2025 Holland America Line Pole to Pole Grand Voyage
First Two Weeks

Day 16 Callao (Lima), Peru
We’ve visited some fascinating destinations in the first two weeks of our Pole to Pole adventure. Our journey began in Santo Domingo, followed by Santa Marta, Colombia; Puerto Limon (San Jose), Costa Rica; a transit through the Panama Canal to Fuerte Amador (Panama City); then Manta, Ecuador; and finally, Salaverry, Peru.
Below are some highlights captured in photos.
Onboard, we’ve been amazed by the number of guests who are seasoned world cruisers – some now on their second, third, or even fifth World Cruise!
One standout guest is Nita, pictured below with Kathleen. Nita holds the distinction of being a President’s Club member with Holland America, having spent more than 1,400 nights aboard HAL ships!
It’s also incredible to see how many guests recognize each other from past voyages, eagerly anticipating reunions on these Grand Cruises. Many have also formed lasting connections with the staff, greeting familiar faces from previous ships and sailings. It truly feels like one big family at sea.
Below are a few snapshots from our journey so far. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll continue exploring South America’s stunning western coastline, with stops at several ports in Peru and Chile. Stay tuned!
Kathleen and her mother Nita. Nita has sailed more than 1400 nights aboard Holland America.

 

Friends Marg and Karen who both have been on many world cruises and counting!

With an average of $341K per ship, the Panama Canal generates over $4.99 Billion annually!
This revenue enables Panama to offer free education through high school, with university tuition averaging just $500 per semester.
Additionally, Panama boasts one of the lowest sales tax rates at 7% and an income tax of only 4% for its residents.

 

Picture one – a visit to a banana plantation with some of our group.
Picture two- The blue bags are placed over the banana bunch to protect the bananas from pesticides used and to create more humid conditions for faster ripening. Costa Rica has over 50 varieties of bananas but only export 2 types. It takes 9 to 12 months for a banana tree to grow and to produce fruit ready for export.
Picture three- our group learning about the many plants in Costa Rica and their diverse uses.
Picture four- A sloth we saw along the way! Interestingly, sloths only come down from their favorite cecropia tree once a week to do their “business”

 

 

 

 

Our visit to Manta, Ecuador, took us to the birthplace of the famous Panama Hat.
The story goes that during the construction of the Panama Canal, many Ecuadorians worked on the project, often wearing these finely woven hats. When the canal was completed, Panama’s leader presented a Panama Hat to President Woodrow Wilson, and from then on, the hats were mistakenly believed to originate from Panama rather than Ecuador.
These handcrafted hats can take anywhere from a few days to several months to produce, depending on the quality. Prices range from $40 to $5,000, with the finest versions requiring extraordinary craftmanship!

 

 

Personal Pictures:
Picture one- Our first Penguins of the trip!
Picture two- Notice that HAL has the Pole to Pole logo on the front of the ship
Picture three- our first formal night of the cruise.

2025 Holland America Line Pole to Pole Grand Voyage
Embarkation Day: January 25, 2025

Day 1 : The Beginning of a Grand Adventure
Today marks the beginning of an incredible 133- day journey aboard Holland America’s Volendam, departing from sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There is an excitement on the ship as we set sail. Anticipation seems to be part of every conversation.
My wife Holly and I are thrilled to be hosting a group of folks from across the United States. Together, we’ll share lots of new destinations, while we also enjoy the fun of traveling with a group of like-minded folks.
The Ship
The Volendam, with its reputation for warm hospitality, and thoughtful amenities, will be our home away from home as we traverse the globe to include 5 continents, 28 countries and 68 ports, exploring some of the most extraordinary destinations on Earth!
Our stateroom is very well appointed, and we’ve answered the question we’ve had since we contemplated taking this trip – what do you do with all the luggage after you unpack? And as importantly what do we do with ALL the clothes we brought for this 4-month adventure!
Well, our luggage all fits nicely under our bed and we have a surprising amount of closet and drawer space. This might not be the case in every stateroom but certainly in ours.
The Itinerary
The trip includes destinations such as the Chilean fjords, Antarctica, the Amazon River, the western shores of Africa, the Western Mediterranean, Scandinavian countries Iceland and Norway and finally Newfoundland and Nova Scotia before returning to Ft Lauderdale June 7th
Our first two days at sea will give us a chance to settle into our accommodations, familiarize ourselves with the ship. We’ll get a chance to take in some of the dining options and check out the various activities and entertainment. Cruising especially on a long voyage offers a unique lifestyle we are looking forward to experiencing.
Ports next up
Our first port of call will be Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. This vibrant city, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, boasts a wealth of history and culture. Next, we’ll visit Santa Marta, Colombia. Nestled on the Caribbean coast, this city is Colombia’s oldest surviving town and a gateway to the Sierra Navada de Santa Marta, the world’s highest costal mountain range.
Our journey this week continues to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica best know for its rainforests and the Tortuguero Canal sometimes referred to as “The Amazon of Costa Rica”
The first few days look to be an exciting start to our journey. Stay tuned for our next update.