Dutch By Association

Costa Concordia

2012-01-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

Thoughts and prayers are with everyone as the rescue efforts and evacuation continues. It is my hope that this situation turns out as good as can possibly be expected. Unfortunately, some have already lost their lives and I know a lot of peoples' thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends tonight, as are those of everyone involved.

Latest news at time of posting:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/world/europe/italy-cruise-deaths/index.html

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year and any/all other applicable holiday messages to you and yours!

-DBA

Thanks for visiting!

2011-10-11T23:46:00.000-07:00

I hope all of the information provided and in some case chronicled over the last few years is of assistance when looking to plan a cruise (or your next cruise) with Holland America Line.

The search features on the right side of the blog can help you narrow the nearly 1000 posts to find precisely what you are looking for.

Cheers!

ms Westerdam Tour - Superior Verandah Suites SS 8068 and SS 8070

2011-08-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

Each variety of stateroom has a few rooms onboard each ship that are wheelchair accessible. These rooms allow for additional widths to accommodate a chair and have reconfigured bathrooms among other changes. Here are some pictures of SS 8068 which is wheelchair accessible.

Bed and desk area

Seating area

Door going out to verandah

Bathroom with full roll in shower (same space as where the toilet is)

As well as a more standard tub/shower combo but with additional grip bars

For comparison, here is SS 8070, the exact same room type but with regular accommodations for those not needing the space for a wheelchair or to assist with mobility issues. For more complete images, Access and Compliance has a full library of wheelchair accessible room images and can be contacted by phone or email.

Desk area with TV

Queen bed

sitting area

Separate shower stall and full tub/shower combo

Dual sinks here as well

ms Westerdam Tour - Deluxe Verandah Suite SA 7066

2011-08-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

Deluxe Verandah Suites, (depending on the ship category can be S, SQ, SA, SB, SC) are the second largest accommodations on every Holland America Line ship. Here are some pictures of SA 7066.

Bedding and desk area

Vanity area and bathroom

More of the bathroom which has 2 sinks, a tub/shower combo as well as a separate shower stall

More of the desk area

Desk area also showing the TV and speakers

Large seating area that turns into a double sleeper sofa.

ms Westerdam Tour - Penthouse Verandah Suite

2011-08-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

The Penthouse on Holland America Line's ships (category PS no matter the ship) is the creme de la creme of accommodations. Each suite is hand built onboard, these are NOT the "plug and play" boxes that you see if you follow the shipbuilding process, and features 1 kitchen, 2 bathrooms (1 7 piece bathroom and 1 guest bathroom), bedroom with vanity area, massive walk-in closet suitable for any length of voyage, expansive living room, a central music system available nearly anywhere in the suite and sliding glass doors to the large verandah complete with dining area, sun loungers and hot tub.

Having stayed in a Penthouse before on Eurodam this past December, I know all about the intricacies of these rooms, the perks and the additional items that come inside you would not find in lesser rooms, but being that I was on port side and thid was PS 7045 on starboard side, you would think I would have been less turned around in here. There have been a few changes to this suite over time, primarily the dining room chairs, but nevertheless, here is a look at 7045.

Art in the corridor across from the Penthouse's front door.

Art in the foyer upon entering. In this case it's a figure from Western Mexico dating back to 400 BC

The large seating area in the living room

TV in the living room. Inside the many cupboards and doors you will find a CD player, surround sound for the TV, DVD player and many other items. The main doors at bottom open up into a double, if not queen size, sofa bed.

View of the dining room from the living room. Note the bedroom in the distance

More art, this bust is located in the living room

The incredibly comfortable recliner in the living room.

The large king size bed, behind it, more art - a jewel and gold crusted nautilus shell

The amazing capsule shower with body jets, bench and foot massager

The dual sink countertop and jetted tub

A closeup of where your bath water comes from

A view of the living room and dining room, along with desk area by the window, from the bedroom

ms Westerdam Tour - Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar

2011-08-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Pinnacle Grill is one of the finest meals you will ever have onboard, and for just $25.00 per person at dinner, you can enjoy a multi-course meal with personal, attentive service. The decor of each Pinnacle Grill in the fleet is rather unique, and here is the design for Westerdam.

The entrance, as well as an embarkation day advertisement for the "Night at Le Cirque" menu which brings favorites from the New York and Las Vegas eatery for $39.00 per person.

Tables in the Pinnacle Grill

Additional tables

You guessedd it... additional tables

This section of 2 and 4 seat tables is in a semi-private area and all along a large bank of windows

The Pinnacle Bar is a venue that was first introduced on ms Noordam and over time was brought to her 3 sisters, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam as well as on Signature Class sisters Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam. As you've likely seen before, the layout and deign of each Pinnacle Bar is rather unique and creates its own feel for the ship's primary wine bar.

Pinnacle Bar counter area

From the bar looking toward the rest of the seating

Another view of the counter

One of the walls of the venue, with lots of display shelves of various vintages.

ms Westerdam Tour - The Atrium and Surrounding Spaces

2011-08-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Atrium is the main hub of the ship, spanning 3 decks with numerous venues, both entertaining and informational built around it. Here are some views of and around the Atrium on Decks 1-3.

The Waterford crystal Halve Maen (Half Moon) as seen from Ocean Bar, deck 3

Available at the Front Office, a look at where the HAL fleet is today, around the world.

Each ship has a massive, metal-engraved deckplan available for guest reference, adjacent to the Front Office

The Guest Relations Manager's desk, near the Frnt Office, allows for inquiries, meetings and discussions. On some cruises it may also be used for a group's reception area.

Ground floor of the Atrium. Seating, a bar and at embarkation, a place for the music of the Adagio Strings to welcome guests onboard

A view of the Waterford sculpture on deck 3, from deck 1

Another view of the Atrium Bar

More atrium seating and the temporary Adagio Strings setup

The Future Cruise Consultant's desk.

Additional information about booking a next cruise while still onboard.

The Pinnacle Grill also oversees the atrium. Here's the view from deck 2.

Another view from deck 2.

Ground level, from deck 3

Elevators are immediately adjacent to the Atrium.

The midship elevator lobby holds 6 elevators, including the 4 class elevators, 2 on either side.

Other space not specifically depicted in here include:

The Front Office (aka 'Purser's Desk/Guest Relations Desk')

Shore Excursions Desk

Seen elsewhere on this coverage of Westerdam and adjacent to the Atrium:

Pinncle Grill

Pinnacle Bar

Ocean Bar

ms Westerdam Tour - The Outer Decks

2011-08-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was able to tour ms Westerdam. Given that the ship was in Europe and Africa last year for the World Cup, it's been a bit since I've had a chance to see her. Here's a few images of the exterior and outer decks to get us started.

From inside the shuttle that goes between the Smith Cove parking lot and Cruise Terminal

Side view showing the glass elevators and crew gangway

Exterior area, deck 10 forward, just outside of the Crow's Nest. Stairs up head to the top of the ship, the coins and more deck space.

