HAL's Signature of Excellence at Greatest Level Ever

[Krazy Kruizers]

Holland America Line's Signature of Excellence at Greatest Level Ever

 

On-Going Commitment Continues to Deliver a Superior Premium Cruise Experience that Exceeds Guest Expectations

 

Seattle, WA, March 17, 2010 — As part of its on-going Signature of Excellence program, Holland America Line continues to add enhancements and new features to its fleet of ships, including dramatic new public areas and stateroom upgrades as well as expand their industry-leading enrichment program. From May 2009 through April 2011, 11 ships will have completed dry dock refurbishments adding several elements from the ongoing Signature of Excellence enhancements, extending the company’s efforts to its most extensive level to date.

 

“Signature of Excellence raised the bar in the premium cruise category and highlights Holland America Line’s outstanding brand attributes,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “The enhancements have received several awards and generated rave reviews from our guests, travel seller partners and the industry alike. We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to our fleet of mid-sized ships through our investment in this program, which engages our guests in innovative and enriching new ways.”

The unprecedented Signature of Excellence enhancements launched in 2004 emphasize Holland America Line’s dedication to all aspects of the guest experience, including spacious, elegant ships and accommodations; sophisticated five-star dining; gracious, award-winning service; extensive enrichment programs and activities; and compelling worldwide itineraries.

The cruise experience delivered by Holland America Line and the Signature of Excellence enhancements appeals to discerning cruisers who prefer mid-sized ships, personalized service and sophisticated ambiance throughout both public areas and staterooms. To date, Holland America Line has invested more than $525 million into Signature of Excellence.

Latest Signature of Excellence Enhancements Arrive on Five Ships

The investment in the latest series of enhancements will include new entertainment and enrichment options and all new stateroom décor aboard five ships: ms Veendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam and ms Maasdam. Veendam and Rotterdam also received a new resort pool concept and innovative new lanai staterooms. Three ships’ enhancements are already complete, while Statendam will receive upgrades in April 2010 and Maasdam in April 2011.

Public area highlights of the latest phase feature:

• Mix, a new bar concept with three specialty lounges serving their namesakes: Martinis, Champagne

and Spirits & Ales.

• Showroom at Sea, a glamorous nightclub with a new slate of performances featuring seasoned

Broadway entertainers.

• A new resort pool feature called The Retreat, a shallow area where guests may lounge in chairs and

dip their fingers and toes in the water. The Retreat also includes a new pool bar, upscale pizzeria

named Slice and a giant LED screen for evening movies.

• Canaletto, a complimentary Italian restaurant that was introduced aboard ms Eurodam, comes to life

for dinner when a section of the Lido is transformed with glass partitions and an Italian ambiance.

• A redesigned, high-energy casino highlighting the latest table and slot games.

• Addition of a Merabella luxury jewelry boutique.

New Stateroom Designs and Lanai and Spa Staterooms

Under the latest series of enhancements, Holland America Line is introducing new soft goods, new carpeting, completely renovated bathrooms with new vanities and cabinetry, new Spa staterooms and, on Veendam and Rotterdam, the new Lanai stateroom category.

Lanai staterooms feature doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, while Spa staterooms located near the Greenhouse Spa offer exclusive amenities such as an organic cotton bathrobe and slippers, yoga mat, water fountain, special room service menus and treatments, and more. In addition to the five ships mentioned earlier, Spa staterooms are currently on Eurodam and will be added to the forthcoming Nieuw Amsterdam.

Additionally, on all ships, staterooms feature the Mariner Dream Bed with premium plush Euro-top mattress and high-quality cotton bed linens, flat-screen TVs and bathroom enhancements ranging from deluxe bathrobes to lighted, magnifying make-up mirrors. All suites include comfortable bed duvets, fully-stocked mini-bars, VCR/DVD players with access to an extensive video/DVD library, personalized stationery and use of the exclusive concierge-staffed Neptune Lounge.

Explorations Team Delivers Robust Enrichment Programs

To provide guests with new and unique experiences, Holland America Line offers the Explorations program, guided by staff with specific expertise ranging from technology to travel. The team includes a Party Planner, LifeStylist, Travel Guide and “Techspert.” On cruises lasting 14 days or more, a book club leader also joins the team.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Among the Explorations activities are:

• The onboard Party Planner hosting Explore Food & Entertaining events in the Culinary Arts Center,

significantly expanding the innovative program which brings more than 70 culinary experts on board

each year for cooking demonstrations and seminars.

