Holland America Line Bolsters Status as the Leader in The Great Land with New ‘We Are Alaska’ Branding and Robust 2019 Season Featuring 133 Cruises and 15 Land+Sea Journey Options
Cruise
line offers exclusives, including new 21-day EXC In-Depth Voyages, award-winning
destination programming and the only Land+Sea options visiting the Yukon
Seattle, Wash., Oct. 25, 2019 —
Travelers looking to explore Alaska's natural wonders in 2019 will have 133
cruises and 15 different Land+Sea Journey configurations to choose from aboard
Holland America Line's mid-sized ships, which are the perfect size for Alaskan
ports and uncrowded glacier viewing and tour experiences. The premium line just
introduced its "We Are Alaska" branding to emphasize its leadership, expertise
and history in Alaska for more than seven decades — longer than Alaska has been
a state.
In 2019 Holland America Line will offer a robust season of cruises on eight
ships with more visits to Glacier Bay than any other line, the introduction of
soft-adventure EXC In-Depth Alaska cruising and the continuation of the only
cruise options that combine overland travel to the Yukon's hidden gems.
As the first tour operator in the region and the only cruise line
offering Yukon explorations, Holland America Line leverages its relationships
with the communities and locals to craft unique and memorable Alaska and Yukon
adventures.
"ʽWe Are Alaska' perfectly sums up our expertise, knowledge and robust cruise
and land tour offerings and reinforces that anyone who wants the best trip to
The Great Land and the Yukon should make Holland America Line their first
choice," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president. "Holland
America Line has been in Alaska for more than seven decades — longer than
Alaska has been a state — and we're still the only cruise line going overland
to the Yukon because of our experience; we know how to deliver it."
From May through September, cruisers can select from seven-, 14- or 21-day
itineraries aboard Amsterdam, Eurodam, Maasdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Volendam and Westerdam. New for
the 2019 season, Oosterdam
takes over the Sunday roundtrip Seattle, Washington, itineraries, adding more
verandah staterooms to that route. Also new are three 21-day Ultimate Alaska
& Pacific Northwest Adventurer EXC In-Depth Voyages roundtrip from San
Francisco, California, aboard Maasdam.
Those ships using Vancouver as a gateway —
Nieuw Amsterdam,
Noordam, Westerdam
and Volendam
— offer Holland America Line's signature Alaska Land+Sea Journeys
that combine a Holland America Line cruise with a stay at Denali National Park
or journey to Denali and the Yukon. With six different Yukon+Denali itineraries
and nine Denali options, departure dates offer a choice to cruise first or
enjoy the land segment first.
New Denali Property
Enhancements Ready for 2019 Season
Holland America Line also has expanded the guest experience on the Alaska
Land+Sea Journeys with the addition of new guest accommodations at its Denali
operation that includes the McKinley Chalet Resort hotel and Denali Square. The
new 99-guest property features standard rooms and 54 junior suites, all with
balconies so guests can enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding Alaska
wilderness in private comfort. Junior suites showcase balconies, larger living
areas and greater amenities for guests.
The new rooms are an extension of Holland America Line's overland Alaska
experience to Denali, which includes the McKinley Chalet Resort hotel and
Denali Square, a gathering area to relax, shop, dine and enjoy music and
entertainment. The addition will be located just west of Denali Square, with
views of Mt. Healy and Denali National Park.
Additionally, Holland America Line's hotel in Skagway has been remodeled with a
new look, soft goods and public lounge updates.
New Explorations
Central (EXC) Programming Makes Alaska Come to Life
Throughout the voyages, EXC programming brings Alaska's local customs, culinary
creations and cultural experiences on board. In time for the 2019 season, a
specially designated EXC "home base" will be complete aboard Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam with
interactive touchscreens, digital stories and a display of real-time data from
the ship's bridge.
Through the EXC Encounters program, guests can learn about local traditions or
enjoy the simple pleasures of storytelling. Those who want to immerse
themselves even further can attend an EXC Talk where an Alaska expert tells
tales only a local knows. The EXC Guides provide further assistance in
customizing each visit to the ports, while EXC Maps and Port Planners help
guests tailor their time ashore. The in-stateroom EXC Channel features a
selection of curated films, documentaries and TV shows exploring the destinations
on the itinerary.
Holland America Line's Explorations Central recently received top honors for
outstanding Overall Cruise Education Program from a leading travel industry
publication.
BBC Earth Brings
Alaska to Life in an Epic Production
Guests on all Alaska cruises will be able to enjoy BBC Earth's "Alaska in
Concert" multimedia performance on the Main Stage. Combining live music set
against a backdrop of mesmerizing footage from the BBC Earth television series
"Wild Alaska," audiences experience the cycle of four seasons and see this land
is as unforgiving as it is beautiful.
Inside Passage
Cruises Attract More First-Time Cruisers Than Any Other Region
Between May and September, Holland America Line offers 122 seven-day and seven
14-day cruises. Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Volendam and Westerdam feature
seven-day itineraries; Amsterdam
offers the 14-day Great Alaskan Explorer voyages. Guests can
conveniently cruise roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia, or Seattle, as
well as select one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.
All cruises feature one or more of Alaska's famous glaciers, and every
itinerary is highlighted by scenic cruising through Alaska's Inside Passage. In
Glacier Bay, all ships sail with a Huna native as well as a park ranger who
provides commentary, presentations and information on Alaska's famed national
park.
