Embarkation:
HAL representatives were on hand to assist from U.S. Customs clearance to ship transfer. They were wonderful! Assuring us our luggage would be in our stateroom that evening, we boarded a bus and arrived at the port on time to sail away. We don't know how they did it, but out luggage was in our stateroom by 8:00 p.m. that evening. We were directed to the main deck to receive our guest cards and other cruise/ship information. It was a wonderful start on our journey.

Stateroom:
Our stateroom was very nice. Sunrayah, our stateroom attendant, welcomed us aboard and, throughout the cruise, provided top-notch service. His attention to our needs and requests were provided quickly. Our stateroom was well taken care of, always clean and neat. The attendants work very hard to provide excellent service.

Buffet:
The Lido buffet area was excellent. Every food dish imaginable was on the line and it was delicious as well as pleasing to the eye. The variety of dishes was enormous; from morning 'til night was available to cruise guests. The kitchen staff certainly catered to everyone's needs.

Wedding Vows Renewal:
We experienced the ceremony of renewal of our wedding vows and it was one of the highlights of our cruise. The Captain officiated at the ceremony and it was quite an emotional time for everyone involved. His words and personal attention to each couple were a testimonial to his position as leader. We received a leather bound album with certificate and pictures of the ceremony, flower arrangement in our cabin and enjoyed an exquisite dinner in The Pinnacle restaurant.

Entertainment:
With the anticipation of spending three weeks on board with hopefully a vast array of activities, programs, stage shows, and night life, we settled in and began reviewing the listed entertainment. Our first day brought us to the staff teaching country line dancing on Deck-10 at the Crow's Nest. It has a great dance floor and we immediately thought this place was our home away from home. As the "dance instructors" proceeded to teach line dancing, it was obvious they were not comfortable with it. In fact, they told everyone they were having difficulty with instructing, but would do their best. Since it was a large group of student/guests, it became obvious that there would be extensive country music and dancing on board.

This was quite a disappointment for us and for many other guests. One couple from Florida told us they would never cruise with HAL again. No night life!

The other end of the entertainment spectrum was no different. Showtime in the Vista Lounge was another sad experience. HAL had four comedians who were terrible. So terrible, from the first night on board, guests were walking out of the show. Another example of dullness with the hypnotist. She definitely was not entertainment material and again, people walked out. on the good side were the gymnast, piano player, and the local folklore dance teams. Excellent entertainment!

 The program setup of entertainment was out of sequence. For instance, they conducted bingo games while guests were on shore excursions, and at 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. At this time, folks are returning and getting ready for dinner. Yet, the cruise directors were surprised at the samll turnout for bingo. Hello! Anticipate the bingo game in the morning when people are looking for something to do.

We also enjoy the art auctions. Again, the time presented for these auctions was late in the afternoon (3-4:00 p.m.) when guests are preparing for dinner. The more interesting activities crossed over in time so you couldn't attend everything. For example, the wine somalier had a presentation at the same time the Panama Canal lecturer, Dr. Jay, was speaking. Needless to say this was a conflict of interest and the lecture took priority. His four sessions were superb; but we also missed out on the wine presentation.

Shore Excursions
Our shore excursions were great and we had good English-speaking guides. They were friendly and knowledgeable of their tour.

Children
We did notice a number of children on board. No problem with that, but seeing them all over the ship and at all times of the day and night indicated they didn't have an activity area for them. They monopolized the main pool and guests had a difficult time using the pool area. It stated an adult was to be present to supervise, but the children were at time out of control, running, jumping, and creating a disturbance. More emphasis may be considered to children activities away from the adult agenda.

Overall, we  had a wonderful time, made many new friends and experienced another part of the world we hadn't been to. We plan to continue cruising to unforeseen, and foreseen destinations, but personally, Holland America will not be a choice of cruise lines.

This was our 30th cruise, our seventh on HAL, and our third in a suite on a Vista class ship. As expected, we had a perfectly wonderful time. We were traveling with my Dear Aunt Ruth, shortly after her 93rd birthday. Besides my wife Renée and myself (Mike) we were joined by our friends Suzie and Pam. We all met in Fort Lauderdale, after an uneventful flight from Missouri for Aunt Ruth and Suzie and from D.C. by Pam. Our flight from Sacramento, however, turned into an adventure. Let us just say that the staff on HAL was very helpful to two poor waifs when we boarded very bedraggled after driving all night from Orlando Airport, not knowing where in Texas our luggage was! We were staying in suites (cat SA) 7057 and 7059 on the Rotterdam deck right across from the Neptune Lounge, our favorite location. We took the hotel shuttle to the port about 12:00 and were on board by 1:00 after a very easy embarkation thanks to the courteous and efficient ground staff in Fort Lauderdale. We soon made the acquaintance of the lovely concierges in the Neptune Lounge and enjoyed the light lunch there.

The very first day of the cruise is spent on Half Moon Cay, HAL's private island in the Bahamas. We began with breakfast on the balcony, overlooking the island. We could see the first tenders going ashore with the crew who would be serving on the island. It was a delightfully warm day with partly cloudy skies, just right for a day on the beach. This is a beautiful place to enjoy the beach and the many activities. On the right of this picture is the visitor center, then working to the left are the massage and food pavilions, and the first five private cabanas for rental. In front of the visitor center and massage pavilion are several of the "clamshell" shelters which can also be rented. The floats which mark the swimming area can also be seen. We got on the new, large tenders specially designed for this beach, and made the short trip in. On Half Moon Cay, we had booked the Taupe Cabana. The private cabanas are a wonderful way to enjoy the day at this beautiful beach. Here is more about cabanas. We settled in, enoyed the sodas and snacks, relaxed in the sun or the shade according to our individual tastes, and had a great time.

Half Moon Cay is a beautiful beach. We had delightful weather, very warm and sunny but with a few fluffy clouds in the sky. Many people were busy with the activities or baking in the sun, but we chose to just relax around the cabana. The Taupe Cabana is close to the food pavilion (and the restrooms!) so after enjoying the sodas, chips and fruit in the cabana we had a great BBQ lunch including ribs, burgers, slaw, potato salad and all the fixings.

Next day was a sea day. This is an excellent itinerary for enjoying the ship's facilities as there are three full days at sea. Sitting on the balcony watching the ocean go by is a great way to pass the time. We also tried out the team trivia but alas, we were second place today.

