St Pete Cruiser

Seems to change with the surrounding markets. Canada liquor prices are high.

I wear my Prinsendam pin on Gala nights and always get the nicest comments, from guests and crew who were on her.

Roy, I was told Sabine has left the company.

The fruit crisps and creme brulee are available, but you have to ask.

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian family! Our condo neighbor from Hamilton returns soon. Lots of good memories of Canada adventures: Quebec

A Regent ship has pulled in and will have to tender I'm sure.

Good morning all. St Petersburg has had a delightful weather week since Ian passed to our south. It pulled cooler dryer air down giving us highs in the low 80's and lows in the mid 60's.The condo turned the pool heater on as the water temperature fell to 78! Our fall cruise season is quickly approaching, sadly without a Holland America ship in Tampa again. We maybe tempted to drive or Amtrak to Ft. Lauderdale fairly soon. Several good cruises leaving in the next few days: The repositioning ones from Alaska, Canada and Europe to Ft Lauderdale. Heard Bill Miller, author and marine buff who narrated the Holland America origin story, will be on the Rotterdam for the 150th anniversary cruise to NYC. I would love to see and here him. Met him many years ago aboard as a guest lecturer. Pic taken from Carnival Paradise returning to Tampa. Paradise bars are named after Ocean Liners: Queen Mary Lounge, Rotterdam, Rex, Normandie.

St Petersburg is fortunate. Gale force winds, up to 60's, and heavy rain squalls, but no flooding. The winds have pulled water away from the bay. Sadly, our areas to the south are taking the brunt of Ian.

Zaandam does have a lot in its favor, although it can't compete with the music walk on Nieuw Statendam. The promenade deck with deck chairs is a big plus for me. The interior rooms are larger, as are most of the other rooms. Some of the old bathtubs have been replaced with new showers with glass doors. Crow's Nest has better views. Main dining room has more tables with window views. In general, you pay more for a ship with fewer guests: Zaandam is 1400 vs Nieuw Statendam 2600. Viking ocean ships are about the size of the Zaandam for comparison. Nieuw Statendam is a beautiful ship. Better theater with LED panels and stage jutting out into audience. Nicer two level center pool with more dining venues. Better spa, too.

Probably with so many ships in port those days, they are attempting to start "the parade of departing ships" as early as possible. It is difficult to get everyone off the ship and then reboard the new guests as well as all the provisions, fuel and crew changeovers in less than 8 hours at the dock. Late arrivals adds to the mix.

Good day everyone. The Volendam is passing through the English Channel as I post this heading for Malaga. I wonder if they had the hull scrapped or treated after being docked in Rotterdam so long. Captain Noel O'Driscoll told us the Nieuw Statendam hull was cleaned by underwater divers while we were in Portland, UK, back in June. With the Volendam getting ready to resume cruising, the Holland America fleet finally resumes complete operation. It is hard for me to realize that Volendam is now the oldest ship in the fleet.

There are still 8 ships in the fleet with the classic Holland America promenade deck. We did the Nieuw Amsterdam last winter and a Pinnacle class. They each have their virtues.

Good morning, all. I didn't post yesterday but wanted to share a memory from the Queen's life. Growing up in Port Huron, Michigan, we were just across the border from Sarnia, Ontario, and my fathers side immigrated from Canada in 1900. My Grandparents maintained their Canadian citizenship. When my own parents found out that HMY Britannia would be passing up the St Clair River, after a brief stop in Sarnia with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Philip aboard, we had to watch it pass. That was July 1959. I was not overly excited to see someone's yacht sail by as the river had many of them in July. However, when they impressed me with the fact it was just not another wealthy owners yacht, it was The Queen's yacht all the way from England, I was ready! When it came into view, I think it seemed more like a large cargo ship than a yacht. Much more than a yacht, more like a real cruise ship. I sadly never got to see her in person but did see Philip in the trooping of the colors in London in 2003, when I first went to Europe and cruised aboard the old Noordam. We docked in Dover and did the London excursion as long day trip. I was impressed.