• The Travel Guide, as the destination expert on board under the Explore Our World programming,

delivering dynamic multimedia presentations about the ship’s itinerary and be a one-stop source for

port-of-call information.

• The “Techspert” offering Explore Technology classes and personal workshops where guests can learn

how to blog, work with digital photos arrange a digital scrapbook, create a slideshow or edit a movie.

• The LifeStylist leading the Explore Wellbeing Program. Developed in cooperation with the Greenhouse

Spa, the program focuses on various forms of well being.

Other activities by the Explorations Team range from dance lessons to wine tasting, floral arranging and craft classes.

Extensive Activities for Guests to Discover, Learn and Daydream

Aboard ship, Holland America Line’s Signature of Excellence activities provide relaxing and inspiring options while allowing the freedom and time to make choices. Among the latest innovations aboard the company’s premium ships are the:

• Digital Workshop Powered by Windows, which offers complimentary classes on how to manipulate photos

and videos online to share with family and friends.

• The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, features shipboard chefs and guest

experts providing cooking demonstrations, specialty workshops and seminars for adults and kids. The

Explorations Team Party Planner will host innovative new culinary events and programs ranging from

regional dish preparation to barista training.

• Greenhouse Spa & Salon expansion with exclusive signature treatments and more treatment rooms, including

couple’s massage rooms, dry float suite with massage option and thermal suites with hydro-therapy

pool, steam and aromatic room, heated ceramic lounges and in-suite showers. Unique new offerings

include Acupuncture and Tai Chi.

• Expanded Club HAL and teen programs. Kids ages 3-7 participate in creative arts, watch big-screen

television and enjoy a play area. Older kids 8-12 have an area featuring arcade games, air hockey,

foosball, Karaoke, Internet access and Sony PlayStations. Teens 13-18 can enjoy The Loft, a

teens-only lounge, connecting to a teens-only sun deck called The Oasis.

• Explorations Café — powered by The New York Times, where guests can sip coffee, browse one of the

most extensive libraries at sea, enjoy diverse music at one of several listening stations or surf the Internet.

• An expanded Exploration Speakers Series, including topics that excite and enlighten guests, leaving

them wanting to learn more. Sessions range from culinary to mixology to entertaining for guests.

• A new complimentary Ship Flicks movie lending program with more than 1,000 titles aboard each ship.

DVDs are delivered to your stateroom and guests can re-order when finished.

Service Enhancements Add to Gracious Experience

Already renowned for its service, Holland America Line’s expanded Signature of Excellence onboard services and amenities include:

• Early Embarkation that features boarding as early as 11:30 a.m. Guests are welcomed aboard with live

music and invited directly to the Lido Restaurant for lunch or to explore the public areas until staterooms

are ready – when white-gloved stewards show the way.

• Silent Debarkation with one announcement that debarkation has begun and one upon completion. Guests

may relax in public areas or their staterooms until the time stated on their debarkation letter.

A Special Focus on the Port Experience

Holland America Line ships will call at a total of 354 ports in 98 countries or territories in 2010. Nearly 500 shore excursions include exotic and exclusive destinations through The Collections of Holland America Line. Collections series are the Signature, Medallion, Encore and World Wonders Collections, each with its own individual focus.

Exclusive shore excursions range from private tours of Caribbean estates to African safaris offering opportunities to photograph big game. Unusual shore excursions include such adventures as the Flight from Helsinki across the Arctic Circle to the city of Rovaniemi, Lapland, and the Vallarta Adventures' Outdoor Challenge, which takes place in jungles of Mexico’s Sierra Madre. This active six-hour excursion begins with a panga boat ride and off-road adventure and includes instruction in wilderness techniques and mule rides, plus splashing through streams, rappelling through waterfalls and soaring 200 feet above the ground on a 1000-foot zip line.

Holland America Line continues to enhance Half Moon Cay, its award-winning private island in the Caribbean, to offer more activities while maintaining its exclusive appeal. The island offers full bar service, a buffet-style restaurant, three Water Sports Centers, a children’s playground and beach area with slides and water toys, the exclusive Grand Cabana private retreat, and the activities of Horseback Riding by Land and Sea, Stingray Adventure, Personal Watercraft Adventure. New additions are the Pirate Play Area, distinctive Lustre jewelry shops and a jogging course around the island.

For more information on Holland America Line, consult a travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

 

- www.hollandamerica.com -

[Y's Owl]

I guess this puts to rest the rumors about the Maasdam, Ryndam and Statendam not getting their "Retreat" poolettes. It looks as if the plans haven't changed a bit. There will be no retreat from the Retreat.

