six-hour stay.  With bow thrusters this ship is highly maneuverable in spite of its size. Docking involved making a 180 degree turn and then backing alongside the dock, all without the assistance of tugs. It was impressive to watch the smooth way this was done. We were tied up and had port clearance by noon and could leave the ship.

Restored 15th Century Ship, 8/16/1993 One of Sweden's Attractions

Sunk In 1628 On Its
Maiden Voyage

By Bob Van Leer

(STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, Aug. 16, 1993) - Sweden is the most populous of the Scandinavian nations with a population of approximately 8.5 million. Our cruise ship, Crown Odyssey, arrived here this morning for a short visit.