St Pete Cruiser

Yes, the atrium did have the Half Moon crystal/glass artwork. Maybe it was damaged or was deemed to dated when the atrium was updated? The elevator lobbies and of course those doors are like a very fine European Hotel. Thanks for sharing. We were on the Westy from Yokohama to Vancouver in April 2019 and docked at Kodiak where they used school buses for the shuttles. The times were limited as school was in session and the kids had priority!

Yes, the atrium did have the Half Moon crystal/glass artwork. Maybe it was damaged or was deemed to dated when the atrium was updated? The elevator lobbies and of course those doors are like a very fine European Hotel. Thanks for sharing. We were on the Westy from Yokohama to Vancouver in April 2019 and docked at Kodiak where they used school buses for the shuttles. The times were limited as school was in session and the kids had priority!

We were on the Zaandam last year for the Christmas cruise in an oceanview room on deck 1, midship. Also disappointed to find the old tub and shower curtain, so we started asking room stewards and guest services. The truth was, yes, some of the rooms were updated, but in no particular order. HD Darren Lewis told us that more of the bathrooms will be done on the next drydock. He also added that as long as the bookings remain strong for the two remaining R class, they will stay in the fleet.

I'm very late to the party today, but I was glad to see your post with pics from Bodo. The N Statendam was there last month and the Rotterdam followed two weeks later. We enjoyed our port call there on the NS, although it is no Gerainger or Flam. With Norway limiting or stopping cruise ships from entering the more scenic fjords, other coastal cities will now be added to the itineraries.

Thanks for explaining about the dock workers strike as now I understand why Oosterdam tendered at Nice. We were there a few times and really enjoyed the French Riveria. Tried to cover the area from Cannes to Monaco. Using both local busses and trains, we enjoyed the cities and the little mountain top villages of Eze and St Paul de Vence.

Lenda, I think you are the winner of the most port calls to Kodiak! We stopped there on the Westerdam in April 2019 on the Yokohama to Vancouver spring reposition. It was sunny and cold, but we were happy to go ashore, ride the school bus, walk across the bridge to the park and tour the little town with a nice welcome center and library. I looked at doing the Alaska Marine Highway/Ferry long before I did go to Alaska on the Zaandam in 2007. I'm sure it was a great experience. Thanks for your regular posts on the Daily.

What a great deal! Wouldn't it be fun to go back in time and do it again? Was she in good shape in 1990? We did the Regent Rainbow out of Tampa about the same time.

We are dog and condo sitting for friends who have been away this week. Their corner verandah has beautiful waterfront views which has made our return from Europe quite enjoyable. An acquaintance from last year is aboard our former Prinsendam, now Phoenix Riesen's Ameria, and reports it looks good. In addition to it's new engines, he reports she has new bathrooms, newly done MDR and hook ups for shoreside power in port. He speaks German, so is at home on her. Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Rotterdam is my preference of the 3 Pinnacle class ships. Holland America Line gives it the better entertainment and some of the little extras. You will like it if you give it a chance.

Yes, looks like the Statendam. The present Nieuw Statendam was a compromized name by management as the president did not want to continue using the old dam names for marketing purposes. We enjoyed our first visit to Newcastle yesterday. Looks like Fred Olson's ships use Newcastle.

Newcastle was a pleasant call today despite the clouds and cool. After Edinburgh, our expectations were not high, however historic Newcastle was impressive.

Yes, it was quite an effort!

Wow, that is quite an excursion. Thankfully it wasn't much worse. We were in Berlin 4 days before boarding the Statendam in Copenhagen.

Good morning from Newcastle, England. Well, mad dogs and Englishmen come out in the noon day, but there is no sun today in Newcastle. Yes, Nieuw Statendam is here today until 6pm, 18:00. Our first time in Newcastle. Susan Wood, a favorite cruise director from years past, was from Newcastle. Her "tootoloo" was her sign off. We took the free shuttle to Tynemouth and the Metro to the city centre. Visited Grainger Market and the Newcastle Cathedral so far and next is the Tyne High Bridge. Our last port, sea day tomorrow and then flying home Saturday.

Thanks for sharing. The ships you have sailed on previously are all ones I've been on as well. The Pinnacle class will never exceed the personal service standards that the smaller ships provided. We were lucky to have experienced them at the Holland America Line fares of the past as now one must move to the much higher priced lines to receive equal service. We did find some of the "old" Holland America onboard the Zaandam recently.

Billboard on Board is now one piano and much like the piano bar of old with frequent requests. I like it, especially the musical theater selections. Tomono was the guest pianist for 2 shows. She is excellent. BB Kings also enjoyable as usual.

Greetings from Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Nieuw Statendam is here today, not Lerwick where we were yesterday. It is sunny, shocking, and cool ofcourse, and quite pleasant. The new Queen Anne is in port with us. She looks beautiful and much like us! Check her out. What is the small funnel like between her forecastle and funnel?

Memorial Day service at 7am aboard the Nieuw Statendam, Lido Poolside, with Clare, CD, and the onboard Priest. He had good words to mark the occasion. Always be grateful and give thanks.

John, I miss your frequent posts and your updates on the officers and their ship assignments. We saw the old Maasdam in LaHarve recently looking quite good. She was your first assignment, right?

Holland America Lines Nieuw Statendam docked in Harstad, Norway, on its Maiden call. With more and more of the long fjords unavailable to ships with objectionable funnel emissions, ports like Harstad will gain more cruise ship calls. We found it to be a very pleasant entrance from the sea with numerous turns and beautiful scenery. The city, about 20k population, features a dock adjacent to the city. A local and regional bus terminal is right there as well. A trail along the water to a historic church and a former *** prison camp for Soviet captured in WWII are among the features.

Yes, Into is a favorite of ours, too. Ask him to pronounce "Rotterdam". He can really roll those R's!

Belated Happy Mothers Day everyone. My Mom loved flowers growing in the garden as do I. We walked through the Volksgarten in Vienna enjoyed their immense rose garden. Exactly 10 years ago, Gaspe' was a port call on the Maasdam, May, 2014, as we sailed from Ft Lauderdale to Montreal.

Welcome home World Cruise travelers. I can only imagine what it is like to leave after 4 months onboard. would have liked to leave on the TA now, mid May, rather than early April, when it is too cool to enjoy.

It was great to see our Rotterdam VI, now Fred Olson's Borealis, along with the present Rotterdam VII, at the port of Rotterdam yesterday. The Borealis looks good. Hope she is serving her new owners well. Checking fares, they are getting about $200 per diem for many itineraries. Maybe that includes port fees and gratuities?

I got an email from Stockperks that my standby cruise is Not eligible. Maybe you were just lucky?