where is westerdam cruise ship now

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• Holland America

ms Westerdam

Cruise line Holland America

• Seattle (Washington)
• Yokohama (Tokyo, Japan Kanagawa)
• Hong Kong (China)
• Singapore (Singapore)

ms Westerdam current position

ms Westerdam current location is at East Asia (coordinates 38.20553 N / 128.59730 E) cruising en route to Sokcho. The AIS position was reported 2 hours ago.

Current itinerary of ms Westerdam

ms Westerdam current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Japan Discovery . The itinerary starts on 13 Apr, 2024 and ends on 27 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of ms Westerdam

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

ms Westerdam Itineraries

Ms westerdam review, review of ms westerdam.

The 2004-built MS Westerdam cruise ship is the 3rd Vista-class Holland America liner, with sisterships ms Oosterdam ,  ms Noordam ms Zuiderdam .

The vessel (IMO number 9226891) is currently Netherlands- flagged (MMSI 244128000) and registered in Rotterdam .

History - construction and ownership

Holland America Line (HAL) is a Seattle -based cruise company owned by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). Between 1873-1989, HAL was a Dutch cargo and passenger shipping company operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Holland and the Americas. HAL was founded in 1873 as "Dutch-American Steamship Company" headquartered in Rotterdam Netherlands . In 1989, HAL was acquired by Carnival Corporation for around EUR 530 million. Among the company's assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses-logistics) and Half Moon Cay (Caribbean private island).

The 2000-passenger ship Westerdam balances the duty to honour cruise traditions with adding just enough advanced conveniences to keep things stylish and modern, with comfortable dining venues, various onboard facilities, larger-than-average cabins, and, most of all, with the gentle service of ship's crew members. Westerdam's restaurants provide an option of traditional seating scenarios as well as open, more versatile ones. Passengers might still learn how to mix a martini cocktail or create a flower arrangement, but they might also take computer classes which range from an introduction to e-mail to editing digital photography. Cruisers might watch a chef (the vessel's or an expert from Holland America Line's Food & Wine Magazine partnership) represent a recipe, or they might take part in small group clusters which actually get to make fantastic Food Network-like Culinary Arts Center cuisine.

Decks and Cabins

MS Westerdam staterooms (984 total, in 30 grades) include 162 Suites, 479 Balconies, 181 Oceanviews, 162 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 170-205 ft2 (16-19 m2). Nearly 70% of all passenger cabins have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 28. The largest accommodations are the Pinnacle Suites (1000 ft2 / 93 m2, with terrace sized 320 ft2 / 30 m2).

The boat has 11 passenger decks , of which 7 are with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

• priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
• 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
• exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
• dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
• room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
• sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
• Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as a separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Westerdam's Vista Dining Room is a 2-deck venue at the aft end of the vessel. One deck is allocated for the guests who choose conventional fixed-seating dining and the other for open seating (passengers can either make a reservation or simply walk in). For those who prefer to be seated at small or large tables should use the reservation system. Three themed teas - Cupcake, Indonesian and Royal Dutch - are served once during a sailing. Holland America's Lido buffet rates among the best organized at sea. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks, the spot is in bright, jazzy colors with seating in the main pool area under a magrodome cover (sliding glass roof) and on the adjacent aft deck. Food is arranged in themed stations that serve up sandwiches made to order, salads, pizza, sushi, stir-fries and typical hot fare. Thus, you don't have to wait behind a passenger picking through the salad bar if you want to move on to the meat station.

Follows the complete list of ms Westerdam restaurants and food bars.

• Pinnacle Grill (148-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
• Vista Restaurant (1120-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
• Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
• Lido Restaurant (420-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6-11 am, Lunch 11:30-2 pm, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30-8 pm)
• Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
• Slice (poolside Pizzeria, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Queen's Lounge, which is an alternative lounge/theatre on Vista Class ships, had a makeover and was transformed into The Culinary Arts Center by day, featuring permanent cooking and viewing equipment to instruct guests on the preparation of various dishes. The Culinary Arts Center is operated via a partnership with Food & Wine magazine and offers wine tastings ($15), cocktail tastings and mixology classes, as well as cooking, cake decorating, garnishing and flower arranging classes. The Queen's Lounge offers musical performances with B.B. King's Blues Club experience for five nights per week. The Digital Workshop, powered by Microsoft, is a dedicated computing education venue, with two rows of computers fronting a big, wall-mounted monitor hooked into the computer of the instructor, to graphically demonstrate each step. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry/Self-Serve Laundromats.

Follows the complete list of ms Westerdam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
• Vista Lounge (846-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
• Piano Bar; Sports Bar; Pinnacle Bar (38-seat wine bar); Ocean Bar (Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Northern Lights Disco & Nightclub
• Queen’s Lounge & Culinary Arts Centre (with live band entertainment, cooking shows, culinary classes; via a partnership with “Food & Wine Magazine”)
• Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
• Meeting Rooms (Hudson, Half Moon, Stuyvesant)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
• Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
• Screening Room (40-seat indoor cinema); Erasmus Room (24-seat library)
• Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
• Explorations Cafe (specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
• Neptune Lounge (club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
• Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 5 jacuzzis
• Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar; The Retreat (adults-only)
• Crow’s Nest (observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
• Sport Court (basketball, volleyball, soccer); Promenade Deck, Walking Track
• Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
• The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco).

Since 2023, all HAL ships have pickleball courts (installed on the top deck) operated via an exclusive partnership with PPA-Professional Pickleball Association. HAL also offers complimentary beginner lessons (led by onboard instructors), sells branded pickleball starter kits (at the ship's retail shops) and Play Pickleball tutorial videos are included in the cabin TV programming.

Itineraries

MS Westerdam itinerary program is based on Alaska cruises from  Seattle WA  in the summer. The ship also offers Eastern Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale and Panama Canal transits on repositioning.

In the period September 2018 through April 2019, the ship is deployed in Asia for a total of 10 itineraries ranging 10-31 days and visiting China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam. Asian season starts with 14-day Pacific crossing from  Vancouver  to  Yokohama Japan .

Back-to-back cruises can be booked as longer "Collectors Voyage". Combining two B2B itineraries , "Asia Collectors Voyages" range between 23-31 days. "Grand Asia Voyage" (82-day Pacific circumnavigation) departs September 30, 2018, as a roundtrip from LA with all 33 port calls and 6 overnights.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, HAL's Westerdam ship was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru June 2022). Operations restarted on June 12, 2022, with 7-day Alaskan roundtrips (from Seattle) followed by Asian deployment (homeporting in Hong Kong China, and Yokohama Japan). For winter 2022-2023 (September 25 through March 13) the liner was deployed in Australia and New Zealand and homeported in Sydney NSW .

ms Westerdam - user reviews and comments

Photos of ms westerdam.

ms Westerdam ship related cruise news

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Other Holland America cruise ships

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ms Westerdam Wiki

One of HAL's "compass ships", Westerdam is company's 2nd Vista-class liner, with sisterships Noordam , Oosterdam , Zuiderdam .

Wester means "West" (in Dutch).

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 6077) has volume 82862 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 10965 tons, max draught 8 m. The powerplant is based on 5x Wartisla-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 3x 16ZAV40S plus 2x 12ZAV40S) with combined output 75,14 MW (100764 hp). The propulsion is diesel-electric and based on 2x ABB Azipod thrusters with combined output 35,24 MW (47260 hp). The registered shipowner is HAL ANTILLEN NV, while the registered manager is HOLLAND AMERICA LINE NV.

Westerdam's Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on April 25, 2004. The 12-night voyage (roundtrip from Venice) visited destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea., including Malta (Valletta), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Greece/Greek Islands (Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, Piraeus-Athens, Katakolon) and Turkey (Kusadasi-Ephesus). In November 2004 the ship was relocated to North America and from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale operated 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries.

The vessel's Godmother is Renette Pauline Soutendijk (aka Renee Soutendijk, 1957-born Dutch actress).

The ship's interior design theme is Dutch exploration - numerous sculptures, statues and paintings of famous Dutch ships.

In its Atrium area, Westerdam has a cut-glass Dutch sailing ship sculpture. This HAL ship's art collection includes many pre-Columbian artifacts (including 5000-year-old carved figures imported from Ecuador), and also many contemporary artists' signature sculptures and paintings. During its 2007 extensive refurbishment, 34 cabins were added, and major refits were done to several public areas.

