MS Prinsendam

 MS Prinsendam (formerly Seabourn Sun and Royal Viking Sun) is a cruise ship for Holland America Line and is nicknamed the Elegant Explorer. She is our home away from home for 16 nights as we sail the Caribbean Sea. She was launched in 1988 as Royal Viking Sun for the Royal Viking Line. Jim’s Mom and her buddies sailed aboard this ship many years ago when it was brand new. She often shared rich and fun-filled memories of times together with friends. 

Here is her history of names, operators and ports of registry. You can see this ship literally and figuratively has been around in a variety of configurations.

From 1988-1999 the ship was operated by Royal Viking Line and was named Royal Viking Sun registered in Nassau, Bahamas. From 199-2002 she was called Seabourn Sun and operated by Seabourn Cruise Line. In 2002 she was transferred to Holland America and renamed The MS Prinsendam.

We sailed on the Prinsendam in 2005 for 24 days in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea from Rome to Venice. Remember it being lovely and friendly. Now 10 years later it is a “bit gone over” as the British say but still a lovely ship with a most helpful and gracious staff and crew.

We are in a Signature Suite- 024- that features a King-sized bed, desk area, a second desk area with the mini bar, a walk-in closet and a lovely marble bathroom with a separate room for the toilet. The bathtub is a deep tub so we are not so sure about how often we will be brave enough to get totally clean. Sure won't happen until the sea calms or we are in port.

Here is the map of where we are headed as we sail along through the waves and wind this Sunday, December 20^th.