Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband cruised again with HAL, this time on Zaandam’s 21-Day Collectors’ Voyage to Mexico and Hawaii. Sharon chronicled their cruising experience for us on the blog. Enjoy!

February 24, 2013:

Today the Zaandam arrived early to Aloha Tower Cruise Terminal in Honolulu, Oahu. The ship was even cleared before 8 a.m. Al and I hadn’t planned a shore excursion here as we have been to Honolulu and Waikiki many times. We decided to take the “The Bus” to Kapi’olani Park in Waikiki to go to the Aquarium which opened at 10 a.m.

Zaandam docked in Honolulu at the Aloha Tower.

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Topics: Art, Activities & Entertainment, Cruise Diary, Hawaii, Mariner Voices, ms Zaandam | | No Comments

We invited our Facebook fans to share with us their HAL photos from Canada/New England to be in the running for the line’s “Fans’ First” Facebook Page Cover Photo today, March 1. Guest Carrie Kroschel had so many great photos we decided to create a special post just for her. Let’s see if one of her photos wins!

These photos were taken during my HAL cruise to Quebec in October 2012. – Carrie Kroschel

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Topics: Canada/New England, Postcards from... | | No Comments

Special thanks to Agus Bdui Palguna, dining room steward on Zaandam, for this beautiful sunset shot taken while the ship was moored at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Topics: Mexico, ms Zaandam, Postcards from..., Staff & Crew | | No Comments

Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband are cruising again with HAL, this time on Zaandam’s 21-Day Collectors’ Voyage to Mexico and Hawaii. Sharon will chronicle their cruising experience for us on the blog. Enjoy!

Feb. 22, 2013:
The Zaandam arrived early at Lahaina, Maui. Al and I signed up for the 9-hour “Adventures to Hana” tour. The first time that we were in the islands, in 1969, Al drove our rental car to Hana. That was in the days before they straightened the road and took out some of the curves. It took us so long to get to Hana that we had to turn right around and drive back to Lahaina before dark. So this time we decided to leave the driving to the experts. Our tour met in the Ocean Bar and as soon as our group was ready and the tender was available, we headed to the tender platform for our short ride to Lahaina. – Sharon and Al Johnson

Zaandam as seen from tender in Lahaina, Maui.

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Topics: Art, Activities & Entertainment, Cruise Diary, Hawaii, Mariner Voices, ms Zaandam, Shore Excursions | | No Comments

Special thanks to Prinsendam’s Techspert Kristin who posted this on HAL’s Digital Workshop blog.

Hi there folks! Kristin here, writing from our elegant explorer the ms Prinsendam, currently docked in gorgeous Buzios, Brazil. We are currently towards the end of our magical 68-day Grand South American and Antarctic Voyage and boy have we seen some amazing places! South America and Antarctica have some of the most gorgeous and unique scenery, wildlife and cities that I have ever seen in my four years here as a Techspert. And speaking of wildlife, much of the southern part of South America and Antarctica is home to one of the cutest, fuzziest, lovable, quirkiest and sometimes smelly animal … the penguin! I would like to share with you some of the best pictures submitted by a few of the guests attending the Digital Workshop of our fuzzy friends in Punta Arenas, the Falkland Islands and Antarctica.

Cheers from the Prinsendam,

Kristin

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Topics: Antarctica, Art, Activities & Entertainment, Grand Voyages, ms Prinsendam, Postcards from..., South America | | No Comments

Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband are cruising again with HAL, this time on Zaandam’s 21-Day Collectors’ Voyage to Mexico and Hawaii. Sharon will chronicle their cruising experience for us on the blog. Enjoy!

Feb. 20, 2013:
This morning around 11 a.m., the Zaandam made its way to Hilo, Hawaii, which is our first stop in the Hawaiian Islands. We wanted to be on deck for our sail into Hilo as Kainoa, the Zaandam Location Guide, was going to narrate from the bridge. During his narration, Kainoa mentioned that the best view of the Big Island and Hilo would be from the bow. So Al and I headed for the bow area which is opened for guests during the sail-ins. Paki and Malia were out on the bow area dressed in welcoming regalia. Paki performed the Hawaiian welcoming chant or “Kahea” which would be given to all visitors to the islands. I felt we were very fortunate to have this traditional welcoming chant performed on the Zaandam for our arrival.

On Location team members Malia and Paki and myself on the bow of Zaandam as we approached Hilo.

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Topics: Cruise Diary, Food & Beverage, Hawaii, Mariner Voices, ms Zaandam, Shore Excursions | | No Comments

Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband are cruising again with HAL, this time on Zaandam’s 21-Day Collectors’ Voyage to Mexico and Hawaii. Sharon will chronicle their cruising experience for us on the blog. Enjoy!

Feb. 20, 2013:
One of the “On Location” team members that boarded the Zaandam in San Diego is living legend Henry Kaleialoha Allen. He is the last of the great Hawaiian ukulele and steel guitar players still living and is consider a master of both instruments. No one in Hawaii has equaled his achievement. The Hawaii State legislature has recognized him by declaring April 4th in Hawaii as Henry Kaleialoha Allen Day. He played Hawaiian favorites on the Hawaiian guitar with the HALCats during our sail-away. On our first full day at sea, Henry and his wife Sherron gave the history of the ukulele which is a Portuguese instrument brought to the islands by Portuguese cowboys. We found out that ukuleles bought back in the fifties are quite valuable, especially if made by the Martin Company. The plastic ukeleles bought today are just toys as they can’t be tuned.

Henry Kaleialoha Allen playing the Hawaiian guitar with the HALCats in the Crow’s Nest. He has been playing Hawaiian favorites during “Happy Hour” each night.

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Topics: Art, Activities & Entertainment, Cruise Diary, Hawaii, Mariner Voices, ms Zaandam | | 5 Comments

Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband are cruising again with HAL, this time on Zaandam’s 21-Day Collectors’ Voyage to Mexico and Hawaii. Sharon will chronicle their cruising experience for us on the blog. Enjoy!

Feb. 19, 2013:
Today we had another busy day of activities and lectures. When I was a kid my mother served us SPAM. SPAM is a staple to Hawaiians. It is one of the favorite breakfast foods in the islands and can be found served everywhere. Our Location Guide Kainoa talked about the use of SPAM in the Hawaiian diet. He said that during WWII, the Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders started eating canned meats since fresh meat was so hard to get during the war years. There are all kinds of SPAM in the islands as you can see from the picture of me holding the two cans of SPAM — Jalapeño and Hot & Spicy are just a few of the various types sold in Hawaii.

Wearing the lei I made and holding two kinds of SPAM.

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Topics: Art, Activities & Entertainment, Cruise Diary, Food & Beverage, Hawaii, Mariner Voices, Mexico | | No Comments