A passage between Cruising through the Panama Canal on Holland America’s Rotterdam V Holland America is retiring the current Retterdam after the 1997 Vancouver to Alaska cruise season — although a passenger favorite and the company’s flagship it would cost upwards of S30 million to bring it in line with the new safety at sea regulations. Just after Christma: Roseway Travel’s Nicholas Howard joined the Rotterdam for part of its last world cruise. Boarding the ship in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida the cruise industry vetcran recorded his observations on the ship’s 14-day jour- ney through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. By Nicholas Howard Contributing Writer With all the seasonal festivities behind us, it was nice to know thar the first week of January was ear marked for warmer climates. Little did we know way back in September thar the worst win- ter storm to hit coastal B.C. in sixty years would arrive iust a few days before our flight south to Florid . and a passage between oceans aboard the SS. Rotterdam. Fortunately the warm coastal current also pro- duces rapid changes in temperatures so that almost overnight near metre-high banks of snow evaporated to just minor inconveniences. Less than two minutes after take-off we were well above the grey coastal skies and for the next two weeks the sun would shine and rain wis almost tten. No matter what you've paid for your cabin, from the moment you board your flight, to the morning you walk off the ship for the last time, the impression of personal service is what you remember. Upon our arrival at Fort Lauderdale we were met by a Holland America Line repre- sentative, escorted to our complimentary hctel so that we could arrive on board the Rotterdars the next day without a trace of jes: lag. Our suitcases - were already being transferred ‘to a secure arca at “the wharf ready Kd be loaded on board early the following afternoon and straight into our cabin. The transfer the next day from the hotel to the ship took less than 15 minutes and after the usual (optional) photo upon boarding we were walking the fine wooden decks of Holland ‘America’s $ “Grand Dame.” As usual we were greeted by a smartly-dressed Indonesian steward who took us to our cabin but we soon took the elevator to the top deck to start exploring the ship deck by deck. From the Sun Deck we could see that we were in fine company with two other HAC ships Westerdam and Starendam nearby, as well as the Sun Princes: (Princess Cruises), Century (Celebrity Cruises) and the Silver Clond (Silverseas Cruises). tik Man’ ngers like our- selves had Chosen to sail on the Rotterdam because we knew that it was also a passage in time. We waved at passengers on other modern ships as we slipped out to sea, but knew that without the likes of her the When in port we realized how relaxed we'd hecome as you rarely walked much further than the equivalent of one block on board, that is unless yeu decided to join those striding around the open promenade deck 5.5 times to notch up a mile. Curacao in the Netherland Antilles, or other- wise known as the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao}, offers a very European image as the buildings lining the narrow entrance to the harbor are nyht out of a scene from Amsterdam. The island itself is low lying, sometimes windswept and much dryer than those skirting the Atlantic ocean. A day at sea and then to See Ships page 2% ROSEWAY Travel cruise specialist Nicholas Howard works out of the com- pany’s West Vancouver office. a “S SPRING BREAK <7} & EASTER (Children's supervisors in attendance Now is Your Time “S$ Relax at the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel in the all new HOLLAND America’s Rotterdam V will be retired at the end of September of this year — Rotterdam VI begins its first sailing in October. ver shi Canberra makes one last visit THE Canberra is schedule to make a pit stop a Vancouver’s Canada port facility on March 2. Althongh the cruise has not visited this area ign over two decades it is anothiaas that will be ir = after this year. Built in Belfast in 19613 was originally designed transport Britons emigratyaiag ing to Australia (£10 pam person). 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