Westerdam is HAL's 3rd vessel with this name. The 1st ship was in service for the company in 1946-1965 (scrapped in Spain). Curious fact about this liner (combined cargo-passenger vessel with numerous first-class cabins) is that it was sunk 3 times during WW2 (before the maiden voyage in 1946) - in 1942 (by Allied forces), and in 1944 and 1945 (by the Dutch resistance). MS Westerdam I operated Transatlantic crossings monthly (between Rotterdam and NYC ). The second Westerdam ship was launched 1986 under the brand Homeric (Home Lines), HAL acquired the company in 1988, and in 1989 the vessel underwent a major drydock refit (was lengthened by 130 ft / 40 m). After 13 years in HAL service, in 2002 this vessel was transferred to Costa Cruises (renamed Costa Europa), then chartered/leased to Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) as Marella Dream .

MS Westerdam refurbishments review

During a major drydock refit in 2007 April, Holland America Westerdam ship was stretched by adding a 130 ft / 40 m long midsection. The refit resulted in the following changes:

• 34x new passenger cabins were added when a whole section was installed aft on decks 6, 7, 8, thus narrowing some of the aft-located balconies.
• Many public spaces were redesigned, and the Sea View Pool area (aft on Lido Deck 9) was expanded.
• Changes were done in the area of Library/Shopping Arcade. The Windstar Cafe and the Internet area were removed, new shops were added.
• The Oak Room was replaced by the Explorations Cafe (added to Crow's Nest /Observation Deck 10).

The drydock refurbishment in 2017 (April 14-26, done by Fincantieri in Palermo Sicily Italy ) resulted in the following changes:

• (deck 10) new balcony and inside cabins (a total of 25) were added on Observation Deck 10.
• (decks 1 and 2) Vista Lounge (the ship's theatre) was renamed "The Main Stage".
• (deck 2) Lincoln Center Stage (chamber music hall) was added starboard. Sports Bar was transformed into Billboard Onboard.
• (deck 11) The Retreat (adult sundeck area) was added on Sports Deck 11 (replacing the two Canvas Cover areas there).

General maintenance drydocks (by Sembcorp Marine in Singapore ) were conducted in 2020 (January) and 2023 (January-February). During drydock 2023, ALMACO Group was awarded the turnkey contract to modernize the ship's galley/kitchen areas. Almaco's contract included adding flight-type/rack-type dishwashers in the Lido Market's pot wash area (aft on Deck 9) as well as replacing various equipment. Curiously, to access the pot washing area, yard workers had to cut a hole in the bulkhead and to remove/replace the interior in the Vista Dining Room (lower level on Deck 2) situated on the other side of the bulkhead.

Note: ALMACO Group (1998-founded, Kaarina Finland-based company) specializes in turnkey projects for newbuild cruise ships and modernization of marine and offshore catering, stateroom and laundry areas.

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Ms westerdam - cruise ship tracker.

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MS Westerdam is a Vista Class cruise ship currently operated by Holland America Line. The ship has been in active service for 20 years. View MS Westerdam's current position, recent track, speed, course, next port destination, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more in the cruise ship tracker map below.

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Westerdam - Current Position

$135 / day #122 of 171 ships

$147 / day #108 of 251 ships

$193 / day #115 of 241 ships

$289 / day #101 of 290 ships

1 : 0.4 #172 of ships

1 : 43 #84 of 261 ships

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• Current Position

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Westerdam Review

Holland America has been in the midst of a change for several years and Westerdam is a perfect example of the line's new, younger persona. Rather than exclusively catering to the senior market, Westerdam now is perfectly positioned to attract both baby boomers and older Gen Xers.

The ship offers something for most everyone in those age brackets. Music lovers have three amazing choices from classical (including modern hits in classical style) at Lincoln Center Stage to have-to-dance blues and rock 'n roll in B.B. King's to sing-along sessions of your favorite radio hits at Billboard Onboard. While you're not going to find any raucous early-morning parties on Westerdam, the entertainment onboard keeps the boat rocking until a bit past midnight. This is particularly true on the ship's European itineraries, which bring in a more global -- and younger -- group of passengers.

Foodies will love the America's Test Kitchen theater, with its step-by-step cooking demonstrations (recipe cards with simple directions included), as well as the two pop-up gourmet restaurants, each providing epicurean feasts at reasonable prices.

Those looking for enrichment during their travels will find computer and camera classes in the Digital Workshop, as well as destination lectures from the Explorations Central (EXC) experts. Plus, the neat interactive touch tables in the Explorations Central lounge have a variety of information about many of the ports of call on every itinerary. We loved stopping by the Question of the Day display each day to give our answer to questions like, "Which country could you visit over and over and never get tired of?"

With all that's on the daily schedule, along with the spaces that are still perfect for relaxation -- the Crow's Nest section of Explorations Central, the King's Room library -- Westerdam is a perfectly calculated mixture of energy and tranquility.

But with all that's new, Westerdam has not lost Holland American staples like an emphasis on service (though on our cruise, service had the occasional bump, particularly in the restaurants) and delicious food in all venues.

Bottom Line

Fellow passengers.

Your fellow passengers on a Westerdam cruise will be remarkably different depending on whether you're cruising in Europe or the Caribbean. In Europe, the passenger base is heavily Australian and Dutch, with people also coming from England, the United States, Asia and Spain, and the age range is wider than in the Caribbean with more families including kids (in some cased more than 100 kids under 18) and adults ranging from 45 to 80 years old. On these cruises the party goes a little bit later into the early morning hours and the overall atmosphere is more active in general.

In the Caribbean, the demographic shifts back to Holland America's core North American market and the age range goes back up to 55-plus, with nightly fun coming to a close closer to midnight (or earlier). This is not because the onboard offerings change, but because the line historically draws an older clientele in North America and its newer offerings have not yet been adequately communicated to the cruising population at large.

Holland America Westerdam Dress Code

Casual attire is appropriate during the day and most evenings in all dining venues. Shorts, beachwear, distressed jeans and men's tank tops are never permitted in any of the restaurants except the Lido Market. On Gala Nights (there's usually one per seven days), passengers are encouraged to dress to the nines, though slacks and a collared shirt are all that is required for men, while women should wear a dress, or skirt or slacks and blouse ensemble. You will see plenty of men in suits and even a few in tuxes, and you'll see women in gowns.

Find a Westerdam Cruise from £1,287

More about holland america westerdam, where does holland america westerdam sail from, where does holland america westerdam sail to, how much does it cost to go on holland america westerdam, is holland america westerdam a good ship to cruise on.

A bit of a Westerdam disappointment

many 10+ Cruises

Some hits, some misses

few 6-10 Cruises

A return to cruising after 10 years for me and a first for my partner

couple 2-5 Cruises

Unbelievable access to Hubbard Glacier but not sold on Holland America

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Holland America’s Westerdam Celebrates 20 Years of Service

• April 8, 2024

The Westerdam celebrates its 20th anniversary this month.

Constructed for Holland America Line at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Vista Class vessel entered service on April 15, 2004.

After a series of pre-inaugural activities, the Westerdam was officially named ten days later during a ceremony in the Italian port of Venice.

Dutch actress Renée Soutendijk served as the ship’s godmother during the event, which marked the first time a Holland America Line ship was named in the historic city.

The Westerdam embarked on its inaugural voyage on April 25, 2004. Sailing roundtrip from Venice, the ship offered a 12-night cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea.

The itinerary included destinations in Malta, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey, such as Valletta, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, Piraeus, Katakolon and Kusadasi.

As part of its maiden season, the Westerdam continued to offer cruises in the Mediterranean before repositioning to North America in November 2004.

During its first winter season, the vessel offered alternating week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean departing from Port Everglades.

Now cruising in the Pacific Ocean , the Westerdam spent the 2023-24 season cruising in the Far East and Southeast Asia.

For the upcoming summer, the 1,900-guest ship is scheduled to offer regular seven-night cruises to Alaska and Canada.

In June, the vessel is also set to offer a 28-night voyage to the Arctic Circle that features visits to unique destinations in both Alaska and Canada.

Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the itinerary features stops in Homer, Nome, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Valdez, Anchorage, Prince Rupert and other ports of call.

The Westerdam will then relocate to the South Pacific for the 2024-25 winter, offering a series of cruises to Australia and New Zealand.

According to Holland America Line, the ship’s design was initially conceived to expand the appeal of premium cruising to a broader range of guests.

Some of the Westerdam’s main features include exterior elevators, two promenade decks, a multi-tiered show lounge, and various dining options.

