Boarding a cruise ship for the first time, Matthew Dallas expected buffets, bingo and forced fun — but instead found a floating community moving through Asia at a refreshingly unhurried pace.
It is as surreal as it is exciting to wake up to the towering cityscape of Hong Kong peeking through the curtain.
It might have been more thrilling still to have been on deck as Holland America’s Volendam manoeuvred its way into Victoria Harbour at dawn but, alas, we may never know. A marital miscommunication about setting an alarm put pay to that plan.
No matter. If we have learned anything from the past two days at sea, and from the seasoned travellers aboard, it’s there is no need to stress - everything is at our leisure.
So following a quick detour for a caffeine hit, we are bound for the bow where we stand bewildered by the waterfront and skyscrapers wrapping around us.
