Cruise Diary: Bound for St. Croix, Part I

Just like all the other ships of Holland America Line you can find a lot of paintings on board. I have found this one of the old Maasdam. Bringing back the memories of me as a young boy watching the vessel passing my home city Maassluis bound for far away destinations. Who could believe that after so many years i would be sailing on the latest vessel with the name Maasdam. In April The Maasdam will be dry docked and have the changes to the interiors as we have experienced already on our cruise with Statendam. Lucky that I have seen the Maasdam as she was, still having the atmosphere of the year she was build.

In the early morning hours water aerobics are organized in at the lido pool, as you can see on the picture many guests are attending.

A great opportunity is given on sea days by the ships officers. This time the Dutch chief engineer answered questions on stage from passengers. A wide variety of questions are asked from how much fuel the ship uses to what propellers the ship has. I have attended this sessions now on several cruises and it may be continued as long as the ships of Holland America Line are sailing the high seas. Thanks chief we enjoyed your presence.

Internet is so important that you can not miss it any more. How would it be possible to write a daily blog about our cruise without it. On board there are many computers available and a internet manager is at hand to help you out. On the picture she is helping one of the guests to set up his e-mail connection just as she did the other day for me.

Holland America Line has introduces a short time ago on it’s ships Le Cirque dining and the Culinary Council. Master chefs from all over the world including our own Dutch top chef and Culinary Council member John de Boer had made the dishes which are presented now on board. Chef Francis showed us to day how the Le Cirque Lobster Salad and the Crème Brule are made.

It's even possible to taste. A waitress brought us the new delight.

And this is how the Le Cirque Lobster salad looks like. Yvon and I immediately booked a table for an evening at Le Cirque, the last one, because it was fully booked. This means the success is already there.

Grilled food at the lido pool.

At the Lido pool. This afternoon a grill party was held and fine Caribbean live music was included.

Until so far part one of a day at sea the day has not come to and end so more to come in the blogs.

Cees and Yvon Kloppenburg are regular contributors to the Holland America Blog. They are currently on board Maasdam and will be sending in cruise diaries throughout the duration of their cruise.