The 75-day “Grand Pacific & Far East Voyage” is underway aboard ms Amsterdam, and it’s going to feature a whole lot more than beautiful ports, tantalizing cuisine and award-winning service. Holland America Line has added guest chefs, guest speakers and local entertainment in several ports as part of the “On Location” program. To enrich the… read more of “Exciting Lecturers…”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town and one of the greatest living moral icons of our time, is scheduled to lecture on a segment of the 2014 Grand World Voyage on ms Amsterdam. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate will sail March 28 to April 2, 2014, from Durban to Cape Town, South… read more of “Archbishop Desmond…”
In 2014 the Panama Canal will mark a huge milestone – the 100th Anniversary of it’s completion. To commemorate the occasion, six Holland America Line ships will sail 12 full transits of the Panama Canal during the fall 2013 through spring 2014 season. Ranging in length from 14 to 22 days, the extensive itinerary options… read more of “Celebrating the…”
A somewhat delayed post this week, mainly due to a change of itinerary and some considerable time on the bridge; this not due to the change, more to do with the weather, insomuch we have experienced reduced visibility on a number of occasions. I’m pleased to say that this did not detract from guests’ enjoyment,… read more of “Captain’s…”
Holland America Line has a wide array of enriching activities onboard, and among the most popular are the Digital Workshops powered by Windows. The popular complimentary workshops, led by Microsoft-trained “techsperts” on all 15 ships in the fleet, teach guests with varying levels of computer and camera experience how to take better vacation photos, make… read more of “Digital Workshop:…”
The last of our itinerary that has us calling at Juneau first (for as I write we have just completed a call in Glacier Bay and dashed from Vancouver in order to make it, too). Not a great week for weather initially, Juneau was socked in with rain, however Skagway was a little brighter. An… read more of “Captain’s…”
A glorious week, the sun shone, the whales frolicked, the glaciers calved, what more can one ask for? A sunny day in Juneau, I did what I always try to do, at least once a season and that was the Juneau whale-watch tour. There was room on the evening one and what a lovely evening… read more of “Captain’s…”
Once again, Seymour Narrows was transited, this time at the more civilised hour of 10:30 p.m. Seymour was described by Captain George Vancouver, on his voyage of discovery, as ‘one of the vilest stretches of water in the world”. It is easy to imagine why, on a ship under sail, trying to navigate the treacherous… read more of “Captain’s…”
