Farewell from Eurodam News Blog

This will be our last post on Eurodam News Blog. On Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, we are launching a new Holland America Blog at http://www.hollandamericablog.com. Eurodam News Blog’s content will be rolled into the new site, which includes a blog for every ship in the fleet as well as some special features like Captain Albert Schoonderbeek’s popular blog. Until the file transfer is completed, Eurodam News Blog will be available as an online archive.

The Eurodam News Blog was the first of its kind in the cruise industry — the first time a cruise line had provided a glimpse behind the scenes into the construction and operation of a new cruise ship — and was one of the very first blogs created by any cruise line. Over the past 18 months, we have learned a lot and we’ve made a lot of friends through managing the site. We hope our friends will visit us at the new Holland America Blog and continue to contribute to the creation of our online community.

Our blogging team — myself, Julie and Janet — wish to express our sincere thanks to all of our contributors, Eurodam’s officers and crew, the ship aficionados and Holland America fans who visit regularly, and the many guests who have played a role in making this Web site such an interesting place to visit. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Photo courtesy of William Studinka.

Bridge to Bridge in Tortola

Our favorite Dutch PR guy, Alexander Bakker, sent us this photo he found in a Dutch maritime newsletter. It’s from a recent call at Road Town, Tortola, and it looks as if Eurodam’s and P&O Ventura’s bridge wings are almost touching. The photo was taken by Chief Engineer Frank de Vries.

Happy New Year From Eurodam

Captain Mercer sent us this photo of the New Year’s celebrations aboard Eurodam. Looks like Baby New Year even made an appearance! The party took place on all decks of the atrium. They sure rang in 2009 in grand style!

Captain’s Log: Dec. 31, Willemstad, Curacao

Captain Jonathan Mercer

We are in Willemstad, Curacao, today and a beautiful day it is, too. I, like many of my associates, find entering this narrow ‘cut’ of a harbour to be one that concentrates the mind, one can almost feel the tension on the bridge when taking this ship, (or any other for that matter), into what amounts to a very narrow channel while being influenced by an extremely strong current outside the entrance, not to mention the wind.

It is a matter of heading towards the land on the eastern side of the cut and letting the current work you north; if one gets it correct, the ship should be in the centre of the fairway and pointing in the right direction. Once inside, it is a matter of slamming on the brakes, enough to stop her continuing past the berth one is intended for.

This evening we will back out, azipods being perfect for such a manoeuvre and then swing outside before heading northwest towards Fort Lauderdale for Saturday.

I have my trunks in the cabin, for it is almost time to leave the lovely ‘E’ and head home, Jeroen (and Pam) rejoin on Saturday until March, when I return.

I have thoroughly enjoyed posting on the blog and although I am not commanding the ‘E’, should I catch that elusive 20-pound trout, or break an 80 on the golf course, rest assured you will read about it. I am going to Europe, too, to see my family and spend some time over there.

I apologise for not writing more often recently, as I mentioned, paperwork and ship-matters have occupied a great deal of my time these past weeks, however, that is all but finished now. Perhaps one of my New Year resolutions should be to write more here?

I wish all of you a very happy New Year and may 2009 bring you all you wish for and more. Let us all hope that that it will be a better year and that we remain optimistic.

We will be in the Atrium at midnight, ringing in the new year with the ‘E’s’ polished bell and all of us, guests, officers and crew alike, will be thinking of friends and family while we do so.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for 2009 from all of us at Eurodam News Blog!

We will not post on Jan. 1, as we will be busy compiling lists of resolutions we won’t keep in the new year. But we’ll be back on Friday, Jan. 2.

Postcard from Tortola

Ken Edmier sent us this stunning photo of Eurodam in Tortola he took last week on his Christmas cruise.

Postcard from Louie Pang

Hello Eurodam,

We have a great time Dec. 13-20, despite the rocky ride initially. Food is great and service is better than what we used to have.

Little details really count:

• The silverware in dinning room.
• Lemonade and chilled towel for guests coming back from shore (didn’t see that even for the Queen Mary’s guests!)
• Even the buffet is better than what we expected. (it comes with fresh squeeze OJ!)
• Justin Miller ! Unbelievable!

Love the Beef Wellington and the no flour chocolate cake! And my Mom didn’t complain about the food, which is a major success by itself!

I could said that although the ship lack some of the big ship facilities which our kid could love to have, it excels in details, sophistication and good planning.

Excellent work HAL!

Special thanks to captain and crew for making all the ports of call, given that the weather was not exactly cooperating. Been able to visit all the beaches that my kid was told really meant a lot to her and us.

Half Moon Cay — do they have an immigration department?

Just two questions for Captain Mercer:
1. When we are docked, I always have the feeling the ship is leaning to one side, is it true or I need to get my ears/brain check?
2. Does the size of the ship matter in a rocky sea? If not, what does?

Keep it up Eurodam and we hope to see when we’re ready for the Mediterranean.

Louie

The Bests Mark 25 Years

We sailed on the Eurodam Nov. 15-22, 2008, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We reaffirmed our wedding vows on Nov. 16. We are still enjoying the wonderful memories of the journey.

Thank You,

David & Peggy Best

Christmas Morning on Eurodam

Ken Edmier of Leesburg, Ga., sent us some photos of the festivities on board Eurodam Dec. 25, along with this note:

Christmas morning on the Eurodam included the cruise director and entertainers leading in singing Christmas carols. The carols were interrupted by the Captain letting us know that radar had picked up an unknown object and later confirmed that Santa had found the Eurodam!

Postcards from the Dec. 13 Cruise

Cruiser Becky Holtrop sent us this nice note and a link to photos from her recent cruise:

We were on Eurodam’s December 13 sailing. The ship was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we cruised in style since we stayed in the penthouse!

Here’s a link to my photo album.

Captain Mercer said we experienced the roughest seas in Eurodam’s history; that made for an adventure!

Happy New Year,

Becky