Special condolences to our British and Canadian readers, as well as all those who have been under the Crown, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Nieuw Statendam is using Port Canaveral next month as a port call before returning to Ft Lauderdale. I would have rather had Charleston or Savanah but will look forward to PC. Anybody know why Holland America likes to stop there southbound from Canada/New England? I've done Charleston twice, on the Maasdam, northbound in the spring, which was really nice.

Agree, this is a bad idea. The appetizers are often the best part of our Pinnacle dinners. My first cruise on the Westerdam was January 2016, when they first had the electronic pads for servers to take orders on. I was surprised then, to find out that the Westy was their test ship for that as well. Seems they need good wifi to connect, and as most of us know, good wifi is not always possible at sea.

Thanks for sharing your pics from A Coruna. I was there on the Prinsendam in 2010. We experienced the large Biscayne swells as we left. Captain Albert advised everyone to stay seated until it passed the swells and the "little Prinsendam" did roll quite a bit. A Coruna is not often on Holland America itineraries, although I remember it as a worthwhile port. I don't recall ever having a "Back Nine", but an Arnold Palmer yes. Adding vodka would likely worsen my golf score, but maybe I wouldn't care? We dropped off quite a few things at the local hospice thrift store today, not a food bank, but hey, give me credit anyway. Of course, it is mandatory after dropping off donations at the back door to drive around to the front to check out what you can't live without. There was a framed Holland America poster of a 1929 Statendam showing just the funnels and the big air scoops which all ships to blow fresh air inside as the ship moved through the seas. It wasn't very pretty, but I really wanted it. The saner one said no, so I am home now thinking, "Do I dare go back and get it and add it to my collection of Holland America crap, I mean priceless artifacts?

Well, it certainly is Holland America day in Halifax. Thanks for the post.

I understand Sea Jets just kept them in operating mode. Two years, even with a skeleton staff and tied to a dock, would still incur expenses.

Our Maasdam, which left the fleet in 2020 during the covid pause, has been resold to new owners of a start up French line. After fetching just $10M in 2020, Sea Jets, the Greek buyer, has reportedly sold her for $30M. No details as to what the new owners have planned. Our former Statendam, now operating as Vasco De Gama, looks good. I would hope to see the other two S class ships return to service soon. Maasdam was redone in 2018 by Holland America as its explorer ship with extensive Itineraries. Covid seemed to end its days all to soon with the line when Veendam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam were all sold.

Thanks for your usual detailed reports from the Zaandam. With the majority of my Holland America days aboard "S" and "R" class ships, it is so good to see the Zaandam still, for the most part, still looking the same. I agree that they should have retained the original names of the MDR and theater!

Happy Saturday everyone. Copenhagen is a favorite port for many of us. My first was 2003 on the N class Nordam. It was a 14 day Capitals of Europe cruise, and we disembarked in Copenhagen much closer to the city than the cruise port is now. Returned in 2013 on the Ryndam doing a 14 day Baltic cruise. Then in 2019, embarked on the Zuiderdam and did Norway and continuing onto Boston on the Viking Passage cruise. We found an AIRBNB room, yes small, that the owner needed to bike to the train station to lead us to it. Our GPS didn't work as Denmark blocks many cell phone data plans. My fourth and last time in Copenhagen was just in June on the Nieuw Statendam. I had to leave the ship a few days later in Kiel with a perforated appendix. In 2019, Tom Jones was performing at Tivoli Gardens. We were disappointed to hear him sing those songs we know so well, but without his powerful delivery of his younger years.

Good afternoon, everyone. St Petersburg has one of the largest vinyl record dealers, Banana Records, with over 3 and 1/2 MILLION records! They also have a collection of old record players all the way back to Edison's wax cylinders and of course, Victrolas. Always sad to read of others' problems. We try to give thanks for every day and enjoy them, within reason of course, to the fullest. I'm enjoying cruise reports from those who are onboard our BHB's wherever they may be. Good to see Copper 10-8 will be reporting from the Zaandam. He is such a wealth of info for CC friends.

Good to see your name on CC and will follow your Zaandam cruise reports.

Wow, that is not nice! I know Viking cruisers seem to enjoy putting down Holland America for adding so many extras to your tab. My comeback is that we have the choices to make. Not everyone wants to pay for alcohol, specialty restaurants and tours that they won't do.