Latest news with #Westerdam
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- NZ Herald
What it's like on Holland America Line Australia and New Zealand cruise
Westerdam started in Sydney and travelled across the Ditch from Tasmania to Fiordland; a journey that takes two full days at sea. The conditions were, for one day, something I had never experienced before on a cruise ship. On February 7, the day started grey and in several hours became bleached of colour – a white wall all around, just beyond the ship. In the afternoon, it was like hitting the Waikato winter fog at Meremere, heading south. Thankfully, we weren't on State Highway 1 and, as the ship bridge manager said, 'there's not much traffic in this area'. At that stage, Westerdam's position was about 280 nautical miles from Hobart, and the view from the bridge was limited. However, the ship has radar to spot big boats, can see any nearby ships' lights, has other information to tap into, and there are officers on watch to maintain visibility. There's a mix of high-tech equipment and practical aids such as binoculars and two-way radios in use. The ship's horn was also frequently sounded during the whiteout. The next morning conditions were still misty and drizzly, but clearer. Passengers have a lot of options for things to do, whether the ship is at sea or in port, so two days without stops is no problem. The Wi-Fi onboard makes use of the Starlink satellite system. People can maintain their latte habit via a specialist cafe. Apart from performances, films and talks, you can get into tai chi, origami, music trivia, pickleball or game contests. Sea days - life on board People obviously have different reasons for wanting to holiday in this way. Some appear to treat it as a floating White Lotus and just aim to relax by the pools and bars. Luxury touches such as chilled wine on arrival and treats go down well. There are seemingly endless amounts of food and drink, and while your waistband can expand quite nicely from eating in the complimentary dining rooms, there are nice restaurants to try. Other passengers are very focused on their exercise when walking or running on the outside decks, to the exclusion of noticing the scenery. Then there are passengers who stop and look and photograph when the ship is out of port, and are perhaps there for a bit of everything. The ability to see a lot in a short period, with nice accommodation and without the issues of re-packing, extra travel and spending daylight holiday time getting to destinations, is a major attraction. Apart from a few sea days, the travelling part is done at night, and most of the costs are prepaid. There's nothing like being in the middle of nowhere with perhaps a stray tanker or a few oil rigs on the horizon. Somehow, there are usually small birds skimming the surface. This trip on Westerdam crossed choppy seas in Bass Strait between Melbourne and Hobart, meaning there was temporarily some wonky walking on board and a cradle-rocking motion when sleeping. Fortunately, the ship's size and stabilisers reduced the roll but I'm amazed anyone would enter the annual Sydney to Hobart race on small yachts. Time at sea is something to look forward to: the sunrises and sunsets; arriving into ports and sailing away; the different moods and looks of the water from smooth to surging; just walking around the promenade third deck or watching from a balcony. Third deck is close enough to give you a constant feeling of the sea's power with the thick churn and fizz of the waves. It swirls in different colours from light blue to dark navy and cloudy light green between the froth. The patterns sometimes resemble rock formations, while the sun's path across the water glints like mineral deposits. As with looking down at cloud formations from a plane, when looking down at the sea, nature's various forms keep being reflected back to you in your mind's eye. Westerdam and Holland America Line Launched in 2004 and refitted in 2023, the ship's gross tonnage is 82,348. At 290m long and 32m wide, its 11 decks and 984 cabins host 1964 people, 817 crew. Westerdam will sail around Asia in 2026/27, with Noordam taking over Australasian voyages of various lengths, including a 35-day circumnavigation of Australia. HAL itself has been in business for more than 150 years and transported hundreds of thousands of Europeans to America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Several of its ships were destroyed in both world wars. In 1940, one of its ships became an allied military troop carrier. It sold its cargo ships in the 1970s and has since played a key part in the evolving cruise industry, with 11 vessels visiting 400 ports in 114 countries.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tauranga wraps up cruise season with 91 ships, boosts local economy
Tourism Bay of Plenty said Tauranga has had a strong 2024/25 cruise season, with 91 ship arrivals bringing thousands of passengers and crew into the region, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said. 'These visits provide a significant boost to our local economy, supporting hospitality, retail, tourism operators, and transport providers.' Nathan said Tauranga was consistently rated the best port experience in Tauranga by visiting cruise lines. 'The vibrancy that cruise visitors bring is felt right across the city, from our waterfront to our town centres, and we're proud to be a key gateway for cruise travel in New Zealand.' Final tallies for ship visits and the full economic impact were still being confirmed, but Nathan said as of March 18, the 2024/25 season brought an estimated 143,279 passengers and 62,804 crew to our shores - more than 206,000 people. 'These provisional figures are in line with recent seasons and represent a significant contribution to our local visitor economy,' Nathan said. 'There were a few itinerary changes due to weather, such as a cancelled berth from the Westerdam and adjusted schedules for the Crown Princess and MSC Magnifica, but the season remained strong overall. 'Throughout the season, ambassadors and staff were proud to showcase the best of the coastal Bay of Plenty to guests from around the world.' The Insignia will make a late-season call on May 27 ahead of winter.
