The Ships We’ve Sailed
Either (or both of us) have had the fun of traveling on these ships and cruises, with more on the horizon.

The Sun Princess
My first cruise was with my hubby in September, 2007 aboard the Sun Princess to Alaska. I knew nothing really about cruising, and we ended up in an inside cabin just about as far forward as you could get (cabin #D203). Hubby and I still laugh that anchor chain rattles are better than an alarm clock at getting us up in the morning!
Her specs:
Built: Monfalcone (Italy), 1995
Gross Tonnage: 77,4441
Length: 856 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1950
Crew: 900
Speed: 21 knots
**The Sun Princess was sold to Peace Boat in 2020 and is now known as the Pacific World.

The Amsterdam
My second, and the first with my sister, was in May 2010 aboard Holland America’s Amsterdam, to Alaska. It was an early birthday present from Karin. A lovely ship, a wonderful cruise, and the first time I got in a small airplane for an excursion.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.

The Zaandam
In October 2010, Karin and I boarded the Zaandam, headed for Hawaii. This was the cruise I discovered the joy of hanging out on the bow, usually with little company from other passengers, as well as that there is always something to do on a sea day! And there were a LOT of sea days.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 61,396
Length: 778 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1432
Crew: 614
Speed: 23 knots

The Amsterdam
May 2012 saw the sisters and our mother back on the Amsterdam, heading for Alaska. It was wet, wet and more wet, except in Seattle. We didn’t even get off the ship in Ketchikan. We had adjoining cabins, and Mom did love her hot coffee in bed in the morning. The thing I remember most is the Fortress of the Bear in Sitka. And the eagles, everywhere!
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.

The Amsterdam
August 2012, and Karin and I were back aboard the Amsterdam, doing a two-week cruise to Alaska. This was a fabulous itinerary – the first time to Homer, Kodiak and Icy Strait Point. Nope, still not going to do the zip line in ICP, and where I fell in love with the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.

The Volendam
The sisters and Mom went back to Alaska in June of 2013 aboard the Volendam (sister ship to the Amsterdam and the Zaandam). Perfect weather, and spectacular glaciers and calving.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 1999
Gross Tonnage: 60,906
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1432
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 23 knots

The Oosterdam
Karin and I did a back-to-back (Vancouver-Seward-Vancouver) in July 2014. The difference in the weather from the week up to the week back was astounding. This was a trip full of whales, and an outstanding excursion to Metlakatla, a first time to Haines, whales bubblenetting in Juneau, and brilliant sunshine in Glacier Bay.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2003
Gross Tonnage: 82,000
Length: 951 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1964
Crew: 812
Speed: 24 knots

The Amsterdam
The end of September 2014 saw Karin and Mom heading out on a 3 hour tour — err, nearly 3 month cruise — to Australia and back to visit family. I got Mom a little Nikon Coolpix camera and wonder of wonders, it came back with pictures. Karin’s scathingly funny emails recounting their adventures and misadventures kept me from feeling too sorry about being left behind.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.

The Westerdam
Alaska in May, 2015 on the Westerdam. Yes, we do love Alaska! The new dock at Sitka was a surprise, as was the great weather so early in the cruise season. In fact, some of the businesses at the various port stops were still sprucing up for the season. And more great whale excursions. Seeing whales never, ever gets old.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2003
Gross Tonnage: 81,811
Length: 936 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1964
Crew: 800
Speed: 24 knots

The Westerdam
September of 2015 saw us (with Mom in tow) back on the Westerdam for a full-transit of the Panama Canal. Aside from the sheer amazement at the engineering marvel of the locks, the stops in places I’d never been, we were blesed with the best cabin steward ever (Hi Anton, wherever you are!). Not to mention I learned (eventually) that walking out from an air-conditioned cabin onto the balcony fogs up my camera lens every time.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2003
Gross Tonnage: 81,811
Length: 936 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1964
Crew: 800
Speed: 24 knots

The Maasdam
August of 2016 was back to Alaska on the smallest cruise ship I’ve been on. This was the cruise of Raylene & The Winos, where a group of online friends met in person and had fun, I tried rhutabaga wine, there was a new dock in Icy Strait Point, it was windy in Sitka, and Karin and I did the 26 Glacier Cruise in Whittier.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 1993
Gross Tonnage: 55,575
Length: 721 feet
Breadth: 101 feet
Passenger capacity: 1258
Crew: 580
Speed: 22 knots
**The Maasdam was sold to Seajet in 2020 and was renamed the Aegean Myth.

The Eurodam
May of 2017 was Lisa-Ann’s recuperation from knee replacement cruise, and Karin pulled out all the stops. We had a Neptune Suite, a cabana which we made full use of even when the weather was iffy, we splurged on fancy dinners at Rudy’s Sel de Mer and the Tamarind (twice), Glacier Bay was magnificent, and it’s possible to thoroughly enjoy a cruise without taking any excursions, or even getting off the ship.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2008
Gross Tonnage: 86,273
Length: 935 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 2104
Crew: 929
Speed: 24 knots

The Zaandam
May 2018 found the sisters back for a second time on the Zaandam, but this time to Alaska. It was 2-ship day day in Sitka and glad we took a tour out of town, we walked to Nugget Falls, the tour of the area surrounding Anchorage almost made me want to move to Alaska, the Russian tour and la-la-la-lady in Kodiak was a hoot, and gluhwein made another appearance in Glacier Bay.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 61,396
Length: 778 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1432
Crew: 614
Speed: 23 knots

The Amsterdam
In August 2018, I managed to get hubby back on a cruise ship, the post-dry dock Amsterdam, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of some good friends. I finally took the Aleutian Ballad tour in Ketchikan, and danced up a storm in the Crow’s Nest.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.

The Amsterdam
Back on the Amsterdam in September of 2018 for 2-day mini-cruise from Seattle – Victoria – Vancouver, with the sisters and Mom. The tours we took in Vancouver to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the VanDusen Botanical Gardens, and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, in addition to the swanky Pinnacle Suite made this one to remember.
Her specs:
Built: Fincantieri (Italy), 2000
Gross Tonnage: 62,735
Length: 777 feet
Breadth: 106 feet
Passenger capacity: 1380
Crew: 647
Cruising speed: 25 knots
**The Amsterdam was sold to Fred Olsen & Co in 2020 and is now known as the Bolette.