Westerdam's mast and radar array

Deck space just aft of what is shown above. The octagonal benches surround the skylight that is also the ceiling of the hydropool in the GreenHouse Spa one deck below

The magrodome and walking track at the top of the ship, looking aft

Dolphins at the Lido Pool midship

Lido Pool looking aft

Lido Pool looking forward

The aft pool

Seaview Bar

Artwork at the aft pool

A Peek at the Seattle HQ

2011-08-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

A quick look at a part of the HQ. The main lobby as you walk in through the front doors. And for those curious, that's the bell from 1959's ss Rotterdam V.

Let's take a different approach...

2011-08-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

Where would you like to travel? Time and money are no issue. You just need to decide a realistic 7-14 day itinerary anywhere in the world.

Where would you go? Why? Does it hold a special meaning or is it something on the bucket list?

Use the comment feature at the bottom of this post and tell me where you would LOVE to go!

DBA

Get the feeling HAL Europe 2012 has quite a bit to offer?

2011-07-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

From the new Cruise Atlas 2012-2013 brochure, pages 84-85 offer a quick "at a glance" of all the offerings we have in the region. From itineraries people have grown to love, to unique itineraries you've always dreamed to go on.

7-42 days, a 64 day Grand Mediterranean cruise and a once-in-a-lifetime 3 month voyage on the Rotterdam, there is truly something here for everyone!

Happy hunting! 27 pages of search results for Europe cruises on the HAL website are here. Click to begin!

HAL's Smoking Policy Adjustment

2011-06-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

As per the HAL website following today's announcement. New portion is in red:

For the comfort of all of our guests, based on an increased desire expressed by the majority of our guests, we are changing our smoking policy as of January 15, 2012.
Presently, all indoor areas are designated non-smoking with the exception of:

Casino
Northern Lights Disco (ms Eurodam, ms Oosterdam, ms Noordam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam & ms Zuiderdam only)
Seaview Bar (except ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam & ms Statendam)
Sports Bar
Crow's Nest (except ms Eurodam, ms Oosterdam, ms Noordam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam & ms Zuiderdam)

All showrooms are nonsmoking during performances.
There are selected areas of the outside decks where smoking is allowable. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the outside decks.
Our ships do not currently have "nonsmoking" staterooms; however, all rooms are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise to assure the comfort of our guests

For all cruises departing on or after January 15, 2012
All staterooms will be non-smoking areas, in addition to the other areas that were already defined as non-smoking. Smoking will continue to be permitted outside on stateroom verandahs. There are designated areas available for smoking both inside the ships and on outside decks as detailed above.

Oosterdam Visit 2011 - Around the Ship

2011-06-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

May 29th, 2011 I was able to go onboard and visit the ms Oosterdam. Here's some pictures from around the ship.

Oosterdam Visit 2011 - Artwork

2011-06-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was on Oosterdam for a visit Memorial Day weekend and had a chance to take a lot of photos around the ship. Here is some of the artwork found aboard.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

I usually try and post something patriotic (red, white, blue) for Memorial Day, and this time around I can take some assistance from Nieuw Amsterdam to do so.

Whatever you do, and whatever Memorial Day is to you (a time of rememberance, a long weekend off, a roadtrip/camping or a big family BBQ) I wish you all a happy and safe time.

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise - Captain Morgan's On The Rocks

2011-05-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned the bar on the blog before. Here's pictures from my two visits in March 2011. Enjoy!

You're already here...

2011-05-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

but you can still share the love!!

You obviously follow the DBA blog . If you have a smart phone, now you can check out all the HAL info while on the go! Use your device's barcode scanner and read up on all the latest - my blog is definitely smartphone friendly on your browser! Not to mention, this is going to be a HUGE Memorial Day weekend for posts! Keep your eyes peeled, there may even be a giveaway!

Nieuw Amsterdam - An Evening at Le Cirque

2011-05-22T17:42:00.000-07:00

At the time of this posting, the menu for the Evening at Le Cirque is being modified around the fleet and is already available on some, if not most, ships. While these images reflect Le Cirque's Menu version 1.0, I decided to share these anyway.

Starter - Foie Gras Pate with Rhubarb Chutney

Salad - Lobster Salad Le Cirque

Soup - Sweet Corn Soup

Entree - Halibut with a port wine reduction sauce and leek fondue

Dessert - Creme Brulee

Nieuw Amsterdam - The Deck Plans

2011-05-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Your deck plans, should you require them!

Nieuw Amsterdam - The Art of Stephen Card (Forward Stairwells)

2011-05-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

Nieuw Amsterdam - The Coins

2011-05-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

The coins above the Crow's Nest on Nieuw Amsterdam. You haven't seen these since the HAL Blog showed the Madrina ceremony. Madrina of Nieuw Amsterdam is Hana Alice Rijkaart, wife of Peter Rijkaart who is the DIrector of Newbuilds for Holland America Line.

The special coins used in the ceremony were minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the New York river that now bears his name. In 1609, Hudson, an English explorer employed by the Dutch East India Company, sailed his ship, Half Moon, up that river. Although Hudson did not find the shorter route to the Far East that he was seeking, he did find a land rich in natural resources and friendly natives who were willing to trade furs for beads and trinkets. Hudson’s explorations led a few years later to the first permanent Dutch settlement in North America — a tiny village on the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which was named Nieuw Amsterdam.

Nieuw Amsterdam - The Atrium

2011-05-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

The centerpiece of Nieuw Amsterdam's Atrium is a 3000 pound crystal sculpture that not only shows the New York skyline, but also it's reflection in the Hudson River. Throughout the day the colors of the sculpture rotate, both with mood (daytime/nighttime) and also in sequence.

Nieuw Amsterdam's Showroom at Sea

2011-05-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Easily one of the most beautiful spaces on Nieuw Amsterdam is the Showroom at Sea. This venue has theater style seating bothon the main floor and in the balcony, cupholders in every seat, a gorgeous deco style and some of the most cutting edge technology of any theater in the world, especially those at sea.

Here are some pictures around the venue and during shows like Cantare and NYC.

Veendam's Retreat

2011-05-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

There's been a recent evolution onboard Veendam that I wanted to share. From start, through the process of changing to the Retreat and evolving into the latest incarnation of the Retreat. Consider this a "yearbook" if you will of the changes that have occurred to Veendam's aft over the years.

Some additional images of the new Retreat, taken by a guest on the recent May 8th sailing and posted recently on Cruise Critic. User's name is FoxyTerrier. Thanks for posting the pictures FoxyTerrier! Here they are:

The Retreat is now a complex of 4 hot tubs... Or rather, I should say 2 hot tubs and 2 hot/cool tubs that can either operate at a cooler temperature in warm climates, or can be additional hot tubs when the demand is there and/or cooler climates. The area has been built up a little more so the views from this area are much better. There are also tile benches and seats, teak decking and both stairs and wheelchair ramps so that all can access this area.

Refreshing (the) Retreat

2011-05-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the changes being made to Veendam's retreat while they were underway last week in Freeport, Bahamas.

What Day Is It?

2011-04-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

I'm still on the search for a Wednesday... I could have sworn we took one. But here's the various days of the week allthroughout the ship on Nieuw Amsterdam.

Tender Differences

2011-04-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

You may remember that when Nieuw Amsterdam was still being built and outfitted, quite a bit of attention was drawn to the fact that the tenders were a drastically new design. You might be asking yourself how can the tenders really vary? A tender is a tender.

