The high point and the reason most guests choose this itinerary is the Panama Canal. Built in 1914, the original lock gates are still in use. The canal channel is 110 feet wide and the Zuiderdam has a clearance of 2.25 feet on either side. It takes several hours for each ship to transit once… read more of “Panama Canal is a…”
Crew Purser Sonya Ribeiro sent us photos of Westerdam’s Indonesian crew casting their votes for the April 9 election. Private voting booths were created in the Internet Café. Overseeing the process was the ship’s Indonesian Unit Chairman Doni Maulana, Ship Ops Clerk Sukarto and Sailor AB Julius Behiju.
The collection of the absentee ballots for the April 9 Indonesian election is fleet-wide, and Crew Purser Greene sent us photos of Maasdam’s crew casting their ballots. The “Playstation stalls” were converted into election booths for privacy. Human Resources Officer Avi Sofyan, Senior Human Resources Clerk Tri Nur and Purser Adhi Surindera coordinated the affair…. read more of “Maasdam’s…”
Zaandam Crew Purser Myles Williams sent in these patriotic shots of the crew casting their absentee ballots for Indonesia’s parliamentary election day. The Indonesian elections are every five years, and this year they will be held April 9. All ballots must be mailed to the Vancouver consulate by this date. Fauzi Daud at Holland America… read more of “Indonesian Crew…”
The work in the dry-dock in Palermo is progressing as per schedule. On the 5th of April in the early morning, preparations were made to lift the new aft section with the additional cabins onto the Oosterdam. During the day the section was lifted on the Oosterdam.
On Friday morning the dry-dock was finally pumped dry, so straight away we went in to inspect the ship. Veendam sitting on the docking blocks.
On April 1, the trans-Atlantic cruise for the ms Oosterdam ended in Civitavecchia, Italy. All guests disembarked the ms Oosterdam and after that all subcontractors and dry-dock workers embarked the ms Oosterdam. All containers and materials were loaded on board, and at 15.00 the Oosterdam left Civitavecchia bound for the dry-dock in Palermo. At 05.00… read more of “Dry-Dock Photos…”
Do you recognize the castle in the background? I’ll give you a hint. It was the inspiration and setting for one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Think about it for for a few minutes while I introduce myself. I’m the guy in the photo. My name is Ralph Grizzle, and I am an American (from Asheville,… read more of “Välkommen to…”