[Himself]

I just hope they don't put the retreat pool on the Amsterdam, Volendam and Zaandam.

I also hope they do not put the Lanai Rooms on these three ships.

[PCruzer]

I guess this puts to rest the rumors about the Maasdam' date=' Ryndam and Statendam not getting their "Retreat" poolettes. It looks as if the plans haven't changed a bit. There will be no retreat from the Retreat.[/quote']

I was hoping that the Retreat area would not be a part of future ship enhancements. I experienced this area on the Rotterdam in January on the Hawaii/South Pacific cruise. I did not care for the new "poolette" or the large screen TV. The area was anything but a retreat! I, for one, will not cruise on any ship that has the Retreat.

[RedmondCruiser]

I was hoping that the Retreat area would not be a part of future ship enhancements. I experienced this area on the Rotterdam in January on the Hawaii/South Pacific cruise. I did not care for the new "poolette" or the large screen TV. The area was anything but a retreat! I, for one, will not cruise on any ship that has the Retreat.

 

Your not alone. I too will not cruise on a ship with a wading pool in back. Until HAL changes their minds about the wading pool concept its best to lodge any complaint with Carnival and not HAL. The people at HAL who came up with this lame idea are committed to it and are a deaf ear when it comes to complaining about the retreat pool. So far I've counted two people who liked the concept everyone else is opposed, but HAL still contends that it has overwelming support for the wading pool ?

Other than that the SOE changes have been met with positive comments. They now only need to announce that the wading pool will NOT be added to the three remaining S class ships and they will have a successful program.

[gizmo]

I am another one who will not sail on any Hal ship that has that wading pool.

[castellina]

I don't think the retreat wading pool would be so bad if it weren't so unbelievably jammed with lounge chairs. Also, the chairs around the outside are so tight that you can hardly walk through. We were on the Jan. 4 Rotterdam South Pacific, and I was not impressed with this "upgrade".

[PCruzer]

I don't think the retreat wading pool would be so bad if it weren't so unbelievably jammed with lounge chairs. Also, the chairs around the outside are so tight that you can hardly walk through. We were on the Jan. 4 Rotterdam South Pacific, and I was not impressed with this "upgrade".

Castellina,

My husband and I were on the same cruise as you. I thought the Retreat was a poor concept. If you are cruising a warm weather locale, it is too hot to sit back there without a "real" pool. I don't get the purpose of the lounge chairs sitting in 2 inches of water! How do you cool off? I think I would feel rather silly to go sit in 2 inches of water!! And you are right, the lounge chairs around the "poolette" don't have enough space between them.

 

The other thing we didn't like about the Retreat was the large screen TV blaring during the day. I had originally thought that the TV would be used only at night to show movies. I used to like to read a book back by the aft pool - when it would get too warm I would take a dip and then go back to reading. The large screen TV is loud and distracting, so this area is no longer a quiet place to read a book.

[localady]

I got an upclose and personal look at the new Veendam as we had an aft cabin on the Westerdam that was facing it last fall in Alaska for an entire day.

 

I must say, I don't see the big screen tv or the wading pool to be a retreat....they had that screen running a series of HAL's ads repeatedly the entire time we were there. The sound on the big screen was loud enough for me to know the words to each ad, which becamed really annoying. :mad: So much for a quiet back aft cabin....:rolleyes: Slice did look nice, though the colors were not in line with the other parts of the vessel.

 

I am a 3 star Mariner (191 days as of April) and am 50 years old. I hope to cruise into my twillight years as I have a passion for the seas and love HAL's ships. I would think that what I thought mattered to the powers that be at HAL.

 

The Retreat is NOT elegant and understated, rather tacky (a wading pool and Big Screen?) and commercial. Please don't dumb down the ships!!! :(

[smileycruiser2007]

I'm yet another cruiser who will not sail any ship with the wading pool. If I wanted to do that I could stay home and do it in peace and quiet instead of to the tune of a Jumbotron. If the Jumbotron was used for worthwhile movies in the evening, that would be really nice. Instead there is loud junk programming.

 

There is nothing so nice as to cool off in the aft pool after a hot day. The Lido pool is pretty small and usually full of splashing kids. I'm happy for them to have fun as long as the adults have a fun place too, and the wading pool is not it!

[sail7seas]

I guess this puts to rest the rumors about the Maasdam' date=' Ryndam and Statendam not getting their "Retreat" poolettes. It looks as if the plans haven't changed a bit. There will be no retreat from the Retreat.[/quote']

 

It isn't done until it's done. ;)

 

We shall see.