Here's your answer. Zuiderdam and Zuiderdam's tender on left, Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw Amsterdam's tender on right. It's also a great picture of two ships at Half Moon Cay. Finally, it shows the last ship I was on, and the next ship I'll be on! Just a few more days to go!

Eurodam after dry dock

2011-04-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Eurodam's first dry dock brought around a few changes, including a synthetic teak tecking at the midship lido pool (previously a painted design), marble counters in the Lido Restaurant, new hull paint and a little touch that reminds of her younger sister, Nieuw Amsterdam. Have a look:

Work underway on the new 'teak' decking.

End result

Nieuw Amsterdam nod #1 - Curtains for the Pinnacle Grill

Nieuw Amsterdam nod #2 - look closely. Rugs with the day of the week are going in

Marble counters in the lido

Maasdam is now post-SOE 2.0

2011-04-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the beautiful and elegant ms Maasdam after her dry dock in Freeport.

Maasdam headed to dry dock for SOE 2

2011-04-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit behind on posts lately, but here's pics of Maasdam with containers in tow on the way to Freeport for the SOE 2 changes in dry dock.

What all is happening?

• Install shops/casino and Mix lounge — where we now have the piano and casino bar and shops

• All staterooms will get new bathrooms and new carpets and soft goods
• 29 Lanai staterooms will be built on Lower Promenade deck
• Club HAL area will be redesigned
• Rembrandt Lounge will be rebuilt to Showroom at Sea
• The escalators to nowhere will be removed and two staterooms added in this area
• All crew cabins will be refurbished

Stay tuned to MUCH more from Maasdam over the next couple days!

When Amsterdam Meets Nieuw

2011-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam and Nieuw Amsterdam met today for the first time. Thanks to Nieuw Amsterdam's Beverage Manager Murat for the great picture.

We're Back!

2011-04-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

DBA is working hard on some new posts for you. They will be uploaded once they are done.

In the mean time, here is a picture of Bernard, Isaac, and toy Dozer on the Nieuw Amsterdam as they cruised with us on our Caribbean cruise.

Celebrity chef, restaurateur Michelle Bernstein to sail on Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Amsterdam June 3

2011-04-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Seattle, April 7, 2011 — Michelle Bernstein, award-winning chef, restaurateur and culinary author from Miami, Fla., is scheduled to participate in the guest-enrichment program on the June 3, 2011, Mediterranean Romance Voyage aboard the line’s newest ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam.

Bernstein sails on the 12-day voyage departing from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will call at Catania, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kerkira (Corfu), Argostoli and Thira (Santorini), Greece. The voyage also features scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina, a narrow passage between the eastern tip of Sicily and the southern tip of Calabria, Italy.

During the cruise, Chef Bernstein will perform cooking demonstrations for guests in the ship’s state-of-the-art show kitchen and participate in question and answer sessions.

A Miami native of Jewish and Latin descent, the effervescent chef has dazzled diners and critics alike with her flavorful Latin-inspired cuisine and charming personality for nearly two decades. The professional ballerina turned award-winning gourmet chef realized her true passion for cooking after taking a class on nutrition and later enrolled in Johnson and Wales University’s College of Culinary Arts. After graduating Bernstein trained under iconic French Chef Jean-Louis Palladin and began working with renowned chefs at several premier restaurants including Red Fish Grill, The Strand and Tantra in Miami Beach. Bernstein later served as lead chef at Azul, the Mandarin Oriental’s signature restaurant in Miami, where she became a powerful force in the city’s burgeoning culinary movement. She later became a household name after serving as a judge on Bravo’s acclaimed “Top Chef” series and host of the PBS series, “Check, Please!”

For two years, Bernstein co-hosted The Food Network's “Melting Pot,” a show that presented the traditions, stories and recipes of her Latin background. She also was a competitor and winner on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” series. She has been featured in both “The New York Times” and “Bon Appétit” magazine for one of the “50 Best Dishes in the World” and in ”Gourmet” and “Food & Wine” magazines, for one of the best hotel restaurants in the country.

Bernstein’s restaurant ventures include Michy's and Sra. Martinez in Miami, MB in Cancun, Mexico, and Michelle Bernstein at The Omphoy in Palm Beach, Fla.

In 2004, Chef Bernstein was nominated by the James Beard Foundation, the nation's premier honor for culinary professionals, in the coveted “Best Chefs in America: Southeast Region” category. In 2007, she won the prestigious James Beard Award for “Best Chef: South.” Bernstein recently was awarded a Doctorate in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University.

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center is featured on each of the line’s 15 ships. A first-class “show kitchen at sea,” the Culinary Arts Centers presented by “Food & Wine“ magazine resembles the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. The facilities are used for demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes during every Holland America Line sailing.

Each facility features a theater-style venue with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter. In partnership with “Food & Wine” magazine, Holland America Line will schedule approximately 65 celebrated chefs and wine experts to sail in 2011. On cruises that do not have a celebrity chef on board, classes and demonstrations are conducted by Holland America Line’s own expert chefs.

Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute-long classes.

Kids under 8 years old learn to make theme cookies, fruit roll-ups, ice cream sandwiches, salad people art and scones. Kids 8 and over make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips and hummus, and saltwater taffy. Teens also can attend adult culinary demonstrations.

The Culinary Arts Center and guest enrichment program are part of Holland America Line’s innovative and leading culinary initiatives, which also include a partnership with Le Cirque to present “An Evening at Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill” and a Culinary Council comprised of renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Jacques Torres, Charlie Trotter and the line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin.

For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest program, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Enrichment.actionand click on the Culinary Arts Center tab.

Mariners add Holland America Line to Safeco Field corporate partners

2011-04-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

Holland America Line, the Seattle-based premium cruise line, and the Seattle Mariners announced a three-year partnership that, in addition to the corporate sponsorship, includes two community-based programs that will benefit breast cancer awareness and research and children at Seattle area hospitals.

The private suite level at Safeco Field will now be known as the “Holland America Line Suite Deck.” There will also be an annual Mariners-themed cruise on board Holland America Line beginning in 2012, and a naming sponsorship for the annual Fan Appreciation Night, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 17. Per Seattle Mariners policy, no terms of the agreement will be released.

"Holland America Line matches up with the Seattle Mariners on so many levels. It is a Northwest-based company with a record for giving back to the community, environmental stewardship and excellence in customer service. We are happy to welcome Holland America Line to the Mariners Safeco Field lineup,” said Bob Aylward, Mariners Executive Vice President Corporate Business for the Seattle Mariners.

“We are pleased to partner with the Seattle Mariners, one of the country’s preeminent sports franchises,” said Richard Meadows, CTC, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs, of Holland America Line. “For our company, this is an ideal way to support an organization that brings so much to Seattle and to further our own philanthropic efforts by working together to make a difference.”

On Deck for the Cure

The Mariners and Holland America Line will partner on Mother’s Day in the Major League Baseball Honorary Bat Girl program. As proud supporters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Holland America Line and the Seattle Mariners will host 200 local breast cancer survivors and their families at Safeco Field on May 8, when the Mariners take on the Chicago White Sox. This annual program is part of MLB’s “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer,” in conjunction with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Louisville Slugger.

