Thanks to Zaandam guests Shannon and Sebastian for sending us pictures from their recent vacation, including an adorable photo from the Dolphin Encounter shore excursion.

We went on the 7-Day Mexican Riviera in April and had a blast! This was our first cruise and our first time to Mexico. Attached are four photos I would like to share. Thanks so much for letting me share my cruise memories with you! — Shannon and Sebastian

Swimming with the dolphins on our HAL shorex.

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Topics: Mexico, ms Zaandam, Shore Excursions | | No Comments

Swimming with dolphins is just one of the many exciting shore excursion adventures passengers can experience on their Holland America Cruise Line. Thanks to Liz Day for sharing her tour while at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

What a great shore excursion in Cabo San Lucas. It was a great way to spend a day with “Aqua,” one of the dolphins at the center. She and her trainer were so professional and worked with all our group members ranging in age from 10-70! Aqua even worked with one passenger in a wheelchair who was able to get in the water! What a wonderful memory and I would love to do it again. — Liz Day

Swimming with Dolphins

Topics: Caribbean, Mexico, ms Zaandam, Shore Excursions | | No Comments

Thanks to guest Kathy Rankin for sharing some of her memories from her cruise.

Below are some of my 2010 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise photos from my Mexico trip. Most of the pictures were taken during several excursions in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, along with the Virgin Party aboard Zaandam. This was my first trip with Holland America Line. It was so much fun, I loved everything about this cruise!

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Topics: Art, Activities & Entertainment, Mexico, ms Zaandam, Postcards from..., Shore Excursions | | No Comments

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 minutes later the captain walked around and I think he was still enjoying the moment, too .

Topics: Mexico, ms Westerdam, Staff & Crew | | No Comments

Thanks to passenger Sandra Akina for sharing with us some beautiful pictures from her cruise in the Caribbean with her sister.

My sister and I had a wonderful time on board the ms Ryndam. Also, our time ashore snorkeling and/or enjoying spending the day at Key West, Florida; Roatan, Honduras; St. Thomas; Guatamala, and Costa Maya, Mexico.

I took a few pictures of our ship, along with numerous pictures of the ports we stopped at, and hope to cruise with HAL soon…Thinking about the New England/Canada cruise out of New York on the ms Eurodam this coming September. Also, I hope to celebrate my birthday aboard the ms Eurodam in November of this year sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for the Eastern Caribbean cruise. I haven’t been to either part of the world and I’m looking forward to sailing with HAL!

My sister and I enjoying a delicious Valentine’s Day drink at the Martini Bar with our special roses we received from the best bartender ever, Nick Torrano.

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Topics: Caribbean, Food & Beverage, Mexico, ms Ryndam, Postcards from... | | No Comments

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.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find photos I had taken of the fabulous Front Desk staff especially of Grachel Singh who was extremely helpful and always had a fabulous smile for everyone. That young lady is an asset to HAL. And I have to mention the laundry staff who did such a fabulous job with our laundry in such a timely manner.

We look forward to sailing with this wonderful crew again.

Pinnacle Maitre ‘d Jorn was always gracious and smiling when we checked in at the Pinnacle Grill Desk. He treated us like special guests. Jorn also is an excellent photographer as he took some fabulous photos of us. Jorn also was helpful with wheelchair patrons. It was his task to make sure that those who needed assistance in getting off the ship had the help that they needed. We were pleased with how he greeted and helped our friends. He treated them just like he did his Pinnacle Grill customers — like special guests.

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Topics: Cruise Diary, Hawaii, Mexico, ms Zaandam, Staff & Crew | | No Comments

Thanks to Holland America Line Reservation Lead Sarah Sterley for sending in these great photos!

I am a Holland America employee at the Seattle office. I recently took my mother on a sailing on Zaandam to Mexico. On our return from the shore excursions we selected in Puerto Vallarta we encountered a whale. He was attracting another whale by smacking the water with his tale. I was able to get some pictures with the Zaandam in the background. It was a great trip with several unexpected whale encounters.

Topics: Mexico, ms Zaandam, Shore Excursions | | 1 Comment

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.

Since we have cruised and visited Mexico and Hawaii several times, we didn’t expect that we would have such a memorable cruise. We both feel that the fabulous crew of the Zaandam is the reason we have enjoyed every minute of our time aboard. We hated to leave and not because we would have to cook our own meals and make our own beds. We hated to leave because we would miss the smiles and the greetings from all the wonderful crew aboard.

So a huge thanks to the Zaandam Crew for making our cruise so special!!! — Sharon and Al Johnson

Kainoa, the “On Location/ Travel” Guide on the Zaandam is definitely the best Travel Guide we have had during our 421 days of cruising on HAL ships. We have had great travel guides, but Kainoa is definitely in a league by himself. He is Hawaiian and has a passion for Hawaii that definitely shines in all his talks about the islands. Mondriaan Lounge was always packed when Kainoa gave a talk. He didn’t need a script or a laptop like so many of the presenters do. Kainoa is definitely a HAL Gem!!!

If I gained any weight on this cruise, it is because of the wonderful food coming out of the Zaandam Galley. And Marco Nunez is the 2nd Executive Chef in charge.

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Topics: Cruise Diary, Food & Beverage, Hawaii, Mexico, ms Zaandam, Staff & Crew | | 3 Comments