St Pete Cruiser

Greetings everyone. This year's Voyage of the Vikings is almost over with our last port of Halifax today and disembark Saturday morning. It has been a good to excellent one for me. So many of the Holland America Line traditions have returned. Yes, even lobster tail last night and the candy man at the door, without the bell boy uniform. Kimberly, CD, has made it almost like a World Cruise along with Henk and Captain Frank and Captain Friso. Dinner with an officer and so many activities we had to choose what to do.

Zuiderdam will call at Corner Brook tomorrow rather than St John's to avoid the effects of Ernesto. We are at St Anthony today.

Our Zuiderdam Voyage of the Vikings is enjoying a sunny day in Qaqartoq, Greenland. We are only the third large cruise ship to call this season as icebergs and wind have kept the others away. Just yesterday, the Oceania Marina was unable to tender its guests in. The colorful buildings looked great today and I thought the town of 3000 seemed bigger and nicer than it did in 2009. We are in our last week and most of us are well pleased with this Legendary Voyage. Henk, Hotel GM, chatted with me last night at the 5 star party, that next year's Voyage of the Vikings will be his last assignment. I asked if he knew why no other Holland America ships besides the Zuiderdam Voyage of the Vikings, are scheduled for the Prins Christian Sund in 2025 or 2026, but he only guessed it was do to time limitations. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are.

Yes, Busch Gardens is alive and well.

Zuiderdam is currently completing its second Prins Christian Sund passage on its Voyage of the Vikings.

Well, Iceland wasn't the best weather this Voyage of the Vikings, but Prins Christian Sund today has been as good as it gets.

Iceberg close to Prins Christian Sund.

Good morning from the Zuiderdam as we are just off the eastern coast of Greenland and will enter the Prins Christian Sund in about an hour. Captain Friso announced there is a huge iceberg, over a square mile in size nearby. Cruise Mapper showing Nieuw Statendam headed towards Iceland and several small expedition ships here as well.

Greetings from Reykjavik. This is our second day, leaving at 11pm tonight. Yesterday, Regent was here. They left and now Norwegian Prima is docked in front of us. Reykjavik is busy! The road from the port to the old city was so open in 2009 and now there are buildings all along it. Sorry that the church is on its side, but there has been considerable volcanic action nearby! We meet our friends in the Gallery Bar on Deck 1 most evenings. The Ocean Bar 🍸 trio along with the Legendary Band continues to play afternoons along with the Classic Trio who now have Alex the violoist occasionally.

The Voyage of the Vikings arrived in Cohb, Ireland early this morning. We took the train to Cork, which was enjoyable and easy. I was very pleased we docked right in Cohb, not across the harbor in Ringskiddy where Royal Caribbean was docked. I had to go back and take pics of a pub when I saw what the drink of the day was:

We are currently on Holland America Line's Voyage of the Vikings and enjoyed sharing the dock in Isafjordur with the Star Pride. We were aboard her sister ship the Legend in February and March in the Mediterranean. Thought I would share some pics:

We enjoyed our turn around day in Rotterdam. We toured the SS Rotterdam and Hotel New York and walked the bridge.

The good ship Zuiderdam arrived safely into Oslo this morning at 9am after two cool and rainy days at sea. The old girl rides the seas well, I rather think, better than the newer Pinnacle class with their higher structure out of the water. Oslo was shining this afternoon when the sun came out. We docked to the left of where Holland America has docked in the past. Silver Seas was also in port and was the first cruise ship we have had to share with us since leaving Boston. Captain Frank will be leaving Tuesday in Rotterdam. I like his easy going sailaway and noon messages from the bridge. Hope your Sunday is going well!

We continue to enjoy this Voyage of the Vikings Legendary Voyage. Yesterday, the Classic Trio played an old favorite of mine from the Lincoln Center Playlist: starting with Aaron Copeland's Hoedown and finishing with Edith Piaf. They proudly told us Holland America payed for the rights to use these, not Lincoln Center. The Legendary Band played in the Ocean Bar while the Rolling Stone Band does very well and Nathan continues at Billboard. We sat with seasoned Holland America Line Mariners at breakfast who have done the World Cruise on the Zuiderdam. I asked them what the World Cruise offered above this Legendary and they mentioned the pillow gifts, but not much else. We do have Captain Frank, Hotel GM Henk and Kimberly, same as this year's WC.

Thanks. Yes Isafjordur is sunny and 60F this afternoon, a hot day for here! My Dutch lady friends who were aboard with you said it was barely above freezing on the way over to Boston. We were very blessed to transit the Prins Christian Sund Monday. Of course, we didn't divert to Nuuk where you went. The Windstar Star Pride joined us at the new expanded dock. We walked up the city trail to get these pics.

The new categories as described by Henk, our Hotel General Manager:, the regular/traditional cruises. Legendary Voyages which are 28 to 60 days. Grand Voyages which are the longest itineraries. I personally think a 14 day with 4 or more sea days should have live music 🎶 for happy hours and classic Duo or Trio.

The longer narrow rooms with bedroom away from the hall. They usually have a sofa.

@dallascruiser We are in 4029 on Zuiderdam. Our first time in the sideways room, cat N. It is forward, quiet and the bathroom has shower only which I prefer. However, it is small with no sofa and minimal storage.

I agree with the poster, but the Legendary Voyage, which the current Voyage of the Vikings is superb. Live music in the Ocean Bar every afternoon. classic trio in the Explorer Lounge. Rolling Stone Live Band with volcalists. Three enrichment speakers. Live production shows with singers and dancers. Unfortunately we have to pay more for a Legendary Voyage to get what we had previously on every longer cruise, but at least Holland America Line does still know how to please its guests. Printed news at the MDR.

Tasermiut Fjord leads from Nanortalik 43 miles into Greenland. Captain Frank and his officers think it was the first Holland America Line venture up it, but I suspect the Prinsendam may have. @Copper John, can you confirm this?

Good morning from Nanortalik, Greenland. Yes,the good ship Zuiderdam is tendering into Nanortalik this morning after doing the adjacent fjord yesterday. I'll try to post more after returning to the ship.

We are enjoying your Zuiderdam, as it's our first time back on board since 2019. Some of the staff have been on since the World Cruise and both Henk and Kimberly have returned as is Captain Frank. The service does seem more refined and experienced. The Legendary Voyage has MUCH MORE live music and better entertainment. Did you Hyperion Knight the pianist on the World?

Cornerbrook welcome band. Hotel General Manager Henk was able to join the ship yesterday in Sydney after missing his flight to Boston.

The Classic Trio plays 3 times a day, the same performance, so more guests can hear it as the Explorers Lounge is not very large.