Holland America Line’s innovative “On Deck for the Cure” program – a non-competitive 5k fundraising walk held on board over 500 cruises a year – has raised more than $2.5 million to fight breast cancer in less than five years. Additionally, this summer Holland America Line will host the Komen Puget Sound Affiliate’s annual Survivor Celebration luncheon for 400 guests on board one of their cruise ships for the fourth consecutive year.

Holland America Line Get Well Tours

Holland America Line will also be the presenting sponsor of the Seattle Mariners Get Well Tours, visits to area hospitals by Mariners players and the Mariner Moose at which children will receive photos and autographs and a Holland America Line-branded sports bag filled with Mariners and baseball-related items such as replica baseballs and a stuffed Moose doll.

Holland America Line Fan Appreciation Night

Holland America Line will be the presenting sponsor of the annual Fan Appreciation Night celebration at Safeco Field. Scheduled for Saturday, September 17, Fan Appreciation Night is a celebration of the loyalty and support of Mariners fans with random drawings for prizes throughout the game. As part of its sponsorship, Holland America Line will provide cruises to be given away on Fan Appreciation Night.

Holland America Line increases guest capacity for 2012 Alaska season

2011-04-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Four itineraries on seven ships range from seven to 14 days

Seattle, Wash., April 4, 2011 — Beginning in May 2012, Holland America Line will feature four Alaska cruise itineraries on seven of its mid-sized vessels, totaling 130 departures from May 2 through Sept. 23. The extensive itinerary offerings will increase the line’s guest capacity in the region by nearly 6 percent.

Guests can choose from a selection of seven- to 14-day cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle, Wash., and Vancouver, British Columbia, and also between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Guests will have the opportunity to visit some of the region’s most popular ports of call and scenic surroundings, including Alaska’s famed Inside Passage and Glacier Bay National Park, a glacier-crowned maritime wilderness that stretches over 3.3 million acres.

“Alaska itineraries continue to be among the most popular cruises Holland America Line offers, and our increased capacity means more guests will have the opportunity to explore a region that has so much to offer culturally, historically and experientially,” said Richard Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.” Cruising is one of the best ways to experience Alaska so you can get up close to a glacier, visit several ports or perhaps even see some wildlife from the comfort of your balcony.”

Three Options for Roundtrip Seattle Alaskan Explorer Voyages

Both ms Oosterdam and ms Westerdam will sail the seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyage departing roundtrip from Seattle May 6 and 12, respectively. The itinerary features port calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia, and a scenic cruising experience at Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers. The 1,380-guest ms Amsterdam will homeport in Seattle and includes two Alaskan Explorer sailings on May 18 and May 25.

Amsterdam then sails a series of 14-day Alaskan Explorer voyages beginning June 1 for a total of eight sailings. From Seattle, the itinerary features port calls at Ketchikan, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Icy Strait Point and Sitka, Alaska; as well as Vancouver Island and Victoria. The itinerary also features scenic cruising through Alaska's Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord. In Anchorage, the ship spends a full day and evening, allowing diverse optional shore tours from cultural exploration at the Native Heritage Center to spectacular flightseeing around 20,320-foot Mt McKinley and Denali National Park.

During embarkation for the Seattle voyages, a ranger from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park will be available to talk to guests about the Klondike parks and other national parks located throughout the Inside Passage. On all Glacier Bay sailings, a park ranger and native interpreters from the Huna people board the ships to explain the origins of their tribe and cultural traditions.

Seven-Day Inside Passage Voyages Sail from Vancouver

Three Holland America Line ships – ms Volendam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Zaandam – will sail roundtrip from Vancouver on a series of seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail a total of 41 voyages

Holland America line partners with U.S. National Park Service to produce Glacier Bay ranger podcasts

2011-04-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Seattle, Wash., Mar. 21, 2011 – Holland America Line has joined with the U.S. National Park Service to produce a “Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology” that gives guests a unique glimpse into one of the largest protected wilderness areas in North America.

Narrators Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman, radio personalities and hosts of Holland America Line’s iPod Art Tours, present a rare insider’s view into this land of scenic and natural wonders. Each podcast includes in-depth interviews with Glacier Bay scientists, rangers, administrators and even an elder from the native Huna tribe.

“Holland America Line’s enrichment program is one of the most important elements of our cruise experience, and this project enables us to offer our guests unprecedented access to the experts who know this region better than anyone,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, of Holland America Line. “We have been exploring the pristine waters of Glacier Bay for many years even before it was a national park, and with these in-depth podcasts our guests will develop a deeper appreciation of this beautiful area.”

The one-of-a-kind auditory adventures offer inspiring insights about the early exploration of Glacier Bay, the spectacular glacial fjords, snow-capped mountain ranges and the region’s marine and terrestrial wildlife. The 16 podcasts begin with a welcome message from Cherry Payne, former superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park, and Randy Thomas, a ranger naturalist, who guide listeners on how to get the most out of their Holland America Line Alaska Glacier Bay cruise experience.

“Through these podcasts, our ranger naturalists and experts will take Holland America Line guests on a journey to the last ice age, where they can discover a breathtaking land that continues to attract thousands of visitors each year,” said Tom VandenBerg, supervisory park ranger and the podcast project coordinator from Glacier Bay National Park. “This diverse area is so impressive and extensive that listeners will learn something new in every podcast.”

The “Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology” joins Holland America Line’s exclusive iPod Art Tours, a self-guided walking tour of each ship’s extensive art collection, that also are available for download.

Listeners can download all 16 of the “Glacier Bay Ranger” podcasts, or only a specific audio file, onto a personal iPod, MP3 or portable media player before embarking on a Holland America Line Alaska cruise to Glacier Bay. Preloaded podcasts on iPods also are available on board for checkout. The “Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology” is available for download on the Holland America Line website at www.hollandamerica.com/GlacierBayPodcast.

I'm here afterall!

2011-03-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Turns out I'll be posting live afterall. In order to keep my online postings faster, I'll be sharing my day by day with the HAL Blog for them to post up directly. Once home, I will make the posts here as well along with a lot more photos than those I am sharing with the HAL blog.

Want to follow me while I'm on this sailing?
www.hollandamericablog.com
My posts will be scattered amongst all the other postings. My embarkation day was just sent off and should be up relatively soon!

In true John Heald spirit, WYWH (wish you were here)
DBA

Goodbye everyone! (for 2 weeks)

2011-03-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! At 6:10am on 3/19/11 I'll be flying to Ft. Lauderdale to see my "other baby," the other ship in the fleet besides Eurodam that I've been affiliated with since she was just building blocks at Fincantieri... Nieuw Amsterdam.

From there, I'll be onboard for 2 weeks and in that time will see some very dear friends (both personal and work-related) and will get an even better taste of the Caribbean. As many of you read, my week on Eurodam was a lot of firsts. First time in Florida, first time on Eurodam, first time on a Signature Class, first time staying in (and paying for) a Penthouse Suite, first Caribbean cruise and a few others.