Lunch in the Lido cafe was always great. The buffets on the Vista class ships of HAL are some of the most wonderful afloat. This day most of us opted for the sandwich deli, or the salad bar, with a trip to the sweet line for the famous HAL bread pudding. It was delightful to sit by the big window and watch the stunning blue water as we ate.

Then we went up to the Thermal Suite. We had booked a week long couples pass to the Thermal Suite and Hydropool and enjoyed it daily. The heated couches are great to relax on, and there are beautiful sauna and steam rooms that you can enjoy with your sweetie. Then there is the wonderful tropical rainfall shower, and at the end of it you hit the button in the wall for the icy mist! It is delightfully refreshing and a great way to enjoy the afternoon.

We fought a terriffic head wind all night, so we arrived at Aruba about an hour late. Disembarking was easy, and it was only a short walk into the small terminal. Standing in front of the gift shop was Marco of Wixtours. He escorted us to the waiting minivan and took us on a great tour of Aruba. We began by driving past many fine white crushed coral beaches to the Butterfly Farm. This is a beautiful garden, filled with many species of butterflys. Renée admired this red and black beauty, and Aunt Ruth was favored by an Indian Leaf Butterfly which landed on her sleeve. Although the outside of its wings resemble a dead leaf, it has a beautiful pattern inside. The guide told her to make a wish when a butterfly landed on her.

Our destination was the "Natural Bridge." Actually, the famous rock formation jutting out into the ocean collapsed about a year and a half ago, but there is a smaller one which is sort of visible by peering down into a crack at the edge of the rocks. It is not exactly among the world's Top Ten Tourist Attractions, but provided a pleasant stop for drinks (and restrooms) during our tour.

The next morning we arrived in Curacao. It is a very beautiful place, Dutch in heritage. The green hills are covered with colorful little houses. From the Observation Deck there was a wonderful panoramic view of the island.
We had booked ahead on the Seaquarium website for the Sea Lion Encounter program. This was a very exciting experience. Accompanied by the trainer, we entered the sea lion enclosure and got to meet Coral, a female South American Sea Lion, up close and personal. Each one of us got to pet the smooth silky fur, slicked back for streamlined swimming. Then we had a chance to shake her flipper. Most of the animal's strength is concentrated in this strong tough flipper for quick swimming.
Every day on the cruise we took advantage of the relaxing Thermal Suite. Lying on those heated couches, listening to the fountain play and watching the waves induces a wonderful sense of relaxation. Then we enjoyed these beautiful sauna, steam and aroma rooms.

Renée needed that relaxation after spending too much time fighting with the ship's miserable wifi internet connection. Slow was only a part of it! At the price they charge one would expect better connections.
We returned to the Trivia game, and named our team The Phoenixes. True to that promise, we rose from the ashes to WIN today, getting HAL umbrellas for our efforts.

The service provided by the Indonesian crew is excellent. They are especially delighted to serve the passengers who attend the special Indonesian Tea. I had an excellent Jasmine Green Tea while my friend Pam stuck with the Spiced Black Tea.

Then we went to the Liar's Club show, which was hysterical! There was always something going on all through the sea days.

So our final day on the Westerdam arrived. We got up early for breakfast. All the breakfast venues were open by 6:00 AM. The ship was cleared exactly on schedule and disembarkation began at 8:15. We had early colors, and were off the ship by 8:30. Luggage was well organized, we got a porter easily and he swept us through customs and immigration very rapidly. Everything was moving quickly. Cabs were a bit chaotic with no cab rank or dispatchers, but our porter snagged two cabs and sent us off to FLL airport. We were at the airport by 9:15, checked in and through security by 9:45, in plenty of time for an 11:15 flight. BUT -- every single thing worked perfectly for us. Any tiny glitch anyplace along the way would have held us up and made it very chancy to catch a flight that early. It is much more comfortable to follow the ship's suggestions and book a flight after 12:30.

All in all we had an absolutely GREAT time on this cruise. The itinerary is very relaxing and the three sea days give us plenty of time to enjoy the ship. I would thoroughly recommend this trip for people who like to lie back and enjoy the Caribbean warmth!

Seven days aboard HAL's Veendam is seven days of pure nautical bliss. Take it from a cruiser with some 30 different cruises under his belt - many of them aboard other vessels of Holland America Line (at last count, they credit me with some 77 days of HAL cruising). What made this particular cruise ship a standout? Pretty much everything you read in Holland America's ads: personal and caring service; varied entertainment; large cabins (mine was #791, outside, with shower and tub on A Deck, about 187 square feet and very roomy). But there's one element passengers remember long after the cruise is over - the cuisine. Whether you dine in the two-tiered Rotterdam Dining room or at the Lido (Deck 11) buffet, the fare rates the highest marks on the seven seas. This writer prefers the Lido for breakfast and lunch where you can find practically anything you like - enough smoked salmon to stock your favorite deli; mountains of jumbo shrimp, pizza on demand, irresistible pastries definitely not on your diet. A leisurely dinner in the Rotterdam is, of course, a delightful way to cap your day. With so many choices in appetizers, soups, and main courses, you run the risk of "pigging out" morning, noon and night. But that's okay - you only live once. Note: there are low-cal and vegetarian items on every menu, so if you must hold back, there are delicious options available.

But probably the most important benefit, particularly today: diligent security. Although it was never intrusive, you always had the comforting feeling that they were there, alert and ever-watchful.

Some other plusses you don't find listed in HAL's ads, but very important for cruise aficionados, like complimentary cappuccino in the dining room. Many ships charge for this frothy and delectable concoction. Not on the Veendam. Their Java Café on Promenade Deck (seven) serves coffee, espresso or cappuccino and chocolate chip cookies absolutely free. A hearty pick-me-up anytime from 8:00 am till 6:00 pm.

For many cruisers, curling up with a good book in a comfy deck chair is a number one priority and activity. Nice to know that the Veendam has a well-stocked library, including many current best-sellers in their collection. Sure, bring your own reading matter if you like, but the Veendam library is there as a reliable back-up.

Although the ship is a big one (four times around is a mile), even at full capacitry (1,266 passengers), you never get the feeling of being overcrowded. There's ample room to hide out - just do a little exploring and you can find a quiet corner to claim as your very own (I liked to chill out at the Crow's Next at the very top of the ship on deck 12). The ship is also very passenger-friendly in that the layout makes it easy to find your way around from the very first day. All you have to do is remember the three-deck atrium (decks six, seven and eight), the core of the ship where you dine, shop, enjoy cocktails, take in a movie, enjoy night club entertainment, even try your luck at the casino. The well-equipped spa is on the Lido Deck.

