Westerdam

Special thanks to HAL’s Director Mariner Society Gerald Bernhoft for this post. Spring in Seattle brings with it two Dutch treats: Beautiful tulips of every color of the rainbow and soon the return of Holland America Line ships to our fair city. A sight that rarely graces Seattle’s Elliott Bay was the arrival of the…   read more of “Spring is Coming to…”

Our participation in the 2013 Annual Bloemencorso Flower Parade was not the first time we created a float for this event. In 1948, we entered a 35-foot flower float modeled on Westerdam that was awarded first place!

After seven successful years, Captain Henk Keijer left Westerdam in February to join Eurodam. The crew surprised Captain Henk with an unexpected tribute honoring his service during the normal captain introductions. It began with Hotel Director Charles Verwaal giving a heartfelt speech. Soon after, the four lead vocalists sang a show-stopping rendition of Alicia Key’s…   read more of “Captain…”

Thanks to Damien Decaix, Westerdam’s photo and video manager, for sharing these 140th Anniversary celebration photos.

Thanks to passenger Kees Brienen for taking this great picture of Westerdam’s Captain van Eerten nearby Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Yesterday I took this picture on the deck of the Westerdam. We just left Puerto Vallarta and whales were playing all around us. It was a great moment (unfortunately no photos of the whales). A few…   read more of “Westerdam’s…”

Thanks to our Director of Port Operations Chris Martin for sending in these fun photos of Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam together at Grand Turk.

Thanks to HAL guest Sonja Boostrom for sending in these beautiful photos from her recent cruise on Westerdam. The first photo is a beautiful shot of Westerdam docked in Grand Turk and the second shows a heart shaped cloud just above the ship. This was our first cruise and we loved it! — Sonja Boostrom