Holiday News

Rotterdam 6 day trips ... for Rotterdam
October 13, 2008 - Holland America flagship Rotterdam will sail two new six-day Scandinavian itineraries in July 2009.
Departing July 18 from Rotterdam, the ship calls at some of the Baltic's best-known ports: Helsingborg,  Copenhagen and Oslo, before returning to Rotterdam.
The second sailing, departing Rotterdam July 24, explores the coast of Norway with calls at Flam, Bergen and Stavanger. Two days of scenic cruising in Norway - the first in Sognafjord and Aurlandsfjord, and the second at Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock - will delight nature enthusiasts and amateur photographers alike.
More about the Rotterdam round-trips

Exploration teams to enhance the experience
October 8, 2008 - Holland America Line has broadened its onboard programming with new Explorations Teams on each ship dedicated to enhancing the overall cruise experience.
Event staff with specific, niche expertise ranging from technology to travel will offer guests a menu of "edutainment" programs and will include an onboard party planner, a travel guide, a "techspert" and dance directors. On cruises lasting 12-days or more, a book club leader will also join the team.
More about the exploration teams

£110m makeover for five ships
September 26, 2008 - Five Holland America ships will soon undergo individual, month-long dry docks at a total cost of approximately £110 million.
The most dramatic alterations during the latest enhancements will result in an additional 32 verandah staterooms added to the aft portion of each ship. In addition, 46 new innovative lanai staterooms will allow guests direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck and on four ships verandahs will be installed on 12 staterooms on Deck 9 forward.
The first of the extensive dry dock periods begins with the Veendam in spring 2009 and the last will be completed on the Maasdam in late 2010.

New Nieuw Amsterdam on the way
September 10, 2008 - Holland America's latest Signature Class ship and the 15th in its fleet is to be called ms Nieuw Amsterdam.
The 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam, to be delivered in 2010, will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and its interior design and art collection will reflect the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam.
Says HAL prresident Stein Kruse: "This name has a rich heritage in our company with this ship being our fourth in 135 years. We are proud to extend this illustrious ship name to our current fleet."
More about the Nieuw Amsterdam

HAL scoops 9 Travel Weekly awards
September 8, 2008 - Holland America Line has won nine Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly Magazine - more than any other company in the cruise category.
It was awarded golds for: ms Eurodam, Premium Ship category; 2007/2008 Campaign, Advertising/Marketing Campaign category; ms Prinsendam, Mid-Size Cruise Ship category. And six silver were for : Verandah Balcony Stateroom, Premium Ship Cabin Design category; Penthouse Verandah Suite, Premium Ship Suite Design category; Tamarind, Premium Ship Restaurant Design category; Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Premium Ship Spa Design category; Website, Cruise Marketing Website category.
Says executive vice presiden Richard Meadows: "We are proud of our accomplishments and winning this number of awards is a testament to our leadership position in the premium market. We are honoured to win in nine different categories. These awards reflect our commitment to offer an unparalleled cruise experience. And our investment in Signature of Excellence is growing with more enhancements planned across the fleet including new amenities and innovative programs."

HAL goes mobile ...
August 28, 2008 - Holland America Line now has a mobile friendly version of its website, www.hollandamerica.com, for all devices able to connect to the internet.
Web surfers will be automatically redirected to the new mobile site if a user accesses the site from a mobile device. To mobilise the site, images were removed and layouts simplified for use on a mobile device.
A special phone number is listed for those who want to call in and book from their mobile device, too, since bookings cannot be made through the mobile website.
More about going mobile

 Europe Collectors' Voyages offer best value for money
April 18, 2008 - To help cruisers take advantage of the weak US dollar, Holland America has developed a series of 27 Europe Collectors' Voyages in 2008.
The cruises combine intriguing ports with non-repeating itineraries and offer special pricing, making them all the more enticing to those who want a unique adventure without breaking the bank.
While the appeal of a longer voyage attracts many guests to book a Collectors' Voyage, the itinerary is the ultimate hook for most travellers.
More about the Europe Collectors Voyages

HAL adds Kiel to ports of call
March 18 2008 - Holland America has added the Port of Kiel to its list of ports of call for the 2009 season.
The brand new Eurodam will dock seven times, Prinsendam will call twice and Rotterdam is expected to berth once.
Dirk Claus, the port's managing director, said: "This is a big success for our port. It means that for the first time an important shipping company with headquarters in the USA will call regularly at the Port of Kiel. Kiel's stature as a cruise shipping destination has grown as a result.
"We are very pleased to be able to put our most modern berths, at the Ostseekai Terminal, at the disposal of HAL. The new cruise shipping terminal is among the best of its kind in the whole of northern Europe and the demand placed upon it is constantly rising."

