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

Here are a couple of photos from the Church of Our Lady in Rhodes, Greece.

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Topics: Europe, Mediterranean, ms Noordam, Postcards from..., Shore Excursions | | 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!

This country and port were a first for us, and for most of the passengers on this ship for that matter. It was a beautiful, great stop! We all loved it!

The local people were very friendly and welcoming. And because we are on this fairly small ship, as cruise ships go these days, we were able to dock right downtown! Awesome! I have also included a map photo showing our route into the town/harbor. Very unique we think.

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Topics: Cruise Diary, Grand Voyages, Mariner Voices, Mediterranean, ms Prinsendam, Shore Excursions | | 1 Comment

During its South Pacific Crossing, the crew of the ms Oosterdam were treated to a tour of Te Puia in Rotorua, New Zealand, where traditional dances were performed for the group.

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Topics: Australia/New Zealand, ms Oosterdam, Shore Excursions, South Pacific, Staff & Crew | | 2 Comments

Thanks to Susie and Glenn for sending in some photos from their recent trip to Italy, Greece and Turkey aboard Eurodam.

We have recently returned from our first cruise taking in sites in Italy, Greece and Turkey. Absolutely loved it. The ms Eurodam was excellent and the staff very warm and professional. Highly recommend this cruise line to everyone. The excursions were all fantastic allowing us the opportunity to see so much and experience even more. Our favorite (if it’s possible to choose) was Ephesus. Our stewards were the best. Alim and Jono … Have taken sooooo many pictures of which I will make movie dvd’s after attending the fantastic techspert, Evan’s classes … thank you everyone for making this such a wonderful trip. Definitely not the last. Already thinking about our next … possibly an Alaskan. My pictures vary, one from breakfast on the veranda, Corfu, Greece, Kanoni, Greece with Mouse Island and the ms Eurodam in port. Thank you again for the memories. Susie and Glenn

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Topics: Mediterranean, ms Eurodam, Postcards from..., Shore Excursions | | 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!

Marmaris, Turkey, was a first-time stop for us. We really do like the Turkish coastal towns, so we figured we would like this one, too. It was very interesting! We once chartered a sailboat for a week out of Gocek, Turkey (a moorings base near Fethye and not too far from Antalya), which was great.

Today we took an all-day tour to Dalyan, Caunos, and Iztuzu Beach from Marmaris.

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Topics: Cruise Diary, Grand Voyages, Mariner Voices, Mediterranean, ms Prinsendam, Shore Excursions | | 3 Comments

I have just returned from a three-week cruise on the Veendam which included a wonderful excursion to Machu Picchu. As usual HAL had organised everything perfectly and it all went like clockwork. The guides were excellent, the Monesterio Hotel lived up to its 5-star rating, the Hiram Bingham rail journey was a great experience and the Inca site itself was amazing. We had a lovely sunny day and because we didn’t arrive until after lunch, the crowds had gone and we managed to get some fabulous photographs. Machu Picchu was on our bucket list and we didn’t want to spend days trekking in Peru, so three days off the ship was a perfect way to do things. Grace, who happened to be the captain’s wife, travelled with us and was an excellent travelling companion, I hope we can keep in touch. — Margaret Morris

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Topics: ms Veendam, Postcards from..., Shore Excursions, South America | | 1 Comment

During Oosterdam’s South Pacific Crossing, International Concierge Maria Boyen shared with me her experience on the Hobbiton Movie Set crew tour that took place March 28, 2013, near Tauranga, New Zealand. She and the crew loved visiting the original movie set of “The Lord of the Rings!”

Twenty-two brave men and women of the fellowship of the Oosterdam made their long journey to the Shire and followed Frodo’s hairy footsteps. There they enjoyed a sunny afternoon stroll passing many hobbit holes and enjoyed the view over the Shire and a short rest under the Party Tree. The journey continued through a little forest path and over the bridge next to the watermill to the Green Dragon, where the crew enjoyed a cup of cool Hobbit beer.

Natalie Ansari is Oosterdam’s human resources manager.

Topics: Australia/New Zealand, ms Oosterdam, Shore Excursions, Staff & Crew | | No Comments