FOOD TAKES CENTERSTAGE ON NEW HOLLAND SHIP

If you haven't eaten, better stop now. This new video from Holland America showcases the all the new dining options on their ship, ms Koningsdam, launching in February 2016. If you love food -- and who doesn't? -- mark your calendars!

RIDING ALONG IN THE PILOT BOAT

CruiseHive posted this video that lets you ride along on a pilot boat going to the Holland America Oosterdam in Queen Charlotte Sound. It provides some perspective on just how large these cruise ships are. Don't forget the Dramamine! -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA NAMES LARGEST SHIP

Holland America's largest ship has a name. The 99,500-ton cruise ship, slated for delivery in February 2016, will be ms Koningsdam. More details from the press release:

"While the name pays homage to the company’s rich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, it also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an original in Holland America Line’s 141-year history. The 2,650-passenger ship is an evolution in design for the line — a new Pinnacle Class — and is being built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

"Since 1883 every Holland America passenger vessel has borne the “dam” suffix, and ms Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word koning means “king” in Dutch, and the name celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also pays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in over a century."

HOLLAND 'DISCOVER CANADA' ON PINTEREST

Holland America Line has launched a “Discover Canada & New England Sweepstakes” that will award five of the line’s Pinterest followers a $500 American Express gift card. The sweepstakes runs through Sept. 20, 2014, and the winners will be selected in a random drawing at the end of September. More details on how to enter from their press release:


"Participants can visit the Discover Canada & New England tab on Holland America Line’s Facebook page and choose their favorite Canada & New England highlight photo from a selection of six colorful and captivating images. Entrants then provide the required information and click submit, which will pin the image to one of their personal Pinterest boards. In order to be eligible to win, entrants must also follow Holland America Line’s Pinterest Page (www.pinterest.com/halcruises).

"Participants can enter once through Sept. 20 for a chance to win a gift card. (The sweepstakes is limited to persons 18 years of age or older who are legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia or Canada — except Quebec). For more information about the sweepstakes and official rules, visit: https://www.facebook.com/HALCruises/app_363845683737502?ref=ts."

HOLLAND SETS TUTU LECTURE, ADDS NEW DISHES

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town, is scheduled to lecture on a segment of Holland America Line’s 2014 Grand World Voyage on ms Amsterdam. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate will sail March 28 to April 2, 2014, from Durban to Cape Town, South Africa.
Tutu will address guests at two speaking engagements on board about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work forging racial equality throughout the world

• Celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner's dishes will be featured on the main dining room menu of the line’s 15 ships. Among them are Cajun-inspired Shrimp, Andouille and Grits served with braised okra and roasted poblano peppers, or the Asian influences in the Vegetable Curry with Forbidden Rice and Soft Shell Crab Pad Thai. Falkner has been on "Next Iron Chef” and “Top Chef Masters.” Currently she’s at Luis Gonzalez’s new Upper West Side restaurant, Corvo Bianco.

• Last year, Holland America debuted a new alternative dining option exclusively aboard ms Rotterdam called “Taste of De Librije” featuring the cuisine of Michelin Three Star Chef Jonnie Boer. Now that has been extended to ms Eurodam. Named after Boer’s restaurant in the Netherlands, the menu showcases a selection of starters, soups, entrees and desserts from his land-based eatery. Once per cruise the Pinnacle Grill is transformed for dinner with service staff wearing the uniform livery from De Librije, the restaurant’s table set-up is replicated and the wine list highlights a selection of labels from the Lady De Librije collection. Reservations can be made for “Taste of De Librije” for a $69 surcharge per person including wine pairings.

'DANCING' STARS JOIN HOLLAND CRUISES

Professional dancers Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus, along with former celebrity participant Sabrina Bryan, will join the Jan. 5, 2014, “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” theme cruise and the Jan. 12 Champions Cruise. Both seven-day Caribbean cruises are onboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam.

