The ms Statendam is the fifth ship to bear the name in Holland America Line's more than 130-year history. At 720-feet, she is designed to carry fewer guests while providing more space for maximum comfort. Many staterooms feature commanding ocean views and have a private verandah. The ms Statendam features a theme of Dutch life and exploration, with more than $2 million worth of art and artifacts beautifully displayed throughout the ship. The Van Gogh Theater is a work of art in itself, commemorating Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh's paintings "The Starry Night" and "Irises". In the center of the ship, a three-story atrium showcases an elaborate 26-foot-high "Fountain of the Siren" sculpture. Traveling aboard the ms Statendam is world-class cruising at its finest.

Day 1, Saturday, April 24:  Flights to Ft. Lauderdale, FL    
Inasmuch as the cruise departs from Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday, April 25, it is sometimes difficult to get flights from the western part of the United States in order to arrive at the port on time on the day of departure.  There are two options.  First, you may choose to take an evening departure today and fly through the night to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday morning.  You can then transfer to the ship.  The second option is to take an earlier flight today and overnight at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale before boarding the cruise on Sunday.  Please let us know which you would prefer.

Day 2, Sunday, April 25: Depart from Ft. Lauderdale, FL (5:00pm) Once you have arrived in Ft. Lauderdale you have several options.  There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or venture to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.  Transfer to the ship must be no later than 3:00pm.  Everyone is required to be onboard by 4:00pm and the ship sails at 5:00pm.  If you fly directly to Ft. Lauderdale today, make sure you leave enough time after your arrival to meet these times.

Day 3, Monday, April 26: At Sea (Symposium)  
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as you begin your journey on the Premium Panama Canal Cruise and Book of Mormon symposium.  Aside from the many activities offered on board the ship, we will begin our “symposium at sea” at 10:00am where you will be enlightened on Mayan Culture and Glyphs.  The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy the activities on board.

Day 4, Tuesday, April 27: At Sea (Symposium)  
We will have another relaxing day at sea as we discuss more on the culture of Mesoamerica, the writings and interpretations, and other insights to the Mesoamerica land.  You will have the rest of the day to enjoy activities of your choice provided on the ship.

Day 5, Wednesday, April 28: Oranjestad, Aruba 
(8:00am – 5:00pm) 
Colorful floating markets, wondrous coral reefs and landscapes dotted with curiously bent divi-divi trees await on this, the "A" of the Netherlands Antilles' famous ABC islands. (Bonaire and Curacao round out the trio.) Sample shore excursions include: Natural Wonders of Aruba; Spanish Lagoon Kayak Adventure' Jolly Pirates Sail, Snorkel, Swim & Swing.  Be back onboard by 4:00pm.

Day 6, Thursday, April 29: At Sea (Symposium)    
We continue out “Symposium at Sea” as we sail from Aruba towards the Panama Canal.  Following our meeting time together you will again have the afternoon and evening to enjoy the shipboard activities.

Day 7, Friday, April 30: Cruising the Panama Canal 
(5:00am – 7:00pm)  
The Panama Canal is a man-made canal which joins the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. One of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken, it had an enormous impact on shipping between the two oceans, replacing the long and treacherous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.  Today you will enjoy passing through the canal as we pass through the locks to the Pacific side.  For some additional study, you may wish to buy and read the book entitled The Path Through the Seas by David McCullough for this day.

Day 8, Saturday, May 1: At Sea (Symposium)     
Another day of fun and learning as we continue our symposium and the many things offered on the ship.

Day 9, Sunday, May 2: Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
(7:00am – 5:00pm)  
It's wild, it's beautiful and Costa Rica's eco-factor is off the charts. Here find steaming volcanoes, lush rain forests and nearly half of all the animal species on earth. Plus a modern capital high in the mountains.  Be back onboard by 4:00pm.

Day 10, Monday, May 3: At Sea (Symposium)
We continue to explore the geography of the Book of Mormon in our symposium.

 Day 11, Tuesday, May 4: Corinto, Nicaragua (8:00am – 5:00pm)  Puerto Corinto is a quaint coastal village in an area rich with pristine beaches, lush mangrove forests and magnificent volcanoes. In Corinto, take a stroll along the Costa Azul for a view of the bay and its islands. In nearby Chinandega, discover Mayan artifacts at the archeological museum. Farther afield explore the ruins of León Viejo, excavated from centuries of volcanic debris. Sample shore excursions: The History and Art of León; San Antonio Rum Distillery.  All aboard by 4:00pm.

Day 12, Wednesday, May 5: Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala (8:00am – 5:00pm) 
In the cultured little country of Guatemala modern Maya still weave their stories on backstrap looms, and the great stone temples of Tikal stand in silent testament to ancient Mayan ingenuity.  We disembark to the City of Guatemala, otherwise referred to as the city of Eternal Spring.  Through our excursion today, time permitting, we will visit the large relief map of Guatemala in order to orient ourselves with the geographical overview of the country in relation to the Book of Mormon. We will then visit the archaeological zone of Kaminaljuyu, a place considered by many to have been settled by Nephi in the 6^th century BC (see 2 Nephi 5:5-10). This will be followed by a visit the National Museum of Archaeology of Guatemala where we will analyze Kaminaljuyu’s stela 10, an altar that dates to 147 BC and may suggest a transfer of kingship from King Noah to Limhi (see Mosiah 18 & 19).  

Day 13, Thusday, May 6:  Puerto Chiapas, Mexico (Izapa)
(8:00am – 5:00pm) 
Gateway to the Mayan world in the Pacific, shrouded in mystery.  Today we will disembark for a day of learning as we visit the archaeological site of Izapa. While visiting Izapa, we will see Stela 5, the “Tree of Life Stone”. This engraved stone dating back to 300 BC may depict Lehi’s dream as recorded in first Nephi. Snacks and water will be provided.  After visiting Izapa the group will return to the dock where you will have time to shop or enjoy the amenities of the port.  Try a fresh tamale, a delicious part of celebrations here, or shop for local handicrafts like tin toys, wood and stone carvings or colorful textiles. Or, simply wander the beaches and take in the untamed and exotic surroundings.

Day 14, Friday, May 7: Huatulco, Mexico (8:00pm – 5:00pm) Huatulco is a beautiful seaside resort with warm sun, sandy beaches and nine beautiful bays rimmed in every shade of blue. Nearby: low-growth caducifolia jungles teeming with birdlife and the nesting grounds of endangered sea turtles.  Today we will try and visit a newly restored archaeological site known as Punta Celeste.  It is anticipated that it will now be open to the public. This may be the area where the Jaredites first land in the promised land prior to migrating north into Oaxaca and then on to the Gulf Coast region. Similar to the ruins at Tulum on Mexico’s Caribbean coast Punta Celeste overlooks the ocean. It consists of burial sites, ball courts, small pyramids, and a Cliffside sacrificial stone. The site dates to 500 B.C. and was developed by the Mixtec culture.

Day 15, Saturday, May 8: Acapulco, Mexico (8:00am – 5:00pm)  Today we will visit the site of Xochicalco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which was founded circa AD 650 by the Olmeca-Xicallanca, a group of Mayan traders from Campeche, affording them an excellent position along some of the major trade routes. It was an important fortified commercial and religious center in the era following the decline of the great Mesoamerican states. At the ceremonial plaza where the Feathered Serpent Pyramid is located, archaeologists have found that this city was the crossroads for many different civilizations, including Aztec and Maya, for a long period of time. The observatory is an amazing place where the ancients could determine the beginning of the seasons and made remarkable observations of the moon.