MS Zuiderdam steamed into Fremantle’s inner harbour this morning at 07.00 with almost 2,000 passengers and crew on board. Welkom – in Dutch – to Fremantle!
It is always fascinating watching these huge cruise ships turn and berth in the Inner Harbour. Fremantle will be busy for the next two days with this influx of visitors.
MS Zuiderdam is one of Holland America Line’s Vista class cruise ships.
She is currently on a 129-night Grand World Voyage, themed ‘Easter’.
MS Zuiderdam departed Fort Lauderdale on 3 January, and has so far visited: Jamaica, Puerto Limon, Panama Canal, French Polynesia, Tonga, New Zealand, Sydney, Tasmania, Adelaide and Kangaroo Island (her last port of call).
Here’s a gallery of her arrival in Freo today. Including a great shot of the Nankeen Night Heron welcoming the Zuiderdam!
After two days in Fremantle, she leaves tomorrow, Wednesday, at 17.00 and heads to Mauritius and Reunion. She is due home on 12 May.
The name of this ship and her three sister ships – the MS Oosterdam, MS Westerdam and MS Noordam represent the four directions of the compass in Dutch, with Zuider meaning south.
She was launched in 2002 and refurbished in 2017; length 286m, beam 32m, maximum speed 43km/h. She can carry 1972 passengers plus a crew of 800. Her GT is 81,769.
This ship boasts museum-quality art, antiques and lavish staterooms; live piano music and two swimming pools. There are cooking demonstrations and BBC Earth experiences.
Cruises on the Zuiderdam tend to cater for older guests – with high tea, formal nights, antique displays and ballroom dancing. Her itineraries allow for overnights in key cities.
If you missed her arrival and dramatic turning in the inner harbour this morning, head on down to Victoria Quay and watch her leave tomorrow evening.
* STORY and photographs by our Shipping Correspondent, Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.
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