We were fortunate to be able to experience the Midnight Sun Explorer Cruise on the Holland America Prinsendam July 10 through July 31. This was one of the best cruises we have ever sailed on. The Prinsendam is an elegant ship that only holds 793 guests. The ship was great and the Midnight Sun itinerary was fabulous and even the weather cooperated to make it perfect.

Our cruise was round trip Amsterdam, Holland. It was a 21 day cruise and took us North through the fjords of Norway. We had 7 ports of call in Norway and several days of scenic cruising with narration, including the Polar icecap. We experienced 3 ports in Iceland and one in the Shetland Islands and our final port was Edinburgh, Scotland. Truly a wonderful itinerary.

Embarkation: We were on the ship very quickly even though H.A. apologized for delay as they were having difficulties with the cameras they use to take the passengers photo before they embark the ship.

Cabin: Thrilled was the word for how we felt about our cabin. We were expecting a port hole and had a nice big window, a refrigerator, a tub, and a walk-in closet. We felt that we were in heaven.
The bedding on Holland America is very luxurious and so comfortable. Robes in all cabins. These came in handy the day we "swam the Arctic Circle".
We had a very efficient cabin steward, actually we almost never saw him.
The ship is going to be in dry dock soon for a 26 day refit. They said the cabins are to be redone, especially the bathrooms.

Internet: We took our lap top and found an unsecured signal in several of the cities. We also paid to use the internet in some ports. We did not use internet on the ship. There were places we were that they could not get a signal and it not inexpensive.

Ship in General: The Prinsendam was built to as the luxury cruise ship called the Royal Viking Sun, later it was the Seabourn Sun. It is a luxurious ship and very comfortable. Public spaces have a more roomy feeling than on most ships. Everyone on board seems to love the ship and the Future Cruise person was constantly busy. Many people were booked for two more consecutive cruises following the 21 days we were on. I overheard the Future Cruise person talking to a client telling her that her travel agent would get the credit for the future cruise. The client said she did not want the agent to have the credit. The client was told that she would have to sign a form stating that this was her choice and that she had been given the option to give credit to her agent. I had to restrain myself to keep from putting in my two cents worth. I was glad that the opportunity was given, even if the client did not take it. This ship still has the 'free' Java Bar. Lovely specialty coffees and cookies all day and evening.
There were no problems with the elevators during the entire cruise. With many older passengers this was essential. This ship seemed to have public restrooms in all the right places. Very roomy and spotless at all times and with cloth hand towels.

Dining: he food was excellent from the dining room to the Lido to the chocolates that they put out at 9 pm. Everyone needs late night chocolates! We have never seen so many choices on a cruise menu. 9 entree choices every night (not including the always available chicken or steak). We went to the dining room the first night. Our dinner mates were quite demanding of the staff. We tried it two more nights and both nights the other couple was more than 20 minutes late for dinner. This put a real strain on the staff. They performed well, even under these circumstances but were treated like servants by our table mates. Since we love eating in the Lido, we chose to eat there the rest of the cruise rather than change tables or eat with our rude, inconsiderate new acquaintances.
There was a third couple at the table and they made the same decision after 4 nights. We knew the Lido Manager from a previous cruise and he treated us like royalty, so that made the Lido even more enjoyable. Many of the workers in the Lido remembered our name after only one day. The buffets there were excellent and the evening meal was wonderful. We did not eat in the Pinnacle and noticed some evenings there were not many people dining there. One night they did offer a special 'Sommelier's Dinner' at $75 per person and that night sold out. It included wine with each of 6 or 7 courses.

Casino: They had the cutest small craps table. At first they seemed to be giving away money but that changed later in the cruise. We did enjoy the friendly staff in the casino. Daytimes and several evenings their tables had only a $3 minimum. One night the casino was totally non-smoking.

Shore Excursions: Sometimes we toured on our own and sometimes we took the ship's excursions. We were very pleased with the shore excursions that we purchased from H.A. Also, the shore excursion staff was very helpful and seemed to be open longer hours than on some ships. The port lecturer (not shopping--no recommended stores on this cruise) was extremely helpful. She gave a talk on each port and it was well attended.
She gave lots of info that would help you if you decided to do the port on your own. She is also the one that narrated the scenic cruising. Even though she was a part of the Shore Excursion Staff, she also was there to assist the independent traveler.

Entertainment: They did a good job in providing a wide variety of evening etertainment. In Edinburgh, we had a folkloric show. The singers and dancers for the Prinsendam were probably better than on most ships. That is usually not our favorite kind of show but we went to two of them this cruise. They showed very good current movies in the theatre and seemed to have good movies on TV also. There were two lecturers on for the entire cruise and they were very popular. We enjoyed their lectures on the areas we were traveling to, the people of the regions and the wildlife.
Catholic, Protestant and Jewish services were held on the ship.

Passengers: The passengers were mostly retirees. There were a few young people on board and the kids program was operating and they seemed to be having a wonderful time together. The few young couples that were on board also seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were many more Europeans on board than we usually see on Holland America. We wondered it they had a last minute sale in the Netherlands to fill the ship. I know I did not see any reduction in price here in the States. Of course, it was such a different itinerary, and was round-trip Amsterdam so that would attract local people.

Itinerary: Fabulous itinerary. The ports in Norway and Iceland were so clean, the air was crisp and we had the best weather we could ask for. Bad weather could really make or break this cruise. The scenic cruising of the fjords with so many glaciers was a bonus we did not expect.

Pools and Hot Tubs: They were used even though we were on a very northern itinerary. In fact they had a "Swim the Arctic Circle" event and we have our certificate to prove that we were in the water at that time.

Self-Service Laundry: Thank goodness for this. I always wondered why people washed clothes on their first day of a cruise. Now I know, they have been traveling for 3 weeks before they get on the ship. We made good use of the self-service facilities. They have 2 laundries on the ship. The washers and dryers are free.............yes, free. And get this, they also furnish the detergent. Also 2 ironing boards and irons in each laundry room.

Disembarkation: Disembarkation was very smooth. Numbers were being called by 8 am and people were smoothly moving off the ship. We got a taxi when we left the ship. We find it is usually cheaper than the ship's shuttle. This time due to construction we had to take a long way around to the airport. Our driver tried to get to us with a much higher price than he had told us. We eventually agreed on a price and it was still less than the price of the shuttle times 2.

