Onboard strolls along Holland America ships' teak decks have long been a favorite pastime for our guests. And with the new On Deck for the Cure™ program from the Holland America Line Foundation, this pleasure has become a meaningful way to support the fight against breast cancer. In partnership with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, our noncompetitive fitness walk fundraiser begins with a suggested donation of $15 per participant. Guests then put their sea legs to good use by walking around the ship's deck for a total of five kilometers before convening at a celebratory pink lemonade social.

Close to five hundred On Deck for the Cure walks will take place on Holland America's cruises worldwide in 2006, with funds raised for the Komen Foundation scheduled to exceed $250,000. We're proud to acknowledge our guests' commitment to this important cause—and we hope you'll join us on deck during your next cruise.

• Theater meets fine dining in Holland America's new Signature Master Chef's Dinner, for an engaging night of singing, dancing, music and exquisite cuisine. Developed by our Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, the Chef's Dinners are orchestrated to blend entertaining performances with the evening's courses. Appetizers are presented by the staff in a choreographed "Waltz of the Napkins;" a "Show Salad Spectacular" features the salad course along with expert juggling performed by the stewards—and that's only the beginning! With sumptuous entrees including duck breast à l'orange and wild mushroom strudel, plate spinning performances, a kick line, grand chocolate finale and other surprises, this spectacular production elevates "dinner and a show" to a delightful new level.
  
  
• It's said that good things come in threes, and that's certainly true for Holland America's flagship, the ms Rotterdam. Named Ship of the Year in the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society's annual ship survey, the Rotterdam is recognized with an honor held twice before. The 2006 award acknowledges the Rotterdam's exceptional operation and service level, as well as the dedication of our talented crew.
  
  
• There's nothing like playing golf in Alaska, where recording an "eagle" could just as easily refer to a score as a glimpse of the bird itself. Back by popular demand, Holland America's second annual Great Land Golf Classic offers the chance to play three unique courses on one adventurous cruisetour. Look for the tournament on select departures of Great Land Klondike CruiseTours 5 and 6 through August 26.
  
  
• New items available on Holland America Line Shop: A world filled with classic teak deck furniture, Mariner's Dream beds and exquisite Riedel crystal. It's yours on every Holland America Line cruise, and now it can be yours in your own home, too! Holland America Line Shop is an online store where you can purchase many of the items you enjoy on board our ships, from fine wines to luxurious sheets in time for holiday shopping. Visit the Holland America Line Shop.

ROASTED SHALLOT AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH BEET CRISPS

Ingredients:
Butternut Squash Soup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups shallots, peeled and halved
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
4 tablespoons maple syrup, plus extra if needed
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
3 cups vegetable stock, canned or homemade
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 sprig thyme, stem removed
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Beet Crisps
1 large beet, peeled
1 cup vegetable oil
Flaked sea salt

For the Butternut Squash Soup:
In a thick-bottomed soup pot, heat butter over medium-low heat. Add shallots and garlic. Cook very slowly, stirring gently until vegetables are golden brown. Add squash, 4 tablespoons maple syrup, allspice, and nutmeg; cook slowly, covered, until squash begins to soften and all the vegetables are coated in syrup.

Add stock and cream and bring to a light simmer. Add thyme and season with salt and pepper. Adjust with more maple syrup, if required. Let cool slightly and purée in batches in blender. Return to the pot and check seasonings once more.

Serve in bowls and sprinkle with beet crisps just before serving.

For the Crisps:
With a mandolin (or a potato peeler if you don't have a mandolin), slice beet very thin. In a thick-bottomed pan or cast-iron skillet, heat oil to 350 degrees F. (A small piece of bread dropped into the oil should float to the surface almost immediately and brown within 45 seconds.) Preheat oven to 180 degrees F. Deep-fry small batches of beet slices until slightly browned at the edges. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with sea salt. Place on a baking sheet in oven to dry out for an hour or so, or leave overnight in a warmed oven that has been turned off.

Sail on the ms Amsterdam and you may find that guests aren't the only ones who often sail with their spouses. Captain Edward van Zaane and his wife, Apollonia van Ravenstein, have been cruising together for much of the past nine years.

Many Mariners dream of living on board their favorite Holland America Line ship, but for Captain van Zaane and his wife, Apollonia, that dream is very close to reality. For six months out of each year the couple make their home on the flagship Amsterdam, spending the other six months at home in The Hague or in favorite vacation spots in Portugal, Spain and Germany.

Mixing business and pleasure.
Being captain of a Holland America Line ship is a big responsibility, and Captain van Zaane is on call 24 hours a day to oversee everything from navigation and hotel operations to the engine room. With 25 years of experience with Holland America Line, he knows the diverse challenges well, and says the ever-changing environment makes his job interesting. "One of my favorite goals," he explains, "is to create a harmonious flow in all aspects of the operation of the Amsterdam to ensure that guests enjoy the cruise of a lifetime."

While he is busy with ship duties, Apollonia can often be found in the fully equipped Fitness Center, the Explorations Café, or reading on the outside decks during leisurely days at sea. The couple have a special fondness for extended port stays as well, since they give both guests and crew the opportunity for a more in-depth experience. And they offer the occasional opportunity for the Captain and Apollonia to dine ashore.

Memorable Mariners and moments on board.
Mariners seem to enjoy meeting the Captain and Apollonia almost as much as the Captain and his wife enjoy meeting Mariners. As the Captain puts it, "It is always a joy to recognize familiar faces, and we love the valuable stories guests have to share about their own journeys." In fact, the witnesses to their marriage were Mariners, and many other Mariners have become close friends over the years.

And you might ask, does sharing life at sea affect a couple's relationship in any novel ways? "Certainly," the Captain says. "It gives us great joy and peace of mind, adds excitement and adventure to our lives, and expands our horizons." All of which, he says, contributes to making the couple's exchanges with guests even richer and more meaningful.

Next Up for Captain van Zaane and Apollonia.
The next Holland America cruise for Captain van Zaane and Apollonia will be the 105-day Grand World Voyage on the ms Amsterdam, which departs on January 15, 2007. This true global circumnavigation, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, takes in many of the places the couple consider "must sees" for Mariners. Among these are Hong Kong, Sydney and Easter Island.