 |
|
Holland America Line |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holland America has been in business for over 130 years. Established in 1873, Holland America Line was originally known as the Netherlands-America Shipping Company (NASM), functioning as both a shipping and passenger line. It later became known as Holland America Line (HAL) because of the fact that it was based out of Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas. The first ever Holland America cruise vacation took place in 1895, when Rotterdam II sailed on a short summer voyage from Rotterdam to Copenhagen and back. For many years Holland America transported passengers from Europe to the United States, until 1971 when they decided that they would only offer cruise vacations. In 1989 Holland America Line was purchased by Carnival Corporation & plc, one of the largest cruise companies in the world. Holland America recently completed a $225 million investment in its "Signature of Elegance" concept. This initiative featured fleetwide enhancements, focusing on five areas: increasing the spaciousness of its elegant ships, ensuring a premium dining experience, focusing on top quality service, adding enrichment programs and activities onboard the ships, and creating compelling worldwide itineraries. A new concept that Holland America has launched in their main dining rooms is their As You Wish™ Dining. This new program allows you to choose between traditional assigned dining times or a flexible/open dining schedule. If you choose the open seating program you can either show up whenever you want (during the appropriate dining times) or make a reservation (before 4:00 pm). During July 2010, Holland America Line will be releasing the fourth Amsterdam-named ship in their 135 year history, Nieuw Amsterdam. At 86,000 tons, she will be a luxurious mid-sized vessel, with a 2,106 guest capacity (based on double occupancy). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Today Holland America's cruise ships travel to over 320 ports of call on all seven continents, carrying almost 700,000 passengers a year. Their cruise itineraries feature destinations such as Alaska, Antarctica, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and South America. Holland America also features world cruises (known as Grand World Voyages, which are up to 113-nights in length). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holland America is considered to be one of the premium cruising companies in the world. Their ships are elegant, with a very courteous staff and five-star dining. Holland America Line has a reputation as being very popular with senior citizen cruisers; however, they have made great strides recently in attracting younger, hipper cruisers. They have done this by expanding their children's programs and facilities, adding internet cafes, establishing concierge services, adding more 7-Night cruises (instead of 14-Night cruises), and creating specialty dining options onboard their ships. Holland America is one of the few cruise lines that features a few cabins built for single occupancy. As such, their cruises are very popular with single cruisers. Single occupancy cabins allow for you to cruise without having to pay double the price. While onboard a Holland America ship there will usually be many singles gatherings. In addition to social gatherings, you may ask to be seated with other singles for dining purposes. Holland America offers Gentlemen Hosts (on cruises that are 10-Nights or longer in length), men that sail aboard the Holland America ships to provide company for single women, joining them at dinner and serving as dance partners. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The past passenger program that Holland America has established is called the Mariner Society. This program features various rewards for repeat cruising onboard Holland America's ship. Some of the rewards include preferred pricing, champagne, and cocktail parties. View our Mariner Society page for more details. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Holland America fleet is made up of 14 ships, including the new and beautiful Eurodam (the first of Holland America's Signature Class vessels). Nieuw Amsterdam will be the newest ship in their fleet when she's released during the fall of 2010:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Custom Search
© 2010, CruisEvolution LLC. All Rights Reserved.