HAL 150th Year Ceremony in Rotterdam on 4/18/2023

[Btimmer]

Below is a link to today's ceremony in Rotterdam commemorating HAL's 150 year anniversary.  It's a pretty classy ceremony.

 

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Yes it was. 

[wdw1972]

Thank you for sharing - very well done.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Excellent. Thank you for sharing. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Every ship had celebration's going on.

[Sir PMP]

Basically a poor representation, Antorcha is too new to talk about the past. They should have one the former great captains do that and they should have brought in all former living captains. Also, the old classic Grand Dame should have been involved, maybe showing people boarding in costumes from the the early 1960's. that would have been a spectacle, this was just a dud.

[BetsyS.]

Sir PMP - I agree with you. They should have had all the former living captains there. 

HAL certainly had enough time to plan for this in advance!

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for sharing.

[boards]

16 minutes ago, BetsyS. said:

Sir PMP - I agree with you. They should have had all the former living captains there. 

HAL certainly had enough time to plan for this in advance!

They seem to not be able to please "everyone" these days.   

[3rdGenCunarder]

6 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

Basically a poor representation, Antorcha is too new to talk about the past. They should have one the former great captains do that and they should have brought in all former living captains. Also, the old classic Grand Dame should have been involved, maybe showing people boarding in costumes from the the early 1960's. that would have been a spectacle, this was just a dud.

 

QM2 has history panels around the ship, and one is about QE2. There's a great photo like that there. I don't recall when it was taken, probably toward her last days. All former living captains were there. 

[AncientWanderer]

21 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Below is a link to today's ceremony in Rotterdam commemorating HAL's 150 year anniversary.  It's a pretty classy ceremony.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting this @Btimmer.  It was delightful to watch.

[mariner]

I agree with Sir PMP. And after reviewing the "special" menu as posted by many aboard the world cruise it dawned on me. Why didn't they do the old Dutch Night menu? Would seem like a no-brainer.

[AncientWanderer]

Meh, I guess it could have been "splashier," but that it was simple and dignified seemed in keeping with the HAL brand.  Just my reaction.....

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

46 minutes ago, mariner said:

I agree with Sir PMP. And after reviewing the "special" menu as posted by many aboard the world cruise it dawned on me. Why didn't they do the old Dutch Night menu? Would seem like a no-brainer.

 

That would have been perfect! I miss that special dinner.

[OlsSalt]

It was touching. And amazing gift to us English speakers, since it was all conducted in English by primarily Dutch speaking company history notables.  

 

Loved the serpentine streamers at the end. May Holland America have many, many years ahead polishing the gem she has long been.

[REOVA]

I was expecting they'd show a movie of HAL"s story...again. 😉