The Ship

Turns out, three other Holland America Line ships have beared the name Nieuw Statendam before this one. With a capacity of 2,100 people in total and 900 crew members, you did not have to look around much to find someone helpful. The ship had two interesting features. One, it runs entirely on electricity, generated by six diesel generators. And two, it uses directional propusion systems, which can move the ship in any direction, even sideways. No propeller at the end of a long shaft and no rudders. This ship’s Azipod thrusters can swivel to any position.

Fjords

Fjords look like someone took a mountain range and flooded the valleys. The water runs deep. The walls go straight up. Clouds snag on the peaks and hang there like laundry that never quite dries.