Category Archives: Holland America

Circular Quay

Posted on October 2, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia is not just a tourist hub. It’s also home to the Overseas Passenger Terminal where the luckier of cruise ship passengers to Sydney dock. Sydney has another terminal called White Bay which is not close … Continue reading →

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Cruising Antarctica

Posted on September 18, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Our Antarctic cruise on Holland America Oosterdam spent 4 days cruising the Antarctic Peninsula. At the start we were given a map of the planned route for the time we spent there. The cruise was much longer, 4 days is … Continue reading →

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Shows on Holland America Niew Amsterdam

Posted on September 11, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Like most cruises the nightly shows on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam were a mix of production shows with the ship’s cast and other shows with guest performers. Being a longer cruise there was a higher percentage of guest performers than … Continue reading →

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Brisbane, Australia Cruise Port

Posted on August 28, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

If there’s ever a port where it’s a good idea to have something planned in advance, Brisbane is it. The port is out in the middle of nowhere and set up more as an embarkation and debarkation cruise terminal than … Continue reading →

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Spa and Thermal Suite on Holland America Oosterdam

Posted on August 7, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Like all ships on major cruise lines, Holland America Oosterdam has a spa and fitness center. Equipment at the gym is generally free to use. Some of the classes there have a cost and others are free. Personal trainers are … Continue reading →

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El Salvador Cacao Plantation

Posted on July 31, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Ancestral Cacao Plantation & Chocolate Making Workshop At our port stop in Acajutla, El Salvador on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam we booked an excursion called Ancestral Cacao Plantation & Chocolate Making Workshop. The excursion information from the cruise line differed … Continue reading →

Posted in Holland America, Nieuw Amsterdam, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions, South and Central America | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Norfolk Island

Posted on July 24, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Norfolk Island was a port stop on our cruise on Holland America Noordam that went from San Diego to Sydney. Our ship docked at the Cascade pier on Norfolk Island, which is not close to anything. Though not attached to … Continue reading →

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Cabin Crawl on Holland America Oosterdam

Posted on July 3, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

People often form groups on social media like Cruise Critic or Facebook for a specific cruise to contact other people who are booked for the same cruise. Sometimes they set up events that others in that group can attend. On … Continue reading →

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Acajutla, El Salvador Cruise Port

Posted on June 26, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Acajutla, El Salvador We were told by an excursion guide in Costa Rica that El Salvador is both the smallest and most populated country in central America. It’s a small country on the Pacific side of Central America, near but … Continue reading →

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Norfolk Island Hike

Posted on June 19, 2026 by LBcruiseshipblogger

Bridal Track Coastal Walk Following a rather bouncy tender ride to shore, a couple small busses waited to take our group on a shore excursion from Holland America Noordam up a steep hill to the entrance of Norfolk Island National … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Holland America, Noordam, Pacific Ocean & Islands, Ports of Call, Shore Excursions | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments