“Albania? Are We Allowed to Go there?”

The answer is yes. A few years ago Albania was taken off the restricted countries list that was on our U.S. passports for so long. The Albanian Adventure shore excursion departs from Corfu by hydrofoil and the ride is about 45 minutes to the port of Sarana. The town is “under construction” to say the least. There are hundreds of unfinished buildings that will turn the town into a proper resort town. Albania has only had about 20 years of freedom since communist rule so in that sense it’s a really young country. Building has stopped because the money has run out for some projects but they expect it to start again.

We traveled a few miles out of town up on winding roads to the UNESCO site of Butrint National Park. The sites covers centuries of building from 4th C BC to the 19th century with its lovely church. The views and history make it worth visiting. I came away with a hopeful feeling that Albania’s tourism will continue to grow and the country will come into its own.

Mussel beds.

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This week, staff aboard Nieuw Amsterdam celebrated Filipino Independence Day. The holiday fell on June 12 and commemorates the Filipino Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1898. Thanks to the ship’s Human Resources Clerk Roi Napitupulu for sending in these photos.

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Lesbos, Greece, is a new port for me and Holland America. It is famous for the female poet, Sappho. The town is quite small with an attractive harbor front. I had a limited amount of time so chose to climb up to the castle and check out the history and views.

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There is a story here. I was on the vaporetto to Burano in Venice, Italy. In front of me was a non-Italian family of four adults and one child all signing, not speaking. This kind Italian priest came up from the back and introduced himself and joined them for a conversation. He was so animated in his talk with the adults and attentive to their little girl that he eventually pulled out from his pockets a colorful rosary and gave it to her. They ended up exchanging what I presume were emails and hugs. Human nature at its best.

Joanne Gardner is Nieuw Amsterdam’s Future Cruise Consultant.

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Guests on Nieuw Amsterdam are having a great time learning the Jive as part of the Dancing with the Stars: at Sea programming.

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Thanks to Nieuw Amsterdam guest Angela Wu for sending in some photos while visiting Greece. Angela went to Santorini where she visited the towns of Oia and Fira.

It’s just gloriously beautiful … I can see why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought a vacation home for $5.5M just outside of Oia!— Angela Wu

An architect built these windmill modern homes below Oia. Look fun.

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Special thanks to HAL guest and regular blog contributor Hans Janssen for these photos from his recent cruise aboard Nieuw Amsterdam.

Here are some pictures of our transatlantic cruise with the Nieuw Amsterdam 04-30-2013 up to 05-15-2013 from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona.

Two sisters in Malaga

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Congratulations to Ryndam’s Photo Manager Constantin Paduraru, the winner of the recent crew photo competition held in conjunction with HAL’s 140th anniversary. Paduraru’s photo (below) of Amsterdam was taken from Ryndam’s deck as the two ships crossed paths in Alaska in May 2010. The time was approximately 3:30 a.m. and the moon was starting to set. Paduraru managed to snap the photo before the glowing orb disappeared. “I felt that night was a bit magical, and I want to dedicate this picture to all Holland America employees who are working together and through excellence manage to create magical days and nights for their guests and fellow crew,” he said.

Constantin Paduraru, Photo Manager, Ryndam

Below we have included other photographs that were submitted to the contest.

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Topics: Alaska, ms Amsterdam, ms Maasdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam, ms Volendam, Postcards from..., Staff & Crew | | 1 Comment