Rotterdam

Today is “Day of the Seafarer,” and it’s a day to celebrate the hardworking crew members you meet on every cruise. It is the fourth year that the International Maritime Organization has celebrated this campaign.

Guests of all nationalities are in for a special treat this summer when two popular Dutch entertainers take to the main stage aboard ms Rotterdam and ms Ryndam while the ships are in Europe.

When Holland America Line’s ms Volendam completes dry-dock in December 2014, guests will be wowed by the addition of 21 lanai staterooms that will make it more exciting to enjoy all of the ship’s scenic itineraries.

For many travelers, a cruise to Europe is a dream come true. The once-in-a-lifetime journey is filled with ports that overflow with history, culture, architectural marvels, glorious scenery and cuisine that makes the taste buds sing.

A castle is defined as “a large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat,” but what that definition fails to mention is the absolute beauty that some of these buildings still exude today.

There’s something unbelievably special about cruising around Africa. For many it is a once in a lifetime event.

One any cruise to Asia, it’s possible to visit dozens of temples. These beautiful, mysterious and exotic structures have been around for centuries and are still used as a place of worship.