We were able to enjoy a relaxing morning in Rotterdam and walked a couple hundred yards to check in at the port.  We boarded Nieuw Statendam shortly after 11:00 a.m. on July 27th.

We were excited to begin our cruise titled Wild British Isles: Ireland’s West Coast with our friends Cindy and Darrell. Having boarded the day before, in Dover, they were on a tour to the windmills.

This was our fourth voyage on Nieuw Statendam, so we knew our way around.

Our cabin was ready so we had a chance to explore our large balcony.  

It is large because of how the ship juts out a bit.  We had chosen the cabin specifically because of the balcony.

The inside was just like any other verandah cabin we’ve ever had on this ship – perfectly adequate.

We noticed this large door above the bed. We learned later it was a drop-down bed for converting our two person cabin to a three or four person cabin if also utilizing the sofa bed. 

We spent time unpacking and organizing. We will live in this cabin for four weeks!

We watched our safety video and went to our muster station as required.    

We saw, and talked briefly, to Boby who had been our room steward on the Westerdam seven months ago. He did not remembe us, nor would I have expected him too.

Emely, on the other hand, remembered Randy right away.  She had been a favorite, also on the Westerdam, and we knew to look for her. Unfortunately, her job at the Dutch Cafe won’t allow for more than occasional brief contact.

We were happy to connect with Cindy and Darrell later in the afternoon.

We see them each time we go to Boise but haven’t vacationed with them since 2023 – on the cruise that Randy got quarantined with Covid.

It is always interesting to watch provisioning activity.

As we sailed away, we had one more look at the Hotel New York.

Since 1871, there have been seven ships named Rotterdam that have sailed for Holland America. The seventh, and current SS Rotterdam, had been in port prior to Nieuw Statendam arriving.

As we continued out of the city, we saw the permanently berthed fifth Rotterdam, now a hotel and restaurant.  

This former Holland America Line flagship was known as ‘La Grande Dame.’   She began sailing in 1959 and was the first Holland ship to transition from “transportation” to cruising as we know it.

As Rotterdam V aged, she no longer met maritime safety requirements. With Carnival Corporation owning Holland America, the ship was sold. She was renamed, abandoned after bankruptcy, sold again, and then refurbished.

In August 2008, Rotterdam V returned to the city of Rotterdam and is now a member of the West Cord Hotels group.  If we return, we will surely stay onboard.

As we continued on, we saw miles and miles of the port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe, and the largest in the world outside of Asia.

We enjoyed dinner with our friends and went to a first show.

Harry the Piano was very entertaining.  Through most of the show he played songs of his choice.  In the final segment he created a medley of requested songs.  His trick is to weave the songs sometimes playing them in totally different styles if requested. Imagine “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” as a polka with “Stairway to Heaven” as a country song. He was pretty good!!

Overnight, and all the next day, we sailed to our first port of call, the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.