Impression: We LOVED this ship and this itinerary was very special. The ports were wonderful. We would do it again in a minute. Good job HOLLAND AMERICA.

I have cruised regularly since the early 80's, on various different lines and believe that this was cruise # 27. HAL is my favorite cruise line and the NORWAY is my favorite ship. I am 44, married and my cabin mate is 48 and married. Our husbands because of business and other hobbies don't cruise that much, so Deb and I cruise together, usually 3-4 times per year. It works out very well!

I left Memphis on Tuesday January 9th, flying directly into San Diego. We stayed at the Embassy Suites downtown and had a rental car. For what it is worth, the Embassy Suites is a nice hotel but for the price I expected a whole lot more. The hot made to order breakfast was very nice, but the afternoon manager's reception consisted of chips and drinks, nothing more. They did shuttle us to return the rental car and shuttled us to the pier.

On Wednesday we drove down to Tijuana and spent the morning combing the different shops and pharmacies. Please note that if you are going there to purchase medications, there are some good buys, but you really have to know what you are purchasing. There were many items that were cheaper to purchase using my co-pay through the insurance company. If you need narcotics or injectibles you will need a prescription. In the afternoon it started to rain so we headed over to the Barona Casino. What a nice place and very well run. We had lunch there and spent the afternoon. I walked out with about $500.00! They do run a shuttle and will pick you up at your hotel and drop you back off. It was much nicer than the casino's down in Tunica, MS along with some of the ones in Las Vegas.

On Thursday it was still raining so we drove over to the Seyquan Casino. Although not as nice as the Barona, it was still very good to us. Because of the rain, we just went back to the hotel and ate in.

Friday morning is now here, the big day and it is still raining. Two whole weeks aboard the beautiful MS Statendam. I am so excited as I have never been to Hawaii before. Deb lived in Oahu for 7 years, so I had a built in tour guide. Each day in Hawaii had been carefully mapped out to get the most out of our 5 days. Finally the time comes to head over to the pier. The shuttle dropped us off at 11:00 and there was a porter there to take our baggage away. There were some folks already inside waiting for the check in to start. There is a sign that states check in at 12:30, embarkation at 1:30. If you arrive earlier you will need to find the person that hands out the embarkation numbers. Otherwise you will receive one at the door. We were fortunate and received number 2. Embarkation started at 1:15 with the wheelchairs first and then the suite passengers. We were called within 5 minutes of that and were on board at 1:25. They did not escort us to the cabin as had been done in the past, but that was O.K. as we knew exactly where we were going. We dropped off our carry-ons and headed off to the front desk to set up our sign-n-sail card. Then off to the Lido for lunch. Wow, we are finally here! The embarkation lunch started out what was to be the best meals I have had on any cruise. The food was consistently well done. I can not remember any item that I did not care for. After lunch we set off to explore the ship. I pretty well knew the layout since I had previously been on the Veendam. It was still raining so we busied ourselves exploring and then back to the cabin to unpack. Our luggage was waiting there for us when we returned at 3:00. The lifeboat drill was held at 4:15 and remember with HAL it is MANDATORY to be there. Once that was over an announcement was made that we will depart at 6:30pm since some passengers flights were delayed. Sail away came but it was still raining so we did not go out on deck. We went into the casino for awhile and then went off to dinner. We were in second seating in the smoking section and had the pleasure of sitting with Ermalee and Bill McCauley and Eileen and Howard Garland. All I can say is "FANTASTIC". Never had I ever been made to feel so comfortable with folks I had never met before. Each meal was a pleasure!!

The next four days were spent at sea. Unfortunately for us it was cold, rainy and windy therefore no sunning. We made do attending the different lectures, the daily movies, playing in the casino, the various game shows, playing trivia and doing the daily quiz. Debbie won a prize for the daily quiz on Hawaii. We would have much preferred the sun, oh well!. The seas were pretty rough the first three days and nights, and more than half of the dining room was absent. What I still can't figure out is why people do not take the necessary precautions. To be sick and stuck in your room is no way for me to start out a vacation.. There were two informal nights and 1 formal night along with the first night casual. We also had our usual visit to the hair salon. Debbie got me hooked on having my haircut on board. I live in a very rural part of West TN and the best haircuts I have had in the last two years have been on ship by the Steiner girls. We usually ask one of the crew who does their hair and then make our appointments accordingly. I don't mind paying a little more money, since they always do a far better job than my local beauty shop.

As we were waiting to dock in Hilo, we were outside on the lower promenade deck walking and waiting and watching the scenery when a man approached us and told us that whales had been spotted toward the rear of the ship, we ran back there and then after scanning the horizon for about 10 minutes we finally spotted them jumping and splashing in the sea. There were out there the whole time we were docking. Waiting for us at the pier was a group of women dressed in the traditional hula skirts and men in aloha shirts, bidding us welcome with song and dance. We had our only shore excursion arranged for Hilo. It was the Volcano National Park and Hilo city tour and was well worth the price. We started off at a beautiful waterfall ( I can't remember the name) and then headed up to Volcano National Park and stopped for lunch at the Volcano house. What breathtaking views of the Kilauea caldera and the horrible smell of sulfur. We then drove all over the Chain of Crater's road area, looking at the crater from different views and the old lava flow patterns and then headed over to the Thomas A. Jaggar museum. Please don't try and take a piece of lava or rock that you will see on the ground. The legend of Pele (Goddess of Fire) considers them her children and bad luck will come upon you if you take one of her children. The post office there receives the largest amount of packages in the whole United States and these contain rock or lava which people have returned hoping that their string of bad luck will change. After driving through the park, we stopped at the lava tube and had the opportunity to walk through it. It is very cool and damp in there. We then drove over to Kalapana, this is the town that was lost to the lava flow in the 80's. 187 homes were lost and 800 acres added to the Big Island. You can walk all the way out to the ocean on the lava. It has a strange texture to it almost like peanut brittle. We then drove on and stopped at the Macadamia Nut Factory where you can purchase all kinds of nuts in various different flavors and chocolate covered combinations. There is also a self guided tour which go through all the various steps to produce the nuts. We then headed back to the ship for dinner. It was our first Hawaiian night. Wear your best and brightest!!