New EXC In-Depth
Voyages on Maasdam Offer 21-Day Alaska Experience
New for 2019 are three incredible 21-day Ultimate Alaska & Pacific
Northwest Adventurer EXC In-Depth Voyages roundtrip from San Francisco,
California, aboard Maasdam.
Departing May 7, May 28 and June 18, the comprehensive itineraries
include 12 ports in Alaska and Canada, as well as scenic cruising at Hubbard
Glacier and in College Fjord, Prince William Sound, Tracy Arm, Frederick Sound,
the Inside Passage and Alberni Inlet. In addition to Alaska favorites like
Ketchikan, Sitka, Homer, Haines and Juneau, the ship also calls at less-visited
ports including Valdez, Kodiak and Wrangell, Alaska; and Port Alberni, British
Columbia.
The Ultimate Alaska & Pacific Northwest Adventurer is part of Maasdam's In-Depth
Voyages program for travelers who are looking for thoughtful and immersive ways
to see the world. The EXC In-Depth Voyages use world-renowned experts, local
scholars and unique tours to immerse guests in the experience, enabling them to
explore through the prism of their own personal interests and passions.
Venture from
Vancouver on Four Ships
Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Volendam and Westerdam offer
seven-day Inside Passage cruises roundtrip from Vancouver. The itinerary calls
at Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, with scenic cruising through Alaska's Inside
Passage, Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay National Park.
Additionally, Noordam and Westerdam each sail
one-way alternating north-south seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between
Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage). The cruises call at Ketchikan, Juneau and
Skagway/Haines, with Glacier Bay and Inside Passage scenic cruising.
Cruiser's Choice –
Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier
Conveniently sailing roundtrip from Seattle, Eurodam and Oosterdam each feature
seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises. All seven-day roundtrip Seattle departures
include calls at Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska; as well as Victoria,
British Columbia, and scenic cruising through Alaska's Inside Passage. Guests
sailing on Eurodam enjoy scenic cruising through Glacier Bay, while Oosterdam
guests experience cruising Hubbard Glacier.
Amsterdam's Great Alaskan Explorer Cruises
Take Guests Off the Beaten Path
Holland America Line's 14-day roundtrip Seattle Great Alaskan Explorer sailings
on Amsterdam
include unique highlights such as calls at Anchorage, Icy Strait Point, Homer,
Kodiak, Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau and Victoria. Guests on this itinerary enjoy
scenic cruising around Vancouver Island, Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm.
Land+Sea Journeys
Combine an Alaska Cruise with Overland Exploration
The Alaska landscape is one of the few places in the world that is best seen by
combining a cruise with an overland adventure, and Holland America Line's
award-winning Land+Sea Journeys offer guests more ways to see this remote and
off-the-beaten path part of the world. Holland America Line is the only cruise
company to weave must-see sites such as Denali National Park — the centerpiece
of every Land+Sea Journey — with seldom-seen locations in the Yukon.
The 15 Land+Sea Journey options range from nine to 18 days and are in two
distinct series with cruise-first or land-first choices: Yukon+Denali Land+Sea
Journeys and Denali Land+Sea Journeys.
Each Land+Sea Journey combines a three-, four- or seven-night cruise with a
one-, two- or three-night stay at Denali National Park. Guests are immersed in
Alaska history and culture with visits to places such as Whitehorse and Dawson
City, Yukon; Fairbanks, Alaska, the gateway to the Arctic; and Alaska's
five-star Alyeska Resort.
The six Yukon+Denali Land+Sea Journeys range in length from nine to 18 days and
travel roundtrip Vancouver or between Vancouver and Anchorage. During these
trips guests enjoy scenic cruising along the Inside Passage and/or Glacier Bay
while also visiting Juneau. Depending on the Journey, they may also call at
Ketchikan and Haines or Skagway. In addition to Denali National Park, the
overland portion may include Fairbanks, along with Whitehorse and Dawson City,
Yukon.
The nine Denali Land+Sea Journeys range in length from nine to 14 days and
travel between Vancouver and Fairbanks or Anchorage. Included is Glacier Bay
scenic cruising, where guests can explore the ice-studded fjords of this
national treasure for a full eight hours as a park ranger narrates. Ports of
call on the cruise portion include Haines or Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan,
while the overland portion on most Journeys features Denali and Fairbanks. The
14-day option also includes a one-night visit to Talkeetna and two nights at
Alyeska.
Cruise fares for Alaska cruises begin at $899; Land+Sea Journey fares start at
$1,099; and the 21-day EXC In-Depth Voyages begin at $3,399. All rates are per
person, double occupancy. Several departure dates are eligible for the Explore4
promotion: Guests booking any category stateroom will receive a Signature
Beverage Package valued at $1,400 per stateroom (based on a 14-day cruise),
dinner at the Pinnacle Grill for two, free or reduced cruise fares for third and
fourth guests in the same stateroom, and 50 percent reduced deposits. Guests
receive all benefits when bookings are made by Nov. 19, 2018. Taxes, fees and
port expenses are additional.
For more information, contact a travel advisor, 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/mcssyl5i.
— # # # —
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social
media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.
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, Cuba cruises and exotic
Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular
sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada and New England, Europe and
the Panama Canal. The line welcomed Koningsdam
in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship,
Nieuw Statendam, to
be delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship will be delivered in
2021.
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, comprising world-famous chefs
who design dishes exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT: |
Sally Andrews |
PHONE: |
800-637-5029 |
EMAIL: |
pr@hollandamerica.com |