A lot of guests are asking us how we disembark someone at sea. Sometimes it does happen that someone needs urgent medical attention, and immediate help is not always available. If a ship is close enough to land, and the facilities are available, then we might do a what we call a MEDIVAC, which stands… read more of “How do Medivacs at…”
Dear Holland America: My great aunt has given me her lover’s letter (Bill – 1949). The transcript is attached, including a scanned copy of the letter. Would be great for your historical archives … to illustrate the life aboard ship during the 1940s. Connie is 88 now and still thinks of Bill, whose full name… read more of “Letter from a…”
How well do you know Holland America Line? Below are five different crew uniforms from around the ship. Be the first person to post the correct answers as a comment and win a HAL jump drive! Photo A:
Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 visited Holland America’s hometown recently. Hi dear bloggers! As you have noticed, one of the grandest ocean liners in the world recently visited Rotterdam, my hometown. Because I was able to sail on her last December, I was glad to see her again. Besides some pictures here on the site,… read more of “OK, It’s Not…”
The flower photos are all taken on the pier in Juneau. This little flowerbed at the bottom of the gangway is the best shore excursion in Juneau … for me. This flowerbed has a large variety of brightly colored flowers where you see a lot of bees. Nothing better than a good macro lens, waterspray… read more of “Bert’s Beauty…”
“Harbor” A poem and photo by Bert van Mackelenbergh From this liminal state we are reborn into a threshold between worlds. Through the fabric of fog a map for another way presents itself we see in a flash how life could be. Can we return to what is familiar and make it new finding mystery… read more of “Bert’s Ode to…”
Prior to sailing last Friday on the Zaandam from Seattle, Michael and I were sitting in the pool area and spotted a mass of brightly colored T-shirts near the bar. It looked like the usual group traveling together, but then I read the back of the shirt …. I went over to tell them how… read more of “Now That’s…”
Although Holland America Line was founded in the Netherlands and still maintains very close ties to its Dutch roots, rarely do we ever have quite so many Dutch passengers on board as we do now. Currently Rotterdam is sailing with more than 1,200 Dutch guests. In an effort to make our Dutch guests feel more… read more of “Dutch Treats for a…”