The casino is closed the 5 days you are in Hawaii. Each evening they have some kind of fun things to do. A slot tournament, you be the dealer clinic, poker tournament, etc. There is no money exchanged for these, just fun!

Our next port is Oahu. Upon arrival we were greeted by a fire ship and a helicopter that dropped flowers. Honolulu is just like any other big city. Lots of all buildings and very very crowded. We made our way by taxi to pick up our rental car at the airport. Then we were off to explore Pearl Harbor, the north shore and then the Polynesian Cultural Center. We drove all over the island stopping to marvel at the 25 foot waves on the north shore and then headed down to the Poly center This was the highlight of the day. Everything and anything you wanted to know about the Polynesian's you can learn about here. It is run by the Mormons and is affiliated with Brigham Young University. The students are your tour guides and run the different exhibits. Each of the students that work there work for 18 hours a week and in exchange they receive an almost complete scholarship to attend BYU. We opted for the Ambassador package which gave us a private tour guide, front row seats at each exhibit, our luau and 2nd row seats at the night show which was awesome!!! We made our way back to the airport and dropped off the car and then back to the ship where we showered and fell into bed.

The next day is Maui. You have to tender into Lahaina. The playground of the rich and famous. Our day was spent on the road to Hana, driving through the rain forest. What a most awesome experience. Deb knew of a place where you purchase a cassette or c.d. which gives you a guided tour of the road to Hana. It tells you all the points of interest, the places where you should stop and take pictures or hikes back in the woods to see a remote waterfall, or where to stop to see one of the last black sand beaches. It took us 3 hours to get up to Hana and for those that have been on that road before, it is now paved and is mostly 2 lane. There are still 600 curves and 54 bridges to go over. Awesome beauty!

Our next port is Kauai. This was an easy day as we just shopped in town and then went over to the Islander Hotel and spent the rest of the day at the beach.

Our last day is on Kona. We tender in to the beach where they do the Iron Man contest swims. We walked around town and did some last minute shopping and then on to or whale watch excursion. We booked this independently through Dan McSweeny's whale watch. He is one of the whale researchers who has been instrumental in identifying over 5000 humpback whales in both the Hawaiian Islands and also Alaska. He really knows where they are. We were able to get up close and almost personal with about 30 or so of these massive creatures. I have attached some pictures that Deb was able to get with her video/still camera. We also were able to see some pilot whales, and bottlenose and spinner dolphins. To see them out free in the ocean without a tank is simply breathtaking. We also were able to hear the males "singing" through a microphone that was placed in the water. Truly awesome. After we had dinner back on the ship, at around 10:00pm we sailed by the active lava flow. This was a totally awesome experience. You could actually feel the heat and smell the sulfur. Fortunately the weather was clear so we really got a good look at it.

Our next 5 days are spent heading back home. The first two days we had great weather, but then the skies got cloudy again and the winds and the waves picked up. We spent the days again playing Bingo, cards games, enjoying the shows and just relaxing. We also were able to see the bridge this time. A special request was made at the front desk and we were placed with a group of 20 others.

In conclusion, we had a most enjoyable 15 days. Our Statendam experience was wonderful. The food and service were excellent. This is a very happy ship. All staff, crew and officers that we encountered were very friendly and seemed genuinely happy . We did run into some minor problems that were addressed to the hotel manager. These problems were acknowledged by the hotel manager and a very nice French wine was sent to our table one evening for dinner.

This is a review of Holland America Line?s 10 day Southern Caribbean Seafarer on the MS Volendam. The itinerary and detailed physical descriptions of the ship are available at Holland America?s web site. The following is a summary of our experience(s). We are two sixty plus senior citizens who are not yet ready for The Home.
As is HAL?s custom, boarding did not begin until about 1:30PM. Those who complain about late embarkation may comfort themselves with the thought that HAL actually cares about between cruise cleanups. Once begun, boarding moved at a snail?s pace. For example, our wait for number eighteen exceeded an hour. Crew and staff attitudes and rapport with the passengers was unconditionally excellent, especially the front desk people. The infirmary is well staffed and considerate. Our cabin steward was typically capable and willing. Regrettably, the dining room was sorely understaffed for the evening meal. Our waiter was strained by the lack of an assistant (bus boy). He worked his tail off, but courses were slow coming and drinks seldom replenished. Early seating, 6:00 PM, seldom got out before 7:30. None of this was our waiter?s fault. We were a table for six, none of whom imbibed. Consequently, the wine steward only approached us on the first night, a pleasant change from prior experiences. The Maitre d? never visited our table. I guess he had heard enough complaints about the staffing. The food was typical HAL. Preparation and presentation were acceptable, but undistinguished. I prefer Celebrity?s menus and preparation. Breakfast and lunch service in the main dining roo! m was very prompt, and the servers pleasant. We dined in the alternative Marco Polo twice. Reservations were easy to come by. Technically, Marco Polo reservations are only available between 9 and 11AM. However, I stopped by the first evening and the headwaiter accepted my application. I made our reservation for a second night at a later date, with no difficulty. The menu is on HAL?s web site. It is Italian and well prepared, but the Marco Polo is also understaffed. On a busy night, our waiter was too rushed, once delivering the wrong entrée. However, he made a quick recovery and brought the correct order, accompanied by a profound apology. There were three formal and two informal nights. Formal dress was typically HAL, mostly tuxes and dark business suits for the men and elegant formal for the ladies. For those unaware of HAL customs, formal wear is retained throughout the evening. The Shore Excursion office folks are eager and pleasant, but their lack of experience with this itinerary caused a number of tour problems at many islands. Itinerary changes were common. Change notices were placed under the cabin door the evening before departure, far too late to make alternative choices. At Nassau, key excursions were actually cancelled at pier side. The blame was placed on the tour operator not having us scheduled, but a more experienced ship?s staff would have the tours confirmed in advance. Although this was a Caribbean cruise, HAL maturity still prevails. If you?re looking for a more representative Caribbean experience with a gay, festive, party atmosphere, this ain?t your boat. Despite some disruptions and disappointments, we had a pleasant experience. I think I can best summarize my feelings about the trip with the following:

Reflections on a 10-day Southern Caribbean Cruise:

1)A ten-day Caribbean cruise is 3 to 5 days too long.
2)Two consecutive sea days is two days too many. I don?t limit this to S. Caribbean trips. However, I must concede that a sea day is often logistically necessary, and is preferable to a day of air travel. Unfortunately, the travel mode required just to get to the ship often negates the air travel day analogy.
3)Six S. Caribbean islands are five too many. Although each island has its own unique qualities and characteristics, they are all too similar when visited for only one day.
4)The Caribbean experience is antithetical to the regimented and confining environment of a cruise ship.

