Good morning,
I am still at home waiting for better times to come. The company is still reluctant to restart the support program that I deliver to the fleet as it involves hopping from ship to ship. Also I am still waiting for the USA embassies to re-open so I can renew my travelling Visa.
But there is some good news. Today the 5th. ship of Holland America returned to service. The ms Nieuw Statendam, 2nd ship of the Pinnacle Class started her Caribbean Cruise season, under the command of Captain noel O’Driscoll.
The company issued the below Press Release.
Nieuw Statendam Returns to South Florida Cruising Today and Marks Holland America Line’s Fifth Ship to Reenter Service
Click to Tweet: .@HALcruises’ Nieuw Statendam returns to South Florida #cruising today, kicking off its #Caribbean season. The Pinnacle Class ship marks fifth
for the cruise line to reenter service.
Seattle, Wash., Nov. 21, 2021 — Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, today on its first cruise since the industrywide pause last year. The ship marks the fifth Holland America Line vessel to reenter service, joining Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam.
Ribbon cutting ceremony in the Terminal before receiving the first guests.
To commemorate the occasion, Holland America Line held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the terminal to open embarkation, and team members greeted guests with flag-waving fanfare as they boarded the ship. Nieuw Statendam set sail on a seven-day western Caribbean itinerary that will visit Nassau, Bahamas; Ocho Rios and Port Royal, Jamaica; and Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas.
Half Moon Cay, our private island, is one of the ports of call during the Caribbean cruise season.
“Today is another milestone in our return to service, with Nieuw Statendam starting operation just in time for Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to be thankful for this year that we’re getting back in the water,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Today is a great day for Holland America Line, and our team members can’t wait to welcome guests on board.”
Nieuw Statendam will spend from November through April in the Caribbean on cruises ranging from seven to 11 days, all roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. Guests looking for a longer getaway can embark on a Collectors’ Voyage — combined back-to-back itineraries that offer an in-depth exploration covering more than one part of the region.
Every Caribbean cruise includes a call at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s award-winning private Bahamian island. This quaint sanctuary has evolved into a tropical playground for cruise guests and features the white-sand beaches; two-story villas and private cabanas; delicious dining venues like Lobster Shack; a children’s waterpark; and a variety of fun-filled tours for nature lovers, adventurous travelers and explorers.
Holland America Line has been homeporting from Port Everglades since the 1990s. Operationally, each ship visit contributes $364,000 directly to the local economy in provisioning (fuel, food, flowers, piano tuning, supplies, etc.), port taxes and spending. Holland America Line works with nearly 100 South Florida vendors who supply the company and its ships with goods and services.
Throughout the years, Holland America Line has been actively involved with more than 30 nonprofit organizations in South Florida through giving, shipboard lunches and cruise donations, including Seafarers’ House, Henderson Behavioral Health, Coast Guard Women’s Leadership Initiative, Symphony of the Americas, The Opera Society and more.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Captain Noel O’Driscoll and his Nieuw Statendam Team getting ready for setting sail again,
November 23, 2021 at 12:14 am
The Nieuw Statendam was with us on the Rotterdam at HMC today. It was an elegant setting (I have pictures). When we departed there were dueling ship’s horns.
November 23, 2021 at 1:30 am
Wish there was a site where we could buy HA merchandise! Like t shirts and jackets…
November 23, 2021 at 9:43 am
Good morning,
thank you for reading my blog.
There is a HAL merchandize store, this is the link:
https://store.ecompanystore.com/shophollandamerica/Shop/#/
Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 23, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Where is Jeroen Schuchman? He is not listed under either present captains or past captains.
November 24, 2021 at 9:19 am
Thank you sir, for your always informative blog about Holland America.
I hope I can ask a history related question here; recently there was a lively discussion on social media, regarding the origin of the name (Nieuw) Statendam. One could argue if it is named after a former dam, that was called that way in “Goeree-Overflakkee” or is it related to the neighborhood called Statendam, that together with Werkendam have a history in the Sugar industry? Both Werkendam and Statendam were in service and named when the sugar industry near both places were at a high.
Just wondering, researching further on line about the origin of the name Statendam, did not give a clear answer to this, so hoping you could clear this.
November 25, 2021 at 1:54 pm
Good morning,
this is a difficult one. As both have some merit. Maybe even both are right. The sugar barons had a lot of contact with Holland America and there is also a shares connection there. For Goeree the idea is that one of the Directors was from that area. The 3rd possibility is that After Amsterdam , Rotterdam they also wanted to do something for The Hague but HagueDam does not exist. So the option was Staten-dam as Staten refers to the Staten Generaal the seat of the government. At the moment I am leaning towards the “Sugar” option but I am still trying to find a note in the archives. But sofar only paper work on cargo ship names. Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 24, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Cruising Jan 2nd my first in Holland just can’t wait