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Westerdam Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Explorations Central
• Crows Nest _ Observation Lounge
• Afternoon Tea
• Americas Test Kitchen Cooking Classes
• Art and Craft Classes *
• Beer Tasting *
• Cigars Under the Stars *
• Explorations Central Port Lectures
• Sports Court
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Whirlpools (5)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Martini Tasting *
• Onboard Lectures
• Solo Traveler Get_Togethers
• Team Trivia
• Greenhouse Spa and Salon *
• Wine Tasting *
• The Retreat *
• Guest Services
• Art Gallery *
• Photo Shop *
• The Shops *
• Conference Rooms
• Neptune Lounge _ Suite Guests
• World Stage
• Afternoon Musical Concerts
• BBC Earth Onboard Features
• Billboard Onboard
• BB Kings Blues Club
• Feature Movie Matinees
• Lincoln Center Stage
• Live Nightly Music
• The Dining Room - Main
• Gallery Bar - Art Bar *
• Explorers Lounge - Classic Bar *
• Explorations Cafe - Coffee Bar *
• Dive_In - Pool Grill
• Canaletto - Italian *
• Lido Bar - Pool Bar *
• Lido Market - Buffet
• Sea View Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pinnacle Grill - Steakhouse *
• Pinnacle Bar - Steakhouse Bar *
• Ocean Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 30
• Very Good 16
• Terrible 10
• All languages ( 83 )
• English ( 81 )
• French ( 1 )
• Dutch ( 1 )

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11 Ships in the Holland America Line fleet

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Westerdam Overview

Holland America’s ms Westerdam is a premium family-friendly ship. While onboard, the family can stick together or split up and enjoy the features they really want to see. Mom can indulge with a facial at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon while dad gets in on a pick up game of basketball. The kids will be busy all day and into the night at Club HAL where trained childcare professionals will be leading the kids in scavenger hunts and arts and crafts projects. Even your teenager will have fun at The Loft, a teen hangout where they can take tech classes and participate in a talent show. The family can always regroup for a fabulous dinner and a show at the ms Westerdam’s Vista Show Lounge at night.  

• Passenger Capacity: 1,964 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2004
• Last Refurbished: 2023

Westerdam Cruise Destinations

Holland America Line prides itself on offering a superb variety of destinations. This cruise line visits 7 continents and over 320 ports worldwide while embarking from all types of ports, from convenient close-to-home ports to far-away exotic departure ports. You can plan a special romantic cruise to the Greek Isles or an enriching vacation in Asia. In addition, Holland America's connections with Alaskan hotels and their ownership of Half Moon Cay (their private Caribbean island) have differentiated them in Alaska and the Caribbean. 

Enjoy the natural beauty and inherent adventure of America’s 49 th State with an Alaska cruise.

Culinary eccentricity meets historical adventure when you cruise to Asia and the Pacific.

Get a taste of the land under, and wander the outback with some wallabies with a cruise to Australia/New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Delve into the unique Hawaiian culture and spectacular tropical delights of the islands with a cruise to Hawaii.

South Pacific / Tahiti

The South Pacific and Fiji are your tropical paradise. Holland America wants you to experience true bliss when you sail with them to these secluded islands. 

U. S. Pacific Coast

Discover the history of the West and the cultures of some of the finest America cities with a Pacific Northwest or Pacific Coast cruise.

Westerdam Departure Ports

Sail to the world’s hot spots with Holland America. This revered cruise line has sailings from cities around the world like Ft. Lauderdale, Valparaiso, Barcelona, Sydney and Montreal.  All of their departure ports are convenient to get to with major airports and public transportation. Get ready for an amazing cruise vacation with Holland America, your first step is to call us at The Cruise Web to speak with a consultant and find your perfect itinerary. 

The near perfect days, beautiful scenery, pristine beaches and sparkling water offer the perfect backdrop for any dream adventure in Sydney, Australia.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sar, China

One of the world’s most exciting modern cities, Hong Kong offers a true East meets West experience where you can shop for traditional Chinese cure-alls and attend high tea all in the same afternoon.

Singapore, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most modern city, Singapore, also contains a lot of history and treasures from the past, along with a perfect tropical climate – all making Singapore a wonderful destination year round.

Auckland, New Zealand

The mild temperatures in Auckland enhance an outdoorsy cruise destination. Tour the many beaches, hike beautiful mountain ranges or just wander Auckland’s city streets.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether it’s your cruise destination or a launching point, Vancouver is a beautiful destination in itself with a sophisticated downtown and lots of natural elements to explore.

Yokohama, Japan

See Japanese history in person as you discover Yokohama, Japan’s biggest port city, where the country was first opened to outside trade after more than 200 years of seclusion.

Fremantle, Australia

Beautiful beaches mixed with alternative art and music fill the Western Australia port city of Fremantle.

Westerdam Deck Plans

Lower promenade, promenade deck, upper promenade, verandah deck, upper verandah deck, rotterdam deck, navigation deck, observation deck, sports deck, westerdam staterooms.

Balcony (VA)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Ambulatory accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Balcony (VB)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Balcony (VC)

Verandah Staterooms: 2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower, sitting area, private verandah, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Balcony (VD)

Balcony (ve), balcony (vf), balcony (vh).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower.

Inside (MM)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (DD)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower.

Oceanview (E)

Oceanview (f), oceanview (c).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (D)

Oceanview (g).

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All G-category staterooms have partial sea views.

Oceanview (H)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All H-category staterooms have fully obstructed views. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

Oceanview (HH)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathtub & shower. All HH-category staterooms have fully obstructed views.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 king-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, dressing room, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have bathtub and roll-in shower.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows.

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have roll-in shower only.)

2 lower beds convertible to 1 queen-size bed, bathroom with dual sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, large sitting area, private verandah, 1 sofa bed for 1 person, floor-to-ceiling windows. (Fully accessible rooms have single side approach to the bed, bathtub and roll-in shower.)

Bedroom with 1 king-size bed, oversize whirlpool bath & shower & additional shower stall, living room, dining room, dressing room, private verandah with whirlpool, pantry, 1 sofa bed for 2 persons, microwave, refrigerator, guest toilet, private stereo system, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo Gallery for Westerdam Cruise Ship

Are you a visual learner? Check out this photo gallery of the Holland America experience. Here you can see the amazing dining venues, spacious staterooms and beautiful destinations the ship sails to. 

Erasmus Room

Westerdam in the open water

Pinnacle Grill

Top 10 Westerdam Cruises

• Westerdam 16-day North Pacific Crossing Departing From Yokohama, Japan (Apr 2024)
• Westerdam 7-day Alaska Explorer Departing From Seattle, Washington (May 2024 - Aug 2025)
• Westerdam 53-day Majestic Japan Departing From Seattle, Washington (Sep 2024)
• Westerdam 51-day Majestic Japan Departing From Vancouver, British Columbia (Sep 2024)
• Westerdam 58-day South Pacific & Australia Circumnavigation Collector Departing From Seattle, Washington (Oct 2024)
• Westerdam 23-day South Pacific Crossing Departing From Seattle, Washington (Oct 2024)
• Westerdam 35-day Australia Circumnavigation Departing From Sydney, Australia (Nov 2024)
• Westerdam 14-day Australia Circumnavigation Departing From Fremantle, Australia (Dec 2024)
• Westerdam 14-day New Zealand Holiday Departing From Sydney, Australia (Dec 2024)
• Westerdam 14-day Australia & New Zealand Departing From Sydney, Australia (Jan 2025 - Mar 2025)

Learn More About Holland America Line

Accessibility

Learn about Holland America's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including hearing impairment, service animals and oxygen needs.

Savor dining aboard Holland America, including the Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Tamarind, Lido Restaurant, Master Chef's Room, main dining room, room service and more.

Entertainment

Enjoy Holland America's onboard entertainment, including BB King's Blues Club, an onboard theater, casino, indoor and outdoor movie screens, bars and lounges.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Holland America's onboard activities, including culinary classes, digital workshops, regional experiences, art galleries, pools, sports courts, duty-free shopping and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Holland America's friendly staff take care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Holland America's cruising awards.

Spa & Fitness

Relax in Holland America's greenhouse spa, salon, fitness center and fitness classes. There are also Hydrotherapy pools on some Holland America ships.

Special Events

Make the most of your Holland America Line cruise with exclusive special events and signature experiences in select cities.

Explore Holland America's deluxe cruise staterooms, including Pinnacle, Neptune, Signature and Vista Suites, along with balcony, ocean-view and inside staterooms.

Youth Programs

Learn about cruising with children aboard Holland America. Youth programs provide supervision and activities for children ages 3-17, along with babysitting programs.

Cruise Type

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• Position Westerdam

Current position Westerdam

1964 Passengers

• Ship information/Review
• Current position

Data according to itinerary:

Current position of Westerdam : Sokcho/South Korea

• Time since arrival 4 hrs 37 min from Fukuoka/Japan (at 10:00 h local time)
• Time until departure 7 hrs 23 min to Kanazawa/Japan (at 22:00 h local time)
• Traveled distance since Yokohama: 1,157.24 nm (2,143.21 km)

Current voyages:

Sunrise/sunset in sokcho on 19/04/2024.

