Category Archives: Holland America

Hits and Misses on Holland America Zaandam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Rarotonga Cook Islands Cruise Port

Rarotonga is an island of volcanic origin in the South Pacific. Though the name has tonga in it, it is not part of the Kingdom of Tonga, but rather one of the Cook Islands. At just over 26 square miles … Continue reading

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Things to Do on Holland America Zaandam

There’s always something to do on a cruise ship. Even a smaller ship like Holland America Zaandam that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the mega ships still has plenty to do. Some people are quite capable of … Continue reading

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Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Cruise Port

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Puerto Chacabuco is a small town in the Patagonia region of southern Chile in the Aysén Province located at the head of Aysén Fjord. The town is named after a ship that explored the area in the … Continue reading

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