Skagway School’s fourth and fifth grade classes explore life in Skagway with interviews and experiences in their home town in this new Community Corner series.

Class connects with cruise ship crew

By Piper Caposey  

On Wednesday,  Aug. 21, the 4th and 5th grade classes took a bus  to a tender, then onto the Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America cruise ship with their teachers, Ms. M, Mrs. Tholeand host Adriane Felt. 

The first thing the classes did was go to the dining hall to eat pizza, hot dogs, mac and cheese, hamburgers, sushi, and pasta served with some delicious drinks like lemonade, soda, and ice tea. After they ate some food, they got a tour of the bridge, control room, theater, pool, spa, gym, library, and lounge. They loved all of it, but their favorites were the food, the elevator, and the technology. 

Fourth grade student, Ryan Fairbanks, said, “My favorite part was being on the bridge because the captain showed us the maps and technology.” 

Afterwards, they met the Chief Engineer, and he taught the class so many things! First he taught the students about how they get fresh water for the guests on the ship. Did you know when the ocean water is boiled, the water vapor is caught and used as freshwater for the guests, or that the food waste is put into a digester, turns into mush, and is thrown into the ocean 12 miles offshore? This mushy food is now food for sea creatures! Isn’t that cool?  

The students loved learning from the Chief Engineer, and they would enjoy going on a cruise ship tour again. The 4th and 5th grade want to thank the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship for this memorable experience.

Photo provided by Holland America

Skagway students listen to the chief engineer on the Nieuw Amsterdam during an Aug. 21 tour of the ship. Photo provided by Skagway School.