Show similar cruises

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ms Westerdam

Ship specifications.

City Venice

City Piraeus (Athens)

City Fort Lauderdale

City San Antonio

City Civitavecchia (Rome)

City Barcelona

Ms westerdam itineraries, 28 night japan explorer & discovery collector, 14 night japan discovery, 30 night japan & north pacific crossing collector, 16 night north pacific crossing, 7 night alaskan explorer, 28 night alaska arctic circle solstice, 53 night majestic japan, 52 night majestic japan, 51 night majestic japan, 58 night south pacific & australia circumnavigation collector, 23 night south pacific crossing, 35 night australia circumnavigation, 21 night australia circumnavigation, 14 night australia circumnavigation, 14 night new zealand holiday, 14 night australia & new zealand, holland america line fleet.

ms Oosterdam

ms Zuiderdam

ms Volendam

ms Koningsdam

ms Nieuw Amsterdam

ms Rotterdam

ms Nieuw Statendam

• Cruising / Holland America / Ship Reviews

Holland America’s Westerdam: Review and Ship Tour

by Prof. Cruise · Published August 22, 2023 · Updated August 24, 2023

Introduction

Before I get to the specifics of the Westerdam, I need to share something deeply disturbing that happened just prior to this cruise. But first, by way of necessary context and background for those who are new to my blog, you should know that I love cruising more than anything else in life (my dog would argue that I love him more based on the number of kisses he endures in a day, but I put him at a close second). You should also know that my kid, now ten, has been cruising regularly since he was an infant and will easily achieve platinum (or the equivalent loyalty status) on every cruise line before he turns 18. And he’s always loved it as much as I do. Well, almost.

But a few weeks prior to our sailing on the Westerdam he told me he didn’t want to go – he didn’t want to miss school. Upon hearing this my jaw detached from my face and fell all the way to China with enough force as to prompt fears of an attack by the United States, promoting WWIII: “Let me get this straight son, you’d rather go to school than go on a cruise?!?!” So I, pending a willing family coming forward to adopt him, was in the unprecedented position of trying to convince my kid that he was going to have fun. On a cruise! Stay tuned…

Anyway, to the Westerdam. Ms Westerdam was my third Vista class ship on Holland America, having previously sailed on the Zuiderdam and the Noordam and, to make a long story short (honestly, you could save yourself serious time and eye rolls if you just stopped reading at the next period) solidified my love for this class of ship and for Holland America in general.

ms Westerdam Ship Tour

Before I get to all the things I loved about the Westerdam and a few that I didn’t, here is a full ship tour (please subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss additional Westerdam and Holland America content):

Things I LOVED about ms Westerdam

Here are the many thing I loved about the Westerdam…

Ship Size and Layout

Ms Westerdam and I have two obvious things in common, our small stature and our outsized personalities. While that second one is somewhat subjective (be kind in the comments), there’s no doubt that ms Westerdam is on the small side for a cruise ship in the era of “bigger is better” and I’m on the small side for a full-grown adult woman (I enjoy ample leg room in coach class on airplanes and save money on clothes by shopping in the children’s department). And while there are some advantages to being a tiny human (I still get charged child prices at museums and amusement parks), there are advantages to smaller cruise ships too (even though every non-luxury cruise line is moving away from them). What, you ask? Fewer steps from one dining venue to another, for one. I am NOT on vacation to burn calories between my second breakfast and my mid-morning snack!

At 936 feet long, 82,500 gross tons, and able to accommodate 1,964 guests and 800 crew members, I found the Westerdam the perfect size! She was also extremely easy to navigate even though it still took me two days to locate the Crow’s Nest and 7 (out of 7) to head down the correct hallway for my stateroom coming off the elevator.

Outdoor Wraparound Promenade Deck

Wide, wraparound outdoor promenade decks are one of my favorite features of Vista class ships on Holland America and I spent my usual time each day on the Westerdam walking while listening to an audio book and scanning the horizon for wildlife and UFO’s (since I have a better track record of seeing those than the whales and dolphins every one else always sees that I NEVER do).

Retractable Roof

The main pool area on the Westerdam features a retractable roof for temperature control, keeping rain out of your giant frozen cocktail, and preventing the wind from turning deck chairs into projectiles (except when revenue is down in the medical center, then they leave it open). And it’s pretty cool to watch it open and close. Honestly, it was better than much of the entertainment in the main theater at night (we’ll get to that later).

Fresh Flowers

Holland America is known for having beautiful fresh flowers onboard and I enjoyed them on the Westerdam. Even though I knew they were real, I still had to smell and touch them to confirm (with all the cuts happening across all cruise lines, I’m bracing myself for the day they smell like plastic and dust).

This was the first time I’d seen one of the newly retrofitted libraries on HAL and I LOVED it. So did Mr. Cruise, a man who can polish off an entire Stephen King novel in the time it takes me to watch one episode of Teen Mom. His packing list for a cruise looks like this: 5,000 books. If I want him to have clean underwear, deodorant, and something that won’t get us turned away from the dining room on formal night, I have to pack it for him. Seriously, he brings so many books that when they weigh his checked luggage before a flight, they charge him the going rate for an overweight bag AND whatever it costs to replace their scale.

Pickleball Court

While the whole world has fallen in love with pickleball, there are three groups left on earth who remain skeptical. Tennis courts, 10 year-olds who love playing basketball on Holland America ships, and the mothers of 10 year-olds who love playing basketball on Holland America ships. Can you imagine what it must be like to be a one of the few surviving tennis courts right now? It’s like being the rotary phone of racket sports. And as the mother of a son who used to do two things on HAL cruises, eat ice cream and play basketball, I wasn’t initially a fan of the new pickleball courts taking up time and real estate on the sports decks. You mean I can’t just send my kid up to play basketball while I fall asleep in the Crow’s Nest (see next section)? But we (occasionally) embrace change in our family and decided to give pickleball a try. And…we liked it! Not as much as ice cream and basketball (and school), but enough to give us one more cruise activity we can enjoy together as a family.

Crow’s Nest

The Crow’s Nest, located on deck 10 at the very front of the ship offered the perfect spot to sip a cocktail while reading a novel. At least that was always my plan. In action it looked more like half a cocktail and a two hour nap. Every 20 minutes someone would poke me to complain of my snoring and I’d awaken to gaze out at the gorgeous, sweeping (and hypnotic) ocean views only to return to merry (and loud, as I was repeatedly told) slumber. My tip for the Crow’s Nest? Stick with espresso drinks (available at the bar) and a genre like romance or mystery/thriller. This is NOT the time to tackle Kant’s thesis of transcendental idealism.

There’s a full bar in the Crow’s Nest, plentiful seating, and a huge selection of board games and puzzles.

Elemis Bath Products

Those sailing in interior or obstructed oceanview cabins (as was our case) will enjoy the same high quality Elemis bath products, including separate conditioner, on the Westerdam as those in much more expensive cabin categories. My hair, used to my husband’s Head and Shoulders, was like, “finally I get to be pampered on vacation too!”

Turndown Service

I love the towel animals and bed chocolates that were provided with our nightly turndown service. But I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why the animals weren’t just gobbling up the chocolates taunting them mere inches from their mouths. Well, duh, because they have no eyes! Seriously though, it’s these little touches that really set Holland America apart.

The overall quality of the food on Holland America is superior to every other non-luxury line in my opinion (which is generally questionable, but the food really is good) and our dining experience on the Westerdam was no exception. Here were some of my favorites…

Dive-In : Is it the Dive-In Sauce? The extra crispy fries? The numerous vegetarian options? The app-based ordering? Yes! All of that and more make Dive-In my favorite burger/dog joint at sea and I ate there every day on the Westerdam (sometimes for first lunch, sometimes for second lunch, and sometimes for snack fries). Hot tip for Dive-In : As you’re getting back on the ship from port, open HAL’s Navigator App and place an order for Dive-In. By the time you drop your stuff off at your cabin your order will be prepared and waiting for you at the counter (the app will alert you when it’s ready). No lines!

Lunchtime Taco/Nacho Bar:

I affectionately refer to this one as “Qdoba at sea.” I say “affectionately” because Qdoba is my favorite land-based fast food restaurant. This complimentary taco/nacho bar, with an extensive selection of premium toppings, is located near the main Lido pool on the Westerdam and open for lunch. Unlike Qdoba and almost any other food option on the Westerdam, it’s self-serve, so you can construct your dream nacho tower and won’t have to keep asking for, “more cheese please!”

