Here are photos from the new hire luncheon to welcome new team members to Holland America Line.

In keeping with the New York theme of posts, here is a video taken by Fred Claessen of Rotterdam’s arrival at New York. Thanks, Fred!

A breaching humpback whale snapped in Juneau, Alaska. I took approximately 30 shots at the point where I thought it was going to breach, I got lucky! Jonathan Mercer Captain Nieuw Amsterdam

New York City makes a great backdrop to any photo, and it looks like Rotterdam’s Hotel Manager Hans Dernison agrees. Thanks to his wife Tricia for sending us these wonderful photos of the arrival and sailaway July 12.

Ben Lyons, a lifelong fan of Holland America Line who has worked both as a writer and a deck officer, recently visited Rotterdam and Rotterdam in Rotterdam. Enjoy part 3! With the ms Rotterdam being based out of Rotterdam next year, it makes sense if you’re cruising specifically from this port to come and visit…   read more of “Staying at the…”

Graham Crawford commenced his engineering cadetship with Holland America Line in January 2009 and was recently awarded ‘Cadet of the Year’ at the Warsash Maritime Academy in London. The Marine Engineer Cadet of the Year honor is awarded annually to the Warsash Maritime Academy student who has performed to the highest standard throughout the duration…   read more of “HAL Marine Engineer…”

Rotterdam was the debut ship on the New York Harbor webcam yesterday during sailaway. The ship is heading back to Europe on the second of its two commemorative trans-Atlantic crossings.

Here are a couple pictures from our cruise on ms Nieuw Amsterdam in May 2011. We visited Greece and Turkey. It was fantastic! — Anneke Doornheim and Roeleveld and Den Haag