Learn more about this series of blogs by Michael's manager here.

• If you're not joining us on the 2012 cruise yet, get info and book here now.

Day #2:   Leaving Boston... Exploring the MS Maasdam...  Pulling Into Bar Harbor, Maine

• Well....I can't say enough about the great time we had in Boston.  We walked The Freedom Trail...saw the graves of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock...visited The Commons....The Old North Church...The Meeting House.....etc.  It was also fun to tip our hats i homage to the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.  And, oh yeah, did I mention - - I think we ate our weight in Seafood!!!
  
  We are already making plans to spend more time in Boston at the conclusion of our 2012 cruise.  It's a fabulous city - rich with history, live theater, great food and so much else to do.  While not as "exotic" in name as a stop at a remote Alaskan village or Caribbean Island - - - Boston really is one of my favorite destinations we have visited on a MWS cruise.
  
  We squeezed every minute out of Boston before being one of the last families to board the MS Maasdam to set sail.  In typical Holland America fashion we were greeted with warm smiles and felt like they had been planning this trip - just for us!
  
  We LOVE the ship.  This may be my favorite Holland America ship I have been on.  The Maasdam recently underwent a multi-million dollar restoration - and it shows!  It really is a beautiful, tasteful, luxury ship. 
  
  We took over 2000 people on our last cruise - and the Maasdam only holds about 1500.  So I was concerned that the ship might feel "small".  That is not the case at all.  The ship has every amenity we are used to - and more.  And many of the public spaces are much larger and better layed-out than on our previous ships.  The library/game-room has quickly become our favorite meeting-place/hang-out.  The lounges are more open in design and don't feel so cramped.
  
  The two rooms that do feel smaller are the dining room....and the concert venue.  Smaller is actually the wrong word - - - they feel more intimate.  And, in both cases, will work in our favor for the MWS Cruise.  The dining room is absolutely beautiful and has more of a "community" feel because you can see everyone else in the dining room.  I really liked it.
  
  And....the really good news....No More Waiting In Line For A Great Seat For The Concerts!!!  It's likely - even in the furthest seat in the room - you'll never be closer to the stage than in this concert venue!  The room is wide - allowing a lot of seats up close to the stage.  It's going to be PERFECT for the concerts each night.
  
  I'm sitting on my balcony typing this as we are pulling into our first stop - Bar Harbor, Maine.  It is very much the same feel as some of the Alaskan stops....small, beautiful islands, and fishing boats dot the water as we approach the pier.  Even before pulling into port - i'm really enjoying this stop!
  
  Sorry for such a l-o-n-g blog but, as you can tell, we're a bit excited about this cruise.  Can't wait to do this trip with you, our friends!!!!
  
  More later.....God Bless.....
  
  
• DIG DEEP ABOUT TOPICS IN THIS ENTRY
  
• BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS:  VISITORS GUIDE
• MS MAASDAM:  LEARN MORE AND DECK GUIDE
  
• BAR HARBOR, MAINE:  VISITORS GUIDE
• MICHAEL W. SMITH CRUISE & BOOKING INFO:  GO HERE
  
  
• READ THE PREVIOUS DAYS BLOG HERE:
  
• Day 1:  Arriving in Boston and Getting Started...

• READ THE NEXT DAYS BLOG HERE:
• Day 3: Halifax, Nova Scotia