Yogurt Bar:

The yogurt bar located in the buffet at breakfast offered a delicious selection of yogurt, fruit purees, and toppings (nuts, seeds, dried and fresh fruit, oats). I made myself a custom yogurt parfait each morning after the gym as a pre-breakfast while I waited for my family to get ready. Now should that last sentence leave you with the impression that I’m healthy and disciplined on a cruise, well, keep reading before you accuse me of being completely nuts (see what I did there).

Hard Ice Cream at the Buffet : For those who read my review our of 16-day New Zealand sailing on the Noordam, you’ll recall that we finally settled an argument parents and children have been having for generations where the parent says, “you can’t survive on ice cream alone!” And the child says, “yes I can!” It turns out our kid was able to survive for 16 days on ice cream alone. Which also makes me wonder if he’s right about other things like that I’m soooooooo embarrassing when I wear ankle weights to the grocery store. Anyway my son, once again, loved the hard ice cream (available in chocolate, vanilla, a rotating daily flavor, and sugar free) on the Westerdam buffet. And if you’re wondering why I wear ankle weights to the grocery store, it’s because I loved the hard ice cream too and now find myself in the position of needing to melt some of it from my thighs before my next HAL cruise on the Zuiderdam in just a few days. #cruiseproblems

Beecher’s Mac ‘n Cheese: Even though I live two blocks from the Beecher’s flagship store in Pike Place Market and, should I get a craving for some mac n’ cheese, can walk over there in under five minutes where I’ll invariably hear from some tourists about how lucky I am to live so close, I love that Holland America ships offer Beecher’s mac n’ cheese and I order it everywhere it’s offered (regularly on the buffet at lunch and dinner and at lunch in the main dining room). And still, every single time, I say, “this is last meal worthy” and “this would have cost me $12.89 at home.”

Buffet Sushi: Let me apologize if those two words in sequence prompted a sudden episode of involuntary retching. The same thing happens to me when the words “raisin” and “cookie” appear in close proximity. But I assure you, the buffet sushi on the Westerdam was fresh and delicious and included at no extra cost. There are even vegetarian rolls available (you just have to ask).

Bread Pudding: Speaking of raisins, if Holland America would just start offering raisins as an optional add-in for their signature bread pudding with the necessary warning label “WILL ruin this otherwise perfect dish,” it might just surpass Carnival’s chocolate melting cake as the best included dessert at sea. It’s available at the dessert stations on the buffet (but you have to ask for it at the counter).

Fruit Crisps : But if I could, in good conscience, elevate a dessert that contains fruit to the position of best included dessert at sea , it would be the warm fruit crisps with vanilla ice cream offered at dinner in the dining room on the Westerdam. I can’t, I just can’t. But that didn’t stop me from ordering them every single night. While they all look identical in the approximately 2,000 photos I took of them, the flavor was different every night.

Dining Room Breakfast:

Continuing to give out food awards, if I had to choose my #1 favorite food-related feature of the Westerdam (and HAL in general), it would be the dining room breakfast. The menu is extensive, delicious, vegan friendly (with coconut yogurt and vegan eggs as recent additions), and has a large selection of international offerings you won’t find on any other line. We ate there every morning, ordering multiple items each, and still didn’t make it all the way through the menu. While I can think of many reasons to book a longer cruise, getting to sample all the delicious breakfast items is definitely among them. Here’s the menu if you haven’t sailed on HAL yet:

Holland America Breakfast Menu, Food Pics, and Review

Itinerary Specific Features

While many cruise lines have shifted away from itinerary specific menus and programming (because it’s cheaper to standardize everything), on our Alaska itinerary onboard the Westerdam we experienced Alaska at port and onboard. “Alaska up Close” featured new Alaska-themed dining and beverage experiences (including cocktails prepared with real glacial ice), Alaska-focused EXC Talks, wildlife viewing and educational opportunities with an onboard naturalist, and locals brought onboard at several ports to offer presentations about local wildlife and native culture. Guests could even participate in “On Deck for a Cause: Alaska’s Parks,” a 5k fundraising walk to raise money for a nonprofit dedicated to Alaska conservation. 

One of my family’s favorite activities onboard the Westerdam were the EXC multi-media lectures given by our cruise director. My 10-year-old even loved them (maybe because they reminded the weirdo of school?!?) They were highly engaging, well-written, fascinating, moving at times, and most of them, as mentioned above, were specific to our itinerary. Some of the topics included: The Iditarod, whales of Alaska, and pioneering women of Alaska.

Things I DIDN’T LOVE about ms Westerdam

Here are a few things that missed the mark for me on the Westerdam…

Evening Entertainment in the Main Theater

The Westerdam fell short when it came to nightly entertainment on the main stage. While I enjoyed the two performances I saw of the Step One Dance Company (Humanity and Move), they just don’t compare to the production shows on other lines.

And while the guest performers were fine (comedian Jose Sarduy and two performances from Major Fourth), there wasn’t enough variety of high quality entertainment offered (a few evenings movies were shown instead of live performances). Also…

No Lincoln Center Stage

I know, I know, Lincoln Center Stage has been gone for months and this wasn’t my first HAL cruise without it. And, sadly, this wasn’t my first cruise without seeing it on the main stage as was promised by HAL when they announced the elimination of the intimate nightly performances on the dedicated stage. But once again, we had no Lincoln Center Stage performance on the main stage during our sailing. Has anyone else seen these recently on other ships? Or should I just give up on them to avoid disappointment?

We did enjoy 3rd Avenue West , a trio comprised of a pianist, bass player, and guitarist who performed regularly in the Ocean Bar, but listening to music in a crowded bar area with people talking and walking through wasn’t an equivalent experience to Lincoln Center Stage.

No Waffle Cones

If my list of complaints strikes you as increasingly petty, you’re right. Honestly, it was challenging to come up with enough negative things to counter the possible accusation that I’m a HAL cheerleader (although if I were to become a cheerleader for a particular line, it would have to be HAL or NCL only because they have the shortest number of letters and require the least amount of lung capacity and fewest number of high kicks). But, unlike on every other HAL cruise we’ve been on, the Westerdam didn’t offer waffle cones for the buffet ice cream. Why does this matter? Because a waffle cone is a dessert in itself, not just a receptacle for the real dessert allowing me to more easily eat it with one hand en route to a table on which to deposit the three additional desserts in my other hand. With a cake cone I always contemplate whether I should eat it or just sacrifice the remaining ice cream in the bottom and get back in line for another two scoops (better make it three to account for the lost half a scoop trapped in edible cardboard).

Specialty Restaurants

We ate at both the steakhouse, Pinnacle Grill, and the Italian speciality restaurant, Canaletto, on the Westerdam and enjoyed them both (I especially appreciated having vegetarian options). However, because the quality of the MDR food was so high, I didn’t find the speciality restaurants a good value. Unless we have onboard credit to burn though (as we did in this case), we usually skip speciality dining on Holland America cruises.

Would I sail on ms Westerdam Again?

Yes, unequivocally yes! But the more salient question is, would my kid miss school to sail on her again? Shockingly, no. While he enjoyed numerous aspects of our cruise, if given the choice, he held firm that he’d still rather have been in school. Which proves to me that neither nature or nurture can explain this kid. A hospital swap is my only viable explanation at this point. Who out there has my real kid (who probably has no visible eyebrows and an overdeveloped sweet tooth) and can I please have him back before our next cruise? And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points):  Post to the comments any questions you may have about the Westerdam or share your own experience sailing on her.

And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:

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Nice write-up! I too will miss the Lincoln Center classical music as it fit so well with HAL’s tradition of an ocean liner. We are booked on Zaandam (I believe that is Vista) for 2024 and the two things I am super excited about is the taco/nacho bar and the promenade deck! 🙂

I am right with you on the entertainment on the World Stage. My being a professional pianist who has accompanied dancers and theatre singers and opera singers and was the first pianist hired at Walt Disney World may be a factor, but …. yes, the Step One dancers are talented, but the choreography is nothing special. (“Sophomoric” came to mind.) I watched the show for 15 minutes and left to wander the ship. I’m sure there are cruisers who don’t have my level of musical saturation who enjoyed it very much, and I’m happy for them. I’ll leave my good seat for someone else.

(I’ll spare you my comments on the volume level of the groups in Billboard Onboard – with the exception of the pianists – and BB King’s. My partner and I had to go sit in the hallway to enjoy the music.)

There were waffle cones August 6-13, there were popular and they would run out. They have self serve too which was not mentioned. Vanilla or a flavor and they can make a twist.