Volendam to make her debut Down Under
February 13, 2008 - Holland America is set to travel Down Under in 2009 with nine select voyages throughout Australia and New Zealand on, for the first time, the 1,432-passenger Volendam.
Iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Auckland's Sky Tower will greet guests as the ship explores the varied landscapes and exotic cultures of the Australia and the North and South islands of New Zealand through several unique ports of call.
Departing from Auckland,  Sydney, or Singapore, the exclusive 14, 16 and 19-day sailings willprovide spectacular scenic cruising and pre- and post-cruise tours to some of world's renowned destinations.
More about Volendam Down Under

New South America and Antarctica itineraries
November 20, 2007 - - Holland America's 2009 South America and Antarctica cruises are teeming with ideal opportunities to journey to exotic destinations and explore the ends of the earth. With new itineraries and more sailings than ever before, guests can choose from an impressive 18 cruises on ms Statendam, ms Prisendam or flagship ms Amsterdam.
The diverse itineraries, which range from 13 to 68 days, include spectacular scenic cruising through the fjords and glaciers of Chile, the opportunity to visit some of the most remote sites in the world like Deception Island in Antarctica and Iguazú Falls, and experience two of the New Seven Wonders of the World chosen in a consumer poll in July: Machu Picchu in Peru and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Overnight stays in several port favorites allow guests plenty of time to become immersed in local culture and traditions.
Says vice president Richard Meadows: "Our South America and Antarctica itineraries are extremely popular because more travellers are seeking cruises with an adventurous edge that take them to unique and interesting locations. By having three ships in South America in 2009, we are able to offer the most extensive program in the region of any major cruise line."
More about South America and Antarctica in 2009

Worldwide Rotterdam in 2009
October 30, 2007 - Celebrating Holland America's annual tour around the globe, Rotterdam returns to world cruising in 2009 with a 114-day Grand World Voyage departing January 19, 2009, from Los Angeles.
The 1,316-passenger ship - built expressly for world cruising - sails a westbound route through the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands, on to the South Pacific, Australia, Asia and Africa before making calls in the Caribbean en route back to Fort Lauderdale and New York.
Calling at 39 ports in 27 countries across five continents, Rotterdam will cover more than 35,100 nautical miles while sailing on 15 different oceans, seas, bays, channels and straits.
More about Rotterdam's Grand World Voyage

Grand 2009 double for Prinsendam
October 28, 2007 -  Holland America's intimate Prinsendam, carrying just 793 guests, will sail two Grand Voyages in 2009 enveloping a third of the year from January to April.   Guests will cruise around the Latin lands of South America and  discover mysteries and wonders of Antarctica on the Grand South America and Antarctic Voyage, as well as explore European favourites and uncover lesser-visited ports on the Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage. The ship first departs January 2, 2009, on a 68-day South America and Antarctica cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale with visits to 32 ports of call in 14 countries, and then on March 11 for a 50-day round- trip cruise to the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
More about Prinsendam's Grand Voyages in 2009

Latest ship and new itineraries in the Caribbean in 2008-09
July 10, 2007 - Holland America plans its most diverse offering of Caribbean cruise options with new ports, back-to-back itineraries, and the introduction of its newest ship, Eurodam, in late 2008.
It will have ten ships sailing the Caribbean in 2008 and through April 2009, offering 189 sailings.

New ship celebrates line's European heritage
December 1, 2006 - Holland America's new 2,044-passenger Signature-class ship, to be delivered in summer 2008, is to be called Eurodam - the first ship to bear the name.
The 86,000-ton ship, to be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard at a cost of about £230 million, marks Holland America's next class of vessels and the largest ever constructed for the line.
More about the Eurodam

Signature of Excellence upgrades completed
October 12, 2006 - When Holland America recently added a new Culinary Arts Center to the final ship in the fleet, all structural changes originally envisioned for the company's $225 million Signature of Excellence initiative were complete.
The comprehensive Signature of Excellence upgrades announced nearly three years ago in November 2003 triggered an industry trend of fleet rejuvenations and enhancements to meet the demands of an expanding set of discriminating cruise vacationers.
Signature of Excellence features and amenities are evident in every aspect of the Holland America Line cruise experience, offering guests more luxurious accommodations, more enticing destinations, enhanced dining experiences, more creative activities and even higher levels of service.
More about the Signature of Excellence