New Photos Show Off Extensive Enhancements to Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam
Renovations
include Music Walk and first Rijksmuseum at Sea and Explorations Central
Seattle, Wash., June 20, 2017 —
When Holland America Line's ms
Westerdam emerged from a 12-day dry dock at Fincantieri's shipyard
in Palermo, Italy, in late April, the ship debuted major renovations that added
many new public spaces and amenities, including two firsts for the fleet:
Explorations Central, or EXC, in the Crow's Nest and Rijksmuseum at Sea. Westerdam also
received the popular Music Walk venues Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard
Onboard, the intimate Gallery Bar, a reimagined Lido Market and The Retreat
area with private cabanas.
Newly released photos show the renovations, along with additional upgrades and
modifications including suite upgrades, enhancements to the Greenhouse Spa and
Salon, renovations to youth areas Club HAL and The Loft, and the new Holland
America Line logo on the funnels. Deck 10 saw the addition of 25 guest
staterooms, including 18 verandah and seven interior staterooms, increasing the
capacity of the ship to 1,964 guests.
"We have many innovative new programs and enhancements launching across the
fleet, and it's exciting to see them finally come to life on Westerdam, which is
the first Holland America Line ship to get Rijksmuseum at Sea and EXC," said
Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president. "Holland America Line is in
a transformative era, and that will be reflected in on board spaces over the
coming years as ships are updated with new venues and programming that are
moving our brand forward."
Rijksmuseum at Sea
Introduced on Westerdam
Holland America Line's partnership with Rijksmuseum — the Museum of the
Netherlands in Amsterdam — celebrates the company's Dutch heritage. With
Rijksmuseum at Sea on Westerdam,
reproductions of some of the museum's most famous masterpieces are showcased at
a dedicated space located on Deck One of the Atrium. Guests also can view
videos about the museum and its collections on the in-stateroom television.
New EXC
(Explorations Central) Program Unveiled on Westerdam
Holland America Line is amplifying its destination immersion experiences with
the launch of EXC programming on Westerdam.
The multifaceted EXC experience combines a wide array of indispensable travel
resources with enrichment opportunities for guests making their travel
experience more engaging, vivid and meaningful. Much of the EXC experience is
featured in the newly created Exploration Central's hub located in the Crow's
Nest, now a comprehensive resource and engagement center with interactive
screens and a Virtual Bridge. EXC programming also offers a full EXC Team to
engage with guests, EXC Tours, EXC Destination Guides, EXC Channel and Theater
EXC.
Music Walk Adds
Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard
Guests have even more entertainment options with the addition of Lincoln Center
Stage and Billboard Onboard, complementing the already-existing and wildly
popular B.B. King's Blues Club. Under the exclusive partnership, Lincoln Center
Stage showcases an ensemble of world-class musicians performing multiple
chamber music programs nightly, while Billboard Onboard features the talents of
two pianists performing dynamic shows centered around the interesting facts and
figures of the music industry as chronicled by Billboard.
Raising a Glass in
Gallery Bar
During the dry dock, Westerdam
received the intimate Gallery Bar. The sophisticated venue, serving an
exclusive cocktail menu created by celebrity mixologist Dale DeGroff, replaces
Northern Lights and is adorned with an eclectic and whimsical mix of artwork
including portraits, landscapes, still lifes and abstract pieces.
America's Test
Kitchen Receives New Look
America's Test Kitchen also sports a new look with the room receiving a new
color palate and enhancements to the show kitchen featuring gray and red motifs
as well as new tables and chairs for guests viewing the cooking demonstrations.
Produced in partnership with the namesake, long-running public television
cooking program, America's Test Kitchen features shipboard cooking
demonstrations and hands-on workshops — with topics ranging from creating
authentic Asian dumplings to making the perfect pie crust — that will combine
foolproof, accessible recipes and cooking techniques that are rooted in the
rigorous testing and science-based approach of America's Test Kitchen.
Food and Service
Reign at Lido Market
The traditional, casual Lido buffet has been transformed into the Lido Market
concept — a marketplace with different themed stations offering a selection of
delicious options guests can grab on the go or have quickly made to order.
Areas include fresh-baked breads and pastries at Breadboard, classic comfort
food at Homestead, dishes from around the globe at Distant Lands, Wild
Harvest's freshly made personalized salads, and sweet treats at Sweet Spot.
Service at Lido Market is enhanced with coffee, juices, water and iced tea
served tableside, and in the evening the tables have an upgraded setting with
placemats, glassware and cutlery awaiting guests after they have selected their
food from the new menu.
Additional Upgrades
and Enhancements to Westerdam
To further complete Westerdam's
transformation, 25 new staterooms were added near the top of the ship on Deck
10. The 18 verandah and seven interior staterooms increase the ship's capacity
to 1,964 guests.
Additionally, the suites on board received the fleetwide suite upgrades. The
main living area was refreshed with a new headboard, new carpet, wall
coverings, a privacy curtain, drapery, bed runner and bed skirt. New quartz-stone
surfaces were added to the desk, dresser, nightstands and makeup vanity which,
along with new vanity lighting, enhance the cosmetic transformation. Electronic
upgrades include a new USB outlet added to the bed's headboard, bedside LED
lights, upgraded electrical outlets and a lighted closet rod. Suite bathrooms
also were upgraded, including a wall of designer glass tile, new vanity area,
stylish floor tiles and a nightlight.
A new interactive television system was installed throughout the ship, featuring
large LED flat-screen TVs with complimentary movies and popular TV shows on
demand as well as easy access to the daily program and shipboard information
including restaurant overviews, spa services and guest billing.
Outside on Deck 11, The Retreat was relocated from Deck 10, providing a quiet
lounging area and 15 private cabanas available for rental that offer a relaxing
oasis on deck. Various other public spaces around the ship received new soft
furnishings including carpets, drapery, chairs and sofas, while additional
outside enhancements include new pool deck loungers and teak decking.
Westerdam currently
is cruising the Mediterranean on 12-day itineraries between Barcelona, Spain,
and Venice or Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
For more information, contact a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note:
Photos are available at https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/w5dywspw.
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About
Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:
CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to more
than 400 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world.
From shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit all
seven continents with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South
America circumnavigations and exotic Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages;
four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean, Cuba, Alaska,
Mexico, Canada/New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line
welcomed ms Koningsdam
in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship,
ms Nieuw Statendam, to
be delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship, due for
delivery in 2021, recently was announced.
The company is undergoing $300 million in brand enhancements to secure its
position as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative
initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination
immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand their knowledge through an
exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine; during an America's Test
Kitchen show; at Explorations Café presented by The New York Times; and by
taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstanding entertainment fills
each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and
B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining experience can be savored at a variety of
restaurants with menus that feature selections from Holland America Line's
esteemed Culinary Council that comprises world-famous chefs who design dishes
exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT: |
Sally Andrews |
PHONE: |
800-637-5029 |
EMAIL: |
pr@hollandamerica.com |