Slowly but surely ms Statendam is getting more and more guests, or as they say, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (short: RCMP) as well as members of the Canadian Forces (short: CF). Also, more people are arriving in Vancouver every day to get ready for the Olympics. While the athletes are getting ready…   read more of “Statendam Crew…”

Guest May Delory sent us this note and great photo from her cruise aboard Volendam in last year. Thanks May! This is a great picture of Melbourne, Australia, taken on my first cruise with ports of call and only my second cruise to boot. The photo was taken on Feb.28, 2009, with fabulously temperate weather!…   read more of “Volendam Postcard…”

In this featured podcast, Elizabeth Harryman and I take you behind-the-scenes for an exclusive interview with ms Oosterdam’s Culinary Manager Beirne Brown to find out how he and his culinary crew prepare and serve nearly 10,000 meals each day! Cruising Oosterdam, Part III [audio:http://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/oosterdam3.mp3] Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman are travel writers, broadcasters and regular…   read more of “Podcast: Aboard ms…”

Yesterday we were in the Panama Canal and we were side by side with a somewhat legendary ship. Almost as old as the canal itself the Kruzenstern was built in 1926 as the Padua and sailed around the world at the end of the era of the great clipper ships. Nowadays she is a Russian…   read more of “Captain’s…”

Holland America Line has created a program in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti that enables employees, crew and guests to contribute to the American Red Cross — with 100 percent of donations going directly to relief efforts. Holland America is a Carnival Corporation & plc brand, and supports the corporation’s commitment of $5…   read more of “Holland America…”

Here are a few more pictures of the Philadelphia Phillies on their tour of the bridge aboard Eurodam! Melissa Searle is Eurodam’s human resources manager.

Yesterday the Amsterdam spent the whole day from 5 a.m. to midnight in Manta, Ecuador, the city of tuna fish, after a day at sea since passing the Panama Canal. The people were very nice and weather also was friendly. A shuttle bus took guests and crew to the city center and traditional market as…   read more of “Postcards from…”