Events include dance numbers from the television series, dance lessons with the shipboard professional dancers, a special fashion show and a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities, ask questions and take photos with them. More from the cruise line:

HOLLAND AMERICA'S NEW PINTEREST CONTEST

Here is a new social media contest from Holland America: The "Amazing Alaska” Pinterest sweepstakes that will award five randomly selected winners an American Express gift card valued at $500. Participants visit the Pinterest Sweepstakes tab on Holland America Line’s Facebook page and choose their favorite Alaska excursion photo. In order to be eligible to win, entrants must also follow Holland America Line’s Pinterest Board (www.pinterest.com/halcruises). The sweepstakes runs through September 20, 2013. -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA 'PIN TO WIN' CONTEST

A new "pin to win" contest opportunity from Holland America:

"Holland America Line has launched a new 'Scenic South America' Pinterest sweepstakes that will award one randomly selected winner an American Express gift card valued at $500. Participants can visit the Scenic South America tab on Holland America Line’s Facebook page and choose their favorite South America highlight photo from a selection of six beautiful images. Entrants then provide the required information and click submit, which will pin the image to one of their personal Pinterest boards. In order to be eligible to win, entrants must also follow Holland America Line’s Pinterest Board (www.pinterest.com/halcruises). Entries are limited to legal residents of the United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. The sweepstakes runs through July 8, 2013." -- Gerry

CELEBRITY CHEF FEATURED ON CRUISE

Chef Cat Cora (Credit: Holland)

Holland America is featuring celebrity chef Cat Cora as part of their Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food and Wine magazine. She is scheduled to sail on ms Nieuw Amsterdam’s 12-day Mediterranean Empires cruise departing July 2, 2013.

The Culinary Arts Center presented by Food and Wine magazine offers guests on their 15 ships to "experience cooking shows, wine tastings and question-and-answer sessions in a full show kitchen. Also offered are hands-on classes conducted by top chefs, wine experts, noted culinary specialists and leading cookbook authors."

Here are more details provided by Holland:

HOLLAND MARKS 140TH YEAR WITH TULIP

Holland "Signature" Tulip (Credit: Holland America)

What better way to mark the 140th anniversary of Holland America than with a tulip? That's how the cruise line decided to celebrate that milestone.

Here's the details in their press release:

"In celebration of its 140th anniversary, an official christening of the new Holland America Line “Signature” tulip took place in the Netherlands on Friday, April 19 at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. President and CEO of Holland America Line Stein Kruse participated in the ceremony along with the President of the Board of Directors of Keukenhof Walter Jansen and Master Grower Jan Pennings.

A white-petal variety with delicate fringed petals was chosen to honor the company that was founded at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, April 18, 1873, as a trans-Atlantic cargo and passenger shipping company. Today the company’s fleet of 15 premium cruise ships sails more than 500 cruises on all seven continents.

HOLLAND ADDS MULTILINGUAL SHORE TOURS

Rondleidingen. Visitas. Führungen. They all mean "tours" -- in Dutch, Spanish and German. That's what Holland America will be offering for their new multilingual shore excursions, which will cater to their Dutch, Spanish and German guests. The cruise line notes these new tours were developed for European travelers who may "opt to book a less traditional tour — offered in their own language — such as a hiking adventure, biking through town or visiting the countryside. However, for European guests who still want to visit popular landmarks, tours also will be available in the three languages to those destinations. Foreign language tours are offered when 30 guests who speak a common language are booked on a voyage."

They also note: "Tours offered in Dutch include Hiking Ft. Floien in Bergen; an excursion from Monaco to the city of Villefranche-sur-Mer or a relaxing Kayak along the Aurlandsfjord in Flam. German-speaking tours include a visit to the ancient city of Iliada from the port of Katákolon, Greece or a beer cruise on the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Spanish-speaking guests might enjoy a 4x4 expedition to the village of Cámara de Lobos in Portugal or a beach tour in Valencia, Spain. The program is expanding and select excursions are offered in German and Spanish throughout South America." -- Gerry

COMPETE FOR THE MIRROR BALL ON HOLLAND

So you think you can dance? If so, you have your chance as part of Holland America's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program. It features a dance competition in which 15 guests (one for each ship in the Holland's fleet) receive a free cruise and a chance to compete for a Mirror Ball Trophy on the “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” Champions Cruise on ms Nieuw Amsterdam Jan. 12, 2014.