Here I'll have some firsts as well... First time on Nieuw Amsterdam, first time I've taken a 2 week cruise, first time I've been on a back to back (aka Collector's Voyage) cruise, first time celebrating TWENTY total cruises (okay, maybe that one is milking it a touch)...

Unlike Eurodam, I won't be reporting live through both here and the HAL Blog. This is a cruise where I'm hoping to just fully escape (to partially borrow from Princess' marketing) and just fully relax without any pressures of reports, timeframes and so forth. It'll also be a chance to celebrate my engagement which has been in effect since New Year's Day 2011.

Here's a few things though that I hope to be able to come back with:

A very detailed photo tour of the ship
Pictures from all the various ports (Half Moon Cay x2, Grand Turk x2, St. Maarten, San Juan, Grand Cayman and Costa Maya) that show the true port experience or some of the featured wildlife. We have tours involving sea turtles and stingrays among others.
A look at some of my personal favorite places, corners, nooks, getaways... whatever you want to call them, that let you be on a ship of near 90,000 GRT and 2100+ guests yet still feel like you're in your own little world. HAL ships already do that by the way, but where are the BEST ones... that's what I hope to learn and share with you.
Staff and crew features if I can get some time, highlighting some of the incredible staff that will be onboard during my stay. Among those I hope to interview are Captain Jonathan Mercer whom I have had a couple pieces on in the past.
Specifics, differences, intricacies of the Collector Voyage experience specifically.
Much more

So if you'll bear with me here, I likely won't have any posts up until I return and re-settle. That will all happen at some point the week of April 3.

Safe travels to all and I'll be back before you know it!

DBA

iPod Art Tours

2011-03-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

Holland America Line is known for the extensive art collections onboard each ship. Now, fine art goes high tech when you sail with Holland America Line. We invite you to enjoy the self-guided walking tour for each ship which highlights the art onboard an eclectic collection that is valued at tens of millions of dollars.

Narrated by well-known radio hosts Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman, the 30- to 40-minute tours include walking directions, interviews with artists, background music and thumbnails of some of the artwork. Download the ship-specific art tour onto your personal iPod®, MP3 or portable media player before you embark on your Holland America Line cruise. Pre-loaded art tours are also available on board.

Download for FREE by clicking here

You can also learn more about the $4,000,000 per ship collections by following this link:
http://www.hollandamerica.com/artcollection

A Word About Mazatlan

2011-03-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 14, 2011
Holland America Line Cancels Spring 2011 Mazatlán Port Calls

At Holland America Line, the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. As such, for the remainder of the 2011 Spring cruise season we are replacing Mazatlán on our published itineraries as follows:
ms Oosterdam 7-day cruises departing March 12th, 19th, 26th and April 9th and 16th will now feature two days in Puerto Vallarta with an overnight on day three.
The April 2nd departure will instead overnight in Cabo San Lucas on day four.

The 10- or 14-day sailing on ms Zaandam departing April 10th and ms Oosterdam departing April 23rd will now call a second time in Cabo San Lucas on day six.

Affected guests and travel agents are being notified.

Discussions will continue with local authorities in Mazatlán to determine the appropriate time to resume port calls there.

Should future itinerary changes be made, affected travel agents and guests will be notified.

Japan

2011-03-11T10:46:00.000-08:00

Thoughts and prayers to all in the region, or that know anyone in the region following today's massive earthquake and subsequent tsunamis.

Meet the Culinary Council

2011-03-04T22:46:00.000-08:00

Tiziano Turns 4!

2011-03-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

From Marco van Belleghem, Nieuw Amsterdam's current Hotel Manager:
Today we celebrated my son’s fourth birthday. He loves pirates so his birthday party was decorated with a pirate theme and the little man himself was dressed as a pirate! The gorgeous cake was made of hazelnut praline and marzipan by second pâtissier Renebert Jalata and tasted delicious! All in all, Tiziano had a wonderful birthday celebration!

Half Moon Cay According to Marco

2011-03-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Nieuw Amsterdam's current Hotel Manager Marco van Belleghem provided the HAL Blog with some great pictures of Half Moon Cay today. He provided ME with higher res versions of these images so you can see them in greater detail and/or use them for wallpaper on your computer. I'm sure everyone will truly enjoy these Marco, thank you!

Stateroom Direct is Here!

2011-03-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE LAUNCHES ‘STATEROOM DIRECT SERVICE’ PROGRAM ON ALL SAILINGS
New initiative allows guests immediate access to their stateroom upon embarkation

Seattle, Wash., Mar. 2, 2011 – Holland America Line has launched a new Stateroom Direct Service program that simplifies the boarding process by giving guests immediate access to their staterooms upon embarkation.Under the program, staterooms will be ready as early as 11:30 a.m., and cruisers will no longer have to check their carry-on bags and wait in public areas while their staterooms are being prepared.

Additionally, arriving guests will receive their luggage earlier, allowing them more time to unpack and settle into their rooms. Guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at their leisure in the line’s Lido restaurant, which features a full-service buffet. “Holland America Line is always seeking new ways to enhance our on-board cruise experience, and through this streamlined boarding process guests can now get into their staterooms earlier and begin enjoying their vacation sooner,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Stateroom Direct Service creates the best start to a cruise for our guests and sets the precedent for top-notch service to follow.” The early embarkation initiative is in place on all of the line’s 15 vessels.

As part of its on-going fleetwide Signature of Excellence enhancement program, Stateroom Direct Service adds to Holland America Line’s long list of exclusive offerings that allow guests to maximize their premium cruise experience and start enjoying the on-board facilities and amenities as soon as they board the ships.

From the Readers: Kathi on Maasdam

2011-03-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

Here's some great pics of Maasdam not too long before her big dry dock this Spring. Thanks to Kathi for taking the time to contact me before her cruise and ask if there was anything on my wishlist. Of course I said "Everything" and I'm appreciative of the pics she managed to capture!

Besides some of the public spaces, she also included images of her room (662) and a few from the Penthouse where her friends were staying.

Thanks for everything Kathi!

Volendam and Amsterdam in Tauranga

2011-03-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

Special thanks to Norma for this great pic of two HAL ships in the port of Tauranga!

BREAKING: Oosterdam Sailing in Australia in 2012/2013 Season!

2011-03-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

Holland America Line Deepens its Commitment to the Australian Market with Increased Capacity and Dedicated Distribution

Seattle, WA, March 1, 2011 - Holland America Line continues to strengthen its commitment to the Australian marketplace with the announcement of the Vista-class ms Oosterdam deployment to the South Pacific for the 2012-13 season. This will boost Holland America Line's capacity in the region by almost 25 percent. In preparation for the increase, the line is opening a dedicated sales, marketing and reservations office in Sydney.

This follows an earlier announcement marking the 2011-12 season as the first time the line will have two ships sailing a series of itineraries in the region simultaneously. The 1,926 passenger Oosterdam will join ms Volendam, replacing the 1,432 passenger ms Zaandam in 2012-13. Ten to 25-day itineraries will be introduced in and around Australia and New Zealand.

