Mama Lou

[Copper10-8]

There's been some talk here in the past about Mama Lou, a "frequent HAL cruiser". Here she is (from the HAL blog)



Future Cruise Consultant Sheryll S. Tiangco, right, with Mama Lou.


When I first met Louise Meis, or as we all fondly call her, Mama Lou, I wondered why everybody knows her and why she has a great sense of familiarity of everything around her. She has a HAL name tag that identifies her as Ambassador. My curiosity led me to get to know this wonderful woman. As they always say, great things come in small packages.

She goes around with her walker with wheels, toting numerous bags with goodies for the crew. And her infamous “horn,” honking every time she passes by. She gamely poses for pictures with guests and crew members.

Mama Lou dedicated herself always to be on board for the Filipino and Indonesian Independence Days. She always lovingly mentions her appreciation for the Filipino and Indonesian crew. And of course, she is also on board to celebrate her birthday, her deceased husband’s birthday and their anniversary.

She has “lived on board” for the past years on the ms Zaandam and ms Veendam. And soon will be cruising mostly on the ms Ryndam. She has more than 5,000 days and cruises an average of 11 months in a year. She was featured in newspapers, on television and radio. In fact, I talked to a first-time cruiser and he mentioned that he wanted to be like Mama Lou! And during casual conversations with guests, they have kind words for her.

Mama Lou’s greatest and memorable cruise memories reflect clearly her enthusiastic day-to-day stories about Holland America Line. She collects a lot of mementos on board, she has almost all of the crew members’ uniform and over 800 name tags! She doesn’t bring much regular clothes, as one day she’s a dining room waiter, barista from the Exploration’s Café or cabin steward, and once she starts talking, she never stops! I thought I was talkative until I met Mama Lou! Her candor makes her loved by everybody, both crew and guests.
Mama Lou is an 85-year-old woman who takes pleasure in living life to the fullest, doing what truly gives her full significance of living … cruising. And Mama Lou finds joy with people surrounding her on board … her family.

Sheryll S. Tiangco is Veendam’s future cruise consultant.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have met her!!

She is a darling!!

Everyone burst out laughing at the Mariner's lunch when Captain James Russell-Dunford made the comment that she was among the first to get a photo ID badge -- he still even have one at that lunch!! She informed him that he just didnn't know the right people!!

[JimVrhovac]

We have cruised ith her several times and she is a real trip.

She lives life to its fullest.

We have one thing in common. We are both trying to spend our kids inheritance....

Ruth & Jim

[GmaPajama]

Thanks, Copper, for putting a face to the legend. She looks like she's having the time of her life.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Thankou Copper, Mamma Lau is just as I pictured her,hope I get to meet this spirited woman one day.

[ger_77]

Thanks John, I've only ever read of Mama Lou before this - she sounds like an absolutely adorable lady. Would love to cross paths with her some day. Thanks for sharing with us!

Smooth Sailing!
Gerry

[lka1012]

When I grow up, I want to be just like Mama Lou! I hope to be able to cruise with her one day.

[kakalina]

We have cruised with her a number of times. We still keep in touch. Last cruise we were on she asked me to stay by her and sit next to her so I could keep the seekers away. Apparently everyone wants to meet her and they think nothing of interrupting her dinner or anything else to talk to her. She is an amazing women with some interesting stories to tell. Her husband was a General and she herself is a veteran of WWII.

[IRL_Joanie]

Originally Posted by JimVrhovac

We have one thing in common. We are both trying to spend our kids inheritance....

Ruth & Jim

Just saw your Webshots of Swimming with the dolphins, AWESOME!!! Question is WHERE were you?? I want to swim with them also, but cannot find them on my B2B Caribbean on the Westerdam 7-21 February

[serendipity1499]

Wow!..She sounds like an incredible lady..

Would love to meet her one day..Hope I can be just as sprite as she is when I'm her age..

It's something to look forward too..

Betty

[Kween Karen]

Thank you for posting the picture and the story. I have heard often of "Mama Lou" and now I can picture her. What a wonderful life!!

[sylteach]

Does anyone know when she starts sailing on the Ryndam? We would love to meet her on our cruise!! We sailaway from Seward Sept. 4. I bet she won't get onboard until the Ryndam heads south though!!!

[RuthC]

Originally Posted by IRL_Joanie

I want to swim with them also, but cannot find them on my B2B Caribbean on the Westerdam 7-21 February

If you ever have a stop in Tortola, there's an opportunity there. I did the full swim/encounter (whichever has more contact) there, and had a blast.
I did it as a private excursion, not with HAL. The HAL tour was arriving as I was leaving. Mine wasn't as crowded.

[JimVrhovac]

We did it in Courasel several years ago before it went commercial.

There are a lot of places out there now. Go into the websights for each port and see what is available.

Some more pictures of Mama Lou

Yes her late husband was a retired Air Force General. His deathe is what caused her to cut her ties with her kids and spend every penny of the inheritence (if anything is left)

Ruth & Jim

[bjbear]

What a sweetheart! I can only hope I'm in that good of shape and mind at her age. I'd love to live on a cruise ship!

Sue

[LadyFurn]

We also enjoyed our time with her on the Veendam last December. I am glad she is still in good health and loving the cruise life!

[airlink diva]

Thank you Copper 10-8 for a picture of Mama Lou!
It's nice to put a face on a cruise legend. I've never sailed with Mama Lou, but have heard of her from many others.
Thanks again!!

[jhannah]

Mama Lou is truly a one-of-a-kind. I enjoyed chatting with her on the Zaandam. Her story is truly amazing.

[JimVrhovac]

Can not understnd how you had a conversation with her.

Every time Ruth and I tried we could not get a work in. She talked for 40 minutes and changed subjects 20 times and never took a breath..... She is some type of woman.

We hope we are like her when we mature and grow up....

Ruth & Jim

[ANSalberg]

Originally Posted by kakalina

We have cruised with her a number of times. We still keep in touch. Last cruise we were on she asked me to stay by her and sit next to her so I could keep the seekers away. Apparently everyone wants to meet her and they think nothing of interrupting her dinner or anything else to talk to her. She is an amazing women with some interesting stories to tell. Her husband was a General and she herself is a veteran of WWII.

This kind of reminiscing is SO much fun -for both of the people! On one of our cruises, a Doctor's wife told of working in London during WWII and of having her daughter in a bomb shelter there in 1943. She was a tiny bit of a woman -VERY pretty yet. Her husband had died in the later 1980s and she was "Not interested" in ever marrying again -until she met Don and they were married happily and cruising in the mid-2000's. Her stories were amazing and told VERY low key...Life was NOT easy during WWII for those brave English nurses!
Anne