HOLLAND America Line’s (HAL) first Grand World Voyage since 2020 has successfully concluded, after 128 days, 57 port visits, and 34,651 nautical miles. The World Voyage concluded at Port Everglades, from whence Zuiderdam departed on 03 Jan. It is the 59th World Voyage HAL has completed since its first such...
HOLLAND America Line’s (HAL) first Grand World Voyage since 2020 has successfully concluded, after 128 days, 57 port visits, and 34,651 nautical miles.
The World Voyage concluded at Port Everglades, from whence Zuiderdam departed on 03 Jan.
It is the 59th World Voyage HAL has completed since its first such cruise departed aboard Statendam on 07 Jan 1958.
During the voyage, guests dressed to the nines for events that featured a Grand Masquerade, Derby Night, Casino Royale, Mardi Gras Night of Music, and “Once Upon a Time”.
More than a dozen casual, themed evenings around the Lido pool included a glamp-out, Burgers and Beer, Grand Fair, a surprise party with Zuiderdam’s team members, Biergarten Festival, “Let Them Eat Cake”, and “An Evening in France”.
Other highlights included volunteers knitting more than 600 blankets for quilting charity Project Linus, and USD$10,000 raised for the Bernhard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia, which was presented to the organisation during Zuiderdam’s call at Walvis Bay.
Passengers also celebrated HAL’s 150th anniversary in Amsterdam (CW 19 Apr) with President Gus Antorcha.
“A world cruise is more than just a travel experience; it’s building a community of friends and family,” he said.
“Like our guests, we have been eagerly anticipating the return of our Grand World Voyage, and the 2023 world cruise was an exceptional journey for not only the places we visited, but the memories made along the way.
“Our guests generously gave their time and funds for some worthy causes during the journey, for which I extend gratitude on behalf of everyone at Holland America.”
Zuiderdam also visited the Null Island buoy (0N/S & 0E/W), where the Equator crosses the prime meridian.
The visit saw guests become an ‘Emerald Shellback’ – the rarest kind of “shellback” (a sailor who has crossed the Equator).