To support the increasing sales demands, Holland America will work directly with Australian travel sellers, transitioning from a general sales agent arrangement with Travel the World. The Holland America Line Australia organization will reside at the offices of sister brand Carnival Australia and will include an independent sales team as well as marketing, reservations and administrative support for travel agents. The transition period is expected to be completed by December 2011. All current contracts and groups will remain in effect.

“Our relationship with Travel the World has been one of our longest and most successful GSA partnerships. Andrew Millmore, his family, and staff have done a superlative job for us and for that we are extremely grateful,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. “This is a natural next step in our strategy to expand our premium brand internationally. We are inspired by the continued demand for cruising in Australia and are confident this model - similar to what we have in Europe - will be successful in supporting our growth here.”

Detailed deployment for the 2012-13 Australia and New Zealand season will be announced later this year.

Ship of the Year!!

2011-02-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S MS NIEUW AMSTERDAM NAMED 2011 SHIP OF THE YEAR BY WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

Seattle, Wash., Feb. 28, 2011 – Holland America Line's latest edition to the fleet, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, was voted Ship of the Year for 2011 by members of the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS).

The award was announced in the February issue of Ocean & Cruise News, the society’s 16-page monthly publication. "In order for a ship to become our ‘Ship of the Year,’ it takes an exceptional consistency of high marks in each of the grading categories,” wrote Thomas Cassidy, editor of Ocean and Cruise News. “Our congratulations go to Holland America Line and the crew of the Nieuw Amsterdam on delivering the highest degree of passenger satisfaction to our members.”

“Nieuw Amsterdam quickly has become a guest favorite since it debuted, and knowing that our ship stood out and was recognized by the most experienced and dedicated cruisers is a true honor,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “With each new ship we introduce more innovative features, amenities and partnerships that enable us continually to add value to our product and brand, and our guests truly appreciate that.”

One hundred fifty-one ships from all major cruise lines were rated in the survey, which is based on passenger satisfaction in categories ranging from culinary and service to itineraries and shipboard activities and entertainment. From 1982, when Ship of the Year surveys began, Holland America Line ships have received top honors ten times — more than any other cruise company’s ships.

The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society was founded in 1980 and is considered to be the oldest and largest cruise organization of its kind. WOCLS is composed of more than 7,500 experienced cruisers who take, on average, two cruises each year.

Prinsendam's Front Office Staff Changes It Up

2011-02-23T20:56:00.000-08:00

Gary Mangahas, Guest Relations Manager on the Prinsendam for the current Grand South America voyage sent me some pictures of the crew on various theme nights where everyone, even the Guest Relations staff, gets into the spirit. Everyone's position is listed with their name the first time it's shown, and for reference:
GRA = Guest Relations Attendant
GRS = Guest Relations Supervisor

Anyone recognize a favorite crew member from a recent sailing? Let me know, and I'll make sure the messages get back to the ship for their reading enjoyment!

Thanks to Gary for the great pictures!

Greeting Guests in the Dining Room (L-R): Pia Santos (GRA), Joyce Canlas (GRA), Gildus (Dining Room Manager), Lucy Malquevee (GRS), John Elihay (GRA), Carene Marcaida (GRA)

Gaucho (L-R): Lucy (GRS), Rome Garcia (GRA), Ellen Assistio (GRA), Pia (GRA), Angelo Tomas (Neptune Concierge), Denise Schopen (International Concierge)

Gaucho Theme (L-R): Carene, John and Ellen

Carnival Theme (L-R): John, Tina Kuehnpast (GRS), Rome and Ellen

Valentine’s (L-R): Carene, John, Pia, Rome, Lucy and Joyce

Prinsendam In-Depth - Category PS

2011-02-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Penthouse aboard any Holland America Line ship is always a source of awe and wonder. I've featured them here on my blog several times. From the times I've toured a ship and ended up getting a look at the best of the best, to Rotterdam's inaugural arrival here in Seattle where I was able to see that all 4 Penthouse Suites received their own color scheme and decor, to the recent Eurodam cruise where I was the inhabitant for a cruise. While there is a rather uniform feeling throughout the rest of the fleet between the various room types (most oceanview rooms are the same fleetwide, same with the verandah rooms, etc) the Penthouses are always a time where the ship's designers can show off a bit more. It's a chance to get ultra-luxurious, the bathrooms feature only the finest materials, fixtures and so forth. The verandahs are much larger and there are individual rooms.

Prinsendam is no exception to this rule, and I hope you'll agree that this is not just another stateroom. Its style is also somewhat unique, having been built originally for Royal Viking Sun, then modified by Seabourn when she was the Seabourn Sun and finally with the adjustements implemented by Holland America Line. May I introduce Prinsendam's Penthouse Suite 008 aka the Titan Suite.

Prinsendam In-Depth - Category Q

2011-02-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

Prinsendam is the only ship in the current HAL fleet to have single occupancy oceanview rooms. And there's only 2 of them. Located all the way forward on Upper Promenade Deck are 2 rooms that have never been seen by most, they are Category Q, rooms 100 and 101. So if you will, consider this your "101" on these 2 rooms.

Prinsendam In-Depth - Category R

2011-02-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

Prinsendam has something that no other Holland America Line ships have at present, and that is a single occupancy interior room. Because these single occupancy rooms are so rare, even onboard Prinsendam, the website does not have representative images, floor plans or virtual 360-degree tours. As such, have a look at one of the few rarities in the fleet, Prinsendam's Category R - Room 501.

Blast from the Past - Westerdam and Prinsendam

2011-02-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

The current ms Westerdam and the former Westerdam (now Thomson Dream) met recently in Willemstad (Curacao) Photo : Matthijs Duppen ©

The former Prinsendam seen in 1977 moored in Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) Photo : John Papenhuyzen ©

This Weekend...

2011-02-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

it's Prinsendam, like you've never seen her before.

Full tours of the three most intriguing categories that actually have some of the least information.

Category R - Single Occupance Interior Room
Category Q - Single Occupancy Oceanview Room
Category PS - Penthouse Suite

We'll go in depth on these rooms this weekend, so keep checking back!

DBA

32 Days and counting

2011-02-15T22:23:00.000-08:00

In just a short 32 days from today, DBA and I will be flying to Fort Lauderdale for a magnificent cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam. When we were on the Eurodam, 1 week wasn't enough. This time it will be a back to back cruise for 14 days. Even though we work for HAL, there is something to be said for a vacation at sea.

As you can see from our itinerary, we have been to 4 of the ports before. Most are going to be beach days and then there will also be some time spent with friends on Half Moon Cay, but we have no idea what to do in the other ports. I've put an asterisk next to the 2 ports that we have not been to. Any suggestions you have we would appreciate. Instead of submitting an email to DBA, just comment on this post and we will get them.

Mar 20 Fort Lauderdale

Mar 21 At Sea

Mar 22 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

Mar 23 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Mar 24 Philipsburg (St. Maarten)

Mar 25 At Sea

Mar 26 Half Moon Cay

Mar 27 Fort Lauderdale

Mar 28 Half Moon Cay

Mar 29 Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

Mar 30 At Sea

**Mar 31 Georgetown, Cayman Islands

**Apr 01 Costa Maya

Apr 02 At Sea

Apr 03 Fort Lauderdale

From the Readers: Dave on Ryndam - Staterooms

2011-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

A regular poster by the name of Dave (RetiredMustang) on Cruise Critic is currently on Ryndam and is uploading a lot of great pictures nearly live from the ship. Here's several from his cruise. The first ones, of his Deluxe Verandah Suite 023.

