Holland America Line Introduces As You Wish Dining
July 17, 2007
Open Seating and Open Times Offer Greater Choice
Holland America Line launches As You Wish dining, an innovative
program that allows guests to choose from the best of both worlds –
either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a completely
flexible dining schedule. One level of the two-tiered restaurant will
offer a flexible/open dining service from 5:15 to 9 p.m. daily, and
the other will host two seatings, an early and main seating.
“Providing more options for our guests has been a hallmark of our
Signature of Excellence initiative,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC,
executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “Since
flexible dining options have become more desirable by many of our
guests, we will roll As You Wish dining out across the fleet to
provide the most flexibility, choice and service to our guests.
“We’ve operated As You Wish dining in a pre-launch phase aboard the ms
Noordam and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Meadows
added.
Prior to their cruise, during the booking phase, guests will choose
flexible/open dining or Holland America Line’s traditional pre-set
dining time (early or main). Guests with flexible seating may make
reservations daily during a cruise up to 4 p.m. or simply walk up
anytime during dining hours. Holland America Line manages reservations
and guest preferences through a unique computer system ensuring the
same efficient and high quality service for the flexible/open dining
as with the traditional pre-set format.
In addition to fixed and flexible/open dining options in the main
dining room, Holland America Line features the reservations-only
Pinnacle Grill restaurant with Pacific Northwest steak and seafood
specialties and casual Lido dining with waiter service and the option
to select dishes from the main restaurant menu or regular Lido
offerings. For guests who choose an evening “in,” 24-hour
complimentary room service includes dishes from the main restaurant
during dining hours and a selection of meals and snacks.
As You Wish dining will be introduced on the Holland America Line
ships with the following sailings:
Date Ship
Operational Now msNoordam
10/11/07 ms Ryndam
11/13/07 ms Volendam
12/18/07 ms Statendam
1/5/08 ms Oosterdam
1/27/08 ms Rotterdam
2/3/08 ms Zaandam
2/24/08 ms Westerdam
3/15/08 ms Zuiderdam
4/6/08 ms Veendam
4/24/08 ms Maasdam
5/16/08 ms Amsterdam
5/23/08 ms Prinsendam
7/5/08 ms Eurodam (upon delivery)
Holland America Line’s fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to
more than 320 ports. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven
continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand
and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports
in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and
Panama Canal.
In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich,
Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of
cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers. Fleetwide,
the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling
more than $225 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center
presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show
kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts
provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe
powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new
stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top
Mariner’s Dream Beds.
For more information, Contact HollandAmerica.net Toll-Free: 800-925-8572
Holland America Ships Call on Seven New Wonders
July 16, 2007
Holland America Line offers cruises that visit the new Seven Wonders of the World on its more than 500 worldwide cruise itineraries. The line also visits the Pyramids of Giza, the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. “Cruising opens up new horizons to travelers,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest services. “As the world’s leading premium cruise line, we explore destinations off the beaten path and are constantly striving to develop new, intriguing itineraries. We were the first major line to sail to Antarctica and continue to offer distinctive experiences by bringing the wonders of the world within reach of our cruise guests.”
Recently announced in Lisbon, Portugal, the new Seven Wonders of the World were voted on by people worldwide through an Internet poll. The new wonders are the Great Wall of China; Petra, Jordan; the Statue of Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Machu Picchu, Peru; the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico; the Colosseum in Rome, Italy; and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. For travelers visiting the Great Wall of China, Holland America cruise options include a 64-day Asia, Australia and Polynesian Explorer cruise on the Amsterdam in September or 14-day cruises on the Statendam in March and April that call at Xingang (Beijing), where the famous site can be visited on a shore excursion. Next year, on the 68-day Grand South America and Antarctic voyage, guests may explore Machu Picchu on calls by the Prinsendam to the ports of Salaverry and Callao, Peru. Departing in November, the Statendam visits both ports on its 26-day Inca Discovery cruise, while the 22-day Americas Discovery cruise on the Amsterdam calls at Callao. At South America’s other new wonder, guests may visit the Statue of Christ Redeemer on the above 68-day voyage when calling at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or on two fall 2007 and seven 2008 cruises between Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso, Chile.
The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are accessed through shore excursions in the Caribbean port of Cozumel, included on three seven-day Western Caribbean departures aboard the Westerdam in early 2009. Aqaba, the coastal gateway to the sixth-century ruins of the Nabataeans in Petra, Jordan, appears regularly as a Grand World Voyage port of call for Holland America Line. Also, in Mumbai, India, guests can travel to the Taj Mahal on an overland adventure during the 114-day around-the-world journey aboard the Amsterdam in 2008. Among the easiest wonders to reach by cruise ship, Rome’s Colosseum can be visited during more than 11 departures this fall or 35 cruises next summer and fall 2008. Civitavecchia is the cruise gateway to Rome. Alexandria serves as the portal to the lone remaining ancient wonder, the Pyramids of Giza. This year, Alexandria appears on four European and Mediterranean cruises and next year on six. It also is a port of call for the 73-day Grand Africa Voyage sailing aboard the Prinsendam in March.
Learn More about these cruises and cruise destinations by calling 800-925-8572 or visiting http://www.hollandamerica.net