Category Archives: Holland America

Punta Arenas, Chile Cruise Port

Posted on January 9, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Punta Arenas, Chile Punta Arenas lies on the Strait of Magellan near the tip of southern Patagonian Chile. It’s often a starting point for those heading to Antarctica. It has a population of over 145,000 and is the coldest coastal … Continue reading →

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Cartegena Cruise Port

Posted on January 2, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Cartagena, Columbia Cartagena’s tourist draws include the 16th century walled old town and its beaches. Temperatures in Cartagena generally stay with lows in the mid to high 70’s F to highs in the high 80’s to low 90’s year-round. Annual … Continue reading →

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Nuku Island and Swallow’s Cave Snorkel Excursion

Posted on December 26, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

I was happy to see that Holland America’s information on our transpacific cruise on the Noordam for this excursion from Vava’u, Tonga specified reef-safe sunscreen and that there was no mention of insect repellent. So many snorkel excursion instructions say … Continue reading →

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Hits and Misses on Holland America Zaandam

Posted on December 12, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Hits Holland America Zaandam had lots of random seating near windows. Well maybe not so random as it’s mostly actually in bars or other venues, but still plenty of places to sit and watch the scenery go by. The Crows … Continue reading →

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Food on Holland America Oosterdam Antarctic Cruise

Posted on November 28, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Food is always a big part of cruising. There are a lot of consistencies when sailing on the same line from one cruise to another, but even on the same ship there will be some differences whether due to the … Continue reading →

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Aruba by Land and Sea

Posted on November 21, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Aruba Aruba’s motto is One Happy Island. There are lots of beaches on the 70-square-mile island. The country is an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Prior to 1986 it was part of the Netherlands Antillies, but gained … Continue reading →

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Vava’u Tonga Cruise Port

Posted on November 14, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Neiafu, Vava’u Tonga Neiafu is the second largest city in Tonga with a population around 4000 people. It is located in the island archipelago of Vava’u, which encompasses about 50 islands in the north of the Kingdom of Tonga and … Continue reading →

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Flyover at Canada Place, Vancouver BC

Posted on October 30, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

When cruising out of Vancouver BC, the train is an easy way to get there for people coming up from the south if they happen to live close enough to the Amtrak Cascades route from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver BC. … Continue reading →

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Patagonia Nature in Depth

Posted on October 17, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

At Holland America Oosterdam’s port stop in Puerto Chacabuco, Chile we booked an excursion called Patagonia Nature in Depth. This excursion promised a walk through the Aiken del Sur private 5 square mile park with superb views of lakes, rivers, … Continue reading →

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Nieuw Amsterdam Cabin 1113

Posted on October 10, 2025 by LBcruiseshipblogger

The Stern Cabin Normally we book cabins near the bow of the ship. We like to be near the front because it’s the best place to watch for flying fish. They scatter when disturbed by the ship moving through the … Continue reading →

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