Category Archives: Holland America

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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Grand Turk Beach Day

Grand Turk Grand Turk is the capital island of Turks and Caicos and the largest island in the Turks, but there are two in the Caicos island archipelago that are bigger. Turks and Caicos together make up a country which … Continue reading

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Food on Holland America Noordam

Dining Room The dining room on the Noordam was usually good for breakfast or dinner, but lunch not so much. Between very slow service at lunchtime, quite limited menus, and food that wasn’t that good the Lido buffet was often … Continue reading

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Rain Forest Canoe in Ketchikan

Prior to our Zaandam Alaska cruise, John booked a fishing excursion in Ketchikan and I booked one called Rain Forest Canoe & Nature Trail. John booked this cruise on a whim because he was missing Alaska after having spent a … Continue reading

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Fly Fishing Patagonia Chile

Most of the time people cruising together stick together in port and do the same thing, but it’s certainly not required. If one person wants to do something and the other would rather do something else it’s perfectly fine to … Continue reading

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