Conclusions:
Instead of a cruise, spend four or five days at a select all-inclusive resort. Sandals, St. Lucia, would be a great choice. There?d be enough time to truly enjoy the island, become familiar with the surroundings, and experience a pampered, relaxed, laid back, Caribbean setting.
This may be slightly more expensive than the cruise, but it sure takes care of 3 and 4 above. Or, if one must visit the S. Caribbean by ship, take a seven-day cruise out of San Juan, if the airfare isn?t a deal breaker. This option takes care of 1 and 2 above, but still leaves 3 and 4 as dominant factors!

Admittedly, I couldn?t have realized these revelations if I hadn?t taken the cruise. Experience is the best teacher, but it sure is a costly tutor!
Note: if you deem the cruise ship a sought-after destination, then none of the immediately preceding comments apply. I use cruise ships as an alternative to hotels. A ship is sometimes more convenient, but it is certainly more confining, disciplined and cramped than any 3 or 4 star hotel.

1. My wife and I just returned from the Zaandam (Southern Caribbean 13-23 Dec 2000), our third HAL cruise. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would continue to recommend the ships and cruises of HAL to everyone. Needless to say, HAL continues with their gracious service and attention to detail that we have come to know and love (both via our experiences and those of others on the RTC). We are scheduled to leave on 17 Feb for 10 Day Panama Canal aboard the Amsterdam. 2. The Islands we visited were wonderful. Half Moon Cay (HAL Private Island), US VI, Dominica, Trinidad, Martinique, and St Kitts were all beyond our expectations. We only wish we could have done two excursions instead of one. Notable trips & Tips -

Whale watching on Dominica. We did not go but a friend did and had the time and thrill of a lifetime spotting 7 sperm whales.

The Saint Louis Fortress tour in Fort-de- France, Martinique, presented a wonderful view of the harbor, city and surrounding mountains. IT WAS a great pleasure to tour this historic fort.

Savannah drive in Port of Spain Trinadad. Churches in Port of Spain Trinadad.

Brimstone Hill Fortress in St Kitts. Ice Cream and Bread Pudding trips on the ship (just seeing if you were paying attention).

3. Problems for discussion -

Zaandam Piano bar has been redesigned from original concept of an enclosed little club. Now it is noticeably open and you don't feel the intimacy and party atmosphere as on the Veendam with the enclosed piano bar.

Marco Polo Alternative Restaurant - Dam...we tried to coordinate schedules with our dining partners and could NOT get a table in the restaurant save for two slots on the last formal night and very last evening. I am not sure who held the parties but there were two large parties that took up the entire restaurant for two hours. MAKE sure you get your reservations in early.

Captain & Officers - Lack of interaction with Passengers. I saw the Captain EVERY day in the gym, at the pool, or on the observation deck laying out in the sun. I spoke or tried to speak with him daily and got a simple NOD. I never saw the Captain or any of his deck officers stop and chat with any passenger (except with the guests in suite 7001). This was really broght home after I spent five minutes talking with Captain Jonathon Harris, of the Veendam (from two previous trips) when we were docked beside the Veendam in Martinique.

Bridge Tour with the Cadet - WHY would they turn a 19 year cadet loose with 30 elderly interested passengers (WWII Navy vets, ship nerds, senior HAL Alumni, etc) on a bridge tour. Get real. He did a good job of explaining the ships bridge gadgets, but he did not have the experience to handle other questions.

Sports Deck Jogging/Walking track has VERY NARROW corners forward where they added the staff cabins, There is only about 4-5 clearance on the forward corners.

4. GREAT THINGS REPEATED -

Bread Pudding
Service with a smile
Dining Room
Name/Face Recognition
Decor
Food
Layout
Passenger Space Ratios
Cabins Space (closets, setting area, etc)
Did I mention the FOOD
Passengers
Fitness Center
Bow observation areas with their limited access
Performers - Despite HAL reputation for LACK of entertainment we found it fantastic. All were excellent, entertaining, and VERY personable off stage. Comedian Patrick Murray & Matilda; Paul "Fingers" Minard in the Piano Bar; Comedic Violinist David Levesque; Magician Bob Tunell; and Comedian Carl Guerra (who we were fortunate enough to take a tour with on Dominica).

5. New Things worth mentioning

Observation Deck is now glassed in for better viewing and sun bathing (less wind) Internet Access
More stairways & elevators on the newer HAL Class ships New pool layout off of the Lido deck and more room on the Sports deck aft. New layout of piano bar (although it looses something of the intimacy it GAINS in access for many other patrons). Marco Polo - Dam it. Friends who ate their said it was a REAL first class 4 star restaurant. The Atrium Organ was really special, especially when it played (which as far as we can determine was 2 and 4pm.

The itinerary was: England (Harwich), Olso, Helsingborg, Warnemunde, Stockholm, Helsinki St.Petersurg, Tallinn and Copenhagen.

We booked two nights at the Landmark Hotel. The hotel is very comfortable with spacious bedrooms and all the amenities of a 5 star hotel. We bought in advance tickets for Buckingham Palace for the 9th of August, so the next day we took a taxi to Buckingham. The Palace is very beautiful, the most beautiful Palace we?ve ever visited.
The weather in London was 17 degrees C not too cold.

On the 10th of August we ordered from the Landmark a limo to take us to Harwich. The drive there was very long. Finally at about 2PM we arrived and saw the Rotterdam for the first time. She looked lovely.

Embarkation:
This was the smoothest embarkation we ever experienced, just to wait for a few minutes for checking in and then we could enter the ship. Even better than Princess embarkation.

The cabin:
We booked a category E cabin. The cabin has two beds, and a sofa bed, large picture window, very nice bed covers and curtains. The bathroom was very nice with a hair drier, a bath with a shower, a cabinet with shampoos soaps and lotions.

There was a desk with large drawers, TV, a basket of fruit and some soft drinks and ice bucket. The sofabed was as comfortable as other the beds. The closet was superb, the best I?ve seen on a ship and many hotels. There were four closets, with a lot of hanging and shelf space, and the nicest thing was you could change the layout, open more shelves or close them if you want more hanging space. There was a table and a chair. The air-condition was excellent.
The furnishing was new and modern. Our room steward was excellent, he cleaned the room very quickly and we hardly saw him.