Dave aka RetiredMustang on Cruise Critic

Ryndam in Tampa

Update: Captain Jonathan Mercer's Daughter and Grandson

2011-02-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

The last update time you saw a picture of Captain Jonathan Mercer's grandson Oliver, was the announcement that was put on th HAL Blog of his birth. CLICK HERE

I emailed Captain Mercer as he just came back onto Nieuw Amsterdam to welcome him back onboard and we got to talking about his new grandson a little bit. Like any proud grandpa we had some pictures to share and asked if I could share them with all of you. How could I possibly say no?

So here's Oliver, his mom Stephanie, as well as Captain Mercer.

Thanks for sharing the great pictures of your beautiful family, Captain! See you in 40 days!

Veendam in the Falkland Islands

2011-02-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

Some pictures of Veendam in Port Stanley, taken by Joanne, the ship's Future Cruise Consultant.

Oosterdam Sees Dolphins

2011-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

There's something about Human Resources Managers and dolphins. Here, just off of Cabo, Oosterdam's HRM Amy snapped an amazing picture!

Ryndam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Dolphins

2011-02-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

This picture gets much larger when you click on it and is simply beautiful. This was taken by Verlie, Ryndam's Human Resources Manager on a recent double call with Nieuw Amsterdam to Cozumal.

Tropical Paradise Night on Amsterdam

2011-02-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

Some looks at Amsterdam's Tropical Paradise theme night on the Grand World Voyage as well as some looks at the post-drydock caroeting in the elevatgor lobbies and the new chairs on the upper level of the La Fontaine Dining Room

Mutiny on the Bounty Night on Amsterdam

2011-02-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

You may have seen these pictures on the HAL Blog, but what you may not have known is that one of the many things accomplished during the dry dock just prior to the Grand World Voyage was new chairs for the entire La Fontaine Dining Room!

Paula Deen on Nieuw Amsterdam

2011-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Paula Deen. Not since Julia Child has there been a cook on tv to show such an appreciation for butter. And she was recently on Nieuw Amsterdam with her husband and son Bobby. During the cruise she held demonstrations in the Showroom at Sea and also went to some fabulous Caribbean destinations on the latest and greatest ship to join the Holland America Line fleet.

Paula Deen during her 'Beer in the butt chicken' demonstration in Nieuw Amsterdam's Showroom at Sea.

Paula Deen has been on Food Network since 2002 and has starred in shows titled Paula's Home Cooking, Paula's Best Dishes, Paula's Party and more. She has numerous cookbooks, has been on every talk show you can imagine and is a fixture for all Food Network seasonal and regional specials.

Paula, her husband Michael and son Bobby surrounded with numerous senior staff from Nieuw Amsterdam in the Crow's Nest.

We thank you for sailing with HAL Paula, and hope to see you again real soon!

DBA

Amsterdam and Volendam in New Zealand

2011-02-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

More pics from Twitter follower Kiwi_Cruiser over the weekend. Thanks as always for the great captures!

Amsterdam arriving in Auckland while on the Grand World Voyage

Amsterdam docked in Auckland for the Grand World Voyage

Amsterdam and Volendam in Tauranga. This is one of the only ports on the Grand World Voyage where Amsterdam shares a berth with a sister ship.

Volendam in Wellington

Volendam in very foggy Wellington

As DBA watches the Superbowl

2011-02-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

I am trying to decide what to post but not having a good idea day. I was looking through the HAL Facebook page and came across some old posters that I absolutely love. If you have a favorite, send it over to DBA and I'll post it later.

Checking in with Annabel

2011-01-31T21:32:00.000-08:00

Anyone following the HAL Blog recently saw that Annabel, a good friend of mine whom I've featured several times on my blog, celebrated her birthday during her current contract on Eurodam. If you did, then you saw these two pictures:

What you didnt see though, was that night's karaoke festivities which I can bring to you here:

Annabel also shared some updated photos of her beautiful family that they took during the holiday cruises. Thijs is certainly getting bigger and Annabel told me that the picture of Thijs alone is one of her favorite pictures of him so far. I agree! (The black and white photography by the way was done with the JC Black label photogrpahy services available throughout the HAL fleet)

The HAL/Seabourn Size Comparison!

2011-01-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I got to thinking about the news of Seabourn moving into our headquarters which I'm sure is ld news at this point. I got to realizing that of all the various Carnival Corp lines the one I probably know the least about was Seabourn and thought it would be fun to size up the new neighbors... AND to take the term "size up" literally. Here's a few different shots which compare the new class of Seabourn ship of which Odyssey, Soujourn and Quest share against various classes of HAL ship.

In these first 3 you can see the exact same fixed camera angle at the new cruise terminal in San Diego showing Seabourn Odyssey, Rotterdam and Oosterdam.

Next, two pictures of Seabourn Odyssey at its naming ceremony alongside Oosterdam in Venice.

And finally, a side by side of the two classes of Seabourn vessels.

Captain Morgan Bar - More Pics!

2011-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

Some additional pictures and information posted on the HAL Blog:

Here are the first shots from the new Captain Morgan on the Rocks Island Bar that will celebrate its grand opening Jan. 29 at Half Moon Cay with the visits of ms Noordam and ms Maasdam.

The bar is designed as a 101-foot-long, twin-decked, three-masted schooner “washed up” on Half Moon Cay’s white-sand beach, and the bar décor features nautical artifacts and historic references to Captain Morgan’s exploits in these waters more than 350 years ago.

Matthew Sams, vice president, Caribbean relations for Holland America Line, who is responsible for the operations of Half Moon Cay, oversaw the concept, design and construction of the new bar, which began in Sept. 2010 and was just completed at the end of December. Holland America Line collaborated with Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME), the world’s leading premium drinks business that created Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum in 1983.
These pictures were taken during ms Nieuw Amsterdam’s call Jan. 24.

Captain Morgan's On the Rocks

2011-01-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a few pictures from across the internet and Cruise Critic (multiple sources) showing the latest addition to Half Moon Cay... Captain Morgan's On the Rocks.

This multi-purpose site offers live music, drinks, additional restrooms and some great vantage points from up top where you can get some views of the island that were previously impossible.

The site just opened so it's sure to have more views appearing on the internet soon and weather permitting I'll be there twice in March and promise more pictures at that time.

You Wish!

2011-01-19T20:53:00.000-08:00

Usually that would be my answer to a question like "DBA, tell us who you really are..." but in this case I'm referring to the recent wave of different ways you can win a free HAL cruise. As in, "What would you like to see HAL do for you?" A common answer might be "Give me a free cruise." In this case, your wish is HAL's command.

As many of you know, there was recently a Facebook contest for the best picture connected to our guests and the brand. The "Win the Key to Half Moon Cay" contest which I told you about HERE.