Continuing through Nov. 25, sailings feature a “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” program that includes complimentary dance lessons with the ship’s dance professionals and a dance-off competition.

The Champions Cruise next January will feature professional dancers and celebrities from the hit ABC show. Following preliminary rounds on each cruise, "finalists will be paired with a Holland America Line dance professional to perform one of the show’s routines and compete against their fellow guests center stage in the ship’s main show lounge." 

HALF MOON CAY MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY

Half Moon Cay (Credit: Holland America)

Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas, celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with some new offerings and features. New are five two-story Beach Villas available for rent. The luxury hideaways "boast exclusive hot tubs on the second floor and provide private accommodations for guests while they relax and experience the island’s highlights." Holland also reports, "other beach cabanas were refreshed, and the Grand Cabana received new décor and a slide from the cabana deck straight into the ocean."

Holland also added a new glass-bottom boat that carries 290 guests for tours and features underwater viewing of the island’s reefs and sea life. Additionally, six horses were added to the horseback riding tour. They also note the Bahamian Church has been repainted and outfitted with new pews and interior artwork. 

The 1,700-acre uninhabited Little San Salvador Island was named best private island for the 12th consecutive year by Porthole Cruise Magazine. -- Gerry

COUNTRY MUSIC CRUISE SET FOR 2014

Attention all country music fans. The Country Music Cruise is featuring some of that genre's biggest names, including Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap and many more. It sets sail Jan. 19, 2014, from Ft, Lauderdale on the Holland America Eurodam. Find out all the details here. 

HOLLAND AMERICA NAMED 'BEST CRUISE VALUE'

Getting a "best of" award is always an honor -- but getting it 20 times in a row, that's amazing. Congrats to Holland America, named by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society as "the Best Overall Cruise Value 2012 for the 20th consecutive year in the publication’s annual Best Cruise Value Awards." The line also noted they got top marks in the High-Deluxe, 5-Star-Plus, Large Ships category in recognition of "its premium cruise experience." The release included this quote: “To win this award continuously for two decades is an incredible achievement for Holland America Line and a testament to the hard work and dedication we put into providing the finest cruise experience to our guests,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. -- Gerry

MORE DETAILS FOR 'DANCING' THEME CRUISES

Holland America Line has released more details on its 2013 “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” theme cruises featuring professional and celebrity dancers from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Professionals scheduled to appear are two-time champion Mark Ballas, champion Kym Johnson, Chelsie Hightower, Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer. Celebrities scheduled to sail are singer Joey Fatone, actress Sabrina Bryan and television personality Carson Kressley.

More details from their press release:

"The theme cruises on select ships are part of the line’s recently announced 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' on-board experience that also features an exclusive 'Dancing with the Stars' program on all ships in the fleet including dance lessons and an opportunity to dance center stage in a live dance-off performance. These activities will showcase the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

'PRINSENDEM' ADDITIONS COMPLETED

Credit: Holland America

Holland America has announced completion of enhancements to its ship, ms Prinsendam. Among them, the addition of Canaletto, a casual Italian dining venue, and transforming the Lido Terrace into an enclosed Wintergarden. Named for the famous 18th-century Venetian artist, Canaletto is located in the Wintergarden, adjacent to the Lido dining area. Holland reported "the ship also received other cosmetic enhancements during its dry-dock in Freeport, Bahamas, including new balcony decking and balcony dividers." -- Gerry

HOLLAND AMERICA ADDS 325 VIDEOS

(Credit: Holland America)

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a library.

That could be one reason Holland America Line has increased its video offerings on their website, www.hollandamerica.com, with the recent addition of 325 short videos showcasing the line’s shore excursions in Alaska and select ports around the world. "Featuring 275 videos on Alaska tours and 53 port overviews with shore excursion details, guests can get a glimpse of select tours before departing on a cruise and deciding which ones to book." We love the idea but do have one suggestion: Make the videos embeddable and let social users help spread the word. -- Gerry