Holland America Line News
ms Koningsdam passes sea trails as launch approaches
Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam returned to Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard earlier after successfully completing two sets of sea trials off the Italian coast. Koningsdam left Marghera on January 2nd and performed the first set of sea trials over three days before going into dry dock at Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard, where standard hull maintenance was performed.
Holland America Line plans $300m fleet overhaul
As part of a $300-million brand development initiative, Holland America Line is planning exciting improvements to its top staterooms with new furnishings, décor, amenities and upgrades for all suites on the line’s Signature, Vista and R-Class ships. The first ships to undergo the suite transformation will be ms Eurodam and ms Oosterdam, followed by ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Noordam.
Holland America Line improves Flight Ease programme for passengers
Holland America Line has given a new look to its air booking program, Flight Ease. The enhanced features make the process more user-friendly for travel professionals to navigate, search and book flights. In addition to the new design, the functionality of the site is now more intuitive, allowing users to select departure and return flights separately, add a stopover flight segment, easily compare real-time flexible and restricted fares, and review more detailed schedule displays.
Nine killed on Holland America Line sightseeing flight
A sightseeing plane carry passengers from a Holland America Line cruise ship has crashed with the loss of nine lives in east Alaska. Eight passengers from the Westerdam were killed along with the pilot of the aircraft. The wreckage of the aircraft was located by rescue teams earlier, situated approximately 250 metres above Ella Lake, north-east of the town of Ketchikan.
Holland America Line appoints ms Koningsdam captain
When Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam sets sail in April 2016, captain Emiel de Vries will be in command. Having been with the company since 1997, de Vries rose through the ranks from fourth officer to captain and has been master of ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Rotterdam and ms Zuiderdam.
ms Koningsdam to welcome new Billboard Onboard show
Holland America Line is using 50 years of chart-topping hits as the framework for a new live interactive music experience called Billboard Onboard that will debut as part of the Music Walk complex on the line’s first Pinnacle-class ship, ms Koningsdam. The new programming is in partnership with Billboard, the leading global destination for charts, news, trends and innovations in music.
Holland America Line prepares for launch of new ms Koningsdam
Guests can now make bookings for the highly anticipated Premier Voyage and Premiere Sailings of Holland America’s Line’s ms Koningsdam, due for delivery in February 2016. Reservations officially opened earlier and the first sailing of the line’s new flagship will be one seven-day cruise followed by a six cruise series of 12-day itineraries throughout the Mediterranean.
Orlando Ashford to take up role as president of Holland America Line
Holland America Line has announced that Orlando Ashford will join the company as president to lead the award-winning cruise line from December 1st. He joins the company from Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement and investments, where he was president of the Talent Business Segment.
Holland America Line reveals name for new Pinnacle class ship
Holland America Line has revealed the name of its new 99,500-ton cruise ship slated for delivery in February 2016 will be ms Koningsdam. 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.
Holland America Line’s 2015 Grand World Voyage visits 45 ports in 25 Countries
When ms Amsterdam departs Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 5, 2015, the cruise will span 114 days and call at 45 ports in 25 countries on six continents. Offering a refined and elegant “home away from home,” Amsterdam guests will enjoy gracious service, superior amenities and many special Grand Voyage experiences.
Holland America Line’s ms Volendam to add Lanai Staterooms and mix bar area
When Holland America Line’s ms Volendam completes dry-dock in December 2014, the ship will feature 21 new exclusive lanai staterooms, the contemporary bar area Mix and updated bathrooms in all suites and select other stateroom categories. With the conversion of existing outside staterooms to the new lanai accommodations, Volendam’s guest capacity of 1,432 will not change.
Kruse steps up to leadership of Holland America Group
Carnival Corporation has announced that effective December 1st Stein Kruse, currently president and chief executive of Holland America Line, is being appointed chief executive of the Holland America Group, adding Princess Cruises and Holland America Princess Alaska land operations to his current responsibilities of Holland America Line and Seabourn. Kruse will report to Carnival Corporation president Arnold Donald.