Length: 780', Width 106', Gross Tonnage: 63,000 tons, 

Cruising speed: 21 knots, Built:  Marghera, Italy  2000

Passengers: 1,440 and Staff: 647
Cruise Dates:  December 21 - 28, 2002

Departed from Cape Canaveral, FL

Our lives were entrusted to Captain Tore Lura of Norway.  He had a great sense of humor and accent.

 Ports of call

Port San Miguel, Cozumel, Mexico

An island 33 by 11 miles, Cozumel is just 30 miles from the popular mainland beach city of Cancun.  Records of Mayan occupancy date to 300 AD.  Like other islands in the Caribbean, Cozumel was a popular Pirate haven.   We didn't go ashore as we encountered Pirates in all the shops when we were here eleven years ago.  

The Zaandam (below) at dockside in Cozumel.  Not a pretty ship on the outside but a beauty inside.  The staff, which was primarily from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, was professional and competent.   Likewise were the Indonesian and Filipino crew members.  Everyone was friendly.  On board entertainment was fun and entertaining.  The gym had outstanding equipment and was generous in size.

Dotty enjoyed the duty free shopping in the shop located on the pier.  Colorful, but the prices were out of sight except for booze.  And we thought we were escaping Pirates by not going ashore!

George Town, Grand Cayman

Columbus arrived here in 1503 and didn't find much but turtles and white sand.  First settled in 1655 by English army deserters, it only recently became a tourist and banking hotspot.  Some 500 banks are based here.  While a British Crown Colony, the three islands retain a largely autonomous legislature.  (summarized from Holland America brochure)

Since we were ashore in 1991 we opted to take advantage of the amenities of a deserted ship and not make the tender commute to shore.

Christmas Eve dinner with the Olives was celebrated in the ship's Reservations Only Marco Polo Restaurant.

Cruising Jamaica on Christmas Day 

Our dinner table for eight included our dear friends, Wayne and Lena Olive, formerly of Charlottesville but now of Ponce Inlet, Fl.   The other couple was Miriam, a pediatrician and Roberta, a lawyer.  They had an 18 year old son, Jacob and 14 year old daughter, Aviva.  Coming from Toronto, the four enlivened our dinner conversations.

After dinner we took pictures in the Zaandam's Atrum,

then partied with new friends Dick and Gwen Warmels and the Olives.  We all laughed so hard we cried when a couple of ladies kept trying unsuccessfully to use our camera.  Finally we asked then to just hold it while I set it off with the remote.  Fun!

Some of the Indonisian crew members put on a fabulous late night show near the end of the cruise.  There were no Indonisian women on the ship so one of the men dressed as one to make their native dance more authentic.

Half Moon Cay (pronounced "key")

Our final stop was at Holland America's private resort on Little San Savadore Island located in the Bahamas.  The beach was a beautiful half-moon shape with crystal clear blue water.  You get an idea of the beauty in this shot from the deck.

A final night of entertainment and preparations for departure concluded a fantastic cruise.