In addition though, there are four contests currently going on which give you 4 additional ways to win a free HAL cruise. They are:

#1 and #2:
Enter your information through the Holland America Line site providing your personal preferences on destinations you'd like to go to and some other information and you can enter into your choice of a Europe or Alaska cruise. CLICK HERE to be linked to that page of the HAL website.

#3:
Just a couple days ago, I told you about the Transatlantic Writing Contest being run on the HAL website and how you can win a cruise on Rotterdam as she does a traditional Atlantic crossing. CLICK HERE to refresh yourself on that info.

#4:
In conjunction with Frontgate.com and Travel and Leisure magazine, you can also win "The Ultimate Luxury Cruise Sweepstakes." The prize package is estimated at $20,000 so CLICK HERE to be taken to the entry page.

Good luck!

What's New?

2011-01-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

If you've called Holland America Line recently and had to wait a couple minutes before speaking with someone or if you were put on hold because someone needed to gather information for you, you may have heard the message that starts out:

"A word of advice... Don't ask one of our Captain's 'What's New?' unless you've got some time on your hands"

It then goes on to talk about Signature of Excellence enhancements and activities around the ship and so forth.

A new brochure that was just put out called "Discover" (shown below) hopes to help with that answer as well.

The new brochure is just shy of 50 pages, and rather than showing itineraries and deck plans it serves as an introduction to the fleet. What is Holland America Line? What sort of food is there? What amenities are in the rooms? What is there to do? and so forth. The brochure also incorporates something relatively new to mobile devices called a QR or Mobi code. With special scanner applications on most smartphones these days you can use your device's camera to scan a code and link you to a site with more information on a topic. You can go to http://gettag.mobi/ to get the App for most smart phones.

Here's an example of the code (NOTE: I looked it up to find this example online. Please don't use your device on it as I have no idea where it will lead! You've been warned!):

The codes throughout the brochure will link you to the different sections of the new subsite linked through the HAL Facebook Page, http://explorehal.com/ where you can see some new videos showing the HAL experience and a great in depth look at 72 pieces of art across our fleet. And no, you don't have to be a Facebook user or have an account to view the videos. My favorite is the video called "a day in the good life" which features a lounge music feel with a great beat and some incredible views across the ship. (Anyone else catch the view of one of the Vista Class ships from inside the Thermal Suites at the 35 second mark? Good stuff!)

Unfortunately, as for the Discover brochure, I'm not sure of the specific plans with it. Will it be a brochure just given to travel agents to help introduce folks to Holland America Line? Or perhaps available as an eBrochure and every other way that the rest of our brochures are available for general circulation? I'm not sure on those details as t's literally brand new and it can take a bit of time to get the e-format up if those are the plans. But for anyone that's curious about Holland America Line, they really need to see this!

Here's the prize!

2011-01-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

For those that were curious, here is the prize that the quick contest last week was for. During wave season there will typically be a few giveaways around the building from various marketing teams and so forth. One of the giveaways so far was a Half Moon Cay hat available in yellow or tan. One of my colleagues didn't want his, I asked if he would mind me taking it as a contest prize for the blog and he loved the idea. So here it is. Again, congratulations to John for guessing correctly. It will be shipped to you this weekend.

In reply to the clues, it should be pretty self explanatory...
The island was Half Moon Cay, it's yellow, you wear it and it's a giveaway from the Caribbean marketing team so it's not available to the general public.

New Contest Clues

2011-01-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

UPDATE 2:30PM PST 1/17/11 -
We have a winner! Thanks for everyone's participation! I have contacted the winners via Facebook.
DBA

Here's a couple more hints:

Not available to the general public
Wear

And again, clues from the previous set were:

A pristine island that is a favorite of cruisers everywhere
The color yellow
You

Think you got it? Here's how to win.

Be the first via:

Twitter (@dbahalblog) in a Direct Message,
Facebook (Dutch ByAssociation) by Message or Wall Post,
Email (dutchbyassociation@gmail.com) OR
through the comment feature on this post

to correctly figure out what I'm talking about and it's yours. I'll go off the time stamps associated with the answers in case we have responses very close together and there will be a trivia Q about the blog or HAL in the event of a tie.

More hints Monday if nobody gets it.

Good luck!
DBA

Coming soon...

2011-01-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

What do these things have in common?

A pristine island that is a favorite of cruisers everywhere
The color yellow
You

Stay tuned to find out. More details coming this weekend!

DBA

A Royal Rendezvous

2011-01-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

Fine, you caught me! It's not a HAL ship. ANY of them. But it is an entire fleet.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth had an evening encounter in New York City. I'm sure there will be more images coming soon, but this was one of the first I could find up on Twitter.

Wish there was an easy way to have all 15 of ours in the same place at the same time...

Ine Snaps Zaandam in Puerto Vallarta

2011-01-13T23:41:00.000-08:00

A HAL ship in Puerto Vallarta? You know it's gonna be from Ine and Ton van Dam.

Thanks so much for the latest!

Amsterdam's Dry Dock in San Francisco

2011-01-13T23:38:00.000-08:00

Amsterdam recently had a dry dock in San Francisco. No major changes, just the routine work that is MUCH easier without 1400-1600 extra cruisers onboard. First, two pics of the ship arriving under the Golden Gate Bridge (a MUST for any cruiser and an amazing experience)

Next, want a quick before and after of one of the many things that is done at dry dock? Here you go.

Meet the Rhymedam

2011-01-13T23:31:00.001-08:00

Mariner Lynn Hardey (aka Crusinetta on Cruise Critic) shows off her latest creation

A Belated Christmas Pic from Rotterdam

2011-01-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

You gotta love this!

Veendam in Antarctica - Penguins and Ice

2011-01-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

Some amazing images from Veendam's crew during their travels in Antarctica

Holland America Line's Transatlantic Writing Contest

2011-01-13T22:32:00.000-08:00

For nearly 100 years, regular transatlantic service was the mainstay of Holland America Line. In 1971, our fleet of ships became entirely dedicated to pleasure cruising. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary of this milestone transition, we invite you to tell us about your own Holland America transatlantic crossing or that of a friend or relative who sailed an unforgettable Holland America transatlantic voyage.

We are seeking compelling stories that are humorous, adventurous or heart-warming. The entrant whose story earns the most accolades for its emotional impact, originality and creativity will win passage for two in an Ocean-View stateroom on our 9-day crossing from New York, NY to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, departing July 12, 2011, aboard the ms Rotterdam. A panel of judges appointed by Holland America Line, including Holland America’s President and CEO, Stein Kruse, will select the winner. Your submission must be entered by midnight, PST, March 15, 2011. The winner will be announced on or about April 11, 2011. The contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty United States, D.C. and Canada (excluding Québec), age 18 and over at the time of entry.

To enter online, send your submission in the body of an e-mail to: TACrossingContest@HollandAmerica.com.

To enter via mail, send your submission to:
HAL Transatlantic Crossing Writing Contest Entry,
Holland America Line Inc.,
300 Elliott Avenue West,
Seattle, WA 98119
USA.

Online entries must be completed and received by 11:59 P.M. PST on March 15, 2011, and mail in entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2011.

For more information and a link to all the contest terms and conditions, CLICK HERE

GOOD LUCK!
DBA