Holland America Line’s cruise ship Veendam, named after Kelowna’s sister city in Holland, has resurrected its New York/Bermuda cruising connection, a service discontinued 27 years ago because of the demands of Alaska trips.

Now that Holland America’s fleet has more ships, the Bermuda cruise has been reinstated. (Okanagan residents can fly to New York in six or eight hours via Toronto or Calgary.)

The week-long cruise includes two days at sea and five days on the British island cluster that lies several hundred kilometres north of the Caribbean. The Veendam holds 1,300 passengers and the Bermuda cruises are its first since being refitted with an outdoor theatre and new balcony cabins. The Veendam’s moderate size allows it to tie up at the dock in downtown Hamilton, the Bermuda capital.

Veendam, with a population of 30,000, has been Kelowna’s sister city since 1980. Veendam Gardens, in City Park, pays tribute to the friendship of the two cities and the efforts of Kelowna soldiers in WW II to free Holland.

I was a passenger on the Veendam’s third Bermuda trip in late May. We moored at the quaint town of St. George’s and the British heritage emerged with narrow cobblestone streets, limestone walls, lush gardens, English spoken (with an odd, but understandable accent) and small cars (and scooters) driving on the left side of the road. The next day we steamed to Hamilton where the main attractions included botanical gardens, historic forts, caves, aquarium and typical tourist shopping. Every Friday night the main street comes alive, right in front of the ship, with street dancing, markets, food and crafts.

My husband and I enjoyed walking in the spring-like weather and talking to the locals who are quite unlike their Caribbean neighbours far to the south. I would be happy to have a Bermudian as my banker or accountant (many insurance companies have head offices here), but I wouldn’t want to watch a Bermuda comedy show. Crime is rare, walking the streets is stress free and just sitting in the town square watching the intermingling of locals and tourists makes for an interesting afternoon. Cleanliness, wealth (average wage is $90,000) and a unique culture provide the keystones to this agglomeration of Atlantic islands.