The food:
The La Fontaine restaurant is beautiful. Located on two levels. We had a table for 3 on the lower level. Our waiter and assistant waiter were very good. The menu was varied and there was a large selection each evening. We mainly ate fish and chicken. The quality was very good and we enjoyed every meal. The ice creams and cakes were wonderful, the baked Alaska was fantastic. There was a large selection of fresh baked breads every day, they were wonderful.

Lunch in the La Fontaine was as good as dinner.

The Lido buffet restaurant had a large selection varied each day, the food quality was good but not as good as the La Fontaine. There was ice cream parlor open at lunch time and also a salad bar.

We didn?t try the alternative restaurant. It looked lovely.

The ship:
Rotterdam is one of the most beautiful ships we?ve seen, with a lot of antiques and artwork. The public rooms are magnificent! The atrium is beautiful. The lounges and bars are lovely, decorated beautifully with shiny colors. The Crow?s Nest was our favorite place, very relaxing, one can sit on the blue leather armchairs for hours. The movie theatre is wonderful, small and cozy. We saw 3 movies there and it felt like it?s a private theatre. The card room is comfortable, but it could use more games. The library and internet cafe are very nice. The library has a great selection of books. The internet connection is good but using it is still expensive. The Queens Lounge, which is the most impressive public room on the ship, located in the front of the ship. The theatre is very comfortable, and very grand with good sight lines especially from the upper level.

Since it was too cold to swim we didn?t try the pools. The shops have very nice things. They have some lovely evening dresses, other cloths, jewelry, chocolates, souvenirs ect. There was a big Russian bazaar after we left St. Petersburg. We bought some Babuska dolls.

The elevators were efficient and they were hardly crowded.

The photo shop was OK, we bought some of the picture they took, but we didn?t develop our films there.

The ports:
The Rotterdam docked right next to the Akershus Castle in Olso, which was the first port and it was near our window. We booked a shore excursion to the Viking ships and the Vigeland Park. The weather in Olso was very good, half cloudy and no rain. About 21 degrees C. After a short drive in Oslo we drove to the Vigeland Park, the park is very beautiful, large with a lot of sculptures. Afterwards we went to the Viking Ship Museum. It contains 3 large wooden Viking ships, we felt they would show them better if they put on the sail but they were impressive enough. Then we drove to see the Kon Tiki Museum, which was the most interesting museum of the tour. The exhibition was great with the Kon Tiki itself and more smaller models, a lot of pictures and detailed models and figures.

Helsingborg:
We tendered ashore. The tender service was very good.
We took the Helsingborg and Sofiero Parklands. This was the most enjoyable shore excursion. Helsingborg is a lovely town, very peaceful. The weather was great about 21-23 C. We visited the Ramlosa spring the Raa village and the Sofiero Park. The park is wonderful with fabulous huge trees, lovely flowers, shaped trees and beautiful lakes. Very peaceful and relaxing, we were sorry to leave it.

Stockholm:
The night after we left Germany which we didn't visit, the ship had a problem with one of the propellers and she couldn't dock in Stockholm itself but in a nearby town, so we had to tender to shore and there was a ride to Stockholm. Because of that we had to buy another shore excursion and to cancel the Limo we ordered in advance. We took the Vasa Museum and City Hall tour. The weather was great 23 C. After getting off the tender there were buses to take us to Stockholm, the crew gave everyone a lunch box which contained sandwiches, cakes, mineral water, fruit and other things. The ride was not too bad as we soon arrived in Stockholm. Stockholm is very beautiful. We first went to the Vasa Museum. The Vasa ship is very impressive fantastically huge. You can see it from 3 levels of the museum. Very beautiful ship, very recommended to anyone who visits Stockholm. There is also a restaurant and souvenir shop. Afterwards we went to the city hall, beautiful architecture, great mosaics.
The ride back was less enjoyable and seemed twice as long. The tender service was fast and efficient and got us back to our ship.

Helsinki:
In Helsinki it was the only day it rained. It was pouring. We booked the Helsinki city tour, which turned out to be a panoramic tour mainly because of the rain. Some people got off at the Rock church, but we didn?t. The city is lovely. We saw the most important buildings from the bus. We passed near the yard where they build the new Carnival ship.

Tallinn:
We booked a panoramic Tallinn tour. It turned out to be not a panoramic one but more of a walking tour. We didn?t like it at all. The city looked dirty and gloomy and there was nothing to see except for the Millennium docked just in the middle of town, when we had to dock in Muga was 20 minutes away.

Copenhagen:
After disembarking in Copenhagen. We stayed at the D?anglanttre hotel. One of the only two 5 star hotels in Copenhagen. The hotel is not recommended. It needs refurbishing and our room was big but with old furniture and not what we expected. The bathroom was even worse. The service lacked the graciousness that one supposed to find in such a hotel and was cold and unhelpful. The heating didn?t work, so we had to ask for a heater.

The city however is really wonderful. We visited Tivoli, the palace, Nyhavn and the biggest shop in Denmark. We?ll want to visit Copenhagen someday again. It could be nice if the ship would dock there for 2 nights.

The entertainment:
The Rotterdam singers and dancers are great, they gave 4 wonderful and enjoyable shows, ranging from Broadway to newer songs, very glamorous and wonderfully performed. There was a magician, comedians, juggler and more. One of the most enjoyable shows was with a ventriloquist who was very funny and gave a great show. There was also entertainment in the bars every night.

Activities:
There is a lot to do on the ship. Bingo, trivia games, art auctions, art tours, port lectures, scarf folding and more. We didn?t use the casino, but it looked large and comfortable.
Coffee, lemonade and iced tea was served during the day.

Disembarkation:
We disembarked at about 10:20. It was smooth enough, but we were surprised to see the luggage was in a tent not a terminal. To our luck we booked a limousine to take us to the hotel. The limousine was the best we?ve ever used. We found our luggage and the driver found us before we started to look for him and quickly helped us to the limo.

It was a wonderful cruise. We love the Rotterdam, she is a beautiful ship and we?d like to return to her some day.

