On September 1, the Eurodam arrived in the beautiful port of St. John’s, Newfoundland. In the morning we sailed past Cabot Tower on top of Signal Hill under clear blue skies. At 11:00 a.m., a presentation was held in the Ocean bar on board commemorating the Eurodam’s return to St. John’s.

Participants in the presentation included Mayor Dennis O’Keefe, Chairman of Cruise St. John’s Mr. Kevin Gushue, Ms. Deborah Cook from the city’s tourism development board, Director of Port Development Bob McCarthy and Port Authority Manager Jeff Mc Grath. Eurodam’s Captain Darin Bowland, Hotel Manager Marco van Belleghem, Chief Officer Bas van Dreumel, Event Manager Julie Seidel and Party Planner Elizabeth Scoville also attended the presentation.

Mayor Dennis O’Keefe presents Captain Darin Bowland with a gift.

Eurodam's Captain Darin Bowland pictured here with the mayor of St. John's and local port officials.

Marco van Belleghem is Eurodam’s hotel manager.

Topics: Baltic/Northern Europe, Photos, ms Eurodam | Comments Off

During the month of August, the Eurodam sailed through Prins Christian Sund in Greenland, a very remote area of the earth. As we entered the Sund around 8:30 a.m. the outside decks were full of guests trying to get the best glimpse of the scenery. Even though the weather throughout the day was mostly overcast with scattered showers, this did not stop the guests from enjoying themselves.

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Topics: Baltic/Northern Europe, Photos, Postcards from... , ms Eurodam | 1 Comment

On August 29, the Eurodam visited the small village of Qaqortoq in Greenland. Over the last few weeks I have been communicating with the port agent to organize a ship visit for the local children and make it a special day for them. At 11:30 a.m. the children and their parents came on board and we waited for them at the gangway. First we took them to the atrium area, where the ships photographer took a beautiful picture of the whole group.

Eurodam crew members and our special visitors pose for a photo in the Atrium.

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Topics: Baltic/Northern Europe, Fun Stuff, ms Eurodam | No Comments

We recently had a crew tour to the fascinating Blue Lagoon when the Eurodam called at Reykjavik, Iceland, Aug. 26. The photos below show how happy we were to be able to experience this once in a lifetime moment!

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Topics: Crew News, Europe, ms Eurodam | 2 Comments

The other day Eurodam was in Amsterdam. Not at the usual dock at the cruise terminal, but this time at the ceres container terminal, 10 miles west of the city. This because the big event Sail Amsterdam 2010 started with the sail in. The tall ships were sailing into Amsterdam accompanied by hundreds of other ships. Thousands of people have been watching this.

I am sure passengers of Eurodam must have seen part of this from one of the top decks. Eurodam left at 8pm that night and along the canal there were still some people watching this and waving to the passengers. My husband has made some nice photos of this, which I include.

Groeten,
Ine van Dam

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Topics: Europe, Photos, ms Eurodam | 4 Comments

HAL’s ms Eurodam was lucky to be in the Port of Amsterdam at the beginning of SAIL 2010, an event with over 200 sailing heritage ships. Moored at the Amsterdam Container Terminal, the ship, her crew and guests were in the front row for the sail-in parade headed by the clipper Stad Amsterdam. The sail-in attracted hundreds of thousands spectators.

Alexander Bakker is a public relations representative of Holland America Line in The Netherlands.

Topics: Europe, ms Eurodam | 2 Comments

HAL’s Safety Environmental Health Officer Ronald de Bloeme sent us this note and photos from Eurodam’s recent port call in Amsterdam. Thanks, Ronald!

Here are pictures of happy crew members on the deck of Eurodam. Whether they were happy to see me, or happy to leave the port of Amsterdam, I don’t really know. I left the Eurodam two weeks ago and was able to see the vessel again in the locks of Ijmuiden last Sunday. After a two day stay in Amsterdam, the vessel left the Dutch port for another 10-day Baltic cruise.

On August 19, the ship will call at Amsterdam again. I will try to take more pictures of these happy crew members.

Ronald de Bloeme
Safety Environmental Health Officer
Holland America Line

Topics: Europe, Postcards from... , ms Eurodam | No Comments

I bumped into guest Andriaan Suijlen in the corridor. He explained that he worked as a purser for Holland America Line in 1956 on the Statendam after his time in the Dutch Navy. I explained that I work in Guest Relations/“The Pursers Office” and offered if he would like to see the office and how things have evolved.

He was surprised to see how much is now automated. He recalled typing out endless stores lists of provisions as a purser. He also shared a story how he was woken up at night to come back to the office to open the safe as guests needed money for the casino.

THEN: Mr. Suijlen is the officer on the right in the front.

AND NOW: From left, Guest Relations Attendant Maricar Fabila, Guest Relations Attendant Sheila Cabingue, Guest Relations Attendant Lavern Valeroso, Guest Relations Manager Pam Kern, Andriaan Suijlen, Karin Suijlen, Telephone Concierge Laura Jonckheer and Guest Relations Attendant Christine Lacsamana.

Pam Kern is guest relations manager aboard Eurodam.

Topics: Interesting Stuff, ms Eurodam | 5 Comments