Ioana Cheregi is Veendam’s human resources manager.

Happy Holidays from Holland America Line! Wishing our fans a wonderful 2012. View your holiday greeting by clicking HERE.

Here’s a sweet way to ring in the new year: Individual Flourless Chocolate Cakes from my cookbook, A Taste of Celebration. With a molten chocolate center, this decadent dessert is the perfect fix for chocolate lovers. Enjoy! Individual Flourless Chocolate Cakes Yield: 4 cakes With a touch of a fork, these cakes burst open to…   read more of “Rudi’s Recipes:…”

This photo was taken in Namibia. It’s both haunting and beautiful. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the blue was vibrant against the sand, which was filling the remains of the abandoned house. Martin Jaxa-Rozen Shore Excursion Office ms Rotterdam

Hello from the Falkland Islands! If you did not have the chance to visit me last time your ship was in port you may want to try to do it next time. It is worth it! My name is Pingu and I live on a white sandy beach at Gypsy Cove in the Falkland Islands…   read more of “Have You Visited Me…”

Patricia Stone, Owner and Founder of Global Adventures, sailed Australia and New Zealand on Volendam and updated us with posts throughout her cruise. Enjoy! Volendam safely arrived to our first port in the North Island – Wellington, the new capitol of New Zealand and the center for culture and the arts with a number of…   read more of “Cruise Diary:…”

We sailed all the way to Manaus, Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. Manaus is located approximately 1,100 miles from the coast. Here are some pictures from the stop.

After a bumpy 60-minute flight, we arrived in an almost deserted airport. The lone figure of a stoutly lady with rosy cheeks and a welcoming smile standing strong against the harsh winds wiping across the landing strip, awaiting our arrival. She escorted us to a warm and comfortable motor coach and we began our expedition…   read more of “Shore Excursion:…”