Sailed out of Vancouver for the Inside Passage. Ship was full, just over 1200 passengers, yep, most over 65... but all seemed to enjoy the cruise.
First stop was in Juneau, arrived at 2:00 p.m., we took the tram up to the 1800' level on Mt. Roberts. Viewed the movie about the native indians, etc. Carried our coats, shirt sleeves only, even when we sat in the snow banks. The view to the ship below, and the snow capped mountain ranges is breat takeing. Was able to see the highlights on a walking tour of the city, St. Nicholas Church, the totem at the capitol, and even the Red Dog Saloon. Did not have time to visit other sites, but took the tour to the Salmon Bake. If you go, be sure to have plenty of that sweet sauce on the fish, and go back for more. A very short walk to the small water falls, but is a nice photo op.
Skagway was the next stop, and took a bus, there at the docks for $1.00 to the city. Tho a short walk, not much to see on that walk. Numerous "trinket" shops, and all folks friendly. I think I read the population is about 800, and about 700,000 tourists visit each year!. Took the bus back to the ship for lunch. Then boarded the White Pass & Yukon train at 1:30. Climbed up about 2200 feet, and the snow was about 6' deep, but was out side the train (in between cars) to shoot video. Had sleeves rolled up most of the way.
Sailed at night to Glacier Bay, fantastic to see the ice calf, and the thunder as it hits the water. Hat, gloves, and something to cover the ears is a must. Ketchikan is the place to shop, numerous stores, within 3 or 4 blocks, and fair prices. Take advantage of discount coupons available in Canada Place while waiting to board ship. Had great weather, no rain, a few clouds. Was able to see, and video quite a few eagles as they flew in this area.
Cabin 023 is on the Navigation deck, with full verandah, whirpool tub/shower, king size bed, and were we ever spoiled. Service was excellent, room as well as dining room staff. Natch... food was tops. Cruise director was knowledable and entertaining. Shows in good taste, colorful, and peppy. There was a magician, a banjo player, and a comic... all were most enjoyable.

Click on the Alaska folder.
Shot over 150 digital, and perhaps two dozen on 35mm. The video runs 3 hours, tho! My wife is already thinking of our next cruise... New England or back to Alaska? Yes we are over 65! It was the first time I have ever walked a mile befor breakfast! Four times around the main deck. Nugh of this, hope everyone will enjoy their cruise as much as we did, our first.

We just returned from this cruise on Holland America's older ship, the Noordam. About two-thirds of the passengers were on a back to back and had gotten on in Rome; we flew into Lisbon, Portugal and cruised "home" from there.
A TransAtlantic cruise is a different kind of cruise to begin with; it is a repositioning cruise to get the ship from one cruise area to another. They are seldom "port intensive" cruises but they can offer you many days of relaxing on the water cruising. They can also have the roughest crossings because they are crossing the middle of the ocean either at the beginning of the season or at the tail end of a season. This one was from the very last of the Mediteranian season to cross to pick up the Caribbean season. These are BASIC definitions and I was amazed at the folks on our cruise complaining about the lack of ports! HELLO!!!!!
HAL cabins are bright, cheerful, immaculately clean and well cared for. They are also good sized by cruising standards; our deluxe cabin was the first cabin off the balcony of the show lounge but was separated by a door into our hall which muffled most sounds. I loved this cabin because it was extraordinarily centered and had easy access to literally ALL parts of the ship! Now; nine days in a row at sea! The schedule called for a stop in the Azores but awful weather & gale-force winds forced a cancelation of those stops -our first and only stop would be Half-moon Cay in the Bahamas. My husband was in "Hog heaven".
One of the additions to our cruise that we thoroughly enjoyed was a cooking extravaganza in the show lounge one morning showcasing some very different kinds of food Sushi, spring-roll, crab cakes & sauce, cream puffs. We watched from the balcony as they brought out tray after tray of beautiful samplers -and, amazingly -watched people go thru the buffet with full plates -sometimes two, visiting with the chefs & asking questions! We slept in most mornings so we had just had breakfast and the amount of food was enough to make you a little urpy [ is that a word?] but 12 trays of cream puffs and eclairs were gone in under a half an hour! Amazing! Another afternoon extravaganza was a main diningroom buffet that is usually only done on the World Cruises - amazing ice sculptures, watermelon cut-outs, and food displays. The ONE that tickled me [ among many WONDERFUL things] was egg penguins sliding down a mayonaise hill; lobster or shrimp tails, olives, and something yellowgold forming a beak; they were wonderful & entirely edible, according to the chef.
As always on HAL, the Indonesian & Filipino crew are one of their greatest assets. These young people work incredibly long hours & do an incredibly efficient job -and visit with you in a friendly manner I've NEVER experienced on other lines - it is not that Princess, for example, is bad - their foreign crews are great too; its just that HAL does it all one BETTER! They remember your name, they visit with you to the VERY best of their ability [ I wish I spoke as many languages] and they seem genuinely to care!
By the time we reach Half Moon Cay, everybody was ready for an at-shore day -but the weather didn't cooperate. Hubby & I went ashore and swam for about a half an hour in the decidedly cool water -it felt good. Visited with a few folks and clammered on board again in time for dinner in the Lido diningroom.
The usual on board activities were available - Casino [ did not pay well; do any of them?] Bingo [ God, save me from Bingo] a well stocked library [ I read 4 books] movies both in a theater and on your room TV, Trivia games, shops that enticed every day with something different, lectures [ David Pasta did a 3-lecture series on plate-techtonics or the moving of the earth's crust as relates to volcanos, dinosaurs, ecology, and today's weather and climate. All three were terrific & well attended.] and various programs usually found on cruise itineraries.
Most of the cruisers were old-timers and knew exactly what to expect on this kind of cruise; the rough weather was not only NOT a problem, many seemed to enjoy the challenge. I did see one woman out that first night with a look of total terror on her slightly green face, but by and large it was just a normal "at sea" day with a bit of a challenge to stand up [ you COULD land in someone's lap!]
Would we do it again? In a flash; we had planned for this cruise and we were delighted with its content. It was an 11 day, transAtlantic from Lisbon to home -one very long travel day and a shorter one "home" and our 10th cruise -third with HAL. The thing I want to say to those who would have been unhappy; do your homework! If you DON'T like "at sea" days, this was NOT your kind of cruise; The food was EXCELLENT and always served piping hot! Dishes that were spicy were marked as such with a star [ my tummy can't take that, and I appreciated the little stars] The cost was below the average cost of an 11 day cruise - and that allowed us the three OTHER cruises we took during this calendar year! AND it allowed us to see Portugal -a new country to us. Enjoy!