Today we witnessed something totally new for Holland America; Entertainment employing a nautical person to make a cruise successful. And to ensure that this milestone was indeed taking place, yours truly joined the ms Prinsendam (II) today in Amsterdam from where she commenced her final voyage. This is a 14 day North Cape cruise, calling only at Norwegian ports, and the final port is Amsterdam. Then she will sail to Germany for handover in dry-dock and a large refit. Eventually she will emerge as the Amera for Phoenix Reisen. To make the investment by entertainment worth their while I have offered to do 5 lectures and the Entertainment Manager is trying to squeeze it all in. For the rest there will be the social stuff. I always say, it is great to be the Captain on the bridge, but it is not so bad either to be a Captain in the bar. And as a Norway cruise is an extremely busy one for a cruise ship captain, I have no problems to volunteer to take over the time he cannot be in the ship to entertain. So I stopped over at home to change my work uniform for formal wear so I can be presentable in accordance with the company’s dress code.
Captain Jeroen Schuchman, Master ms Prinsendam
And that captain is Jeroen Schuchman. He joined Holland America 18 years ago as a cadet and worked his way through the ranks until he made Captain about 2 years ago. Which is a very good career, as it takes about 15 years for the company to get an officer ready for Captainship and then it depends on when there is an opening. And that happens when the company expands and or when Sr. Captains like yours truly move on to other positions. When the Prinsendam is handed over, there will be a new opening for him as we recently had the Nieuw Statendam coming in, plus Captain Bos and Captain Ryan stepped away from command.
The ms Prinsendam schedule: Amsterdam, At Sea, Stavanger, Alesund, Trondheim, At Sea, Honnigsvag, Tromso, Narvik, At Sea, Geiranger, Flam, Bergen, At Sea, Amsterdam. Most of the ports will be very familiar to the readers, or maybe all of them, but for me Narvik is a new one. Unless I have been there but it did not make any impression which would be unusual as every port has something of interest. Whether positive or negative, you always remember something.
Our route along the Norwegian Coast.
The company has arranged for a few extra things to make the final voyage a memorable one but I will not mention anything yet as I and the ship really do not know if it can be done (weather wise) or whether the persons involved will be there. It is not always easy to get to the small ports in Norway. There are little airports everywhere but the flights are a scheduling nightmare to connect them to the international fights. Last year I flew from Tromso to Malta and to get the connecting flight in Oslo I needed an overnight in Oslo to make it work. Then the Oslo – Amsterdam – Valletta leg was a breeze. Hence there are still many Norwegians who use the Hurtigruten postal steamers for traveling between the various ports. We will probably see a few of those postal boats (although I have to find out if they still carry mail, as you can now reach all the ports by road, it is just a long way).
With a Norway cruise it is impossible to predict the weather because the country, long and vertical, stretches over an area where a lot of different weather systems move over, collide, or skirt by. So it can change from day to day, unless a high pressure system sits right over Norway. Something they had in May when on orders of my Lord and Master we made a 7 day cruise to Norway on the Queen Victoria. Great weather with everyday sunshine and 21oC / 70oF. For us it was great but the locals had moved into the cellar as it was way too warm for the time of year.
The Shipping Forecast gives overcast weather with rain but very little wind for tomorrow when we sail along the Danish Coast. Then coming closer to the Norwegian coast the wind is expected to increase and the showers will stay. If the long range weather forecast is good, then we should get sunshine by Saturday. So we will see.
June 18, 2019 at 2:39 am
All I can say is: ” I wish I were on this cruise” ! (My late husband’s grandparents came from Norway, so it would have been extra special )However, I should not complain ,I’m booked on the Noordam in the Autumn going to the Hawaiian Islands, which sounds pretty good to me, what with all those peaceful, relaxing “sea days” !
I would have loved to have heard your lectures/stories though, I’m sure they will be memorable.
Have a happy time reminiscing with the passengers. And goodbye Prinsendam , may you be happy in your new “home”
June 18, 2019 at 12:07 pm
I will miss her. Many happy memories.
June 18, 2019 at 10:01 pm
Ten years ago we sailed, the Amazon Explorer Cruise, on the Prinsendam.
It was very hot and humid.
Last year we were on the North Cape and Norway Explorer Cruise.
It was cold, windy and thanks to a storm Captain Dvergastein sailed the Prinsendam to Eidfjord , where we enjoyed the sunshine.
Friends of us are on board for this last journey, we will hear all about it in July.
In January 2020 we have booked to sail with another “Dam” ship, the Maasdam.