The ms Volendam. Guest capacity: 1440. Crew: 647. Built in 1999. Length:
780 feet (238 meters). Width: 106 feet (32 meters). Max. Speed: 23 knots
(42.5 km/h).
Holland
America Line began its history in 1872 as
the "Nederlandsche - Amerikaansche
Stoomvaart Maatschappij", the Dutch-American
Steamboat Company. All their ships are still
registered in the Netherlands.
This
cruise we have sailed for 3199 nautical
miles (5918 kilometers).
Coming
back from our shore excursion in Cozumel we
found another ship docked along the other
side of the pier. It's like walking between
two large 10-story buildings.
This
is the Lido pool, seen from the Sports deck,
1 deck higher than the Lido Deck.
Another
view of the Lido pool. The pool has a roof
that can be opened and closed, depending on
the weather.
The
roof is partially opened here. Because there
are side windows, this pool is a rather
sheltered place.
In
the evening the Lido deck is beautifully
illuminated.
This
is the second pool on the Lido deck, the
"outside pool". Here you can enjoy the sun
and the wind…
The
sky deck, or observation deck. This is the
highes place on the ship for passengers to
be reached.
A
view on the deck of the ship's bow. It's
forbidden to come here as a passenger
because of the anchor chains and other
equipment. So it's not possible to replay
the famous scene from the movie "Titanic" on
the ship's prow.
Our
stateroom. This is a verandah suite, with a
verandah of course.
The
staterooms are smaller than the average
hotel room, but efficiently furnished as you
can see. Everything you need is in
place.
A
view from our verandah on deck 6, the
"Verandah deck". Down there they are
preparing the gangway and the red carpet, as
a welcome to the passengers, since we just
arrived at Costa Maya.
One
of the corridors. On the left and right hand
side there are all staterooms. It's a
loooong corridor, let's say about 200 meters
(600 feet)
There's
much art on the ship. A part of it will be
sold by auction during the cruise.
When
a ship docks or tenders at a specific port
for the first time, it's called an inaugural
visit. This is celebrated by giving an
inaugural plate to the captain by the local
authorities as a remembrance to this visit.
On this plate there's always the date, the
place visited, and a welcome text with some
autographs. This is a wall near the shops
where all the inaugural plates of the past
years are presented.
A
view from the inside on one of the ship's
tenders.
We're
now looking at the sports deck. You can see
the moving roof of the lido deck well
now.
The
badminton court on the Sports deck. You can
also play petanque, mini tennis, volleyball
and shuffleboard.
The
ship's chimney or funnel, seen from the
Sports deck.
A
photo of another cruise ship, sailing for
the next destination. The photo has been
taken with the lens open for a few seconds,
and now the ship looks more and more like a
floating city, with all those lights.
