During our Senior Management Conference taking place on ss Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Captains Peter Bos and Edward van Zanne visited the ship’s bridge. Captain van Zanne was captain on ss Rotterdam in 1994. Captain Bos was the last HAL Captain to sail on ss Rotterdam before the ship was sold in 1997. Both Captains enjoyed reminiscing about life on the bridge there and related stories of their time on board.

Captain van Zanne, left, and Captain Bos on the bridge of ss Rotterdam.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: HAL History | No Comments

Guests Jan and Dick Yetke set sail on Prinsendam’s 64-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage in March, and we’ll catch up as quickly as possible. Enjoy the journey with Jan and Dick!

Istanbul is a wonderful city to visit! We have been here several times in the past, including staying here for a few nights prior to a cruise once. We have always enjoyed it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Cruise Diary, Grand Voyages, Mariner Voices, Mediterranean, ms Prinsendam | No Comments

The City of Rotterdam graciously hosted the Holland America Line team at the Historic Rotterdam Town Hall as a kick off to our 2013 Senior Management Conference that is taking place in Rotterdam on the ss Rotterdam. Every year we bring together senior executives from the offices and officers from the ships to talk about the company, run training sessions and share ideas.

Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations Dan Grausz is greeted by Lord Mayor of the City of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Staff & Crew | No Comments

Robert “Nick” Nichols, ms Nieuw Jakarta’s academic director, sent us the following note and photos of the center’s recent classes of graduates. ms Nieuw Jakarta is HAL’s crew training center in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Congratulations to the 175th class and graduates of the Housekeeping/Laundry class and the 40th Clerk class held at ms Nieuw Jakarta. Participants received training on a variety of topics such as English for their job, skills practical training and familiarization with HAL policies and procedures. Well done!

From left, front: Murdiyanto, Ireneus Aditya and Putu Herry Suryanatha. From left, back: Harman Yusiwa, Nyoman Swan Tridarma and Zaki Mubarak.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Staff & Crew | 1 Comment

During its 24-day South Pacific Crossing voyage, the ms Oosterdam experienced April 21 twice, as it passed the international date line through the islands of Western and American Samoa.

For the first April 21, 2013, the Oosterdam invited a local Christian youth group on board during its call at Apia, Western Samoa. Hosted by our Event Manager Aaron Whipple, the youth group enjoyed a tour of the ship as well as lunch on the lido’s pool deck.

From left: Oosterdam Second Executive Chef Norbert Sommerhalter and the ship’s Lido Assistant Steward Indaharini Nenobais serve children food on board.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Australia/New Zealand, Good Deeds, ms Oosterdam, South Pacific, Staff & Crew | No Comments

Noel Bell, HAL guest and frequent blog contributor, is on Noordam for 21 days and is sharing photos from his trip. Here are some snapshots taken during his call at Mykonos, Greece.

A very lovely island here in Greece just off the Turkish coast. As you can see, it has the famous Greek style windmills on the shoreline.

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Cruise Diary, Mediterranean, ms Noordam, Postcards from... | No Comments

Guests Jan and Dick Yetke set sail on Prinsendam’s 64-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage in March, and we’ll catch up as quickly as possible. Enjoy the journey with Jan and Dick!

We have been to Kusadasi many times before and we really like it there. It is a big tourist destination, with one of the main attractions being the the city of Ephesus that is being uncovered!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Cruise Diary, Grand Voyages, Mariner Voices, Mediterranean, ms Prinsendam | No Comments

Thanks to Sharri Scott for sending in this beautiful picture with her mother aboard Veendam.

I have cruised with HAL 3 times with my mom, but the very first was in September 2004. It was 8 months after my Dad passed away. He and my mom had loved cruising with HAL and had been on about 10 different trips I think. After he died, Mom wanted to take me and give me a taste of what they had loved so much, so she took me on the Veendam to Alaska. It was awesome, and got me totally hooked! It was a special time for us to talk about our memories of the wonderful man we’d lost, and I will never forget it. I’m enclosing a picture of us from formal night. Can’t wait to travel with you again!

Sharri Scott and her mother

Topics: Mariner Voices | No Comments