Good to know! Thanks! Maybe they were just out when we asked (although I never saw anyone else with them either – hopefully it was a specific issue with our sailing that has been rectified).

Thank you for your review of the Westerdam. We will be on her in June 2024 for 28 days. HAL is our very favorite cruise line and we have tried most of them. We currently have 3 HAL cruises booked in the next year. We have been on the Westerdam but just a lunch tour in Seattle. It was very nice and we are excited to sail for 28 days in June!!

Fabulous review … Enjoying your posts and social media … I’m just starting out on the social media front as a retirement hobby and I can’t say enough about your approach.. we’ve over 360 cruise days and will spend our second winter living on cruise ships January thru end of March … thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for your generous words, Steve. Wow, wintering on cruise ships? Living the dream! I can’t wait to follow along on all your adventures!

Sailing on this beautiful ship in Nov-Dec for the 2nd leg leaving Singapore and visiting islands of Indonesia…your review has got be all excited for my trip….thank you

Wow, that sounds like an amazing itinerary! Enjoy it!

We are also on that trip, leaving from Seattle. Hopefully we will meet you.

Looks wonderful

I was just on Westerdam Aug 13-20. There were waffle cones, but I never saw the yogurt bar. In general, food was just a hair above average, with no standouts. Sushi was good, but with 300% more rice than anything I’ve seen before. Staff was good and friendly, but didn’t excel. Band was amazing, but piano player duo just horrendous screaming out of tune. Activities were boring and lacking, and much of the ship decor plain and generic. The decision to stop in Victoria with a max usable time off ship of 90 minutes is asinine. Overall, everything about Holland America and the Westerdam seemed to strive for average, reach it, and then go out of the way not to excel past it. But fortunately, I did not experience big negatives either (except for the stupidity of the Victoria stop). I’m an experienced cruiser, but first time on HA. There just wasn’t enough there to draw me back.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It’s always interesting to hear from someone on the same ship/itinerary.

Our first cruise experience was on the Westerdam in June. We’re of a certain age and wondered if we were the cruising sort. This experience sold me on cruising and Holland America. We got extra value by booking through Costco! Good review!

Going on my very first cruise in a couple of weeks on Westerdam for an Alaskan cruise and having trouble finding an answer to my question. We have an ocean view room on the upper veranda deck, looks like front of the ship, and I’m trying to figure out our quickest access to get outside since we sadly don’t have a balcony. I can’t tell the quickest way for us to get outside.

Tammy, if you’re on Facebook. Join the Holland America Line Alaska Cruises group. You’ll get quick answers to your questions and lots of valuable information.

Take the stairs down to Deck 3 Promenade then straight out the doors.

We pretty much love everything about HAL, especially the service. Do miss the Broadway style shows,too. Almost 5 star and enjoying perks. We are older and cruise for relaxing and socializing. No need for an amusement park and gigantic shops. We cruise 3 to 4 times a year. Looking forward to N Hawaiian cruise in October.

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Additional details.

We arrived an hour before our set 12PM check in time, but since we were in a Neptune Suite, I knew we had anytime priority access. Access to pier 91/92 was easy, not much traffic considering both Westerdam and the Discovery Princess were disembarking/embarking at the same time. Short line to drop off luggage, then made our way through security and then a super short face recognition check-in and straight onto the ship. Super easy compared to some other embarkations we’ve done,

Internet: Spotty but worked well enough. Upgraded to the Streaming version to unlock some more accessibility. Sometimes it came super-fast for a ship (30 down and 3 up), other times barely working. Most likely a location issue globally. They’ve done a good job of putting in a lot of wireless boosters/nodes throughout the ship, easily identified by the ceiling mounts.

Cabin Review

Neptune deluxe verandah suite.

Neptune Suite. Rotterdam deck, next to the glass elevators. Originally thought this might be an issue with noise of traffic and the elevators, but once passed the cabin door we couldn’t hear anything. The cabin was super big and easy to maneuver around in, especially at night for the bathroom visits. Lots of storage, as I assume this is for longer cruise itineraries. King sized bed seems larger than our Cali King at home. The couch was a bit firm, as were the chairs, but comfy enough for a reading spot. TV was bigger than I was expecting, however there were several times the TV channels would not come in. Slightly annoying when catching up on the news. Left the dressing area for wife, which she loved and now wants on all our cruises. The bathroom was spacious if a bit dated even after the refurb a few years ago. I barely fit in the shower (6’2”, 300 lbs.) so I opted for the shower/tub. Worked well enough, but wish the shower and tub had glass rather than a curtain. The balcony was very large, and we enjoyed sitting out on it, especially in port or the Hubbard Glacier.

Port Reviews

Hubbard glacier (cruising).

Beautiful! One of the best glaciers to visit, but need to be on a smaller ship to get there.

Lovely small town. Did the BBB (Birds, Barnacles and Bears) tour. Really enjoyed seeing the raptors up close. The Fish hatchery/science museum was interesting. Fortress of the Bear was underwhelming, we only say two browns out of five and one far away black our of three. But everyone enjoyed the popcorn!

Find a Westerdam Cruise from $249

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I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

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I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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Dramatic video captured the moment a pregnant woman suffering medical complications was airlifted from a Disney cruise ship.

Footage posted by the US Coast Guard shows a rescuer being lowered onto the Disney Fantasy on Monday in the Atlantic Ocean, about 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

The 35-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, is then seen being raised by a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk chopper to be flown to a hospital.

“Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a communication from the Disney Fantasy Monday morning requesting medevac assistance as the cruise ship was transiting 260 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico,” the agency said.

The Coast Guard also deployed an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami to rendezvous with the cruise ship.

“Once on scene, the Coast Guard Jayhawk aircrew deployed their rescue swimmer aboard the cruise ship, who prepared a rescue basket and litter to safely hoist the patient and cruise ship doctor aboard the aircraft,” the Coast Guard said.

The woman was transported to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was treated at Centro Medico Hospital, officials said.

“Our crew was able to quickly, safely, and efficiently execute a long-range MEDEVAC for the patient to receive the higher level of care she required,” Lt. Cmdr. Todd Stephens said in a statement. “This case demonstrates the value of good crew resource management and the capabilities of our Jayhawk helicopter.”

Ensign Michael Riccio, Coast Guard Sector San Juan operations unit leader, said his crew was “glad everything came together to help this passenger.

“The competency displayed by the Disney Fantasy crew and the Coast Guard personnel and units involved made all the difference,” he said.

It was unclear if the woman’s emergency was related to her pregnancy.

The Post has reached out to Disney Cruise Line for comment.

According to the company’s frequently asked questions , women must be no more than 23 weeks pregnant in order to set sail. If they enter the 24th week of pregnancy during the sailing, “they will be refused passage due to safety concerns.”

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7 amazing cruise itineraries to book in 2024

I don't know about you, but each year, as the weather turns cold, I start daydreaming about getting out of Dodge — or, in my case, Pennsylvania. My mind wanders to cruises that will take me to places where the temperature is warmer, but I also take a hard look at the (exceptionally lengthy) list of places I'm longing to visit.

After digging through what's new for 2024, I've come up with a shortlist of sailings that I think are noteworthy. They range from a standard Bahamas voyage with a new twist and an extended Alaska sailing that includes a foray across the Arctic Circle to more far-flung destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dream on, dear reader, and add these to your list of 2024 cruise itineraries.

Note: All prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Fares do not include taxes and fees.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Seabourn's 'Kimberley Expedition: Waterfalls and Wandjinas' itinerary

Last year, the Australia and New Zealand cruise region gained momentum following the pandemic shutdown. In 2024, the hardly populated Australia region of The Kimberley is gaining popularity. Luxury cruise brand Seabourn will be offering a series of six 10-night voyages between Broome and Darwin on expedition vessel Seabourn Pursuit during what will be early winter in the southern hemisphere.

The line's " Kimberley Expedition: Waterfalls and Wandjinas " will take passengers to places along the coast few passengers are able to visit to see the stunning teal waters and horizontal waterfalls of Talbot Bay, sample wines in the Hunter River Region and check out nature preserves in Wyndham.

Details: The first sailing, from Darwin to Broome, embarks on June 12. The final voyage, from Broome to Darwin, departs on Aug. 1. Prices start from $6,134 per person ($613 per person, per night), double occupancy, for the July 2 cruise. All accommodations are suites with balconies.

Celebrity's 'Best of Japan' and 'Vietnam and Thailand' cruises

The number of voyages in Asia was trending upward notably prior to 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought cruising in the region to an extended halt. And it's once again on the rise. Following that curve, Celebrity Cruises will be running new 11- to 13-night Asia sailings in 2024 on two ships — Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Solstice — that bring stops in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand.

What's notable about the offerings is that they will aim to immerse passengers further into the destinations by including overnights in a total of 11 ports across all itineraries. That means more time to explore Hanoi's Old Quarter as the sun sets, indulge in nighttime gastronomy in Hong Kong, visit one of Bangkok's many markets, or learn why Osaka is known for street food.

Details: Celebrity Millennium's " Best of Japan " cruises run from early mid-March to early October. At press time, the least expensive fares — for a 12-night sailing — start from $1,330 per person ($111 per person, per night) for an inside cabin. It travels round-trip from Yokohama and visits Hiroshima, Pusan and other ports, including Osaka, where the ship will overnight.

Celerbrity Solstice's Vietnam and Thailand cruises kick off in mid-January and run through March. The ship will resume them again in the fall of 2024 and run through the winter season. Prices start from $1,255 per person ($105 per person, per night) for an inside cabin. The voyage sails from Hong Kong to Singapore with stops in Da Nang and Koh Samui, plus overnights in Hanoi and Bangkok.

SeaDream's 'Yachting the Adriatic & Greek Isles' sailing

Here's one to put on your radar if you're looking to book — but not necessarily sail — in 2024. It's a new Mediterranean itinerary that doesn't start up for nearly three more years, in 2026. The SeaDream routing brings stops at seven ports that are rarely visited by cruise passengers. During the seven-night voyages, there will be calls at Primosten, Croatia; Cesme, Turkey; Cetubal, Portugal; and Kythira, Kythnos, Syvota and Tinos, Greece — making these sailings unique and well-suited to anyone who loves the region but who's looking for new places to experience.

SeaDream's small ships, each of which carries just 112 people, are able to reach locales about which passengers on megaships can only fantasize. Couple that with excellent service, and you'll be visiting the Our Lady of Loretto statue in Primosten, touring the Cesme Castle and lounging on stunning Greek beaches from a home base that puts you squarely in the lap of luxury.

Details: An itinerary that includes three of the seven new ports is the 11-night " Yachting the Adriatic & Greek Isles " itinerary from Venice, Italy, to Athens, Greece, departing on Aug. 8, 2026, on SeaDream I. Prices start from $10,399 per person ($946 per person, per night) for a room with a porthole view.

Holland America's 'Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice' Legendary Voyage

Alaska is an absolute must for anyone who enjoys the vastness of untouched wilderness, the wildlife it houses and adventurous pursuits it provides. (Think whale-watching, hiking on glaciers and salmon fishing.) However, Holland America 's Westerdam is hosting a 28-day sailing that's anything but your standard cruise to the Last Frontier .

Passengers will visit the usual Alaska ports, such as Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau, with scenic sailing through the Inside Passage, past Hubbard Glacier and to Glacier Bay. But they can also expect less-common stops at places like Nome, Kodiak, Anchorage (with an overnight) and Homer. Plus, about halfway through, this cruise crosses the Arctic Circle — a rite of passage for many travelers.

Details: Holland America's 28-day " Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice " cruise — one of the line's Legendary Voyages, known for longer durations and a unique mix of port calls — sails June 9-July 7, round-trip from Seattle. Inside cabins start from $5,299 per person (about $189 per person, per night).

Silversea's summertime French Polynesia cruises

Another consideration for future travel is Silversea Cruises , which is featuring its first full-summer season in French Polynesia in 2026. Silver Whisper will offer two immersive itineraries, including overnights, across 17 voyages between April and September.

Passengers can choose seven-night sailings that visit idyllic favorites like Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine and which also include overnights in Bora Bora. Or, they can cruise for twice as long by selecting a 14-night voyage that calls on the same ports as the seven-night option but with Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Fatu Hiva, Atuona and Tahuata added.

Details: Silversea's seven-night voyages begin April 6, 2026, and start from $5,650 per person ($808 per person, per night) for an ocean-view cabin.

The line's 14-night sailings start on April 20, 2026. Fares start from $10,450 per person ($747 per person, per night) for ocean-view accommodations.

New Bermuda voyages on Carnival Venezia

Beginning in May of 2025, Carnival Cruise Line 's Carnival Venezia will sail a series of eight four- and five-night cruises to Bermuda from New York. These itineraries are notable because the line is aiming to increase its presence there but also because the style of the ship is new to even most of the brand's most dedicated passengers.

In 2022, Carnival announced its Costa by Carnival concept after revealing it would be transferring ships from its Costa sister brand to the Carnival fleet. Now, when travelers visit the Gibb's Hill Lighthouse or check out the island's renowned pink-sand beaches during a sailing on Carnival Venezia, they can enjoy both the Italian style of the ship and Carnival's fun atmosphere and high service standards.

Details: Voyages kick off on May 22, 2025. Prices start from $429 per person ($108 per person, per night) for an inside cabin on a four-night cruise departing Sept. 18, 2025.

Disney Cruise Line's Lighthouse Point itineraries

Disney Cruise Line 's new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point , a private destination on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, is set to open in June with a three-night preview sailing on June 6 aboard Disney Magic. Following the initial voyage, the line will run regular three- to seven-night voyages to Lighthouse Point on Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

The island will feature a dedicated family beach and water play area, an arts and culture pavilion focused on Bahamian culture, 20 family cabanas, an adults-only beach and a selection of shore excursion options.

Details: Prices for itineraries that include Lighthouse Point start from $624 per person ($208 per person, per night) for a three-night cruise on Disney Magic. The cruise departs Nov. 5 and sails from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• Banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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April 18, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a 35-year-old pregnant woman from a cruise ship 180 miles out at sea.

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• International

Trump hush money trial

Middle East conflict

April 14, 2024 - Iran's attack on Israel

By Jerome Taylor, Heather Chen , James Legge, Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc , Catherine Nicholls, Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford and Eve Rothenberg, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved  here .

India calls on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board seized container ship 

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran on Saturday. 

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and "took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries."

Four Filipino seamen were also on board the ship, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.

The department said it was working with its government, the ship owner, and the operator to release the captured seafarers.

On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported. 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said there were 25 crew members on board.

Japanese prime minister condemns Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday said he "strongly condemns" Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.

"(The attack) further aggravates the current situation in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn such an escalation," Kishida told reporters.

Kishida said Japan would continue diplomatic efforts to "prevent the situation from worsening and to calm the situation down," and "respond in cooperation with other countries."

Blinken calls British and German counterparts following Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Philip Wang 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from the United Kingdom and Germany on Sunday following Iran's attack on Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

All parties agreed "the importance of condemning Iran's attack in the strongest possible terms and preventing further escalation," the readout said. 

Blinken earlier held phone calls with his counterparts from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia , in which he emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the Middle East and of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

US forces destroyed more than 80 attack drones from Iran and Yemen, Central Command says

From CNN's Philip Wang

US forces intercepted more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen during its attack on Israel, according to a statement from the Central Command.

The operation included destroying a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven drones on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said. 

"Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces," the statement added. 

Israeli and Iranian ambassadors trade accusations during UN Security Council session

From Abel Alvarado in Atlanta

Israel and Iran’s United Nations ambassadors condemned each other’s actions during Sunday’s UN Security Council emergency session called to address Iran’s attack on Israel.

Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said Iran "must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return, to a regional war that can escalate to a world war." Erdan accused Iran of seeking world domination and that its attack proved that Tehran "cares nothing, nothing for Islam or Muslims" before pulling out a tablet to show a video of Israel intercepting Iranian drones above Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Erdan called on the UN Security Council to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organization.

“Action must be taken now, not for Israel's sake, not for the region's sake, but for the world's sake. Stop Iran today."

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country’s operation was "entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law."

Iravani said:

"This concluded action was necessary and proportionate," adding that the operation was “precise and only targeted military objectives” to reduce the potential of escalation and to prevent civilian harm. “Iran is never seeking to contribute to the spillover of the conflict in the region, nor does it to escalate or spread the tension to the entire region," he said.

Tehran’s attack had been anticipated since  a suspected Israeli strike  on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier this month.

Iravani added Iran has “no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region” but warned Iran will use its “inherent right to respond proportionately” should the US initiate a military operation against “Iran, its citizens or its security.”

Israeli war cabinet says it's ready to respond to Iran's attack but delays immediate action. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

The hours-long Israeli war cabinet meeting ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond to Iran’s missile and drone attack , an Israeli official said.

The cabinet is determined to respond — but has yet to decide on the timing and scope and the official said the military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.

Separately, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that an Israeli official told the United States that it's not looking to significantly escalate the showdown with Iran.

CNN analyst Barak Ravid said Israeli ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot advocated for swift action, but US President Joe Biden's phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led to a decision to delay the response until the next day. 

Here are the latest headlines:

• Retaliation is over, Iran told US: Iran privately messaged the United States that its retaliation against Israel had concluded, echoing what Tehran said publicly, according to a senior administration official. Late Saturday, Iran said its attack on Israel is a response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "the matter can be deemed concluded." However, President Ebrahim Raisi said any “new aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response,” according to Iran’s state news channel IRIB. 
• United Nations response: UN Secretary-General António Guterres  called for a de-escalation of violence after Iran’s attack. Guterres said the United Nations and member countries have a “shared responsibility” to engage “all parties concerned to prevent further escalation.” He also called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he said.
• G7 and others: Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in response to Iran's attack, the G7 nations said they would work together to "stabilize the situation" in the Middle East, according to a statement from Biden. Also, Jordan summoned Iran's ambassador in Amman on Sunday after it intercepted Iranian drones over the country.
• Meanwhile in Gaza: As thousands of Palestinians were turned away from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, her mother said. Video showed a man carrying a 5-year-old girl named Sally Abu Laila, who was bleeding from her head, with people crowding around her in panic trying to cover her wound.

Also on Sunday:

• Israel decided to lift its restrictions on large gatherings and to reopen schools on Monday.
• The US Department of Homeland Security has not identified any “specific or credible threats” to the US since Iran attacked Israel.

Blinken calls Turkish, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi counterparts following Iran's attack 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday spoke with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following Iran's attacks in Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

During his phone calls, Blinken emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the region and the importance of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

In his conversation with Jordan and Egypt, Blinken also underlined the significance of achieving an "enduring end to the crisis in Gaza."

Iran will be held responsible if any action is taken against the US or Israel, deputy ambassador warns

From CNN’s Abel Alvarado

The United States warned Iran against taking any action against the US or Israel during the UN Security Council emergency session over Iran’s attack on Israel.

“Let me be clear, if Iran or its proxies take actions against the US or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said Sunday.

The United States is “not seeking escalation, our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” adding that the “best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation of the council of Iran’s unprecedented large-scale attack,” he said.

The envoy reiterated US support for Israel and condemned Iran’s attack. “Iran’s intent was to cause significant damage and death in Israel,” Wood said.

Wood also said the UN Security Council had an “obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.”

“For far too long, Iran has flagrantly violated its international legal obligations,” he said before listing occasions Iran has violated UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

Wood accused Iran of being in a “broad sense complicit” of the October 7 attack on Israel by providing “significant funding and training for the military wing of Hamas.”

He added the US will explore "additional measures to hold Iran accountable here in the UN.”

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Holland America Line Set to Debut New ‘Glacier Day’ and Enhanced Alaska-Focused Experiences on Every Alaska Cruise in 2024

Culinary highlights include Alaska dishes by Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto and new Alaska-themed cocktails by acclaimed bartender Sam Ross

Seattle, Wash., April, 17, 2024 — Holland America Line is debuting “Glacier Day” on its Alaska cruises as it rolls out new programming within its "We Love Alaska” on board experience. The new offerings include Alaska Up Close presentations as well as culinary and beverage experiences to help foster a deeper connection to the people, history and culture of the state. The 2024 season kicks off April 27 from Vancouver and May 4 from Seattle. 

“Holland America Line continues to focus on bringing regional and local experiences on board every cruise, with our Alaska sailings leading the way in authentic programming, localized cuisine, and now special events like ‘Glacier Day’,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. “We continue to cultivate like-minded partnerships and fine-tune everything from cocktails to wildlife maps to ensure our guests are completely immersed in all facets of Alaska.”

Alaska Season Itineraries and Cruisetours

Through September 2024, guests can embark on Holland America Line’s Alaska cruises and Cruisetours from Vancouver and Seattle aboard Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam. In addition to seven-day itineraries, guests can take longer 14-day cruises and a new 28-day Arctic Circle Solstice Legendary Voyage that includes 12 Alaska ports.

Cruisetours range from nine to 18 days and include a one-, two- or three-day visit to Denali National Park. Select Cruisetours also include a journey into the wilds of Canada’s Yukon. Holland America Line remains the only cruise line that offers overland tours to the Yukon combined with an Alaska cruise and Denali experience.

‘Glacier Day’ Puts a Spotlight on Alaska’s Majestic Glaciers

As a leader in Alaska cruising, Holland America Line offers more glacier experiences than any other cruise line. The new Glacier Day includes sighting times, scenic commentary, presentations, informational viewing stations, photo opportunities, Dutch Pea Soup on deck, Glacier Ice cocktails, insightful talks by Glacier Bay National Park Rangers and Huna cultural interpreters, an open bow for viewing, and more.

Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park , Hubbard Glacier , Dawes Glacier , and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm . Shore excursions also offer the opportunity to visit additional glaciers, including Mendenhall and Portage glaciers.

Serving Fresh Fish in Alaska

Holland America continues to build on its groundbreaking Global Fresh Fish program, which includes being the only cruise line with Alaska seafood certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and bringing locally sourced fresh fish from port to plate in less than 48 hours. In addition to the seafood and other local delicacies served on the menus, ships in Alaska will serve three exclusive dishes created by the brand’s Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto: Fresh Black Cod Yuzu, Morimoto Epice Lobster and Fresh Halibut XO.

A new Alaska Seafood Boil will be offered once per cruise in Lido Market for a surcharge. The foodie feast will serve Ivar’s Northwest-Style Clam Chowder, Dungeness Cruise Clusters, Alaska Salmon, Penn Cove Clams, Penn Cove Mussels and a Shrimp Bucket, with Triple Berry Crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Offered once per cruise, all dishes on the Alaska Brunch menu in the Dining Room were created with the influence of fresh, local Alaskan and Pacific Northwest ingredients. The selections range from sweet to savory and include Alaskan Blueberry Pancakes, Salmon & Potato Chowder, Wild Forest Mushroom and Tarragon Crepes, Kodiak Steak and Egg Skillet, Crab and Hot Smoked Salmon Cakes, Biscuits with Gravy and Alaskan Reindeer Sausage, and Home Smoked Gulf of Alaska Cod Benny.

Bartender Sam Ross Creates Alaska Cocktails

Acclaimed bartender Sam Ross created a menu of exclusive cocktails that will be featured in the bars on all Alaska ships: Juneau AK, Klondiker, PNW Penicillin, Mosquito, Midnight Sun and Frontier Champagne Flip. Ross was the 2011 “U.S. Bartender of the Year” and his flagship bar, Attaboy, won the 2022 award for “Best Bar in the U.S.” by The World’s 50 Best Bars. Ross is credited with creating two of the most famous modern classic cocktails: Penicillin and Paper Plane.

New Exclusive ‘Killer Whale Pale Ale’ Available On Board

Holland America Line is debuting a new “Killer Whale Pale Ale” on all Alaska cruises. The beer was produced in collaboration with Pike Brewing – Seattle’s oldest craft brewery – and features notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruits. The label artwork was created in collaboration with Native Artist Rico Worl , a member of the Tlingit and Athabascan community, who also designed the Native artwork featured on the Alaska menus. The Killer Whale Pale Ale label represents the food chain in the Pacific Northwest, with a seal deftly maneuvering out of the grasp of a killer whale.

More Wildlife Viewing than Any Other Cruise Line

Alaska is synonymous with stunning wilderness, and Holland America Line offers more ways to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Alaska ships carry an expert on board to help guests witness the majestic animals found in the region, and a Wildlife Spotting Guide points out the native animals found along the cruise route and includes a map with the best places to see each species. Ashore, Holland America Line offers nearly 180 shore excursions to see species of all kinds.

On Deck for a Cause Continues to Support Alaska’s Parks

Holland America Line will continue to donate proceeds from its “On Deck for a Cause” charitable event aboard ships in the region to Alaska Geographic , the nonprofit education partner of Alaska’s parks, forests, refuges and conservation lands. Called “On Deck for a Cause: Alaska’s Parks,” guests on all Alaska cruises will be invited to donate $25 to participate in a noncompetitive 5K fundraising walk aboard every sailing. Funds raised through “On Deck for a Cause: Alaska’s Parks” will go to support education, science and research in Alaska’s parks. The 2023 Alaska season raised more than $100,000 for Alaska Geographic.

Standby Program Offers Reduced Rates for Seattle and Vancouver Cruises

Guests with easy access to Seattle or Vancouver have an opportunity to cruise to Alaska at a reduced rate of $49 per person, per day with Holland America Line’s Standby program. Travelers who sign up for a cruise are alerted between seven and two days before departure if they will be sailing. Solo cruisers also only pay $49 per day and do not incur a single supplement for a double stateroom.